The ocean channels pulsed with an urgent blue light as Cale pressed his palm against the massive trident door. His face, illuminated from below, twisted with concentration, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool, damp air.
The water swirled expectantly around his ankles, gathering in intricate patterns that fed into the glowing sigil, yet the massive stone barrier remained stubbornly unmoved.
Apollo felt the bow vibrate against his spine, its song matching the rhythm of the channeled water with such precision that his teeth ached. The gold in his veins responded in kind, warming beneath his skin like metal held too close to flame.
"Nothing's happening," Nik whispered, his voice unnaturally loud in the chamber's hushed atmosphere.
Cale pressed harder, his jaw clenched with effort. The trident blazed brighter beneath his touch, casting sharp shadows across the ancient walls, yet the door remained sealed.
