I stepped out of the darkness into the blinding daylight, so bright that I had to stop and squint for a moment, my eyes watering as I adjusted. As they did, I realized that I was standing on a hillside looking down on a beautiful country military facility with a series of long runways and several hangars.

The Nevada entrance to Tartarus overlooks District 51.

Well, why not. It has to be somewhere, and that place – by all means – is a real weird magnet. Speaking of which, I stand in the field of view of a high-security military facility. Not wise.

I activated my helmet and briefly closed my eyes, the headband unfurled and wrapped around my head. The head-up monitor quickly assessed my surroundings and equipment, and then went into what I guessed as "still": the time and date appeared in the upper right corner of my field of vision with my current location ("Bridegroom Lake, Nevada, Pretty Country").

"Hmm...... How do I turn on invisibility? I asked the helmet. Oh, I won't give a manual.

The HUD has changed slightly, and a note appears in the upper left corner: "InvisibilityEnabled". Looking down, I saw that my hands and arms—and presumably the rest of me—were completely transparent. The helmet gave me a vague outline in my field of vision.

I tried stealth a few times during training and found it surprisingly disorienting and unable to tell where my body was by sight. Since my helmet gave me a visual guide to mitigate the situation, I guess I'm not the only one with this issue.

Strangely, I took a few steps and looked back again. As promised, my boots left no marks on the sand. Like Hades said, I can pass without leaving a trace. I wonder how complex the magic that makes this possible, how far it can push in front of my orbit, and how visible I will become anyway. I mentally made a note to ask Mel to do some testing on this later.

So what now? I had to find the Minotaur that emerged from this entrance about two weeks ago. It only took me a few minutes to determine that it was either using some kind of magic to hide its passages, or that its trail was – more likely – obscured by the weather long ago.

I could go to the facilities at Lake Groom and lurk to see if anyone was talking about the wild minotaurs in the area, but somehow it felt like a beginner. Luckily, I've learned to track creatures by means other than physically, and I very much hope that my helmet facilitates that tracking. While I know the spells that can do this, and how to cast them, I'm free to do other things if my device is capable. So I gave it a try.

"Turn on Reiki Tracking." I whispered. "The target is the male Minotaur who passed by here about two weeks ago."

The heads-up monitor moved, and a moment later, a series of footprints began to glow faintly on the ground, flying towards the west. They are huge imprints with a much larger stride than any normal person. The message flowed down the right side of the HUD in my peripheral vision, telling me that based on the remaining life energy of the trajectory, the minotaur was estimated to be nine feet tall and weighed about half a ton.

I swallowed. Well, at least mom's gift is as useful as I hoped. With this magical technique, how difficult it is to track down and find a half-ton minotaur.

"Extrapolating possible paths from trajectories." I could trace the footprints one by one, but who knows what this creature is doing. I probably don't have much time to waste.

The helmet's HUD shows a map of the surrounding area with a "You're here" marker to show exactly where I am. Before the helmet could continue to track them from my location, the footprints had left for almost a mile. After a short pause, the path marked on the map splits into three possible paths. Two of them separated again, but the middle one remained unbroken. Each path is marked with a percentage, and I use any data from helmet usage to indicate how likely it is that the minotaur will take this path.

Uninterrupted paths are marked as the most likely paths. Again, I mentally made a note of doing some testing with Mel to figure out what standard it was going to use, but for now, I'm working. "Alright then, I'll go."

I started jogging along the designated route and then concentrating and jumping like a jump. In the blink of an eye, I was a hundred yards longer than I had been. Gaze teleportation is something I've used before during training, and I've long since become a great "captain" (the modern buzzword for the technology). I made another mental record, thanking Hades for including this ability in the power of my boots, and got started.

I walked like this for an hour, walking a hundred yards forward every few steps, stopping occasionally to let the helmet's sensors update the map and tracks. It continued uninterrupted, without shifting throughout the hours I followed it.

When the HUD indicated that the direction I was heading was 100% the right path, I finally stopped. It showed more ghostly footprints on the ground where the huge stuff passed, indicating that they were only a few days old and much fresher than the original.

"Why is this the most likely path?" I asked curiously, glancing the horizon to see only low bushes, hills, and sand.

The map in my HUD replied and drove another 200 miles to show me a town. Demographic information indicates that it has been abandoned for some time. This would be the perfect place for the Minotaur to set up camp.

"Reasonable. Thank you Mom. "I thought about stepping into town, but quickly gave up on the idea. I'd rather approach it slowly, maybe go around it and take a look from a distance before moving in. So, I started jogging and started jumping over my path again.

It took me over an hour to get there, stopping a few times to determine my bearing and make sure I was still on the right path. I was, and ended my trip, stretching over the lower levels overlooking town, peering down through my helmet, which was like a pair of high-quality binoculars to me. There was a major intersection in the center of town, which looked like it was just a few hours ago, and there was still something dragging in the dust.

Definitely the right place, I thought, but where would he be hiding in the city?

I looked up and quickly decided that he wouldn't be in town at all. Half a mile west of town is an old amusement park, where everything is as dilapidated and deserted as the town itself.

New trailing paths, as well as other similar trails through the dust, are headed in that direction. The same goes for the faintly glowing footprints that my helmet began to show.

I jumped in the direction of the amusement park and took a spot on one of the rooftops on the edge of town, crouching behind a low wall around the flat roof. I believe that my helmet will make me invisible to the eyes of mortals...... But too many monsters (and other immortal creatures) have a way of seeing through the invisible. No form of invisibility is completely foolproof. It's best to be cautious.

Also, it's time to figure out the last secret of my sword. I pulled out Cerberus' sheath and lifted it up...... Then he sighed and tapped the side of the helmet with his free hand. Of course I don't see it anymore. While invisible, while useful, it also has its drawbacks.

I crouched a little lower to make myself visible again so I could scrutinize my weapon. It's easy to get lost in appreciating the craft, so I focused my attention on the two-handed grip of the sword, where I discovered the pressure-based controls that turn it into a spear. There has to be another combination.

Yes. It only took me a moment to figure it out, and this time I was ready for it, as Cerberus suddenly began to deform. As the shank lengthens and thickens, the blade segments and shortens to the length of the spear blade. In an instant, I was holding what looked like a mixture of a sniper rifle and an assault rifle.

It has a tubular red body with a hollowed-out triangular shoulder rest made of the shaft folded in two. The hilt and guard have been moved and re-formed into an angled rifle grip, while the blade is split in half and folds upwards to form the grip and handguard. The bottom of the rifle has a port, which looks like it is designed to receive a magazine, and a charging handle on the right side.

At the same time, three new readings appeared in the HUD of my helmet: the first reading was "Energy Level", which showed 100%; The second reads "Power Level" and sets it to 50%; The third reads "Ammunition Count" and has a small infinity symbol next to it. I tilted the rifle and found three controls on the left side, just above where my thumb would naturally rest on the grip. One is a shooting selector switch (single, 3-shot burst and automatic) with a safety device behind it. The third is a slider (labeled "Strength") that is about halfway up the length of its notch.

The whole rifle seemed to hum softly in my hand.

Oddly enough, I pushed the intensity slider as far as possible and watched as the power level reading in my helmet's HUD went to 100% and the ammo count meter went to 30. I pulled the slider back to the middle mark and the readings returned to their original settings.

Interesting. Energy Rifles? So why does it have a magazine slot and a charging handle?

I took out the large magazine that Daedalus gave me, doubting whether the wide magazine would fit into a narrow magazine - put it at the bottom of the rifle. The Cerberus changed shape accordingly, becoming thicker so that it could accommodate magazines, and the bolt area was expanded to manage large ammunition. The readings on my helmet's HUD have also changed: the charge indicator drops to 0%, while the ammo count goes to 6.

Wow. I wonder how nimble Cerberus is with different types of ammo – when I took the magazine out and put it back in my bag, it was the third mental note of the day with Mel's test. Then I changed Cerberus to a spear form, and cautiously peeked over the edge of the low wall on the roof of an abandoned amusement park.

I saw that it was not so much an amusement park as a traveling circus that had taken root and died out with the town. There are the remains of three huge connected tents, the tent poles still standing, supporting the tattered and faded canvas wreckage. Some double-sized trailers were placed in place with a number of small structures attached to them, many of which were bent and decayed with age. A partially collapsed roller coaster stopped on one side, and a Ferris wheel stopped not far away, leaning dangerously to one side.

The minotaur's most recent trail, leaving a trail of blood on the ground that still glistened - led to a building that didn't look so dilapidated. When I zoomed in on it, I saw its faded logo declaring it to be "Incredible Mirror Maze Amusement Park!" ”

I fell to the ground, my helmet forehead slamming against the edge of the low wall. Of course, it dwells in a labyrinth. "For reference," I said, if Hades is watching my progress, "I like to eat my crow fried with french fries." Thank you. ”

Peeking again from the edge of the low roof wall, I assessed the condition of the buildings on both sides of the amusement park. Neither of them looked sturdy enough to risk jumping over.

"Damn," I sighed. I didn't really want to approach from the street, but it looked like I had no choice. Front door or back door? Either way, the minotaur might find me and let me into whatever rest of the mirror maze is. It's better to go ahead.

I didn't bother to make myself invisible again, I stood up and gently jumped over the low wall. Minotaurs generally have poor long-range vision, and most of their hunting is done through smells and sounds, and my helmet and boots are not silenced. At least, I know that I won't rely on them to do so unless I'm sure they are.

For the demigods, the fall of three floors was short-lived. My natural ability, combined with the boost my training and my new role as Avatar gave me, allowed me to land briskly as if I was jumping down the last step of a staircase, bending my legs slightly to absorb a small part of the impact I felt. I trotted forward a few steps, unfolded the shield on my left forearm, and jumped into the elongated shadow of the small building across the amusement park ("Look at the amazing bearded lady!"). Living statues! Three-armed man! ”）。

The only sounds I heard were the wind, and the squeaks of wood and metal from trailers and buildings. I wouldn't be surprised if two Old West gunmen took to the street.

I focused on the fresh blood on the ground in front of the playhouse and whispered, "Can you analyze the blood stains for me?" ”

A reading appeared on the left side of the HUD of my helmet, and the data scrolled too fast, and I looked at it for a few seconds before I was told it was deer blood. I exhaled and relaxed a little. At least this thing doesn't have the dead or dying hostages I need to worry about.

Small favors. Bad enough, I'm going to have to go there.

With a flick of his fingers, Cerberus conjured back into a sword, which I gripped tightly with my right hand. The interior of the building is not a place to fight with spears, and I would like to try to bring this thing back if I can.

I tiptoed through the streets, holding my shield in front of me, just in case. When I climbed the steps, past the dried bloodstains, and into the amusement park, nothing moved.

There is no lighting inside, but there are holes in the walls and ceiling so I can see enough daylight. There's a short foyer filled with old posters ("Don't get lost in the incredible maze of mirrors!"). Then there was an open doorway with mirrors on both sides.

I took a deep breath, steadied myself, shifted control of Cerberus, and hooked my left hand to the belt on the inside of the shield. Finally, I took my first step and slowly walked into the labyrinth.

The lack of a protective mirror made me a little nervous. There are too many creatures that can use them as a way to travel, or as a way to eavesdrop on you. That's why the mirrors in my room – and all the mirrors I've seen as a kid – are heavily guarded. to prevent them from being used like that.

These people were completely defenseless, and I was surrounded by them. The good news is that they can't be very thick or very strong, and many are clouded and dusty by age. And, of course, I'm not at all worried about smashing and smashing through them if I have to. No one complained about the property damage afterwards.

"I smell you, Avatar," a deep, rugged voice said. It seemed to echo around me due to the labyrinth's eerie acoustics. "I hear your breathing. I see you crawling forward. Never hunted a minotaur before, right. ”

Actually, I didn't. I did mock hunts with them during training, but the worst things I've ever fought were friendly demigiants and the occasional rough centaurs. None of them tried to kill me, they just beat me up.

Am I biting more than I chew? No, I'm Avatar and I'm well trained. I can do that.

"Come out, Minotaur!" I called back and was glad to hear that my voice didn't waver at all. "We can go home in peace."

"Back to the cave? A cell? I'm going to wind in my face and I'm going to bleed on my horns, stupid girl! ”

I looked left and right, but only saw my own distorted reflection. He put me at a huge disadvantage, and I know that. But we're in a tight space, and that's going to limit his ability to use his full speed and power again......

He crashed through the mirror in front of me and hit my shield with his horn, hitting me directly in the head, causing me to roll back from the two rows of mirrors. Broken glass fell all around me, and I felt a slight tug and puncture as the shards streaked across my bare skin.

"Never, never, never lie on the ground," Hercules told us. "Most of the things you might end up fighting against will be bigger, stronger, and worse than you. Lying on the ground, you are vulnerable. Get back on your feet as soon as possible. ”

I rolled my legs up, rolled to the side, blocked a kick in my head with my shield, and used the force of the impact to turn me back to my feet. I transformed the Cerberus into its rifle form, and I stood up and rested its muzzle against the inward curve of the front edge of my shield. My thumb stroked the selector switch, increasing the intensity to 75%.

Then I pulled the trigger.

Cerberus crackled and spewed three rays of red-gold energy from the muzzle of its gun, three more when I pulled the trigger again. The gunfire was real, hitting the minotaur in the face and chest.

I'm kind of lucky, really. His skin was apparently too thick and hard to penetrate all but the most powerful blast from Cerberus...... But one of my shots hit him directly in the left eye and burned him off the head.

The minotaur raised its head and howled.

I made a quick gesture and stretched out the spear of Cerberus and threw it out with all my force to be reckoned with. Really, the magic blade pierced through the minotaur's skin, and the energy explosion didn't ...... But not where I was aiming, stabbed deep into his stomach. The creature's painful movements made me keep my head down, but by the time it looked like it was going to lean forward, it was already leaning back.

Well, nonsense.

He glared at me with the rest of his eyes, covering his face with his left hand, hiding the damage I had caused. The minotaur dragged Cerberus out with his right hand and threw it at my feet. "Lucky blow," he growled. "Try again, I dare."

I bent down and picked up Cerberus—

After a while, I was dizzy and crashed from one side of the building into the dusty street outside.

"Oh," I groaned, pausing on my back and lying on the cracked pavement. "That's stupid."

As I assisted in leaving, the Minotaur appeared in the hole I had opened on the side of the building. "That's stupid!" He smiled rudely, inadvertently responding to my emotions.

"Yes," I agreed, and stood up, holding Cerberus in his right hand, which turned back into a sword. I held my shield in front of me and prepared for battle. "Second round?"

He rolled his neck and shrugged his shoulders, and I swore I could actually hear his tendons crackling and popping. "I've never killed an Avatar. However, it was all the first time. ”

"And I didn't know that the minotaurs were smart enough to string whole sentences together," I scoffed, even though I knew they were. Artemis tells us during his training that minotaurs are actually very sensitive to their perceived intelligence. "You learn something new every day."

Artemis was quite right. The minotaur roared, jumped down from the hole in the building, lowered his head, and rushed forward.

I'm ready for him this time. I slid to the right and slammed my shield on the side of his head injury, and he was moving through the space I had just occupied, moving like a runaway train. The loud "thump" of my shield hitting the hard flesh and horns was almost ridiculous, though it sent a temporarily numbing vibration on my left arm.

At the same time, I stretched out my left foot.

I know it's a cheap trick, but you'll be surprised at how often it works, especially against angry opponents. His foot stepped on the shin of my armor and he threw himself face forward into the road, moving so fast that his momentum took him to the rest of the road, crashing into the grotesque show building. His horn ended up stuck in the woods.

I jumped about ten feet above his head and came down heavily, flipping Cerberus into a reverse grip and pushing it against his unprotected back. Once again, my aim was interrupted by his movements, and he wrenched his horns out of the building, and my blade touched his shoulder blades and flew to the side. A wound, but not even close to a serious wound.

He rolled over and slapped me off his back. I grabbed a blow from the shield, but it was still strong enough for me to fly. I fell off the railing of the freak show steps and fell to the other side.

However, when I fell off one of the steps and was pulled out of my hands, Cerberus was already ahead on one of them.

"Bad luck, Avatar," the minotaur roared and stood up. "Lost your beautiful weapon."

Oh, that's great.