As they neared the entrance to Atlantis, the towering gates of the city loomed before them, glittering with iridescent light that shifted with the motion of the water. Percy felt the pull of the ocean even stronger now, like it was drawing him toward something deeper within the heart of the ancient city. His connection to the sea hummed with a strange, unfamiliar energy, one that made his pulse quicken.

They passed through the gates in silence, their eyes wide as they took in the beauty and grandeur of Atlantis. Massive statues of sea creatures lined the streets, coral buildings stretching high into the water like skyscrapers. The whole city seemed to be alive, pulsating with an energy they couldn’t quite comprehend.

Will swam up next to Percy, his expression one of cautious awe. "This place... it’s more incredible than I imagined."

"I know," Percy murmured. "But something about it feels... off."

Piper floated nearby, her eyes scanning the city with a sense of wonder. "Do you think the gods built all of this? Or did something else?"

"Probably both," Nico said, his voice as dark as ever. "The gods rarely build things on their own. They like to get their hands dirty only when it suits them."

Thalia swam closer, her gaze fixed on the distant palace that towered over the rest of the city. "I don’t like it. It feels too... perfect. Like it’s hiding something."

Jason glanced over at her. "You’re always suspicious."

Thalia shrugged, but her hand rested on her weapon as if expecting something to jump out at any moment. "I’ve learned not to trust things that seem too good to be true."

Percy frowned, his mind drifting to the words of Poseidon. His father had sent him on this mission to reclaim his throne, but the more they explored Atlantis, the more uneasy he became. He could feel the city’s power, its ancient magic pressing down on him like a weight, and it made him wonder what kind of kingdom Atlantis truly was.

The group continued through the city, swimming through the narrow streets and past towering monuments. Schools of fish darted past them, and strange, glowing sea creatures roamed freely, paying little attention to the demigods.

As they swam deeper into Atlantis, they passed by what looked like an old temple. The building’s walls were cracked and worn, the statues lining its entrance crumbled with age. Percy felt a strange pull toward it, a sense of familiarity that made him pause.

"Wait," Percy said, his voice catching the others' attention. He floated toward the temple, his heart racing. "This place... it feels important."

Will exchanged a glance with Jason, then swam closer to Percy. "What do you mean?"

"I don’t know," Percy admitted, his gaze fixed on the worn stone entrance. "But I think we need to check it out."

The others hesitated, but eventually, one by one, they followed Percy into the temple.

Inside, the temple was dark and cold, the water around them still and heavy. The walls were covered in ancient carvings of sea creatures and gods, their faces worn smooth by centuries of erosion. In the center of the room stood a large stone altar, glowing faintly with a blue light.

Piper frowned as she floated toward the altar, her fingers brushing the stone surface. "What is this place?"

"It’s old," Nico said, his voice low. "Really old. And powerful."

As Percy approached the altar, the blue light intensified, growing brighter with each step. The closer he got, the stronger the pull became, until it felt like the ocean itself was calling out to him, urging him to take his place.

"Percy, are you sure about this?" Thalia asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Percy nodded, though his heart pounded in his chest. He placed his hand on the altar, and the moment he did, a surge of energy shot through him, filling him with a strange sense of power and clarity. Images flashed through his mind—images of Poseidon, of Triton, and of the throne beneath the waves.

He pulled his hand away, gasping for breath. The others rushed to his side, concern etched on their faces.

"Are you okay?" Will asked, his hand hovering near Percy’s shoulder.

"I’m fine," Percy said, though his voice was shaky. "But I know what I have to do now. Poseidon didn’t just send us here to reclaim a throne. There’s something deeper going on in Atlantis. Something... dangerous."

Jason frowned. "What do you mean?"

Percy shook his head. "I don’t know exactly, but I saw Triton. He’s been ruling Atlantis in Poseidon’s absence, and I think... I think he’s hiding something. Something the gods didn’t tell us about."

"Typical," Nico muttered, crossing his arms.

Thalia’s eyes narrowed. "So, what’s the plan? If Triton’s hiding something, we can’t just go barging in and demanding answers."

"We’ll need to be careful," Percy said, his mind racing. "If we confront Triton directly, we could end up in serious trouble. We have to find out what he’s hiding first."

Piper nodded, determination in her eyes. "Then let’s figure it out. We didn’t come all this way for nothing."

With the others in agreement, they left the temple and swam deeper into the heart of Atlantis, ready to uncover the secrets that lay beneath the waves. But even as they pressed forward, Percy couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was waiting for them in the depths. Something that would change everything they thought they knew.