Crab and I ran behind the large boulder, now completely cloaked in darkness, making it nearly impossible to see. The only thing visible were small patches of fire lit in a straight line on the ground—our designated path.
It was time to put our plan into motion.
Crab transformed into his crab form and clung to my back—he was far too slow to outrun Cerberus on foot. I sprinted down the lit trail, and each time I approached one of the fire spots, I stamped it out with my foot as I passed.
The giant hound charged after us, faster than ever. It used the same leaping tactic it had learned before—having realized that simply chasing me wouldn't work, jumping was more effective.
But not this time.
Every time it tried to leap, I splashed oil onto its body and waved the torch, sending sparks flying onto its fur. The scent of oil must have triggered its instincts—Cerberus started raising its front legs in anticipation, trying to avoid the fiery sparks.
But this tactic wouldn't last forever. The oil from the torch was almost gone. I needed to keep the flame alive, just long enough for the final step.
As we neared the last fire, Crab turned back into human form. I quickly handed him the torch, then extinguished the final flame. Darkness blanketed the area. I slipped away into the shadows while Crab ran forward alone, torch in hand.
Cerberus charged toward the flickering flame dancing in the darkness. Crab ran with everything he had. The hound's attention was now entirely fixed on him.
After a short distance, Crab "accidentally" dropped the torch. He scrambled to pick it up, but it rolled too far ahead. Cerberus realized this was its moment—its chance to pounce. With a thunderous growl, it launched itself at Crab.
Just then, I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Now, Kinos—jump forward!"
Crab leapt forward as I commanded, vanishing into the darkness.
Cerberus lunged after him.
A massive splash echoed through the cavern—it had landed in the Stygian marsh.
The black waters of the marsh had perfectly concealed the trap. The beast flailed, trying to escape, but the sheer momentum of its jump had betrayed it. All three of its heads were buried deep in the mud, their necks wedged tight. Its hind legs flailed in the air. The heads tried to lift themselves out, but instead pulled in opposite directions. Their lack of coordination only caused the mire to suck the creature deeper and deeper.
And at last—Cerberus vanished beneath the surface, swallowed whole by the Stygian bog, never to return.
Crab, still in crab form, swam clumsily back to shore. He had transformed mid-jump, saving himself from being dragged down. Crawling up to the edge of the marsh, he reverted to his human form, panting hard. I rushed to his side and helped him to his feet.
Crab gave me a weary smile. "Hah... we did it, Sept. We're legends now, right?" He raised his hand.
I grinned and slapped his palm. "Yeah… we did it."
We had become the fourth and fifth people to pass Cerberus and cross through the Gate of Erebos.
I picked up the fallen torch. The flame was flickering, almost out. I held it up, lighting our way toward the large boulder ahead. We had to get there before it went out.
As we reached the boulder, the flame finally died. But it didn't matter—torches near the Gate of Erebos still lit the path forward.
Now, Crab and I stood before the gate itself. Hope filled both our faces. Our next destination lay just beyond:
The Fields of Punishment, where the Death-Cheater King—Sisyphus—was imprisoned.
Wait for us, Sisyphus. We're coming.