A deafening explosion reverberated through the entire structure, sending shockwaves through the foundations and rattling the walls.

The three friends, frozen in their tracks, exchanged looks of alarm, wide-eyed and breathless as panic erupted around them. Shouts echoed in the halls as people scrambled in all directions, trying to make sense of the chaos.

Without hesitation, the raven-haired girl grabbed her friends' wrists and dragged them outside. Her heart pounded in her chest as they sprinted toward the source of the commotion. The air crackled with tension.

"Oh no..." muttered the blue-eyed boy, his voice barely audible over the din of fleeing campers.

The Augur, standing nearby, didn't fault him for the words. Before them, at the entrance to Camp Jupiter, loomed two figures of mythic proportions: a towering Cyclops, its single eye gleaming in the dimming light, and the massive Python, coiling menacingly. The Python's scales, glinting like burnished iron, stretched over its enormous body.

It was a sight pulled straight from nightmares.

Some campers had already begun assembling, preparing for the inevitable battle. Others stood at the ready, their weapons drawn, awaiting only the orders of their leaders.

"Centurions! Prepare your cohorts!" Praetor Aurelia's voice cut through the chaos, authoritative and steady. Despite the fear clawing at her, she held firm, directing the camp's defenses like a seasoned general.

Centurions sprang into action, corralling their troops, ensuring everyone was armed and ready for what lay ahead. Aurelia's gaze found the three young warriors, standing uncertainly amidst the growing turmoil. Her face softened, but only for a moment.

"Listen to me, all of you!" she called, her voice straining against the noise. "Get back inside, now! This fight isn't for you!"

The trio froze, staring at her with disbelief. The idea of retreating now, when battle was upon them, felt like a betrayal of everything they had trained for.

"We're not running away, Auri! This is what we've been preparing for!" the raven-haired girl shouted, her voice tinged with defiance.

The blue-eyed boy stepped forward, his gaze locked on Aurelia. Determination burned bright behind his piercing eyes, his golden hair falling haphazardly over his brow. "She's right, Auri! We can't just stand by. We'll fight with you."

Aurelia's expression hardened, but there was a flicker of something softer behind her stern gaze—fear. "No. Absolutely not. You're not fighting in this battle. I won't allow it."

The girl, her fingers already starting to shimmer with a faint purple mist, clenched her fists. "Why are you stopping us? We've trained for this moment! We were born for this!"

Aurelia's voice cracked slightly as she took a step forward, the pressure of leadership heavy on her shoulders. "Because I can't lose you! I've already lost too many. This isn't a game—you could die out there!" Her eyes welled with unshed tears. "Have you even seen them? Python... no one has ever fought him and lived, except Apollo!"

Her words hung in the air like a death sentence. Even so, the raven-haired girl's resolve didn't waver. She reached out, gently touching Aurelia's arm, her voice quiet but firm. "We won't die. I promise. Let us fight. Trust me."

Before Aurelia could respond, another voice cut through the tension. "I'll keep them safe," came the familiar deep voice of Michael Varus, his bow already drawn as he fired another arrow at the Cyclops. His eyes gleamed with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. "I'll protect them."

Aurelia's shoulders slumped, the weight of her role crushing her as she looked at the children she had grown to love over the last two years. With a deep breath, she met their eyes. "Promise me you'll come back. All of you."

The raven-haired girl hesitated, but only for a heartbeat. "We'll be back. I'll be back. I promise."

⁖ ༒ · .

Nyx, the Goddess of Night, was one of the most powerful deities in all of existence. Even Zeus himself feared her wrath. She had only one daughter, a single demigod child, and that daughter now fought for her life amidst the chaos of battle.

The raven-haired girl swung her sword in a deadly arc, slashing at the legs of one Cyclops before driving her imperial gold blade deep into the gut of another. It disintegrated into golden dust, its howl of agony cut short. Her body moved instinctively, each strike precise and lethal—a testament to the grueling training she had undergone under Lupa's watchful eye.

Every step she took was a dance of survival, her muscles burning but her mind sharp. There was no room for hesitation in a battle like this.

To her left, she caught a glimpse of Jason, the golden son of Jupiter. His face was set in grim determination as he raised his sword toward the sky, summoning a bolt of lightning. The crackle of electricity filled the air, and in an instant, three Cyclopes fell at once, their massive bodies crumbling under the might of his power.

Further away, the Augur fought side by side with Michael, who protected him as they worked in seamless tandem. Michael's arrows flew with deadly precision, while the Augur's daggers found their marks in the throats and eyes of their enemies.

The battle stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. The amethyst-brown-eyed girl dispatched her fifth Cyclops, her breath ragged but her spirit unbroken. She exchanged a brief look with her friends, a wordless exchange of triumph. But their celebration was cut short.

Out of nowhere, Python's massive tail swept across the battlefield, moving with a speed that belied its enormous size. In an instant, it slammed into Michael, throwing him against the stone wall with such force that the sound of his skull cracking echoed through the camp.

Time slowed.

The girl's heart seized in her chest as she watched, helpless, as Python's tail struck again. This time, its target was the Augur. But before the blow could land, she unleashed a wave of purple energy, deflecting the attack just enough to spare him. Still, the Augur tumbled backward, thrown off balance by the force.

Her vision blurred, her body frozen in place as her mind grappled with the sight of her fallen friend. Michael lay crumpled on the ground, his body unnaturally still.

"OCTAVIAN!!!" Jason's voice pierced the fog in her mind, snapping her back to reality. With a strangled cry, she bolted toward him, shoving through the chaos, her raven hair flying behind her as she reached his side.

She collapsed to the ground, cradling his head in her lap, her hands shaking. Jason knelt beside her, gripping Michael's hand as tears filled his eyes.

"Octavian! Wake up! Please, wake up!" she cried, her voice breaking with desperation. She shook him, hoping—praying—that he would open his eyes.

"Lils, stop. He's alive. He's going to be okay," Aurelia's voice cut through the panic, her fingers pressing against Michael's neck to check his pulse.

"Then why isn't he waking up?" the girl snapped, tears streaming down her face as she clung to him. Her heart ached with a depth of pain she had never known. Michael wasn't just a friend. He was her brother in all the ways that mattered.

Jason, his own face streaked with tears, tried to calm her. "Lils, please, calm down. We need to think clearly."

But she couldn't calm down. She couldn't breathe. "No, Sparky! He's not waking up! I'm going to kill that Python. I swear I'll make it pay!" she screamed, her entire body trembling with rage and grief. The purple mist around her fingers grew darker, more dangerous.

Aurelia ordered two other campers to take Michael's limp body inside, away from the battlefield. She turned to Lilith, her heart heavy with sorrow and fear. "Lilith, don't—"

"No. This is my fight now," Lilith said, her voice low and icy. Her eyes, once filled with warmth, were now cold and focused on the Python. "That creature killed Michael. It ends here."

Without waiting for approval, she strode toward the giant beast, her sword gleaming in one hand, the other hand glowing with violent energy. The mist circled around her, more potent than ever, as if feeding off her emotions.

Jason moved to stop her, but Aurelia grabbed his arm. "Let her go. She's the only one who can do this."

Lilith stood before the Python, her figure small yet unwavering. The campers watched in stunned silence as she raised her sword and fired a blast of energy at the creature. Python hissed, spitting venom in retaliation, but she dodged with ease, her blade slicing through the air.

The snake's iron-like scales made it nearly impossible to injure, but Lilith was relentless.

Thrust. Swing. Blast.

Thrust. Swing. Blast.

Thrust. Swing. Blast.

Her left arm went numb as the Python's venom grazed her skin, but she fought through the pain, forming a protective dome around herself with the mist. She needed a plan. She couldn't keep fighting like this forever.

A voice, soft and ethereal,

Bring him outside.

The voice echoed in Lilith's mind, soft yet commanding, as if it had always been there, just waiting to be heard. It was feminine, familiar in a way she couldn't explain, and it stirred something deep within her.

For a moment, she faltered, almost dropping the dome as confusion swirled around her thoughts. She had never heard this voice before, yet it felt as though she had listened to it countless times.

Bring him outside. Toward the river.

Lilith's eyes darted toward the camp's edge, where the river cut a dark line against the horizon. The river. The words settled in her mind, their clarity piercing through the chaos around her. There was a purpose here, a direction. With renewed determination, she lowered her protective shield and charged, her feet pounding the earth as she ran full speed toward the river.

The Python, sensing her retreat, let out a furious hiss and slithered after her, its immense body crashing through trees and tents, crushing everything in its path. But Lilith didn't look back. She knew it was coming. She needed it to follow.

As she neared the riverbank, her heart pounded in her chest, but the sight that greeted her almost made it stop. The ground was eerily still, nothing more than water and dirt. No weapon. No sign. Had she misunderstood the voice? Was this some sort of cruel trick?

For a moment, doubt clawed at her mind. She had led the creature here, and for what? There was no sign of the advantage she had hoped for. She bit her lip, tasting the salt of her sweat and tears.

Aim for the eye.

The voice came again, sharper this time, more insistent. Without hesitation, Lilith spun around to face the Python, its enormous head looming over her. Its slitted eyes were burning with hatred, its forked tongue flickering dangerously close. She had no time to second-guess herself.

Channeling all of the energy she could muster, Lilith raised her hand, feeling the familiar pulse of the mist wrapping around her fingers. In one fluid motion, she released a surge of power, directing it with precision right toward the creature's eye.

The purple mist struck true, sinking deep into the Python's eye socket. The snake reared back, its agonized roar shaking the earth, its balance teetering.

And that's when she saw it—the hole. The very river seemed to part, and where the water once flowed undisturbed, a dark, swirling vortex had begun to form, spinning slowly but growing larger with every second. It was pulling, sucking the river into its depths, and Lilith realized this was her chance.

Push it in.

The voice was clearer now, almost as if the speaker stood beside her. Every part of Lilith screamed exhaustion—her body ached, her muscles throbbed, and her poisoned arm hung heavy at her side—but she wasn't done.

Not yet.

Not until the beast was gone.

With a final burst of energy, she swung her sword in a deadly arc, striking at the Python's neck. The blade connected with a sickening thud, cutting through its scales just enough to weaken the monster. Gathering every ounce of strength she had left, Lilith pushed, driving the Python toward the vortex.

The monster thrashed violently, its tail lashing out in fury as it tried to resist, but it was too late. The pull of the vortex was too strong. Slowly, inch by inch, the Python's enormous body began to sink into the swirling darkness. Its roars of fury turned into gurgles as the river water surged over it, swallowing it whole.

And then, silence.

For a few breathless moments, the camp was still. The Python was gone, consumed by the vortex that had now closed itself up, leaving nothing but calm water behind. The ground where the battle had raged moments ago was eerily peaceful. Lilith's body trembled with exhaustion, her knees nearly buckling beneath her.

She turned slowly, taking in the sight of the camp. The campers, her friends—Jason, Aurelia, and the others—were staring at her in wide-eyed disbelief. It was over. She had done it.

Jason's face split into a grin as wide as she'd ever seen, and he started running toward her, his eyes shining with pride. Lilith felt a flicker of relief, her body finally giving in to the weariness. But as Jason neared, something else stirred in the air.

It happened in an instant, as fast as a blink, but in that moment, time seemed to stretch out. A flash of movement, something dark and fast. Lilith barely had time to react before she felt it—the Python's tail, rising from the depths, coiling around her leg. The creature wasn't entirely gone.

"LILITH!!!" Jason screamed, his voice filled with terror as the tail yanked her violently off her feet. She felt the cold, crushing grip of the snake's tail as it dragged her toward the river. Toward the hole.

Aurelia, frozen in place, watched helplessly. Her face went pale, her eyes wide with horror as she tried to restrain Jason, who was desperately trying to reach Lilith.

"NO! LILITH!" Jason's screams cut through the air, raw and agonized, but there was nothing he could do.

Lilith felt the world around her spin as she was pulled toward the abyss. The last thing she saw before the darkness enveloped her was Jason's face, filled with anguish, his arm outstretched as if he could somehow pull her back.

But it was too late.

The Python's tail dragged her down into the vortex, the black, swirling waters pulling her deeper and deeper. The last sounds she heard were the echoing cheers of the camp as the monster disappeared into the depths, followed by Jason's heart-wrenching cries.

And then, there was nothing but darkness. Cold, consuming darkness.

⁖ ༒ · .

Jason fell to his knees at the edge of the river, his fingers clawing at the dirt as if trying to reach her, to stop the inevitable. But she was gone. Lilith had broken her promise.

She had fallen into the pit—Tartarus itself.

The camp was silent now, the celebration forgotten as the reality of what had happened sank in. Aurelia stood motionless, her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief and sorrow. She had seen death many times before, but this felt different. This felt personal.

Jason's screams had quieted, replaced by a hollow, empty silence. He stared blankly at the water, as if waiting for her to reappear. But deep down, he knew the truth.

No one came back from Tartarus.

But Jason couldn't let go. He clung to the last words she had spoken, her promise echoing in his mind.

"I'll be back. I promise."

She had promised.

And Lilith never broke a promise.

⁖ ༒ · .

In the stillness of the deep, swirling abyss, Lilith drifted, her body weightless in the dark currents of Tartarus.

The cold gnawed at her, the silence pressing in from all sides. But even as she fell deeper into the underworld's depths, she held onto a single thought.

One promise.

I will come back.