The Fall

The barrier shattered.

Glowing fragments of light flickered and disappeared into the mist as the Cyclops lunged, its massive fist slamming down like a falling boulder.

Time slowed.

The power from my Apollo brothers burned through me, my body reacting before my mind could keep up. I threw myself to the side, rolling just as the Cyclops's fist smashed into the earth.

BOOM.

The ground split apart. The shockwave rattled the forest. Leaves and dirt shot into the air. The force nearly knocked me over, but I kept moving.

Not toward the others.

Away.

I had to keep it focused on me.

Then—I saw it.

The Cyclops wasn't looking at me anymore.

Its eye had shifted—toward where the others had escaped.

And then, it started walking after them.

No. No. No.

My stomach twisted. My hands curled into fists.

I had to stop it.

I looked down. A jagged rock sat in the dirt.

I grabbed it.

I didn't think. I just threw it.

CRACK.

The rock slammed into the Cyclops's eye.

It froze.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then—

A roar.

Not just a roar—a furious, raging scream.

The Cyclops snapped its head toward me.

Its molten eye burned with something new. Before, it was just chasing prey.

Now?

Now it wanted me dead.

I swallowed. "Yeah, that's what I thought. You and me, big guy."

I turned and ran.

The Chase

The forest shook as the Cyclops charged.

Its steps were like thunder. The ground rumbled. Trees trembled. The air hummed with tension.

I ran faster.

Dodging between trees. Weaving. Sliding. Jumping. I could hear it right behind me.

I skidded behind a tree, pressing my back against the bark. My breaths came sharp and fast.

The Cyclops stopped.

It couldn't see me.

It turned its head, scanning, confused.

I grinned. Time to mess with it.

I leaned out just enough for it to catch a glimpse of me. "Boo."

The Cyclops swung instantly, its massive fist smashing through the tree.

I was already gone.

I sprinted to the next tree, then the next. Always just out of reach.

"You gotta be faster than that, big guy!" I taunted, peeking from behind cover.

The Cyclops snarled. It lunged again.

Duck. Hide. Taunt.

Every time it thought it had me, I was already somewhere else.

The more frustrated it got, the sloppier it became.

Then—

The Cyclops stopped.

The Voice

It stood there, breathing heavy. Its fists were still clenched. Its eye flickered.

Then, in a voice that was small. Soft. Childlike.

"Stop it."

I froze.

My smirk disappeared.

Did I—did I hear that right?

The Cyclops stomped its foot, but this time, it wasn't out of rage.

It was different.

"Why… why is everybody so mean?"

The forest fell silent.

Something cold crawled down my spine.

The Goblin King never spoke. The other monsters didn't speak.

But this one—this thing—just talked.

I swallowed. "You… can talk?"

The Cyclops sniffled.

"They chase me. They hit me. They hurt me."

Its massive shoulders shook. Its fists, once filled with rage, now hung at its sides.

For the first time, it didn't look angry.

It looked scared.

I felt something tighten in my chest.

I took a slow step forward. "Who… who taught you to talk?"

The Cyclops hesitated.

Then, slowly, it raised a massive finger.

And pointed to the deep, jagged scar across its chest.

"He did."

I felt my breath hitch.

He?

"…Who?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Cyclops whimpered, shaking its head.

"I don't know."

Its voice cracked—like a child lost in the dark.

Then it sniffled again and looked straight at me.

"He told me to kill everyone in the jungle. In the forest."

My stomach twisted.

"Except you."

The Cyclops's massive frame shuddered.

"He wants me to capture you alive."

The words hit harder than they should have.

Everything around me seemed to blur for a second.

Who?

Who was he?

Why did he want me alive?

The Cyclops's eye welled up with fresh tears.

"If I don't… he'll lock me up again."

Its voice was barely above a whisper now.

"Or else… he will hurt me again."

Then—

The Cyclops broke down.

It fell to its knees, tears spilling from its single eye, its entire body shaking.

And for the first time since I entered this dungeon—

I didn't see a monster.

I saw a prisoner.