They had fought monsters before. They had survived giants, Titans, curses, storms, and gods with grudges.

But nothing — nothing — felt like this.

The air was wrong. Heavy. Almost humming. Like the world was holding its breath.

Even Jason said quietly, “I’ve never felt power like this.”

Annabeth kept her knife up, analyzing every shadow. Percy stayed close to her, tense. Piper whispered charmspeak under her breath just to keep the fear off everyone’s faces. Leo’s hands shook over his tool belt, and Hazel’s eyes glowed faintly with warning. Frank shifted restlessly, trying to stay brave.

And at the front? {{user}}. The one everyone quietly, secretly depended on — the one who always ran straight into danger first.

But even the Seven could see it: Something was different now. Something was wearing you down. Something was… changing you.