The howling wind was the first thing Percy felt—the cold, unrelenting pressure of the storm that surrounded them. Snow whirled in blinding sheets, and the temperature plummeted, sinking deep into her bones. The snow was everywhere, falling in thick flurries, coating the ground, and swirling around her like an endless white sea. The air felt thin, sharp, as though even breathing was a struggle.

With each step, the freezing cold nipped at her skin, but Percy didn't falter. The storm raged, but she had faced worse. She had fought monsters, gods, and the endless sea. This was just another challenge to overcome.

At least, that's what she told herself.

Beside her, Artemis moved with the grace and ease of a goddess born of the moon and hunt. Her steps barely left a trace in the snow, and the storm seemed to part for her, never fully touching her. The goddess's silver eyes glinted with determination, her form a striking contrast to the chaos around them. But even Artemis wasn't untouched by the storm. Percy could see the faint tension in her posture, the way she narrowed her eyes against the relentless wind.

"Keep moving," Artemis said, her voice cutting through the wind like a blade. "The trial isn't over until we've passed the storm."

Percy nodded, determination tightening her chest. Her limbs felt heavy, weighed down by the cold, but she pushed forward, one step at a time. Every instinct told her to run, to find shelter, but she couldn't—there was no turning back now.

Snow piled up around her ankles, and the wind howled in her ears, threatening to deafen her. She could barely see more than a few feet ahead, but she trusted Artemis to lead her. She had to.

After what felt like an eternity of fighting the storm, the ground beneath them began to change. The snow seemed to settle, and the intensity of the wind slowed, if only slightly. They had made it to the heart of the trial.

Ahead, through the shifting snow, Percy saw something—a massive wall of ice rising from the earth, its jagged edges gleaming like the teeth of some ancient beast. The ice towered over them, its surface reflecting the pale, flickering light of the storm.

"This is it," Artemis said, her voice steady despite the storm's lingering chill. "We must break through."

Percy swallowed hard, her breath visible in the icy air. "Break through? How?"

Artemis turned to her, her silver eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "With the strength of your powers. You must break the ice—show that you are strong enough to endure the cold, the trial, and the pressure."

Percy nodded, her pulse quickening. She closed her eyes for a moment, calling on the power of the sea that flowed through her veins, the same force that surged beneath the tides, carrying storms and waves in its wake. She let the water inside her rise, harnessing the energy of the ocean. The cold pressed against her, but the water inside her resisted it, a force that couldn't be stopped.

She raised her hands, calling on the power of the tides. At first, it was a trickle, a faint pulse of water bending to her will. But as she focused, the power grew—filling her with strength, filling the very air around her with a force that rivaled the storm itself. The ground beneath her feet seemed to shudder as the water formed around her, swirling in the air, calling to the sea.

Then, with a mighty cry, Percy thrust her hands forward, channeling the full force of the ocean's power into the ice.

The first crack sounded like thunder. A deafening, sharp noise that echoed across the mountain plateau. The ice trembled and cracked, splitting down the middle as Percy pushed her power to its limits. But the wall didn't break completely—it began to reform, the cracks healing as fast as they appeared, as though the ice was alive.

"No," Percy muttered, her teeth clenched in frustration. She couldn't let this happen. She couldn't fail.

Artemis stepped forward, her voice calm and steady as always. "Focus, Percy. You're not just using the sea's power. You need to understand the cold, the ice. You must see it as part of yourself. Feel it, rather than resist it."

Percy's brow furrowed as she listened to Artemis's words. She knew Artemis was right—she had been fighting against the ice, resisting it like a storm at sea. But to defeat it, to truly break through, she had to embrace it.

The icy winds howled once more, and for a brief moment, Percy allowed herself to feel it—the cold creeping into her chest, into her very soul. She embraced the chill, not as an enemy, but as a part of herself. The sea, the moon, the ice—they were all connected, forces of nature that could coexist if she allowed them to.

And with that realization, Percy drew in a deep breath, her mind settling. She reached out again, not with resistance, but with understanding. The cold was no longer an adversary; it was an ally, part of her power.

The ice wall cracked again, but this time, it didn't heal. It shattered, the massive blocks of ice breaking into a thousand shards that scattered across the plateau, glittering like diamonds in the storm's fading light.

The storm around them slowed, the winds died down, and the temperature began to stabilize. The once overwhelming chill receded, leaving a tranquil stillness in its wake.

Percy stood in the center of the shattered ice, breathing heavily, but with a sense of pride swelling in her chest. She had done it. She had passed the first trial.

Artemis stood beside her, watching with an unreadable expression. For a long moment, she said nothing, then finally nodded. "You've done well, Percy. The first trial is complete."

Percy glanced at her, still catching her breath. "I didn't think I'd make it."

Artemis gave her a faint smile. "You doubt yourself too much. But you're stronger than you know."

Percy felt a surge of warmth at Artemis's words, though the cold had yet to fully fade. The first trial was behind them, but there were two more to face. The storm had tested her strength, but the journey was far from over.

"Let's move on," Artemis said, her voice gentle but firm. "We still have two allies to find."

And so, with the first trial behind them, they began their trek toward the next challenge.