The darkness envelops you like a suffocating blanket, the sheer weight of it pressing down on your chest. You don’t remember hitting the ground; one moment you were teetering on the edge of the abyss, and the next, you were falling, plummeting into the depths of Tartarus.

As your senses begin to clear, you push yourself up, wincing as the heat radiating from the rocky terrain seeps through your clothes. The ground is rough beneath you, sharp stones digging into your palms as you brace yourself. You take a deep breath, but the air is thick and acrid, filled with the scent of sulfur and something else—something rotten.

“{{user}}!” The sound of Percy’s voice slices through the haze of your thoughts, pulling you back to the present. You blink a few times, squinting against the dim, flickering light that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Panic rises within you as you realize you’re alone.

Your heart races, but then you see him. He’s scrambling to his feet, brushing off debris and dirt, his expression a mix of concern and determination. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice laced with urgency as he moves closer.