Compared to the Apollo of later myths—one of the Twelve Olympians, revered across the ages—the Apollo standing here now was still somewhat immature. Her experience and divine authority had yet to reach their full potential.
She had once slain Python, child of Gaia, in a battle that symbolized light piercing the darkness born of the earth.
But now, the situation seemed reversed.
The serpent lurked beneath the sea, waiting for the perfect moment to rise and devour the light whole.
Yet even in this grim situation, Apollo did not despair.
Gods cannot truly die. No matter how devastating the battle, their end is only a fall into the Underworld—into the endless abyss known as Tartarus.
It is the bottom of the world, the final prison, where all defeated Titans—including Cronus—are forever sealed.
To return from that abyss by one's own power is nearly impossible.
But from the outside, mighty gods—or the King of the Gods himself—can "retrieve" a fallen deity. In essence, they can release the imprisoned.
That's exactly what Hera had done, using her shared authority as Queen of the Gods to pull Python—whom Apollo had once killed—out of Tartarus and send it here once more.
So even if Apollo were devoured by Python today, she wasn't worried. Zeus would eventually bring her back.
More importantly, she wasn't entirely out of options yet.
Staring warily at the surface of the sea, Apollo used the brief lull before Python's next strike to speak to Eros.
"If I wanted to escape on my own, I could. But if I want to take you with me… there's only one way."
That one way—was the original plan she'd mentioned earlier: Descend to the Underworld.
Getting to the Underworld didn't require a long journey or some complicated ritual. All one needed was... to die.
Of course, the downside was that you'd have to win a resurrection match afterward.
But if Eros were eaten by Python, he'd likely be trapped in its belly—with no second chance.
Right now, that option seemed like their only escape.
Apollo had clearly been caught off guard by Hera's setup. There was no defeating Python in her current state. At best, she could defend herself.
After all, Python wasn't just some random sea monster—it was a beast born of Gaia, the primal Earth Mother.
Apollo stood ready, sword in one hand and a fading light barrier in the other, waiting for Eros's response.
Eros said nothing at first. He glanced at the shattered remains of the boat.
Even if they managed to defeat Python… they probably couldn't continue their voyage.
"Forget it. We're not at the point where we have to run."
He suddenly spoke, stepping forward with a calm resolve in his voice.
"Lend me your bow. Just because you can't beat it alone doesn't mean we can't do it together."
Apollo blinked in disbelief, as if she'd just heard something utterly absurd.
"Don't be ridiculous. That thing is a child of Gaia! You're just a human."
"If all you want is a goddess, there are plenty of pretty ones in the Underworld. No need to cling to the one floating in the sea."
She rejected him outright. A mortal fighting a god-tier monster? What kind of sleep-deprived nonsense was this?
"Hey, hey, cut it out. This has nothing to do with some goddess, alright?"
Eros scowled.
"The enemy is right in front of us, and we're not even out of options yet. Running would be meaningless."
He knew Hera was watching him. Even now, her gaze was surely locked on him.
He could take the easy way out—die, enter the Underworld, and flee from Python.
But in the Underworld?
If Hera could send Python here, what's stopping her from preparing another nightmare to greet him down there?
Running wouldn't change anything. The only option was to face it head-on.
In Hera's legends, she rarely fought directly. Instead, she unleashed curses or sent monsters to torment her rivals.
Just like the trials heroes face in myth—what they fear most isn't the battle, but the hidden traps waiting beyond.
"Besides," Eros added, "I'm actually a decent shot with a bow. If you can help me break through its defenses, I can hurt it."
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Apollo hesitated for a moment—then gave in.
Her bow, formed of pure light, appeared in her hands. She handed it to Eros.
But the shadows on her face grew darker.
"This bow contains half of my divine authority over light. If you can wield it, it'll definitely injure Python."
"I'll distract it and draw its attacks. You aim for the heart."
But deep down, she was uneasy.
Divine authority and sacred weapons weren't so easily handled. Even demigods had failed before.
Helios's own son, Phaethon, had once tried to steer the sun chariot—and lost control entirely.
Yet Eros grasped the bow with surprising ease. He pulled back the string, testing its weight—no resistance.
"It's heavy, but I can manage."
He had to push his electrical power to the limit just to fully draw the bow, but he managed.
Thunder from his sky-given authority merged with Apollo's light, radiating with piercing brilliance.
"Good," Apollo said softly. "Then let's begin."
Beneath the surface, Python could no longer hold back. It thrashed violently, churning the sea into chaos, clouds roaring overhead.
Apollo didn't know what came over her, agreeing to Eros's crazy idea.
But now that they'd committed, there was no turning back.
She began channeling her remaining energy, forcing the fragment of dark authority out of her body.
Sensing this, Python reacted.
Rather than surfacing, it struck from below—swinging its massive tail at Apollo.
She raised her now-dim golden sword, fending off the blow while continuing her purge.
Meanwhile, Eros fully drew the bow, eyes fixed on the water's surface. He focused on his target.
The eyes? Too risky—it'd just enrage it.
The head? Even if severed, some serpents still moved by reflex.
Then… the heart. That was the only sure way.
But where exactly was the heart on something this huge?
He'd hunted before, practiced archery out of boredom on the island—but this? This was new.
Steadying his breath and silencing the thudding of his heart, Eros drew the bow to its fullest and poured every ounce of his sky power into it.
Now, it would all come down to who moved first—and whether his aim would hit the mark.
Python, failing to interrupt Apollo after several attempts, finally grew impatient.
If it waited any longer and Apollo fully recovered, it might lose its only chance.
But Python wasn't some mindless beast either.
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!