In a dreamlike vision, Herakles sees Leonidas and the Spartans fight a dark army at Thermopylae. He learns that his purpose is to protect the hot gates, where warriors will sacrifice their lives for freedom. "Herakles stands before the flaming gates, his eyes pools of moon unblinking in the lastly receding dark. His eyes glitter with ferocious curiosity, but then with eager expectation. As the gates burn, Herakles watches as a shadow emerges from them. The shadow moves toward him as the night fails to quash the daylight's revolt. The morning sun raises his mind's barren symmetry aloft, which then sharpens immeasurably like sunlight through a desert haze. The shadow carves through the now-dull exterior of an empire. It cuts through defenseless corners, blotting out the light of remorseless suns. The carved empire becomes a flaming, emblazoned design, a map telling the demigod where he must go. Herakles sees what he must do now. The sun leaves an imprint on his mind like the hot gates at night. Herakles turns and leaves the mountain pass.