The water grew darker and colder as Percy and his friends swam deeper into Atlantis. The once grand, gleaming buildings started to look more ominous, and the silence around them pressed down, heavy and unnerving. The sense of unease that had been growing inside Percy since they’d arrived only intensified the further they went.

“I don’t like this,” Thalia muttered, her voice echoing through the water. “It’s too quiet.”

Jason swam beside her, his expression tense. “Agreed. It feels like we’re being watched.”

Percy felt it too, that crawling sensation of unseen eyes tracking their every move. His grip tightened on Riptide, the familiar weight of the ballpoint pen giving him some comfort as they ventured deeper into the heart of the city.

Will was quiet, staying close to Nico. Piper swam ahead, her hands glowing faintly as she tried to sense any danger. Nico, ever the silent shadow, brought up the rear, his dark eyes scanning their surroundings with a wary intensity.

“Do you think Triton knows we’re here?” Piper asked as they swam past a series of looming statues.

“If he doesn’t yet, he will soon,” Percy answered grimly. “We’re not exactly blending in.”

Suddenly, a tremor shook the water around them, sending a ripple of movement through the sea. Percy tensed, his instincts on high alert.

“What was that?” Will asked, eyes wide as he glanced around.

Before anyone could answer, the tremor intensified, and the ground beneath them shifted. A low, ominous rumble echoed through the water, growing louder by the second.

“Move!” Percy shouted, grabbing Piper’s arm and pulling her back as a massive crack split the ocean floor beneath them. Jagged rocks and debris floated upward, carried by the force of the tremor.

Thalia and Jason shot forward, avoiding the rocks as the rest of the group scrambled to avoid being crushed. Nico and Will swam beside Percy, his movements sharp and precise as they dodged the falling debris.

“What the Hades is happening?” Thalia shouted, her eyes wide with alarm.

“It’s coming from the city,” Percy said, looking toward the palace in the distance. The tremors seemed to be radiating from there, growing stronger with every passing second.

They regrouped quickly, swimming as fast as they could toward the palace. The tremors grew more violent the closer they got, and the water around them churned with an unnatural energy.

When they finally reached the palace, they stopped just outside the massive gates, staring up at the towering structure. The tremors seemed to be coming directly from within, and a sense of foreboding settled over the group.

“We have to go in,” Percy said, though his voice was heavy with uncertainty. “There’s something inside… something we need to stop.”

Will hesitated, glancing at Percy. “Are you sure about this? We don’t even know what we’re walking into.”

“I know,” Percy said, gripping Riptide. “But we don’t have a choice. If we don’t stop whatever’s happening, Atlantis is going to collapse. The whole city is in danger.”

They moved toward the gates, which groaned open as they approached. The inside of the palace was cold and empty, a stark contrast to the grandeur they’d seen earlier. Shadows danced along the walls, and the strange energy they’d been feeling seemed to pulse from deep within the palace.

As they moved through the halls, they heard voices—low, guttural sounds that echoed through the water. Percy motioned for the others to stay quiet as they followed the sound, moving deeper into the palace.

When they reached the source of the voices, they found a large chamber at the center of the palace. In the middle of the room stood a tall, regal figure—Triton. He was surrounded by several other sea creatures, his face twisted in concentration as he manipulated the waters around him.

Percy’s heart raced as he watched Triton. The god seemed to be controlling the tremors, his power radiating outward in waves.

“Triton,” Percy whispered, eyes narrowing. “He’s the one causing this.”

Nico stepped forward, his voice low. “We need to stop him. Now.”

But before they could act, Triton’s head snapped up, his gaze locking onto them. His eyes narrowed as he straightened, his expression cold and calculating.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Triton said, his voice echoing through the chamber. “You have no idea what you’ve just walked into.”

Percy raised Riptide, the blade glowing with a soft light in the water. “We’re not leaving until you stop this.”

Triton smirked, his gaze sweeping over them with disdain. “You think you can stop me, little demigods? You’ve only just scratched the surface of what Atlantis truly is.”

Before Percy could react, Triton thrust his hands forward, and a massive wave of energy shot out toward them. The force of it slammed into Percy and the others, knocking them back through the water.

“Get up!” Percy shouted, struggling to his feet as the others scrambled to recover.

Triton’s power pulsed through the water, shaking the very foundation of Atlantis. The walls of the palace cracked, debris falling from the ceiling as the entire city seemed to quake under the strain of Triton’s magic.

“We have to stop him!” Thalia shouted, drawing her spear and charging forward. Jason followed close behind, his sword glowing with lightning as he prepared to strike.

Percy rushed toward Triton, Riptide in hand, but Triton was ready. With a flick of his wrist, he sent another blast of energy toward them, forcing them back once more.

“We’re running out of time!” Piper shouted, her voice strained as she struggled to stay upright. “The city’s going to collapse!”

Percy gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He knew they had to stop Triton, but the god’s power was overwhelming. The tremors were growing stronger, and the city wouldn’t last much longer.

In a last-ditch effort, Percy surged forward, his body moving on instinct as he swung Riptide with all his strength. The blade clashed against Triton’s trident, sending a shockwave through the water that rattled the entire chamber.

For a brief moment, Percy locked eyes with Triton, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that this battle was far from over—and that the fate of Atlantis rested on their shoulders.

“We need to end this,” Percy said through gritted teeth, his voice barely a whisper as he prepared for the final fight.