Just as the Terror’s mouth grew even wider, preparing to swallow him whole, Thunder appeared out of nowhere to take the hit that was meant for Sam.

“Get out of the way…” Sam whispered.

The Terror’s maw latched down on Thunder’s left shoulder. There was no doubt it had pierced her chest, too.

“No…” Sam breathed. “No…”

Thunder managed to keep the Terror’s mouth from snapping completely shut. She’d grabbed at both ends of its maw and held them open through sheer force of will.

“It’s not over yet!” she screamed.

But Sam could tell that it was. Blood was dripping down Thunder’s back even worse than when she’d had a hole in her stomach.

The Terror’s hand latched onto her arm to pull her off it, but Thunder wouldn’t budge. Her body shuddered as she tried to hold on. Even now she struggled to endure.

“Godsdammit,” Sam whispered. “Take me instead…”

[Here’s lesson number two, kid: persevere! No matter the pain, no matter the struggle, a true hero never stops to answer the call when it is given!]

Sam bit his lip while he read Chiron’s words.

[So get up, lame-brain!]

“Argh!” Sam screamed as he tried to push himself off the ground. Pain caused his hands to shudder. “Argh~~h!”

[Come on, kid! Show me you’ve got what it takes!]

As if it had responded to his will, Sam’s regeneration strengthened the muscles of his arms and legs, allowing him to get on one knee.

Sam gasped for air. “I...I can do this...”

[I’m going to skip to lesson number ten. It’s called self-sacrifice. Remember, the very embodiment of heroism is the will of self-sacrifice. Putting yourself in front of danger to protect others, that’s what being a hero’s all about.]

Sam’s gaze drifted toward Thunder. He imagined the master was talking about her.

“I can do this,” Sam said, a little louder this time.

Strength flowed into his veins once more, just enough of it so he could rise to his feet.

“Hold on, Thunder,” Sam gasped.

She didn’t respond, but her posture stiffened at hearing Sam’s voice.

Sam knew healing Thunder wasn’t an option. Not when they were both so close to death. Only one route remained to him.

He reached down for the hammer that was lying on the ground. His fingers grasped onto its handle. Then he gritted his teeth and whispered, “Herculean...”

[Ha-ha-ha! Your determination’s giving me goosebumps, kid!]

A familiar pressure spread across his body as the temporary power flowed through him.

Onus felt even heavier in his hands, which meant his burden had probably increased, especially now that he was responsible for a life other than his own.

“Hold on just a little longer,” he told Thunder as he limped past her.

The Terror was so focused on eating her, it ignored Sam’s approach completely. Crackling energy radiated out of the jagged spear embedded a third of the way into the Terror’s chest.

Sam knew he had one shot. Once he threatened its life, the Terror would immediately move to put him down. Despite the shiver running up his spine, Sam felt pretty relaxed.

Sam launched himself forward and the Terror reacted instantly. Its remaining hand detached from Thunder and whipped back to smack at Sam like it had done earlier. Instinct drove Sam to dodge the first attack. The second one grazed his side, causing him to wince in pain. But it didn’t matter now—Sam was within reach of the thunderbolt.

His vision was clouding over. “I can do this!”

Sam swung Onus up toward the thunderbolt with what little strength remained in him, and in that one shot drove it deep into the Terror’s chest so that the other end of it pierced out of the heavily injured horror’s back.

The thunderbolt unleashed all its energy. As the brilliant light exploded outward, the force of it sent Sam flying back and crashing onto the ground far, far away.

He was lying face up with his gaze turned to the night sky. As consciousness began to leave him, Sam thought the constellations above were much brighter than usual, as if to point out that the gods were watching.

Darkness covered his vision, and the last thing he saw was a system notification.

[CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed the mission [Save the Girl, Save the World].]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

Then oblivion finally took him.