Heartcoded

David and Python

You exhale slowly. "I was hoping an idea would come to me by now, but no. What can you tell me about Python?"

"They're chaos incarnate. Not evil, but something in between," David replies. "The environment will turn against us. When we find Python, there won't be much time to act."

You nod, ideas forming in your mind as you walk. You'll need Poseidon's blessing to defeat Python, of that much you're sure.

The tunnel narrows sharply ahead, forcing you to crouch. The hissing grows louder, vibrating through the walls. A tremor rumbles beneath your feet, and you stumble as stalagmites and stalactites grow suddenly, fusing together to block the way forward.

David raises the torch, its light dancing over the jagged barrier. Only then do you notice an opening above his head.

You point upward. "There's an opening."

He studies it. "It'll be tight. I'll go first and help you through."

David hands the torch to you and jumps, gripping the ledge of the narrow opening. Muscles taut, he pulls himself up, disappearing into the gap. A moment later, his hand reappears, reaching for you.

You plant the torch in a small crevice and grasp his hand. He pulls you up as you wiggle through the tight space, barely able to move. You pause to grab the torch, dragging it behind you as you crawl forward. The passage is short, but it feels longer as the stone presses in on you.

On the other side, David drops down first, then reaches up to help you. His hands grip your waist, steadying you as you land.

The air here is thick. Steam rises from cracks in the floor, and the torchlight flickers against the uneven walls.

"Stop," David says, his arm snapping out to block your path. You look down, startled, to see your foot hovering above a bubbling pool of water. He pulls you back, the scalding heat of the steam brushing your skin.

"Thanks," you say, your voice unsteady. "Hang on, before we continue, I have a plan."

David stops, turning to you with curiosity.

"I am going to channel Poseidon's power, but I will need time. Can you buy me time?" you ask.

"I will try my best," David agrees.

As you continue on, the hissing grows louder and the ground trembles beneath you. The narrow tunnel finally opens into a vast cavern.

The belly of the beast.

The heat presses in, radiating from the ground and walls. The ceiling disappears into shadow, and the floor is uneven, fractured by jagged rocks and glowing fissures that faintly illuminate the walls. At the cavern's center, Python looms.

Its immense coils dominate the space, the dark scales shifting like a living tide, merging with the shadows and the earth. Steam rises from its massive body, the sound of hissing and crackling filling the cavern. Its serpentine head rises slowly, gleaming eyes locking onto you.

The ground shudders as Python moves, the vibration reverberating through the air. The hissing deepens into a guttural growl that seems to come from the stone itself. Chaos incarnate waits, coiled to strike.

"Left, behind the stone," David says under his breath, then darts to the right. Python's gaze follows him, and you take the opening, lunging for cover. You pull your legs in just as the serpent's coils rush past, its bulk displacing the air with force.

Poseidon's power stirs in your chest. The water and steam in the air feel alive, connected to you, ready to obey your call. You need it all, every drop.