-Camp Half-Blood, Earth; After the Fires Began-

~Annabeth's Point of View~

"Annabeth!" Piper called out. She was pushing through the crowd of demigods. Jason soon followed. "Do you know what happened?"

"No." I shook my head. "The fire looks to be coming from the back of the woods-"

"Bunker 9?" Jason asked, looking around the tree line in concern. "Leo went there after he finished his breakfast. Do you think he was the one who started the fire?"

"No idea-"

"Hesper!" The Head Commander, Nyke, shouted. "We are headed deep in the woods. We need to get to Bunker 9!"

"Bunker 9?" The first unit leader yelled back, confused. "What's that?"

"It's an old workshop that Cabin 9 created some time back." Piper replied, making way to the army's soldiers. "Leo Valdez, the head of Cabin 9 was headed there."

"He can create fire. He could have been the one to set the fire to the woods." Jason explained.

"That is correct. Leo Valdez was the one to start the fire." Kosmos spoke up.

Hesper frowned at the assassin. "Why would he do that?" She paused for a moment, looking  tense. "And why did you-"

"But why would Leo do that?" Piper asked, her body tense. "He wouldn't have caused a fire unless something happened. Do you think it was the eido-?"

"It was not eidolons. There are no possessive spirits in or around Camp Half-Blood at this time." Kosmos interrupted.

"At this time?" Nyke parroted. "What-"

"Are we just going to stand here or are we going to do something?" Charis joined the small circle that stood between campers and the Chaos Army. "Because I saw Vernandos go in that direction and he hasn't come back."

"Vernandos went into the woods?" Milos asked. "That settles it, right? We need to go see what's happening now to help him." He looked to the head commander.

Nyke sighed in frustration. "We don't know what could be standing in between us and them. There could be even more monsters in there than normal. Obstacles that we aren't prepared for."

"Nyke!" The fourth unit leader protested. "We can't just leave-"

A sharp intake of breath was heard before Kosmos started coughing.

"Kosmos?" Nyke asked, stepping towards the assassin. "What's wrong?"

Kosmos' body shuddered, violently shaking as if his body was collapsing on itself. "Whoa!" Milos and Nyke quickly caught their falling comrade. "What-"

Nyke gasped. "Hesper."

"Yes?" She answered.

The head commander didn't look away from the still shaking body that he was holding. "Kosmos is bleeding. We need to call Chaos now."

"Bleeding where?" Apollo came up, reaching out to Kosmos. "Wait, what's his physiology? Human-like or-"

Kosmos cried out suddenly, falling to his knees even with the additional support of two others. "Kosmos!"

"Xander!" Kasey's voice rang out. She tried to run to him but her mother held her back.

"What is happening?" Milos was clearly panicking. "He was fine just a minute ago."

"I'll be fine." Kosmos rasped, coughing wetly.

"Are you coughing up blood?" Charis asked. The unit leaders present were panicking more and more as time went on.

Nyke took a deep breath. "Xander, what do you need?" He was the only one that seemed calm. He appeared calm anyway.

Chaos' assassin didn't speak right away. He was still hunched over, holding his abdomen. "Someone needs to stop the shadow."

"What shadow?" Jason asked, looking over to Nico who seemed to realize this could be something to do with his father's domain.

"The Percy Jackson that came to the camp injured is a shadow."

Nico frowned. "What does that mean exactly? He didn't feel any different than Percy does."

Kosmos laughed. A bitter sound like it came from a dying man. "That's because the Percy Jackson you met was similar to a shadow. He was only an illusion."

"What do you mean my son was an  illusion?" Poseidon asked, clutching his trident tightly looking like he would attack at any moment.

Kosmos cried out in pain again. Another coughing fit was triggered. Apollo was hovering more closely, not touching his new patient yet.

"VALDEZ?!" The sudden shout was followed by a roar.

-Bunker 9, Camp Half-Blood; Back to Right After Leo Hit the Enemy "Percy Jackson"-

~Leo's Point of View~

"Valdez?!" Beckendorf's panicked voice was only distracting me from my work.

"Give me a moment!" I called back. My fingers were working as fast as they could trying to connect the wires. This project was not meant to be rushed.

"Leo!"

"There!" I exclaimed, grabbing the Wii remote as Beckendorf took my wrist. He rushed towards the exit with me in tow.

That's when I noticed "Percy" was getting up and glowing black. "Who is that?" I asked, quickly running alongside the older demigod.

"Don't know. Might be the one who is raging war against us." Was all Beckendorf answered with.

We ran towards the main area of Camp Half-Blood. I fiddled with the remote in my hands trying to jumpstart the hastily finished project.

"Leo! Where did you go?" Percy's voice was nowhere to be heard in the deep, layered voice. "Is that how you greet a friend?"

"Why does he need to be that terrifying?" Beckendorf spoke, tugging me to him as a dark mass of energy shot passed right where I was running.

I shrieked a little. "C'mon! Work!" I pushed a few buttons on the remote and rotated it a few times.

"What are you trying to do?" Beckendorf asked as he picked me up after I almost tripped on a tree root.

"Summoning help!" I yelled, dodging more dark energy masses. "What is he shooting at us?"

"Looks like-"

Screams broke out from the tree nymphs as the flames chased after us. "That's not normal."

"Oh Chaos! Is he controlling the fire?"

'Vernandos, what is happening?' I flinched hearing a voice in my head that sounded like-

'Chaos!' I heard Beckendorf's voice while his lips weren't moving.

'How are you talking in my mind?' I asked. 'I did not agree to this!'

Beckedorf startled next to me. "Ah, sorry. I didn't know-"

'Not to worry, Vernandos. It was easier to bring both of you in this conversation at the same time. As for you, Leo Valdez, I understand that you are trying to accomplish something. Is it alright if I step in to help?' Chaos asked, sounding easygoing as if we weren't running from an enemy trying to kill us.

'Uhh, sure?' I answered, absentmindedly still playing with the remote.

Next thing I know, the remote starts vibrating in my hand. And then- "VALDEZ?!" Beckendorf's shout was followed by a familiar roar.

I laughed. "Festus!" The dragon head held the unit leader and I by our legs with his mouth. Looking back, I saw that the new body I reconstructed was perfectly attached to the head. Scanning it more showed that Chaos must have reinforced it with a different metal.

'Is everything to your liking?' Chaos asked, a smile could be heard in his voice if that was possible.

'Yeah, thanks!'

I heard a laugh and then his presence disappeared.

"Now, Festus! Bring us to the other seven!" I commanded. Festus made a whirring noise before shooting down towards the dining pavilion.

"Wait, Leo!" Several voices and screams were heard before Festus landed outside of the dining pavilion with a heavy thud, sending up dirt flying up.

Beckendorf groaned, stumbling out of Festus' mouth. I was a little more graceful in my landing. "Festus." I groaned at the dragon who looked proud of himself.

"Leo...?" I heard Jason.

I looked over to see most everyone gathered. "Hey..." Then I saw Kosmos. "What happened to him?"

"Kosmos?" Beckendorf asked, moving towards the fallen assassin.

"Vernandos?" The head commander asked.

"Yes, Vernandos is Charles Beckendorf." Kosmos stated, startling the unit leader. Everyone looked shocked by the reveal. "Where is the shadow now?"

"Shadow?" Beckendorf and I ask.

"Yes!" The assassin gritted out, coughing. "Someone needs to destroy the shadow."

"Leo, where is Percy?" Nico asked, grabbing his sword.

I frowned. "Uh, Percy turned out to not be Percy and attacked us."

"He was just behind us before Chaos helped us by summoning...Festus here." Beckendorf answered.

"Now, why are you running away?" The one impersonating Percy walked out of the trees. His body breaking down in dark, shadowy chunks.

"What-"

"Eh-"

"Who are you?" Annabeth asked, holding her sword.

"Percy" smiled. "Shouldn't you be asking Kosmos that? Oh, wait, he can't with his curse." The mentioned started coughing again, sounding more pained than before. "That sounds like it hurts. You pushed past your limits again, didn't you. Oh, Kosmos, still trying to protect everyone, aren't you?" The following laugh sent shivers down my spine.

"Hesper!" Kosmos heaved. "Shoot it!"

"Wait!" The unit leader didn't listen to Poseidon, shooting "Percy" in the chest.

"Ah," He looked down at the arrow. "I see how you were foretold to be a leader." Another laugh as his body fully fell apart and fell into the ground looking like a ghost returning to its grave.

Kosmos took a gasping breath. "I'm going to kill him!" He promised, breathing heavily.

Hello. I have not written anything for this story today. I work tomorrow so I have to be in bed in a few short hours.

I have not finished chapter 24, and I lost motivation this week after that crazy high of writing last week, but I figured you all deserve a chapter today seeing as the next chapter is finished.

I still hope to complete this story by the 21st as it's the first day of summer. I don't how that will go, however, I will try my best.

As there is no guarantee about me writing a few chapters like crazy again, I will definitely be back on Saturday with another chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed part one of the insanity that is the beginning of the end to this story.

Thank you for reading. Until next time,

~MsPenguingirl1234.

Published: June 10, 2023.