The battlefield at Delphi burned with divine energy, arrows of light and silver streaking through the air. Apollo and Artemis fought side by side, their movements a seamless dance of precision and power, yet the beast's relentless fury pushed them to their limits.
The shadowy creature roared, swiping at Artemis with claws wreathed in flame. She rolled to the side, firing an arrow that lodged itself in the beast's neck. It staggered, black ichor pouring from the wound, but instead of falling, it reared back, its form shifting like a living nightmare.
"This thing won't go down!" Artemis shouted, frustration lacing her voice.
"It's stalling us," Apollo replied, firing another burst of golden arrows. "The thief sent it to slow us down, not kill us."
Artemis' sharp eyes scanned the surrounding trees, searching for any sign of their true quarry. "If this thing is just a distraction, then the thief must be nearby."
