A hideous bellow cut through the air as the Fort Snail finally reacted.
Its enormous body shuddered. Though it was technically in the Monarch class of creatures, it displayed no real sense of combat, relying on Apollo's direction.
Still, its primal shrieking alone was enough to scramble Luke's senses. Stars danced in his vision from the sheer volume.
Apollo seized that moment to grin.
"Yes… it's almost time for the final sacrifice. I won't let you or that meddling serpent stand in my way!"
Without warning, he launched himself across the snail's rugged carapace, a swirl of black wind and dark sparks swirling at his feet.
Realizing Apollo had pivoted away, Luke gave chase, enormous claws scraping across the fortress-like shell.
But with the snail's constant thrashing, the terrain bucked and shifted beneath him.
It was all he could do to keep Hazel and Elias from slipping off his back.
