After resting again, I continued making my way through the cave. After too much time passed I finally made it out.
I took a deep breath of the fresh air, grateful to finally be out of that dark and damp cave. As I stepped out into the valley, I was awestruck by the sight before me. It was a beautiful landscape, unlike anything I had seen before. The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting a warm glow over the valley. The sky was painted with shades of red, orange, and purple, and it was a sight that I will never forget.
I sat down on a nearby rock and took in the scenery, feeling my body slowly recover from the exhausting fight with the demon. As I sat there, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey so far. It had been a long and treacherous road, full of dangers and challenges. And yet, I had made it this far, and I was determined to rescue my friend Chiron, no matter what.
With newfound strength and resolve, I stood up and started walking towards the other end of the valley. As I walked, I noticed a river stream running through The valley. As I approached the river to take a sip of water, I suddenly heard a loud hissing noise. I turned around to see a giant serpent emerging from the water, its scales glistening in the sun. It was easily as long as ten men laid end to end and twice as thick as a tree trunk.
As I faced the giant serpent, my body trembled with exhaustion from my recent ordeal in the cave. I knew that I was not in the best condition to fight such a fearsome creature. Nonetheless, I stood my ground, holding my spear tightly in my hands.
The serpent lunged at me with its sharp fangs, and I barely managed to dodge its attack. I swung my spear with all my might, striking its scales, but it seemed to have no effect. The serpent hissed and coiled around me, tightening its grip with each passing moment. I struggled to break free, but its grip was too strong.
As I fought for my life, I began to feel the weight of my exhaustion weighing down on me. My arms felt heavy, my vision was blurry, and my movements were slow. I knew that I couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Just as I thought all was lost, I remembered the words of the Oracle. She had warned me of a hidden power within me that I could tap into when all else failed. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused all my energy on that power.
A surge of strength and energy coursed through my body, and I felt a sudden burst of power within me. I opened my eyes, and my vision cleared as if a fog had been lifted. I swung my spear with newfound strength and precision, striking the serpent's weak spots and dealing it heavy blows.
The serpent recoiled in pain, loosening its grip around me. I took advantage of the moment and plunged my spear into its heart. With one final hiss, the serpent fell lifeless to the ground.
I collapsed on the ground, gasping for air and exhausted from the fight. But I was alive, and I had emerged victorious once again.
As I fell into a deep sleep, I was transported back to my childhood, before I was sealed away by the gods. In my nightmare, I was training with my father Atlas, the Titan, who was known for his harsh methods and lack of grace.
I remembered the grueling days spent in his company, enduring endless training sessions that pushed me beyond my limits. My father was a towering figure, his massive frame casting a shadow over me as he barked orders and criticized my every move.
"Oh father, I will kill you." I whispered.
I struggled to keep up with him, my muscles burning and my lungs heaving as I pushed myself harder and harder. I could hear his voice echoing in my mind, relentless and unforgiving as he pushed me to the brink of exhaustion.
In my dream, I was transported back to those days, reliving the intense training sessions that had shaped me into the warrior I had become. But as I looked around me, I realized that something was different. The training ground was now empty, the air thick with an eerie silence that sent shivers down my spine.
Suddenly, my father appeared before me, his eyes dark and his expression twisted into a cruel smirk. He raised his massive hand, beckoning me to come closer, and I felt a wave of terror wash over me.
As I approached him, I could feel the weight of his disapproval bearing down on me. His voice boomed in my ears, criticizing my every move and telling me that I was weak and unworthy of my powers.
I struggled to stand my ground, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to escape the wrath of my father. He was the mighty and invincible Atlas.
In my nightmare, I was trapped once again, reliving the days of my harsh training with Atlas, the Titan. And as I struggled to escape his grasp, I realized that the only way to truly overcome my fears was to face them head-on.
But before that it was the gods turn.
The next morning I woke up with a headache. There was still plenty of kilometres left before I would arrive.
As I continued my journey through the valley, I knew that my next destination was the land of sun, where the temple of Helios was said to be located. However, I was unsure of the exact location and how to reach it. I remembered the words of the Oracle, who had mentioned that the centaurs could guide me to the temple.