I searched through the halls of the fortress, trying to find any trace of Helios. But he was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, I heard the sound of barking dogs, and I knew I had to hide. I quickly made my way to a nearby wall and pressed my body against it, hoping to blend in with the shadows.
The bloodhounds came closer, their barks echoing through the halls. I held my breath, trying to keep my heart from racing. Finally, they passed by without noticing me. But I knew I couldn't stay out in the open for long.
That's when I remembered the hidden network of tunnels I had discovered earlier. I quickly made my way to the spot where I had found the entrance, and pushed aside a large stone to reveal a small, dark opening.
I crawled into the tunnel, feeling the cool earth against my skin. It was dark, but I could see faint light coming from small cracks in the tunnel walls. I crawled deeper into the underground network, the sound of my breathing the only noise in the stillness.
The tunnels twisted and turned, and I couldn't help but wonder how long they had been here, and what purpose they had served in the past. The air grew colder and damper the further I went, and I could smell the musty scent of earth and mold.
As I crawled, I came across several small openings in the walls, leading to hidden alcoves and rooms. I peered into each one, trying to find any clues to Helios' whereabouts, but they were all empty.
Eventually, I came across a larger room, and I could hear the sound of running water in the distance. As I approached, I saw that the room was filled with pools of water, some clear and others murky. I knew I had to be careful, as I didn't know what creatures may lurk beneath the surface.
I cautiously made my way through the pools, the water reaching up to my waist. Suddenly, I heard a loud splash and felt something brush against my leg. I froze, but the movement stopped just as suddenly as it had begun. I breathed a sigh of relief and continued on.
After what felt like hours of crawling and wading through the underground tunnels, I finally came to a large chamber. The room was filled with crates and barrels, and I knew I had found a storage room. But as I started to search through the crates, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
I quickly hid behind a stack of crates and waited. Soon, a group of Helios' soldiers entered the room, their torches casting flickering shadows across the walls. I held my breath and watched as they searched the room, but they eventually left without noticing me.
As soon as they were gone, I continued my search. It was then that I found a small, transparent bottle hidden among the crates. I recognized it as one of the emergency potions the admirals had used to heal themselves in battle. I knew it could come in handy in case I was injured during my fight with Helios.
With the bottle safely in my possession, I made my way back through the underground tunnels. The journey back seemed shorter than the way there, and soon I emerged from the tunnel entrance.
But as I looked up, I saw that the fortress was now swarming with Helios' soldiers. I knew I couldn't risk being caught, so I made a split-second decision to break the window and climb down the side of the fortress.
My heart racing, I made my way to safety, the sound of the barking bloodhounds still ringing in my ears. The underground tunnels had been my salvation, but I knew I couldn't stay hidden forever.
The tunnels seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning, leading me deeper into the bowels of the fortress. The air grew colder and more stale, and the light from my torch flickered ominously on the damp walls.
My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out of this mess. The bloodhounds had been set loose on my trail, and I knew it wouldn't be long before they caught up with me. But as I turned another corner, I saw a glimmer of light up ahead. My heart lifted, and I quickened my pace, hoping that it would lead me to safety.
As I drew closer, the light grew brighter, and I realized that it was coming from a small opening in the tunnel wall. I approached cautiously, peering through the hole. On the other side was a small room, dimly lit by a single lantern.
I felt being watched. But I could not see through his magic. I was weakened from transformation in the fight with the Admirals.
The small room was empty. There was just a chair in the center whipping. I checked the room and found secret stairs down in the corner. I went down and found a labyrinth of deep tunnels.
I made my way through the twisting tunnels, taking care not to make a sound as I moved. The walls were damp and slick with moisture, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew and decay. I could hear the distant sound of footsteps echoing through the passages, and I knew that I wasn't alone.
I knew that I had to find Helios and put an end to his tyranny, but I had no idea where to begin. As I turned a corner, I came face-to-face with a group of people.
They wore green and silver robes, and I could see the emblem of the moon and stag embroidered on their chests. These were the Hunters of Artemis, and I knew them from my previous encounter with the goddess.
The leader of the group stepped forward and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Hyas," I said. "I'm here to take down Helios."
The hunters exchanged skeptical glances, and I could feel their mistrust. I couldn't blame them - after all, I was a stranger who had stumbled into their midst.
But then the leader spoke up. "We need your help," she said. "We're here to rescue Artemis, but we can't do it alone. With your help, we stand a chance of defeating Helios."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I wanted to get involved in this. But then I remembered the words of the oracle, and I knew that I couldn't do this alone.
"We need your help," their leader said again, her voice low and urgent. "We know that you want to take down Helios, and we believe that together, we can do it."
"I'll help you," I said. "But why do you think we can defeat Helios? Artemis already lost once. Why would she be a help."
The leader of the hunters smiled. "Helios used dirty tricks to defeat her. Artemis is more powerful then him. With Artemis by your side, your chances of victory will be much higher," she said.
I thought about it for a moment. It was true - I would be a fool to turn down extra power if it was available. I nodded my agreement, and the hunters led me deeper into the tunnels.
Their determination was infectious, and I found myself feeling more hopeful than I had in a long time. With their help, I knew that I had a chance of defeating Helios and his army.
We eventually arrived at a hidden chamber, where the hunters had set up a makeshift headquarters. They had a cache of weapons and supplies, and they were already planning their next attack on Helios' forces.
As we walked, they told me their story. Artemis had fought against Helios, but she had been defeated and taken captive. The hunters had gathered in the tunnels to plan their rescue mission.
I felt a flicker of hope. With Artemis on our side, we might stand a chance of defeating Helios once and for all. But I couldn't shake the feeling of doubt - what if we failed? What if I wasn't strong enough to face Helios?
The hunters noticed my hesitation and the leader stepped forward. "We can do this," she said. "With Artemis and your skills combined, we can take down Helios and his army."
I thought about it for a moment, and then I realized she was right. Only an idiot would turn down extra power if it was offered to him for free. I nodded my agreement, and we set off towards Artemis' location.
As we moved forward to the headquarters of the hunters, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I was walking into the lion's den, and I knew that this mission could very well be my last. But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. With Artemis and the hunters by my side, I knew that we could do this. We could take down Helios and put an end to his tyranny once and for all.