Deep in the jungle,
Achilleous ran for his life, not daring to look back. He had been running for what felt like hours, desperately trying to escape the pursuit of the Amazons.
He headed for the beach. The sailors had been left there—and with their help, he might yet escape this accursed jungle, or at least use their slaves to form a temporary defensive unit. Perhaps even counterattack.
Before they had docked, he'd counted: six dozen slaves across all the ships combined. With the soldiers left behind, there was still hope.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Whoosh.
It wasn't long before he heard the sound of crashing waves. The ocean. He was close. He surged forward, legs burning, eyes set with determination.
Minutes later, he broke through the treeline—and fell to his knees in despair.
The beach lay in ruin.
The ships were destroyed, their hulls splintered and their sails aflame, wrecked on the blood-stained coast. Corpses were strewn everywhere—sailors, soldiers, and slaves alike. Some lay half-buried in the sand, others bobbed in the surf.
Achilleous knelt on the wet sand, clenching a handful of it in his fists, breathing sharply.
His head hung low, and his hands trembled, veins bulging with rage.
Caw. Caw.
The cry of sea gulls filled the air.
Then—he looked up. Determination returned to his eyes. He rose and strode into the waves, toward the flagship's shattered hull. A massive hole yawned in its side, letting seawater pour in.
He dove into the breach and swam through the flooded lower deck, weaving past floating planks and bloated corpses. Eventually, he reached the staircase to the upper level.
Once there, he made his way to the captain's quarters. More bodies littered the deck, evidence of a swift and savage raid.
Inside, the room had been ransacked.
"Where did I put it?!" he muttered, panicked, flinging drawers open, tossing scrolls and debris.
Then—he froze.
"By the gods... here it is."
Discarded beneath a pile of documents lay what looked like a large seashell—rough in texture, but beautiful. Simple. Mysterious.
He clutched it tightly and made his way back to the deck.
There, he gazed at the cursed island.
Then at the shell.
His breath slowed. His eyes gleamed with desperate resolve.
"I have no choice," he whispered—and blew into the narrow tip of the shell.
KUUUHHUUUNNNN
A deep, thunderous sound echoed across the coast. The sea stirred violently. Clouds gathered. Thunder cracked.
ELSEWHERE ON THE ISLAND...
"Fierce as ever, Hippolyta," Heracles sneered as he shoved her back. "But without your girdle, your strength is feeble compared to mine."
"What I lack in strength," she replied coldly, dodging his club, "I make up for in skill—something you'll never understand."
BANG.
"Don't interfere," Heracles growled, swatting away an attacking Amazon.
The two circled one another with sharp eyes and coiled tension. Around them, the remaining Amazons drew closer, ignoring Heracles' warning, waiting for an opening.
Most of their sisters had already gone to hunt down the fleeing Athenians. The battle was almost over. All that remained was Heracles.
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
CRACK. BOOM.
Lightning slammed into the ground, the earth trembling from the force.
Rain began to pour in sheets.
Everyone froze.
Even Heracles paused, his expression darkening.
"Father...?" he whispered. Then sniffed the air. "No. Poseidon."
The rain halted midair.
Globes of water gathered above—churning, twisting in the sky like aquatic tornadoes.
And then—they fell.
BOOM.
From the first vortex, fish-like humanoids emerged, charging forward with tridents. Their bodies gleamed with scales, gills flaring at their necks, their faces eerily human yet tinged with blue-green hues. Sea-shell armor glistened on their torsos.
The rest began descending one by one.
The Amazons regrouped, shields raised, eyes narrowed. Heracles scowled.
"Call the reserves," Hippolyta commanded.
Lyssipe nodded and withdrew a horn. She whistled and mounted a galloping horse, disappearing toward the rear lines.
"You summoned Poseidon's spawn?" Hippolyta asked.
Heracles frowned. "Why would I bring those lunatics here?"
"Doesn't matter. They'll die like you," she growled.
Clop. Clop.
An Amazon approached on horseback from the direction of the Athenian catapults, followed by a unit.
"We chased the men to the beach," she reported. "Few survived. The rest are captured."
Heracles stood still, arms raised mockingly.
"Capture me too," he said with a grin. "I want the same treatment."
"Why aren't you attacking?" Agave, the one that arrived on the horse, asked curiously.
"Well, first—your sisters have spears aimed at my guts. Second—I'd rather die than fight beside sea scum."
"How old are you, girl?" he added.
"None of your business."
Heracles chuckled. "Reminds me of old times, Hippolyta. You, me, these violent but gorgeous followers of yours... so many memories."
"Until you tried to enslave us," she snapped.
Ignoring him, Hippolyta nodded. "Agave, take command."
As if on cue, a deep horn echoed.
Agave's eyes narrowed. "Sisters—prepare for battle!"
The Amazons rallied. Archers took position at the rear, swordswomen formed the middle ranks, and the vanguard locked shields and raised spears.
"Steady... steady... shields up!"
BAM.
"Archers—fire!"
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Arrows rained down on the fishmen.
"Spears ready! Hold!" Agave ordered.
"Lyssipe—now!"
Lyssipe took aim and hurled her spear.
THUD.
KRRREEEEECK.
It pierced the eye of the giant beast emerging from the jungle—a scaled monster with a grotesque rider: a misshapen creature in ruined Athenian armor, its face twisted and oozing with spores.
The beast howled in rage and charged, jaws snapping.
BOOM.
Lightning tore across the sky. The vortex paused.
EHRROOOMMM.
A massive rift opened.
Both sides froze.
The fishmen halted.
The beast trembled, snarling at the sky. Its eyes flickered red.
Then—
TOOOOM.
A golden shadow burst forth from the rift.
BOOM.
It struck the battlefield with the force of a meteor.
Back in the jungle clearing, Heracles turned to look.
A massive crater had formed.
Within it—something shone.
Then—
CRACK.
Hippolyta struck him across the jaw, grabbed his club, and swung.
The battle had only just begun.