《The Greece Antagonist》


 Chapter 1: 1 The Blessing of 996

    If someone had told Luo En a month ago that 996 was a blessing from thepany,


    as a hard-working bull and horse, he would have definitely responded with "Yes, yes, yes" while continuing to work overtime to meet deadlines. All the while, in his heart, he''d be engaging in some very "friendly" activities with the direct female rtives of his bald boss, wishing to add a few extra pages to their family registers.


    However, at this moment, Luo En found that his "blessing" seemed to have truly arrived.


    It''s just that the process seemed a bit... sinister.


    Inside the crib made of purplish-red wood, Luo En looked at his own plump little short hands, pressed his soft chest, and sighed helplessly.


    Death from a sudden cardiac event due to arrhythmia was inevitable, amon killer of old corporate drones, and the nearby office buildings had not been spared its visitation either.


    But Luo En had not expected this year''s "performance" in theherworld tond squarely on his head.


    Damn it, couldn''t you have held on for a few more days? My attendance-based year-end bonus!


    Luo En, lying in the crib, clenched his fists full of resentment and felt incredibly bitter in his heart.


    But then, as he looked around at the surroundings, the gloom that had gued him for over a month was considerably lessened.


    The grand and elegant white marble pce was surrounded by walls carved with exquisite patterns and dramatic bas-reliefs. The tables were adorned with crude pottery vases iid withrge gems, while dishware was made of luxurious gold and silver, and even the crib was adorned with crystal wind chimes.


    It seemed as apensation for graduating early from his previous life, he had sessfully transitioned from aboring mule to a noble of Rome, born with a private seaside vi.


    Luo En reached out his little short hand, grabbed the edge of the crib, stuck out his head, and looked out at the verdantwn with his bright eyes.


    A few maids in linen dresses were carefully surrounding a beautiful girl of the same age, treating her like the stars did the moon.


    The girl''s rosyplexion radiated the vitality of youth, her sparkling eyes brimmed with ingenuous zest, and her smooth neck and chest exuded allure. The white elegant bodice she wore could not hide her innate wildness.


    Amid the anxious gazes of the maids, the striking girl ran barefoot over the grassy knoll. Sometimes, she sang folk songs in tune with the pleasing melody of an elderly shepherd''s double-piped flute from the woods, other times, she danced by the perilous cliff, stretching her limbs out to the rolling waves crashing on the shore...


    Nobody would guess that she was a young mother who had just given birth a month ago.


    "Please slow down, Your Highness! Please, Your Highness..."


    The maids'' shouts, filled with trepidation, finally convinced the lovely princess to reluctantly partake in a safer post-natal recovery exercise, like walking leisurely in the garden.


    For instance, they adorned each other''s heads with crowns of ivy blossoms or, at the sound of the bellowing wide-horned bull from the pasture, they mimicked the sound back and forth with interest, bursting into giggles.


    Looks like I''ve got a mother who knows how to make a fuss in this life.


    Luo En, perched in his crib, muttered to himself and shifted his gaze around.


    He was on a lush hillside near the sea to the west, where the blue waves undted likerge pieces of emerald. To the east was the city, where stone buildings of varying heights dotted thendscape, exuding a primitive charm. At the distant port, a few simple sailing boats were docked.


    Clearly, the world Luo En found himself in was not the era he was familiar with.


    Judging from the architectural style and environmental features, it seemed to be a society with ancient Greek influences.


    Lucky to have been thrown into a good womb, he no longer had tobor like a beast. Otherwise, scraping by in a feudal era would have been a nightmare.


    Whoosh¡ª


    The moist sea breeze blew open the refined curtains at the window, bringing with it the unique briny scent into the room.


    "Hehe, my little lion has woken up."


    A graceful figure approached with light steps, reached the crib, lifted the child gripping its edge, and held him gently in her arms. Pacing around the room, her face lost the girl''s wildness and radiated the gentle warmth unique to a "mother."


    The baby, fondled affectionately, struggled to poke its head out from the embrace of motherhood, his lively eyes revealing deep frustration.


    Being born into good fortune was great, but what troubled him the most was the adult soul living inside his baby body.


    Facing a "mother" who was younger than him in a previous life, Luo En couldn''t help feeling a bit off.


    Fortunately, the postpartum recovery just now consumed a lot of the mother''s energy. The simple interaction between mother and child did notst long; Luo En was put back into the crib, and the beautiful princess sat by the window, lost in the sky as if expecting something.


    Apparently, she was looking forward to something.


    Boom!


    Thunder crashed and gale-force winds swept across the sea, dense clouds gathered in the sky, and oppressive thunder rumbled from the low-hanging clouds; the entire hilltop darkened.


    Is it going to rain?


    Luo En in the crib yawned, feeling drowsy.


    However, the princess by the window stood up excitedly, her amber eyes shining with joy. She quickly readjusted her makeup and hurriedly rushed toward the porch.


    At the same time, a robust figure appeared at the door, smiling and opening his arms to embrace the girl running towards him.


    The girl, with a blushed face, looked up and her beautiful eyes overflowed with adoration and delight.


    "Kronides, sir, you''ve finallye!"


    Oh, so that''s what my cheapskate father''s name is.


    Luo En, eavesdropping from the edge of the cradle, looked towards the "father" he was seeing for the first time since his birth, furrowed his brows, and felt a strange inkling within.

 Chapter 2: 1 The Blessing of 996_2

    Kronides?


    Strange, why does this name feel so familiar, as if I''ve heard it somewhere before?


    "Sorry, Semele, my love, I''ve had too many trivial matters to deal with recently. As soon as my journey ended, the first thing I thought of wasing to see you."


    In the corridor, that handsome young man with silver shoulder-length hair and eyes like stars, uttered sweet nothings while recounting some amusing travel anecdotes.


    With every move he made, he radiated a masculine charm thatpletely captivated the love-struck princess. She leaned weakly against her lover''s chest, the affection in her eyes growing more intense and fervent, her pretty face blushing like a blooming rose.


    At this moment, peering through the chiffon curtains, watching the couple so deeply in love as if they only had eyes for each other, Luo En in the cradle wore a look of disbelief.


    Fuck, no way?


    As everyone knows, it is quite impolite and offensive for a servant to address their master by name, regardless of the era.


    Moreover, it seemed like his mother had deliberately concealed his origins, and they hadn''t had any visitors at the castle for a month, so only today had Luo En officially learned his mother''s full name.


    At the same time, corresponding information also began to emerge in his mind.


    Semele, daughter of Cadmus, the City Builder of Thebes, and Harmonia, the Goddess of Harmony, and a descendant of the War God Ares...


    With the memories of texts surging in his heart, Luo En finally recalled the origin of the name "Kronides" at this moment.


    Kronides, which means "son of Kronos," is the alias used by Divine King Zeus when he had an illicit affair in the mortal world.


    So it''s the alias of that human-shaped seed sower from Olympus, no wonder it felt so strangely familiar...


    By the way, in his past life, Luo En worked for a gamepany that created games based on heroes'' epics and folk tales from around the world.


    As an outstanding employee of the year, he naturally had a decent knowledge of myths and legends.


    And after deducing his parents'' illustrious identities from their true names, Luo En couldn''t help but look at his own tender hands, bewildered.


    If the names were right, then wasn''t he the legendary Dionysus?


    ¡ª That one cursed by Hera, who went mad for half his life, but miraculously reced Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, to be one of the Twelve Olympians, the God of Wine?


    The absurd thought didn''t linger long before Luo En shook his head, eyes filled with doubt.


    But this obviously wasn''t right.


    ording to Hesiod''s "Divine Chronicle" and other rted myths from Ancient Greece, Zeus and Semele, the Princess of Thebes, had an affair, which was discovered by his legitimate wife, Hera.


    Jealous Hera, disguising herself as the princess''s rtive, persuaded the princess to demand Zeus to reveal his divine form, to prove his love for her. Zeus, unable to refuse the princess''s request, revealed his true divine state, and consequently, Semele was burned by thunderbolts.


    At that time, Semele was already pregnant, and Zeus could only save the preterm infant by sewing him into his own thigh until the baby was full-term. Since Zeus walked with a limp while the baby was in his thigh, hence the name Dionysus, which means "Zeus''s limp".


    To put it simply, the God of Wine, Dionysus, was born after his mother, Semele, had died.


    Could it be that I''m remembering it wrong?


    Or perhaps, the names of my parents are just a coincidental match?


    In a state of confusion and unable toe to a conclusion, Luo En couldn''t help doubting his own judgment.


    At that moment, beneath Semele''s princess''s adoration and cuddles, the silver-haired young man "Kronides" picked up his delicate lover, stepping into the great hall.


    But immediately, he stopped, furrowing his brows as he looked towards the cradle inside the room.


    "Ah, I was so happy to see you just now that I forgot to mention the birth of the child."


    Coming back to her senses with flushed cheeks, Semele shyly jumped down from her lover''s arms and, taking his broad palm, led him to the cradle to show off.


    "Look, his eyes and hair, they''re so much like yours!"


    However, the silver-haired young man in the room didn''t respond, just standing still, gazing deeply at the newborn in the cradle.


    "Aren''t you happy?"


    The unexpected coldness startled the princess, causing her to turn around in bewilderment.


    "How could that be? This surprise came so suddenly; it caught me a bit off guard."


    The silver-haired young man snapped back to reality, revealing an infectious smile, his eyes flickering with a trace of doubt.


    "Didn''t the doctor sayst time that there were still a few months left in the pregnancy?"


    "Yes, the delivery happened much sooner than expected, but the baby was very cooperative and didn''t make me suffer too much."


    The princess nodded in exnation, sweetly leaning on her lover''s shoulder.


    Meanwhile, Luo En, watching the "parents" in front of him putting on a disy of affection, twitched the corners of his mouth slightly.


    Well, really...


    So this counts as a premature birth, and it''s my fault, huh?


    After getting a definite answer, Luo En''s little head was crammed with a messy tangle of thoughts.


    He had never won even fifty cents in a lottery, but this time reincarnation went big.


    ¡ªNot only was he a member of the divine-blooded royal family of Ancient Greece, but also a candidate for the future Twelve Olympians.


    Of course, if he wanted to sessfully ascend and live a peaceful life, he would have to first check whether the "mistress killer" and "bastard yer" Queen Hera would agree.


    You should know, the mistresses and illegitimate children who have died directly or indirectly by her hand, could easily make up three tables for mahjong.


    But don''t panic, as long as your teammates don''t feed, you can still maneuver through this wave.


    Luo En nced at his love-struck princess mother and muttered to himself.


    Just don''t get talked into insisting on seeing Zeus''s true form, whatever you do.


    And just in case, if it reallyes to that, I''ll use all my might, even if it''s from breastfeeding, to block it.


    As long as you survive Hera''s pursuit, the hard days will be over.


    While calcting this, Luo En sneaked a peek at the legendary Divine King Zeus, feeling a bit conflicted.


    Should he build a good rtionship with his cheap father earlier?


    If he cozied up to him, he wouldn''t even need to fear Hera''s pursuit; it would be easy mode.


    The more Luo En thought about it, the more tempted he became, his gaze involuntarily shifting toward the thickest leg in Greece under Zeus...


    "You''ve really been through a lot these days, my dear."


    At the same time, Zeus, who was disguised as Kronides, seemed to have recovered from the shock of receiving a precious child. A hint of a smile squeezed into his tense face, and a gentle male voice softly began to speak in the ear of his lover.


    "By the way, my dear, I''ve prepared for you the most splendid gift upon my return from this long journey, as proof of our love."


    The princess, immersed in her passionate love, immediately lit up.


    "Really? Where is it?!"


    Zeus caressed his lover''s hair affectionately, his voice exceptionally gentle.


    "Just close your eyes obediently first."


    The princess nodded softly, closing her eyes, her cheeks flushing with anticipation.


    Boom¡ª


    Thunder raged in the sky, clouds outside the window churned, and a moment of brilliance shed by.


    Next to that handsome face, turning away from the princess, a stern coldness spread under the thunderbolt''s illumination.


    In the cradle, as Luo En nned how to hold onto the metaphorical big leg pinch by the nose, his eyes inadvertently swept over the scene, and he froze slightly.


    Strange, why does this cheap father feel...


    "Crack!"


    In an instant, a series of explosive noises came near, and dozens of lightning bolts plummeted down, piercing through the roof and pouring onto the two embracing figures in the center.


    The beautiful yet fragile girl melted away instantly like ice and snow under the scorching sun.


    The brutal thunder kept rolling, the scorching mes burst forth, witnessing this love as bright as light and fire.


    Everything was copsing, everything was melting away.


    "Crack!"


    The majestic pce was torn in two, copsing thunderously, and the overwhelmed hill crumbled, dragging the pce debris down into the raging sea.


    The purple cradle carrying the newborn, along with the falling pce and mountain rocks, plunged into the bone-chillingly icy waves.


    With no time to react, Luo En''s world became nothing but cold darkness, his heart''s outraged cries building up inside his tiny chest.


    NMD, WSM!


    Boom¡ª!


    Before the cliff shrouded in lightning, the silver-haired figure stood still, looking at the pieces of purple wood floating on the foam, frowning slightly before taking a step forward.


    "Buzz buzz buzz buzz!"


    At the same time, lights like stars lit up in the night sky one by one, outlining the contour of a towering mountain amid the clouds.


    Has someone lit the sacred fire?


    Zeus seemed to think of something, his face tightening, as he subconsciously retracted his step forward, his imposing figure disappearing into the fading thunderlight.

 Chapter 3: 2 Welcome to the Revival Race

    So dark, so cold...


    Luo En felt as though he was submerged beneath deep seas, endlessly plummeting, plummeting...


    The ceaseless tides poured into his body, smothering his senses bit by bit.


    Here, time lost its concept, and space lost its dimensions.


    Until, like the celestial music of a mysterious female voice, it rang by his ear.


    "Hmm, so this is how it is? Interesting..."


    Whoosh¡ª!


    With a crisp sound akin to emerging from water, a hand yanked him from that maddening silence, and suddenly the world before him burst with sound and color.


    Everything started toe alive.


    "Cough, cough~!"


    Like a drowning man, Luo En instinctivelyy on the ground coughing, and when the suffocation in his lungs subsided, he finally raised his head to look around.


    The parched earth was covered in cracks, the sky was a chaotic dull yellow, and above, there seemed to be flowing waves. A few trees, resembling the arms of the dead, reached out from the soil, growing on the wilderness, with several crows perched on their dark branches preening their feathers.


    In front of him stood a tall woman with purple hair cascading over her shoulders. She held antern in her hand, her face veiled and dressed in a ck long dress, quietly standing at the crossroads, looking at him with interest for a moment before extending her hand.


    "You''re awake? Then let''s go."


    "Go where?"


    In a daze, Luo En blinked and instinctively asked, suddenly realizing that his current state was not that of a baby''s appearance but bore some contours of his past life as an adult.


    The woman with purple hair curled her lips into a pleased arc.


    "The Netherworld..."


    "I, I''m dead?"


    "It''s only a matter of time."


    "..."


    After a moment of silence, Luo En,ing to his senses, had a face dark as the bottom of a pot, squeezing out grim words between clenched teeth.


    "Damn it, ying me like this, huh?"


    The life that should have been affluent vanished into nothing;


    The mother who should have been saved turned to dust;


    The divine throne he should have ascended, nothing but an illusion;


    The "father" who should have granted him a new life, destroyed him by his own hand...


    He couldn''t understand why the real destiny and the record on the "Divine Chronicle" werepletely different?


    All the truths, the answers lurking behind, what were they?


    With great ups and downs, Luo En''s expression was gloomy and dejected.


    Looking at the illusory figure before her, the purple-haired woman lifted her chin with a smile, speaking leisurely.


    "Do you want to live?"


    In an instant, a strong desire to survive and thirst erupted in Luo En''s dull eyes, and he sharply looked up at the mysterious goddess, nodding his head fiercely as if a drowning man clutched at a lifeline.


    "To live! I want to live!"


    He had led an oblivious life in his previous existence. If he were to die this obscurely again, it would be doubly shameful.


    He must live, live to understand everything thoroughly, then seek revenge, and chop up that cheap father!


    Even if that father was Zeus!


    "Want to live?"


    The purple-haired goddess curled up her lips, revealing a subtle smile.


    "You can, but the Netherworld has never casually released a soul."


    "So?"


    "Have a bet with me! Win, and I will let you return to the living world."


    With that, the purple-haired goddess eagerly opened her palm, revealing two exquisite dodecahedrons made of snake-patterned stone, instantly catching Luo En''s eye.


    They were two uniquely shaped dice, each face engraved with ancient Greek letters that seemed to represent numbers in red and ck.


    Seeing how she pulled out the professional equipment in the blink of an eye and that eager look, Luo En was taken aback.


    What the heck, there are gamblers among the gods of death?


    But soon, Luo En came to terms with it.


    Gambling, an ill habit with a long history in human culture.


    Greece, in particr, was no exception. For example, the origins of ying cards can be traced back more than 3,500 years to the Minoan civilization.


    The famous vase painting "Achilles and Ajax ying dice" depicts the gambling activities of two great heroes during their leisure time in the Trojan War.


    Simrly, in Greek mythology, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon yed the "dice" game to divide the universe amongst themselves.


    And our belief that throwing two sixes in a dice game is lucky also has its ancient origins. Thousands of years ago, throwing two sixes was called an "Aphrodite throw," signifying victory in the game.


    Since there were precedents, this proved that he still had hope for life!


    Luo En couldn''t help being overwhelmed with emotions, looking intently at the Nameless Goddess before him.


    "Then, what''s the price?"


    There were no free lunches in the world, he wasn''t foolish, and he certainly understood this principle.


    A look of obvious surprise emerged on the face of the purple-haired goddess, who was curiously eyeing the figure that hovered between reality and illusion.


    Great terrory between life and death.


    In the face of the temptation of life, even heroes and deities often can''t remain calm, sumbing to madness for that sliver of possibility, willing to give up everything.


    That someone could maintain their rationality first in such a situation was indeed interesting.


    "Your soul..."


    The purple-haired goddess smiled faintly, her cherry lips parting under the veil, her eyes dark as the bottomless Abyss.


    "If you lose, give your soul to me willingly; it seems to contain something I''ve never seen."


    Hiss~~


    Although he anticipated the stake wouldn''t be so straightforward, this condition felt more like a demon''s temptation.


    While internally criticizing, Luo En also sharply realized that his current soul''s appearance was not that of a baby but an adult''s form.


    Only those eyes were as pure as a child''s.


    No wonder...


    Understanding the reason for the goddess''s interest in him, Luo En was clear in his heart, taking a nce around.


    This silent wilderness seemed infinite, with no beginning and no end.

 Chapter 4: 2 Welcome to the Revival Race_2

    After much thought, Luo En sighed.


    "How shall we bet?"


    There was no helping it, the temptation of life was indeed irresistible to him.


    Moreover, on the domain of this Goddess, it seemed he had no right to refuse.


    s, he had hardly enjoyed a month of aristocratic life before he had to fight a resurrection match; such luck was truly messed up.


    At this moment, the Nameless Goddess who received his response slightly curved her lips, her smile seemingly richer by a few degrees, her toneced with a thread of pleasure.


    "Very simple, a game of high and low."


    With that, the Goddess handed one of the dice to Luo En, while she, raising her fair wrist, was about to cast the fate-determining die.


    "Wait!"


    Luo En hastily spoke up to stop her, his eyes flickering deeply as he looked at the Goddess.


    "This seems somewhat unfair to me. How could I possibly win if you used your transcendent powers in the game? If it''s a game I''m bound to lose, then I refuse!"


    "Very well, I promise not to use Divine Power during the gamble."


    The Goddess paused to think, then nodded in concession, lifting her hand once more.


    "Wait!"


    Along with another urgent interruption, the Goddess''s brows furrowed slightly, the smile on her face visibly fading.


    "Do you have more conditions?"


    "Deciding the oue in a single round is too arbitrary."


    "Then, best two out of three?"


    "Ten rounds!"


    Luo En brazenly made his demand, barely keeping his nerve.


    "I should win as long as I equal or exceed your score in one of the ten rounds! Only then will I willingly gamble this one soul!"


    A brief silence stretched for a few seconds before the Goddess seriously regarded the figure before her and spoke with a half-smile.


    "You don''t have any other conditions, right?"


    Under the Goddess''s probing gaze, Luo En felt an immense pressure, unconsciously swallowing, he nodded stiffly, not daring to be more demanding.


    Third time''s a charm; by now, he had negotiated enough favorable conditions for himself. If he pushed further, he feared the Goddess before him might tten him into a QR code with a single p.


    Having reached an agreement, both parties simultaneously released their fingers, casting the Twelve-Sided Die in their hands.


    The first round, Luo En 7 points, opposite 9 points.


    Good, not too far apart, there''s a chance.


    Luo En consoled himself while taking a deep breath and continued to throw the dice onto the stone b on the ground.


    The second round, Luo En 8 points, opposite 10 points.


    The third round, Luo En 4 points, opposite 6 points.


    The fourth round, Luo En 1 point, opposite 3 points.


    The fifth round¡­ the sixth round¡­ the seventh round¡­


    The eighth round, Luo En 11 points, opposite 12 points...


    The continuous defeats made Luo En''splexion increasingly ugly.


    Gambling with the Deities was indeed not so simple.


    Even if she were to refrain from using Divine Power, her control over her body and gambling skills were levels beyond the reach of ordinary people.


    She could likely achieve any amount of points with ease if she so desired.


    Only thest two rounds were left...


    Luo En''s hands began to shake slightly, but he clenched his teeth, his gaze remaining firm.


    There''s still a chance, still a possibility!


    If he could just get twelve points, he''d be in an assured winning position.


    ording to the agreement, any score equal to or higher than the opponent''s counted as his win.


    So from the start, Luo En never counted on beating the Goddess with other scores.


    His bet was merely on the chance of throwing twelve points in one out of the ten rounds, the slim possibility he had negotiated for himself!


    Luo En took a deep breath, silently reciting a prayer in his heart as he threw the Twelve-Sided Die once again with all the luck he could muster.


    The ck-green serpentinite rolled clunking across the stone b, eventually settling on the side marked with a lightning symbol and a certain dark red corresponding letter.


    TWELVE points? Was it really twelve points!


    Seeing the result before him, Luo En wiped his eyes, somewhat in disbelief.


    Then, a wave of uncontroble tion nearly overwhelmed him.


    "I won! I won!"


    The hopeful turn of events brewed into an irrepressible excitement, Luo En''s face beaming with intense exhration and anticipation.


    "Little one, aren''t you celebrating a bit too early? I haven''t thrown mine yet."


    The casual whisper echoed in his ears, and the Goddess''s lips curved into a smile as she gently released her hand.


    The free-falling Twelve-Sided Die tumbled onto the ground, crashing directly into another die in the corner.


    In that instant, the two dice made a dull thud upon impact, rolling separately for several turns before finallying to rest.


    Goddess scored 2 points, Luo En... 1 point...


    "Ah, really unlucky there, it seems I''ve won again,"


    The Goddess''s face was full of pity, as if she regretted Luo En''s misfortune.


    Of course, if one ignored the mockery in her eyes, she seemed quite sincere.


    The sudden turn of events and the dramatic change in the situation caused Luo En''s face to fluctuate between hope and despair.


    Damn it, I shouldn''t have trusted this bunch of so-called worthless deities to y by the rules.


    "Don''t lose heart, you still have onest chance."


    The Goddess stepped forward with aforting smile, her face radiating encouragement.


    Luo En shook his head indifferently, and without a trace of expression, he threw the twelve-sided die back to its owner.


    "No need, I''ve lost."


    This was, after all, an inequitable gamble; all he could hope for was that the other party would adhere to the rules and honor the so-called fairness.


    But once the deities started ying tricks, under such circumstances, no matter what attempts and efforts a normal person made, it was absolutely impossible to win.


    Even if he tried a hundred or a thousand times, the result would still be the same.


    Hearing Luo En concede defeat, the formerly enthusiastic worthless Goddess suddenly found the taste of victory nd and slowly raised her hand.


    "Since that''s the case, then your soul..."


    "Wait a minute!"


    Luo En, who should have resigned himself to his fate, suddenly looked up, his eyes zing.


    "I want to bet with you again!"


    "Oh? An interesting proposal..."


    The Goddess paused, her eyebrows perked with interest, but then, abruptly, her smile faded, and her tone turned sharp.


    "But why? I''ve already won, why should I bet with you again?"


    "Because our wager is a soul, but I..."


    Luo En stood steadfast, pointing at himself, a provocative smirk spreading across his face.


    "...have two chips!"


    Strictly speaking, he had two lives.


    One came from the world he once knew, belonging to himself; the other originated in the divine era of Greece, belonging to the God of Wine.


    As to whether this indeed qualified as two separate souls, Luo En was not sure; it was just a precaution he had taken in the haste of opening the bet earlier.


    In the quiet atmosphere, the Goddess scrutinized the figure in front of her, her gaze more yful.


    So that''s how it is?


    Interesting, truly interesting!


    "Fine, I''ll bet with you."


    The Goddess, as if having discovered a new world, readily epted the invitation.


    Done!


    At that moment, Luo En, who had been tense all over, finally let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the answer, a trace of relief gracing his rigid face with a smile.


    As expected.


    As long as there was a usible reason, the other party would certainly persuade themselves to bite, and sit at the gambling table once more.


    He might not understand souls, but he understood gamblers very well.


    No sooner had the agreement been made than the purple-haired Goddess, somewhat impatient, started twirling the die in her hand, ready to throw it.


    "So, when do we start?"


    "Hold on a moment."


    Luo En slightly raised his hand in a pausing gesture, speaking earnestly.


    "Last time you set the gambling terms, so this time the method and rules should be chosen by me!"


    "Hmm, fair enough."


    The Goddess pondered, nodded slightly, and asked with interest.


    "So, how would you like to bet?"


    "I don''t knowplicated games, so let''s keep it simple,"


    After pondering for a moment, Luo En replied solemnly.


    "A counting game, the rules are simple: we take turns choosing numbers, counting from 1 up to 30, each time we can say up to two consecutive integers, and whoever ims 30 wins. If I win, you must let me return to the real world unconditionally!"


    "Agreed!"


    The Goddess answered without a second thought, her absolute power endowing her with an overwhelming sense of superiority, unafraid of any challenge.


    After the rules were stated, Luo En''s face carried a slight smile, and he gracefully gestured with his hand.


    "Then, to be fair, since I set the rules, I''ll let you count first."


    The Goddess tossed the die in her hand nonchntly, nodding eagerly to start the game.


    "1¨C"


    As the Goddess began to speak, Luo En''s taut expression softened, his eyes flickering with a deep light.


    This game, won!

 Chapter 5: 3: Since you pursue excitement, see it through to the end

    "2¨C3!"


    "4¨C"


    "5¨C6!"


    After two rounds, the Goddess paused slightly and frowned.


    "7¨C8?"


    "9!"


    "10..."


    After three rounds just as the Goddess began to speak, she immediately corrected herself.


    "Wait... 10¨C11..."


    "12!"


    "..."


    And by the fifth round, the Goddess''s silence had noticeably lengthened.


    "...13..."


    "14¨C15!"


    Luo En was still quick to speak without thinking, his expression growing more rxed, even taking the leisure to admire the surroundings.


    At this moment, the originallyposed Goddess''s expression had be somewhat frozen, and she did not speak for a long time.


    Luo En''s gaze swept around before settling on the Nameless Goddess straight ahead, leisurely urging.


    "It''s your turn, haven''t thought of a number yet?"


    The Goddess bit her cherry lips beneath her veil, her eyes showing some defiance.


    "That''s really despicable."


    "I''d rather call it ''human wisdom''."


    Luo En spread his hands, an innocent expression emerging on his face.


    "Letting humans and gods gamble is inherently an unfair game, using one''s brains as the weaker party, there''s nothing wrong with that, right?"


    Then, Luo En changed the subject, speaking frankly.


    "Besides, it seemed like it was you who willingly wanted to gamble with me."


    "Wisdom? That''s a nostalgic term."


    The Goddess seemed to remember something, pondered and shook her head, then gave Luo En a deep look before tossing the dice in her hand and smiling as she lightly pped her hands.


    "Alright, you win."


    As the dust settled, the tightly wound string in Luo En''s mind finally rxed, a trace of relief flickering in the depths of his eyes.


    It was fortunate he had sensed something amiss by the fifth round; the keenness of the Goddess before him went without saying.


    Fortunately, this was a game he was bound to win from the start.


    The corners of Luo En''s lips curved up, forming a pleased arc as he once again savored the just-concluded gamble.


    This so-called fair game was never fair to begin with.


    As long as one could make the other party say a number first, ensuring the other party said one number while you said two; if they said two numbers, you said one, the ultimate number 30 was inevitably yours.


    Therefore, from the moment the other party agreed to call out a number first, the oue was already determined.


    In this game, Luo En couldn''t possibly lose.


    Of course, in a sense, the opportunity was equal for both sides.


    If one could grasp the rules before the game and avoid calling out the numbers first, victory would belong to the other party just the same.


    But this Goddess clearly didn''t notice this in advance, agreeing to the terms casually, and fell straight into the trap, leading to her own defeat.


    Her loss was not due to being weak or ignorant.


    On the contrary, her hindrance was the arrogance bred from her great power.


    However, looking back, sessfully leading the Goddess into the trap wasn''t entirely his own doing.


    Luo En''s expression began to darken with heavy gloom, even starting to grind his teeth.


    He had to thank his ancestors for this.


    ¡ª¡ªThat old man at the roadside stall who conned him out of his entire 100 dors of New Year''s money on his way home from school.


    It was his first lesson on the harshness of society, which taught him steadfastly the lesson that there''s no such thing as a free lunch and that gambling is deceptive.


    But it wasn''t until a few dayster that he realized this.


    And this lesson bought with tears and blood was something he''d never forget.


    "As per our agreement, congrattions on being reborn, little guy..."


    The Goddess''s leisurely musing interrupted Luo En''s thoughts; she extended her delicate hand, and the dark sky twisted into a vortex of clouds.


    Looking up, Luo En could see through the chaos what seemed to be rippling lights of water.


    In the times of the gods in Greece, the Netherworld was beneath the earth and the deep sea.


    The sea was shrouded in mist, with the morning sunlight prating through the haze, reflecting a small silhouette in the water.


    The path to life was right before his eyes.


    The Nameless Goddess fulfilling her promise began to fade from substance to shadow, and the bleak world gradually flickered out like a wavering candle me.


    Everything seemed settled.


    But, was it really that simple?


    Luo En thought of the Thunderbolt that pierced the sky, of those cold and merciless eyes.


    What use was snatching back a life from the brink of death?


    Whether it was the vast ocean he was currently adrift in or the Zeus who had turned on him so suddenly, without any form of aid, even if he somehow escaped disaster, he probably wouldn''t survive past three episodes.


    Even leaving the resurrection point was still up in the air.


    So you don''t want me to live, huh? Then nobody gets to!


    In the darkness, the figure that hovered between real and ethereal, grinned, revealing a smile like that of a demon.


    "I can offer you my soul, want it?"


    The sudden temptation stabilized the stage that was about toe to a close.


    The Goddess turned around, her eyebrows raised with intrigue.


    "And what would the price be?"


    "Another round with me!"


    A simr dialogue spilled from the mouths of opposite parties, creating a jarring discement in time and space.


    The Goddess was taken aback, then let out a mocking chuckle with amusement.


    "It''s not another little counting game, is it?"


    "Of course not."


    The glint in Luo En''s eyes flickered darkly, his face hidden in shadows revealing a mad, twisted smile.


    "Dice rolls and counting are too dull, let''s make it big this time. How about we use the entire ''world'' as the gambling table?"


    "Oh? Do tell."


    Suddenly, the Goddess''s eyes brightened with full interest.


    Luo En looked up at the sky light refracted into the deep sea, a sinister smile appeared on his changeable face as he spoke with deliberate pauses.


    "Let''s bet whether or not I can overthrow Olympus!"


    Originally, he had no great ambitions and merely wanted to live a simple life; to rest easy. But that damned fate wouldn''t allow it.


    If that''s the case, don''t me me for flipping the table.


    The Goddess frowned slightly, looking up with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    "How would we ce such a bet? Are you suggesting I bet on you losing?"


    She didn''t refuse, nor did she agree.


    "Since we''re seeking thrills, let''s go all in. Of course, we choose the highest odds¡ªhigh risk for high return."


    Luo En replied matter-of-factly, his low voice tinged with a full measure of temptation.


    "You need only toss me lightly, and you might profit a thousand or a hundredfold. Is there any game more exciting than this in the world?"


    In an instant, the Goddess''s breathing grew noticeably rapid, her figure bing somewhat elusive.


    Clearly, she was tempted.


    But she quickly regained herposure, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    "You want me to help you?"


    "This is just a game..."


    Luo En smiled nomittally, his eyes twinkling mysteriously.


    "Interesting..."


    The Goddess''s gaze became more yful, her toneden with deeper meaning.


    It was unclear whether she was appraising the soul before her or the so-called "game."


    However, she soon looked over with a light hum.


    "Bute to think of it, the soul you promised still hasn''t reached my hands, has it?"


    "Don''t rush; after all, to im your reward, you should at least wait until I''m dead, right? There''s no sense in crushing the die before the game even starts."


    Luo En''s smile grew more pleased, his gaze meaningful.


    "Besides, as long as I''m alive, I can provide you with endless amusement, right?


    The oue is one of two things: I lose, you get the soul.


    I win, you gain even more¡ªit''s a no-loss situation.


    Moreover, regarding the gamble itself, while the reveal of win or loss is interesting, isn''t the battle itself a kind of pleasure too? Goddess..."


    "I must say, you indeed have quite the talent for bewitchment..."


    The Goddess looked deeply at the soul before her, lifting the corner of her lip, her pale fingers touching his illusory chest.


    "But it doesn''t matter, I''m just ying a game. So now, let''s seal the pact and inscribe the mark, and let this entertainment begin."


    In a moment, a strange sensation of burning spread through Luo En''s soul,


    And in an instant, a circle made of ck lines emerged on his chest.


    From above, it resembled a circrbyrinth spiraling endlessly, its paths shrouded in infinite mystery.


    But to Luo En, this thing on him looked more like a pork inspection certificate.


    And it seems to have been pre-ordered by the buyer, no less...


    She left no loopholes, indeed.


    Sensing the connection he had just established with the Goddess before him, Luo En sighed inwardly.


    Fortunately, the ring-shaped ck mark retreated and disappeared as soon as it had fully formed, as if it had never existed.


    He had sessfully delivered himself to the meat market and fetched a good price; the silver lining was that he need not be immediately sent to ughter.


    Faced with the inevitable, Luo Enforted himself with a mix of tears andughter.


    "So, let the game begin!"


    The Goddess snapped her fingers in delight, the vortex-shaped clouds in the sky reversed, and a strange pulling sensation enveloped Luo En.


    As his ethereal body gradually faded, bit by bit vanishing into this dim world, Luo En''s heart, which had been suspended, finally settled down.


    He had finally won this revival match.


    "So, how should I address you, Your Highness?"


    "You can call me..."


    The Goddess''s gaze flickered, her lips curving upwards.


    "...Persephone..."


    The Queen of the Underworld?


    Luo En gazed deeply at the resolute Goddess, scoffing silently to himself.


    Ha, the Queen of the Underworld wouldn''t be so bold as to snatch someone from beneath Zeus''s nose...


    Of course, she probably didn''t have the ability either.


    But incidentally, in some mythological records, it is said that Dionysus, the God of Wine, was the son of Zeus and Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, in a previous incarnation.


    So, by giving me that name, are you sure you''re not trying to take advantage of me?


    Luo En muttered to himself, as long-held tiredness and weariness crept over him, his eyelids growing ever heavier, and the world began to spin and transform.


    "My die should roll like no other, making this dull world more interesting!"


    Whispers arose from nowhere, and a twelve-sided die carved with serpent patterns fell from the Goddess''s hand.


    In the wilderness, beneath the veil, luscious lips traced a slight curve.


    Dangerous yet beautiful.


    "Just don''t die too soon, alright..."


    Boom!


    The real sky gathered dark clouds, thunderbolts streaked through, and dozens of spiraling wind columns rose up to touch the sky, falling into the sea and stirring up waves upon waves.


    A sea storm was imminent.


    In the dark sea, a crude raft with a tiny body bobbed up and down, like a reed carrying an ant on the surface, ready to overturn at any moment.


    But in the end, the rolling waves rushed them toward a dark floating ind before the storm unleashed its fury.


    Carrying the infant like a beached fish, the raft came to rest on the soft sand.


    Apanied by the sound of rustling footsteps, a tall figure approached through the woods.


    Dressed in clothes... walking upright...


    Apparently human...


    Having vaguely identified the neer as human, and sensing no hostility, Luo En finally sumbed to the extreme limits of his mental and physical exhaustion, faintingpletely.


    Meanwhile, a light and joyful female voice emerged near his ear.


    "Ah-ha? Look what I''ve found¡ªa cute little piglet!"


    On the sandy beach, a winged girl with pointed ears, pink hair, and rainbow-colored pupils looked at her find for the day and cheered excitedly.

 Chapter 6: 4 "A Loving Family" (4k)

    Olympus, which means "from the ce of light," serves as the abode of the gods in the mythic world of Greece. The deities of Olympus, subordinate demigods, and a vast number of nymphs and Titan monsters all reside here.


    However, the once-sunny and bustling sacred mountain is now shrouded in a chilling and bleak thunderstorm, exuding an oppressive gloom that prates to the bone.


    The nymphs of the streams and the divine creatures of the secluded woods, feeling that fear stemming from their souls,y prostrate in dark corners and caves, shivering uncontrobly.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    Several purple shes of lightning exploded in the leaden clouds, bursting forth in an instant with blinding brilliance, illuminating the empty temple and casting the towering silhouettes of twelve figures.


    "So, what monumental matter has prompted you all to kindle the sacred fire and urgently summon me?"


    The King of Olympus, seated upon the central throne, opened his purple eyes, a fleeting shade of gloom passing through, as he cast a ghostly nce towards the deities standing on either side of the great hall.


    Under Zeus''s stern scrutiny, the robust young man dressed in bronze armor, his helmet adorned with an eagle, and surrounded by an aura of blood, couldn''t wait to step forward and loudly report.


    "Father, while you were indulging in the mortal realm, remnants from Mount Othrys came to cause trouble again!"


    The high-pitched voice echoed through the entire temple, clearly reaching the ears of every chief god. Zeus, sensing the subtle nces around him, couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his eye, wishing he could strangle his legitimate son.


    The War God Ares, his and Queen Hera''s direct offspring, is known throughout Olympus for his vtile temper and reckless actions.


    Otherwise, why would he blurt out the very thing that shouldn''t be mentioned in front of everyone?


    As Zeus was grinding his teeth in annoyance, he caught a glimpse of his legitimate wife, Queen Hera to his right.


    Hera, the Goddess presiding over marriage and childbirth, sits on a golden throne, her beautiful curls spilling out from her crown, radiating a dignified and serene demeanor, her fair arms like lilies resting on either side, her lowered eyelids concealing flickers of her eyes, her expression as calm as still water, as if she heard nothing.


    Seeing his wife beside him looking unperturbed, Zeusposed himself, darkening his expression as he refocused his gaze on his legitimate son Ares, his voice turning cold.


    "How many Titans could there still be on Mount Othrys? Isn''t it just a matter of dealing with those whoe to provoke us? Could it be that such a trivial matter also requires my personal intervention?"


    Mount Othrys has a significance akin to Mount Olympus, once the shared dwelling of the twelve Titan gods.


    But since a thousand years ago, when he joined arge group of siblings and uncles to overthrow their father Kronos''s rule, casting him and his followers into the depths of Tartarus Hell, Mount Othrys long lost its former glory.


    Facing the now dominant deities of Olympus, even if there are some dissenting Titans left on Mount Othrys, they are but small fry, scarcely capable of causing any real disturbance.


    Just for this so-called provocation, you need me, the Divine King, to personally take action when you, the War God responsible for guarding Olympus, are fit only for disy?


    Zeus eyed his legitimate son, the one endowed with domains such as war, uprising, battlefield, bloodshed, and destruction, his gaze growing increasingly unfriendly.


    Sensing his father''s look, Ares couldn''t help but puff out his chest, his handsome face revealing a hint of smugness.


    "Those entangled Titans at the gate have already been dealt with by us; there''s no need to trouble Father God with this."


    At these words, Zeus''s expression lightened, his displeasure subsiding a bit.


    This worthless son of his had finally done something right.


    But if the issue has already been resolved, why summon me at all?


    Still puzzled, the King of the gods frowned, motioning Ares to get to the point.


    The War God Ares cleared his throat, quickly ceasing his self-praise and getting to the crux of the matter.


    "The Titan behind this rebellion is named ''As.'' Although we have captured him, there is significant disagreement on how to deal with him; it may require your judgment to settle this."


    As?


    Zeus pondered for a moment, struggling to locate this malcontent''s identity among theplex and chaotic genealogies of the age of gods.


    ¡ªOne of the twelve Titan gods, the son of the Titan of soul and intellect, Iapetus, known for his strength as the "Bearer of the Heavens."


    Moreover, he had two even more famous brothers.


    ¡ªThe "Foreseer," Prometheus, and the "Afterthinker," Epimetheus.


    One suffered eternal punishment on the Caucasus Mountains for stealing the sacred fire; the other died alongside the old humans in the great deluge for desecrating the divine beings.


    Was it to avenge his father, resist for his brothers, or simply out of defiance?


    A cold sneer curled the corners of Zeus''s lips, the look in the depths of his eyes growing darker.


    "Indeed, a restlessly defiant family."


    "Father God, yes! These obstinately rebellious scum should all be executed! Execute one to warn a hundred! Only then will those mongrels outside know the majesty of Olympus!"


    Upon hearing his father''s displeasure, Ares immediately burst with enthusiasm, voicing his opinion while a strong scent of bloodlust and a sense of brutal tyranny emanated from his words and deeds.


    The principal deities in the great hall all frowned, their expressions turning hostile.


    Even Zeus himself couldn''t help but twitch repeatedly, his face turning a shade of iron blue as he gazed darkly at the triumphant Ares.

 Chapter 7: 4 "A Loving Family" (4k) _2

    Even the direct descendant of the Soul and Wisdom Titan Iapetus, whose cousins of the same generation are all mongrels, what does that make them? Kin?


    Olympus? A nest of mongrels?


    Indeed, the disdain of the gods of Olympus for this fool is not without reason.


    "Father God, the prosperity of Olympus is already predestined, there''s no need to add to the ughter over the provocations of these brutes," Apollo, the god of light and prophecy, smiled as he stood up to offer a different opinion. "Rather than enforce the usual punishment, casting As into Tartarus Hell would better demonstrate Your leniency."


    This was a deity who radiated the genteel dignity of a noble, with handsome and sunny features, and moved with the grace of a poet. His fragrant, slightly wafting long hair, falling over his shoulders and made even more majestic by a crown woven from cypress and water lily leaves, involuntarily prompted a fondness in others, and it was no wonder the Muse Goddesses admired him.


    "Leniency towards an enemy is cruelty to oneself! Such a mild punishment will only make those half-blood mongrels out there think Olympus is weak and can be bullied!"


    Ares, feeling his pride had been offended, huffed with annoyance, repeatedly calling out "half-blood mongrels," causing the gods in the great hall to frown.


    Among the Twelve Olympians, however, it was Hermes, the normally tactful and amiable Messenger God, who reacted most strongly.


    His mother was Maia, the daughter of the As who holds the heavens.


    Although, in Greece''s intricate genealogies, blood rtions don''t necessarily equate to closeness.


    But Ares'' words were undoubtedly akin to a direct insult to his face.


    And not just once...


    Hermes lightly pressed down on the hat atop his head, speaking with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile.


    "I heard that on the battlefield, when two armies sh, only the final victor gets to decide the fate of the defeated. Have I remembered it wrong? Or has the world changed?"


    All of a sudden, Ares, who was in the midst of his tirade, stiffened, his face turning an angry red. Then, the veins beneath his skin writhed likerge, twisting earthworms, his expression both humiliated and frenzied.


    "Hermes, shut your mouth!"


    Seeing his own son so beside himself with anger, Zeus on his throne narrowed his eyes.


    He had just realized that Ares''s bronze armor was as pristine as new, without a single scratch, evidently not the look of someone who had just been through a fierce battle.


    Even so, the shiny new armor couldn''t conceal the bruise on one side of his cheek.


    Combining Hermes''s sarcastic remark, it seemed that in the confrontation with As, his own son was clearly the less dignified party.


    After all, the formidable Titan As, a standout of the third generation, was not someone whom a green youth like Ares could manipte as he wished.


    An unexpected beginning, but a foreseeable oue.


    Zeus nced at his son who was jumping with rage and wished he could throttle Hermes himself, and he inwardly shook his head, a hint of disappointment fleeting through his eyes.


    As the War God, not only had he been defeated by his opponent, he didn''t even have the courage to admit it. He was truly worthless.


    However, Ares waspletely oblivious to his father''s disdain, preupied with the quarrel with his two brothers.


    Seeing Ares getting worked up and even drawing his dagger as if to start a fight, Hermes, not skilled in battle, subconsciously moved his feet backward, avoiding the focus.


    But Apollo stood unafraid, with a gold arrow in one hand and a silver bow in the other, in the face of the War God brother''s fury.


    His full-blood sister, Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, casually rested her long fingers on her quiver without any particr intention.


    They were both the offspring of Leto, the childbirth goddess. When Leto was pregnant, Hera, the queen of heaven, was very jealous, and so she decreed the earth not to offer her a ce to give birth.


    Leto wandered everywhere, unable to find refuge, until finally Asteria, her sister and the "Star Maiden," transformed into an ind, stepping forward to receive her, allowing the twins to be safely born.


    Therefore, when it came to Ares, their half-brother and Hera''s legitimate child, the siblings were always at odds.


    "Enough! Get back to your ces! I''m not dead yet!"


    The sky thundered, the dull roar pervaded with an iparable sense of oppression, and the feuding gods, seeing Zeus''s livid face, shivered and obediently returned to their seats.


    But as the gods promptly grew silent and the atmosphere fell into a dead hush, Zeus, the adjudicator, was still somewhat troubled by the two choices before him.


    A thousand years had passed since the divine war between Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys, and those old relics had been cast into Tartarus by him long ago.


    Yet the rebellious nature of the Titans meant that those who escaped the would emerge every so often to provoke and disturb Olympus, leaving the gods with no peace.


    Facing these ungrateful kin, Zeus had grown weary.


    But to execute them directly would be too severe a punishment, and the recently appeased factions might have their own thoughts; to throw them into Tartarus again seemed too lenient, leaving him somewhat unsatisfied.


    Just as Zeus was frowning over these two options, caught in a dilemma, a calm and pleasant voice echoed within the temple.


    "Father God, why not exile him to The Far West."


    The gods turned toward the source of the suggestion, which came from an imposing Goddess with silver hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a helmet and a white upper garment adorned with bronze snake armor.


    Zeus thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.


    "Athena, you mean..."


    "Since As himself ims to be ''The Titan Who Holds Up the Heavens'', let him bear the corner of the sky, in the chaos of The Far West, expanding and securing the divine authority of the heavens for Olympus to serve for life."


    Athena ced one hand over her chest and smiled in response.


    Hearing her words, Zeus looked approvingly at his daughter and nodded in satisfaction.


    As the Divine King who ruled the sky, the expansion of the heavenly realm signified the strengthening of his domain and authority.


    The other gods in attendance also had a moment of realization and became somewhat excited.


    As the Olympians share the same lineage, the expansion of the sky''s domain would mean they could also share in the benefits to some extent.


    Zeus nced over the assembly, taking in all the expressions of the gods, and then made a final decision.


    "In that case, we''ll do as you suggest, Athena."


    With such a method that offered only benefits and no harm, the gods naturally had no objections.


    Relieved his grandfather wouldn''t be made an example of, Hermes couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief, and with a smile, teasingly said.


    "I had thought your valiant exploits in the forefront of battle were already praised enough, butpared to your wisdom, your might seems to pale inparison. Is there still time for the Muse Goddesses to revise their songs andpositions?"


    Seeing Hermes making faces, the gods couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Even Zeus''s mood lightened considerably as he looked at his son, who livened up the atmosphere, and yfully scolded him.


    "Hermes, stop your chattering, you''re the fastest one here, don''t just stand there, go and escort As to carry out his sentence."


    Hermes, though putting on a show of being aggrieved on the outside, secretly rejoiced inside.


    After all, it was his own grandfather, and by personally overseeing him, he could spare him some hardship and he would also have an exnation for his mother, Maia.


    As they watched Hermes cheerfully leave the temple, Zeus''s gaze returned to Goddess Athena, the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.


    In terms of valor, she had defeated As, saving the face of Olympus; in terms of wisdom, she had managed to resolve disputes and presented the best solution, truly a perfect daughter.


    However...


    Zeus, seated upon his throne, seemed to consider something, and a shadow of gloom spread in his eyes, then he gently waved his hand.


    "Well then, since the matter is settled, you are all dismissed."


    The gods obeyed and began to disperse, one by one leaving the scene.


    Momentster, as the sacred me flickered and danced, Zeus, sitting alone on his throne in the empty, dim temple, caressed the cold armrest, his eyes shimmering in the dark.


    Was it really just a coincidence?


    An inexplicable unease caused Zeus to furrow his brow as he stepped out of the temple, his figure soon disappearing into the dense night.

 Chapter 8: 5: The Fist Hardens (4k)

    The night was like water, and a somber meteor streaked across the sky, quietly descending into the pce of The Three Fates.


    As the flickering thunderbolt hit the ground, the Fates, who dwelled within, opened their eyes one after another, their profound pupils shining like a sea of stars.


    They were daughters of Erebus, the darkness of the primordial gods, and Nyx, the Goddess of the Night, responsible for spinning and weaving the fates of the gods and the world alike.


    The eldest sister, Clotho, was the spinner of fate, the goddess who presided over the destiny of people at birth. Her Divine Office was to personally take the threads of people''s fate from the loom of destiny and hand them over to her younger sister, Lachesis.


    This deciding goddess of fate would measure the threads with her ruler, passing along the events of varying lengths to the youngest sister¡ªAtropos, the ender of fate.


    Atst, the goddess Atropos, with her sharp scissors of fate, would cut the threads,pleting the determination of a being''s destiny.


    The semi-visible threads of fate, interwoven and entangled under the starlit dome of the temple, sketched out an incrediblyplexwork, linking the beginnings and ends of all things in the world.


    Even Zeus, the Divine King, upon beholding this vast and arcane disy of might and information, couldn''t help but feel his spirit waver.


    "Son of Kronos, you are not in Olympus, solidifying your divine authority. What brings you to our temple in the dead of night?"


    The harmonized voices of the Fates, ancient and young alike, echoed in the darkness, looking down upon the ruler of the Age of Greek Gods beneath the starlight.


    Zeus, being the Divine King, was not displeased; instead, he humbly bowed and ced his hand on his chest, asking in a deep voice.


    "Respected The Three Fates, I wish to know if the curse of the Titans still exists?"


    "You have asked us more than once, and no matter how many times you repeat the question, the answer remains the same."


    Three voices, both ancient and young, responded calmly in unison, and upon three faces that ranged from unripe to mature, then to withered, there wasn''t the slightest ripple of emotion.


    "Son of Kronos, even you cannot eradicate the curse within this bloodline. Do not waste your energy on this predestined futile endeavor."


    Upon hearing this, Zeus''s expression darkened involuntarily.


    The origin of the Titansy with Uranus, the Father of Heaven, who coined this nickname for his progeny, meaning "The Frightened" and "The Rebels," for it was their destiny to rise against their forebears with swords, enacting the divine coup that was the changing of the guard among the gods.


    This curse was not escaped by grandfather Uranus or by father Kronos.


    And now, it was his turn.


    Zeus''s expression fluctuated, his gaze shifty.


    "Yet, you are the king destined by fate, who shall surely lead this world into a golden age of splendor!"


    The voices of The Three Fates, old and young, dered solemnly, their six arms manipting the threads of fate, which traced what seemed to be the shape of a crown on the dome above.


    "Follow the arrangement of fate; it will not be an obstacle for you."


    Zeus nodded slightly, preparing to leave when suddenly, as if something crossed his mind, he turned back to look at The Three Fates under the starlight and spoke.


    "By the way, Semele, the princess of Thebes, my love who has just conceived my seed, I wish to know their fate."


    "Their fate... their... fate... fate..."


    The once orderly chorus became slightly discordant, repeating the question as though trapped in a sort of glitch.


    After a good while stuck, The Three Fates slowly answered from the ephemeral shadows of two broken threads of fate that they had pulled from the void.


    "They... are dead..."


    Upon hearing the dreadful news, Zeus''s face changed, and instantly he sted out of the pce of The Three Fates as a bolt of lightning, rushing toward the direction of Thebes, his panic as both a husband and a father on full disy.


    However, after flying some distance from the Temple of Fate, the Divine King directly turned around and flew toward Olympus.


    In the empty Great Temple, the sacred fire had been extinguished.


    The tumult was no more; all the dust had settled.


    Standing at the door, Zeus nced at his own majestic throne, the tension on his face gradually rxing. He casually closed the door to the Great Temple and arose to return to his private chamber.


    Creak~~


    A gust of wind blew through the crack of the door, swirling into the room as the ashen remains of the torch crumbled, revealing a flicker of dark red underneath.


    Pfft~~


    A me leapt up, the dead ash reigniting in the darkness.


    At the same moment, on a deste in shrouded with death, a purple-haired goddess with her face veiled seemed to sense something and gently lifted her delicate lips.


    "Indeed, a game of chance, unpredictable in its oue, proves far more intriguing than immutable fate. For a game, there must be both winners and losers..."


    Her pale fingertips released, and twelve serpentine-patterned dice traced a graceful arc before tumbling toward the ground.


    ~~~


    As the heavens turned and time passed, sixteen years went by in the blink of an eye.


    Near the Sea of Okeanos, on the ind of Aiaia.


    The salty sea breeze wafted through the lush, verdant forest of a small hollow, and the rustling leaves caused three ghastly heads, ck and green in hue, to instinctively stop tearing at their prey and abruptly look up, pairs of vertical, serpentine eyes warily surveying their surroundings.


    "Baa~~"


    The dying goats on the ground, pained under the monster''s cruel ws, let out pitiful cries as blood spurted from their deep, bone-exposing wounds.


    The rich scent of blood instantly regained thekeside creatures'' attention. The heads swung back, colliding and grunting at one another as they tore into the prey on the ground, quickly silencing the screams.


    Dragon-like but somewhat smaller in size, measuring between 10 and 20 meters in length, possessing only hind limbs with talons suited for flight, their wings scaled and feathered, tails with reversed barbs, they bore the dual lineage of both dragons and griffins.

 Chapter 9: 5: The Fist Hardens (4k)_2

    ```


    ¡ª¡ªIt seems to be a purebred two-legged flying dragon.


    In the dark shade of the dense forest, a pair of purple eyes peered through the gaps in the foliage, gazing solemnly at the three lower dragon breeds by thekeside who were gradually letting down their guard. As time passed, the corners of the onlooker''s lips slowly curled into a smile.


    "Snap!"


    Two quarters of an hourter, apanied by a crisp snapping of fingers, the staggering two-legged flying dragon at thekeside, foaming at the mouth with white froth, fell to the ground with a thud.


    One by one, their massive bodies twitched uncontrobly like yed frogs, their legs and wings convulsing.


    "Hmm, the paralytic and hallucinogenic effects of Mandrake are quite good, effectively slowing down the target''s reaction time. However, the dose of Coniine seems insufficient; I underestimated the poison resistance of the two-legged flying dragons. Had I known, I would''ve fed those two goats more medicine..."


    With the air twisting and writhing, a low murmur came forth as a silver-haired, purple-eyed handsome youth casually strolled towards the scene of the incident, jotting down notes as he walked.


    The traces between the strokes were neat and upright, seemingly distinct from the linear script of Greece.


    "Roar~!"


    An intruder''s sudden appearance in their territory instinctively raised the rm in the three two-legged flying dragons. They lifted their dizzy heads and spat out a mass of dark green venom.


    Generally, as hybrid subspecies, two-legged flying dragons naturally couldn''t use the powerful dragon breath like their pure-blooded superiors. Yet, they could spew highly corrosive venom through their biological characteristics.


    Ssh after ssh of dark green venom fell forward, sizzling as it hit the nearby shrubs and ground, leavingrge patches of charred and withered traces.


    And that figure, bearing the brunt, was left riddled with holes, dissipating into nothingness.


    Illusion!


    In a haze, the three two-legged flying dragons watched a dense mist in front of them break apart, their sluggish brains suddenly realizing that something was amiss.


    "Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"


    But before they could react, a dazzling purple light arc exploded; intense pain shot through the back of their necks. The three ck heads felt the world spin before tumbling to the ground, their eyes filled with deep confusion and anger until death.


    "Despicable," might be the only adjective they could think of at that moment.


    As the massive bodies lost support and crashed to the ground, golden-red blood gushed from the severed necks, while crimson "drops of rain" sprinkled down. Then, an almost transparent human silhouette emerged from illusion to reality.


    Done.


    Looking at the two-legged flying dragons acting independently, the handsome silver-haired youth, or rather, the grown Luo En, revealed a trace of satisfaction on his face. He then gripped the bronze dagger in his hand in a reverse grip, stabbing methodically into the foreheads of the two-legged flying dragons, finishing them off cleanly.


    The two-legged flying dragons had snake-like traits, and snake magic beasts were known for their tenacious vitality. Even after decapitation, the snake heads could remain active to some degree, sustaining life for a time with a very low metabolic rate and retaining the ability to bite.


    Rather than being bitten unexpectedly by the heads on the ground, it was more prudent to stab a few more times beforehand.


    After confirming that the three two-legged flying dragons were utterly dead, the handsome youth with silver hair and purple eyes finally rxed, eyes gleaming as he looked at the bounty of the hunt.


    Dragon teeth could be used as materials for witchcraft and alchemy, dragon scales for armor, and the medicinal and toxicological value of the venom sac went without saying. Moreover, the precious dragon heart and Dragon Crystal were quite valuable as magic crystallizations and prized offerings... In short, every part of them was valuable.


    It had to be said that even as a subspecies, members of the dragon family held considerable value.


    Of course, the premise was that you were sure to be a guest at the feast, not the one being served.


    Clearing his mind of any distractions, Luo En held the bronze dagger and was about to go forward to collect some rare materials from the three two-legged flying dragons when the sky above him suddenly darkened. The gentle breeze that had been surrounding him was instantly reced by blustering winds.


    Another one?!


    Luo En''s purple pupils contracted sharply, and without looking up, he leaped backward dozens of meters.


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, the area where he had just stood erupted as if struck by a high-speed meteorite, kicking up thick dust.


    At the same time, Luo En, who hadnded sessfully, did not hesitate to throw the dagger in his hand. The bronze dagger, wrapped in a purple-red arc, shot towards the massive figure that had appeared amidst the dust.


    "Crack¡ª!"


    What followed, however, was a crisp sound of metal shattering.


    Tough!


    Luo En realized his attack hadn''t breached the defense, and his heart sank. He instantly raised his right hand, bit the tip of his index finger, and began drawing a series of Hermes Script in the air with his blood.


    Suddenly, Aether Magic gathered in front of Luo En, forming blood-red spears that shot towards the dusty area with incredible speed.


    "Bang bang bang bang!"


    ```


    However, a series of piercing shattering noises continued to fill the air, and that massive figure burst out of the dust, revealing its full outline in the sunlight.


    Scales¡­ Horns¡­ Winged¡­ Four-legged¡­


    ¡ª¡ªAn upper-rank giant dragon!


    "Boom!"


    The shadow that blotted out the sky plummeted rapidly, and the ground shook violently.


    Luo En, who bore the brunt of it, was pinned down by a pair of dark red giant ws into a pit several meters deep, unable to move even slightly.


    And a ferocious head slowly descended towards its prey trapped beneath the ws, its gaping maw opening wide.


    But the victim, about to be swallowed up, simply furrowed his brow, sniffed, rolled his eyes, and huffed irritably.


    "Had enough fun? Teacher..."


    All at once, the giant head froze in midair, blinking its huge eyes.


    "Even though my transformation was perfect, how can you see through it every time?"


    A crisp and pleasing female voice came from the dragon''s mouth, filled with thick confusion and curiosity.


    ¡ª¡ªAnd a certain strong sense of dissonance.


    "Use your brain, use your brain! Red dragons are solitary with strong territorial instincts and prefer hot environments. How could one possibly nest on a damp ind, living as neighbors with a bunch of two-legged flying dragons?"


    Luo En on the ground scolded irritably while prying open the pair of ws pressing against his chest.


    "Besides, which magic beast would have such a heavy scent of incense and herbs on it?"


    As their bodies made contact, the once majestic and ferocious giant dragon shattered like a soap bubble, its massive form rapidly shrinking, transforming into a petite girl with pointed ears, pink long hair, rainbow-colored pupils, eagle wings on her back, and a small stature.


    Circe, the Witch of the Eagle, who presided over the moon and love, a demigoddess, and the ruler of Aiaia.


    ¡ª¡ªAs well as the foster mother and teacher who picked up Luo En from the beach sixteen years ago and raised him.


    At this moment, under her disciple''s continuous scolding, Circe clearly had some difficulty maintaining her pride, promptly crossing her arms in front of her chest, and snorting haughtily.


    "Tsch, what''s there to be proud of with a little cleverness? If that had been a real giant dragon earlier, you''d have been torn to shreds, failing the test with a zero!"


    "Ah, right, right, right."


    Confronted with Circe putting on her teacher''s mantle, Luo En adopted an apathetic dead-fish attitude, nodding his head perfunctorily while looking despondently at the burden pressing down on him.


    "So, can you get off me now, Teacher?"


    Perhaps intentionally or not, the witch, having released her transformation magic, happened to have settled right on Luo En''s stomach with her legs astride.


    Time flies, and in the blink of sixteen years, the once infant had grown into a man.


    And the Great Witch Circe, who still stood steadfastly under one meter fifty in height, inevitably felt a strong contrast in front of Luo En, who was now one seventy-five.


    It looked less like a teacher educating a disciple and more like a "daughter" throwing a tantrum at her "father."


    The btedly self-aware Circe, realizing the awkwardness of the situation, got up sheepishly, turned her head away, and huffed amand.


    "Enough, the two-legged flying dragons that made nests on the ind have been dealt with, let''s head back."


    Luo En got up from the ground, rubbing his abdomen whileining.


    "But Teacher, can I make a suggestion?"


    "What is it?"


    Circe stopped in her tracks reflexively, turned her head back, and looked askance at the one behind her.


    The certain disciple lowered his head, his disdainful gazending on the barren and scratchednd, thenzily dropped his eyelids and earnestly advised.


    "The ground was so hard it made my whole body ache; next time, you might want to eat more and put on some weight..."


    "..."


    After a moment''s silence, the Great Witch who got the insinuation abruptly looked up and, watching the fleeing back of that disrespectful pupil, her expression gradually became sinister and twisted, with a series of crackling soundsing from her sleeves.


    Her fists were clenched tight.

 Chapter 10: 6 You Just Want to Sleep with Me!

    As night fell, the moon shone with sparse stars, and the moist sea breeze blew over the beach and into the spacious treehouse, covered in vines, bringing wafts of refreshing essence.


    "Dinner''s ready!"


    With a clear shout, the Great Witch Circe pushed open the wooden door and brought dish after dish of hot food to the table.


    There were fresh and delicious seafood like fish, shrimp, ms, and crabs, roasted two-legged flying dragon that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and a thick soup mixed with wild vegetables and mushrooms from the forest, emitting waves of fragrance... Thevish meal before their eyes was indeed saliva-inducing.


    However, seated on one side, Luo En swallowed saliva as he looked at the full spread on the table, his expression as if facing a formidable enemy.


    What day was it today that it had suddenly be so extravagant?


    Could it be hisst meal? He had just stepped on a minefield in the afternoon.


    Just as Luo En''s suspicion arose, Circe, who had set down the tes, nced at the wayward disciple beside her. Then, with the moonlight behind her, she looked towards the sandy beach along the coast and couldn''t help but mutter to herself.


    "How fast time flies, sixteen years in the blink of an eye."


    "Indeed."


    Luo En''s tense face gradually rxed, and his eyes shimmered with reminiscence.


    He remembered¡ªthis seemed to be the day Circe had picked him up from the beach and brought him home.


    ¡ªIt was also another kind of birthday.


    No wonder he had forgotten this detail...


    Luo En knocked on his head, feeling slightly at ease, and with a smile, he picked up the knife and fork, cut off a thick b of roasted dragon meat, and passed it courteously to his teacher, adding his heartfelt well-wishes.


    "Thank you for raising me all these years."


    "I never thought you''d actually survive..."


    As she revisited the past, the straightforward Circe also couldn''t help feeling emotional.


    "Aww!"


    Before the Great Witch could say more, Luo En''s forehead veins throbbed involuntarily, and he stuffed arge piece of roasted dragon meat from the fork into the Great Witch''s mouth, giving her a physical "deep throat" to silence her non-stop chatter.


    It was just like bringing up exactly what should not be mentioned.


    As everyone knows, during the Age of Greek Gods, there was a fine tradition of family backstabbing; being kind and filial was the basic practice, and not ughtering a few rtives on the way out was almost shameful.


    In such a harmonious context, expecting profound bonds and affection between parents and offspring was sheer fantasy.


    Therefore, once offspring were capable of independent living, they were typically kicked out of the house by their elders to fend for themselves.


    Circe was no exception and was also an early product of emancipation.


    So for a witch who had lived alone since childhood, educational concepts like "teaching tirelessly," "gentle guidance," and "tailored instruction" were simply non-existent.


    Naturally, the way she raised and taught Luo En followed this excellent family tradition.


    Such experiences as being chased by Magic Beasts that hadn''t eaten for days, ying underwater hide-and-seek with sea monsters, or stealing sheep from the neighboring Cyclops were all part of Luo En''s upbringing.


    And then there were the times he was used as a test subject for Magic Potions or got poisoned...


    Fortunately, he was tough and lucky enough not to be killed off prematurely by this foolish bird.


    Thankfully, those hard days were almost over.


    ording to the traditions of the Age of Greek Gods, he would be able to escape the clutches of this woman as soon as he reached adulthood and could live on his own.


    "Hmm, nicely roasted this time, eat up, the food will get cold if you don''t."


    The oblivious Circe beside him struggled to swallow the chunk of dragon meat and continued to heartily invite him to dine.


    Luo En smiled and nodded but waited another seven or eight minutes until he was sure that Circe wasn''t showing any odd symptoms. Then he leisurely picked up the knife and fork to start enjoying tonight''s meal.


    There was no choice; this was a lesson learned through blood and tears.


    As a renowned Great Witch in Greek mythology, Circe, besides being skilled in Illusion Technique, transformation spells, and other witchcraft, was exceedingly proficient in the art of Magic Potions.


    No matter the ingredient, she could conjure odd effects with just a touch.


    And this strange talent was particrly evident when it came to cooking.


    Take, for instance, the Hygieian Porridge that normally wouldn''t be an issue; in her hands, it could turn a person into a pig...


    Since being tricked several times by his teacher''s seemingly harmless foods, Luo En had secretly developed the habit of letting her eat first, testing the food for poison.


    Of course, ording to the fine traditions of the East, having elders eat first also reflected respect for one''s teacher.


    While the filial disciple internally justified his deceitful behavior, he mulled over whether to plunder his teacher''s gold coins before making a run for it.


    After all, as a demigod-level Great Witch, Circe surely had plenty of valuable treasures on hand.


    Just as Luo En was caught in his ill-intentioned reverie, a strange scent wafted into his nostrils, making him involuntarily furrow his brow.


    "Hmm? What''s that?"


    "Oh no, disaster!"


    At that moment, Circe, who was busy dealing with a crab, heard the exmation and immediately leaped up, rushing into the kitchen in a fluster.


    As the stove was opened, a thick smell of something burnt spread throughout the air.


    Circe looked down at the te in her hand, at the brown-ck lumps on it, and felt an urge to cry but no tears woulde.


    "It''s ruined..."


    "What?"


    "The cake is burnt..."


    Circe''s pointed ears drooped slightly, making her look rather dejected.


    "Didn''t you mention on yourst birthday that you wanted to try this? I attempted to recreate it with the ingredients you talked about, but it seems I''ve failed..."


    Last time?


    Luo En felt a bit dazed and when he came to his senses, he looked at Circe with a softened gaze.


    Although this woman was often heavy-handed and it was hard to say she qualified as a nurturing mother or teacher, after more than ten years ofpanionship, they had developed a deep affection for each other.


    She was probably the closest person to him since he hade to this world.


    "Forget it, let''s just throw it away," whispered a despaired Circe.


    Luo En''s trip down memoryne was interrupted by the mumbling in his ear.


    Turning around, he saw Circe about to toss that brown-ck cake out the window.


    "What''s the rush? A bit of a charred taste can make a cake even more delicious."


    Standing beside her, Luo En without further ado snatched the cake that was about to be thrown away, broke off a piece, and started to chew on it.


    Circe froze, then snapped back to reality, turning her head to stare at Luo En in astonishment, her eyes shimmering with a surprise as if things had taken a turn for the better.


    "You ate it? You really ate it! How does it taste?"


    "Hmm, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, not bad," said Luo En, as he chewed and swallowed with some difficulty, offering an honest opinion.


    Despite the fact that it bore little resemnce to the soft and sweet cake he remembered, the perfect char gave it a vor reminiscent of creamed cornbread.


    "If you like it, eat more!"


    Circe''s voice sounded exceptionally cheerful, her face beaming as she eagerly broke off arge chunk of the cake and handed it over to her beloved pupil.


    Luo En epted Circe''s kindness, calling out familiarly,


    "Teacher, the taste is really not bad, you should eat, too."


    "No need, it was made especially for you. I''m satisfied just watching you eat," Circe said, waving her hands dismissively and then dragging over a chair to sit on, resting her chin in one hand, her youthful cheeks lifted in excitement as she watched her pupil with great interest.


    That look she had, seemed somehow... extraordinary?


    All of a sudden, Luo En, about to lift another piece of cake to his mouth, froze halfway, his voice gradually turning dry.


    "What did you add to it?"


    "I spent a long time perfecting the filling syrup! It''s the Hygieian Porridge 2.0 version!"


    Circe waved her little arms excitedly, proudly presenting her creation.


    "Not only did I infuse the unique rye fragrance of that thing into the cake, but I also developed over a dozen different vors based on the various ingredients like honey, fruit juice, and cheese..."


    As the Great Witch prattled on, Luo En felt his head spinning, his body and limbs shriveling up.


    "Gurgle..."


    With a strange noise squeezed from his throat, the world went dark for the victim, who, overwhelmed by an indescribable frustration, lost consciousness into chaos.


    Amidst the chaos of falling dishes, Circe hopped down from her chair, reached into the pile of clothing on the floor, and excitedly pulled out a pink and tender little piglet.


    "Ahahaha, try not sleeping with me now, no running away this time!"


    As the quiet moonlight retreated, the night grew dense and, on the ind of Aiaia, the Witch of the Eagle, holding onto her captured prize, bounced happily toward her bedroom.

 Chapter 11: 7 I Really Want to Improve

    The next day, radiant sunshine streamed through the gaps in the vines and spilled into the bedroom.


    Luo En opened his heavy eyelids to find a lovely face, capable of delight and displeasure alike, up close within his field of vision.


    The glistening, pert nose, the long eyshes fluttering gently, the pointy ears stretching softly... A collection of features, mixed with both childishness and spirituality, came together to form the exquisite visage before him, involuntarily invoking desires to peep and protect.


    It must be said, as the future Enchantress of Seduction and Corruption in Greek mythology, this demigod of Aiaia certainly had some substantial assets.


    But even the most beautifulndscapes, subject to the relentless assault of repetition, could be monotonously uninspiring.


    Inmon pance, worn out.


    Moreover...


    Luo En nced at his own left ear, which felt disgustingly sticky, and found a pair of pink lips cheerfully nibbling on it, the silver teeth causing a slight stinging sensation.


    At the same time, two delicate, pink arms were entwined around his neck like snakes, nearly suffocating him.


    In the midst of it all, he could just make out the distressed creak of his neck bones under the skin.


    With an expressionless face, Luo En sat up and peeled off the human-shaped ko hanging from his body and flung it aside.


    Luckily, the bed was spacious enough.


    Circe, who was disced from her territory, immediately mounted the quilt, rolling smoothly from the head of the bed to the foot, her fair skin shining alluringly bright in the dim room.


    The wild enchantress had a habit of sleeping in the nude.


    The unintentionally revealed charm made Luo En involuntarily lift his eyelids.


    At that moment, the Great Witch, who was now clinging to a pillow again, habitually rubbed her half-visible face against the quilt. Sparkling drool slid from the corner of her mouth as she muttered vague dream talk intermittently.


    "Hee hee, my cute little piggy, resistance is useless! Just let me hug and kiss you!"


    Hearing that self-satisfied and bewitchingughter, Luo En''s mouth twitched fiercely.


    She still loved pigs just as much.


    He had seen his share of people doting on cats and dogs, but a pig lover with such unique taste was a first for him.


    However, Luo En couldn''t understand why such a powerful Great Witch had such a deep fixation on little piglets.


    As he mulled over it, his gaze caught sight of a pair of soft, sprawling eagle wings under the quilt.


    Suddenly, a spark of realization red in his mind, and the question that had troubled him for so long seemed to find a vague answer.


    ¡ªAn eagle, of course, would fancy a piglet.


    Especially the newborn ones, plump and delicious.


    Damn, so that''s what it was!


    As Luo En thought of Circe''s lineage and alias as the Witch of the Eagle, his facial muscles twitched violently.


    This woman''s affection for piglets was probably a twisted pleasure of a predator licking and toying with its prey under its ws.


    ¡ªSomewhat like a cat''s evil delight in catching mice.


    He wondered if her decision to take him in all those years ago was because of this reason.


    By God, no wonder she hugged him every night, gnawing and drooling over him!


    The darker Luo En''s face became as he thought about it, the more the budding sentiment in his heart vanished without a trace.


    Indeed, this dimwit bird never had good intentions from the very beginning!


    The awakened little piggy muttered under his breath while his gaze drifted from the youthful face down below, sweeping past a certain semi-exposed 45-pound steel te, his resolve hardening like iron.


    Dragging his body, sore and aching as if haunted by a nighttime specter, he made his way to the dining room, got dressed in his scattered clothes, and then checked the time by the remaining warmth of the charcoal fire.


    Luo En looked at himself in the mirror, back in human form, and couldn''t help but shake his head in self-mockery.


    In just one night, he had reversed the pig-transformation effect of the Wheat Porridge Ock Enon 2.0 version. Under his teacher''s persecution, his resistance to magic potions indeed grew stronger by the day.


    I really am hopeless, aren''t I! Teacher!


    "Hee hee, hee hee, hee hee, I understand everything now. You must want me to kiss you again, mwah, my cute little piggy!"


    Once again, the bedroom was filled with bursts of manicughter, and the imageless Great Witch remained immersed in the joy of snuggling.


    "..." Luo En was speechless.


    Then, he walked back to the room with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot and unceremoniously yanked Circe, who was still deliriously attacking the quilt on the bed, up.


    "Get up!"


    "What is it? So early..."


    Circe opened her battling eyelids and looked at the quilt in her arms and the little pig that had escaped in front of her, her gaze filled with a hint of resentment.


    The little piglet of the past, how adorable it was.


    So small, so fragrant, so soft.


    But just as it turned three years old, this piglet entered its rebellious phase, repeatedly trying to escape from her embrace.


    After it turned seven, it even took over a room by itself and determinedly separated households with her.


    From that time on, Circe had lost her favorite pillow.


    Of course, the reason Luo En did this was simply to live a few more days, he genuinely feared being strangled to death one night by this foster mother who didn''t know her own strength.


    "Let me sleep a little longer..."


    Circe yawned with dissatisfaction, muttering while opening her half-shut pink eyes, and pulled back the corner of the nket, gazing eagerly at the little piglet in front of the bed.


    "How about we sleep together?"


    "In your dreams! Time''s up, follow me to ss!"


    "ss, ss?"


    The drowsy Great Witch, upon hearing that almost ice-cold voice next to her ear, instantly shivered like a student caught off-guard by a teacher and turned pale, involuntarily shaking her head like a rattle drum, in crazed denial.


    "I won''t go, I really don''t want to take sses!"


    With those words, Circe, as if facing floodwaters and savage beasts, clutched the nket and shrank into the corner, assuming a defiant posture.


    "That''s not up to you!"


    Luo En responded with a coldugh, rolled up the nket with Circe altogether, and carried them out the door without further ado.


    The nascent morning sun cast streaks of fine golden light, splitting the central spine of Aiaia Ind into two halves defined by light and dark.


    One side teemed with life, the other was gloomy and deathly still.


    Carrying the "sandwich cookie" on his shoulder, Luo En stepped on thickyers of dead leaves, making his way through the dense forest, his gaze twinkling.


    Aiaia Ind was located in the Sea of Okeanos, to the east, not far, legend has it, from the entrance to the Netherworld.


    Luo En figured that this was probably the reason he was sent to this ind afterpleting the resurrection match in Hades.


    And this location endowed the ind''s mistress Circe with a kind of Divinity characteristic of the Netherworld, making her quite familiar with ghosts and departed souls, somewhat of a peculiar living neighbor to Hades.


    Of course, this might also be rted to her faith.


    Luo En looked up at the end of the stone-paved path, towards that quaint ancient temple entwined with vines.


    This ce, unlike the lively other side of the ind, was crowded with dead trees, withered grass, and strange rocks, depicting a deste scene. The sky, inexplicably overcast and dim, exuded an indescribable sense of oppression and mystique.


    Upon reaching the entrance, Luo En stood still and gazed at the statue standing at the center of the great hall.


    It was a Goddess with three heads, three bodies, and six arms, holding torches, herbs, and talismans, her gazes directed toward three different directions.


    The Witchcraft Goddess Hecate, the deity worshipped by Circe.


    Also in Greek mythology, she is the Triple Goddess representative of opportunity, the Goddess of Magic, the Queen of Ghosts, and the Goddess of the Underworld, a very mysterious and unique entity.


    And in a way, she is now also considered Luo En''s current mentor.


    Lowering his gaze slightly to convey some basic respect, Luo En then tossed Circe, wrapped up in nket and all, straight into the temple.


    The shouting and protesting Circe, upon hitting the ground, hastily wriggled her body, hurriedly dressing herself with clothes tangled in the nket, and then sat up with dignity, scowling at her rebellious student she''d raised from a young age, grinding her teeth in frustration.


    "Disrespectful! This is a great disrespect!"


    As she was tidying her attire, Circe couldn''t help but sneak a few nces at the deity statue behind her, eyes revealing a hint of guilt.


    One should know, the deities of Greece are notoriously petty, and being naked in their temples is hardly respectful or decorous.


    Therefore, to attract the attention and retribution of such small-minded deities, there are a dozen precedents.


    "Teacher, I think Lady Goddess is magnanimous, and she surely wouldn''t me one for a minor offensemitted in the pursuit of knowledge," Luo En spread his hands sincerely and innocently.


    "I just want to improve too much."


    "..."


    Circe, looking at her student''s face "devoutly" expressing himself to the statue, felt her teeth itch, longing to bite down and tear off a chunk of flesh.


    But in the end, under the somber gaze of the deity, the Enchantress shrank her neck and flipped through a few ancient magic books made of sheepskin from the altar, then lifted her hand weakly in summons.


    "Come in, let''s start the ss."


    Luo En entered the temple with a faint smile on his face, sat down on his knees opposite teacher Circe, and began the routine magical studies.

 Chapter 12: 8 Listen to me, little one

    Circe mustered a bit of energy and dug out an ancientnguage parchment manuscript from her magic books, tossing it to Luo En opposite her.


    "Today, we shall discuss the remaining Hermes Script."


    "Already finished it."


    Luo En caught the manuscript and, without a nce, tossed it back into Circe''s arms.


    Hermes Script, also known as Hermes''s symbolguage, is an ancient symbol system believed to have originated in Ancient Greece. Hermes, the Messenger god of Greek mythology, is said to have invented this system and taught it to humanity.


    This symbolguage was extensively used during the ancient times of Greece and Rome, utilized for recording,munication, and mystical rituals.


    Typically, they are roughlyposed of a series of lines and geometric shapes, with each symbol representing a specific letter, word, or concept. These symbols weremonly engraved on stone, pottery, or paper, and could also serve as amulets or magic charms.


    Furthermore, the shapes and arrangements of Hermes Script had certain symbolic meanings and were believed to convey hidden messages and powers, hence the subject was often one of the introductory courses essential for studying magic and witchcraft.


    Circe scratched her head, her pastel-colored eyes filled with deep confusion.


    "Hmm? Weren''t there a few pages left?"


    "I learned it on my own. Waiting for you to drag it out would have taken forever."


    Luo En rolled his eyes, unable to suppress a scoff.


    Since it''s akin to an introductory required course, the difficulty is naturally not too high.


    For such a booklet of just a few dozen pages, the fact that Circe could stretch out the lessons to over half a month still leaving one third remaining made Luo En suspect this woman wasn''t a Witch of the Eagle, but a slow-as-msses pigeon spirit, always procrastinating and dying him.


    Amidst his internalints, Luo En''s purple eyes turned to the Enchantress of the Eagle across from him, a trace of disdain swirling silently within them.


    "That quick? Then let me test you."


    Circe, skeptical, opened the parchment manuscript and drew five different symbols on a te with a stick.


    Luo En nced over them and began to answer without hesitation.


    "This triangle represents fire, signifying energy and passion; the square represents earth, denoting stability and solidity; the circle represents water, for flow and change; the half-circle represents air, for thought andmunication. And fire, earth, water, air are also what''s often referred to in magic as the basic elements that constitute the world.


    As for thest one, the spiral represents the soul, symbolizing growth and evolution...


    The above are the individual applications, but these symbolsbined can also form moreplex matrices. Depending on the shape, size, and arrangement of each symbol, the effect of the matrix can vary ordingly, and this is what''s called a Magic Array."


    After systematically exining the meaning of the five Hermes Script symbols, he paused briefly, pondered for a moment, and his gaze grew deeper.


    "Its essence, is to take the [Elements] as the [Foundation], the [Symbols] as the [Medium], the [Soul] as the [Sovereign], defining the [Rules] ording to one''s own [Will], reconstructing a miniature [World]!"


    "Who told you these things?"


    "Guessed it¡­"


    "¡­?!"


    Circe''s pastel eyes gradually widened, looking incredulously at the young man before her uttering astonishing words, then her expression soaked with a touch of bitterness.


    "Do you know how many decades it took me toprehend all this?"


    "Just luck."


    Luo En''s face remained unrippled, his tone still calm.


    Words and symbols are not only carriers ofnguagemunication but also represent the creator''s and a civilization''s view and understanding of the world, which inevitably contains aplete philosophical discourse.


    Such insight was not something to be proud of; it was merely because he had examined the operational logic of more than one ancientnguage when designing those game narratives and structures, learning their generalmonalities.


    And when one principle bes clear, all others follow.


    Seeing her own rebellious student perform so well, Circe, as a teacher, couldn''t help but abandon her attempt to muddle through and forced herself to perk up, pulling another book from the pile.


    "Since you''ve almost mastered Hermes Script, let''s move on to ''Alchemy Studies'' next."


    "We covered thatst year."


    Luo En reminded her expressionlessly, casting a deste nce at his not-so-reliable mentor.


    Circe coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.


    "What about this ''Alchemical Arts'' then?"


    "Three months ago."


    "''Summoning Arts'' and ''Transfiguration Arts''?"


    "Summoning Arts is fine, but you mentioned that Transfiguration Arts isn''t quite suitable for my constitution, as it seems to require a unique lineage. We just finished that coursest week..."


    "..."


    Under the increasingly pointed gaze of her student, Circe''s face turned unnaturally red, and she looked at the useless magic books scattered around, feeling inwardly dejected.


    What''s the rush to reincarnate?


    The magic books she had gone to great lengths to collect had been nearly exhausted. What should she teach next?


    A certainzy teacher, straining her brain the size of a walnut as legends say birds possess, kept ncing at her overly exceptional student with increasingly mournful eyes.


    That''s why she hated teaching!


    Finally, after racking her brains for a full thirty minutes, Circe weakly proposed today''s lesson.


    "How about a meditation ss?"


    Luo En put down the old textbook he was flipping through and nodded calmly.


    In the sixteen years he had been living on Aiaia Ind, leading a secluded and tranquil life, the Sword of Damocles overhead always filled his heart with a sense of emergency.


    Therefore, to enhance his self-protection, Luo En spared no effort in learning magic and witchcraft, tackling them with the fervor of studying for college entrance exams in his past life.


    Over the years, he had almost drained the Great Witch of her magical knowledge.


    At this point, what heckedpared to Circe was probably only in magic power, experience, and skills.


    And as meditation is the foundational course for beginner witches, it is the main way to solidify one''s spirit and enhance magic power.


    Better to spend more time meditating and umting more magic power than to waste it under the inefficient and derelict teaching of this doddling teacher.


    "Alright, wait a moment, I''ll go prepare some things!"


    With permission granted, Circe leaped up from her seat and rushed out of the temple in haste.


    Luo En nced at the back of the buffoonish teacher as she fled in what seemed like panic, shook his head helplessly, and reached for the Hermes Script manuscript, tracing the runes that Circe had written on a b using a twig.


    Although his theoretical knowledge was already top-notch, replicating the perfect essence of each Hermes rune was still quite challenging.


    To ovee this, he had no choice but to engage in long and tedious practice.


    By the time Luo En had traced roughly over thirty times, Circe finally returned to the temple, nging arge, bubbling cauldron between them, and then set two coarsely crafted bowls on the ground.


    With the thick stirring sound, two bowls were filled to the brim.


    Luo En looked at the bowl in front of him, the soup ck and green, and his eyes twitched involuntarily, his face etched with an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?"

 Chapter 13: 9 The Enchantress is Digging a Pit

    "Hygieian Porridge?"


    "Mmm-hmm, that''s right, fresh out of the pot, still steaming! Drink it up quick!"


    Circe, hand on hip, proudly fished forpliments as she lifted the earthenware bowl in her hand and offered it to her beloved apprentice.


    Luo En immediately caught the bowl and sneered, revealing the woman''s wicked intentions.


    "Stop it! Are you trying to turn me into a pig again? Then no one would force you to give lessons!"


    "I''ve never turned anyone into a pig..."


    "Still in denial, huh? What aboutst night?"


    "Of course, because you''re already a pig, my cute little piggy!"


    Circe spread her hands and blinked her pink eyes innocently, her expression seemingly teasing.


    Unmoved, Luo En pointed at the bubbling pot of Hygieian Porridge, his face dark as he let out a cold huff.


    "Haha, still trying to trick me, I''ve known about this stuff''s effects for a long time, alright?"


    "Effects? What effects?


    Just a few medicinal herbs, pure water, natural grains, in my bowl.


    No change; no change at all;


    Only disguises that vanish without a trace, letting them see themselves and each other."


    Circe hummed off-key, her gaze filled with an even thicker sense of mockery.


    "Don''t believe me? Look, you must recognize these ingredients, absolutely harmless."


    Luo En nced at the ck and green gruel in the bowl, sniffed, and the list of ingredients shed in his mind.


    Barley, water, honey, mint oil, and... mandrake?


    It seemed that apart from thest herb, all ingredients were quite ordinary.


    And the effect of mandrake was just to cause hallucinations...


    Wait, hallucinations?!


    Luo En''s mind shed, and he suddenly understood, blurting out the answer.


    "Your porridge simply induces hallucinations, making the eaters think they are the incarnation of some animal!"


    "Giggle, that''s right, my smart little piggy."


    Circe nodded affirmatively, a pleased curve forming on her lips as she continued to speak.


    "So you see, Hygieian Porridge is essentially just a benign magic potion that frees the mind and leads to unity of body and spirit, greatly beneficial for meditation."


    So that was it.


    Doubts fading from his face, Luo En nodded thoughtfully.


    Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Circe eagerly handed over a full bowl of the porridge, smiling as she presented it to her apprentice.


    "Here, my cute little piggy, drink it up quick, and let''s start meditating earlier to finish today''s learning."


    Looking at the bubbling special beverage before him, Luo En vaguely recalled that in the Eleusinian cult of Ancient Greece, which worshipped the agriculture Goddess Demeter, there was a secret Eleusinian rite.


    That is, the senior members invited the newly initiated devotees to fast for a day, in memory of Demeter''s fast while searching for her daughter Perse.


    During the fast, the devotees would guzzle a special barley drink in hopes of receiving divine "revtion."


    Such a barley drink was likely simr to Hygieian Porridge.


    So, it''s possible that Hygieian Porridge was originally truly intended as an aid for meditation and the development of psychic abilities.


    But...


    "But the prerequisite is, I can resist your psychological suggestions..."


    ncing at the thick porridge in the bowl, Luo En pursed his lips with a half-smile, looking at the Great Witch before him who was full of earnest assurances.


    "Of course, there''s nothing wrong with the Hygieian Porridge, since it''s just an aid. It''s your constant psychological suggestions to me that are key, right?"


    The smile on Circe''s face suddenly froze, her hand holding the bowl stiff in mid-air.


    She had been found out...


    All this time, Circe frequently repeated the phrase "little piggy" in hopes of imnting a blurry recognition in others'' minds, making them subconsciously ept their identity as a "piggy" and, through the psychological and physical integration of Hygieian Porridge,plete the transformation from "human" to "piggy."


    As she said, she indeed hadn''t turned anyone into a pig, but she was the biggest facilitator of this transformation.


    Sure enough, a witch is never a symbol of kindness and purity, but rather a willful, unprincipled group determined to please themselves by any means necessary.


    To sum it all up in one word¡ªtrash.


    Luo En shook his head, once again seeing the true nature of his foolish bird of a teacher before him.


    Seeing the conspiracy exposed, Circe frantically darted her eyes around, her gaze flittering toward the doorway.


    "Oh dear, I just remembered, there''s still soup simmering on the stove!"


    With those words, the demigod enchantress leaped up from her seat, ready to flee the scene of the incident.


    However, before Circe could make a run for it, a hand picked up a y bowl from the ground and downed the brimming Hygieian Porridge in one gulp.


    "You, you... drank it all?"


    Under the stupefied gaze of Circe, Luo En wiped his mouth, tossed the now empty bowl onto the ground, and calmly offered his review.


    "The taste of peppermint oil is a bit strong, use less next time."


    "So, how do you feel now, little piggy?"


    Circe reseated herself in her original spot, her eyes filled with eager anticipation as she looked at her beloved pupil.


    If this little creature before her turned into a pig again, she could continue to skip the grueling lessons and instead cuddle with her beloved little piggy in bed.


    Hmm, cuddle and roll around.


    Imagining that delightful scene, Circe''s eyes unconsciously shimmered with excitement, and her pointed ears trembled slightly with anticipation.


    However, Luo En, who had voluntarily walked into the trap, showed no change, his gaze still clear and lucid.


    Actually, once he understood the true nature of the transformation into a pig, it became much simpler to counteract the negative effects of the Hygieian Porridge.


    By establishing a mental barrier and continuously repeating the concept of being "human" in his mind, he naturally would not be easily swayed by his foolish teacher''s incantations, transforming him back into a "little piggy."


    "Stop daydreaming, what''s next?"


    The calm murmur at his ear interrupted Circe''s fantasy, slightly dampening her spirits.


    But in the temple of Hecate, this great witch who worshipped the Witchcraft Goddess had to settle down and grudgingly guide Luo En on how to use the effects of the Hygieian Porridge to make meditation twice as effective.


    "Just like usual, regte your breathing, rx your body, disperse your five senses, sense the magic in the air, and then try to construct the corresponding Hermes Runes with them, constantly strengthening your affinity and control over the elements..."


    Luo En did not rush into meditation but examined his foolish teacher before him.


    "What else?"


    "...don''tpletely empty your mind, remember your essence to avoid getting lost in the illusions produced by the Hygieian Porridge..."


    Circe muttered the key elements resentfully, her frustration mounting.


    She hated smart students, especially those smarter than their teacher.


    At that moment, Luo En, who was merely habitually bluffing a bit, looked even darker in the face.


    Old habits die hard! To trick him into bed, it really was one pitfall after another.


    "Keep talking!"


    "That''s it! Really, there''s no more!"


    Luo En finally closed his eyes, still somewhat skeptical but attempting to clear his mind and disperse his spirit to sense the elements around him, after Circe petntly grumbled and swore on the name of the Goddess Hecate.


    Of course, just to be safe, he did not throw caution to the wind but instead cautiously rxed his mental restraints step by step, searching for the boundaries that would maintain his self-awareness.


    As his spiritual power flowed outward like a tide, his self-awareness started to blur, so Luo En carefully reined in his mind a bit.


    Empty seventy percent, retain thirty percent... that was probably his limit for now.


    However, despite only around seventy percent of mental sensing, the amount of magic he captured during meditation increased by twice the usual.


    It seemed that, although Hygieian Porridge as a special potion indeed contained dangerous ingredients, it could indeed significantly enhance the consumer''s mental sensitivity.


    Once certain of this, Luo En gradually settled down and began his daily practice.


    As he breathed in and out, his spiritual force that had spread around him resonated in harmony, causing the elements swirling within thirty meters to form a visibly pulsing Magic Tide, with varied Hermes Script appearing intermittently, creating different formations and foundations.


    Circe could only stare for a while before she became bored and listless, propping her chin on her hand and spacing out in her seat, pondering philosophical matters like what to eat for dinner tonight.


    After all, as a demigod great witch and beloved pupil of the Witchcraft Goddess Hecate, she could quite literally do whatever she wanted in the seas near Aiaia.


    Without the threat of survival, there was naturally ack of impetus to actively be stronger.


    Therefore,pared to the monotonous daily rigorous training and research, Circe, who was quite negligent in both her studies and life, preferred to leave her strength improvement to her innate talent and lineage.


    During the tedious supervision, time slipped away bit by bit, the newborn sunrise gradually turning into twilight below the horizon.


    As thest glow of the sunset faded, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth in the Temple of Hecate, which was about to be swallowed by the night.


    Bright as the raging sun, lustrous as gold.


    Circe, who was just about to fall asleep, suddenly opened her eyes wide and stared at the glowing eyes in the darkness, speechless with astonishment.


    "You you... you''ve advanced again?"


    Her expression of shock was as if she were looking at a curly-haired baboon that had evolved directly into an alien from the zenith of the stars.

 Chapter 14: 10 Please, Be a Human!

    ```


    "Just an advancement in rank, what''s so surprising about that?"


    Faced with Circe''s astonishment, Luo En rolled his eyes habitually and replied somewhat indifferently.


    "The key is you''re only sixteen years old!"


    Circe involuntarily raised her voice a few notches,ining to her wayward disciple and foster son as she counted on her fingers.


    "You reached the Gold rank at just twelve, and then in a mere four years, you entered the peak of Gold. I''ve never heard of any human advancing so fast!"


    The Great Witch inadvertently did some calctions and the more she spoke, the more shocked she felt. Even the way she looked at her student and foster son began to seem a bit strange.


    "No, it''s even more than that!


    Not even the supernatural creatures of the Sea of Okeanos, nor the half-Titans on nearby inds have ever been so outrageous!


    I''m beginning to wonder, are you really human?"


    Under Circe''s sharp scrutiny, Luo En cleared his throat lightly and his gaze drifted somewhat.


    "Maybe I''m just luckier than most."


    ording to the rules of mythology and magic, mystical powers often follow this characteristic:


    ¡ªThe older it is, the more mysterious; the more mysterious, the more powerful.


    When the world was still in chaos, beings called "the gods" were born from the purest essence.


    Absorbing magic power factors and mastering naturalws was as simple as breathing for them, an authority inherent in their being.


    Therefore, the first of these existences had the highest starting point and virtually endless room for growth.


    But as heaven and earth parted, the sun, moon, and stars rose and set; as time and space were divided, and the concepts of life and death, flourishing and withering took shape, the framework of the world also gradually stabilized.


    In this process, the species on earth exchanged and evolved batch after batch.


    They once could absorb magic power and be linked to the essence in their blood, but it became degraded and diluted over time. The ceiling of their growth was consequently being lowered progressively with the stabilization of the world''s structure.


    Even across different mythologies, there''s a simr consensus in the descriptions of the primordial world.


    Initially, the air was filled with high concentrations of ether factors, food was everywhere, the earth flowed with milk and honey, and all things grew freely.


    And moreover, the high purity energy gave rise to deities, making everything as dreamily beautiful as multicolored soap bubbles.


    However, as the world took shape and thews stabilized, this "soap bubble" would gradually squeeze out the fanciful and unsustainable elements, descending towards the real surface of the earth.


    As the mystical began to fade, the infinitely malleable age of gods also shriveled and downgraded to the fixed and real world of humanity.


    Simrly, in Ancient Greek mythology, gods appeared first, and afterward, under the leadership of the gods, humans were created.


    Thus, the ancient Greeks ssified the evolution of civilization into five eras based on the level of collective ability and starting point, namely the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Heroic Age, and the Iron Age.


    The order among them represents the different distances from the gods.


    Later on, this concept was also incorporated into the field of fundamental mysticism, and the four ranks of ck Iron¡ªBronze¡ªSilver¡ªGold became the early indicators of an individual''s strength.


    Currently, Luo En has rocketed into the peak of Gold in just sixteen short years, a feat that shocks the world.


    Such a cheat-like level would be considered extraordinary even among half-Titans and demigod heroes, let alone within an ordinary Greek city-state.


    You should know, in the armies of the Greek city-states, those of Silver standard are the absolute core forces, and those of the Gold rank can directly assume the position of legionmander.


    And above those ranks are the "Demigods," who are often the City Builders and kings used by a city-state to shore up its prestige.


    But their ages are usually in their middle to older years, and some have even reached triple digits before achieving such sess.


    ```


    Therefore, judging solely by the speed of growth, Luo En was simply not like a person at all.


    Of course, he didn''t seem to fall under the category of a normal human being in the first ce.


    Luo En looked down at the lines in his palm, his deep gaze seemed as if it would pierce through the translucent skin, to see the pale gold blood flowing through his veins.


    ¡ªThe blood of the Divine King, the heritage of Zeus.


    His extraordinary lineage granted him unparalleled talent for cultivating.


    However, it also brought cmity upon him at his birth, narrowly escaping death, forced to hide on this isted ind overseas, living each day on edge, crouching in fear.


    Fortunately, sixteen years of hardening had finally given him some ability to protect himself.


    But this meager strength was barely enough to ensure some safety within human city-states; to stand firm in the Sea of Okeanos, where gods, mixed-blood Titans, and monsters were prevalent, he would at the very least need to be a Demigod.


    Of course, even bing a Demigod was just the beginning of a long journey for Luo En.


    After all, the person he had provoked was none other than Zeus, the current ruler of all of Greece.


    With his current slight abilities, let alone being caught up in world-ss missions like "Olympus Elegy," "The Wrath of Zeus," or "War of the Gods," even if he encountered epic instances such as the "Argonaut Expedition," "The War of Troy," or "The Twelve Labors," if by chance he carelessly collided with any of the gods in disguise who descended to Earth or a whole bunch of legendary Demigods lurking in the corners, these would pose tremendous risks for him.


    A slight misstep, and he would still have to kneel.


    As for reaching Gold or the peak of Gold, it is probably just a matter of kneeling sooner rather thanter.


    Just the thought of that night sixteen years ago, with the suffocating, rampaging thunderbolts filling the sky, Luo En would reflexively feel a heart-pounding fear.


    This feeling of not being in control of his own fate was terrible.


    Not enough, far from enough!


    The sense of crisis gnawing at his bones left Luo En without any joy of promotion, instead turning to earnestly look at his teacher.


    "I have now reached the peak of Gold, what should I do next to be a Demigod?"


    "To have reached such a state, and still, you are not satisfied?"


    Circe looked at her student in surprise, somewhat unable to understand.


    "Is studying and cultivating, these dry and bothersome affairs, that fascinating to you?"


    "Fascinating is not the word I would use..."


    Luo En shook his head, his eyes deep and distant.


    "It''s just because learning might be the simplest thing in this world. Effort is rewarded, hard work leads to results..."


    ¡ªAnd besides, it''s the only thing I can do right now.


    He silently added in his heart, then gathered his thoughts, and once again turned to his somewhat stunned teacher to bring the conversation back on track.


    "Tell me, what should I do?"


    Hearing the call, Circe shook her head, snapping out of her daze, but instead of answering directly, she threw out a question with profound implications.


    "Do you know why in the mystical system the first four tiers of power¡ªIron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold¡ªexclude Demigod?"


    Luo En frowned and thought for a moment, answering uncertainly.


    "Because being a Demigod is fundamentally different from the previous four stages?"


    A sh of surprise passed through Circe''s eyes, yet her face didn''t show much of a ripple of shock.


    After all, having been ustomed to spending time with her student, his overly mature mentality and insight beyond normal humans had already be something she took for granted.

 Chapter 15: 11 The Greek Family Tradition

    Circe calmed her emotions and nodded in response.


    "That''s right, strictly speaking, the four stages of [Iron], [Bronze], [Silver], and [Gold] merely represent life continually advancing towards [Gods] and the [Generation of Gods].


    But [approaching] does not mean [equivalent]; there''s a fundamental difference between the two.


    If the initial four stages are simply about the [umtion of quantity] in magic power and skill, then to be a Demigod is a [qualitative transformation] in the form of life itself.


    Therefore, the ascension of the first four stages is often called [advancement in rank], while stepping into the realm of [Demigods] is referred to as [Ascension].


    And only by bing a Demigod do we truly begin climbing thedder that leads to the domain of the gods."


    Luo En listened attentively,mitting Circe''s words to memory, his eyes thoughtful.


    "So, a Demigod is much stronger than Gold?"


    "Much stronger? It''s not evenparable!"


    Circe rolled her eyes and casually snapped her fingers.


    In an instant, the sky over Aiaia Ind changed dramatically, with magic tides visible to the naked eye stretching for dozens of kilometers, converging toward the center of the temple and forming a massive vortex.


    An overwhelming sense of oppression hit them, and Luo En, in the eye of the storm, felt like a small vessel in raging waves, at risk of capsizing at any moment.


    "Snap!"


    A second snap echoed in their ears, and the surging,pressing magic tide vanished in a puff, the sky clear and blue once more.


    As if nothing had happened.


    "See the difference now? I could take on a dozen of you, and it wouldn''t scare me one bit."


    Circe, rarely puffing her chest out in front of a student, stood with one hand on her hip, tilting her smooth chin upward, her face brimming with smugness.


    Give me a break, if I could actually beat you, I would have smacked you already!


    Luo En ignored his silly bird teacher''s boasting, making a mental snide remark, while pressing his hand on his chest that was still throbbing with palpitations, his eyebrows unconsciously furrowing.


    Indeed, Demigods and Gold were practically different species.


    He had worked hard just to invoke a magic tide spanning about thirty meters, yet this silly bird could unleash a magic storm extending dozens of kilometers with a flick of her finger. The gap was insurmountable, a generational difference in technology that spanned from hardware to software.


    Moreover, this was just the power at the level of Demigods. If it were real deities, then the authority disyed with their every move would be even more terrifying.


    In the blink of an eye, they could move mountains, fill the seas, copse the stars...!


    Luo En thought of the records of deities in the epics and couldn''t help but feel even more weighed down.


    However, he quickly suppressed the gloom that had arisen in his heart, his gaze turning sharply cold.


    So what if they''re gods? They''ll die if they''re killed!


    Since the God of Chaos, Chaos, disappeared, the first generation of origin gods like Uranus, the Father of Heaven, Mother Earth Gaia, and The Old Sea God Pontos seized control of the world, marking the transition of chaos from disorder to order.


    Afterward, the three origin gods who represented the sky, the earth, and the sea created and united with each other, spawning arge number of offspring and strengthening the ranks of their own groups, which solidified their rule.


    But Uranus, to maintain the strongest paternal power, harshly suppressed the growth and divinity of his children.


    With time, as they approached adulthood and could no longer bear it, Titan God Cronus rallied himself and his eleven siblings. With Mother Earth Gaia''s assistance, they castrated Uranus, stripped the Father God of his authority, established the Great Temple on Mount Othrys, then thoroughly looted the coins of the older generation, only to share the spoils of authority with their siblings.


    The biggest victim in all of this was The Old Sea God Pontos.


    ording to Circe, that oldest of sea deities had long ago been shattered into fragments of divinity, scattered and integrated into various parts of the Primordial Ocean, transforming into a myriad of Sea Beasts and all kinds of Monsters.


    It was probably because the river god hanos and the goddess Thetis, that couple among the twelve Titan Gods, did not shy away from consuming their uncle''s legacy that they were able to produce such arge progeny of three thousand sons and three thousand daughters.


    Of course, to describe the fall of a god as [death] might be too sphemous; a more euphemistic term would be [eternal slumber].


    Theye from the origin and rules, and when they can no longer sustain themselves, they return to the essence. Their flesh and divinity be the cornerstone of the world, further perfecting the entire Age of Greek Gods.


    As they say, the fall of a whale gives rise to all life; it''s roughly like that.


    By the way, Circe here is an indirect beneficiary of that ancient [fall of a whale].


    ¡ª¡ªording to the Divine Chronicle, the river god hanos and the sea goddess Thetis are Circe''s legitimate maternal grandfather and grandmother.


    But that''s all old news, as the main holder of the sea god''s authority is now under Poseidon''s control.


    The transition of authority among Greek deities is a sort of excellent [familial backstabbing] mechanism.


    The next generation usually needs to perform a round of father leaves, sonughs, before they can inherit the old ones'' legacy.


    The authority and dominions of the current Twelve Olympians are built on the foundation of looting the gold of the older generation of twelve Titans.


    With Circe''s corroboration, it''s clear that in these two transitions of divine power, the fallen Demigods, Monsters, and Deities are far from few.


    Therefore, with these precedents to reference, Luo En does not believe that those so-called deities are truly invincible and immortal.


    Nheless, times have changed.


    As the Divine King destined to rule, Zeus was much more difficult to deal with than the twelve Titan Gods. Attempting to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and repeat the glorious family tradition of a father-son showdown at Olympus was, to say the least,ughably understated as "hell difficulty."


    Anyway, it''s useless to think too much about it. Better focus on what needs to be done right now.


    Luo En exhaled a turbid breath from his chest and looked pensively at his teacher.


    "Tell me, how do I ascend to a Demigod?"


    "It''s a somewhatplicated process, first you need to have the bloodline of deities, which is a prerequisite..."


    "And then what?"


    Circe nced at Luo En''s unchanging face, her pink pupils twinkling slightly.


    Sure enough, this little piggy that drifted onto Aiaia Ind wasn''t as simple as he seemed.


    But so what? There are plenty of secrets in Greece, and it''s not her concern to meddle too much.


    Instead of pondering those, better think about how to upgrade and refine the recipe for Hecate''s concoction.


    ¡ªThis is my favorite little piggy now.


    Seeing his creepy teacher eyeing him strangely, sizing him up while barely concealing a shiny drool at the corner of her mouth, Luo En''s face darkened as he pressed her for an answer.


    "Speak, what should I do next!"


    "Oh, you need the essence of the bloodline to extract Divinity and ignite the divine me!"


    Circe, snapping back to reality, coughed dryly and responded on the spot.


    Such a vague answer made Luo En frown.


    "Can you be more specific?"


    "Uhh, I can''t..."


    "Then how did you ascend from Gold to Demigod status?"


    "Me? One day I was sleepy, took a nap, and when I woke up, it just happened..."


    The Demigod Great Witch blinked her pink eyes, looking innocent.


    "..."


    At that moment, Luo En''s forehead was etched with lines of frustration; he finally understood why Circe had beat around the bush on this topic.


    It seems that even she herself didn''t fullyprehend the specific method of ascension.


    However, it wasn''t entirely fruitless.


    Based on the previous method described and Circe''s individual case, Luo En could roughly guess the reason for this silly bird''s ascension.


    Nothing more.


    ¡ªLiving long enough, the bloodline being refined day by day by Magic Power factors, automatically purified, then Divinity overflowing, and eventually the divine fire igniting on its own.


    This is probably the moremon path of ascension for most Monsters and Titans.


    That is, umting the gifts of innate talent over a prolonged period and growing passively.


    But such a strategy, akin to lying t, undoubtedly requires a waste of considerable time.


    After learning this, Luo En frowned deeply.


    He didn''t believe he could live long enough to surpass Zeus by lying down, and such a passive strategy was unlikely to close the gap with his Divine King father in his lifetime.


    With no fruitful ideas in his mind, he turned his questing gaze back toward Circe.


    "Is there a faster way?"


    "No."


    The Great Witch Demigod could only shake her head, indicating she was no help at all.


    Seeing that this silly bird really had nothing useful to offer, Luo En could only wave his hand in frustration.


    Having been given permission to leave, Circe, who had been dozing off, suddenly perked up, cheered, and rushed out of the Great Temple toward her kitchen to start preparing tonight''s meal.


    ¡ªWhat should I make this time?


    Hmm, let''s try the new recipe I just thought up! Hecate concoction 3.0 version!


    Watching the joyous departure of the Demigod Great Witch, Luo En touched his forehead and smiled bitterly.


    It seems that for the time being, he couldn''t count on this silly bird for guidance on his path ahead.


    So, now he could only consult someone else.


    Under the cool moonlight, Luo En slowly turned around and quietly looked towards the Great Temple, where a mysterious, delightful figure in light purple had appeared at some point, sitting at a stone table, supporting her chin with one hand while smiling at him.

 Chapter 16: 12 How Will You Repay What You Owe Me?

    A snake-patterned twelve-sided die tumbled across the stone table with each flick of pale fingers, the pleasure in the curve of cherry lips beneath a veil obvious.


    "It seems you''ve been taught well."


    "Thanks to your grace, Lady Goddess."


    Luo En closed the doors of the temple and sat down at the stone table, giving insincerepliments to a certain creditor with a forced smile on his face.


    "Oh, by the way, should I address you as ''Persephone'' Your Highness?"


    "We are born nameless; a name is just a handle, call me whatever you prefer."


    The smile remained on the face of the "Queen of the Underworld" across from him as she spoke indifferently.


    I don''t believe you for a second!


    Luo En''s somber gaze drifted over the head of this "Queen of the Underworld" and settled on the statue of the goddess with three faces and six arms in the main hall, as he sneered internally.


    Mingyue''s Hecate, strictly speaking, was a goddess who did not clearly belong to the Heavenly Gods or Earth Deities. In a world where divine attributes are categorized, she represented a certain kind of game, joy, chance, and the randomness of fate. She could be beneficial to someone or harmful, and the other party would be none the wiser.


    For Hecate could bestow luck or misfortune at will.


    She could make fish species plentiful in the waters or drive them to extinction, and it was the same for birds in the sky and livestock on the ground. In the world of the gods, she represented an element of chance, adding a touch of luck. Zeus and Gaea stretched out time, and they could predict how time would unfold; whereas Hecate would smear a bit of lubricant into the gears, leaving a bit of unpredictability, and that made the world turn more smoothly.


    She interfered with the birth of infants, the education of children, the creation of wealth, and the affairs of mortals such as fishing and sailing. Inter times, it was said that apart from the Sun God Helios, only she witnessed Hades, the God of the Underworld, abducting Persephone. She helped Demeter, the Agriculture God, find her daughter, bing the protector and godmother of the Queen of the Underworld in the Netherworld¡­


    ¡ª¡ªThe protector and godmother of the Queen of the Underworld Persephone¡­


    ¡ª¡ªRepresenting[a certain game], [joy], [chance], and [the randomness of fate]¡­


    These records in [TheoGraph] undoubtedly corresponded closely with the creditor before Luo En''s eyes.


    Therefore, the true identity of this "Queen of the Underworld" was practically self-evident.


    Moreover, this was Hecate''s temple, who else but the goddess herself could appear here so silently?


    Obviously, his drifting to Aiaia, being picked up and raised by the enchantress Circe, was no coincidence; everything was within this goddess''s control.


    After all, which creditor would let their debtor off the hook so easily based on a few words?


    As for that favorite disciple of Hecate, his dear foster mother and teacher, the Great Witch Circe - whether she knew the inside story or had a part in it¡­


    Each time Luo En thought of the wise look in that foolish bird''s eyes, and the several instances she''d nearly "nurtured" him to death, he immediately shook his head, dismissing such spections from his mind.


    Quickly organizing his thoughts, Luo En managed a strained politeness and said, "What brings you to this godforsaken ind instead of enjoying the Netherworld?"


    His words seemed imbued with an apparent disdain.


    "Naturally, it is to visit my adorable disciple and grand-disciple," responded Hecate, ignoring the tone. With her delicate hand propping her mysteriously beautiful profile, her interested gaze scrutinized the "grand-disciple" before her.


    That familiar feeling took Luo En back to the past, transforming back into the piece of pork that oncey on the chopping board.


    A shiver ran through him.


    Unable to help himself, Luo En twitched the corners of his mouth and hurriedly, albeit reluctantly, stopped the goddess''s "loving gaze" with a forced chuckle on his face.


    "Your timing is impable, I just have some questions about magic I was hoping to discuss with you."


    "Do you want to know the fastest way to ascension as a demigod?"


    Hecate smiled faintly, directly uncovering the grand-disciple''s purpose.


    Clearly, this goddess had not refrained from secretly spying on him.


    Luo En wondered just how many times this woman had leered at him since his youth.


    Realizing this, Luo En felt a momentary tightening and difort, but considering the vast difference in their statuses and power, he had no choice but to swallow his frustration and nod in agreement.


    "I do know that," came the light, pleasing voice, leaving Luo En momentarily thrilled.


    But before he could maintain his smile for a few seconds, Hecate tilted her head and looked at him slyly, her tone suddenly shifting, "But why should I tell you?"


    "..."


    Seeing that ying on sympathy was ineffective, Luo En''s pursed lips twitched silently, and he could only inwardly scorn his so-called ancestral master.


    Meanwhile, Hecate was in no hurry, idly flicking the snake-patterned twelve-sided die on the table, waiting with a smile.


    After a brief silence, Luo En conceded defeat and resignedlyplied.


    "Alright, old rules, if I win, you tell me the method."


    "Deal!"


    With these words, Hecate readily agreed.


    Under the expectant gaze of his mentor, Luo En very reluctantly took out from under the long table a storagepartment, a wooden board divided into squares and dyed with different pigments, and two marble boxes, each containing 16 ck and white chess pieces.


    Based on theyout of the chessboard and the number of pieces, one could clearly make out the contours of international chess.


    However, to conform to local customs, the figures carved on the pieces were modeled after more Greece-oriented characters like kings, legionmanders, famous mythical creatures, and so on.


    In in terms, it was a pirated version of international chess.


    The only reason for creating this was to keep the gambling goddess in front of him upied, so she wouldn''te to Aiaia Ind to wander around and constantly seek entertainment around him.


    Incidentally, he could also use the chess bets as a way to gain some advantages from Hecate''s hands.


    But to his surprise, as soon as Hecate started ying, she developed a strong interest in this kind of intellectual chess game and learned it very quickly.


    After just over a dozen matches, Luo En''s mind was almost emptied of strategies and chess moves by the opponent, and the battles on the chessboard became increasingly fierce.


    Seeing that he, the founder, was about to be defeated by a student he had only taught for a few days, Luo En decided it was best to quit while ahead and permanently closed the game, resolutely refusing to y chess with Hecate again.


    However, to a gambling addict, winning or losing didn''t matter.


    The worst punishment was not allowing her to continue gambling.


    For this reason, Hecate, who was itching for a game, would swing by now and then using various methods to coax Luo En into resuming their betting games.


    And today, she finally got her wish.


    After setting up the chessboard and cing the pieces, Luo En immediately took out another snakeskin-patterned twelve-sided die from the box.


    "Rules as usual, whoever rolls the higher number goes first."


    "Wait a second."


    However, just as Luo En was about to open his fingers and roll the die to determine the ying order, Hecate lifted her gaze with a yful smile.


    "You seem to have forgotten to say what will happen if you lose?"


    "Have I?"


    Luo En forced a smile, dodging the question.


    "Games are all about having fun, aren''t they?"


    With that, he subtly released his fingers, trying to roll the die first.


    But in the face of absolute power, such cunning was in vain. Hecate merely smiled and raised her hand slightly, and Luo En became like a frozen statue, losing control of his body and could only move his head.


    "Fun is indeed important, but fairness is even more important in a game."


    Hecate swayed her pale finger in front of Luo En''s eyes, smiling as sheid out the rules.


    "If I lose, I have to give you what I own; correspondingly, if you lose, you have to pay the same price. For each game I win, you have to give me something that you own."


    "But what that is, I decide!"


    Luo En''s gaze shed as he forcefully added his condition.


    "Otherwise, I refuse."


    Hecate looked at the face that read "If you don''t agree, I will resist to the end" and reluctantly nodded in consent.


    "Fine, we''ll do as you said."


    Almost at the same moment, Luo En''s body rxed, and the die in his hand dropped onto the table, rolling several times before stopping on the number 12.


    "It seems today is your lucky day."


    Hecate nced over with a teasing look and casually threw her die.


    It was also twelve.


    But as the rule goes, in the event of a tie, the first yer wins.


    The pre-game skirmish settled, a new game formally began.

 Chapter 17: 13 No Betting Dog Loses Every Day

    To be on the safe side, Luo En opted for a stable and conservative opening, as usual.


    On the contrary, Hecate, once she made her move, immediately disyed an aggressive sharpness, with almost every step in the ensuing moves being a cutthroat exchange of pieces.


    Wow, such an aggressive strategy...


    Moreover, the expert way she ced her pieces showed that this was not out of temporary impulse, but a linked strategy of offense.


    Clearly, to wipe away the humiliation of her previous defeats in chess, this gambling Goddess must have spent no small amount of time practicing in private, developing her own style, evolving into herplete form.


    Facing this battle-ready stance right from the opening made Luo En feel an enormous pressure, and he immediately cast down his gaze, focusing intently on the tense chessboard, moving his pieces methodically.


    Under her wide-ranging attacks, he tried his best not to make mistakes, adopting a strategy of slow, slicing attacks, like using a soft knife to cut meat, making progress with each step.


    Gradually, Hecate also started to feel the pressure, her brows knitting together unconsciously as she moved faster and faster, reducing the response time she left for her opponent.


    It was a known fact that human reaction andputational power couldn''t match that of the deities, and now Hecate was self-taught and employing the tactics of applying extreme pressure.


    This time, it was Luo En who was sweating profusely.


    "Time''s almost up, haven''t you figured it out yet?"


    Hecate pointed to the nearly empty hourss on the table and urged with a smile from the side.


    "If you don''t move now, you''re going to lose."


    With no time to think it through, Luo En, forced into a corner, had no choice but to move his chess pieces with a heavy heart.


    But as is known, the likelihood of making mistakes increases significantly when rushed.


    Soon, Luo En found himself in apletely passive position, forced into a brutal exchange of pieces with the fiercely attacking Hecate.


    Even though he was extremely careful and continuously tried to regain the initiative, Hecate didn''t give him the slightest chance.


    After a stalemate of half an hour, Luo En had lost all control of the board, his pieces almostpletely shaved off, leaving him no option but to knock over the "King" piece, representing the oue, and raise his hands in resignation.


    "You win..."


    Having secured a victorious start, a satisfied smile spread across Hecate''s stunning face as she elegantly extended her hand forward.


    "So, where''s my due?"


    Luo En thought for a moment, rolled up his sleeves, and took off a string of Rune Stone bracelets from his wrist, tossing them to the other side.


    Receiving her spoils of war, Hecate''s lips curled in delight, and she looked yfully at her debtor, asking "kindly."


    "That was a close one just now, do you want to continue?"


    "Another round!"


    Luo En, with a dark expression, agreed to the challenge through gritted teeth.


    Where there''s a crying child every night, there''s no constant loser in gambling!


    After all, wasn''t he burdened with the experience of thousands of years ofpetition, couldn''t he turn the tables before running out of chips?


    I refuse to believe it!


    Having made up his mind, Luo En rolled the dice again ording to procedure, choosing the order of y, and faced the Goddess of the Underworld Moon once more.


    Tasting victory, Hecate still adopted her previous exchange tactics and extreme pressure strategy.


    Faced with waves of sessive offensives on the chessboard, stronger than thest, Luo En racked his brains and held on persistently.


    But Hecate, after years of refinement, had a ying style that was constantly updated, and not so easily dealt with.


    No matter how stubborn Luo En was, he still managed to crash continuously in the following rounds, his pieces grinded and beaten on the board repeatedly, and he could only stiffen his neck and stand firm.


    "Another round!"


    "Sorry, but you''ve already lost seven rounds in a row, why don''t we settle the debts first?"


    Hecate pressed the chessboard, gently reminding him with a smile.


    A bet''s a bet.


    To have a chance at turning the tables, Luo En had to pay the gambling debts he had incurred.


    After rummaging through his belongings, two Encrypted Rings, a bronze dagger, and a crystal ne were taken out as coteral.


    These were pretty much all of Luo En''s possessions umted over the recent years.


    But even so, it still wasn''t enough.


    Three items were still missing¡­


    After a moment of hesitation, Luo En seemed to steel his heart, first undoing his coat and shirt, and finally stripping off his trousers, to finally make up seven items for the stakes.


    Hecate patted the spoils carefully stacked next to her with satisfaction, her captivating eyes yfully sizing up the victim across from her who had lost everything but his underwear, her smile bing ever more radiant.


    At that moment, a cold breeze blew through, causing some of the gamblers who were a bit over their heads to sober up and start thinking about beating a retreat.


    "I mean, being naked in the temple of the Goddess Hecate, that seems a bit out of line. How about we¡­"


    "Don''t worry, she won''t mind."


    The rightful owner of the temple waved her hand generously, not minding this so-called "great disrespect," and instead eagerly rolled the dice first, dering the start of a new round of the game.


    As a deity representing "a certain game," "randomness," and "joy," the difort of others was undoubtedly a pleasure for her.


    ¡ª¡ªEspecially when it came to the opponent who had once defeated her with trickery.


    Facing the Goddess''s assertive invitation, Luo En, unable to break free from his seat, braced himself for another round of battle and started a new game.


    Then, without a doubt, he lost another round.


    As the dust settled, Hecate propped her chin in one hand, her smile brimming as she watched the other side, eagerly awaiting for her opponent to remove hisst piece of modesty.


    Luo En, like a wronged little white rabbit, trembled as he spread his hand to reveal the item for settling the debt.


    Hecate''s smile froze as she looked at the slightly curled silver hair on the table.


    ¡ª¡ªA single hair?


    "Aren''t you being a bit too shameless?" the Goddess of the Underworld Moon, acting as the creditor, could hardly keep herposure, her veil barely concealing the grinding of her teeth.


    "I''ve lost, and I''ll pay with what I have, but what I pay is for me to decide."


    Luo En ran a hand through the silver hair that fell over his forehead, calmly restating the conditions set before the game started, the feigned humiliation on his face reced by an innocent smile.


    "I am paying the gambling stakes entirely by the rules. You shouldn''t nder my good name out of thin air."


    "You''ll meet all the requirements, but you never give what people really want!"


    Hecate''s brow furrowed with a coldugh, piercing through the facade of the nefarious character.


    Probably from the very beginning, this fellow had never nned to fulfill his promises honestly.


    Under Hecate''s disdainful gaze, Luo En spread his hands and blinked earnestly.


    "If you think this game is unfair, how about we call it off?"


    "..."


    After a brief silence, Hecate bit her silver teeth and hatefully tossed her dice.


    "Continue!"


    Hmm, he''s taken the bait.


    Luo En''s lips curled up in pleasure, a smile of unsurprise spreading across his face.


    Because that''s what gambling addicts are like.


    To them, it doesn''t matter whether they win or lose.


    The greatest punishment is not allowing them to continue gambling.


    And if they continue without restraint, even the cleverest of gamblers will eventually lose everything they have.


    Besides, as the dealer, it seemed like he had plenty of chips.

 Chapter 18: 14 Ares, Im coming to bull you!

    Luo En touched the head of hair that would make any programmer envious and muttered to himself.


    ording to the loopholes he had deliberately left earlier, it wasn''t that he couldn''t afford to give up concepts such as "misfortune," "mncholy," "pain," "curse," and so on, but the more intangible and unquantifiable the chip, the easier it was to be exploited, ultimately backfiring on oneself.


    So for the sake of caution, he still preferred to make a small physical sacrifice.


    Compared with losing a few hairs, getting a quick promotion to demigod was a downright steal.


    After some contemtion, Luo En stretchedzily,fortably moving his pieces around the board, engaging in a series of trials and battles.


    Honestly,bining Hecate''s gambit tactics and extreme pressure was quite challenging to deal with.


    But as far as this game was concerned, she was still a novice, and her offensive routines and methods were limited to a few repetitivebinations.


    Whereas Luo En had the chess strategies and set patterns umted by humanity over thousands of years in his head. Once he grasped Hecate''s approach and stabilized his position, he could devise a strategy to counterattack.


    Finally, after sacrificing about thirty strands of his hair, Luo En used a set y involving "pawn promotion" and "pawn checkmates king" to drive Hecate into a corner from which there was no escape.


    "General!"


    As Luo En advanced the magical beast piece representing the chariot on the board,bined with the promoted pawn, he closed off the enemy king''sst retreat, leaving Hecate no choice but to topple her pieces, pinching her nose in defeat.


    "So, ording to our agreement, isn''t it time for you to tell me how to achieve ascension to demigod as quickly as possible, Lady Goddess?"


    "It''s simple. Drip your blood onto that die and silently think of what you desire, then throw the corresponding number, and it will guide you."


    Though a gambler, being a genuine goddess, Hecate still had the basic integrity of epting a wager''s oue and straightforwardly revealed the method.


    Use it?


    Following Hecate''s gaze, Luo En eyed the twelve-sided die with serpent designs in front of him, his pupils subtly flickering.


    This object was his extra prize for winning that resurrection game and originally belonged to Hecate, one of a pair.


    "The twelve sides of the die are not only inscribed with numbers but the symbols that constitute the numbers also correspond to the Twelve Olympians that rule over Greece, or the current order of ''The World.'' Since you wish to elevate your bloodline to that of a demigod, you will need to find an opportunity in ''The World,'' and it will give you an answer."


    Hecate twirled the other twelve-sided serpent-patterned die in her hand, smiling as she exined.


    "This is not an ordinary gift, but a ''Blessing of Fate.''


    "Really? I always have the feeling that ''Fate'' doesn''t seem too fond of me."


    Luo En looked skeptically at the twelve-sided die on the table.


    Hecate neither confirmed nor denied, smiling faintly and extending her pale right hand.


    "As agreed, I have told you everything. It''s up to you to believe it or not. If you don''t need it, then please return it to me."


    After a moment''s hesitation, Luo En made up his mind quickly.


    After all, when you''re already at the bottom, the only way left is up!


    What''s there to fear? Why not go all in on this hand?


    With a single thought, the world suddenly seemed vast and open.


    Luo En immediately bit his index finger, squeezed out a drop of gold-red blood under Hecate''s smiling watch, and let it fall onto the twelve-sided die. Then, after closing his eyes and silently counting for a few seconds, he resolutely tossed the die onto the table.


    The bloodstained die rolled a few times on the table before settling on the pattern formed by eight intersecting blood-red spears.


    "Eight? The War God? Congrattions, you''ve received Ares'' blessing,"


    Hecate nced at the die and snapped her fingers with a lightugh.


    At the same moment, the twelve-sided die on the table buzzed and vibrated, turning into a crimson light that shot into Luo En''s chest at the speed of lightning, merging into the pitch-ck curse mark that Hecate had engraved on him, and then disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    ¡ªThis emblem was a circle with a spiral-shapedbyrinth in the center.


    ¡ªThebyrinth symbolized rebirth, and the spiral at its heart represented thought and soul.


    ¡ªIts name, the Wheel of Hecate.


    At this moment, within Luo En''s sea of consciousness, a sound akin to gear-and-cog friction arose as the Labyrinth, transformed from the Wheel of Hecate, revolved and restructured into an ancient, mottled bronze altar.


    And as the bloodstained twelve-sided diended at the center of the altar, a thick blood-red haze spread out, weaving into a crimson oracle.


    ¡ª¡ª[y 100 gold-ranked Sea Beasts toplete the Sacrifice to the Gods.]


    Luo En was somewhat puzzled, voicing the information in his mind and frowning as he questioned Hecate across from him.


    "What does this mean?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, you should carry the bloodline of the War God Ares."


    Hecate asked in return with a smile while flicking another twelve-sided die in her hand.


    Luo En pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.


    The City Builder of Thebes, Cadmus, had been forced to serve the War God Ares for eight years as punishment for killing Ares''s dragon.


    Thereafter, with the intervention of the gods, the two reconciled, and Zeus gave Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite (representing the Goddess of harmony and conciliation), to Cadmus in marriage topensate for his eight years of servitude.


    ording to the family tree, his own now-deceased mother Semele was one of the four children of Cadmus and Harmonia.


    Which is to say, besides Zeus, Luo En also had the blood of the War God Ares and the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite in his veins.


    Now, receiving affirmation, Hecate smiled and provided further interpretation.


    "The answer is simple. If an ordinary mixed-blood hero wishes to be a Demigod, they need to refine themselves over time, gradually awakening the Divinity within them to ignite the divine me andplete the Ascension.


    But now the Dice has presented you with the shortcut you desire.


    ¡ª¡ªSimply fulfill the requirement of the sacrifice to Ares, and it will allow you to temporarily steal the blessing of the divine authority of war. At that time, the Divine Blood of the same origin within you will be able to gather enough Divinity both internally and externally through a frenzy of ughter andbat, thus igniting the divine me within."


    Hiss~!


    Upon hearing Hecate''s description, Luo En took in a sharp breath.


    This gamble seems to be quite significant.


    In a certain sense, this action amounts to bypassing Ares, the legitimate War God, and riding on the divine authority of war like an audacious stunt for a while.


    Although Ares is often the butt of jokes in various versions of mythology and epics, holding little clout amongst the Twelve Olympians,


    it all depends on who is holding the leash!


    Expecting me, a mere sixteen-year-old of the Gold rank, to cuckold a legitimate deity of Olympus for his divine authority isn''t just ying with fire¡ªit''s downright suicide!


    "You must be really eager to see me die quickly, aren''t you?"


    Luo En said with a dark expression, sarcastically exposing the malicious intent of the unscrupulous creditor before him.


    "Don''t worry, Olympus won''t notice what you''re doing."


    Hecate smiled indifferently and spun the die on the table with her hand, speaking in a meaningful and profound tone.


    "Because, ''inevitable fate'' cannot predict the ''Dice of Chance''¡­"


    Luo En''s eyes shed with contemtion, and the heart that had been suspended in his chest slowly settled somewhat.


    As apetent gambler, she wouldn''t make the foolish move of carelessly throwing away the chips.


    At least, she would wait until I had created enough value or corresponding amusement before reaping them.


    Given that¡­


    Luo En closed his eyes, reflected seriously for a moment, then suddenly opened his purple eyes wide, clenched his fist, and his lips curled into a hint of a mad arc.


    High risk, high reward, It''s showtime!


    ¡ª¡ªAres, are you ready? I''ming to ride you hard!

 Chapter 19: 15 Circe, Coin Burst!

    On the ind of Aiaia, the night was tranquil as water, with the waning moon hanging high in the sky.


    Apanying the arrival of mealtime, wafts of rich food aromas drifted from the treetop house.


    "Tomorrow morning, I''d like to leave the ind for a bit."


    "You''re leaving?"


    Circe, who was cheerfully bustling about the dinner table, lifted her head in astonishment, the smile on her face somewhat frozen.


    Luo En put down the spoon he was holding and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "Don''t worry, I''m just going to practice on some nearby targets to see if I can find a way to break through."


    "Really?"


    Hearing such an exnation, the gloom on Circe''s face lessened a bit, and she skeptically sniffed with her aquiline nose, leaning in to smell Luo En all over in a whirl of sniffing, her gaze sharpening instantly.


    "That''s the scent of lying!"


    "Smack!"


    A loud thwacknded on Circe''s head, and Luo En, with a dark face, pointed behind her.


    "What lying scent, if you don''t turn around this instant, you''ll end up setting the kitchen on fire!"


    At once, Circe shuddered, looked up to see the bubbling cauldron on the stove, its edges already turning red, and her face paled as she darted into the disastrous scene with a shriek.


    "Ah, my Hoo Koo E Koo 3.0!"


    A quarter of an hourter, the Great Witch of Aiaia, with a soot-covered face, emerged from the smoke-filled kitchen carrying half a pot of salvaged barley porridge.


    Her once fair face was now pitch ck, leaving only two colorful eyes rapidly moving about; the sharpness and profundity that had burst forth earlier had vanished, reced only with an aura of "wisdom."


    Luo En, sitting at the dining table, twitched the corner of his mouth and shook his head, hand on forehead.


    "You''re leaving tomorrow morning, are you? This meal just happens to be for your send-off."


    Circe, unfazed, cleaned her face with fresh water and enthusiastically pitched her masterpiece to her beloved apprentice.


    "Come on, try my newly concocted barley porridge, just out of the pot, guaranteed fresh!"


    Luo En nced at the thick green potion-like broth and the few suspicious charred chunks reminiscent of burnt crocodile skin floating at the bottom, then smelled the heavy burnt odor in the air, his eyelids twitching.


    He suspected that one bowl of this would certainly send him off immediately.


    "It''s burnt; next time, for sure!"


    Luo En maintained a stiff smile on his face, pushing away the bowl, and declined what was either a well-meaning or malevolent gesture from Circe.


    Then, without waiting for Circe to react, he smoothly withdrew from the dining table and, from beneath the floor of his bedroom, he brought out a sealed pottery jar and ced it on the table.


    "As it happens, I made some drinks earlier too; let''s have mine first."


    As he spoke, the old seal on the pottery jar was broken, releasing a rich and extraordinary fruity fragrance.


    The mouth of the jar tilted, pouring a stream of purplish-red nectar into an empty bowl, shimmering with an amber glow.


    Circe''s aquiline nose twitched, and her eyes brightened, "That smells wonderful, did you make it with grapes?"


    Luo En smiled and nodded, took up the pottery bowl, and passed it to his Enchantress teacher. "Authentic grape juice, have a taste."


    Circe took the pottery bowl, curiously examining the clear liquid inside, but didn''t rush to drink. Instead, with narrowed eyes, she suspiciously nced at her apprentice.


    "Something''s not right, you''ve never been this attentive before. You wouldn''t have poisoned it, would you?"


    "Yes, yes, I''ve poisoned it," Luo En rolled his eyes and stepped forward to take the jar away.


    "Don''t bluff me, it''s clearly grape juice!"


    However, before Luo En could reach out, Circe snatched the jar away, confidently puffing up her chest.


    "Hmph, and even if you did poison it, I wouldn''t be afraid! You learned potion-making from me, and with your skills, you certainly couldn''t poison me!"


    As she spoke, the enchantress curled her lips upwards and, unexpectedly, lifted the y jar, pouring the entire jug of grape juice down her throat.


    "You, you drank it all?"


    Luo En looked at Circe with her rounded belly in astonishment, his expression dazed andplex.


    "Heh, of course!"


    Circe proudly tilted her chin up, her lips parting in a sly smile that betrayed her underlying scheme.


    "Hmph, all the drinks you''ve hidden have been finished off, and now... now... obediently drink my barley porridge... drink... drink it all up!"


    However, for some reason, her thoughts were growing sluggish, her speech increasingly slurred, a searing heat boiled inside her body, her feet felt as if stepping on tufts of cotton, her body swaying left and right without strength, and the scenery before her eyes kept spinning and splitting.


    "Weird... why have you... why have you turned into... two?"


    Circe held a soup bowl full of barley porridge in one hand and scratched her head with the other, her fair face flushed red as if set aze.


    "To let you taste it slowly, and you went ahead and drank it all..."


    Watching the Witch of the Eagle spinning around beside him, Luo En''s mouth twitched slightly as he helplessly rubbed his forehead.


    "How do you feel now?"


    "My head''s... a bit dizzy¡­ but... it''s awesome!"


    Circe raised a clenched fist in the air, revealing an unusual level of excitement.


    "Then what''s this number?"


    "Ten!"


    The enchantress answered cheerfully and with pride.


    "Congrattions, you got it right!"


    Luo Enplimented loudly, while hiding his right hand that was showing two fingers behind his back, and satisfiedly nodded at the silly bird whose thinking was clearly bing fragmented.


    Well, she''s crippled now.


    It seems that just like the ounts in the epics, even a demigod cannot resist this kind of magic potion called "wine."


    Especially the grape wine that he had personally brewed and refined.


    Luo En pushed away the Exiko 3.0 in front of him, hefted the empty y jar on the table, with the corners of his lips curving up in a delighted arc.


    A few years ago, in his spare time, he had gathered the grapes from the ind and, using the natural fermentation method mentioned in ancient books that he remembered, attempted to make a batch of homemade wine.


    This method didn''t require adding distiller''s yeast; it relied on the wild yeast that naturally grows on the grape skins and, through sealing and temperature control, fermented the grapes into wine.


    Whether it was due to the talents brought by his bloodline and divinity is unknown, but he had an acute sense and awareness for brewing-rted matters, far exceeding that of ordinary people.


    The experiment was not only a sess on the first try but also achieved the standard of craft brewing.


    These wines that were stored in advance were originally intended for that gambling goddess.


    However, considering the great risk and her keen senses, he couldn''t take the chance of ending up losing what he tried to gain.


    As a result, his first sessful batch was used on this silly bird, Circe.


    Initially, he had only intended to casually drink a few sses under the pretense and get his witch teacher drunk.


    But to his surprise, either from overconfidence or true bravery, she had gone ahead and drunk the entire jug of his finely brewed grape wine in one go.


    Now, she probably won''t wake up for three to five days.


    But just right...


    Luo En looked up at Circe who was now deeply asleep, lying on the table, snoozing away, and walked towards the Great Witch of Aiaia, rubbing his hands together. The handsome face shrouded in the night revealed a mischievously evil smile.


    Teacher, after tormenting me to death and back for so long, now it''s finally your turn to cough up the gold coins.

 Chapter 20: 16: Every Mage Has a Melee Dream

    At dawn, as the sunrise began, the remaining night faded, leaving a touch of obscurity. A sturdy cedar boat cut through the dim mist over the sea and washed ashore on a sandy beach.


    Arrived!


    Luo En on the boat looked up at the silhouette of a deserted ind ahead, his spirits lifted. He immediately jumped off the deck, grabbed the rope, and tied the boat to a nearby rock. He moved to higher ground to look into the distance.


    The ind, no more than a dozen square kilometers,y within his wide field of view from above.


    The ind was rtively deste and narrow, surrounded by piles of grotesque, jutting rocks. There was almost no vegetation or animals, and one could faintly detect a strong scent of sulfur.


    As a ce to live, it was indeed quite shabby and barren; but as a hunting ground, it couldn''t be more perfect.


    Because this was an ind recently formed by the umtion of debris that had emerged following an underwater volcanic eruption.


    It was not marked on any sea chart, so naturally, there was little chance of intruders disturbing the peace.


    Moreover, these new volcanic rock inds often did notst long before disintegrating under the onught of waves and underwater currents, sinking back into the sea¡ªa spot that spared one the trouble of cleaning up and erasing traces.


    Throughout history, many inds that suddenly appeared and disappeared were of this same nature.


    Having inspected his secret base prepared in advance, Luo En nodded with satisfaction. He chose a rtively elevated and secluded area along the coast, and then casually scattered a handful of Two-legged Flying Dragon teeth, which he had collected, onto thend in front of him.


    A dozen dagger-sized, ghostly white dragon teeth scattered on the ground began to take root on their own. Like seeds bursting with vitality, they frantically absorbed the magic power from the earth and air, growing rapidly, twisting, and transforming into bony soldiers with slight draconic features, silently standing before Luo En, awaiting hismands.


    The Spartos, dragon-tooth warriors, are a widely-known summoning secret technique in Greek magic. Derived from dragon material, they are much harder, more flexible, and have better magic conductivity than ordinary skeletons and departed souls, making them reliable servants.


    Luo En''s summoning skills were not all that profound, but his talent for utilizing dragon-tooth warriors seemed astonishing.


    Of course, this was probably a gift of his bloodline.


    Legend has it that the hero Cadmus, during his quest to find his sister Europa who was abducted by Zeus, killed Ares'' poison dragon. The Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, instructed Cadmus to overturn the earth and nt the dragon''s teeth in the ground.


    Afterward, the dragon teeth sown in the earth became a fully-armed army of warriors. These warriors fought each other, and thest surviving five were called "Spartos," meaning "sown," hence the forebears of the dragon-tooth warriors.


    These dragon-tooth warriors helped Cadmus establish the city described in the Apollo''s oracle and, by divine decree, named it Thebes¡ªLuo En''s nominal hometown.


    Therefore, summoning dragon-tooth warriors could be regarded as a talent passed down from his ancestors.


    Thanks to this bloodline gift, even with ordinary Two-legged Flying Dragon teeth and his own gold-rank level, Luo En was able to summon a silver-rank squad of dragon-tooth warriors as his vassals.


    These servants might not count for much on the Sea of Okeanos, but asbor, they were more than suitable.


    "Get to work."


    As soon as the dozen or so dragon-tooth warriors had formed, Luo En waved his hand and issued hismand.


    Suddenly, the dragon-tooth warriors split into two groups. One headed towards the shore to transport therge and small supplies from the ship''s cabin, while the other stayed to drive stakes into the ground, beginning the construction of a campsite with multiple purposes such as a rest area, a defense post, and a magic workshop.


    These indefatigable, tirelessborerspleted the task impressively in just two or three hours and then stood on guard near the campsite awaiting orders.


    Looking at the sun, which had not yet reached its zenith, Luo En stretched his body and began leisurely to inventory his previous acquisitions from the big and small dozen or so packages.


    In terms of magic potions, he had 10 bottles of energy tonic, 7 coagnts, 5 bottles each of paralysis and weakness potions, 6 bottles of lethal poison¡­and two jars of Hygieian Porridge which he didn''t quite know how to evaluate...


    In terms of materials, there were 32 gems, 18 of which had been used, inscribed with magic arrays, and 14 which were unused raw stones.


    Additionally, there were 12 mature Mandrake, three bottles of mint oil for meditative mosquito repelling, a few Dragon Teeth and Dragon Scales, and some other misceneous items such as herbs, ores, dried food, and clean water to carry...


    Finally, on the equipment side:


    Four Rune Rings, a bronze longsword, a dusty breastte, a bronze hunting bow, and two quivers of Bronze Arrows...


    Looking at the strategic reserves that filled his vision, Luo En''s unconsciously raised lips sketched a pleased curve, and his mind couldn''t help but project the image of a Great Witch, waking up to find her small vault plundered, lying on the ground crying and making a scene in her pathetic state.


    Indeed, these were the gold coins that the dear Enchantress teacher had given him before she left.


    After all, Luo En had almost lost his entire savings during the chess bet with Hecate.


    But the "Rite of Ascension" to Demigod was already strung on the bow, ready to be released.


    After much thought, a certain unscrupulous good student simply set his sights on Circe.


    There was no help for it, there were only two bosses on the entire Aiaia Ind that could drop equipment.


    He was definitely no match for the Goddess of the Underworld Moon, Hecate, and wasn''t sure about setting a trap either.


    For the benefit of the students, he had to sacrifice his Enchantress teacher a bit.


    All these were to be taken as a bit of spiritualpensation for the many years she had tormented him to near death.


    While justifying his unscrupulous behavior to himself, Luo En familiarized himself with the new equipment he had smoothly taken from Circe.


    When ites to weapons, the feel is very important.


    If a mistake were to happen during the uing actions because of this, it would be both stupid and fatal.


    After a simple test, Luo En had a general understanding of the few pieces of equipment he had acquired.


    The four rings each possessed protective, offensive, concealing, and recovery effects, and the gems embedded on the outside were each infused with magic power of the four basic elements of water, fire, earth, and air, forming a perfect cycle in secret, allowing the user to significantly amplify their maniption of Hermes Script.


    Evidently, this was aplete set of magical gear, with the excellent performance and belonged to Circe''s treasured collection.


    As for items like the bronze longsword, breastte, bronze hunting bow, and the two quivers of bronze arrows, their specific origins were indiscernible, and they still bore some rust and battle damage, clearly having quite a history.


    They were most likely high-quality gear that fell into the sea after a battle among gods or a major conflict then were inadvertently picked up by Circe as part of her collection.


    But because they were of no use to her and shecked interest, Circe had not repaired them, simply allowing them toy in her warehouse gathering dust.


    Now, most of the Rune augmentation on the surface and the spirit within the weapons had been lost.


    Yet even so, these items still possessed the quality of gold, allowing Luo En to fully utilize his ownbat abilities.


    Such a waste of treasures made Luo En quite regretful.


    After all, every Mage has a dream of closebat, especially an unconventional sorcerer like him.


    As long as they were usable, that was fine; the rest could wait forter.


    With a swing of the bronze longsword in his hands, the de made a low woosh as it sliced through the air, and Luo En''s deep gaze stretched towards the expansive and profound Sea of hanos.


    Everything was ready, the hunt was about to begin!

 Chapter 21: 17 Next Time Still Put "Very Simple

    The fiery red setting sun slowly sank into the ocean, itsst rays gradually fading into the rising curtain of night, bringing with it a slight chill.


    Under the alternating cold and warmth, the biting sea breeze from the depths of the Sea of Okeanos swept in, stirring the deep waters upward and creatingyers of waves that pushed toward the surrounding inds and maind, crashing against the rocks and sand along the way, forming patches of snow-white froth and spray.


    Apanied by the rhythmic sound of the waves, the ripples on the sea''s surface sparkled under the moonlight, as if stars had descended into the vast ocean, creating a stunningly beautiful scene.


    However, the more beautiful things are in nature, the more dangerous they tend to be.


    Along with the rising tide also came the unique saltiness of the deep sea and the rustling sounds of climbing at the hidden reefs.


    Nighttime, not only the time of high tide, but also when marine life is most active.


    And in the age of gods, these marine creatures naturally included sea monsters...


    They often chose toe ashore at night, attacking coastal livestock and settlements to hunt for food.


    Under the cold moonlight, several grey-brown sea scorpions, each asrge as a truck and with multiple sharp limbs, rode the surging tide onto the beach, quite conspicuous.


    As soon as theynded, these deep-sea giants excitedly waved their limbs and scrambled towards a pile of fresh viscera on the sand.


    Savory, delicious, and rich in magic power nutrients!


    They were attracted here in groups by the unique and strong scent of blood emanating from the ind.


    However, before these arriving sea scorpions could cheer and start feasting, the soft sand suddenly gave way, and bone-white skeletons wielding sword and shield suddenly leapt up, swinging their des at the sea monsters'' soft underbellies and joints.


    Instantly, several unprepared sea scorpions shattered, copsing to the ground like chariots stuck in mud pits.


    Even though they realized what was happening and struggled to fight back, they were still in vain against the fearless and surprisingly powerful skeletons around them.


    Before long, several sea scorpions didn''t even get to start their feast before being strewn haphazardly across the ground.


    Then, on the beach, the dozen or so skeletons methodically finished off the not-quite-dead sea scorpions and dismembered them, flinging their parts towards the nearby shallows.


    Streams of pale blue blood flowed from their ghastly wounds, saturating the nearby sand and blending into the undting tides, spreading through the seawater, emitting an even stronger scent of blood and attracting new prey from the deep sea.


    This time, the sea scorpions not only failed to enjoy their meal but also became the bait for an ambush, a truly unfortunate turn.


    The instigator of it all leaned against a standing rock, calmly wiping his bronze long sword, continuing to squat at the edge of the hunting ground, quietly waiting for the right target toe ashore.


    Despite their size, these sea scorpions had pitifully low amounts of magic power inside them, barely at the level of superior bronze, at most they were only the bottom of the food chain in the Sea of Okeanos, basically shrimp peas.


    However, their blood and flesh were quite popr with carnivorous sea monsters, and together with the two-legged flying dragon innards he had previously piled up on the beach, they should soon attract higher-level predators.


    Indeed, after about half an hour, snow-white waves rose on the sea surface, and fins sharp as swords broke through the waves, moving toward the bloody shallows.


    The floating sea scorpion debris was promptly torn apart and devoured by two rows of sharp fangs.


    By its silhouette, one could vaguely make out that this was a sea monster simr to a hammerhead shark.


    Here ites!


    The hunter lurking in the darkness, his spirits lifted, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze skipping over the feasting sea monster to look toward the deeper sea.


    In the thick of night, a sh of golden hue rapidly approached.


    "Crack!"


    Then, apanied by a teeth-grating snap, the hammerhead shark-like sea monster, as if struck by lightning, thrashed and screamed within the shallows.


    But asrge amounts of blood spouted out and a nauseating fishy smell spread, its struggles quickly ceased, and it flipped over, revealing its snow-white belly.


    "Pff..."


    Momentster, the belly of the shark-like sea monster was split open by two sharp ws, and a figure bathed in bloodzily stretched under the bright moonlight.


    It was a breathtakingly beautiful female with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake, whose alluring curves radiated enormous appeal to the opposite sex.


    But her ws, covered in serpent scales and dripping with blood, and the heart still faintly pulsing in her mouth, inevitably provoked fear in anyone who saw.


    And the vertical pupils of her eyes in the night expressed the cold-blooded nature and bloodthirstiness characteristic of predatory creatures.


    Clearly, when one encounters such a creature, rather than fantasizing about an amorous encounter, it would be wiser to first consider whether they can keep their life.


    The Greedy Serpent Woman, Lamia...


    A particrly brutal and gluttonous sea witch from the Sea of Okeanos, some say they are the children of Poseidon, others say they are descendants of Zeus''s cursed lover Lamia, and yet others say they are transformed from the Divine Blood of the Old Sea God Pontos...


    In any case, they have aplex origin and exist in no small numbers andmunities in the deep sea.


    But undoubtedly, their blood carries divinity, granting them considerable strength.


    For instance, this mature Lamia on the surface of the sea has already reached the standard of the Gold rank.


    At this moment, the serpent woman who had previously eviscerated the sea monster swallowed the still-warm heart, moving it down her throat and spitting out the deep-red core.


    "Hiss hiss~~"


    The enticing sweet stench of blood wafting from the ind excited the still-hungry Lamia, whose greedy gaze turned towards the innards and chunks of flesh scattered on the sand.


    Compared to ordinary sea monsters, the flesh and blood of dragon types are more saturated with Magic Power, and more to her taste as well.


    The saliva in the serpent woman''s mouth couldn''t stop secreting, and an almost cursed sense of hunger drove her to slither onto the beach, moving towards an even more sumptuous meal.


    However, just as she was about to reach her food, a buzzing vibration erupted around her, and numerous triangles, squares, and circles of Hermes Script lit up on the sand, connecting and rotating with each other, forming several ovepping Magic Arrays.


    Feeling the insane convergence of Magic Power in the air and the rapidly rising temperature around her, the Lamia''s slit pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively tried to retreat.


    Trying to run? Toote!


    Luo En''s lips curved into a cold smirk as he reached forward with his right hand, then suddenly clenched it tight.


    In an instant, scorching Fire burst from the ground, and the Lamia who stepped into the trap immediately burst open, her scales peeling away.


    "Hiss!"


    The serpent woman twisted in agony, her mouth emitting a piercing scream, trying to use her bloodline''s talent to summon water to extinguish the mes around her.


    However, unbeknownst to her, the shallow path to the sea behind her had been turned into a wall of sand, shutting out the tide from the foundation of the Magic Array.


    Soon, the small amount of vapor summoned and clinging to the Lamia''s body to try to cool down was unable to withstand the searing mes and dissipated into nothingness.


    Simrly, the dying serpent woman, along with the explosive mes, turned into a charred ck carcass.


    Golden-red particles then began to emerge from the twisted remains, transforming into streams of light and converging on Luo En''s chest.


    Apanied by a strangely scorching sensation, Luo En felt his blood boiling and his bones cracking with growth, while on the bronze altar in his sea of consciousness, specks of gold and red light twinkled.


    Clearly, these were the essences of Divinity he had extracted from the hunt.


    As the dust settled, Luo En slowly opened his eyes, cut off the control to the Magic Array, exhaled the stale air built up in his chest, and looking at the remains of his first prey, he muttered to himself.


    I seem to have overestimated the intelligence of these sea witches; this Ascension doesn''t seem so tough after all.


    He had nearly used up all the materials obtained from Circe to set up nearly a hundred Magic Arrays and traps on this ind, just to make sure nothing went wrong.


    If only he had known, he would have saved some forter use.


    Just as Luo En was silently criticizing himself, several streaks of golden light began to emerge beneath the distant sea, and one after another, sinuous and enticing figures rapidly approached the deste Volcanic Rock Ind.


    The hunter who had just been thinking how "very simple" this was twitched his eyelids and suddenly remembered something.


    Lamias, they tend to live in groups...


    And the dying screams of their kin had already be a signal for rallying and calling for help.


    What a jinx...


    Luo En tugged at the corner of his mouth self-deprecatingly, but his gaze remained unchanged; instead, he took a deep breath and raised his hand slowly, his thoughts spreading like a tide in all directions.


    Hum!


    With a strong humming and trembling sound, Hermes Scripts across the ind flickered in response, the now assembled Magic Arrays rotated and focused, turning the entire isted ind into a fortified bastion of war.

 Chapter 22: 18 Is Ares Wilted?

    Dawn broke, and with the arrival of the first light of day, the thick sea fog gradually dissipated.


    The deste Volcanic Rock Ind looked as if it had suffered a brutal artillery barrage, withrge and small craters filling the beaches and rockynd along the coast, and white bone fragments mixed with blood-stained Serpent Scales scattered everywhere.


    And the closer to the center and the highest point of the ind, the more gruesome and bloody the scene became.


    Seductive Lamia, some with their heads severed by wind des, some with waists chopped by ground spikes, and others blown to bits by fierce mes... Their blood and flesh flew everywhere and fragments of their bodies stained the grey-brown mountain rocks a brilliant crimson, forming a bloody path that led up the mountain ridge to the heights.


    "Bang!"


    Apanied by a sharp explosion of air, the upper half of a Lamia corpse hit a protruding rock and burst into sttered chunks of flesh.


    Streams of divinely rich golden-red blood essence extracted themselves from the carnage and automatically converged into the body of the lone figure standing above.


    "Huuh..."


    Luo En lowered his arms and slowly exhaled a long, turbid breath, his joints crackling noisily. His eyes, that were gradually losing their blood color, surveyed the utterly transformed and horrific battlefield, causing him to furrow his brows.


    Indeed, even with the full exploitation of the home ground advantage, taking on thirty-seven was a bit of a stretch...


    Moreover, that number constituted only the adult Golden rank Lamias, not to mention there were at least a hundred more of Silver and Bronze caliber juveniles.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he had transformed the entire ind into an irond war fortress, and with the Dragon Fang soldiers guarding the nks, it was uncertain who would have won or lost in the end.


    But anyhow, he had ultimately made it through this ordeal.


    After confirming the area was safe, Luo En let down his guard and slumped to the ground. He looked down at the mangled wounds on his chest, arms, and neck, grimacing and gasping at the cold air while inwardly cursing nonstop.


    Originally, ording to his n, he was to use the advantage of his home ground, killing as many as possible and then retreat while fighting until the dawn''s low tide, taking a rest beforeing back for another round of nest-storming and fishing.


    But who knew that the so-called "Blessing of Ares" would have such a screwed-up effect.


    ¡ª¡ªIt makes one ignore fear, be increasingly brave and excited in battle, shedding all reason, transforming into a berserker, and engaging in a do-or-die fight with everything living in sight.


    Especially after Luo En, utilizing the bull-granted War Authority, absorbed too much impurityden and negative-emotion-filled Divinity from the fallen enemies at once, that state became uncontrobly more intense.


    If it weren''t for the War Authority''s ability to absorb Divinity while simultaneously possessing the benefits of Healing and repairing bodily injuries, Luo En''s body would likely not have a single spot without injury.


    No wonder Ares is also known as the "God of Berserkers"; it''s because of this crazy, blood-frenzied state that makes one not recognizing even kin on the battlefield.


    As Luo En massaged his throbbing temples, he mutteredints about his distant forefather by blood and resolved to firmly slow down the pace of his ascension through the usage of [War Authority].


    After all, its negative effects are too treacherous, and he doesn''t possess the near-Immortal bodies of the gods.


    It would be a joke if he ended up serving himself up on a tter before he evenpleted the ascension.


    At this moment, as Luo En rested, streaks of golden-red blood essence emanated from his wounds, causing the previously grotesque, gaping injuries to close and heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    Merely three quarters of an hour had passed, and not a single trace of damage could be seen on his body, his previously somewhat wilted spirit now vibrant with even greater vitality.


    It must be said, though Ares''s war authority did a number on intelligence, its effect on physical enhancement was nothing short of perfect.


    Of course, aside from these, there was one small, less-than-ideal problem.


    For instance, being prone to getting fired up...


    Feeling the surging blood coursing through his body, and the ornaments beneath him that were continuously expanding and hardening, Luo En''s lips twitched. He stood up from the ground, dragging his tattered bronze armor and outer clothing, and went to the seaside to wash up and cool down, then looked down at his current appearance.


    After a night of fierce battle, having sacrificed thirty-seven gold-ranked Lamias, he now stood at one meter eighty in stature under the baptism of war authority and inner and outer divinity, with limbs and abdomen sprouting evenly distributed muscles full of explosive power.


    "Bang!"


    He threw a punch, and the several-meters-tall hard volcanic rock shattered to the ground amid a piercing sonic boom.


    Luo En looked at his fist, which wasn''t even scratched, then back at his own reflection in the water, rippling with a panther-like fitness, and involuntarily brought a hand to his forehead.


    That being said, why did it feel like his path as a mage was getting more and more off track, focusing more on physique and strength...


    Never mind. After all, having good physical qualities wasn''t a bad thing. The pressing matter was toplete the trial of ascension to demigod.


    Luo En briefly collected his thoughts and began to tally the gains and losses after the battle.


    Although he had sessfully annihted a significant number of Lamias, boosting his strength by leaps and bounds, the materials, magic potions, and equipment he had scavenged from Circe were almost entirely depleted.


    Without these war resources, the only option was to make do with what was avable, scavenging what was needed from the bodies of sea beasts and divine monsters.


    Naturally, the effectiveness was bound to be greatly reduced.


    For this reason, Luo En, after considerable contemtion, decided to slow down the hunting pace, attracting at most three to five gold-ranked sea beasts at a time, taking a steady and firm approach toplete this ascension trial.


    Now, there remained sixty-three...


    The huntress, bathed in sunlight on the seashore, licked her parched lips and gazed out over the tumultuous sea with a distant look.


    ¡«¡«


    At night, atop Mount Olympus, splendid starlight cascaded from the heavens, adorning each splendidly arrayed building.


    The deities'' temples at the summit stood proudly, some shrouded in thunderclouds, others radiating tranquility, some with doves fluttering about, each manifesting its own divine authority.


    And at the center, surrounded by a profusion of sacred nts like roses, poppies, pomegranates, fragrant peach wood, cypress, and clover, was a temple of pure beauty made entirely out of pure white marble, built ording to the golden ratio. The colonnade, carved with waves, foam, dolphins, and other ornaments, was also iid with a multitude of gems and pearls.


    This was the chamber of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty.


    As the goddess born from sea foam, she possessed skin like white porcin, golden hair, blue eyes, and the perfect body and features of an ancient Greek woman, symbolizing love and beauty, wielding the authority to provoke sexual desire and the mes of love between the sexes.


    Even the male deities of Olympus had fallen for her, pursuing her with frenzied vigor.


    But in the end, the delicate flower was ced atop the head of Hephaestus, the god of fire and craft, by the arrangement of the Divine King Zeus.


    ¡ªAn ugly andme deformity.


    This union of beauty and ugliness was hardly favored by the deities and consequently was bound to face many twists and turns.


    At this moment, within the depths of Aphrodite''s splendid temple, faint sounds of intense shing and the rough breathing of a man and a woman could be heard.


    Underneath the pink tulle curtains, clothes were in disarray, flying about, and on the exquisite shell-shaped waterbed, two figures were intensely kissing, ready to vent their vigorous divine energies and breeding desires.


    However, looking at the man''s robust and well-proportioned limbs and handsome appearance, it was obvious he was not Aphrodite''s ugly andme husband.


    ¡ªInfidelity to her husband was as well-known as the love goddess''s spectacr beauty.


    And her main adulterous partner was none other than the War God, Ares.


    After all, only the king of the bravest and most robust warriors could satisfy the insatiable desires of the God of Love.


    But for some reason, today''s zealous lovemaking, which normally wouldst for days, came to an abrupt halt after just a short while.


    Next, no matter how hard Aphrodite tried, she could not get Ares to regain his vigor.


    "Bang!"


    Finally, unable to endure any longer, the furious love goddess kicked Ares off the bed.


    "My love, surely it''s the battles of today that have drained too much of my strength, just wait, I will definitely..."


    Ares, scrambling up from the floor, hurriedly tried to exin, his handsome face blushing crimson from being engorged with blood.


    "Get out!"


    Yet the repeatedly frustrated Aphrodite on the bed had already lost her mood and even started to doubt her own charisma, so she coldly turned her peach-and-plum-like beautiful face and unceremoniously banished her old lover from her chamber.


    Faced with the ultimate male shame, even the vtile and arrogant God of War found himself in an awkward and embarrassing situation.


    In the end, seeing no chance for reprisal, he could only grab his clothes and depart from the chamber sulkily.


    Dammit, what''s happening?!


    Why have I been feeling lower back pain andck of energytely, and can''t even muster the spirit for my favorite activity?


    Outside the chamber of the Love Goddess, the aggrieved Ares cursed under his breath, taking out his anger on the flowers and nts along the way.


    "Bang!"


    In his distraction, the hot-headed God of War collided head-on with a figure rushing toward him.


    "Are you blind, you fool!"


    Ares, who staggered back a few steps to steady himself, angrily looked up at the idiot who had offended him.


    "Yo, yo, yo, it''s just a walk and a bump. Is that worth such rage?"


    Hermes picked up his felt hat from the ground, dusted it off, and ced it back on his head, teasing with a cheery smile.


    "What? Got beaten up again?"


    "Are you asking for death!"


    Faced with a brother who mentioned exactly what should not be, Ares''s face darkened even more, his fists asrge as sandbags clenched tightly, his bloodshot eyes now filled with a chilling coldness.


    Perfect, he was just looking for a punching bag.


    "No, no, no, just a joke, a joke!"


    Hermes, seeing Ares like an enraged bull, quickly stered a smile on his face and waved his hands while pointing at the Great Temple ahead.


    "Father God is waiting for my message, I''ll make it up to you with a cup of honey waterter."


    "..."


    Hearing the words "Father God," Ares, who was striding over angrily, stopped abruptly and kicked Hermes away furiously.


    "Scram!"


    As the War God, unable to vent elsewhere, left the scene and headed back to his own temple, Hermes, who had been kicked to the ground, got up and surveyed with a yful gaze the silhouette of Ares and a certain splendid pce in the distance.


    Looks like, from the time he went in to the time he came out, it was only three minutes, right?


    Could it be...


    As a peculiar thought emerged in his mind, Hermes, as if he had discovered some secret, wore a subtle smile on his face, the fire of gossip within him zing fiercely.


    Gathering news and secrets was indeed this Messenger God''s favorite pastime.


    Of course, delivering messages was the primary duty of a messenger...


    Hermes, stroking his chin, cast a meaningful look at a temple from where the heavy sounds of metal striking metal continually resonated.


    Why not make things a bit more interesting?


    A sense of pleasure, mixed with a taste of vengeful delight, quickly settled his decision, and he stepped forward.

 Chapter 23: 19: The Gamblers Inevitable Bad End

    Sea of Okeanos, on the volcanic rock ind.


    "Chirp~!"


    Apanied by a piercing scream, a Siren with the face of a woman and the body of a bird, carrying a spray of blood, plummeted from mid-air, crashing onto the rocky beach below.


    Before she could struggle to her feet, a foot descended suddenly, crushing her neck.


    The intive cries for help ultimately turned into gasps for air, wheezing out of the leaking windpipe.


    Luo En reached into both his ears to pull out clumps of grass soaked with magic potion and tossed them to the ground, stretching his body to embrace the golden-red blood essence escaping from the Siren''s body.


    As the divine energy flowed and converged within him, thest wisp of vacant starlight upon the bronze altar illuminated.


    A hundred gold-tier sacrifices, after more than half a month of difficult hunting, were finally gathered!


    But at the moment of aplishment, Luo En''s chest surged with intense heat. The Wheel of Hecate, symbolizing rebirth, twisted and turned, and the hundred divine lights above the bronze altar fell like shooting stars into the sea of his soul.


    Om¡ª¡ª!


    In an instant, Luo En''s entire heart and the world itself seemed to be battered by a tremendous meteor shower, his thoughts, consciousness, and emotions all obliterated in the thunderous roar and trembling that surged through his mind.


    In that moment, time lost its concept, space lost its dimensions.


    All ceased to exist, all reverted to primordial chaos.


    Then, in a sh, a golden-yellow me ignited in the darkness, an infinite light overflowing and piercing through the boundless chaos and darkness.


    Thoughts, sensations, emotions, like thousands of rivers flowing into the sea, rapidly returned to every bone, every drop of blood, every cell in his body.


    Every pore of his shell seemed to have openedpletely, sensing the world with unprecedented rity.


    Vaguely, Luo En felt as if he were in the midst of a bustling marketce.


    The breath of the wind, the flow of water, the sediment of earth, the burning of light and fire, the sprouting of life, the rhythm of souls... Everything around him was clearly reflected in his mind.


    The world was like an eternally burning me.


    He himself was a spark within it.


    Of the same essence, interconnected!


    "Hoo..."


    With a long exhtion, Luo En slowly opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering as if two golden mes danced within them.


    In a trance, it seemed he could glimpse another chaotic world within them.


    So that''s it!


    The so-called Demigod is one who, through the medium of Divinity, allows an individual''s soul to merge and resonate with the essence of the world!


    Mortal strength may have its limits, but if one relies on the whole world, freely calling upon magic power and controlling the rules, then life can truly be called a God.


    Only the soul''s strength and the physical body''s endurance limit one''s reach.


    Thus, a life that lights the divine fire can only be called a Demigod.


    Luo En''s thoughts whirled, continually refining his understanding of cultivation and of this world.


    In the process, magic power from miles around became visible like an aether tide, converging on him, celebrating the birth of a new Demigod upon the Sea of Okeanos.


    Rich and pure magic power particles constantly washed over his flesh and bones, perfecting his body to adapt more fully to the world, to hold and call upon more magic power.


    Perhaps sensing danger, the fish and sea beasts attracted by the scent of blood in the nearby waters panicked and fled in all directions, among them not a few gold-tier monsters.


    Looking at the adversaries he had once handled with care now trembling in fear under the divine might of the Demigod, Luo En couldn''t help but smile, a sense of surreal alienation rising in his heart.


    Unexpectedly, the Ascension was sessful so quickly.


    Things were going smoothly.


    Luo En looked down at his palm, a surreal sense of absurdity spreading through his chest.


    Or rather, it seems too smooth...


    "Hum!"


    As Luo En was lost in thought, the disappeared Twelve-Sided Die reemerged in his palm with a buzzing tremor.


    Then, the grey-snake patterned rock die, as if tossed by an invisible hand, spun a few rounds before him, showing a numberposed of snake patterns.


    This was the mark and symbol of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare.


    Simultaneously, a divine script shimmered upon the Wheel of Hecate transformed bronze altar, revealing clear letters.


    "Desecration One,mit an act of desecration against the Goddess Athena."


    What''s going on here?


    As Luo En looked confused, the Twelve-Sided Die in front of him spun again, this time disying symbols of musical notes and strings.


    ¡ªBelonging to Apollo, God of Light and Prophecy.


    And the divine script in his mind altered ordingly.


    "Desecration Two, destroy a temple of Apollo, God of Light."


    A strong sense of foreboding rose within him, and Luo En''s face changed dramatically, his hand instinctively reaching out to stop the Twelve-Sided Die before him.


    However, the die spun a third time, patterns of wavesing into view, followed by a new prompt above the altar.


    "Desecration Three, y a Demigod offspring of Poseidon, God of the Sea."


    Feeling the lines of prophecy that appeared side by side in his mind, and the malice embedded within them, Luo En couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat¡ªall joy from his ascension as a Demigod gone.


    "You seem puzzled?"


    An elegant and pleasant voice came from one side, where a deity tasked with guiding lost souls had appeared on the beach at some point, sitting gracefully upon a boulder, her feet, as white as jade, dipped in the azure waters, gently swaying.


    "So, wanderer, do you need me to unravel this for you?"


    The figure, enshrouded in mystery, turned towards Luo En, a teasing smirk ying on its face.


    At that moment, Luo En took a deep breath, his face ashen as he looked toward Hecate, who was clearly concealing something.


    "What in the world is going on!"


    "The tiny price of using this thing¡­"


    "Haven''t I already paid it?"


    "Oh, I forgot to tell you¡­"


    Hecate tapped her forehead, lifting her eyes apologetically as Luo En approached and began to speak in a somber tone.


    "Killing a hundred gold-ranked Sea Beasts and collecting Divinity is only the sustenance for Ascension, solely for yourself. That is not the chip required to lever fate."


    "..."


    Luo En''s mouth twitched involuntarily as he realized he had been duped.


    He came to understand that he had won on the chessboard, whereas Hecate had won beyond it.


    From the beginning, this woman had nned every step to trap him.


    As Luo En''s expression grew even darker, Hecate offered aforting smile.


    "Don''t worry, just choose one of the three; you don''t have toplete them all."


    Luo En''s lips curled into a cold sneer, his expression still dark and stormy.


    What difference does it make?


    The three prices were to hand over the battle-hardened Athena, to find and destroy a Temple of Apollo in the vast Sea of Okeanos, or to kill Poseidon''s Demigod progeny...


    Each one was suffused with the shadow of death.


    If Luo En had known that the Dice of Chance was such a cursed object, he would never have rolled those numbers.


    Wait, it seemed that right after he had returned from the Netherworld, Hecate had tossed the die to him.


    But because he had always maintained a certain vignce towards this woman, he had left the object to gather dust in Hecate''s Temple for years, rarely even touching it.


    At that thought, Luo En''s mind rity returned, as all his questions were suddenly answered; his gazended coldly on the Goddess of the Crossroads.


    "So, from the beginning, this was intended for me¡­"


    "Didn''t you say you wanted to overturn Olympus? I''m merely fulfilling your wish, guiding you onto the path you ought to tread," Hecate replied with a smile, spreading her hands as if questioning.


    Luo En was left speechless, his heart filled with gloom.


    Big sister, I was just joking, who told you to take it seriously?


    The creditor patted the debtor''s shoulder in a friendly manner,forting him benevolently.


    "Rest assured, I am not some evil deity who would stand by and watch you march toward death. That''s why I waited until you ascended to a Demigod, earning the right to enter, before officially drawing back the curtain on this game."


    "I truly thank you!"


    Realizing there was no escaping his debt, Luo En gritted his teeth and expressed his gratitude reluctantly.


    Hecate seemed oblivious to the deep resentment in his words, smiling gently as she waved her hand.


    "No need for thanks, it''s only what''s expected."


    "..."


    Luo En choked again, fell silent for a moment, then, gathering himself, he spoke while clutching the Twelve-Sided Die in his hand.


    "Then, once I''ve paid the chip, I can leave the game?"


    "You should know that in gambling, there''s only a difference between zero times and countless times."


    With a reassuring smile that belied the underlying harshness of her words, Hecate dashed Luo En''sst sliver of hope.


    "But don''t worry, the die will be cast at regr intervals, ensuring you have enough chips to continue ying at the table of [Fate]."


    In the face of Luo En''s expression, which was on the verge of tears, the Goddess of Gaming pushed the indebted man into the game, offering her encouragements and blessings.


    "So, whether your Dice of Chance can eventually leverage [inevitable fate], is something I''m really looking forward to."


    "If I get the chance, I will certainly not disappoint you," replied Luo En, forcing a smile on his face, maintaining superficial respect while internally desiring tosh the Goddess who pushed him into conflict with the Twelve Olympians a thousand times!


    Hecate smiled and waved, signaling her farewell.


    But as she turned to leave, something seemed to strike her, and she abruptly turned back, kindly reminding him.


    "Oh right, if you don''t make a choice within the allotted time, like a die cast at random, the chip will be matched randomly. Good luck."


    "...!"


    On the shore, as Luo En thought about how to deal with this gambling Goddess after surviving, he suddenly shivered, his face turning green as a chilling dread crawled from his spine to the top of his head.


    But before he could respond, the three divine edicts on the bronze altar in his mind faded and disappeared.


    Simultaneously, a cold wind and waves rose up at sea as a massive figure fell onto the Volcanic Rock Ind like a meteorite, scattering debris everywhere.


    A low roar, filled with both excitement and cruelty, came from within the billowing dust.


    "To run into you here, you damned sheep thief!"


    Luo En, seeing the immense figure that loomedrge as a small mountain, had his expression change drastically as his body instinctively tensed like a bowstring.


    It was him!

 Chapter 24: 20: The Aggrieved Party Comes Knocking

    On the volcanic rock ind, an arm that resembled one cast from bronze extended for several meters, carrying a sharp sonic boom as it cut through the thick dust, swinging towards what was ahead.


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, a thunderous explosion rang out as if from t ground, causing the entire ind to tremble. Debris and dust were flung in all directions, resembling locusts as they swept everything away with irresistible force.


    However, amidst the storm and tremors, a dazzling golden light stood firm, forcefully halting that fierce punch.


    "Polyphemus..."


    Standing behind the defensive charm, Luo En spoke somberly, his silver hair wildly fluttering in the chaotic air currents, and his squinting eyes locked onto the fierce and ugly face, with blue-ck skin and a stature of over ten meters, of his old nemesis.


    Polyphemus, son of the god of the sea, Poseidon, and the sea nymph Thoosa, was a fierce and brutal one-eyed giant from Sicily who liked to eat humans.


    At the same time, he was also a neighbor of Aiaia Ind and had encountered Luo En and Circe a few times.


    However, clearly, from the reaction of the one-eyed giant, those were definitely not pleasant encounters.


    To be precise, he was the victim in the story.


    ¡ª¡ªAs a giant with an incredible appetite, Polyphemus in Sicily usually relied on free-range sheep to stock his pantry, in addition to the rich marine resources of the Sea of Okeanos and the asional ships of mortals that lost their way and came knocking, serving as side dishes for his snack.


    Thus, his life was quite bearable.


    However, a little rat with human bloodlines slipped onto his ind time and again, not only stealing his painstakingly raised sheep but also releasing the imprisoned mortals amidst the chaos, making him endure a miserable existence of starving for three out of nine meals a day.


    For this reason, the one-eyed giant was mocked by his kind on Sicily for a long time.


    Although Polyphemuster learned of this little rascal''s origins, he was still helpless.


    On one hand, Aiaia Ind had a powerful magic barrier that was difficult to pinpoint; on the other, the enchantress managing that ind was a challenging demigod to contend with, who also had intricate connections with an ancient goddess.


    So, the unfortunate one-eyed giant could only swallow his broken teeth in frustration.


    But unexpectedly, today, in his quest to fill his belly and hunt sea beasts, not only did he unintentionally discover a newly-forming ind nearby, but he also encountered the very nemesis he had bitterly despised.


    At this moment, meeting the enemy, his blood boiled with rage.


    Polyphemus twisted his ferocious lips into a sinister, maniacalugh.


    "Ha ha, little rat, you''ve finally crawled out of your hole. Without that bird-winged woman to protect you this time, let''s see where you run off to!"


    The rough voice, like sandpaper rubbing against ss, poured into his ears, making Luo En, who had just ascended to demigod status and could not fully control his heightened senses, deeply furrow his brow as his brain rapidly processed the confrontation.


    Polyphemus... demigod rank... son of the god of the sea, Poseidon...


    It seemed that the damn dice had automatically chosen his mission target for him.


    That is, the third option in the Oracle, to y the offspring of Poseidon, a demigod child of the sea god.


    Though it was said to be random, it just so happened that this giant was loitering nearby, perfectly fitting the bill for the scapegoat.


    Of course, this scapegoat might also include Luo En himself.


    Fine, fine, Hecate, you''re ying me like this, huh?


    Wait until I get the chance, I''ll definitely strip you bare and whip you a hundred times, a hundred times!


    Seeing his old nemesis Polyphemus unable to contain himself and furiously initiating a new round of attack, Luo En, while inwardly cursing with ill intent, retreated swiftly to create distance, his right hand quickly sketching Hermes Script in mid-air.


    "Earth''s edicts bind to me, ye of worldly heft, heed my call¡ªRock Spears, rise!"


    Apanied by the chanting of divine words at high speed, dozens of Hermes Scripts forged a yellow-brown magic tform in the air, merging with thend.


    Simultaneously, several meter-long rock spears erupted from the volcanic rock ind, forming a fearsome thicket of sharp spikes.


    But the charging Polyphemus simply flexed his muscles, swinging his arms from side to side, and the rock spears in his path were forcibly snapped.


    Simrly, the spikes rising from the ground could not prate the giant''s skin and muscles, which were akin to bronze casting, leaving only shallow blood marks.


    Indeed, the giant, who excelled in defense and brute strength, was not so easy to deal with.


    Especially since his opponent was a demigod who had long ascended...


    Upon seeing this, Luo En''s heart sank. He dodged the direct attack and retreated gracefully once more, trying to maintain a safer distance for casting spells, slowly seeking out Polyphemus''s weaknesses.


    However, the battle-savvy cyclops would not easily give him that chance.


    "Where do you think you''re running, little mouse?"


    Polyphemus sneered as he grabbed several rock spears from around him, hurling them towards Luo En.


    The piercing sound of them slicing through the air arrived in an instant, and the astonishing speed and destructive force they carried made Luo En''s scalp tingle. Instinctively, he leaped, trying to dodge their sharp points.


    But as soon as he made a move, the ensuing rock spears, as if anticipating his actions, flew toward his nextnding spot, sealing off the space around him.


    Damn it!


    Seeing no escape, Luo En cursed under his breath, hastily raised his hands, and mustered all his strength to expand a defensive charm.


    "Boom boom boom boom!"


    The rock spears, like falling meteors, struck the golden-red magical barrier one after another, producing deafening roars.


    The clouds around them were torn and pushed aside by the violent impact, the Hermes script that made up the magical barrier sessively shattered and extinguished, leaving glittering cracks spreading across it.


    "Bang!"


    In the blink of an eye, the defensive charm that stood before himpletely fell apart, and the chaotic magic tide swept in all directions.


    "Pugh!"


    Luo En, suffering from the bacsh, turned pale and spat out a mouthful of blood before tumbling into the sea.


    What an idiot!


    Polyphemus spat a mouthful of thick phlegm on the ground, his hairy and ugly face revealing a smug sneer.


    The difficulty of herding one sheeppared to a flock was iparable.


    Those energetic rams always scurried about during feeding, and the slightestpse of attention would let them stray far from the shepherd''s sight.


    In order to control these unruly rams with the least effort and energy, Polyphemus often resorted to throwing stones and such to drive and intimidate the straying rams, herding them back to graze obediently within the meadow, waiting for the day they would be culled and ughtered.


    Over time, he had mastered a nearly unerring throwing technique.


    However, as there were few rivals in the nearby seas, this skill was little known.


    Caught off guard, that damned little mouse suffered the same humiliating fate as those rams he had once toyed with.


    And next, he would employ the rest of the methods he used on those foolish sheep to properly entertain this stinky rat.


    So, should he eat it directly, or skewer it and grill it?


    Thinking of the taste of human flesh, the one-eyed giant salivated, picked up a conveniently sized rock spear, and with a malevolent smile, strode towards where Luo En had fallen.


    However, before he could take a few steps, a strange cracking sound came from underfoot on the volcanic rock ind.


    "Crack¡ª!"


    In an instant, a web of fissures spread across the entire ind, torrents of seawater burst from the crevices like a final straw breaking the camel''s back.


    Suddenly, the ind crumbled, rocky fragments plunged downward, dragging the unsteady cyclops along and down into the boundless sea.


    "Buzz!"


    Meanwhile, beneath the surface, the furious magic tide surged, pulling thousands of tons of seawater into azure serpentine forms that coiled and bit at the falling Polyphemus.

 Chapter 25: 21 Those Who Drown Can Swim

    "Pfffff!"


    Facing the entanglement and squeezing from all directions, the Cyclops was bound by the sentient watery snakes that were biting and gnawing at his flesh.


    However, although Polyphemuscked magical talent, the divine blood from Poseidon and the sea nymph Thoosa bestowed upon him the protection of the ocean. The snakes made of seawater could only briefly restrict his movements and could not inflict any real harm.


    Did you think by dragging me underwater, you could drown the offspring of the God of the Sea? How foolish!


    Polyphemus, who could breathe freely in water, sneered as he tore apart several watery snakes in front of him. That single vertical eye on his face was locked deadly on the figure rapidly surfacing in the sea like a darting fish.


    "Damn rats, you still think you can run!"


    The Cyclops, having relocated his target, suddenly exerted his strength. His enormous body, dragging many entwined watery snakes behind, surged after the figure like a fierce sea beast draped in seaweed, breaking the surface with extreme speed.


    "Ssh!"


    A huge wave exploded on the sea surface, scattering the sshing water that formed a misty fog.


    The moment Polyphemus emerged, his single eye suddenly focused sharply, and he raised his right hand to steadily catch the hidden killing intent beneath the haze.


    ¡ªA light bronze arrow was stopped right in front of his face.


    "Little rat, shooting such flimsy arrows, you didn''t get enough milk when you were young?"


    The Cyclops, with his rough, hoarse voice,ughed and taunted.


    From above, however, the figure holding the bronze longbow pointed quietly towards a particr spot.


    Polyphemus instinctively followed the direction of Luo En''s finger and looked at the front end of the bronze arrow.


    ¡ªA small, inconspicuous y bottle, bound with thin threads, was hanging below the arrowhead.


    ¡ªOn the bottle, there seem to be two lines of Hermes Script engraved.


    One symbol was a circle for the covert nature of water, and the other was a triangle, with a faint glow warming between their textures.


    In an instant, the contempt on the Cyclops''s face suddenly froze, his pupil contracting rapidly.


    "Snap!"


    At the same time, a crisp snap echoed.


    And the bronze arrow he was holding exploded violently, a hot liquid sttered unexpectedly onto his face and eyes.


    Instantly, the air filled with the pungent stench of rotting flesh. An intense burning sensation and excruciating pain swept over him, plunging his surroundings into darkness.


    "Ahhh! My eyes! My eyes!"


    Polyphemus clutched his face with one hand and swept blindly around with the other, emitting a piercing scream.


    The sea water nearby sshed uprge waves, drenching the Cyclops''s body and causing secondary injuries that made Polyphemus twist in agony; the string in his mind known as rationality snappedpletely.


    "Ah, I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you!"


    While wailing miserably, the Cyclops cursed venomously.


    "You stinking rat, I will tear your limbs off... twist off your head... scoop out your guts... then skewer you on a stick... and watch you die bit by bit!"


    However, without solid ground to stand on, without projectiles to throw, without his prideful throwing technique, Polyphemus floating in the sea could only vent his frustration on the surrounding water in vain.


    At that moment, Luo En, who had already changed position and retreated to a distant reef, watched the maddening Cyclops quietly with sharp and calm eyes.


    Most creatures share amon w, the more dangerous the situation, the more vignt they be.


    And often, when they reach a safe ce or domain they are adept in, they instinctively rx.


    Therefore, what one perceives as an advantage may very well be a fatal factor.


    This is what is meant by¡ªthe ones who drown are those who can swim.


    Polyphemus had clearly made the same mistake; his opponent was not a dumb and defenselessmb, but a thinking, tool-using demigod.


    Luckily, a few bottles of poison prepared by Circe remained, and unexpectedly they dealt a severe blow to this old foe, otherwise...


    Luo En gazed at Polyphemus who had been thrashing on the sea surface for a full half-hour, still cursing and iling, and couldn''t help but be amazed at the length of the cyclops'' health bar.


    But judging from his range of motion, reaction speed, and the strength of his speech, this old foe floating in the seawater was merely at hisst gasp, hardly having any strength left.


    "Despicable... shameless... I''ll kill you! Kill you!"


    Polyphemus kept muttering on the sea surface, with a certain emotion of grief and indignation spilling between the lines.


    After losing his sight and being poisoned, the one-eyed giant, upon calming down, had considered escaping, despite being at aplete disadvantage.


    But that rat hiding in the dark, asionally shooting cold arrows and casting curses, hindered his movements; or dropped a few dragon-tooth warriors to create amotion, making him paranoid and exhausted, simply not allowing him the chance to withdraw.


    Thus, Polyphemus could only watch his vitality continuously dwindle, waiting to be slowly ground to death.


    Atst, after struggling miserably for another half-hour, the battered one-eyed giant climbed onto a rock and copsed with a crash. His head, buried underwater, faintly sensed approaching footsteps through the undtions of the water.


    Yet at this moment, he didn''t even have the strength to lift his hand.


    Polyphemus twisted his neck, turning his head with difficulty, revealing a face so mangled that the bones under the flesh were almost visible; however, his surviving tongue still managed to spit out venomous curses.


    "You human half-breed... killing me... Father God will definitely... not let you go! And... and... the bird-winged bitch who raised you... you all will die... all must apany me..."


    "Pfft!"


    A de pierced flesh, and the cursing of the one-eyed giant came to an abrupt halt as a bronze long sword prated his huge head.


    Immediately, the sword stirred, and under the assault of violent magic power, the whole head exploded in an instant, with his golden-red divine blood flowing into the sea, creating dazzling streaks of light.


    "Such a chatterbox..."


    Luo En scoffed, casually wiping the blood off the sword de and naturally stretching his body, ready to wee the baptism of divinity.


    But momentster, he could only open his eyes in disappointment and reluctantly sheathed his long sword.


    Sure enough, the right of war had been taken away from him the moment he was promoted to demigod, and this shortcut was consequently blocked.


    They really left no loophole at all.


    Luo En''s gaze moved beyond the headless corpse of Polyphemus, looking towards the "audience" who was resting her cheek in her hand and watching with a smile, and he coldly snorted.


    "So, are you satisfied with this performance?"


    "Indeed, you have exceeded my expectations by quite a lot."


    Hecate sincerelyplimented, then raised her right hand and pointed towards the distant sea, her lips curving into a pleased smile on her stunning face.


    "However, it looks like you''ve got new trouble heading your way."


    Luo En''s eyelid twitched, and he concentrated his magic power in his eyes to look far into the distance.


    Under the sparkling surface of the sea, no less than twenty golden-blue shadows sped towards him. They had the handsome appearance of humans on their upper bodies, d in splendid bronze armor and holding tridents, but they also had the tails of fish on their lower bodies, allowing them to move swiftly through the water.


    Among them, there were three demigods, with the remaining seventeen all at the pinnacle of the golden rank.


    Luo En''s heart raced, and hisplexion changed dramatically.


    ¡ª The Antean Imperial Guard!

 Chapter 26: 22 Delightful Trends with High Intensity

    The Anteans, descendants of the God of the Sea Poseidon, imed to be his heirs, harboring intense veneration for the ocean.


    In the sea, they possessed the form of half-human, half-fish creatures, withtent gills behind their ears allowing them to breathe freely underwater. Upon reachingnd, they could grow legs and switch to human form, thus perfectly adapting to both terrestrial and marine environments.


    It was said that this was because they carried the Divine Blood of Poseidon, favored by the ocean.


    Others imed that during the great flood unleashed by the gods to destroy the world, a portion of the ancient humans sought refuge at sea under Poseidon''s protection and were hidden by him. They were then blessed with the God of the Sea''s guardianship and flourished on thend known as "Antis," bing Poseidon''s steadfast followers.


    Regardless of which tale was true, they were the unrivaled sovereigns of the Sea of Okeanos, spreading the faith of the ocean and fulfilling Poseidon''s will.


    Of course, following the Greek tradition of affection between father and child, and respect among siblings, this covert force was actually Poseidon''s means of ndestinely expanding his maritime dominion, aiming to usurp the power of the sky god.


    Therefore, even his teacher, the ancient Demigod Enchantress Circe, was quite wary of these Anteans.


    Furthermore, as Luo En knew, Antis was in fact a continent hidden within the Primordial Ocean, divided into ten districts, or rather, ten kingdoms, each ruled by one of Poseidon''s ten Divine Blood heirs.


    Their governance was simr to that of the Greek city-states.


    The ten kings of Antis held absolute power within their own territories, adopting various state systems. To maintainmunication, they convened every five to six years at the Temple of Poseidon to discuss their rtionships and their rule. Once an agreement was reached, they would cut the throat of a cow bred in the Temple of Poseidon and use its blood to inscribe the resolutions on the temple''s pirs, thereby adding a sacred and invible authority to the decrees.


    Legend had it that under Poseidon''s blessing and the protection of the maritime divine power, each of the ten kings of Antis possessed strength close to that of deities.


    Additionally, the military organization of Antis was extremely meticulous, with thend divided into 90,000 military zones. Each zone had amander, responsible for the deployment of 12 warriors, two war horses, a chariot, and all necessary provisions.


    The most virtuous among these were handpicked from across Antis to form the Imperial Guard.


    Independent of the 90,000 military zones, they were directly ountable to the ten kings and the Temple of the Sea God, possessing the authority to mobilize the forces within their jurisdiction.


    These elite of the elite not only had formidablebat abilities but also each bore a dense line of Divine Blood.


    So, as the facade of Poseidon''s force, the Gold rank was merely the entry requirement, and having a full three demigods leading them was not at all umon.


    However, what Luo En couldn''t understand was why these Anteans, who mostly operated within the Primordial Ocean to avoid being casually disposed of by Zeus, suddenly ventured into the inner sea to chase and kill him from afar.


    "You''ve killed so many offspring of the sea deity lineage, and even in one of Poseidon''s own sons. As lord of the oceans, the God of the Sea had to make some sort of statement," exined a Goddess responsible for "newbie guidance," her beautiful eyes glinting with a flowing gaze and a smile gracing her lips.


    Instantly, Luo En''s face darkened, and he cursed inwardly.


    Damn, so this is where I get a spike in difficulty!


    I knew none of these three options were without their pitfalls!


    First, defile Athena.


    Although "defile" could mean a broad range of actions including physical contact, verbal provocation, or even engagement in battle, it seemed as if he could exploit a loophole. But would he really believe that Athena''s off-the-chartsbat ability and intelligence were for show?


    Once he chose that option, he might as well dere the feast open.


    Second, destroy one of Apollo''s temples.


    The catch wasn''t the temple itself but the connection between the temple and the deity.


    Let alone that in this vast ocean, he was to find an Apollo temple. Even if he did, the host of temple guards and priests inside would be enough trouble for him already.


    "If I''m unlucky, I might just have to go directly to grinding for a shard of Apollo''s descent."


    "As for excuses like renovations and relocations, this God of Light and Prophecy is no fool, and there may not even be a time limit for the task. Such aplicated operation probably won''t bepleted in time."


    Finally, put an end to one of Poseidon''s demigod offspring.


    This seemingly easiest task was also full of pitfalls.


    On the one hand, although Polyphemus had an ugly face, he was one of the few children Poseidon actually cared for.


    In the epic "The Odyssey," after Polyphemus was injured by the demigod hero, Odysseus, he prayed to his father, Poseidon, for revenge against Odysseus.


    As a Chief God, Poseidon didn''t care about losing face and directly intervened, summoning huge waves and strong winds to blow Odysseus''s ship off its course home, causing him to suffer great trials.


    Even then, that was with Athena''s protection (Athena favored heroes with wisdom, and in the epic, it was because of Athena''s favor that Odysseus could turn peril into safety time after time).


    But Luo En had directly killed the cyclops, which was essentially a p in the face to Poseidon.


    On the other hand, the offerings that Luo En had used to ascend to demigod status were all sea monsters and sea beasts with divine blood.


    ¡ª¡ªA total of over a hundred...


    To Poseidon, the ruler of the seas, the ocean and all its creatures were akin to his private property. Even fishermen had to worship the Sea God before going out to sea to fish.


    So, even without any kinship to these sea monsters and creatures, Poseidon would not tolerate such disrespect towards his property from outsiders.


    After all, it was a matter of respect for his authority as the God of the Sea; he had to respond in some way.


    As a result, no sooner had Luo En gone to great lengths to dispatch Polyphemus, the cyclops, than a wave of super soldiers from Antis immediately surged forth at sea.


    Based on the schedule, these Antean Guards had likely set out during the time Luo En was hunting down those Lamias, Sirens, and other divine-blood sea monsters.


    Thinking of the assurances Hecate had given earlier, Luo En''s face darkened.


    "Didn''t you say that with the blessing of ''dice,'' whatever I did would go unnoticed by the twelve Olympians?"


    "It seems they were only ordered here to investigate because arge number of the divine-blood sea monsters in this area died," she responded.


    Hecate pointed to the headless corpse of the cyclops and the strands of gold blood diffusing across the sea surface, helplessly spread her hands, showing she could offer no assistance.


    "But in front of them, you not only killed Poseidon''s beloved son but also beheaded him. What do you think these Antean Guards will do?"


    "..."


    Looking toward the Antean Guards several kilometers away, following the trail of golden blood on the sea surface, approaching the scene of the crime with ferocious momentum, Luo En''s eyelids twitched violently.


    Without another word, he immediately turned and dashed towards the cedar ship hidden in the midst of a rocky reef.


    What the Antean Guards would do next, he didn''t know.


    But Luo En knew what he had to do now.


    To stay here would mean facing unpleasant consequences.


    If not now, when would be the time to run?

 Chapter 27: 23 Friends, This Is a High Stakes Bet

    Upon the Sea of Okeanos, numerous Dragon Tooth soldiers gripped their oars, aligning on both sides of the ship, mechanically and swiftly rowing, while at the stern the Magic Array constructed of Hermes Script conjured a strong wind, forcibly propelling the cedar ship forward.


    "Have you lost your way?"


    The Goddess of the Underworld Moon, who had somehow stealthily boarded the ship, casually leaned against the gunwale, smilingly reminding him.


    "It''s not toote to turn back now."


    "Turn back? To where? To Aiaia? Relying on that foolish bird?"


    Luo En, busy inscribing Hermes Script to build the wind, nced at Hecate and let out a cold sneer from the corner of his mouth.


    "Or perhaps you would step forward and take a bullet for me?"


    Indeed, even among demigods, there are disparities.


    As the daughter of the Sun God Helios and the Enchantress Perse, Circe had been a demigod for a very long time. Coupled with her status as the beloved disciple of the Witchcraft Goddess Hecate, a few ordinary demigods couldn''t pose a threat to her.


    The Antean Guard stood no chance of assaulting Aiaia and seizing someone from that ce.


    But if the Imperial Guard were not enough, there were also the ten Kings of Antis; if the ten Kings were not enough, there were the temple of Poseidon and Poseidon himself.


    In these waters of the Sea of Okeanos, demigods were ultimately too insignificant.


    Unless Hecate herself deigned to act...


    But based on his knowledge of this woman, the possibility was infinitely close to zero.


    As expected.


    Hecate reclined beside the cabin, smiling and shaking her head.


    "A gambler who sits at the table should take responsibility for their choices."


    "Then you''re talking rubbish! Since you''re aboard, you might as well row a few times in exchange for a ticket!"


    Luo En huffed with unsurprising coldness, maliciously thrusting an oar into the hands of the esteemed goddess.


    Hecate did not seem to mind the offense, plunging the oar into the water andzily stirring it while her gaze remained on Luo En, appraising him with a yful look.


    "You seem quite concerned about her safety?"


    Luo En, who was preupied with his own rescue, paused briefly, then without turning his head, spoke indifferently: "I simply don''t want to engage in futile actions."


    Hecate chuckled meaningfully, then inquired.


    "So, from the moment you left the ind, you cut off your own retreat?"


    "..."


    Luo En furrowed his brows but offered no reply, opting instead to increase the magic power output, attempting to widen the gap from the Antean Guard encircling them.


    "Head west..."


    The Goddess of the Underworld Moon, having spoken calmly, dropped the oar she held, pped her hands clean, and elegantly rose to her feet.


    "Take this as a parting piece of advice, perhaps that is where you''ll find the help you need..."


    The ethereal and pleasing voice of the woman lowered from high to low, fading into invisibility.


    And that graceful figure at the gunwale also vanished without a trace.


    To trust or not to trust?


    Luo En''s face wavered hesitantly, but after a brief moment of indecision and contemtion, he made up his mind, steeled his heart, and ordered the Dragon Tooth soldiers to navigate the ship, heading full-force toward the fiery red remnants of the sunset on the sea.


    The western sky was streaked with the descent of the setting sun, as the watery night sky stretched over the horizon, spilling onto Aiaia Ind.


    ```


    As the temperature variation between day and night altered, the Witch of the Eagle who was sprawled under the nkets on the bed, let out a big sneeze. Rubbing her bleary eyes, she woke from a hangover.


    "Little piglet? Luo En?"


    Circe muttered subconsciously, her muffled voice echoing within the vast treehouse.


    Gone where?


    The enchantress stretchednguidly, slipped barefoot out of bed, and headed to the living room.


    The dining table, usually a mess with dishes and cups, was spotless. The kitchen was cleaned thoroughly, with both dinnerware and cookware neatly stacked in their usual, most convenient ces.


    In the center of the living room, a half-human-tall pink little piglet, made of velvet and stuffed with feathers, was ced on a chair, looking adorably clumsy.


    So tiny, so soft!


    Circe let out an excited scream, dashed forward, and hugged the pink little piglet into her arms, rubbing it fiercely.


    Meanwhile, a papyrus slid from behind the piglet and drifted to the floor.


    Circe''s gaze swept across the paper and she stood still, absorbed, gazing into the empty living room. Half her face, now immersed in shadow, was buried in the plush toy, her expression obscured. Unconsciously, her teeth clenched tightly on her lower lip.


    Outside the window, the deepening night spread, gradually pulling the petite figure into a realm of prolonged darkness and silent solitude.


    Bathed in the bright moonlight, the purple-haired goddess sat on a tree branch, overlooking the scene in the courtyard. Her dark, profound eyes shimmered with a hint ofpassion as her pursed lips let out a silent sigh.


    Although the "Dice of Chance" has turned the "Gears of Inevitability," for you, it is uncertain whether this oue is for better or worse...


    The goddess then shook her head, her face lighting up with a faint, pleased smile.


    But at least, this world now holds more possibilities.


    Meanwhile, on Olympus.


    In front of the flower-filled temple of Aphrodite, a towering figure, radiating with boiling blood, charged into the chamber of the goddess of love and beauty, yelling loudly.


    "Aphrodite, my dear,e out! Come out and see me!"


    At this moment, the goddess of beauty, who had been napping within the pink canopy, was awakened by the noise. She stretched out her fair arms to lift the curtain, her sleepy eyes narrowing slightly in mild irritation as she looked at her former lover standing before her bed.


    "What now?"


    "I''ve done it! I''ve achieved it again!"


    Ares grabbed Aphrodite''s hand with excitement and announced.


    Then, the goddess, who had just woken from her nap and was d in light clothing, with a sheer sash barely covering her body, revealed an even more enchanting and captivating figure in the hazy atmosphere.


    Ares, his throat going dry, felt a fierce surge of blood rushing uncontrobly to a particr spot, as if a ze was burning within him.


    Suddenly, Aphrodite''s brows arched on her previouslynguid face, her eyes sparkling with a unique luster. Her pink tongue flicked across her moist lips as she began to speak leisurely.


    "So, my most valiant King of Warriors, let''s see if your sword is still as sharp as it used to be..."


    With a joyous murmur, Aphrodite''s serpentine waist twisted and turned, her upper body arching backward off the side of the bed, challenging the King of Warriors from below.


    Such a sensual scene made Ares lose all restraint. He roared like an enraged bull and charged forward.


    A fierce ''war'' ensued, as usual, raising the curtain.


    However, different from usual times, in a corner beside the temple''s avenue, a pair of me-colored eyes were fixed on the sounds of certain collisionsing from the goddess''s chamber. Blood vessels began to thread through those eyes, and two muscr arms clenched tightly, a strong sense of humiliation and rage coalescing on that simple, honest face.


    Hermes was right, the damn pair!


    ```

 Chapter 28: 24 Friends, 2 More Chances Left

    The Sea of Okeanos, a nighttime hue like water poured onto the sea''s surface, stirring up shimmering ripples.


    On a deste small ind with sparse vegetation grew haphazardly, faint stifled groans could be heard from a rocky cave veiled by dry vines.


    "ng~~"


    Apanied by the crisp sound of metal, two deformed golden-bronze arrowheads fell to the ground, their sharp conical des still dripping with torn flesh.


    Luo En, leaning against the cave wall, spat out the piece of wood he had bitten through, wiping the beading sweat off his forehead as he endured piercing pain.


    Sucking in a deep breath, he tremblingly applied medicine to his wounded left shoulder and right leg, casting his gaze towards the broken metal arrow shaft on the ground, exquisitely engraved with wave patterns and with a broken tip that seemed to flicker with starlight, and he silently cursed.


    Orichalcum! A bunch of wasteful bastards!


    The so-called "Orichalcum", also known as "Mountain Copper", is a type of mythical metal extensively mined in the legends of Antis, boasting superior hardness, toughness, and magic conductivity, making it an excellent material to craft magical weapons, and even divine armaments.


    In Homer''s epics, it is mentioned that the crown and earrings of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and beauty, were forged from this very orichalcum.


    In mysticism, wizards and enchantresses often refer to it alongside "mithril" and "crystal" as the "three great magic minerals", which, if utilized well, can exert great power, even capable of injuring a divine body, let alone demigods.


    It was during this month-long sea pursuit that Luo En was wounded by arrows made of specially crafted orichalcum from the Antean Guard.


    They chased me for over half a month, using orichalcum arrows worth as much as gold to shoot at me; is it really necessary?


    Is it just because I sacrificed over a hundred sea beasts with divine blood and killed a bastard demigod son of Poseidon, and along the way killed¡­


    Let me count¡­


    1¡­4¡­5¡­7¡­uh¡­8 gold-rank, and seriously injured one demigod deputy captain?


    After carefully tallying his own achievements, Luo En couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth, feeling somewhat guilty.


    Alright, I did go a bit overboard.


    But it was unavoidable, who asked those Anteans to chase after him like hounds on a rabbit, relentlessly refusing to let go.


    In a life-or-death struggle, with his own life on the line, how could he afford to show mercy, hoping that the other party would remember to be kind?


    Tsk, looks like there''s no room for negotiation here.


    Luo En murmured in gloom, tearing off some clean pieces of cloth to bandage his slowly healing wounds, closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, entering meditation to recover his magic power and stamina. At the same time, his thoughts raced as he reminisced about the harrowing events of thest half month.


    Initially, he decided to trust that woman Hecate''s suggestion.


    After all, she could only enjoy the show if he stayed alive.


    Therefore, Luo En took his ship and made a run for it to the west, before the Anteans couldpletely encircle him.


    But to outpace those Anteans blessed by the God of the Sea in the Sea of Okeanos was nothing short of delusional.


    Within just three days, he was caught up by the Antean Imperial Guard hot on his heels.


    Forced into a corner, Luo En had no choice but to fight and retreat simultaneously, exhausting nearly all his tricks, and even sacrificing his ship before he managed to tear through the Antean cordon and make a narrow escape.


    However, out in the vast Sea of Okeanos without a vessel, his mobility was severely reduced.


    It didn''t take long before he was cornered again on a deserted ind by those relentless Anteans.


    This time, Luo En wasn''t so lucky.


    After he quietly took down three gold-rank Antean Guard members by using the favorable terrain and pre-set magic traps, he was first chased all over the mountains by those rabid dogs, then hit by two arrows, and ultimately had to jump into the sea and detonate the entire deserted ind in order to escape amidst the chaos.


    Fortunately, the secret ritual of Ascension to Demigod status allowed him to indirectly gain some decent underwater abilities while absorbing the Divinity of hundreds of Divine Blood Sea Beasts.


    Moreover, the oceans of ancient Greece were dotted with numerous inds,rge and small.


    Thus, Luo En was able to find a remote and deste ind nearby to take a brief rest and catch his breath.


    But this peace would certainly notst long.


    The group of mad dogs hell-bent on his life, after searching the vicinity, would sooner orter find him.


    So, what kind of gambling was this? It was clearly betting with one''s life!


    As Luo En cursed a certain gambling goddess through gritted teeth, the waning moon rose to its zenith under the night sky, and the crisp sound of dice rolling thrice echoed in his mind with the arrival of midnight.


    Floating up alongside them were three divine oracles on the bronze altar, each corresponding to the emblem of the deity revealed by the three tosses of the dice.


    "Mission one,mit one act of sacrilege against Apollo."


    "Mission two,mit one act of sacrilege against Zeus."


    "Mission three,mit one act of sacrilege against Hera."


    Here we go again...


    Luo En listlessly raised his hand and tapped the second shadowy figure that had appeared before him, while cursing through clenched teeth,


    "Zeus you deceitful trash, shameless trickster, nothing but a seed-sowing beast, I curse you to walk hugging the walls, to spit blood in your sputum..."


    Before he could continue his barrage of insults, the second divine oracle burst into scattered points of light and disintegrated.


    At the same time, a bronze badge bearing the Ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail, emerged from the void and fell into Luo En''s hand.


    Luo En didn''t even nce at it, sketching a few lines of Hermes Script with a flick of his hand and tossing the object into the forming Magic Array.


    Water, fire, earth, and air were the essential elements of the world, and thus the Hermes Script, which contained such properties, could also use the Magic Array to construct a simr small independent space, serving as a convenient tool for mages to store their personal belongings.


    At this moment, as the bronze badge Luo En held was thrown into the Magic Array, a series of crisp metallic clinks followed, as dozens of identical bronze badges appeared, all tucked away gathering dust within it.


    A pile of junk...


    Luo En nced at them without much interest.


    After all, these lowest-level chips dropped from the Daily Chapter could only be used for friendly matches on the gambling table, offering no help to his current predicament.


    Instead of wasting energy on these trinkets, it would be better to see if the Weekly Book could drop something useful.


    Muttering in annoyance, Luo En reached out his hand, and the twelve-sided die that had been on the bronze altar fell into his palm.


    Three divine oracles shimmering with silver light then appeared before his eyes.


    "Trial one: Secure victory in a battle,plete one act of sacrilege against the God of War''s authority (Completed)."


    "Trial two: Hunt down a Divine Blood Sea Beast,plete one act of sacrilege against the God of the Sea''s authority (Completed)."


    "Trial three: Destroy a piece of Demigod weaponry,plete one act of sacrilege against the God of Craftsmanship''s authority (Not Completed)."


    At the same time, the first two divine oracles dissipated into stardust, turning into two simrly styled silver badges.


    With two silver badges in hand, a hint of pleasure finally surfaced on Luo En''s somber face.


    Now, atst, he had some capital to draw another two cards.

 Chapter 29: 25: Friend, a disastrous defeat!

    In the cave, Luo En toyed with the twelve-sided die engraved with serpentine rock in his hand, aplex look in his eyes as he regarded it with a mix of love and hate.


    To defy fate and overturn Olympus, to drag that Divine King father from his throne, was akin to a gambler''s wildest wager with slim odds of winning.


    But for a gambler, without a stake, there''s no seat at the table, let alone a chance to win big from a small bet.


    And these badges were the chips that Hecate had promised to give to Luo En before.


    To be more precise, it was this "Dice of Chance" that had offered them to him...


    Of course, everything has a price.


    In order to obtain these chips of various specifications and values, Luo En had toplete the corresponding oracles issued by the twelve-sided die.


    Through half a month of exploration and research, he had roughly deciphered the operation rules of this object:


    First, the oracles issued by the die are divided ording to difficulty. Currently, there are three types.


    The first type refreshes every morning at dawn, with a one-day deadline. The danger level is below his strength and is defined as a "Task." Usually, anyone with a brain and hands can easilyplete it, and the reward is a bronze badge;


    The second type refreshes every Monday, with a one-week deadline. The danger level isparable to his strength and is defined as a "Trial." It''s rtively challenging and requires caution to safely clear, with a silver badge as the reward;


    The third type has an irregr refresh time and deadline. Its danger level far exceeds his strength and is named "sphemy." These are typically fraught with danger and require risking life and limb, an almost certain death sentence, with a gold badge as the reward.


    Based on the standards of the rewards, this somewhat resembles the gold, silver, and bronze medal rankings at the Ancient Greece Olympic Games.


    However, Luo En, who once worked at a gamingpany, is more inclined to categorize them ording to their refresh time and difficulty levels, calling them "Daily Chapter" - "Weekly Chapter" - "High-Difficulty Chapter."


    Usually, at the refresh time, the twelve-sided die will be randomly cast three times. The emblems of the Twelve Olympians that appear determine who will be targeted.


    For instance, today''s "Daily Chapter" selected three targets, which are the God of Light Apollo, the Divine King Zeus, and Queen Hera.


    However, as mentioned before, the difficulty of the daily task is quite limited, and the scope of selection and standards forpleting these tasks are rtively broad.


    Cursing from afar, spitting at the deities'' temples, stealing the divine offerings¡­ such methods are all feasible.


    If one doesn''t want to use their brains, targeting their protected beings also counts.


    For example, poaching some seafood to make soup without praying is considered disregard for Poseidon, the God of the Sea; deliberately trampling flowers, nts, and crops is an insult to Demeter, the Agriculture Goddess; shooting down a few birds for barbecue is an affront to Zeus, the God of the Sky...


    As for killing pigeons, swans, orurels corresponding to the symbols of the gods, that usually counts towards thepletion of the task.


    Moreover, facing the three options of the "Daily Chapter," Luo En doesn''t need toplete all; finishing just one of the three further lowers the difficulty.


    Theoretically, as long as one is not foolish enough to court death, aggressively seeking trouble from demigod heroes, hidden bosses, top-tier Magic Beasts, or the divided spirits of the gods, the "Daily Chapter" poses no threat to him.


    As for the "Weekly Chapter," it''s quite mysterious. The oue of the specific directives and mission objectives varies greatly depending on luck.


    For instance, this week''s options either require confronting those insane dogs of the Antean Guard, expose oneself to great danger or unnecessarily handicap oneself to escte the difficulty of escape. A slight mishap could cost one their life, living up to the challenge of the "Weekly Chapter."


    By the way, although only onepletion per week is mandatory for the "Weekly Chapter," within the week, one can voluntarily take on more intensity and achieve multiple objectives, with a maximum of three.


    Of course, the risk factor increases dramatically, and the price paid is correspondingly severe.


    Luo En struggled back and forth for a week and barely managed to aplish two tasks right under the noses of the Antean Guard, but he almost ended up looking like a sieve from the Orichalcum secret arrows.


    Had it not been for the precaution of leaving himself several escape routes, his seventh day death ritual might have already passed.


    And finally, the trigger mechanism for the "High-Difficulty Chapter" is still unclear. So far, Luo En has only encountered it once, which was the "weing gift" the twelve-sided die gave him after his ascension to demigod status...


    Since it''s called a "High-Difficulty Chapter," the content invariably has elements of "inhumanity" and "torture."


    Whether it''s desecrating Athena, going solo to Apollo''s Temple, or facing off against the Antean Guard... each of these tasks is certainly a high-end challenge.


    If Luo En hadn''t been tough as nails, struck into the deep sea by his Divine King father, thoroughly trained by Hecate, and raised by Circe as a Magic Beast for sixteen years, yet still able to hop around alive and kicking, and developed strong vitality and high adaptability, he reckoned that out of ten other demigod heroes who came along, eight would be easy prey.


    Fortunately, such "High-Difficulty Chapters" seem to require a unique triggering mechanism, spaced at least a month apart, so for now, he didn''t have to worry about sessive waves of troubles.


    After gathering his thoughts, Luo En pinched the furrowed brow and then opened his eyes, gazing intently at the two silver badges and the serpent-patterned orichalcum twelve-sided die in his hand.


    High risk, high reward.


    They had him fight tooth and nail toplete the oracle''s task, and the badges they sent down were not just decorative items to be looked at.


    They were the chips for a turnaround, the opportunity to leverage the dangerous situation at hand.


    Taking a few deep breaths, Luo En rubbed the twelve-sided die with serpent patterns and murmured under his breath.


    "Bless me, Dice Mother, don''t fail me this time. Give me Hermes'' blessing; I need to make a quick getaway, or Athena and Zeus would also be fine. If all else fails, even Ares would do, just blow the enemies away!"


    With that, he steeled himself and tossed the die in his hand.


    The gray-green twelve-sided die rolled several times on the ground beforeing to a leisurely stop, revealing the pattern of a few rose petals.


    At the same time, one of the silver badges on Luo En''s hand vanished, turning into silver divine runes that surfaced above the bronze altar in his mind.


    "Aphrodite''s Grace": The Goddess of Love and Beauty grants you attraction to the opposite sex,sting one week."


    "..."


    Luo En was at a loss for words, cursing under his breath.


    Are you kidding me?


    With the situation this dire, what use do I have for this BUFF? Am I to hope that the Imperial Guard of Antis are all gay? And then offer myself to them?


    After muttering to himself for a bit, Luo En took another deep breath, managing to muster a forced, twisted smile on his stiff face.


    Don''t get angry, don''t get angry, there''s still one more chance.


    Take a stab at it, maybe my bike will turn into a motorcycle!


    Psyching himself up, Luo En picked up the twelve-sided die off the ground, gave it a shake, then, with a resolute heart, tossed the die that would decide his fate once more.


    The gray-green dodecahedron bounced unevenly on the rocky ground, rolling into a depression before finallying to rest, revealing a pattern of mes.


    At the same time, thest token in Luo En''s hand disappeared, manifesting as an oracle upon the bronze altar.


    "Hephaestus'' Blessing": You gain one-time repair (Demigod quality or lower) of a damaged creation."


    Oh,e on, are you and your wife ganging up on me?!


    At a critical time like this, what use do I have for the Craftsman God''s blessing? To repair my own tomb in advance, or to carve an epitaph before time?


    Seeing such unlucky draws from among the Twelve Olympians, Luo En could no longer hold back, his face filled with the desire to cry as he stared at the damned twelve-sided die in his hand.


    Buddy, this is aplete and utter loss.

 Chapter 30: 26: Ten Consecutive Deviations, Drawing Cards Will Surely Bring Disaster

    Alright, alright, alright, so this is how we''re ying? I refuse to believe this!


    Luo En watched as he lost all the gambling funds he had painstakingly amassed without reaping any tangible benefits, grinding his teeth in frustration and decisively sketched out a Hermes Script, opening the Magic Array to pour out his veryst bit of capital.


    Thirteen bronze badges clinked and ttered to the ground, appearing quite meager¡ªthese were the scraps he had saved up over half a month.


    Because the difficulty of the [Daily Chapter], [Weekly Chapter], and [High-Difficulty Chapter] almost exponentially increased, their exchange rates were 100:1.


    Therefore, to exchange his bronze badges, equivalent to a constion prize, for a hard-fought silver badge and wager a bigger bet, he needed toplete the [Daily Chapter] 100 times, which is to say, spending a whole 100 days.


    Chances were, by the time he''d saved enough to y again, he himself might have already kicked the bucket¡ªthe process was sincerely maddening.


    With that time, he''d be better off directly excavating resources from the [Weekly Chapter].


    However, at the moment, with no other choice, he could only use what little capital he had to try his luck in the friendly pool, even if it meant treating a dead horse as if it were alive.


    Luo En inwardly scoffed, picking up the twelve-sided die from the ground with a dispirited toss.


    The five familiar snake patterns caught his eye, symbolizing the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, Athena.


    The gods of Olympus have many ranking methods, but the most mainstream is to rank them based on strength and status.


    The twelve chief gods correspond exactly to the numbers on the twelve faces of the die:


    1 King of the Gods Zeus, 2 Queen Hera, 3 God of the Sea Poseidon, 4 Goddess Demeter, 5 Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare Athena, 6 God of Light Apollo, 7 Goddess of the Hunt Artemis, 8 War God Ares, 9 God of Love Aphrodite, 10 God of Fire Hephaestus, 11 Goddess of the Hearth Hestia, 12 Divine Envoy Hermes.


    (In Chapter 14 earlier, the number 3 inurately represented War God Ares; it has been corrected to 8, please refresh.)


    At this moment, seeing the result of the throw, Luo En was far from excited¡ªinstead, he had the constipated expression of utter despair.


    If it had been the silver pool, this roll might have been the jackpot, but unfortunately, he was drawing from the infuriating friendship pool, where Athena hardly ever provides anything good.


    Or rather, it''s mostly the lowest-tier reward.


    Sure enough, as the die stopped spinning on the ground, the bronze badge in Luo En''s hand twisted and transformed into a bronze coin with an image of Athena on one side and an owl embossment on the other.


    ¡ª¡ªReward obtained: Athena''s Bronze +1...


    ¡ª¡ªSpecific use: Worth about the same as amon coin, not enough to buy a bread in the city without owing two more...


    It always shows up when it''s not needed, and when it shouldn''t, it barges in; he really was down on his luck.


    While sulking and mutteringints, Luo En threw the Athena''s Bronze into the Magic Array.


    In a dark corner of the space, there were two more of the same kind, oues of previous draws from the friendship pool.


    No panic, it''s a minor loss, still twelve chances to go.


    Luo En tried tofort himself and picked up the twelve-sided die again, continuing to bet in the friendship pool.


    "Athena''s Bronze +1..."


    "Hera''s Silver +1..."


    "Athena''s Bronze +1..."


    "Athena''s Bronze +1..."


    "Athena''s Bronze +1..."


    "Zeus''s Gold +1..."


    The results of six consecutive draws caused Luo En''s facial muscles to twitch violently, struggling to keep hisposure.


    What''s the point of money in this life-or-death situation?


    Would he explode into more coins once he''s dead?


    And also, sister, four out of six times it''s you!


    If you don''t even bother with the silver pool, let alone this bronze-tier match, it really is beneath your level. Please, give me a break and stop this cmity, okay?


    At this moment, Luo En, with resentment towards a certain Goddess of War and Wisdom burning in his heart, picked up the twelve-sided die again, essentially resigning himself to whatever fate threw his way.


    The good news was, in the following attempts, it seemed like the Goddess of Wisdom and War had indeed heard his "prayers," as she truly didn''t show up in the pool again.


    But what took her ce was...


    "hanos sea products +1..."


    "Hestia''s recipes +1..."


    "Demeter''s essence of grain +2..."


    "Apollo''s musical poems +1..."


    "Artemis''s prey +1..."


    A series of tip-like divine messages emerged in Luo En''s mind, one after another. Surrounded by the "love of the gods," he felt a lump in his throat, "moved" to the point of wanting to cry.


    What the hell is this trash?


    I''d rather have some cash to buy a plot ofnd for a grave!


    Seeing his hard-earned thirteen bronze badges quickly disappearing, Luo En, deted and filled with anger, clutched thest remaining badge tightly in his hand and looked bitterly at the serpent-rock twelve-sided die on the ground.


    His card draws had never been this unlucky before, even that scammy pay-to-win game he had a hand in designing would at least ensure a purple item in ten consecutive draws.


    This is the twelfth time without a single hit, even friendship pool drop rates aren''t supposed to be this cruel.


    Dice goddess, let''s not mess around anymore, all right? I don''t ask for gold; give me something I can use for now.


    As Luo Enined about the crappy card draw system and dered that not even a dog would y such a broken game, his body honestly picked up the die, and he threw it for onest chance.


    Under his nervous gaze, the die tumbled two and a half times, finallynding on the number 10.


    Meanwhile, as a sudden weight descended upon his hand, a blue oracle emerged within his mind.


    "Hephaestus''s Collection: Wings of Icarus (Damaged)..."


    In an instant, Luo En''s face, which had almost lost all hope, lit up with brilliant excitement, his eyes shining as he gazed at the lightweight creation resembling bird wings and surrounded by the essence of wind element.


    Icarus, son of the great craftsman Daedalus from Greece, ording to myth, Daedalus was oncemissioned to build a Labyrinth in Crete for King Minos. Later, to prevent secrets from leaking, the king imprisoned both father and son.


    To escape to freedom, the incredibly smart Daedalus lured seagulls into the high tower with leftover food, patiently collecting their feathers, and also gathering wax drippings from candles. In the end, Daedalus crafted a pair of wings for himself and his son using feathers, string, and wax, bestowing upon humans the ability to fly.


    Once everything was ready, the father and son took off from the tower on the ind and flew over the Sea of Okeanos.


    But during the crossing of the great sea, Icarus forgot his father''s warning before taking off and kept increasing his altitude blindly, causing the Sun''s heat to melt the wax. The feathers on his wings began to fall one after another.


    By the time Icarus realized, it was toote. He fell into the sea like a leaf losing control, his wings shattered upon impact, scattered across the sea and lost to view.


    Now, based on the current results, it''s very likely that Hephaestus, the God of Craftsmanship, had taken an interest in the unique craftsmanship of those wings and casually added them to his treasury as a collectible.


    eleration, ability to fly?! At this very moment, having figured out the ins and outs, Luo Enpletely ignored the "damaged" notification following the Wings of Icarus. His head was filled with the four words that summarized the oue, and the surprise from such a dark turn of events was boiling in his heart.


    He had gotten not only equipment for emergencies but also with the necessary repair techniques. Hephaestus was truly generous!


    Luo En brought up the Hephaestus''s blessing, which he previously considered worthless, looked at it enthusiastically over and over, without sparing any words of praise in his heart,pletely forgetting that he had just cursed Hephaestus to his face.


    "Boom!"


    Just as Luo En was basking in the joy of his loot, a violent roar emanated from the ind. Pebbles from the stone wall started cascading down as shrill screams and angry curses were faintly mixed in with the wind.


    Those mad dogs are at it again!


    Luo En''s expression grew stern as he braced himself for the imminent threat.

 Chapter 31: 27: The Psychology of Gaming Tactics is Dirty

    On the Nameless Ind, a violent explosion and fire sparked clouds of dust several meters high in the dense jungle; the pungent stench of blood hit one''s face, and intermittent, wretched screams were chilling to the bone.


    "What are you standing around for? Are you deaf? Rescue them!"


    The middle-aged man with a long, narrow face and somber expression nced at his subordinates standing around him like stakes and growled through clenched teeth with a ckened face.


    At this, three Imperial Guard soldiers wearing water-patterned bronze armor as if awakened from a dream, rushed into the smoke and dust, dragging two bloodiedrades out of the dense jungle, frantically administering aid.


    "How are these two useless things faring?"


    Seeing several of his subordinates busily failing to make a difference, Dakres, a squad captain of the Imperial Guards, couldn''t help but step forward to inquire.


    The Imperial Guard soldiers responsible for the healing answered with sweat streaming down their faces.


    "Serano''s leg is broken, Andries has a through and through wound in his abdomen, they''re both bleeding heavily, we''re out of magic potions, we didn''t bring a medic with us, and we just can''t stop the bleeding!"


    "Then carry them to a nearby ce with water, the blessing of the God of the Sea will heal them, do I really need to teach you this?"


    Dakres''s long and narrow face clouded over with anger as he cursed furiously.


    Under the cold watch of their captain, the three Imperial Guard soldiers shivered involuntarily and hastily carried their two badly injuredrades toward a nearby stream.


    "A bunch of idiots, I really don''t know how they passed their final assessments!"


    Dakres watched as his men scurried away like scattered rabbits, and his irritation swelled, he snorted with gritted teeth.


    "Forget it, they''re just greenhorns that the higher-ups put in to gild their records, no use getting mad at them."


    From behind, a burly man as strong as a bear with his left eye bandaged, stepped forward to pat Dakres''s shoulder, offering a wryforting smile.


    Since this pursuit battle had begun, his reputedly calm old friend had grown increasingly irritable, with the frequency of his cursing and kicking rising significantly.


    Upon hearing the constion, the low pressure lingering around Dakres eased slightly, hisplexion regained some calm, and he turned to look at the burly man behind him.


    "Sorry, Andrew, that was irrational of me."


    The Imperial Guard captain''s gaze lingered on the sturdy man''s bandaged eye for a moment, a hint of guilt flickering in his own.


    That lost eye should have been his.


    If it were not for his oldrade pushing him aside at the critical moment, taking the hit himself...


    Just the thought of that bloody scene turned Dakres''s face morose, and a strong sense of humiliation welled up inside him.


    What was expected to be a simple pursuit mission had turned into an insufferable nightmare.


    One unforeseen "ident" after another had left them running ragged: talking trees, moving grass, hair-trigger magical traps, burst runes activated by the weight of theirrade''s corpses...


    And then there was that elusive felon, proficient in all manners of curses, who could still hop around even after taking two Orichalcum secret arrows...


    All these encounters and factors had brought them endless hardship and severe losses, even he¡ªa demigod¡ªhad nearly perished in the midst.


    If he were to return now with this band of broken soldiers, one could imagine the fate awaiting his career.


    Even if the "Council of Ten Kings" were lenient due to his years of hard service, the smaller and greater Divine Blood families could drown him with their spit.


    They had spent plenty of money and favors to have these descendants of Divine Blood gilded into the Imperial Guard.


    Yet not only did the gilding fail, but they also suffered nearly fifty percent casualties inside and out; such grave errors demanded ountability.


    Regrettably, he was currently the perfect candidate to take the fall.


    Unless he could atone for his faults and capture that bastard, perhaps then he might have a chance at survival.


    Imperial Guard Captain Dakres sifted through his thoughts, rubbed his throbbing head, and solemnly promised to his unfortunate friend caught up in the ordeal.


    "Rest assured, once we catch that bastard and return to report at the Temple of the God of the Sea, I will report the losses to the ''Council of Ten Kings'' and take full responsibility for all the consequences!"


    "Captain, I..."


    The sturdy man was just about to speak when suddenly, panicked cries erupted from the direction of the stream ahead.


    The two men''s expressions changed, and they immediately rushed to the scene.


    "What happened?"


    "Poison! Somebody has poisoned the water upstream!"


    Three Imperial Guard soldiers answered with fear in their voices, and behind them two wounded soldiers, hastily dragged out of the creek water, now had ashen faces, their injuries not only unimproved but their flesh festering at an elerating pace.


    "Bang!"


    Dakres''s fist smashed a giant tree that two people could hug together, furiously staring upstream of the creek, and couldn''t help but let loose a string of curses in his mind.


    ¡ª¡ªDamn it, beasts!


    The Imperial Guards beside him were also full of indignation.


    In their lives, they had faced opponents who were mostly Titans or mythical creatures who settled things with strength and fists, directly charging forward to fight. Then, the winner would stand, and the loser would lie down.


    Even with cunning intellectual targets, most of their tactics were rtively rough and were used to aid them inbat.


    But this was like some sneaky underhanded trickster, using poison, digging pits, setting traps, and ambushing, turning conspiracy and cunning into the mainstream, into an art form.


    Since when did such a shameless scum emerge in the Sea of Okeanos?


    "That bastard must be nearby! Andrew, you take two people to bring the wounded to the seashore, the rest follow me! We''ll chop this bastard to pieces and feed him to the fish!"


    Dakres ordered with a grim face, without waiting for his friend to try to persuade him otherwise, he and another demigod deputy captain named "Sanos," along with the remaining four Imperial Guard soldiers, spread out in an encircling move towards the upper part of the stream with rapid speed.


    Because they were almost psychologically scarred by the ambush, the two demigods simply ignited the divine fire within their bodies, drawing on vast tides of magic power to form a barrier around themselves that was tens of meters thick with a deep azure glow, then charged forward with themselves as the vanguard.


    Instantly, wherever the two light shadows went, there was devastation; the dense forests on both sides of the stream kept bursting forth with explosions like thunder from a clear sky, and dust billowed up.


    Six of them?


    Good, they''ve split up! It seems the n was a sess!


    At this moment, based on the sounds and reactions of magic powers from the entrance of the upstream cave, Luo En quickly came to a conclusion and breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    Generally speaking, on the battlefield, crippling the enemy''s soldiers tends to have a better effect than outright killing them,


    On one hand, screams and blood could disturb the judgement of the opponents and affect their morale; on the other hand, the injured soldiers would need to be moved and attended to, which means at least one person would be involved in the transfer, sometimes two. This effectively increased the number ofbat losses.


    At first, Luo En thought this way too and didn''t deal a deadly blow directly.


    But he underestimated the nearly perverse self-healing abilities and tenacity of life inherent in the creatures of the age of gods.


    Furthermore, these Anteans, with the blood of gods and the blessing of the God of the Sea, could quickly recover and regain their strength just by soaking in water, even with severe injuries.


    Therefore, with no other choice, Luo En had to eliminate his opponents as directly as possible to minimize the threat.


    However, this time, his main goal was to escape; using two wounded soldiers and a bottle of poison to restrain another demigod and two Golds was definitely worth more than it cost.


    Currently, ording to the hint from "Blessing of the Artisan God," the materials needed to repair the "Icarus Wings" were mainly two types¡ªfeathers from birds and high-quality wax.


    There were plenty of bird feathers in his storeroom, which he had secretly collected when Circe was molting. It seemed that the feathers from the Witch of the Eagle would work much better than those of ordinary sea birds.


    Next, only the wax remained as the needed material.


    And on his way to the ind to heal, it seemed he had seen several beehives to the southwest, which should contain usable beeswax.


    Time was short, he needed to speed up!


    As the roar outside the cave grew nearer, Luo En made up his mind, determined to burst out of the cave entrance before the pursuers could corner him inside, and take a desperate gamble.


    "Found him, over there!"


    The six pursuers who arrived rapidly at the scene also spotted the trace of the target, grinding their teeth with hatred as they charged toward the perpetrator of countless vile deeds.

 Chapter 32: 28: I Gave You The Opportunity, But You Are Useless!

    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!"


    Within the dense forest, a gale stirred. Streams of divine light,pressed to the extreme, swarms of Hermes curses, and sharp Orichalcum secret arrows came from all directions, emitting a shrill whine as they tore through the air. Like meteor showers, they fell relentlessly, creating explosions one after another.


    "Boom boom boom boom!"


    At the center of the concentrated fire, Luo En directed a small portion of his magic power toward vital areas, unfoldingyers of defensive charms. The vast majority of his power he channeled into his legs, nimbly dodging the continuously iing rubble, wood chips, curses, and arrows, all to maximize his speed of escape.


    Even though the two Antean demigods had undergone their ascension long ago, and in terms of both divinity and magic power umtion, they generally far surpassed Luo En, they could only watch, ck-jawed, and eat dust behind his eloquently fluid steps and a physique as slippery as an eel.


    However, as battle-hardened veterans, when they saw that their dense offensive had not managed to slow down their target, they decided to abandon their fruitless efforts. They, too, channeled all their magic power to elerate to the maximum.


    But after only a few steps in pursuit, they heard a crisp "crack, crack" from beneath their feet.


    The demigods involuntarily stiffened, mechanically lowering their heads to look at the crystal rune stones at their feet etched with Hermes script.


    zing light was bursting forth along with the shattering of the runes.


    "Boom! Boom!"


    Two explosions rang out behind them, fierce heatwaves sweeping in all directions. Luo En''s lips curled into a satisfied smile, but he didn''t slow down for a moment, not looking back as he continued to sprint towards the southwest of the small ind.


    Such impact was just a drizzle for demigods and, though unexpected, was unlikely to inflict any real damage; it could only dy them briefly at best.


    If only there had been seven times more of those, it might have been a different story.


    Unfortunately, those were thest few he had in hand.


    As Luo En hastened his pace to break away from the battle, he even felt somewhat grateful to the foolish bird teacher who had trained him to have such a robust physique and ability to survive against all odds.


    Although the process had been painful, without a doubt, he had directly or indirectly mastered a plethora of life-saving skills.


    In the Sea of Okeanos, and filled with Titans and monstrous creatures, he might not be the most powerful demigod, but he was definitely the best expert at fleeing.


    As everyone knows, being alive is the prerequisite for dealing damage.


    Luo En kept his eyes and ears open in all directions while trying to maintain a good mindset, finding humor amidst adversity.


    Finally, after about a quarter of an hour of intense running, he arrived at the dense forest where he had previously found a beehive.


    But at the same time, the two dusty and disheveled Antean demigods were gradually closing the distance due to their superior divinity and magic power levels, appearing on a gentle slope a hundred meters away. Their bloodshot eyes stared coldly and mercilessly at Luo En ahead of them.


    Just as they were about to muster their energy for one final push to shred the bastard who had repeatedly caused them frustration and humiliation, they unexpectedly stopped in their tracks to feed the fishes.


    To their surprise, Luo En stopped a hundred meters away, turned around with a smile, and waved at them. He then deliberately slowed down and sauntered into the dense forest.


    The two demigods'' expressions turned solemn, and they instinctively halted, their expressions shifting uncertainly.


    "He''s right ahead! Catch him!"


    Several of the Gold Imperial Guards, who had not witnessed this scene and had only taken a few steps, were suddenly pulled back violently by the two demigods trailing them.


    "Fools, do you want to die? Watch out for an ambush!"


    The demigods scowled and red fiercely at the four encumbrances behind them, their faces showing a ''you''ve failed me'' expression.


    Time and again, experience and lessons had proven that when a Gold-ranked Imperial Guard acted rashly, they were essentially delivering themselves as easy prey.


    What''s more, given the way that bastard had reacted, he must have set up traps in there, waiting to ambush them.


    After a quick brainstorm, the two demigods hesitated as they gazed into the pitch-ck forest, uncertain of their next move.


    At this moment, Luo En, who had entered the forest, first wiped the sweat from his own brow and then, upon confirming that the Antean Imperial Guards had not immediately followed him, let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted.


    Fortunately, the mental scars he had left on these rabid dogs earlier were sufficient to make them hesitant and cautious, afraid to make any rash movements.


    But sometimes cleverness can backfire, and that''s probably what it was.


    Luo En had been pursued for well over half a month, his resources drained dry; where would he find the time or materials to prepare a trap capable of killing a demigod?


    The earlier feint was purely a bluff.


    Fortunately, the other side fell for it.


    Luo En wiped the cold sweat from his brow and quickly approached two broad-leafed trees he couldn''t name. He knocked down two beehives with stones and, amidst a swarm of bees, squeezed the wax out of thebs.


    With the materials gathered, he took out the stored bird feathers and the broken Wings of Icarus, raised his hand to the ethereal oracle before him, and activated the "Blessing of the Divine Craftsman".


    Immediately, silver-white runes turned into a me-colored flow of light, infusing the materials and objects, melting and reforming them as if in a furnace''s fire.


    Luo En rubbed his hands anxiously as he waited for the melting to finish, but shortly after, faint footsteps approached from the dense forest.


    Clearly, the Anteans could no longer hold back.


    Luo En''s eyelids twitched, he took a deep breath and raised his voice.


    "Gentlemen,e in and let''s finish this, I''m right here waiting for you, I promise I won''t run!"


    At once, the footsteps outside the dense forest paused again, and no further steps were taken.


    Time slipped away, second by second; it was unclear whether it was but a brief moment or several long hours.


    Finally, the forging light died, and the battered Wings of Icarus had perfectly assimted the other two materials, unveiling a new form.


    Luo En breathed a sigh of relief, ncing at the still, quiet entrance to the dense forest behind him, he couldn''t help but mock in jest.


    I''m giving you a chance, but you just can''t take it, can you?


    However, just as Luo En was about to scoff in secret, a sudden change urred.


    "Buzz buzz buzz buzz!"


    Within the oppressive, dull drone in the air, magic power from all around crazily converged above the dense forest, creating an etheric tide that stretched for kilometers. Water-blue tridents filled with a murderous aura emerged above, their mighty force capable of sting the entire deste ind into rubble!


    They might not have been able to discern whether their foe had trulyid an ambush, but clever people have their own ways, and the simple-minded have theirs.


    If reaching into a burrow and failing to catch the mouse lurking inside risks a bite,


    Then better to just overturn the entire burrow!


    In that moment, feeling the danger as the rite imbued with Poseidon''s might activated, Luo En''s scalp tingled, and he grabbed the Wings of Icarus in front of him without hesitation, pressing them onto his back and frantically infusing them with magic power.


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!"


    As the water-blue tridents began to fall from the sky, Luo En, havingpleted the final step, vibrated the Wings of Icarus on his back, soaring into the sky.


    "Boom boom boom boom!"


    Bursts of explosive sounds shook the earth, and the entire ind shattered to pieces, as a graceful figure rode the wind towards the vast expanse of the Sea of Okeanos.


    "Damn it! That bastard got away again!"


    Having failed once more, the two demigods who had jointly invoked the rite seethed with anger, their eyes bloodshot and teeth clenched in frustration, only able to helplessly jump in rage on the disintegrating ind.


    "To the ship!"


    Just then, a rough voice came from the sea. The other demigod vice-captain, who had previously escorted the wounded, was steering a shuttle-shaped battleship pulled by several Sea Beasts, gesturing them toe aboard.


    The people on the ind were overjoyed and leaped onto the ship, embarking once again on this relentless chase.

 Chapter 33: 29: Want to Die? Or Dont Want to Live?

    Atop the Sea of Okeanos, howling gales shredded the clouds from all directions, while enormous waves surged forward, covering the sky and the earth alike.


    Underneath the dark billows, several giant sea beasts resembling gray mackerel sharks, their crescent-shaped caudal fins stirring the water, pulled streams into rope-like forms, dragging the sailfish-shaped warships on the sea surface. With the assistance of the wind and waves, they surged forward at breakneck speed.


    "Southwest star position, 800 meters away, fire at a 45-degree angle upwards, now!"


    At Acting Captain Andrew''smand, the six remaining Antis Golden Guards, still capable of fighting, immediately drew their bows and released a volley of arrows toward the target in mid-air.


    They''re like relentless ghosts!


    Sensing the piercing sound of arrows cutting through the air behind him, Luo En''s brows knotted in frustration. He cursed under his breath and, by adjusting the intensity of the magic power output, he controlled the Icarus wings on his back to change altitude and angle, nimbly evading the iing arrows.


    However, just as he executed his evasive maneuver, the two demigods at the ship''s bow cooperatively ced two golden-bronze arrows etched with delicate wave patterns and a faint glimmer of starlight on their bowstrings, drawing the bronze longbows to their full extent.


    A familiar and intense sense of crisis boiled over in Luo En''s heart, causing an instinctive shiver down his spine.


    Orichalcum secret arrows! Again?!


    Almost at the moment this thought shed through Luo En''s mind, the air behind him emitted a mournful whistle, as the icy edges blocked his ascending and descending space from above and below, bringing an immediate crisis.


    Using the first volley of the Golden Guard''s arrows to force the target to reveal his weaknesses, and then allowing the demigod experts to seize the moment, they fired a second, truly fatal volley of orichalcum arrows, known for their superior armor-piercing capabilities.


    One must admit, through the trial of this pursuit, the Antean Guard had grown rapidly, forming an increasingly cohesive teamwork strategy.


    But their opponent had not been standing still either.


    At the critical juncture, Luo En suddenly cut off the supply of magic power to one side of the Icarus wings, and with a sudden change in the airflow, spun his body in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the orichalcum secret arrows'' pincer attack from above and below.


    My turn!


    At the same time, Luo En''s eyes narrowed as he pulled the ancient bronze longsword forming in front of him from the magic circle diagram and hurled it with a fierce toss.


    "Hiss!"


    The longsword emitted a piercing whistle as it cleaved through the air.


    The two demigods instinctively unleashed their divine power, erecting a sea-blue light barrier at the bow to repel the iing longsword.


    "Crack!"


    Upon impact, a clear sound of fracture followed.


    What is this¡­


    Captain Dakres suddenly raised his head, to his shock seeing the bronze longsword, now covered in cracks, had been traced withyers of Hermes script using Divine Blood, indicating one meaning¡ªBurst!


    At the same time, dazzling streams of light burst forth from the cracks of the bronze longsword, and thousands of sword fragments shot out, transforming into a close-range, unstoppable metal torrent.


    "Pop, pop, pop, pop!"


    At the moment of contact, the sea-blue light shield shrouding the shippletely shattered to pieces.


    Dammit!


    Caught off guard, the two demigods'' pupils contracted in panic, and they hastily erected a second barrier to protect the nearest few.


    "Boom!"


    The warships and the sea beasts towing them were instantly perforated by the violent metal torrent, vanishing amidst a stunning explosion and ze of light.


    Phew, finally shook them off.


    Seeing he had destroyed the greatest threat to disengagement and sessfully increased the distance from those pursuing Antean Guards, Luo En breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Crack¡­"


    However, before he could catch his breath, a crisp cracking sound echoed in his ears.


    He paused mid-air, his body stiffening as he twisted his head to look behind him.


    There, radiating cracks were spreading across the pair of Icarus wings.


    Clearly, after enduring a series of high-pressure changes and high-intensity magic power conversions, they had reached their limit. The wings could no longer bear the strain and were on the verge of destruction.


    As expected from a product of the friendship pool, with this kind of quality, no wonder it''s a blight, it''s a trap!


    At this very moment, Luo En felt a tearful helplessness.


    And as he gradually lost control over the winds, he had to abandon his n to directly traverse the Sea of Okeanos and look for a nearby ind to make an emergencynding.


    Luckily, when there''s a will, there''s a way. Just as the Icarus wings were about to utterly disintegrate, a lush, verdant ind came into view.


    At the center of the ind stood several dpidated marble buildings, resembling an ancient temple, with an obscure energy pulsating and diffusing through the ley lines.


    Among the copsed pirs and damaged sculptures in the square, there were evidently dozens of figures busily bustling about.


    A temple? With people?


    Luo En''s gaze sharpened, and a sense of caution instinctively arose in his heart. However, under the circumstances, he had no choice but to fold his wings and plummet into a rtively deste thicket within the ind''s forest.


    Meanwhile, on the marble square:


    What''s that?!


    A burly, bald man with a face full of bristling muscles and a short, spry man in a felt hat sensed the tremors beneath their feet, and simultaneously looked up, their eyes converging toward the southwest side of the ind.


    Soon after, both men exchanged nces, and the leading burly, bald man spoke first in a deep voice.


    "Skester, go take a look!"


    "This, this isn''t quite right, is it?"


    The short, sturdy man with a felt hat looked at the stone materials, sculptures, and a few old items from the ruined temple being cut and carried around, and couldn''t help but chuckle nervously while rubbing his hands together. His slender eyes revealed intense greed.


    "Rx, you''ll get your cut."


    The bald strongman promised with a cold face, and seeing the middle-aged man not moving, he raised a finger impatiently.


    "I''ll add another ten percent at most, there are plenty of others willing to do it if you won''t!"


    "I''ll do it! I''ll do it!"


    Noticing the bald strongman''s growing irritation, the felt hat middle-aged man quickly nodded with a smile stered on his face and then turned into a blur, heading toward the small ind to the southwest where there was a disturbance.


    Watching the other man grow more distant until he disappeared from view, the young man with a scarred face standing behind the bald strongman spoke up in dissatisfaction, the coarse cloth of his cor revealing a standard-issue bronze armor.


    "Boss, we''re the ones doing all the hard work, why does he get so much of the cut? I might just follow him and take care of that guy!"


    "Shut up, idiot! Do you really think you''re still in Celifos?"


    The bald strongman red at the scar-faced youth behind him, lowering his voice to a deep, cold hum.


    "You think I don''t want to? But with no one to guide us and without an urate map of the Sea of hanos, are you sure you can make it to shore alive? What''s the use of having a lot then? The key is being alive to spend it!"


    Scolded by their leader, the hot-blooded scar-faced youth nced at the several figures around him dressed like the felt hat middle-aged man and reluctantly hung his head in defeat, spitting a thick gob of phlegm onto the ground to vent his frustration.


    "Pah! A bunch of trash from Arcadia, greedy thieves the moment they see money!"


    Legend has it that the Divine Envoy Hermes was born in a cave in Arcadia and is widely regarded as the local guardian deity.


    Perhaps influenced by this deity, the people of Arcadia are crafty, forming a heaven where thieves, merchants, and swindlers gather in droves.


    Of course, those favored by Hermes tend to be blessed to some extent, making them agile, adept at hiding, and top-notch at navigating dangers and delivering messages.


    And that "Skester," the felt hat middle-aged man, with Hermes'' Divine Blood flowing through his veins, was among the best of them.


    However, his greed was also notably infamous within the industry.


    If it weren''t for the high risk and reward of this mission, they would never have brought along someone so fixated on money.


    Furthermore, keeping the peace among them was attributed to other factors.


    For instance, as a fellow demigod and veteran, even the bald strongman wasn''t confident that he could subdue Skester, the inheritor of Hermes'' Extreme Speed, let alone his own greenhorn deputy.


    In fact, they were not thieves but the strongest elite Celifos could assemble, bearing an important mission from the king that could not bepromised.


    If they were to tear each other apart, it wouldn''t bode well for anyone.


    "Enough chit-chat, get back to work!"


    The bald strongman steadied his thoughts and waved his hand to issue the order, prompting the dozen or so guards andborers around him to hasten the pace of transporting the goods.


    Watching the ancient stone bs and sculptures engraved with cryptic script being loaded onto the ship, the strongman''s mood, initially soured by the prospect of financial loss, began to ease considerably.


    Even though this expedition didn''t yield the [Divinity''s Blood] that his majesty the king most desired, finding an abandoned temple on this deste ind was an unexpected bonus.


    As long as they could safely transport these items and [that thing] ashore, it wouldpensate for the losses and mistakes of this venture,ting a fortune for everyone.


    The bald strongman, while considering how to splurge back in town, couldn''t help but nce a few times at the surrounding sculptures.


    For some reason, he felt there was something odd about the statues on the ind, as if...


    ¡ª¡ªthey were living people forcibly stuffed into stone shells.


    A gust of cold wind blew by, and the bald strongman involuntarily shivered, subconsciously shrinking his neck and urging aloud.


    "Hurry up! We must load everything we can onto the ship before it gets dark! Once Skester returns, we''ll set sail immediately!"


    Everyone nced at the sun sinking toward the horizon and quickened their movements ordingly.


    About a quarter of an hourter, the bald strongman pacing on the spot couldn''t help but grow restless.


    Strange, why has there been no word from Skester after so much time?


    Could it be...


    Almost instantly, the bald strongman extinguished the baseless spection in his heart and reassured himself.


    How could that be possible, Hermes'' bloodline is best at running away; nearly no one can catch him if he wants to escape!


    Surely something has just dyed him, let''s wait a bit longer.


    Soon, the bald strongman calmed down and continued to direct his subordinates to plunder the treasures of the abandoned temple on the ind.


    Meanwhile, in the dimly lit thicket.


    A rtive of Hermes, staring at the faintly flickering Burst Runes beneath his feet, felt beads of sweat roll down his forehead.


    "Don''t move, they''ll explode."


    A kindly reminder came, and from the deep pit ahead, the "corpse fallen from the sky," originally the focus of Skester''s attention, slowly rose from the ground, dusting off the dirt and dead leaves before shing him a slight smile, revealing a row of neat, white teeth.


    "So, do you want to die? Or do you not wish to live?"


    "..."


    Confronted with the two choices, Skester wordlessly opened his mouth, his expression turning rigid.

 Chapter 34: 30 Chaos is a Ladder

    "So, you weremissioned by the king of Celifos Ind to explore this abandoned sea temple with a fleet?"


    A quarter of an hourter, Luo En raised his hand to stroke his chin, ncing at the middle-aged man in a felt hat who sat in front of him, sniffling and shedding tears as he spilled his background and identity like beans from a bamboo tube. Luo En''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Celifos Ind? That name seems vaguely familiar. It feels like I''ve heard it somewhere...


    "Little brother, I''ve said all there is to say, I''m just a guide."


    Seeing that the person across from him showed no intention of letting him go, Skester pled with a long face and, to alleviate the other''s concerns, swore earnestly to the heavens with a solemn face.


    "Don''t worry, I know the rules. I didn''t see anything, and I know nothing!"


    Luo En,ing back to his senses upon seeing this, couldn''t help but find it a bit amusing.


    "Oh, quite the expert, huh, old pal? It seems you''ve run into this sort of thing more than a few times, right?"


    Skester coughed dryly a few times to hide his embarrassment, squeezing out a somewhat sycophantic smile while leaning slightly forward in unison.


    "Ahem, it''s all just to scrape by, isn''t it? No need to stake my life."


    "So..."


    Luo En drawled, his tone yful yet mocking as he looked towards the middle-aged man''s hand, which had at some point moved to his back waist.


    "...how many have believed that spiel of yours and are still alive?"


    He''s been found out!


    In an instant, Skester''s pupils constricted, and he suddenly burst into action, pulling a dagger from behind his waist as fast as lightning. The de, with its whistling wind noise, streaked towards Luo En''s throat.


    The previously timid middle-aged man in the felt hat became decisively vicious and cold in his actions and gaze at that moment, like a cheetah revealing its fierce fangs.


    As expected, how could the demigod descendant of Hermes be an innocent and pure little white rabbit? After all, the Divine Envoy they worshipped was renowned throughout Greece for being a notorious swindler and thief.


    A cold smile sketched across Luo En''s lips with no hint of surprise.


    "Crack!"


    The crisp sound of snapping echoed through the dense forest, as Skester''s right hand, holding the dagger, twisted grotesquely like a pretzel. Shards of white bone jutted through the skin, exposed to the air.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Agonizing pain struck, and the blood descendant of Hermes nearly cked out and copsed to the ground.


    "If you move again, not even Zeus can save you..."


    A ghostly voice rose near Skester''s ear. He shivered and quickly bit his tongue to force himself awake, firmly halting his forward-leaning body and standing his ground to avoid identally triggering the Burst Rune beneath his feet.


    "Pretty quick reflexes, befitting a descendant of Hermes, the God of Speed."


    Apanied by a tone that was both mocking and yful, Luo En stepped closer, his hand lightly resting on the other''s right shoulder while the other hand smoothly took control of the bronze dagger that had slipped from the middle-aged man''s grasp.


    "I was just trying to crack a joke with you. With such little tricks, how could I ever measure up to you?"


    Skester, enduring the pain of his fractured bone, twisted his face into a tight knot and forced out a strained chuckle, his face insincerely ttering, though he cursed non-stop inwardly.


    What kind of monster was he dealing with today? Not only was he crafty, but his reflexes were even faster than his own as a blood descendant of Hermes!


    "If that''s yourst word, I''ll take it as apliment," Luo En said, his eyes slightly smiling, as he deftly twirled the bronze dagger¡ªits de shimmering with a blueish tint, seemingly coated with poison¡ªbetween his slender fingers.


    As mentioned before, there are indeed disparities among demigods.


    The blood of deities often bes diluted over the generations of their offspring.


    Though he was somewhat reluctant to admit it, he was after all one of Zeus''s first generation of offspring, and those he had faced in the Sea of Okeanos were mainly high-purity hybrid monsters and Titans.


    Demigods like the one before him, rted to Hermes and whose abilities through countless mortal generations had almost entirely focused on agility, were nowhere near clever enough to trick him.


    As the blue de inched closer to his neck, Skester''s face went pale, shivering, and he hastily began to plead his case.


    "It was a misunderstanding just now! If you let me go, I can show you the way. Honestly, the people from Celifos have found quite a few treasures on this ind!"


    Seeing that Luo En was utterly unmoved by the potential fortune, the Hermes blood descendant, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, steeled his heart, biting down hard, and yed his ace.


    "How about this, I''ll tell you a secret: The king of Celifos Ind sent us here not just to explore the temple, it''s simpler than that. What he really wants is the legendary ''Divine Blood,'' a ''Spiritual Medicine'' that can transform mortals and greatly prolong their lives!


    ¡ªEven for demigods who consume it, their strength will leap dramatically!"


    In a moment of realization, Luo En was taken aback, and a series of fragmented information intertwined in his mind.


    The ''Divine Blood'' that could transform mortals... The ''Spiritual Medicine'' that could prolong life...


    And... Celifos Ind...


    All at once, a spark ignited in his mind, and Luo En''s pupils dted as a name slipped from his lips.


    "Gorgon!"


    "You know about it?!"


    Skester, too, was visibly shocked, his expression astonished.


    Luo En did not respond, his brow furrowed, thoughts racing in his head.


    He finally remembered why "Celifos Ind" sounded so familiar¡ªit was the second homnd of the constetion hero Perseus.


    ¡ªThat is, the famous Ancient Greek demigod hero who wouldter set foot on Formless Ind, y Medusa, the Gorgon with snake hair, defeat Keto, the mother of sea monsters, and rescue Andromeda, the princess of Ethiopia.


    By blood, he could be considered Luo En''s half-brother, sharing the same father.


    Legend has it that the king of Argos, Acrisius, was warned by an oracle that he would be killed by a son born to his daughter, Dana?, so he imprisoned her in a bronze tower.


    Down on earth, Zeus transformed himself into a shower of golden rain to meet with Dana?, and thus Perseus was born.


    When the king of Argos learned of his daughter''s pregnancy and the birth of her child, he was terrified and cast Perseus and his mother, Dana?, into the sea inside a chest. However, with the protection of Zeus, mother and son safely navigated the tempestuous waters.


    In the end, the chest that housed them washed up on the ind of Seriphos, where the ruling brothers, Dictys and Polydectes, took in the mother and son and raised Perseus.


    Before long, Polydectes, the elder of the two brothers, coveted Dana?''s beauty and sought to expel the growing, godlike and hence threatening Perseus.


    So, on the day that Perseus was to present him with a gift, the ruler of the ind of Seriphos expressed his desire, with ill intent, to acquire the head of Medusa from among the Gorgon Sisters.


    Thus, Perseus was forced to embark on a journey, which is where theter story begins.


    However, reflecting carefully, the records in mythology seem to diverge significantly from what Luo En currently saw before him.


    ¡ªThe ruler of Seriphos was definitely not acting on a whim, nor was it to solely vex his foster son, Perseus, that hemanded him to go to Formless Ind to hunt the Gorgon Medusa and retrieve her head; rather, he had long coveted something from the Gorgon Sisters.


    More precisely, what he desired was likely the "Blood of Gorgon" flowing through the sisters!


    In Greek mythology, the "Gorgons" refer to the collective name of the three snake-haired sisters: the eldest sister, the "Lady of Strength," Stheno; the second sister, the "Lady of Flight," Euryale; and the youngest, the "Lady of Domination," Medusa.


    ording to legend, the blood from the right side of the Gorgon Sisters has the miraculous effect of reviving the dead and prolonging the lives of mortals, while the blood from the left is a swiftly fatal poison.


    Perseus set foot on Formless Ind and, with the help of fate, slew Medusa, the only sister who was not immortal, and took her head but presented it directly to the Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena.


    Athena then fixed Medusa''s head in the center of her goatskin divine shield, making it her emblem.


    Later, Asclepius, the son of Apollo and the Medicine God, obtained from Athena a small vial of restorative blood and created the Ambrosia that granted immortality to humans, ultimately viting divine taboo and being struck down by the thunderbolts of the Divine King Zeus.


    Thereby, the potent effects of the "Blood of Gorgon" are evident, feared even by the Immortal deities, let alone mortals bound by life and death''s afflictions.


    Previously, in a brief glimpse across the void, Luo En saw in the deserted temple square a collection of human-shaped sculptures, likely those bold hunters who coveted the miraculous effects of the "Blood of Gorgon."


    These presumptuous hunters misjudged their strength, ended up as prey themselves, and all turned into stone sculptures on this ind, awaiting the erosion of time.


    Luo En''s gaze swept over the middle-aged man in the felt hat, his eyes filled with contemtion.


    It turns out that the king of Seriphos, Perseus'' foster father and Demigod hero, had begun to harass the Gorgon Sisters long ago.


    Nevertheless, his repeated attempts ultimately failed, and he turned this difficult task over to his foster son, Perseus.


    And, judging from the process and oue of the battle, Perseus must have achieved Demigod status at the very least, in order to have the strength to flee alive from the Sea of Okeanos, pursued by the divine-ss snake-haired Gorgon sisters Stheno and Euryale, after ying Medusa, who was also a Demigod.


    At least for now, it seems that Perseus had not yet grown to that stage.


    Unexpectedly, among the twelve mortal women decreed by Zeus, Luo En, the fifth in line and son of Semele, had advanced to Demigod status earlier than Perseus, the son of Dana?, who was the fourth in line.


    It seemed that the pace of his growth was indeed extraordinary, but for the sake of his own life, he would be cautious and keep a low profile upon entering the city.


    "So you knew about it too, that''s even better!"


    At this moment, the Hermes descendant who had recovered his wits first, repressed his astonishment and showed an expression of joy.


    Luo En smiled, steadying the de that spun at his fingertips, but did not withdraw it.


    "The value of this piece of information is not enough to buy your life."


    "No, no!"


    Skester shook his head repeatedly, his eyes darting around like a thief, and after ensuring no one else was around, he whispered mysteriously and quietly.


    "What I mean is¡ªI can help you get the ''Blood of Gorgon''."


    At this point, hearing this unexpected good news, Luo En''s smile grew even brighter.


    What was Hermes known for again?


    ¡ªThe god of deceit, lies, trade, and theft.


    If that guy had the ability, the ruler of Celifos Ind who posted the bounty would have long had his wish fulfilled, and there would be no need for the future demigod hero, Perseus, to be involved, would there?


    Still dishonest at a time like this, might as well...


    Just as Luo En was about to flick the tip of his dagger upward, a huge wave sound came from the distant shore.


    The familiar smell of the sea that followed made his eyelids twitch involuntarily.


    "Boss Skester, you there? The goods are almost ready. The boss sent me to ask if you''ve run into any trouble? When can we depart?"


    Meanwhile, outside the dense forest, several trembling calls came through, and two followers of Hermes, both wearing felt hats and cloaks, were carefully making their way inside.


    Luo En''s eyelids twitched again, and he couldn''t help but inwardly curse.


    With wolves ahead and tigers behind, and the Gorgon Sisters lurking somewhere on the ind, what bad luck!


    But, if you think about it from another perspective.


    Perhaps, within crisis, an opportunity was fermenting, and chaos could be thedder!


    Luo En''s gaze swept over both sides, his face revealing a bright and mysterious smile. He warmly extended his hand to pat the shoulder of the Hermes descendant and leaned in close to the man''s ear to whisper.


    "Ever thought about pulling off a big heist? Like, the two of us taking all of the goods for ourselves?"


    "Hiss!"


    Skester took a sharp intake of breath at such a crazy thought and then looked down at the poisoned dagger approaching closer to his neck. Nodding his head like a pecking chicken, he smoothly made his choice.

 Chapter 35: 31: What Is Considered a Master of Stoking Fire? (Hands on Hips)

    In front of the abandoned temple, dozens of people bustled about the square, transporting the loot they had harvested onto the ship. The bald, muscr man responsible for supervising the work asionally nced toward the dense forest by the distant coast, his brow gradually knitting together.


    Since that half-blood descendant of Hermes had failed to return for so long, his unease prompted him to dispatch two more men to investigate the situation.


    However, to this moment, there was still no sign of activity from the other side.


    Under the gloaming, the forest by the sea resembled a monster lurking in the dark, chewing and swallowing life, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    Just as the bald strongman hesitated, out of nowhere, a sudden explosion roared like thunder from the ground.


    "Boom!"


    Fierce mes shot up from deep within the forest, swiftly forming a violent shockwave that swept across all directions. As it passed, grass and trees were shattered, and rocks turned to dust, forming a huge mushroom cloud that expanded rapidly before the naked eye.


    Even from halfway across the ind, the deafening explosion and the trembling ground beneath their feet caused many people in the square to stagger.


    "Bang! Bang!"


    Apanied by the dull sound of heavy objects hitting the ground, two figures, tossed into the air like rag dolls by the st, clumsily got up from the earth.


    One had a face smeared with blood, his expression one of panic.


    The other was none other than Skester, who had lost contact earlier.


    At this moment, the right arm of this half-blood descendant of Hermes was twisted in an unnatural way, and his abdomen had been stabbed. Blood, tinged with hints of gold and red, poured out from his grievous wounds. His face, pale as paper, barely retained any color or signs of life.


    "Bastard, don''t even think about running!"


    Meanwhile, a roar filled with murderous intent came from behind, followed by several deep blue Tridents whistling through the air along with the surging waves.


    "Get down!"


    In an instant, the bloodied attendant jolted to action, crying out forcefully while simultaneously tackling the half-dead Skester to the ground, rolling forward.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud!"


    Before the others in front could react, the deep blue Tridents, narrowly missing the two men''s heads,nded in the square, sending up sprays of blood and cries of agony.


    As the scene descended into chaos, the bloodied attendant, dragging the half-dead Skester, quickly got up from the ground and rushed into their own camp before the next wave of attack could arrive.


    Such agile response was enough to make one acknowledge his devotion to Hermes, the God of Speed.


    "What are you waiting for, want to die? Help out, damn it! Fight off these looters!"


    With the urgent shouts reverberating in their ears, the people on the square, suddenly struck by the attack, snapped out of their daze.


    Seeing the sorry state Skester was in, who had gone to gather information, and coupled with the screams of theirpanions and the thick scent of blood in the air, they instinctively stirred their Magic Power and drew their weapons.


    At this moment, several streaks of sea blue light that were pursuing them across the sky seemed to be intimidated by the momentum on the square, abruptly halting. They moved their lips as if trying to speak.


    "Don''t let them cast spells!"


    Timely warnings resounded amongst the crowd, as the figure who cried out loudly took the initiative to throw the dagger in his hand, signaling the charge.


    "They''re outnumbered, nk them!"


    Following the lead sheep''s example, those who had been caught off guard, their nerves stretched taut, each pulled out Spears, hand crossbows, and axes to wee their attackers.


    The pursuers, equally unwilling to wait for death, instinctively counterattacked.


    In no time, the two shing forces were fully engaged on the square, the intensity of the battle escting with each sh of steel and each spurt of blood.


    Yet, no one noticed that the hero who had first rallied their spirits, along with the half-dead bloodline of Hermes, had disappeared from the fray.


    Nor did anyone realize that therge patches of crimson blood on the square were gradually fading, the fresh blood they had spilled quietly seeping into the ground amidst the darkness.


    At that moment, on the southeast of Formless Ind.


    A small and fierce figure, clutching his bleeding abdomen, stumbled to the shore. He dug out a rope tied to a rock from the sandy ground and heaved with all his might.


    In a moment, a fir wood boat approached slowly from near the reefs.


    Phew! Thank goodness, it''s all here.


    Under the cover of night, Skester nced at the deep waterline of the boat and let out a sigh of relief, copsing on the sand almost fainting from exhaustion.


    As his body and spirit rxed, a tide of uncontainable sharp pains washed over him.


    Skester couldn''t help but gasp for air, his face contorted in pain, inwardly cursing the perpetrator to no end.


    The bastard yed dirty!


    If he hadn''t feigned death and slipped away during the chaos, he might have been silenced by now, right?


    This half-blood descendant of Hermes, having narrowly escaped death, shuddered at the memory of the harrowing experience and was increasingly grateful for his cunning decision.


    Though he had conspired with strangers to betray his own team¡ªit was, after all, due to circumstances since his life had been in the enemy''s hands¡ªhe had no choice.


    If he hadn''t agreed, the tworades from his homnd, charred beyond recognition in the forest, would have served as prime examples.


    Of course, even if he put forth that exnation, betrayal was an act most teams could never tolerate.


    And since both parties suffered heavy losses due to their conspiracy, regardless of which side won in the end, once everyone calmed down, scrutinized the process, and found the root and the problems, he didn''t believe he would meet a good end.


    Rather than waiting here for death, it''s better to make ast score and run off as soon as possible. I could always change my nameter if needed.


    Skester looked at the deep waterline of the small boat in front of him, a pleased smile curling the corners of his lips, his face flush with triumph.


    This was the boat he had secretly prepared for himself to avoid that bald guy''s betrayal.


    Inside, there were some of the best spoils he had reserved for himself.


    As a grey-area worker disdained by both man and dog, mingling every day with a crowd of violent brutes who lived on the edge of a knife, how could he expect to survive long without a backup n?


    Skester turned his head and scoffed at the temple square on the ind from where the sounds of battle emerged, then he staggered to his feet and climbed aboard his boat.


    However, due to excessive blood loss and weakness, he stumbled and almost fell back into the sea from the bow.


    Fortunately, a hand reached out from the darkness, pulling him back onto the boat, and a solemn reminder resonated in his ear.


    "I told you to be careful."


    "Thank..."


    The instinctive response cut off abruptly, as Skester, who was trying to find his bearing, stiffly turned his neck to look at the nightmare that had appeared before him, grinning at him in the dark. He couldn''t help the sourness in his nose, his voice nearly breaking into a sob.


    "You, how did you get here?"


    "Well, I was worried about you."


    Luo Enughed with a look of concern, chiding him softly.


    "You''re almost dead, and yet you go so far. What if you ran into danger?"


    Danger? Who on this ind could be more dangerous than you?!


    Skester couldn''t help his bitterints, and felt an urge to jump ship and flee. But the paddles cutting the water had already pushed the boat towards the deep sea, far from the shore.


    And with the bone in his right arm still dislodged and an abdominal wound that nearly gutted him alive sending piercing pain, he slumped against the side of the boat, feeling an even stronger sting in his nose.


    What master escape artist? What clever schemes? All delusions!


    Thinking about how he had crawled out of that bloody battleground, dragging his near-dead body to the coast, thinking he was so clever when in fact he had been under the other''s watch the entire time, Skester shivered and felt bitter indignation.


    His feigned death and sneaky escape had been known to the other party all along, who was just toying with him.


    However, even though he wanted to slice his opponent finely and feed him to the fish in the sea, Skester still pulled a professional, fake smile on his face and showed proactiveness.


    "You''re right! This is the boat I prepared for you to leave the ind, and there''s also a generous gift inside. It''s all the best stuff on this ind!"


    The demigod opened his mouth, disying the eloquence inherited from his ancestor Hermes, and effortlessly turned his treacherous escape and the hoarding of treasures into a thoughtful gesture for Luo En''s sake.


    Then, he paused, ncing at the temple square where the sounds of battle seemed to have weakened slightly, and carefully suggested,


    "Let''s get going while we can?"


    Although he had ensnared both parties with his superb acting and the right amount of misinformation.


    But upon closer reflection, many details would not hold up to scrutiny.


    Moreover, the disappearance of the two instigators was an irreparable gap.


    Once the other side realized what was happening, they might face not one, but both sides'' pursuit.


    Luo En smiled, continuing to row leisurely, showing no signs of urgency as he gazed at the increasingly distant ind, lips curling up into a smile.


    "I forgot to tell you, before catching up to you, I did something else."


    "What?"


    Skester froze for a moment, asking instinctively.


    "Snap!"


    Luo En let go of the paddle, raised his right hand, and made a sharp snap with his fingers.


    "Boom!"


    At that moment, a violent explosion erupted from the other side of the ind, with deep blue water shooting into the sky, wooden fragments scattering, and a ruined warship billowing with thick smoke slowly sinking into the deep sea.


    Simultaneously, upon the temple square, the hesitation of the bald, muscr man turned into rage upon seeing this.


    "The boats! They''ve destroyed our boats! And all of our stuff!"


    An intense killing intent spread, and the nging sounds of armor rubbing together filled the air.


    Their true identity was not that of bandits but regr soldiers of Celifos.


    Without regaining the Blood of Gorgon and anypensatory loot for their losses at sea, and with their only means of transportation destroyed, their fate was clear to imagine.


    If we can''t live, then neither will they!


    The remaining warriors were agitated, stripping off their outer clothes to reveal the standard armor underneath, roaring with fury.


    "All in! It''s fought to the death with them!"


    Meanwhile, several Antean Guards who were already disoriented by the fight just stood numbly and mechanically faced the human soldiers rushing at them, determined to fight to the death.

 Chapter 36: 32 Lolita, I really havent lured

    "Tsk, tsk, two demigods, a bunch of gold, and they even know how to cooperate? This must be Celifos'' regr army, right?"


    Luo En, who was rowing at the edge, felt the crazy surging of the Aether tides on the ind and slowed down the speed of his paddling. With a smile that was not quite a smile, he nced at Skester beside him.


    "It looks like His Majesty the King has really invested heavily in this endeavor."


    Realizing there was no way to disembark the pirate ship, Skester made a face that was on the verge of crying and helplessly nodded, revealing all he knew about this exploration.


    It turns out that as Perseus, the King''s adopted son, grew up and exhibited extraordinary talent,bined with the King''s own gradual aging, the ruler of Celifos Ind had already felt a pressing pressure and danger. After all, Greece had a fine tradition of regicide and ascension to the throne.


    Thus, he issued bounties one after another, sending people to search for the legendary Blood of Gorgon.


    But most of the regr civilian forces never returned.


    In the end, the King of Celifos, who was no longer willing to wait, simply gathered all his avable forces and spent a fortune to hire a follower of Hermes as a guide, going all-in on this exploration.


    However, the oue was probably going to disappoint him.


    The fleet thatnded on the ind had searched the entire abandoned temple but did not find the legendary Gorgon Sisters.


    "Boom!"


    The violent explosion that thundered over the ind again interrupted Skester''s narration, with dazzling mes soaring into the sky and limbs flying in all directions.


    Seeing the gruesome battle scene and the terrifying destructive power of both sides, Skester could not help but swallow, his face turning pale.


    "Who exactly are those chasing after you?"


    "The Antean Guard¡­"


    "Hiss!"


    Hearing that nonchnt reply, the demigod offspring of Hermes broke into a cold sweat on his forehead and was filled with inward bitterness.


    Great, not only had he screwed over the Celifos he was hired by, but he had also provoked the Anteans who dominated the seas.


    If he wanted to consider his own safety, he would probably have to give up his sea-faring livelihood from now on.


    At this moment, as intense vibrations came in waves, the sea began to roll with mighty waves, causing the small boat carrying the two men to sway from side to side. The concentration of Aether magical energy particles in the air also climbed steadily.


    Luo En''s brow furrowed tightly, and he gradually reined in his smile.


    Something wasn''t right. The Anteans had been battered by him, they should not be this strong...


    And the source of the vibrations seemed not to be from the ground, but¡­ from underground?!


    After a brief pause, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly looked up at the shaking ind.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    Simultaneously, a ground-splitting roar erupted, and the fierce chasm tore open the ind as if it led straight to the depths of the Netherworld.


    Slithering noises of serpents hissing and tongues flickering came from the darkness like steel needles piercing everyone''s hearts and eardrums.


    Panic, despair¡ªvarious negative emotions uncontrobly spread.


    Immediately after, two hideous and immense shadows gradually emerged from the thick night, revealing terrifying contours.


    They were magical beasts with the lower bodies of purple serpents and the upper bodies of human women.


    They were goddesses with golden wings on their backs and a chilling, exquisite beauty.


    ¡ªThe Medusa, the Gorgon!


    "Bang!"


    The ws covered with serpentine scales crossed over the abyss, climbing onto the shattered temple za, and two figures towering like small mountains grew even taller.


    The Aether magical energy particles that furiously converged toward the Formless Ind excitedly thrived in the air, the purple-red glow produced by their fierce friction, lighting up half of the dark sky.


    In that instant, the intense magical reaction made Luo En''s eyelids twitch, and goosebumps rose in patches on his back.


    Deities of God-level! Two of them!


    He could not help but turn his head to look at Skester beside him and spoke with a dry mouth.


    "Are you sure you came to hunt them?"


    "I don''t know! The higher-ups said they were just divine monsters that escaped from the Arima Cave, at most demigods!"


    The demigod offspring of Hermes swallowed nervously as well, his teeth chattering ceaselessly, his face full of terror.


    Two demigods, along with a bunch of gold, and even a demigod offspring of Hermes for extra support¡ªthis lineup was definitely enough to take on three divine monsters that were also at most demigods.


    Unless...


    At this time, the two fully-transformed Gorgon Sisters on the ind had already begun a bloody massacre of the intruders.


    "Buzzzzz!"


    Dense purple-red light beams swept across the sky and fell like a meteor shower to the ground, plowing the temple za several times in an instant.


    The scorched earth mixed with blood and flesh, jet-ck and scattered everywhere, formed cone-shaped pits dozens of meters deep, emitting tendrils of green smoke.


    With just this one strike, seven or eight men from both Celifos and Antis were annihted, leaving not a trace of their existence.


    Those who survived were the genuine elite of the gold rank!


    "That old coffin-hugger from the ind of Celifos, he actually yed me!"


    At this time, having witnessed the cmity on the ind and after a lightning-fast series of thoughts in his mind, Skester, with a chill running down his spine, could not help but start cursing.


    "Not necessarily..."


    The deep voice beside him pulled the terrified Skester back to reality, murmuring softly.


    "It''s possible that when they initially set foot on this ind, they were merely demigods, but in order to counter the relentless persecution, to survive, they broke through their original ranks and ascended toplete deities¡­ right before you arrived,"


    As for the specific reason, Luo En, based on a few items he fortuitously acquired on the Celifos warship, also had a vague suspicion.


    He opened the Magic Array and took out several stone bs engraved with wave-like secret inscriptions, he took a deep look at thepletely unrecognizable, abandoned temple on the ind, his lips silently moving.


    The Old Sea God Pontos, I never expected this to be His temple.


    But upon careful consideration, this wasn''t surprising at all.


    After all, since this ancient god''s fall, He could be called the epitome of hard work in Greece, not only bursting forth gold coins but also greatly enriching the biodiversity of the Primordial Ocean, leaving behind an endless legacy.


    Perhaps the reason why the Gorgon Sisters, who were being relentlessly hunted and pursued everywhere, were able to ascend sessfully on Formless Ind, which apart from the waves and rocks had almost nothing, was because they licked up the Old Sea God Pontos'' leftovers, inheriting a part of the ocean''s grace.


    Therefore, in Greek mythology, there are two spective origins for the identity of the Gorgon Sisters, one as "daughters of the Demon Ancestor Typhon and Mother of Serpents Echidna," and another as "daughters of Phorcys, Father of Monsters, and Keto, Mother of Sea Monsters."


    By the way, although Phorcys and Keto are nominally the children of the Old Sea God Pontos and the parents of the Gorgon Sisters, their bloodlines and divinity seem to be purer than those of the three sisters.


    However, the future demigod hero Perseus used only the head of Medusa to turn the so-called Mother of Sea Monsters, Keto, into stone.


    Clearly, the Gorgon Sisters were the more perfect inheritors.


    At this moment, Luo En watched the two Gorgon Sisters on the ind, who were beginning to violently clear the field with their divine presence, and he couldn''t help but feel a sense of trepidation.


    The constant persecution and harassment from the outside world had instilled in them a deep suspicion and hostility towards outsiders.


    Not long ago, after receiving the Old Sea God Pontos'' inheritance in some way, they didn''t disappear; instead, they submerged themselves under the temple to sleep, waiting for ascension.


    And those invaders who trespassed on their territory, by sheer misfortune, happened to trigger them, waking them prematurely.


    Luckily, thankfully he hadn''t rushed in to get close right away, otherwise he likely wouldn''t have known how he died.


    Once again, Luo En felt grateful for his own wisdom and caution, while he grabbed the oar, preparing to leave this dangerous area swiftly.


    Even if he wished to cultivate a good rtionship with the Gorgon Sisters, now was not the time.


    First he had to preserve his life, everything else could wait.


    Thinking this, Luo En hastened the pace of his rowing.


    However, as the sound of waves spread and reached the ind, his heart suddenly contracted violently, a strong sense of crisis surging forth, and he felt like a frog targeted by a serpent in the dark, a chilling coldness spreading throughout his body in an instant.


    "Get down~!"


    As the growl escaped his lips, Luo En, his face changing color, did not hesitate to throw himself down.


    Almost at the same moment, snake pupils sparkling with madness and rage coldly surveyed the sea surface.


    With eyes meeting, the unprepared Skester suddenly felt a heaviness on his body, his consciousness sinking into darkness.


    "Hiss!"


    The next moment, a purple-red magic eye opened and closed, unleashing a highlypressed beam of magic power that swept across the sea surface, raising giant waves and plunging the area into chaos and darkness.


    Finally, the night ended, and dawn broke.


    The turmoil and chaos of the deep sea were cleansed by a sliver of sunlight rising in the early morning.


    "Ssh!"


    With a crisp sound of emerging from water, a drenched, tall figure flipped onto a small boat that was quietly floating on the surface.


    "Cough cough..."


    Luo Eny on the deck, coughing slightly, then nced at the calm surroundings andy down exhausted, breathing heavily.


    Is this the gap between a demigod and deities? Isn''t it too terrifying?


    After a brief rest, Luo En murmuredints while getting up and looked gloomily at the half statue remaining on the deck, shaking his head in resignation.


    "I told you to lie down, but you wouldn''t listen, and now look what happened, not even Zeus could bring you back."


    After a few seconds of silent mourning for the unfortunate descendant of Hermes, Luo En tossed the half-sculpture into the deep sea, then sat on the deck, looking around the unfamiliar waters, feeling somewhat at a loss.


    Without a guide and directionless, where should I go now?


    As depression set in, Luo En couldn''t help but grumble about the culprits who had brought about this unwarranted ident.


    Big sisters, I was just passing by; did you really have to use a map cannon on me?


    "Crack!"


    Just as a certain victim was in the midst of his sorrowfulints, a strange cracking sound came from the cabin below his feet.


    Following that sound was a familiar presence that made his blood pressure soar.


    Gorgon!


    Luo En twisted his neck stiffly, forcing a dry smile on his face as he turned to look at the open cabin behind him. His gaze shifted from feigned sycophancy to confusion and finally settled intoplex astonishment.


    At the bottom of the hold, cluttered with secret inscribed stone bs and bronze ritual vessels that had slid aside, a half-human-high purple-red cocoon revealed its form, rising and falling with the frequency of breaths, pulsing like a heart.


    Inside it, a petite humanoid figure was curled up with arms wrapped around herself, nestled within the amniotic sac.


    The morning sun rose, and a ray of light entered the dim cabin.


    Within the purple-red cocoon, a pair of eyes opened as if sensing something, their pure and unique rectangr pupils gazing quietly at the figure standing outside the cocoon.


    The corners of Luo En''s mouth twitched slightly, his thoughts churning tumultuously.


    He now finally understood why only two of the Gorgon Sisters had appeared the previous night. He also finally knew why those sisters had crazily ughtered all the intruders on the ind and had targeted him with a map cannon.


    Now, it seemed like the trouble had just be much bigger!

 Chapter 38: 34: Brother, You Smell Good

    As night fell over the Sea of Okeanos, the water flowed with gentle ripples and a cool breeze blew through the air. A small cedar boat drifted lightly, breaking the reflected brilliance of the Milky Way.


    "Creak~"


    A faint trembling sound came from the wooden nks inside the cabin, where a diminutive figurey on all fours, half-crouching in a corner.


    In the darkness, those purple-red eyes with rectangr pupils glittered mysteriously, as the tiny head stealthily, ever so stealthily, approached the figure lying next to it.


    Suddenly, those closed eyes in the darkness opened and stared at the face that was now so close.


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    After a brief silence, Little Medusa raised her head to meet Luo En''s gaze and responded in a hollow voice.


    "I''m hungry..."


    "If you''re hungry, go find something to eat by yourself."


    Luo En pointed outside the door and spoke without expression.


    "But..."


    Little Medusa looked straight at Luo En in front of her, her coiling pink tongue unable to resist licking her lips.


    "You smell so good..."


    "..."


    In the silence, the corner of Luo En''s mouth twitched violently.


    He got it, he was being eyed up again...


    Of course, this was not a matter of desire, but rather, like his enchantress teacher, a great interest in the scent and physical structure of Luo En himself.


    To put it more precisely, what Medusa was exhibiting was a hunting instinct typical of serpentine mythical creatures.


    They generally prefer to feed on the blood of living beings to absorb magic power.


    The higher the purity of the blood of the target, the stronger the divinity and magic power, and the more intense the aroma emitted.


    As an offspring of Zeus and the legendary future God of Wine, Luo En was an undisputed mobile blood pack to Medusa''s temptation.


    Especially after she had justpleted her advancement and had been dangling on the tasteless roasted fish, her craving for blood naturally increased day by day.


    Finally, on this night, she seemed unable to restrain herself from biting down.


    But in terms of vignce and wariness, Luo En clearly had the upper hand.


    "Gurgle~"


    The clear sound of throat movements echoed in the cramped cabin, interrupting Luo En''s thoughts.


    Regaining his senses, Luo En saw Medusa, who had somehow stealthily approached again, and his face darkened.


    However, immediately after, he extended his arm forward with a smile that was not quite a smile, his expressionplex.


    "Want to eat?"


    Medusa unconsciously swallowed, her gaze fixed on that fair arm, and her eyes, glowing with a growing heat, seemed as if they could pierce through the skin, clearly visualizing the abundant veins and the crimson delight flowing within.


    At the same time, that tiny head involuntarily lowered.


    "Snap!"


    However, before Medusa could taste the deliciousness, another hand, descending with lightning speed, smacked her on the head.


    "Nice try!"


    Luo En''s face changed abruptly as he quickly snatched back his arm, used as bait, and scolded irritably.


    "Thinking of ambushing me in the middle of the night? Can''t you show some respect for a senior? I''m stronger than you, after all. Charging at me headlong like this is like running straight into the line of fire, isn''t it?"


    Medusa rubbed her slightly aching head and stayed silent for a long while before finally expressing her feelings.


    "But I really am very hungry."


    "..."


    Luo En, who had just been giving earnest advice, immediately fell silent.


    Well, the lesson still hadn''t sunk in.


    Faced with a student impervious to reason, Luo En waved his hand in resignation, his face full of disdain.


    "Go on, there are still some leftover roasted fish in the kitchen tes from today."


    Medusa''s mouth twitched, and she turned her head and walked away expressionlessly.


    ```


    "Where to? The kitchen is next door."


    ```


    Luo En pointed to the opposite side and reminded irritably.


    "I''m not hungry!"


    Medusa''s cheeks tensed as she firmly shook her head, refusing the kind offer. In a sh, she hopped onto the bed, grabbed the nket, and curled herself into the covers, creating an all-around fortress of defense.


    Luo En couldn''t help but shake his head and chuckle at the sight of the Gorgon defeated by a dish of leftover seafood noodles.


    What the heck, she''s just a child.


    Outside the door, the moon was bright, and a moist sea breeze poured into the cabin, washing away the few traces of sleepiness Luo En felt at the moment.


    Forget it, let''s take a walk outside.


    Out of sheer boredom, he nced at the motionless bundle of nkets beside him, quietly got dressed, and stepped out onto the small boat''s deck to gaze around.


    Within the silent cabin, a corner of the fortress of nkets was stealthily lifted, revealing a pair of purplish-red eyes that stared at the figure standing in the breeze above, feeling inexplicably mesmerized.


    This person was different from all the other humans she had encountered.


    Strange...


    But, um, alsoforting...


    Medusa''s coiled body slowly rxed, and waves of sleepiness surged over her, blurring her vision.


    Meanwhile, perhaps due to sheer boredom, Luo En casually picked up a homemade harpoon and stood at the ship''s railing, looking down.


    Fish again tomorrow...


    Medusa muttered under her breath, feeling dejected. She let out a deep yawn and finally sumbed to the onught of drowsiness, her little head tilting as she drifted into Dreand.


    In the morning, a savory aroma, distinct from the fishy smell, filled the cabin, waking the sleeping Medusa.


    Medusa''s delicate nose twitched, and her sluggish spirit suddenly revived. She rubbed her bleary eyes, sat up from the bed, walked out of the cabin barefoot onto the deck, and curiously looked towards the pot of meaty breakfast Luo En was stewing.


    "What''s that?"


    "Last night there was a fish tide nearby, which drew lots of seabirds. I managed to knock down a few in the chaos."


    As Luo En flipped the wooden spoon and yawned, he responded nonchntly.


    Medusa nced at the blood-stained harpoon beside her and the small pile of feathers on the deck, looking slightly stunned.


    "It''s almost ready, go wash your face first, then let''s eat together."


    The reminder at her ear brought the Gorgon back from her daze, and she obedientlypleted the pre-meal preparations.


    Before long, the bird meat that had been stewed for most of the night and was nowpletely tender was brought from the kitchen and served at the table.


    Medusa eyed the bowl with its greasy, rich soup and the sizable chunks of bird meat, and involuntarily touched her grumbling belly.


    Still so hungry...


    For a blood-drinking species, the magic power, vitality and satiety provided by blood were iparable to regr food.


    But...


    Medusa slightly raised her purplish-red eyes, gazing at the figure beside the ship''s railing who was engrossed in gnawing on a piece of fish, and pursed her lips.


    It should be delicious.


    The petite Gorgon held up the y bowl, closed her eyes, and took a big slurp of the thick soup, imagining the sweet and tangy taste of blood in her mind.


    As if in a trance, she felt as if she had indeed tasted blood from this bowl, the warm satisfaction spreading from her stomach into her belly and flowing to her limbs and body.


    Delicious!


    Medusa''s eyes widened involuntarily, and she took another big slurp, relishing the previous indulgence.


    The familiar sensation returned, apanied by a faint sweet and tangy taste on the tip of her tongue.


    Sweet and tangy?


    Medusa paused, her gaze dropping forward.


    A hand holding a skewer, long and pale, resembled exquisite white jade.


    The only imperfection was a slight scratch on the back of that hand.


    Medusa opened her mouth to speak, but Luo En, who had been leaning against the railing, suddenly stood up, threw the fish in his hand into the churning waves below in frustration, and shouted excitedly.


    "Land! It''snd! We can go ashore!"


    At the same time, a visible coastline along with the connected mountains and the characteristic marble buildings of human city-states came into view for both of them.


    ```

 Chapter 38: 34: Brother, You Smell Good

    As night fell over the Sea of Okeanos, the water flowed with gentle ripples and a cool breeze blew through the air. A small cedar boat drifted lightly, breaking the reflected brilliance of the Milky Way.


    "Creak~"


    A faint trembling sound came from the wooden nks inside the cabin, where a diminutive figurey on all fours, half-crouching in a corner.


    In the darkness, those purple-red eyes with rectangr pupils glittered mysteriously, as the tiny head stealthily, ever so stealthily, approached the figure lying next to it.


    Suddenly, those closed eyes in the darkness opened and stared at the face that was now so close.


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    After a brief silence, Little Medusa raised her head to meet Luo En''s gaze and responded in a hollow voice.


    "I''m hungry..."


    "If you''re hungry, go find something to eat by yourself."


    Luo En pointed outside the door and spoke without expression.


    "But..."


    Little Medusa looked straight at Luo En in front of her, her coiling pink tongue unable to resist licking her lips.


    "You smell so good..."


    "..."


    In the silence, the corner of Luo En''s mouth twitched violently.


    He got it, he was being eyed up again...


    Of course, this was not a matter of desire, but rather, like his enchantress teacher, a great interest in the scent and physical structure of Luo En himself.


    To put it more precisely, what Medusa was exhibiting was a hunting instinct typical of serpentine mythical creatures.


    They generally prefer to feed on the blood of living beings to absorb magic power.


    The higher the purity of the blood of the target, the stronger the divinity and magic power, and the more intense the aroma emitted.


    As an offspring of Zeus and the legendary future God of Wine, Luo En was an undisputed mobile blood pack to Medusa''s temptation.


    Especially after she had justpleted her advancement and had been dangling on the tasteless roasted fish, her craving for blood naturally increased day by day.


    Finally, on this night, she seemed unable to restrain herself from biting down.


    But in terms of vignce and wariness, Luo En clearly had the upper hand.


    "Gurgle~"


    The clear sound of throat movements echoed in the cramped cabin, interrupting Luo En''s thoughts.


    Regaining his senses, Luo En saw Medusa, who had somehow stealthily approached again, and his face darkened.


    However, immediately after, he extended his arm forward with a smile that was not quite a smile, his expressionplex.


    "Want to eat?"


    Medusa unconsciously swallowed, her gaze fixed on that fair arm, and her eyes, glowing with a growing heat, seemed as if they could pierce through the skin, clearly visualizing the abundant veins and the crimson delight flowing within.


    At the same time, that tiny head involuntarily lowered.


    "Snap!"


    However, before Medusa could taste the deliciousness, another hand, descending with lightning speed, smacked her on the head.


    "Nice try!"


    Luo En''s face changed abruptly as he quickly snatched back his arm, used as bait, and scolded irritably.


    "Thinking of ambushing me in the middle of the night? Can''t you show some respect for a senior? I''m stronger than you, after all. Charging at me headlong like this is like running straight into the line of fire, isn''t it?"


    Medusa rubbed her slightly aching head and stayed silent for a long while before finally expressing her feelings.


    "But I really am very hungry."


    "..."


    Luo En, who had just been giving earnest advice, immediately fell silent.


    Well, the lesson still hadn''t sunk in.


    Faced with a student impervious to reason, Luo En waved his hand in resignation, his face full of disdain.


    "Go on, there are still some leftover roasted fish in the kitchen tes from today."


    Medusa''s mouth twitched, and she turned her head and walked away expressionlessly.


    ```


    "Where to? The kitchen is next door."


    ```


    Luo En pointed to the opposite side and reminded irritably.


    "I''m not hungry!"


    Medusa''s cheeks tensed as she firmly shook her head, refusing the kind offer. In a sh, she hopped onto the bed, grabbed the nket, and curled herself into the covers, creating an all-around fortress of defense.


    Luo En couldn''t help but shake his head and chuckle at the sight of the Gorgon defeated by a dish of leftover seafood noodles.


    What the heck, she''s just a child.


    Outside the door, the moon was bright, and a moist sea breeze poured into the cabin, washing away the few traces of sleepiness Luo En felt at the moment.


    Forget it, let''s take a walk outside.


    Out of sheer boredom, he nced at the motionless bundle of nkets beside him, quietly got dressed, and stepped out onto the small boat''s deck to gaze around.


    Within the silent cabin, a corner of the fortress of nkets was stealthily lifted, revealing a pair of purplish-red eyes that stared at the figure standing in the breeze above, feeling inexplicably mesmerized.


    This person was different from all the other humans she had encountered.


    Strange...


    But, um, alsoforting...


    Medusa''s coiled body slowly rxed, and waves of sleepiness surged over her, blurring her vision.


    Meanwhile, perhaps due to sheer boredom, Luo En casually picked up a homemade harpoon and stood at the ship''s railing, looking down.


    Fish again tomorrow...


    Medusa muttered under her breath, feeling dejected. She let out a deep yawn and finally sumbed to the onught of drowsiness, her little head tilting as she drifted into Dreand.


    In the morning, a savory aroma, distinct from the fishy smell, filled the cabin, waking the sleeping Medusa.


    Medusa''s delicate nose twitched, and her sluggish spirit suddenly revived. She rubbed her bleary eyes, sat up from the bed, walked out of the cabin barefoot onto the deck, and curiously looked towards the pot of meaty breakfast Luo En was stewing.


    "What''s that?"


    "Last night there was a fish tide nearby, which drew lots of seabirds. I managed to knock down a few in the chaos."


    As Luo En flipped the wooden spoon and yawned, he responded nonchntly.


    Medusa nced at the blood-stained harpoon beside her and the small pile of feathers on the deck, looking slightly stunned.


    "It''s almost ready, go wash your face first, then let''s eat together."


    The reminder at her ear brought the Gorgon back from her daze, and she obedientlypleted the pre-meal preparations.


    Before long, the bird meat that had been stewed for most of the night and was nowpletely tender was brought from the kitchen and served at the table.


    Medusa eyed the bowl with its greasy, rich soup and the sizable chunks of bird meat, and involuntarily touched her grumbling belly.


    Still so hungry...


    For a blood-drinking species, the magic power, vitality and satiety provided by blood were iparable to regr food.


    But...


    Medusa slightly raised her purplish-red eyes, gazing at the figure beside the ship''s railing who was engrossed in gnawing on a piece of fish, and pursed her lips.


    It should be delicious.


    The petite Gorgon held up the y bowl, closed her eyes, and took a big slurp of the thick soup, imagining the sweet and tangy taste of blood in her mind.


    As if in a trance, she felt as if she had indeed tasted blood from this bowl, the warm satisfaction spreading from her stomach into her belly and flowing to her limbs and body.


    Delicious!


    Medusa''s eyes widened involuntarily, and she took another big slurp, relishing the previous indulgence.


    The familiar sensation returned, apanied by a faint sweet and tangy taste on the tip of her tongue.


    Sweet and tangy?


    Medusa paused, her gaze dropping forward.


    A hand holding a skewer, long and pale, resembled exquisite white jade.


    The only imperfection was a slight scratch on the back of that hand.


    Medusa opened her mouth to speak, but Luo En, who had been leaning against the railing, suddenly stood up, threw the fish in his hand into the churning waves below in frustration, and shouted excitedly.


    "Land! It''snd! We can go ashore!"


    At the same time, a visible coastline along with the connected mountains and the characteristic marble buildings of human city-states came into view for both of them.


    ```

 Chapter 39: 35: Minotaur, Charge!

    In the lush trails by the forest just off the northern shores of the ind,


    the "foreigners," one tall and one short, who had sessfully smuggled themselves ashore nced at the towering city walls and the majestic gates at the end of the road before ducking into the shade of the trees to begin the standard process of rehearsing their cover story.


    "What do you call me after we get in?"


    "Luo En..."


    "Bang!"


    A dull thwacknded on the little head of Medusa as Luo En, with a darkened face, repeated,


    "Brother, you call me brother! From now on, you are my sister, and we are sibling merchants from Celifos, making our living out on the sea, got it?"


    "Oh..."


    Medusa rubbed her slightly aching head, uttering a monosybic word nonchntly, her attitude rather perfunctory.


    As for how much of that the Gorgon sister had taken in, perhaps only she knew.


    Forget it, even if siblings call each other by first names, theoretically there shouldn''t be any mistake.


    Luo En reluctantly raised his hand to massage his slightly swollen temple and, after a bout of selffort, continued speaking.


    "And your own name?"


    "Anna!"


    This time, Medusa''s answer was decisive, and her tone was not as lifeless as before.


    Clearly, she quite liked this new name.


    And in Greek, from which the name originates, it means "grace," "mercy," "gracefulness," or "favor," signifying a blessing of good fortune and hopes.


    Luo En nodded satisfied with the response and gently petted the little girl''s head as a reward.


    In the world of the divine age, a true name often reveals the origin and nature of a being, possessing some kind of mystical power. Furthermore, actions such as curses, prophecies, and spell locks, all require it as a medium.


    Therefore, exposing something so crucial to one''s survival could potentially invite unnecessary danger and trouble.


    So, for safety''s sake, Luo En had specifically created an alias for Medusa before entering the city, to hide her identity.


    There was no helping it; the notoriety of the "[Sisters of the Gorgon]" and the "[Blood of Gorgon]" was simply too great¡ªfor the mortal humans, they were akin to walking treasures.


    As for Luo En himself, there wasn''t such a necessity.


    On one hand, his true divine name should have been "Dionysus," a fact still unknown to anyone.


    On the other hand, "Luo En," originating from the Greek word for "lion," was a pet name given by histe mother.


    Besides his foster mother and teacher Circe, Hecate the Gambling Goddess as his partner, and the present Little Medusa, hardly anyone knew.


    Even his nominal father Zeus was unaware.


    ¡ªHe hadn''t waited for his lover to disclose the news before taking matters into his own hands.


    Heh, it could be said to be a fitting retribution.


    Remembering that stormy night and that Divine King who had thought he controlled everything, Luo En chuckled and shook his head.


    Little Medusa looked up at the face which had be somewhat grim and asked with a bite of her cherry lips, whispering,


    "Are you, are you alright?"


    Luo En came back to his senses,ughed softly, shook his head, and then collected his thoughts to continue lobbing a few more questions to perfect their fabricated identities.


    Perhaps because of the recent mishap, Medusa''s subsequent answers were surprisingly cooperative, and they quicklypleted the basic rehearsing.


    Having finished the preparations, Luo En, still somewhat worried, reiterated his instructions.


    "Remember, once we''re inside, stick close behind me and do not run off. This isn''t Formless Ind; you should know how outsiders treat you."


    "Hmm!"


    Medusa''s little face became serious, and she nodded vigorously, clearly understanding her predicament.


    Luo En patted Medusa on the head, showing a warm smile as an encouragement. Then he lowered his hand to hold the little girl''s cool hand and followed the flow of people on the road, leading the Gorgon towards the city gate at the end.


    Along the way, he listened to the conversations of passersby, squinting his eyes to enjoy the breeze blowing in his face and the view of the ind named "Crete."


    This ce was the source of ancient Greek culture, with a topography of mountains and deep valleys, and beautiful scenery, including cliffs, stone capes, and beaches forming the coastline. The standard Mediterranean climate made the ind pleasant and sunny, with abundant rainfall, evergreen nt life in the woods, and fields of olive, grape, and citrus fruit bearing heavy, plump fruits.


    Surrounded by the sea on all sides, the expanse of blue waves made it seem as if one were in a stunning garden.


    Legend has it that Crete Ind had nearly a hundred ancient cities, the most important of which was Knossos City, the royal capital known as "City of Cities," situated on a coastal in in the northern part of the ind.


    Indeed, that was the city right before Luo En''s eyes.


    Following the crowd and paying the entrance tax like everyone else, the two of them sessfully blended into Knossos City.


    Past the towering city gates, a wide road paved in bluestone ran through the center of the city, connecting the main thoroughfares andnes running in all directions, with buildings arrayed closely together on both sides, mostly constructed of stone, sturdy and durable.


    Looking around, there were residences, pces, vis, inns, public baths, and workshops among other ces, all functional and well-equipped.


    The market was exceptionally lively. Stone sculptures, gold and silver products, jewelry, pottery, bronze smelting, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and basic snack foods were all avable.


    Looking past the bustling crowd straight to the end of the road, one could see a grand pce, rectangr in shape and covering 22,000 square meters, with stern axial lines, standardized column structures, and skylight-style lighting, all radiating a unique Greek charm.


    Therey the cultural and political center of the entire Crete Ind¡ªKnossos Pce.


    And this magnificent residence belonged to a figure of great renown in Greek mythology.


    ¡ªThe ruler of Crete, one of the future three Judges of the Netherworld, son of Zeus and Europa...


    As Luo En followed the rted memories, his thoughts touched on thest title that emerged in his mind, and a pleased smile curled his lips.


    ...as well as the well-known Minotaur victim¡ªKing Minos.


    It was said that Minos''s ascent to the throne was not legitimate as he had seized the kingship from his older brother Radamanthys and banished him before securing his ce as the new ruler of Crete Ind.


    To whitewash the sanctity of his session, he once prayed to Poseidon for a divine sign to prove that his usurpation was justified. Consequently, Poseidon granted Minos a tremendous white Bull and demanded him to sacrifice it to the God of the Sea.


    But the Bull was too beautiful, and Minos ended up sacrificing another one instead, infuriating Poseidon, who cursed Minos''s wife Pasiphae with a desire for the beast.


    To hide the shame, Minos hired Daedalus to create a wooden cow for Queen Pasiphae, into which she was concealed.


    Due to its lifelike construction, the white Bull mated with this wooden cow and Pasiphae became pregnant,ter giving birth to a creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, the Minotaur, signifying "Minos''s Bull."


    In the end, when the scandal was exposed, Minos ordered Daedalus and his son Icarus to build an undergroundbyrinth to imprison the monstrous Minotaur.


    After the aplishment, Daedalus and his son also became prisoners, which led to the story of their flight across the Sea of Okeanos and the wings of Icarus.


    Of course, by Luo En''s estimation.


    In the matter of imprisoning Daedalus and his son, King Minos as the instigator harbored somewhat personal grudges.


    It was Daedalus who made the wooden cow so realistic that his own wife sumbed to a Bull.


    Minos couldn''t retaliate against Poseidon and was also ashamed, so Daedalus''s size and stature were just right to bear the brunt of his fury.


    So, in Greece, what really matters is power.


    After silently mourning for the unfortunate soul of Crete Ind for three seconds, Luo En casually pulled Medusa by the hand and while moving forward, began to speak out loud about the next arrangements.


    "First, we''ll find a shop to sell our catch and other items, and then we''ll take a look around, buy some things including a sea chart, and then consider our next steps..."


    Silence at his side, with the tug on his hand growing increasingly heavy.


    Luo En turned his head and saw Medusa staring intently at the nearby stall with milk, grilled eggs, fruit preserves, and other dazzling local snacks, a hint of crystal saliva unknowingly hanging at the corner of her pink lips, gradually elongating.

 Chapter 40: 36: I could fool 10 people at once with the likes of Medusa!

    Seeing the scene, Luo En couldn''t help but chuckle, and he nonchntly pulled Little Medusa by his side over to a nearby stall to make an inquiry.


    "Excuse me, how much is this?"


    "Three Athena''s Bronze."


    "And this one?"


    "A bit more expensive, five pieces."


    "..."


    Soon, Luo En''s hands were filled with a variety of local specialty snacks.


    "Here, try these."


    Seeing the delicious skewers presented before her eyes, Medusa couldn''t help but swallow saliva reflexively, but she seemed to hesitate a bit in an effort to maintain her usual aloofness.


    Luo En slowly raised his arm, a mischievous smile on his face.


    "Oh, not eating? Well, then I''ll eat it all."


    "Who said I''m not eating!"


    As the fragrant food seemed about to sprout wings and fly away, Little Medusa could no longer resist the temptation and grabbed Luo En''s arm, taking her share without courtesy and munching it eagerly.


    As different vors bombarded her taste buds, bringing pleasurable delight, thest bit of embarrassment and reserve on the young girl vanished, and she focused on savoring the handful of snacks in her hand.


    Luo En shook his head with a lightugh, nibbling on a skewer of roasted eggs as he strolled through the bustling market with Little Medusa by his side, inquiring about prices for the items they had.


    After several rounds of asking and investigating, he finally chose a rtively fair-priced shop to sell his goods.


    Total earnings: 14 Hera''s Silvers, 107 Athena''s Bronzes.


    Meanwhile, he and Medusa had eaten away about a quarter of the ie as they walked and snacked along the way.


    It had to be said, as the royal city of Crete Ind, things here were not cheap.


    Of course, hidden away on that ship, there were still many valuable items, such as temple stone tablets, God of the Sea''s ritual vessels, and mystical study materials, among others.


    All those carefully handpicked treasured items from the thieving leader were sure to bring in a great windfall if sold.


    However, first of all, those items were too conspicuous and easily attracted unwanted trouble.


    And second, thanks to the gold coins that the Twelve Olympians exploded with every day, he wasn''t exactly short on money; if he ever ran out, he could just utter a few more sphemies, so there really wasn''t any need to take such risks.


    Luo En casually pocketed today''s gains, his face breaking into a friendly smile as he struck up a conversation with the elderly man at the counter.


    "Sir, could you tell me what temples there are in the city and how to get to them? I''d like to make an offering to the deities, hoping for a smooth journey ahead."


    "Young man, you must be from out of town, right? Looking for temples in Knossos City might be a bit difficult."


    The old man, his face etched with the wrinkles of time, smiled helplessly.


    "For some reason, the current King Minos seems not to like the deities very much. He rarely participates in worship and doesn''t repair the temples, so many ces have fallen into disrepair."


    After listening to the old man''s exnation, Luo En nodded thoughtfully.


    He could probably guess the reason.


    Nine times out of ten, it was the Minotaur''s fault.


    His wife, mocked by the gods, was taken by a mere beast, and bore the hybrid monster¡ªa disgrace so enormous that no man would likely just let it slide, let alone King Minos of Crete.


    That he didn''t ughter the Minotaur in the Labyrinth Offering and smash all the temples in a fit of rage was already quite tolerant of him.


    How could he continue to worship the gods as he had before?


    Now, this is going to make things a bit difficult for me.


    Luo En rubbed his chin, his brow furrowing slightly.


    The "Weekly Chapter" cooldown was almost over, and he had to actively create some work for the Twelve Olympians in order not to be forced into a corner by that damned dice he bore.


    Now, herees the trouble.


    "However, if you truly wish to offer your respects to a deity, there is indeed a ce you can go," the old man added slowly, histter words snapping Luo En, who had been deep in thought, back to reality with a spark of interest in his eyes.


    "Where?"


    "In the northwest corner of Knossos City, there''s a pce dedicated to a goddess atop a small hill."


    "Who?"


    "The sovereigndy, Athena."


    Luo En briefly paused upon hearing that title, and then the historical records that surfaced in his mind helped him understand.


    Legend had it that the Minos civilization had a strong tradition of goddess worship, and among them, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, was the most honored and held the highest status.


    They called her "¦Ð?¦Ó¦Í¦É¦Á," meaningdy, queen, sovereign, and corresponding records appeared on subsequent Mycenaean tablets.


    Of course, Athena was absolutely worthy of this honor.


    For in the process of creating humans, Prometheus bestowed upon them their form, while Athena gave them their souls.


    In a sense, she truly was the "sovereigndy" of the human race.


    Nevertheless, Luo En had originally intended to flip Hermes'' card and y a trick on the ancestral thief of the Greeks.


    Taking Medusa to Athena as a means of teaching her a lesson was certainly not an option he had considered.


    But at the moment, aside from this, there seemed to be no better choice.


    "Stranger, may the goddess protect your journey."


    The old man lifted his hand to his chest and nodded as he offered his blessing.


    After briefly thanking him, Luo En, holding Little Medusa''s hand, stepped out of the shop and looked towards the columned temple in the northwest.


    It''s just a visit, she can''t be that petty, right?


    He muttered to himself for a bit before looking down at Medusa, who was still engrossed in her snacks, and forced a gentle smile on his face.


    "Shall we go for a walk over there?"


    "I don''t like them."


    Medusa shook her head, her eyes filled with strong resistance.


    In the mythological world of Greece, most monsters werebor tools for the gods and a whole bunch of achievements and leveling-up experiences reserved for demigod heroes.


    Although the three sisters had escaped very, they were still unable to avoid being hunted by the outside world.


    Therefore, Medusa naturally didn''t have a favorable impression of the gods who were orchestrating it all.


    Luo En blinked and spoke leisurely.


    "I heard that the marketce there is more prosperous than the one in the east, and there''s even a greater variety of food."


    "..."


    At these words, Medusa''s eyes lit up, clearly tempted.


    "And drinks too¡ªthe weather calls for a cup of chilled grape juice and pomegranate juice. It''s simply unbeatable."


    "I''ll go!"


    Immediately, Medusa, lured by her cravings, no longer hesitated and swiftly raised her little hand, her face full of eagerness.


    Even before Luo En could move, the next moment, Little Medusa decisively grabbed him and headed towards the northwest corner, taking the initiative.


    Luo En, dragged along, couldn''t help but shake his head in amusement.


    Tsk tsk, isn''t this girl too easy to trick? I could fool ten of them at once!


    Soon after, the corners of Luo En''s lips lifted, sketching a wicked curve on his face.


    How could this do? He must seize this opportunity to show her the dangers of human nature and what true "cruelty" is!

 Chapter 41: 37 Stealing Athenas Tribute

    In the ancient and grandiose stone temple, Luo En held Medusa''s little hand and followed the flow of worshipers into the main hall.


    The dawn''s light streamed through the dome''s skylight, casting itself upon the marble deity throne up ahead, where a luxurious statue crafted of sandalwood, gold, and ivory carvings for exposed skin caught their eyes.


    The female sovereign atop wore a bronze helmet crown, her clearly defined long hair cascading like a waterfall behind her head, a wooden owl perched upon her shoulder, her upper body draped in snake-patterned armor, her right hand grasping the Spear of Victory, her left donned in a sheepskin Divine Shield [Aegis] adorned with golden tassels, her tall and straight figure radiating chill authority and an invible sense of sanctity.


    Minosians worshipped the Goddess. Although male deities were also mentioned, descriptions of goddesses far exceeded those of their male counterparts in the Minosian religion; for example, the mother goddess who presided over fertility, a female animal sovereign, a female protector of cities, families, harvests, and the Netherworld, and so on. Some believed these to be different manifestations of the same Goddess, whomonly possessed animal representations like snakes and birds.


    And all these traces reflected upon Athena, who bore the titles of the snake and owl goddess upon Olympus.


    As the crowd bowed in prayer, the sphemer mingling among them subtly raised his head, eyes zing over the humble and bowed believers, who willingly offered all their wealth to the deity, and gazed at the female sovereign above disdainfully scrutinizing her divine figure.


    All around was silent; the statue still stood, not responding to the prayers, notforting the distressed, not punishing the irreverent, not sanctioning the foul.


    Luo En tightened his grip on Medusa''s slightly trembling little hand and turned to blink at the Medusa crouched beside him, too scared to raise her head.


    See, I told you it was nothing to worry about, right?


    Perhaps affected by the casual mood beside her, Medusa mustered the courage to gradually lift her little head, her purple-red pupils stealthily ncing at the face beneath the helmet.


    Because the sculpture was infused with faith and blessed with divinity, at a distance, the face appeared blurred, as if shrouded in a thin mist, preventing mortals from peering at the divine visage.


    But a statue was, after all, a statue¡ªstationary upon the deity throne, posing not even as much a threat as a snarling stray dog by the roadside.


    The inexplicable fears pressing on little Medusa''s heart dissolved like smoke, clearing much of the gloom that had long umted on her face and revealing her natural demeanor.


    "This ce is so boring. When will it end? I''m so hungry now,"


    the Medusa whispered, rubbing her belly and tugging at Luo En''s hand.


    "Just a moment..."


    Luo En red at the true "hungry beast" beside him and, upon hearing the internal alert signifying the end of his mission, hepleted the orderly process of worship and donation, exiting through the back door of the temple with Medusa.


    As he stepped over the threshold, Luo En paused briefly, looking back at the throngs of poor-faced, starch-washed believers, who still offered everything to the deities, yearning for a better life, and at the extremely luxurious and costly statue capable of sustaining dozens of families for years, he shook his head slightly, murmuring soundlessly.


    Do you really love humans that much, Athena?


    The statue would not respond.


    But in Luo En''s memory, therey a rted future for the Minosians.


    The eruption on Thera Volcano Ind, the great tsunami from hanos, the relentless acid rains, and the lingering dust clouds¡ªall symbols of "divine wrath" that would toll the bell for their civilization''s demise.


    The Mycenaeans from maind Greece would ultimately invade and rule over the entirety of Crete Ind, burying the worship of the Goddess and the future of the Minosians together...


    It seems you might not truly be worthy of this adoration after all.


    ¡ªMy dear... sister?


    Outside the temple, Luo En sneered and shook his head, slipping his outstretched hand back into his pocket and leading the visibly impatient big "hungry one" down towards the bustling market.


    Under the shade of a roadside tree, Medusa looked shocked.


    "What? We have no money for food?"


    "Of course. Honoring the deity has its costs. I''ve already donated our lunch money to the great female sovereign."


    Luo En spread his hands helplessly, a hidden mischievous smile lurking behind his innocent eyes.


    "..."


    Upon such dreadful news, Medusa''s face, which had been full of anticipation, suddenly fell.


    Then, grinding her little teeth, she turned away angrily.


    "Where are you going?"


    "To get it back!"


    "..."


    Seeing the newly emboldened Medusa, who had just ovee her fear of the deities, be overzealous and so fierce, Luo En gasped, breaking into a cold sweat, and quickly caught hold of the Medusa intending to rob the treasury.


    "There''s no need, no need. Take this to hold you over. We''ll just advance some lunch money from the reserve fund. I''ll go buy it right now!"


    He then pulled out a few pieces of fragrant, delicate pastries from his pocket and handed them to Medusa.


    "Try these, they''re really good."


    Medusa sniffed delicately and tentatively took a small bite. Soon, the sweet and refreshing taste was bursting on her taste buds, bringing a surge of satisfaction and pleasure. The young Medusa''s eyes sparkled with delight as she couldn''t stop praising the deliciousness.


    "Yummy!"


    "Of course, it is."


    Luo En nodded unsurprised, casually took a piece to taste, and with a pleasant turn of his lips, he began to speak leisurely.


    "This is a top-quality offering to the gods, the taste is definitely beyond question."


    Medusa, who had been wolfing down the treat, paused abruptly and looked down at the distinctive snake and olive leaf patterns on the pastry she held, her small frame shivering suddenly.


    "You stole the Goddess''s offerings?"


    "What do you mean, stole? I paid for them, fair and square, no deception involved," Luo En said righteously, as he popped another piece of the pastry into his mouth.


    Medusa instinctively hugged the remaining pastries closer to her chest, then asked somewhat puzzledly.


    "But isn''t our money supposed to be an offering to the deities?"


    "Quite right, we made our offering to the deities, and they have epted it, which means they are willing to alleviate our troubles and provide us protection," Luo En replied, nodding with an even brighter smile on his face.


    "So, the question arises, what was our trouble at the time?"


    "Hungry?"


    After thinking it over, Medusa murmured, touching her tummy.


    Luo En pped his hands and exined with a cheerful grin.


    "Exactly, you see, we offer what we have to the deities, showing our piety and seeking solutions to our troubles, and in return, the deities reward us with their kindness and aid. It''s a fair trade, no deception involved¡ªdoesn''t that sound right?"


    "..."


    Faced with this seemingly logical argument, Medusa was somewhat confused, taking quite a while before she could appreciate the rationale and then spoke with a snort.


    "Did you ask the Goddess?"


    "Of course!"


    "And what did she say?"


    "She tacitly agreed."


    Luo En spoke solemnly, his face serene, while inwardly he muttered to himself.


    Today, he had not onlypleted a Weekly Chapter but also took the chance to clear the Daily Chapter; the money was well spent, with the bonus of tasting the pce''s fine cuisine, a total win!


    At that moment, a trace of gleeful smile emerged inevitably on that face, subtly revealing one''s true character.


    Even though he was ostensibly at the mercy of that dice, every choice was made by him personally.


    Luo En''s soul, originating from the future, inherentlycked real awe for the so-called deities and fate.


    As his true nature gradually came to light, he even began to enjoy the thrill of fooling the deities. He would me the dice on one hand while actively scheming and taking the chance to drag Medusa onto his bandwagon.


    After all, this future Medusa was destined to be in by a demigod hero, with even her head bing a decorative piece on Goddess Athena''s shield.


    This move could be considered as collecting interest from Athena in advance.


    However, unlike Luo En who found joy in such antics, the innate fear of deities made Medusa''s heart waver, prompting her to remind him in a quiet huff.


    "It''s best if the Lady Goddess indeed thinks that way."


    "Don''t worry, the great sovereign is apassionate and generous deity; how could she bear to see her devout followers starve?" Luo En said, against his better judgment, as heplimented the wooden sculpture in the temple with self-righteous fervor.


    "sphemy against the deities is hardly devout for any believer. With an insincere heart, what right do they have to expect the care of the deities?"


    As the two conversed in hushed tones, a faint murmuring came from the front of a nearby stall. A girl with silver hair down to her shoulders and dressed in a finely embroidered white silk gown ced down the item she was holding and turned to look at Luo En and Medusa under the shade of the trees. Her deep violet eyes were as profound as the night and bright as stars.


    Behind her, a golden-haired, blue-eyed little girl wearing a flower crown was tugging at the hem of the embroidered dress, peeping out with a mischievous grin and sizing up the pair across from her.

 Chapter 42: 38 Riddle Man Rolls Out of Greece!

    Luo En, hidden beneath the tree shade, slightly coughed and shed a knowing look to his aplice.


    Medusa immediately caught on and, with her body concealing the action, quickly stashed the stolen goods away.


    What a teachable child!


    Luo En nodded silently, caressed Medusa''s clever little head for a while, then turned and shed a reserved smile at the person across from him,


    "Just now, it was nothing but light-hearted teasing with my little sister, just a joke."


    "Every joke has a grain of seriousness in it."


    The silver-haired girl at the stand spoke indifferently, her piercing gaze as if she could see the color of one''s soul beneath the skin.


    Under those scrutinizing purple eyes, Luo En resignedly raised his arms, and with a face of feigned misery, struck the posture of someone ready to be arrested.


    "It seems you intend to pursue this to the end? If I''m taken to the temple for punishment over a slip of the tongue, I have nothing to say, but my sister is innocent; she is still a child who doesn''t know anything!"


    At that moment, as Luo En shifted slightly, Little Medusa, who was pushed to the front, looked up confusedly.


    "Hmph, I just dislike some people''s pretentious cleverness and their tendency to twist right and wrong in their favor."


    The silver-haired girl huffed lightly, and her stern expression gradually thawed.


    Luo En detected the significant softening in her tone and the corners of his mouth imperceptibly curved upward.


    This step back as a means to move forward worked!


    He promptly tugged at Little Medusa beside him, who was responsible for diverting the heat, preparing to smoothly capture the opportunity and escape.


    "Thank you for your guidance, next time I will definitely be more careful with my words and actions!"


    As Luo En earnestly made his guarantees, he stealthily began to retreat.


    The silver-haired girl had heard the conversation from tens of meters away earlier, even though he and Little Medusa had whispered very quietly.


    Clearly, she was not some ordinary character.


    Add to that her finely-made noble-patterned dress and the appearance of being well-cared-for, just like the little maid behind her; her status in Knossos City likely wasn''t simple.


    There was no need to stir up such a great trouble over a minor verbal dispute.


    "Wait a moment..."


    However, before Luo En could make a clean getaway, the silver-haired girl stepped forward, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    "It seems like it''s not just a slip of the tongue, right? Stealing offerings is a grave crime..."


    Luo En''s body stiffened, and he turned his head awkwardly.


    In the end, he couldn''t just avoid the important and dwell on the trivial.


    As the atmosphere grew a bit delicate, Little Medusa emerged from behind Luo En, head held high, ready to take the me.


    "I was hungry!"


    Luo En quickly pushed the unruly head back and maintained a warm smile on his face.


    "So, what do you intend to do? Hand us over to the temple for punishment?"


    "It doesn''t have toe to that..."


    The silver-haired girl''s gaze swept passed the little head peeking out from behind Luo En, her eyes softening, then with a profound cold hum, she turned to face another.


    "After all, that Goddess is known for her ''merciful and generous'' nature, I''m not in a position to reproach her followers..."


    "Um, if there''s nothing else..."


    "What''s the rush?"


    The silver-haired girl stopped the one who seemed ready to flee at any moment again, the trace of a smile visible on her smooth, cool lips.


    "Aren''t you hungry?"


    Seeing the smile that emerged on her face, Luo En instinctively sensed danger and was about to speak when the silver-haired girl spoke up first.


    "How about this, the Harvest Festival is just around the corner, and there are some riddles prepared at a stall up ahead; if you can solve at least three riddles, I''ll treat you to this meal."


    "But just now..."


    "I didn''t hear or see anything."


    The silver-haired girl said leisurely, offering rather generous terms.


    "That''s not fair!"


    An unexpected response caused the silver-haired girl''s expression to stiffen for a moment.


    Seeing this, Luo En shook his head and exined earnestly.


    "I mean, this seems a bit unfair to you."


    "How so?"


    "I was the one who behaved inappropriately, offending the Deities revered by the Minosians. Your willingness to overlook that is already umon generosity; how could I possibly let you foot the bill alone? This condition truly isn''t reasonable."


    Luo En spoke seriously, then turned to look at the distant stalls and smiled with a suggestion.


    "How about this instead, we both participate, and see who can answer more riddles correctly, with the loser paying for the meal?"


    "So, you want topete with me?"


    The silver-haired girl raised an eyebrow, slightly amused.


    Luo En smiled, neither confirming nor denying.


    "It''s a rare festival, participating together, enjoying this process together, makes it all the more interesting."


    "Makes sense."


    The silver-haired girl nced at the lively and festive crowd in the market, couldn''t help but slightly nod in agreement, and then gestured with a wave of her hand.


    "Then let''s go, foreigner."


    Luo En dly epted, took Medusa by the hand, and with a smile, followed behind, secretly relieved that he had once again managed to bluff his way through.


    In games, there are winners and losers, rewards and punishments; this was an obvious truth.


    ording to the silver-haired girl, if he won, he''d certainly enjoy a full meal to everyone''s delight.


    But what if he lost?


    Intuition told Luo En that the price could be dangerous!


    Therefore, he decisively kept the oue of the game within a range he could afford.


    If he won, it was a meal; if he lost, it was just a meal too.


    To swap such a small stake for that unknown and dangerous possibility was most certainly worth it.


    "We''re here, when do we start?"


    The thoughtful murmur beside his ear interrupted Luo En''s deep thoughts; he looked up following the direction indicated by the silver-haired girl and saw two redwood tables.


    One table had arge dark brown pottery jar, the mouth only wide enough for one hand to slip through, and dozens of discarded pottery shards with riddles on them were ced inside, awaiting selection.


    The other table wasid out with prizes like brews, sweets, y figurines, and so on.


    Seeing the array of treats and toys, the two little ones following behind them had their eyes sparkling irresistibly.


    With his concerns about the risks now reduced, Luo En smiled and nodded, threw a few pieces of Athena''s Bronze into the basket on the table, and then made a "please" gesture.


    The silver-haired girl didn''t refuse, reached out and took out a shard, and the first riddle appeared before everyone.


    "When you have me, you want to share me, but once you do, I no longer exist. What is my name?"


    "It''s a secret."


    Without waiting for everyone to think it over, a calm murmur came, and the silver-haired girl, who had just read it once, casually tossed the shard onto the table and exined with a smile.


    "Because a secret is something that only one person knows, once it is shared, it''s no longer a secret."


    "You''re right! Correct!"


    The aged vendor let out a heartyugh, picked up a small y bird from the other table, and handed it over.


    Behind the silver-haired girl, the little girl with golden hair and blue eyes, who had been eagerly eyeing the prize, immediately epted it with satisfaction.


    With slender, fair fingers, she patted her littlepanion on the head, the silver-haired girl turned her head with a smile and looked toward Luo En.


    "Your turn."


    Tsk, such an unwarrantedpetitive spirit.


    Luo En muttered to himself and randomly picked out the second question from the pot.


    "I am as strong as stone, yet a single word can destroy me. What am I?"


    Soon after, he smiled and calmly gave his answer.


    "Silence!"


    Silence is golden as stone, but can be broken with but a word.


    Just as the pottery shard fell, Medusa received the butter cake she had longed for, and began to bury her head in contented feasting.


    Not bad at all...


    The silver-haired girl''s eyes sparkled with intense interest, and she pointed to the pottery jar with a serious tone.


    "Together?"


    Luo En smiled and nodded; promptly, the third and fourth riddles were pulled out by him and the silver-haired girl.


    "I can bring tears to your eyes, revive the dead, manifest in an instant,st a lifetime. What am I?"


    "I often take you away at night and return you in the day. No one suffers because they have me, but they do suffer from myck. What am I?"


    Two puzzles caught their eyes and almost simultaneously, both their gazes shed and they spoke out together.


    "¡ª¡ªMemory!"


    "¡ª¡ªSleep!"


    Their answers were precise and correct; however, each had answered the riddle held by the other person.


    Clearly, both had nned to preempt the other''s question, leaving their opponent with no moves to make.


    The unexpected sh left Luo En and the silver-haired girl momentarily stunned, looking at each other in a silent exchange, as a peculiar atmosphere began to spread.

 Chapter 43: 39: I admire you, be my lackey.

    "I want this one!"


    "I want that one!"


    At the stall, two little ones, unable to wait any longer, excitedly squeezed forward, eager to exchange for the prizes they had set their eyes on, instantly breaking the eerie silence between the two adults.


    Seeing the two little fellows cling to the table after receiving their items, staring greedily at the other prizes, Luo En and the silver-haired youngdy couldn''t help but exchange a smile, very much in tune.


    "So?"


    "Continue?"


    Upon reaching a consensus, the two stepped forward, and Luo En, following a gesture from the silver-haired youngdy, took out the fifth question from the urn.


    "It is the most nimble yet the hardest thing on earth, for it can trap powerful humans in one ce. What is it?"


    And the moment the conundrum hit their eyes, two voices chimed in unison once more.


    "¡ª Doubt!"


    "¡ª Enigma!"


    Doubt and enigma can cause powerful individuals to fall into hesitation and difficulty, bing psychological shackles that prevent them from moving forward.


    At this moment, the two contestants looked at each other in surprise, and under a brief exchange of gazes, a sense of admiration seemingly sparked between them.


    When evenly matched, the game bes all the more interesting.


    "My turn."


    Then, without any reservations, the silver-haired youngdy took out the sixth question on her own initiative.


    "I do not exist in the past, yet I am forever in the future. Every living, breathing being pins their hopes on me. What am I?"


    As she gazed at the riddle before her, the silver-haired youngdy was momentarily stunned, clueless, and frowned in contemtion.


    "¡ª It''s ''tomorrow''."


    Then, a thoughtful murmur from behind broke the stalemate, as Luo En, with his arms folded, revealed a serene and confident smile.


    Tomorrow? So that''s it...


    With a bit of thought, the youngdy''s frown rxed.


    It was a riddle posed from a human perspective.


    Only because tomorrow exists do these fragile lives wait and hope, endure the sufferings of the present to keep moving forward, ovee countless obstacles, and create miracles.


    "Your turn!"


    The silver-haired youngdy dropped her piece of pottery, stepped back, and gestured to Luo En. This time, however, she stood rigid, eyes firmly fixed on the mouth of the urn, clearly feeling the pressure.


    Luo En nodded, turned his body to the side, and extended his hand towards the urn''s opening to let the participant behind him read the riddle at the first opportunity.


    Seeing this thoughtful little gesture, the silver-haired youngdy behind him felt a stir of admiration in her eyes.


    Soon, the seventh question was taken out, presented before both of them.


    "What is it on a person that diminishes every day but will never disappearpletely?"


    Breath? Life? No...


    For a moment, Luo En, too, was deep in thought, unable to break through.


    "¡ª Hope, it''s hope..."


    At that moment, a deep and pleasant whisper came from behind as well.


    Suddenly, Luo En had an epiphany, and the haze in his mind was lifted.


    Indeed, for ordinary people, only hope will be gradually worn down by life yet neverpletely vanishes.


    Because once hope no longer exists, even if a person is alive, they are just an empty shell without meaning, no longer an "ordinary person."


    It seems I was a bit lost in the game.


    Luo En turned to look behind him, and the contemtive silver-haired youngdy, despite having just correctly answered, oddly showed no joy of sess. Instead, she gazed upon the Minosians moving back and forth in the streets, beaming with happiness, her cherry lips pursed in a silent sigh.


    She remembered some past events that had made her unhappy.


    However, the silver-haired youngdy quickly recovered from her reverie and, with an apologetic smile, turned to the silently waiting figure in front.


    "Sorry, I spaced out there."


    Luo En smiled and nodded in understanding, then made a "please" gesture with his hand.


    "For thest question, we can''t monopolize all the riddles and prizes, can we? We should leave some joy for the others."


    "That''s true."


    The silver-haired girl pursed her lips into a smile, stepping forward to present the eighth and final riddle.


    Luo En, under the pathetic gazes of the two little ones, chose their favorite food and toys for them, respectively.


    In reality, the oue of this game was no longer important to him.


    Because what he sought from the beginning wasn''t the meal after winning or losing, but rather to use this opportunity to turn hostility into friendship with the mysterious silver-haired girl opposite him, to dissolve her dislike for him, and thus avoid an unnecessary conflict.


    Now it seemed his goal had been achieved.


    So, it was time to bring this entertainment to an early end.


    After winning over the affection of the two little ones, Luo En voluntarily stepped forward to observe the riddle posed by the silver-haired girl, putting on a show of facing it with all his might.


    However, one minute... two minutes... a full three minutes passed.


    The pair in front of the riddle fell into an odd silence, neither of them speaking up.


    Seeing this, the two little ones grew curious, tiptoeing to peer at the puzzle inscribed on the y shard.


    "¡ªI cannot be bought, but I can be stolen with one nce. I am worthless to one person, but priceless to two. What am I?"


    "Is this question very difficult?"


    The two little creatures blinked, looking confusedly at the two adults who had been winning one after another just moments before.


    "Ahem..."


    Luo En and the silver-haired girl coughed almost simultaneously, with a sh of embarrassment in their eyes.


    The riddle wasn''t difficult; in fact, for the two of them, it was excessively simple.


    But the answer...


    Finally, after a brief stalemate, the silver-haired girl lost to her ownpetitive spirit, turned her head away, and coughed before speaking.


    "It''s love..."


    In fact, to speak more precisely, the riddle described what should be love between two people.


    At this moment, in such a setting and atmosphere, the answer was a bit awkward.


    "Ah, it seems I have lost."


    To avoid further embarrassment, Luo En quickly spoke up, breaking the silence and asking with a smile.


    "So, what would the two of you like to eat? It''s my treat."


    "There''s no hurry for that..."


    Having been given an out, the silver-haired girl didn''t rush to take it but instead looked at Luo En with interest, speaking leisurely.


    "You don''t seem like someone who makes a living at sea?"


    "Can''t help it, people need to eat, it''s all for a living."


    Luo En gave a dryugh, insincerely exining, and felt vaguely guilty under the scrutiny of those purple eyes.


    At that moment, a richer smile appeared on the silver-haired girl''s face, as if she had been prepared for this, she spoke.


    "Even though it''s all for making a living, casting your talents into the boundless ocean is simply too wasteful. How about this: I can introduce you to a job at the temple, so not only can you have endless snacks, you would also earn a handsome reward."


    Free meals and lodging? Plus money to take?


    Thinking of the delightful vors of the temple''s snacks lingering in her mouth, Little Medusa''s eyes lit up.


    However, before the excited little head could pop up, it was pressed back down.


    "Thank you for your kind offer."


    Luo En maintained a courteous smile on his face as he politely declined.


    "Even though the food and pay from the temple can fill the emptiness of my body, it cannot resolve the troubles of my spirit. I prefer a vaster world to being bound within these narrow confines."


    A job in the temple? What a joke.


    The Minosians were already on shaky ground; getting mixed up with them, who knows when some lurking god might sweep him away.


    If this ship was destined to sink, why would he blindly leap into a pit of fire?

 Chapter 44: 40: Sweating buckets, arent you, little brother?

    "Are you saying that even the gods can''t provide you with answers to your problems?"


    At this moment, the silver-haired girl''s eyes narrowed slightly, and her gaze took on an even stronger scrutinizing intensity, evidently less than satisfied with what she deemed a mere excuse.


    She rarely extended invitations and even more rarely faced rejection.


    "Of course!"


    Luo En nodded without hesitation in response.


    The silver-haired girl crossed her arms in front of her chest and smirked with pursed lips, "Oh? Why don''t you share your difficult question, and let me see what has left the gods helpless..."


    Facing such relentless pursuit, Luo En helplessly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "It''s not anything earth-shattering; I''m just filled with curiosity about this world.


    I want to know why, when a sailing shipes from afar on the sea, we always see the mast first, then the body of the ship?


    Why do apples fall to the ground instead of flying up into the air?


    Why do objects of different weights, when dropped from the same height, seem to hit the ground simultaneously?"


    These oundish questions hit her mind, causing the confidence and pridefulness on the silver-haired girl''s face to involuntarily harden.


    Why do you first see the mast, then the body, of a ship sailing in from afar?


    Why do apples fall to the ground, rather than soar into the sky?


    Why do objects of different weights, when dropped from the same height,nd at the same time?


    Indeed, why...


    These everyday urrences, now questioned with a "why," left the silver-haired girl, who had never considered these perspectives, somewhat befuddled.


    Shouldn''t the rules of the world just be as they are, determined by fate?


    And shouldn''t heavier objects hit the ground first when dropped from the same height? Why would theynd at the same time? What''s the exnation for that?


    At this moment, not only was the silver-haired girl unable to solve the initial three questions, but she also found herself sinking deeper into contemtion, her mind bing more chaotic as she pondered further.


    Finally, after half an hour of deep thought, the silver-haired girl looked up in defeat, a mix of helplessness and confusion on her face.


    "All right, I can''t figure it out for now, but even if you did know, what use would it be?"


    "To humanity, the [world] itself is a mystery!"


    Luo En looked up at the sky, surveyed the earth below, and finally fixed his gaze ahead, his eyes reflecting a distant and profound depth.


    "If one could seek out its essence and pursue the truth; thereby understanding life and touching upon concepts; then perhaps one could unravel all the enigmas, grasp the soul, and rediscover immortality."


    "...!"


    Watching the man before her speak with such ease and listening to his grand ideas, the silver-haired girl''s beautiful face first registered shock, then she came back to her senses, a cold huff gathering between her brows.


    "Immortality? How arrogant! Are you suggesting you want to challenge the gods?"


    "Don''t, don''t¡ª that''s a burden I cannot bear."


    Luo En smiled sheepishly, waving his hand as if carelessly, yet seemingly pondering something profound.


    "I only think that the [creation] brought about by the gods is merely the starting point for humanity, not the end point.


    As creations, shouldn''t we strive to excel, to demonstrate the greatness of the gods?"


    ¡ªThe more outstanding humanity is, the more it proves the greatness of the gods?


    Upon hearing this, the silver-haired girl seemed to think of something and suddenly burst into a wryugh.


    "Your argument is indeed impable."


    "You tter me, I am merely stating the facts," Luo En blinked innocently.


    "Let it be, since you''re unwilling, I won''t force you."


    The silver-haired girl rolled her eyes at the certain someone across from her and reached out her right hand forward, beginning to speak with a light huff.


    "Tritogeneia is my name..."


    In an instant, Luo En''s eyelids twitched involuntarily.


    The silver-haired girl, whose keenness was exceptional, arched an eyebrow and narrowed her purple eyes once more.


    "You know me?"


    "No, I just find the name quite beautiful, very unique..."


    Under the girl''s lingering scrutiny, Luo En helplessly raised his hands, admitting awkwardly.


    "Uh, well, I admit the name is a bit long and rather hard to remember."


    "Oh, is that so? Then just call me Pas."


    The silver-haired girl nodded slightly, ncing at someone opposite her, and added calmly.


    "Alright, Miss Pas..."


    Luo En readily agreed, sighing with relief, seemingly at ease having solved the problem of remembering the name.


    However, Little Medusa, who was being led by the hand, felt a wet and sticky sensation from the palm that was holding hers.


    By then, having heard those two names, Luo En was actually sweating profusely.


    The meaning of "Trito-born" is "the third child of Zeus, other than Artemis and Apollo"; this appetion might be rare and makes it difficult to guess the true identity of the silver-haired girl opposite him.


    But the three sybles "Pas" are far more frequent in Greek mythology.


    That is because it is the alias of the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena.


    Indeed, standing before Luo En was none other than the true owner of those offerings, the Goddess of Wisdom and War¡ªPas Athena!


    She was the legendary half-sister of shared paternity but of extraordinarybat prowess.


    Although Luo En realized that the girl before him was no ordinary person and was likely a demigod or deity walking around in the mortal world,


    he had just left her temple, stolen her offerings, and was still hanging around nearby, only to run into the goddess Athena herself¡ªsuch a coincidence was even more absurd than a meteorite randomly falling onto one''s head.


    Luckily, as Hecate had mentioned, the Dice of Chance residing within him not onlypelled him to challenge fate and stand against the gods but also provided him with hidden buffs that shielded his true nature from the gods'' sight.


    Otherwise, this goddess famed for her wisdom would have most likely discovered his identity as Zeus''s son at first nce.


    "Cough cough, it''s gettingte; how about we have dinner first?"


    Luo En steadied hisposure, offering a friendly suggestion to Athena opposite him, while inwardly scheming.


    He nned to finish hosting quickly, take Medusa and escape, then get as far away from this city of King Minos as possible.


    After all, the goddess before him was too dangerous.


    A slight oversight from before probably had already given her a hint, and if he were to stay any longer, she would undoubtedly unearth his deep secrets sooner orter.


    However, before Luo En could think of where to find the fastest meal avable, Athena across from him chuckled and shook her head.


    "It should be me who treats you."


    "Huh?"


    "Although I solved one more riddle than you did, you raised thest three questions for which I had no answers, so I lost,"


    Athena exined nonchntly, then pointed towards a house at the end of the road.


    "It so happens I''m going to see a friend. She should have already prepared a meal; let''s join her."


    Upon hearing this, Luo En''s back broke into a colder sweat.


    One guessing that those who could be friends with Athena were most likely deities themselves didn''t need to think hard.


    And it was very possible that she was one of the Twelve Olympians from Olympus.


    Even though the Dice could keep his identity a secret, facing two upright Chief Gods at once piled the pressure on Luo En.


    So, if possible, he preferred to decline this dinner invitation.


    "Cough cough, to just barge in on your friend like this would be quite impolite, wouldn''t it? Maybe another time?"


    Luo En, with a smile stered on his face, attempted to gracefully refuse.


    "Next time! I''ll treat you next time!"


    "You don''t want to?"


    Athena squinted and smiled, and then her expression suddenly changed.


    "Fine then, the wager is void. Guards, guards, where are they? There''s someone here..."


    "Stop, stop, stop! I''ll go, I''ll go! If you don''t mind, isn''t that enough?"


    With his weakness in her grasp, Luo En instantly broke out into a profuse sweat, hurriedly grabbing Athena''s raised arm, and humiliatingly consented to the dinner arrangement.


    "That''s better..."


    Seeing the slick guy before her bend to her will, Athena''s face showed a satisfied smile. She raised her hand forward, gesturing for him to follow.


    "Then let''s go, my friend..."


    At this moment, he was in a situation where he''d be caught whether he retracted or extended his neck.


    Luo En cast aside all his distractions, took Little Medusa by the hand, and strode towards the house ahead.

 Chapter 45: 41: Delicate Branches Bear Large Fruit, Tasty and Heaty

    They continued along the road paved with small stones, t andfortable.


    Luo En nced at the surroundings with the corner of his eye, noticing that the stones on the road seemed to be cut into uniform blocks with a copper saw, and there was a well-designed drainage system along the road. Public ces frequently visited by the upper ss were made from y, which was used to construct moreprehensive sewer facilities.


    As for the buildings, the houses usually had t tiled roofs and floors of ster, wood, orrge stone bs, two to three stories high. They might have built low walls with rocks and rubble, using mud bricks for the higher sections. The transverse beams on the ceiling were meant to support the roof, serving both to light the patio.


    At first nce, the scattered houses exuded the bustling and homely atmosphere typical of human society.


    Creating something from nothing, evolving from barbarism to civilization, merely with hands and intelligence was truly remarkable.


    The city details that could be created with the existing craftsmanship made Luo En, a soul from the future, feel somewhat amazed.


    "We''re here."


    Just as Luo En marveled at the Minosians'' wisdom, Athena stopped and smiled, pointing at the two-story small building constructed of stone bricks and wood in front of them.


    The blonde little girl beside her immediately understood, nodded, and hurriedly tiptoed to the door, excitedly pulling and knocking on the bronze door knocker.


    "Who is it, so early in the morning..."


    With azy murmur, the tightly closed door was pulled open from the inside, revealing a petite, youthful girl with the characteristic ck hair of the Greeks, rubbing her sleepy blue eyes, standing barefoot on the carpet behind the threshold.


    Inside the house, the bright yellow mes danced joyfully in the firece, radiating cozy warmth.


    Therefore, the girl was only wearing a white silk nightgown, the overly loose size hardly covering her thin and delicate figure.


    Thankfully, her unusually ample bust and the blue ribbon that passed beneath her chest and tied on her arms managed to lift the upper part of the garment, preventing it from sliding to the floor.


    Nevertheless, even from several meters away, Luo En could see that sh of snow-white and the slender waist that made one concerned about its sturdiness.


    Mature branches bearing abundant fruit, delicious yet easily causing heartburn?


    In an instant, an apt description crashed into Luo En''s mind.


    "Ahem!"


    A deep cough from outside swept through like a chilly breeze, and the blue-ribboned ck-haired girl shivered, more clearly awakening as she saw two familiar faces and two unexpected visitors standing at the door.


    "Ah? Wait...wait a moment, I''ll change my clothes!"


    Suddenly, the blue-ribboned girl, realizing who the visitors were and her own less than graceful attire, blushed and hurriedly closed the door, dashing into the bedroom.


    After the rustling of clothing, the closed door opened again. The girl, now wearing a in white long dress, held her head high and chest out, maintaining a dignified posture as she came out to greet the guests.


    "Athena..."


    "Ahem!"


    Athena coughed again, and her purple eyes twinkled, sending a subtle and obscure wave forward.


    Clearly, the two were engaging in encryptedmunication through divine intent.


    In a moment, the girl with the blue ribbon at the door hastily fell silent, and after a series of winks and grimaces, she finally piled a smile on her face, shifting her words somewhat awkwardly.


    "Pas? How did youe? And you''ve brought guests?"


    "They..."


    Athena paused briefly, ncing back at Luo En and Little Medusa before gently speaking.


    "...are some friends I''ve just made."


    "Friends?"


    The girl with the blue ribbon looked quizzically up and down at the two new faces outside the door, her azure eyes overflowing with curiosity.


    She was well aware of just how proud and self-regarding her great-niece usually was in front of outsiders.


    Up to this day, there were only a handful of people she acknowledged and referred to as "friends."


    Those individuals were the brightest stars in their respective fields, each with some extraordinary qualities.


    Could it be, these two were as well?


    But their presence felt so ordinary, almost indistinguishable frommon mortals...


    "Ahem!"


    Athena couldn''t help but cough again, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she gave a reminder.


    "We have guests, shouldn''t you invite us in first? Auntie?"


    "Oh, oh, sorry, sorry!"


    The girl with the blue ribbon smacked her forehead and chuckled sheepishly, hastily inviting the four who had been left outside for quite some time into the house and spontaneously extending her hand in introduction.


    "Hello both of you, my name..."


    The girl with the blue ribbon''s eyes darted about, her voice brimming with a cheery tone.


    "...Heiya, just call me Heiya!"


    "Nice to meet you, I am Luo En, and this is my sister Anna. Sorry for the intrusion today."


    Luo En also extended his hand with a knowing smile, gently holding the blue ribbon girl''s warm fingertips, and introduced himself and Medusa''s identities.


    After a simple exchange of pleasantries, the three adults looked at each other and smiled. A subtle atmosphere permeated the air, silently weaving a harmony that went undetected by any.


    After all, they shared a quite extraordinary understanding when it came to disguising their true selves.


    "Come,e, sit down first. I''ll go prepare some fruits and snacks."


    As the hostess, the girl with the blue ribbon warmly invited the visiting guests to take their seats, then hurried towards the spacious kitchen at the back of the house.


    Luo En nced at the devoted thin silhouette, then his gaze shifted to the warm and bright hearth inside the house, a sh of rity passing through his eyes as his lips moved silently.


    ¡ªThe Hearth Goddess, Hestia.


    She was the eldest daughter of the second-generation Divine King Kronos and Queen Goddess Rhea, and thus the big sister of Zeus, upying the highest rank among the Twelve Olympians.


    At the same time, she was also the Chief God in Greek mythology responsible for managing all household affairs of mortals, tending to the fires of Olympus and the Mortal World.


    Fire symbolized her existence, representing her divine authority, and was the assurance of a family''s continuity, stability, harmony, and prosperity.


    This corresponds to the traditions of ancient times. The fire on the altar was lit by the ancestors, and it was the duty of their descendants to keep the me burning, for the extinguishing of the me signified the extinction of their kind.


    On the other hand, every family had its own hearth, and every town had its altar. The fire on the altar symbolized the life of the town. When the people of a town established a colony somewhere new, the sacred me would apany these brave emigrants to other ces.


    Therefore, Hestia would also relocate with the migration of the fire and civilization.


    In a sense, she was the Olympian closest to humankind.


    And upon meeting her today, this Hearth Goddess indeed lived up to the legends, devoid of any airs and warmly weing to her guests.


    However...


    Luo En nced at the Chief Goddess of Olympus who was having a great time with the two young girls and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.


    ...Why does she seem to be not so bright?


    "Achoo!"


    At that moment, as if sensing something, Hestia sneezed loudly then mumbled a few words, ced down the fruit tter she was holding, and turned to look at her grandniece opposite her.


    "Speaking of which, Ya..."


    "Cough, cough!"


    Athena, who was sitting down, red at her aunt who was on the verge of a slip of the tongue, her face darkened as if she was about to breathe smoke.


    Hestia,ing back to her senses, chuckled awkwardly and quickly changed her question.


    "Pas! Yes, Pas, the Harvest Festival isn''t here yet, why did youe to my ce early?"


    "What else could it be, another quarrel broke out at home. I came here to take cover," Athena said tersely after taking a sip of honey water to soothe her throat.


    "Oh? What happened? Do tell!"


    Suddenly, Hestia''s eyes lit up, and she eagerly grabbed the fruit tter and moved a stool to sit opposite her grandniece, adopting the look of someone who''s eager for gossip.


    At the same time, Luo En couldn''t help but perk up his ears, holding his breath in anticipation, waiting for Athena''s revtions.


    After all, this was a rare chance to get an insight into the internal affairs of Olympus, and not just for the sake of a gossip''s curiosity.

 Chapter 46: 42 Hephaestus, Come, Put on Your Hat

    In the warmth of a fire-lit room, as Athena spun her tale of deception and maniption into the drama "Olympian Golden Primetime," Luo En, who had been sitting silently, found himself sweating profusely as he recognized the parallels to his own situation.


    Indeed, this affair was not without his involvement.


    Months earlier, with the aid of the "Dice of Chance," Luo En had stolen some of Ares''s authority, turning the War God from a "mighty man" into a "wilted man." This left his frustrated lover, the Goddess of Love Aphrodite, with no choice but to kick him out, and caused quite a stir.


    Not long after, Ares regained his vigor and reunited with Aphrodite, winning back the affection of the Goddess of Love.


    However, their affair was discovered by the suspicious Hephaestus, which greatly angered the Craftsman God.


    In a fit of rage, Hephaestus mustered all his skill and crafted a golden. He waited for Ares and Aphrodite to be entwined in their illicit affair and caught the lovers in the act on the bed.


    Unsatisfied, Hephaestus then summoned all the gods of Mount Olympus to publicly expose the cheating pair and seek justice and judgment from them.


    The result, however, ended with the humiliated cuckold''s capittion.


    On the one hand, most of the onlookers were male deities who found it hard to resist the charms of the Goddess of Love. Even the proud Apollo, upon seeing the coy Aphrodite, was moved by desire and found it hard to be upassionate.


    The ever-pleasing Divine Envoy Hermes openly dered that he would willingly be bound to the beautiful Goddess of Love, even with three extra chains, despite being scolded by the other goddesses present. He used this to plead for the wronged Hephaestus.


    Eventually, Poseidon, the God of the Sea who had long coveted Aphrodite, also chose a side.


    It must be noted that with Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, in long seclusion in the Mortal World, Olympus was only home to eleven Chief Gods.


    Confronted with the adulterous Ares and Aphrodite, the supportive Hermes and Poseidon, and the obviously biased Hera who favored her younger son, Hephaestus had to face five deities.


    With Apollo swayed by passion and abstaining from voting, the Goddess of Harvest Demeter remaining apathetic to worldly affairs, and Zeus, who could hardly be expected to speak, given his own dirtyundry, opting to turn a deaf ear.


    Even though Athena and Artemis, the virgin goddesses, stood up for Hephaestus out of disgust for Aphrodite and Ares''s conduct and spoke on his behalf.


    But facing the overwhelming advantage of the opposition, even if a council of divine power were to be held, the result would still be three votes to five.


    Moreover, Hephaestus''s foster mother, the Ocean Goddess Thetis, whom he greatly respected, had settled down within Poseidon''s sphere of influence.


    And it was with Hermes''s help that he was able to ascend to godhood and return to Mount Olympus.


    Under such pressure, Hephaestus, the wronged party, had no choice but to hold his nose and release the adulterous pair.


    Of course, with such a scandal blowing up without fair resolution, the storm wasn''t going to subside anytime soon, especially given Hephaestus''s notorious stubbornness.


    So, as Athena put it, the Craftsman God remained at odds with Ares, the War God who had wronged him, causing regr upheaval in Olympus.


    Thus, Athena, preferring to be out of sight and out of mind, decided to descend to earth early to visit her reclusive aunt on Crete Ind¡ªthe Goddess of the Hearth, Hestia.


    Now, having heard the full story, Luo En was amazed on the one hand at how inadvertently he had directed a family soap opera, and on the other, he was astounded by the chaotic ethical rtionships atop Olympus.


    In a way, it seemed like he had identally wronged his nominal great-great-grandparents...


    "Wait a minute..."


    As Luo En tried to untangle theplex chain of information in his mind, Hestia, who was sat beside him on a stool, nibbling sunflower seeds from a pottery te, expressed her surprise.


    "Since when did the ''Seaside'' one show such kindness? Moreover, isn''t thed from Maia''s household known for not doing anything without profit?"


    Since even Hestia could see the problem, Athena had nothing to conceal, so she nodded grudgingly and spilled even more thrilling insider information.


    Everything has its price, and since Poseidon and Hermes were willing to step forward to bail out Aphrodite, they naturally had their own motives.


    And what others coveted about that harlot was nothing but her attractive flesh.


    Of course, Aphrodite was well aware of this herself.


    So, while Hephaestus was busy locking horns with Ares, the lonely Aphrodite couldn''t resist returning secretly to The City of Paphos in Cyprus, where she bathed in the sea waters, allowed The Three Graces to anoint her with fragrant oil and to purify her body, regaining her chastity, before heading to the Sea of Okeanos to tumble in the sheets with Poseidon, who had stepped forward to mediate.


    Afterward, to express her gratitude to Hermes for his intercession, she ended up getting involved with that Divine Envoy as well.


    As Athena spoke, disgust appeared in waves across her face.


    Hestia, who had just encountered this shocking revtion, was left stunned, feeling pity for her honest nephew whose head was now covered in an unmistakably green hue.


    Luo En, hearing about his great-great-grandmother''s bold exploits, was secretly amazed.


    Damn, a threesome? Are you that capable?


    And the Goddess of Love''s divine power can be used like this? It evenes with a hymen-restoration feature? Impressive!


    No wonder Athena ran away in the middle of the night to seek tranquility with Hestia.


    Watching such a farce unfold right before your eyes, being powerless to do anything, and even if you tell Hephaestus, the victim, you''re just rubbing salt into his wounds and subjecting him to greater humiliation.


    In the end, the Goddess of Wisdom could only look out for herself and find peace of mind by staying out of sight.


    Having finished speaking, Athena nced at the person who was engrossed in listening and humphed softly.


    "Speaking of which, you do fit the aesthetic of my rtive. Do you want me to introduce you to her?"


    "Cough, no need, I prefer to be faithful to one!"


    Luo En jerked alert and hastily chuckled while shaking his head in refusal.


    Just kidding, what hasn''t Aphrodite seen in that field of hers? Even if the Bull Demon King came to plow the field, he''d be drained and devoured; I''d better not get involved with my frail self.


    Moreover, this Goddess''s birth is somewhat tied to Uranus, the Father of Heaven. There might be some unknown secrets and taboos hidden; even Zeus, the wandering anthropomorphic seed-spreader, wouldn''t dare to touch her lightly, rarely involved in any scandal with Aphrodite, let alone a demigod like myself.


    What''s more, if I remember correctly, Aphrodite hasn''t been without demigod lovers, but generally, they didn''t enjoy much pleasure before they met their premature demise.


    Hiss, thinking about it that way, this woman might truly be a cmity nted by Uranus.


    Luo En muttered in his heart about his widely acquainted great-great-grandmother, while sitting up straight, his expression serious, demonstrating his firm stance not to consort with the corrupt.


    Seeing Luo En''s demeanor, Athena, being a virgin goddess, nodded in approval.


    Of course, she had no idea that someone''s so-called faithfulness meant one person.


    But, it could also mean a group...

 Chapter 47: 43 Curiosity Killed the Cat

    "All right, let''s not talk about this anymore, it''s gettingte, I''ll go prepare dinner, you guys keep chatting."


    In the house, Hestia, who had her fill of melon, pped her hands, stood up from the stool, and headed to the kitchen.


    Dinner?


    Luo En blinked in surprise, looked out the window, and realized that the setting sun had already dipped mostly below the horizon without him noticing.


    Unknowingly, this golden prime-time discussion on Olympus had stretched from noon until evening.


    Thankfully, with the snacks carefully prepared by Hestia, they didn''t feel hungry and were all immersed in the gossip and discussions.


    This damned curiosity!


    Luo En pped his forehead, annoyed with himself.


    "Don''t worry, my aunt lives alone, there are plenty of rooms, and she really enjoys hosting guests. You can stay here tonight without any issues."


    Athena noticed Luo En''s reaction, set down her cup filled with honey water, paused for a moment, looked out at the bustling streets outside the window, and suggested with a lightugh.


    "Additionally, the Harvest Festival ising up soon. It''s a rare asion, and with an abundance of food, drinks, and entertainment, why not stay a few extra days and enjoy the festivities before leaving?"


    Luo En''s eyelids twitched, and he instinctively wanted to decline, but he felt a persistent tugging sensation at the hem of his clothes from behind.


    He turned his head and was met with Little Medusa''s longing, shining eyes, and her throat swallowing saliva.


    Thinking of the deste and ruined temple on Formless Ind and those human outsiders who flocked there to persecute, Luo En''s heart stirred, contemtive.


    Humans, under the instigation of the gods, had continuously waged battles against the scattered Titan creatures across the world, creating so-called great deeds to dedicate to the deities.


    The Gorgon Sisters, who had fled from the Arima Dungeon to Formless Ind, were among the most evident victims.


    But in truth, humans and mythical creatures were not natural enemies, and the motives of the gods were not pure.


    They mostly aimed to stir up conflicts between humans and mythical creatures, preventing the two powerful groups from forming alliances that could threaten them.


    Perhaps he could use this opportunity to gradually introduce Medusa, who hadn''t yet fallen into madness from persecution, to human society and change her perception of the human collective.


    After all, not all humans were heroes wanting to achieve glory, warriors seeking fame by ying mythical creatures, or monarchs desiring immortality.


    Those ordinary people who gave everything for a warm meal, strived for simple happiness, didn''t wish harm upon others, nor wanted to be harmed, were the majority in human society.


    To shake the sun-like authority of Olympus, he must leverage every possible power at his disposal.


    Luo En''s eyes flickered with thought, his mind racing, and he finally made a decision in his head. He looked up and gave a slight smile to Little Medusa, who was eagerly watching him from behind, then turned to nod gently at Athena.


    "I shall graciously ept your hospitality."


    "It''s just a small convenience, and during the festival, it''s a tradition for Minosians to do their best to host visitors from afar. No need for formalities."


    Athena nodded with a modest smile, then called over a blond little girl who was wandering about in the hallway.


    "Nike, take them upstairs to find a couple of vacant rooms to put away their luggage."


    "Okay!"


    The crown-wearing blond girl scampered over, cheerfully epting the order, then took an excited Little Medusa by hand and dashed upstairs, with Luo En carrying a few personal belongings and following unhurriedly, his gaze thoughtfully on the girl known as "Nike."


    If he wasn''t mistaken, she should be Athena''s most important lesser deity¡ªthe Goddess of Victory, Nike, with Nike being a feminized transliteration of her name.


    ording to mythological records, this ssic image of the Goddess of Victory included a crown on her head, a pair of golden wings on her back, and a strong figure with flowing robes, descending as though from the heavens, her robust body revealed under the thin clothing, both powerful and healthy, representing victory and the joy it brings.


    Because she personified victory, wherever she went, sess would surely follow.


    ```


    However, the Twelve Olympians of Mount Olympus had just fought the Titans of Mount Othrys, and their authority had just been stabilized.


    Athena herself was born after the Titanomachy and, though she was endowed with the dual divine authority of wisdom and war, the battles she had fought and the victories she had won were not many at this point.


    Therefore, it was not difficult to understand why Nike, the Lesser Deity of Victory, still resembled a child.


    With Nike''s guidance, Luo En selected two adjacent guest rooms, put down his luggage, and smiled as he spoke.


    "You two go y nearby. I''ll tidy up the rooms."


    The two little girls, given permission to leave, were immediately thrilled and turned to race downstairs.


    "Wait, take these with you."


    The voice from behind stopped Little Medusa, and as she turned around, Luo En pulled out a bronze badge from his pocket and tied it around Little Medusa''s neck, then stuffed a few dozen Athena''s Bronze into the pockets of the two little girls as pocket money.


    He watched as the two of them, holding hands, went downstairs, passing right by Athena without attracting the Goddess of Wisdom''s attention. He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    Like the Dice of Chance, the badges Luo En had received from the world also bore the scent of "chance" that fate could not predict, effectively concealing Medusa''s mythical identity and preventing easy detection.


    Of course, you get what you pay for.


    ording to the instructions for the Dice of Chance, the bronze badge was only valid for the day, the silver badge''s effects couldst about a week, and the gold badge couldst at least a year.


    Hence, this was also why Luo En wanted to continue to work.


    If he wanted to avoid being perceived by Zeus and the fate of this world, he needed to persist in creating disturbances, using his own "chance" changes to interfere with the calction of fate''s "inevitability" and to safely lie low.


    Perhaps, from the moment of his idental and premature birth, he had already be an "anomaly" that this world could not tolerate.


    ncing at the two little ones who were now buying snacks at the corner of the street, hand in hand, Luo En gently closed the window, arranged the beds, and then stepped out the door.


    "ng!"


    Just as he stepped out, a dull thud from the hallway reached his ears.


    Luo En looked up and saw Athena standing in front of the railing on the second floor, her hands held as if grasping something.


    At this moment, she was looking down at the floor where two fruits of different sizes and weights hadnded almost simultaneously. Her brow was furrowed, as she muttered to herself.


    "Objects of different weights and sizes, if factors like shape and material are minimized, fall at nearly the same speed. If two objects of the same material and shape, with only differences in weight and size, were dropped from a height, perhaps the margin of error would be further reduced..."


    Luo En was astonished upon hearing Athena''s conclusion.


    Just by him mentioning it, she had extrapted the idea to minimize interference factors and conduct moreprehensive objective experiments.


    This not only allowed her to jump out of conventional thinking¡ªlike, "why do a feather and an apple or a lead ball and a piece of papernd one after the other?"¡ªbut also nearly led her to deduce thepletews of free fall.


    Keep in mind that it took nearly two thousand years for humanity to progress from Aristotle''s questions to Galileo correcting the misconceptions.


    What can I say, she truly is the Goddess of Wisdom.


    "Did youe out? Just in time. How did you know? Come over and exin a bit?"


    At this moment, Athena, standing on the second-floor corridor and hearing movement, turned her head to look at Luo En who had just left the room and casually invited him over.


    In an instant, Luo En''s face stiffened.


    He was a theory-spinner, not a practical experimenter capable of in-depth calctions.


    This damn curiosity can really kill a man!


    Seeing Athena''s ignited desire for knowledge and beginning to sweat, Luo En''s brain raced as he frantically thought of a way to escape the situation.


    ```

 Chapter 48: 44 Fight, Fight, I want to see blood flowing like a river!

    "Dinner''s ready!"


    Finally, the heavenly summons from the kitchen was like a lifeline to someone drowning, and he rushed downstairs with utmost speed.


    "I''ll help!"


    Seeing someone flee in such a hurry, Athena could only shake her head, give up for the moment, and reluctantly go downstairs to assist in the kitchen.


    Don''t be fooled by her usual calm and gentle demeanor; once she entered her own domain wielding a spat anddle, herbat power and pressure would rise exponentially.


    Under themand of the Goddess of the Hearth, the two adults quickly set the dinner table and brought up a sumptuous evening meal.


    As the scent of the food wafted out of the half-open window, two little girls idling on the street were automatically summoned home and obediently sat down next to their respective guardians, eagerly eyeing the rich spread on the table.


    By now, the Minosians had learned to domesticate cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and other livestock; to cultivate wheat, barley, wild peas, chickpeas, and to cultivate a series of crops including grapes, figs, pomegranates, and olives. Along with the rich seafood from nearby waters, their diet was quite extensive,


    Even Luo En saw honeybees that were artificially produced, clearly indicating that the Minosians of Crete Ind had figured out some tricks to domesticating bees.


    "Come on, don''t be shy, try some of my cooking!"


    Speaking, Hestia stood up, picked up adle and fork, and took the lead in serving some of her most proud dishes onto Luo En and Little Medusa''s tes.


    Being personally served by the Goddess of the Hearth, Luo En was suddenly somewhat overwhelmed by the honor.


    "Don''t worry, Auntie loves it when new faces try her recipes. I''ve never seen her this enthusiastic when I''ve visited before."


    Athena, feeling somewhat left out, humphed and then, ncing at Luo En and Little Medusa sitting nearby, smiled and teased.


    "However, after dinner, you''ll probably be hounded for improvement suggestions, and if it goes badly, you might even end up talking all night, so I suggest you run as soon as you finish eating."


    "You girl, always talking behind my back, be careful next time youe I will only serve you a bowl of porridge!"


    Hestia picked up thedle, stared at her niece irritably, and everyone couldn''t help but smile understandingly.


    As the atmosphere at the dinner table rxed, the Goddess of Wisdom decisively picked up a piece of grilledmb chop that had turned golden brown and ate it elegantly and quickly, setting off the first round of the meal.


    Everyone immediately followed suit, choosing dishes ording to their tastes and started to enjoy the feast.


    The two youngsters had special affection for desserts and fruits, while Luo En, who was still growing, leaned more towards the meats.


    Although he harbored some skepticism about the culinary standard and skills of this divine world, with a piece ofmb chop melting in his mouth, the tender meat dissolved at the touch of teeth, the rich juices bursting on the tip of his tongue. Just a touch of salt and a hint of spices were exactly right, enhancing the delicate and rich natural vor of the food, with absolutely no gaminess.


    High-end ingredients often only need simple cooking.


    Simrly, goodmb doesn''t require heavy orplex seasoning.


    Luo En, a little reluctant to stop, quickly devoured seven or eight pieces. The pleasure and satisfaction from the meat made his constantly tense heartstrings rx a bit.


    Unfortunately, it was only missing a bit of ck pepper to cut the greasiness.


    Otherwise, the meal would have been perfect.


    Putting down their guards and letting their bellies hang out, after a whirlwind of eating, the satiated individualszily sat in their chairs, faces ofplete contentment.


    The greatest respect for a chef is to eat everything she has prepared, leaving not a morsel behind.


    Looking at the empty tes and cups, Hestia nodded in satisfaction, proactively stood up to clear the cluttered table, exuding the aura of a domestic goddess.


    Of course, this is assuming one overlooks her current height and youthful appearance.


    Perhaps because of her young mindset and her virgin divinity, this eldest sister of Zeus still resembled a youthful maiden.


    But indisputably, the nutrients Hestia had absorbed over the years had not been wasted; the parts of her that should be ample were even starting to put supermodels to shame.


    Watching Hestia move about, Luo En''s gaze was inexorably drawn to those two big, white mounds swaying uncertainly, provoking a surge of blood and leaving him parched and short of breath.


    Alright, because the benefits he obtained from the domain of war had not fully been digested, and coupled with the vigorous hormones of adolescence, he found it particrly easy to be excited when encountering somewhat criminally tempting grown women.


    And Hestia just happened to be a prime candidate for a wife in Greek mythology.


    Whether it is personality or stature.


    As for Athena...


    Luo En briefly recalled the encounter when he first saw her, as well as the difference between that statue and the person herself, he could only say.


    There''s suspicion of padding to deceive customers...


    "Ahem..."


    The familiar cough by his ear made him instinctively shiver, and he immediately came back to his senses, sitting upright and scrutinizing the wood grain patterns of the dining table while an inconspicuous fine sweat broke out on the back of his neck.


    He had actually forgotten that he was in the presence of two chief gods, it seems he had eaten too much.


    Luckily, Athena had just brought up a topic and hadn''t noticed someone''s improper gaze and the sacrilegious thoughts in his head.


    "We''ve just eaten, so how about we do something to pass the time?"


    The Goddess of Wisdom said, her gazending meaningfully on several fruits of varying sizes and weights on the te.


    "It''s not suitable for intense exercise after a meal, how about we y a little intellectual game instead?"


    Seeing this, Luo En hurriedly intercepted the conversation.


    He didn''t want to spend his days miserably gathering data and conducting research with this shrewd Goddess of Wisdom, who had more tricks up her sleeve than anyone.


    He might manage to bluff his way through for a while, but if he really had to delve deep into a field, he would inevitably give himself away sooner orter.


    But it would be better to cut off this woman''s train of thought in advance, to spare himself the constant worry of having to be on guard every day.


    "Wait for me a moment."


    Luo En said, standing up and going upstairs. He took out the Greek version of international chess that he had used to trick Hecate, and ced it before Athena.


    An intellectual game, huh?


    Athena looked at the interlocking squares and yed with the uniquely shaped chess pieces in her hand. She listened to Luo En exin the rules with great interest and was quickly drawn to the game.


    Excellent, she''s taken the bait!


    Luo En nodded in satisfaction, then set up the board and started teaching Athena the rules and tactics by demonstration.


    Of course, he used the strategies and openings of another old acquaintance, Hecate.


    Wasn''t he bing increasingly challenged by the Goddess of the Underworld Moon on the chessboard? This was the perfect opportunity to let the esteemed Goddess of Wisdom battle her from afar, while he yed the role of a consultant, revising the moves.


    With this, he cleverly rid himself of two significant nuisances, a sly smile ying across his face.


    Let the battlemence, I want to see a river of blood!


    Time slipped through his fingers like sand, and before he knew it, the clear sound of chess pieces being ced on the board drowned out the crackling of the hearth''s fire. In the midst of these intense virtual battles, Athena became increasingly engrossed.


    And Luo En, through recreating past games, acquired plenty of strategies against Hecate, benefitting from both sides and reaping a rich harvest.


    However...


    He nced out the window at the moon that had already climbed high into the sky and couldn''t suppress a yawn.


    "It''s gettingte, how about we make a date to continue another time when we''re free?"


    "That would be good..."


    Athena, still with an unsatisfied look, nodded her agreement and didn''t insist on continuing.


    After all, she had just been introduced to this intriguing game and needed time to organize her thoughts and devise counter-strategies.


    Watching the figure leading his sister upstairs, Athena twirled the queen chess piece between her fingers, her dazzling purple eyes glinting like shooting stars.


    He''s quite an interesting little fellow, perhaps, I could...

 Chapter 49: 45: Mystery Unaltered by Arguments, Destiny Unchanged by Wealth

    The night deepened, and as the fire in the living room died out, Luo En quietly got out of bed, locked the door and windows.


    Afterwards, he sneakily took out the twelve-sided die, and added the newly obtained silver badge to the altar. Then, shaking his cupped hands, he silently chanted his intended target in his mind.


    Athena, Athena! Give me an Athena!


    Those who have studied summoning know that it requires a catalyst. The item isn''t fixed¡ªit can be a scene, an offering, or something that makes a connection to the summoning target,monly known as a sacred relic.


    As Luo En knew, some obsessed gamers in the circle visited Ennd, feverishly wanting to bring back some local soil specialities¡ªfrom the red soil in front of King Arthur''s tomb, no less¡ªinsisting on using it as a sacred relic to summon a big-eater beauty in a suit with tufty hair, to fight the Holy Grail War for them, and rid them of the 996 overtime work schedule.


    As they repeatedly extracted several kilograms of soil from their travel bags and unted photos in their groups, Luo En suspected that they might havepletely stripped bare the top of King Arthur''s grave.


    Of course, even with all these preparations, whether they did the card draws online or the actual maniption offline, what had to go wrong still went wrong.


    After all, one cannot change fate by geomancy or by spending money. Some summonings rely on luck, others on misfortune; such is the nature of this profession.


    So, Luo En, who was almost numb to deviations, didn''t have much hope. All he could do was see whether the so-called "Dice of Chance" would abide by thew of conservation of luck and give him a field advantage, considering he had gambled with a sacred relic personally rted to Athena next door.


    With hope in his heart, Luo En let go without hesitation. The twelve-sided die on the table rolled several times, finally showing a blood-red numberposed of crimson spears.


    Ares?


    Great, skewed again...


    Seeing thepletely different emblem, Luo En grimly reached out, intending to retrieve the die when a silvery-white character, tinged with blood, flickered and hovered above the altar in his mind, radiating a brutal and ferocious Divinity.


    Luo En''s previously disdainful gaze froze instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply.


    It''s actually this one!


    Meanwhile, in Olympus, at the Hall of Beauty.


    The once violently shaking soft bed came to a sudden halt. Ares, the War God, who had been brandishing his sword in battle within the draped bed, shivered, and hisplexion turned beet red in an instant.


    "It''s an ident, definitely an ident! It must be because Hephaestus has been pestering me too muchtely, I..."


    "Bang!"


    Before Ares could finish his defense, Aphrodite''s bewitchingly beautiful face had already frosted over with disdain, and with one kick, she sent the now ineffective man tumbling under the bed.


    Having just returned from the outside and heard of her lover''s embarrassing situation, she had intended to personally step in tofort him.


    But once again, he was all bark and no bite.


    If she had known, she would have stayed a few more days in Antis.


    Ares, scrambling up from the ground, tried to prove that his vigor was still intact, but as a familiar sense of exhaustion surged in his heart, his face darkened, and he felt like crying without tears.


    Not this again!


    At this very moment, in a residence within Knossos City.


    Luo En, sensing the surging, crimson, divine characters in his mind, felt so excited he wanted to leap up from the bed.


    ¡ªThe War God''s Privilege¡¤Infinite Martial Refinement.


    ¡ªI am the God of Battle, I am the God of Terror. I shall incite carnage time and again, endure countless battlefields, offer sacrifices in blood, temper with fire, and ascend to the pinnacle!


    As the arrogant divine words echoed in his mind, Luo En''s hands clung tightly to the corners of his quilt, enduring the oppressive impact of the War God''s Divinity on the altar within his mind.


    Simultaneously, corrted information flowed into his stream of consciousness.


    The so-called "Infinite Martial Refinement" refers to an era where martial skills had reached an almost peerless level. Such individuals could easily achieve the perfect unity of mind, body, and technique and exhibit peakbat prowess under any mental and physical constraints.


    As Luo En knew, there were only a handful of heroes in Greece''s age of heroes who were worthy of this title.


    The most famous of them was Hercules the Great, a hero from the future.


    And a millenniumter, Lancelot, the Knight of the Lake from Celtic mythology, also held such an honor.


    ording to the original texts, Lancelot was undefeated in his lifetime. In contrast, most of the Knights of the Round Table were recorded to have experienced defeat.


    Legend has it that when King Arthur was assassinated, Lancelot could have rushed back from France on his own, be an army of one, and protected King Arthur alone. He was able to stop the advance of an entire army by himself and, after the event, casually walked away without a fuss. Even after losing his weapons, he could use tree branches to puncture the enemies'' heads effortlessly.


    Clearly, these two representatives at the pinnacle of martial arts were enough to prove the value of this title.


    But how could one achieve unity of mind, body, and technique without reaching a certain level in martial arts?


    Luo En looked at his excessively pale hands and couldn''t help but doubt himself.


    However, as the war deity''s essence washed over him, he soon grasped the true meaning of unity of mind, body, and technique in the "Infinite Martial Refinement."


    Mind: refers to a steadfast and unshakable spirit, more inclined to represent willpower andbat will;


    Technique: is easier to understand, referring to various martial arts skills, which can be acquired through continuousbat and training.


    Body: naturally refers to thest physical quality, able to keep up with the level of skill execution.


    In short, it means that even when one''s spirit and body are subjected to all sorts of disturbances and influences, one can still perfectly exhibit all theirbat power.


    To achieve this, it requires a strong will + refined martial skills + corresponding physical abilities, aprehensive assessment.


    Upon closer reflection, Luo En felt somewhat bewildered again.


    Though he had ascended to demigod status and possessed richbat experience fighting Titan Gods and an indomitable fighting spirit.


    Yet, this was still some distance away from the true "Infinite Martial Refinement."


    Was just infusing a strand of war divinity enough to reach this realm?


    Bear in mind, even Ares, the god of war, had not fully achieved the state of "Infinite Martial Refinement."


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t be treated as an experience bag by the other chief gods, casually farmed for experience.


    "Hum!"


    While Luo En was deep in thought, the silver divine oracle in his mind exploded into endless streams of bloodlight, and a series of gruesome and stern battle images madly flooded his mind.


    Blood! War! ughter! Death!


    The formidable figure with a bronze winged helmet and leather vambraces waved a war spear one moment and grasped the Sword of the War God the next, constantly piercing, sweeping, jabbing, and chopping at the enemies surging in from all sides.


    That figure, radiating a violent urge to kill, became the beast on the battlefield that tore through and devoured everything.


    He was divinely favored, dignified, agile, and tireless in battle.


    He was the nemesis of wisdom, the scourge of life.


    Blood flowed freely, lives were brutally reaped, and offered to terror and death.


    Headless Titans, heartbroken Nymphs, wing-broken dragons, groaning heroes... one by one, these figures fell to his sword and to the front of his spear.


    When thest standing figure also fell with a thunderous copse, facing the war god Luo En, he suddenly felt a battle will and madness of such purity crashing into his heart, as a crimson tide of blood began to overwhelmingly spread out.


    In an instant, he couldn''t help but have bloodshot eyes, his heart pounded like a thunderous drum, and the zing blood it furiously pumped out flowed into his limbs, burning like mes within his body.


    An impulse to find an opponent and engage in a hearty battle overpowered him, making him lose control; he leaped and jumped into the dark courtyard.


    Luo En clenched his teeth and, relying on his barely maintained sanity, broke off a tree branch and started chopping at the flowers and nts on the road.


    In a sh, branches and leaves scattered, flowers were destroyed, and the entire nursery was a mess.


    Finally, after a bout of venting, the uncontroble surge of blood in his body showed signs of easing.


    However, before Luo En could figure out how to tame this unruly battle will, a cold murmur came from behind him.


    "Crude, too crude..."


    In the moonlight, Athena, dressed in a in white gown, looked at the mess on the ground with a look of disdain that even a dog would shake its head at. She casually picked up a twig from the side, tapped it against her palm, and walked gracefully towards Luo En in the courtyard, who was using the tree branch to mimic sword techniques.


    "Well then, let me teach you how to use a sword!"


    In an instant, the stubborn battle will within Luo En roared to life like oil poured on fire, and the "sword" in his hand involuntarily chopped towards the approaching Goddess of Wisdom.


    The fierce battle was inevitable!

 Chapter 50: 46 Please, flog me hard!

    The crimson blood energy pulled the violent etheric tides, swirling like the wind sweeping through fallen leaves, as the zing sword light burst forth from the tip of the branch in Luo En''s hand, heading straight for Athena''s throat, arriving in an instant.


    "Too slow!"


    During the lightning-fast moment, the War Goddess, who had been standing still, raised her hand and flicked her wrist. The sword''s momentum closed at an inch''s distance before her, effortlessly deflecting the oing branch.


    Instantly, the overwhelming force not only deviated Luo En''s branch but also made him stumble, crashing into a nearby flowerpot.


    "I recall you''ve already had dinner tonight?"


    The seemingly casual inquiry by his ear, tinged with a light mockery, sent Luo En''s already high blood pressure through the roof, filling his eyes with blood vessels.


    You want speed, huh? Fine, then let it be fast!


    Combat spirit surging and boiling, Luo En stomped his left foot onto the ground, turning several marble floor tiles to dust.


    Using the rebound force, he steadied his swaying body and with the speed of lightning darted forward, his "sword" fast as a meteor in a torrential downpour.


    Is this it?


    Athena yawned, lifting a hand slightly, effortlessly sweeping away the starlight that filled the sky, her slender body like a rock standing firm on the shore, unmoved by the surging waves no matter how vigorously they washed over it.


    The bored expression on the goddess'' face was the epitome of mockery.


    Fight! Fight! Fight!


    Unable to advance any further, within Luo En''s mind, which was a bloody battlefield, seemed as if countless souls were raging. The golden blood from the War God Ares burned fiercely, turning into an endless source of power within him.


    "Hum!"


    Apanied by the sharp buzzing of the air, the blood-colored currents focused on a single point, shooting forward, as if the whole world was pierced by this scarlet light.


    "The speed is enough, the uracy is slightly off..."


    Athena, with her skirt fluttering in the strong wind, gave her assessment indifferently, then lifted the corner of her mouth, her voice turning chilly.


    "But you should know, your enemy is capable of moving!"


    Before her words even finished echoing, the War Goddess shifted slightly to the side, moving half a step forward.


    The unstoppable crimson sword light narrowly missed her flowing silver hair, striking at nothing, a miss by a fraction yet as far off as a thousand miles.


    What was worse, as the swordsmanship fell through, Luo En''s body also leaned forward uncontrobly.


    "Smack!"


    A sharp p resounded, striking his buttocks.


    The damage wasn''t severe, but it was highly insulting.


    Luo En felt the searing pain on his buttocks and couldn''t help but grimace; his already raging blood energy surged even more fiercely.


    Not enough! Still not enough!


    Although he could barely keep up with speed and power, his skills werecking!


    Skills! I need skills!


    The silent scream in his mind caused the crimson river of his heart to surge tumultuously.


    Soon after, headless Titans, heart-lost Nymphs, wing-broken dragons, roaring heroes... One fierce figure after another, born from blood, took to the battlefield,unching charge after charge unto death.


    The God of Berserkers, with bronze plumes on his helmet and leather bracers on his arms, swung his sword and spear, shing, stabbing, and chopping time and time again, facing the tidal wave of challengers.


    Hammering with heavy fists, sweeping with sharp swords, ripping with ws and teeth, thrusting with spears... Over and over, he faced different perilous situations, executing deadly moves one after another, brutally infusing into Luo En''s soul, unfolding before his eyes.


    Apanied by an excruciating pain like needles piercing his skull, Luo En, with his eyes filled with a scarlet frenzy, rose and turned, his "sword" shing, stabbing, and chopping at the War Goddess like a fierce storm, creating deep gashes in the ground all around.


    Somewhat interesting...


    Athena, at the center of the storm, raised her eyebrows, moved her feet in small steps, and with the branch, she repeatedly blocked, interrupted, and shattered... With precision that didn''t waste an ounce of energy, she effortlessly deflected the violent and relentless sword''s momentum.


    As Luo En continued to absorb, understand, and assimte thebat techniques from the battlefield in his mind, he fought more and more valiantly, even his movements no longer confined to the sword itself.


    At times it was the treacherous ferocity of a long spear, at other times the wide swings of a de''s edge, and yet at others the concussive drilling of a blunt weapon...


    And as he moved, even mixed within were his experiences battling deities and monsters on the Sea of Okeanos, the tactical deception employed when pursued by the Antean Guard, even to the deflection techniques of Tai Chi, the disarming moves of Bajiquan, the defensive counter-attacks of Aikido...


    All knowledge rted tobat, whether observed and understood, personally learned, or merely existing in theoretical fantasy, merged bit by bit into Luo En''s bloodstream, bones, and even his soul during this exhrating duel, forming clear imprints and instincts.


    This was the infinite battle, the endless trial, the boundless martial path!


    Athena, retreating as she fought, felt the rapid transformation of the figure opposite her, and her loosened lips curled up unconsciously, sketching a faint arc.


    Not bad at all, you''re finally taking shape.


    However, after battling fiercely for a full hour, Luo En suddenly halted his offensive and stood firm, his eyes bloodshot with dissatisfaction and indignation.


    "Fight back! Why don''t you fight back?"


    That''s right.


    Until now, the Goddess of War had been almost solely on the defensive, dismantling his moves without any intention ofunching an assault.


    "You want me to fight back? Are you sure?"


    Upon hearing this, Athena''s purple eyes narrowed slightly as a smile that was not quite a smile appeared on her face.


    "Of course! Combat! I want purebat!"


    At that moment, Luo En''s mind was overwhelmed with surging fighting spirit, his thinking hadpletely turned Ares-like, as he stared intently at Athena across from him, once again swinging the sword in his hands and initiating a new round of attack.


    Come on, gopletely wild!


    Watching Luo En charging over in a frenzy, Athena''s upturned lips lifted again, the smile on her face exceptionally radiant.


    Meanwhile, two little ones who had heard themotion and slipped to the back porch, sneakily stuck their heads out to watch the scene, revealing expressions of different emotions.


    Little Medusa clenched her clothing with pale knuckles, looking tense.


    Nike''s eyes were wide open, showing a kind of schadenfreude.


    "Boom!"


    A sh of sword light and the figure thatunched the charge flew backward like a cannonball, crashing straight into a dense thicket of roses.


    "Hiss!"


    Luo En,nding butt first, turned green in the face and, like an electric shock, sprang up from the ground, his hands groping behind him, pulling out seven or eight bloodied spikes.


    Intentional! This woman definitely did it on purpose!


    No doubt she''s getting back at me for sneaking some of her offerings!


    At that moment, Luo En, with a face like a painful mask, looked toward Athena emerging from the dust with a smile that was not quite a smile and cursed inwardly.


    Petty!


    "Shall we continue, friend...?"


    The Goddess of Wisdom rhythmically tapped a branch in her hand against her palm, her expression one of satisfaction mixed with a hint of regret.


    Though it felt good to strike, she should have...


    However, Luo En, now recovered from the shock, pulled a broken branch from the ground despite the pain, without a hint of retreat, stepped forward with even fiercer fighting spirit erupting from within.


    "Again!"


    Athena was slightly taken aback, her smile fading, and as threads of appreciation swam in her profound purple eyes, her expression gradually turned serene and cold.


    "Very well!"


    Her red lips parted, acknowledging one who dared to draw a sword against a deity, her bare hand swung, bringing retribution to the audacious fool who had defied divine might.


    "Pfff!"


    The whistling branch pierced through, easily tearing through Luo En''s protective sword light, leaving acerated wound across his chest, from which crimson blood sprayed forth.

 Chapter 51: 47 Hestias Wail

    Thump, thump, stomping!


    Luo En staggered back several steps before stabilizing his figure, his facial muscles twitching slightly, but his gaze became increasingly fervent and resolute.


    It hurt, it hurt a lot!


    But, he could still move, he had not lost yet!


    "Again!!"


    With a deep roar, the bloody figure took arge step forward, shing at the towering deity.


    "Pfft!"


    Still to no avail, another scar was etched onto that sacrilegious body.


    "Again!!!"


    Luo En got up from the ground,ughing heartily amid the pain.


    He had guessed right, he would not die.


    Since he would not die, why fear failure, why fear death!


    This opportunity was rare, he needed to climb thedder to godhood as much as possible during this sh, to touch the divine glory of the deities!


    The gap was not impossible to bridge!


    Fate was not impossible to change!


    Zeus, clean your neck and wait for me!


    Looking at the figure before her, repeatedly knocked down and getting up again and again bathed in blood, Athena''s expression changed from initial mockery to surprise, then finally to solemnity. She then softly parted her lips and began to muse quietly.


    "Watch carefully, learn well...!"


    As her serene voice fell, the always defensively-reactive goddess of wisdom and war took the initiative to step forward for the first time.


    "Come!"


    The blood-drenched Luo Enughed as he stood tall, his body strengthened by the war spirit and Divine Blood, turning into a crimson blur as he charged towards the deity as imposing as a mountain peak, unleashing a [Sword] strike that surpassed his previous speed, strength, technique, and will by many times!


    Athena held a branch and parried Luo En''s [Sword] again and again, then repeatedly pricked, sliced, and pierced through the body opposite her.


    To grant pain to life, to mete out punishment for sin!


    Again and again, over and over...


    The jagged wounds were horrendous, bone deep;


    Spattered flesh and blood flew into the soil, settling into the dust;


    Yet even so, that blood-soaked figure was terrifyingly tenacious.


    He was exceedingly lucid, and also exceedingly insane.


    Fight! Fight!


    Having been through countless battlefields, endless martial trials, heart, skill, and body would eventually be forged by this divine me into an indestructible edge!


    As the remains of the night faded, dawn arrived.


    With the first glimmer of light rising from the sea and spilling over the disordered garden, Athena swung her final sword strike.


    The man, nearly no part of his body left intact, copsed with a thunderous fall and could not rise again.


    "Luo En!"


    Seeing the bloodied figure lying motionless on the ground, Little Medusa could no longer contain herself and cried out as she rushed into the courtyard.


    "Don''t touch him!"


    However, before the young girl could reach him, Athena grabbed her shoulder and cast a nce at the one lying like a corpse on the ground, and lightly huffed.


    "Don''t worry, he won''t die yet."


    "But..."


    Little Medusa looked at the almost unrecognizable form of Luo En, her cherry lips tightly pressed, her heart aching.


    "Let him lie there, it''s for his own good."


    Athena said helplessly, trying to soothe the apprehensive girl before her.


    "I''ve taught what I can teach, how much heprehends depends on him. In the meantime, it''s best if no one touches him."


    "Just leave him lying there?"


    Little Medusa pursed her lips, her eyes brimming with worry.


    "What if he catches a cold? What if it rains?"


    Seeing Medusa''s aggrieved small expression, Athena sighed, feeling helpless, and waved her hand.


    "If you''re really that worried, then stay here and take care of him."


    "Mhm!"


    With permission granted, Little Medusa nodded vigorously and quickly dashed forward, squatting on the ground beside Luo En to guard him.


    Gazing at the unwavering Little Medusa, it was now Athena''s turn to feel uneasy. She couldn''t help but repeatedly admonish.


    "Remember, if you don''t want to disturb his rest, it''s best not to move around. Otherwise, all his suffering will have been in vain."


    After speaking, Athena walked up the corridor and waved at the lesser deity Nike by her side.


    "We should leave now."


    "Didn''t you say we were staying here for the harvest festival?"


    Nike tilted her head, looking at her mistress with a puzzled and slightly reluctant expression.


    "Are you sure you want to stay here?"


    Athena rolled her eyes at her somewhat homesick lesser deity and pointed to a certain bedroom on the second floor shrouded in a faint golden light, speaking in a ghostly voice.


    "If we don''t leave now, she will awaken soon."


    Nike was momentarily startled, her gaze following her mistress''s ghostly stare onto the backyard''s devastated vegetable garden and nursery, trampled as if by a stampede of beasts, and she shivered.


    "Crack¡­"


    The golden barrier enveloping a bedroom upstairs shattered. The maid and her mistress exchanged nces and immediately dashed out of the civilian residence, disappearing into the throng of people.


    A momentter, an angry and painful wail arose from a certain residence, piercing throughout Knossos Royal City.


    "My vegetable patch! My garden! Who did this?!"


    The full brunt of resentment reached outside the city. Along a tree-lined path, a pair of mistress and maid slowed their steps momentarily, then hastened to flee the crime scene.


    Meanwhile, upon the Sea of Okeanos.


    A raggedy sampan bobbed up and down with the waves'' undtion.


    Two girls with long purple hair, strikingly simr in appearance and dressed in elegant gowns, sat gracefully on either side of the boat, neither showing any intention of rowing.


    "When are we ever going to reach shore?"


    The rtively petite, more impatient purple-haired girl, stroking her slightly damp hair,ined first.


    On the other side, the slightly older purple-haired girl admired her exquisite reflection in the sea, responding indifferently.


    "How would I know? Didn''t you set the direction?"


    "Huh, it was you who first steered the boat into the Primordial Ocean, nearly crashed into the Anteans'' homnd, and then they chased us all over the world!"


    The twin sister rolled her eyes and retorted in irritation.


    "So, didn''t we switch to you? Hurry up, I''m still waiting to go ashore to fix my nails."


    The elder sister passed a paddle to the opposite side,manding like she was instructing a servant.


    The younger sister clenched her fist in protest and dered her authority with a cold voice.


    "I''m the captain! You should listen to me!"


    "I''m the customer, not your boatman. By the rules, you should serve me. My clothes are dirty, and we''ve been dyed so long. I haven''tined about your sailing skills, which is already quite reasonable of me."


    The elder sister remained unmoved, sitting with the poise of a noble princess untouched by the worries of daily life, refuting.


    "Additionally, add one more point: I''m the elder sister, you should listen to me."


    "Stop using that to pressure me, you just hatched a few minutes earlier than me! What''s the big deal? Whoever wants to be the captain can be the captain; I''m not doing such menialbor anyway!"


    "Fine then, don''t do it¡­"


    The two sisters sat distinctly on either side of the boat, staring at each other, letting the vessel drift with the waves, neither making a move to row.


    After an indefinite silence, the younger sister bit her lip and spoke softly.


    "Do you think Little Medusa might have¡­"


    "Can''t you sense for yourself whether she''s dead or alive?"


    The elder sister huffed irritably. Her elegant face showed a trace of impatience, seeming to dislike the topic.


    The younger sister looked out at the boundless Sea of Okeanos, her face showing hesitation, hesitant to speak.


    "But¡­"


    "Are you annoying! If you want to reach shore, just row faster!"


    The elder sister tossed a paddle to the opposite side, falling back into her habitualmand.


    The younger sister rolled her eyes but didn''t argue, instead sitting obediently at one side.


    Becasue in her elder sister''s hand was the other paddle.


    The water surged, and the sampan propelled swiftly forward.


    "Little silly, you better not be dead¡­"


    The younger sister paused, her gaze meeting an indifferent face.


    "What are you looking at? Row!"


    The elder sister huffed in irritation, her face as indifferent as ever, apparently as unconcerned as usual.

 Chapter 52: 48 The Goddess of the Hearths Big Failure

    Crete Ind, Knossos Royal City.


    With the arrival of the Harvest Festival, the streets were filled with joy, and the residents, who had been busy for most of the year, could finally take a break to tidy up their homes and enjoy the season''s freshly threshed wheat and rice.


    Evening smoke curled up.


    Warm fires were lit, and sumptuous meals were served on dining tables, with enticing aromas spreading from house to house.


    In the central square of the city, which served the purpose of worship, priests in white robes held torches, lighting fragrant woods and spices. They offered bulls, cows, pigs, fruits, beehives, fruit trees, rice ears, and chestnuts to Demeter, the Goddess of Agriculture, as symbols of the festive and bountiful harvest. They prayed devoutly, hoping for the deities'' blessing for theing year, for favorable weather, and abundance.


    As sisters, Demeter''s likeness was simr to Hera''s, only with a more amiable appearance,cking the majestic aura of that queen of the gods.


    In the flickering firelight, the worshipped statue of Demeter was that of a gentle-looking woman. She wore a circr crown woven from golden wheat and carried a basketden with wheat ears, daffodils, torches, fruit baskets, horns of plenty, or sickles, symbols of abundance.


    From a distance, it seemed as though a hazy and warm glimmer had appeared in the night.


    As the ceremony gradually ended, residents who had finished their dinner began to step out of their homes in small groups, sharing homemade sweets and horn-of-plenty-shaped bread with their neighbors.


    The festive hustle and bustle, along with the aroma of food, even reached beyond the outer walls and into Hestia''s courtyard.


    However, the Goddess of the Hearth wasn''t enjoying the festive atmosphere as usual this year; instead, she hunched over in the back garden, muddy-handedly nting seedlings, her bright white teeth grinding in the starlight.


    Curse Athena! Breaking things as soon as she arrived! I''ll definitely never let her in again!


    As Hestia busied herself, she was filled withints about her restless great-niece.


    The time around the Harvest Festival was the best season for nting and tilling.


    She needed to quickly nt the new seedlings and restore life to her ravaged courtyard.


    Fortunately, though she had to spend some time closed off for nting, the celebration of the Harvest Festival wouldst seven days. Once she was done with this urgent task, she would still have a chance to enjoy the festivities.


    Comforting herself with this thought, Hestia nted thest bunch of seedlings she held, stood up, turned around, and looked towards the center of the courtyard.


    On the ground covered with withered leaves and broken branches, a guest from afary straight and immobile.


    Although nearly a hundred gruesome wounds on his body had begun to heal and scab over, he still hadn''t awoken. His fists were clenched tight, his muscles were taut with tension, and his brow was deeply furrowed as if he was still fighting forgetfully and fiercely in his dreams.


    And beside him, a little girl with purple hair crouched next to the man, waiting motionlessly.


    It had already been two days...


    Did Athena really need to be that harsh?


    Hestia shook her head and muttered another curse about her trouble-making great-niece. She then walked over, patted the little girl''s shoulder, and smiled as she pointed towards the door.


    "Anna, the Harvest Festival is here; it''s a rare asion, so go out and have some fun."


    Theughter from the streets and the wafting scent of food tempted Little Medusa, still with the heart of a child, to yearn for it.


    But soon after, she gently shook her head, her gaze falling back on Luo En, whoy like a corpse on the ground.


    Immediately understanding, Hestia pped her chest and assured her magnanimously.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll keep an eye on things here. He''ll be fine."


    Yet, Little Medusa still shook her head, resolutely watching over Luo En before her.


    "I''ll wait for him to wake up..."


    Seeing that she couldn''t persuade the stubborn little girl, Hestia could only give up sulkily and inwardly cursed her big niece who had left a mess for her to clean up.


    Days turned into nights and then back again.


    Since Luo En, who had been lying there like a corpse, showed no signs of waking up for several days, Little Medusa took the opportunity to settle down in Hestia''s residence.


    However, living there without contributing didn''t seem right.


    To repay the kindness, Little Medusa, who valued simplicity and morals, began to help with the housework during her spare time; she also followed Hestia around, helping to water the seedlings and loosen the soil...


    The Goddess of the Hearth, although she didn''t say it out loud, undoubtedly grew fonder of the warm-hearted and sensible little girl. She often engaged her in long conversations to alleviate her boredom, and even made her the official critic of her cooking.


    Even several nights in a row, Hestia extended sleepover invitations, practically dragging the adorable little Anna into bed to cuddle fiercely.


    Unfortunately, no matter how enthusiastic the Goddess of the Hearth was, the first thing on Little Anna''s mind was always the guy lying in the courtyard.


    Whenever she finished with the housework, Little Anna kept a very regr schedule of watching over Luo En, eagerly awaiting his awakening.


    Moreover, when the sun was scorching, she would set up a partition for him;


    when wind and rain threatened, she would set up a big umbre for him;


    and when the nights got cold, she would move the brazier from inside the house and sit quietly by his side until dawn.


    Even though Hestia had persuaded her several times, adamantly assuring her that the tough guy wouldn''t be harmed, the stubborn little girl was still determined to do things her own way.


    Tsk, when the heck is this guy going to wake up...


    Inside the house, just as Hestia had finished tidying up the living room and was sitting by the fire as usual, gazing into the backyard and muttering to herself, there came a crisp knocking at the door.


    The bored Goddess of the Hearth got up to open the door almost reflexively.


    As the door cracked open to reveal that familiar smiling face, a wave of frustration washed over Hestia. Without another word, she mmed the door shut and huffed at the person outside with arms akimbo.


    "I''m not here! No one is!"


    "Are you sure?"


    The yful inquiry came from Athena on the other side of the door, who, with a grin, twirled a small crystal bottle between her fingers, her voice tinged with teasing.


    "I''vee with the ''Elixir of Life'' that was so hard to get from Aunt Demeter. If you really aren''t in...


    "Bang!"


    Before Athena could finish, an impatient Hestia flung open the door and snatched the crystal bottle filled with clear liquid from Athena''s hand, rubbing it against her cheek lovingly.


    This was the ''Elixir of Life'', imbued with the Divinity of the Agriculture God, capable of reviving all things! Finally, there was no need to worry about the seedlings in the courtyard not surviving winter!


    "So, can Ie in now, Auntie?"


    Athena stood outside with a smile, looking at a content Hestia and gently asked.


    The Goddess of the Hearth''s mood lifted, and she begrudgingly eyed her big niece who had dumped a mess on her, but she huffed and stood aside to let her in.


    "You do have some conscience at least!"

 Chapter 53: 49 Training in Progress

    Having received the promise, Athena smiled without speaking and, apanied by her lesser deity Nike, walked into the house and leisurely sat on the long bench in front of the table. After looking around, she thoughtfully gazed towards the backyard.


    "What? Still not awake?"


    "You''re telling me, he has been lying here for almost half a month!"


    Speaking of this matter, Hestia, who was forced to clean up this mess for her grandniece, couldn''t help but feel a surge of irritation.


    "Don''t worry, it''s about time," Athena reassured with a lightugh while shaking her empty cup, signaling to her aunt.


    Hestia gave her grandniece a re, took out a jug of her own fruit brew from the cupboard, and filled the cup before her to the brim.


    She also poured a cup for the eager Nike sitting beside her.


    As the mistress and servant both took a gulp of the sour and sweet fruit brew, savoring the delightful taste colliding on their tongues, Hestia put down the pottery jug and sat across from her, furrowing her brows at her grandniece.


    "Speaking of which, why did you suddenly go so harsh on thed? It doesn''t seem like your usual practice."


    "I happened toe across a promising seedling and took the opportunity to temper his sharpness and give him some training," Athena replied nonchntly, pouring herself another cup from the jug and ncing at the backyard.


    "Surely there''s more to it?" Hestia raised an eyebrow and hummed lightly, "You''vee knocking twice for this youngster. You don''t seem like someone who would do so without good reason."


    The Goddess of the Hearth sitting across from her looked at Athena with a face full of skepticism.


    When it came to cunning, she couldn''t quite match her grandniece who bore the title "Goddess of Wisdom," but after interacting for several millennia, she hade to understand some of her grandniece''s temperaments and habits.


    Seeing Hestia growing suspicious, Athena simply stopped hiding her thoughts, set down the pottery cup, and pondered leisurely.


    "I appreciate his talents and would like to keep him here to cultivate him into one of my lesser deities."


    "Howe you suddenly had this idea?"


    Hestia sounded surprised and puzzled.


    Ordinarily, each lesser deity is intimately linked with their chief god, their authority intertwined, sharing both glory and disgrace, which necessitates extreme caution in their selection.


    Not choosing from the select half-gods of Olympus but instead fixing her sights on a youngster she happened upon in Knossos City, Athena''s intentions were truly baffling to Hestia.


    "It wasn''t sudden but rather a thought I''ve had for a while. I simply hadn''t found the right candidate until now," Athena said, swirling the cup in her hand and looking out towards the marketce, sighing softly.


    "Last time, I met with King Minos and urged him to be patient and to resume the sacrifices to my father and uncle, but he was adamant in his refusal to serve the few chief deities of Olympus..."


    At this, Hestia also fell into silence.


    In a world created by the gods, the consequences of offending the deities hardly need to be spelled out.


    The old humanity drowned in the Great Flood is the best testament to this.


    Hestia wanted to suggest to Athena that she persuade King Minos once more, but she opened her mouth and, in the end, said nothing.


    As a husband, his wife was vited by a beast;


    As a monarch, his dignity trampled by the gods;


    Any man with a spirit would hardly tolerate such affronts lightly.


    If this well-regarded wise king weren''t concerned about his subjects and the survival of the entire ind of Crete, perhaps he would have already drawn his sword against the God of the Sea, defending his dignity as a man.


    Although part of the pantheon, Hestia had been living among humans for a long time and had almost assimted into worldly life; she could not me King Minos for his decisions.


    Moreover, King Minos, who distinguished clearly between gratitude and grudges, had cut off sacrifices only to male gods like Zeus and Poseidon while continuing the offerings to Athena, Demeter, and to her, the Goddess of the Hearth, without change.


    This made it all the more difficult for Hestia to speak up.


    However, if the deliberate slights were noticed by the gods, they could provoke a severe oue.


    For both King Minos and the Minosians.


    Hestia envisioned that almost foreseeable ending in her mind, bit her lip softly, and felt some distress.


    "Isn''t there another way?"


    "I don''t know. All we can do is try, but I can''t defy the authority of the Father God."


    Athena nced pensively at Nike, who was heading toward the backyard and engaging in cheerful conversation with Little Medusa, then spoke in a lowered voice.


    "¡ªAt least, not now."


    As if she hadn''t heard her niece''s rebellious words, Hestia turned her head to look pensively at a certain corpse lying in the backyard.


    "So, you want to keep him in Knossos City, just in case?"


    Athena nodded slightly and spoke calmly.


    "Since this is the fate the humans have chosen for themselves, when it''s time to let go, we should let go and allow them to find their own way."


    The Goddess of Wisdom gazed out the window at the vast and majestic sky, her eyes deep and distant.


    "Even children grow up one day and will eventually leave the cradle..."


    "That''s easy to say, but if we can''t change the situation, what can they do?"


    Hestia shook her head, her face full of concern.


    "It''s not necessarily so..." Athena smiled, her thin cherry lips curving slightly, "Thest great flood already displeased our ancient grandmother enormously. Furthermore, the new humanity born from adversity has received her blessing. Some of those from Olympus will likely be a bit more restrained because of this, and even if they wanted to take action, they most likely wouldn''t dare to be as brazen as before."


    Hestia''s face brightened at these words.


    In the Bronze Age, the original humans created by Prometheus and Athena grew increasingly corrupt due to the opening of Pandora''s Box.


    The gods, in the name of maintaining the purity of the world, unleashed a great flood to exterminate the old humanity deemed "impure."


    The earth was instantly transformed into a vast ocean, and countless lives were extinguished in a moment, a move that brought the dissatisfaction of Mother Earth Gaia.


    As the Earth Goddess and Mother of the Gods, Gaia''s divinity affords hope and blessing to all life on earth.


    Using a flood to cleanse life on earth was a grave offense to her.


    Therefore, Mother Earth Gaia protected the descendants of Prometheus, Deucalion, and his wife, Pyrrha, in a temple on Mount Parnassus, where she conveyed an oracle to them, guiding them to continue the spark of humanity.


    "The earth is the seed mother of all things, and stones are my bones. Clothe yourselves in veils, remove your clothing, pick up the mud and stones from the ground, and scatter them outside the temple."


    Thus, the pair followed Mother Earth Gaia''s will and cast the mud and stones onto the ground behind them.


    Soon after, the mud behind them gradually took shape, bing flesh, while the stones turned into soft bones, and the patterns on the stones became veins.


    The mud thrown by Deucalion turned into men, and that cast by Pyrrha became women.


    A new race of humans was thereby conceived.


    So, in a certain sense, the current humans are also descendants of Mother Earth Gaia.


    This ancient grandmother, although she has been dormant for years in the temple of Mount Parnassus, her influence still lingers.


    Even the Divine King Zeus would have to consider the consequences of angering the ancient grandmother if he wanted to unleash another great flood.


    "I will do my best to mediate in Olympus, to avoid their direct intervention..."


    Athena spoke resolutely and then her solemn gaze turned to the backyard.


    "But in the end, whether they can break the pattern is up to them."


    "Are you sure he is the one you''re looking for?"


    Hestia pursed her lips, a bit worried.


    "How can we know without trying?"


    Athena spoke lightly, admiration apparent in her tone for a certain young one in the backyard.


    "Besides, don''t underestimate him. It''s rare to find someone who could take so many of my strikes and still be alive."


    At that moment, as she recalled the scene of their first encounter, the Goddess of Wisdom''s face revealed a meaningful expression.


    After all, a brat daring enough to steal her offerings was stronger than those half-breeds in Olympus who trembled at the mere sight of the gods, not daring to harbor a thought of rebellion.

 Chapter 54: 50: Pots, Bowls, Ladles, and Basins, Submit to Me!

    Seeing that her great-niece had made up her mind, Hestia waved her hand helplessly.


    "Fine, do as you wish. I can''t manage these affairs anyway."


    "You make it sound so easy, but if you really could let go, would you need to squat in Knossos City all day long?"


    Athena gave Hestia across from her an unimpressed look, bluntly exposing her aunt''s insincerity.


    The Goddess of the Hearth''s cheeks turned slightly red upon hearing this, and she stubbornly argued with her neck stuck out.


    "I just like the food here, like the atmosphere of life here!"


    "Yes, yes, right¡­"


    Athena responded insincerely, her gaze brimming with mockery.


    Under her niece''s smiling gaze, the increasingly embarrassed Hestia''s face flushed, and she rose angrily to shoo her away.


    "Go on, get, don''t bother me if there''s nothing important!"


    "Fine, fine, I''m leaving, okay?"


    Athena raised her hands in surrender, got up from her seat, and beckoned Nike in the backyard to withdraw as well.


    However, at the moment when the maid and her mistress stepped out the doorway, a certain Goddess of Wisdom casually looked back, her lips curling up.


    "But just so we''re clear, this time, you can''t me me for it."


    "Huh?"


    Hearing this nonsensical remark, Hestia was taken aback.


    But before she could react, the ground beneath her feet shook violently, a torrent of wild magic tide surging and boiling.


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, apanied by a thunderp out of the blue, the entire backyard erupted in flying grass, falling branches and leaves, with dense green mud spots dropping like rain.


    Hestia turned stiffly, staring nkly at her nursery that had been dug three feet deep and at the tall figure in the middle of the yard whose entire body was swirling with a fierce red blood aura.


    "My vegetable garden... my flowers... I shouldn''t have nted them¡­"


    The Goddess of the Hearth''s gaze was hollow, she murmured to herself, her voice appearing to carry a hint of a sob.


    Seeing Hestia''s expression of losing the will to live, Luo En, as the one who caused the mess, hurriedly raised his hands in surrender, steeling himself as he made promises.


    "Wait! I''llpensate! Isn''t it enough that I''llpensate for everything?"


    Hearing someone would cover the losses, the Goddess of the Hearth''s face cleared up, and she fiercely stretched out two pale fingers.


    "Not enough! I want twice thepensation!"


    "Okay, whatever you say."


    Luo En agreed hastily, pulling a face as he signed the agreement,forting himself in his heart.


    Twice the amount it is then, since I was at fault to begin with, let''s consider it indirectpensation for the hospitality and care this Goddess of the Hearth had provided them.


    Better to exert a bit of effort than to directly fall out with a Chief God who rarely gets close to humans.


    ¡«¡«


    Time flies, several months whizz by.


    At dawn, just as Crete Ind was barely lit, residents of the Knossos Royal City started opening their doors one after another, lighting their stoves to prepare the morning meal.


    The tter of pots and pans and themotion of crowing roosters and barking dogs slowly awakened the underlying bustle of the city.


    "Zeus, go to hell!"


    Luo En, waking up as usual, flipped his middle finger as a "blessing" to his divine father.


    A day in the life begins with sphemy.


    And soon after, that irreverent mortal raised his hand to summon the twelve-sided die from within, rolling a number.


    Twelve? Hermes''s blessing?


    The luck for today is not bad.


    Luo En muttered to himself, then sat up from the bed,zily stretching his limbs.


    Next to him, the twelve-sided die spinning aimlessly drew out a stream of light-blue divine energy from the invisible air, quietly flowing into the host''s body.


    Luo En closed his eyes and felt the slight agility within his flesh and blood, as well as the faintly increased responsiveness of his limbs, and he couldn''t help but emit afortable moan.


    After a moment, that wonderful experience gradually faded, and he opened his eyes, sincerely praising therge family of rtives on Mount Olympus.


    Awesome! The currency explosion by the Twelve Olympians is simply delightful!


    Hermes'' divine blessing this time seemed to be geared toward enhancing the agility aspect of physical reaction speed.


    Probably about a 3% improvement?


    A benefit you can get for a dirty word, what a steal!


    Luo En nced at the Twelve-Sided Die on the bedside, which had automatically dissipated into streams of light, and he caressed the gradually disappearing Wheel of Hecate on his chest, even beginning to miss the sensation of being duped into starting that thing.


    After several months of getting used to it, he had further figured out some patterns of the Dice of Chance.


    First, the stuff in the friendship pool could definitely include useful items like the Wings of Icarus, which could y a significant role in certain situations, so it couldn''t all be trash.


    The main reason he hadn''t fished out any good items was probably because the Daily Chapter was too easy.


    After all, low risk corresponds to low gain, which is only fair.


    Both inevitability and chance tend to follow this rule.


    However, when urrences are frequent enough, the advantage of chance bes apparent.


    ¡ªIt really could burst forth with great items.


    For example, obtaining divine blessings and baptisms corresponding to numbers from deities.


    ¡ªThe indomitable fighting will of Ares, the life healing of the Agriculture God, the water affinity of the God of the Sea, the intuition of Apollo, the agility and speed of Hermes...


    These could all potentially be acquired from the opportunities of chance after desecrating the Twelve Chief Gods of inevitability.


    Of course, the probability was low.


    So far, Luo En, having used up his umted 100 pulls, had only managed to draw Hermes once, Ares twice, Apollo once, and Hestia once from themon pool.


    Moreover, the enhancements brought by these divine baptisms were present, but the magnitude wouldn''t be great.


    As the Twelve Olympians'' jurisdictions span more than one domain, there was also great randomness.


    Among them, the divine baptism given by Hestia to him was the most difficult to hold back.


    Perhaps because of the jurisdiction of the Goddess of the Hearth, that baptism actually improved his control over kitchen utensils and the cooking of dishes...


    Luo En really wanted toin, expecting him to face off against an opponent in a life-or-death battle, then dash into the kitchen with a dish.


    ¡ªPots and pans, submit to me?


    The imagery was too beautiful; he dared not even imagine it.


    However, it was important to obtain decent benefits from themon pool, but what truly upied Luo En''s attention was that the Twelve-Sided Die could actually secretly extract the divinity of the Twelve Olympians bestowed by fate and pour it into his body.


    This thing was a bit too overpowered, wasn''t it?


    And a certain spection in his heart seemed to have been confirmed as a result.


    ¡ªUsing the variable of chance to pry open the inevitability of fate, ultimately toppling the foundation of the gods.


    Perhaps, that was the true function of the "dice."


    Luo En''s gaze flickered with deep thought.


    High risk, high reward.


    To put down such a hefty stake, it seems that his "angel investor" had quite a lot he wanted to achieve.


    But soon, he scoffed and shook his head.


    Forget it, since he had confirmed this path could shake the divine right of fate, he''d best not think about these things for now.


    He was merely a pawn crossing the river at this point, nowhere near sitting at the gambling table with the power to go all-in deciding life and death.


    There was no rush; he''d bet when he had amassed enough capital.


    So, today''s task was...


    Luo En took a deep breath, solemnly bidding farewell to the warmforter, got up to go downstairs, and wielding a hoe, he rushed toward the nursery in the backyard.


    ¡ªDigging holes, nting fields!

 Chapter 55: 51: You Are Mine Now

    No way around it, Luo En still owed the Goddess of the Hearth Hestia two batches of seedlings.


    It was all karma he had created for himself.


    Since he had agreed to it, he could only repay it honestly.


    With the day''s first rays of sun, the hard-pressed debtor Luo En started his daily routine of loosening the soil, sowing seeds, watering, fertilizing, and hastening growth.


    Thanks to the Goddess of Wisdom''s visitst time to apologize, she left behind a bottle of "Essence of Life," which could elerate nt growth.


    By diluting this substance in water, Luo En''s debt repayment sped up manifold.


    After several months of hard work, the whole yard was bursting with vitality, and his debt was almost fully repaid.


    Well past dawn, Luo En put down his watering can and, looking at the seedlings in the nursery that were half a foot tall and lush with greenery, couldn''t help but feel satisfied as heid down his farming tools.


    After washing off the dust and grime, he walked into the kitchen to prepare lunch; as Luo En busied himself by the stove, he couldn''t help but mutterints.


    Whether it was because she revealed her true nature or was intentionally training him, after the Goddess of the Hearth tasted his cooking, she not only increasingly relinquished control over what she regarded as her own territory, the kitchen, buttely she didn''t even enter the kitchen door at all.


    In her ce, she would take Little Medusa out early in the morning under the guise of shopping for goods, browsing through the market streets.


    By mealtime, they''d often bring back a huge assortment of exotic ingredients for Luo En to experiment with and develop new recipes.


    The ostensible reason was to "enrich the Minosians'' menu and enhance the quality of life in Knossos City."


    "We''re back!"


    Just as Luo En, reluctantly transformed into a househusband, was bellyaching to himself, a familiar and cheerful shout came from outside the door.


    Little Medusa, back from shopping, carelessly dropped a half-person-tall bag on the ground and burst into the back kitchen with a beaming smile.


    A rich fragrance of flowers entered his nostrils, Luo En put down his spat and his gaze fell upon Little Medusa''s head, surprise flickering across his face.


    "What a beautiful gand, who gave it to you?"


    "It''s from the florist granny across the street!"


    Bearing recognition for the day''s difference, Little Medusa gleefully answered while showing off excitedly.


    "Luo En, I helped tend the shop today and sold thirteen bunches of flowers! Granny gave me a flower gand and a bag of fresh croissants!"


    "It seems Little Anna is quite popr."


    Luo En smiled and nodded, patiently continuing his inquiry with curiosity.


    "So, any other gains from today''s outing?"


    "Yes, yes, Constantine''s granddaughter finally let me hold her! I took care of her for a while!"


    "How did that feel?"


    "Tiny, soft, really cute!"


    "Is that all?"


    "There''s more, there''s more, I found the herbs Beatrice needed, and also helped theme man on the other street pick grapes from his vineyard, and before leaving, he gave me a basket as well¡­"


    In the kitchen, Little Medusa''s small face was brimming with a sweet smile as she excitedly boasted to Luo En about herbor''s fruits along the way.


    Her eyes, once filled with wariness and gloom when they first met, now sparkled with brightness, and the reluctance to make eye contact with others hadpletely vanished.


    Luo En listened quietly to Little Medusa''s sharing, responding with a gentle chuckle and nods.


    "Hmm, no wonder I''ve heard the whole street praising you."


    "No, that''s not true¡­"


    Hearing such praise, the somewhat unconfident Little Medusa suddenly felt uneasy, her small face blushing.


    Looking at this Medusa who had shed the fierce myth and revealed her innocent nature, Luo En stretched out his hand and gently ced it on top of Medusa''s small head, softly stroking her smooth purple hair, his eyes filled with contentment and tenderness.


    Compared to the "inevitability" of the myths, he preferred this "chance" he had created with his own hands.


    If the role of the "dice" was to nurture these kinds of beautiful possibilities, then being driven by such things didn''t seem to be entirely bad.


    "Hey! You two, that''s enough! Can''t one of youe and help me with this stuff?"


    While the kitchen''s warmth and affection grew deeper between the young and the old, an indignant protest from Hestia came from outside the door.


    At this moment, her hands were full withrge and small packages from shopping, the bulky scale of which had already exceeded the limits of the door frame.


    And because she stood right at the doorstep, it was inconvenient for her to use her Divine Power to dismantle the house, so she could only stand stiffly at the door.


    "I''m here, I''m here!"


    Little Medusa snapped back to reality and stuffed half a bag of croissant bread into Luo En''s hands before rushing out of the kitchen to help unload at the door.


    "You''ve brought back so much, did you go and raid the food market and the grocery store, auntie¡­"


    Amid the teasing banter, Athena, who had been absent for several months, appeared from around the deserted street corner with her own Lesser Deity Nike, walking with grace andposure.


    Elegant and unhurried.


    However, theposure of the Goddess of Wisdomsted only a few seconds before Hestia dragged her over.


    "Athena? Your timing is perfect! Quick, quick, quick, help carry stuff!"


    No sooner had the words of the Goddess of the Hearth left her lips than a bag of purple onions slipped to the ground, rolling in all directions.


    Frozen in ce, Little Medusa stiffly turned her head to look at the familiar figure with silver hair and purple eyes behind her, her voice hoarse.


    "Athe¡­ Athena?"


    "¡­"


    The Goddess of Wisdom raised her hand to her forehead, wordlessly looking at Hestia with an exasperated expression.


    No matter how much you n, you can''t guard against an ally who exposes herself willingly.


    "What? Did I say something?"


    Hestia, feeling guilty, feigned confusion in response, trying to bluff her way through with feigned ignorance.


    However, such tricks might work on the simple-minded little Anna in the kitchen, but not on her; she wasn''t so easily fooled.


    "Alright, no need to pretend anymore."


    Athena, clearly annoyed, gave her aunt Hestia, who had inadvertently betrayed her, a sharp look; she then gently patted Anna''s shoulder as a gesture offort, her voice soft.


    "It''s okay, it''s just a name, let''s keep things as they were before."


    "Eh, you saying that makes me feel relieved! I''m finally unburdened!"


    Before Little Medusa could recover from her shock, Hestia, seeing that her great-niece had no intention of pursuing the matter, let out a sigh of relief, her mood lifting greatly.


    "Come,e,e, help me bring these inside first!"


    "¡­"


    Looking at the bag of turnips in her left hand and the bag of rosemary in her right, Athena, who had regained her goddess status just seconds before, felt her forehead throb uncontrobly.


    Forget it, forget it, don''t argue with her.


    Talking too much is tiring¡­


    Having had a profound experience with such matters, the Goddess of Wisdom, forced by the tyranny of her elder, resigned herself to the hardbor, dignifying herself to carry vegetables into the house.


    But having finally lugged all sorts of items into the house, Hestia was still not ready to let go of thebor force, directing them with hands on her hips.


    "Hey, hey, don''t stand around, the turnips need peeling, the rosemary needs grinding, and you, whoever, get those olives pickled for me!"


    By the way, even Nike, the lesser Goddess of Victory who didn''t merit a mention, became an object of envement.


    Seeing that not only was there no chance of having fruit brew, but also having to do this sort of boring manualbor, Nike''s expression immediately copsed, her face filled with gloom.


    "Don''t be so reluctant, all of this was prepared thoughtfully for me. Wait until tonight when Luo En and I cook together, and you''ll taste the new dishes we''ve recently developed; you''ll understand how worthwhile the hard work is now..."


    The Goddess of the Hearth, ready to show off her culinary skills, scolded the gluttonous Nike while proudly announcing the n for tonight''s entertainment.


    "There''s no need to cook."


    Athena raised her hand to interrupt Hestia''s boasting, gracefully declining the dinner invitation, her purple eyes turning toward the figure in the kitchen, corners of her lips curving up in pleasure.


    "Because the person, I''m taking with me!"


    Caught!


    In an instant, both Luo En and Little Medusa changed their expressions, instinctively assuming a defensive stance, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly turned tense.

 Chapter 56: 52 This is a deadly question

    Seeing the two figures, onerge and one small, in the room acting as if facing great enemies, Athena smiled calmly and softly exined her purpose to Luo En.


    "Don''t be nervous, I have taken an interest in your talents, I merely wish to recruit you as my lesser deity."


    Thereupon, to bolster her persuasiveness, the Goddess of Wisdom, who hade prepared, turned her gaze to Hestia beside her.


    "Aunt is also aware of this matter."


    "Ah? Oh oh..."


    Hestia, who had been pulled out by her great-niece to vouch for her, was initially startled, then regained herposure, nodding vaguely.


    For some reason, the Goddess of the Hearth seemed somewhat distracted, her eyes constantly casting unintentional nces towards the clean and tidy kitchen, as well as the lush and verdant seedbeds in the backyard.


    Yet, in the end, there was the dual assurance of two goddesses.


    Luo En and Little Medusa felt the overt goodwill emanating from the Goddess of Wisdom and couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief, their on-edge nerves slightly rxed.


    Thank goodness, it was just a false rm.


    Their unique identities seemed to have also gone unnoticed.


    As the atmosphere eased, Athena smiled and extended her hand, graciously extending an invitation.


    "All right, let''s go, follow me back to Olympus."


    "This soon?!"


    Upon hearing this, Hestia suddenly looked up, her face filled with astonishment.


    Athena turned her head to look at her aunt, who was in on the n beforehand, her eyes showing surprise.


    "Soon? Hasn''t this matter been dragging on for months already?"


    "Well, what I mean is¡­"


    Hestia''s eyes darted around, then she nced at the kitchen and hearth.


    "Since it''s all so rushed, why not eat something before we go?"


    "No need, there''s been too much happeningtely, nowhere is really peaceful, and we don''t know when the next critical moment will be, it''s better to make ns early, just in case."


    Athena gently shook her head, and as she spoke, furrows gradually gathered between her brows.


    But¡­


    Hestia''s gaze swept over the two figures,rge and small, and she opened her mouth, as if to speak.


    But seeing a trace of weariness in the depths of her niece''s purple eyes, she clenched her teeth, bit her cherry lip, and remained silent.


    Luo En, catching the subtle changes in Hestia''s expression out of the corner of his eye, flickered with a trace of realization.


    Fortunately, the efforts of this period had not been in vain.


    "Let''s not speak of this anymore."


    At this moment, Athena, having calmed her restless heart, raised her head to look at the opposite side, her face bearing her usual smile.


    "Pack up, we depart immediately."


    "Wait!"


    The n was interrupted again, this time by a male voice.


    Athena, who was about to turn and leave, turned her head to look at Luo En behind her, frowning slightly.


    "What is it?"


    "Thank you for your kindness, but I need to take care of my sister."


    Luo En took Little Medusa''s hand, gazing gently at that somewhat bewildered little face, his expression one of deep sibling affection.


    "She''s still so young, if I''m not by her side, I really don''t know how she would get by¡­"


    "Then bring her along with you."


    "¡­"


    At that moment, Luo En, who was portraying an image of deep brotherly love towards Little Medusa, suddenly stiffened, and his face contorted into a forced expression.


    "That, that wouldn''t be right."


    "It''s fine, I don''t mind."


    Athena blinked, her demeanor one of open-minded eptance.


    I mind though!


    Feeling increasingly cornered, Luo En struggled to subtly convey his reluctant stance.


    "Anna is still young, letting her serve at your side may lead to some improprieties, so..."


    "So, you''re worried that her monstrous identity might be discovered and then she''d be reprimanded?"


    "...!"


    "You''ve gone in such a big circle just to say this, haven''t you?"


    The Goddess of Wisdom, arms crossed, looked amusedly at the bbergasted Luo En.


    As their eyes met, Luo En noticed the subtle teasing that was almost imperceptible in the depths of those purple eyes, and involuntarily, his facial muscles twitched slightly.


    She had known all along!


    "Although I''m not sure how you concealed your own strength and the child''s alien aura before, don''t take everyone for fools. After all this time, how could no one have noticed anything out of the ordinary? The wisdom of the gods is not something you can..."


    "Discovered? Discovered what?"


    Hestia curiously poked her head out, her face full of confusion.


    "..."


    The corner of Athena''s mouth twitched, and she decisively refrained from mentioning "the wisdom of the gods" again.


    Alright, take back what I said. This is a miraculous group whose IQ might fluctuate between -100 and limitless.


    Immediately afterward, the piercing gaze of the Goddess of Wisdom swept past the half-hidden face of Little Medusa and nced disdainfully at a certain little rascal who was hiding her like guarding against thieves, letting out a soft snort.


    "Looking at her hair and eye color, if I''m not mistaken, she must be Medusa from the Formless Ind, right?"


    "Ah? So that''s it! No wonder it feels so cool andfortable to hold her!"


    Hestia suddenly realized as if she had discovered a new continent, surprised.


    Under the scrutiny of the Goddess of Wisdom, Little Medusa, hiding behind Luo En, couldn''t help but shrink back into the shadows, tightly gripping Luo En''s hem.


    Athena looked at the small girl quivering slightly and showed a gentle and thawing smile, softly assuring.


    "Don''t worry, no one here will harm you."


    "Yeah, that''s right! Nike can protect you too!"


    The little Goddess of Victory also patted her chest,forting her tensepanion.


    As kindness swelled around her, Little Medusa''s somewhat pale face finally regained some color, and the tension that stiffened her back due to being on guard gradually rxed.


    Seeing this unexpected behavior from the master and servant, Luo En asked in amazement what had been puzzling him.


    "You don''t me the unclean mythological creature for entering your city and temple?"


    "What is pure? What is impure? I''ve seen the most despicable deities as well as the most noble humans."


    Athena spoke lightly, then turned her head to look through the window at the busy, ordinary figures on the street, with a gaze profound and distant, her voice lower.


    "All this is not determined by bloodlines or origins but by the soul..."


    Hearing the unexined mncholy in her words, Luo En pursed his lips, softly reminding.


    "But she is a mythological creature..."


    "Ha, even King Minos didn''t let his personal grudge affect a child born with a magical curse. Do you really think my tolerance is even less than that of a mortal monarch?"


    Athena scoffed, her purple eyes brimming with irritation, and she coldly snorted as she looked toward a certain rascal who had ndered her.


    Even though his wife had been defiled by a beast, giving birth to that monster with the body of a bull and the shame it symbolized, King Minos still did not direct his anger toward the innocent child; instead, he chose to raise it.


    Furthermore, to prevent any disaster that might arise from this naturally malevolent mythological creature intermixing with humans, he summoned Daedalus and his son and had them build a Labyrinth beneath the pce, where he secretly sustained the child with regr provisions.


    Hearing the resentment in Athena''s words and facing this life-and-death question, Luo En couldn''t help but sweat from his forehead as he tried to sidestep it while forcibly praising her.


    "How could that be! Leaders lead by example, and the followers emte. The reason King Minos could be so magnanimous must surely be due to your influence! It''s all thanks to your good teachings! It''s a wonder that even mythological creatures scorned by the gods and others can bask in your glory and receive equal treatment. I, who am so shallow and external, have finally understood why you rightfully bear the name of the sovereign mistress!"


    Under the barrage of Luo En''s rainbow-hued ttery, Athena''s expression eased slightly. When the anger in her heart had cooled, she nced disdainfully at a certain glib little rascal and spoke with irritation.


    "You don''t have to be so insincere, not all mythological creatures can win my approval."


    Having said that, the Goddess of Wisdom turned to look at the still slightly timid Little Medusa, her gaze growing ever more tender.


    "Anna, thank you for taking care of my people these past few days. It seems they really like you..."


    "No, not at all, I like everyone too."


    Being thanked so earnestly by a deity, Little Medusa''s cheeks reddened, and she became somewhat flustered.


    Seeing the little girl''s amusing reaction, Athena chuckled lightly, raised her hand to affectionately stroke the top of Little Medusa''s head, and whispered softly.


    "You really are a good child..."


    The sunlight streamed through the gaps in the windowttice, casting warm light on the figures of the little and big, enveloping them in a cozy atmosphere and creating a beautiful scene.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 53 I Dont Eat Beef!

    At this moment, watching the harmonious interaction between Goddess Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Medusa, the Gorgon, Luo En felt an intense sense of absurdity churning inside him, as if there was a dislocated split in time and space.


    However, he soon understood the reason for everything.


    Athena was the female ruler worshipped by humanity, and, naturally, her perspective had to take human considerations into ount.


    In the original history, the adult Medusa, after countless persecutions and killings, had her heart frozen and descended into madness, devoid of any warmth or kindness.


    Even in some versions, the two sisters who sheltered her met a dismal fate and were devoured by Medusa.


    Therefore, at that time, the Gorgon hadpletely lost control and became a major cmity at sea.


    And from the perspective of humans, she naturally became a target that needed to be eradicated.


    But the current Little Medusa still retained a glimmer of light in her heart. After escaping the persecution and manhunt, she came to Knossos City, experienced precious warmth, and responded in kind to the humans around her who treated her with goodwill.


    All of this was likely observed in secret by Athena.


    And, given the temperament of this Goddess of Wisdom, she certainly would not brutally ssify Little Medusa as a "disaster." Instead, because of her friendly attitude towards humans, Athena grew fond of this adorable child.


    So, it turns out that I was the one harboring preconceived notions, worrying over nothing.


    Realizing it was all a false rm, Luo En, who had been on tenterhooks, couldn''t help but feel a mix ofughter and tears after sorting out his thoughts.


    At this moment, as the misunderstanding was cleared up, Athena pped her hands and turned to look behind her, bringing the conversation back on track.


    "Well, we''ve said enough; it''s time we left," she said.


    "Wait a minute!"


    However, her n was halted once again.


    This time, it was still that male voice.


    Athena seemed to understand something, her eyes narrowing slightly, her expression cooling.


    "You''re not willing?" she asked.


    In an instant, an invisible pressure descended, making one feel as if submerged deep in the ocean. Luo En, bearing the brunt of it, stiffened and hurriedly shook his head to deny it.


    "No! Definitely not!"


    "Then why won''t youe with me?"


    Athena persisted, her face cold as she approached Luo En step by step.


    Seeing no way to escape, Luo En steeled his heart, decisively pulled a certain figure next to him into the middle, and firmly protected it in front of him.


    "Because of Goddess Hestia!"


    "Ah?"


    Suddenly bing the third party caught in the middle, Hestia looked up with a confused expression.


    Luo En took a deep breath and looked seriously at the Goddess of the Hearth in front of him, speaking earnestly.


    "Goddess Hestia, you''ve forgotten; I still haven''t settled my debt to you!"


    There was no other way, gentleness wasn''t effective, so he had to y his trump card early.


    It was about the matter in the backyard... Realizing the truth, Hestia subconsciously nodded her head.


    "Right, it seems that way..."


    "Is it a lot?"


    Athena looked at Hestia and asked nonchntly.


    Just a dozen or so left...


    As her wrist was gripped tighter, the Goddess of the Hearth straightened her back and, as if possessed, blurted out.


    "A lot! Very much so!"


    Athena looked slightly stunned, then her face broke into a smile again, addressing Luo En and Hestia leisurely.


    "It''s fine, I''ll cover the rest. After all, he is about to be one of my Lesser Deities; his matters are my matters."


    That calm voice carried an invisible pressure, making the two, hand in hand, one human and one deity, sweat slightly on their foreheads.


    "How could that be right? I cannot let youbor for a mistake I''ve made; you''ve already helped me enough," Luo En said, his voice deliberately slowed and softened, as he chuckled and declined.


    Beside him, Hestia swallowed and with an evasive look, chimed in.


    "Right, exactly, one should pay their own debts, there''s no sense in deities serving humans..."


    Athena didn''t speak, but appraised the debtor and creditor pair who subconsciously leaned on each other with interest.


    How long has it been? Just a few months, it seems?


    Not bad, Auntie, I really underestimated you...


    Under the invisible pressure from the Goddess of Wisdom, Luo En was sweating profusely but had no choice but to brace himself and see it through to the end.


    Being a lesser deity to Athena certainly came with numerous benefits.


    But there was no helping it;pared to Medusa, there were more thunderclouds looming over him.


    The rebellious child of Zeus fated to die, the conspirator attempting to overthrow Olympus, the insolent defiler of the gods, the fugitive wanted by Antis...


    Any one of these usations, once made public, would spell big trouble for him.


    And going to Olympus, flitting around in front of that group of chief gods, unquestionably increased his risk of exposure dramatically.


    Moreover, bing a lesser deity to Athena was almost equivalent to never leaving the side of this battle-hardened sister with a mind asplex as a beehive.


    Thus, his mission of defiling the gods would be very difficult toplete, and hoping to keep his secrets for long was probably wishful thinking.


    If she ever caught a w in him, his fate would be unknown, his life or death at her whim.


    Although he was the younger brother, he didn''t want to be a younger brother forever, firmly under her heel.


    While contemting, Luo En stole a nce at Hestia next to him.


    As for the other one...


    Sensing something, the Goddess of the Hearth turned her head, the guilt in her eyes nearly impossible to hide, with a look of pure simplicity.


    Luo En shed a reassuring smile, conveying warmth, support, and encouragement to the hand in his palm, silently screaming.


    Yes, that''s exactly what he needed!


    No amount of cunning from Athena could beat the ease of fooling Hestia.


    This Goddess of the Hearth, heartless and easy to deceive, almost never meddled in worldly affairs, instead immersing herself in her hut cooking up dishes, made for an excellent shield.


    He didn''t know why she had suddenly switched sides and spoken up for him, but choosing her was definitely the right move!


    And moreover...


    The memory of the God of Wine, who seemingly snatched Hestia''s divine position to squeeze into the circle of the Twelve Olympians, undoubtedly told him that this path had high potential.


    After all, he had already blown up a chunk of his mentor Circe''s gold coins when leaving the ind, and since the Goddess of the Hearth stuck to her own patch ofnd experimenting with recipes, she seemed to have little need for her divine position.


    Why not...


    Luo En mulled over this to himself, his gaze drifting toward Hestia shimmering with an unscrupulous light,


    For some reason, Hestia felt a chill down her spine and couldn''t help shivering.


    At that moment, seeing her auntie''s timid reaction, Athena misattributed it, rxed her scrutinizing gaze, and sighed helplessly.


    "Since Auntie has spoken thus, I won''t press the matter."


    Hearing that her grand-niece didn''t seem intent on pursuing her betrayal, Hestia breathed a sigh of relief; a smile spread across her face as she affectionately took Athena''s hand.


    "Let''s not talk about that. You''vee from Olympus and must be hungry by now, right?"


    Without waiting for her grand-niece to decline, Hestia reached back and pulled Luo En, who was attempting to sneak away, over to her side,vishing him with praise.


    "I''m not even exaggerating, Luo En''s understanding of cooking and seasoning is incredible. We''vee up with many delicious recipes together. Let him cookter, prepare a bowl of noodles for you, and drizzle our newly concocted sauce on top. It''s absolutely delicious!"


    Athena knew her aunt wanted to make amends, and she nodded with a smile in agreement.


    "Okay, but no green onions."


    In an instant, Luo En''s face twitched, as he involuntarily swallowed his saliva and carefully asked,


    "Then, do you eat beef?"


    "Of course, I eat it. Isn''t it amon offering humans make to the gods?"


    Athena gave a nk stare at the chef in front of her who seemed somewhat jittery, confused.


    Luo En breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had received a pardon, and nodded repeatedly.


    That''s good, that''s good.


    He really feared triggering some sort of instant death g, worrying that after he brought the bowl of noodles out from the kitchen, Athena woulde up with a smile and say, "I don''t eat beef," then pull out the Spear of Victory and skewer him into a sieve.

 Chapter 58: Chapter 54: The Inescapable True Fragrance

    "Here we go!"


    Half an hourter, Luo En, busy in the kitchen, brought out a tray and ced several steaming bowls in front of the long-waited diners.


    As soon as they were served, the golden yellow thick soup made from big bones spread a rich aroma; several juicy pieces of sauce-marinated beef on top made it hard to resist the surge in appetite; thin radish slices and a few pieces of tender green leafy vegetables floated up and down, serving to cut through the richness; chopped parsley instead of chopped green onions was sprinkled on top to further release the fragrance; and the crystal-clear noodles swirled in the bowl like ribbons, soaking up the thick beefy broth...


    The all-around stimtion of color and aroma made the waiting diners full of anticipation, eager to fork out a mouthful of noodles. The chewiness of the noodles intertwined with the savory soup in their mouths, making it almost impossible to stop.


    Little Medusa and Hestia, who had already experienced this novelty, were alright, but Athena and Nike, tasting this new type of delicacy for the first time, couldn''t help but be dazzled, their taste buds conquered by it.


    The dining fork in their hands that almost never stopped was the best proof.


    Soon, the two bowls of vorful beef noodles were polished off by the deities.


    As the great-niece put down her fork and sat up straight, Hestia eagerly came over to ask for their impressions.


    "How was it? Not bad, right?"


    "It was okay..."


    Athena gave a lukewarm evaluation, then slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on someone behind her.


    Luo En, who had evolved into an astute individual, noticed the Goddess of Wisdom''s subtle expression and immediately got the message, diligently clearing away the bowls with a gleefully obsequious smile on his face.


    "It must be that the sample wasn''t enough. I''ll go get another bowl for you to savor, andter, I''ll need your help with more detailed feedback for improvement."


    "Mm."


    With such an out, Athena nodded gracefully, her elegance intact, but the glimmer of praise and satisfaction in her eyes was unmistakable.


    "I want another too!"


    Nike next to her also handed over her emptied bowl, her face showing her longing for more.


    "There''s plenty for everyone!"


    Luo En hastened to assure her, turning back to the kitchen to fill up two full bowls for the powerful deities, and also topped off the nearly empty bowls of Hestia and Little Medusa with more broth and noodles.


    The situation demanded equal treatment for all.


    At least, on the surface, it needed to be wless, so as not to invite criticism.


    And to prevent the meal from being too monotonous, Luo En went back to the kitchen to make some dishes that he and Hestia had either refined or concocted, continuously bringing them to the table.


    Under hismendably thorough service, it was a feast where both guests and hosts were thoroughly delighted.


    Seeing the jolly atmosphere in the living room, Luo En, who had been on edge, finally rxed, took the opportunity to serve himself a bowl of noodles, and filled his somewhat empty stomach.


    The origins of European noodle culture can be traced back to Italy and Greece. At that time, noodles had be a popr food, not only for breakfast and lunch but also for dinner.


    But now, this thing is probably at best still in its rudimentary form.


    As someone who came from the future, Luo En might not be highly skilled in culinary arts, but his long-standing solitary life had left him with a fairlyplete knowledge of cooking and a wealth of dining experience.


    Fermentation, seasoning, boiling, frying¡ªthese cooking techniques and dietary reforms, which had slowly formed over thousands of years, each are a crystallization of knowledge from the trials and errors of countless humans.


    Bringing these to the dawn of human civilization during the age of the gods was like a dimension reduction blow.


    Even those deities, ustomed to delicacies of mountains and seas, couldn''t help but sumb to the allure of unfamiliar cuisine.


    The Goddess of Wisdom, who at first was indifferent but now hadpletely fallen for it, was the best proof.


    ```


    Three quarters of an hourter, the four of them were full and satisfied,zily leaning back in their chairs.


    Luo En, with a keen sense of duty, cleared the table and presented the dessert and fruit brew, offering the epitome of five-star service.


    Under Hestia''s enthusiastic rmendation, Athena scooped up a spoonful of homemade yogurt with raisins and sweet almonds, tasting it with a contented expression. Her deep gaze then fell upon the "head chef" in the kitchen, reflective.


    Now, she probably understood why her aunt had suddenly changed sides, wanting to keep this little rascal.


    The Goddess of the Hearth might not concern herself with worldly affairs, but she was not without desires.


    Her greatest pleasure was finding some domestic and kitchen-rted joys to pass the time.


    Cooking, gardening, housework, and brewing were all within the scope of her interests.


    Finding someone with simr hobbies among the demigods and deities who generally pursued power and authority was harder than reaching the heavens.


    But by chance, a nearly perfect candidate had barged into her home. Not only had he shown exceptional culinary skills and constantly refreshing food insights, but he also managed household chores and guest services to the height of making people feel at home.


    With such a lesser deity, the quality of life would surely see a tangible and significant improvement.


    Not to speak of the Goddess of the Hearth, who was in charge of domestic affairs, even Athena herself couldn''t help but be a little tempted.


    "Honestly speaking, I''m starting to have some regrets now. If I''d known, I should have brought you to Olympus ahead of time..."


    The Goddess of Wisdom set down the empty bowl, her gaze lingering on the demigod she had personally groomed.


    Hestia, who was beside her, aggressively marketing, suddenly stiffened her smile, bing anxious.


    "Compared to Olympus, Knossos City seems to be more fitting as your private territory, right? Now, am I not serving in your chamber?"


    Facing Athena''s scrutiny, Luo En shed aposed smile.


    "You are wee anytime you wish toe."


    "Indeed."


    Athena nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with the response.


    Seeing her great-niece apparently giving up on pursuing the matter further, Hestia breathed a sigh of relief.


    After eating her fill, Athena stood up from her seat,zily stretching her body, and turned to look at Luo En, who was helping Hestia with the housework, her brow lifted, her face breaking into a subtle smile.


    "After the meal, how about... a little practice?"


    "It''s not advisable to engage in strenuous activities after a full meal!"


    Upon hearing this, Luo En immediately refused, with an expression that said, "I am considering your well-being," while the rm for danger in his mind was frantically ringing.


    Fight you? You must be joking!


    Seeing that mischievous look on your face, it''s clear you''ve dug a pit and are waiting for me to jump in, so you can beat me up under a legit pretext.


    Last time, just for sneaking a few pieces of your offerings and gossiping about you behind your back, you made me lie on the ground for seven or eight days, and my butt still hurts.


    You dare say your invitation to spar with me this time isn''t because you were turned down and felt humiliated, seeking vindictive retribution?


    Ha, I''ve seen right through you, a petty-hearted woman!


    Luo En couldn''t help but grumble to himself as he recalled the rose thorns that had pierced his butt that night.


    ```

 Chapter 59: Chapter 55: Sneak Attack from Destiny

    Watching Luo Ene up with several excuses in a row to decline and stubbornly refusing to take the bait, Athena could only hold back her malice for the time being and gave the little rascal, who always annoyed her, an annoyed nce.


    "Then let''s y chess, I just had some new insights."


    "Okay, as you wish."


    Having escaped the danger of a beating, Luo En quickly conceded, set up the chessboard, and recalling Hecate''s chess strategy, he began to set traps for Athena in preparation for the uing match against that gambling goddess.


    Time flew by, and dusk had arrived outside the window. The fading glow of the sunset streamed through the windowttice, spilling into the living room where Hestia was busy tidying up, and the two who were dominating the long table were locked in an intense and evenly matched game of chess.


    "Luo En, Luo En!"


    With a game ending, Little Medusa, who had been frolicking with Nike in the backyard, excitedly rushed into the house with her friend, showing him something she wore on her chest.


    It was a bronze medal, on which the pattern of several intertwined serpents was cast.


    Luo En touched the head of Little Medusa as she moved closer and asked with a smile.


    "What is it?"


    "A gift! The gift Nike gave me!"


    Little Medusa replied excitedly, her little face beaming with pride.


    Luo En took a closer look for a few more moments, then patiently agreed,


    "Hmm, it looks good, and it suits you quite well."


    "It''s more than that!"


    Little Medusa shook her head, a trace of solemnity appearing on her small face. She raised her hand, clutching the bronze medal in her palm and activated her divine power.


    In an instant, a greyish glow flowed from Medusa''s fingertips and covered her whole body, transforming into a glittering set of full bronze armor, with the characteristic serpent patterns looking almost lifelike.


    "Hum!"


    At the same time, Medusa gave her small hand a shake, and apanied by a faint metallic tremor, a serpentine bronze chain sword appeared in the young girl''s palm. With a casual swing, it made a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air.


    Feeling the strong divinity contained within the armor and Little Medusa''s suddenly much stronger presence, Luo En''s expression changed.


    "This is..."


    "The Bronze Serpent Armor, it''s what I asked the Craftsman God Hephaestus to infuse with a part of my divinity and personally forge as a weapon." said the Goddess of Wisdom across from him, as she set down the chess piece she was toying with. She smiled faintly and then cast a yful look towards Luo En.


    "Originally, this was prepared for you. However, it seems you wouldn''t need it, so I let Nike give it to Anna instead."


    "..."


    Luo En''s mouth twitched, and he felt a pang of regret so intense it was almost turning blue.


    A divine artifact! A real divine artifact! He couldn''t find such a premium item even after smashing Circe to pieces!


    Moreover, this was an exquisite piece personally forged by the Craftsman God Hephaestus, infused with Athena''s serpentine divinity.


    It is known that the great hero Achilles of the Trojan War was able to fight back the entire city of Troy, with divine assistance, because he had a full set of armor from the Craftsman God. In the end, it took Apollo, one of the Twelve Olympians, to personally intervene. Disguised as amoner, he struck from the shadows and shot an arrow through Achilles'' only weak point, his heel, which led to the invincible war hero''s ultimate demise.


    Simrly, had Luo En been wearing this item, he reckoned he could have walked sideways among his demigod peers, and even if he faced a real deity, he would have had the power to fight.


    Sensing Luo En''s interest, Little Medusa decisively pulled off the bronze emblem on her chest and stuffed it directly into his hands.


    "I can''t use this anyway, so I''ll give it to you."


    Luo En felt a warmth in his heart and gently pressed down on Medusa''s little hand, showing a gentle smile.


    "No need, the serpentine divinity matches your lineage the best, and it seems this item has already recognized its owner. You should keep it."


    Then he paused, nodded at Nike in the backyard, and reminded her in a low voice.


    "Besides, you shouldn''t easily give away a friend''s gift to someone else."


    Under Luo En''s repeated persuasion, Medusa appeared to waver and felt a bit troubled.


    "But..."


    "Take this emblem, and you may enter and exit my temple at will."


    The Goddess Athena across from him began speaking softly, her eyes twinkling with mirth, her voice then took on a teasing tone.


    "It means you can eat whatever you want..."


    "...!"


    Instantly, Little Medusa stared intently at the bronze emblem in her hand and unconsciously swallowed.


    Immediately afterward, the little girl resolutely stuffed the long-term meal ticket back to where it came from and looked up seriously at Luo En in front of her.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll protect you!"


    Watching Little Medusa, who had been pacified with a few meals, dash back to the backyard, Luo En couldn''t help but smile wryly. He turned to Athena and asked, somewhat helplessly.


    "Letting her get into your temple to freeload, that''s not ideal, right?"


    "Ordinary people certainly don''t have that privilege, but she is my priestess, representing my will on earth, enjoying my offerings and worship, isn''t that only to be expected?"


    With her response prepared in advance, Athena spoke nonchntly.


    However, to Luo En, her words were like a thunderp out of the clear sky, and he looked at the Goddess of Wisdom before him in astonishment.


    "Your priestess? Yours?"


    "Yes," Athena replied, nodding her head as her gaze fell on Little Medusa, who was ying with Nike in the backyard, her expression softening.


    "I am very fond of this child, and she also loves the city of Knossos. Since you have no use for this object, why not train her to be my priestess?"


    Luo En listened attentively, his exterior calm, but his heart stirred with waves that could not be calmed.


    ording to a certain legend, after bing Athena''s priestess, Medusa would be known for her beautyparable to Athena''s, which would eventually attract the covetous gaze of Poseidon.


    In the end, Medusa was first vited by the shameless God of the Sea in the temple and then spurned and cursed by Athena for losing her chastity, fallingpletely into a demonic form.


    ¡ªCould it be, even after sessfully avoiding the fate of the Formless Ind, the inevitability of destiny still possesses a strong rectifying force, seeking to pull everything back onto the set course in another manner?


    Indeed, even with the Dice of Chance in hand, it wasn''t easy topletely shift the wheels of inevitability.


    Foreseeing a new crisis and realizing that the seeds of disaster had been sown upon Medusa, Luo En furrowed his brows deeply. After a moment of thought, he hesitantly turned to Athena, trying to dissuade the Goddess of Wisdom from this idea.


    "Boom!"


    However, before he could speak, a violent tremor came from outside the window, and the whole ind of Crete shook slightly.


    Athena''s expression changed as she swiftly got up and rushed outside, with everyone instinctively following.


    At that moment, the sky and earth were dark, and a hundred-foot-high wave rose up from the vast sea, stretching from heaven to earth, hurtling toward the coastline of Crete.


    The Minosians on the streets looked at the engulfing torrent with ashen faces, some screaming and running in all directions, others hugging their loved ones and cowering in corners, the entire city enveloped in apocalyptic cries.


    Damn it, can''t you hold back any longer?!


    The Goddess of Wisdom, her eyes darkened, divine power bursting forth from her body and transforming into golden mes that shot skyward, dispelling the gathered storm clouds in the sky.


    Yet, the waves on the sea continued to advance, and the crisis was not fully averted.


    "Nike!"


    With a low shout from Athena, the little Goddess of Victory at the front immediately transformed into a gold-green long spear and flew into her master''s hand, radiating awe-inspiring sharpness.


    Then, the Goddess of Wisdom d in bronze armor, she summoned a divine shield in her other hand, and stood lost in grave contemtion.


    "I''ll be right back. You all watch this ce and keep others away from the shoreline!"


    "Okay!"


    Without hesitation, Little Medusa nodded and rushed toward the panicked crowd, announcing the warning.


    Meanwhile, having given hermands, Athena extended dazzling golden metal wings from her back and leapt towards the towering wave that was almost upon Crete.


    Luo En and Hestia exchanged a nce, both seeing the same worry in each other''s eyes.


    The trouble, it seemed, was about to begin¡­

 Chapter 60: Chapter 56 Medusa, Youve Been Promoted

    Knossos City, a petite figure in purple darted through the chaotic streets, urgently directing the bewildered residents to find refuge.


    "Granny, lock the doors and windows!"


    "Grandpa Constantine, leave the things on the stall, get inside first!"


    "Sister Beatrice, hide yourself, I will take care of these herbs for you!"


    "..."


    Little Medusa tried her best to settle the nearby panicked residents, but being too young and taken lightly, her frantic efforts only managed to convince a few familiar neighbors.


    Moreover, as the cool nking of metal armor approached, a century of soldiers tasked with maintaining order in the City of Knossos also noticed the tiny figure running amok on the street.


    "Little girl, whose child are you? Go home! It''s dangerous outside now!"


    The middle-aged officer leading the charge, wearing an ancient Greek helmet with Cretan bull motifs on the sides and a bronze sword at his waist, frowned and chastised Little Medusa as she rushed about.


    The cold reflection from the armor and the chilling gleam of the weapon reminded Little Medusa of past chases, subconsciously making her nervous. Her right hand instinctively reached up to her chest, grabbing the bronze snake-embossed emblem, readying for defense.


    Seeing the girl remain silent, the middle-aged officer was about to send her away when three priestesses apanying the army caught sight of the emblem in Little Medusa''s hand, their pupils shrank, and they hastily stepped forward to greet her reverently.


    "Divine Envoy, my lord!"


    "Divine Envoy?"


    The middle-aged officer was momentarily stunned and a bit perplexed.


    "Yes, that''s the Goddess''s emblem, only those recognized by the Goddess are worthy of carrying it!"


    The approximately forty-year-old priestess nodded earnestly, her gaze steadfast, while the two apanying priestesses also nodded in affirmation.


    Backed by the three divine officials, the middle-aged officer who had spoken somewhat harshly moments before now nervously lowered his stance, asking in a deep voice.


    "Divine Envoy, may I ask for your instructions?"


    "I¡­"


    As hundreds of eyes focused on her, Little Medusa, still somewhat shy by nature, suddenly felt at a loss.


    "Notify everyone outside to leave the coastline immediately and gather them inside the city!"


    Just as Little Medusa found herself at a loss for words, a steady and clear voice came from behind.


    In the surprised gaze of the city defense forces and the priestesses, the Divine Envoy chosen by the Goddess looked toward the voice and, as if finding her backbone, joyfully rushed into the embrace of a silver-haired man.


    "Luo En, you''ve arrived!"


    "Mm¡­"


    Luo En nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the still-bewildered soldiers and priestesses, frowning slightly as he reminded them.


    "Listen to me:


    First, the wave might not be thest, so the city defense forces should organize to guide the coastal poption into the city and maintain order within, ensuring that everyone stays in their homes and firmly secures their doors and windows."


    Second, I remember that the temples have spells tomunicate with each other. I ask of you, priestesses, to ry this message to the other city-states to prepare for the impending impact.


    Third, the storm at sea is beyond human control. The port, coastal viges, and merchant ships and fishing vessels that went out earlier might all suffer to some extent. You need to set up warning lines along the coast ording to the situation and prepare emergency relief personnel and supplies."


    In the same way, the people in the city should also be ready with sufficient food and water tost a few days. The Harvest Festival just ended not long ago, and food should be plentiful. As long as unnecessary outings are prohibited, there won''t be chaos inside the city¡­"


    Listening to a silver-haired young man enumerate clear and effective measures for disaster prevention, control, and relief, the middle-aged officer and the leading priestess nodded subconsciously.


    However, once they came to their senses, they couldn''t help but turn their attention back to the Divine Envoy, whose status and position were even higher.


    Once again the focal point, Little Medusa, gripping Luo En''s hand, became unexpectedly calm and decisively lifted the emblem at her chest, speaking earnestly.


    "Do as he says, quickly!"


    The slightly bted Hestia, who arrived at his side, also nodded in agreement.


    "Yes, it''s the Goddess''s order!"


    "I shall heed your divine guidance."


    With clear instructions given, the middle-aged military officer and the priestess paid no heed to two people of unknown status, merely nodding solemnly to Little Medusa before arranging for their people to carry out the orders.


    But while the temple was still manageable, the city defense force faced some trouble.


    Due to the suddenness of the events, there were limited personnel nearby, and the city needed to retain a sufficient garrison of soldiers, leaving the middle-aged officer facing the long stretch of Crete Ind''s coast feeling somewhat challenged.


    But before the other party could voice his concerns, Luo En understood them and instructed with a grave tone.


    "You maintain order within the city, allocate thirty people, ande with us to guide and defend the coastline, once the situation stabilizes or your King orders, then withdraw more troops to rendezvous with us."


    This n not only alleviated the burden of the middle-aged officer but also effectively avoided any subsequent ountability for him.


    With no further concerns, he readily agreed, leaving thirty individuals to follow themands of the Divine Envoy before decisively departing.


    At this moment, having just received the authority tomand, Little Medusa eagerly summoned everyone, rushing outside the city.


    "It''s urgent, follow me quickly!"


    "Understood, Divine Envoy!"


    The thirty soldiers responded solemnly and quickly followed suit.


    Luo En watched Little Medusa disappear at the city gate, opened his mouth, and could only let out a deep, helpless sigh.


    Now with so many witnesses, whether she was a priestess of Athena or not, she was definitely a priestess of Athena now.


    s, one after another, why must they all be so worrisome...


    Seeing the situation was now irreversible, Luo En sighed, nced at Hestia standing beside him.


    "Let''s go as well."


    The Goddess of the Hearth nodded slightly, lifted her foot, and walked alongside Luo En.


    Meanwhile, above the Sea of Okeanos.


    Howling gales tore through the clouds in all directions, with dozens of spiraling wind columns rising to meet the sky, plunging into the sea, stirring up waves upon waves, as if awakening dragons lying dormant beneath the deep sea.


    Roaring and bellowing, they raised monstrous waves, attempting to extinguish life onnd.


    However, just as they bared their fangs and approached the coast, a golden thunderbolt shot forth, instantly spanning hundreds of miles of sea surface.


    "Whoomm!!!"


    With a strong, arcane rumble, an immense flow of divinity surged out, and wave after wave connecting heavens to earth crumbled and shattered, turning into countless scattered droplets, falling back into the sea.


    The wild winds ceased, the overcast sky cleared, revealing the brilliant sunlight that had been hidden by dark clouds.


    The warm light shone on the vast sea, through the misty water vapor, weaving a dazzlingly beautiful rainbow of seven colors.


    Yet, such beauty came at a great cost for the Minosians who often had to take to the sea.


    Athena looked down at the white foam and the vaguely visible wreckage of ships and tattered clothing, her gaze dark, biting down on her silvery teeth, squeezing out cold words.


    "¡ªPoseidon!"

 Chapter 61: Chapter 57: Your infamy is known to none, your sins are known to all.

    Crete Ind, along the coastline of Knossos City.


    As the storm ceased and the huge waves subsided, soldiers guiding the evacuation and residents forced to relocate rejoiced in the calm sea and sky, celebrating their survival after the catastrophe.


    However, as bloated, pale bodies and fragments of wooden ship debris washed ashore, the cheering abruptly halted, and a somber, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the area.


    "Don''t just stand there, continue evacuating the elderly, women, and children toward the inner city!


    Those willing to stay, form groups of ten, temporarily organized into reserve units, and follow themand of the city defense forces to search and rescue along the coastline to find any survivors.


    Gather the bodies washed ashore for collection, awaiting family identification; unrted individuals are not allowed to approach!"


    Luo En''s solemn voice broke the deathly silence, arranging orders meticulously, quickly winding up the halted mobilization machine and steadily bringing it back to operation.


    Since the Minosians of Crete Ind were already ustomed to making a living at sea, most of them understood the sea''s temperament and thus rarely chose to settle in dangerous areas too close to the coastline.


    Therefore, there weren''t many people who needed to evacuate, and with those who remained for various reasons, there were barely two to three hundred individuals.


    Under the guidance of the city defense soldiers and the authority of the Divine Envoy Little Medusa, those willing to stay and those needing to evacuate obediently separated and went their respective ways.


    The search and rescue as well as the body collection work also steadilymenced.


    "Set up tents over there to amodate the injured and the bodies..."


    "You few, prepare some boiling water, allowing everyone who touched a body to thoroughly clean the contacted parts; also prepare some hot soup for those suffering from hypothermia at sea..."


    "In addition, search and rescue teams pay attention, sort the injured by severity; those with medical and first aid experience, go help!"


    In front of the coastline, Luo En searched his brain for knowledge rted to disaster relief and epidemic prevention, striving to ensure each stage reached the expected standard ofpletion.


    Alright, he was a bit of a perfectionist.


    He liked to adhere to the philosophy of either not doing it at all or doing it well.


    Since he took over this mess for Little Medusa, it didn''t hurt to put in a little more effort.


    And with Luo En, a reliable adult inmand, the little girlpletely relinquished her thoughts and obediently stayed by his side, acting as a human badge and megaphone.


    Even Hestia, one of the Twelve Olympians, couldn''t intervene and simply drifted to the fire, voluntarily taking on the logistical work of boiling water, cooking hot soup, casting spells for healing, and preventing epidemics.


    Before long, the coastal line was cleared, with bodies, ships, and survivors sessively salvaged and properly settled.


    A bted reinforcement from Knossos City and the temple priests waited nkly for a while, then were directed by Luo En and Medusa to handle the aftermath and corresponding disaster statistics.


    "Hum!"


    Apanied by the tremor of Aether Magic, a golden streak of light descended from the sky andnded on an open space along the coast.


    The Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena, showed her original form. Under the excited and fervent gazes of soldiers, priests, and residents, she looked around and walked towards Little Medusa, the center ofmand and coordination, to inquire in a low voice.


    "How are things here?"


    Little Medusa instinctively straightened up and thoroughly reported the current situation.


    "Two harbors were damaged to varying degrees, needing more than half a day for emergency repairs;


    Three merchant ships and four fishing boats failed to reach the sheltered harbors in time, resulting in collisions, but fortunately, there were no casualties;


    All unrted individuals within three kilometers of the coast have evacuated toward Knossos City, currently settled by the temple and soldiers.


    For safety, we have also set up warning lines near the coastline, sealing off some dangerous areas..."


    Then, the little girl paused slightly and looked toward the nearby tents, her small face bing visibly downcast.


    "But ording to the aggregated reports from temples across the city-states, at least twenty-seven ships of various sizes went to sea today and have not returned, with 98 confirmed deaths, 32 injured of varying severity, and 64 missing..."


    Nearly two hundred casualties was indeed a significant loss...


    Upon hearing the report, Athena''s brows furrowed tightly, and a stern coldness set on her face.


    Is Poseidon still not giving up?!


    A momentter, when she calmed the annoyance in her heart and came back to her senses, noticing the orderly search and rescue efforts around her, and recalling Little Medusa''s detailed ount, she couldn''t help but feel surprised.


    "Did you do this?"


    "It was Luo En!"


    The honest Little Medusa did not take credit, decisively pointing her hand and outing Luo En, who was mingling in the crowd.


    Athena nced at the figure reluctantly standing out and showed a look of appreciation.


    "Not bad at all..."


    "It is your excellent teaching; I am merely acting ording to the instructions you provided before departure."


    Luo En skillfully ttered the true leader of Knossos City, pushing out all the credit and responsibility, showcasing his profound skills as a Teflon personality.


    Just as Athena was about to say a few words of praise, she felt a bout of vexation and lowered her voice with a cold huff.


    "Credit belongs to whoever earned it; I am not that petty!"


    Luo En offered a sheepish smile, nomittal.


    No matter how he responded, it would be tantamount to implicitly admitting that the other party really was petty. Keeping silent seemed to be the safest approach.


    Athena looked around at the well-ordered temporary camp, her eyes shed, and she gestured for Luo En to follow her to a deserted corner, where she spoke solemnly.


    "Trouble ising to Crete Ind!"


    "Poseidon?"


    Luo En raised his eyebrows, a hint of gloom hardly perceptible in his eyes.


    It seemed that in history, the Minos civilization was destroyed by a disaster from the sea.


    "I will try to hold him back..."


    Athena pursed her lips, looking earnestly at Luo En.


    "But that''s not enough!"


    "So?"


    "So I need your help!"


    Hearing the Goddess of Wisdom''s solemn contemtion, Luo En was slightly startled, raising his hand to point at his own nose with some difficulty.


    "Me? Uh, although I would like to share your worries, I am but a mere demigod..."


    "A demigod who can evoke the divine aspect of war, capable of taking several dozen of my strikes?"


    Athena narrowed her eyes slightly, letting out a leisurely, cold snort.


    "Don''t be modest; even though I don''t know from which line of Ares'' descendants you hail, your potential is undeniable, or else I wouldn''t want to train you as a lesser deity."


    "Thank you for your kind offer, but it seems I do not yet have the qualification to partake in the wars between the gods, being a demigod," Luo En said, still not epting the offer, well aware of his own strength and ce.


    Then, to avoid being pushed into a corner, he promptly shifted the me to another more convenient scapegoat.


    "If you really can''t set your mind at ease about the people of Crete, why not consider Lady Heiya?"


    "Aunt Hestia has already made it clear that she has withdrawn from the conflicts of Olympus; I don''t want to drag her into it again," Athena said, ncing at a figure in the crowd who was boiling water for medicine, her voice growing low after a slight pause.


    "Besides, even if she intervened, it would only make things worse..."


    "Hestia? The Goddess of the Hearth?!"


    Upon hearing this "explosive" piece of information, Luo En btedly widened his eyes, exhibiting the appropriate shock and surprise.


    However, Athena didn''t speak, only looking disdainfully at someone.


    Keep pretending, keep it up! Not to mention that simpleton Hestia, you probably guessed who I am the first time we met, right?


    "..."


    In the face of the silence, Luo En gave a resigned smile, tactfully changing the subject.


    "Are you saying that this game will be kept to a level below that of the deities?"


    "I can only try to ensure that both Olympus and Antis cannot intervene in this matter; the rest is up to you..." Athena said, shaking her head nomittally, exhaustion in her eyes.


    Luo En frowned, falling into deep thought.


    Seeing that there was still no answer from him, a faint look of disappointment appeared on the Goddess of Wisdom''s face, as she spoke in a deep voice.


    "Of course, you can also choose to leave before trouble arrives. In consideration of your aunt and that child, I will not hold you ountable."


    Luo En, still undecided, was about to speak when the aether-etched, twelve-sided die atop the bronze altar within his mind burst into a long-dormant golden radiance.


    As it turned eerily, the three sea-wave lines representing Poseidon and the five serpent patterns representing Athena appeared in session, followed by a mechanical voice tinged with joy.


    "Your infamy is unknown, but your crimes are proimed throughout the world!


    Congrattions, your actions have once again seeded in prying the gears of fate, precipitating the crisis on Crete Ind. Please make your vile choice within three days.


    sphemy One: Choose to assist the Goddess Athena, wisdom and warbined, against the impending maritime disaster, and seed in randomly gaining one of Poseidon''s divine blessings.


    sphemy Two: Choose to aid the God of the Sea, Poseidon, in hastening the Minos civilization towards its end, and seed in randomly gaining one of Athena''s divine blessings.


    sphemy Three: Choose to oppose both Athena and Poseidon, extinguish the me of wisdom, shatter the glory of the God of the Sea, cause the Minosians to weep, let Antis sink, and seed in obtaining a divine blessing from both Athena and Poseidon!"


    Perceiving the three glinting golden glyphs within his mind, Luo En''s expression subtly changed, and he drew a sharp breath.

 Chapter 62: Chapter 58: Plucking Athena Bald?

    ```


    Here ites, the deadly challenge is here!


    The three gold divine prophecies on the bronze altar in his mind flickered in and out of existence as Luo En felt a strong sense of crisis welling up inside him.


    As previously mentioned, the gold divine prophecies correspond to high-difficulty challenges that exceed his current abilities, filled with extreme danger.


    The "Battle of the Cyclops" and the "Chase of Okeanos" from version 1.0 were close calls that nearly cost him his life. In the end, he had to exploit the special environment of the Formless Ind, using a sleight of hand and muddying the waters to sessfully trap the Antean Guard that had been on his tail across half the Sea of Okeanos.


    Otherwise, the grass on his grave would probably be a meter tall by now.


    Now, even before the 2.0 version of the event officially started, it immediately brought forth Goddess Athena and God of the Sea Poseidon, both among the leading fighters of the Twelve Olympians. It doesn''t take a genius to know that the trouble and danger this time are likely to surpass the previous asion by far.


    Besides...


    What do you mean my actions have triggered a crisis for the Minosians? Don''t falsely use a good person!


    Athena and Poseidon are throwing down, and the Anteans and Minosians are at each other''s throats, but what does that have to do with me?


    With a ck pot of me inexplicably dumped on his head, Luo En felt a bit depressed and hurriedly tried to clear his name in his mind.


    However, when he thought about what he had done on the Sea of Okeanos and the changes he brought to Knossos City, he couldn''t help but feel so guilty he was at a loss for words.


    Okay, maybe there''s a little bit of a connection.


    A little bit...


    Luo En tried hard to distance himself from the title of Greece''s "bad guy" and "troublemaker of divine eras," but the brilliant gold prophecies in his mind undoubtedly told him he couldn''t wash his hands of this matter.


    Even if he wasn''t the chief culprit, he was almost certainly the fuse to the powder keg.


    Through prolonged trial and error and with faint guesses in his heart, Luo En gradually came to understand how the gold divine prophecies'' version updates and workings came to fruition.


    The answer was simple.


    Whilepleting his Daily and Weekly Chapters, he would inevitably incorporate "chance," as represented by the "dice," into the "inevitability" of "fate," causing the two to sh and diverge to varying degrees.


    Once this aberration, which goes against the "constant," esctes to a certain level, it would surely provoke a bacsh from "fate," thereby triggering a series of crises attempting to erase him, the "variable."


    This, presumably, is the so-called cause of the "version event."


    So, it looks like I can''t avoid the trouble at hand.


    As for how to choose...


    Luo En''s thoughts raced, weighing the first and second options.


    Without a doubt, siding with the God of the Sea Poseidon and the powerful Anteans is equivalent to easy mode. He could even just watch the situation unfold to win without effort.


    However, true to the dice''s usual character, the more seemingly straightforward it appears, the more dangerous it actually is.


    Even if unbound by any sense of morality and without considering the factors of emotions, if he were to blindly follow Poseidon and bring about the downfall of the Minoan civilization, gaining a portion of Athena''s divinity...


    What then?


    Once Poseidon is freed from thismitment, who''s to say he won''t dispose of me as well?


    By then, Athena won''t be there to shield me from the storm anymore.


    Therefore, the only choice is the first one, to firmly team up with this dear sister, which might give me a chance at a happy ending for everyone.


    As for the third path suggested by the dice, Luo En chose to ignore it outright.


    The malice within the writing was almost overflowing off the altar.


    For a Demigod like me to directly challenge two Chief Gods like Athena and Poseidon?


    Even if I were out of my mind, I wouldn''t choose such a suicidal method.


    In the span of lightning-fast thoughts, just a moment''s time, he made up his mind, took a deep breath, and looked helplessly at Athena, whoseplexion was growing worse.


    "I''ll do whatever I can..."


    Luo En paused, turned back to look at Little Medusa, Hestia, and the distant Knossos City, gradually swallowed by the cold fog and night, his normally inscrutable eyes revealing a rare glimpse of true emotions.


    "After all, the ce I just got used to living in, I have no ns of moving out."


    ```


    Athena, upon hearing this, had the gloomy expression on her face vanish, and couldn''t help but crack a smile.


    "Once this matter is resolved, you can stay as long as you like," she said.


    For Athena, Luo En''s indirect response made her more at ease.


    When promises are made too readily, they are often nothing but lip service.


    The more cautious the promise, the more it shows that he is seriously considering the matter.


    After a moment''s silence, Luo En looked at Athena and voiced a doubt that lingered in his heart.


    "Why me? There should be stronger individuals on Crete Ind, like... King Minos, for example?"


    As the future chief among the three judges of the Netherworld, a divine son of Chief God Zeus and Divine Consort Europa, that older brother by blood, though not almighty, was definitely a formidable figure.


    "Strength is not only measured by one''s martial prowess but also by the scale of one''s wisdom," she replied calmly, her gaze deep and piercing as she looked into the vast night sky.


    "Compared to the former, I hold greater faith in the power of thetter. And I see in you, the potential to change the whole game."


    Luo En nodded nomittally and, standing shoulder to shoulder with Athena, gazed out into the pitch-ck Sea of Okeanos, speaking with a profound tone.


    "So, you mean to say that in thispetition, Crete Ind is at an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength, and to safely get through this crisis, we can only rely on our wits, right?"


    During the conversation, Luo En raised his hand to his forehead, turning to look at Athena beside him.


    "I''m having second thoughts now. Is it possible for me to back out?"


    "..."


    Athena''s enigmatic smile froze for a moment, and she clenched her teeth in secret, feeling an itching desire to punch someone rise from the fist hidden in her sleeve.


    Alright, she liked smart people, but not those who were too smart for their own good.


    "The authority of war!"


    Athena gave a sidelong nce at a certain mischievous scamp, uttering a soft, cold humph.


    "As long as you can protect the entire Crete Ind, I will let you see what true war authority is like and help you ascend to godhood!"


    "It''s a deal!"


    Suddenly, Luo En''s face cleared of earlier troubles and indecisiveness, and he smiled brightly as he high-fived the Goddess of Wisdom in a vow.


    That smooth transition darkened Athena''s expression even more.


    "I have other matters to attend to, I need to see King Minos!"


    The Goddess of Wisdom spoke stiffly as she turned her head to beckon Nike outside, transforming into a ray of light and vanishing into the thick night.


    "Lady Goddess, have a good journey," Luo En called out from the woods, waving goodbye with a warm and enthusiastic smile on his face.


    After all, if he was fortunate enough to save Crete Ind this time, not only could he pluck a few ''wool strands'' from Ares, the War God, who was closely rted to his own divine bloodline with the help of Athena, but he would also receive a promise from the Goddess of Wisdom and the Baptism of the God of the Sea''s divine authority as a reward from the oracle of gold, essentially hitting three birds with one stone¡ªwhat a jackpot!


    Moreover, this seemed like a new train of thought.


    Who decreed he could only follow that unlucky dice and scrape a living? If he intensified the conflicts between the Twelve Olympians, taking the role of bookmaker, siding with some, opposing others, and muddying the waters, wouldn''t he be able to y both ends against the middle?


    Then, he could choose whose gold coins to burst!


    The more Luo En thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and his mood became increasingly buoyant.


    However, as he was about to leave the secluded dense forest, he suddenly remembered a problem.


    Wait a moment, if I''m to help protect Crete Ind during the great disaster, shouldn''t they give me some sort of credential?


    Luo En looked at his empty hands and then back at the vanished silhouette in the night sky, his mouth twitching slightly.


    It seemed he might have overyed his hand a bit.

 Chapter 63: Chapter 59: Im Old, Not Dead!

    Late at night, in the royal pce of Knossos City.


    An aging man holding a gold scepter, draped in a white robe, sat upon the cold throne. His brows and eyes drooped slightly, resembling a dozing lion whose unspoken authority naturally emanated.


    King Minos, now the religious and political leader of the city-states on Crete Ind, themon lord of all Minosians, was also the son of the Divine King Zeus and the divine consort Europa.


    Legend had it that Zeus, transformed into a white bull, brought the Phoenician princess Europa to Crete Ind, where he wooed her, giving birth to their sons Minos, Radamanthys, and Sarpedon. He promised them dominion over thend.


    To inherit the throne, the three brothers became enemies and fought against each other.


    Ultimately, Minos banished Radamanthys and Sarpedon, emerging as the victor of the ordeal.


    Though he had seized the throne, he led the civilization of Crete Ind to its zenith, thanks to his outstanding personal talents.


    During his reign, he was famous for his stringent legal governance, which turned the whole of Crete Ind into the most prosperous and developed human settlement of the time.


    Now, as the enormous waves from the sea subsided, several priests and generals gathered in the great hall, reporting to King Minos on the throne about the damage and casualties across the city-states of Crete Ind.


    "The twenty-seven boats that went out to sea during the day have all been confirmed destroyed, with 98 confirmed dead, 32 injured to varying degrees, and 64 missing¡­"


    "Two sea ports outside of Knossos City have incurred minor damage, currently under urgent repairs. In addition, three merchant ships and four fishing boats collided, but rescue and blockade were timely, and there are no casualties at the moment¡­"


    "Two viges in the city of Nossia are destroyed, with 37 dead and 21 missing¡­"


    "A hundred and twenty acres of good farnd in Gidus City have been flooded with seawater, resulting in 29 deaths and 15 missing¡­"


    "Kidonia City¡­"


    With each piece of bad news reaching his ears, the furrow between the old man''s brows on the throne deepened, forming a brand steeped in sorrow and frustration.


    "Enough!"


    Finally, a voice that could no longer bear it echoed through the vacant pce. The old man opened his half-closed eyes; his unkempt white hair danced with the surge of divine power.


    "Wasn''t the warning message disseminated through the temple right away? Why are there still so many casualties in those city-states?!"


    The somber roar, like a chill wind, swept through the hall. The reporting priests and generals, feeling the weight of that authoritative divinity, couldn''t help but bow their heads even lower.


    "Father, it may have been that the disaster struck suddenly, and my brothers were not prepared in time¡­"


    With a crisp, pleasant voice, a fair-haired young woman wearing a white priestess''s attire and holding a golden scepter with a winged bird design entered from behind the curtains. She knelt down before the throne, gently calming King Minos''s unsettled chest.


    Seeing the pretty, egg-faced girl with serene and refined demeanor appear beside the throne, the trembling priests and generals below breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ariadne, the second daughter of King Minos, was a princess known for her gentleness and kindness.


    She was also the High Priestess serving the main Goddess Athena, overseeing the administration of the temple in Knossos City, as well as the corresponding sacrificial ceremonies.


    In a sense, the princess held an even higher ce in religious authority than King Minos himself, who was the High Priest.


    After all, the Minosians worshipped the Goddess; King Minos was merely a symbol of royal power, while a female priestess was seen as a more urate representation of divine authority in the world.


    However, Ariadne was not the eldest daughter; her elevated stature came partly from her own excellence, which won her the deep trust and affection of her father, King Minos.


    On the other hand, it was because the eldest princess, Acacallis, defying her father''s decree, had a ndestine meeting with Apollo, a male god from Olympus, and bore him offspring.


    Enraged, King Minos banished Acacallis from Crete Ind, causing a rift between father and daughter.


    Thus, the position of High Priestess naturally fell upon the second daughter, Ariadne.


    Luckily, Princess Ariadne did not disappoint King Minos''s favor, often patiently humoring her increasingly entric old father to cheer him up. Since her appointment, she also managed the duties of worshipping the gods and overseeing the temple with meticulous order.


    Based on past experience, as long as the princess intervened, King Minos would usually calm his rage.


    "Silence! Don''t make excuses for them!"


    However, this time, not only did the anger within King Minos not subside, the fury on his face only grew denser.


    "These rebellious children clearly think I am old and disregard my orders!"


    Hearing that grinding voice, the priests and generals in the great hall lowered their heads and dared not speak, each one feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.


    Apart from the one not to be spoken of in thebyrinth, King Minos had a total of ten children, with sons and daughters each ounting for half.


    In order to expand the influence of royal authority and consolidate his rule, naturally, as the princes came of age, King Minos deployed them to several important city-states on Crete Ind to guard the capital, Knossos.


    However, the rtionships between fathers, sons, and brothers in Greece have always been rather unfriendly.


    Free from their father''s control, these newly appointed princes gradually revealed their own restlessness.


    Especially as King Minos aged, this tendency became increasingly evident.


    Ordinarily, for the harmony and prosperity of the cities of Crete, King Minos could turn a blind eye.


    But now, as crisis loomed, the princes'' negligence of duty obviously crossed King Minos''s red line.


    "I am old..."


    On the throne, the aging lion pushed away his daughter Ariadne''sfort and suddenly stood up. His tall body, nearly two meters high, towered at the steps, his imposing presence burst forth, nearly suffocating those present.


    "But I am not dead!"


    The words came out one by one from the mouth of the elderly lion, his pale gold eyes looking down at the generals and priests gathered in the pce, growling coldly.


    "Make them all roll back here and report to me in person!"


    "Yes! Yes!"


    The priests and generals responsible for delivering orders nodded frantically like pecking chickens and, after King Minos waved his hand impatiently, wiped their cold sweat and rushed out of the pce as if granted amnesty.


    A lion who has seen blood, no matter how old, is not one to be defied or challenged by cubs living in a greenhouse, as long as its teeth have not all fallen out and its ws have not worn away.


    It seems the brothers who have beenx for a long time are in for a tough time on their return.


    Ariadne, watching her father in his towering rage, couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    But at this critical juncture concerning the survival of Crete Ind, there was no room for soft-heartedness. Her brothers had yet to see the real crisis facing the Minosians. If they were to be disciplined, they had no one else to me.


    After all,pared to these insignificant ountability issues, the disaster brewing at sea was the truly enormous trouble.


    In the empty hall, father and daughter looked out at the deep night sky and simultaneously let out a sigh.


    Suddenly, the bronze bird-shaped wind chimes on the eaves rang out a clear tone, instantly dissipating the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.


    The father and daughter both startled and turned their eyes together toward the figure at the entrance.

 Chapter 64: 60 chapters: Rather than proving yourself, its better to smear the enemy.

    "Lady Goddess!"


    Upon recognizing the neer, Ariadne, the chief priest, lit up with joy and hurried forward with a respectful trot to greet her.


    The aged lion that followed closely humbled himself by bowing his proud head, his eyes filled with shame and bitterness.


    "To have troubled you toe here personally is truly a failure on my part."


    "Enough, I''m not here to listen to such futile ramblings."


    Athena waved her hand to dismiss the formalities of King Minos and his chief priest, set up a barrier with another gesture, and got straight to the point.


    "Besides Knossos, what about the other cities? Start with those."


    Ariadne, responsible for liaising with all regions, nodded respectfully and reported thepiled details of each city to her Goddess Athena with uracy.


    This naturally included her brother''s somewhat unruly actions.


    After listening attentively, Athena nodded slightly, her face showing little surprise.


    The situation in the Cretan cities was much as she had heard from Little Medusa, with little difference.


    Although there were unexpected losses due to negligence, these were still within controble limits.


    As for how King Minos would deal with his disobedient beloved sons, that was not something she needed to concern herself with.


    If she had to intervene in even such trivial matters, then his position as the King of Crete was better off relinquished sooner rather thanter.


    Filtering the information in her mind briefly, Athena opened her eyes and looked at the old lion beside her that was showing signs of ageing.


    "Hmm, I''m more or less informed about the matters on the ind. And the sea? Any news about this sudden onught of the giant wave?"


    "Yes!"


    King Minos nodded emphatically, his golden eyes emitting intense frustration and anger.


    "During your time back in Olympus, the Temple of the Sea God imed that a detachment of the Antean Imperial Guard vanished near the waters of hanos, and there were mass ughters of sea monsters with divine blood, including one of Poseidon''s demigod offspring..."


    "So, they suspect it''s the work of the Minosians?"


    Athena''s eyebrows slightly raised, and then she nodded thoughtfully.


    "That makes sense. To hunt down arge number of divine-blooded sea monsters and a demigod offspring of Poseidon, and then make a detachment of the Antean Imperial Guard that came to investigate disappear without a trace is not an easy feat. And looking at the entire nearby sea, it seems only Crete Ind could have managed such a deed."


    Following that, Athena nced at King Minos beside her and then added another sentence.


    "Besides, the motive also seems usible..."


    "Lady Goddess, I have always remembered your teachings and never once initiated such conflicts!"


    King Minos immediately retorted with a solemn promise.


    "Telling me this is of no use."


    With a slight raise of her hand, Athena interrupted King Minos''s earnest plea to prove his innocence and spoke solemnly.


    "Whether I believe you or not is irrelevant; what matters is what they think on the other side. What does Poseidon think?"


    "Just based on these baseless spections, is the Temple of the Sea God going to condemn us? Even the gods should not be so irrational!"


    King Minos''s aged face was full of indignation and resentment, his fists clenched tightly.


    As a wise king who strictly enforced thew, what he could least tolerate was the practice of trampling on rules with brute force.


    "Evidence? You want evidence from the gods? Haven''t you understood after all this time? It''s pointless..."


    Athena nced at the furious King Minos, shook her head slightly, and murmured with profound meaning.


    "Because for them, once suspicion arises, the crime is already established!"


    "..."


    Hearing this cruel and subversive answer from the mouth of the Chief God he worshipped, King Minos, who spent his life upholding justice and imposing strict punishments, looked dejected, struggling to ept this heavy reality.


    Noticing the reaction of the old lion, Athena imperceptibly shook her head.


    Although he was capable of governing a country, his integrity was too rigid, ultimatelycking flexibility.


    Moreover, he truly had aged, no longer able to even control his own son¡­


    Seeing the deep wrinkles on the old man''s white hair and forehead, left there by the years, the Goddess of Wisdom sighed deeply and spoke in a low tone.


    "Whether you did this or not is irrelevant, the Temple of the Sea has long coveted Crete Ind, and they''re just looking for a reason to intervene, understand?"


    "Understood¡­"


    King Minos nodded, his voice old and feeble.


    "I am truly ashamed for not living up to Your teachings and expectations¡­"


    "Enough, this is not your fault, there''s no need to me yourself for such inconsequential matters."


    Athena waved her hand dismissively, her demeanor light and nonchnt.


    Inconsequential matters?


    Hearing their Goddess speak with such ackadaisical tone, the Priestess Ariadne at her side couldn''t help but be secretly shocked and cautiously reminded.


    "But Your Highness, what if the Temple of the Seaes to hold us ountable?"


    "Hold us ountable?"


    Athena''s lips tightened as she let out a cold, mockingugh.


    "ountable for what? Shouldn''t it be me demanding ountability from Poseidon? He raised massive waves without distinguishing the innocent from the guilty, destroying 17 harbors and 25 viges on Crete Ind in session, burying thousands of acres of fertilend, leading to the death of thousands and the discement of tens of thousands, and causing over 300 ships at sea to sink because of him. Shouldn''t it be him who''s held responsible first?"


    "What?"


    Ariadne, standing nearby, was utterly astounded by the listed damages, exaggerated tenfold or more.


    Even King Minos himself was struggling to make sense of it.


    Seeing their naive reactions, the Goddess of Wisdom rubbed her forehead in frustration, cautioning them with heartfelt earnestness.


    "Remember, when the other party isn''t ying fair, don''t fall into the trap of proving your innocence, trying to exin yourself to others. Those who nder you know better than anyone how innocent you are. Such rebuttals are endless."


    King Minos and Princess Ariadne nodded as if they understood, but the confusion in their eyes showed they still couldn''t fully grasp the concept.


    Noticing this, Athena pinched her somewhat aching brow, mumbling to herself.


    Exining this to honest and simple-minded people is truly exhausting.


    If he were here, he''d surely grasp it without need for exnation, keeping up with my thoughts...


    While reminiscing about someone who was rarely on the same wavelength as her, the Goddess of Wisdom steered the conversation in a more straightforward direction.


    "The logic is simple. If Poseidon can suspect that Crete Ind massacred his Divine Blood kin and wiped out his Antean Guard,


    then I can also suspect that the Antean Guard hasn''t vanished at all, and it''s all a self-directed ruse meant to frame us, with the objective ofunching another great purge against humanity and thereby expanding his divine authority from the sea ontond.


    The Chief God might ignore other affairs, but he would definitely inquire about such a matter."


    With this realization, the father and daughter finally saw the light.


    Indeed, if all are baseless usations, then who is cleaner than whom?


    Instead of proving oneself, it is better to tarnish the enemy!


    As long as the noise is loud enough, Poseidon won''t be able to meddle overtly."


    "Don''t celebrate too soon!"


    However, before the two could rx, Athena doused them with a cold reality check.


    "Even if I can hold back Poseidon and the mighty forces of Antis, I may not be able to fend off all the trouble at sea."


    As she spoke, the Goddess of Wisdom turned her gaze toward the vast sea shrouded in night, her eyes distant, and her face reflecting deep concern.


    "I have a premonition that Poseidon won''t let this go so easily this time¡­"

 Chapter 65: Chapter 61: Surely there must be a deep meaning behind what Lady Athena has done, right?

    The atmosphere in the great hall, which had just eased, became oppressive once again, and the mood of the father and daughter was inevitably heavy.


    "Well, there''s no time to lose. To avoid furtherplications, I must set out immediately and return to Olympus!"


    After imparting a portion of her strategic ns, the goddess who presided over wisdom and victory disyed her resolute and decisive nature. She rose to her feet and with a deep voice, gave her instructions to King Minos and her own high priestess.


    "After my departure, the matters of Crete Ind are in your hands. Should you encounter any trouble that you cannot resolve..."


    Athena paused briefly, standing before the pce steps, her gaze stretching toward a certain part of Knossos City under the veil of night, her purple eyes flickering with a mysterious light.


    "You can go to the third street, to the house numbered seven. There might be someone there who can help you..."


    "Are you referring to the Divine Envoy?"


    Priestess Ariadne, upon hearing this, remembered the report from several priestesses before departure and the bronze serpent emblem impression they brought, her eyes lighting up with realisation.


    Athena smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying, a yful curve forming on her lips.


    "When you go, bring two portions of desserts for me, remember, they should be offerings."


    "Ah?"


    Upon this strange request, the high priestess was taken aback. However, before she could voice her confusion, Athena had already spread her metallic wings and, transforming into a beam of light, disappeared from the great hall.


    Desserts? Offerings?


    Stunned, Princess Ariadne and King Minos exchanged nces, then solemnly nodded, engraving the goddess''sst instruction deep into their hearts.


    Indeed, the Lady Goddess must have had a profound reason for this!


    Meanwhile, on the third street, at the house of Hestia.


    Luo Eny sprawled on his soft bed in the shape of a "big" character,zily stretching his limbs.


    Since getting up, he had been busy sowing seeds and tending to the seedlings, which upied his entire morning;


    By noon, Hestia burst in without knocking, spilling the beans about Athena''s identity, forcing him to confront the Goddess of Wisdom ahead of schedule and try his best to appease his powerful elder sister;


    Then, before the battle of wits from the dining table to the chess board had even ended, a cmitous tidal wave suddenly struck from the sea;


    Consequently, Luo En had to follow the reckless Little Medusa and Hestia out the door, assuming the responsibility of disaster prevention and relief, cleaning up their mess;


    Finally, just as things were getting back on track, Athena turned up the pressure, suggesting "I have high hopes for you," intent on dragging him onto the sinking ship of the Minosians...


    After much back-and-forth, the two sides reluctantly reached a consensus andid the foundation for their cooperation.


    And by the time he saw off his sister, who looked like she wanted to punch him, and after dealing with Little Medusa''s troubles at the camp, dawn was almost breaking.


    In the midst of such intense physical and mental exertion, even Luo En, who had be a demigod, could not help but feel a bit of fatigue.


    The weary mind lying on the bed felt little desire to move.


    But in the end, through sheer willpower, he forced himself to get up and with a lift of his hand, drew several Hermes Script symbols in the air before him.


    Instantly, four objects of different shapes emerged from the shimmering patterns of the magic array and caught Luo En''s eye.


    After months of toiling, only four useful items¡ªthis thing''s drop rate is really low.


    Luo En tossed the twelve-sided die in his hand, in irritation he stored it back within his body, and began to seriously tally the chips he had umted by secretly grinding Daily Chapters and Weekly Chapters during the months he had been settling in at Hestia''s ce.


    Following the left-to-right order, he first picked up seven sharp, gleaming white fangs, examining them carefully.


    [Python''s Fang]: After reaching adulthood, God of Light Apollo went personally to the Delphi region to vent his mother''s anger. He shot and killed the giant serpent Python, which had been ordered by Hera to persecute his mother, the nurturing goddess Leto, to prevent him and his sister Artemis from being born. After the battle, he took its teeth as trophies.


    In the Age of Greek Gods, the bloodlines of dragons and snakes were often interwoven inplex ways, as seen with the famous Hundred-Headed Dragon Ladon and Hydra, who were of the same parents.


    And in some Western records, snakes are seen as the progenitors of dragons, with the terms used interchangeably.


    For example, Satan, known as the [Old Serpent], also has legends of transforming into the [Red Dragon] to do battle with the archangel Michael.


    Therefore, the serpent-like creatures of the divine age often have attributes of [dragons] to varying degrees.


    After some experimentation, Luo En confirmed that these items could also serve as mediums for summoning dragon-tooth warriors.


    Furthermore, because they came from the great serpent Python, the dragon-tooth warriors summoned with them were all peak Gold-level.


    If it weren''t for the fact that summoned creatures are constrained by the summoner''s magic power strength, summoning skill level, and their own physical condition, Luo En spected that the dragon-tooth warriors summoned with these [Python''s Fang] could even reach Demigod status.


    Even so, having seven peak Gold-level, astonishingly tough, and fearlessly fierce dragon-tooth warriors appear on the battlefield could definitely change the tide of a small-scale conflict.


    When necessary, they could indeed be used as a surprise force.


    Luo En thought to himself and nodded, tossing the seven engraved summoning charms of [Python''s Fang] into the Magic Array for storage.


    He then shifted his gaze to the second and third chips.


    One was an ancient bronze longsword and the other was a bronze armor riddled with stabbings and hackings.


    The de of the sword emitted a cold chill on either side, and the armor still bore dried reddish-ck bloodstains¡ªevidences that they were remnants from a battlefield.


    ¡ª¡ªIn a devastating city-state war, the War God Ares, delighted by the hunt, descended to join the fray. He personally slew the most valiant hero with divine blood on the battlefield and stripped off his armor, taking his longsword as a trophy.


    Although the two items were not on par with those crafted by the god of craftsmen and cyclops, they were still of Demigod quality and suited Luo En perfectly at the moment.


    As usual, Luo En put on the armor inside the house, weighed the handle of the sword, and familiarized himself with the bnce and feel of the weapons and armor to prevent haste in arming himself when battle loomed.


    After some basic training, he turned his attention to thest chip.


    It was a pair of bronze bracelets with owl patterns that contained the divinity of Athena that he had mentioned many times. They not only allowed the wearer to remain calm and immune to certain forms of mental interference but also had the effect of enabling quick entry into meditation and amplifying magic power.


    In fact, in addition to being the Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena was also regarded by some as the Goddess of Magic.


    Luo En nced at the pair of bronze bracelets, put them on directly, and then pulled down his sleeves to carefully conceal them.


    A refreshing coolness spread through Luo En''s body from the bracelets, easing both physical and mental fatigue, prompting him to let out a pleasurable moan.


    Although there were four useful items drawn from the silver pool,


    without a doubt, Luo En''s favorite was this pair of bracelets with their superior support effects.


    It must be said that as long as Athena, his elder sister, did not ambush him in the bronze pool, when she did issue gold coins, they were often of premium quality.


    So, after this battle is over, what else do you have waiting for me, Athena?


    With a subtle sense of anticipation, Luo Eny in bed, apanied by the floating patterns of light from the bronze bracelets, and slipped into both meditation and a restful sleep.

 Chapter 66: Chapter 62: I Choose to Stop Thinking

    The remnants of the night had faded, and dawn had broken.


    As the feeble morning light prated the crevices of the windowttice, Luo En, who had enjoyed a good night''s sleep, yawned, got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and gazed out over the entirety of Knossos City.


    Through the streets and alleys, the thin mist that drifted in from the sea had not yet fully dispersed, but there were already people and vendors emerging from their homes or setting up their stalls,mencing the usual rhythm of life.


    Wisps of cooking smoke rose from nearby homes, carrying the scent of food, which diluted the terror and unease that had loomed over the city the previous night.


    The number of city defense soldiers, who had been stationed at street corners to maintain order, had visibly decreased.


    It appeared that, after a night of settling, the situation had gradually calmed down, and everyone''s life seemed to have fallen back onto its old track.


    Their Goddess, their sovereign, would, as usual, shelter the people of Crete Ind, enjoying days of prosperity and stability.


    However, after scanning the surroundings, Luo En''s eyes gradually narrowed.


    The blockade at the city''s coastline had not been entirely lifted;


    The number of patrol teams within the city had decreased, yet the quantity of soldiers in the barracks had increased;


    And the defense force at the Astrological Observatory, the pce, the temples, and the sacrificial grounds had been reinforced, with personneling and going even more frequently¡­


    A rxed exterior with a tight core?


    Luo En arrived at a conclusion in his mind, shook his head, calmly closed the doors and windows, and went downstairs to the kitchen to start a fire.


    Leave professional matters to the professionals.


    The current state of affairs on Crete Ind hadn''t deteriorated to a matter of life and death, so it wasn''t yet his turn to worry for the Minosians.


    Instead of fussing over these things, it was better to eat well, drink well, and do what he was supposed to do at the moment.


    Luo En, as always, had prepared breakfast for Little Medusa and Hestia, who had not yet risen, and afterward, he took his farming tools to the backyard to continue tending thend, renting, and... sword training!


    The ancient longsword of aquamarina hue repeatedly hacked, thrusted, and sliced through the empty yard¡­


    Over and over again.


    ~~


    For several days, all was calm.


    The horrific tidal wave that struck at dusk seemed nothing more than a fleeting nightmare.


    The Minosians, gradually emerging from the shadows, resumed their usual activities: some went out to sea, some set up their stalls, some tilled their fields, and life returned to its peaceful tempo, with the city regaining its usual bustle and noise.


    And the only news ofte that might be considered a bit sensational


    was merely about the Prince who had been out on assignment, summoned back in a hurry by the King for failing to adequately manage the disaster.


    Of course, considering King Minos''s reputation for strict enforcement ofws, these Princes, with their noble Divine Blood, couldn''t escape their father''s whip. They were each flogged half to death, stripped of all authority, and then sent into the temple to pray for the Goddess''s forgiveness.


    It was said that they hadn''te out for several days, with their daily meals having to be delivered inside by Princess Ariadne.


    Luo En listened to the rumors from the neighbors, living his daily life as usual.


    Only, he nted less and practiced his swordsmanship more diligently.


    Little Medusa propped up her cheeks, puzzled as she watched the figure that wielded and sheathed his sword continuously in the courtyard.


    "Isn''t everything already resolved?"


    "Resolved?"


    Luo En''s breathing slowed slightly as he turned his head to look at the girl with a naive expression on her face and pondered in a deep voice.


    "No, it''s gotten worse¡­"


    Little Medusa looked stunned, her gaze clear yet confused, while Hestia in the kitchen stopped stirring the frying pan and poked her head out, slightly curious.


    Seeing the two of them, utterly unaware of any crisis at home, Luo En sighed and asked in a serious tone.


    "Guess why King Minos hastily summoned back the Prince who were out on assignments, beat them half to death, stripped them of all their authority, and threw them all into the temple to repent? Logically speaking, slight negligence doesn''t warrant such harsh measures, right?"


    After pondering for a moment, an epiphany shed through Hestia''s mind, and her face turned grave with understanding.


    "They''re nning a rebellion! They must be plotting to kill their father and seize power!"


    "..."


    Luo En raised his hand to his forehead, exasperatedlymenting.


    "If they really had such intentions, would they dare to return to Knossos City so ostentatiously to report for duty? Besides, even if they wanted to, they would need the capability. The prosperity of the entire Crete Ind is almost single-handedly upheld by King Minos. You really think he hasn''t aplished anything in these several hundred years?"


    "People get old, they don''t die!"


    In the midst of Luo En''s rapid-fire questioning, Hestia''s certain gaze inevitably turned confused, looking towards the backyard with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.


    "So what''s this all about?"


    Seeing that the eldest sister of the Divine King''s family, the famous Goddess of the Hearth, had given up on thinking, Luo En couldn''t help but let out a silent scoff in his heart.


    Howe, being born to the same parents, you didn''t inherit any of the excellent family genes for scheming and rebellion?


    Just as Luo En was considering how to start exining, a hesitant voice came from the side.


    "Could it be that he just wants to take the opportunity to take back control?"


    Luo En turned his head upon hearing this, surprised to see Little Medusa with her brows tightly furrowed, and he couldn''t help but let a smile of approval bloom on his face as he began to lead the conversation.


    "Then, when do you think it''s necessary to take back power?"


    Upon hearing his words, Medusa felt a tremor in her heart, her little face clouded with uncertainty.


    "Big trouble ising!"


    "Indeed, it seems like the kind of big trouble that requires the full force of Crete Ind to deal with..."


    Luo En added in a grave tone, his gaze passing over the courtyard to the gloomy sky above the sea, his eyes flickering mysteriously.


    As the saying goes, one voice in governance brings order, multiple voices bring chaos.


    Since ancient times, whenever a major event urred, nations needed to operate as a whole, a unifiedw to unleash unparalleled potential and cooperate to face risks.


    Although the political systems in the East and West are different, the basic principles of operation are mutually intelligible.


    Clearly, King Minos, not shying away from making a big fuss, intended to take the opportunity of negligence to call his sons back for punishment, with ns to assert his authority and reim power.


    In doing so, he could prove that his influence remained strong, deter those slightly restless voices, and then focus the collective strength of the cities of Crete to prepare for the approaching trouble.


    Luo En thought of Athena, whom he hadn''t seen since their parting, and his brows drew together in concern.


    As expected, it hade to that point...


    While Luo En was calcting the next developments, a petite purple figure darted out.


    "Anna, where are you going?"


    Hestia peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes showing surprise.


    "To tell everyone not to go out to sea!"


    Little Medusa spoke without hesitation.


    "It''s useless."


    A low voice came from behind, rational and detached.


    Luo En wiped the bronze longsword in his hand, his gaze deep and prating.


    "Minosians cannot live without the sea, just like fish cannot live without water. They have to make a living, and until the crisis truly arrives, until they feel the real pain themselves, nothing will stop them from going out to sea..."


    "I know..."


    Little Medusa nodded, her gaze as resolute as ever.


    "But, if I can persuade even one person, that''s one less person in danger!"


    With that, the petite figure rushed out of the room decisively, not looking back as she sped towards the coastal camp.


    Luo En looked at his own empty hand and at the small figure disappearing at the end of the road, somewhat bewildered.


    Some people, having been caught in the rain themselves, don''t want to see others running in the rain without an umbre and wish to shelter them.


    And some people, because they have been soaked themselves, want to tear apart others'' umbres, leaving them exposed to the rain as well.


    Perhaps, Luo En wasn''t one of thetter.


    But Little Medusa was certainly one of the former.


    What a fool...


    In the courtyard, Luo En shook his head, reminiscing about the intense battle with Athena that evening and the insights gained, gradually entering the state of "Infinite Martial Refinement", his sword continuing to swing forward.


    Each time faster than thest, each time more powerful than thest!

 Chapter 67: Chapter 63 Dont sleep too deeply tonight!

    The next morning, a noisy and chaotic mor, mixed with faint crying, drifted from the harbor.


    Something had happened!


    Upon hearing themotion, Hestia in the kitchen slightly tensed her expression and immediately peeked out from in front of the stove, eagerly looking towards the figure in the backyard.


    Sensing the gaze almost sticking to his back, Luo En sighed, put away the bronze longsword in his hand, and took the initiative to speak.


    "Forget it,e with me to have a look."


    "Okay!"


    Hestia instantly felt reassured, hastily setting down the kitchenware and obediently following behind Luo En, heading towards the direction of the harbor.


    Her grandniece Athena had cautioned her before her departure to heed the opinions of a certain fellow in all matters.


    There was much she did not understand.


    But she knew that some words had to be taken seriously.


    Following the flow of people out of the city gates and hurrying to the harbor on the outskirts of Knossos City, this ce had already gathered quite a number of figures drawn by the news.


    There were soldiers maintaining order, priests conducting statistics and investigations, and priestesses providingfort and treatment; and on the outermost ring, an anxious crowd ofmon folk peered inward...


    By now, within the harbor under martialw, dozens of bodies soaked white in the seawater were being dragged ashore by the soldiers one after another.


    Most of the deceased were dressed in coarse linen, with rough skin and a faint redness from sun exposure, presenting the standard visage of seafarers and low-ranking merchants.


    Their causes of death varied greatly.


    Some faces showed the purplish hue of oxygen deprivation, some bodies were twisted with shattered bones, some eyes bulged with terror, and some limbs were torn off, leaving only half-trunks...


    A grotesque and bloody scene made some of the weaker-hearted Minosians turn their heads to squat on the ground, heaving continuously.


    But more people were anxiously pulling at soldiers and acquaintances, seeking and inquiring; or upon hearing the dread news, they rushed forward, crying and wailing in disbelief.


    Clearly, among these dead might be their brothers and loved ones.


    As more and more people arrived, the situation became increasingly chaotic and noisy.


    Luo En slightly furrowed his brow, pulled Hestia to a higher point on the outskirts, and gazed towards the sea.


    The murky tide pped against the shore, creating rings of ghostly froth.


    Amidst the foam, chunks of broken timber of varying sizes were carried onto the shore.


    They were fragments of ships.


    And not just fishing boats, among them, there seemed to be merchant ships engraved with simple protective spells...


    Luo En''s eyes moved across the irregr gaps on the timber nks and settled on a ship''s keel in the distance that had seemingly been torn in two by a tremendous force, his brow knitting more tightly.


    Luo En?!


    Just as the two were surveying the scene, a certain small purple figure, surrounded by a group of white-robed priestesses, brightened up and excitedly waved toward the high point on the outskirts.


    Is this girl also here?


    Luo En''s brows raised slightly and he nodded from afar, then discreetly pointed to a rtively secluded and quiet area before vanishing into the crowd.


    Shortly after, having understood the hint, Little Medusa arrived at the agreed-upon spot and met up with Luo En and Hestia, who were already waiting there.


    "It was ships from Crete Ind that went out to sea, they''ve encountered trouble!"


    As soon as they met, Little Medusa cut straight to the situation, her gaze burning as she looked across at Luo En.


    Luo En, who had anticipated this, was not surprised and murmured softly, "Sooner than I had expected..."


    Then, he pinched the bridge of his nose and asked the Athena Divine Envoy, who had already received official recognition from the Minosian authorities.


    "What about the number of ships, casualties, and the location of the incident?"


    "There were a total of seven ships that set out to sea from yesterday to today. So far, the wreckage found at the harbor has been identified as belonging to three of them, with no information on the remaining four."


    Little Medusa ryed the news she knew truthfully, then paused, biting her lip with her pearly teeth, her voice growing softer.


    "Neen people have died, and so far, no survivors have been found."


    But soon, a ray of light bloomed again on the young girl''s gloomy face.


    "However, I have already asked the temple to quickly light the sacred fire on the seaside Divine Tower to guide the remaining four lost ships, and if there is a Mage on board, they could also use aether resonance to establish contact with the Priests stationed at the Divine Tower!"


    "Do you really think the wind and waves at sea could tear a ship into that state?"


    Luo En spoke softly, and although it was with some reluctance, he still cruelly and decisively shattered the sliver of hope in Little Medusa''s heart.


    "I''m afraid they encountered Sea Beasts..."


    On the perilous Sea of hanos, one need not say more about the fate of ordinary people when encountering Sea Beasts.


    Upon hearing this, Little Medusa''s gaze dimmed significantly.


    Beatrice''s sister''s father, Grandpa Constantine''s son, they were all on one of the missing ships...


    However, the young girl did not have much time to worry about others, as a question in her ear broke her mournful thoughts.


    "When did the three ships that were discovered as wrecks depart from the port?"


    "It seems they left yesterday afternoon..."


    Little Medusa thought carefully and gave a serious reply.


    Yesterday afternoon?


    Luo En''s eyes shed as he took the initiative to speak.


    "Do you have the departure times, the status of the investigation of the bodies, and the sea charts marked with merchant shipping routes and nearby fishing grounds? Bring me a copy!"


    "Alright!"


    Upon hearing the request, Little Medusa nodded without hesitation and immediately ran toward the group of Priestesses.


    As the young girl left to retrieve the sea charts, Luo En turned to look at Hestia beside him.


    "Do you know any experienced old fishermen nearby? I have some questions I want to ask."


    "Yes, there are!"


    Hestia, who had been idle, perked up at this and immediately looked around, pulling over an old man with a stooped figure from nearby.


    The weathered face and calloused hands were enough to prove his identity.


    Looking at the somewhat distressed face before him, Luo En was slightly taken aback.


    He remembered, wasn''t this old man named Constantine?


    "Anna''s brother? Whatever you want to ask, go ahead!"


    The old man tried to muster a smile on his face and took the initiative to speak.


    Luo Enposed himself, nodded, and quietly posed several questions about the diurnal tides and the speed of sailing ships.


    The old man, named Constantine, truly lived up to the name of an old fisherman; although his descriptions were somewhat vague, he could give Luo En rtively urate data based on his rich experience.


    As each question and answer validated each other, Luo En''s eyes became thoughtful.


    "It''s here!"


    Before long, Little Medusa returned with her hands full of sea charts, quickly running up to Luo En and spreading them out on the ground, one by one.


    Luo En didn''t speak, but picked up a stick, scrutinizing various markings around Crete Ind on the sea chart and writing down several numbers for a rough calction.


    And when the results appeared before him, his expression inevitably grew more somber.


    Seeing Luo En''s expression, Little Medusa instinctively stepped forward to ask.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Luo En waved his hand and waited until Hestia tactfully sent the old fisherman away, then turned to look at the newly appointed Goddess of Wisdom''s Divine Envoy beside him and spoke in a deep voice.


    "Believe what I''m saying, and remind the coastal defense forces and the Temple Priests to not sleep too deeply tonight, especially in the first half of the night..."


    "...!"


    Hearing that low and serious voice, Little Medusa, who knew the man''s character well, turned pale and nodded gravely.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 64: When the God of Stove starts to think, the God of Wine begins to laugh.

    In the evening, the two returned home.


    As soon as he entered the door, Luo En headed straight for the second floor, opened the door to his room, rushed into the bedroom, and fell asleep right away.


    Downstairs, Hestia, full of questions, looked at the closed bedroom door, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn''t say anything. She turned around, holding the groceries, and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.


    Since little Anna wasn''t there, she only needed to prepare dinner for two people tonight, which meant a bit less work.


    However, Hestia, distracted at the stove, nearly cut her fingers with the knife several times, and made frequent mistakes in steps like frying and seasoning.


    As a result, what should have been a simple dinner took Hestia over two grueling hours toplete, emerging from the smoke-filled kitchen as if she had survived a catastrophe.


    At this time, Luo En in the second-floor bedroom still showed no signs of waking up.


    Hestia had no choice but to finish her own portion with a waxen taste, then sat restlessly at the dining table, asionally ncing out the window into the dark night.


    Time ticked by, and just as the Goddess of the Hearth, who could no longer stand it, was about to rush upstairs, break down the door, and drag a certain someone out of bed, a series of dull roars exploded along the coastal areas outside Knossos City.


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    With the violent roaring, dazzling patterns of light whipped up a fierce Aether storm, sweeping across the entire coastline.


    Defensive charms? And magic traps? So many?!


    Hestia, looking at the ribbons of light that almost illuminated half of the night sky outside the city, was utterly dumbfounded.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud!"


    Meanwhile, dull sounds of flesh being torn apart erupted one after another over the shallows and the sea surface, with what seemed to be pieces of limbs and organs thrown about, and the rich stench of the sea wafted through the turbulent winds.


    Guided by the flickering light of Magic Arrays, Hestia, standing at the window, saw the distorted, writhing outlines on the sea''s surface and the shadows constantly moving up from the deeper waters, her face filled with astonishment.


    "What, what?"


    "The beast tide..."


    Apanied by a somewhatzy getting-up noise, the tightly-shut door of the second-floor bedroom opened, and Luo En, yawning, came down the stairs, sat at the dining table, and leisurely served himself dinner.


    Recalling what this man had told Anna during the day, Hestia was shocked.


    "You knew in advance?"


    "Not guessed, calcted!"


    Luo En took a bite of the still-warm food, corrected her irritably, then tapped the corner of the table as a sign.


    "If you want to know the reason, sit down, and I''ll tell you."


    Hestia, unable to contain her curiosity, managed to sit patiently across from him, leaning in to listen to the exnation.


    Seeing that the Goddess of the Hearth had obedientlyplied, Luo En then began to speak softly.


    "You must have seen what happened at the harbor today. Those ships weren''t destroyed by any storm, after all, the wind doesn''t eat people..."


    "Right, they must have been attacked by Sea Beasts," Hestia interjected, with images of the wrecked ships and the terribly mutted corpses shing in her mind, nodding in agreement, yet still puzzled.


    "But what does this have to do with the beast tide outside? Every year, as winter approaches, ships that set sail will inevitably encounter some Sea Beasts."


    "But three ships that set off at different times, in different directions, and were in different areas of sea all were attacked and damaged at almost the same time and then washed up on Crete Ind the following day. Do you know what this means?"


    Luo En gave Hestia a meaningful nce.


    Although the Goddess of the Hearth was naive, she was not a fool. Thinking of the sea charts Luo En had borrowed during the day, her face suddenly changed.


    "Are you saying that between the fishing grounds and several merchant routes, the waters were packed with Sea Beasts?"


    "Exactly, this is the conclusion I reached through information such as the sailors'' times of death, when they set out to sea, and the rough directions and range of their ships'' travels."


    As he spoke, Luo En took several papyrus sheets covered with characters out of his pocket and threw them onto the table.


    These, Hestia recognized as well, were the statistical data that Luo En had Anna acquire from those priestesses and priests.


    One mystery was solved, but many more questions flooded her mind.


    "How do you know that these Sea Beasts will attack Crete Ind tonight?"


    "I said it before, you need to think more, calcte more..."


    Luo En sighed helplessly as he saw Hestia''s clear eyes.


    "Several months have passed since the Harvest Festival, and it''s now the time for fattening up before winter. So many Sea Beasts have traveled from the ind sea for thousands of miles to the open sea, gathering near Crete Ind; they couldn''t possibly havee all this way just to celebrate the Minosians'' birthdays and feast, right?


    Besides, there aren''t many human settlements nearby, and King Minos and the God of the Sea have never gotten along, having had some friction recently. A little bit of reasoning and you would know that they are most likely targeting Crete Ind."


    In the face of such disdain, Hestia nodded awkwardly, mumbling to herself.


    "Time, I''m asking you where did you get such precise timing for the encounter?"


    "It''s not about being precise."


    Luo En shook his head, pulled out a few of the papyrus sheets, and pointed out the details to Hestia.


    "Based on the departure times and speeds of the ships, I figured out the rough sinking locations. Then,bining the tidal conditions, the movement speeds of the Sea Beasts that left traces on the wreckage, as well as the creatures'' behavioral habits, I was pretty much able to estimate the time of the beast tide''snding on the ind.


    Moreover, that old man mentioned that every year as winter approaches, the Sea Beasts have a habit ofing ashore at night, with the tide and the wind, to attack livestock and vigers. It''s just that the numbers are sparse and not concentrated.


    With mutual corroboration and a sufficient amount of rted data for reference, reaching this conclusion wasn''t difficult."


    Hestia looked at the three pages full of dense text that made her dizzy, and she unconsciously swallowed hard.


    You call this... not difficult?


    Unaware that he was being looked up to by a failing goddess, Luo En finished hisst mouthful of rice and turned to look out at the coastline, shimmering with light patterns, feeling somewhat emotional.


    "However, speaking of which, I wasn''t entirely certain. It was just an attempt. I didn''t expect King Minos to actually believe it. Looking at the density of the Defensive Charms and Magic Traps, it seems he''s mobilized half of Knossos City''s temple''s worth of sacrificial offerings and priests."


    "Yeah, with such thorough preparations, there shouldn''t be any problems now, right?"


    Hestia stood up, staring at the swarms of Sea Beasts that were being bombarded, repelled by spells, bolts of magic power, arrows, and spears, and murmured softly.


    "Laaaa..."


    Just then, a melodious and lingering song came from the sea, and the front-row soldiers were instantly enraptured. Their souls resonated with it, and then... they stepped forward woodenly, one foot stepping into emptiness, either plummeting onto the cold cliff face and shattering into a lump of flesh or falling into the churning waves to be fodder for the Sea Beasts.


    "Sirens! Divine Blood kin!"


    Hearing the beautifully insane and savage magical tone of the voice, Hestia''splexion changed, and she swiftly rose and rushed toward the door.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t step through this door tonight..."


    The deep murmur came from behind, and Luo En stood up, took out the chilled fruit brew, and filled the two cups on the table.

 Chapter 69: Chapter 65: Those who are not family do not enter the same door

    "Why?"


    Hestia hesitated for a moment at the door, but ultimately she stopped and turned to look back, frowning as she asked.


    Although she could not be considered smart, she was someone who would listen to reason.


    Luo En handed Hestia a cup of the filled fruit wine and, looking towards the half of the night sky outside Knossos City that was almost as bright as daylight, he spoke unhurriedly.


    "If you show up on the battlefield, Poseidon will have a reason to intervene."


    "What''s there to be afraid of? With Nike and the Aegis Shield, he isn''t necessarily a match for Athena!"


    Upon hearing this, Hestia''s brows rxed, and she confidently spoke out.


    Clearly, she had high expectations and confidence in her great-niece''sbat abilities.


    Luo En''s eyebrows quirked up in an expression that was both smiling and not smiling.


    "And then what?"


    "What?"


    Hestia blurted out reflexively, only to see Luo En''s face had already turned cold, his voice taking on a more mocking tone.


    "You don''t really think Crete Ind only has to face Poseidon, do you?"


    "...?!"


    The unexpected counter-query left Hestia somewhat dazed.


    "Do you still remember why Athena descended from Olympus ahead of time?" With a meaningful reminder, Luo En looked towards the vast sea under the night sky and spoke somberly, "The favor from Poseidon is not so easily repaid."


    In an instant, Hestia grasped the underlying meaning, her mind jolted, herplexion slightly shifted.


    "You mean to say that Ares and Aphrodite might also be involved in this!"


    "What else?"


    Luo En nced at the Goddess of the Hearth, who only now seemed to have an inkling of realization, and snorted coldly as he spoke.


    "The messy affairs on Mount Olympus had barely ended, and the temple of the God of the Sea made a move against Crete. King Minos has been stirring trouble for many years, and Poseidon hasn''te knocking for justice; yet now, of all times, he acts. You don''t think that''s just a simple coincidence, do you?"


    "..."


    Hestia had no response, but vented the frustration in her heart towards those shameless rtives of hers.


    "They actually conspired together! Shameless!"


    "Ares, as the god of war, has always coveted the scepter of victory; when Aphrodite was caught in adultery, Athena once supported Hephaestus... With these old grudges and interests as a link, and Poseidon having just vouched for them, their coboration is almost to be expected," Luo En paused and then added to Hestia softly.


    "Besides, given Poseidon''s nature, if he hadn''t bided his time with some assurance of victory, how could he possibly have troubled himself to target Crete?"


    "They are bullying us because we are fewer in number, right? Then we can also call Artemis and Hephaestus!"


    Hestia clenched her fists, indignantly defending her great-niece.


    "You''re the only one who can summon help? Is Ares''s good mother Hera, who just slept with Hermes, not a concern? Not to mention, I haven''t even ounted for the multitude of marine deities hidden in the nooks and crannies of the Sea of Okeanos! Poseidon represents not one, but a group, you understand?"


    Luo En was amused by the Goddess of the Hearth who had fat in ce of brains.


    "Why do you think Hephaestus lostst time despite having reason on his side? Isn''t it because of this?"


    He then looked at Hestia, who still had a look of indignation, and spoke softly.


    "Furthermore, the Ocean Goddess Thetis, who raised Hephaestus, is beholden to the God of the Sea Poseidon. Have you heard that Artemis''s brother Apollo has a grudge against King Minos of Crete? Just think, do the two deities you mentioned really wish to wade into this murky water for Athena and King Minos?"


    "..."


    Faced with this irond reality, Hestia searched her feelings and suddenly felt deted.


    Indeed, based on what she knew of those nieces, nephews, and siblings, it wasn''t necessarily so.


    "If it were a matter that could be solved simply by calling people and brawling, the Goddess of Wisdom could handle it herself¡ªwhy would it be necessary for you to speak up?"


    Following thorough analysis, which quelled Hestia''s impulse to show off her intelligence, Luo En earnestly advised her.


    "On the contrary, only by prohibiting the deities of Olympus from participating do the Minosians have a slim chance of winning against this storm. That''s why I need to speak so much nonsense with you..."


    "So, you''ve been specially watching over me tonight?" Hestia finally understood.


    "You just now realize that?" Luo En spoke irritably.


    Realizing she had almost caused a fiasco, Hestia couldn''t help but show an embarrassed expression.


    But as the rumbling along the coastline grew more oppressive and the sounds of flesh being torn echoed one after another, this good-natured Goddess of the Hearth still found it difficult to remain seated. She gently lifted her hand and nudged her "chaperone," asking cautiously.


    "So, what do we do next?"


    "Wait!"


    Luo En nced over and replied sinctly.


    Hestia pursed her lips, her face showing hesitation.


    "But..."


    "This is only the first wave of testing. If the Minosians can''t even withstand this bit of turmoil, and need the gods to personally intervene for them to barely cling to life, then even if you assist them once, you won''t be able to a second or third time.


    To survive, they must first rely on themselves, struggle with all their might, and then it won''t be toote to pray to the gods for help."


    Luo En spoke calmly, his purple eyes exuding a tranquility and insight far beyond that of ordinary people.


    After all, he had experienced death twice.


    First rely on oneself, then on the gods?


    Hestia''s heart trembled, suddenly enlightened, extinguishing the reluctance within her.


    She had always been perplexed as to why Athena had always adopted aissez-faire attitude towards the development of the Minosians.


    Quietly watching them step out of the cradle, not embracing;


    Quietly watching them stumble, not lending a hand.


    Now, it seemed she found the answer to her confusion in those words.


    The child will eventually grow up; the mother is not always a nanny.


    "With such a major event unfolding, neither Athena, Poseidon, nor the Anteans have shown their faces on Crete Ind, and on the sea, there are only these Sea Beasts which offer no handle to grasp..."


    As he enlightened Hestia''s granite-like mind bit by bit, Luo En murmured a few words before gazing toward the sacred mountain adorned with stars, and spoke faintly.


    "If I''m not mistaken, our Goddess of Wisdom must already be on Mount Olympus, devising a way to prevent Poseidon and the Anteans from intervening."


    "Yes, Athena mentioned it before she left."


    Having some inside knowledge, Hestia nodded slightly, her gaze growing more peculiar as she looked at Luo En.


    Guessed it again? How can he be so uncannily urate, like he knows what''s in people''s bellies?


    No wonder Athena is so eager to have him as her Lesser Deity; these two are cut from the same cloth!


    Wait, cut from the same cloth...?


    "So, are you listening?"


    The prolonged cold voice in her ear interrupted Hestia''s thoughts, bringing her back to reality, awkwardly looking at the face that had approached, nodding rapidly like a pecking chicken.


    "Listening! Listening!"


    ustomed to this by now, Luo En maintained hisposure and reminded her once again.


    "I want to say, before the situation bes clear, you''d better not engage in futile actions to avoid backfiring."


    "Certainly! Certainly!"


    Hestia nodded earnestly, appearing obedient like a well-behaved child.


    After imparting his final piece of advice, Luo En yawned, stood up, and went upstairs.


    Left behind, Hestia blinked in confusion.


    "Where are you going?"


    "To sleep, to fully recharge my energy..."


    Luo En, on his way up, waved his hand nonchntly, his voice filled with tiredness.


    "Come morning, we''ll probably have someone inviting us over for a meal. It looks like another day of hard work is in store for us."


    Someone''s treating us? Howe I don''t know about it?


    Hestia scratched her head, clearly baffled.


    As Luo En pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside, realization suddenly dawned on her, and she hurriedly dashed up the stairs.


    "Wait! Have you guessed something again?!"


    "Bang!"


    The door mmed shut and locked, signaling a refusal to answer.

 Chapter 70: Chapter 66: You Dare Say It, I Dare Believe It

    The next morning, a rustling noise downstairs awakened Luo En from his sleep.


    "Athena''s chest is padded!"


    As soon as he opened his eyes, he habitually delivered "praise" to one of the chief gods from the Daily Chapter, then got out of bed feeling refreshed and went downstairs.


    At that moment, in the living room.


    Having woken up early, Hestia and the sleepless Little Medusa were gathered at the dining table, engrossed in the boxes of exquisite pastries in front of them.


    "You''re awake?"


    Hestia, the first to hear the noise, turned her head to look at Luo Ening down the stairs, waving a greeting and using her pink tongue to lick the pastry crumbs off the corners of her mouth.


    Clearly, she was very fond of the delicacies.


    Luo En''s gaze swept over the snake-pattern on the pastries, causing his eyelids to jump.


    "Temple offerings? Where did theye from?"


    "They were left by Lady Goddess before she left, to be delivered here," a pleasant humming came from outside the door.


    A girl in a pure white dress stood respectfully at the entrance, golden snake-pattern bracelets on her wrists, a pretty oval face, linen-colored hair draped over her shoulders, and an air of tranquil elegance. Her bright eyes showed a trace of apologetic grace.


    "Recent turmoil on Crete Ind and many affairs at the temple have prevented me from visiting sooner, please ept my apologies," she said.


    Three people? Two gifts?


    Luo En nced at the two half-empty boxes on the table and at Hestia and Little Medusa, each busy with their pastries, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.


    So, it was a divide-and-conquer strategy, huh?


    Even at this hour, she didn''t forget to y her tricks on me. You really are petty, sis.


    Seeing the subtle changes in someone''s expression, the bright-eyed girl outside hurriedly bowed and opened her mouth to speak.


    "It was too hasty of me toe this time. To thank you for the warning yesterday, my father has prepared a banquet, and we would like to invite you all to Knossos Pce," she said.


    Then, the girl paused, looked towards Luo En, who was the main invitee, and with a smile, her tone shifted.


    "As a token of gratitude, my father hopes to present you with a modest gift in person during the meal."


    So, you''re saying my visitor''s gift is waived, huh?


    Tsk tsk, such watertight words. Not only did she cover up Athena''s prank and save the petty Goddess''s face, but without defying the Goddess''s wishes, she showcased the royal family''s regard for me, an outsider.


    It seems that King Minos has raised a good daughter.


    Luo En took in the charming and intelligent princess at the door with a mix of admiration and curiosity.


    "May I ask, which princess are you among the daughters of King Minos?"


    "I am his second daughter¡ªAriadne, currently managing the affairs of the temple, my lord..."


    The fair-eyed girl nodded slight acknowledgement, humbled herself proactively without any pretense of royalty.


    With the mention of that name, Luo En''s face involuntarily showed subtle changes, and the way he looked at Princess Ariadne became somewhat peculiar.


    Ariadne? Isn''t she one of the mortal lovers Dionysus will hook up with in the future?


    Feeling the change in the gaze upon her, Ariadne carefully raised her head and cautiously inquired.


    "My lord?"


    "Oh, I''m sorry, I was just zoning out," Luo En snapped back to reality, offering an apologetic smile, his expression clearing.


    He is he, and Dionysus is Dionysus.


    From the moment of his own birth, whether future or fate, everything had be utterly different.


    Noticing the eased atmosphere, Princess Ariadne ventured again to speak.


    "So, what do you think?"


    "I don''t have a problem..."


    Luo En nodded nonchntly, then teasingly turned his gaze to the two figures in the living room¡ªonerge and one small¡ªhappily enjoying their feast.


    "However, at least wait until they have finished eating,"


    "No need to wait, let''s go now!"


    Upon hearing this, Hestia hurriedly got to her feet, pulling Anna, who was still stuffing pastries into her mouth, and briskly walked out the front door, an impatient look on her face.


    Compared to these appetizing little snacks, the royal banquet was obviously more worthy of value.


    Having lived in Knossos City for so long, she had long been wanting to taste the craftsmanship of the royal chefs.


    Watching the princess, who held the position of high priestess, go to summon the chariot prepared by the temple, Hestia sneakily poked Luo En in the lower back, whispering in an amazed voice.


    "You really have a way! You guessed right again! Just as we repelled the first wave of beasts on the coastline and dawn hasn''t fully broken, the daughter of King Minos hase to our door, inviting us for a meal!"


    "It''s not guessing, it''s thinking, thinking..."


    Luo En corrected weakly, but Hestia, who hade to terms with reality afterst night''s blow, had already chosen to give up and had decided to leave this tiresome and strenuous work entirely to the external brain before her to solve.


    "All right, all right, thinking then, thinking. Once I''m at the dining table, I''ll only eat, not talk."


    "..."


    Hearing such a disheartening response from the Goddess of the Hearth, Luo En rolled his eyes andforted himself helplessly in his mind.


    Forget it, forget it, she was his choice after all.


    If she were too smart, he might not even pick her to take the hits for him.


    Soon, a carriage adorned with bronze serpent patterns and bird wing carvings, understated yet luxurious, arrived at the front door, picking up the three and heading toward Knossos Pce, leaving a trail of dust in their wake.


    Thanks to theyering of various protective runes, the carriage was not only extremelyfortable but also fast; it took merely a quarter of an hour to reach the destination.


    As the vehicle came to a stop, the high priestess lifted the curtain and led the three out.


    "Please follow me, my father is waiting to greet you all."


    The three nodded and followed the princess through the vast pce, twisting and turning until they eventually arrived at a rtively secluded courtyard.


    In the empty yard, an old man with a world-weary air sat alone at a stone table, hunched over, his eyes seemingly closed but not quite, exhaustion and age etched deeply into his lined face.


    However, as the three crossed the threshold, the old man''s eyes flew open, his gaze sharp as his imposing aura swept forth like a lion awakened from slumber, instinctively baring his fangs at the intruders into his territory.


    "Father..."


    The first to fold under the pressure, Princess Ariadne''s face paled slightly, her teeth ttering as she hurriedly called out in a soft voice.


    Although she had sessfully ascended to a demigod, thanks to her outstanding talents, bloodline, and protection from Goddess Athena,


    she still felt a significant gappared to the three unidentified figures behind her.


    After all, one of them was a son feared by Zeus himself, the future God of Wine,


    another was Medusa, who had absorbed the divinity of the Old Sea God Pontos, a formidable deity known as the hero killer,


    and thest was the sister of Zeus, a legitimate member of the Twelve Olympians.


    "Ariadne? You''vee? My apologies..."


    King Minos recovered from his reflexive state, his overwhelmingly oppressive presence receding like the tide, vanishing without a trace as he hurried to greet his guests.


    The always perceptive Princess Ariadne went without saying, on one hand helping her father seat the distinguished guests and, on the other, signaling the servants to prepare dishes and pastries.


    With his daughter bustling about, the free King Minos began to scrutinize the certain man before him earnestly.


    Luo En met his gaze unflinchingly, also taking a careful look at this wise kingden with a mix of praises and scandal.


    After a brief eye contact, King Minos was the first to break into a smile, raising a cup full of fruit wine to express his gratitude.


    "I assume you are the wise man mentioned by Lady Goddess; thanks to your warningst night, we avoided disaster."


    "I merely mentioned it in passing; had you disbelieved, no amount of talking would have been useful."


    Luo En smiled faintly, raising his y cup.


    "Moreover, to discern the truth from words and take preemptive action to prepare for a crisis. Crete Ind could win this first round with easergely thanks to you, the wise king who orchestrated it all."


    One daring to speak, the other daring to believe.


    The elder and the younger, sessful in their meeting at the table, touched cups and drank deeply, sharing a knowing smile without words.

 Chapter 71 : 67: Unleashing Rage, Entering a Frenzied State

    "ording to the Goddess''s will, should I encounter a difficult problem, I can seek your assistance."


    After downing his cup, King Minos spoke with a serious expression, his gaze piercing as he looked directly at Luo En across from him.


    "We invited you here this time to seek advice on how to deal with the second wave of the beast tide?"


    Clearly, after a period of observation and consideration, he had finally determined who was the person Athena had spoken of, the one he truly needed to find.


    Luo En set down his cup, and his eyebrows lifted slightly.


    "They''ve retreated?"


    "Not yet."


    King Minos shook his head, took the nautical chart that Princess Ariadne had presented, and spread it out on the table, pointing to a stretch of sea not far from Crete Ind.


    "The first wave of the onught was anticipated, and they took heavy losses when theynded, along with the leader, a demigod level Siren, who was in by the Divine Envoy. These beasts, having lost their leader, fell into chaos and temporarily retreated here to regroup."


    As he spoke, the old man looked towards Anna sitting opposite him, nodding in gratitude and respect.


    Hearing this, Luo En nced at Little Medusa beside him.


    So that''s how it was; no wonderst night''s beast tide was quelled so swiftly.


    Feeling Luo En''s gaze, Little Medusa lowered her head somewhat guiltily.


    However, the expected reprimand did note. Instead, a hand radiating warmth covered her small head, gently stroking it.


    Peeking up, she saw his purple eyes were filled with nothing but tender indulgence and concern.


    Little Medusa''s heart warmed, and she gathered some courage to sit up straighter.


    "Thump!"


    But just as her little head straightened, it took a harsh knock.


    "Next time, don''t take such risks alone!"


    The light chiding by her ear came through as Little Medusa clutched her head and nodded reluctantly.


    Having briefly chastised his overly rash "sister," Luo En refocused on the attack and asked the question that concerned him.


    "What are the specific losses on both sides?"


    "Knossos City had 37 deaths, and 58 injured; Nossia City had 87 deaths and 153 injured; Gidus City had 92 deaths and 118 injured... Overall, nearly 200 people on Crete Ind have beenpletely incapacitated."


    King Minos paused, then added.


    "Of course, those beasts suffered heavier losses, a rough estimate puts the count at over two thousand sea monsters and sea beasts of all sizes, killed in the first onught."


    Luo En listened quietly, his expression not showing much change.


    To have the forethought against the unprepared and achieve casualties close to a ratio of one to ten seemed decent.


    But the Sea of Okeanos and Crete Ind differ enormously in scale.


    Based on his observations over the past decade or so on Aiaia, the majority of sea monsters and sea beasts in the Sea of Okeanos were merely mid-to-low tiers of a vast ecosystem, with almost innumerable quantities.


    Only those rted by divine blood barely make it into the higher strata of the food chain.


    However, the human poption on Crete Ind is extremely limited.


    And among the cities, even fewer can dedicate themselves to the military to form effectivebat forces; altogether, they barely amount to a few tens of thousands.


    Each loss for Crete Ind is significant.


    Three hundred incapacitated in the first encounter is actually not an optimistic situation.


    Moreover, this is just the beast tide that has been driven ahead as the vanguard; those true divine bloodline creatures have hardly shown themselves yet.


    If things get more extreme, counting the million-strong army of Antis, not even Luo En, let alone Athena, could save the Minosians.


    No wonder the Goddess of Wisdom was so adamant about preventing a direct confrontation between Crete Ind and Antis, escting things to Olympus first and directly securing a ban on the deities of the sea lineage.


    Otherwise, the Minosians would have to start digging their graves early.


    Luo En pondered the situation internally and then pinched the bridge of his nose, which was starting to feel sore, as he consoled himself silently.


    But there''s no need to be so pessimistic.


    Sea Beasts are unlike human armies; they can be summoned or dismissed at will¡ªan advantage, but also a w.


    If we could just take out a few of their leaders, they would be like scattered sand.


    Moreover, this is the mythic era.


    On the battlefield, powerful individuals could easily change theplexion of the fight, deciding the direction of victory or defeat.


    For instance, this time, as soon as Little Medusa acted and killed that demigod-level Siren, the first wave of gathered Sea Beasts immediately fell apart.


    And if the million-strong army of Antis truly posed a threat to the gods, they wouldn''t have sunk to the ocean floor.


    Don''t worry, it can still be manipted!


    Luo En adjusted his mentality and then voiced his own judgment.


    "It seems, the first wave of Sea Beasts was indeed a probe."


    "And retribution..."


    King Minos sighed deeply, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening, as he added mournfully.


    "ording to a captured Siren, the Divine Blood kin above the Sea of Okeanos had been massively ughtered by humans not long ago, so they banded together, unleashing the Sea Beasts to seek revenge."


    "..."


    Luo En''s eyelid twitched involuntarily, and after a brief pause, his voice took on a note of indignation.


    "Ha, what a clean escape, Crete this time probably cannot me it on that God of the Sea!"


    The aged King Minos did not speak, only clenched his fists tighter, a series of crisp bone sounds barely audible, while his face flickered with shifting expressions.


    Seeing the old brother mention an old nemesis, nearly exploding into a blood rage and going berserk, Luo En quietly moved his chair back and cleared his throat loudly.


    "Ahem, Your Majesty, I have a question that I''ve long wanted to ask, and I hope you can enlighten me."


    King Minos snapped back to reality, curbing the anger on his face and managing a forced smile, he nodded slightly.


    "Please ask."


    "About that grand sacrifice to the God of the Sea Poseidon all those years ago, it shouldn''t have been that simple, right? From mortals to a deity, and the deity himself provided the offering, which seems somewhat againstmon sense..."


    Luo En saw King Minos''s body stiffen slightly and knew he was onto something. He changed tack and added softly.


    "Moreover, a mere beast for sacrificial offerings shouldn''t have caused a monarch with an otherwise wise reputation to discard his honor, risking the wrath of the deities, and im it for his own."


    "No, I did indeed keep it..."


    Unexpectedly, King Minos across from him slowly shook his head, cementing his guilt of sphemy against the deities.


    However, his aged body was trembling slightly, with veins on his fists bulging as if he were enduring immense humiliation and rage.


    After a long silence, the old man looked towards his daughter at his side and spoke in a heavy voice.


    "Ariadne, go and check how the kitchen''s preparation of the meals ising along..."


    "Yes, father."


    The astute princess instantly grasped his intention, nodding and leaving the courtyard, carefully closing the door behind her and disappearing at the end of the path.


    As he watched his daughter walk away, King Minos was surrounded by a surge of golden Divine Power, erecting a barrier that cloaked the entire courtyard.


    After another lengthy silence, the old man finally made up his mind, beginning to speak painfully and with difficulty.


    "Because, Poseidon deceived me; that was not a mere bull, but the embodiment of Crete''s divinity and sovereignty!"


    "...!"


    Upon hearing this secret that had never been disclosed before, the three of them were shaken and listened intently, waiting for the eyewitness of the event to reveal the true story.


    "Initially, when contending for the throne, I admittedly used some disgraceful means, and thus worried about the Goddess''s reproach, I prayed to Poseidon for his protection.


    But to my surprise, he seized the opportunity to withdraw the divinity and sovereignty of the entire Crete Ind, transforming it into a bull and sending it to me to sacrifice to him!"


    King Minos downed a cup of fruit wine, cing the cup forcefully on the table, his spine straight.


    "Although I yearned for the gods'' protection, I never intended to sell my entire country to Poseidon! I am the king of the Minosians, not a ve tied to the chariot of the Anteans!"


    Then, the old man took a deep breath, his gaze icy and resolute.


    "The sovereignty of Crete Ind is not for Poseidon to meddle with! Only the Great Mother Goddess who protects and guides us, only our own female monarch of the Minosians¡ªAthena, is worthy of this offering!"

 Chapter 72 : 68: How many children are there for one meal?

    ```


    The reverberations in the ear were deafening and enlightening.


    After listening to the whole ount andbining it with what he knew, Luo En was finally able to piece together theplete truth.


    In fact, the images of a bull and the Minotaur are considered sacred and noble in many civilizations, representing authority and power.


    This is even more so for the Minosians.


    Because the mother of the three Minosian brothers¡ªqueen Europa, was taken away by Zeus transformed into a bull, which led to their union and the rise of the Minosian civilization.


    Therefore, in their sacred emblems, in addition to the goddess incarnated by birds and snakes, there are frequently the symbols of a bull and the Minotaur.


    If we take what King Minos said, he, as the king, was to sacrifice the bull transformed from the royal and divine power of Crete Ind to Poseidon.


    ording to the logic of the Age of the Gods, this meant that Crete Ind would henceforth be branded by Poseidon, dominated by him.


    At the same time, this God of the Sea would rece the worship of the Great Mother Goddess and the Female Sovereign and be the primary deity worshipped by the Minosians.


    Later, once Poseidon wanted to extend the reach of his marine divinity to thend, Crete Ind and the Minosian people would undoubtedly be his best stepping stone and tools.


    It must be said, this act of deception was nothing short of brilliant.


    But in the end, King Minos noticed something was amiss and chose to fight back in kind, concealing the Cretan Bull and sacrificing an ordinary bull to Poseidon instead.


    Yet, what is deemed rightful when done by Poseidon bes sacrilege when done by King Minos.


    The disparity in power determines the measure of justice, such is the cruel reality of the Age of the Gods.


    Thus, infuriated by his failed scheme, Poseidon, under the pretext of sphemy, cursed the bull, making King Minos''s wife develop a lust for beasts, enticing her to mate with the Cretan Bull, and consequently giving birth to the notorious Minotaur.


    If their faith was represented by such symbols, then to tarnish and defame them was the greatest insult.


    Having sorted out the main clues, Luo En looked at the old man with a hint of pity in his eyes.


    At that moment, Little Medusa, somewhat curious, spoke up.


    "What about that child?"


    "Anna!"


    Luo En raised his voice somewhat, showing annoyance.


    It was somewhat impolite to ask an old man who had suffered humiliation to revisit such a painful subject.


    "It''s alright."


    King Minos waved his hand gently, looking at Little Medusa with a soft gaze, showing a senior''s tolerance towards this little Divine Envoy, and he spoke in a deep voice.


    "He''s doing well, just locked in the underground pce. Because of the curse, he is covered in evil tendencies and can easily lose control, so he cannot be let out lightly."


    "Does he eat people then?"


    Another childlike yet offending question emerged, and Luo En couldn''t help but smile wryly, covering his face.


    "Haha, of course not! It is merely a nder spread by those city-states that fear us Minosians, to tarnish and defame our symbol."


    King Minosughed heartily and exined patiently.


    Upon hearing this, Little Medusa patted her chest, muttering with evident relief.


    "That''s good, that''s good¡­"


    Being a creature of divine and monstrous nature, she feared bing a bloodthirsty monster like those depicted in the rumors.


    Luo En, noticing her concerns, reached out annoyedly and gave her little head a vigorous rub, then turned his gaze back to King Minos.


    "So, was Daedalus also a part of Poseidon''s n?"


    King Minos nodded, his eyes icy.


    "That man was talented, but out of jealousy and fear of his nephew Talos surpassing him, he cunningly lured the boy to the walls of Athens and pushed him off, murdering the child. Eventually, his crime was exposed, and he himself was sentenced to death by the Athenians.


    However, due to his status and contributions, he was spared death and was exiled to Crete Ind.


    At the time, I was troubled by Poseidon''s curse and valued his talent, so I brought him in, hoping to give him a chance to showcase his skills in honor of the Goddess.


    But unexpectedly, he somehow conspired with Poseidon, applying the secretions of a cow in heat to the device he was making¡­"


    At this point, King Minos''s face became terrifyingly grim, as he clearly wished he could tear Daedalus to pieces.


    That moment, Luo En understood.


    The afflicted queen was King Minos''s wife, and knowing this, he would undoubtedly have hidden her well, while also guarding against Poseidon''s vengeance through the Cretan Bull.


    ```


    But in the end, the queen did not actively seek out the Cretan Bull tomit infidelity; rather, it was the queen, who had hidden inside the wooden cow, that was precisely targeted by the Cretan Bull that broke into the pce. And then, it happened.


    Clearly, there was something fishy about this.


    If Daedalus hadn''t tampered with it, it simply made no sense.


    Therefore, his son''s death as he crossed the Sea of Okeanos was also the retribution for his repeated wrongdoings.


    Of course, it''s also possible that Athena had a hand in it...


    "Wait, if Poseidon did such an excessive act, what about Zeus? Doesn''t he intervene? He is your father after all!"


    At this point, Hestia, who was beside him, could no longer bear it and cast aside her promise of "eating without speaking," looking somewhat indignantly toward her great-nephew.


    "Father?"


    King Minos sneered, shaking his head expressionlessly,


    "I have prayed to him countless times, but he never answered my call..."


    "Could it be that he didn''t hear you?"


    As soon as Hestia spoke, she immediately shook her head subconsciously, dismissing her own suggestion.


    The countenance of a god must not be looked upon directly.


    The name of a god must not be called upon lightly.


    Such matters rting to faith and divinity, repeatedly mentioned, couldn''t possibly go unnoticed by Zeus, the god summoned by these calls.


    Moreover, King Minos himself was of the pure bloodline of Zeus and the mortal divine consort, Europa.


    Just by the connection between father and son, it was impossible for Zeus to feel nothing about it.


    For a moment, Hestia, unable to think of an answer, was somewhat bewildered.


    "Before, I also couldn''t understand and thought it was because I had first broken my oath; he couldn''t¡ªand wouldn''t¡ªstand up for me, nor confront his own brother."


    King Minos spoke lightly, as if he had anticipated this all along, then his words turned ironic.


    "Until one day, the Lady Goddess told me¡ªI shouldn''t worship the Great Mother Goddess more than the Father God, nor should I think of offering the real Cretan Bull as a sacrifice to her to atone for my sins."


    So that was it!


    Luo En''s eyes shone brightly as the final puzzle in his mind unraveled.


    Zeus was not unaware; on the contrary, he knew from the beginning about Poseidon''s trick!


    For without his tacit approval, how could the God of the Sea extract the divinity and incarnate sovereign power of Crete Ind from the promisednd he had given to his sons?


    And the reason for all of this was simple.


    The belief of the Minosians in the Great Mother Goddess surpassed that in the Father God.


    Even King Minos had nned to sacrifice the divinity, left by Zeus, to Athena.


    This undoubtedly vited the taboo of the Divine King.


    After all, the curse buried within the blood of the Titans is something that had always deprived the Divine King of sleep.


    But Zeus probably never anticipated, despite his many precautions, that the Cretan Bull, which embodied the royal authority and divinity of Crete, after many twists and turns, would still end up as a sacrifice for Athena.


    With the decline of the Minos civilization, the uncontrolled Cretan Bull ran rampant on the ind of Crete, causing disasters with its fiery breath.


    It wasn''t until Hercules, burdened with the Twelve Labors, arrived on Crete and subdued the Bull, offering it, intact, to Hera.


    However, the queen of the heavens, whether she was unaware of its value or deliberately wishing to humiliate, released the sacrifice that Hercules had made to her.


    In the end, the Cretan Bull was captured by the Athenian prince Theseus and, as a sacrifice, offered to Athena.


    With a cold smile in his heart, Luo En looked up at his brother, whose hair was almost entirely white, his face aged and sorrowful, and his eyes filled with pity.


    "So, since then, you have ceased worship of the Father God?"


    "If the gods no longer favor men, then men have no obligation to worship them."


    King Minos nodded quietly, his calm wordsced with a faint irony.


    "Besides, it was Prometheus, the foreteller, who created our bodies, and it was the Great Mother Goddess Athena who gave us our souls. The gods merely crafted this diorama called ''the world''."


    "..."


    Hestia, one of the Chief Gods, opened her mouth to argue but ultimately found herself speechless, choosing to bite her lip and look down as she continued with her meal.

 Chapter 73: Chapter 69: Just Want to Mess Around, Not Looking to Die

    "Enough said about these old stories," said King Minos, snapping back to the present and turning his attention to the enigmatic sage favored by Goddess Athena, addressing the most pressing trouble at hand.


    "Regarding the beast tide, what suggestions do you have?"


    "Can you calcte the next time they will act?" Luo En countered.


    "Despite losing many Sea Beasts and monsters, it''s far from a devastating blow to them. After all, there are too many of these creatures in the Sea of Okeanos, and it seems they are constantly gathering near Crete Ind."


    At this point, King Minos''s face turned somewhat ugly.


    "Based on their current rate of assembly, it won''t take three days before they can replenish their numbers, and at that time, I fear they willunch a second wave of attack."


    Luo En took a sip of the fruit wine in his cup and added solemnly.


    "Furthermore, with the first probing attempt, they should have roughly determined the defense capabilities of Crete Ind. The intensity of the second beast tide will likely escte dramatically, and at that time, more of those with Divine Blood are expected to join the battle."


    Suddenly, the atmosphere at the dining table became even more oppressive.


    "The battle has not yet begun; such expressions are not very good, are they?"


    Luo En lightened the somber mood with a slight jest and began to share his general thoughts.


    "My suggestion is, while the Sea Beasts are regrouping, to move the poption as quickly as possible, preserve the living force, and build fortresses along the coast. We need to construct a tiered defense, linking the cities of Crete into a cohesive whole. We must block the enemy''s advance at every step, dying as much as possible, and trade space for time..."


    "Just dying won''t suffice, considering the influx of refugees, the reserves of food, weapons, and medicine in the city are unlikely tost through winter," King Minos reminded in a low voice, hesitation in his eyes.


    "Don''t worry, our adversaries are more anxious than we are," Luo En reassured with a contemtive smile, pointing toward distant Mount Olympus.


    "Crete Ind is a strategic passage in and out of the Sea of Okeanos. To cut off this connection from the outside world, they would need to blockade a significant portion of the nearby sea. Such arge disturbance cannotst long, unless these Sea Beasts intend to oppose the whole of Greece.


    If that were the case, it would be just right to issue a call to arms, inviting the heroes of all city-states. Delphi, Corinth, Thebes, Sparta... Don''t forget to send word to these renowned city-states. For the future of Greece, we need to unite and join forces on Crete Ind to confront this natural cmity of the beast tide and reopen the maritime routes blocked by the beasts."


    Even Hestia could discern the malicious intent behind this candid response.


    Delphi is Apollo''s domain, Corinth worships the Sun God Helios, Thebes and Sparta have ties to the War God Ares; enlisting so many city-states would effectively drag various deities into the fray, forcing them to re-choose their sides.


    By then, Poseidon, the ruler of the oceans, would be the one on the hot seat.


    As for why not invite the heroes of those city-states right now, the reason is simple.


    Without a rted loss of interests, why would they readily agree to stand up for the Minosians?


    Apparently, this beast tide wasn''t an unsolvable problem, as long as we could drag it out long enough.


    "Don''t celebrate too early..."


    But the light moment of fortune was immediately crushed by Luo En''s nextnguid rumination as he rubbed his temples, his gaze tranquil and deep.


    "If we can figure this out, our opponents must be aware of it, too.


    Therefore, the longer itsts, the more intense the beast tide will be. If we rest all our hopes on passive defense, we may only find ourselves waiting for death.


    So, we must prepare for a counterattack, waiting for the other side to be impatient first, to expose themander behind the beast tide.


    Then we can concentrate our superior forces, find an opening, and execute a beheading strike, taking down the target!


    Once that is done, the leaderless beast tide will naturally retreat deep into the Sea of Okeanos, and the crisis on Crete Ind will be temporarily resolved..."


    Hearing this clear overall strategy, King Minos''s thoughts rified as if the clouds had parted, and he felt invigorated. In his excitement, he turned his intense gaze upon the wise man spoken of by the Goddess.


    "In that case, I would like you to take on the role of Legion Commander, in full charge of the battle situation!"


    "No!"


    Luo En waved his hands in refusal, without the slightest hesitation.


    "I''m only good ating up with ideas, not experienced in marching and fighting. Putting so many lives in my hands will only lead to harm," he said.


    He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.


    Luo En had survived to this dayrgely because of his self-awareness.


    He could stir up trouble but didn''t want to court death.


    Andrge-scale military operations are not a board game. As an outsider, the slightest mistake could lead to countless deaths.


    Of course, causing deaths was secondary; if the whole situation copsed, he would essentially be digging his own grave.


    Besides, his greatest advantage was staying hidden in the shadows. Once he exposed himself too much in public, attracting the attention of the gods of Olympus would be an even greater loss.


    Hearing the firm refusal, King Minos couldn''t help but cool down, and his appreciation for the young sage before him increased profoundly, his gaze filled with deep admiration and approval.


    It''s rare to find people who can maintain theirposure and self-awareness in the face of power.


    Unfortunately, his own sonscked this talent.


    But then, King Minos was in a dilemma.


    "However, without a proper position, your actions are inevitably hampered by certain factors."


    "How about this¡ª"


    Luo En''s eyes flickered as he stroked Little Medusa''s head and smiled as he presented the contingency n he had already prepared.


    "Although Anna is the Divine Envoy chosen by the Goddess, she doesn''t have a dedicated priest. I can temporarily serve as her scribe, responsible for recording and delivering messages."


    "Good, we will do as you suggest!"


    King Minos nodded repeatedly, fully agreeing to the arrangement.


    As Luo En and King Minos further finalized the details of amodating the poption and building the nearshore defense system, the banquet gradually came to an end.


    With the tables a mess, everyone full from the meal, the four of them slowly stood up.


    "There is probably a lot to prepare and deal with today, so I won''t keep you," said King Minos.


    In the face of crisis, as the host, King Minos was not being courteous. After calling for his second daughter to escort the guests, he strode towards the royal pce''s administrative hall.


    It wouldn''t be long before the wave of beasts would return. He needed to use the time wisely to arrange everything that could be arranged.


    Watching the almost entirely white-haired old man in the sunlight, Luo En couldn''t help feeling an inexplicable sense of empathy for the dying rabbit and the grieving fox.


    As divine offspring, they were merely ythings in the gods'' games as long as they couldn''t transcend the bonds of fate.


    However, that subtle emotionsted only a brief moment.


    Luo En, who had already forged a resilient heart through various hardships, waved to the two behind him.


    "Let''s go, it''s gettingte," he said.


    The understated yet luxurious carriage rolled out of the pce, through the much quieter streets of Knossos City, and came to a steady stop in front of Hestia''s home, with the three disembarking one by one.


    Approaching the door, Luo En turned back to look at Princess Ariadne, who had apanied him, and asked in a deep voice.


    "Can the temple obtain the specific military and poption data of Crete Ind, as well as a map of the whole territory''s terrain and rivers?"


    "All of that should be in the archives," Princess Ariadne nodded and offered, "If you need them, I''ll have someone send them immediately."


    In the earliest stages of civilization, Western priests often held the power of the gods and were also the bearers of culture and knowledge.


    Asking them was often more reliable than asking lower-level officials.


    Seeing the intelligent princess so understanding, Luo En nodded in satisfaction, waved his farewell, and stepped into his house.


    But as soon as he casually closed the door, an unbearable voice echoed loudly in the living room.


    "How could Zeus do this!"

 Chapter 74: Chapter 70 Zeus: Greatness, no need for further words!

    "That''s his own flesh and blood! What did he do to deserve such humiliation?!"


    At this moment, Hestia, who had held back all the way from the pce, couldn''t restrain herself any longer, indignantly using her dear brother on behalf of a certain great-nephew.


    "His own flesh and blood?"


    Luo En sneered and shook his head, his eyes brimming with mockery.


    "Hah, if anyone stands in his way, he wouldn''t even spare his own father, let alone a son."


    "...We... Zeus, it was ast resort!"


    Hestia, who had almost misspoken, quickly corrected herself, defending her brother who once had saved their siblings and together overthrown the cruel reign of their father, Kronos.


    "Moreover, he shows feeling for the lovers he''s bonded with and for the children who share his bloodline, having rescued those persecuted mothers and children from Hera''s grasp time and time again."


    "Oh? Really?"


    Luo En raised an eyebrow at Hestia, who was eager to rify, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.


    "If he''s so responsible, then where was he when the goddess of childbirth, Leto, was struggling inbor?


    Where was he when his daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades and forcefully kept in the Netherworld?


    Where was he when the Agriculture God, Demeter, searched in vain for Persephone and was defiled by Poseidon?


    Who turned Io into a little cow and gave her to Hera for punishment?


    Who caused the children of Europa to be bitter enemies?


    And who is responsible for the humiliation suffered by King Minos?"


    With each sessive question, Hestia pursed her lips, a struggle evident in her eyes.


    "Is it..."


    "Is it because of Hera''s jealousy? Hades''s schemes? Poseidon''s shamelessness? Or the unpredictability of human nature?"


    Before Hestia could argue, Luo En spoke first, his smile growing even wider.


    "Enough, stop pushing all the me onto others. The Divine King holds the supreme authority; if he wished, who in all of Olympus could defy his will?"


    "..."


    Hestia fell silent, yet after a moment, she still seemed unable to let go, murmuring quietly.


    "Perhaps, maybe he was just deceived, he just didn''t want to see Olympus fall into conflict..."


    It was probably because Zeus had rescued the five of them from the belly of their father, Kronos, and was willing to share his power after the war that this Goddess of the Hearth had such a beautifying filter for her brother, always reluctant to think ill of him.


    "Even now, even after King Minos told you everything himself, can''t you see it¡ªthe king of Olympus sees things clearer than anyone else."


    Luo En looked at this gullible sister of the Divine King''s family, sneered and shook his head, then his thin lips curved upward in a cold arc as he spoke eerily.


    "Moreover, he''s greatly responsible for the strife of Olympus, just as he is for the cmity facing the Minosians!"


    What?!


    Caught off guard by this revtion, Hestia was struck as if by thunder, causing the Goddess of the Hearth to look up abruptly, her eyes filled with disbelief.


    "This is impossible!"


    Seeing that Hestia was still unconvinced, Luo En''s smile faded slightly.


    "Alright then, I ask you, why does Ares, as the War God, only have authority over war, while the crucial power of victory was instead given to Athena?"


    "Because, because Ares is reckless, and uncontrolled military power only brings disaster and conflict, therefore victory requires wisdom to handle, which is why only Athena is suited!"


    Hestia reflexively responded, her logic self-consistent, bolstering her confidence as her eyes grew brighter.


    "And, to ensure Athena kept this power of victory, he split the Aegis Shield in two, bestowing it upon that child, which sufficiently proves his favoritism towards Athena!"


    "Ares brings disaster and conflict? Ha, since when did the gods, who reigned with violence and once unleashed a devastating flood, be so loving? As for favoritism towards Athena?"


    Luo En couldn''t help butugh coldly at this na?ve thought.


    "So, what do you think Ares would feel about having the power of victory taken from him? What about Hera, the Queen of Heaven?"


    "...!"


    Hestia started, her voice a bit hoarse.


    "So, that''s why Ares has always been at odds with Athena?"


    "It''s not just Ares..."


    Luo En scoffed, his purple eyes dark and inscrutable, as if seeing through the seemingly splendid exterior of the Divine King to his most fundamental wicked desires and filth.


    "Poseidon also wanted that power, which is why he caused all sorts of troubles for Crete Ind, all to pressure Athena, as the great mother of the Minosians, into submission!"


    "Won''t Zeus intervene at all?"


    Hestia instinctively blurted out, bristling with indignation.


    "You see, you''re being foolish again, right?"


    Luo En rolled his eyes at this forgetful Goddess of the Hearth, directly piercing through her na?vet¨¦.


    "Isn''t this precisely what Zeus wants to see? He''d rather have Olympus inplete disarray, with no one able to restrain or threaten his sovereignty!"


    Hestia''s mouth opened, but no words came out to defend her divine brother.


    Seeing the gullible sister of the Divine King''s family still lost in her illusions, Luo En decided to speak inly, to prevent her from being swayed by Zeus''s few wordster on.


    "Not just the besieged situation Athena finds herself in now, Ares being stripped of the power of victory and reduced to a god of defeat, is likely also part of his n."

 Chapter 75: Chapter 70 Zeus: Greatness, no need for further words!_2

    ```


    "Why?" Hestia couldn''t understand, or perhaps she was unwilling to understand.


    "The reason is simple, Ares is Hera''s dearest younger son, the mighty god of war. If he were to possess the authority of victory, along with his mother''s indulgence, it''s hard to guarantee he wouldn''t repeat the old story of the Divine King''s family. Kronos, as well as Zeus himself, both ascended to power in this way. Therefore, the divine authority of war must be divided."


    Athena is different, though. She''s alone, without a family. Even if she''s powerful, she can''t garner the support of most of the chief gods of Olympus. At the very least, she definitely can''t get past Hera and Ares,"


    And in an environment surrounded by formidable enemies, she is destined to obediently rely on Zeus and be a tool for this Father God to divide Olympus."


    If you don''t believe it, think about it yourself. If Zeus truly cherished this daughter and couldn''t bear to see Athena suffer the slightest grievance, why wouldn''t he release her mother Metis? And why did he swallow the pregnant Goddess of Wisdom directly into his stomach?"


    Luo En nced at Hestia, whose face was turning pale, as he further tore apart the seemingly glorious facade of Olympus to reveal the dirty flesh beneath.


    "Likewise, the conflict between the craftsman god and mother Hera is also no coincidence."


    If that so-called good father really cared about his son and peace in Olympus, he should have acted to stop Hera from abandoning Hephaestus before it happened, not after the craftsman god becameme and his heart filled with resentment towards Hera. Only then did hemand Hermes to bring him back to Olympus and falsely preside over the mother-son reconciliation, to showcase his own fairness and magnanimity, even going as far as to have Aphrodite, who was entangled with Ares, married to Hephaestus."


    Look, how happily those three of the mother-son trio are fighting now. Their brains are almost spilling out, basically cutting off the possibility of uniting."


    The sarcasm in his voice was particrly grating. Hestia, who had always believed there was still a semnce of warmth in her family, recognized the scenes concerning the queen mother and her children on Olympus, turning an even uglier shade as she turned her head away.


    "You don''t want to listen? No problem, there''s more!"


    Luo En did a reversal, smiling coldly.


    "There''s also the matter between the nurturing goddess Leto and Hera, Apollo and Artemis were almost stillborn, they naturally oppose Ares;"


    "The agriculture goddess Demeter''s daughter was abducted by Hades and she herself was defiled by Poseidon, thus harboring resentment towards the God of the Sea and the god of Hades;"


    "The Divine Envoy Hermes is Zeus'' eyes and ears, and with a grandfather who''s a Titan traitor serving his sentence, of course, he must cling tightly to this ''good father'';"


    "Plus you, Artemis, Athena has sworn to remain chaste, severing further the possibility of marital alliances..."


    "So, look, all the main gods of Olympus have their own clear antagonists, all busy with internal strife. Who then, can pose a threat to the position of Zeus as the Divine King?"


    "If this is love..."


    "Heh, I''m afraid not only Athena but also Apollo, Artemis, Ares, and Hephaestus, every one of them, would have to ''thank'' this ''good father god''!"


    Listening to this analysis, word by word, and seeing the bloody truth, Hestia, who always believed there was still some warmth in the family, turned a bit pale, her tightly clenched teeth leaving a clear blood mark on her cherry lips.


    After a long silence, the despondent Goddess of the Hearth spoke dryly.


    "Then, does Athena know?"


    "Of course she knows!"


    Luo En nodded lightly, his expression remaining unflustered.


    "But what choice does she have?"


    "..."


    The Goddess of the Hearth, the guardian of domestic tranquility, looked up at Mount Olympus bathed in starlight with a dim and vacant gaze, murmuring softly.


    "He wasn''t like this before..."


    "Don''t make excuses for him. You just didn''t see him clearly."


    Luo En ruthlessly tore away thest bit of warmth in the Divine King''s family, his gaze deep and prating.


    "Wake up. From Uranus to Kronos, then from Kronos to Zeus... every Divine King is this way."


    "And the reason why Zeus became the ultimate victor is not because of fairness and sternness or his warm and generous nature."


    "On the contrary, he is the most forbearing, the smartest, the most ruthless, and the coldest of all the Divine Kings!"


    In the echoing cold sneer, Luo En''s eyes, which had long seen the true nature of the Titan bloodline, were filled with endless scorn and coldness, speaking deliberately.


    "He never loved anyone from beginning to end. He only loves himself!"


    The lingering sound gradually faded to silence. The goddess who guarded domestic tranquility stared nkly at Mount Olympus bathed in the cold starlight, unconsciously wrapping her arms around her chest and tightening her body as if feeling an endless chill from the prolonged dark night.


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    It seemed that the cruel truth had hit Hestia hard.


    For days on end, the Goddess of the Hearth stared nkly at the perpetually burning hearth, her thoughts unknown.


    Luo En intended to dissuade her but ultimately didn''t interfere with Hestia''s reflection.


    Some things are beyond persuasion and need to be resolved personally.


    And indeed, sea monsters and beasts were steadily heading to Crete Ind, regrouping nearby.


    In just two days, not only had their number surpassed that of the first wave by twice, but there had also been frequent sightings of Divine Blood ns among them.


    Likewise, the cities of Crete, under King Minos''mand, began frantically relocating their poptions and constructing seaside defenses, preparing for the inevitable war.


    ```

 Chapter 76: Chapter 70 Zeus: Greatness, no need for further words!_3

    Luo En, serving as a temporary advisor, was naturally so busy that his feet barely touched the ground.


    Every day he needed to stick by Little Medusa''s side, taking on the role of an external brain, moving across defense lines, military camps, temples, pces, and other ces. Using this Divine Envoy''s mouth, he would offer suggestions, trying his best to fix any loopholes in the design of defenses, personnel cement, strategic nning, and other such areas.


    Continue your journey on m|v-l''e-NovelBin


    With such a busy schedule, Luo En naturally had no time to persuade Hestia to digest the trivial matters of the Divine King''s family, and could only dedicate his limited energy to the preparations for war.


    Although he didn''t have much practical experience, thanks to the nature of his job, he had frequently consulted historical data on epic wars from ancient times to the present, all over the world.


    The stones of other mountains can be used to polish jade.


    All he needed to do was suggest ideas, and leave the specific operations and implementation to the professionals.


    However, even so, the priests, sacrificers, and generals began to look at this scribe with increasing fervor, incessantly praising the Goddess''s wisdom in their spoken words.


    Clearly, they believed that all these arrangements were the will of Goddess Athena.


    About this, Luo En was happy not to rify.


    With Athena as a banner to attract attention, he could not only safely plot in the shadows, but also make the Minosians believe that the Goddess was with them, greatly boosting morale, so why not?


    After all, this was Greece.


    As the progeny of Zeus, the more prominent one was, the more trouble they courted.


    The coerced Divine Envoy Athena, the dishonored sagacious King Minos, the great hero Hercules forced toplete the twelvebors... Each of these siblings'' experiences testified to this truth.


    Thus, abiding by the principle of caution, Luo En continuously traveled back and forth between the various defense lines and citadels, advising the Minosians and refining the coastal defenses against the tide of beasts ording to King Minos''s ns.


    As time trickled by, the two powers, facing each other across the sea, seemed to be engaged in a militarypetition of amassing troops and armor.


    Two vast powder kegs approached each other, waiting for the collision that would ignite them and set off an earth-shattering st.


    Finally, on the third night.


    A beam of crimson light arose from the sea, shing through the heavy night curtain, streaking across the sky, and striking directly upon the city wall constructed along the coast.


    "Buzz!"


    At the same time, the dense Hermes Script etched into the stone surface of the wall''s exterior started reacting sessively, furiously gathering the ether from the air, forming one after another ovepping,pound, giant magic barriers.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!"


    Amidst the roar resembling that of heavy artillery, crisscrossing streams of ether light rampaged, shooting in all directions, the earth trembled incessantly and the sea whipped up towering waves.


    In a dense swarm, the Sea Beasts that had starved for three to four days, driven by those with Divine Blood and stimted by the scent of blood, roared and howled, madly charging towards the obstacle before them, eager to tear down this wall and revel in the blood and fire.


    Through a sky nearly as bright as day, the front-line defenders from the city-states of Crete breathed deeply, bit hard on their lower lip to suppress the fear growing in their hearts, and mustered a desperate courage from within. They flung their spears forcefully and triggered their crossbows.


    In an instant, spears flew and arrows shot through the air.


    "Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!"


    "Thud thud thud thud!"


    Suddenly, flesh tore, and blood sprayed.


    On this isted ind, [human] and [beast], [life] and [death], collided fiercely, officially ying out the overture to the war''smencement!

 Chapter 77: Shelf Speech

    It''s finally going to be released, this should count as my official fourth book.


    Maybe I was born unlucky, but I''ve always had a bit of a jinxed aura when ites to writing; luck was never really on my side.


    For my first book: Ipleted 1.1 million words, all for free. It was a passion project from my university days, updated inconsistently with green prose, so I didn''t feel right using it to make a living. I wrote it in my spare time from college and work, purely powered by love.


    My second book: At that time, the pandemic struck, work was problematic, and staying at home without any ie, I thought why not turn a hobby into a career and see if I could make a living out of it. Fortune was reasonably kind ¨C I managed to sign a contract and even got a small feature, ending up writing a total of 2.7 million words.


    And then, as expected, something unexpected happened.


    Just days afterpleting the book, due to its theme involving a foundation, over 300 of more than 1000 chapters were banned, and I couldn''t make enough changes to salvage it.


    Not only had I lost my source of ie, but I also made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take on a mortgage, and ended up owing quite a lot of debt to rtives.


    I had no choice but to grit my teeth and start another book.


    My third book: 4.2 million words, also lucky enough to gain recognition on a small website. I pushed myself day and night, and just about managed to make ends meet, pay off the debts, and keep up with the mortgage.


    And then, as expected, something unexpected happened again. Continue your journey on m|v-l''e-NovelBin


    In January 2023, just as I was about to finish, due to excessive use of my eyes, one of my retinas detached. Over the New Year, my brother dragged me to Tianjin Eye Hospital for surgery, and I wasid up for four months.


    However, by April or May, once I could get out of bed, I still continued the unfinished part, and even though not many people were following it anymore, I proudlypleted it in November.


    I had no other thoughts, just a simple feeling that I owed it to my books and my readers to take some responsibility.


    Of course, being hospitalized for a while and not working for most of the year, my household was struggling again, such is the trouble of being an adult.


    Difficult as it may be, life has to go on.


    So, that''s how the fourth book came to be.


    Actually, the little story about time-traveling at the start isn''t all made up. A high school ssmate of mine, who worked in educational training, encountered heart rhythm issues. He was lucky, pulled through, and left the hospital. But after that, he left Beijing and went back to his hometown to be a primary school teacher.


    As for me, I feel like after all these years, my body is practically on a red alert, suffering from insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, high blood pressure, cervical spine issues ¨C not one of the upational diseases of writers has missed me.


    So, not knowing how much longer I can write, I will take each book seriously as if it were myst.


    As long as the dear readers grace me with enough to eat and I can cover the basic living expenses, I willplete the book normally, my integrity is quite intact.


    Last but not least, I thank the reader lords who have always supported and tipped me.


    And to those reading this, who are like parents providing food and clothing, if you like this book, please subscribe, or if that''s not too convenient, at least give it the initial token subscription. This is very important to us authors, I humbly ask for your support.


    The bookunches tomorrow at noon, with five updates.


    I wish everyone peace, joy, good health, and smooth sailing in all things.

 Chapter 78: Chapter 71: A Drop of Water in Need, Shall be Repaid with a Spring in Deed

    Crete Ind, coastal fortress.


    After the sturdy defense lines, which were built from y, volcanic ash, granite, and rubble andyered with densely packed defensive spells, were in ce, a burly young man with bronze armor and a ssical Greek face, characterized by brown-ck curls, surveyed the sea where a dark line of Sea Beasts was steadily advancing amid a rain of arrows and long-range Magic Power beams, methodically giving outmands.


    "At 800 meters, crossbowmen retreat and reload! Casters, move up to suppress!"


    With that resonant voice, amplified by a series of resonance spells, spreading throughout the entire army, the male priests and female priestesses arrayed along the narrow defense line began to assemble in an orderly fashion.


    Some chanted in the ancientnguage of Hermes toy the groundwork for magic arrays that would attack or disrupt, while others sang ritesposed in divinenguage to pray to the goddesses they worshipped, exchanging their spiritual faith for divine blessings and protection for the entire army.


    For a moment, intersecting halos of light ignited among the poised ranks of troops.


    Frantically amassing and surging Aether Magical Energy Particles coalesced into forms like magic projectiles, mes, wind des, and Rock Spears, raining down like meteors upon the area where the sea met the shallows.


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    In an instant, the first wave of Sea Beasts that made it to shore didn''t even have time to scream before they turned into flying limbs and sttered flesh.


    Crimson blood pooled into streams, and bits of flesh scattered across the ground.


    However, the initial victory did not drive the following Sea Beast tide to retreat; instead, the spreading scent of blood further unleashed their ferocity.


    Even more creatures, driven by a desire to devour, to feed, to ughter, heeded the call of the Divine Blood kin in the sea. They embarked upon this small ind, traversing over the bodies of their kin, pressing on toward the visible coastal defense line despite the bombardment of magic and divine spells.


    Gradually, the priests and priestesses could no longer withstand the tremendous spiritual and Magic Power expenditure, and the frequency of their attacks noticeably decreased.


    In just a quarter of an hour, numerous Sea Beasts had passed the range of the casters'' focused fire, dragging their blood-drenched, slimy bodies toward the coastal fortress.


    The brown-ck curled young man tasked withmand concentrated deeply, fixing his gaze on the advancing positions of the creatures, silently counting the distance in his mind.


    700 meters, 600 meters, 500 meters...!


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    As the Sea Beasts navigating the forebeach entered within 500 meters, a series of pre-set magic traps explosively detonated one after another.


    Thousands of deep-sea creatures were flung into the air by the violent explosions, their densely packed formation plunging into chaos in the blink of an eye.


    Opportunity!


    Seeing this, the brown-ck curled young man''s eyes sharpened. He raised his arm high and then swung it down forcefully, bellowing a crispmand.


    "Spear Throwers, release!"


    Over five hundred robust warriors, with long and powerful arms, were bolstered by the chanting of rites. They leaned back, their torsos arching dramatically like taut longbows. Once they had gathered enough force, they forcefullyunched their spears, hurling them forward.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud!"


    Each spear traced a deste arc in mid-air, apanied by a piercing howl, and plunged rapidly toward the ground, pinning down the strangely varied Sea Beasts in the front line to the earth.


    Swiftly after, dark red runes flickered upon the spears that struck their targets, and then the spears burst entirely, transforming into a myriad of metal shards that violently shot out in all directions.


    In an instant, the Sea Beasts that were attempting to climb over the corpses of theirpanions to continue their advance were riddled with this sudden barrage of metal shrapnel.


    It''s too brutal...


    At this moment, the youngmander with brownish-ck short hair, looking at the crimson mincemeat and scattered organs in front of him, murmured under his breath, unable to resist turning his head to look at a silver-haired, purple-eyed scribe among the group of spellcasters.


    Engraving Burst Runes on spears, timing their activation, and using the metal shards for secondary damage to the enemies nearby¡ªthis man was the one who taught him this craft.


    At that moment, Luo En, sensing the gaze upon him, looked up at that youngmander with the brownish-ck short hair, his lips curled into a smile, which, together with his handsome and pale face, made him seem innocent and harmless.


    Thanks to the assistance of those members of the Antean Guard, he had either directly or indirectly developed many treacherous new tactics.


    As they say, "A droplet of kindness (revenge) should be repaid with a gushing spring."


    To thank those selfless sacrifices and contributions of the ocean''s offspring along the way, these hard-won achievements should naturally be prioritized for their use.


    Gazing at the battlefield strewn with blood and flesh before the shore, and the sea beasts, who had not even touched the defensive walls'' facade after three waves of assaults, Luo En felt inexplicably relieved, with a faint hint of schadenfreude on his face.


    Well, benefiting from an excellent family tradition, his heart didn''t seem to be all that big.


    Finally, after sacrificing thousands of sea beasts, those amphibious deep-sea monsters had atst piled up a blood path with theirrades'' bodies, getting close to the towering coastal fortress.


    However, after several rounds of decimation, their numbers werementably few, and virtually all of them were injured, their movements sluggish and stiff.


    "Imperial Guard, shields up, spears ready, prepare to meet the enemy!"


    With the change ofmand, a series of solid shields rose on the city walls, and long spears thrust out from the gaps, skewering the handful of sea beasts that had climbed up onto the high walls, one after another.


    Instantly, the monsters, already on theirst legs, could not withstand the assault and fell from the walls, wailing as they plummeted, smashing into a pile of flesh on the ground.


    Seeing how easily this formidable wave of beasts was held back in front of the fortress, the soldiers, originally anxious, settled down with traces of joy on their faces. Continue reading on m|v-l''e-NovelBin


    And watching the slowing and even retreating rhythm of the beast tide in front of the defensive line, the youngmander with the brownish-ck curly hair also couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief and slowly rxed his clenched fists.


    Luo En, from the rear, watched the youngmander''s outstanding performance at the forefront, and couldn''t help but nod silently.


    ¡ªAndrogeos.


    He was King Minos''s eldest son, the designated heir to the throne of Crete Ind. Although his abilities didn''t surpass those of his sister, the high priestess, he possessed considerable talents in leading and governing the military and could be regarded as the one somewhatmendable offspring in the hands of King Minos.


    Facing the overwhelming tide of beasts, King Minos, in a time when the life and death of Crete Ind hung in the bnce, naturally couldn''t afford to consider issues like checks and bnces, and decisively put his eldest son in charge of the army.


    The other two somewhat capable sons, Catreus and Lykaithos, were assigned to the nks, under themand of their elder brother Androgeos.


    Despite their father''s violent ascent to power serving as an example and the brothers'' constant rivalry, both open and covert.


    Yet when faced with a formidable enemy invasion, they all understood the basic principle that there are no whole eggs under an overturned nest.


    Therefore, the brothers in arms, fighting side by side, managed to coordinate well and sessfully won the first round.


    Only...


    Luo En''s gaze swept over the three princes in the military formation, finally settling on Androgeos, the eldest prince, with a barely noticeable wistfulness in his eyes.


    This prince was somewhat capable, but his fate didn''t seem all that great.

 Chapter 79: Chapter 72 Im going to open a shop now

    ```


    If I remember correctly, the Great Prince of the Minosians will, in the future, participate in Athens'' Panathenaic Games and win all prizes, only to be envied by the Athenian youths. Subsequently, on his way to Thebes, he will be ambushed and killed by the Athenians.


    Thus, the enmity between the Minosians and Athenians began. As the Chief God worshiped by both cities, Athena could only watch this fratricidal farce unfold.


    I wonder if the shadows of the gods are still lurking behind this.


    As Luo En pondered silently, he inadvertently looked up and saw in the dim starlight of the night, dense ck dots seemed to drift across the sky.


    Wait! They weren''t dots! It was arge group of flying monsters!


    As Luo En''s gaze sharpened, his wide-open purple eyes reflected the silhouettes of birds with human faces.


    "Above! Siren harpies!"


    The warning shout from a scribe behind startled the Great Prince, and his soothed heartstrings immediately tightened. He bellowed out loud at once.


    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!


    It''s the Divine Blood n! Activate the Defensive Charms, now!"


    In an instant, the message was ryed, the warning magic circles on the watchtowers were activated simultaneously, and the deste sound of horns echoed along the entire coastline, spreading towards Knossos Royal City.


    Compared to the amphibious Sea Beasts, these Divine Blood rtives with the ability to fly had the advantage of bypassing high walls, diving straight into the hearnd city-states of Crete Ind.


    "Take cover! Take cover!"


    The troops stationed within the city, upon seeing the signals along the coastline, immediately sounded the rms and called out loudly.


    "Everyone, get inside immediately, lock your doors and windows, and don''te out!"


    Simultaneously, a fierce wind gusted, dust rose, and the currents lifted by the wind swept across houses and streets, leaving behind a sharp wail.


    The residents in Knossos City, who were a bit confused at first, now rushed into nearby houses with pale faces as if jolted awake from a dream.


    Prior beast waves were mostly limited tondings from the sea, and this fixed mode of attack led them to believe subconsciously that as long as the coastline was defended, Knossos City would be absolutely safe.


    However, the vast sea was home not only to amphibious sea monsters but also to the Divine Blood rtives capable of flight!


    This sudden change immediately disrupted the Minosians'' defensive rhythm.


    After a number of limited-range arrows were fired to little effect, most not even touching the feathers of the Siren harpies but being blown away by the surrounding chaotic air currents.


    "Spellcasters! Spellcasters! Hurry, intercept them!"


    Amidst the loud roars of the Great Prince on the city walls, the somewhat listless priests and sorcerers had no choice but to gulp down Magic Potions to restore their energy. They rallied their spirits,bined spells, and targeted arge group of Siren harpies trying to cross the coastal defense line.


    As everyone knows, these bird-bodied, human-faced monsters could use their singing to charm ordinary people''s minds.


    Once they entered the city and sang to the defenseless ordinary residents, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    At that moment, as spellcasters frantically drained their magic power to intercept through the air, dazzling beams of light pierced the sky, sting over a dozen low-flying Siren harpies into pieces, scattering across the sky.


    However, as rtives of Divine Blood, even if these Siren harpies were degraded products of diluted bloodlines, they still possessed decent intelligence.


    Therefore, they immediately let out intive and piercing feminine cries to disrupt the spellcasters'' incantations while frantically pping their wings to gain altitude and dodge the attacksing from the ground.


    In the midst of those sessive mournful wails, the spellcasters were struck with splitting headaches, making their ground-to-air offense and suppression falter.


    For a time, a serious gap appeared in the defense circle above the coastline.


    Fortunately, at this critical juncture, archers and crossbowmen on both nkspleted their new round of rest and reloading and shot their arrows just in time.


    Although the damage was minor, this volley seeded in angering the Siren harpies, causing them to turn their attention to the coastal fortress that kept posing obstacles below.


    "Devour them!"


    "Kill them!"


    "Tear them to pieces!"


    The Siren harpies in mid-air cried out in their rage and dove toward the coastal fortress on the ground.


    ```


    The noise mixed with psychic attacks made the heads of the fortress''s defenders ache to the point of splitting, and their attacks immediately slowed down.


    And as the aerial firepower coverage weakened, the circling Sirens immediately seized the opportunity--swooping down in the chaos, grabbing soldiers one by one, and then cruelly rising high before releasing their ws.


    The oue of falling from a hundred meters at extreme speed can well be imagined.


    One by one, the bodies smashed against the city walls, smearing them with a ground full of crimson.


    Following that, these Sirens even cleverly targeted those spellcasters who posed the greatest threat, hoping to prioritize the extermination of these human artillery while they were mentally exhausted.


    "Form shields! Raise spears!"


    Seeing the chaos spread further, the Crown Prince immediately roared, steadying the hearts and minds of everyone, causing the soldiers to instinctively follow themand, forming a tight formation and moving closer to the surrounding spellcasters.


    The Sirens, ready to expand their victories, naturally would not just sit back and watch these humans stabilize their formation and immediately swooped down again.


    "Think again!"


    Apanied by a crisp shout, a small purple figure leapt into the air, and with it opened a pair of bronze wings, casting forward through the air.


    "Chi chi chi chi!"


    Instantaneously, dozens of bronze bird feathers shot out like arrows, breaking through the air and smashing the hearts of more than a dozen Sirens.


    Under the power of absolute strength, the formation of the Sirens was thoroughly torn apart, no longer daring to approach the range of that small purple figure.


    They abandoned their dense formation, trying to bypass the dangerous presence of the purple-haired young girl, and prepared to encircle her from both nks to capture and kill the frail ordinary humans behind her.


    However, having found a moment to breathe, the fortress''s soldiers had already tightened their ranks under themand of the Crown Prince.


    Rows of imprable round shields and the piercing spears thrusting out from the gaps between them made it so that the swooping Sirens had nowhere to extend their ws. Instead, taken by surprise, two or three of their younger beings below the rank of Gold were impaled and killed.


    That the noble Divine Blood kin should fall in the spear forest of their prey was quite ironic.


    Meanwhile, the spellcasters, having regained theirposure, saw themselves unharmed and after a brief recovery, finally demonstrated their proper role.


    For a moment, a variety of ascending Defensive Charms, enhancing auras, and temple Suppression Spells helped to stabilize the situation atop the city walls for their side.


    "Damn it!"


    "Curse it!"


    "Filthy bugs!"


    Not only had they failed to gnaw through this tough bone, but they had almost broken their teeth in the attempt. The angry Sirens cursed like shrews as they miserably retreated back to the sea.


    "Don''t even think about escaping!"


    Little Medusa in the sky, without a second thought, vibrated her wings, ready to pursue the victory.


    "Anna,e back!"


    Seeing this reckless action from the girl, Luo En''s face changed immediately, he roared loudly.


    Hearing the order from behind, Little Medusa, who had just flown out a hundred meters, hesitated and obediently turned around pping her wings.


    "Aaaaaa¡ª¡ª!"


    However, just as Little Medusa turned her head, a high-pitched monosybic chant spread from the sea.


    In an instant, those who heard this enchanting song had a nk mind, involuntarilyying down their weapons, stepping over the battlements with a stupefied look, and moving forward.


    "Goo goo~~!"


    Just as the siren song was spreading over the ind, a sound like an owl''s clear call suddenly rang out, startling those enchanted and entranced by it into sudden wakefulness.


    At the same time, Luo En, with eyes clear, snatched a spear from a warrior next to him with lightning speed, drawing his body into an exaggerated arc and flinging it forward with all his might.


    "Pfft!"


    Apanying the sharp sound of cutting the air, the thrown spear whizzed past the hair on the left side of Little Medusa, pinning a purple-red octopus tentacle covered in suckers to the ground in the darkness.

 Chapter 80: Chapter 73: The gap between people is even greater than between people and dogs

    What is that?!


    At that moment, Little Medusa, who had just been entranced by the singing, suddenly snapped to consciousness. Instinctively, she pped her metallic wings, pulled back a hundred paces, and looked over the sea with an unsettled soul.


    Through the night''s mist, she shockingly saw a small mountain rising silently from the nearby waters, twisting and writhing madly in the darkness.


    No, it wasn''t a small mountain!


    Little Medusa''s red-purple magical eyes forced themselves wide open and, with the faint starlight, she could clearly see the true form of that thing.


    It was a huge sea beast with six heads and twelve octopus-like tentacles!


    The tentacle that had stealthily attacked her from behind was one of these twelve octopus-like tentacles.


    ¡ªThe deep-sea monster Scy!


    Upon calling the name of this deity-like monster in her mind, Little Medusa became extremely guarded, instinctively adopting a defensive stance.


    Scy was one of the many offspring of Phorcys, the father of sea beasts. It was said that she once had the beautiful form of an ocean nymph, but was cursed by Poseidon''s wife, Queen Amphitrite, and turned into an ugly sea monster with six heads and twelve tentacles.


    Since then, she had been wandering the Strait of Messina, preying on passing ships and sailors, and leaving behind numerous terrifying legends in human city-states.


    Of course, there was no shortage of human heroes who went forth to battle this scourge blocking the seanes.


    But without exception, they all failed.


    On the one hand, Scy had an extraordinary home-field advantage in sea battles.


    On the other hand, being one of Phorcys''s notable offspring, her strength was beyond question¡ªshe was a top-tier demigod.


    A regr demigod hero confronting her was not going on a conquest, but delivering themselves as an easy prey!


    Even this creature hade out from the deep sea?


    Little Medusa thought about the harrowing moment from just before and couldn''t help but feel frightened, looking gratefully towards the figure who had alerted her from the fortress and blocked the fatal blow.


    At the same time, Luo En, who had miraculously stayed clear-headed through the enchanting singing and pulled the others out of their bewitched state, held onto the wristband that continued to send a cool chill through his hand, his eyes filled with relief.


    Praise Athena!


    Luckily he had previously obtained a piece of equipment that resisted mental disturbances from her. Otherwise, facing the Siren''s song would indeed have been fatal.


    Especially¡ªan ensemble of three top-tier demigods!


    Luo En looked up towards the sea surface, his gaze moving beyond Scy''s undting flesh-mountain to the three enchanting figures in the midst of the beast tide, brimming with the rich aura of demigods.


    Under the reflection of the starlight, they were sitting calmly on the back of a great whale, their vital points covered by a string of pure white seashells, with their long hair spreading over their slender, lustrous shoulders.


    And as his gaze continued downward, he could see their dazzling fish tails immersed in the sea.


    Their upper bodies were those of beautiful maidens, their lower halves colorful fish tails¡­


    It was the three Siren sisters!


    Luo En''s gaze froze, and his heart sunk.


    The original Sirens were the three daughters of the river god Achelous, born from his blood, beautiful fairies with the appearance of human-faced birds.


    But after losing a musicpetition with the Muse Goddesses, their wings were plucked, and they couldn''t fly.


    Thereafter, having lost their wings, the three Siren sisters could only drift near the coastline, transforming into the image of mermaids with human torsos and fish tails, using their musical talent to allure passing sailors to their doom.


    That is to say, there were two kinds of Sirens.


    The human-faced bird-bodied group mostly consisted of degraded descendants derived from the bloodline of the three Siren sisters.


    And these three beautiful mermaids with the image of human torsos and fish tails were the original beings who hadpeted with the Muse Goddesses, those whose wings had been stripped!


    Every one of them had the strength of a top Demigod.


    Meanwhile, the triplets of the Sirens at sea found that their irresistibly enchanting singing had failed to take effect. Their beautiful faces involuntarily contorted into twisted and sinister visages.


    "Laaaa¡ª¡ª!"


    Apanied by a shrill and piercing chant, the sea waves surged violently, with billions of tons of seawater swirling into a backward spiral, forming a vortex hundreds of meters in diameter that dipped inward before transforming into a bottomless gaping maw.


    In an instant, hundreds of Sea Beasts that failed to dodge in time were sucked into it.


    "Crack¡ª¡ª!"


    Followed by the teeth-grinding sound of bones shattering and flesh tearing, they did not even have the chance to wail before turning into mush and blood mist, devouredpletely by the roiling whirlpool.


    Nourished by the carnage, a faint burp echoed from the vast vortex on the sea''s surface.


    Afterwards, the pitch-ck millions of tons of seawater surged upward, taking on the visage of a woman''s face.


    The ck vortex was her gaping mouth, the limbs of Sea Beasts were her teeth, and the swirling seawater formed her skin and flesh.


    The human Soldiers on the fortress, facing the once bedtime horror storye to life before their eyes, could not help but feel a chill at the bottom of their hearts, their bodies trembling uncontrobly.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Great Vortex, Charybdis!


    She was the monster born from the union of Sea King Poseidon and Earth Goddess Gaea, perpetually thirsty and hungry, madly devouring everything around her, and thus was imprisoned in the Strait of Messina.


    To satiate her endless hunger, the fallen Charybdis consumed vast quantities of seawater every day, creating immense whirlpools at sea that devoured all passing ships and life.


    She and the deep-sea monstrosity Scy neighbored each other, turning the areas they inhabited into forbidden zones for maritime life, where bones umted in heaps.


    Their infamous reputation became the nightmare of numerous sailors and those making a living at sea, instilled in them since childhood.


    Simrly, the reason why the Great Vortex Charybdis had survived until now, constantly causing trouble, was partly due to the protection of the God of the Sea Poseidon and partly because of her top Demigod strength.


    Gazing at the onught of five top Demigod sea monsters emerging within the tide, the Crown Princemanding the front line felt his heart race, his back and palms soaking with cold sweat.


    It is well known that the difference between people is greater than that between a person and a dog.


    This rule applies equally to the Demigod race with extremely disparate upper and lower bounds.


    Some Demigods merely possess an umtion of Magic Power, their Divinity impure and mixed.


    Some Demigods are invincible among mortals, so powerful they could challenge the Deities on Mount Olympus.


    Although not as outstanding as his sister, Princess Ariadne, the Prince of Crete also seeded in his Ascension into the Demigod ranks due to his prestigious bloodline, standing out among his younger peers.


    Unfortunately, the five across the waters were even more oundish.


    They were either the monstrous and fallen direct descendants of the Chief Gods and ancient gods, or the cursed monsters that had dared to challenge the deities!


    Pack after pack who sought to defeat them and never returned had provided bloody lessons verifying a brutal truth.


    ¡ª¡ªThese monsters had long since be entities that ordinary Demigod heroes could no longer contend with.


    To stop them, unless...


    Just as the Crown Prince subconsciously turned his head to look back, the Great Vortex Charybdis, having momentarily satisfied herself by devouring nearly a thousand Sea Beasts nearby, began to rise. Her gigantic woman''s face surged upwards, her demonic essence radiating, drawing billions of tons of seawater to construct a transparent torso.


    Subsequently, the humanoid form of the Great Vortex Charybdis looked down upon the fortress''s white and tender swarm of little humans, her face disying a brutal and ferocious smile as she swung her arms, made of tens of meters long water, ferociously forward.


    Whoosh¡ª¡ª!


    In an instant, the pitch-dark sea violently churned, with roaring waves sweeping across, swiftly flooding the wreckage-littered forebeach and rushing towards the coastal fortress.


    Dozens of raised Defensive Charms were annihted in a moment, as an overwhelming curtain of water descended with a force as unstoppable as a thunderbolt!


    For a time, humans, feeble and insignificant without the protection of their barrier in the face of divine might, turned ashen-faced, losing even the courage to resist or flee.

 Chapter 81: Chapter 74: As long as I, the prince, am immortal, you will always be the crown prince.

    "Boom!"


    Just as the towering waves stirred up by Charybdis, the "Great Whirlpool," were about toe crashing down in a frenzy, a dull thud emanated from deep within the army ranks, clear and powerful.


    Golden light flowed and spread out, dividing into thousands of strands, surging into the bodies of every Minosian, soothing the tremors of their flesh and dispelling the fear in their spirits.


    At the same time, the ground in front of the citadel resonated in response, as a golden barrier instantly rose, forming an indestructible shield that forcibly contained the assault of the sea waves.


    "Roar!"


    Charybdis, the "Great Whirlpool," blocked on the outside, let out an angry roar, lifting its arms made of thousand tons of sea water, hammering at the golden barrier time and again, determined to shatter this shell and devour everything clean within.


    "Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!"


    With each powerful strike, the golden barrier reverberated with louder and louder booms, and irrepressible cracks began to appear.


    The people sheltering beneath the barrier on the citadel couldn''t help but have their hearts leap back into their throats, their gaze unconsciously turning back to look at the figure in the coarse white robe, an old man with a hunched back, within their ranks.


    "Boom!"


    The golden scepter struck the ground once more, and before Charybdis, the "Great Whirlpool," the figure who seemed so insignificant not only didn''t shrink back but instead puffed out his chest and took a step forward, delivering a proud deration.


    "I am a scion of Zeus!"


    "Roar!"


    Charybdis, furious, swung its arm, and the cracks on the golden barrier grew even wider, the web-like fractures spreading outwards, causing several bricks on the citadel to shatter from the intense vibrations.


    A flying pebble grazed the old man''s cheek, cutting a fine wound on his brow, and golden-red blood flowed forth.


    "Boom!"


    Even as his vision blurred from the blood, the old man remained unfazed, striking the ground with his golden scepter once more. Synchronizing with the rhythm of the earth''s tremors, he took another step towards the edge of the citadel, loudly proiming once again.


    "I am the son of the Divine Consort Europa!"


    Suddenly, the golden barrier that was on the brink of shattering quickly mended and stabilized, even pushing forward as the old man stepped, resisting the onught of the waves.


    Ssh¡ª!


    The sea churned heavily, and Charybdis, now a giant humanoid of water, was forcefully pushed back.


    Its legs, standing amid the waves, stumbled and retreated, and before this seemingly ant-like small entity, the immense body of the Siren could only dodge out of the way.


    The sight was like that of an insect, brandishing a de of grass, driving away a tyrannosaurus rex.


    The people on the citadel were dumbstruck, their emotions surging tumultuously.


    Unforgivable! Unforgivable!


    A torrent of humiliation surged forth, and the raging demonic nature instantly overwhelmed Charybdis''s already scant rationality; boiling with killing intent and the desire to destroy, these emotions coalesced into its mighty fists and a deafening roar.


    "Die!"


    "I am the King of Crete!"


    King Minos, standing at the edge of the citadel, his hair and beard bristling, lifted his golden scepter high and swung it forward. His deep voice boomed like thunder, instantly drowning out the roar of the waves.


    "¡ªImand you, get off mynd! Beast!"


    "Rumble¡ª!"


    At the same time, several thunderbolts as thick as water barrels fell from the sky, drawn by the scepter, like golden javelins shooting forth, piercing straight through the body of Charybdis, the "Great Whirlpool."


    "Ssh!"


    In an instant, the hundred-meter-tall illusory form of water outside the wall was shattered and dispersed by the golden thunderbolts, turning into a sky full of scattering droplets.


    "Wuu~~"


    The gravely wounded creature could no longer maintain its humanoid shape, leaving only a broken visage that emitted a pitiful wail before disappearing beneath the undting waves, vanishing into the sea below.


    We won? We won!


    The relief of surviving disaster moved every soldier to exhration, their faces aglow with feverish excitement as they gazed toward their king. One by one, they raised their hands to beat their shields, creating a deafening cheer.


    "Bang bang!"


    "Minos!"


    "Bang bang!"


    "Minos!"


    Looking upon the figure standing before the citadel like a towering wall, and at the soldiers around him, all uplifted and cheering, several princes in charge ofmanding the battle couldn''t help but have mixed feelings, a bitter taste in their mouths.


    No matter how hard they tried, no matter how exceptional they were, in front of their own father, they were like fireflies trying to outshine the bright moon, ludicrous and utterly self-unaware.


    Yet to the gods, such people, such an almost unattainable peak, were nothing more than slightly stronger ants.


    In the midst of the great upheavals in their hearts, a strong sense of defeat brewed in the hearts of the several princes and finally turned into a trace of despair on their faces.


    The old man witnessed this with an imperceptible sigh, feeling a faint sadness within.


    His sons, although a few were not bad, were far from truly excellent.


    Theycked not only the qualifications to advance to godhood but also the courage to contend with the gods.


    He feared that after his death, the prosperity he had painstakingly built would fall into their hands and decline;


    His arduous defense and efforts would turn to nought.


    "Look quick! Something''sing up!"


    "In the water!"


    Just as the father and sons each harbored their own thoughts, there came the soldiers'' exmations from beside them.


    Everyone turned toward the sound and saw, in the marsh that had be of the citadel''s front beach, slender and enchanting figures twisting and wriggling, shimmering withrge patches of dazzling luster.


    They had round spots of crimson, gold, cyan, and blue.


    Stripes like zebras, spots like leopards, eyes like peacocks, all with deep red lines;


    They were suffused with the luster of the silver moon, as they breathed, this silvery glow would fade or brighten, or weave its brilliance with the duller patterns, as their bodies seemed interwoven with rainbows...


    Luo En gazed at the familiar light pollution in the water ripples and the sinuous contours underneath, his eyelids drooping as he murmured softly.


    ¡ª The Serpent of Greed, Lamia!


    Although King Minos had struck a severe blow to the rushing Charybdis, his gradually aging body meant he ultimately failed to y the sea monster with one blow, letting her escape back to the embrace of the sea to regain the protection of divine oceanic authority.


    After suffering greatly at King Minos''s hands, Charybdis decisively did not dare to surface rashly again but instead stirred the tides to submerge the coastal lines to create more advantageousnding andbat conditions for the sea beast army gathering near Crete Ind.


    Luo En looked at the Lamias that emerged from the water, sticking out their tongues, slithering up against the walls, and creeping ominously towards the citadel''s ramparts. His gaze, growing somber, then shifted to the night sky,nding on the chattering flock of bird-like Sirens, his heart promptly filled with surges of unease.


    It''s not the enemy''s assault he feared, but their ability to think.


    It appeared that the divine-blood kindreds of the Sea of Okeanos were slowly learning to cooperate.


    The battle before them seemed to be getting increasingly difficult.


    "Priests and magicians, maintain the magic barrier, responsible for air suppression!"


    "All garrison troops, form ranks! Face the enemy!"


    In that moment, the eldest prince, acting as themander, gazing at the dense divine-blood kindreds in the water and sky, gritted his teeth, drew his bronze long sword from his waist, and bellowed with a hoarse roar.


    And this time, the soldiers had grown ustomed to facing the Sea Beasts, to facing fear, and strived to stand erect, brandishing their swords, raising their spears and shields, to retaliate against the invading enemy.


    Because their king was here.


    Their home was right behind them!


    "Stab!"


    "Retract!"


    "Stab!"


    "Retract!"


    "Swords and shields forward! Archers, 45-degree volley fire!"


    As the eldest prince repeatedly barked the battlemands, once-dullbat training incessantly sprang to the soldiers'' minds.


    With a sense of progression from awkwardness to familiarity, and from familiarity to mastery, the Minosian soldiers followed the orders, assembled the ranks, and surrounded and isted each sea monster that had climbed their defenses, their weapons thrusting forward both urately and mechanically.


    The sttered flesh and blood and the Sea Beasts'' shrieks could no longer shake their morale.


    As one warrior fell, new ranks moved up to fill the gap.


    They stood atop the citadel, guarding King Minos, bing an orderly and solid whole, like a finely tuned machine of ughter.


    It wasn''t just the Sea Beasts'' cooperation that was improving, the Minosians'' will to fight andbat skills were also fully honed in this trial by fire and blood.


    Seeing his soldiers holding steady without panic, sessfully warding off the assault, Luo En finally eased his heart.


    Thought and learning were things humanity should excel at after all.


    Witnessing their prolonged inability to ovee the enemy, with their momentum gradually waning and thest of the nightsky about to fade, the divine-blood kindredsmanding from the rear grew restless.


    Scy, with her six heads and twelve feet, moved her massive body like a doomsday tank, crushing her way over the front beach towards the coastal citadel, not even half as tall as her stature.

 Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Alas, The Enemy Has a Gundam

    "You shall not pass!"


    The nearby Little Medusa could no longer contain herself and immediately summoned the bronze snake armor, darting toward Scy. Her bronze chained sword shed and stabbed along the way, leaving ghastly gashes across the mountain of octopus flesh.


    "Ahhh~!"


    The female heads among the six screamed in pain and anger, their faces twisted in agony. Twelve octopus-like tentacles thrashed and swept through the air, trying to swat the pesky fly out of existence.


    However, Medusa was naturally gifted with flight. Now, coupled with the assistance of the bronze snake armor, Little Medusa''s agility and speed were boosted to their limits.


    Facing the heavy, forceful tentacles mming down, she evaded with ease using her superior maneuverability, repeatedly finding openings to drive her chained sword into the body of the beast.


    "Die! Die!"


    The cumbersome Scy couldn''t capture her quarry and could only futilely curse in rage, spraying venom and venting her frustration on the scarred earth.


    But, as time passed, her reaction speed and the strength of her iling tentacles increasingly weakened.


    In contrast, Little Medusa fought more vigorously as time went on, her body bursting with a continuous flow of divine power, her essence soaring, her face seemingly filled with a sense of satiation.


    In fact, Medusa fed on blood, and so did her sword.


    As she continually wounded her opponent, the creature''s blood and divine power also nourished Little Medusa, who wielded the chained sword.


    If the battle continued at this pace, and without mistakes, Little Medusa could eventually exhaust the massive entity of Scy to death.


    However, the divine-blood kin of the sea clearly would not give her this chance.


    Seeing their offensive stymied again and again, the mermaid-like Siren sisters finally had enough, straightening their bodies to sing in unison.


    "Aaaaa¡ª¡ª!"


    With the soaring notes echoing over, the countless Sea Beasts on the surface immediately grew restless and vicious, once more rallying into a vast tide, sweeping toward the coastal fortress of Crete Ind.


    Under the crisp starlight, the Siren sisters, inciting the Sea Beasts, shed their sharp, tiny, white teeth in a grin, looking more beastly than human.


    In fact, in nature, the more beautiful and vibrant the flower, the more likely it is to be toxic.


    The Siren sisters were no exception. They loved to use their delicate appearance and enchanting voices to lure passing ships, then drag sailors and crew members into the sea to drown and devour them.


    Therefore, in the Sea of Okeanos, these fish-tailed Sirens, though beautiful, were not benign but rather high-intelligence deities of cruelty and terror.


    Moreover, aside from their seductive singing, they excelled in controlling storms and tides. ording to Circe, the Sirens were natural mages of the sea.


    If the top-tier demigod Siren sisters joined forces, then the coastal defenses were bound to face a tremendous onught.


    "Laaaaa¡ª¡ª!"


    As expected, the Siren sisters changed the pitch of their song, summoning monstrous waves of unparalleled force that rolled in with fury.


    The power of this assault was even several times greater than the whirlpools raised by Charybdis!


    With the towering waves advancing inyers, a powerful sense of suffocation gripped almost every Minosian heart.


    "With our sincere prayers, we beseech the winged serpent that connects the sky, the earth, and the darkness, the wise queen whoprehends the intelligence bestowed by the heavens, our souls'' sovereign, our city-state''s protector¡ªshe is Pas, her name Athena!"


    In this dire moment, the gathered priests and priestesses sang praises loudly, surrounding Princess Ariadne, d in a white gown and crowned with an olive wreath. Together theypleted the long-prepared grand ritual spell.


    "¡ªErect the sanctuary of the gods, the gates of heaven!"


    As thest note fell, Princess Ariadne, the high priestess, raised her hands high and plunged the bird-winged snake-engraved golden scepter forcefully onto the battlements.


    "Hum!"


    In an instant, countless swirling patterns of light converged into a pair of golden wings, separating the storm and waves from the sea, sheltering the coastline defense behind a curtain of light.


    "Aaaaaa!!!"


    The Siren sisters atop the sea shrieked louder, rallying the authority of the ocean to summon even more ferocious tidal disasters.


    The wind howled fiercely, and the waves surged relentlessly.


    Thebined efforts of the three top-tier demigod Sirens meant that even the grand ritual spell, which employed the full force of the temple, flickered like a candle in the wind and rain.


    Pieces of feathers, symbolizing light and tranquility, were lifted by the fierce wind and torn by the massive waves.


    In just a few breaths, the divine barrier in front of the coastal fortress dimmed and flickered erratically, on the verge of shattering.


    The drained priests and priestesses copsed one after another, fainting, leaving only Princess Ariadne as the high priestess struggling to hold on.


    When it rains, it pours, and battered ships meet adverse winds.


    Worse cmities were quick on the heels.


    "Devour them!"


    "Devour them!"


    "Devour them!"


    With the suppression of magic and divine powers gone, as well as the disturbance from ground crossbows and spears, the Sirens in the sky excitedly screeched, carried by the tempest, swooping down toward the fallen priests and priestesses.


    Compared to ordinary humans, their flesh, nourished by Aether Magical Energy Particles, was undoubtedly more delicious.


    Simultaneously, a swarm of Lamia and a great number of Sea Beasts, riding the ever-rising tide that almost reached the fortress walls, surged towards thisst obstacle unhindered.


    They were eager to pry open this hard shell and taste the delicious filling inside the city.


    "Bunch of beasts! I''m not dead yet!"


    Facing the ferocious tide of beasts, the many Divine Blood creatures, and thebined spells of the Siren sisters, King Minos, the only one who could contend with this, roared as he raised his golden scepter, channeling divine power without restraint, summoning golden thunderbolts from the clouds, striking at the nearly copsing front line.


    In an instant, the harrowing lightning tore through the howling winds, striking down screeching Sirens by the score, then crashed into the surging waves, electrifying thousands of Sea Beasts in the water into charred remains.


    However, facing the gruesome deaths of their underlings, even of their own kind, the Three Gorgons perched atop the Great Whale showed no signs of sorrow or pity in their beautiful eyes, which, as they gazed upon the old man standing on the bastion, shimmered with a hint of cruel excitement.


    "Hiss!"


    Almost the moment King Minos focused all his attention on the front line, a slender, transparent w, under the cover of the driving rain, pierced towards the old man''s back with the speed of lightning.


    That extremely tricky angle of attack, and the perfectly timed moment, was utterly impossible to guard against.


    Clearly, she had been lurking nearby, plotting for a long time.


    Snakes are adept at concealing themselves and hunting, patiently waiting for the most opportune moment to deliver a fatal bite.


    And as a primeval Lamia, a top-tier Demigod, she had perfected this instinct to a divine art.


    Beneath the shimmering symbols, the snake woman with her body covered in golden scales, eyeballs removed from their sockets, revealed a sinister smile on her face.


    But the King of Minos standing squarely in front, sensing the malicious wind behind him, also curled his lips into an even colder and more cunning smile.


    "Pfft!"


    Simultaneously, from within the crowd, a glint of cold light emerged, an ancient bronze sword thrusting diagonally, like a meteoric downpour, piercing directly through the Lamia''s chest, nailing her firmly to the battlement.


    "Ssss~!!"


    Wracked with intense pain, the Lamia screamed and curled up, her face, bathed in tears, looking pitiful and evoking sympathy.


    However, the hand gripping the sword''s hilt didn''t pause for even a moment, stirring viciously, shattering the beating heart within her chest into pieces.


    "Pfft!!"


    Suddenly, with a huge hole burst open in her chest, the Lamia with golden scales ceased her struggle, and her lifeless body slid down limply.


    And at the moment Luo En and King Minos made eye contact, confirming the target was devoid of life, they both visibly rxed, as if a great weight had been lifted.


    Atst, the sixth top-tier Demigod was dealt with!


    Indeed, from the moment the tide of beasts started to gather for thending, the two most astute among them had sensed that the swarm wasn''t led by five top-tier Demigods, but six!


    And that one of them had been lying in wait the whole time, biding her time to strike.


    But, beasts are after all just beasts.


    Long spells of ughter and their wild magic nature had made them forget that humans were the most cunning and deceitful species in the world, the most cooperative, and the most skilled at hunting.


    Thus, aside from a few stealthy moves, Luo En had remained hidden among the crowd, all to wait for this top-tier sea monster Demigoddess to fully expose herself, and then, in tandem with King Minos as the bait, to jointly remove her and sever one of the enemy''s limbs.


    From the oue, they had seeded.


    Now that all themand centers controlling the Sea Beasts were exposed, then...


    King Minos and Luo En exchanged a nod of understanding, and thereafter the old man abandoned his passive defense, raising his golden scepter high, pointing toward the dense, unending tide of beasts, chanting solemnly.


    "Undying through tribtion, reborn from fire!"


    The old man took a deep breath and unveiled his final trump card, bellowing resolutely.


    "In the name of the King of Crete, Imand you to rise¡ªBronze Giant, Talos!"


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    Apanied by the crisp sound of snapping chains, a violent rumbling and trembling rose from beneath Crete Ind.


    To the astonishment of both friend and foe, a hundred-meter-tall metallic giant,posed of rock as flesh and bronze as skin, emerged from the earth like a descending titan, towering over thend!

 Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Everyone go first, Ill cover the rear!

    Crete Ind, before the coastal fortress.


    The sudden change made King Minos the focus of the battlefield; with one hand he tore off the cumbersome, tattered robe from his body, revealing his upper body''s muscles, as solid as forged steel, with the other hand he lifted the golden scepter that symbolized the divine right of the Cretan crown, pointing towards the dark sea swarming with the Sea Beasts, and heughed heartily.


    "Talos, my sword, my shield! Now that you''ve awakened, assist me in sweeping away the foreign enemies!"


    "¡ªAs youmand, my king!"


    The stern response came from behind the coastal fortress, rumbling through the surroundings like rolling thunder.


    On the horizon, the towering bronze giant, as colossal as a mountain, overlooked the invading tide of Sea Beasts, slowly spreading his arms. On his bronzed shell, thousands of light patterns sparkled to life one after another and resonated with each other.


    Humming sounds filled the air!


    Twelve unevenly sized rings of light formed one after another on the bronze giant''s arms, legs, neck, back, and chest, then, like the muzzles of cannon turrets, they automatically tuned and focused towards the sea where the Sea Beasts converged.


    "¡ªAether Constriction, divine power loaded!"


    The mechanical voice echoed again as the twelve rings of light on the bronze giant inverted, drawing in a powerful surge.


    Instantly, the aether from the earth veins and the aether in the air condensed into a tangible Magic Tide, like rivers rushing into the sea, frantically converging towards the colossal bronze figure.


    In just a blink of an eye, the lines beneath the bronze skin, like human blood vessels, were filled with Essence Fluid, a concentrated mix of magic power.


    The surging ''blood of the gods'' flowed towards the heart chamber of the bronze giant''s chest and, under the coordinated tuning and focusing of the twelve light rings, eventually transformed into an extremely bright stream of light that burst forth.


    ¡ªEssence Fluid Cannon, annihtion mode activated!


    In an instant, a dazzling strip of light several tens of meters in diameter tore through the thin night, spanning the vast sea, plowing a fathomless trench.


    After about ten seconds, the divine flood subsided, and the deep, kilometer-long fissure in the sea was only then filled by the returning tumultuous waters.


    "Ssh!"


    In the surging waves, the previously crowded and noisy sea surface suddenly became silent and subdued; the writhing groups of Sea Beasts in the center were no more; the formerly dark waters now stained with a crimson tide.


    "Hiss~~!"


    In the midst of the dead quiet, every creature shocked by the scene before them couldn''t help but gasp in cold air.


    Just one strike had wiped out the tens of thousands of Sea Beasts gathered along the coast of Crete Ind, such might was simply terrifying!


    Surely, only the deities could aplish this feat with such ease!


    Of course, they weren''t wrong, in theory.


    The one responsible for this feat was indeed a ''Quasi-God.''


    Luo En turned to look beyond the coastal fortress, at the towering figure standing against the horizon, and recalled its origin in his mind.


    The bronze giant Talos, belonging to the Bronze Age, had survived cmities and lived to this day.


    His race predated the many Demigods and heroes with divine blood who had established and ruled over human city-states.


    Legend has it that these beings from the Bronze Age were created by the Craftsman God Hephaestus at themand of Zeus, in a fashion simr to how Pandora was created, forging them from bronze and stone.


    They were created to fill the void left by the original humans after their extinction in the Great Flood, to appease the wrath of Mother Earth Gaia.


    Therefore, these bronze giants possessed a bronze outer shell and human form,plete with veins that ran from the neck to the knees or ankles, and it was this vein that powered the bronze giants, with the essence of the gods flowing within.


    However, due to theck of wisdom''s infusion and their proficiency in battle, the bronze giants indulged in destruction and ughter, bing an increasingly significant threat to terrestrial life, making Mother Earth Gaia even more dissatisfied.


    Thus, Zeus ended this attempt at re-creation and ordered the Craftsman God Hephaestus to destroy the increasingly uncontroble Bronze race.


    In that catastrophe, Talos, who had Melia Fairies'' blood within him and possessed umon rationality, was an individual exception and became the sole survivor of the great disaster.


    Later, thanks to the grace of Mother Earth Gaia, Deucalion and Pyrrha, representing the new humanity, multiplied and flourished on the earth once more.


    The solitary Talos was then taken to the sacred mountain to serve the deities of Olympus.


    Subsequently, Zeus, who loved sowing his seed, transformed into a white bull and abducted Europa to Crete Ind, where she, as a divine consort on earth, would propagate his Divine King lineage.


    Considering his mortal lover Europa was too fragile, Zeus gave her three gifts.


    They were; the bronze giant Talos, the Golden Hound, and a jug of unerring golden arrows.


    After some changes, the divine consort Europa then bestowed the three upon her son with Zeus, Minos, to help him defend his territory.


    Since then, the bronze giant Talos had be a subordinate of King Minos, continuously patrolling Crete Ind on his behalf, initially achieving glorious military exploits.


    As the Minoan civilization grew stronger, Talos gradually found no further use inbat and faded from people''s sights. Following King Minos''s orders, he went into hibernation underground, to avoid harming the innocent.


    Unexpectedly, after a hundred years,


    due to this catastrophic Sea Beast invasion from the sea, Talos, once a guardian and weapon of war, was once again awakened by King Minos. He resurfaced on Crete Ind, showcasing the terrifying destructive force he once had as a creation of the gods.

 Chapter 84: Chapter 76: Everyone go first, Ill cover the rear!_2

    Monsters! Monsters!


    At this moment, the three Siren sisters, who had narrowly escaped a disaster thanks to their vignce, cast their gaze across the sea littered with chunks of flesh and blood turned into a crimson tide, looking towards the bronze giant Talos standing beyond the defensive line of Crete Ind''s coastline, speaking in fear and awe.


    Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    "Aaaaaa!!!"


    Soon, their fear turned to anger, and the three Siren sisters, enraged and ferocious from the bloody scene, sang out in unison.


    The previously disorganized swarm of Sea Beasts, as if injected with a dose of madness, surged towards Crete Ind in a frenzied state, attempting to close the distance and destroy the terrifying war machine.


    At the same time, the swirling tides became a massive vortex, swallowing countless floating pieces of flesh and blood.


    "Whoosh!"


    The [Great Vortex] Charybdis, after finishing its feast, used the devoured flesh and Divine Power to reconstruct a massive phantom of water.


    The seawater, mixed with organs and shredded flesh, draped over her, exuding a sense of bloody madness.


    "Die!"


    With those garbled words, the [Great Vortex] Charybdis raised its right hand, gathering the foul crimson tide and forming a blood-red Trident in its grasp, hurling it with all its might towards the coastal fortress on Crete Ind that had resisted attack for so long.


    As the ferocious attack approached, a sh of red light appeared in Talos''s eyes, and he quickly stepped over the coastal fortress, his two crossed bronze arms positioned protectively in front.


    "ng!"


    With a sharp sound of metal shing against metal, the Trident forged from seawater was steadily blocked by the bronze giant.


    Although Talos was a mix of bronze and stone and of immense size, due to the exceptional craftsmanship of the Craftsman God Hephaestus and the bloodline of the Melia Fairies, his movement speed was incredibly fast.


    In theory, he could easily patrol around Crete Ind three times in a day, with the ind''s coastline stretching over 1000 kilometers.


    "Roar!"


    Charybdis, unsessful in its first strike and apanied by a surge of waves advancing towards the coast, let out an angry roar, its numerousbined limbs and faces looking even uglier and more terrifying.


    "Boom!"


    Facing the hideous sea monster, the emotionless bronze giant unceremoniously raised its fist and smashed it into the monstrous face floating amidst the carcasses of countless Sea Beasts.


    "Whoosh!"


    As the [Great Vortex] Charybdis staggered backward, a new wave of ferocious tides crumbled away, no longer able to exert any effective impact on the coastal line.


    The remnants of night faded, and dawn broke.


    After a night of intense battle, the Minosians had finally reached the dawn.


    Looking at the bronze giant on the shore that had repelled the [Great Vortex] Charybdis with a punch, and King Minos, who stood majestically in front of the fortress, the soldiers who survived the ordeal grabbed their weapons and feverishly banged their shields, emitting thunderous cheers.


    "Minos!"


    "Minos!"


    "Minos!"


    Listening to the wave-like enthusiastic shouts from behind, the old man felt as if he was back in his youth, when he had rushed to the battlefield with sword and shield to fight with foreigners.


    With the blood surging in his chest awakening the war spirit in his aged body, King Minos decisively threw his golden scepter to his daughter and snatched the bronze spear from his elder son''s hand, pointing towards the battlefield and bellowing out loud.


    "The beast tide has copsed, set sail! To war!"


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª!"


    Meanwhile, at the wind-sheltered harbor behind Crete Ind.


    Sail after sail rose, billowing and fluttering in the brisk sea breeze.


    Then, dozens of huge oared warships emerged from both sides of Crete Ind, like dragons plunging into the sea, stirring up surging waves as they pounced towards the battlefront teeming with Sea Beasts.


    As the soldiers standing on the nearby fortress looked on, they saw hefty figures d in bronze armor, wielding swords and shields, carrying spears on their backs, and longbows at their hips, lined up neatly on the deck, exuding an icy aura of stern ughter.


    When the crowd made out the double-sided axe and bull emblem on the gs, their excited cheers grew louder.


    "The Divine Blood Guard! It''s the Divine Blood Guard!"


    The bloodline of the gods flowed in the mortal world, and the purer it was, the more likely it would give birth to outstanding warriors.


    Therefore, the most elite troops of each city-state were often made up of warriors infused with divine blood, known as the Imperial Guard.


    Even if they were merely many generations removed hybrids, almost every one of them held the ability to fight ten regr soldiers.


    Whenever they appeared on the battlefield, it often signified a shift in the war''s dynamics.


    Now, with the copse of the beast tide and the arrival of dawn.


    This Divine Blood Guard, having conserved their energy throughout the night, burst forth, undoubtedly driving two sharp daggers into the heart of the enemy.


    At this moment, watching the invincible fleet he himself had built baring its fangs, dividing and encircling the increasingly chaotic beast tide, and carrying out orderly ughter, King Minos''s heart surged with emotion.


    "Good! Let these beasts see who truly reigns over the nearby seas!"


    And watching thoserge twin-masted warships navigating the sea like dragons, swiftly dividing the battlefield, and the hundreds of Divine Blood Guards on deck, who pierced through the beast tide with ease like rows of sharp spears, Luo En felt a silent awe.


    Although all the ns had been discussed and formted with King Minos, he had also learned about the crucial elements such as the Bronze Giant Talos and thete appearance of the Divine Blood Guard from King Minos himself.


    But seeing was believing.


    Not only was thebat prowess of the Bronze Giant Talos astonishing, but the performance of King Minos''s Divine Blood Guard also far exceeded his expectations.


    Their ability to fight at sea and repeatedly puncture the formations of these native sea creatures with excellent cooperation did not pale inparison to the Antean Guard he had encountered before, which was simply unbelievable.


    However, after giving it some thought, Luo En also found some relief.


    In actual history, the Minos Dynasty took full advantage of Crete Ind''s superior geographical location to develop its shipbuilding industry and built a formidable fleet, one of the earliest navies in the world.


    With this unbeatable fleet, the Minosians dominated the Aegean Sea, intimidated Athens, and made Crete Ind the hub connecting the advanced nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa, eventually allowing the Minos Dynasty to maintain trade with regions such as Egypt, Syria, Babylon, and Asia Minor, thus bing a maritime hegemony.


    And during the Minosians'' most prosperous period, under the rule of King Minos, ind nations across the Aegean Sea paid homage to Minos, and Athens waspelled to offer tribute.


    Perhaps having been thoroughly defeated, the city-states of the Mediterranean often concocted dark histories about the Minosians behind their backs.


    The legend of the Minotaur probably emerged during this period.


    "Want to rebel?! This is not Antis!"


    The old man sneered as he grabbed the bronze long spear, slung a war bow and the pouch of gold arrows he had received from his mother Europa over his shoulder, and leaped out of the fortress, heading straight for the Siren Sisters who were trying to regain control of the beast tide for a counterattack.


    Finally, he had smoothly reached the final move in the game.


    So, General!


    Meanwhile, Luo En, who had been holding his breath on the city wall, relievedly drew his bronze long sword when he saw the situation unfold as expected, stirred the divine power within him, and followed King Minos, charging toward the Siren Sisters at themand center of the beast tide.


    For some reason, though, the closer he got to that part of the battlefield, the more fiercely his heart pounded.


    As if some unsettling factor still remained...


    Luo En''s heart skipped a beat, and raising his hand, he began to whisper to King Minos ahead of him.


    "May I borrow it!"


    "Borrow?"


    King Minos''s figure paused slightly, then following the direction of Luo En''s finger, he nced at the longbow and gold arrows at his side,ughed heartily, and without a second thought, tossed them behind him.


    "Haha, borrow what, borrow! I give it to you!"


    Luo En caught the longbow and the quiver of gold arrows, and as he watched King Minos, who couldn''t wait to rush towards the battlefield, he wanted to say something but eventually closed his mouth.


    On the sea, the figure trailing behind quietly slowed down, gradually opening a distance from the one ahead.

 Chapter 85: Chapter 77: Don鈥檛 say goodbye, we can win (8k daily update completed)

    Over the vast sea, the tide of beasts receded, and humanity''s counterattackmenced.


    Perceiving the turning tides, the three Siren sisters, sensing danger all around, didn''t bother to calm the chaotic beast tides. They immediately stirred the divinity and divine blood within them, opening their mouths to emit high-pitched songs toward the sky, calling for their kin.


    "Laaaa!!!"


    Upon hearing themand, each of the Siren harpies with the face of a woman and body of a bird immediately turned about, heedlessly gathering around the airspace near the three Siren sisters, to protect their monarch, the source of their bloodline.


    "Enemies! Enemies!"


    "Alert!"


    "Protect!"


    Amidst the cacophony of chirps and chatter, the Siren harpies already targeting from the air pped their wings in unison, flocking towards the dozens of Minos warships interspersed within the center of the beast tide.


    Under the incitation of these divine blood kin, strong gales surged all around, with waves crashing against the ships'' prows.


    However, each Minos warship bore an oak-carved figurehead, inscribed with the Protective Rune Goddess Bust, emitting a sacred radiance that held firm against the onught of wind and waves, steadily propelling the vessels forward.


    Apart from being the goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship, and military strategy, Athena was also the chief god credited with first teaching humanity to build ships, thus holding the authority to protect voyagers.


    Still, the goddess emblems on these Minos warships were ultimately sentient objects imbued with spirit, most of which had only experienced naval firebats with other city-states.


    Facing the extreme weather stirred by arge swarm of Siren harpies, these warships made by mortals gradually struggled to withstand the assault, with the light of the goddess emblems being steadily diminished and the deck nks emitting muffled sounds of being overwhelmed.


    Gradually, the fleet''s speed began to falter.


    "Devour them!"


    "Devour them!"


    "Devour them!"


    Witnessing the fleet''s impediment and the divine protection on the ships on the verge of dissipation, the skyborne Siren harpies immediately revealed their ferocity, swooping down on the vessels in groups.


    They brandished their sharp talons, aiming to tear the sails, snap the wooden masts, and cleave open the chests of enemies on the deck.


    "Prepare the five-note etiquette charm, cover the fleet as they intersperse!"


    At the fortress''s battlements, Princess Ariadne, entrusted with the golden scepter by King Minos before his departure, saw the situation and decisively took over the great prince''s role, assumingmand of the battle.


    As one of the few core individuals privy to the n, this chief priestess remaining on the ind was responsible for emergency battlefield remedies.


    After all, although Crete was currently the leading power in the Mediterranean, with a good dozen demi-gods of varying strength, the truly top-tier ones were only King Minos, Luo En, Little Medusa, and Princess Ariadne, the temple''s high priestess.


    Along with Talos, the bronze giant that King Minos had held in reserve, the high-end forces capable of influencing the battle on the coastal defense line amounted to no more than five in total.


    Hence, as the battle shifted, each of them had their responsibilities to bear.


    At this moment, a group of priests and priestesses, having taken a brief respite to consume magic potions and gradually regaining some vigor, promptly heeded the high priestess''s call, propping themselves up, raising their hands high, and chanting ancient praises.


    With the music-like holy chants converging into the air and transforming into streams of golden light, Princess Ariadne in the center raised her bird-winged scepter and swung it forward with a flourish.


    In an instant, hundreds of owls with tawny wings materialized from the light above the fortress, their wings fluttering to emit crisp calls as they tore through the clouds in groups, sweeping towards the sea''s surface.


    The roaring wind blew from the ind across the sea, inting the sails of the fleet, maximizing the ship''s speed.


    At the same time, these owls born from the light took advantage of the momentum to pass over the fleet, raising their sharp talons and opening their sturdy beaks, descending upon the obstructive Siren harpies.


    As birds of prey, owls are symbols of wisdom and the sacred birds of Goddess Athena.


    They serve close to the light, guarding the dark battlefields, endowed with the duty to hunt the unclean and bring victory.


    Along with the owls'' solemn and crisp calls and the women''s agonized and furious screams, gold and ck feathers rained down from above, like petals weing the victor on a triumphant path.


    With the Siren sisters'' kin intercepted and the path unobstructed, King Minos leaped onto the deck to join the Divine Blood Guard, using the warship as a tform to adjust his breathing, restore his magic power, and await the final battle.


    At that time, hundreds of meters away, Luo En squinted perceptively towards a shimmering undercurrent surging to the left in front of the prow.


    Something was there!


    He instantly grasped his longbow, drew it fully, andunched a potent golden arrow.


    "Whoom!"


    Apanied by a faint rumble of thunder, the golden light shed instantly, sting a burst of gold and red blood underwater.


    Subsequently, a half-bodied demigod Lamia emerged on the surface, only to be crushed into a pulp by the passing warship.


    Instantly, the hundreds of Lamias gathering in nearby waters who witnessed the fate of their new leader let out cries of terror, scattering like flocks of birds and beasts.


    Is that all the ability they possess?


    Standing at the bow, King Minospleted his pre-battle deep breathing, opened his glittering golden eyes, and a trace of chilling coldness flickered over his aged face. Holding a bronze spear in hand, he swung his arm forward and bellowed.


    "Abandon defense, full speed ahead, watch as I ughter them!"


    The well-trained Divine Blood Guard, upon hearing their monarch''smand, did not hesitate to cut off the supply of energy to the ship''s defensive charms, and instead fully activated the magical arrays that provided eleration.

 Chapter 86: Chapter 77: Dont Send Us Off, We Can Win (8k Daily Update Completed)_2

    For a moment, dozens of warships with flickering light patterns plunged into the chaotic beast tide like lions entering a flock of sheep, carving bloody paths intermixed with blood and limbs straight towards the core where the Siren''s three sisters were located.


    As the distance to the center of the beast tide drew nearer, Luo En, who trailed behind the fleet, could even see the shocked and twisted expressions on the faces of the Siren''s three sisters.


    Too reckless!


    Looking at King Minos at the bow, who was eager to battle the enemy, Luo En felt a growing unease and subconsciously surveyed the entire battlefield situation.


    At this moment, on the beach in front of Crete Ind, the bronze giant Talos was hammering down on Charybdis, the "Great Whirlpool";


    To the left rear, across the vast sea, Little Medusa, with her snake hair, was fiercely battling the six-headed, twelve-legged Scy, steadily gaining the upper hand with her excellent talents and the "Bronze Serpent Armor" bestowed by Athena, gradually wearing down the deep sea monster''s divinity and life;


    Atop the fortress, Princess Ariadne continued chanting a new round of grand rituals, invoking the name of Athena, joining forces with the temple''s priest circle to weaken and suppress the oceanic divine powers of the Siren''s three sisters;


    Not far away, the primordial being Lamia, heart-pierced, hung miserably on the rampart...


    Luo En turned his gaze again towards the nearby nearly copsed divine-blood kinfolk that could no longer form an obstacle, as well as the chaotic beast tide, arriving at a clear conclusion in his mind.


    Things were progressing smoothly, everything developing in a favorable direction.


    But...


    It seems, it was going a bit too smoothly.


    Luo En deeply furrowed his brow and once again quietly pulled back a distance, his thoughts racing in his mind.


    If he were Poseidon, who constantly sought to devour Crete,


    then, before showing his animosity, he would surely have thoroughly investigated the specific conditions andbat levels of the Minosians.


    The more detailed, the better!


    And as the ruler of Crete Ind, King Minos, who already had an old grudge with Poseidon, would undoubtedly be a focus of attention.


    Considering the ambiguous stance of Divine King Zeus, whatever trump card King Minos might have was likely no secret to the long-scheming Poseidon.


    Right now, the only variables seemed to be him and Little Medusa, the two demigods who had unexpectedly appeared.


    What if, however, this disturbing element were removed from the battlefield?


    Six top demigod Sirens facing King Minos and Princess Ariadne, two demigods of a simr level, along with Talos, who was akin to a deity.


    It looked like six against three, apparently the advantage lies with us.


    But the problem is, after nning for so long, Poseidon didn''t just want the upper hand; he wanted a sure win!


    Moreover, as the son of Divine King Zeus and the goddess Europa, future chief of the three judges of the Netherworld, King Minos, along with the bronze giant Talos, were beyond the level demigods could assuredly defeat.


    The God of the Sea''s temple aiming to aplish their goal in one fell swoop would find that six top demigod Sirens were not enough.


    Unless...


    Luo En looked towards the fleeing beast tide, which, even in disarray, still defied survival instincts and didn''t retreat toward the inner sea, and a thunderous realization resonated in his mind.


    Suddenly, he realized the decisive factor Poseidon might deploy, his face drastically changing as he leapt backward, simultaneously pulling a bird feather essory used for messaging from his chest and yelling a warning to the activated light pattern.


    "Retreat quickly! Deities!"


    "The other side might have deities joining the battle!"


    Simultaneously, King Minos, standing at the ship''s bow, shivered, pressing his hand against the resonating gold bird feather essory, his face grim as he looked towards the Siren''s three sisters a hundred meters away, their divine power drained, nearly at their final stand.


    A deity... possibly...


    "Crack!"


    Apanied by the clear sound of shattering, King Minos steeled his heart, tore off the bird feather pendant from his chest, and gripped the bronze spear tightly, leaping from the deck, like an aging lion spotting its prey on the savannah,unching into a sprint.


    Seeing his own bird feather essory also developing cracks, and King Minos, opposite of retreating, clutching his spear as he alone elerated towards the Siren''s three sisters, Luo En was taken aback, his mind filled with astonishment.


    But almost instantly, in the blink of an eye, he understood the reason behind King Minos''s action.


    It was just a possibility...


    If he let go now, missing this chance, allowing the beast tide to catch their breath and regroup, Crete would face an unknown number of casualties and variables.


    And this time, King Minos had gambled all his cards.


    If he stopped now over a mere possibility, then if the enemy prepared and came back for another round, his odds would be even slimmer.


    Centuries of patience made him unwilling and unable to wait any longer.


    Moreover, even if a deity truly joined the battle, he had to seize this hard-earned opportunity.


    Because only by dealing with the Siren''s three sisters who controlled the beast tide in advance, minimizing the threat from the sea, would there be a slight chance for Crete to resist once a deity truly entered the fray.


    Otherwise, with five top demigods and a deity entering the battle, Crete would stand even less of a chance.


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    Therefore, with the arrow notched, they had to shoot.


    This move, dangerous as it was, left him no choice.


    Perhaps, this was the sadness of being the weaker party...


    Under Luo En''splex gaze, King Minos, who leapt forwards alone, spurred his divine power to the extreme, his grey hair turning golden from the surging divine force.

 Chapter 87: Chapter 77: Don鈥檛 say goodbye, we can win (Daily update of 8k completed)_3

    ¡ª¡ªAthena, grant me the power of a hundred victories!


    With a silent prayer, King Minos became like a dazzling gold, wrapped in a sky full of golden thunderbolts, crashing towards the Siren sisters at the center of the beast tide.


    Facing the shadow of death looming overhead, the three Siren Gorgons turned pale and frantically waved their fish tails, disregarding everything as they strained their throats to emit an ultimate high-pitched scream.


    "Aaaaa!!!"


    For a moment, gold shattered and jade splintered, and the heavens seemed to break apart.


    Sea Beasts and Divine Blood warriors within hundreds of meters let out painful cries, and a few with weaker resistances had their skulls burst open directly, spewing forth a mix of blood and brains.


    Clearly, this was no longer singing but a method akin to soundwaves transforming into attacks.


    For the Sirens who pursued the art of music, this was undoubtedly a great betrayal and shame.


    But at this moment, the Siren sisters had already lost the will to question or the elegantposure they once had.


    "Pfft!"


    Distracted by the sonic attack, King Minos felt dizzy and his thunderbolt-wrapped spear veered off course, plunging heavily into the Throne Whale under the Siren sisters, with gold and red blood spurting out.


    "Ssh!"


    Simultaneously, with a crisp ssh, the Siren sisters dived synchronously into the sea and, with rapid movements of their colorful tails, swam towards the deep sea bottom, towards the farther inner sea, without looking back, abandoning the majority of their forces lingering on the surface.


    It was as if they were fleeing from some ferocious beast or great flood.


    And, without the enticing call of the Siren song, the Sea Beasts gathered around also began to panic, equally attempting to turn around and break through the blockade of the Minos Fleet to return to their original habitat in the inner sea.


    But it was already toote!


    A terrifying presence rose from beneath, and King Minos stiffened as he looked down at his blood-stained hands and the bronze spear that was shattering inch by inch from the bottom up.


    "Roar..."


    With a low growl from something awakening from a long slumber, the hundred-mile sea filled with Sea Beasts and ships was instantaneously crushed and torn open, as a gargantuan abyssal maw with circr serrated teeth surfaced, frenziedly sucking in the aether from the air.


    "Buzzing!"


    Within moments, light patterns emerged on the slimy scaly surface, converging into fin-shaped haloes that lifted the colossally vast monster out of the deep sea.


    A half-snake, half-fish creature stretching for hundreds of miles revealed its fierce outline.


    At this time, King Minos looked down at the Throne Whale beneath his feet, his golden eyes meeting the brown serpent-like vertical pupils of the monster''s head. A chill from the soul instantly spread throughout his body.


    ¡ª¡ªMother of Monsters, Keto.


    ¡ª¡ªAn unfathomable sea embodying danger to humanity, a symbol of unknownnds and bizarre creatures.


    Released from the depths of the Sea of Okeanos were not only deities but also a genuine ancient demon!


    "Roar!"


    At this moment, sensing the noise above the surface and the foreign object atop its head, the half-snake, half-fish Mother of Monsters angrily vibrated its fins. Haloes of light appeared around its body, focusing and drawing torrents of Magic Tide into the center, forming visible aether whirlpools.


    "Run!"


    Seeing this, Luo En didn''t hesitate to dash to one side, grabbed Little Medusa who was entangled with Scy on the sea, and plunged into the water.


    Almost simultaneously, hundreds of iridescent light bands streaked across the sea surface.


    Ships, Sea Beasts, high walls, and buildings all dissolved in the dazzling yet ferocious radiance.

 Chapter 88: Chapter 78: There is a Mole, Terminate the Deal (Revised)

    "Whoosh~~"


    Apanied by the crisp sound of surfacing, Luo En emerged from the depths of the sea a hundred meters below, cradling Little Medusa in his arms and looked back at the previous scene of the sea battle.


    Across the view, more than a dozen Minos Warships were cut in half, their fragmented wrecks emitting intense mes and thick smoke as they slowly sank;


    The few dozen survivors from the Divine Blood Guard, piloting the surviving warships, were searching and rescuing their nearbyrades who had fallen into the water:


    But whether ships or men, the scattered and somewhat pitiful number was only a third of what it had been before...


    Simrly, the state of affairs on Crete Ind was also a scene of devastation.


    The coastal defenses constructed with so much effort, were like blocks torn apart by a naughty child, with several shocking gaps almost prating Crete Ind from the outside in.


    The scorched earth mixed with the sticky blood and flesh of humans painted a picture like something out of hell:


    The unceasing cries and wails rose from the cities affected on the ind, spreading chaos uncontrobly...


    Humanity waspletely defeated.


    However, as his gaze returned to the sea, the situation with the beast tide could hardly be called optimistic.


    The floating limbs and flesh in the water contributed not only from the human side but more so from the Sea Beasts.


    The severed body of a Lamia, the charred remains of a Siren, and various unnamable monsters covered much of the sea surface.


    Even Scy, who had dodged too slowly, had two heads and three limbs sted off and was now writhing in agony in the sea with her blood and flesh undting, frantically fleeing away from the battlefield, carrying a stream of blood.


    Hiss~!


    Luo En nced at the tragic state of the deep-sea behemoth and looked gravely at the giant serpentine-fish creature with floating luminous patterns, which was a huge living artillery, and couldn''t help but gasp with shock.


    No wonder the Siren sisters made a run for it...


    No wonder the beast tide from the depths of the sea had not dared to awaken theirmon mother...


    This so-called mother of a hundred monsters was nothing but an indiscriminate map cannon!


    As the embodiment of a maritime disaster, its mind was almostpletely filled with destructive madness and once awakened, it did not care for the likes of kin or offspring¡ªanyone who provoked it would be instantly obliterated.


    The Scy, who had half her body sted away moments ago, was the best proof of this.


    Facing such an uncontroble monster, not just the human side, but even the beast tide itself was intimidated.


    Therefore, the Siren sisters had been singing atop the Great Whale not only to manipte the beast tide''s attack but also to soothe the mother of monsters below them, ensuring she stayed sound asleep, merely acting as a central coordinator for the swarms of beasts.


    However, an unforeseen variable on the ind of Crete pushed the side with the absolute advantage of sea monsters into a corner.


    Seeing King Minos and arge group of Divine Blood Guard breaking through all blockades aggressively searching for them, intending to puncture them like a sieve, the life-valuing Siren sisters didn''t hesitate, forcibly awakening the decisive weapon beneath them before turning tail to flee, instantly betraying their fellow sea creatures brought from the depths of the Sea of Okeanos.


    As for the oue, Luo En figured that not only humans but even the Sea Beasts must be cursing in their hearts.


    "The King! It''s the King!"


    At this moment, with a series of subdued cheers, the few Minos Warships tasked with the rescue pulled up an unkempt and stooped figure from the dark red blood water and floating corpse pieces.


    "Cough cough..."


    The moment he was hoisted onto the deck, King Minos, justing to consciousness, coughed violently, a dull noise came from his lungs and chest cavity, his pale face dripped with cold sweat, and he struggled to rise needing assistance from those around him to barely manage it.


    As an old demigod, a child of Zeus, although he survived the map cannon of Keto with his strong instincts and will to fight.


    He had undoubtedly suffered severe internal injuries from facing an ancient marine deity head-on, therefore losing the capacity to fight again.


    "Aren''t you retreating yet?"


    Above in mid-air, Luo En once again shot a golden arrow, killing a demigod Sea Beast that was chaotically crashing towards the warship, and shouted a reminder.


    Under such circumstances, there was no longer any need to continue the battle with the beast tide.


    The sea deity above didn''t care what species or faction you were from.


    So, it was crucial for everyone to first flee for their lives.


    In the meantime, Luo En and Little Medusa tacitly took up positions on either side, clearing a path for the fleet through the raging tide of beasts.


    The Minosians'' most elite fleet, having advanced too deeply, was now thoroughly mixed into the midst of the beast tide.


    At this moment, the Sea Beasts scurrying around headlessly became the biggest obstacle on their return journey.


    "Go!"


    With things having reached this point, King Minos could no longer afford to ponder; he wiped the streak of divine blood coughed up from the corner of his mouth and forced out themand through clenched teeth.


    The authorized Divine Blood Guard, no longer concerned with appearance, promptly unfurled the sails fully and worked with the oarsmen to row, trying to leave the tragic battlefield behind as quickly as possible.


    However, Keto, now awakened, evidently was not about to let these noisy little creatures leave easily.


    Whether beast or man.


    "Roar!"


    A beast-like, serpent-like roar came from behind them, and a deep abyss-like maw opened up, sucking toward the sea surface and forming a vacuum-like vortex.


    Suddenly, the sea water and the floating debris, air and ether drifting around, and even the thousands of Sea Beasts attempting to escape were swallowed into the abyssal mouth, bing its food.

 Chapter 89: Chapter 78: There is a mole, terminate the transaction (Revised)_2

    Simrly, the Minos Warship, which was turning its bow to escape the battlefield, was pulled back into the gaping maw of the abyss by the reversing seawater and the suction of air.


    The surviving Divine Blood Guard exerted all their strength but were unable to move the ship even a fraction forward. Feeling the abyssal maw drawing nearer and nearer behind them, they couldn''t help but feel their souls tremble with fear.


    In the critical moment, Little Medusa immediately abandoned the Sea Beasts scrambling in front of her, turned around, and her metallic wings vibrated violently behind her.


    "Swoosh swoosh!"


    Dozens of bronze feather-arrows resembling owl feathers broke through the air, striking the head of Keto, the Mother of Monsters, in an attempt to disrupt the creature''s feeding frenzy.


    However, such minor injuries were nothing more than mosquito bites to the colossal and astonishingly resilient Keto, who didn''t even show interest in swatting them away...


    "Pfft!"


    A streak of golden light, mixed among the bronze feathers, turned into a piercing thunderbolt that plunged deep into Keto''s head, prating the rightpound eye.


    In an instant, dark golden fluid spurted from the exploding eye of the creature. Stimted by the agony, Keto let out a painful roar.


    "Aoow!"


    At once, the reversing seawater was expelled again by the great maw, and the Minos Fleet seized the opportunity to break free and rush towards the coast.


    At that moment, Luo En, who had seized the opportunity to shoot a golden arrow, watched as the fleet sessfully extricated itself. He shook his slightly numb arm and muttered to himself.


    Sure enough, tough as a deity...


    If it weren''t for having equipment capable of prating armor, he wouldn''t have known how to attack against that tank-like Mother of Monsters with assassin damage output.


    But as his gaze lowered to the jar with only 9 golden arrows left, and with Keto still lively and bouncing on the sea surface, Luo En''s face grew dark again.


    Clearly, as a trifle gift to a lover, Zeus could not give Europa the finest quality.


    The damage from the golden arrows was there, but it was not substantial.


    This thing might kill a demigod with one arrow, but against a true deity, it was obviously not sufficient.


    Of course, it was also possible that Zeus did not want his son to possess a power that could threaten deities.


    After all, Zeus was one to calcte to the bone.


    "Hum!"


    As Luo En was deep in thought, the familiar and terrifying sound of aether resonated from behind, sending shivers down his spine.


    Turning to look back, a series of intersecting rings of light were lighting up around Keto, with vortexes of light umting vast magic power.


    Here ites again!


    The previous gruesome scene shed in everyone''s minds, causing the survivors to shudder in unison, attempting to flee this dangerous sea area.


    However, facing the countless light spots stretching for hundreds of miles, fleeing was merely a futile struggle.


    "Hiss hiss hiss hiss!"


    The dense bands of light, once again carrying the shrill sound of ripping through the air, swept across the sea surface, forging ahead and forming a mottled palette of colors that could engulf everything.


    "Hum!"


    Yet, this seemingly indomitable divine might came to a stop in front of a re of golden light that erupted near the sea, unable to advance any further.


    In mid-air, Luo En, who was holding onto Little Medusa, ready to dive, paused and turned to look at the disc of golden sun, or rather¡ª


    The man ignited by the golden mes.


    The old man standing alone above the sea straightened his stooped back, golden blood seething from his pores, transforming into blinding mes.


    Burning divine blood defended the human resolve.


    By now, the coastal defense line had already been severely damaged and could not withstand a second bombardment without the protection of the Citadel.


    If it went badly, the entire Ind of Crete could potentially disintegrate and sink into the sea.


    Therefore, he could not dodge or retreat.


    But even with divine blood ame, there existed a gap between demigods and deities.


    That light, even if extremely brilliant, was merely the lingering glow of a setting sun.


    "Swoosh!"


    A streak of golden light flew over the head of King Minos and plunged directly into the top of Keto''s head, exploding chunks of flesh.


    "Aoow!"


    The Mother of Monsters couldn''t help but let out a painful roar as divine power violently surged out of her.


    At once, the light spots that had appeared around her became even more dazzling.


    The golden mes that straddled the sea''s surface danced violently, flickering like a candle in the wind, always on the verge of being extinguished.


    "Hold on! Give me ten seconds!"


    A deep voice came from behind, and the silver-haired figure, who had initially turned away from the battlefield, had stopped unexpectedly, drawing a second golden arrow and pulling back the bowstring to its limit.


    "Okay!"


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    King Minos nodded without hesitation, not retreating but advancing, pores erupting with an even more intense stream of golden mist, which he tranted into burning kindling to staunchly withstand the divine mighting head-on.


    "Swoosh!"


    The second arrow flew out, hitting its target once again, sting open a patch of flesh on that massive, sturdy body.


    In response to the pain, Keto''s body shuddered and, in a fit of rage, its thrashing heads and tails stirred up violent waves, causing the bundle of golden light on the surface of the sea to dim considerably in an instant.


    Luo En watched expressionlessly to the front and continued to load a third arrow.


    Then a fourth, a fifth, a sixth...


    Not until the eighth golden arrow had hit its mark did Luo En take out thest remaining arrows from his quiver.


    Little Medusa, pale-faced at his side, bit her lip as usual, slicing open the wrist of her left hand and dripping dark golden divine blood into the y jar tied under the arrowhead, then sealed it with a protective spell.


    Blood of Gorgon, poison on the left and antidote on the right.


    Although they weren''t sure how effective it would be against the Mother of All Monsters, they had no choice but to treat the situation like a dead horse as though it were still alive.


    If he recalled correctly, Keto''s divinity should be suppressed by Medusa.


    While he waited, Luo En slightly narrowed his eyes, looking towards Keto''s blurred forehead.


    The earlier eight golden arrows were firmly embedded in the flesh of the Mother of All Monsters, tracing the outline of a "st" in Hermes Script.


    However, onest stroke was needed toplete it...


    With the golden arrow carrying the Gorgon''s Poison now in hand, Luo En took a deep breath, stirred the scant divine power left in his body, pulled back the bowstring facing the dazzling light spots on the sea, and released the long-nned arrow.


    "Hiss!"


    The arrow tore through the air, passing through the almostpletely dissipated golden mes in front, avoiding a dense web of beams, and flew straight towards thending spot reserved by the eight golden arrows.


    Hit!


    Little Medusa on the battlefield, seeing everything go as anticipated, couldn''t help clenching her fists and shouting excitedly in her heart.


    "Boom!"


    Immediately, the golden arrows shot into Mother of All Monsters Keto''s head, setting off a chain reaction as the fierce st caused the eight previous golden arrows to explode, spraying the dark golden Blood of Gorgon attached to the end of the arrow shaft through the wounds and into Keto''s body.


    The Mother of All Monsters rampaging on the sea convulsed as if struck by lightning, its sticky body turning intorge patches of gray-white, with dried lumps of flesh cracking and peeling off.


    "Aaah~~~!"


    Keto could not help but emit a painful wail, promptly dispersing the light spots gathered on its body and diving headfirst into the deep sea, vanishing amidst the surging giant waves.


    "We won! We''ve won!"


    Watching the colossal monster flee in disarray, the soldiers and priests on the ind, survivors of cmity, couldn''t help but weep for joy, letting out a thunderous cheer.


    No, not yet!


    The Mother of All Monsters was too resilient; it had faced the erosion of nine bottles of Blood of Gorgon head-on and still managed to dive energetically into the sea, letting the seawater wash away the fierce poison staining its body.


    Its current injuries could only temporarily repel it, not enough to be fatal.


    Should they give chase?


    Luo En looked back at Little Medusa, who had turned pale due to excessive blood loss, and at King Minos, who was falling towards the sea surface, he hesitated.


    "Grandfather! I''ll help you!"


    Just as Luo En was undecided, a strapping young man dressed in beast fur, looking like a hunter with the build of a small giant and carrying a longbow, rushed impatiently out of the woods and strode across the sea as if on tnd, heading directly for the warship.


    Walking on water? The protection of the Sea?


    Luo En''s expression tensed, eyes filled with doubt.


    Was this person really here to help?


    And as the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the contorted, angry old face at his side, and he recalled the address spoken just a moment ago, Luo En''s eyebrows raised, hinting at something profound.


    "Do you know each other?"


    At that moment, King Minos, who Anna had just pulled back onto the deck, red at the hearty young maning straight for him, his eyes brimming with menace.


    "That is Orion, the bastard of my unworthy daughter Euryale and the God of the Sea, Poseidon!"

 Chapter 90: Chapter 79: Actors, Please Take Your Places

    The crimson sea shimmered as the remaining warship slowly made its way to shore.


    Before the ship could fully dock, a towering figure eagerly rushed towards the port to greet it.


    "Grandfather, you''ve finally returned!"


    King Minos descended from the ship''s cabin, ignoring the attentive wee with a forced smile as he looked at his grandson.


    "What''s the matter? You seem rather disappointed."


    For a moment, Orion''s outstretched hand froze mid-air, his facial expression stiffening as the atmosphere turned icy.


    However, the young hero quickly scratched his head and revealed his signature simple-hearted grin.


    "Not at all! I''m too happy to see you unharmed, and since Mother and Father were worried about you, they sent me to visit. Thankfully, I arrived just in time!"


    The response was both a defense and a show of merit.


    "How fortuitous. A momentter and we might have already dealt with that creature."


    King Minos was unimpressed; his golden eyes gazed deeply at his grandson, speaking again with profound insinuation.


    "If your father mes me for the casualties among the ocean kin, the Minosians wouldn''t be able to face the God of the Sea''s retribution."


    God of the Sea?


    He is Poseidon''s son!


    Suddenly, the bystanders who grasped the hidden meaning of his words shifted uneasily, looking at the so-called "hero" with scrutiny and doubt.


    If they weren''t mistaken, the sea beasts belonged to Poseidon.


    Perceiving the abrupt chill in the air, Orion''s facial muscles twitched, struggling to maintain his guileless expression as he inwardly cursed.


    This old man used to be so straightforward, so when did he be so cunning with words?


    Of course, it could also be that his own Father God''s infamy was too great in the nearby seas, and he had inadvertently given his grandfather a handle to use against him.


    He should have mentioned only his mother.


    Orion was full of regret, frowning as he pondered how to defuse these veiled jibes.


    The sight of his grandson''s frustration and embarrassment brought a surge of satisfaction to King Minos.


    Just as he was about to add another barb, a sword pommel nudged insistently at his back.


    Recalling the advice given before setting foot onnd, the elderly man reluctantly abandoned the idea, mustering tolerance seemingly befitting his seniority. He took the initiative to grasp Orion''s hand.


    "Forget it, you needn''t worry about adult matters. Come, help me back to the pce and tell me about your mother''s well-being."


    "Ah, of course, grandfather, I''ll support you!"


    Hearing King Minos''s yielding tone and unsure how to alleviate the awkwardness, Orion quickly took the opportunity to step down, eagerly assisting his grandfather towards the pce.


    Along the way, Orion asionally spoke of trivial household matters rted to his mother and shared amusing anecdotes from his travels, attempting to bridge the emotional gap between them. King Minos responded intermittently, trying to show some measure of closeness.


    Yet, the smile that creased the old man''s face was, to say the least, a disastrous ident.


    Luo En, mingled among the Divine Blood Guard, watched the grandfather and grandson acting all familial in public and couldn''t help but wince.


    But then, thinking of his own situation, he made peace with it.


    Well, after all, that was the tradition of Greek families.


    ~~


    In Knossos City, the pce.


    As the dismissed servants securely closed the doors and windows, leaving the scene, King Minos, who had been holding back the entire way, no longer felt the need to continue the charade. He eyed his grandson coldly and got straight to the point.


    "Speak, what brings you to me?"


    "It''s because Mother is worried about home and asked me toe and check on you," Orion answered with a simple-hearted face, then straightened his back, looking arrogantly at the enfeebled figure on the throne who even in sitting, required support.


    "It seems indeed that you are advanced in years. Had I not arrived when I did, you might have upset Mother."


    "Impudent...!"


    Princess Ariadne, who sat beside the throne, immediately red furiously at her nominal nephew upon hearing this.


    Perhaps it was the curse of the Divine King''s family: King Minos, though possessing the blood of Zeus and father to five sons and five daughters, seemed to have only one child who truly cared for him¡ªPrincess Ariadne.


    Her brothers coveted the throne, while her sisters were more unruly than the next.


    First, her eldest sister engaged in an affair with the god Apollo and broke away from their father.


    Then came the excessive actions of Euryale, her younger sister. She not only became intimate with Poseidon but also bore him this demigod offspring named Orion.


    If it were the former, some reconciliation might be possible between father and daughter.


    But thetter was an unforgivable betrayal for King Minos, akin to stabbing him fiercely in the heart.


    Understanding the consequences, that sister who had fled for "love" had not once returned to Crete Ind since the incident.


    However, her son with Poseidon had visited several times.


    But the purpose was to persuade Crete Ind to submit to Antis.


    Moreover, every time he visited, this nephew would intentionally or unintentionally stare at her with a greedy and fervent look, which made Princess Ariadne quite dislike those eyes.


    At that moment, hearing Princess Ariadne''s reprimand, Orionughed nonchntly, feigning innocence.


    "Auntie, don''t be angry. I am only considering our grandfather''s health."


    Immediately after, he shifted the topic and looked towards the visibly aging King Minos on the throne, speaking earnestly.


    "Grandfather, that demon is only wounded and likely still roams the open sea, and your body is really not fit to continue this strain. For the sake of Crete Ind, why not let the younger generation take over the burden?"


    "So?" King Minos asked expressionlessly in return.


    "As long as you give the nod, I would risk my life to protect Crete Ind for you, guaranteeing that the Minosians will never suffer from the beast tide again!"


    Orion raised his right fist to his chest, pledging solemnly.


    So that was it...


    Luo En, who stood quietly in the shadows, watched Minos''s eager nephew and couldn''t help but sneer inwardly.


    This guy obviously wasn''t here to help, but to usurp the throne.


    And, from the outbreak of the beast tide to the appearance of Orion himself, it seemed that everything had been nned in advance by the God of the Sea.


    The intent was simple.


    Poseidon didn''t n to destroy the whole of Crete Ind; what he wanted was the submission of the Minosians, the faith of the new humans.


    And the greatest obstacle was undoubtedly the still alive and well-respected King Minos.


    Thus, he used the beast tide as a pretext, on one hand to intimidate the Minosians and weaken Crete''s resistance, and on the other, to force King Minos to step down, critically wound, or exhaust the obstinate old foe to death.


    Then, if everything went ording to script, with Crete leaderless, it would be time for the hero to take the stage.


    Indeed, this Son of the God of the Sea mixed with Minosian and Poseidon''s blood¡ªOrion!


    Once he remarkably saves Crete Ind by defeating Keto under everyone''s watch, averting the disaster...


    Then Orion would surely be supported by all the Minosians, umting great prestige.


    Following that, he could use his victorious glory to naturally and justifiably force a pce coup.


    By then, with King Minos old and gravely injured, and the princescking the ability to lead alone, the change of throne on Crete Ind would be almost certain.


    Once Orion, the Son of the God of the Sea, rose to power and silenced the discord within, Crete would gradually reforge its faith in the God of the Sea, bing a vassal of Antis.


    However, a sudden ident led to the perfect n''s untimely demise.


    The Minosians not only thwarted the beast tide''s invasion but even nearly crippled Keto, who was supposed to be the failsafe, creating a glorious moment for the old king.


    With no choice, Orion, who had been lurking nearby, had to make his move ahead of time upon sensing that something was wrong at sea.


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    I wondered why he appeared just in time; it turns out he has always been nearby.


    Having figured out the crux of the matter, Luo En took a new look at the seemingly honest but actually crafty Son of God and shook his head in secret.


    It must be said that King Minos was stillcking in raising his son.


    At this time, Orion down below got tired of pretending, taking steps to ascend the dais, carrying on Greece''s excellent family tradition.


    "Grandfather, how about giving it some thought? I am doing all this for you..."


    "You want me to abdicate? You''re not qualified yet! Get out!"


    Hearing this unabashed ambition and purpose, King Minos looked up and roared, a formidable aura stirring within his frail body.


    However, sensing the flickering me of life within that decaying form, Orion''s face showed an even greater disdain.


    "Grandfather, it seems like your body can''t withstand much more. I advise you to take care of yourself and leave the taxing duties to us younger ones; it''s for everyone''s good."


    "You shut up!"


    Seeing her father bing so enraged that his chest heaved uncontrobly, Princess Ariadne could not hold back her rebuke any longer.


    Yet, this did not make Orion feel the slightest remorse, but instead, he tantly revealed his reprehensible nature.


    "Auntie, don''t rush. Once I ascend to the throne, you''ll be the first one I marry."


    Orion gazed at the beautiful high priestess, his greedy and fervent eyes settling on her voluptuous figure.


    "As long as you obedientlyply, you will remain the high priestess of the Minosians as before, and our bloodline will be the new rulers of Crete Ind..."


    As he spoke, facing the elder he had long coveted, Orion couldn''t help but reach out his hand to grab that pure white wrist, eager to indulge in the sensation of impropriety and taboo prematurely.


    Although a bit anxious, as far as he remembered, aside from that old thing on the throne, there should be no one on Crete Ind capable of threatening him.


    So, why not spend the night at the pce?


    "Bang!"


    A muffled thunderous noise not only interrupted his fantasizing but also broke his nose.

 Chapter 91: Chapter 80: The Beauty of Missing Brainstem (10,000 Words Achieved)

    ```


    Someone''s here!


    As dizziness caused by a concussion washed over him, Orion''s vision darkened, and he subconsciously covered his sore, bleeding nose, stumbling in his steps.


    Before he could react, a figure with silvery-white long hair, d in the light armor of the Imperial Guard, burst out from behind the throne''s curtains, grabbed his neck, and mmed him heavily onto the stone bs of the great hall.


    Looking down at the thrashing Son of the God of the Sea below, a certain dishonorable man whounched a shameless surprise attack, grinned.


    "Guess, since your grandfather foresaw your intentions, why he would invite you to the pce alone?"


    In the meantime, a petite purple figure emerged from the other side of the curtain, while gently pulling up Princess Ariadne''s hand tofort her, she disdainfully nced toward the Son of the God of the Sea.


    "I thought he was more formidable..."


    And then, three princes who should have been dealing with the aftermath at the coastal fortress, came from the back door, removed their owl feather cloaks that hid their presence, and red grimly at their great-nephew on the ground.


    At that moment, seeing the unfriendly gazes of his rtives, the Son of the God of the Sea, his face now a purplish hue from restraint, managed to pry a gap from the hand throttling his throat and hoarsely growled.


    "Kill me, and Keto will immediatelye to level Crete Ind! The Father God will not spare you either!"


    At these words, the princes thought of the nightmarish ribbon of light and the catastrophic scene of the earth shattering, and their faces changed instantly, looking up hesitantly at King Minos on the throne.


    "Father, Father..."


    Under the call of his three sons and their emphatic gazes, the elderly man watching coldly from the throne, finally sighed, pondering slowly.


    "Please, stop for a moment..."


    Luo En, hearing this, raised his eyebrows slightly, but didn''t speak, and nonchntly released Orion''s neck, retreating to the side.


    Seeing the Son of the God of the Sea getting up from the ground unharmed, the three princes couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    Princess Ariadne, standing by the side, bit her cherry lips with a somewhat pale face.


    King Minos on the throne observed the reactions of his children, and his eyes revealed deep disappointment.


    "Grandfather, I had your best interests in mind, as well as those of Crete Ind, with no intention of offense!"


    Having managed to extricate himself and realizing the precariousness of his current situation, Orion immediately put on that candid expression and earnestly cautioned.


    "After all this time, do you not yet understand? In the world of the gods, failing to revere the Deities will lead to no good end!"


    The elderly man lifted his head and gazed solemnly at his grandson, his eyes showing undisguised disgust.


    "For your mother''s sake, get out before I change my mind..."


    "Grandfather! Keto will be back within seven days at thetest! The Minosians may win by chance once, but cannot keep winning! Don''t you ever consider the future of Crete Ind?"


    Seeing the elderly man on the throne still imprable, Orion suddenly became more anxious, with a hint of threat mingling in his tone.


    Finally, King Minos, unable to bear it any longer, darkened visibly and burst into an explosive roar.


    "Get out!"


    In an instant, a golden stream of light burst forth from the frail body, striking Orion in the chest like a heavy punch.


    Amidst a muffled boom, the figure shot out like a cannonball, breaking through the outer wall and smashing several stone columns in the za, before crashing down in front of the pce gates.


    A good quarter of an hourter, Orion, coughing up blood, clumsily climbed out of the deep pit and, still unresigned, yelled toward the pce.


    ```


    "Grandfather, there are only seven days left, please consider my suggestion seriously. I am also..."


    "BOOM!"


    The muffled thunder induced by the ether factor exploded within the pce. Orion, seeing this, immediately changed his expression, ducked his head, and turned to dash towards the outskirts of Knossos City, cursing inwardly.


    Damn it, this thing is almost out of breath, how can it still be so vigorous?


    Just wait, by the Father God above, I will eventually be the master of Crete Ind!


    At this moment, inside the great hall, the standing gold figure gradually retracted his overflowing divinity and sat back down on the throne.


    That originally aged body became even more hunched and decayed, as if there was a sense of imminent demise.


    "Father..."


    The three princes mumbled, lowering their heads somewhat ashamed.


    "I''m all right, but the city-states need soothing, the damaged defenses need to be rebuilt, and there are many other things you all need to attend to."


    The old man waved his hand, his voice somewhat low.


    "You may withdraw now..."


    Upon hearing their father''s instruction, the three princes immediately nodded in agreement, bowed, and left the ruined great hall.


    After his sons'' figures had disappeared from view, King Minos turned his head to look at Luo En, showing a bitter smile.


    "You must find thisughable."


    "Not at all."


    Luo En shook his head slightly, his expression as calm as ever.


    However, as if King Minos hadn''t heard him, he continued to mutter while lightly patting his daughter''s somewhat cold hand.


    "I apologize, Crete Ind cannot endure any more turmoil right now, everyone needs time to catch their breath, including me. Therefore, he cannot die, at least not now..."


    "I understand."


    "But don''t worry, I have marked him with divine power, letting him live a few more days for now."


    "Hmm..."


    Luo En listened to the words filled with the sorrow of an old father, of a king, of a weakling, responding softly until the dull snoring came from the throne.


    "Father has fallen asleep; I will wake him up right away!"


    Princess Ariadne, seeing this, couldn''t help but panic on her face.


    The sessive ordeals and her brothers'' attitudes had already weighed heavily on her, putting her on high alert.


    Yet, Luo En made a silencing gesture and shook his head gently.


    "He is very tired; let him rest for a while. We still have enough reaction time; I wille again tomorrow."


    Hearing this considerate response, Princess Ariadne sighed in relief, her eyes showing a trace of gratitude.


    Just as she was about to step down and order someone to bring her father inside to rest, the ground beneath her trembled, nearly causing her to fall.


    The little Medusa at his side was quick to react, promptly steadying Princess Ariadne and taking the initiative to speak up.


    "High Priestess Sister, you need to rest too. Why don''t you let me stay here tonight?"


    "But¡­"


    "This is an order!"


    Little Medusa picked up the Goddess Emblem on her chest, her young face tensed up, and she took on the air of a Divine Envoy.


    Faced with this, Princess Ariadne could only nod in eptance of the divine decree, feeling both helpless and grateful.


    Having managed the devout High Priestess, Little Medusa unapologetically assigned the task to the only one she truly trusted.


    "Luo En, it''s not very safe outside. Why don''t you go sleep at our ce, and tomorrow morning, we can reconvene ande up with a good n?"


    "That sounds good¡­"


    Luo En thought for a moment, then gave a slight nod, casually handing over a metal bird feather that could resonate and transmit sound to the determined Little Medusa. He gave her a serious warning,


    "If there''s any sign of trouble, notify me immediately. Don''t try to be a hero on your own!"


    Little Medusa took the bird feather pendant, obediently nodded, and then cast a barrier, blending her figure into the shadows of the great hall.


    After checking carefully outside for a while, Luo En finally felt assured and led Princess Ariadne into the carriage, then drove the horse-drawn carriage toward Hestia''s residence.


    It seemed she was too exhausted, as the High Priestess had already dozed off in the carriage before they reached their destination.


    Luo En thought about it and knocked on the gate of the residence.


    Hestia, who had be something of a servant, carried the sleeping Princess Ariadne into the bedroom, and aftering downstairs, looked at Luo En with a strange expression, examining him from head to toe.


    "Don''t look at me like that; I didn''t touch her a bit," Luo En said, raising his hands as he spoke to clear his own name.


    Hestia rolled her eyes at the man in front of her, huffing irritably.


    "The fact that you didn''t touch her makes it suspicious!"


    "¡­"


    Thinking of the moral standards of the gods, Luo En opened his mouth, but for a moment, he found himself speechless.


    To avoid dwelling on this awkward subject, he decided to grow serious, speaking in a deep voice,


    "King Minos is in trouble!"


    Hearing the bad news, Hestia, who had been somewhat teasing, immediately became serious, locking the door at once to listen to the ount of the one involved.


    "Bang!"


    Half an hourter, Hestia mmed her fist down hard on the table, her face indignant.


    "Poseidon has gone too far! And that Orion, he''s no good either! Next time I see them, I''m definitely going to beat them up!"


    "Whether you beat them up or not is another matter. Let''s get through this one first," Luo En said, pinching his sore temple, leaning back in the chair, and closing his eyes with a weary sigh.


    "Judging by King Minos''s condition, he probably won''tst much longer; otherwise, he wouldn''t have let Orion off so easily."


    "If need be, I''ll step in and stew that sea monster!" the frank and direct Hestia dered in a resigned manner as if willing to smash the pot since it was already cracked.


    "It''s no use..."


    Luo En, who had already given up on expecting Hestia''s strategic insight, rified the stakes and reasons bluntly,


    "The crux of the matter is no longer this beast wave. Even if you defeat Keto, then Poseidon will have even more reason to intervene.


    Once King Minos dies, whichever of the princes who inherits the throne may not have the determination to keep resisting Poseidon and will eventually submit.


    Moreover, I don''t believe that they, with their God of the Sea-backed cousin Orion, could ovee him.


    In that case, a change of power on Crete Ind and a shift in worship is almost foreseeable."


    There was no one to carry on the legacy; a single tree could not support an entire forest.


    That was the real headache of King Minos.


    Then, Luo En looked at the clearly unwilling Hestia and spoke again,


    "The gods of the Celestial Realm are known for their tempers. The fact that they have not intervened yet makes me think that His Majesty the King of Gods must have restrained them, right? If you don''t want toplicate things, I advise you best forget about taking action."


    "That''s right; you guessed it again!"


    Hestia, feeling seen through, turned up her nose in annoyance, then looked at Luo En again with a hint of suspicion,


    "Tell me, when did you figure out who I am?"


    "The first day..."


    "How could you? I hid it so well!"


    "So, why did you use the short form of Hestia as your name without even changing it?"


    Enjoy new stories from m-v l''e|-NovelBin


    "¡­"


    In his somewhat disparaging gaze, Hestia was at a loss for words once more, feeling the frustrating sense of being outsmarted.


    However, seemingly resigned to her fate,


    the Goddess of the Hearth didn''t dwell on it for a moment longer and simply entrusted all her strategic thinking to the external brain in front of her.


    "So what now? Athena still hasn''t returned; we can''t just watch her hard-earned home be taken away, can we?"


    "If you want to help, thene to the pce with me tomorrow. Hopefully, you have a way to keep King Minos going for a few more days."


    "I can cook, but saving someone..."


    "That''s why we can only try and see..."


    The external brain and the intermittently absent-minded Goddess of the Hearth locked eyes, propped their chins in their hands, and simultaneously let out a sigh in unison.


    "Sigh¡­"


    "Sigh¡­"

 Chapter 92: Chapter 81 I Disagree with This Marriage!

    ```


    The next day, early morning, within Knossos Pce.


    Hestia, treating King Minos, stood by the bed, carefully examining the patient before her.


    Silent by her side were Princess Ariadne, Little Medusa, and Luo En, patiently awaiting the oue as the atmosphere grew gradually more somber.


    But after all, she was like a duck forced onto a perch, and shortly after, the Goddess of the Hearth shook her head in frustration,


    "This is difficult¡­"


    Upon hearing this, Princess Ariadne still held out some hope.


    "Is there really no other way? Please think again!"


    With a sigh, Hestia helplessly muttered, showing an expression of being unable to assist.


    "The divine blood has almost burned out, the soul nearing withering. It''s only the unspent vitality of the body that allows him to barely hang on. I''m out of options."


    "But¡­"


    Princess Ariadne was about to speak again when King Minos, looking even older than the day before, coughed softly, interrupting his daughter''s query.


    "No more words needed, mortals must eventually die. I''m well aware of the state of my body. To have held on this long is already a mercy from the goddess; there''s no need to waste time on this."


    Princess Ariadne pursed her lips, her gaze filled with sorrow and a touch of reluctance, "Father¡­"


    King Minos gently patted his daughter''s shoulder infort, then turned to look at Hestia beside him, managing a sheepish smile on his weathered face, "While I do not fear death, I still have much left unresolved. So might you grant me a bit more time?"


    Hestia, already feeling somewhat guilty for not being able to help, nodded immediately and promised, "No problem, I''ll find a way to help you adjust your body. As long as you avoid physical confrontations, you can livefortably for a few more months!"


    Hearing this slightly regretful response, King Minos let out a relieved, albeit wry,ugh.


    He had been prepared to notst even seven days; the prospect of several months felt like a luxury.


    The time left for him to prepare was now so ample it was almost bewildering.


    However, the inability to engage inbat was a significant inconvenience.


    He had intended to resolve the issue before letting go, but it seemed he would have to do as that bastard said and leave problems for his sessors.


    After a moment of thought, King Minos looked up at the figure standing before the bed, and spoke earnestly.


    "I have an impertinent request. I want you to be the new king of Crete Ind!"


    Surprised by this sudden entrustment, Luo En involuntarily twitched his eyelid and quickly coughed in rejection.


    "Uh, that might not be appropriate. I don''t understand any of this..."


    "Being admired by a goddess and handling various difficult problems with ease hardly speaks of ignorance."


    "What if I fail to meet your expectations..."


    "No, judging by how you''ve managed crises these few times, you''ll do better than I did and are more suited to this position!"


    King Minos on the bed contested seriously, looking at Luo En with increasing admiration. Continue your journey on m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    Clearly, the old man''s choice was not a whim but the result of careful consideration.


    Do I really appear that earnest?


    I only wanted to y a supporting role and coast; I didn''t n to be the main character under pressure.


    Seeing the other party was impervious to dissuasion and hellbent on dragging him onto this challenging path, Luo En steeled his resolve and presented a more noble reason.


    "I am but a foreigner. It is inappropriate for me to meddle in Minosian internal affairs, and besides, the princes are still alive. Perhaps it would be better to allow them¡­"


    "If it''s merely a matter of origin, then that''s even less of a problem!"


    At this, the somewhat dispirited King Minos suddenly showed a look of satisfaction, promptly took his daughter''s hand, and ced it in Luo En''s palm with a serious tone.


    "As long as you marry Ariadne and be my son-inw, you naturally qualify to inherit the throne! No one will object, and once you have offspring, the bloodline of the Minosians will still carry on the session!"


    "Pfft!"


    Hearing this ingenious solution that only a genius could devise, Luo En, who had just taken a sip of water, suddenly spat it out, unable to suppress a violent cough.


    Brother, are you just going to give your niece away like that?!


    ```


    "No way!"


    Before he could speak, two voices, one high and one low, chimed in unison.


    Huh?


    Immediately, the still-tugging trio of King Minos, Luo En, and Ariadne turned to look in surprise towards the source of the protest.


    Under six bewildered stares, a small figure smoothly hid behind Hestia, using the Goddess of the Hearth as a shield.


    "Cough, what I mean is..."


    Hestia''s forehead beaded with sweat as her brain went into overdrive. Then, her eyes lit up as she suddenly thought of a perfect scapegoat.


    "Athena! Her Highness the princess is Athena''s high priestess, who must remain chaste; she definitely won''t agree!"


    "Yes, yes! The goddess will be very angry!"


    At this moment, Little Medusa also popped her head out from behind Hestia and nodded vigorously.


    Hearing the Divine Envoy''s emphatic assurances, King Minos couldn''t help but hesitate slightly.


    Seizing the moment, Hestia struck while the iron was hot, confidently taking on the responsibility.


    "Don''t worry, you''re not going to die yet, I guarantee you''ll be hopping around until the very end! Let''s solve the problem at hand first; it''s not time to think about that sort of thing yet!"


    "Ah, right, right!"


    Little Medusa tensed her little face and followed up tightly,bining their efforts in abo technique.


    Finally, after the two''s persistent persuasion, King Minos began to dismiss the idea.


    "Indeed, being so hasty is indeed disrespectful. We should wait for the goddess to return and then formally consult her..."


    Hearing King Minos make such a reasonable choice, the two figures of varying stature nodded in agreement.


    "However..."


    But as the conjunction loomed, their hearts leapt to their throats once again.


    "My body is no longer well-suited to manage affairs of state, so we need someone capable of bearing the burden, and right now there''s only..."


    King Minos in the bed seemed worried, his eyes involuntarily drifting towards the scribe, as if wanting to raise the issue again.


    "Even if he doesn''t take over, he could still help you share the burden, right? After all, Anna is the goddess''s envoy, and he is Anna''s brother and the man favored by the goddess. As long as everything is the will of the goddess, whether personal or official, it will be the best arrangement. With your approval, nobody will object!


    And things havee this far; isn''t he already the one?"


    Hearing this clear and logical argument, Luo En looked at Hestia, who stood beside the bed speaking confidently, with astonishment in his eyes.


    Isn''t she intermittently brain-deficient? When did she get so clever?


    By this time, King Minos on the bed was also persuaded and made a decision on the spot.


    "That seems reasonable. I will hand over the affairs to the temple and have Ariadne transfer them to you. Whatever needs to be done, justmand them to carry it out!"


    As he spoke, the old man looked seriously at his daughter, solemnly advising her.


    "Ariadne, support the scribe during this time, follow his instructions. He is the man chosen by the goddess for Crete Ind; treat him with the same respect as you would the goddess."


    "Yes, father!"


    Ariadne obediently agreed, nodding seriously, and quickly slipped into the role she needed to y.


    "Then, I''ll go get the matters that need to be transferred, and the files awaiting processing, for the scribe''s review."


    "I''ll help too!"


    Little Medusa quickly followed behind Princess Ariadne.


    Soon, the previously noisy bedroom was strangely silent.


    In the blink of an eye, Luo En, having been elevated to the uncrowned king of Crete Ind and the prospective son-inw to King Minos, looked solemnly at the instigator of the turmoil.


    Hestia shrunk back, her face holding a stiff smile, her gaze filled with a resentful light as she watched the two figures moving away from the doorway, murmuring regretfully in her heart.


    Darn, I was too slow...

 Chapter 93: Chapter 82: Teammates Sacrificial Rite, Boundless Magical Power

    "Cough..."


    Just as the atmosphere was growing awkard, King Minos, who was lying in bed, gave a light cough and stretched out his hand to pick up the golden scepter from the bedside, handing it over to Luo En, who stood before him.


    "This is the scepter that canmand Talos; for the specific spells, you can go ask Ariadne."


    As he took the scepter, hearing King Minos''s tone as if he was entrusting everything to him, Luo En was just about to speak when he was stopped by a gesture from the king.


    "Don''t refuse. I already feel bad enough for imposing responsibilities that should have been mine onto you. Now that my body can''t be of much help, it''s better to give you what can still be used¡ªI hope you can put them to good effect."


    As he spoke, the old man whistled. A hunting dog with straight, slender limbs, smooth and soft fur that shone with a light golden hue, sprinted from the royal garden and dashed like lightning to the bedside, circling around a bronze badge in King Minos''s hand.


    "Remember the scent; from now on, he is your master."


    The old man rubbed the dog''s gentle head, earnestly instructing him, then, with some reluctance, handed the bronze badge over to Luo En''s hands.


    As soon as the badge changed ownership, the Golden Hound let out a low whine and merged into it as a streak of light.


    "So, the rest is up to you..."


    After handing over the two items, the old man patted the back of Luo En''s hand, murmured something, and slowly closed his eyes, falling back into a deep sleep.


    Quietly stepping out, Luo En looked at the two objects in his hands and couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and disbelief.


    The Bronze Giant Talos, the Golden Hound, not to mention the gold arrows he had already used up¡­


    Now, all three of Crete Ind''s heirloom divine artifacts had be his personal belongings.


    His opponents hadn''t even started losing their gold, and here he was, having used up all his teammate''s gold. What kind of situation was this?


    Seeing Luo En''s face change between various expressions, the guilt-ridden Hestia poked the shoulder of the victim and tentatively asked.


    "So, what should we do next?"


    "What do we do? Mix it up!"


    Luo En snapped back to reality and shot a disgruntled nce at Hestia, who had just thrown him into the fire.


    Hearing his unfriendly tone, the ashamed Goddess of the Hearth shrank her neck slightly and spoke softly.


    "How about I take care of Keto after seven days?"


    "This is a stalemate, not a checkmate. If ites to you taking action, then we''re really hopeless."


    Luo En gently refused and then traced a Hermes Script with his hand, storing away the two divine artifacts gifted by King Minos, before moving forward.


    "Since there''s no escape, let''s go. First,e with me to the council hall to get a grasp of the current situation on Crete Ind."


    "Mm-hmm, I knew I could count on you!"


    Seeing Luo En take up the task, the Goddess whose brain was not quite all there suddenly beamed with joy and smoothly followed in the footsteps of her external brain.


    ~~


    In the afternoon, in the royal council hall.


    The scribe who had been working diligently finished reviewing thest document on war casualties and breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Then, he leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, his brain whirring with the information at hand and strategizing a solution to the predicament.


    In the second wave of the Sea Beasts'' onught, Crete Ind suffered heavy losses, with over half of the elite Divine Blood Guard killed or injured, and King Minos''s own unbeatable fleet left with but a few survivors, thuscking the capacity to take the offensive once more.


    The good news, however, was that the Sea Beasts had been equally decimated.


    Not only was the Divine Blood de, which was their mainbat force, nearly wiped out, the leading figures Scy, Lamia, the "Great Whirlpool," and the trio of Siren sisters were dead, wounded, or had fled.


    For this, the Mother of Monsters, Keto, deserved much of the credit.


    As an ancient deity with demonic powers, her indiscriminate attacks didn''t differentiate between friend or foe, and the number of Sea Beasts she killed was even higher than the number of Minosians.


    No wonder the trio of Siren sisters only dared to release her at the veryst moment.


    Moreover, Luo En estimated that as long as Keto lurked in the nearby seas, the Sea Beasts wouldn''t dare approach Crete Ind.


    By that logic, there was no need to worry about facing a major Sea Beast tide; it was enough to concentrate on Keto, who would resurface after seven days.


    Although previous experience had taught him that the Blood of Gorgon had a certain restraining effect,


    he had asked Hestia before, and the biggest difference between deities and Demigods was that the former had some degree of physical immortality and extremely potent regenerative abilities.


    Moreover, the protection of the sea would provide her with endless regenerative magic power.


    Thinking that just relying on the Blood of Gorgon to finish off Keto would probably not suffice, even if Medusa''s small frame waspletely drained.


    And after the previous battle, she had consumed a significant amount of Divine Blood and was still in the process of recovery.


    This was troublesome...


    Luo En sighed, handed the organized files to Princess Ariadne, who was waiting to execute them, and looked around with a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    "By the way, where''s Anna? Howe I haven''t seen here with you?"


    Princess Ariadne nodded slightly and replied respectfully.


    "Madam Anna has something urgent to attend to and said she wanted to check on the coastal defense line, so she had me deliver the documents alone,"


    Something urgent?


    Luo En furrowed his brows before rising from his seat and walking towards the door.


    "Go ahead with the matters at hand, and if there''s anything you don''t understand, we canmunicate using the feather tokens. I''m going to take a walk,"


    "Yes, Secretary-General,"


    Princess Ariadne, following her father''s teachings, treated Luo En with the respect akin to that orded to a goddess, nodding courteously as she watched his figure recede into the distance.


    ~~


    Exiting the pce, he followed the main road until he reached the vicinity of the coastal fortress outside the city.


    At this time, after the second wave of sea beasts had struck, the area was undergoing urgent repairs.


    Around him, there were not only soldiers standing firm at their posts but also arge number of residents, some who came out of their own volition and others who responded to a summons.


    They were orderly moving stones, stacking walls, and inscribing defensive charms.


    Every person dared not rx; everyone gave it their all.


    Comints and disputes were seldom heard.


    After all, the power of individuals is ultimately so insignificant in the world of the gods; humans must strive to stick together to survive.


    Standing at a higher vantage point, Luo En surveyed the scene, filled with soldiers andborers like a colony of ants. Moved by the sight, the furrow between his brows gradually deepened.


    Strange, where is that girl?


    "Secretary-General, are you looking for Miss Anna?"


    Just as Luo En''s frown tightened, a deep voice came from the construction site.


    A young man in a rough linen shirt with slightly reddened skin walked out of the crowd and approached Luo En.


    Seeing the vaguely familiar face before him, Luo En was surprised.


    "Who are you?"


    "Constantine is my father, whom you''ve met,"


    The young man with one arm began speaking, revealing a simple smile.


    Upon this hint, Luo En suddenly remembered the name.


    During the outbreak of the maritime disaster, he had consulted an experienced old fisherman and had deduced the timing of the first sea beast wave from him, which allowed King Minos to prepare and catch the opposition off-guard.


    So this was the son of that elderly man, no wonder he looked familiar.


    Moreover, considering where they lived, they seemed to be neighbors not far from Hestia, someone Anna always talked about.


    Having confirmed his identity, Luo En''s gaze softened considerably, and he couldn''t help but take a few more nces at the young man''s empty left sleeve.


    "What happened to your arm?"


    "Oh, I didn''t listen to advice and insisted on going out to sea, where I got bitten by a sea beast. Luckily I have a strong life force; I managed to cling to a nk and drifted close to shore, and then Miss Anna pulled me back..."


    While talking, the young man scratched his head awkwardly, his eyes brimming with gratitude towards the petite divine envoy.


    Then, realizing he had digressed, the young man quickly spoke up.


    "Secretary-General, you''re looking for Miss Anna, aren''t you? I saw her heading towards the forest over there,"


    Following that, the young man paused, adding hesitantly his own observation.


    "And it seemed like she was a bit nervous..."


    "Alright, I understand."


    Luo En nodded in thanks and watched the young man leave. Then his eyes narrowed slightly.


    Nervous?


    With the doubts rising in his mind, Luo En turned towards the direction the young man had indicated and strode forward, his hand tracing lines of Hermes script.


    Gradually, his figure weaving through the forest became invisible, blending perfectly with the surroundings.


    Among the spells he had mastered during his decades of study on Aiaia, concealment was his most aplished, exceeding even that of his old teacher.


    The light breeze rustling through the trees carried a familiar scent and... teasing mockery.


    "What''s the matter? You find it amusing to y house with those mortals, Medusa?"


    "It looks like you''re not nning to obey, my foolish little sister..."


    Luo En''s expression changed slightly as he swiftly took cover behind a tree trunk, peering through the dappled branches at the two figures in the clearing¡ªboth unfamiliar and familiar¡ªthat suddenly made his heart skip.


    Why are they here?

 Chapter 94: Chapter 83 Small Fry, Small Fry, Small Fry Humans! (8k+ Completed)

    At this moment, on the central clearing.


    Two petite, beautiful young girls with purple hair tied up in ck and white veils, wearing gorgeous long dresses, crossed their arms in front of their chests and looked displeasedly at the even younger figure in front of them.


    That was their youngest sister, who used to be the most obedient (and easiest to bully).


    Unexpectedly, after just a few months of absence, this little girl had mingled with humans and be a servant of the gods, even daring to defy her sisters''mands.


    This was simply outrageous; she clearly needed a good lesson!


    "Medusa, what kind of love potion have humans fed you, that you won''t even listen to us..."


    The taller eldest sister walked up gracefully, pinching Little Medusa''s tender left cheek with her hand, reprimanding her in anguid tone.


    "You used to be the one most afraid of humans, and now you stand with them, even proiming that you will protect them¡ªit''sughable."


    The slightly shorter second sister quickly followed, mocking irritably while pinching Little Medusa''s right cheek even harder, grumbling with resentment.


    "Do you have any idea? In order to find you, we first drifted on the Sea of Okeanos for half a month, then ran into those Anteans who were out looking for trouble. It was hard enough shaking them off and finding our way, only to be swept by a sudden giant wave to who knows where."


    Do you know what it feels like to open your eyes to a horde of Sea Beasts?


    And those idiots, for some crazy reason, weren''t the least bit scared of us, biting at our heels the whole way!


    There were also that six-headed, twelve-footed Scy, the mermaid-looking Siren witches, the primordial Lamia¡ªand over the top, not only did they have the shamelessness to gang up on us, they even pulled in a primordial demon god to help...!


    Luckily, we were fast, reaching a nearby ind before they could encircle us, then felt your burst of energy from this ind and made our way here.


    Otherwise, you wouldn''t have been able to see us!"


    "Ahem!"


    Just as the second sister was getting more agitated, the oldest one coughed lightly and cast a sidelong nce at the chattering number two.


    The second sister, catching the hint, hurriedly quieted down, stopping her rant and tearing more fiercely at the youngest sister''s right cheek.


    "That''s not the point! The problem is, we went through so much to find you, and you dare to defy us for these humans! It''s outrageous!"


    "A punishment is needed."


    The eldest sister''s voice remained elegant andzy, but her grip increased mercilessly.


    Gradually, Medusa''s originally sharp little face took on a rounded feel due to the pinching.


    Meanwhile, Luo En, who was witnessing this sisterly bullying from behind the trees, couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his eye.


    Lady of Strength Stheno, Lady of Flying Euryale...


    The remaining two Gorgon Sisters actually left Formless Ind, not lying low, but chased all the way from the Sea of Okeanos for their little sister Medusa?


    And why did this encounter sound so familiar?


    The repeatedly missing Imperial Guard of Antis? The sea battle between Poseidon and Athena? The primordial beast tide from the Sea of Okeanos?


    The more the person involved thought about it, the more his stomach ached, even beginning to empathize with the Gorgon Sisters, who had never run into good events and never missed a bad one.


    However, it was also because they were rather unlucky, constantly ensnared by one trouble after another.


    Otherwise, he and Little Medusa might not have encountered the beast tide, but instead met with these two first who had traveled a long distance to find them.


    As for what would have happened after such a meeting...


    Luo En watched the scene as Little Medusa was bullied by her sisters, and the Gorgon Sisters acting like typical viins, smoothly withdrew his head and silently prayed for the suffering little girl in his heart.


    If it had been a sisters'' y, they might have been softer, but meeting with himself, the thief who stole the egg, might not have been so courteous.


    After all, the numerous stone sculptures on the Formless Ind were his precedent.


    After a prolonged torture, Stheno and Euryale released their grasp, still seemingly unsatisfied.


    ncing at their little sister''s swollen face on the ground, the forgiving Stheno hooked her finger and assumed amanding attitude, habitually.


    "Medusa,e here, we''re going home."


    "I won''t go!"


    However, Little Medusa firmly shook her head, refusing themand from her eldest sister.


    Stheno''s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice growing colder.


    "Be good, don''t make me say it a second time. Medusa..."


    "I have to stay here and protect everyone until this is resolved!"


    Little Medusa still didn''t move, earnestly answering back.


    Stheno''s exquisite face frowned slightly, and she scoffed with contempt.


    "What can you change about a war between the gods?"


    "There are some things you still have to do, even if you can''t achieve them!"


    Little Medusa remained resolute, her purple eyes sparkling with an intense fire.


    Perhaps because that light was a bit dazzling, Stheno instinctively looked away.


    Soon, however, she snapped back to reality, her expression growing even darker.


    "So, you''re willing to risk your life for those humans who once ndered us, who hunted us?"


    "Humans are aplex group; you can''t crudely categorize them all the same¡ªthere''s good and there''s bad, just as we encountered with the Sea Beasts, some are friendly, and some want to eat us."


    Medusa exined patiently as she looked back towards the outline of the city beyond the dense forest, her face radiating innocence and joy.


    "Everyone in Knossos has been very kind to me; I like them, so I''m willing to fight for them. It''s my choice!"


    Seeing her younger sister repeatedly defy her orders time and again, a coldness characteristic of divine creatures emerged on Stheno''s delicate face, and the patterns of light in her eyes lit up.


    "What if I killed these people you speak of?"


    After a brief silence, Little Medusa slowly lifted her head, the patterns of her bronze serpent armor flickering, as she spoke solemnly.


    "Even if it''s you, I will choose to fight to the end!"


    Stheno and Euryale trembled slightly with anger, but ultimately, they could only respond with a cold snort, casting a gloomy gaze at their disobedient sister.


    After a momentary stalemate, Little Medusa spoke in a deep voice.


    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving first. There''s a lot to do, and everyone is waiting for me."


    Without waiting for her sisters to reply, her small figure turned and walked briskly towards the outskirts of the dense forest.


    As Little Medusa left the scene, the atmosphere on the central clearing gradually darkened.


    As Stheno and Euryale watched the direction of their sister''s departure, they whispered to each other,


    "She used to be so obedient..."


    "Never rebelled, no matter how much we teased her..."


    "To think she dares defy us now..."


    "It must be someone''s instigation!"


    The telepathic sisters looked at each other, eyes filled with murderous intent.


    "It''s definitely that man who lured her away from the ind!"


    "How about we kill him?"


    Euryale gestured with her hand, grinding her teeth with a chillingugh.


    At that moment, Luo En, hiding under the tree, felt a chill down his spine.


    "No, if we do that, Little Medusa will be angry and if she ignores us in the future, we''ll have no fun."


    Fortunately, as the eldest, Stheno stopped Euryale''s impulsive action in time.


    Yet her reasoning felt oddly twisted.


    Euryale had a headache from the rejection of her proposal.


    "This won''t do, that won''t do. ording to those fools outside, the third wave of the Sea Beasts ising soon. We can''t just stand by and watch, can we?"


    "Of course not!"


    Stheno shook her head and raised her hand to touch her own exquisitely beautiful face, speaking confidently.


    "Our Little Medusa is just too young and doesn''t understand the fickle nature of humans. With just a little effort on our part, once that man who has bewitched her shows his true colors, she will naturally realize that only we are good to her. Then, she will surelye back to us, back to Formless Ind, and resume her old life."


    Upon hearing her sister''s n, Euryale pped in admiration for the brilliant solution.


    "Great idea, let him fall at the feet of the Goddess'' charisma! And once we take away the thing she cherishes from Little Medusa, she will surely cry, won''t she? Giggling..."


    In the midst of speaking, the Gorgon Sister, eyes brimming with excitement, revealed her malicious true nature.


    "I can hardly wait to see that expression."


    "Yes, me too, and by the way, Euryale. You look utterly beautiful now."


    "Giggling, Stheno, so do you. Somehow, you seem even more beautiful than yesterday..."


    The sisters, ustomed tovishing praise upon each other, gazed at each other''s cheeks, their faces showing contented andfortable smiles.


    At that very moment, Luo En, crouched behind the tree and watching the two t-chested female specters on the clearing as they plotted how to seduce him, slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, his eyes flickering mysteriously.


    Are you sure you want to y this game?


    ~~


    As the sun set, a figure covered in grass and leaves appeared at the doorstep of Hestia''s home.


    "Where have you been?"


    The Goddess of the Hearth popped her head out of the kitchen, looking curiously at Luo En at the door.


    "Just went out for a walk, and thought about how to break the stalemate..."


    As he spoke, Luo En patted off the grass and leaves on his body and stepped into the house.


    Upon hearing these words, Hestia immediately felt somewhat remorseful.


    "I''m sorry, this was supposed to be between Athena and me..."


    Luo En''s eyes swept over the Goddess of the Hearth''s face, filled with guilt, and with a tempting tone, he spoke softly.


    "Would you like to help? Not just me, but Athena and the Minosians too?"


    "I would!" Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelBin


    Instantly, Hestia, who had been upset about not being able to contribute, lit up, nodding her head without hesitation, and even eagerly pressed him.


    "Tell me, tell me, what do you need me to do?!"


    Luo En surveyed Hestia''s full figure, then a mysterious smile appeared on his face.


    "Just a small, a small sacrifice..."


    "...!"


    Suddenly, Hestia felt an inexplicable chill, and she instinctively hugged her chest tightly.

 Chapter 95: Chapter 84: One Punch One Crybaby Monster

    The next morning, Little Medusa and Hestia left early, heading toward the royal pce to continue their unfinished medical treatments and coordination.


    Luo En, who stayed home alone, opened the window, leaned on the second floor, and perused the documents sent by Princess Ariadne, handling official business.


    Time slipped by, and as midday approached, the number of pedestrians on the streets gradually increased, stockpiling supplies for the impending disaster.


    Readtest chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    One by one, carriages sped past, travelling back and forth between Knossos City and the coastal fortresses, transporting metals, ores, timber needed for building, and priests and officiants with Runes to the camp.


    The entire city, shrouded in shadow, was like a tightly wound toy, desperately squeezing out its will to survive and war potential.


    However, mistakes happen when busy.


    "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"


    At this moment, a panicked shout came from the street, and Luo En looked up to see a carriage loaded with materials hurtling down the sloping road, uncontrobly heading towards the entrance of Hestia''s house.


    A pair of twin girls with purple hair stood by the road, obliviously.


    "Be careful!"


    Seeing that a collision was imminent, Luo En''s brow furrowed, and he leaped out from the second floor, pulling the twin purple-haired girls aside to narrowly avoid the oing carriage.


    At the same time, the Magic Power within his body surged quietly, forcibly grabbing the reins at the front, stopping the two uncontroble warhorses.


    "Screech!"


    Apanied by a harsh screeching sound, the carriage screeched to a halt at one side. Then, a sweaty, portly man with a fear-stricken face emerged from the driver''s seat, his balding head beaded with sweat, looking terrified.


    "Sorry, sorry, is everyone alright?"


    "Thank goodness for this young man''s help. That was really terrifying!"


    The younger of the purple-haired twins patted her chest, appearing weak and distressed, pitiable to the eye.


    The portly man was overwhelmed with guilt, even feeling a suicidal impulse to apologize with his death.


    Luckily, the older sister waved her hand slightly, appearing more understanding.


    "Anyway, it''s all good since nobody''s hurt. Just be more careful next time. And it seems like you have urgent business, right? Go on with your work first."


    "Yes!"


    The portly man nodded as if possessed, then remembered the critical military materials on the carriage, and quickly thanked everyone profusely before hurrying back onto the carriage.


    Strange, they were always so docile before. Why did they suddenly go crazy?


    The portly man muttered to himself as he urged the warhorses on, driving the carriage towards the outskirts of the city.


    "If the two of you are alright..."


    Luo En nced back at the twin girls who had narrowly escaped disaster, gave a gentle smile, and pointed upstairs, signaling his wish to leave.


    However, before he could turn to enter the house, his arm was firmly grasped by the two apparently still-shaken purple-haired girls next to him.


    "We... our legs are weak..."


    The faces of the twin purple-haired sisters were pale, their hands and feet cold and trembling. Clearly scared out of their wits by the near-death experience, they subconsciously moved closer to the chest of their savior in the center.


    Upon closer inspection, one couldn''t help but note their beauty.


    They were dressed in luxurious purple and white ceremonial dresses that entuated their slender waists, their bare crystal shoulders exposed, and their nearly shoulder-length purple hair was thick and cascading, exuding a faint fragrance.


    Their amethyst eyes were like sparkling, translucent gems set in their beautifully sculpted marble-like cheeks. Their delicate features were both soft and sharp, blending a sense of nobility with a touch of mystery,


    And now, as their psychological defenses crumbled due to the sudden distress, the two girls radiated a vulnerable aura.


    "This is my home. Would you like toe in for a ss of fruit wine to calm your nerves?"


    Luo En feltpassion and, supporting the two girls who were either fortunate or unlucky, made a polite offer.


    Hearing this invitation, the purple-haired sisters quickly nodded in agreement and followed their "savior" Luo En into the house.


    Indeed, humans are all the same...


    Stepping across the threshold, thest one to enter the house, the purple-haired sisters nced at each other, a hint of mockery and triumph flickering in their eyes.


    "Here, have a drink. It''ll calm your nerves."


    After leading the sisters into the house and kindly arranging for them to sit down, Luo En personally brought out two cups of fruit brew, revealing a gentle smile.


    The sour and sweet scent filled their nostrils, and the sisters couldn''t help but pick up their cups and drain the drinks.


    As the refreshing fruit brew flowed down their throats, their tense emotions finally eased a bit, and their hands, holding the cups, gradually stopped shaking.


    Having somewhat collected themselves, the sisters then earnestly thanked their kind rescuer, and they soon exchanged names and began to chat casually.


    The two young women were twin sisters. The elder was named "Sisina," while the younger was called "Euryale."


    They were born into a wealthy merchant family on a nearby ind and had set out to attend the harvest festival on Crete Ind.


    Unexpectedly, they encountered a swarm of beasts and were trapped in Knossos City.


    As time passed, the money they had for their travels was spent during the lockdown, and they were driven out by the innkeeper.


    With nowhere to go, the sisters intended to look for work on the streets to make a living but nearly met with a tragic fate.


    While speaking, both sisters couldn''t help but embrace each other, their expressions sorrowful.


    In response, Luo En showed deep understanding and sympathy, patientlyforting them.


    "Thank you for your help today. If it hadn''t been for you, we might have died in a foreignnd¡­"


    As they spoke, they seemed increasingly helpless. The sisters moved closer from left and right towards the center, as if trying to draw some support and warmth from their savior.


    Whispers brushed Luo En''s ears from either side, carrying a fragrant, moist breath that seemed to slide in like two nimble snakes through his ear canals and into his skull.


    "Ran out of money¡­"


    "Can''t find work¡­"


    "No ce to stay¡­"


    "What should we do next, waaa¡­"


    The warming atmosphere at the table took a slight chill, as the elder sister nced at her younger sibling, which was met with a chagrined smirk and a wink.


    "If someone kind would help us¡­"


    "We would do anything¡­"


    Immediately after, the sisters gave a pitiful look towards the middle, as if hoping to find reliance from a kind-hearted person.


    "Help, you say? No problem!"


    Hearing this, Luo En, who was in the middle, suddenly stood up, his chest puffing with eager assurance.


    "Come, follow me upstairs!"


    As he spoke, he grabbed the hands of the foreign sisters on either side and quickly walked up the stairs.


    "Ah?"


    "So soon?"


    Gazing at the row of half-open bedrooms upstairs, the sisters'' expressions changed to one of amazement, causing them to halt in their steps.


    Sensing the resistance behind him, Luo En turned back to look at the sisters, somewhat puzzled.


    "Hmm? Don''t you want to?"


    "It''s not that. It''s just too sudden¡­" The sister who had cried out the most gulped, seemingly hesitant.


    "Ah, it''s something that has to happen sooner orter. You''ll get used to it," Luo En said in the manner of someone who has been through it all, patiently advising.


    "That''s true. Then, big brother, you must help us more¡­" Contrarily, it was the elder sister who remained calm, as if she was ustomed to such situations. She revealed a tender smile on her delicate face, took the initiative to follow behind, and climbed the stairs.


    Yet the pair of eyes watching the man''s back seemed to grow colder by the second.

 Chapter 96: Chapter 85: Explosive Killing of the Female Imp (6300) (Daily 8000+ Achieved)

    "The flower shop across the street has a nice olddy as the owner. You can get a sry of ten Hera silvers just by helping her sell flowers..."


    "Next door is a bakery with a monthly sry of twelve Hera silvers, and they provide lunch, but it''s quite tiring..."


    "Go a bit further, and you''ll find a raw meat shop. If you two aren''t afraid of getting dirty and are willing to do some ughtering work, you could earn even more..."


    On the second floor corridor, listening to the man standing in front of the window, pointing at the shops along the street, seriously introducing them, the twin sisters with purple hair could only exchange nces.


    Were they here to find jobs?


    It seemed so...


    Wait, that''s not right!


    Soon, realizing the true purpose of their visit, both shook their heads, showing troubled expressions.


    "We''ve never done this kind of manualbor at home..."


    "At most, we would just read books and learn etiquette..."


    The twin sisters, with the looks of gentlewomen, had eyes full of frailty and helplessness that begged for protection, pitifully looking towards their savior.


    Luo En, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but brighten up.


    "Can read? Even better! Come on, first deal with these documents. I urgently need them done, twenty Hera silver a month for sry!"


    With a thud, two piles of documents, almost half a person tall, were ced in their arms.


    Looking at the strings of characters and figures on the papyrus and parchment, the purple-haired sisters felt dizzy and hurriedly shook their heads to decline.


    "Haven''t learned that!"


    "Don''t know how!"


    Luo En frowned slightly, somewhat at a loss.


    "Then what can you do?"


    As soon as these words came out, the sisters also felt a bit at a loss. After a bit of soul-searching for skills they had learned in human society, they instinctively spoke up.


    "Can eat?"


    "Can drink?"


    "Know where to have fun!"


    Suddenly, the room fell silent, and the sisters felt the gazes from across them filled with a slight disdain.


    As if they were looking at two freeloaderspletely devoid of contribution or capability...


    A sense of frustration they had never experienced before spread through their hearts.


    It seemed, to humans, they were really quite useless.


    However, it didn''t take long for the twins to remember their unmatched strengths, and they proudly raised their heads, faces beaming with confident and smug smiles.


    "But, we are beautiful, aren''t we!"


    "And very cute! Everyone we meet says so!"


    Luo En looked at the proud swans before him, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke in a low voice.


    "Well then, how about washing dishes? You''ll take care of the misceneous work, including food and amodation, and I''ll give up to three more Hera silvers. This is only because I pity you two."


    "..."


    The two self-assured beauties stiffened their smiles, and from their tightly closed cherry lips, one could faintly hear the grinding sound of nearly shattered teeth.


    Wash dishes? Wash your bloody dishes!


    Can''t you understand in speech, you blockhead?


    With our beauty and cuteness, shouldn''t you be obediently listening to us, or better yet, throwing yourself at us?!


    Perhaps sensing that the mood of the twin flowers was not very pleasant, Luo En, clearing his throat, brought over a jar of fruit wine, trying to ease the atmosphere.


    "Uh, you''ve done a lot of talking and might be thirsty, how about you drink something to quench your thirst first?"


    The sisters didn''t say a word, simply grabbed their cups and drank deeply. They even became so enthusiastic that they took the entire jar from Luo En and hogged it between themselves, venting some invisible resentment.


    The considerate man smiled slightly, showing understanding.


    "Take your time, there''s no rush finding a job, you''ll eventually find something..."


    However, the more he spoke, the darker the sisters'' faces became.


    Did we really look like we came here to work?


    Finally, ten minutester, after having sessfully wiped out a jar of fruit wine, the sisters unfulfilledly poked out their tongues, licking their cherry lips.


    With a lightweight andfortable feeling spreading inside them, their resentment seemed to have dissipated substantially.


    "Like it? I''ll get you some more!"


    Luo En, seeing the rxed expressions on the sisters, smiled, showing the hospitable side of himself.


    But before he could go downstairs, his arm was firmly held back.


    "No need..."


    The big sister pulled back Luo En who was trying to continue serving them, her eyes hazy, letting out a yawn.


    "A bit tired, why not help us to the room to sit for a while?"


    Her purplish eyes nced towards the half-open bedroom, her soft voice carrying a kind of alluring temptation.


    "This might not be a good idea..."


    Luo En''s gaze lingered on the blushing red face for a few seconds, swallowed hard, and hesitated.


    "It''s okay, we won''t mind..."


    Stheno took the initiative to lightly trace her finger in front of the man''s chest while giving a signal to her sister aside.


    It was already the afternoon, and it wouldn''t be long before Little Medusa returned.


    If they continued to dy, who knew how much longer it wouldst.


    Facing such an oblivious blockhead, it was time to take the initiative into their own hands!


    And Euryale, sharing her sister''s sentiments, immediately nodded, her eyes shining with an eager excitement.


    Having waited so long, they could finally get to the main event, anticipating the expression on Little Medusa''s face when she saw it.


    "Come on, let''s rest for a bit..."


    Euryale, holding the arm of their lifesaver, without any discussion, cooperated with her big sister Stheno and pushed Luo En into the room.


    But for some reason, their steps were somewhat floaty and staggering, as if stepping on tufts of cotton.


    Thud!


    With the door swinging open, three swaying figures fell onto the bed, nearly clinging to each other.


    p!


    In a crisp sound, Luo En''s hand pressed down on a paw that had somehow slipped to his own backside, turning to look at the two flushed faces on either side, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.


    "How about you two sleep first, and I sit downstairs?"

 Chapter 97: Chapter 85: Explosive Killing of the Female Imp (6300) (Daily 8000+ Achieved)_2

    However, the slender arms pressing on either side of him were as immovable as iron mps.


    The twin sisters gently licked their cherry lips, exhaling hot breath.


    "Don''t be in such a hurry..."


    "We haven''t even thanked you yet..."


    Luo En shook his head vigorously, dering with self-righteous words.


    "No need to thank me, it was nothing! If there''s nothing else you need help with, I''ll be going now, hah."


    Smack!


    A crisp sound echoed as the illuminating fluorite on the wall shattered into powder, suddenly darkening the room.


    "You see, always in a rush..."


    As a soothing soft voice and a sense of weightlessness overcame him, Luo En was once again pushed down onto the bed by two delicate arms pressing against his chest.


    Rustling sounds filled the air as the twin sisters rose from the bed, their snake-like hair scattering over their shoulders, their features sunk in darkness. Though not clearly visible, they radiated a bewitchingly beautiful allure under the evening sun''s glow.


    Like two sprites emerging from the water''s edge or the heart of ake in the night, luring the lost traveler step by step into a quagmire, sinking into that tender trap, until unwittingly drowning within its muddy depths.


    For a moment, Luo En stared, almost stupefied, forgetting to resist.


    Immediately after, the two graceful silhouettes leaned down, pressing Luo En''s spread arms on either side, as if pinning prey under their ws.


    "Rx..."


    The soft whisper was like a bewitching spell, drawing the hanging heads closer to either side of Luo En''s neck without notice.


    In the fading light of the sunset, the sisters slightly parted their mouths, revealing their chillingly white fangs.


    He smelled so good.


    "Cough cough..."


    With a deep, thoughtful hum, the man overpowered and pinned on the bed cleared his throat with a light cough, his eyes twinkling curiously as he inquired.


    "Tell me, is itmon for Medusas to be so forward?"


    "...!"


    In an instant, the sisters on either side stiffened, immediately retracting their exposed fangs and raising innocent faces.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Don''t understand..."


    Luo En looked at the two identical delicate faces before him, a yful smile appearing in his eyes.


    "Lady of Strength Stheno, Lady of Flight Euryale, the first two of the Gorgon Sisters? Or perhaps, am I mistaken?" Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    "To have been discovered..."


    Stheno frowned as she scrutinized the man before her, letting out an annoyed huff.


    However, the elder Medusa then looked at the little mouse under her grip, remarkably unscathed despite the turmoil, her lips curving into a pleased arc as she murmured quietly.


    "But, what good does it do you to have discovered this? Can you escape? Counting on my foolish sister, are you?"


    "Heh, we deliberately waited for her to leave beforeing to you, ording to the time, she won''t be back for at least half an hour, no one can save you now!"


    Euryale expressed her triumph unabashedly, mercilessly extinguishing Luo En''s hope for rescue.


    "Yeah, I''m on my own..."


    Luo En nced out the window from afar, responding resignedly.


    "Humph, driven by your lust, you came to us willingly, knowing who we were, you even brought us into the house!"


    Euryale looked down and scoffed, her slender hands suddenly exerting tremendous force like iron mps, her rosy lips curling menacingly to reveal a set of gleaming fangs poised over the man''s carotid artery.


    Helpless, he smelled so good.


    Just one taste, a small bite...


    Yet, just as Euryale was about to tear open the flesh and savor the blood of her prey beneath her, a meaningful whisper reached her ears.


    "But it seems you''re on your own too..."


    "Boom!"


    Instantly, an overwhelming brute force came crashing down like andslide or tsunami, apanied by the violentment of the bed''s boards and a dizzying whirl, Euryale, taken by surprise, was pinned to the bed by the figure that had suddenly erupted in a burst of crimson and ck luminescence.


    At the same time, a maic and teasing voice echoed in the ears of the Medusa.


    "Now, did you really think I''de unprepared, knowing who you are?"


    "...!"


    Seeing her sister swiftly overpowered without warning, Stheno''s face changed drastically, and she instinctively summoned her Divine Power, trying to regain control.


    "Buzz!


    But with a vast and profound resonance of Aether, Stheno found herself overpowered, copsing onto the bed.


    How could this be? He''s just a demigod!


    Watching as the hand that had pinned her down seemed to exert a massive force, creating an unshakable restraint on her body, the scene confounded the proud Stheno beyond belief.


    "Tsk, I truly wonder if it''s confidence or arrogance, but having recognized you, how could you still think that you''re the ones in control, ''Huntress''? Both of you?"


    Luo En, bathed in the sunset, slowly curved his lips, his smile carrying a hint of darkness and mockery.


    The abrupt shift in dynamics made the two realize the gravity of their mistake.


    "You did this on purpose!"


    "Hm-hmm, you got it right!"


    Luo En nodded in satisfaction, his smile radiant.


    "So, as a reward, we can continue what we didn''t finish earlier, no one else will disturb us now, be sure to watch and learn well."


    In the dimness, a shadowy figure moved inch by inch down upon the two Medusas, unable to stir.


    Doomed...


    They were about to be defiled by this shameless scoundrel, they were no longer pure...


    Feeling the scorching breath on their skin and the palpitationsing from the chest in front of them, the Medusas turned pale, losing theirposure.

 Chapter 98: Chapter 85: Explosive Killing of the Female Imp (6300) (Daily 8000+ Achieved)_3

    But the more he wanted to resist, the hotter the burning sensation inside him became, and his body grew increasingly feeble as if his strength was being sucked away by something, making the surging magic power unable to shake the terrifying suppression binding him.


    The more desperate he grew, the angrier he got.


    Finally, the Medusas could bear it no longer.


    "Wuwu, you bully us, we''ll tell Medusa!"


    "..."


    Looking at the two snakelike women who had wanted to tear him limb from limb, now putting on the appearance of victims, wailing with puckered lips, Luo En was momentarily at a loss for words.


    He had been deceived! What an opportunity!


    However, as Luo En''s mind rxed slightly, the seemingly pitiful snakelike women he had pinned under him, with a glint in their eyes and an evil smirk full of murderous intent spreading across their faces, exploded with a surge of vital energy, causing a vibration.


    Hum!


    At the same time, runes twisted and appeared one after another on the ceiling, walls, and floor, their light interweaving and washing over to form a thick and oppressive atmosphere.


    Then, just as the snakelike sisters who wanted to turn over and take charge stiffened, their limbs were suddenly grabbed and pulled taut by a strange force from all directions.


    In an instant, Stheno and Euryale, who had just broken free, were once again tightly bound by dense red and ck rune chains, hanging in the air, like two butterflies in a spider''s web, struggle they might, powerless.


    "A Suppression Spell, you didn''t expect that, did you,dies?"


    At this moment, Luo En leisurely sat up from the bed, yfully looking at the two Medusas hanging in front of him, smilingly exined.


    Experience new stories on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    "Hehe, you think I dared to climb onto your bed with just the preparations from before?"


    The two Medusas, realizing they had been thoroughly duped from the start, pursed their lips tightly, their pretty faces furrowed, unable to help but feel a sourness in their noses.


    Such treatment to twodies, this is too much!


    And Luo En, who had just sessfully trapped the feisty little shrews with another round of extreme tugs, was in a very good mood, hisughter even louder.


    At the same time, in his hand raised as if grasping something, a purple-red whip formed from condensation appeared.


    You''ve had your fun, now it''s my turn!


    Next up, it''s time for a lesson! Misery for the little shrews!


    "Snap snap snap snap!"


    Within moments, before the two Medusas hanging in mid-air could react, a series of crisp sounds of air bursting resounded, and after a short paralysis, waves of scorching pain shot up from their buttocks.


    Stheno and Euryale were first stunned, then came to their senses as if awakening from a dream, their silver teeth grinding, eyes aze with rage, like a cat with its tail stepped on,shing out in retaliation.


    "You bastard, how dare you hit us! Once we get out of here, you''re dead meat!"


    "Snap snap!"


    "Hiss, bastard, we''ll remember this vendetta."


    "Snap snap snap!"


    "Whimper, how can you treat twodies like this, let us down first, let''s talk it out..."


    "Smack smack smack smack!"


    "I..."


    Stheno and Euryale were grimacing in pain, holding their necks, their faces a mix of sadness and anger, grinding their silvery teeth, wishing they could tear a chunk of flesh from some bastard''s body.


    But when their gaze fell upon that smiling face moving closer, their two tiny bodies suspended in mid-air, they involuntarily shivered as if on reflex.


    They felt their behinds were almost devoid of any good snake skin now.


    Under the continuous and righteousshes, the two Medusas finally submitted to the formidable lechery they faced, pursed their cherry lips like two innocent girls who had suffered a great deal, obediently bowed their proud heads, with even a hint of grievance in their pathetic tone.


    "We... we know we were wrong, we shouldn''t have tried to deceive you, shouldn''t have been plotting against you..."


    Luo En nodded with a beaming smile, and then...


    Smack smack smack smack smack!


    "We already apologized, why are you still hitting us? And... it''s even harder thanst time!"


    After taking another beating, Stheno and Euryale were stunned for a while before they realized what happened, their feelings of sadness and anger surged anew.


    Luo En spread his hands innocently, blinked his eyes, his smile pure and kind.


    "Actually, I kind of prefer you when you''re defiant. How about we reset and start over?"


    "..."


    Stheno and Euryale felt their blood rush to their heads, wishing they could immediately break free and tear the shameless jerk to pieces in front of them!


    No, into a hundred pieces!


    Looking at the two Medusas who seemed to have suffered a great injustice, Luo En smiled calmly, his eyes devoid of pity.


    "If I didn''t have some self-protective strength and wasn''t a bit more cautious, I''d probably be pinned down on the bed being drained and tortured by you by now, and then you''d frame me when Little Medusaes home. In that case, my fate wouldn''t be much better than yours.


    So, you gambled, you lost; don''t act like you''re the victims here."


    In the face of this undeniable fact, Stheno and Euryale fell silent, their lips tightly sealed.


    After a moment of silence, the two proud creatures recovered their haughty demeanor, their expressions resolute as they lifted their heads and red fiercely at Luo En at the foot of the bed.


    "You better kill us quickly, or once we get out, we will make you pay!"


    "Kill you? Why would I do that, we''re all so familiar now, violence would only hurt our feelings."


    Luo En shook his head repeatedly, smiling as he pulled out a scroll written in Hermes Script, edged with Athena''s serpent symbol, and slowly unfolded it.


    "Aren''t you looking for a job? There, just sign this contract, work for me and Knossos City for a few years, and we''ll call everything even."


    Previously, the two Medusas had intended to use their charms to turn him into their subservient thrall. If it hadn''t been for the bracelet Athena blew his way, which came into y, he might have ended up as these two women''s blood bag.

 Chapter 99 : 85: Explosive Killing of the Female Imp (6300) (Daily 8000+ Achieved)_4

    Now, with even shrewder calctions, he nned to turn these two Parus who hade knocking at his door into serpentine tools to disrupt the scheme, perfectly embodying the old saying "Fortune turns like a wheel."


    After all, actions always have consequences.


    In fact, this was exactly why Luo En half-heartedly went along and yed out this drama with the two Medusas.


    These two Medusas were unlike the simple-minded Little Medusa; they were vile in temperament, with considerable social experience¡ªnot as easy to trick as thetter and not so willing to sincerely blend into human society or to believe in the goodness of human nature.


    Now, they were in Knossos City to bring back their sister, and if left unhandled, they would inevitably be a great cmity.


    Furthermore, theplicated rtionship between the three sisters required Luo En to consider his actions carefully.


    To be safe, it would be wiser to lure these two enticing serpents into a trap with a bit of trickery.


    However, perhaps due to being deeply disgruntled about their own downfall, the two Medusas were stubbornly proud and refused to submit.


    Work for this human? What a joke!


    Luo En was not annoyed; he picked up a whip with a smiling visage, ready to implement some reeducation.


    "Wait a moment, I... we need to think this over..."


    Stheno and Euryale, who had sparked a hint of resistance, turned pale with fright at the sight of someone approaching with ill intent, their voices stuttering and quavering.


    Luo En''s smile was radiant, his eyes encouraging, while the whip in his hand, gathering magic power, cracked emphatically.


    "It''s okay, you can take your time to think it over, just hang in there. We have plenty of time. If ites to it, I''ll have Little Medusa patrol tonight..."


    Assholes, who encourages people like that!


    Stheno and Euryale felt like crying but had no tears upon hearing that "friendly"fort.


    And as their attempt to stall for time, waiting for Little Medusa to return, got punctured, the little hope they clung to vanished into thin air.


    "Stop! We..."


    Suddenly, as Euryale and Stheno, unable to withstand the pressure, were about to sadly admit defeat, a muffled rumble came from the floorboards below, and a dusty figure crawled out from under the bed, indignantly protesting.


    "Hey, can''t you stop? I''ve been lying under this bed the whole day already!"


    In an instant, upon seeing the ck-haired girl who suddenly appeared before their eyes, and feeling the profound and immense divine power within her, Stheno and Euryale had a sh of realization and understood everything.


    "It''s you!"


    "Who else?"


    Hestia, hearing this, turned her head towards the two Medusas dangling in mid-air, thrusting out her proud chest and, for a rare asion, disyed the full majestic authority of the Goddess of the Hearth.


    "Without my help, how could he, a demigod, possibly suppress two deities inheriting Pontos''s divinity?"


    As expected!


    Stheno and Euryale realized that the ditch they had fallen into was shallower than expected, and they looked resentfully at Luo En, who was unjustly wielding authority.


    Seeing the respect and submission induced by the whip vanish from the two Medusas'' eyes, leaving only defiance and sorrow, Luo En looked at Hestia with a wistful gaze.


    "Couldn''t you have crouched under the bed a bit longer?"


    "No!"


    Hestia crossed her arms and turned her head away petntly, uncooperative.


    She had naively believed it was to sacrifice for the salvation of Crete Ind.


    Instead, after she left, she had to circle back and then hide under the bed choking on dust all day, while others enjoyed themselves!


    The Goddess of the Hearth, after listening under the bed for hours, nced at the two Medusas hanging in mid-air and the fellow holding the whip, and couldn''t help but curse under her breath.


    Pfft, despicable man and women!


    "Are you angry?"


    "No!"


    "So, are you a bit upset?"


    "A little..."


    "Do you want to vent?"


    "Yes!"


    As Hestia''s aggravation became less and less concealed, Luo En''s face revealed a subtle smile and he raised his right hand.


    "Come on, try this!"


    As she held the whip, engraved with runes, in her hand, her eyes involuntarily shifted to the two Medusas suspended in midair. Her tongue unconsciously licked her somewhat dry lips, and a flickering me ignited in her pupils.


    At that moment, Stheno and Euryale, who thought they had narrowly escaped disaster, couldn''t help shivering, clinging tightly to each other, emitting uncontroble sobs.

 Chapter 100 : 86 Talking about Cooperation in Bed? (6k)

    Ah!


    Half an hourter, Hestia shook the whip in her hand with a clear and refreshed air, her cute face slightly sweaty, brimming with threads of excitement and contentment.


    When the Goddess of the Hearth''s eyes inadvertently nced toward the two figures deserving of a whipping before her, her gaze seemed somewhat unsatisfied, and she flicked the whip, producing a crisp snap of air.


    Crack!


    Instantly, Stheno and Euryale on the bed shuddered reflexively, hugging each other and trembling, their faces pale, their cries tinged with indignation and sorrow.


    "Wuu, we signed! We both signed! Why are you still whipping us!"


    "Cough, sorry, my hand slipped..."


    Facing the resentful gaze of the Medusas, Hestia coughed dryly, smiling sheepishly, and somewhat unwillingly dropped the whip in her hand.


    It has to be said, whipping people can really be addictive.


    Noticing the subtle change in expression on the face of the Goddess of the Hearth, Luo En''s heart skipped a beat.


    This woman, she hasn''t developed some sort of strange fetish, has she?


    Seeing that the atmosphere had grown slightly delicate, and in order to avoid bing the next victim, a certain extremely wicked mastermind quickly folded up the coercive contract in hand, and proactively extended a friendly hand toward Stheno and Euryale on the bed, his face a picture of smiles.


    "Don''t be afraid, from now on we are all one family."


    "Stop the pretense, now that we''re in your hands, kill or y us as you like! There''s nothing to discuss! But you think you can order us around just like that? It won''t be that easy!"


    Euryale red at the initiator before her, stubbornly stiffening her neck, clearly unreconciled to her defeat.


    "Tch, you''re making it very difficult for me..."


    Luo En said, leisurely picking up the magic power whip from the ground, shaking his head regretfully with a sigh.


    "Those who want to ck off are not my family..."


    Euryale, listening to that meaningful murmur, and seeing the naked threat in front of her, had her spirited defiancest only a few seconds before, intimidated by hisscivious power, hastily ducked her head and hid behind her sister Stheno.


    As the eldest, Stheno shot her no-good sister a look and forcibly mustered an unwilling smile on her exquisite face.


    "If you want our help, shouldn''t you at least tell us what you want us to do?"


    "That''s more like it, cooperative!"


    Seeing the once unruly Medusas softening, Luo En nodded in satisfaction, exining the task with a smile.


    "It''s simple, I want you to help deal with Keto, the mother of monsters, to help Crete Ind get past this predicament."


    Then, Luo En paused, looked in the direction of the pce outside the window, and leisurely added, "Moreover, this isn''t just about helping me, it''s also about helping Little Medusa. You surely wouldn''t want that child to naively rush in and die in Keto''s jaws, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Stheno and Euryale''s brows slightly furrowed.


    For the humans who had been kind to her here, that child might indeed do something so foolish.


    In that case, joining hands against Keto was also indirectly saving the life of that naive child.


    However...


    Stheno raised her head, the reluctance on her face gradually fading, reced by a hesitation that came with contemtion.


    "Keto is the mother of all monsters, and both in origin and existence, she is quite ancient. Therefore, even among deities, she is much stronger than us, and it won''t be that easy for just the two of us to take her on, right?"


    "No, it''s three! Medusa will join you..."


    Luo En smiled and corrected, his deep gaze measuring the faces of the twin sisters before him, contemting.


    "If I''m not mistaken, you Gorgon Sisters must share the divinity left behind by the Old Sea God Pontos on Formless Ind."


    As the root of their divinity was exposed, Stheno and Euryale couldn''t help but twitch.


    But faced with that prating gaze, they had no choice but to nod reluctantly.


    "That makes things much easier..."


    Luo En nodded, his eyes slightly narrowed, a confident smile appearing on his face.


    "Keto has also inherited the Old Sea God Pontos''s divinity, butpared to you, she seems lessplete. Moreover, I''ve previously tried attacking her with Medusa''s blood and found that the Divine Blood of the Gorgons indeed possesses strong restraining power against her.


    So, while you two may not assuredly win against Keto, if you include Medusa and invoke theplete divinity of Pontos, that mother of monsters might not be a match for you three sisters!"


    Hearing Luo En''s logical analysis, Stheno and Euryale gradually let go of their awe of the mother of monsters, starting to be somewhat skeptical yet convinced.


    Still, the coercion of being pushed into the situation and the risks that were implicitly involved made it difficult for them to decide, leaving them hesitating.


    "Don''t worry, since it''s a job, I won''t let you work for free, I''m always fair and just!"


    Luo En boasted while patting his chest, smiling as he offered conditions that were too tempting for them to refuse.


    "As long as Keto is dealt with, her Divinity, which is the same as yours, will belong to you."


    As he spoke, the man in front of the bed lowered his voice, his tone filled with a temptation that was hard for them to resist.


    "With this Divinity, the only mortal, the only weakness among the Gorgon Sisters, will cease to exist. The child will then be able to ascend with you to divinity, and no one will be able to easily kill her..."


    "We''ll do it!"


    "We''re in!"


    In an instant, Stheno and Euryale spoke simultaneously, their eyes sparkling.


    But soon after, as if realizing their reactions were overzealous, they looked at each other and coughed in session.

 Chapter 101: Chapter 86 Talking about Cooperation in Bed? (6k)_2

    "We''re not just doing this for her, we also have use for Pontos''s divinity..."


    "And, we want the lion''s share!"


    The two sisters harmonized in their conspiratorial banter, their cooperation seamless.


    Lou En chuckled nonchntly, "No problem, given Keto''s size, her divinity will certainly fill you up, and Little Medusa''s ascension won''t be an issue."


    Assured by the promise of the involved party, Stheno nodded contentedly and, with a graceful and restrained gesture, raised her right hand to signal with anguid nasal tone.


    "So..."


    Watching the crystal-clear arm voluntarily offered before him, Lou En was momentarily stunned but then swiftly grasped the understanding, and firmly sped the delicate hand with his own.


    Having reached a tentative agreement, they exchanged a smile, their eyes revealing profound implications.


    Ha, with such small favors, do you really think you can buy our loyalty?


    Dream on!


    Perfect, first we find a way to stay close to you, so that when the opportunity arises, we can expose your despicable nature. As long as Little Medusa sees your true colors, that child will eventually realize that her sisters are the only ones in this world who truly love her.


    Eventually, won''t she obediently return with us to Formless Ind?


    The flickering light in Stheno and Euryale''s eyes met, brimming with malice toward a certain someone.


    Meanwhile, Lou En looked at the sisters before him and sneered inwardly.


    Ha, think you can escape after boarding my ship?


    Do you have any idea who is the real mastermind behind the monster attack on Crete Ind?


    ¡ªThe lord of the Sea of Okeanos, the God of the Sea, Poseidon!


    Once you make a spectacle of killing Keto in front of everyone, you''ll be implicitlybeled with the brand of Crete Ind and Athena.


    Then, with Poseidon''s millennium-long schemes ruined, wouldn''t he chase you across the seas like a dog after rabbits, biting on sight?


    Thinking you can outsmart me, take advantage of the situation, and then lead Little Medusa back to Formless Ind?


    Maybe in your next life!


    After a brief silence, the three conspirators'' gazes converged, simultaneously offering awkward yet polite smiles.


    "Haha..."


    "Hahahahaha!"


    The demonicughter even gave Hestia, the witness standing by, goosebumps; she was filled with confusion.


    Isn''t this just a mutually beneficial agreement, what''s so funny about that?


    The overly honest and naive Goddess of the Hearth clearly didn''t see the ruthless schemes brewing behind their cooperative front.


    In an atmosphere of eerie harmony, the increasingly warm and familiar parties released each other''s hands, casually wiping their hands behind their backs, and amiably dered a formal alliance.


    "Pleasure doing business with you."


    "Pleasure doing business with you!"


    Having achieved his goal, Lou En flicked the binding contract in his hand and eyed the two naive fools who had willingly fallen into the pit, his lips curling into a pleased smile.


    Clearly, he had guessed right.


    The reason Medusa was the only mortal among the Gorgon Sisters was likely because she had ceded most of her Pontos divinity to her older sisters.


    As a result, her growth was the leastplete, making her the weakest among the three Gorgon sisters.


    Despite Stheno and Euryale seemingly enjoying bullying their younger sister for fun, they undoubtedly cherished her deeply.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have left Formless Ind, holding onto slim hopes, traversing the vast Sea of Okeanos to search for Little Medusa''s whereabouts.


    Even after encountering the Antean Guard, divine warfare, and a beast tide, they still chose to doggedly pursue the truth.


    After all, this was the Age of Greek Gods, where kinship often meant nothing more than brothers smiling as they plotted against each other.


    So for Stheno and Euryale, anything that could enhance Medusa''s safety was not to be rejected.


    Lou En had clearly recognized this aspect and thus fearlessly lured Stheno and Euryale into his fold.


    And to get the Paru to work sincerely and devote theirbor without reservation, a whip was definitely not enough.


    A contract could only bind the body, but mutual interests could tie their fates together.


    And then, there were no ''and thens.''


    Swallow the bait, get pulled ashore from the sea, then faithfully work to death for me!


    Having sessfully tamed the rebellious Gorgon sisters, Lou Enfortably picked up his ss, sipped the vored wine, and let out a satisfied moan; the weight that had been on his mind since taking power was finally put at ease.


    In his memory, Keto met her end at the hands of Medusa''s petrifying gaze and the surprise attack from the demigod hero Perseus.


    Now, with all three Gorgon sisters in y, he didn''t believe he couldn''t handle the so-called mother of monsters.


    Having secured two top-tier tools, and having solved the biggest problem, Lou En was just about to drink another cup to celebrate.


    "Let go of Lou En!"


    Unexpectedly, a petite figure climbed through the window onto the second floor, burst through the door, and yanked him behind her, warily scanning the room.


    A messy bed sheet, disheveled clothing, suspicious Runes of shackles, Hestia''s blushing face, and the hugging sisters...


    Everything before her overloaded Little Medusa''s CPU, leaving her stunned on the spot.


    On the way home, she hadn''t even entered the door when she caught the familiar scent in the air.


    So, consideringst night''s encounter, Little Medusa immediately thought of her two dear sisters paying a visit and decided to climb through the window to protect Lou En, who might be bullied.

 Chapter 102: Chapter 86 Talking about Cooperation in Bed? (6k)_3

    Unexpectedly, what she encountered was such a bizarre scene.


    "You guys..." Little Medusa stood in the doorway, gazing at the four people in the room with a faint look.


    "Discussing cooperation!" Luo En hurriedly exined, feeling fine sweat beading on the back of his neck.


    Cooperation talks that end up in bed?


    Little Medusa looked at the messy bedroom and bedding, her mind struggling to make sense of it.


    "Don''t believe me? Ask them!"


    Seeing the doubt in the young girl''s eyes grow stronger, Luo En immediately gave Stheno and Euryale frantic looks, signalling them desperately.


    But seeing their younger sister''s first action upon entering the room was to protect a certain culprit behind her, after being beaten for more than half an hour, Stheno and Euryale broke down, their faces as dark as the bottom of a pot, arms crossed over their chests, ready to watch the drama unfold.


    However, as a section of a whip shed behind someone, the indignant Stheno and Euryale shuddered, and quickly bowed their heads in humiliation, speaking in a muffled and resentful tone.


    "Don''t you want to defend Crete Ind?"


    "We were worried about you, we came to help."


    "Really? You''re that kind-hearted?"


    Little Medusa looked at her suddenly transformed sisters with suspicion clearly outweighing trust in her tone.


    Are we really that bad?


    Seeing her sister''s thief-like re, Stheno and Euryale ground their teeth in frustration, veins popping on their foreheads.


    "That''s right, your two sisters came to find me early this morning, saying they hoped to stand with us through this tough time and defend Crete Ind together!"


    Seeing Stheno and Euryale on the verge of exploding, Luo En nodded repeatedly to vouch for them, dragging another conspirator to share the me.


    "Hestia can also testify!"


    At that moment, the Goddess of the Hearth, who had quietly moved toward the door, stopped in her tracks, turned around, and forced a convincingly earnest smile on her face.


    "Yes, yes! That''s why I came back from the pce early!"


    "So that was it? Sorry, I misunderstood you..."


    Suddenly, Little Medusa, having learned the "truth," looked guiltily at her sisters and the two adults.


    Seeing that they had finally managed to gloss over the issue, Luo En promptly put on a serious demeanor and changed the subject.


    "Cough, cough. Now that everyone is here, let''s discuss how to deal with the third wave of the beast tide."


    When the conversation turned to their own pressing matters, everyone grew solemn, following Luo En, the current spokesman for Crete Ind, to the living room to sit down and begin the formal discussion.


    As the main force resisting pressure, Luo En had no choice but to take the lead, opening the meeting by announcing his strategy.


    "The first problem, Keto, as a unique existence, requires a specific response. The divinity of the Gorgons can counter her. I''m nning to leave her to you."


    "Okay!"


    Before Stheno and Euryale could respond, Little Medusa stood up, her face serious as she epted the challenge.


    Seeing no more opportunities to bargain, Stheno and Euryale could only roll their eyes at their foolish younger sister, silently agreeing to the task.


    Luo En nodded and spread out a sea chart on the table, continuing to present difficult issues. Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin


    "So, the second problem, what if the previous sea beasts and demigod Sirense back?"


    "Didn''t they all scatter because of Keto''s awakening?"


    Hestia frowned, puzzled.


    Luo En shook his head and handed several frontline reports to everyone, his gaze deep and distant.


    "It''s not so optimistic. It seems that due to Keto''s huge body, she has blocked the entrance to the inner and outer sea, trapping many sea beasts in the inner sea. Apart from the fastest Siren Sisters, the remaining Scy, [Great Whirlpool], the two demigod Sirens, also failed to escape."


    These are conclusions we drew based on the surveince and attacks near the coastal fortresses.


    Once Keto awakens, these sea beasts and demigod Sirens trapped in the inner sea will probably still madly scramble to flee their monstrous mother and subsequently be the vanguard forcesnding on the ind.


    Their numbers are not as vast as the second wave, but they still pose some trouble.


    And..."


    As he spoke, Luo En paused briefly, looking up at the Gorgon Sisters across from him and pondering his words.


    "You are a surprise force, needed to strike unexpectedly and seize the opponent off guard to have the greatest impact. Thus, I n to have the remaining Divine Blood Guard and Minos Fleet carry you through the beast tide. When we get close to Keto, you will seize the moment to strike and win with a single blow!"


    Hestia listened attentively, thoughtfully summarizing.


    "Are you worried that without King Minos, the Minos Fleetcks the power to break through, making it difficult toplete the escort mission?"


    "Hmm!"


    Luo En nodded and voiced his solution.


    "So, I''m nning to put Her Highness in charge of the front line, leading the temple priests and city defense forces, responsible for repression and support from the rear;


    At the same time, the Bronze Giant Talos will also be under hermand, still tasked with opening the way at long range and keeping an eye on Charybdis, the ''Great Whirlpool'';


    As for dealing with Scy, and recing King Minos to lead the fleet in the assault, I also have a candidate in mind..."


    Little Medusa straightened up, eager to ask, "Who?"


    Luo En''s eyes shed as he calmly revealed the answer: "The demigod imprisoned in the dungeon of Knossos Pce¡ªthe Minotaur!"


    "But will King Minos agree?" Little Medusa paused, a bit hesitant.


    "He will agree!"


    Luo En said with conviction, his gaze intense.


    Althoughcking formal militarymand experience, he firmly believed in the value of preparation and having a n for every scenario.


    Now, with Crete Ind''s very survival at stake, he intended to use every avable force to ensure nothing was left to chance.


    For this, he was even prepared to expose King Minos''s family disgrace and summon the Minotaur from the dungeon, to cover all bases.


    With such preparations, they had not only a n for the most dangerous Keto, but also for the potential challenges of Scy and Charybdis.


    Furthermore, he had reserved Princess Ariadne on the ind as backup, while simultaneously guarding against the unlikely appearance of the three Siren sisters.


    Such meticulous arrangements were sufficient to handle any variation that might arise in the third beast tide.


    However, considering another possibility and still feeling insecure, Luo En turned his gaze toward Hestia.


    "When the timees, you will secure our rear along the coastal defense line, and if Poseidon makes a move..."


    Hearing she would have a role to y, Hestia clenched her fists and swiped through the air excitedly,


    "Don''t worry, I''ll definitely give him a beating!"


    Luo En nodded slightly, his expression showing satisfaction and relief.


    Given the formidable power of the sea deity, he had no intention of letting Hestia take the forefront and give their opponent an advantage.


    But that didn''t mean he wasn''t prepared for the eventuality of the God of the Sea, unable to ept defeat, bing desperate.


    After outlining the basic strategy, the group immediately reviewed the n again, rifying and refining each person''s tasks.


    With nothing much to do, an idly curious Hestia suddenly had a thought,


    "Wait, what if Keto doesn''t show up after seven days?"


    "Good question!"


    Luo En smiled nonchntly, stood up from his seat, and looked at Hestia with a gaze not of mockery, but filled with rare admiration, and replied leisurely,


    "That is the third trouble to handle, and it''s my task to deal with it¡ªonce everything is in ce, I''ll be the one to lure Keto out!"


    "Lure? Like fishing?"


    Hestia blinked in bewilderment, then nodded to herself.


    It seemed right; the mother of monsters did indeed resemble a giant snake-fish.


    But she was also an ancient god.


    What could he use to lure her out?


    Seeing Hestia''s confusion, Luo En''s lips curled into a smile as he looked meaningfully out towards the city of Knossos, and said,


    "The ''bait''; didn''t King Minos prepare it for us two days ago?"


    In an instant, Hestia understood and an expression of schadenfreude spread across her face.


    ~~


    "Achoo!"


    Elsewhere on Crete Ind, within a hidden cave deep in the forest, a youth dressed in animal skins, armed with a longbow, and with an honest face, inexplicably felt a chill and sneezed loudly.


    Damn it, could it be the old man gossiping about me again?


    As a cool breeze swept through the forest, Orion looked around at the shadows and felt a sudden unease.


    No, this is too close to the city of Knossos, who knows if the old man will follow; I need to go further away.


    Orion grumbled as he snuffed out his fire, grabbed his longbow and water bottle, and continued deeper into the dense forest.

 Chapter 103: Chapter 87: Digging Holes, Im a Professional (8k Done Today) (Vote Please)

    Three dayster, in a hidden valley within the mountains of Crete.


    hanos sat before the fire, tore a piece of bloody flesh from the undercooked leg of a wild boar, and chewed vigorously.


    The coarse meat and the strong, unseasoned scent of blood made him frown involuntarily, cursing his clueless grandfather in his mind.


    If that old fool had been sensible, he would have bowed his head early, admitted his mistake, abdicated sooner, and passed the throne to him.


    Then, the beast cmity on Crete Ind would naturally resolve itself, and he wouldn''t have to hide in these godforsaken mountains, subsisting on such rough food, but rather lie in the pce, enjoying the delicate delicacies served in gold and silver goblets and the meticulous care of beauties.


    Looking at the wilderness before him, which was starkly different from the wonderful scenario in his mind, hanos took a sip of water, trying to swallow down the dry chunk of meat that was scratching his throat, his eyes brimming with irritation.


    There are only two days left before the deadline, and that immortal still refuses to give in; how stubborn.


    Should I make another trip to Knossos City?


    hanos thought about hisst encounter in the pce and couldn''t help but hesitate.


    Although he was caught off guard by that sudden interloper, it was his own oversight; he didn''t dodge.


    If he were to fight head-on, or shift the battleground to the dense forest or sea, where he is more adept, he might not lose.


    Plus, with the recent divine protection granted by his Father God, that foreigner who relies solely on schemes and trickery is not a concern at all.


    What truly troubled him was the old man''s attitude.


    Who knows, if pushed to the brink, whether that old coot might act out of spite and take him, his grandson, down with him?


    After all, family rtionships in Greece are incredibly delicate.


    Often, the closer the blood rtion, the harsher the blow...


    Therefore, before the situation bes clear, it''s best not to loiter around that grandfather of his, so as not to provoke the old immortal.


    When the timees, let Keto give them a taste of her color.


    When ites down to life and death, what do pride, adherence, right and wrong, or even life itself amount to?


    He doesn''t believe that under the pressure of all Minosians, the old man won''t bow his head?


    However, by then, to bow woulde at a corresponding price.


    For example...


    The image of his charming aunt appeared before hanos'' eyes, and he licked his somewhat dry lips, his simple face revealing a sinister smile.


    The virgin Priestess of Goddess Athena¡ªhe had indeed never tasted such.


    As hanos was lost in his wild thoughts, a sarcastic taunt reached his ears.


    "Yo, not bad for a meal, huh?"


    Someone''s here!


    hanos''s face changed, and he abruptly stood up, looking in the direction of the sound.


    He saw the air ripple like water not far away, as a figure with silver hair cascading down his shoulders and a slender frame silently emerged.


    It''s him!


    Seeing that familiar face, hanos''s heart skipped a beat, his expression darkening as he instinctively reached for his hunting bow, loaded an arrow, and assumed a defensive stance.


    "Don''t be nervous, I''m here to negotiate terms on behalf of King Minos."


    Luo En quickly gestured with his hands, his face brimming with a harmless smile.


    Hearing this, hanos''s brows lifted in delight.


    "Did the old¡­ ahem¡­ my grandfathere to his senses?"


    Luo En nodded, smiling as he spoke.


    "Yes, as long as you are willing to expel the Mother of Monsters, Keto, back to the inner sea and swear by the River Styx to sever all ties with Poseidon, the God of the Sea who instigated this beast cmity, he is willing to let bygones be bygones, considering your mother''s sake, and allow you to leave Crete Ind safely."


    "¡­"


    Upon hearing the so-called "peace terms," hanos''s face turned ashen, barely containing his rage.


    "Are you mocking me?"


    "No, I''m just the messenger; the choice is yours."


    Luo En spread his hands, his expression earnest.


    At that seriously given response, hanos could not help but burst into ironicughter.


    "Facing certain death, you actually dare to negotiate terms with me and expect me to betray my Father God? Do you think you have the right?"


    "So, you were involved in the Beast Tide as well? Since you aspire to be the king of Crete Ind, aren''t you afraid that the Minosians will spurn you once they find out the truth?"


    Luo En looked seriously at the Son of the God of the Sea before him, quietly reminding him.


    "Spurn?"


    hanos, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world, disdainfully looked back at Luo En, cunning flickers manifesting in his previously naive eyes.


    "Heh, if the old man hasn''te to find me himself, it proves that indeed he doesn''t have long to live. And when he breathes hisst, nobody will be able to stop the Mother of Monsters. The Minosians, if they want to survive, will they not have to kneel and beg me?"


    People are always forgetful. Whoever offers them a way out, they are willing to listen to.


    By then, as long as I defeat Keto, and be the hero who turned the tide, they will inevitably crown me as king. Who would know or care what I did in the past?"


    Luo En seriously regarded hanos across from him, shaking his head in rebuttal.


    "There will always be someone who knows the truth."


    "So what if they know? Do they dare to rebel?"


    The sarcasm on hanos''s face intensified, his eyes brimming with undisguised triumph and arrogance.


    "Don''t forget, by then, they will all be depending on me to survive. If they dare to defy me, who will shield these fools from the Beast Tide of the Sea of Okeanos and the army of Antis?"


    "By that time, even my uncles and aunts will have to kneel before me obediently, licking my toes, begging me to stay!"


    "Hmm, that makes sense!"


    Luo En, as if persuaded, became solemn and apuded this seemingly perfect n.


    Then, the corners of his lips slightly turned up, revealing a hint of pleasure, as he raised his hand to remove a bird feather pendant, pulsing with light, from inside his cor. He spoke softly.


    "So, did you all hear everything clearly?"


    "Heard it clearly..."


    "Not a word was missed!"


    "Pah, Poseidon''s bastard!"


    The chorus of male and female voices emerged from the pendant, cold and low.


    There were priests, soldiers,moners...


    Even, those princes and princesses who once harbored a glint of hope...


    Hearing the relentless curses and denunciationsing from the pendant, the triumphant expression on hanos''s face vanished, reced by a rage-filled flush of embarrassment as he angrily turned to face forward.


    "You tricked me?!"


    "Falling for the same trick twice, you are a fool indeed..."


    Luo En nced at the irate Son of the God of the Sea and delivered a mocking blow without mercy.


    "Considering everyone a fool, always thinking you''re the smartest one. You are the biggest fool of all!"


    "Bastard..."


    hanos, unable to muster a retort, saw his perfect n riddled with holes, and his dream of ascending to be the king of Crete shattered like a bubble. He was so enraged that he crushed a sapphire hanging on his chest.


    "You brought this on yourselves!"


    In an instant, a surge of azure light shot into the sky, mingling with the ether in the air and emitting a piercing resonance.


    "Hum!!!!"


    Immediately, darkness fell upon the world, the sea roared with a frenzy of wind, and a giant beast, half snake, half fish, burst forth from the water, churning thousands of tons of water and venting its anger at being awoken.


    As the monster opened its enormous maw to advance towards the noisy Crete Ind, thousands of Sea Beasts trapped in the Ind Sea began to flee in terror.


    The restored six-headed, twelve-legged beast Scy and Charybdis, who had taken the form of a watery humanoid, were notably among the escapees.


    "Form ranks, face the enemy!"


    Simultaneously, following amand, princes and princesses who served asmanders unsheathed swords and waved staffs on the reinforced coastal fortresses, priests and priestesses chanted spells, and ready soldiers either raised spear and shield on the ramparts or set sail on warships.


    The war known as the End began anew.


    At this very moment, in a clearing deep within the mountains of Crete,


    Almost simultaneously with themencement of the main battlefield, hanos, blinded by rage, let out a roar and, eyes red, charged at the one responsible for the ruin of his meticulous n.


    This bastard must die!

 Chapter 104: Chapter 88 Athena, You are Actually Quite Big (6.3k)

    Bang!


    The burly hunter surged forward with a tremor of his foot, his body apanied by the dust flying and the roaring sound of the splitting earth, approaching his target dozens of steps away as fast as lightning, his two enormous fists swinging forward with fury.


    Before the fists even arrived, a tsunami-like roaring sound filled the air, as if waves upon waves were pushing and squeezing toward the center.


    Seeing his opponent still foolishly frozen on the spot, a hideous cold sneer appeared on Orion''s face.


    He had inherited the traits of a Titan Giant through his lineage, possessing a sturdy body with an arm strength unmatched among the demigods.


    And with these arms he took pride in, he had easily strangled lions and wrestled the subspecies of the hellhound Cerberus to victory.


    In the face of this pure violence, both demonic entities and magic beasts would flee in fear.


    Any prey daring to resist would invariably be the lost souls beneath his fists.


    Today, it seemed his hunting list would gain the name of one more living person.


    With a mix of anger and pleasure in his heart, the advancing Orion let out a thunderous yell.


    "Die!"


    "Boom!"


    His fists, having hit the target, pped forward a violent magic tide, the ground under the impact sinking several meters instantly, while the piercing gale swept around, instantly snapping the grass and trees in the valley, exposing the bare rocks.


    Hmph, who''s the real fool! You dare to directly catch my punches?


    As the dense dust gradually dispersed, Orion, still maintaining the punching pose, had his smile slowly freeze as he looked toward the figure standing tall a dozen meters away with a grim expression.


    "What great strength..."


    The low voice uttered an assessment that was either admiration or mockery.


    Luo En, standing a dozen meters away, nced at the two deep ravines plowed under his feet, casually tearing off his upper garment shattered by the impact, revealing a well-proportioned muscture with streamlined shape and bursting power.


    He shook his neck, lifted his sunken legs, and stepped forward, his bones crackling crisply as they moved freely.


    This guy!


    Orion, watching his seemingly frail but physicallyparable adversary, grew increasingly angry.


    "You can take it, huh? Let''s see how I tten you!"


    Considering this a provocation, the hunter shed his fists together and charged forward, his muscles looking as if they were cast from steel and bulging with explosive power, his burly figure reminiscent of a massive bear running through the woods.


    At the same time, the divine blood coursing rapidly through his veins was nearly boiling, a deep blue radiance bursting from his body, as if an angry sea with rolling waves bore down forward.


    "Divine might protection?"


    Luo En, sensing the familiar scent of the sea within it, took a deep breath, remembering the days when the Antean Imperial Guard chased him all over the world on the Sea of Okeanos, and a sinister sneer spread across his handsome face.


    "Coincidentally, I have it too...!"


    In an instant, a thick golden-red divine aura burst from within Luo En, like a leaping me, burning violently in the air and creating visible distortions around it.


    Madness, ughter, and a chilling atmosphere swept forth, and Orion felt as though he were on a bloody battlefield.


    And in a daze, he saw.


    Headless Titans, heartbroken Nymphs, dragons with broken wings, heroes letting out roars... One by one, ferocious figures emerged from the blood, marching toward their doom,unching attack after attack in a desperate charge.


    The God of Berserkers, wearing a bronze feathered helmet and armed with leather bracers, swinging sword and spear against the tide of challengers, cutting, stabbing, and chopping over and over again.


    The blood and flying limbs scattered around them yed a chaotic and bloodstained symphony of ughter.


    ¡ª¡ªWar God''s might!


    Damn! Who knew Ares had such a powerful demigod son in the mortal world!


    Orion''s face changed drastically; he quickly bit his tongue to stabilize his mind that was being corroded by battle frenzy and madness, while his boiling divine blood enhanced the protection of the God of the Sea to the extreme, his fists like dragons emerging from the sea, furiously swinging forward.


    Whoever it was, the arrow was on the string; there was no turning back!


    "Perfect timing!"


    Luo En uttered a low shout, lifting his arm to meet the attack, using the Son of the God of the Sea before him to test the fruits of his training over the past months.


    Bam bam bam bam!


    The collision of fists created a series of thunderous booms in the air.


    They were the offspring of titanic beings, with Titan blood coursing through their veins, andbat was almost an innate talent they were born with.


    Under the dominion of ferocity, the two figures shrouded in ethereal tide and dense smoke, like two magic beasts colliding in the forest, engaged in a savage and violent struggle.


    At first, Orion, relying on his Giant heritage, managed to hold a slight advantage with his size.


    But the more they fought, the more startled he became.


    The opponent seemed like a natural fighting machine, constantly adapting to and breaking the rhythm of the battle, soon forcing the brute-strength Orion to stagger, continuously backing up.


    Seeing his own perilous situation under the onught, Orion simply steeled his heart, raised his arms to shield his upper body, and quickly created distance using the force of Luo En''s punching assault, while his left hand grabbed the hunting bow at his waist, and his right hand pulled out arrows from the quiver, shooting six arrows in rapid session faster than lightning.


    Facing this sudden attack, Luo En''s eyes revealed a faint derision.


    Just like his father, a sore loser.


    And at that moment, with danger approaching, the boiling battle intent further pushed his innate talent for Infinite Martial Refinement to the extreme.

 Chapter 105: Chapter 88 Athena, Youre Actually Quite Big (6.3k) _2

    Orion''s archery, which he prided himself on, was not only predictable in Luo En''s eyes but also full of ws.


    With his thoughts and perceptions exceptionally clear, Luo En shifted three inches to the right, retreated seven-tenths, and then flicked a central arrow with his left hand. The sudden force spun it off its trajectory, hitting weak points on two arrows on the left side, and buried it into the soil with a hair''s breadth to spare.


    At the same time, Luo En''s right hand, which was free, drew the bronze longsword he carried, flicked his wrist, and the sword''s tip danced up and down, effortlessly shing through three arrows on the right.


    What was onceplex became simple, and like that, Orion''s killer move, which had never failed him during hunts, was easily defused.


    But, that was enough!


    Orion, who had initially retreated to a distance of ten steps from Luo En, had a deep blue glow sh over his legs, and unexpectedly elerated forward, abruptly stepping into the dangerous zone that was only a step away from his opponent.


    The hunter, wearing a cold sneer, swung his right fist wrapped in power, aiming straight for Luo En''s momentarily undefended abdomen.


    Compared to the tricky archery, he trusted his own physique more!


    So, the retreat just now was only to regain control of the battle''s rhythm.


    Facing the fierce punch, Luo En''s indifferent expression did not waver; he leaped slightly back, his right knee thrusting upward, hitting Orion''s inner elbow with the hardest part of the knee, nearly dislocating the demigod''s arm.


    He still didn''t dare to take the blow head-on, showing that strength was indeed this fellow''s weakness.


    If you defend too long, you will falter; then use speed to exploit the slow, forcing him to expose his weaknesses!


    After one futile hit, Orion was far from discouraged. On the contrary, as if he had found his opponent''s fatal w, his face lit up with delight, raising his speed and strength to the peak, unleashing a flurry of blows with the power to split mountains and break stones, each enveloped by the ocean''s blessing.


    Under this intense assault, Luo En dodged and weaved, like a small boat being battered in raging waves, seemingly on the verge of capsizing at any moment, yet always narrowly riding the stormy winds.


    Soon, Orion''s relentless attacksting several breaths was gradually sapped of its edge by Luo En''s evasion, light as a drifting tuft of cotton.


    Even his rhythm of attacks was disrupted by the impatience growing in his heart, and his stamina could not keep up, as he began to breathe heavily and curse.


    "Damn it, do you only know how to dodge?"


    To Orion''s surprise, in the face of this deliberate provocation, Luo En, who had been defensive and evasive, let out a sinister smile. His eyes, oozing a blood-red gleam, revealed a feral ferocity reminiscent of that of a lone wolf, and even his style and moves shifted, all bing extremely sharp killing moves.


    "Bang!"


    Orion''s expression changed as he stumbled back three steps. His right arm was almost smashed into his chest cavity by Luo En''s brutal punch. The punch, with a force strange as andslide and tsunami, nearly shattered his arm bones.


    As the son of the God of the Sea retreated, Luo En pressed forward, and his right fist shot out swiftly.


    Orion immediately raised both arms vertically, ready to block repeatedly in front of his chest. However, he found this bizarre and unpredictable onught utterly indefensible.


    What started as a fist turned into a palm upon meeting resistance, slipping through guards, and once in close quarters, it transformed into a w for joint locks, or even a fingertip spike aimed at vital organs like the heart and lungs. These shifts were random and patternless.


    The attacks sometimes involved intricate joint locks, other times powerful blunt force shocks, asionally mixed with theplex use of Hermes Script and curses...


    In an instant, targets such as the head, throat, heart, and groin became focal points. Even as Orion chose to defend with all his might, he kept getting hit constantly and, in the end, managed to leap out of Luo En''s close-range assault, covered in grievous wounds.


    Three ribs broken, his nose bridge smashed by a punch, and three gashes between his eyebrows almost injured his cornea...


    This guy was both cunning and ferocious, definitely more troublesome than any Magic Beast he had ever faced!


    Orion internally cursed, fretting with anxiety. The pain coursing through his body forced him to consider his own recovery first.


    Thus, the son of the God of the Sea, blessed by the ocean, immediately headed toward a nearby stream, apparently attempting to use the water to heal his injuries.


    However, thanks to Luo En''s understanding of demigods associated with the sea, he had anticipated this move.


    Want to heal yourself? Not so easy!


    A fierce look shed in Luo En''s eyes as he advanced quickly, aiming to interrupt Orion''s sprint toward the water source for healing.


    Yet, the son of the God of the Sea''s eyes flickered with slyness and coldness as well.


    You''ve been had!


    The moment Luo En stepped into the calcted range, Orion twisted his body with a sudden turn, his right leg gathering momentum for a sweeping arc through the air.


    Luo En''s eyelids twitched as he arched his back and willingly fell backward, striking the ground with his right hand as he fell to use the rebound force to somersault in the air.


    However, as he descended, six sounds of arrows slicing air rang out, with six arrows shot from Orion''s hand reaching instantly.


    With no leverage in mid-air, the prey faced an arrow rain that sealed off all avenues of escape.


    "ng ng ng!"


    Amidst a flurry of sparks and the nging of metal, Luo Ennded safely with the bronze longsword, which had been at his waist, now gripped in his right hand that had deflected all six arrows during their simultaneous arrival.


    Faced with this unexpected response, Orion, who thought he had a guaranteed hit, stood dumbfounded and felt an icy shiver for the first time, true fear seeping into his bones.

 Chapter 106: Chapter 88 Athena, Youre Actually Quite Big (6.3k) _3

    The opponent before me possessed an intuitive sharpness surpassing that of wild beasts, coupled with a vast and intricate array ofbat skills. Every part of their body was a weapon; every movement had the potential to deliver a lethal strike. They were simply a monster born for battle!


    And indeed, it was so.


    Luo En had never undergone systematic training in any particr school of thought, but thanks to the blessing of his warlike divinity, he forged every experience and skill he encountered in continuous challenges and practice into this body, transforming them into an instinctual understanding that served the purpose ofbat.


    This was the "Infinite Martial Refinement"!


    "Woo~~!"


    As Luo En and Orion stood facing each other from a distance, a high-pitched and vigorous sound of a horn came from the coast, echoing across the whole of Crete Ind.


    "Roar..."


    Apanied by a noise resembling the mournful cry of a fish or a snake.


    At the same time, on the sea''s surface.


    The remaining Minos Warships and the Divine Blood Guard, led by a monstrous Minotaur, sliced through the waves like a sharp sword amidst the tide of beasts, pushing the battle line right up to the Mother of Monsters and releasing spears and bow and arrow.


    Chunks of fresh flesh peeled away from the body of the Mother of Monsters, falling into the water.


    The pained Keto thrashed its tail angrily, stirring up towering waves and ether tides in an attempt to engulf all threats and resistance.


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l''e|-NovelBin


    However, the pale yellow wings spread out in front of the fleet, shielding them from the Mother of Monsters'' dying struggle.


    As the golden wings slowly unfurled, the Hundred-eyed Gorgon Witch, a fusion of the three sisters'' divinity, disyed the ferocious stature of the serpent goddess above the sea, uttering a chilling and solemn promation.


    "Keto, you have no right to step onto thisnd, let alone harm the humans here. It''s over!"


    In a deep chant, the Gorgon''s serpentine divine eyes glowed intensely, and the thick, viscous aura of her might spread out once more.


    Every Sea Beast that met her gaze, unable to even cry out, froze into stone statues and sank to the bottom of the sea.


    "Roar...!"


    The Mother of Monsters, Keto, was no exception to the onught; the life-draining grey-white that eroded her surface could no longer be contained and spread throughout her body, leaving only a struggling half-head still moving.


    But clearly, it was all in vain.


    The serpent goddess lifted her hand slightly, and behind her, hundreds of purple snakes, spawned from her hair, reared up, hissing wildly as they absorbed the magic and divinity scattered in the air. They traced out a massive purplish-red halo before her.


    ¡ª A forceful seal, dissolving everything!


    "Buzz!"


    The next moment, apanied by the vibration of the air, a bizarre purplish-red ribbon of light shot out from the halo, spanning the entire sea surface.


    The might that dissolved everything pierced through Keto''s body in an instant, extinguishing thest bit of vitality within the Mother of Monsters.


    "Crack...!"


    The colossal grey-white sculpture, part snake and part fish, stretching for miles, crumbled piece by piece.


    As the oppressive shadow that loomed over the hearts of every Minosian was thoroughly swept away, jubnt shouts that resembled mountains and seas erupted from the coastal defense line.


    "Athena!"


    "Athena!"


    "Athena!"


    Soldiers, priests, civilians, and divine-blooded nobility alike looked on with fervent and reverent eyes at the serpent goddess who bore the wings of deities and the body of a demon.


    They believed that the female ruler of Crete Ind had dual incarnations.


    One resided in Olympus, a war-loving bird goddess...


    The other lingered in Crete, a vengeful serpent goddess...


    And now, their goddess was responding to their faith, fighting for them, achieving victory for them, seeking the right for them to live and prosper!


    Vast and pure beliefs converged into an intangible golden river, soaking into thend of Crete Ind, deeply rooting this faith in every inch of soil and in the heart of every Minosian.


    ~~


    At this very moment, in a concealed valley of Crete Ind.


    When the dying scream of the Mother of Monsters reached his ears, Orion realized something was terribly wrong, feeling as though he had fallen into an ice cave.


    How is it possible? Keto has lost!


    And hearing the cheers signifying the dust had settled, Luo En''s hanging heart finally rxed as he stretched his limbsfortably, showing a radiant smile to his opposite, Orion.


    "So, the game is over..."


    Orion looked at the figure whose aura was climbing with every step towards him, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    He hadn''t even used his full strength yet!


    ¡ª Run!


    Almost at once, Orion made the decision, turning his head and rushing towards the valley''s edge, heading straight for the sea.


    Only by entering the domain of the ocean did he have a sliver of a chance to win!


    However, he had barely escaped a few steps when the sharp sound of something cutting through the air attacked from both sides.


    Orion''s instincts kicked in, tensing his muscles and tumbling awkwardly on the spot.


    "Puff puff puff!"


    Immediately, a bone-white spear and two bone arrows grazed his skin by a hair''s breadth, piercing through the rock behind him.


    Following quickly, the grinding sound of bones filled the air as two sharp swords and two long spears jabbed toward Orion''s head and heart.


    "Roll!"


    In the face of this crisis, the Son of God of the Sea immediately released his oceanic divinity, stirring up a deep blue halo around him, throwing off the sharp swords and long spears.


    But by then, the three skeletal creatures in the back, already armed with closebat bone weapons, alternately surged forward.


    "Dragon Tooth Soldiers!"


    Orion, seeing the seven bone creatures with serpentine features that seemed to have been lying in wait all around, couldn''t help but curse through clenched teeth.

 Chapter 107: Chapter 88 Athena, Youre Actually Quite Big (6.3k) _4

    If it were an ordinary time, I wouldn''t be afraid of these gold-level summons and it would just take a bit of effort.


    But now, as I''m fleeing, any second''s dy is almost fatal.


    "Get lost, all of you!"


    Orion once again stirred his divine power in anger, trying to break through the blockade of the seven dragon-tooth soldiers recklessly.


    However, a golden shadow shed by, and pain shot through his right leg, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. Discover exclusive tales on m,v l''e-NovelBin


    "Woof! Woof-woof!"


    At the side, a Golden Hound that seeded in its hunt let out a joyful bark, wagging its tail and nudging its master''s leg to seek praise.


    Looking at the spiritually full Golden Hound and Luo En, who lowered his hand to pet the dog''s head as a reward, Orion''s eyes almost burst with fury.


    All this should have been his!


    All because of that stubborn old fool! All because of this outsider who appeared out of nowhere!


    Seeing no way to escape, Orion steeled his heart, quickly drew thest three arrows from his quiver, and nocked them to his bowstring.


    "Puff!"


    However, a bronze sword was thrown, its cold edge not only cutting the bowstring but also severing his right arm.


    Immediately, warm divine blood spurted out, sshing Orion''s face.


    After a brief numbness, intense pain assaulted him, making the Son of the Sea God clutch his severed arm and let out a piercing howl.


    "Ah! My hand! My hand!"


    "Don''t worry, you won''t be in pain much longer..."


    The voice that seemed to offerfort brought with it a shivering, chilling fear.


    Luo En casually pulled the bronze sword from the ground and smirked as he stepped forward.


    Orion, clutching his severed arm and struggling to retreat, saw the approaching demon behind him, raising the sword mercilessly and couldn''t help but cry out in terror to the sky.


    "Father God, save me!"


    In an instant, the cloudless sky gathered water vapor from all directions, forming a dark blue vortex that looked like an inhaling water spout, enveloping Orion on the ground.


    Feeling the terrifying maritime divinity within, Luo En''s face dramatically changed.


    Poseidon!


    He didn''t show up on the front lines but chose to forsake Keto, the mother of monsters, to protect his demigod son.


    However, faced with the God of the Sea''s intervention, Luo En''s eyes shed fiercely, his coldness intensified.


    If this son is so valued, then he must not be allowed to live!


    "Buzz!"


    Precipitated by his grim resolve, the edge of the bronze sword cut through the air.


    "Father...!"


    In that moment, just as Orion saw hope of escape beneath the aqua-blue halo and was ecstatic, his cheering abruptly ceased as his body trembled violently, exploding into a cloud of blood mist, with the light of life swiftly fading from his eyes.


    Seeing this, an angry roar came from the sky, and the hanging blue vortex transformed into a giant hand that reached down to smash the ant who dared defy divine might.


    "Dammit, you''re courting death!"


    In an instant, Luo En felt as though he was at the bottom of a deep ocean, every cell, every inch of muscle in his body suffering the madness of multidirectional crushing pressure.


    In the vagueness, he could almost hear the cries of his bones breaking and flesh dissolving.


    Divine grace is like an ocean; divine wrath is like a prison.


    Too dazzling to behold, untouchable!


    For they are the order of heaven and earth, the sovereigns of the world!


    "Hmph!"


    Just as the tyrannical hand descending from the sky was about to crush the defiant ant, a cold snort echoed through the air and a goldennce descended, its crescent edge splitting the overwhelming waves that sought to engulf the world.


    "Puff!"


    Apanied by the muffled sound of flesh being torn apart, the giant hand from the sky was cut by the goldennce''s edge, with gold and blue blood raining down amidst a series of muffled groans.


    Luo En, at the center of it all, was drenched in the sudden downpour of the Divine Liquid.


    The Twelve-Sided Die on the altar in his mind began to roll, resonating with an invisible rhythm.


    In an instant, the oppressive weight of the deep sea dissipated, reced by the boiling surge of blood within his body, as if the sea itself was churning.


    From his bones to his meridians, from his flesh to his spirit, it was as if they were being washed and baptized over and over again by seawater.


    iming a measure of Poseidon''s maritime divine power for oneself?


    So this is the [chance] I''ve chosen?


    Realizing something, Luo En murmured, letting go of his mind and actively receiving this hard-earned [divine gift of fate], his consciousness gradually being submerged in the surging tides.


    His uncontroble body then tilted forward.


    However, his falling head eventuallynded in a gently opened embrace, with soft whispers of genuine admiration and boundlessplexity brewing close to his ear.


    "You''ve worked hard..."


    Listening to that familiar voice, thest thread of rity in Luo En''s mind snapped, and his unsupported head burrowed into softness and warmth, leaving him with one final thought.


    Athena, she''s actually quite big...

 Chapter 108: Chapter 89: The Awakening of the Music God! (7k)

    At dawn, the delicate golden sunlight prated the windowttice and spilled into the room, apanied by the sound of the surging tide.


    Yawning as if moved by a sense, Luo En propped open his eyelids, and with a slight nce from the corner of his eye, was startled to find a pair of round and slender white thighs resting behind his head, offering a soft touch and a faint fragrance.


    "You''re awake?"


    A gentle voice reached him, as the Goddess of Wisdom in her in white dress with silver hair and purple eyes sat at the head of the bed, looking down at the face that rested on her knees with a smile.


    However, the rise and fall of two white mountain peaks with each breath obstructed their line of sight, causing Luo En to feel dizzy.


    Are they really that big?


    As Luo En silently marvelled at this spectacle, those purple eyes showed deep concern.


    "What''s wrong? Still not feeling well? Let me take a look!"


    A pair of encircling arms lifted Luo En''s head and held it anxiously against her chest, soothing him with a series of checks.


    Suddenly, the half-awake victim nearly suffocated, iling wildly as his senses summarized the characteristics of this overwhelming contact in his mind.


    So big! So soft! So fierce!


    "Bang!"


    As Luo En''s consciousness grew chaotic, almost suffocating from this tender indulgence, the bedroom door was violently burst open.


    The Goddess of the Hearth, dressed in a white apron and holding adle, stuck her head through the door with a dark expression and forced out a twisted smile.


    "So you''re awake? I made a big feast to celebrate your recovery,e down and eat!"


    Eat?


    Luo En unconsciously looked through the partially open door toward the hall and kitchen, his expression instantly freezing.


    The neat living space he remembered was smeared with purple-red blood sma and minced meat, like an oversized ughterhouse.


    A ghastly greyish head, half fish and half snake,y tossed to one side, with fresh blood dripping from the severed neck...


    Octopus-like mollusks were stuffed whole into a soup pot, their lids slightly ajar from the screaming and struggling within...


    Thick bird legs, freshly plucked, smoked beside a hung one-legged Siren...


    Even worse, a Lamia with arge bump on her forehead, clearly knocked unconscious, had an apple stuffed in her mouth and sauce smeared all over her contorted body in the shape of a heart, ready to be pushed into the oven...


    "Hes... Hestia...


    I... I''m not hungry..."


    Luo En''s adam''s apple bobbed violently and cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he forced a dryugh and shook his head, his thoughts growing more scrambled.


    "Eat, you must eat! This is specially prepared for you by Lady Goddess!"


    At that moment, Euryale, dressed in a formal gown, popped her head from outside the door, gloating and her crimson eyes brimming with malice.


    At the doorway, her twin sister Stheno with purple hair and red eyes, smiling,dled out a bowl of bubbling purple-red potion from a pot jammed with octopus tentacles, eagerly handing this biological weapon to Hestia at the door, the urging was unmistakable.


    "Come on, open wide...!"


    Then there was Hestia with a sinister face, spooning out a serving of the purple-red seafood soup, preparing to feed it into the mouth of Luo En, the invalid.


    Hisss! Hisss!


    But the bronze spoon visibly smoked and ckened in the air, even melting away.


    This TM is edible for humans?


    Seeing this, Luo En broke out in a cold sweat and subconsciously changed the subject, trying to dodge the seafood soup whose potency could bepared to a deadly poison.


    "Wait! Is everything over now?


    Anna! Yes, where''s Anna?!"


    In the midst of speaking, Luo En, his head tightly circled in Athena''s arms, darted his eyes around, frantically searching for a figure to save the situation.


    "Anna? She''s right..."


    The Gorgon Sisters with purple hair and red eyes entered the room, their beautiful faces bearing wicked smiles. They then grabbed the corner of Luo En''s nket and with a swift tug, they revealed...


    "...here!"


    Luo En instinctively looked down to see a spread of purple lying beneath the nket.


    The face that blended the mature charm of the snake goddess with the youthful innocence of a young Gorgon was slowly lifting up from below, a split tongue flicking out from parted lips, tasting the air and swallowing with a satisfied flush on her little face.


    In an instant, several chilling gazes focused on him, and an indescribable terror instantly froze everything.


    "An... Anna! No!"


    A shrill and off-key wail echoed in the ancient Greek-style bedroom as a patient covered in sweat sat upright in bed, his arms iling in the air as if grasping for life.


    After a moment of turmoil, his terror-filled eyes refocused, looking up at the familiar ceiling and room decor with relief.


    It was just a dream, thankfully.


    For a moment, Luo En patted his nearly arrested heart, slumping against the headboard and staring at the empty bedroom with a tinge of dejection in his heart.


    What happened to the number one hero? If not knee-pillowed, why isn''t there even an attendant?


    As his mood swung and he was grumbling to himself, a low whine came from outside the door. A Golden Hound pushed open the door gap, burst into the bedroom, leaped onto the bed, and wagged its tail and licked his palm with joy.


    You''re the best, pup!


    Seeing his own faithful dog so loyal, Luo En felt somewhat moved.

 Chapter 109: Chapter 89: The Awakening of the Music God! (7k)_2

    "Don''t run, let me hug you!"


    However, before Luo En''s touched feelings couldst for a few seconds, the door was pushed open by small hands, and in rushed the Goddess of Victory, Nike, with her arms spread wide, intercepting the darting Gold dog from all directions.


    Looking at the few strands of dog hair remaining in Nike''s hands and the Gold dog circling around him, Luo En''s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.


    After all this time, have youe to use me as a shield?


    Experience tales at mvl


    Has even the loyal dog be unreliable these days?


    While muttering under his breath, Luo En unceremoniously scooped up the Gold dog that was floundering on the bed and tossed it to Nike standing in front of the bed.


    The Goddess of Victory, having gotten her wish, immediately beamed, holding the whimpering dog snugly in her arms, happily stroking its head, and looked at Luo En with eyes full of goodwill and affection.


    This is the Goddess of Victory, after all, the most important authority in the sphere of war gods. It''s important to establish a good rtionship early.


    Doggy, you''ll have to sacrifice yourself this time.


    Luo En ignored his pet dog''s pleading eyes, muttered to himself, and managed to squeeze out a friendly smile towards Nike.


    "You''re awake? What would you like to eat? I''ll cook a big feast to celebrate your recovery!"


    The familiar question and the Goddess of the Hearth peering out from in front of the door caused Luo En on the bed to stiffen reflexively and shake his head in panic.


    "Hes... Hestia, I''m not hungry."


    "Ah? Oh..."


    Hearing Luo En''s clear rejection, Hestia holding thedle seemed a bit disappointed.


    Perhaps due to some aftereffects of the nightmare, Luo En looked around cautiously and then asked carefully.


    "What about Athena?"


    "She''s at Olympus confronting Poseidon. Although the beast tide has ended, there are still troubles on Crete Ind and in Antis..."


    Hestia nced at Luo En, answered with a low muffled voice, and the hand holding thedle revealed several bulging veins.


    Luo En rxed a little, then stealthily scanned the surroundings again and spoke up.


    "By the way, where are Stheno, Euryale, and Anna?"


    "They''re in divine slumber!"


    A low scoff came from in front of the door, apparently mixed with a grinding teeth sound.


    "After the battle on the coast, they absorbed a great deal of Keto''s scattered divinity. They need time to digest and assimte it. Athena took them to her own temple before she left..."


    "And what about Princess Ariadne..."


    "Crack!"


    A hand pressed against the doorframe forcibly snapped the cedar wood reinforced with runes.


    Hestia withdrew her arm as if nothing had happened, hiding it behind her back without a trace, her face squeezing out a smile, and spoke calmly.


    "Anything else you want to ask? Go on?"


    Gurgle~!


    Staring at the face that seemed somewhat distorted with expression, Luo En''s eyelids twitched, throat moved, and he spoke cautiously.


    "Shall we eat first?"


    "Didn''t you say you were not hungry?"


    Hestia raised an eyebrow and continued to look towards the newly awakened patient.


    "But there''s still you, isn''t there? We can''t let anyone go hungry, especially not Lady Hestia, the hardest working and most meritorious Goddess of the Hearth. What would you like to eat? I''ll make it!"


    In that moment, realizing his oversight, Luo En readily agreed, getting off the bed energetically, and without hesitation grabbed Hestia''s arm, boasting a mix of truth and ttery.


    "I won''t lie to you, during the time I was unconscious, all I could think about was recipes. It was those insights that woke me up from the dream.


    Come on, let''s go to the kitchen and put it to the test. I guarantee everything will be to your taste!"


    Hestia seemed unimpressed, her face showing skepticism.


    "Really? You can study recipes in your dreams? Don''t lie to me..."


    Despite her words, the Goddess of the Hearth''s body involuntarily turned around, quickly following Luo En.


    Her previously gloomy face was now filled with eager anticipation.


    As expected, easy to read as always.


    Luo En nced back at Hestia, who had willingly followed, and, not at all surprised, looked away with a pleasurable curve to his lips.


    Clearly, the Goddess of the Hearth, whose personality he had figured out, was nearly hooked.


    Soon, the stove was lit, a wisp of cooking smoke rose.


    The sounds of pots and pans, along with the aroma of food being boiled, fried, saut¨¦ed, and deep-fried filled the kitchen. One by one, dishes that were either exquisitely shaped, innovatively prepared, or creatively crafted werepleted and served on the dining table, bing the stars of today''s meal.


    The naturally forthright Nike was quickly lured by the fragrance and became a captive to the culinary delights, taking her seat at the table with the wriggling dog and feasting with gusto.


    "Get down, no eating without washing your hands!"


    But even the Goddess of Victory, in the realms of the kitchen and dining table, was driven away by a fierce Hestia wielding adle and obediently put down the dog to head to the sink.


    Seeing Nike scampering away, Luo En, who had been demoted from head chef to sous chef, reflected on the domestic authority of the Goddess of the Hearth and served up thest dish, announcing that the meal was ready.


    In a warm and joyful atmosphere, two gods, one person, and one dog finished their meal, faces content.


    Just as this family banquet was ending and Luo En was preparing to get up and clean up the messy table, Hestia stood up from the bench and spoke up to stop him, a change from her usual demeanor.


    "Let''s clean upter; you,e with me first!"


    As she spoke, Hestia didn''t wait for a response, grabbed Luo En''s arm, and, leaving Nike to watch the house, headed straight to the top floor of the home.


    The third floor was a balcony with nts and flowers and a few tables and chairs.

 Chapter 110: Chapter 89: The Awakening of the Music God! (7k)_3

    The night, like water, cascaded from the vault of heaven, bringing with it a sense of depth and tranquillity.


    Unknowingly, the family banquet hadsted from day into night.


    Upon arriving at the destination, Hestia busied herself knocking around until she finally unearthed a jar of fruit wine, two cups, some jerky and dried fruit from beneath a stone b. Cradling these items, that were obviously from a personal stash, she approached the small table to entertain the guest she had brought along.


    "Take a seat, I seldom bring anyone here," she said.


    Hearing her meaningful hum, Luo En couldn''t help feeling a bit nervous, muttering to himself.


    Could she still be sour about that one thing?


    "So, you want to ascend from demigod to deity?"


    However, as soon as Hestia spoke, Luo En looked at the Goddess of the Hearth who had leisurely seated herself beside him with a bit of surprise.


    "Hey, what''s with that look? I am the protector of the home''s peace, not just someone who cooks!"


    Feeling belittled, Hestia ground her teeth in annoyance, proiming her distinguished identity.


    "After all, I am one of the Twelve Olympians, a true and rightful member of Olympus. If Athena can teach you something, why can''t I?"


    "How could I ever think otherwise? Not to mention Athena, even offending her Divine King father would leave you starved for three days and nine meals!"


    Seeing Hestia about to lose her temper, Luo En hurriedly piled on the ttery with a smile stered across his face.


    That''s more like it!


    Hestia, having heard this, felt the sullenness in her heart dissipate considerably, and her expression slowly brightened as she took the initiative to speak.


    "If there''s anything you don''t understand about the ascension from demigod to deity, feel free to ask me," she offered.


    With that, Hestia found a perfectly reasonable excuse to help.


    "Of course, this is because you''ve just saved everyone on Crete Ind, so I am making an exception to enlighten you," she dered.


    "Yes, yes, I will definitely cherish this opportunity," Luo En affirmed.


    As for Luo En, he naturally chose to turn a blind eye to the subtext, nodding in agreement, and seizing this rare opportunity, he sought guidance from the eldest in the family of Divine Kings.


    "So, how should a demigod ascend to the realm of deity?"


    "Frankly speaking, that''s not an easy task..."


    When it came to the main topic, Hestia''s demeanor changed from her previously gentle and graceful image to one that was serious and earnest as she provided a meticulous response.


    "Strictly speaking, the deities of this world can be divided into two types:


    Enjoy new tales from mvl


    One type is born as gods. These beings, by virtue of their own nature or lineage, often inherit a certain essence and rules of the world from birth and naturally possess ''Authority''. They can easily touch the ''Great Source'', the beginning of everything.


    The other type is those who be godster. They ascend from mortal bodies through the umtion of lineage, cultivation, merit, gathering of believers, etc. They go through their own transformation and ascension, ultimately forging their own path and grasping their own ''Authority''...


    Luo En listened attentively while also nodding secretly.


    In essence, one could say these are naturally nurtured gods and artificially created gods.


    And this also coincides with the evolution of myths.


    The primitive cultures initially worshiped the sun, moon, stars, the sky, the earth, wind, rain, thunder, and all mysterious forces and entities from nature.


    But as the eras progressed and civilization evolved, deities associated with agriculture, smithing, warfare, alcohol, marriage, wealth, and other aspects distinct from nature were born. As mortal beings, they too, therefore, have the potential to ascend to godhood.


    Of course, the lion''s share of new divine authorities is still imed by the original deities.


    For example, the reason why the Twelve Olympians were able to defeat the twelve Titans, who represented the divine nature of nature, was that they seized these newly formed divine authorities associated with society and civilization.


    In the end, just as with history, the civilization deities representing progress overpowered the nature deities representing the wild, leading to the glory of Olympus.


    At this point, Hestia paused, her gaze bing somewhat reflective.


    "As far as I know, the majority of deities are born as gods, with vastly varied strengths and a huge disparity between their upper and lower limits.


    For instance, the pure-blooded descendants of the Titans such as the Sun God, Goddess of Dawn, Muse Goddesses, hanos and Thetis'' progeny¡ªthe three thousand river gods, and countless nymphs of the forests and waters are all deities. Yet, there is a vast difference between each stratum''s level.


    The strong make even the Chief Gods wary, while the weak ones, apart from being bullied by powerful demigods, can even be fodder for Magic Beasts...


    Even when the weaker ones wish to grow stronger, they often find it difficult to break through the boundaries of lineage.


    So, being born a god is a stroke of luck but frequently also restricts their potential for self-development."


    Luo En rolled his eyes and hummed, interrupting thecency of this beneficiary.


    "Oh, please, the same issue exists for species with mortal origins, and it''s probably even more severe."


    Upon hearing that, the Goddess of the Hearth thought it over, recalling the sprawling offspring with divine blood in the Mortal World and the many more trapped in the misery of birth, aging, sickness, and death. With resignation, she nodded in agreement.


    "That''s true. For mortals to break through the limitations of lineage and ignite the divine fire to step into demigodhood, it''s already an incredible hurdle. Compared to us beings born as gods, we are indeed luckier."


    "So it''s quite a difficult road for a mortal to be a god?" Luo En frowned slightly.


    "Difficult? It''s almost an impasse that very few can ovee! Such entities are extremely rare; I estimate that there can''t be more than a double-digit number."


    Hestia said, taking the matter seriously as she counted on her fingers to emphasize her point.


    Immediately, to avoid having Luo En lose heart, she softened her tone and offeredfort once more.

 Chapter 111: Chapter 89: The Awakening of the Music God! (7k)_4

    ```


    "However, once a mortal transcends numerous obstacles and sessfully takes that step, their achievement often surpasses most of the naturally born deities."


    This is indeed...


    Luo En nodded, recalling the cases of ascension to godhood that he knew.


    Hercules the Great, with his unparalleled strength; Asclepius, who could revive the dead; and Dionysus, who had historically squeezed into the ranks of the Twelve Olympians...


    Those who ascended from mortal status to divinity, once they stepped across that threshold, generally became top-tier deities, if not Chief Gods.


    And the more he yearned for the future, the more curious Luo En became.


    "What exactly is the difference between demigods and deities?"


    "Immortal!"


    Hestia replied solemnly and then thoughtfully added.


    "To be precise, it''s the immortality of the body; the soul remains vulnerable. As long as divinity does not fade, this vessel that carries one''s divinity can continuously self-repair in certain environments. To thoroughly kill a deity bes quiteplex and difficult, and often requires a weapon with the property of Deicide or a special technique to aplish."


    "And the Chief Gods?"


    "Immortality!"


    Hestia answered instinctively, and considerately borated.


    "At that point, both their bodies and souls are connected to the world''s origin, unlikely to age or die easily, nearly invulnerable."


    But immediately afterwards, the Goddess of the Hearth waved her hand, steering the conversation back on track.


    "These are matters for you to consider in the future; right now, you should focus on how to aplish the ascension from demigod to deity."


    "Then what should I do?"


    "Use the divine me to temper your divinity, refine your godhood, and engrave it with thews that belong to you."


    After stating the method, Hestia looked seriously at Luo En and earnestly spoke.


    "However, before that, I suggest that you first clearly understand the path you wish to take."


    Following a brief silence, the Goddess of the Hearth pursed her lips, and earnestly cautioned.


    "To be honest, I think that the authority of the God of War is potent, but Athena and Ares have mostly imed it for themselves. Even if you sessfully ascend, you may only end up as a Lesser Deity under them, which may not be your first choice."


    Luo En, sensing the concern and sincerity in Hestia''s words, furrowed his brows in deep thought.


    Indeed, with Ares and Athena in existence, there wasn''t much of the God of War''s authority left. Moreover, when the Olympian gods descended to aid their respective city-states in war, they would at times unt their rted powers, leaving only scraps and remnants.


    And there were too many deities vying for the God of War''s authority, posing a substantial risk of usurpation.


    Of course, there was an even more crucial point.


    ¡ªSometimes, making choices is more important than making efforts.


    If one opts for a dominion unsuitable to oneself and undergoes ascension, even if they are lucky enough to transform into a deity, it would be difficult to take the second step towards bing a Chief God.


    Not to mention, he who Luo En intended to challenge in the future was none other than Zeus, the Divine King.


    As thoughts churned, Luo En, somewhat bewildered, stood at the crossroads of destiny, uncertain of which path to take.


    "Can''t figure it out?"


    Hestia, seemingly noticing Luo En''s perplexity, smiled and reached out to pull him up and then dragged him to the edge of the balcony, overlooking the city of Knossos beneath the night sky.


    "He..."


    Luo En felt puzzled and was about to ask the reason instinctively.


    "Shush, don''t rush; the time is almost upon us. Listen carefully, watch carefully..."


    Hestia immediately raised her hand to interrupt, her voice serious and deep,


    ```


    Influenced by such solemnity, Luo En obediently remained silent, following Hestia''s gaze.


    Under the profound night sky, the entire city, quiet as a soundly sleeping baby.


    And on this dimnd, Olympus, clothed in starlight alone, the undying sacred me burned silently in the halls of the gods, proiming immortal brilliance and splendor.


    Only¡ª


    This grandeur, far too distant for mortals;


    This sublimity, empty and devoid of substance;


    This power, serving only self-interest and ambition...


    Even though they had stepped into immortality and glory, they were merely the cold and lonely undertones of the universe, unchanging over thousands, tens of thousands of years.


    Is this all there is?


    Just when Luo En felt some disappointment, the fiery sunrise ascended slowly, the dawn''s light piercing the night, scattering across thend,


    The city, once submerged in darkness, like a crying baby, awakened from its swaddles.


    Wisps of smoke rose from the houses, the air filled with the scent of food and the mor of children;


    Street vendors set up their stalls,id out their wares, shouting loudly, hopeful for today''s profit;


    Farmers weeding outside the city, vines of grapes sprouting buds, wiping sweat from their brows, dreaming of the next year''s harvest;


    Long sails at the harbor caught the breeze, fishermen going out to sea, casting theirs with vigor in the calming fishing grounds, yearning for the sea''s gifts...


    The once dull and silent world, now filled with noise and mor.


    "Compared to cold Olympus, I truly prefer the life here..."


    Hestia leaned on the balcony edge, propping up her smooth chin, looking down at the passersby and neighbors on the street, her face overflowing with a pure smile.


    "Perhaps, that''s also why I chose to protect the home, to be the Goddess of the Hearth."


    As she spoke, a baby''s loud cry, fresh from birth, echoed from a birthing room within the city.


    "It''s born! Constantine''s next-door little one is born! Hurry,e with me, we might snag a few sweets!"


    Hestia''s spirits lifted, she immediately called Luo En, running downstairs, eager to share the joy of a new life''s birth.


    Along the way, looking at the familiar faces and the cheerful crowd gathering toward the birthing room, Luo En seemed to be infected, gradually curving his lips into a smile.


    The universe''sws are magnificent, the gods'' splendor dazzlingly bright, but these are ultimately but cold, dead things, dry and useless.


    And human life, fragile as reeds, still able to stand against the world''s injustices and ruthlessness with passion for life, seekingughter''s spark in the night of suffering.


    The gods, no matter how powerful, are but ves to fate; but true respect-worthy lives should not be so!


    Even without the immortality of the gods, without the unwavering certainty in seeking truth, without the power to grasp the origin, life should be unique, without any constants, warranting the capricious dictate of life''s direction, erasing all possibilities.


    So it is with him, with others, with the whole world.


    Whether it is the unblessed anomalies or the lowly ants that are mortals!


    If the gods cannot grant this possibility, then let me offer it myself!


    To bestow dignity upon life with the enjoyment of living, to show life''s equality with indiscriminate jest!


    Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, humanity, so brief, so fragile, such inconvenient creatures, yet never branded with the tale of death and cessation, instead bearing love and hope the gods yearn for but cannot obtain¡­


    An outsider, always separated by ayer from this world,ughing heartily, with a smile thates from deep within, uttering heartfelt exmations.


    "It''s delightful indeed, praise be, this joyful life¡ª!"


    As Luo En walked, he took the initiative to grab the hand in front of him,ughing aloud on the wide path, running towards novelty with Hestia amidst her joy and surprise,

 Chapter 112: Chapter 90: The Legendary Young Wife Killer and The Treasure of Women (4.6k)

    Several dayster, a new type of drink called "wine," fermented and brewed from grapes, began to spread throughout Knossos City.


    In just a few days, it became wildly popr among the people with its soft, sweet taste and rich berry aroma, quickly bing the favorite beverage among the Minosians in the streets and alleys before meals and in the afternoons.


    "Fancy a drink together?" soon reced "Have you eaten?" as the mostmon greeting among the residents of Knossos City.


    Of course, not everyone could afford the high costs at the emerging taverns, but this didn''t stop them from dering their love for "wine" in their words and deeds.


    Because the joy and intoxication that wine brought, along with the pleasure of forgetting all pain, could not be provided by anything else.


    Those who loved wine didn''t need to mythologize it, deliberately get drunk to the point of unconsciousness to be satisfied. They were simply using it as a medium to temporarily tear off their masks and pretenses, discard the roles and responsibilities they had to bear, release pressure, and let their souls rest for a while.


    There was too little equality among humans, too little joy. Every child is born with a cry, not one emergesughing...


    ¡ª¡ªEveryone has to be born, whether you like it or not; everyone has to die, whether you like it or not.


    And wine provided happiness equally, inexpensive and readily avable.


    No matter rich or poor, it gave everyone an intoxicating, soothing pleasure.


    So, no matter if tomorrow brings a copsing sky or sunken earth, a volcano or a flood.


    ¡ª¡ªFirst, have a drink, console your weary self, please your body and mind, let your soul take a brief respite.


    ¡ª¡ªWhen life inevitably reaches its end, there''s no need to hurry, wait until you wake up, then it''s not toote to continue carrying the burden.


    These were the teachings left by the scribe who created "wine" and shared this blessing with others.


    Promoting teachings incongruous with asceticism, coupled with an approachable character and the merit of having saved Crete Ind, these words quickly became the sacred maxims worshipped by wine enthusiasts and were widely praised and agreed upon.


    Life was hard enough already, and as it had to continue, it was better to seek some fun from the illusory world with wine.


    With hundreds and thousands embodying these teachings, Knossos City quickly emerged from the shadows of beast cmities and natural disasters and was almost daily brimming with joy and festive atmosphere.


    However, conversely, the number of drunkards the city guards picked up from the streets and alleys also climbed steadily.


    After all, not everyone had the willpower to resist this sinking and temptation; not everyone could distinguish between loving wine and abusing it.


    Consequently, the production and living of some families were affected due to the emergence of wine, and groups of disgruntled or angry women sought out the instigator for an exnation.


    Nevertheless, after a few cups of "hot tea", the women often came in a huff but left in great spirits.


    For they not only experienced the wonder of venting stress through wine but also carried away the decrees issued by the scribe and themandments conveyed by the wine faith.


    ¡ª¡ªTrue lovers of wine also loved life; they usually knew restraint and would never indulge in merrymaking that tarnished this "gift."


    ¡ª¡ªTherefore, if anyone was found by the city guards causing trouble due to drunkenness, not only would they be fined and subjected tobor, but they would also lose the eligibility to participate in the "God of Wine Festival" the following year.


    The scribe personally promised that next year he would prepare to hold an unprecedented festival in Knossos City.


    During the event, there wouldn''t be just free and unlimited wine to drink, but many new products would also be introduced for people to try.


    If the effect was good, it would be an annual celebration regrly held in Knossos City in the future.


    Of course, those who had desecrated the aesthetics of wine with drunken misconduct during the year would still be deprived of participating in the celebration.


    ¡ª¡ªIn short, if you can''t discipline yourself, you''re not allowed to join the party!


    Under the governance of the actual ruler of Crete Ind, who was also revered as the supreme sage by patrons, the atmosphere around alcohol abuse in Knossos City was rectified almost instantly.


    For a while, not only were there no drunken debauchees in the streets and alleys, but ordinary people who found a bnce between relieving stress and striving to live life were actually inspired to pursue their lives with even greater passion.


    Gradually, the whole Crete Ind was enveloped in a cheerful and joyful atmosphere, and the blessing known as "wine" was transported with theings and goings of traders and fleets to the city-states of Greece, in exchange for arge amount of scarce resources such as food and minerals for the Minosians, making their lives richer and better.


    ~~


    "The old Taylors, right? What''s wrong? Your husband still has palpitations and insomnia? Tell him to drink less wine, it won''t help with sleep. Better to drink milk or honey water."


    "Pythacus family? Want to know how to make delicious bread? Why not try this fermentation method?"


    "Cleob''s daughter? Fallen out with your father and looking for a job to support yourself? I remember you learned weaving, why not go to the temple and ask around? They seem to be in need of a lot of fabrics recently, desperately short on female workers..."


    As the young girl with fluttering eyes and a slightly flushed face left with gratitude and satisfaction, Luo En watched his front door finally clearing up and couldn''t help but sigh with a sense of relief.


    "You really are popr in Knossos City, Mr. Scribe..."

 Chapter 113: Chapter 90: The Legendary Young Wife Killer and The Treasure of Women (4.6k)_2

    Hestia, with a basket on her arm, looked at the sun nearly at its zenith and rolled her eyes,ining feebly.


    Originally, she had nned to go out to buy some vegetables in the morning and try out a new recipe she hade up with.


    For this, the somewhatzy Goddess of the Hearth had even managed to get up nice and early.


    However, to her surprise, even in the dim light of dawn, there was a crowd of women from Knossos City squeezed in front of her house, waiting to greet a certain secretary and casually seek advice and strategies.


    Thinking about the situation over the past few days, Hestia, somewhat harassed by it, felt a headacheing on, and her gaze toward Luo En became increasingly filled with silent reproach.


    It was probably because afterining and consulting with the secretary about alcohol-rted family troubles, his unparalleled wisdom and approachable attitude spread among the women.


    Thus, more and more women gathered at Hestia''s doorstep, venting to the enlightened and wise secretary.


    The secretary, just as approachable as the rumors stated, patiently provided them with satisfactory responses and, he imed, perfect solutions.


    Gradually, the issues ventured beyond alcohol, epassing life, work, and even emotional troubles, all raised by these bold women.


    The secretary''s reputation soared, turning him into a veritable friend of women.


    Even Hestia''s doorstep was crowded every morning with a throng of women drawn by his fame.


    Some sought genuine advice, others were there out of curiosity, and some were simply of an age when the springtime of life beckoned...


    At that moment, a certain "treasure of women" hearing Hestia''sints, also couldn''t help but roll its eyes.


    "Isn''t this mess all your doing?"


    "I didn''t know the matters were all resolved, and these women just don''t stop..."


    Hestia grumbled resentfully, her face inadvertently revealing a hint of regret.


    At the onset of [alcohol], because of uncontrolled excessive drinking, many household conflicts arose, naturally bringingints to Hestia''s ears.


    As the Goddess responsible for protecting the peace of the household, Hestia certainly couldn''t ignore this, so she led the group of noisy women to her own external brain, as well as Luo En, who was to me for the whole mess.


    Unsurprisingly, the resourceful secretary easily resolved the issues that [alcohol] brought.


    But that sparked a new round of family crises.


    Only this time, the victim was none other than the Goddess of the Hearth herself, Hestia.


    "Had I known, I never would have let them in!"


    Hestia looked at the external brain that should have been for her use alone, hitting her head in vexation, full of regret about her past decisions.


    Luo En, too, felt somewhat helpless.


    Perhaps because of the divinity associated with joy, indulgence, and pleasure, the original God of Wine was not only popr among men but was also fervently worshiped by women.


    Consequently, in history, the priests who followed the God of Wine Dionysus were all women, his most devout followers, driven to madness with each appearance of their God.


    ording to legend, the talented musician Orpheus, son of the God of Light Apollo, was beaten to death by frenzied female priests and worshippers after identally stumbling into a secret rite in honor of the God of Wine...


    Thus, the characteristic of this "treasure of women" might have be part of his bloodline, inextricable, ever since he chose this Divine Office.


    And sometimes, having too much charisma can also be a headache.


    The popr Goddess of the Hearth and the even more popr future God of Wine exchanged a nce, sharing a helpless and frustrated sigh.


    Seemingly having nowhere else to vent, Hestia began toin about Luo En''s creation.


    "You know, I really can''t understand why so many people like this [wine] you created. This thing that numbs the self only helps one to escape reality; it doesn''t solve any problems!"


    "On the contrary, though shameful, escaping can be useful."


    Luo En shook his head in disagreement, his deep gaze looking out to the bustling streets and at those faces brimming with contentment, speaking with profound meaning.


    "Not everyone has to face the harsh reality or be a hero who ovees all hardships. Taking detours and escaping can also be a choice."


    Not everyone has to or wants to be a hero?


    Hestia murmured to herself, thinking of her own situation.


    Compared to those in Mount Olympus who were eager to chase after power and divine authority, she felt so different.


    Perhaps, to them, she, the unambitious eldest sister, was also in her own kind of escape?


    Luo En looked at Hestia, lost in thought, and spoke again reflectively.


    "Moreover, how people choose has nothing to do with [wine].


    The lone brave soul won''t be immersed in illusions and weakened because of one extra drink of wine, forever lost.


    The coward won''t suddenly find the courage to face the dismal reality less one drink of wine, moving forward valiantly.


    They are just searching for a temporary haven for their souls, a ce where they can rest and then gather more courage to step forward.


    Therefore, the appearance of wine didn''t copse the order of Knossos but helped more people walk out of pain and shadows, loving life even more."


    With that, Luo En gestured towards the passersby and vendors outside, using reality to illustrate his point.


    "If you don''t believe me, look, isn''t the city of Knossos filled with more smiles than before?"

 Chapter 114: Chapter 90: The Legendary Young Wife Killer and The Treasure of Women (4.6k)_3

    "Is it really as magical as you say?"


    Despite the evidence before her eyes, Hestia was still somewhat skeptical.


    "I''ve drunk [wine] before, why don''t I feel the way you describe?"


    "Nonsense! That''s because you are one of the Twelve Olympians. How could mere mortal concoctions affect you? If it were a fine brew crafted by my hands..."


    The words stopped abruptly at that point.


    Luo En nced at Hestia beside him, shaking his head and waving his hands, a gesture that seemed considerate of her.


    "Forget it, forget it, that batch is too strong. I''m afraid you can''t handle it, and you might lose yourposure in front of others..."


    "I am a respected Chief God. What haven''t I seen! Could I possibly be scared of a jug of your wine?"


    The Goddess of the Hearth, feeling slighted, suddenly bristled.


    Seemingly daunted by Hestia''s boldness, Luo En couldn''t help respecting her.


    "Lady Goddess is quite brave..."


    "Kidding me, I''m super brave, okay!"


    Hestia, with her brows raised and chest puffed out in pride, reached impatiently towards Luo En.


    "Give it here! Two jars!"


    "How about we just forget about it..."


    "Less nonsense, four jars!"


    "I have some low-alcohol fruit wines here..."


    "Shut it, watch as I finish all of your brew in one go today!"


    Under the constant provocation and repeated questioning, Hestia finally couldn''t stand it any longer; she red angrily at the clerk who had been stalling and underestimating her and demanded to know directly.


    "Say, where is it?!"


    "Well..."


    Luo En showed a troubled expression, didn''t speak, yet his eyes involuntarily nced towards the backyard.


    At once, Hestia, noticing this small movement, raised the corners of her mouth, disying a triumphant smile.


    "Hmph! You don''t need to tell me. It''s in the cer, right!"


    With that, the Goddess of the Hearth decisively left Luo En behind and stormed toward the cer entrance.


    Today, she had to expose the lie about [wine] and show this arrogant fellow what an eternal Chief God really was!


    "Lady Goddess, please don''t! This really isn''t a good idea..." Stay updated through mvl


    Luo En raised his hands, frantically trying to dissuade her.


    Though his voice was loud, his feet did not move a step forward.


    And as he watched the Goddess of the Hearth disappear into the cer, a pleased smile curled the corners of his mouth; he muttered to himself in satisfaction.


    Now he had his experimental subject.


    A quarter of an hourter, the rich aroma of wine wafted out from the cer, not only mesmerizing people but even causing birds in the trees to tumble down to the ground, sinking into a deep drunken sleep.


    "Snap!"


    After listening for a moment, and with no further noiseing from the cer, Luo En casually snapped his fingers to disperse the lingering smell of alcohol. He then leisurely lifted the hatch and walked into the cer.


    At this time, of the twelve jars of fine brew stored in the corner, nearly half had been opened.


    Luo En counted carefully¡ªthere were five jars.


    And looking around, the Goddess of the Hearth, who had been speaking so boldly earlier, was now sprawled across a pile of turnips, sound asleep.


    Her normally pale face was now a zing red,


    "Luo En... hehe... little Anna... mine, all mine...!"


    With a muffled giggle, the dreaming Hestia rubbed her burning cheeks against a cool turnip, her drool hanging at the corners of her mouth, dripping steadily to the floor.


    She was this drunk after just five jars; this Stove God really was a lightweight.


    As Luo En admired Hestia''s drunken foolishness, he took out a Magic Power crystal to take a screenshot for future enjoyment.


    Once he had taken 360-degree no-blind-spot pictures, Luo En happily pocketed this piece of ''ck history'', his lips curling into a wicked smile of sessful mischief. He then raised his arm high and brought it down with force.


    "Snap!"


    The twin cheeks of her rear trembled violently, offering Luo En an excellent tactile sensation.


    ¡ª"Ding, Trial Number Two, Commit an act of sacrilege against the Virgin Goddess Hestia,pleted!"


    Apanied by an invisible tone, a silver oracle that had appeared at the altar in Luo En''s mind melted away, reforging into a brand-new Silver Badge.


    At the same time, the dimming light on the Twelve-Sided Die twinkled once again as aplex and invisible [Chance] divine will spread out, shielding against destiny''s perception and stirring ripples in the deterministic world.


    Very good, mission aplished, renewal of the fog of war was sessful.


    So...


    "Snap snap snap!"


    A series of even more vigorous spanking sounds echoed through the narrow cer, with Luo En unabashedly smacking the raised buttocks of the Goddess of the Hearth, his lips fashioned into a gratified and joyous smile.


    Lady Goddess, let me teach you a lesson, so you''ll understand what it means to be wary of the wickedness in people''s hearts.


    "Snap snap snap snap!"


    The swinging arm almost formed afterimages, creating louder sounds.

 Chapter 115: Chapter 91: Beasts, Not a Single One is Innocent! (3.5k)

    Half an hourter, Luo En walked out of the cer feeling refreshed and invigorated, stretchingzily with pleasure filling his heart.


    Frankly, he had wanted to do this for a long time.


    Previously, there was no opportunity, but today Hestia hade to him of her own ord, and he certainly couldn''t let this entertaining opportunity pass by without taking advantage.


    And it had to be said, the Titans'' physical condition really was excellent; despite being beaten for so long, only a few red marks remained.


    Later, even if Hestia woke up and sensed something amiss, he could simply me it on the aftereffects of a hangover.


    Perfect!


    As Luo En thought of a good excuse, he closed the cer door contentedly, carved a protective spell, and left the Goddess of the Hearth, who had no idea how many days she''d sleep, right where she was, while he strode out the door towards the outside of the city.


    ~~


    In a secluded valley of the Cretan mountains.


    Luo En looked around at the chaotic past battlefield, with the two recent skirmishes still seemingly vivid as though they urred just yesterday.


    Of course, the first round with the demigod huntress Orion was just a warm-up, it was Poseidon, the God of the Sea, who personally took to the field in the second round that truly made him experience the terror of a Chief God''s authority.


    That iparable sense of oppression almost made one lose the will to fight back.


    Moreover, this was just a glimpse of a Chief God''s authority; how much more powerful would Zeus, whom even Poseidon admitted inferiority, be?


    Luo En thought about it and shook his head somewhat helplessly.


    Forget it, it''s too far off. You have to eat meals one bite at a time, take the journey one step at a time; if you stretch too far, snap, it''s easy to pull something.


    Now was not the time to think about this.


    Continue your adventure at mvl


    After calming hisplex thoughts, Luo En lightly stretched his body, stepped off the riverbank, and entered theke before him.


    Surprisingly, the moment his falling body touched the water''s surface, it, contrary to all reason, stabilized as if standing on firm ground.


    And it was not just limited to standing.


    Luo En opened his eyes on the water''s surface and began to move his limbs, trying to jump and run. Not only did he move as if onnd, but he could also distinctly perceive movements from all directions with each ripple spreading under his feet.


    At the same time, the fatigue umted in his body disappeared, and his magic power was rapidly replenished.


    Luo En clenched his fist and swung it forward, unleashing a tidal wave of ether that roared forward like an angry sea, instantly grinding a few waist-high bluestones on the shore to dust.


    Sure enough, things exploded by Poseidon were effective!


    Afterpleting his experiment, Luo En couldn''t praise Poseidon enough for traveling thousands of miles from the Sea of Okeanos to Crete Ind to explode gold coins for him.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Blessing of the Sea, that was the reward he had won from the grand bet he''d recently taken.


    That is, a blessing born of Poseidon''s golden blood, epassing healing, recovery, perception, and ability to walk on water among other benefits.


    Overall, a very practical thing.


    Especially near water, hisbat abilities and survival skills would both markedly rise a notch.


    Indeed, high riskes with high reward.


    To catch up with the gods as soon as possible, he had to rely on exploding those old beings for more gold coins.


    While Luo En expressed a full dose of malice towards those rtives, he continued to be familiar with thetest, amazingly acquired ocean blessing.


    Although he aimed to be a God of Wine who brought joy and delight to life and broke through the bounds of fate and order, this did not prevent him from absorbing other divine powers as auxiliary.


    For instance, the original God of Wine possessed the water authority to turn water into wine, the Agriculture God''s authority to spur nt growth, the God of Stove''s authority for drink brewing, and the literary authority topose and perform farce...


    So, there was no need to regard other divinities as a flood and beasts that would pollute his essence.


    On the contrary, as long as they brought practical benefits and interesting effects, he, the all-embracing jovial god, would wee them all.


    But that being said, the skillbination of "The Blessing of the Sea" and "Infinite Martial Refinement" felt strangely familiar, didn''t it?


    Suddenly, Luo En lowered his head to look at the shimmeringke''s surface, at his own reflection walking on water, and at the branch he had casually picked up, the corners of his lips twitching involuntarily.


    Wasn''t this just a replica of a certain knight from the Celtic myths, surnamed Lan, who sat at the Round Table?


    Even the passive talent, "Friend of Women," he had learned by a factor of ten...


    So, what was next? Should he, like that knight of theke, pledge allegiance to a king, then elope with the queen and truly graduate?


    Or, should this opportunity be left to that great Divine King, letting him taste being the butt of the joke?


    Wait, wouldn''t that mean he''d be seducing Hera, the queen of heaven?


    Tsk, getting the goddess who was originally fated to kill him to be almost dead because of him¡ªif it could be done, that might indeed be a fun jest.


    Luo En mused to himself, amusing himself during the monotonous training, his whole being radiating irreverence towards the gods and mockery towards the inexorable.


    Ever since the night Hestia pulled him out onto the balcony to witness the myriad states of the mortal world, this foreigner from another time and space no longer advanced at the behest of "chance" or "inevitability"; he had fully integrated into this world, actively embarking on the path he chose for himself.


    After a session of serious practice, a rxed Luo En leisurely sat on the riverbank on a pile of stones and pulled out a y jar from his Magic Circle Diagram, preparing to digest another one of today''s gains.


    Upon opening the jar, a rich and familiar aroma of barley mixed with the refreshing scent of peppermint oil wafted into his nostrils.


    ¡ª¡ªHygieian Porridge.


    ¡ª¡ªBut it wasn''t from his witch mentor Circe; rather, it was an original boon personally concocted by the Agriculture Goddess Demeter.


    And this was what he got from rolling the Dice of Chance with that silver badge after he had tricked Hestia earlier this morning.


    Legend has it that while Demeter was searching everywhere for her daughter Persephone, she came to Eleusis one day in the guise of a begging old woman. The four daughters of King Celeus received her, asking where she came from.


    Demeter fabricated a set of lies, iming she was a noblewoman kidnapped by pirates and had escaped their clutches when they were not paying attention. She pleaded with them to provide her with a job as a servant in domestic chores as a means of livelihood. As it happened, Queen Metanira had just given birth to a young son, Demophoon, and needed a nursemaid to look after him, so she was led into the King''s household.


    The heartbroken Demeter agreed to take on the task of looking after the little prince, whom she adored greatly, and decided to raise him as a god.


    For this purpose, the goddess who had descended to earth nourished the prince with a barley porridge she mixed with her own hands during the day, lovingly cradling him in her arms; at night, she ced the prince in the stove to bake, aiming to burn away the mortal part of him.


    But in the end, this secret ritual of metamorphosis into a god was disrupted by the queen, who entered by chance, and the goddess Demeter was forced to reveal her true form and leave, reluctantly.


    The people of Eleusis, upon learning the truth, regretted it deeply, but it was toote to turn back.


    All they could do was to follow the snippets of information left by Demeter and inherit the iplete rituals, hoping to find in them a chance to transcend mortal flesh and transform into gods.


    Thus, the famous Eleusinian Mysteries in ult studies came into existence.


    The divine food, the Hygieian Porridge, was also passed down.


    But the effects of the human replicas,pared to the original version personally mixed by Demeter, were significantlycking.


    Otherwise, there would have been records of people from Eleusis bing gods a long time ago.


    Luo En reviewed the origins of the object in his hands in his mind as he brought the earthenware jar to his mouth and decisively tipped his head back to swallow this god-given sustenance.


    Although this food could not make one be a god in one go, without a doubt, ording to past records, it could at least enhance the consumer''s constitution, vitality, divinity, and furthermore induce Immortality.


    So, drinking it was definitely beneficial!


    Moreover, under the affliction of that Enchantress teacher, he had drunk Hygieian Porridge, if not a thousand bowls, then eight hundred bowls, and was all too familiar with this concoction.


    Gulp~


    A series of swallowing movementster, Luo En drained the jar of Hygieian Porridge and let out a satisfied belch.


    Indeed, it was the familiar form, the familiar taste!


    Now, it was time to digest.


    Following his dopey teacher''s past instructions, Luo En closed his eyes, letting his thoughts disperse, gradually emptying his mind and spirit, trying to absorb the divinity contained within the god-given food inside him.


    However, after a full two hours, he opened his eyes in frustration.


    The method didn''t seem quite right.


    After all this effort, he had digested and absorbed less than one percent.


    That shouldn''t be - where had he gone wrong?


    As doubt surged in his heart, Luo En furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then a bold guess sprouted in his mind.


    Could it be that he hadn''t released himself fully enough?


    ¡ªI never turned anyone into a beast, they were beasts to begin with.


    Remembering Circe''s chant, which seemed like a jest yet profound, Luo En finally made up his mind to fully let go of his spirit, and while continuously chanting in his mind, he deliberately underwent self-hypnosis,


    ¡ªI am a leopard, a ferocious beast racing through the forest, with strong limbs and sharp ws...


    Gradually, a mist arose from within Luo En''s body, enveloping his figure.


    Then, amidst the sounds of bones stretching and soft rustling, a beast''s paw covered with ck fur reached out from the mist, with remnants of torn cloth seeming to hang between the ws.


    "Roar!"


    With a low growl, a sleek ck panther burst out of the surging mist, jumped to thekeshore, and looked at its reflection in the water while sensing its rapidly digested Hygieian Porridge, a human-like expression of satisfaction on its face.


    That was the sensation!


    Demeter was an Agriculture Goddess who controlled the growth of all things and revered raw, primal wildness and nature.


    Therefore, reconciling one''s human side with their inherent animal nature and aligning with it was the key to fully absorbing the divinity of this divine nourishment.


    At that moment, with his hunch confirmed, Luo En put aside human vanity andpletely immersed himself in the role, setting off on all fours like a true panther, running and hunting through the forest;


    Soon, he was no longer satisfied with his current form and transformed into a golden stag, leaping through the valley;


    Afterward, the evermore proficient Luo En sessively turned intomon animals such as a grey wolf, a yellow marten, and a fox, fully expressing his wildness, all to thoroughly absorb the inherent natural divinity of the Hygieian Porridge.


    Complete!


    Atst, when the digestion was announcedplete, Luo En''s body transformed into a snow-white rabbit, hopping towards the pond in front to wash off the dirt and defilement umted from running.


    "Ssh~"


    "Smack~"


    However, the rabbit that was aiming for the pond hit against a soft yet resilient wall with a clear sshing sound.


    Meanwhile, before the little rabbit that almost got knocked out could regain its senses, a fair and slender hand with an irresistible force picked it up by its long ears and brought it in front of a moon-like elegant face with a wild beauty of the forest.


    "Hmm? Little fellow, did you want to bathe with me?"


    The crisp and melodious voice had curious eyes blinking, followed by a slight smile.


    "Alright, you have my permission!"


    Saying this, the mysterious girl with golden hair and silver eyes gently hugged the little rabbit that had identally entered her pond, then, like a mermaid, arched back into the water, creating a breathtaking scene under the sunset.


    At this moment, the little rabbit, nestled between two majestic mountains, curled up on the soft nd," kept its pose rigid and unmoving.

 Chapter 116: Chapter 92: The Bunny is So Cute, How About... (5200)

    It''s over...


    The little rabbit squatting on the snowy [ground], or rather Luo En in his beastly form, felt immense regret as he sensed the overwhelming divine power imbued within the body beneath his feet.


    He knew that there was a goddess bathing beneath the surface of theke, and he would never jump in no matter what.


    Although he was now a harmless little rabbit, once he digested the divinity of the Agriculture God from the Hygieian Porridge, and returned to his human form, the real trouble would begin.


    After all, aside from a few exceptions, the goddesses of Greece were synonymous with problems and danger.


    If his cover were blown, he might very well end up as dishes like spicy rabbit dices, shredded rabbit, spicy rabbit''s head, dry pot rabbit... and so on.


    "Why does it feel so dumb..."


    As the curious mutterings of the goddess reached his ears, Luo En, who was catastrophizing his dire future, hastily raised his rabbit head and blinked his red eyes innocently and bewilderedly up at the golden-haired, silver-eyed goddess.


    The goddess burst into giggles at the sight of the cute creature, cheerfully hugging the little rabbit to her chest.


    "Right, if you weren''t dumb, why would you jump into the water? Lucky for you, you''ve met me."


    At this moment, with the movement of limbs, two majestic peaks kept squeezing inwards.


    Caught in the middle, Luo En was far from experiencing any extreme pleasure, instead, he was enduring torment as rm bells rang in his head, almost sounding like buzzers, and the twelve-sided die on the altar trembled with joy.


    Clearly, this goddess was a dangerous character.


    Both the instincts of his body and that twelve-sided die clearly told him that he was flirting with disaster on the edge of danger.


    Fortunately, his transformation was influenced by the original Hygieian Porridge from Demeter. Had it been the abridged version by the foolish teacher Circe, he might have perished on the spot.


    At this moment, Luo En, trapped in the deep cleavage and unable to escape, could only hope that the remaining divinity of the Agriculture God inside him was sturdy enough.


    And in order to dy as much as possible, to find a gap to escape the clutches, Luo En tried to stay as silent as he could, endeavoring to slow down the digestion and absorption of the Agriculture God''s divinity.


    Finally, after enduring an agonizing hour, the goddess in theke finally finished her satisfying bath and walked naked toward the shore.


    Luo En, in his rabbit form, was also cradled in front of the goddess''s chest, bing a natural fig leaf.


    Big sister, I really can''t hold on any longer...


    At this point, as the divine power of the Agriculture God inside him became increasingly weaker, and the deadly touches rolling and pressing all over his body intensified, Luo En couldn''t help but cry out in his heart.


    Thankfully, the ce where the clothes were stored was not far from the water, and the goddess hadn''t walked far before she reached her destination, finally setting the rabbit, who had served as a modesty cover, free.


    As his four paws touched the solid ground once more, Luo En almost wanted to cry out with joy.


    I''m free!


    Taking advantage of the goddess getting dressed, Luo En didn''t hesitate to hop away on his short little legs, diving into the nearby thicket, trying to flee the scene as quickly as possible.


    But there was a rustling sound, and two golden-horned deer pulling a magnificent chariot sheathed in gold came sprinting down from the mountain.


    Lucky for Luo En, his quick reflexes saved him from a second collision.


    However, before that sense of relief couldst a few seconds, a series of greedy and dangerous gazes converged on him.


    Luo En stiffly raised his rabbit head and was shocked to see a line of hounds descending the mountain following the chariot, their eyes gleaming as they excitedly stuck out their red tongues.


    "Woof, woof, woof!"


    The next moment, three droopy-eared dogs, two spotted dogs, one speckled dog, and seven incredibly fast Sparta dogs burst out of the bushes, racing straight for the snow-white rabbit on the leaves.


    Run!


    Almost instantaneously, Luo En cursed inwardly while frantically moving his short legs, dodging the pounces of the thirteen hunting dogs, trying to break out of their encirclement.


    Because the Nameless Goddess was behind him, Luo En, in his rabbit guise, didn''t dare to show too much prowess and had to use all of amon rabbit''s skills to escape danger.


    But the thirteen well-trained hounds before him were not only faster than ordinary livestock, but they also knew to work together, mounting a coordinated chase and cut-off against the scurrying little rabbit.


    Luo En''s several feints were continuously thwarted by the pack of hounds, and the space he had to manoeuvre was graduallypressed to an exposed clearing.


    "Woof, woof!"


    In the end, two eager mixed-breed dogs barked joyfully, lunging from left and right, trying to catch their prey first.


    Just then, a crisp whistle sounded, and the thirteen hounds, heeding the call, retreated like a tide, gathering around the imposing, huntress goddess in front of them, excitedly whimpering and wagging their tails.


    "You think you can escape from my hands that easily."


    With a teasing, melodious tone, a hanging slender hand picked up the rabbit by its long ears, recapturing it and cradling it in one arm.


    Find adventures on mvl


    Then, she leapt onto the chariot pulled by the two golden-horned does, grabbed the golden reins in her other hand, and gave them a light flick.


    Instantly, themanded golden-horned does snorted, stretched their legs, gathering wind beneath their hooves, and pulling thevish chariot, they dashed towards Knossos City like a whirlwind.

 Chapter 117: Chapter 92: The Bunny is So Cute, How About... (5200)_2

    Along the way, the cold wind howled, and Luo En, who was tucked into the arms of the goddess in hunting garb, huddled without daring to move, fearing he might be discovered by thest of the three great virgin goddesses.


    That''s right...


    Through clear or implied clues, the identity of the goddess in hunting attire was actually about to be revealed.


    ¡ª One of the Twelve Olympians of Olympus, Artemis.


    That is, the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt in Ancient Greek mythology, known as the "Mistress of Animals and the Sovereign of the Wilderness," she is also the daughter of Zeus, the Divine King, and Leto, the goddess of childcare, and the twin sister of Apollo, the god of light and prophecy.


    Thus, Luo En''s blood really boiled at just the wrong moment.


    And after learning the true identity of the goddess in hunting attire, Luo En, sandwiched between two great mountains of pressure, dared not move even more.


    Because, once his human identity was discovered by this virgin goddess who vowed to maintain her chastity, and he was proven to havemitted the crimes of peeping and sacrilege, whether passive or active, he was sure to get no good out of it.


    If he remembered correctly, a certain future little cousin of his had already set off this trap for him.


    The legend speaks of Autonoe, another daughter of Cadmus, the princess of Thebes, and her demigod hero, Aristaeus, who had a son called "Actaeon."


    Because his father loved hunting, Actaeon was also fond of the sport from a young age and went on to learn hunting tricks from the wise centaur Chiron. Upon his return to his homnd, he became even more enthusiastic about it.


    One day, while hunting in the forests of Mount Cyllene, he identally wandered into the sacrednd of Artemis in the Gargaphie Valley,ing across the Goddess of the Hunt bathing in a pool.


    Perhaps feeling bold, Actaeon did not immediately flee, but was captivated by Artemis''s beauty and figure, staring fixedly at the goddess, who had be exposed.


    Instantly, an annoyed Artemis, using a handful ofke water, cast a spell, turning Actaeon into a deer.


    Realizing that disaster loomed, the panicking young hunter tried to escape in confusion, only to be torn to pieces by his own hounds that he had brought into the mountains, who mistook him for prey. He met his doom.


    With such a ssic example, Luo En would have to be out of his mind to take on human form in front of this Goddess of the Hunt.


    But at this moment, even if he did not want to, the remaining divine power of the Agriculture God within him could onlyst for a mere quarter of an hour at best.


    Fast, fast!


    Perhaps Luo En''s prayers worked, as the golden chariot he was on swiftly came to a halt outside Knossos City.


    Artemis released the reins, leaped down from the chariot, and waved her hand casually backward,


    Continue your adventure at mvl


    Immediately, two golden-horned hinds and thirteen dogs of various colors, upon themand of their mistress, obediently turned around and slipped back into the dense woods, waiting for the next summoning.


    The goddess, appearing as an ordinary huntress, stroked the small rabbit in her arms with its soft and smooth fur and walked towards a house in Knossos City under the cover of night, with a clear destination in mind.


    The closer he got to his destination, the more fiercely Luo En''s heart pounded.


    Because he was all too familiar with this ce, it was Hestia''s residence.


    The thought of running out of divine power inside and transforming back into his human form right there in Artemis''s arms, amid the possible crowd of onlookers, made him shiver uncontrobly.


    That picture was too beautiful.


    There was a brief knock at the door; Luo En''s time to maintain his animal form was running out.


    As the door opened, Artemis, taken aback, paused for a moment in surprise at the sight of the silver-haired, purple-eyed goddess before her.


    "You''re here too?"


    Opportunity!


    Sensing a loosening in the arms around him, the small rabbit on the brink of transformation bolted from Artemis''s embrace, swiftly squeezed through the doorway, and with all the strength in its small, short legs, zoomed into the backyard, disappearing among the lush nursery beds.


    The sudden turn of events left a look of astonishment on Artemis''s face.


    It was the first time prey had escaped from the palm of her hand.


    Especially in front of this woman...


    "It seems the Goddess of the Hunt can also have an off day..."


    Athena, standing near the door with her arms folded, suppressed a smile.


    Artemis nced at the Goddess of Wisdom blocking the door and gave a light snort,


    "I think it''s clear that something dirty here frightened my little one, causing it to react so violently..."


    The two goddesses locked eyes, their deep gazes shing silently in the air, almost sparking a fire.


    After a brief standoff, neither side victorious, both subtly conveyed their slight disdain for the other.


    "Tsk!"


    "Hmph!"


    The nearly synchronized reactions of the two virgin goddesses had an oddly harmonious rhythm amidst their subtle rivalry.


    In fact, although both were virgin goddesses, unlike the pacifistic Hestia,


    the other two goddesses, being of the same generation and of simr strengths, both favored by the Chief God Zeus, were inevitablypared to one another.


    Over time, the twopetitive goddesses, while maintaining a close and cordial rtionship in public, naturally harbored thoughts of outdoing each other in private.


    Athena, observing Artemis in her hunting attire, let her gaze sweep over the expanse of white skin and finallynded on the shamefully ample contours at her chest, inadvertently furrowing her brows.


    Sensing the other''s gaze, the Goddess of the Hunt stepped forward, standing nearly face to face with Athena, further highlighting the nutritional difference between them, and reminded her with a smile,

 Chapter 118: Chapter 92: The Bunny is So Cute, How About... (5200) _3

    "I''m here to find Aunt Hestia, where is she?"


    "I don''t know, I''ve just arrived myself,"


    Athena nced back and responded indifferently.


    Having just returned from Mount Olympus, she had hoped for a warm meal to reward herself, but upon entering the house, she found it empty, with no clue as to where everyone had gone.


    Yet before she could investigate further, an uninvited guest had arrived.


    Not here?


    The two goddesses frowned slightly and subconsciously prepared to close their eyes and spread their divine will.


    "Do we have a visitor?"


    At that moment, a surprised voice echoed into the front hall, as a handsome young man with a smile stered on his face strode in from the backyard.


    He seemed to have just taken a bath, his wet, silver hair tied at the back of his head.


    Hearing that familiar voice, Athena turned first, her brows slightly furrowed.


    "Where have you been?"


    "Ahem, there was a little ident in the cer in the backyard, I was cleaning up,"


    Luo En quickly exined with a smile stered all over his face, then immediately changed the subject, looking surprised at the guest outside the door.


    Your next read is at mvl


    "You are..."


    "Don''t move!"


    However, before he could inquire about the identity of the neer, the huntress goddess at the door, her gaze sharp as an arrow, sternlymanded in a low tone, moved briskly inside the door, and headed straight for Luo En.


    In an instant, the friendly smile on Luo En''s face froze, and his heart pounded furiously.


    This is bad!


    Under the frantic warning of imminent danger, he reflexively twisted his waist.


    "Ahaha, what a cute dog,e here, let me hold you."


    In the nick of time, the Goddess of the Hunt bypassed Luo En, reached the staircase, and intercepted the Golden Hound as it dashed towards its original owner, cheerfully stroking its soft head.


    "Woof..."


    The Golden Hound, now in the goddess''s clutches, sensing her overwhelming divine will,y helplessly on the ground not daring to resist, whimpering pitifully, looking imploringly at its owner for help.


    That gave me such a scare!


    At that moment, with his blood pressure soaring, Luo En realized it was a false rm. Watching the Goddess of the Hunt merrily petting the dog and ignoring the whines of the Golden Hound, he imperceptibly retracted the step he had taken toward Athena.


    There was no choice, if the truth were toe out, he would have to use his beloved sister as a shield.


    After all, only the Goddess of Wisdom on the scene could stop Artemis in her rage.


    However, before Luo En could catch his breath, a satisfied Artemis reluctantly let go of the Golden Hound on the ground to run to its owner and gave Luo En an apologetic smile, speaking softly.


    "Sorry, this little one was just too adorable, I couldn''t resist."


    "No problem, as long as you''re happy,"


    At that moment, Luo En forced a smile on his face, wanting to keep his distance from the Goddess of the Hunt.


    "Call me Cynthia... just Cynthia,"


    However, the Goddess of the Hunt, seemingly to express her regret for her behavior, unexpectedly introduced her pseudonym and reached out her hand.


    "Pleased to meet you, very pleased."


    Luo En maintained a fa?ade of calm, answered simply, and cautiously grasped the goddess''s fingertips, epting this gesture of goodwill before again stepping forward, seeking the safety offered by Athena''s presence.


    But just as one wave subsided, another arose.


    "Wait, what''s that smell on you?"


    Before Luo En could step away, Artemis sniffed the air curiously and moved in closer.


    "It smells so good..."


    "It''s wine, I identally got some on me while cleaning the cer, and I didn''t expect the smell to linger after bathing."


    Guilty conscious, Luo En hastily brought out the evidence he had prepared in advance.


    Wine?


    The two goddesses, upon hearing this new word, were slightly taken aback.


    "Ah, my backside, it hurts a little..."


    Just then, a muffled muttering came from the backyard, and a certain Goddess of the Hearth, who had emerged from the cer, groped her way into the front hall.


    Seeing Hestia appear before them, Artemis and Athena showed a hint of surprise in their eyes.


    "Auntie? So you were here?"


    "Ah? Artemis? And Athena? What brings you here?"


    As Hestia looked up and saw the two grand-nieces gathered, she blurted out Artemis''s true name, true to her habit of blowing her own cover.


    Caught in the act, the Goddess of the Hunt couldn''t help feeling embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.


    "Auntie, what''s happened to you?"


    "Oh, don''t even mention it, I drank a bit too much by ident, ended up sleeping in the cer for most of the day, and when I woke up, I was in pain all over, especially my backside."


    As Hestia muttered, she rubbed what seemed to be her slightly plumper buttocks, waving her hands listlessly, as if she were a severely ill patient.


    "I can''t, I can''t, my throat is burning up, let me drink some water and have a seat."


    "I''ve always told you to drink less, but you just wouldn''t listen..."


    With the sturdiest wind-break finally reaching the battlefield, Luo En took the opportunity to speak up, promptly helping Hestia to a chair and considerately pouring her some warm tea to sober up.


    "Wine? A new drink? The one that''s been really popr in Knossos Citytely? Interesting..."


    "To think it''s something that can even get deities drunk, it looks like I must try it today."


    As that new term kepting up, Athena and Artemis grew more interested.


    "It wasn''t me, it was Luo En who made it, you''ll have to ask him if you want to try it."


    Hestia did not take credit but pointed directly to the original inventor for her two nieces, smacking her lips, briefly savoring the aftertaste, and thenmenting with apparent relish.


    "Although there are some aftereffects from drinking too much, the taste is indeed good, and the experience of being drunk is quite interesting."


    Hearing this direct endorsement from the Goddess of the Hearth, Athena and Artemis became even more eager to try it, their gazes coincidentally focusing on a certain spot.


    "Just in time, there are a few jars left in the cer, please wait a moment, I''ll go get them, and prepare some snacks to go with the wine, to give you all a proper wee."


    Luo En immediately nodded in understanding, adeptly exited the scene to prepare the drinks and dishes for his guests.


    As he left the front hall and re-entered the cer, the smile that had been ever-present on his face finally contorted, bursting with relief at having dodged a bullet.


    Phew, that was close!


    He had finally dodged this lethal crisis.


    After calming down a bit, Luo En looked at the seven remaining jars of fruit wine in the cer and thought of the three virgin goddesses in the front hall, his gaze flickering with intrigue.


    I mean, when the opportunity is so rare, should I get them all drunk?

 Chapter 119: Chapter 93 What are you going to do, you beast?

    Knossos City, the residence of the Goddess of the Hearth.


    Three virgin goddesses were seated together in the living room, tasting fruit pastries before their meal while waiting for the sumptuous food to be served.


    And, to pass the time, they naturally started discussing several major events that had recently transpired on Mount Olympus.


    First, due tox control, Sea Beasts from the Sea of Okeanos had proliferated and attacked the surrounding human cities. Poseidon, as the god of the ocean, was summoned by the Divine King Zeus to Olympus and severely reprimanded.


    Topensate for the losses of the human city-states and to showcase the deities'' benevolence, Zeus required Poseidon to grant the afflicted human cities three years of abundant fish and precious minerals and seafood from the Sea of Okeanos.


    Among them, thepensation awarded to Crete Ind, which had suffered the most, was undoubtedly the most generous.


    However, Athena, as the guardian goddess of the Minosians, had a significant issue with this seemingly lenient punishment and proposed more substantive demands, such as demarcating safe zones and asking the Sea Beasts to retreat from the coast for a distance of thirty miles.


    Of course, Poseidon was also dissatisfied with the verdict proimed by Zeus and stubbornly demanded a thorough investigation to find the culprit behind the attacks on his Antean Guard and for the humans to ount for the immense losses suffered by his divine-blooded kindred in recent years.


    Thus, both parties continued to argue ceaselessly over who was responsible and who had instigated the conflict first, repeatedly shing for months.


    Hestia, who was listening attentively, couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    "And then?" Continue your adventure with §Þ??


    "That''s it," Athena replied indifferently, calmly sipping her honey water.


    "That''s it?" Hestia, eagerly awaiting the rest of the story, raised her voice in surprise.


    Wasn''t it said that Zeus was going to uphold justice?


    Seeming to see the confusion of her aunt, Artemis spread her hands and spoke wearily.


    "Because the Father God recently descended to the mortal realm, an incident urred, and he''s currently quarreling with the Queen of Heaven to no end."


    "..."


    Hearing such an unexpected but reasonable oue, Hestia was speechless. She then couldn''t contain her curiosity about the whole business and covertly inquired about what had happened.


    It turned out not to be terriblyplex.


    Not long ago, Zeus, who habitually descended to the mortal realm to seduce women, fancied a nymph named "Aegina" and, transforming into a mighty eagle, abducted her.


    But Aegina''s father, the river god Asopus, possessed a strong paternal love, rare in the Age of Greek Gods.


    Having fathered nine daughters and taking pride and joy in having so many innocent and adorable daughters, he was especially affectionate towards them.


    However, fate always seemed to torment this river god who didn''t quite fit in with the rest of the Greek divine age.


    One by one, his daughters mysteriously disappeared, which brought him great sorrow.


    For this reason, the old river god had searched many ces, asking passersby and deities about their whereabouts, to no avail.


    After eight daughters had disappeared without a trace, leaving only his youngest daughter Aegina, the old river god, in extreme agony, took great care in guarding her, not wanting to lose hisst beloved daughter as well.


    But no matter how watchful he was, he still didn''t stop the descending Divine King,


    When the river god was resting, Zeus transformed into a mighty eagle and swiftly stole the nymph Aegina.


    However, the old river god, having already lost everything, did not copse upon hearing the terrible news. Instead, he tenaciously followed the traces of his daughter, tantly ignoring the oracles sent by Zeus, trailing the changing form of the Divine King with the intent to reim his daughter.


    In the end, Zeus, with his passion inmed and unwilling to give up such a beautiful maiden, hurled down his lightning, striking one of the river god''s legs. While the river god copsed, Zeus took the nymph Aegina to a solitary ind, consummated the union with her, and fathered a divine son named "Aeacus."


    This deed Zeus thought to be perfectly executed, yet it was witnessed in its entirety by King Sisyphus of Corinth.


    Then afterward, somehow, the event reached Mount Olympus and found its way to the ears of Hera.


    Thus, the enraged Queen of Heaven naturally caught her constantly unfaithful husband and vented furiously.


    With such an unexpected situation, Zeus, embroiled in a heap of troubles, had neither the inclination nor the time to handle the dispute between Athena and Poseidon. He was currently avoiding his wife, who was roaming the world looking to reprimand him.


    Despite narrating in a calm tone, the Goddess of the Hunt seemed to betray a sense of schadenfreude.


    Hestia, after hearing the story, began to feel sorry for the wronged old river god and couldn''t help but express a word of fairness.


    "Zeus, he''s really getting too out of hand."


    "Hasn''t the Father God always been like this?"


    Athena twirled the cup in her hand and asked faintly in return.


    For a moment, Hestia had no response and could only sigh in resignation, as thepassion and indignation in her eyes dimmed helplessly.


    Right or wrong, there were things in Olympus she truly couldn''t control.


    Moreover, if she desired to continue living in peace, she shouldn''t control them, either.


    ¡ª¡ªThese were the words Athena had repeatedly warned her.


    Since she was powerless to do anything, Hestia could only try not to think about these troubling matters, lifting her head to change the subject.


    "So, the matter with Crete Ind still doesn''t have a real resolution even now?"


    "Still negotiating..."


    Athena replied calmly, her expression as serene as ever.


    Her initial intention was not to covet Antis''s local specialties, but rather to blow things out of proportion, muddy the waters, and pressure Poseidon into a situation where he couldn''t openlyy hands on Crete Ind under everyone''s scrutiny.


    The fiercer and longer the dispute, the safer Crete Ind became.


    And indeed, the situation was evolving just as the Goddess of Wisdom had predicted.


    Therefore, she didn''t mind wasting some breath to verbally spar with Poseidon for a few more days.


    What she feared was that her uncle wouldn''t be willing to let matters rest so easily...


    Thinking of that colossal water-blue arm descending from the sky, Athena felt a twinge of irritation in her heart.


    Seeing her wise and famous grandniece seemingly having her own clear ideas, the self-aware Hestia wisely refrained from asking further, turning her attention instead to another niece.


    "What about you, Artemis? What brings you to me all of a sudden?"


    Artemis smiled slightly and softly disclosed her purpose.


    "Isn''t the annual festival of the godsing up soon? Father God asked me to inquire whether you''d like to return to Olympus this time."


    "Not going!"


    Hestia chose to refuse without hesitation, vaguely guessing another reason why the Divine King brother had specially sent Artemis to invite her back.


    Besides the official festival of the gods, he probably also wanted her to help persuade Hera.


    After all, Zeus would undoubtedly be aware of her true attitude toward the superficially cordial gatherings of the Divine King''s family by now.


    And the invites in the past were never so formal.


    Unknowingly, the Goddess of the Hearth had guessed several of her Divine King brother''s thoughts quite urately.


    Clearly, after repeated influences and constant indoctrination from a certain someone, Hestia developed a significant wariness and distance from her seemingly equitable Divine King brother, even if she was not one to think too deeply.


    Upon hearing Hestia''s usual response, Artemis wasn''t surprised, but rather chuckled and affectionately wrapped another of her aunt''s arms, showing a mix of fondness and hope.


    "Then how about spending this year with me in Arcadia? Staying in one ce for too long will be tiresome."


    Ah, so she''s here to poach...


    Athena, who had put down her cup, scoffed silently, casting a faintly disapproving nce at the ulterior-motived Artemis, then offered Hestia a warm smile.


    "Aunt, it''s okay here, don''t worry, you can go wherever you like."


    However, faced with Athena''s generous persuasion, Hestia decisively shook her head, conveying an apologetic look towards Artemis.


    "No thanks, I''ve gotten used to it here and don''t feel like moving."


    Though both were her nieces and fellow virgin goddesses, their circumstances were starkly different.


    Artemis still had the protection of her mother Leto and the care of her brother Apollo.


    Athena? She had nothing.


    Even the favoritism from Zeus seemed to have an ulterior motive.


    Therefore,pared to Artemis, Hestia undeniably felt more sympathy for Athena.


    Seeing Hestia so resolute, Artemis couldn''t help but feel a tinge of disappointment.


    "Alright then, I''lle to see you often."


    "Sure, you''re always wee! I won''t lie to you, ever since that kid moved in, the quality of food at my ce has gone up more than a notch!"


    Hestia was naturally overjoyed to agree to her niece''s gesture of closeness, taking the opportunity to brag about her personal chef.


    However, before the Goddess of the Hearth could praise further, a noisymotion rose from the backyard, prompting Artemis to nce in that direction, her expression subtly changing as she swiftly stood up.


    "Stop! What are you doing?!"


    "Doing, cooking..."


    At that moment, Luo En, who was squatting in the backyard processing ingredients, pulled out two floundering rabbits from the vegetable garden, turned his head to look at the startled Goddess of the Hunt, and expressed his bewilderment and confusion.

 Chapter 120: Chapter 94: Youre in Every X-Ray! (Daily 6k Achieved)

    Seeing something seemed amiss in the atmosphere, Hestia couldn''t help but stand up to ask what was going on.


    "What happened?"


    Realizing her reaction was a bit excessive, Artemis cleared her throat slightly and asked the two casually.


    "You, want to eat rabbit?"


    "Yes, rabbit meat is both nourishing and firm, and tastes quite good."


    Luo En, the chef, nodded subconsciously and began to exin.


    "I wasn''t sure what to make, but then I saw a rabbit had gotten into the vegetable garden and was nibbling on the sprouts, so I thought why not catch it and make some rabbit dishes for you all to try.


    But considering the number of people dining tonight, it seemed like there wouldn''t be enough, so I went to the market outside and bought a cage, ready to deal with it..."


    No sooner had he finished than Hestia, realizing what happened btedly, threw herself at the chewed-up sprouts in the field, wailing in anguish.


    "Damn it, my vegetable garden, who? Who let the rabbit in?"


    Suddenly, the Goddess of the Hunt stood up somewhat awkwardly.


    "Cough, auntie, it was me. I caught one while hunting on the way, but identally let it escape when I entered. I was too caught up in chatting and forgot about it..."


    "Right, it must be the one that ran into the backyard."


    Athena chimed in from the side, seeming to rify but also confirming Artemis''s blunder.


    The Goddess of the Hunt rolled her eyes at the Goddess of Wisdom, who was outwardly helping but secretly kicking her when down, and hesitantly spoke up.


    "Auntie, I really like that little guy, how about we let it go? I''llpensate you for the loss."


    "So that''s how it is, never mind then..."


    Seeing her niece owning up to the mistake, Hestia couldn''t be bothered to pursue it further and waved at the royal chef, ready to take drastic measures in the backyard.


    "Luo En, where''s that little rascal? Give it back to her."


    "Uh, I forgot to close the door earlier, and when I opened the cage I wasn''t paying attention, so they all identally ran out. I can''t tell which one it was, maybe Goddess Artemis herself shoulde and see?"


    Luo En pointed to the half-open cage on the ground, and to the several snowy white culprits fleeing around, looking troubled.


    Artemis, realizing the gravity of the situation, now just wanted to end the farce as quickly as possible.


    However, looking around, she couldn''t help but shake her head in disappointment.


    "Strange, none of them seem to be the one..."


    "Maybe a few escaped in the confusion..."


    Luo En, rather helplessly, looked at the Goddess of the Hunt, biting back his words.


    Clearly, the recent capture attempt was interrupted by Artemis, who happened to hear themotion, providing the perfect opportunity for these little creatures.


    Luckily, Artemis turned out to be reasonable, merely shaking her head in regret, not making it difficult for the innocent chef caught up in the matter.


    "That''s okay then, let''s forget it."


    Luo En, also sympathizing with the mood of the Goddess of the Hunt, took the initiative to speak, granting amnesty to all the fugitive culprits.


    "Rabbit takes a bit of time to cook, how about we switch to another dish?"


    "That would be good..."


    Hearing such considerate words from the chef, Artemis could not help but nod in agreement, and even the way she looked at him thereafter seemed to carry traces of good will.


    As the ripples of this minor episode died down, Luo En immediately took the rabbits that had narrowly escaped doom outside to set them free, subsequently purchasing some beef and mutton from the market, called out, and went back to the kitchen to prepare anew.


    "Youdies take a seat; the food will be ready in a moment."


    The three Goddesses had no suspicions, continuing their return to the living room to chat about domestic matters while waiting for the feast to begin.


    Asughter and joyous voices of the Goddesses once again filled the inner room, the head chef in the kitchen, while cutting the beef and mutton, couldn''t help but marvel at his own cleverness.


    The best way to hide a drop of water is to put it into the ocean.


    Simrly, the best way to make a rabbit disappear as reasonably as possible is to get a bunch of rabbits for cover.


    Now that so many rabbits had been released, directly or indirectly, even if Artemis wereter to suspect something, she would hardly be able to trace it to him.


    Moreover, with the damaged vegetable garden incident, it wouldn''t be proper for Artemis to inquire too much about the whereabouts of the fugitive in front of Hestia, the victim.


    After all, a mere prey was nothing unusual for the Goddess of the Hunt.


    This marks the end of the matter, which will most likely blow over.


    Thus, not only had he resolved the crisis brought about by the rabbits, but he had also managed to curry favor with the Goddess of the Hunt.


    Perfect!


    After reying the events and confirming there were no mistakes, Luo En nodded in satisfaction, picked up the exquisite dishes that were ready on the stove, and took out the wine he had brewed from the cer, ready to properly entertain the three maiden Goddesses who had gathered.


    "Come, drink up! Don''t be shy!"


    With the drinks served and the food ted, Hestia immediately poured a Great Cup full of wine for herself and her two nieces, warmly extending an invitation.


    The fragrance of fruitwood and petals filled their nostrils, stirring interest in the two Goddesses who picked up their cups, copied Hestia''s gesture, and downed them in one gulp.


    Instantly, a subtle tartness spread through their mouths, followed by a pleasant aftertaste, the rich aroma of fruit mixed with hints of flowers and vani, the tasteplex andyered.


    In a daze, they seemed to be standing in a meadow surrounded by flowers everywhere, clusters of ripe grapes and pomegranates full on the branches, emitting a fragrant scent that refreshed the heart and soul.


    Momentster, Athena and Artemis opened their eyes one after another and looked at the jug of wine on the table. As if by agreement, they licked their lips and refilled their cups.


    Clearly, they had been conquered by this drink called "wine."


    "I told you it''s good,e on, drink, keep drinking!"


    Seeing her nieces also taking a liking to the thing she rmended, the proud Goddess of the Hearth kept praising the founder Luo En''s ingenious idea while heating up the atmosphere at the table and frequently topping up their drinks.


    Soon, after each had consumed a jug of wine, the three goddesses were slightly tipsy, and a seductive blush appeared on their fair cheeks one after another; their gazes were hazy, and they felt somewhat lightheaded,


    "Wine''s here!"


    Apanied by a cheerful call, Luo En, who was in charge of entertaining the three goddesses, diligently removed the empty jugs and brought up the remaining four jugs of wine from the cer to the table all at once.


    However, Athena waved her hand and pushed the jug in front of her slightly away, regret flickering in her eyes. Your next journey awaits at §Þ??


    "No more, although the vor and the physical sensation are novel, if I keep drinking, I''ll lose control of my body. I don''t like that state of sensory disorientation."


    Simrly, Artemis across from her also put down her cup and nodded in agreement.


    "Indeed, drink too much, and the hands will tremble, which will affect the uracy of archery. Let''s stop for today."


    Seeing the two virgin goddesses so restrained, Luo En, who had harbored a bit of mischief, couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed.


    But after a little thought, he let it go.


    As virgin goddesses, if Athena and Artemis didn''t have some wariness and self-preservation, they likely wouldn''t have had the chance to remain chaste.


    "Ah? You''re not drinking? Then good, I''ll take it all~!"


    While Luo En was ruefully reflecting, Hestia, hearing her nieces'' refusal, her eyes lit up, and she couldn''t wait to bring the remaining four jugs of wine in front of her. Then she broke the seals and indulged in another intense round of drinking, thoroughly enjoying that fantastical, intoxicating feeling.


    "Bang!"


    A quarter of an hourter, the Goddess of the Hearth, who had proactively guzzled five jugs of grape wine, was sprawled on the table, fast asleep, her face bearing a sweet, intoxicated smile.


    At this moment, Luo En, who had been busy preparing and waiting to see the drunken behavior of the three goddesses, looked at the only one who had taken the bait and couldn''t help but darken his face.


    You again, for the second time!


    Not learned your lesson, have you? Seems I didn''t hit you hard enoughst time!


    However, the itch in his hand ultimately didn''t fall upon Hestia''s bottom.


    Athena and Artemis, the two reliable nieces, one on each side, supported their aunt and helped her upstairs.


    Watching the three virgin goddesses walking side by side, Luo En could only honestly clean up the dishes and cutlery and set aside the thought of giving Hestia a "make-up lesson" for the time being.


    They slept undisturbed through the night, with nothing amiss.


    With the arrival of morning, Luo En also sat up from bed, ready to go downstairs and prepare breakfast.


    "Woof!"


    But before he could even open the door, the Golden Hound in the hallway bolted into his arms with a low whine, its dog face full of anthropomorphic terror, as if fleeing from some ferocious beast or flood.


    Outside the door, the Goddess of the Hunt with golden hair and silver eyes discreetly withdrew her hand, maintaining herposure with a smile, acting as if nothing had happened.


    "So early?"


    "Yes, I woke up just in time to make some breakfast to wee our guests."


    Luo En, while stroking the trembling head of the Golden Hound, revealed a reserved smile.


    Artemis nced at the door behind her and smilingly suggested,


    "Auntie might sleep until noon. Why don''t youe for a walk with me first?"


    Immediately after, the goddess''s gaze shifted downward to the Golden Hound in Luo En''s arms, her eyes sparking with fervor.


    "Since you have a good dog, why don''t we go to the nearby mountains and see who is better at hunting?"


    "What''s there topare with him? Why don''t you try with me?"


    Before Luo En could speak, Athena walked out from another bedroom, casting a cold smile at the clearly ulterior-motivated Goddess of the Hunt.


    Seeing her well-nned activity being interrupted, Artemis frowned slightly in displeasure.


    But then, as if she had thought of something, a smile reappeared on her face.


    "Great, it''s rare to have a chance to hunt together. Let''s see who catches more prey today, and by the way, let''s have him be our referee and guide."


    "No problem!"


    Athena nodded in agreement and, following Artemis''s gaze, cast a meaningful nce at someone behind her.


    And the Goddess of the Hunt opposite her, also shared a warm look, not only showing full friendliness and admiration but even taking the initiative to grab the man''s arm, disying her full enthusiasm.


    "Come ride with me in my chariot, it''s faster that way."


    Athena, a beat behind, narrowed her eyes slightly, her tightly closed lips letting out a faint grinding noise.


    And so, Luo En, who was put on the spot to be the goddesses'' arbiter, thought of a future colleague named "Paris" and an even more famous Golden Apple, and couldn''t help but feel his scalp go numb.


    This sort of thing, isn''t likely to be a good task, is it?

 Chapter 121: Chapter 95 This is a Deadly Question

    Crete mountain range.


    The reins tightened, and the two long-horned deer galloping beneath came to a halt.


    Feathers drifted down as a group of owls transformed into human form.


    "Speak¡ª¡ª"


    "¡ª¡ªhow shall wepete?"


    Each Goddess holding a weapon, one a spear and the other a bow, they gazed at each other from a distance, taking turns to ask with a smile. Their eyes, almost striking lightning and sparks in the air, focused toward the center.


    And at this moment, the newly appointed judge caught between them couldn''t help but sweat profusely, feeling like a small boat swaying left and right between two giant waves.


    Seeing how they were experienced in this routine, he now understood that these two seemingly amiable maiden Goddesses probably epted no superiority from the other, and had engaged in many a visible and invisible contest before.


    As the tension between the two Goddesses grew thicker, steadily approaching him.


    Fearing a fight might break out and he would be the unfortunate coteral damage, Luo En had no choice but to stiffen his neck, raise his right hand, and take on the reluctant role of the Judge, carefully beginning to inquire.


    "How about this, since it is a hunt, shall we see who captures the most prey?"


    "That''s eptable," Athena nodded with calm acknowledgement.


    "No problem!" Artemis dered with confidence.


    Having obtained the Goddesses'' approval, Luo En gradually mustered more courage, cleared his throat with a light cough, and pondered solemnly.


    "However, due to the variations in the types and numbers of game during hunting, a preciseparison is difficult. Therefore, the final result will be based on the total weight of the prey captured. Whoever''s total haul is heaviest will be the victor!"


    The two Goddesses, who were "looking affectionately" at each other across the clearing, were slightly startled upon hearing the additional condition, and both turned their gazes toward the judge as he read further rules.


    Judging by weight?


    Interesting...


    Artemis raised her eyebrows in mildly unexpected interest.


    Meanwhile, Athena seemed contemtive, ncing yfully at the Spear of Victory in her hand.


    Seeing that the Goddesses had no objections to the newpetition rules, Luo En could not help but exhale with relief.


    All the way from Knossos City to the Crete mountains, he had been pondering how to break through this unfavorable situation.


    After much careful consideration, the newly appointed divine judge reached a final conclusion.


    ¡ª¡ªFairness, fairness, still TM fairness!


    Firstly, this was not like the matter of the Golden Apple, which involved a dangerous subjective question like "which of the three Goddesses is the fairest?"


    The oue of a hunting contest is more objective, clear cut ¨C it works or it doesn''t, with victory or defeat almost self-evident.


    As long as he maintains justice and neither contestant can find fault, and if the Goddesses have any integrity, he should be able to pass through smoothly.


    Yet before that, he needed to establish rtively fair game rules.


    Having confirmed his overall n once more, Luo En took a deep breath and announced the details solemnly.


    "During the hunt, please heed the following:


    Firstly, territory-wise, let the highest point of the Crete mountain be the boundary, one to the south and the other to the north. Prey captured beyond this range will be deemed invalid, and the hunting grounds will be decided by drawing lots.


    Secondly, time-wise, at sunset, thepetition will officially end. Both parties must stop all hunting activities, and I will be responsible for weighing all the prey and announcing the final oue.


    Thirdly, thispetition is about skill, divine power is prohibited. Any game obtained through divine power will not be included for evaluation..."


    As rule after rule was announced, the Goddesses listened and nodded slightly.


    Though borate, these rules undoubtedly made the game fairer and more just, with virtually no loopholes to exploit.


    If the contest proceeded ording to the rules, whether it was the judge himself, a farmer, or even Zeus in person adjudicating, the oue would be the same.


    When everything was ready, Luo En, still feeling insecure, added a precautionary statement.


    "Those are the main rules. Do either of you have any objections before thepetition begins?"


    "None."


    "It''s fair."


    Artemis and Athena nodded consecutively, unanimously approving the procedure.


    However, seeing the cold gleam of tasselled war spears and golden bows and arrows in the hands of the Goddesses, Luo En still couldn''t help but twitch, cautiously suggesting.


    "I think, for fairness'' sake, the one who sets the rules and the one who judges should be separate. Therefore, I rmend King Minos, known for his reputation for impartiality and strict enforcement of thew..."


    Although pushing the old man to take the brunt and alleviate his own pressure was somewhat unkind,


    he had made merits for Crete, he had shed blood for the Minosians!


    Even as a reciprocal gesture, the elder shoulde forward to help.


    Readtest chapters at §Þ??


    But just as Luo En was internally justifying his dishonorable act of throwing his teammate under the bus, both Goddesses shook their heads in unison.


    "No need¡ª¡ª"


    "¡ª¡ªyou''ll do just fine."


    Seeing that he couldn''t avoid the task at hand, Luo En grudgingly epted his fate and pulled out two prepared wooden sticks for the Goddesses to draw at random.


    As a result, Athena headed south and Artemis north.


    Each Goddess, one with a spear and the other with a bow, stood at their respective starting points, poised to begin.


    Sensing the subtly escting tension between the two, Luo En swallowed hard and reminded them in a low voice.


    "Ladies, remember, friendship first,petition second..."


    However, this advice was met with the Goddesses'' profound gazes.


    Knowing that the situation was no longer within his control, Luo En resigned himself to fulfilling the duties of a judge, tossing a piece of Zeus''s Gold gently into the air.

 Chapter 122: Chapter 95 This is a Deadly Question_2

    "Ding-dang~!"


    And with the crisp sound of gold coins falling to the ground, the two goddesses'' auras became stern, and like arrows released from their bows, they dashed toward their respective hunting grounds.


    Watching the two figures disappearing into the distance, galloping through the dense forest, streams, and valleys, and cleanly striking down prey, big and small, Luo En shook his head, sat at the starting point of Mount Crete, patted the head of the Golden Hound beside him, and murmured with a wealth of emotion,


    "Ah, women..."


    During the wait time for the judge, as seconds and minutes passed, thepetition between the two goddesses grew increasingly fierce.


    One was abat genius, the other the sovereign of the forests, even without using divine power, they could easily rampage through the entire Crete mountains with their formidable physical prowess.


    And with the arrival of these two fierce stars, the beasts and Magic Beasts of the Crete Mountains were utterly misfortunate, systematically getting cleaned out.


    The bigger the size, the more their focused care.


    After all, the result of thepetition was measured not by quantity, but by weight.


    So, sister Athena, you must understand my earnest intentions...


    At this moment, Luo En, watching from afar atop a mountain, looked at Athena, who was on a killing spree, and silently thought to himself,


    Even though he needed to present an image of being a fair and impartial judge, he was clear about which sister he needed to cling to more closely for support.


    Therefore, even though he couldn''t openly take sides, in order to justify his actions in the future, he needed to show his stance a little.


    In fact, choosing apetition rule based on weight rather than quantity was the convenience he provided for Athena.


    If it were a contest of the number of prey, obviously, Artemis, adept at archery, would have the advantage.


    But if one had to suppress divine power and consider whose prey weighed more, the Spear, with more powerful lethality againstrger prey, would clearly have the upper hand.


    The saying, "Three arrows are inferior to one de, and three des to one spear," was simr in principle.


    These advantageous conditions he had created were the greatest help Luo En could offer Athena under fair and reasonable circumstances.


    For the sake of continuing to receive offerings at the temple, he had indeed made a serious effort.


    Now, he just hoped that the Goddess of Wisdom could understand his painstaking effort and, whether she won or lost, not to ce the me on him in the end.


    Time flew by; the sun sloped westward.


    Thepetition was drawing to a close, and the battle between the two goddesses was entering an intense stage, to the point where they started using some tricks within the rules, in order to win.


    For example, Artemis used her Hunting God talent tomand the Hound Squadron to cooperate in a wide-ranging nking maneuver,


    while Athena leveraged her primordial aura to constantly send messages through birds in the mountains, enabling a full-view of the map...


    The judge in charge of surveince sighed at the two goddesses'' groundbreaking attempts whileining about the dishonorable family tradition of rule-breakingmon in Olympus.


    And when thest ray of sunlight fell below the horizon, this huntingpetition between the goddesses finally came to an end.


    Luo En, who was responsible for the final judgment, stopped his idleness of the day, stood up resolutely, and began to count and weigh the prey from both sides.


    As the Goddess of War, Athena tended to challenge tougher Magic Beasts, so her catch was mostlyrge prey; although there were fewer in number, the total weight exceeded ten thousand pounds.


    But as the Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis was clearly more professional; she not only chose easy-to-huntrge and medium-sized prey but also species that were mostly social. Among them, hundreds of Magic Pigs whose nests were wiped outy neatly on the ground, presenting a magnificent scene of dozens of generations gathered together.


    Luo En wondered if the Goddess of the Hunt hadpletely exterminated the Magic Pigs of the entire Crete Mountains.


    And after several weighings and calctions, Artemis''s total haul for the day weighed over twenty thousand pounds.


    The final result, needless to say,


    was almost instantly reflected in Athena''s expression, which visibly darkened a few shades.


    Luo En, tasked with announcing the oue, swallowed hard and felt a huge pressure bearing down on him.


    "Could you make your favoritism any more obvious?"


    He hesitated.


    Considering the potential for unexpected urrences, Luo En had also been cautious, such as in the rules he''d mentioned where the criterion for victory was "the weight of the prey captured by each party."


    This was what unscrupulous merchants often call amon trick¡ª Find more to read at §Þ??


    ¡ª¡ªall rules are subject to the organizer''s interpretation.


    If one were to consider Artemis and her thirteen hounds as individualpetitors, the total weight of twenty thousand jin would be divided into fourteen parts.


    In this way, Athena, appearing to stake it all on her own, could turn the tables instantly.


    But such a move would be too deliberate and obvious in its bias.


    Besides, strictly speaking, Athena had also summoned birds to aid her in the hunt; if one really got down to it, she wasn''t clean either.


    Even if he were as biased as could be to win Athena''s favor, he would inevitably incur Artemis''s resentment.


    All in all, the risks and the rewards were severely disproportionate.


    Should he take that risk?


    Just as Luo En wavered, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the way Athena''s hand loosely gripped the Spear of Victory, and with a flicker in his gaze, he solemnly announced,


    "This contest, Goddess Artemis wins!"


    With thepetition''s results settled, Artemis''s face blossomed with a satisfied smile, her eyes turning to a certain "fair and impartial" judge, her gaze brimming with strands of approval and admiration.


    On the contrary, Athena''splexion was not so pleasant.


    However, in full view of everyone, the Goddess of Wisdom still maintained her dignity and coldly conceded to the winner''s prize.


    "You''ve won, and may use any hunting ground on Crete Ind as you wish for the next three months."


    Thereupon, Athena turned her head toward the side of the judge and let out a cold snort.


    "During this time, all her travels and hunting will be apanied by you!"


    Having said that, the overzealous Goddess of Wisdom threw a cold re at someone and walked away without looking back, heading toward the back of the valley, apparently ready to cease intervening in their affairs.


    "Could you gather the prey for me? I''ll go check on..."


    Seeing the situation turning sour, Luo En first offered Artemis an apologetic smile and then hurriedly chased after Athena.


    And as the victor, the Goddess of the Hunt graciously expressed understanding and contentedly stayed behind to clean up the aftermath of the hunt.


    A quarter of an hourter, Luo En, after both chasing and rushing, finally found the Goddess of Wisdom by the pool behind the valley, who seemed to be brooding.


    Hearing movement behind her, Athena, with a displeased expression, turned and snorted coldly.


    "Why did you follow? Shouldn''t you be at Artemis''s side?"


    "I am just fulfilling your orders to apany her, not as if she owns me entirely."


    Luo En rolled his eyes, equally annoyed in his retort.


    "Of course, if you actually n on doing that, I have nothing to say."


    "Despite being the one who determined the oue, you still have the nerve to argue!"


    Hearing these words, Athena couldn''t help butugh in irritation, her gaze growing colder.


    "That''s not quite right..." Luo En, however, spoke softly, a meaningful smile creeping across his face, "this is precisely the result you wanted."

 Chapter 123: Chapter 96: Sold Artemis and Still Expecting Change? (Reached 7k Daily)

    As their eyes met, the Goddess of Wisdom''s angry expression faded, and her twinkling eyes yfully regarded the one across from her.


    "So, when did you realize it?"


    "Just now."


    Luo En hummed lightly, pointing indignantly at the hand Athena used to grip her gun.


    "If you truly cared about the oue of this contest, that expression on your face wouldn''t be enough, right? You should at least grip the gun tightly..."


    "Observant, aren''t you?"


    Athena chuckled, with no hint of surprise on her face.


    Seeing this reaction, Luo En''s suspicions were thoroughly confirmed.


    "You did it on purpose!"


    "Reason."


    Athena stood with her arms behind her back, smiling smugly as she looked at the judge before her, as if sizing him up.


    By now, Luo En''s thoughts were bing increasingly clear as he began to exin lightly.


    "You are the War God, not the Goddess of the Hunt, and oveing Artemis in hunting would not be so easy.


    Even if I were to judge, it likely wouldn''t increase your odds of victory by much.


    A game you are likely to lose, yet you dive headfirst into it voluntarily¡ªthis doesn''t seem like your character..."


    At this point, Luo En paused, looking deeply at the Goddess of Wisdom before him.


    "...Unless, from the very start, you never intended to win!"


    "p p p p!"


    With a burst of crisp apuse, Athena across him revealed a satisfied smile.


    "Not bad at all, I really didn''t misjudge you."


    "So the w in your gun grip was also deliberately shown to me?"


    "What do you think?"


    "..."


    Luo En''s face darkened, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily as he couldn''t help butin.


    "If you had been clear from the start, would I have had to go out of my way to create conditions for your victory?"


    "If I hadn''t done so, how else would she believe that she was the true victor?"


    Athena smiled, her voicecking any real constion.


    "In any case, it''s not like your efforts werepletely wasted."


    "So I should be thanking you?"


    "Of course!"


    The Goddess of Wisdom nodded unabashedly, her gaze profound.


    "If not for me, could you have made a Chief God stay on Crete Ind and guard the door in peace, keeping you safe for three months in my absence?"


    "...!"


    Luo En, upon reflection, instantly grasped the possibility, his expression subtly changing.


    "Poseidon is still not giving up?"


    Athena first nodded, then shook her head.


    "I''m not sure, but from ourst sh, I always felt he wouldn''t let go so easily."


    Luo En frowned, also offering no rebuttal.


    The reason was simple: Given the grudge-bearing nature of that character, anything was possible.


    Athena might be able to fend off frontal attacks by invoking Zeus''s name,


    but against the covert tactics of the God of the Sea''s vast pantheon, the isted Goddess of Wisdom might find herself vulnerable to guard against.


    And if anything unclean from the sea madendfall, the likely targets would be the same culprit who spoiled Poseidon''s previous n, as well as the current de facto ruler of Crete Ind.


    Realizing his precarious situation, the furrows in Luo En''s brow deepened.


    "Shouldn''t this be something to tell the God of Stove?"


    "If my aunt wishes to live in peace, she should not get involved."


    Athena pursed her lips, gazing toward the distant clouds around Mount Olympus, sighing faintly.


    "And once you''re ensnared in certain affairs, getting out is not so easy..."


    The power struggles within the Divine King''s family were always brutal, with no room for warmth or mercy.


    Since they had stayed out of it, they shouldn''t drag in the elder who was like a sister or mother to them.


    To ay any suspicions, Athena quickly added further exnation,


    "Moreover, when ites to schemes and battles, my aunt isn''t exactly gifted."


    Luo En detected the hidden meaning in Athena''s words and looked toward the opposite side of the mountain with a teasing smile.


    "So, you''re dragging Artemis into this?"


    "What do you mean ''dragging into this''? Don''t make it sound so ugly. She came willingly, stayed by her own desire¡ªit has nothing to do with me."


    Athena rolled her eyes at Luo En, her face the picture of innocence, yet the corners of her lips betrayed a subtle smile.


    She came willingly?


    Luo En faintly perceived the contradiction and looked pensively at the Goddess of Wisdom.


    "Aside from representing Zeus to invite Hestia to the gods'' festival, what else brought Artemis here?"


    "Seems she heard that King Minos has an exquisite hunting dog, right?"


    Athena spoke casually as if she had heard it through the grapevine.


    In an instant, Luo En understood, and two words slipped from his lips.


    "Cunning!"


    "Hmm?" Athena slightly tilted her head, ncing behind her.


    "I mean, you are far-sighted and n for eternity! Truly, you are the Goddess of Wisdom!"


    Luo En quickly corrected himself, his expression one of profound respect.


    "Spare me!"


    However, Athena clearly was immune to such ttery, she gave Luo En a white look behind her and said with a tone of annoyance.


    "Keep a close eye on your dog. If I am not around, at a critical moment, it might just save your life."


    Luo En nodded seriously, as his own life was at stake.


    He certainly understood what Athena meant.


    After all, Artemis had alreadypeted with Athena in a huntingpetition, which he had officiated and judged, resulting in Artemis''s final victory.


    As long as the Goddess of the Hunt had some pride left, she wouldn''t continue to forcibly demand the Golden Hound.


    As long as he wasn''t foolish enough to hand over the dog on his own initiative.


    In times of real trouble, the Golden Hound that had caught Artemis''s eye could prove very useful, and in turn, win the assistance of the Goddess of the Hunt.


    Moreover, ording to the terms of the hunting agreement, he was to be Artemis''s guide andpanion afterward.


    If something unexpected urred while he apanied her, the Hunting God might as well pack up and leave.


    Thus, as long as Artemis remained on the ind of Crete for one more day, his safety was mostly guaranteed.


    As he sorted through his thoughts again, Luo En instantly felt Athena''s invisible care for him and couldn''t help but admire the Goddess of Wisdom''s mind, intricate as a honeb.


    Then, pointing to the darkening sky, Luo En asked, "So, how long should I continue to coax her?"


    Athena smiled slightly, leaning elegantly against the trunk of a tree, enjoying thekeside view, "No rush, let her be happy for a while since it''s rare for her to beat me. By the way, the prey has not all been cleaned up yet, has it?"


    The two exchanged a look and simultaneously revealed mischievous smiles.


    Meanwhile, the Goddess of the Hunt, who waspletely unaware that she had been yed by the two of them, was squatting in the messy hunting field, busily skinning, deboning, tying, and loading each piece of game... and thoroughly enjoying it.


    While waiting, Athena did not forget to issue another reminder.


    "Although Artemis currently has a favorable impression of you, it''s best if you don''t get too close to her or be overly involved."


    "Understood, Crete Ind is my home!"


    On the issue of allegiance, Luo En naturally made a clear pledge.


    "Not because of that..."


    Athena gave Luo En, who was disying his loyalty, a sidelong nce, her eyes shimmering deeply.


    "Don''t be fooled by her normal appearance, but this woman is a bit crazy in her bones. If you get too close, be careful not to lose your grip..."


    Crazy?


    Luo En paused slightly, reflecting on the contradictory nature of Artemis in mythology¡ªsometimes gentle, sometimes somber, sometimes generous, sometimes vengeful¡ªand his eyes held a new measure of caution towards the Goddess of the Hunt.


    Seeing that Luo En took her advice to heart, Athena stretchedzily, satisfied, and then got up and called out.


    "Alright, it''s about time, we should head back as well."


    However, just as the two were about to set off to meet with Artemis, a thunderous boom resounded in the sky, and mes adorned with water-blue sea patterns and bird motifs zed fiercely atop Mount Olympus.


    Suddenly, the ease and contentment on Athena''s face vanished, reced by a gloomy expression.


    "Tsk, here ites again! Looks like I have to make another trip to Olympus."


    Observing the anomaly in the sky, Luo En immediately understood that it was probably the unresolved aftermath between Crete Ind and the Sea of Okeanos.


    Regarding the disputes among the Chief Gods, he was currently helpless and could only see Athena off as she began her journey.


    "By the way, this is what I promised youst time. Keep it safe; you might find use for it. If you have any questions, I''ll exin them to you when I get back."


    Before departing, Athena handed a golden belt to Luo En''s hands, leaving him a few reminders, then spread her golden wings and transformed into a massive owl, vanishing into the dim sky.


    Just as Luo En held the item in his hand, somewhat perplexed, a surprised whisper came from behind him.


    "The War God''s military belt?"


    Artemis, who hade at the sound, looked at her future guide with silvery eyes that twinkled with a hint of yfulness and curiosity.


    "To personally bestow something you won from Ares upon you, it seems she''s quite fond of you," she said.


    It wasn''t that she won it and then gave it to me; she won it for me...


    Luo En thought back to the promise made before the battle, feeling the pure authority of war contained within the belt, and silently corrected his thoughts with aplex gaze as he looked towards the direction where the golden figure had disappeared.


    ~~


    Meanwhile, in Antis, the Temple of the God of the Sea.


    A ghostly blue figure, formed from sea water, opened his eyes and looked down at the youth in hunting garb prostrated at his feet, his deep and solemn voice echoing through the hall.


    "I will hold that woman back in Olympus, you must aplish that task before she returns!"


    "I understand, Father God..."


    Within the deep blue glow, a face that was na?ve yet shadowed by gloom raised slightly, a hesitant look shing with a trace of resentment.


    "But I''m worried that some people on the ind may dy your great n, so..."


    "Are you teaching me how to do things?!"


    In an instant, a chilling coldness apanied by a derisive snort fell from above, those eyes from the abyss scrutinizing the shivering scion below.


    "Do you know how much effort I''ve spent to keep you alive? Keep your useless cunning to yourself! If you want to win, fight for it yourself! If you mess up the main task, or if your ipetence causes my ns to fail, you should know the consequences!"


    "As youmand, Father God! I assure you, I will not fail your trust!"


    Seeing the impending wrath of thunderbolt ready to strike, the hunter with the na?ve face dared not ponder longer, hastily swearing oaths.


    Finally, under the hunter''s solemn vow, the oppressive atmosphere in the great hall dissipated somewhat, reced by a mournful reminder.


    "Remember, this is yourst chance..."


    The hunter buried his head deeper, only daring to lift it slightly after the bundle of ghostly blue light in the hall hadpletely vanished.


    And at that moment, the na?ve face was filled with darkness and venom.


    You bastards of Crete Ind, just you wait, this isn''t over!

 Chapter 124: Chapter 97 Im Still Too Honest (4k)

    The next day, as the sky lightened but was not yet bright, the morning glow was faint.


    Dozens of chariots pulled by hounds and golden-horned deer drove majestically along the wide main road, approaching the gates of Knossos City. Loaded high with various game, they piled up like small hills when seen from a distance.


    "It''s the Chief Scribe! Quick, open the city gates!"


    Themanding officer of city defense, upon seeing that familiar figure on one of the chariots, immediately ordered soldiers to turn the winch and open the gateway into the city.


    Luo En looked up and couldn''t help noticing that today''s patrolling officer on the city wall was an acquaintance.


    ¡ª¡ªWhen Poseidon''s waves swept over Crete Ind, Knossos City was in chaos. It was this officer and the three priestesses from the temple who had recognized Anna''s status as the Divine Envoy in person and, afterwards, had been responsible for coordinating the defense along the coastline.


    Luo En waved to the figure on the city wall and smiled as he spoke, "Thank you."


    Instantly, the officer seemed ttered and quickly pounded his chest with his right fist, respectfully nodding in salute, "You''re too kind, Chief Scribe.


    After that, he, holding his bronze helmet in one hand, approached the city gate and looked towards the peculiar caravan, asking solicitously.


    "Chief Scribe, is there anything I can assist you with?"


    Luo En nced at the upright figure and his gaze momentarily lingered on the Golden Double-Axed Badge on his chest.


    If he remembered correctly, the badge he had worn on his chest before was silver.


    Realizing from whence this enthusiasm came, Luo En smiled faintly and did not decline, gesturing toward the side.


    "Miss Cynthia went hunting in the mountains yesterday and got some game. She can''t finish it all by herself, so she wanted to distribute it to the residents of Knossos City at no cost."


    Hearing the guide''s introduction, Artemis, who drove the caravan, nodded with a smile, slightly pleased with the subtle satisfaction.


    Although she was a goddess, she did not enjoy the boisterous sensation of being the center of attention. Hiding her identity would undoubtedly make her journey much more rxing and sustainable.


    At that moment, the officer at the gate, having heard Luo En''s statement, immediately showed a knowing smile.


    "Very well, sir, I''ll have the public area of the sacrificial field cleared out to maintain order on the scene. I''ll also send a message to the temple to have them send staff to gather the citizens and distribute the game."


    Luo En and Artemis exchanged a look and nodded slightly.


    The sacrificial field was not solely used to offer sacrifices to the deities; it also served as a bridge connecting gods to humans, the upper to the lower sses.


    Usually, after the sacrifice, the remaining parts of the offerings would be distributed among the people to represent the deities'' gifts.


    As the offspring and spokespeople of the gods, with divine blood flowing through their veins, the royal family often brought game to the sacrificial field, where priests would portion it out and distribute it to the popce, to demonstrate their benevolence towards the people and win their hearts.


    Strictly speaking, letting this Chief Scribe use the sacred sacrificial field seemed somewhat presumptuous.


    But the man before them had already be the uncrowned king of Knossos, having truly saved the ind of Crete. Who would care about such minor details?


    Moreover, past experience had taught him that doing so might not be a bad thing.


    The officer touched the Golden Double-Axed Badge representing the legionmander on his chest, his gaze toward the two of them growing even more enthusiastic and attentive.


    "Sir, let my men handle the rough work of unloading and transporting. Recently, the sacrificial field brewed a new batch of wine intended for divine offering, but the quality is uncertain. Since you''re here, perhaps you, as the expert, could taste it."


    Looking at the officer''s face, which all but screamed, "I''m so eager to get ahead," Luo En couldn''t help butugh and cry at the invitation.


    Indeed, no matter where or in what era, humanity''s "ambition" remains as simple and unadorned as ever.


    "Wine from this year''s new batch?"


    At this moment, Artemis, recalling yesterday''s delightful experience, licked her lips involuntarily.


    Seeing this, Luo En knew all too well what the Goddess of the Hunt was thinking and immediately waved,


    "All right, let''s have a look."


    "Right away!"


    The officer promptly responded with a beaming smile and, after delegating the scene to his deputy officer, took the lead himself, unconcerned about his high-ranking status as a legionmander.


    Soon, under the guidance of this native Minosian, they entered the storage room of the sacrificial field through the main gate without obstruction.


    Incidentally, the gatekeeper was also an acquaintance¡ª one of the three priestesses who had verified Anna''s identity.


    And currently, they answered directly to the Priestess Chief, Ariadne.


    Watching as several white-robed priestesses set up new jars of grape wine on the table for him and Artemis to taste, Luo En was even more amused.


    I mean, does this count as using public office for private gain or abuse of power?


    But then, he didn''t dwell on the issue too much.


    Not to mention having a few bottles of wine intended for the gods, King Minos now would go so far as to gift him the whole ind of Crete, along with his precious daughter, just to have him take over and withstand the pressure from the Sea of Okeanos.


    Compared to the over thirty thousand pounds of game he brought into the city (over ten thousand pounds from Athena and the more than twenty thousand pounds from Artemis), which was enough to feed the entire city for half a month, his sampling and taking a few offerings was downright incorruptibly virtuous.


    So, am I still too upright?


    Sigh...


    While Luo En shook his head in resignation at his overly high moral standard, he slid the boxes of special pastries from the storage racks into the opened Magic Array.

 Chapter 125: Chapter 97 Im Still Too Honest (4k)_2

    He hadn''t touched the newly brewed wine at the sacrificial site at all.


    There was no helping it, even if one learned quickly, catching up to or surpassing his craftsmanship in winemaking was no small feat.


    True to predictions, Artemis had barely lifted the cup to her lips and taken a few sips before she couldn''t help but spit the wine out.


    "So sour!"


    "There''s no way around it. The storage containers aren''t very air-tight, so to prevent spoge, we had to use some under-ripe grapes for the new wine."


    As the future God of Wine, Luo En, with just a nce, could identify the cause by virtue of his innate divinity.


    Then, to save face for the busy priestesses around him in front of the deities, heforted Artemis with a lightugh.


    "However, after it has been exposed to air for a while and oxidized, it will improve a bit. It might even develop hints of nutty aroma and a sweetness akin to honey."


    "Really?"


    The Goddess of the Hunt was skeptical but, seeing Luo En nod in assurance, she curiously tasted another one.


    However, just as before, it was only one sip that made Artemis involuntarily spit it out.


    "Why does it taste like herbs?"


    Hearing Artemis''sint, Luo En was somewhat speechless but helpless nheless.


    In history, the wines of ancient Greece were not subjected to fermentation or refinement in oak barrels.


    And to enhance the vor of the wine, vintners would use various herbs or nt juices to increase the wine''splexity.


    Thus, the ancient Greeks considered such wine a healthful drink, oftenbining it with medicinal herbs, tree saps, olive oil, or nt roots into concoctions to treat ailments like menstrual pain or depression.


    However, clearly, the Huntress, free of diseases and cmities, couldn''t get used to these artificially added strange vors.


    Still, the path to invention is bound to take many detours.


    After all, wine was a new creation right now, and even if he offered his winemaking knowledge without asking anything in return, it couldn''t curb the general popce''s curiosity to boldly try.


    As the future God of Wine, Luo En was consoling himself while excusing the unrewarded toils of the priestesses.


    Faced with the eager looks around her, the Goddess of the Hunt forced herself to be spirited and tried a few more new brews before she finally couldn''t bear it anymore, flung down the cup, and, grabbing Luo En, fled through the door.


    "Their new product is simply undrinkable!"


    Outside, Artemis, standing in a corner, criticized without reservation and then rinsed her mouth with honey water, sighing as she turned to her guide.


    "Forget it, I''ll just drink what you brew from now on."


    Luo En nced at the delicate hand on his shoulder, a sign of approval, his gaze flickering subtly.


    Are you sure? Not afraid of waking up with a sore back?


    While the one human and one deity were hiding in the shade, lost in thought, groups of people began to gather from outside the sacrificial site.


    Artemis, who had developed a slight mental shadow about wine tasting, couldn''t help but feel a jolt in her heart, subconsciously wanting to drag her guide away.


    However, before the Goddess of the Hunt had a chance to move, a range of voices¡ªaged, tender, deep, and clear¡ªcalled out to the two.


    "Mr. Secretary? And...Miss Cynthia, is it? By the grace of the Goddess, thank you for bringing so much game, we won''t have to worry about the winter now."


    "My family got a portion of pork, over a hundred pounds. Now I can give the children something to help them grow strong."


    "I saw that giant serpent wreaking havoc on the southern slopes of Crete; the city tried to organize a hunt several times but never seeded. My own brother died out there, and I lost an arm. Now, to see the day it''s finally taken down, being able to eat its flesh, that''s truly satisfying!"


    "..."


    Amidst the buzzing discussions, faces beamed with joy, gratitude, curiosity, and enthusiasm, pressing close to the two, expressing their heartfelt thanks.


    Even in an era abundant with animals and natural resources, meat was still a raremodity for most ordinary people.


    An amount exceeding thirty thousand pounds, brought into Knossos City and distributed freely, felt like a shower of good fortune upon thesemon folk.


    The scribe, already a familiar face in the city, raised his hand slightly to calm the excited crowd and, with a smile, pointed out the real heroine.


    "It has nothing to do with me; it''s all Cynthia''s doing. If you want to thank someone, thank her."


    Suddenly, the grateful crowd surged towards the beautifully dressed young huntress.


    "Thank you, Miss Cynthia, you really are a great person!"


    "We have meat to eat, thank you Sister Cynthia!"


    "To have hunted so many prey, you are indeed a top-notch girl!"


    Some praised her without stinginess, their eyes brimming with sincere gratitude; others brought out dates, dried fruits, gands, copper coins, and the like, which they owned, cing them at the feet of the huntress as a modest token of thanks.


    Facing such a noisy and chaotic scene, Artemis, who was surrounded in the middle, was somewhat at a loss for a while.


    For this Hunting God, hunting was merely a hobby to release energy.


    Distributing the prey was only done because it was hard to deal with so much harvest, and it was done casually.


    However, she did not expect that such a casual act could earn her more enthusiasm and gratitude from these humans than formal sacrifices and the miracles bestowed by the gods.


    She didn''t quite understand the reason for this.


    But fortunately, thismotion didn''t seem to annoy her too much.


    Just as the Goddess of the Hunt was about to be overwhelmed by the passionate crowd, azy yet clear voice echoed in everyone''s ears.


    "Folks, I hear that after the main share of the prey is distributed, you can still get some offal and fur as scraps, but there''s a limited quantity, and if you''rete, it''ll be gone..."


    "More?"


    "The fur is perfect for keeping warm through the winter!"


    "Quick, quick, quick!"


    Instantly, upon hearing the news, the crowd, as if injected with adrenaline, turned around and rushed to the sacrificial grounds.


    The people around Artemis quickly dispersed, creating a peaceful environment once again.


    After sessfully diverting this group of enthusiastic uncles, aunties, and neighbors, Luo En approached and asked with concern.


    "Are you alright, Lady Goddess? How do you feel?"


    Artemis looked up at the newly risen fiery red sunrise in the sky, and at the smiling faces at the sacrificial grounds, her lips inadvertently curling into a slight smile.


    "Not bad..."


    Luo En, seeing the subtle changes on the Goddess of the Hunt''s face, revealed a faint smile.


    "Alright, the goods are nearly distributed, we should also be going, or else, I''m afraid I''ll have to fish you out again."


    Hearing this, Artemis thought of the overwhelming enthusiasm of the residents just now, and her expression changed, and she quickly followed the guide, asking subconsciously, "Where to?"


    Luo En replied as if it were obvious: "Back home, of course."


    Then, he looked back at the Huntress with a warm smile, "After being busy all day, you haven''t eaten yet, have you? I made sure the city guards kept some decent ingredients, delivered to Lady Hestia''s house..."


    After a brief pause, Luo En stretchedzily, his smile growing evenrger.


    "In a moment, I''ll cook personally, using these rare ingredients, to prepare avish meal to reward you for the hard work of this hunt."


    "Good!"


    Artemis''s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this thoughtful andfortable post-hunt arrangement, and she nodded dly. Then licking her lips, she asked subconsciously.


    "Is there wine?"


    "Yes! There should be a few bottles of the grape wine we made before, down in the lower level of the cer, guaranteed to give you a good drink!"


    Now, the Goddess of the Hunt was even more delighted, her footsteps light as she followed along.


    However, after walking only a few steps, Artemis vaguely remembered something, and the pleasant expression on her face paused for a moment.


    At the storage room of the sacrificial grounds, among those who were first invited to taste the wine, someone, besides urging her to drink more, seemed to have not touched a drop from beginning to end?


    ...That guy!


    Staring at the silhouette ahead that had walked quite far, Artemis, who realized the situation btedly, frowned in annoyance.


    But in the end, she ground her teeth and chose to catch up quickly.


    ¡ªAfter all, it was time to eat first.

 Chapter 126: Chapter 98: The Cult Leaders Self-Cultivation (3000, Achieved 7000 Daily)

    Avish feast,sting from dawn to dusk.


    And as the end approached, Luo En, the head chef, decisively left the cleanup to Hestia and quietly slipped out the back door.


    It was nothing personal.


    The sight of Artemis was just too frightening.


    Not only did she asionally stare at him during the meal, but the way she tore into the meat seemed as if she was gnawing on him...


    Although Luo En didn''t know where he had offended the Goddess of the Hunt, it seemed wise to avoid her and stay out of trouble when things looked bad.


    Muttering to himself, Luo En strolled along the main street of Knossos City, pondering.


    Currently, the Gorgon Sisters were in deep slumber in Athena''s temple, having absorbed a vast amount of oceanic divinity;


    The boisterous Nike had been taken away by the Goddess of Wisdom to assist in Olympus;


    Hestia needed to tidy up the home and host her newly arrived niece, Artemis;


    After the sea beast attack, Crete Ind was gradually getting back on track under his and Princess Ariadne''s coordination;


    Old King Minos still had to deal with his handful of troublesome sons and had no time to pester him...


    With such a rare moment of leisure, why not enjoy the tranquil night alone?


    Having made up his mind, Luo En roamed the market, tasting local delicacies, buying interesting handicrafts, and quietly listening to casual conversations, relishing the pervasive atmosphere of ordinary life.


    However, his rxation was soon interrupted.


    Many people recognized him as the scribe and approached enthusiastically, wanting to greet him.


    Looking at the moving heads around him and the excitement of the women nearby, Luo En''s scalp tingled. He quickly excused himself and, using the fastest speed, squeezed out of the crowd, donned an invisibility charm, and left the area fraught with danger.


    When he reached a secluded corner three streets away and looked back at the crowd that still hadn''t dispersed, he couldn''t help shaking his head in wonder.


    He was indeed bing somewhat like Bhus, a being that drove both men and women crazy.


    But, this wasn''t too bad...


    Luo En stretched and smiled carefreely, pulling out a bottle of wine from the Magic Array and knocking on the door of a humble dwelling.


    When the owner of the house heard the knock and opened the door, a young man with rough skin and a sturdy build stood in front of him, showing a look of surprise.


    "Scribe...


    "Shh!"


    Luo En gestured for silence, quietly pointing toward the streets where men and women were still searching for him.


    Understanding immediately, the young man silently held his breath and hurried to invite the esteemed guest inside.


    Only when they reached the inner hall did he dare to breathe out loudly, fumbling to clear away the simple tables and chairs, andid out the few fruits and cured meats his home had to offer, trying to treat Luo En.


    "My lord, why have youe sote without giving notice? We don''t have much to offer."


    Looking at the humble furnishings and the sporadic and unimpressive spread on the table, the young man rubbed his hands sheepishly, his face a mix of embarrassment and guilt.


    "Don''t be so formal, I''ve already eaten. I just stopped by for a visit."


    Luo En chuckled reassuringly, then his gaze fell on the young man''s slightly pale left arm, prompting him to ask.


    "How is it? Are you getting used to the new arm?"


    "Getting used to it!"


    At these words, the young man eagerly nodded, his eyes full of gratitude.


    "Thanks to you, I can provide for my family with these hands again. Otherwise, I really wouldn''t know how to row out to sea myself."


    "No need to thank me, it was old Constantine''s help that allowed me to predict the time of the sea beast attack. Now, I''m just repaying your father a favor."


    Luo En looked kindly at the old fisherman''s son, or more urately, the ordinary young man named "Polymonos." He took out the bottle of wine he had been carrying and ced it on the table, softly instructing.


    "Your arm has just healed; it will take some time to recoverpletely to its previous condition. Drink this wine I brought you regrly; it''s good for you."


    "To think you''d go out of your way to deliver it, I really am..."


    Realizing that the busy scribe would remember to look after an ordinary fisherman''s son like himself, Polymonos was overwhelmed with emotion and almost at a loss for words.


    Having experienced two lifetimes as a human, Luo En still felt somewhat ufortable with overly sentimental scenes and quickly waved his hand to dismiss it.


    "Alright, I haven''t done much, it was nothing, really. If there''s nothing else, shall I be going now?"


    "Please wait a moment!"


    However, the normally reticent young man stopped him at the door with a face full of courage and stammered out his words.


    "There''s a gathering tonight, if it''s convenient for you, would you stay and participate?"


    "Uh, I''m not quitefortable with making public appearances..." Luo En hesitated.


    "It''s okay not to show your face!" Polydorus hurried into the house, brought out a ck hooded cloak, and looked at him earnestly, "Look, I''ve prepared it for you!"


    Seeing the persistent invitation and after thinking about the hunting goddess''s strange expression at dinner tonight, Luo En weighed his options and then nodded slightly.


    "Alright, I''ll go with you to take a look, but I''m not sure how long I''ll be able to stay."


    Upon hearing this, Polydorus, as if granted a great favor, hurriedly nodded in agreement, his face alight with fervent joy.


    "No problem!"


    Then, the young man instructed his wife to take care of the children, donned a ck hooded cloak simr to his own, and led Luo En out of the city through a backdoor and a narrow path.


    Though the road was not smooth, Polydorus, who led the way, moved swiftly as if he were a galloping horse, his whole being brimming with abundant vitality.


    And in faint golden-red hues, life''s rhythm flowed under his skin.


    Luo En, who followed leisurely behind, nodded silently to himself.


    The experiment had been a sess, just as he had envisioned.


    Before long, under the cover of night, the two arrived at a secluded valley outside the city.


    By this time, the ce was already filled with figures in long robes, wearing ivy crowns and spiral flowers.


    They were men and women, old and young, easily numbering over a hundred.


    Through ents and behaviors, it was clear that some hailed from Knossos, others from Rhodes, some from Naxos, and even some from city-states beyond Crete Ind in Greece.


    These people gathered in this valley, far from worldly noise, setting aside their real-world identities and differences, either merrily exchanging anecdotes from variousnds or sharing food and drink they brought along, initiating an impromptu feast.


    Compared to the somewhat indulgent figures, Luo En and Polydorus blended in with the crowd, appearing quite mundane and ordinary.


    Nevertheless, their arrival was met with a warm wee by everyone present.


    Infected by the enthusiasm around him, Luo En didn''t deliberately show aloofness. With a face disguised and twisted by magic, he greeted the people nearby politely and discreetly.


    Before long, a procession of nymphs and women wearing ivy crowns, draped in fawn skins, and holding staffs entwined with ivy or topped with pinecone balls, arrived to the beat of hand drums and cymbals. Amid the solemn melody and atmosphere, they emerged from the woods.


    Suddenly, the somewhat noisy valley quieted down, and everyone uniformly turned to look at the choir praising with their chants.


    "Come, Dionysus, god of boundless joy, you who are reborn from fire and lightning,


    Bassarus and a thousand mighty Bhus,


    Sword, blood, and virginal women dden your heart,


    you cry out ''aha'' from above the clouds! (I really want to change this part of the God of Wine''s liturgy to ''aha'', it would be so much fun, don''t you think?)


    Roaring Bhus in frenzy!


    You wield the thyrsus, furious and mighty, all creatures revere you,


    and the mortals who dwell on the earth also respect you.


    We are ashes of Titans, descendants in delirium!


    Our blood thicker than water, our veins intertwined!


    Come, o joyful deity, please bestow happiness and blessings upon us all!"


    Gradually, those gathered around, as if infused with the solemn yet cheerful tune, joined in the singing joyfully, bing part of the grand secret celebration.


    Luo En, in the midst of the crowd, was lightly mouthing a fake song while pulling a face and cing his hand on his forehead.


    Alright.


    No matter how many times he participated, this act of being worshiped in person still made him somewhat ufortable, brimming with embarrassment.


    That''s right, this nascent esoteric group before him was a smallmunity personally forged by Luo En, taking advantage of his position during this period.


    They were unified by wine, worshiped wine, and promoted the spirit of self-indulgence that would be the foundation of the future Orphic religious worship of the God of Wine.


    Soon after the initial hymn ended, the priestesses leading the gathering escorted the newly elected High Priestess to the forefront.


    "Brothers and sisters, thank you foring from afar to join the celebration. Let us raise our cups and offer our libations to the god who blesses us with shade and joy!"


    At this moment, the great Father among the crowd, following the voice, gazed over to see that flushed little face full of excitement and rebellion.


    "Pfft!"


    Suddenly, Luo En, who had just swallowed a sip of wine, sprayed it out involuntarily, his face showing an expression of astonishment and shock as he muttered.


    How is it her?

 Chapter 127: Chapter 99: The Sister-in-Law Ran Away with the Brother-in-Law!

    Crete Ind was well-known for the fact that King Minos had five sons and five daughters.


    Under the old king''s suppression and training, the five princes, although notmendable for great achievements, were still reasonably well-behaved.


    But the five princesses, they were each more capable of stirring trouble than thest, truly like vests packed with ck fuse gold.


    Among them, the eldest princess, Acacallis, eloped with Apollo, the God of Light, abandoning her duties as the high priestess and severing ties with her father;


    The third princess, Euryale, bore Orion to Poseidon, the God of the Sea ¨C needless to say, this was the ultimate act of defiance;


    The second princess, Ariadne, was behaving for now, but in the future, she would first aid the demigod hero Theseus in escaping thebyrinth and then elope with this prince of Athens by ship;


    Considering the rtionship between Athens and Athena, the changes in faith, and the fact that Theseus had once sacrificed the Cretan Bull, a symbol of Crete Ind''s divinity, to Athena, and that Ariadne was also the high priestess of Athena...bining all these factors, Luo En tentatively believed that there might be some unknown undercurrents at y.


    But to King Minos, this was nevertheless a betrayal.


    Simrly, the fourth princess, Fedra, was all about rebellion as well.


    She was still young when she followed her sister Ariadne in sneaking onto the ship to Athens with Theseus.


    On the way, the rather disreputable prince of Athens, Theseus, using an oracle as pretext, abandoned the second princess, Ariadne, on Naxos Ind, thereby precipitating the union between the God of Wine and the second princess, Ariadne.


    Meanwhile, the fourth princess, Fedra, continued with Theseus to Greece.


    When the fourth princess, Fedra, grew up to be a beautiful and graceful woman, she married Theseus to be the queen of Athens.


    Later, the audacious Theseus plotted to abduct both the Queen of the Netherworld and Helen from Hades and became trapped in the Netherworld.


    The neglected and betrayed Fedra then fell in love with her stepson, Hippolytus, and upon being rejected, she could not bear the torment of unrequited love, leaving behind a suicide note before taking her own life.


    Upon his return from the Netherworld, Theseus, upon seeing the suicide note, redirected his fury to his son, cursed him to death, a curse which was swiftly fulfilled, thus brewing a tragic father-son feud.


    Currently, the only future princess without a blot on her record was probably just the nursing fifth princess, Ksenodike.


    Of course, it might just be that she hasn''t had the chance to show it yet...


    With a hand to his forehead, Luo En muttered hisints while looking up at the newly appointed high priestess of the God of Wine, presiding over the ritual


    ¡ª or rather, the original intended aunt of Dionysus by fate ¡ª the fourth princess, Fedra.


    At that moment, the schoolgirl-like fourth princess with chestnut hair was dancing and jumping joyfully in the valley, barefoot and ganded, her small face flushed with excitement, much like a rebellious teenager letting off steam.


    Completely unaware that, as a member of the royal family with divine blood from Crete Ind, her appearance at such a gathering of a heretical cult would cause so much trouble and hassle for her father and siblings.


    Or perhaps, even if she knew, she probably would not care?


    ¡ª What kind of explosive vests are these, each so fully loaded with damage.


    As both a cult leader and an object of worship, Luo En was at a loss for words and could not help but feel pity for King Minos, who was currently lying in bed, wrestling with his sons.


    Should he, out of consideration for the rtively decent treatment he had received from King Minos, secretly report this back, so that the king might capture his rebellious daughter and give her a proper education?


    Just as Luo En was hesitating, the high priestess leading the frenzied female devotees of the God of Wine had already thrown the incense of repose into the fire, singing a new round of hymns in high spirits.


    "I call upon Dionysus, the roaring God, crying out ''Aha'',


    Of dual nature, dead and yet reborn, the future king Bhus,


    Mysterious and wild, a pair of horns, two forms,


    Ganded with ivy, the pure and mighty god of joy, crying out ''Aha''!


    You who eat offerings, adorned with grapes, clothed in leaves, celebrated biennially,


    Immortal king, evesting spirit, oh,


    Hear my words, benevolent god, tender and perfect god!


    Bring your joyful entourage and descend upon me!"


    As cries and cheers echoed in her ears, Fedra''s face under the firelight grew thrillingly flushed with excitement, feeling the liberating ease of breaking free and unleashing her nature.


    For the first time, she used a twisted vine instead of gold to tie up her chestnut hair, for the first time, wore a crown of grapevines, for the first time, covered her bare upper body with a bronze corselet, tied fawn skin around her waist for the first time, wrapped herself with a snake-skin belt for the first time, rang the cheerful and deafening cymbals for the first time, lit the torch of nocturnal dance for the first time!


    Compared to the towering pce and theplex etiquette, this forest was so carefree, so intoxicating.


    Life was not meant to be locked in a dull cage, but to be a bird soaring freely in the sky, taking rest in the woods, searching for what the heart desires on the journey.


    "Aha~~"


    Fedra, gradually losing herself, bestowed heartfelt praises upon Dionysus, the god of joy and spirit of wine who had granted her this free realm.


    "Bang!"


    In the girl''s hand, a staff wound with purple ivy and topped with a pinecone ball covered in lush young leaves struck against a nearby rock, producing the final note of a grand symphony.


    The song''s end also signaled that tonight''s gathering was about to draw to a close.


    All were bound to return to their own homes, to don their masks once more and y their respective roles in life.


    Thinking of the oppressive atmosphere at home, Fedra''s face couldn''t help but fill with a tinge of gloom.


    "A spring! There''s a spring!"


    Suddenly, a chorus of surprised voices rose around her, and a refreshing coolness flowed at her feet. Fedra instinctively opened her eyes and was astonished to see the rock struck by the staff had shattered, revealing a gushing spring of clear water.


    How could this be?


    Staring at the "divine staff" in her hands, which had been crafted over several sleepless nights, Fedra was utterly baffled, her delicate mouth agape in shock.


    And as the staff carelessly struck the ground once more, the gush from the spring increased in volume, bing a creek infused with a rich fruity aroma that was intoxicating.


    One person couldn''t contain themselves and instinctively scooped up a handful of the spring''s clear water to their mouth.


    Instantly, their eyes widened in disbelief, excitement lighting their face as they shouted to those around them,


    "Wine! It''s wine!"


    And having witnessed the miracle of water turning into wine, the participants in the gathering couldn''t help but erupt into cheers.


    "Lord Dionysus has blessed us!"


    "Ah ha, praise the God of Wine!"


    "Now, we can truly drink to our hearts'' content!"


    People of all ages joyfully crowded around the newly-formed stream, using their hands, goblets, or sks to collect this divine favor and drank merrily.


    With the savory and sweet wine flowing down their throats, aforting warmth surged through their limbs, dispelling the fatigue of the mortal world and bestowing a sense of illusory intoxication.


    Amongst the blurred gazes, one leaned against a tree, seeing branches dripping with sweet nectar; another touched the ground with their fingertips, watching milk flow from the soil; yet another gently curled a vine, finding fingers draped with purple-red grapes...


    Lying down in groups or alone, some were smiling peacefully in their sleep, some were smacking their lips, savoring the sweet milk and honey, while others reached out for the possibly nonexistent fruit...


    In this dream-crafted world, souls rested in blissful, drunken states, bing one with nature.


    The ecstatic maenads, seeing this scene, swarmed around Fedra in the center, chattering excitedly and discussing what it felt like to be favored by the deities.


    The bewildered young princess was overwhelmed but was soon swept up by the raucousughter and chatter of her femalepanions at the stream''s edge, drinking merrily and engaging in conversation.


    Meanwhile, the culprit secretly behind all this lifted a bowl of wine from the crystal-clear stream, sat under a tree, drank with satisfaction, and observingly nced over at Fedra who was surrounded by the maenads. The lifted corners of his lips under his hood formed a curve of pleasure.


    Indeed, this was all his doing.


    The authority of the God of the Sea had granted him the power to manipte water.


    The construction of faith and the talents of the God of Wine had allowed him to turn water into wine.


    And with the privilege of walking upon water...


    Luo En felt that he was bing increasingly akin to a certain meat hanging on the cross.


    However, the difference was,


    He was not a strict champion of doctrine but aspired to be a god who spread joy.


    So, be it rebellion, yfulness, or the desire to break free from familial constraints,


    Little girl, if you wish for it, I will provide.


    As for whether you can seize the opportunity or if your butt will be pped into pieces afterwards, that''s none of my business.


    Ah ha~


    With the tone of a priest invoking a sacred word, Luo En jokingly raised his cup to the restless little princess, extending the special gift from the God of Joy.


    (I''ve added a bit of fun in the author''s note, it''s free, so make sure to check it out.)

 Chapter 128: Chapter 100 This is So Much Fun (6k a Day Completed)

    Half an hourter.


    "This little sister-inw is just too easy to get drunk, only a few cups in and she''s already passed out."


    Luo En, leaning against a tree, looked at Princess Fedra, her cheeks flushed red as shey fast asleep in the arms of her femalepanions, without any defenses, and could not help but raise his ss in jest.


    However, in the quiet valley, silence reigned, and no one responded to the patriarch''s teasing.


    After all, Fedra was the legitimate daughter of King Minos, with pure Divine Blood flowing through her veins.


    The rest of the devout followers, old and young, were mostly ordinary people without nobility or specialty, faring even worse than the little princess when it came to resisting wine, having already found spots to lie down together in advance.


    Even the young Polyhymnos, who had apanied him to the gathering, was not spared.


    Under the moon at its zenith, the cool, bright moonlight cast a mottled glow, a hazy veil of silver covering the bodies of the men and women in the valley, like aforting quilt.


    The believers, immersed in pleasant dreams, slept soundly, and with each breath, strands of very faint golden-red light, following the rise and fall of their chests and the rush of their blood, quietly gestated and solidified beneath their skin.


    With every flow of the golden-red color, the aura of life on their bodies became denser.


    The knots in their souls unraveled, their brows rxed; their ck skin quietly tightened, gaining a bit more smoothness and sticity; their fragile organs became tougher, vibrant with life as they pulsed...


    These subtle changes, from soul to flesh, were almost imperceptible, yet they truly existed.


    Praise this joyous¡ªLife!


    The instigator beneath the tree raised his ss from afar, revealing a satisfied smile.


    Under the night sky, those eyes, bright as crystals, admired the [golden-red] beneath the skin of the followers, or rather,


    ¡ªthe Divinity given by him and nurtured by people!


    In the clear moonlight, Luo En gently swirled the cup in his hand, looking at the blood-like crimson wine in the stream, and murmured meaningfully.


    "This is my body, sacrificed for you;


    This is my blood, shed for the many.


    The ashes of Titans, the progeny of madness;


    We are tied by blood thicker than water, our bloodlines connected..."


    His maic voice, like a chant of an ancient and enduring mythic epic.


    In the original history, the Orphic Sect, which worshipped the God of Wine, believed in Zagreus, the god of rebirth.


    That is, the original incarnation of Dionysus, the God of Wine.


    ording to legend, Divine King Zeus and Queen of the Underworld Persephone first gave birth to the horned Zagreus.


    The young Zagreus climbed upon Zeus''s throne, wielding Zeus''s thunder with his childish hands, portending that he would rece Zeus as the new king of the world.


    Queen Hera, out of jealousy, incited the Titan gods to tear him to pieces, all but his heart, which they devoured.


    Goddess Athena, feeling pity for the child''s misfortune, brought his heart to Zeus. Zeus swallowed the heart and then joined with the princess of Thebes, Semele, to give birth to Zagreus anew.


    Thus, he was reborn from death, bing Dionysus, the God of Wine.


    In this legendary divine battle, where the newborn Dionysus was torn apart by the Titans and the Titans were burned by Zeus''s lightning, a new order of the world was established, and mankind was born from the ashes of the Titans.


    Therefore, in the scriptures of the Orphic Sect, whether called Zagreus or Dionysus, the original God of Wine performed a self-sacrificial martyrdom for ancient humanity, and achieved the miracle of resurrection.


    And because the Titan gods devoured Dionysus, humans born from the ashes of Titans have both the divinity of the God of Wine and the sins of the Titan gods in their blood.


    Thus, humans are born with dual natures of good and evil, and the purpose of life is to suppress evil and promote good in order to be liberated. To reach this goal, one must perform purification rites, participate in the secret initiation ceremonies, observe taboos, such as not killing, not eating meat, avoiding wool during burials, not touching beans, etc.


    If one follows the secret rituals, observes the taboos, and persists in doing good, one can escape the devilish nature, gain divinity, and avoid or lessen the sufferings of the cycle of rebirth in the Netherworld after death, then enter the blissful world of Elysium; otherwise, they will endure eternal toil in Hades.


    ¡ªWine is my blood.


    ¡ªThe miracle of resurrection from death.


    ¡ªThe original mankind saved by the martyr, though burdened with original sin.


    ¡ªEquivalent to the Elysium, equivalent to the Hades.


    ¡ªAdding to this, the Orphic Sect being a secret folk religion, irrespective of noble or humble birth, gender, city-state, open for individual participation, promoting equality in life...


    Does all of this not give a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu?


    Luo En smirked in jest and drained the crimson wine from his ss.


    Indeed, the Orphic Sect, with its worship of the God of Wine, shared manymonalities with the future Abrahamic religions.


    Thetter, as a patchwork, mostly drew inspiration from the former.


    If so, as the one indirectly indebted, he too could take advantage of the other''s strengths and put them to use.


    For example, Luo En, the patriarch, abolished the original and barbaric processions by the maenads under hismand and instead called for celebrations of the God of Wine through gatherings and merry drinking, following the outline of the future Christian Mass ceremonies.


    He advocated that attendees shed their disguises, release their true natures, rather than strictly conform to the identities and rules of the present world, forcing themselves into submission. During this time, people could also confess and atone to the gods and find sce for their souls (confession rituals).


    The congregation should help each other, love one another, always with a passion for life and the original intention to please themselves...


    Of course, if that was all, the reborn Dionysian Sect would be nothing more than a self-indulgent group for themon people, creating extremely limited value for Luo En.


    Therefore, on this foundation, he elevated the secret rituals cloaked in the guise of a gathering.


    ¡ª That is, he brought the gods down from their pedestals and bestowed divinity upon mortals!


    If the world was born from the flesh, blood, and ashes of the Titan gods, then mankind, which was born from it, should also possess [Divinity].


    The same holds true for all things in the world.


    ¡ª Whether it be grapes growing in the soil or the fine wine brewed with water, all should possess [Divinity].


    Gods possess humanity, and humans possess divinity.


    Mortals can be gods, and gods can also be swayed by humanity.


    Therefore, whether divine or human, nobody is more noble than anyone else, nobody is more special.


    Equal lives seek equal jests, ultimately bringing equal joy to the world.


    This idea of elevating man and demoting the gods was utterly different from the current religious worship of the gods in Greece, and could be described as heretical.


    But it was precisely because of this that it might gradually sever the mortal reverence and belief in the gods from its roots, making the perfect Divine King and the mighty gods of Olympus no longer invulnerable.


    For this purpose, he attempted to use his gradually increasing God of Wine divinity to brew blessed divine wine, allowing the faithful to partake and thereby awaken the Titan divinity buried within them.


    After months of trials, along with the body parts and flesh of a demigod hero and a horde of Divine Blood rtives, his experiments finally took that step and achieved a milestone sess.


    Those who drank the divine wine, one after another, had the divine genes within them activated, gaining varying degrees of enhancement.


    Although the sparks of divinity that were ignited are minuscule and faintpared to those of the true Divine Blood rtives. Like clusters of fireflies trying topete with the bright moon,ughable and overestimating themselves.


    The people before me might not even be qualified warriors or heroes in their lifetimes.


    But the seeds of rebellion have been sown, and time will cause them to take root and sprout.


    He had handed over the stolen divine authority, the fresh history, and future, into the hands of mortals.


    So, have all the fun you can, just don''t let me down, I''ll be waiting to celebrate for you.


    "Ah ha, cheers!"


    The unscrupulous instigator under the tree raised his cup, toasting to the newly-born mankind, to the seeds of rebellion, to the still resplendent Olympus under the night sky.


    The empty cup slipped from his grasp, and a breeze followed, wafting through the valley, with the rich aroma of wine and the running springs gradually dissipating.


    The slumbering people slowly awoke, looking up toward the east.


    The faint light of dawn pierced the heavy night sky, and the gods'' world weed another new day.


    ~~


    In Knossos City, on the third street, at the seventh residence.


    The figure who came with the dawn took out the spare key, quietly opened the door, and slipped inside the house.


    However, upon entering, he was immediately met with interrogation.


    "Where have you been? Why didn''t youe home all night?"


    Hestia, in the living room, huffed with displeasure.


    "It''s that matter of fixing Polymonos'' armst time, that kid insisted on treating me to a drink, and there you have it, I got drunk and he kept me up all night with his nonsense,"


    Luo En yawned, somewhat helplessly exining as his gaze fell upon the flickering me behind Hestia.


    Themp oil in thentern was almost gone, and the wick was nearly burned out.


    Clearly, someone had waited in the living room all night long.


    "Tch, no wonder you reek of alcohol..."


    Hestia pinched her nose and muttered, waving her hand somewhat disdainfully.


    "Go on, go sleep it off, and don''te into my kitchen until you''re sobered up!"


    "Alright, alright."


    Luo En weaklyplied, cing a box of pastries taken from the sacrificial site on the table, stretched, and went upstairs.


    Seeing the lone offering, Hestia thought of her grandniece visiting home, and after only a moment''s hesitation, she swiftly snatched up the pastries and stuffed the box into a small hiding spot in the spice cab, a smile breaking across her face.


    Hmph, at least you have some conscience!


    "Achoo!"


    Meanwhile, upstrairs, the Goddess of the Hunt sneezed mightily as she sluggishly rose from the bed, stretching her somewhat sore body, and most ofst night''s lingering drunkenness faded away.


    What a clear and refreshing day, another perfect day for hunting.


    Where shall I go today?


    Artemis curled her lips upward, a content and joyous smile spreading across her face.


    Unawares, she had gradually adapted to, ande to enjoy this mortal life, even looking forward to every new day with a hint of anticipation.


    It was a feelingpletely distinct from her life on Olympus.

 Chapter 129: Chapter 101: Got Rejected (As per title, 8k)

    Early morning in Knossos City.


    As the huntress d in a belted short skirt and hunting boots set out with bow and arrow and spear, apanied by several hounds, heads brimming with smiles peeked out from the streets.


    They were waving or shouting cheerfully.


    "Cynthia sister, I want to raise a rabbit."


    "Could you bring me a pair of antelope horns and a couple of snake galldders for medicinal purposes? I''ll settle the payment at market price, thank you."


    "It''s too cold, could you trouble yourself to get some warm fur? My wife is good with her hands, and she can make any style you want. Just leave us some offcuts."


    "Here, have some freshly sun-dried figs for the road... no need, no need, I''m too old, can''t chew on the mountain meat..."


    Artemis epted the dried figs, smiled faintly as usual, looking at both sides of the street, nodded lightly, and then with her guide following behind, strode towards the outskirts of the city.


    Arriving at a deserted path, the Goddess of the Hunt ced her little finger to her lips and blew a crisp whistle, and the golden chariot drawn by two golden-horned deer hurried over from the woods.


    Luo En pointed toward Knossos City, bathed in the morning sun, and asked with a teasing smile,


    "So, the first stop is to find a rabbit hole?"


    It had been a full two months since the huntress took up residence in Knossos City.


    She seemed very fond of the atmosphere here. Although Artemis had never publicly revealed her true identity, she maintained a subtle friendliness towards the neighbors in the city.


    As long as their requests were not excessive, she would nod and agree,


    and any request she nodded to, she pretty much fulfilled.


    Artemis, mounting the chariot, gave her talkative guide a nce and tossed both the dried figs and the reins to him.


    "Since you know, aren''t you getting on?"


    "Understood, faithfully following your divine will, Lady Goddess."


    With a heartyugh, Luo En leapt onto the chariot, driving the golden-horned deer chariot with the Goddess of the Hunt aboard, who had be a bit more humane and a bit less aloof, toward the jungles of the Cretan mountains.


    "Woof!"


    No sooner had they arrived than the Golden Hound, unable to contain its excitement, leapt from the chariot, quickly running out of the goddess''s grip and circling around its original master''s legs.


    Artemis, who had fed the dog for two months, couldn''t help feeling a bit dejected seeing their stark contrast.


    Indeed, for such divine hounds, they can''t be swayed by food alone.


    Compared to the fondness the Huntress had for the hound, Luo En, as its original owner,manded his pet with much more straightforwardness, giving it an unceremonious kick in the belly as he teased,


    "Go work, find us a rabbit hole nearby, you''ll get an extra meal today."


    But the damned dog fell for it, barking happily at themand and turning tail to head into the hunting grounds, searching for traces of rabbit burrows.


    Seeing this, Artemis could only feel more helpless, taking down her weapons from the chariot and venting her irritation on the unlucky beasts nearby with a scowl.


    Looking at the creatures turned into pincushions along the way, Luo En silently marveled and became ever more certain of the Huntress''s fickle nature, all the while tending to his temporary bodyguard with added caution.


    It has to be said, since the arrival of Artemis, Crete Ind had be much quieter over these two months.


    The Magic Beasts causing trouble in the Cretan Mountains, as well as the sea monstersnding from the Sea of Okeanos, became souls under the Huntress''s arrows, one after another.


    Even those minor troubles weren''t enough for Artemis to y.


    There she was, the Goddess of the Hunt idle out of sheer boredom, starting to undertake the task of hunting pet rabbits for little girls.


    To this, the scribe officially in charge of the military and political power on Crete Ind couldn''t be happier.


    After all, with this humanoid artillery stationed there, his workload inw enforcement and control was greatly reduced.


    By noon, a nest of snow-white rabbits was captured and ced into a cage on the chariot, and Luo En had collected antelope horns, snake galldders, and furs for warmth from those unlucky animals they had passed by.


    With the day''s requests easilypleted, he promptly set up a fire in the clearing, roasting a newly cleaned antelope and stewing up a pot of mushroom soup full of fresh vor with berries, wild vegetables, and edible mushrooms.


    As a guide, besides leading the way, taking care of the Huntress''s bow, chariot, and meals was also part of his daily duties.


    Previously, these tasks were the responsibility of Artemis''s twenty nymph attendants.


    But for some reason, the Huntress showed no sign of calling her nymph attendants thus far.


    So, the notable scribe, the uncrowned king of Crete Ind, could only condescend somewhat to act as half a full-time nanny for Artemis.


    "Eating this for lunch? Seems good, give me a bowl of the soup first."


    As the rich aroma of meat and the salty freshness of the mushrooms spread, the Huntress arrived beside the fire like a whirlwind, eager to taste the day''s wild fare.


    Shortly after, a bowl of warm mushroom soup was consumed, with the slight acidity from the berries, the deliciousness of the mushrooms, and the crispness of the wild vegetables bursting on the pte, providing a delightful dining experience.


    Soon, the antelope on the grill became perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.


    Artemis took the leg ofmb torn off by the guide and bit eagerly into it, the rich juices exploding in her mouth, with just the right hit of savory vor and harmoniously bnced seasonings, leaving one craving for more.

 Chapter 130: 101

    Deserving of the praise showered by my aunt, having him around is more useful than a whole entourage of nymphs!


    The Goddess of the Hunt nced at Luo En, who was patiently preparing lunch beside her, mentally rating the guide highly as she tossed aside a clean sheep bone and reached for another leg of the gazelle.


    Not to mention anything else, just in terms of culinary skills alone, he''s far beyond what those nymph servants can manage.


    Unfortunately, those sea nymphs, delicate and precious, might still cope with maintaining weapons or surrounding prey begrudgingly.


    To ask them to lower themselves to kindling fires and cooking isn''t out of the question either.


    But Artemis''s verdict on the meals was¡ªedible.


    If you''re seeking afortable dining experience, that''s something you''d best not hold your breath for.


    Only after enjoying the guide''s craftsmanship and brewing skills did she realize how her taste buds had been wronged by the previously charred or undercooked roasted meats, the tasteless in water, and dry bread that parched the throat.


    Moreover, apart from his cooking, the guide''s performance in other areas was also noteworthy.


    From the maintenance of weapons to the scheduling of daily activities, everything was organized to perfection.


    No wonder even King Minos, who had extremely high standards, nned to choose him as his sessor.


    I must admit, having such an almost omnipotentckey by my side, my esteem for those whining, pampered nymph servants fades more each day.


    Unfortunately, in about a month, I''ll have to return to Olympus.


    When that timees, not only will this quality service but also that excellent Golden Hound be left behind.


    Thinking of this, Artemis felt suddenly downcast.


    However, a spark of inspiration quickly ignited a brilliant idea in her mind.


    "I''m still missing a worthy attendant by my side..."


    The Goddess of the Hunt dropped another clean sheep bone, seemingly casually making her offer.


    As a virgin Goddess who abides by chastity, it was the first time she had extended such an invitation to a male human.


    However, the guide, busy turning themb meat over the fire, merely replied with a nonchnt "Hmm," apparently not grasping the implication of her words.


    Seeing this, Artemis decided to drop pretense, cleared her throat, and made her point clear.


    "I think you''re quite suitable."


    "The meat''s ready, eat it while it''s hot."


    "Oh..."


    As another leg ofmb was handed over to her, the Goddess of the Hunt instinctively took it and bit into it.


    But quickly, she realized something wasn''t right and immediately pulled themb leg from her mouth, frowning at the guide beside her.


    "What does that mean? You don''t want to?"


    What else could it mean?


    Luo En couldn''t help but scoff inwardly.


    Dear sister, Athena offered me a ce as a Lesser Deity with generous gifts of her Divinity, crafting bronze serpent armor;


    King Minos, wanting me to resist lightning, not only offered three of his Divine Artifacts but was also willing to throw in his daughter and the throne;


    As for your aunt Lady Hestia, well, let''s not even mention her, as I could easily trick her inside and out, her deity position will sooner orter be mine;


    Now, offering me just a divine attendant''s position to serve as your nanny, and hoping to snag a hound as well¡ªisn''t that a bit stingy?


    However, despite feeling contempt inside, Luo En still declined the proposal in a more polite manner.


    "Lady Athena''s task is not yetplete, King Minos''s kindness remains unrewarded, and Lady Hestia has also been good to me, so..."


    With those three bearing the me, the initially fierce-looking Artemis was suddenly deted, reluctantly putting out the idea of recruitment.


    No way around it, to snatch someone from the clutches of these three was indeed a bit challenging.


    I was just acting on a whim. If it''s not possible, then so be it!


    The thwarted Goddess of the Hunt scoffed in disdain, feeling irritable as she picked up a sheepskin water bag and stood up.


    "Clean this up, I''ll go get some water from up ahead!"


    Saying this, Artemis stood up with a stern face and walked towards the creek in the valley ahead.


    Watching the Goddess who seemed to be in a bit of a huff, Luo En found it somewhat amusing and was all the more grateful for his initial choice.


    Indeed, Hestia is the easiest to fool and to satisfy.


    Is it just because of the good cooking skills?


    Is it just attending to everything meticulously?


    Is it just owning a great dog?


    What''s so impressive about that? I have twenty servants!


    The rebuffed Artemis grumbled to herself, consoling her pride as she made her way upstream, preparing to bend down to fill her water bag in the stream.


    As she leaned over, a reflection appeared on the surface of the water, catching the Goddess''s eyes.


    Is that someone?!


    Artemis instinctively looked up, towards the other side of the creek.


    Suddenly, a handsome and cheerful face came into view, spawning a strong desire in the Goddess''s heart.


    ¡ªThis might be a most beautiful deity that should not have existed since the beginning of chaos. His blond hair, his bright eyes, are the finest among all deities, and before him, both gods and humans must bow...


    "Beautiful Goddess, seeing you hunting alone in the mountains, your valiant figure has deeply subdued me. Please allow me to be your attendant and serve you."


    The deep entreaty that filled her ears made it unconsciouslypelling toply.


    Just as Artemis was about to speak, an image shed through her mind, a touch of reluctance flickering briefly in her eyes.


    "An attendant, I... I already have one..."

 Chapter 131: Chapter 101: Got Rejected (As per title, 8k)_3

    An unexpected echo made the figure on the opposite shore visibly startle.


    But immediately, a fierce ugliness distorted by rage appeared on that handsome face, and the low voice became densely ominous.


    "Then kill him, and won''t that position be vacant?"


    Those words echoed like a curse, reverberating and swirling within the heart''s river, gradually filling the entire heart like the world, bing the sole undercurrent.


    "Artemis? The water isn''t ready yet..."


    Questions and footsteps approaching from behind were like hot oil poured over a raging me.


    In an instant, the Goddess of the Hunt''s hands reached for her back, her body forming an arc.


    Almost instantaneously, as Luo En approached the riverbank, a piercing chill surged through his body, and the twelve-sided die in his brain buzzed and trembled wildly.


    Danger!


    Luo En instinctively lunged forward, instinctively dodging.


    "Thwack thwack thwack thwack!"


    And just as hey down, a whizzing arrow narrowly missed his head, piercing through several thick fir trees.


    "Boom~~!"


    One after another, ancient trees cleaved in half fell to the ground with a crash, kicking up a dense cloud of dust.


    Seeing a continuous white trail behind him, Luo En broke out in a cold sweat.


    He was so close, so very close to death!


    "Artemis!"


    Luo En cried out in anger, looking toward the instigator by the riverbank.


    The Goddess of the Hunt turned around stiffly, her face bursting into an almost pathological smile at the sight of a certain face.


    Yes, kill...


    Having already been rejected, she thought nobody else should have him!


    The goddess stretched her arms, the taut bowstring creaked, golden ripples stirred the air, and a golden Light Arrow formed, ready to be released.


    As his presence was locked by some force, Luo En felt his scalp tingle, and the violently shaking twelve-sided die in his brain appeared to leave afterimages.


    Bare hands released, bowstring vibrated, and a dazzling golden light arrived in an instant.


    Because of the locked-on presence, there was no escape, no evasion.


    Realizing the urgency, Luo En, without time to think, activated all his Divine Power instinctively. His war belt emanated a rich blood light, the pure War God Divinity like raging crimson mes, clinging to his surface, and wildly pouring out with the bronze longsword in his hand shing forward. Chapter Continue:


    "ng!"


    In a sharp nging of metal, the bronze longsword that had apanied Luo En for months shattered inch by inch.


    But at the same time, the indestructible Gold Light Arrow was forcefully deflected inches away, narrowly grazing Luo En''s cheek and hurtling into the dense forest behind him.


    "Boom!"


    A violent explosion followed, and the hard rocky ground was sted into a nearly hundred-meter-wide crater.


    Chilling winds whistled past his ears, and a warm liquid slid down his cheek. Luo En raised his trembling hands and saw his torn palms, hisplexion drastically changing.


    Dammit, this madwoman was really trying to kill him!


    If it hadn''t been for Athena leaving him the War God belt infused with the Divinity of War to protect himself, that arrow might have done him in.


    This sudden turn of events left Luo En reeling, and a strong sense of dissonance emerged in his heart.


    Something wasn''t right, even if she was rejected, it shouldn''t have escted to outright murder, should it?


    As thoughts churned, he instinctively looked around and saw on the distant opposite bank a figure that should have been dead.


    ¡ªOrion!


    At this moment, the face that usually bore a simple and honest expression was stripped bare of its disguise, revealing madness fueled by jealousy at the sight of Luo En.


    Damned bug, an outsider with nothing, how dare youpete with me!


    "Beautiful goddess, if you kill this troublesome fellow, nothing will stand in our way anymore."


    The hunter urged, his revenge-driven madness bing a twisted joy.


    He wanted to see with his own eyes this nuisance who had blocked his way time and time again, to be tortured and killed before him.


    He was the one pulling the strings!


    The moment Luo En identified the true target, his thoughts raced. A flood of information and clues integrated in his mind, leading him to deduce the real reason behind Artemis''s loss of control.


    ¡ªPower of the God of Love!


    Poseidon''s plea to Hephaestus on behalf of Aphrodite and Ares wasn''t just to court the God of Love!


    What he truly desired was the Power of the God of Love bestowed by Aphrodite!


    Combine this with the cmity of the beast tide, where Poseidon went to great lengths to fish out the half-dead Orion, and the answer seemed clear.


    He wished to im the whole Crete Ind and nned to use his demigod offspring, endowed with exceptional hunting talents, to forge a rtionship with Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, forming an alliance, and then dragging her brother Apollo into the water.


    If, through Crete Ind, he could sessfully force Athena into submission.


    Then, Poseidon''s camp would have Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, and Apollo¡ªfive of the Chief Gods, plus himself, nearly half of Olympus''s twelve divine seats upied.


    Apart from this, Hephaestus, bound by the Ocean Goddess Thetis''s favors, would likely remain neutral, the Agriculture God Demeter was already cold toward Zeus due to her daughter Persephone''s situation, the Queen Goddess Hera had long been intolerant of her husband''s infidelities, Hestia had already withdrawn from the struggle for divine power, and Hermes was best at trimming his sails to the wind...


    In this way, Zeus would be isted by Poseidon''s long-schemed acts.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 101: Got Rejected (As per title, 8k)_4

    The supreme divine authority of Olympus may not be unchangeable.


    And to achieve this ultimate goal, whether it''s using the Minosians as a bargaining chip to force Athena into submission, or attempting to use King Minos''s Golden Hound to win the favor of the Hunting God, the ownership of Crete Ind is of paramount importance!


    Therefore, he went to great lengths to initiate the beast tide, in order to gather these necessary conditions.


    In the real mythological records, it seems that Poseidon''s scheme had seeded.


    ¡ª¡ªOrion, who liked to hunt in the forest all day, with a faithful hound, became a good hunting partner for Artemis, the Hunting God, and her mother, the Nurturing Goddess Leto.


    ¡ª¡ªBefore long, a rebellion against Zeus broke out on Olympus, in which Poseidon, Apollo, Athena, and Hera all participated.


    These traces found in the pages of books undoubtedly prove this point.


    However, with the emergence of the variable Luo En, Poseidon''s attempt to seize Crete Ind and the first step to pressure Athena fell through, and even Orion, the demi-god crucial for the subsequent ns, was nearly lost in the process.


    Seeing his n copse, and unable to make progress against that spiny Goddess of Wisdom for the time being,


    Poseidon had no choice but to fall back and decide to target Artemis first.


    So, Orion''s real target was not him; he set foot onnd to lure that female Hunting God!


    Chapter Enjoy:


    And, in order for his godly son to seed in one fell swoop, Poseidon clearly infused the Power of the God of Love obtained from the bargain into Orion''s body.


    Since he couldn''t have the help of the Golden Hound and couldn''t take a subtle approach, he had no choice but to turn the raw rice into cooked rice first.


    Torrents of thoughts surged and intertwined, allowing Luo En to pierce through the fog and see the truth and schemes beneath the deep sea in just a few short seconds.


    "Artemis, wake up!"


    Luo En shouted at the top of his voice, trying to awaken Artemis from the mind control of the Power of the God of Love.


    However, what he got in return was an even more pathological smile from the female Hunting God.


    "I am perfectly clear-headed. Anything I hunt is mine, it doesn''t matter whether you agree or not."


    As she spoke, Artemis drew back her Golden War Bow, and a new Golden Light Arrow began to form inch by inch on the bowstring.


    "Yes, beautiful goddess, eliminate this obstacle, and nothing will stand in our way of being together anymore."


    Orion on the opposite shore, driven by the Power of the God of Love within him, encouraged her more vehemently, his eyes filled with spiteful sneers.


    Why should you always be the first! All of this should have been mine!


    Die! I want to see you die under the arrow of the one you love!


    Seeing the Light Arrow on the bowstring gradually taking shape, a chilling cold raced from Luo En''s tailbone straight to the crown of his head.


    This crazy woman!


    Luo En''s forehead broke out inrge beads of cold sweat, internally cursing while frantically searching for his own sliver of a chance at survival.


    With Artemis, this crazed human cannon, running would be useless.


    Might as well catch the thief by catching the king?


    But this thought onlysted for half a second before he extinguished the tempting idea.


    The distance was too great, and with Artemis standing in the way, he''d likely be turned into a sieve by the crazy woman behind him before he could eveny a finger on Orion on the other bank.


    Damn the Power of the God of Love!


    Luo En cursed in his heart subconsciously, but then a thunderbolt exploded in his mind, clearing the chaos of his thoughts.


    Wait, the Power of the God of Love?


    It seemed he had it too!


    In an instant, the faded memory became vivid.


    In a moment of crisis, Luo En thought of something he had drawn from the Twelve-Sided Die during the escape in the Sea of Okeanos,


    "[Aphrodite''s Blessing]: The Goddess of Love and Beauty will activate your divine bloodline of the God of Love, bestowing upon you attraction to the opposite sex,sting for one week."


    In an instant, this divine power blessing, once deemed tasteless yet too valuable to dispose of and thus thrown into a forgotten corner, now shone like a priceless treasure.


    ¡ª¡ªThank the ex-grandmother!


    Suddenly, the same guy who had been cursing the God of Love moments before, earnestly praised his nominal ex-grandmother and without hesitation, used the chance divinity of the Twelve-Sided Die to activate the blessing from the God of Love.


    As the boiling divine blood began to circte faster, a seductive pink hue materialized in those crystal-like eyes.


    With a stroke of luck, Luo En moved the muscles of his face, pulling out a bright and gentle smile, and gazed intently at the majestic female Hunting God.


    "Artemis, I agree! I agree to be your servant of God! To apany you by your side forever!"


    Did he agree? He just agreed like that?


    Eye to eye, the promise resonated like sweet nothings, causing Artemis, who was holding a breath of anger in her heart, to be taken aback, her face showing hints of confusion and wavering.


    But, that was all.


    Clearly,pared to the blessing of the God of Love Luo En had obtained from his trial, it was Poseidon''s transaction with Aphrodite to influence a Chief God that was more domineering with the Power of the God of Love.


    But that was enough!


    Luo En, seeing the female Hunting God''s expressions loosen, immediately put all his might into stirring the divinity from his God of Love bloodline and the madness from the God of Wine, shouting a thunderous wake-up call.


    "Wake up! You''ve been bewitched!"


    In that moment, Artemis, almost rendered deaf, snapped to her senses, and her murky eyes swiftly gained a trace of rity.


    Now realizing something was amiss, Orion''s face changed drastically, hastily urging,


    "Beautiful goddess, don''t listen to his nonsense, kill him, and we can..."

 Chapter 133: Chapter 101: Got Rejected (As per title, 8k)_5

    "Thud!"


    However, a golden arrow pierced through the sky, apanied by a dull tearing sound, prated his shoulder, dragging him across the ground and finally nailing him firmly to the trunk of a sturdy tree.


    "Aaah, my shoulder!"


    Caught off guard, Orion let out a piercing scream of agony as blood spurted from his wound.


    And those pained cries, like a curse, seeped into Artemis''s mind, constantly tempting her to look back and show mercy.


    "Ting-a-ling~!"


    With the sound of metal shing, Artemis dropped her golden longbow, knelt on the ground, clutching her head and growling through gritted teeth towards what was ahead.


    "Kill him! Quickly!"


    Just as the Hunting Goddess spoke, Luo En''s figure had already crossed beside her, charging towards the riverbank opposite like an arrow loosed from its string, his right hand tightly grasping Orion''s sturdy neck, forcibly silencing his ceaseless wails inside his throat.


    As the grip on his throat tightened, the affixed Orion struggled frantically, and in hisbored breathing, emitted a terrified growl.


    "You... you can''t... kill me, Father God he..."


    "Crack!"


    However, before Orion could finish, the vise-like arm suddenly erupted with a crimson light of war divinity, breaking through thest thinyer of the sea''s blessing around the God of the Sea''s son, and directly twisting his sturdy neck.


    An eyeball protruded, and therge head full of resentment and fear weakly drooped down.


    The next moment, the sanguine light in Luo En''s hand transformed into a zing red me that set Orionpletely ame.


    In the blink of an eye, the twisted, cracking corpse, along with the charred trunk, turned into ky ashes, drifting away with the wind.


    After disposing of the body with practiced ease, Luo En finally rxed his tense nerves, and the suppressed inner injuries from facing Artemis now erupted, as pain from bones, organs, and muscles flooded over him like a tidal wave.


    This time, Orion should have no way toe back to life, right?


    Gazing at the small pile of ashes before him, Luo En, likewise at his limit, confirmed repeatedly before copsing to the ground in relief.


    If with just these remains, Poseidon could pull his precious son back from the Netherworld, then he shouldn''t be called the God of the Sea, but rather be renamed as the Underworld King.


    As thest bit of concern dissipated, Luo En was just about to let go of all his guards and lie down to rest.


    However, a hot current entered his ears, the scent of musk and flowers lingering behind him in the air.


    Instantly, Luo En''s neck, like a rusted spring, twisted awkwardly by half a turn.


    His purple eyes instantly met a pair of silver eyes flickering with fervent mes.


    Primitive bestiality and a desire nearly tangible were burning wildly within them.


    In an instant, a tingling sensation covered Luo En''s scalp, and he realized a problem he had overlooked.


    Although one source of contamination, Orion, was dead, he was still alive.


    Moreover, if he remembered correctly, "Aphrodite''s Favor"sted... a week?


    "Gulp..."


    Luo En swallowed, trying to moisten his dry throat, as he watched a top predator of the forest curling her tongue and licking her lips a short distance away, squeezing out a crooked smile on his rigid face.


    "Hungry? Maybe you should eat first..."


    "Bang!"


    Before Luo En could finish, a pair of slender yet powerful arms grabbed at his quietly retreating legs and effortlessly pulled him down.


    Thrown into disarray, Luo En hadn''t recovered his senses when his body was quickly dragged towards a small grove ahead, his head banging against the stones along the way, leaving his thoughts nk.


    The sensation was like a little rabbit being savagely pulled out of its hole by a leopardess and crushed under her paws.


    "Don''t tear my clothes!"


    "Stop it, I''m innocent..."


    "Ow, ow, ow! My wound is tearing open!"


    "Woo... Woo!!!"


    Soon, under the absolute suppression of the leopardess, the helpless cries of the rabbit werepletely drowned out by the shadows ovepping and blending in the forest.


    The greedy beast reveled in its hunting grounds, savoring its prey that belonged to it alone!

 Chapter 134: Chapter 102: Already in the Shape of Artemis

    Meanwhile, on Olympus.


    In the Great Temple bathed in sacred fire, the God of the Sea, Poseidon, who was having a fierce confrontation with Goddess Athena, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. A sense of ominous foreboding flooded his mind instantly.


    Something had happened¡­


    Poseidon''s expression changed dramatically at the council, and he subconsciously stood up from his seat, ready to leave.


    However, as soon as Poseidon made a move, Athena across from him stood up abruptly with a cold snort.


    "You think you can just leave before our business is settled?"


    As she spoke, the eyes of the Goddess of Wisdom sparkled with a hint of sharp brilliance.


    Something had happened! Most likely a contingency from Antis!


    Although he did not know the specifics, judging by his uncle''s reaction, it definitely wasn''t any good news.


    Given the circumstances, it was all the more reason not to let him slip away and save the situation!


    Seeing Athena entangle him in conversation, Poseidon felt a surge of irritation.


    "We can discuss these matterster! I''m tired!"


    "Youe when you wish, leave when you wish, do you even have the Father God in your eyes? Do you really think Olympus, where the gods hold council, is your Antean Sea God''s temple?"


    Athena''s mocking words were merciless and cutting to the heart.


    Seeing his niece''s unreasonable demeanor, Poseidon, anxious to leave, became fiercely angry.


    But just as he was about to burst out in rage, two scrutinising gazes shot over from the golden thrones above,nding silently on him.


    In an instant, a chill crept up his spine, silencing the infuriated Sea God, and his boiling Divine Blood cooled down.


    Athena was right; this was Olympus.


    Although he would sooner orter bring it under his control, now was not the time, and he had to endure.


    Poseidon took a deep breath and steeled his heart.


    "Compensation,pensation,pensation! Isn''t it just 17 ports, 25 towns, and over 300 ships,rge and small? Consider it my negligence. The losses of Crete Ind, I''llpensate for them!"


    Poseidon, pressing on his throbbing chest, tried to turn and leave his seat.


    However, before he could take a step, Athena''s figure blocked his path, correcting him softly.


    "No, it''s 170 ports, 250 towns, and over 3,000 ships,rge and small, the casualties of tens of thousands of people, as well as an entire Minos Fleet¡­"


    "Hiss!"


    Poseidon gasped in shock, hisplexion turning a ghastly shade of blue-ck.


    "Increased tenfold?"


    "That''s the price for the first Beast Tide outbreak. But since your Beast Tide urred three times, I only learned of the specific losses on Crete Ind when I returned."


    Athena spread her hands, offering a definitive exnation, her expression innocent and serious.


    The cost increased tenfold just because of two more incidents?


    And why wasn''t this brought up earlier, but only mentioned now?


    This isn''t just opening your mouth wide; this is extortion!


    Poseidon''s teeth, tightly clenched, grated, his expression turning ominous. The Divine Power swirling around him formed spiraling currents, like a typhoon gathering over the ocean, and the ghostly blue Trident appeared in his hands.


    "Are you ying me?!"


    "The Father God is above us, and you not only intend to default on your debts but also have the audacity tomit violence!"


    Under the immense pressure of oceanic divine authority, Athena stood her ground, her usations sharp and confrontational. She immediately summoned the gleaming Spear of Victory and Aegis Shield, firmly blocking in front of the golden throne, protecting the King of Olympus who presides over justice, King Zeus, behind her.


    "¡­"


    For a moment, whether it was Poseidon with the Trident in the hall or Zeus on the throne with his ck-and-blue eye socket, neither could help but twitch the corners of their mouths, falling into silence.


    The fully armed Goddess of Wisdom raised her shield and spear, issuing a stern ultimatum withplete righteousness.


    "No one leaves today until this matter is settled!"


    "¡­"


    Once again rendered silent by this stance, Poseidon''s expression was gloomy, his gaze filled with sorrow and indignation.


    Who exactly is the unreasonable one here?


    ~~


    Knossos City, 7th dwelling in the third street.


    After finishing her daily home chores, Hestia satzily on the steps, propping her chin with one hand and basking in the sun, while her drowsy eyes asionally nced towards the city gate.


    However, until sunset, the figure she was waiting for still hadn''t appeared among the passersby.


    Tsk, they must be out there having a crazed time again tonight...


    Hestia sighed and walked back into the house, feeling depressed, but started to prepare a single portion of dinner, something to which she had be ustomed.


    After all, hunting is an activity that tests one''s patience and skill. Whether it''s the journey over mountains and through rivers, or the pursuit and tracking, it often took a lot of time.


    So basically, whenever the two of them went out, they would disappear for days on end.


    Because Athena had previously expressly asked her to try not to get involved with Artemis and Luo En''s actions.


    The obedient Goddess of the Hearth could only choose to ept this, and stayed at home dutifully.


    Anyway, there was only one month left; Artemis couldn''t y for long, for she always had to leave.


    Hestia muttered to herself andforted herself internally, soon channeling all her unreleased energy into preparing the night''s meal.


    ~~


    As the moon set and the stars faded, the golden sun rose in the east, and day and night continued to alternate ceaselessly.


    In the blink of an eye, seven days and seven nights passed.


    Scattered golden sunlight prated the morning mist, casting its rays into the vast Cretan mountain range.


    As if the dense forest that had been ravaged by a giant beast, a figure lying on the dry leaves let out a pained groan, struggling to open heavy eyelids, trying to awaken the sunken mind.


    However, as soon as the bodily sensations began to return, the barely awake figure almost passed out again.


    Pain! It hurt all over!


    Every bone felt as if it had been crushed, every inch of muscle as if it had been torn;


    Organs spasmed like in conulsive throbs, sending unbearable cries of distress, and bite marks carved into the tough skin, leaving behind ghastly scars.


    It seemed as if the victim had just been subjected to a brutally inhuman form of torture.


    What happened to me...?


    Luo En, lost in bewilderment, shook his dizzy head, attempting to piece together the truth through fragmented memories.


    Soon, as images materialized in his mind andpiled aplete narrative, the half-dead victim suddenly jolted upright, andrge drops of cold sweat dripped from his forehead.


    It seemed he had slept with Artemis?


    Ah no, rather, it seemed Artemis had slept with him!


    And it was the brutally cruel kind!


    The memory of that female leopard on top of him, relentlessly demanding, made Luo En on the ground shiver uncontrobly, feeling a chill down his spine.


    Seven days and nights, she had defiled me for seven days and nights!


    You owe me...


    Just as the innocent victim was about to use the Hunting Goddess of brutality, the cold touch at his throat silenced him instantly. He stiffly raised his head, following the bronze arrow pointed at his neck, to see a face under the shade of the trees, cold as ice.


    The Hunting Goddess, having awakened ahead with her strong physical condition, covered the turbulent waves in front of her chest with one hand, while the other took a bronze arrow inscribed with dense scripts from the quiver at her side, aiming its sharp tip at Luo En''s throat.


    The fierce heat and madness from the seven days and nights were gone from her silver eyes, leaving behind only an eerie coldness.


    "Gulp..."


    Luo En struggled to swallow, suppressing his racing heart, his brain desperately trying to figure out what to say in the deadly silence.


    Whether he had slept with Artemis or Artemis had slept with him was not the point.


    The key was, what serious consequences would befall for defiling a virgin Goddess?


    And as a party involved, how to quell her rage.


    As for who was first orst, who was dominant or submissive, who was right or wrong¡ªnone of that mattered.


    If reasoning with these deities were effective, King Minos wouldn''t have ended up in his current plight.


    So, to save his life, what should he say now?


    Finally, as the arrowhead broke his skin and a stream of golden-red blood emerged, Luo En steeled his heart and closed his eyes with righteous indignation,


    "Kill me now, before anyone knows about this. If Athena asks, tell her it was Orion''s doing and you couldn''t stop him in time..."


    As the words left his mouth, Luo En didn''t look but clearly felt the bronze arrow at his throat, along with the hand holding it, tremble noticeably.

 Chapter 135: Chapter 103: Please Stop Your Ghost Father Behavior

    "Ding-dong~!"


    Apanied by the quivering sound of metal hitting the ground, the taut body opposite him copsed in defeat.


    "Forget it, she won''t be fooled so easily¡­"


    "Even if Athena is smart, she''ll just think there''s something fishy about my death. But without any evidence, she shouldn''t link it to this. Besides, Crete is currently at odds with Antis, she''s too busy dealing with Poseidon. Even if she suspects something, she might not dare to do anything to you."


    Luo En slowly opened his eyes, picked up the bronze arrow that had fallen by his side, and sincerely handed it over.


    "So, do you want to give it a try?"


    However, his hand was violently knocked aside by an irritated Artemis before it even reached halfway.


    "Hmph, am I the kind of person who repays kindness with enmity?!"


    The Goddess of the Hunt red at Luo En across from her with wide, angry eyes.


    Are you not?


    The way you were acting just now, you clearly wanted to stab me to death!


    Luo En internally rolled his eyes at the thought, but kept a calm expression as he tossed the bronze arrow over his shoulder, forcing a contrite smile.


    "Sorry, I only wanted to help, but I ended up dragging you into this mess¡­"


    "What are you apologizing for? It was that bastard demigod of Poseidon who caused all this trouble, not you."


    Artemis retorted coldly, her gaze turning sour as she looked at the other victim involved in the incident.


    "I know who''s at fault here, and I''m not so petty as to take it out on you."


    Yes, yes, yes, you''re clear about who you resent, you''re morally superior! It''s my fault for assuming the worst of you, noble as you are!


    While secretly rolling his eyes again, Luo En''s ncing gaze shifted to the arrow lying behind him.


    And when he saw that bronze arrow, the one that nearly pierced his throat several feet away, his heart finally settled back into ce, and a wave of relief washed over him, grateful he had survived the ordeal.


    That was close, nearly got seduced and then ughtered by this crazy woman.


    Lucky I bet right!


    This really is the kind of mule that you need to stroke the right way, clearly responds better to soft tactics than hard ones.


    Luo En quietly observed Artemis''s gradually softening expression and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. His racing mind began to recall what he knew about the Goddess of the Hunt.


    She was a goddess of contradictory character, capable of both tender kindness and brutal vengeance.


    It was said that the queen of Thebes, Niobe, because she had given birth to seven sons and seven daughters, arrogantly mocked Leto for having only two children, Apollo and Artemis, even boasting her own father could dine with the gods and prevented the Thebans from worshiping Leto.


    Humiliated, Leto demanded that her son Apollo and daughter Artemis punish Niobe.


    In anger, Apollo and Artemis descended to the mortal world and killed Niobe''s seven sons and six daughters that she took so much pride in.


    When it came to Niobe''s youngest daughter, Artemis, feeling a twinge of mercy, stopped her hand and allowed Apollo to grant the child a long life.


    Another passage in the epic simrly confirmed Artemis''s contradictory nature.


    It was said that prior to the Trojan War, King Agamemnon killed a sacred stag of Artemis and bragged that his skills surpassed the goddess''s, provoking Artemis to create turbulent waves at sea, preventing the ships from sailing. She conveyed through an oracle that Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter to calm her wrath.


    As the war turned against him, King Agamemnon eventually lit the pyre and led his daughter Iphigenia to the altar.


    However, a gust of wind blew through, and in an instant, Princess Iphigenia disappeared, reced by a stag on the altar.


    In fact, Artemis had rescued the girl and appointed her as her own priestess, affording her a peaceful life in her temple.


    In conclusion, these two events sufficiently prove that although Artemis''s temperament was unpredictable, she was not cruel or bloodthirsty.


    In theory, as long as one could cate her, she would choose to forgive even grave mistakes.


    But the more one resisted, the likelier it was to trigger the goddess''s fury, leading her to take extreme measures.


    Therefore, Luo En had earlier chosen a strategic retreat, presenting himself as unfailingly loyal, considering every step from the perspective of the Goddess of the Hunt, even instructing Artemis on how to erase all traces of him.


    And the result was just as he had anticipated.


    Artemis not only gave up the chance to strike him down but also kept finding excuses to absolve him, the victim.


    Now, after an extended silence, the Goddess of the Hunt across from him bit her lip, seeming to have finally made up her mind, and waved at Luo En.


    "Forget it, you were trying to help me earlier, this has nothing to do with you, you can go¡­"


    Phew, I''m safe!


    Hearing her eased tone, Luo En, overjoyed to finally be extricated from this quagmire, instinctively opened his Magic Circle Diagram and quickly pulled out a clean set of clothes, put it on, and made ready to bolt.


    This woman is too dangerous. Just to be safe, I should first hide away at Hestia''s ce to avoid the storm.


    However, just as Luo En was about to step out of the dense woods, his gaze inadvertently nced back.


    The once proud Goddess of the Hunt was now curled up in the shadows untouched by sunlight, embracing her knees with both hands, biting her cherry lips until they bled, with her head deeply buried in front of her chest.


    ¡ªLike a small bird shivering under the eaves as the storm approaches.


    "What would be the consequences of losing chastity?"


    Luo En, as if possessed, stopped in his tracks and turned to ask.


    Instantly, Artemis blushed with annoyance and anger.


    "It''s none of your business! Get lost!"


    However, facing the extremely hostile attitude of the Goddess of the Hunt, Luo En, who should have been eager to escape, instead stopped in his footsteps, turned back to the original spot, and after scrutinizing the figure under the shade of the trees for a moment, an incredulous look crossed his face as he solemnly began to speak.


    "You''re... afraid?"


    "Shut up!"


    In a sh, Artemis, like a mother cat whose tail has been stepped on, suddenly raised her head and roared, her fur bristling with rage.


    But the more angry she became, the more it failed to conceal the deep-seated fear thaty buried in those eyes that were fierce on the surface yet timid within.


    Almost immediately, Luo En guessed the answer.


    "Is it Zeus?"


    Upon hearing this name, Artemis''s body visibly trembled, and the conclusion was self-evident.


    Looking at the overreaction of the Goddess of the Hunt, Luo En suddenly recalled a legend.


    Among the nymph attendants of Artemis, there was a demigod named Callisto, daughter of King Lycaon, who had sworn to remain chaste since childhood.


    This mortal girl was unlike other nymphs, who loitered by streams all day, wandered through gardens,posing poetry, and dancing gracefully. She was always dressed for hunting, with a divine bow on her shoulder and a golden spear in her hand, following closely behind Artemis, chasing after wild beasts through the mountains and dense forests.


    Due to theirmon interests and passions, Callisto had won the favor of the Goddess of the Hunt, and the two were inseparable, like a pair of close twin sisters.


    However, one day, as Callisto was resting in the forest, she encountered the Divine King Zeus on a tour of the Mortal World. Upon seeing the beautiful Callisto, Zeus was stricken with desire, wanting to seduce the maiden and share herpany.


    To achieve his goal, Zeus transformed into the likeness of Artemis to approach Callisto. Unaware of this deception, the delighted Callisto, seeing the goddess approaching, warmly weed her.


    It wasn''t until "Artemis" (Zeus) kissed her that she realized the person before her was not the goddess she had vowed to follow.


    But it was toote; her oath of chastity was defiled, and the divine authority of Artemis could no longer protect her safety.


    Thus, Callisto was forced into union with Zeus against her will and subsequently conceived a child.


    Not long after, Artemis discovered the secret and in a fit of rage, cast out the innocent Callisto...


    Let''s not discuss the rest of the story for now.


    But, "dressed for hunting, with a divine bow on the shoulder, and a golden spear in hand, ardently pursuing wild beasts in the mountains and dense forests..." These descriptions of Callisto''s attire and behavioral habits brought a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu to Luo En.


    Luo En looked towards the present, his gazending softly on the Goddess of the Hunt who sat with hands sping her knees.


    Indeed, she was the very image of Artemis!


    And the reason Zeus targeted Callisto was probably more than just what it seemed.


    Perhaps, a substitute?


    Taking into ount Artemis''s outraged response to expel Callisto,bined with his own understanding of the King of Olympus, the answers were self-evident.


    ¡ªZeus''s affection for his daughter Artemis wasn''t pure; it likely also contained an element of possession.


    And indeed, such incestuous behavior wasn''t unprecedented for the King of Olympus.


    The Queen of the Underworld Persephone, who subsequently gave birth to the God of Wine Dionysus in his previous life and the Goddess of Conspiracy Melinoe in two separate ordeals, serves as a living testament.


    Perhaps it was also for this reason that Artemis, having sensed this advance, swore an oath to Zeus, requesting that she be a virgin goddess, a guardian of chastity.


    Considering the attitudes of the mother Goddess Leto and the God of Light Apollo, along with the negative repercussions from sleeping with the Queen of the Underworld Persephone, Zeus agreed to his daughter Artemis''s plea to avoid having all three oppose him by siding with another faction.


    But all along, he never extinguished that covetous desire.


    The fate of the nymph Callisto serves as the best proof.


    And now, Artemis''s oath of chastity has also been broken...


    In that moment, contemting all of this, Luo En couldn''t help but realize the gravity of the situation.

 Chapter 140: Chapter 107 Restraint Overwhelming Heaven, Special Attack Sun Immortal (Vote Request)

    Artemis was no fool.


    With just a little guidance from Luo En, the Goddess of the Hunt soon understood his intent.


    "Are you saying? Use Adonis to lure that woman away?"


    "Exactly!"


    Luo En nodded, spreading out a few terrain sketches on the table, and began to borate on the n he had devised over the past two days.


    "First of all, from my observations, Adonis is a dedicated hunting enthusiast and his rtionship with the King of Cyprus is not good, so he goes hunting outside the city every day to clear his mind.


    Secondly, perhaps as some sort of psychologicalpensation, every time Aphrodite seeks to seduce Adonis, she bathes in the Sacred Pool, which can restore her purity, to signify giving her entire body and soul to her lover.


    And there is a distance between Adonis''s usual hunting spot and the Sacred Pool that Aphrodite regrly visits.


    So, what do you think she will do if, when Aphrodite and The Three Graces are activating the Sacred Pool, Adonis just happens to encounter a life-threatening danger?"


    In an instant, Artemis''s eyes brightened, and she blurted out the answer.


    "She would immediately abandon her bath and rush back to save her little lover!"


    "Right, that''s your chance!"


    Luo En nodded approvingly, speaking in a grave tone.


    "As long as we lurk near the Sacred Pool in advance and wait for Aphrodite and The Three Graces to open it, then, when they are distracted, I will take the ce of the God of Love and enter the Sacred Pool toplete the ritual, and our goal will be achieved!"


    Perfect!


    Artemis was thrilled to hear this highly feasible n.


    However, she quickly realized the key issue and cast a deep look at the man across from her.


    "So, you''re going to make a move on Adonis?"


    Indeed, the idea was beautiful, and the n''s feasibility was high.


    But the premise required someone to act against Adonis at the right moment to divert Aphrodite and The Three Graces.


    And with only two people involved, Artemis needed to hide near the Sacred Pool and wait for the right time, meaning the most dangerous part of the n naturally fell onto Luo En himself.


    To this, Luo En nodded decisively, without any evasion, and seriously instructed.


    "Right, when the timees, we''ll contact each other with spells, and you must send me a signal immediately."


    "No, that''s too dangerous!"


    With the opportunity so close, Artemis instinctively shook her head in objection.


    Luo En confidently patted his chest, reassuring her with a calm smile.


    "Don''t worry, Adonis is all show and no substance, and his authority as the god of vegetation in spring is not innate. He can''t utilize a deity''sbat power. Besides, due to his poor rtionship with the King of Cyprus, he doesn''t have many followers with him, mostly ordinary soldiers from the pce. I should be able to deal with them."


    "And what about Aphrodite and The Three Graces?"


    Artemis looked at the man before her, voicing the critical question.


    As a woman, she knew all too well that sometimes her own sex, when enraged, can be even more fearsome than the opposite sex.


    If Aphrodite knew someone had attacked her lover, she would likely retaliate without holding back.


    Even the God of Love, not skilled in battle, was not someone a demigod could contend with.


    Moreover, there were The Three Graces who were never far from Aphrodite.


    "No problem, I''ll escape the blockade before they converge as quickly as possible..."


    Luo En paused for a moment, then looking at Artemis, he seriously instructed.


    "So, you need to be quick!"


    Even knowing the danger, he still had no intention of wavering or backing down.


    After all, when weighing one harm against another, he would rather provoke Aphrodite''s kept pretty boy than offer a reason to Zeus for an earlier demise.


    Artemis bit her lip and nodded lightly, ultimately not persisting in her attempt to dissuade him.


    Because she too understood that some things must be done by someone, or they can lead to even more severe consequences.


    Once the n was confirmed, and after they simplymunicated the Runes for contacting each other secretly, Luo En brought up another practical difficulty in executing the n: "Although I''m confident I could defeat Adonis face-to-face after several probes, to create a sense of life-and-death crisis for him and lure Aphrodite here will be challenging."


    At this point, he couldn''t help butin with a bit of a headache: "Deities inherently possess nearly immortal traits, and on top of that, Aphrodite, to keep her lover safe, endowed Adonis with divine vitality from the god of vegetation in spring..."


    After a brief pause, Luo En raised his head and looked at Artemis across from him, asking in a serious tone, "So, do you have any methods or items here that could be used against a deity? And I mean the kind that won''t easily give away your identity."


    The Goddess of the Hunt thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up: "Yes!"


    Immediately after, Artemis opened the Magic Circle Diagram and pulled out a shining piece of hide interwoven with red, blue, and ck.


    The moment it was spread out on the table, a strong scent of blood assaulted their senses.


    Even from several meters away, Luo En could feel the ferocious aura that still lingered on it.


    That was a barbaric magic beast in the Forest of Carnage, one that devoured flesh and blood, gnawed on armor, and even dared to challenge dragons and deities with its head held high.


    Luo En reached out to touch the beast''s hide with its mane like steel needles and instinctively asked,


    "What is this?"


    "The ''Divine Punishment Magic Mane''¡ªthis is the fur of the first magic beast I hunted when I inherited the title of the Hunting God."


    As she spoke, Artemis''s eyes revealed a look of reminiscence, and her face was quite emotional.


    "It was a magic boar, very strong. Many demigods, dragons, and even nymphs died under its tusks. In order to eradicate this menace, I chased this creature for seven days and nights before finally killing it. I then skinned itpletely, keeping its hide as the most memorable trophy in my arsenal."


    Luo En examined the entire skin of the magic boar before him, feeling its fierce aura that had not dissipated over time, and couldn''t help but be amazed.


    "No wonder, it feels just like it''s alive!"


    "No, it is alive!"


    Artemis''s startling words were followed by her flipping the fur to show Luo En, who looked on in surprise, the dense golden divine inscriptions on the underside, proudly disying her masterpiece.


    "As the Goddess of the Hunt, it would have been a pity to let such a fine prey rot away with that pile of flesh, so I secretly used this hide as a medium, infused my authority into it, and imprinted it with its most valiant form. Whenever I wish, I can use this to call it back to the world to fight for me, to enact my will, to deliver my divine punishment!"


    Immediately afterward, the Goddess of the Hunt paused, then looked up at Luo En across from her and spoke solemnly.


    "Simrly, if you don this hide, you can also transform into its form, gain its strength, and then harm the deities!"


    Listening to Artemis''s narration, Luo En gazed silently at the spread-out magic boar''s fur, his thoughts drifting.


    Legend has it that King Oeneus of Calydon forgot to honor the Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis, during the harvest festival. In her anger, the goddess unleashed a gigantic magic boar on the fields of Calydon to destroy the crops and livestock.


    Eventually, it took the united efforts of the heroes from Greece''s city-states, summoned by Prince Meleager of Calydon, to hunt down the monster and kill it.


    Moreover, this was after Prince Meleager had prayed to the goddess Artemis for permission before setting out.


    From this, one can see just how formidable this creature''sbat power was.


    If I were to wear this thing, my War God divinitybined with Artemis''s Hunting God divinity might just enable me to pin down that pretty boy Adonis and beat him on the ground.


    Additionally, if my memory serves me right¡ª


    ¡ªHis end was, in fact, being gored to death by a magic boar.


    They say that a specific counter can be greater than even the heavens, a special attack can bring down even the gods.


    Tsk tsk, Artemis pulling out this trick is indeed very apt.


    Thinking this, Luo En reached out to take the magic boar''s hide into his hands.


    However, Artemis held his wrist with a serious expression, earnestly warning,


    "Once you put it on, although you will gain its strength, your mind will also gradually be influenced by the ferocity of this magic beast. And if you use it for more than three hours, you might never change back to human form. Therefore, you must find me before that happens to help you detach from this hide!"


    Hearing Artemis''s warning, Luo En wasn''t surprised at all as he nodded inwardly.


    Such stringent conditions were normal; after all, the more powerful something or an item is, the stricter the limitations thate with it.


    Seeing the emergence of a bit of sternness and seriousness on the face across from him, Artemis hummed in satisfaction.


    "Of course, if you want to refuse..."


    But as Artemis paused, the magic boar''s hide was swiftly snatched away.


    Without the slightest hesitation, without a trace of wavering.


    "Three hours, right? I''ve got it. Come meet me ording to the nter, and I''ll wait for your rescue. Just make sure you''re notte."


    In a lighthearted voice, Luo En skillfully stuffed the magic boar''s hide into his opened Magic Circle Diagram.


    The Goddess of the Hunt, looking at her empty hands, was stunned for a good while before she regained her senses, ring hatefully at the smiling face in front of her, her chest heaving with frustration, feeling somewhat frantic inside.


    Idiot! I meant for you to reconsider seriously! Not to make a choice right away!


    "Trust me, if we strictly follow the n, everything will go smoothly."


    In her ear, a deep voice resounded, carrying a reassuring Magic Power.


    In the end, Artemis bit her lip and merely gave the man before her, with his confident and lofty air, a serious look, nodding her proud head.


    "Mhm..."


    Outside the window, the waxing moon hung high in the sky, its bright silver light pouring through the window and casting on the two figures in the bedroom, illuminating the intertwining silhouettes.


    As the main event came to an end, and night grew deeper, the two figures, engulfed by silence, spontaneously cast meaningful nces at each other.


    "Tonight?"


    "Thest time!"


    Artemis, licking her moist lips, swore earnestly.


    After a moment, the lights were extinguished, and the familiar rustling sounds echoed once more in the darkness.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 139: Chapter 106: The Counterattack from the Daughter

    The sixth night.


    In a quiet inn within the City of Paphos, Cyprus Ind.


    Artemis, with her silver hair and blue eyes, leaned by the window, her single hand propping up her cheek, and from time to time, she nced outside through the partly concealed crack of the windowttice, almost with a longing look.


    As the crescent moon of the night sky climbed bit by bit to mid-heaven, the impatience in her eyes gradually intensified.


    Usually, at this time, he should have already returned. Why hasn''t he arrived yet thiste?


    The Goddess of the Hunt grew somewhat restless, standing up from the chair and pacing back and forth inside the room, frowning more deeply with each step.


    Finally, after pacing dozens of rounds, the impatient Artemis could no longer endure and turned her head towards the tightly shut door.


    Just as she reached out to grasp the doorknob, the door creaked open, and a figure blending with the night slipped through the gap and into the room, narrowly avoiding a full embrace with Artemis, who was prepared to dash outside.


    However, as the flickeringmplight revealed the familiar face, the impatience and gloom on the Goddess of the Hunt''s face were swept away in an instant, her heart finally settling down to rest.


    "You''re back?"


    Artemis rushed forward, both her actions and tone revealing an obvious joy.


    Luo En nodded, then immediately closed the door, carefully checked the closures of the doors and windows, and set up several defensive and concealment spells before he finally spoke in a low voice to exin.


    "I got too close this time and was targeted by a few nymphs. Luckily, I reacted quickly and used the method you taught me to cover up my scent and divine presence. It was not until I had thrown them all off and taken a detour that I managed toe back."


    As he spoke, he handed over his coat.


    The Huntress naturally received it, thoroughly inspected it to confirm that there were no residual tracking scents and detection marks on this newly changed coat, before hanging it on the coat rack.


    Having smoothlypleted these steps, Artemis then pulled Luo En over to themp-lit table, scrutinizing him carefully.


    "What about you? Are you okay?"


    "Don''t worry, running away is my specialty."


    Luo En smiled confidently, then opened up his Magic Circle Diagram and pulled out a lotus leaf-wrapped package, cing it on the table and tearing it open to release steaming heat.


    "Haven''t eaten yet, right? I saw a meat shop on the way, they make decentmb chops. I brought some for you."


    With that, he pushed the opened lotus leaf package towards Artemis.


    The Goddess of the Hunt nced at the steamingmb chops and then at the face under themp, which bore a faint smile, pursed her lips, and silently took a seat by the window to start enjoying her dinner.


    The rich juice and the robust vor of meat burst into her mouth, bringing a strong sensation of satisfaction.


    This meal seemed even more delicious than anything she had eaten before.


    "Eat slowly. If you like this vor, I can bring more next time."


    Watching the Goddess of the Hunt eating heartily, without much elegance, Luo En was somewhat amused.


    "There''s no need; I was just simply hungry after waiting for you all day."


    Artemis shot back at Luo En across the table, swallowing thest piece of meat, then her expression turned serious.


    "Alright, let''s talk business."


    Luo En nodded, pulled up a chair, and sat down beside her. He then took out several pieces of parchment and papyrus, covered in characters, from his Magic Circle Diagram and spread them out on the table. Lowering his voice, he began to ry to Artemis what he had discovered while tracking the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, in thest three days.


    First off, he had to admit, his great-grandmother was truly the Goddess of Sex and Love, rolling in the sheets with so many deities and demigods day after day, still fervent and insatiable.


    Even after draining so many lovers, she still had the energy to entice new pretty boys.


    Such fiercebat power and stamina left Luo En, who had been tailing her, dumbfounded and full of admiration.


    And after three days of investigation, Luo En found that her newly hooked pretty boy was none other than the Prince of Cyprus Ind¡ªAdonis.


    Speaking of this prince, his birth was just as extraordinary.


    It was said that Theias, the King of Cyprus, had an exceptionally beautiful daughter named Myrrha who remained unwed.


    Because she had fallen in love with her father, who was a handsome man.


    As she grew older, Myrrha increasingly struggled to suppress the raging fire of desire within her.


    Finally, one night, inspired by the God of Love, she disguised herself as a maid, extinguished the lights, and secretly met with her father.


    But the truth is hard to conceal, and after several secret trysts, the pregnant Myrrha''s figure grew fuller, and she was discovered by her father.


    When the King of Cyprus learned that his lover was his own daughter, the shame and anger made him want to kill his indecent child.


    Terrified, Myrrha ran away to save the child in her womb and her own life, and in a desperate moment, she sought help from the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, and was subsequently turned into a myrrh tree.


    Her child was nurtured and grew within the tree and was born as the bark split open.


    This child, born with the taint of sin, was Prince Adonis.


    Seemingly inheriting his parents'' excellent genes, Adonis was exceedingly handsome from birth, and as he reached adulthood, he grew to a height of nine feet, with features as delicate and beautiful as flowers, making everything else in the world pale inparison.


    Even this beauty drew the attention of Aphrodite of Olympus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.


    In her desire to get close to and captivate this beautiful boy, Aphrodite learned of his passion for hunting and quietly left Mount Olympus toe to the forests of Cyprus Ind, disguising herself as a huntress, keeping the young manpany all day, and roaming with him through mountains and valleys.


    To such an extent she adored Adonis that the Goddess of Love herself followed the hunting dogs, exuberantly cheering, and chasing harmless animals, all to win the heart of the prince.


    Ultimately, her efforts paid off, and Aphrodite, with her beauty and charisma, wholly captured the affection of this handsome young man from Cyprus Ind, and they spent a wonderful time together in the forests.


    Afterward, the Goddess of Love didn''t treat Adonis as she did her other lovers¡ªused and then discarded¡ªinstead, she took time out now and then toe to Cyprus Ind to have secret rendezvous with her lover.


    Even going so far as to secure for him the authority of the Spring nt God, ensuring that this demigod ascended to be a deity, forever young.


    All this effort clearly showed how much the Goddess of Love cared for and liked her lover.


    "Tsk tsk, to give away divine powers just like that, she must truly be smitten. No wonder every time she leaves home, she deliberately lingers on Cyprus Ind for a while¡ªit turns out it''s to sneak in a tryst here."


    At this moment, Artemis, who had been quietly listening, suddenly understood, and her blue eyes shimmered with a hint of mockery as she shook her head and sighed.


    "Who would have thought this promiscuous woman could also have her moments of true feeling? And yet Ares and Hephaestus, fighting over her, have be two ipetent barking dogs,pletely disgraceful."


    Luo En understood Artemis''s schadenfreude.


    After all, she had never gotten on well with Hera''s family and relished seeing them embarrassed.


    However, the Goddess of the Hunt soon realized something and looked puzzled across the room.


    "That said, even if we know these little secrets, what use are they for what we have to do next?"


    Luo En smiled faintly, his gaze deep as he looked out the window toward Cyprus Ind.


    "Of course they''re useful, don''t you think the prince is a perfect entry point?"

 Chapter 140: Chapter 107 Restraint Overwhelming Heaven, Special Attack Sun Immortal (Vote Request)

    Artemis was no fool.


    With just a little guidance from Luo En, the Goddess of the Hunt soon understood his intent.


    "Are you saying? Use Adonis to lure that woman away?"


    "Exactly!"


    Luo En nodded, spreading out a few terrain sketches on the table, and began to borate on the n he had devised over the past two days.


    "First of all, from my observations, Adonis is a dedicated hunting enthusiast and his rtionship with the King of Cyprus is not good, so he goes hunting outside the city every day to clear his mind.


    Secondly, perhaps as some sort of psychologicalpensation, every time Aphrodite seeks to seduce Adonis, she bathes in the Sacred Pool, which can restore her purity, to signify giving her entire body and soul to her lover.


    And there is a distance between Adonis''s usual hunting spot and the Sacred Pool that Aphrodite regrly visits.


    So, what do you think she will do if, when Aphrodite and The Three Graces are activating the Sacred Pool, Adonis just happens to encounter a life-threatening danger?"


    In an instant, Artemis''s eyes brightened, and she blurted out the answer.


    "She would immediately abandon her bath and rush back to save her little lover!"


    "Right, that''s your chance!"


    Luo En nodded approvingly, speaking in a grave tone.


    "As long as we lurk near the Sacred Pool in advance and wait for Aphrodite and The Three Graces to open it, then, when they are distracted, I will take the ce of the God of Love and enter the Sacred Pool toplete the ritual, and our goal will be achieved!"


    Perfect!


    Artemis was thrilled to hear this highly feasible n.


    However, she quickly realized the key issue and cast a deep look at the man across from her.


    "So, you''re going to make a move on Adonis?"


    Indeed, the idea was beautiful, and the n''s feasibility was high.


    But the premise required someone to act against Adonis at the right moment to divert Aphrodite and The Three Graces.


    And with only two people involved, Artemis needed to hide near the Sacred Pool and wait for the right time, meaning the most dangerous part of the n naturally fell onto Luo En himself.


    To this, Luo En nodded decisively, without any evasion, and seriously instructed.


    "Right, when the timees, we''ll contact each other with spells, and you must send me a signal immediately."


    "No, that''s too dangerous!"


    With the opportunity so close, Artemis instinctively shook her head in objection.


    Luo En confidently patted his chest, reassuring her with a calm smile.


    "Don''t worry, Adonis is all show and no substance, and his authority as the god of vegetation in spring is not innate. He can''t utilize a deity''sbat power. Besides, due to his poor rtionship with the King of Cyprus, he doesn''t have many followers with him, mostly ordinary soldiers from the pce. I should be able to deal with them."


    "And what about Aphrodite and The Three Graces?"


    Artemis looked at the man before her, voicing the critical question.


    As a woman, she knew all too well that sometimes her own sex, when enraged, can be even more fearsome than the opposite sex.


    If Aphrodite knew someone had attacked her lover, she would likely retaliate without holding back.


    Even the God of Love, not skilled in battle, was not someone a demigod could contend with.


    Moreover, there were The Three Graces who were never far from Aphrodite.


    "No problem, I''ll escape the blockade before they converge as quickly as possible..."


    Luo En paused for a moment, then looking at Artemis, he seriously instructed.


    "So, you need to be quick!"


    Even knowing the danger, he still had no intention of wavering or backing down.


    After all, when weighing one harm against another, he would rather provoke Aphrodite''s kept pretty boy than offer a reason to Zeus for an earlier demise.


    Artemis bit her lip and nodded lightly, ultimately not persisting in her attempt to dissuade him.


    Because she too understood that some things must be done by someone, or they can lead to even more severe consequences.


    Once the n was confirmed, and after they simplymunicated the Runes for contacting each other secretly, Luo En brought up another practical difficulty in executing the n: "Although I''m confident I could defeat Adonis face-to-face after several probes, to create a sense of life-and-death crisis for him and lure Aphrodite here will be challenging."


    At this point, he couldn''t help butin with a bit of a headache: "Deities inherently possess nearly immortal traits, and on top of that, Aphrodite, to keep her lover safe, endowed Adonis with divine vitality from the god of vegetation in spring..."


    After a brief pause, Luo En raised his head and looked at Artemis across from him, asking in a serious tone, "So, do you have any methods or items here that could be used against a deity? And I mean the kind that won''t easily give away your identity."


    The Goddess of the Hunt thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up: "Yes!"


    Immediately after, Artemis opened the Magic Circle Diagram and pulled out a shining piece of hide interwoven with red, blue, and ck.


    The moment it was spread out on the table, a strong scent of blood assaulted their senses.


    Even from several meters away, Luo En could feel the ferocious aura that still lingered on it.


    That was a barbaric magic beast in the Forest of Carnage, one that devoured flesh and blood, gnawed on armor, and even dared to challenge dragons and deities with its head held high.


    Luo En reached out to touch the beast''s hide with its mane like steel needles and instinctively asked,


    "What is this?"


    "The ''Divine Punishment Magic Mane''¡ªthis is the fur of the first magic beast I hunted when I inherited the title of the Hunting God."


    As she spoke, Artemis''s eyes revealed a look of reminiscence, and her face was quite emotional.


    "It was a magic boar, very strong. Many demigods, dragons, and even nymphs died under its tusks. In order to eradicate this menace, I chased this creature for seven days and nights before finally killing it. I then skinned itpletely, keeping its hide as the most memorable trophy in my arsenal."


    Luo En examined the entire skin of the magic boar before him, feeling its fierce aura that had not dissipated over time, and couldn''t help but be amazed.


    "No wonder, it feels just like it''s alive!"


    "No, it is alive!"


    Artemis''s startling words were followed by her flipping the fur to show Luo En, who looked on in surprise, the dense golden divine inscriptions on the underside, proudly disying her masterpiece.


    "As the Goddess of the Hunt, it would have been a pity to let such a fine prey rot away with that pile of flesh, so I secretly used this hide as a medium, infused my authority into it, and imprinted it with its most valiant form. Whenever I wish, I can use this to call it back to the world to fight for me, to enact my will, to deliver my divine punishment!"


    Immediately afterward, the Goddess of the Hunt paused, then looked up at Luo En across from her and spoke solemnly.


    "Simrly, if you don this hide, you can also transform into its form, gain its strength, and then harm the deities!"


    Listening to Artemis''s narration, Luo En gazed silently at the spread-out magic boar''s fur, his thoughts drifting.


    Legend has it that King Oeneus of Calydon forgot to honor the Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis, during the harvest festival. In her anger, the goddess unleashed a gigantic magic boar on the fields of Calydon to destroy the crops and livestock.


    Eventually, it took the united efforts of the heroes from Greece''s city-states, summoned by Prince Meleager of Calydon, to hunt down the monster and kill it.


    Moreover, this was after Prince Meleager had prayed to the goddess Artemis for permission before setting out.


    From this, one can see just how formidable this creature''sbat power was.


    If I were to wear this thing, my War God divinitybined with Artemis''s Hunting God divinity might just enable me to pin down that pretty boy Adonis and beat him on the ground.


    Additionally, if my memory serves me right¡ª


    ¡ªHis end was, in fact, being gored to death by a magic boar.


    They say that a specific counter can be greater than even the heavens, a special attack can bring down even the gods.


    Tsk tsk, Artemis pulling out this trick is indeed very apt.


    Thinking this, Luo En reached out to take the magic boar''s hide into his hands.


    However, Artemis held his wrist with a serious expression, earnestly warning,


    "Once you put it on, although you will gain its strength, your mind will also gradually be influenced by the ferocity of this magic beast. And if you use it for more than three hours, you might never change back to human form. Therefore, you must find me before that happens to help you detach from this hide!"


    Hearing Artemis''s warning, Luo En wasn''t surprised at all as he nodded inwardly.


    Such stringent conditions were normal; after all, the more powerful something or an item is, the stricter the limitations thate with it.


    Seeing the emergence of a bit of sternness and seriousness on the face across from him, Artemis hummed in satisfaction.


    "Of course, if you want to refuse..."


    But as Artemis paused, the magic boar''s hide was swiftly snatched away.


    Without the slightest hesitation, without a trace of wavering.


    "Three hours, right? I''ve got it. Come meet me ording to the nter, and I''ll wait for your rescue. Just make sure you''re notte."


    In a lighthearted voice, Luo En skillfully stuffed the magic boar''s hide into his opened Magic Circle Diagram.


    The Goddess of the Hunt, looking at her empty hands, was stunned for a good while before she regained her senses, ring hatefully at the smiling face in front of her, her chest heaving with frustration, feeling somewhat frantic inside.


    Idiot! I meant for you to reconsider seriously! Not to make a choice right away!


    "Trust me, if we strictly follow the n, everything will go smoothly."


    In her ear, a deep voice resounded, carrying a reassuring Magic Power.


    In the end, Artemis bit her lip and merely gave the man before her, with his confident and lofty air, a serious look, nodding her proud head.


    "Mhm..."


    Outside the window, the waxing moon hung high in the sky, its bright silver light pouring through the window and casting on the two figures in the bedroom, illuminating the intertwining silhouettes.


    As the main event came to an end, and night grew deeper, the two figures, engulfed by silence, spontaneously cast meaningful nces at each other.


    "Tonight?"


    "Thest time!"


    Artemis, licking her moist lips, swore earnestly.


    After a moment, the lights were extinguished, and the familiar rustling sounds echoed once more in the darkness.

 Chapter 141: Chapter 108: Artemis, You Also Smell So Good (6k)

    Early morning, in the City of Paphos on Cyprus Ind.


    Brilliant sunlight pierced through the carved windows, illuminating the inside of the room, scattering across torn garments and disarray sprawled all the way to the big bed made of fragrant wood.


    With the shifting light and shadow, a graceful figure beneath the gauzy canopy yawnedzily, awakening leisurely as she stretched her jade arms and lifted the silk velvet quilt that barely concealed the glow of spring, revealing an ivory, wless, perfect form.


    The remaining traces of red marks on her snow-white skin did not detract from the beauty of her stunning body; instead, they highlighted the mature charm of a figure nourished by love''s aftermath.


    Aphrodite, on the bed, let out a long yawn, her descending arm covering the abundance of her body as she rubbed a few tooth marks etched into her skin, with her enchanting eyes casting a reproachful nce outside the canopy.


    This adversary...


    However, as she caught sight of her little lover in front of the dressing mirror already dressed in a brand-new hunting outfit, the Goddess of Love immediately cast aside her morningziness, quickly got out of bed, and took the handsome prince by the hand with a soft plea.


    "Adonis, my beloved, listen to me, please don''t go challenging those fierce beasts in the forest, okay? I''m really worried that the lion''s ws and the wolf''s sharp teeth will hurt you..."


    The handsome prince turned around upon hearing this, grasped his lover''s hand, and shed a confident smile.


    "Don''t worry, they can''t hurt me. What game would you like? I''ll hunt it for you today!"


    "I don''t want anything, just that you stop risking yourself on adventures. Do you know I get nervous every time you leave? Please promise me, no more dangerous feats, okay?"


    Aphrodite shook her head, holding her chest, pouring out her worries to her lover with eyes brimming with heartfelt sorrow.


    Yet, Adonis simply smiled nomittally with augh, released his lover''s hand, slung his war bow across his shoulder, and stood up to walk toward the door.


    "This time I''ll definitely hunt a big one for you, wait for me toe back!"


    Watching her lover''s figure fade into the distance, Aphrodite sighed heavily with a troubled expression on her stunning face, her persuasion in vain.


    She truly didn''t understand why these men always reveled in fighting and killing, challenging dangers, and conquering the impossible...


    Didn''t they know that someone was worrying for them day and night, eagerly awaiting their return home, longing for afortable and safe life...


    In truth, as the ancient Goddess of Love, she was all too familiar with the strife and ughter among the gods and the cycle of life and death of mortals; she didn''t expect her beloved to be a hero.


    Just to stay quietly by her side was more than enough.


    Yet even such a small wish seemed beyond what fate would permit.


    The man she loved still yearned to prove himself in the characteristic manner of males, to his father, the king of Cyprus, and to her, the Goddess of Love.


    ¡ªTo prove his bravery, to prove he was worthy of her trust.


    Of course, it was not that she couldn''t use her authority to keep him at her side.


    But that would never be true love...


    Aphrodite sat alone in front of her dressing mirror, caressing her beautiful face that no one admired, and couldn''t help feeling a touch of sadness.


    Oh well, who made her fall for such a person.


    Quietlymenting for a moment, Aphrodite nced back at the muddy bedsheet and the striking patch of crimson at its center, her face immediately flushing with a hint of satisfaction and intoxication.


    Although unsure of what her young lover thought, there was no doubt that the love she gave him surpassed that given to anyone else.


    The Goddess of Love, with her refined makeup, smiled contentedly at her own reflection in the mirror, then as always, draped herself in light gossamer and stepped out of her room, summoning her chariot and her three Lesser Deities to prepare for tonight''s madness at her Sacred Pool.


    Upon their mistress''s call, a pair of pure white swans descended, pulling the golden chariot.


    Aea, the Radiant Goddess of The Three Graces, with Euphrosyne and Thalia, the spirits of encouragement and mirth respectively, in their elegant and flowing gowns and translucent wings woven with Divine Power at their back, took the chariot''s reins while the other two attended on either side, driving towards the shallow bay on the outskirts of the City of Paphos, like a beautifulet streaking across the sky.


    In the bustling streets of the city, a figure blending in with the crowd nced up at theet, then, seeing as usual the handsome young man riding his warhorse at the head of a team rushing towards the hunting grounds outside the city, immediately pulled up their hood and stealthily followed.


    Meanwhile, in the wilderness far beyond the city, a blue-eyed female hunter with silver hair felt a faint resonance from the Hermes Script on the back of her hand, immediately spread out the topographical map, andparing it with the swan chariot''s trajectory, she strode forward.


    Soon after, a stream of light touched the ground.


    Aphrodite stepped down from her swan chariot, crossed the forest path, and arrived in front of a white marble pool, beckoning the pure sea waters from the shallow bay outside Paphos, to fill the pool.


    Paphos in Cyprus was her Origin, for she was born from the foam of its nearby sea.


    Thus, this ce was not only her sanctuary but also contained her Authority.


    The blessed sea water would wash away all her past anxieties, weariness, and signs of aging, allowing her to return to the youthful and radiant purity of her maidenhood.


    In Knossos, Nafplion, there was a simr sacred spring with like effects, although it could only be used for a short period in spring.


    That was a gift from Aphrodite to her mother-inw, Hera, and it contained the Divinity of the Goddess of Love that could captivate men.

 Chapter 142: Chapter 108 Artemis, You Smell So Good Too (6k)_2

    Therefore, at the beginning of every spring, Hera would undergo a baptism ritual to renew her chastity, in order to maintain the eternal bond of marriage with Zeus. During this time, Zeus would love only Hera, forsaking all other dalliances.


    It was this very gesture and the favoritism in her heart that allowed the queen of the heavens to turn a blind eye to the tangled affairs between her, Hephaestus, and Ares.


    The queen who governed marriage was vexed by her husband''s unfaithfulness.


    The Goddess of Love who yearned for affectioncked a romance of her own.


    Perchance there was no greater irony in the world than this.


    Aphrodite sneered and shook her head, then looked at her reflection in the Sacred Pool, blooming like a peach blossom, and couldn''t help but show a satisfied smile.


    However, she was happier than that woman now.


    At this moment, The Three Graces, who had arranged the chariot, stepped forward, sprinkling spices and petals into the Sacred Pool, chanting divine words, and activating the power of the pool to restore chastity.


    While waiting, Aphrodite suddenly furrowed her Dai Mei brows, covering her chest with her hand as her heart began to beat wildly for some unknown reason, and unprecedented panic and unease swirled and rose within her.


    ¡ªIt seemed as if something terrible was about to happen!


    Meanwhile, in the distant woods outside The City of Paphos.


    The handsome Prince Adonis was chasing an injured long-horned deer with his attendants.


    Seeing the beautiful prey driven into an open field with no escape, the handsome Prince on horseback immediately got excited, drew his bow, and aimed at the deer''s eyes.


    Good, he intended to gift the unblemished deer hide to his beloved.


    However, just as the Prince was about to release the fully drawn bowstring, the horse beneath him made a dull thud, neighed miserably, and flew backwards at high speed, followed by the crisp sound of shattering bones.


    Instantly, Adonis was thrown a long distance, crashing into the bushes nearby.


    Momentster, the Prince stood up among the startled cries of those around him, his gaze sweeping over the dying horse on the ground, the long-horned deer that had escaped amidst the chaos, and finally rested on the culprit of this crash.


    Previously empty ground now held a wild boar with mottled fur as massive as a small hill, panting heavily with eyes filled with brutal scarlet rage.


    "Damn it!"


    Seeing a promising hunt ruined by this monstrous beast, Adonis couldn''t help but erupt in anger, releasing the ready arrow in hand,


    "Thud!"


    The divine-powered arrow made a dull sound as it embedded in flesh.


    "Roar!"


    In an instant, the boar cried out in pain, charging towards the depths of the dense forest.


    "Damned beast, don''t think you can escape!"


    Enraged, Adonis naturally didn''t intend to let go, he immediately grabbed an attendant''s warhorse, mounted it, and sped after the direction in which the wild boar had fled.


    Though the monstrous creature was bulky, it moved through the forest like the wind.


    And its speed seemed to keep increasing, driven by its will to survive.


    Not wanting to lose track of it, Adonis clenched his teeth and infused divine power into his steed, recklessly pursuing close behind the wild boar.


    But his attendants, clearly not as powerful and determined as this Deity, were gradually left behind, their figures and cries fading into the jungle.


    However, Adonis didn''t mind, forpared to thosexly trained attendants that were just for show, he trusted more in the four-leggedpanions by his side.


    "Go! Don''t let it get away!"


    At their master''smand, four hunting dogs growled and sprang from the bushes, circling to the nk and snapping at the target.


    Well done!


    Seeing his hunting dogs block the wild boar''s escape route, Adonis, excited, drew his bow and prepared to deliver a fatal blow to the beast.


    "Thump thump thump!"


    However, apanying the series of muffled sounds that set one''s teeth on edge, his carefully raised hunting dogs were heavily injured.


    Two had their heads trampled into mush, blood and brain matter painting the ground, their limbs twitching in the throes of death; another hang limp on the tusks, like dried meat swinging pitifully; thest one, benefiting from the sacrifice of itspanions, had sessfully leaped onto the boar and bit down fiercely.


    Yet, no matter how it wed and gnawed, it could not leave a wound on the boar; in fact, it was the dog that was injured by the needle-like bristles all around, bleeding profusely.


    Meanwhile, the obstructed demonic pig stopped in its tracks, and a viscous crimson glow burst forth from within.


    "Bang!"


    In an instant, the dog still biting on the boar''s back was burst into a mist of blood and flesh as if crushed by an invisible hand.


    Seeing such a brutally bloody scene from a distance, Adonis shook, his pupils contracting.


    This was not a wild boar, but a demon pig coursing with Divine Blood!


    Watching the beast shaking off the dog''s corpse from its tusks and turning its mountainous body, a pair of blood-red eyes menacingly gazed at him.


    Prince Adonis felt a chill crawl up his spine, instinctively releasing the bowstring and shooting the poised arrow.


    Because of his love for hunting, his archery skills were quite refined, so even an instinctual shot managed to hit the target with ease.


    However, before Prince Adonis could rejoice, the divine force-imbued bronze arrow was surprisingly deflected by the boar''s bristles, and fell to the ground, powerless.

 Chapter 143: Chapter 108: Artemis, You Also Smell So Good (6k)_3

    How could this be?


    Prince Adonis looked on in disbelief, astounded by the arrow lodged in the Magic Beast''s body.


    That just now...


    As if to answer the prince''s confusion, the Magic Beast shook its mane, effortlessly ejecting the arrow that had been embedded an inch deep into its flesh, along with the deformed arrowhead, which clinked as it fell to the ground.


    It did it on purpose!


    As this thought surfaced in his mind, Adonis involuntarily inhaled sharply, feeling a sense of foreboding. He immediately tightened the reins, attempting to turn the horse around to put some distance between himself and this ominous Magic Beast.


    But as he reacted, the Magic Beast was already moving its limbs, charging towards him like the wind.


    We''re in trouble!


    Watching the mountain-like monster charging towards him, Adonis felt his scalp tingle and immediately drew his long sword, holding it before him as Divine Power surged wildly within him.


    Crack!


    However, in just a moment of contact, the overwhelming and ferocious power burst forth like an avnche, shattering his bronze long sword that was enveloped in Divine Power.


    Not only that, but Prince Adonis''s arm had also dislocated due to the inability to bear the brute recoil.


    The warhorse beneath him, smelling the intense scent of a high-end predator, could not help but step back in fright, causing Adonis to lose his grip on the reins and his body to lean backward.


    In that instant, the Magic Beast, like a seasoned swordsman, seized the opportunity. Its two saber-like fangs pierced into the horse''s belly, lifting the mount that was toote to escape and then mming it heavily to the ground.


    Caught off guard, Adonis was crushed beneath the horse, thrown intoplete disarray, and spat out a mouthful of golden blood that sttered across the bushes.


    This creature is so strong!


    After a series of setbacks, Adonis felt terror in his heart. Not daring to think too much, he quickly raised his hand to invoke the Divinity of Spring, attempting to mount a final resistance.


    Suddenly, the bushes drenched in Divine Blood sprouted and flourished, a mass of vines rapidly growing like serpents winding forward, entangling the limbs of the Magic Beast in an effort to halt the rampage of this ferocious creature.


    Furthermore, countless sharp thorns grew from the vines, aiming to pierce the skin of the Magic Beast and inject it with various effective nt toxins.


    But even the nts spurred by Divine Power were unable to stop the Magic Beast in its wild fury, nor could they prate its extraordinarily tough hide.


    In just a brief moment, the vines wrapped around it were uprooted.


    "Roar!"


    Free from its binds, the Magic Beast let out a muffled growl and then, without hesitation, moved its limbs, bared its fangs, and charged headlong towards Adonis, who was pinned under the corpse of his horse.


    Watching the approaching white re aiming for his chest, Adonis''s eyes filled inexorably with fear and regret.


    He really should have heeded Aphrodite''s advice; he couldn''t conquer the forest, much less nature itself.


    "Stop!"


    Just as the desperate prince closed his eyes in the face of death, a franticmentation came from the distant sky, a sorrow so profound that it made every living being reluctant to cause further grief to the source of the sound.


    The Magic Beast''s ruthless gaze wavered, grew a bit confused, and then quickly regained its rity.


    When its bloodshot pupils mirrored the approaching image of the Swan Chariot, like a meteor speeding across the sky, the Magic Beast shuddered, its ferocity instantly faded, and it immediately turned and dashed into the dense forest, leaving the half-dead Adonis behind.


    At that moment, the prince, having just narrowly escaped death, watched as the Magic Beast fled, somewhat dumbfounded.


    Why did this beast seem like a person?


    As the handsome prince felt confused, a beautiful figure leaped down from the Swan Chariot, barefoot across the ground full of divinely infused vines, leaving behind traces of blood from thorn wounds, and rushed to his side in a panic, embracing his head into her bosom and asking anxiously.


    "Adonis, my beloved, are you alright? Where are you hurt? Is it serious? Let me see quickly!"


    Aphrodite repeatedly checked her lover in her arms, feeling a wave of fear.


    Fortunately, when she had granted Adonis the nt Authority of Spring, she had also, just in case, added a drop of her Divine Blood, enabling her to monitor his condition at all times through her senses, preventing her hero-aspiring lover from encountering any idents.


    And she was right to worry.


    Her beloved almost died in her arms.


    The Three Graces, who apanied her, seeing the situation, tactfully chose not to disturb their mistress as sheforted her lover, instead opting to follow the traces and scents left at the scene and to pursue the perpetrator of this heinous act.


    After worrying for a while and confirming that her lover was still alive, Aphrodite finally began to calm down somewhat.


    But seeing Adonis with multiple fractures all over his body, her heart ached, and she grew angry.


    "Who? Who did this!"


    Logically, even if there were Magic Beasts in the forest, they shouldn''t be able to cause such severe injury to a deity.


    Simrly, Adonis also realized the anomaly, furrowing his brow in confusion.


    "It was a Magic Beast, covered in a strange red glow, like blood..."


    A red glow? A glow like blood?


    Aphrodite pondered briefly, and suddenly, as if realizing something, her stunning face turned ashen.


    Not long after, The Three Graces returned from their pursuit empty-handed, their faces flushed with embarrassment as they reported back to their mistress.

 Chapter 144: Chapter 108: Artemis, You Also Smell So Good (6k)_4

    "We were about to catch up when that thing jumped into the water and disappeared,"


    "Didn''t you go after it?" Aphrodite was somewhat displeased.


    "We did, but there seems to be an underground river connected there, with water channels stretching in all directions; we had no idea where it could flow to,"


    The Three Graces exined gravely, and then added with a strange look on their faces.


    "That pig, it not only swims, but it seems it can even dive..."


    Aphrodite raised her eyebrows, a chilly smile emerging on her stunning face.


    "Pigs can''t dive, but some things can!"


    The Graces looked at each other, seemingly having realized something, and then tentatively sought confirmation from their mistress.


    "Are you saying..."


    Without directly answering, Aphrodite gently picked up the wounded Adonis onto the Swan Chariot, and signalled to her attendants to take him away, then lifted her head and looked towards the distant sacred mountain in the clouds, the grinding of her silver teeth producing a gritty sound.


    "Let''s go, back to Olympus with me!"


    Seeing their mistress''s gloomy face, the Three Graces couldn''t help feeling a shiver in their hearts.


    This time, she was probably truly enraged.


    Meanwhile, somewhere deep in a mountain pool, water sshed furiously, and a robust Magic Beast leaped onto the bank, panting heavily, its eyes filled with bloodred veins. Intense bloodlust and brutal aura were nearly bursting forth from within.


    The ferocious beast looked at its reflection in the water as if regaining a moment of rity, then bit at its own skin, trying to tear it off.


    However, the intense pain and the stubborn adhesion forced it to whimper and let go reluctantly.


    It couldn''t manage on its own; it had to get to the sea quickly!


    Underneath the pigskin, Luo En bit the tip of his tongue, striving to maintain a sliver of rity and dashed towards the prearranged rendezvous point.


    But as he pushed his speed to the limit, the Magic Beast''s savage nature and warlike Divinity''s instinct for ughter also umted, blurring his consciousness.


    Although the early stages of the n had gone smoothly, he hadn''t expected Aphrodite to return so quickly.


    She had hurried over almost as soon as Adonis was in danger.


    Luckily, when the Goddess of Love reached the scene, she was preupied with taking care of her half-dead darling, leaving the pursuit to the Three Graces.


    This gave him the chance to jump into the water ording to the retreat n he had prepared early, and using theplicated underwater passages along with the protection from the sea, he managed to slip away sessfully.


    Yet, even so, to shake off the Three Gracespletely, he had expended a great deal of time.


    By the time those fearsome auras fully dissipated and he emerged from the water, there wasn''t much time left from his three-hour transformation limit.


    Now, he could only pray that everything went smoothly for Artemis, that he could catch up and meet the Goddess of the Hunt in time.


    As such thoughts raced through his mind, Luo En hurried towards the coast where the crossing boaty hidden.


    With each passing second, the vicious beast''s eyes were gradually filled with bloodred streaks.


    Finally, as Luo En could scarcely distinguish whether he was human or a Magic Beast, the shimmering shallows came into view.


    And there on the pristine white sand, a tall and athletic huntress was pacing back and forth.


    As he drew nearer, the beautiful young girl''s face brightened with a relieved smile, and she opened her arms, rushing forward swiftly.


    Luo En took a deep breath, unable to help but hasten his pace.


    Because she smelled so good...


    The robust Magic Pig burst out of the dense forest like a heavy tank, the scarlet bloodlust rising like zing mes, and its sharp fangs gleaming with a chilling light.


    Watching the figure elerating towards her, the huntress on the sand beamed with a radiant smile, her arms spread wide; one arm then dropped, while the other was raised high.


    Then...


    "Bang!"


    An enormous boom echoed across the beach, and the mountainous beast fell thunderously to the ground, a huge swelling blister emanating steam quickly rising on the Magic Pig''s head.

 Chapter 145: Chapter 109: Artemis Development Plan (8.8k words per day completed, asking for votes)

    Olympus, a golden stream of light hit the ground, and the furious cursing echoed above the square.


    "Ares, get out here~!"


    The chief deities who were discussing matters in the Great Temple couldn''t help but look outside following the sound, only to see Aphrodite, the God of Love with a murderous face, storming into the War God''s temple. She dragged Ares, her former lover, out and scratched and wed at his still handsome face, crying and cursing.


    "How dare youy a finger on my beloved Adonis! You bloodthirsty brute!"


    "What are you talking about? It wasn''t me, I didn''t!"


    As he watched his lover''s tearful appearance, a bewildered Ares instinctively opened his mouth to defend himself, trying to dissociate himself from the incident that had enraged Aphrodite.


    "Wait, Adonis? Your beloved?"


    However, his slow-reacting nerves finally caught up, and he red at the crying Aphrodite, bursting with rage.


    "How dare you keep a new boy toy behind my back!"


    "So what if I did? He and I are truly in love!"


    Aphrodite stood tall, fearlessly meeting the furious gaze of the War God, her look one of disdain.


    "You''re no match for me; am I not allowed to find true love elsewhere?"


    "...!"


    In an instant, Ares, intermittently weak, was struck where it hurt most. His face turned crimson with anger, and in his rage, he raised his right hand high.


    "What, you want to hit me? Go ahead, do you dare?"


    Aphrodite gave Ares a sidelong nce and sneered arrogantly.


    "Lay a hand on me, and you can forget about ever being in my bed again!"


    "..."


    Ridiculed and threatened, Ares was trembling with anger, but that raised right hand, facing the delicate face in front of him, just could note down no matter what.


    He still couldn''t bear to give up this tender harbor.


    In the end, Ares furiously let his arm drop, his face filled with deep-seated fury as he issued a helpless roar.


    "Adonis, huh! I will chop up that bastard sooner orter!"


    "Cut the nonsense, haven''t you just done that? If I hadn''t arrived in time, my beloved Adonis would have fallen victim to your cruelty!"


    As the God of Love angrily used Ares, the recollection of that dangerous moment caused her to clutch her heaving chest with fear, her eyes filled with worry for her lover.


    Ares, ovee with jealousy, felt his blood rush to his head as an intense red glow enveloped him, and he drew the Sword of the War God in an uncontroble fury, cursing angrily.


    "Yes, I did it, so what? That bastard is still alive? Perfect! Where is he hiding? I''ll go down and ughter him myself!"


    Hearing the perpetrator''s own confession, and his insistence onmitting further violence, Aphrodite, enraged, fearlessly rushed forward to tangle with Ares.


    "I knew it; it was you who did it, you bastard! I''ll fight you!"


    "Arrgh... you... I will kill that pretty boy!"


    The War God, his face swiftly marked with fresh scratches, avoided his lover''s iling nails while furiously vowing how he would deal with his fair-faced rival.


    For instance, castrate him, grind him into mincemeat, or have him trampled into pulp by warhorses...


    And there was letting him be gored to death by a wild boar...


    Hearing these words, Aphrodite was even more certain of the real culprit and furiouslyshed out at her former lover.


    While the tangle between the two chief gods was still unresolved, from the temple of fire and forging came an explosive sound and thick smoke billowed upwards.


    At the same time, Hephaestus, his eyes bloodshot, hobbled out, heading straight for the couple with arge forge hammer in hand.


    "Harlot! There are several lovers at home you don''t even know of, and here you are, boldly keeping men on the side!"


    Seeing the real victim appear, both Ares and Aphrodite''s faces changed abruptly. They ceased bickering over the previous act of violence and hurriedly fled with their heads in their hands.


    Because of his impaired mobility, Hephaestus trailed behind but doggedly pursued the fleeing couple across the square, his eyes red with anger as he cursed.


    "You two stop right there; I am far from done with you!"


    However, Ares and Aphrodite, knowing their guilt, ran even faster at these words, heading straight for the Great Temple to hide.


    In the meantime, Hermes, Poseidon, and several other deities and demigods, also feeling guilty, discreetly moved behind pirs, attempting to avoid Aphrodite''s searching gaze as she looked for a ce to hide.


    Athena, watching from the side, casually counted and noted that at least half were involved.


    Among them were not just human figures but also half-human and non-human...


    It was apparent that the God of Love had a very broad circle of friends and interests.


    At this moment, Zeus, seated on his throne, watched this domestic drama unfold, his face turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.


    ~~


    Meanwhile, above the Sea of Okeanos.


    With a painful groan, Luo En slowly came to on the deck, struggling to open his heavy eyelids.


    As he saw the sky mostly blocked overhead, and the two "mountains" rocking up and down with the rolling waves, he let out a sigh of relief.


    Hm, safe atst...


    But no sooner had he rxed his tense nerves than a tidal wave of pain swept over him.


    Luo En looked at his body, red as if ayer of skin had been peeled off, and touched therge bump on the back of his head, hoarsely asking.


    "What''s this... what happened to me?"


    "Aftereffects of the transformation."


    Artemis said offhandedly, her eyes flickering slightly to one side.


    "Really? It does seem quite serious..."


    Luo En mumbled hazily, then tilted his wrinkled head to the side, choosing a morefortable position to lie down on Artemis''s outstretched legs, looking through the gap between two peaks at the youthful and innocent Goddess of the Hunt.


    "Did it work?"


    "Mm..."


    Artemis nodded gently, a smile blooming on her beautiful face as soft as flowers, her tender gaze falling on the man''s face before her knees, as if she were admiring a precious treasure.


    That''s good.


    Hearing this conclusive response, Luo En sighed with relief and slowly closed his eyes to rest for a moment. Only when the pain in his body and the dizzy feeling in the back of his head gradually subsided did he reluctantly rise from the knees of the moon goddess.


    Night fell, and a bright full moon leapt up from the sea, slowly ascending.


    "The moon tonight is so full."


    "Yes..."


    Murmuring to each other, the two exchanged nces, and an air of regret crossed both pairs of eyes simultaneously.


    Even so, an ambiance of unmistakable ambiguity was growing uncontrobly between them.


    Seeing them drawing closer, the clearly more rational and lucid Luo En immediately stepped back and interjected.


    "Don''t mess around! Your safety is more important. And I don''t want to be turned into a wild boar again..."


    Artemis bit her red lips and spoke hesitantly.


    "Actually, I got something else from Aphrodite''s Sacred Pool..."


    "Hm?"


    "I secretly absorbed and solidified the Power of the God of Love in my body..."


    "What do you mean?"


    Under Luo En''s confused gaze, the Goddess of the Hunt no longer concealed her intent, her eyes shimmering as she lowered her voice to exin.


    "It means, I can use that Power of the God of Love to rejuvenate my body, regaining my purity."


    Instantly, Luo En''s eyes brightened, eager anticipation sparkling within them.


    "But it can only be used once every full moon..."


    At this, Luo En''s emotions surged, and the excitement on his face immediately copsed.


    Alright, what''s cleansed today stays cleansed today, and one portion''s power refreshes just for one day.


    That''s more like it. Otherwise, wouldn''t the Power of the God of Love be too overpowered?


    Luo Enforted himself while earnestly asking.


    "There''re no traces left, right?"


    "Yes, as you taught me, I left some doe footprints nearby."


    Artemis raised her head and replied truthfully.


    That''s good.


    Luo En nodded, hisst bit of worry also evaporating.


    Then he stretched his sore limbs and with what strength he could muster, pointed towards the cabin.


    "Tonight you sleep inside, and I''ll stand watch outside..."


    Artemis nodded subconsciously but had taken only a few steps forward before turning to look back at Luo En, hesitantly speaking again.


    "If you really want to..."


    "No, it''s too risky."


    Luo En rolled his eyes at this "virgin goddess" who, in some respects, was even more proactive than he, and reminded her irritably.


    "If we mess around now, what will we do for the next thirty days?"


    "..."


    "For the sake of your safety, we should at least wait till the next full moon night..."


    "But..."


    Artemis seemed torn. She didn''t want to plunge both of them into danger, yet she didn''t want to disappoint the man who had just risked his life for her.


    The more he showed concern, the more she couldn''t bear it.


    Realizing the turmoil in the goddess''s heart, Luo En spoke as if casually.


    "Actually, if you really want to do it, it''s not impossible. We have other options..."


    Huh?


    At the sound, Artemis looked up, puzzled.


    Luo En gazed deeply at the lovely face under the moonlight, the lush lips, and the shapely posterior as his Adam''s apple bobbed.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 110: Whats Wrong with Warriors Liking Big European Style? (4.7k)

    ```


    The sea''s azure waves undted, and a small boat sped along with the wind.


    The newborn sunlight pierced into the cabin, waking Luo En from his slumber, who, feeling something, bowed his head to look towards the bulging, wriggling nket, unintentionally drawing in the cold morning air that filled the cabin.


    Hiss~!


    With a deep inhale, a lovely visage buried under the nket emerged, tilting upward as it gracefully moved its throat in a swallowing motion, then twirled its pink tongue to erase the marks left on its lips, finally breaking into a faint smile on that sublime face.


    "Awake?"


    "No need for such greetings this early in the morning, right?"


    Luo En nodded, his gaze towards the Goddess of the Hunt in his arms revealing a hint of helplessness.


    Artemis blinked her bright eyes, smiling nonchntly, "You like it this way, don''t you?"


    As she spoke, that gorgeous face slightly lowered once more, blending innocence and allure, sacredness and insanity, emanating the unique charisma of the moon goddess.


    "Let''s rest for now; we''re almost there."


    Luo En quickly pressed down Artemis''s drooping shoulder, reminding her with helplessness.


    Upon hearing the advice and seeing the brightly lit sky outside the window, Artemis sullenly conceded and got out from under the nket.


    Recalling the ludicrous past three days and nights of the return journey, as well as the various thrills from continuous attempts and bold breakthroughs, the fanciful thoughts Luo En had just suppressed began to surge again.


    But soon, he shook his head, forcibly scattering all unwarranted thoughts.


    Truth be told, Luo En now somewhat regretted imparting his eclectic knowledge to this once pure and chaste virgin goddess.


    It wasn''t that Artemis was unwilling to try and cooperate.


    On the contrary, the Goddess of the Hunt, with her intensepetitive spirit and curiosity, not only learned various skills quickly but also tirelessly applied them on her teacher.


    After such toil, facing the energetic and physically robust goddess, even Luo En, with a robust divine body and the War God''s divinity, began to grow increasingly haggard.


    Indeed, acquiring some practical authority was necessary, or else he would be drained dry sooner orter.


    It seemed like a good idea to find an opportunity to fleece his great-grandmother''s wool¡­


    While Luo En muttered to himself, his gaze flickered with deep thought.


    If he remembered correctly, in some versions of Greek mythology, The Three Graces, originally under Aphrodite''smand, were counted among the God of Wine Dionysus''s lesser deities, or seen as thebined product of both the God of Wine''s and God of Love''s divinities.


    Because in a way, these three goddesses personified human desires, the embodiment of life, and the joy that life brings to people.


    Thus, they not only represented love and desire but also games and all irrational behaviors.


    Like the freedom unleashed after a bout of drinking, the unlocking of constraints when drunk, and so on¡­


    Adding to that, the God of Love''s blood that was flowing within him¡­


    All in all, if he had the chance in the future, it wouldn''t hurt to show his great-grandmother who''s boss, by incorporating The Three Graces into his own God of Wine system and taking over the family business seamlessly.


    On one hand, this would weaken the God of Love''s own authority; on the other, it would ensure he wasn''t caught off guard by powers of love and desire.


    Besides, other chief gods had plenty of authorities he needed for building his own godly power system:


    For example, wine belonging to the domain of household and food, Hestia, as the first candidate for fleece-plucking, could not escape;


    The grape and other raw materials needed for winemaking, the Agriculture God Demeter''s nt divinity must be exploited;


    The wildness and conflict brought by drinking, providing courage and bloodiness, matched well with War God Ares''s war divinity¡ªa great-grandfather worth getting closer to;


    Wine is the medium of desire, after wooing The Three Graces from the God of Love Aphrodite''s side, perhaps more wool could be fleeced;


    Wine was also regarded as a type of medicament, so maybe a bit of Medicine God Apollo''s medicinal authority could be shared? It just so happened that his son, the future god of medicine, didn''t get along with him, making him a prime candidate to be persuaded to join as a lesser deity...


    Gradually, the more Luo En thought about it, the wider his thoughts became, and he realized that these rtives seemed like untapped treasures waiting to be exploited once he ascended to godhood.


    Indeed, in the Age of Greek Gods, to rise in rank, striking oldrades and plundering the coins of forebears was the most reliable path.


    Mm, an excellent family tradition not to be missed!


    Luo En nodded excitedly to himself while using his reason to rein in the fervent ambition that wished to plunder all his family''s wealth in one go.


    Although the idea was good, one must eat bit by bit, and walk step by step.


    So, the most pressing matter right now was to properlyplete the steps to godhood on Crete Ind.


    After going over his ns, Luo En stood up from the cabin and walked leisurely onto the deck.


    Artemis, who hade out before him, was now rinsing her mouth with a water skin filled with fruit liquor at the side of the rail.


    Luo En watched the Goddess of the Hunt''s furrowed brow, his gaze slightly shifting.


    Many techniques he taught were likely top-notch experiences for males.


    But for the other half, they probably weren''t as pleasant.


    The reason Artemis had done all of it, and done it exceptionally well, was merely to please him, the person who had led her out of predicament.


    ```

 Chapter 147: Chapter 110: Whats Wrong with Warriors Liking Big European Style? (4.7k)_2

    Unlike Athena''s self-restraint and elegance, Hestia''s simplicity and naivety, Artemis''s emotions were passionate and wild.


    Even though she had sworn an oath of chastity to Zeus, it wasn''t that she didn''t yearn for love; it was just a way to protect herself.


    Once someone broke through this barrier and entered her heart,


    then the years of passion she had umted as the Goddess of the Hunt would be released without reservation.


    On this journey, Luo En had already enjoyed that fiery passion more than once,


    but the problem was, what to do next?


    The love of a goddess can be very heavy...


    In a daze, Luo En seemed to already vaguely see the terrifying scene of the hunting goddess sharpening her kindling knife under the moonlight, waiting at his doorstep.


    "Have you considered bing my lesser deity?"


    Unaware, the ship had already docked, and the sudden question caught the distracted Luo En by surprise.


    Seeing Luo En''s startled reaction, Artemis at the shore instantly went from hopeful to disappointed, her expression turning sour.


    "No good?"


    As gloom seemed to gather on the face of the Goddess of the Hunt, Luo En hurried to exin.


    "Well, I can''t leave Crete Ind just yet..."


    "Is it because of Athena?"


    "...?"


    In an instant, a huge question mark popped up in Luo En''s mind.


    "She wants to keep you too? To make you her lesser deity?"


    "...!"


    How could she guess so urately? Luo En was surprised.


    "I knew she wasn''t helping you out of kindness from the start!"


    At that moment, Artemis frowned and scoffed, not hesitating to judge another virgin goddess who stood at the same rank.


    "This woman always looks as if she''s considering others, but isn''t it mostly self-serving in the end? With a little bit of kindness, she thinks she can have people eating out of her hand, firmly tied to her chariot and toiling for her, just like Hephaestus, who''spletely devoted to her!"


    Without waiting for a reply, the astute huntress grabbed Luo En''s hand, showing an understanding demeanor.


    "Don''t worry, I understand, and I won''t make it difficult for you right now..."


    Looking at Artemis, who was now gazing at him with deep affection, Luo En''s mouth slightly agape,


    Actually, I was going to say, I need to use the poption and territory of Crete Ind to achieve divinity...


    And besides, if I were to woo anyone, it would be Hestia...


    "Err..."


    "Don''t make excuses for her, listen to me, you need to be more careful, and don''t get fooled by such a bad woman!"


    Artemis immediately interrupted Luo En''s attempts to defend himself, seriously warning him, before giving the man in front of her a big hug, her voice filled withfort.


    "Whatever you owe her, I can repay it on your behalf..."


    Hearing that gentle whisper, Luo En''s expression grew moreplicated, unable to help but speak up again.


    "Err..."


    "Just wait a little longer, I''ll find an opportunity to snatch you back from her!"


    Artemis vowed confidently, then blew a whistle to summon a golden chariot drawn by twin-horned deer. She leaped onto the chariot, waved goodbye to Luo En with ir, and headed straight for the clouds toward Olympus.


    She had been away for over three months and had to return, lest the Father God began to suspect something.


    Watching the figure in the sky grow distant, Luo En, who had notpleted a single sentence from beginning to end, felt waves of apprehension.


    He seemed to have inadvertently framed Athena.


    "She''s gone now; how much longer do you intend to pine for her?"


    Just as Luo En was looking up into the distance, a teasing mockery came from behind the dense forest.


    In an instant, the already guilty Luo En shuddered, fine beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead as he instinctively turned around to exin.


    "Bang!"


    However, before he could speak, a powerful impact struck his chest, apanied by a bone-shaking quiver, knocking him to the ground with force.


    Taken by surprise, Luo En saw only darkness as he was mmed onto the beach in a sprawl, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood.


    Struggling to open his eyelids, he saw a hint of purple hair hanging over his chest. First, the victim heaved a sigh of relief, then gave the culprit of the collision a reproachful look.


    "Are you trying to kill me, Anna..."


    At this moment, the 1.4-meter-tall girl who used to follow him around seeking food and drink had shot up to over 1.7 meters, her beautiful purple hair draping over her shoulders and chest, entuating her delicate corbones and curvaceous contours.


    And in her eyes, the youthful naivety had been reced by a mature charm. The potent and pure divinity of the snake exuded a mystique, coldness, and allure that unwittingly drew one into its seduction, prompting a voluntary stretch of the neck, eager for the de.


    This was Little Medusa after absorbing a great deal of Keto''s divinity and entering adulthood.


    "Sorry, sorry, I was just so happy to see you back."


    The Medusa who had knocked down Luo En quickly sat up and exined with some embarrassment, her aloof voice not quite containing the shyness inherent from the past.


    But seeing the sky obscured and the face that was astonishingly beautiful before him, Luo En couldn''t help but feel a surge of heat in his lower abdomen, his voiceing out hoarse.


    "Maybe you could get up first and let me catch my breath..."


    While speaking, Luo En''s gazended on the round thighs mped around his waist, and the firm buttocks pressing against his abdomen continued to impart their surprising sticity.


    Legend had it that Medusa possessed a beauty that could rival Athena''s.


    Furthermore, as the embodiment of the snake''s divinity, she had not only a terrifying venom but also an inherent charm that could captivate hearts.

 Chapter 148: Chapter 110: Whats Wrong with Warriors Liking Big European Style? (4.7k)_3

    After tasting the delicious marrow for a while, Luo En couldn''t stand this kind of torture anymore.


    "You don''t like it?"


    Seeing someone''s agonizing look, a wave of disappointment suddenly washed over Medusa''s beautiful face as she mumbled under her breath.


    "My sisters lied to me again..."


    In the meantime, Medusa got up from Luo En''s body, and the rich Gorgon divinity retracted back into her.


    Suddenly, the tall, leggy, voluptuously shaped beauty began to shrink drastically, reverting back to a four-foot-nine loli figure, returning to the familiar form once known.


    Luo En watched this earth-shattering transformation with a sense of inexplicable loss.


    Gone, long legs, 36D, cold beauty, all gone...


    At the same time, a pretentious conversation came from the dense forest ahead.


    "Hey hey, Luo En, my dear, do you like my new look?"


    "Don''t like it, too tall, too ugly."


    "Hate it, how about now?"


    "That''s better, small, fragrant, soft, still so cute..."


    Under the shade of trees, Stheno and Euryale, like twin sisters, walked towards each other with entwined fingers, as if gazing deeply into each other''s eyes in a mirror, their lips just inches apart, emitting heartfelt praises and simted sounds of passionate kissing.


    "You''re truly beautiful, mwah!"


    "So are you, mwah!"


    Immediately after, unable to contain themselves any longer, Stheno and Euryale looked at the sessfully executed prank on the beach and burst into unrestrainedughter.


    "Silly Medusa, she actually believed it! Who would like that tall, huge look?"


    "Hehe, she believes whatever we say, just as dumb as before."


    Under the public trial-esque ridicule from her sisters, Little Medusa, already self-conscious about her height and figure due to long-term PUA, blushed furiously, almost unable to show her face.


    At this moment, as another concerned party, Luo En had his face lined with dark streaks, his right hand itching uncontrobly.


    After all this time, it turned out these two little she-devils were ambushing him.


    He almost thought he had just wronged Athena and was now facing the real deal.


    Seeing Little Medusa losing confidence under the oppression of her two unscrupulous sisters, virtually wanting to bury her head in the ground, Luo En immediately stood up, took the little girl''s hand decisively, andmanded with a cold snort.


    "Change back!"


    Although confused, Little Medusa, out of trust, still repressed her embarrassment, activated her Gorgon divinity, and revealed her mature form once more.


    Seeing the tall, leggy beauty reappear before him, Luo En''s previously furrowed brows finally rxed, he scrutinized her carefully, his eyes showing pure appreciation as he sincerelyplimented.


    "Anna, you look really pretty when you grow up."


    Feeling the sincerity in those words, the disheartened Medusa finally regained some confidence, lifted her stunning face, and beamed a radiant smile at Luo En.


    "Has this guy gone blind? What''s so good-looking about that?"


    "So fat and tall, with such big lumps on her chest!"


    "We are clearly cuter!"


    "Exactly, everyone who sees us says so!"


    Hearing such unconventional, deluded nonsense, Stheno and Euryale couldn''t help but retort.


    At this point, Luo En, having had enough, turned around, took a deep breath, and erupted with astonishing fighting spirit for the sake of countless fellow men''s freedom of taste.


    "Shut up, you two ironing boards with no chests and no butts!"


    "Both of you together aren''t even as tall as three loaves of bread, what do you know about aesthetics?"


    "At least the horizon has some undtions; your nds can''t even hide a fly!"


    The barrage of sharp mockery left the Gorgon Sisters, who were usually only capable of baring their teeth at the family dog,pletely dumbfounded.


    They had always been the center of attention, with the charm of their Gorgon divinity leading countless bystanders to fall over themselves in admiration. They had never been humiliated like this before.


    "Excuse me, don''t block the way."


    Luo En, holding Medusa beside him, deliberately walked between the stunned Stheno and Euryale, then paused deliberately, turned back with a pitiful look in his eyes, and offered heartfelt advice.


    "Take my advice, you malnourished bean sprouts, better not to go out at night, lest someone bumps into you, thinks they hit a steel te, and goes home. Just wash up and go to sleep early."


    Finally, after a series of mental attacks and verbal insults, the two Medusas, who were vaguely realizing something, were so angry they trembled, their faces went red with rage, and they rushed forward, arms iling and teeth grinding.


    "Don''t think you can run!"


    "Beat him up!"


    Luo En turned around and smiled slightly, cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice, and shouted for help towards Knossos City.


    "Heiya, there''s a snake assaulting people, are you going to do something about it?!"


    Instantly, the furious Stheno and Euryale froze in ce, their faces turning pale as they saw a ck-haired goddess approaching them with a whip in stride.

 Chapter 149: Chapter 111: How to Watch? Watch While Kneeling!

    In Knossos City, Hestia and Medusa each clung to one of Luo En''s arms as the trio walked along,ughing and talking about their recent experiences and the changes around them.


    Meanwhile, the two formerly haughty criminal serpents ahead hung their heads low, wiping tears from their eyes and sucking in cold air. Under the dread might of the Goddess of the Hearth behind them, they supported each other, limping towards the door of their home.


    As soon as everyone crossed the threshold, the door behind them closed automatically with the flow of air, and a gentle inquiry reached their ears,


    "Back already?"


    At the same time, a bright hearth fire ignited within the home, and a silver-haired, purple-eyed goddess sat elegantly in the living room, her smile warm and radiant.


    "It seems you all had a great time¡­"


    The gaze as brilliant as stars swept over everyone; Stheno and Euryale, at the front, felt an inexplicable tingling in their scalps. Carefully shifting their feet, following their serpent-like instincts, they receded into a dark little corner.


    Hestia, Medusa, and Luo En behind also gave a shudder, subconsciously releasing each other''s intimately linked arms.


    Sensing the subtle change in atmosphere, Luo En braced himself and approached Athena in the living room, squeezing out a smile on his face.


    "Is the Olympus matter settled?"


    "Fortunately, Poseidon relented for some reason, so it''s temporarily concluded," Athena replied softly with a smile, then stopped delving into that subject. Instead, she flipped through a crumpled note on the table with interest.


    Recognizing the familiar handwriting, Luo En''s eyelid twitched.


    This was the very note he had entrusted to the Golden Hound for Hestia before he and Artemis set out to sea.


    The simple and gullible homebody beside him might be easily bamboozled, but getting past Athena was a different story.


    It was possible that the Goddess of Wisdom with a mind full of tricks would detect some clue or another.


    At that thought, Luo En broke out in a fine sweat on his forehead.


    The living room fell into deathly silence once more, the eerie quiet spreading, like an invisible swamp pulling everyone down.


    Eventually, it was uncertain whether the prolonged silencested a second or a year.


    Athena set aside the note, which she had inspected inside and out about seventeen or eighteen times, and lifted her smile-brimming face. She seemed casually to initiate conversation.


    "Looks like you got along quite well with Artemis during this time."


    "Wasn''t that your advice? For safety''s sake, you had me stick by her side¡­"


    Luo En with eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, recited in a t tone, trying to appear as if he was merely following orders, unwilling to take any me.


    Athena chuckled, lowering her arm, and caressed the head of a dog peeking out from under the table with her long, crystal-clear fingers.


    "So in the end, even without bringing along this Golden Hound, she would have protected you? Hmm, seems like you''ve done a splendid job."


    "¡­!"


    Luo En grasped the implication and felt more beads of sweat form on his forehead, muttering inwardly.


    Are you possessed by Sherlock Holmes? How could you make such a connection?


    "That''s only because you had paved the way beforehand. Considering your word, how could Artemis make things difficult for me?"


    Luo En began with insincere ttery, continuing to pass the buck while defining his rtionship with Artemis strictly as a matter of employment.


    "Besides, who would abandon their guide before the journey is over?"


    "That''s not right! Before they parted, they were clearly affectionate, even hugged each other! We saw it with our own eyes!"


    Just as Luo En couldn''t help mentally patting himself on the back for his cleverness, two heads popped out from the corner, confidently objecting.


    As they spoke, Stheno and Euryale sent gleeful looks toward Luo En, their eyes brimming with the joy of vengeance.


    Athena''s eyes narrowed slightly, her scrutinizing gaze bing somewhat more subtle and deep.


    "Hiss~!"


    This dishonorable, shameless sneak attack made Luo En involuntarily suck in a breath of cold air.


    A snake''s bite pierces deep into the bone.


    These two femme fatales had actually thrust a knife into his back at such a moment!


    Caught off guard and attacked from all sides, Luo En turned to see the treacherous Stheno and Euryale, grinding his teeth in resentment.


    "I definitely should have been harsher just now! I should have hung them up and whipped them a hundred times each!"


    "No, I can''t let these two vixens keep spilling my dark secrets. I must find a way to get rid of them first."


    At this moment, realizing the situation was getting ominous, Luo En put on a stern face, revealing an expression of righteous indignation.


    "Isn''t it just because I couldn''t stand you bullying Medusa and taught you a lesson? And you have the nerve to make up rumors about me and a virgin goddess!"


    At the same time, an expectant external brain looked towards its symbiote.


    "Exactly! The one who taught you a lesson was me! If you''ve got the guts,e at me! Don''t even think about smearing Artemis''s reputation!"


    Hestia, also a virgin goddess, driven by her simple sense of justice, stepped forward bravely to draw fire to herself.


    She really is... I''m about to cry...


    Looking at the solid windbreak in front of him, who once again took a ton of bashing for him, Luo En was so touched that he was almost in tears, and conveniently leaned back to avoid Athena''s seemingly casual nce.


    "Hmph, as the older sister, you actually find joy in bullying your younger sister. It looks like the lesson I gave you wasn''t enough!"


    An infuriated Hestia turned around, rolled up her sleeves, and strode into the corner where Stheno and Euryale were hiding, pulling out the two vixens who were attempting to sneak away.


    "Elbow,e inside with me!"


    As she said this, the Goddess of the Hearth dragged the pale-faced Stheno and Euryale¡ªand scooped up the still-dazed Medusa along the way.


    "Anna, youe too! Even if she''s your sister, it''s not right to just bear with everything when you encounter injustice!"


    Their voices faded away, Luo En looked at the four figures neatly entering the backyard then at the empty surroundings, sinking into deep thought.


    ¡ªSomehow, something doesn''t seem right?


    Momentster, Luo En stiffly lifted his head, his gaze passing through the unobstructed living room to meet the gentile smile from the eerily approaching Athena.


    The shield I just imed was gone.


    And by the way, my backup reserve armor was gone as well...


    At this precise moment, Luo En realized something was terribly wrong as he looked at the deserted living room and the Goddess of Wisdom walking towards him, and he couldn''t help but swallow hard.


    This is a high-level game!


    Fortunately, Athena didn''t dwell too much on the closeness between him and Artemis but instead smiled and stepped forward, posing another question.


    "I heard that auntie already taught you the path to godhood?"


    At that moment, Luo En''s face darkened, instantly realizing why Hestia had run off so quickly.


    After all this time, that woman''s loose lips had inadvertently sold him out.


    Carefully ncing at Athena''s expression to make sure it was as usual, Luo En carefully nodded.


    "What Divine Office did you choose?"


    Athena''s second light and airy question made Luo En''s heart skip a beat.


    Looking into those caring purple eyes, he steeled himself and uttered a dry word from his throat.


    "Wine..."


    "Oh..."


    Athena drew out her words, looking as if she''d just realized something.


    "So it''s the office of the hearth."


    The empathetic Goddess of Wisdom gently patted Luo En on the shoulder as a form of encouragement.


    "Not bad at all. This way, I am spared the trouble of selecting a Divine Office for you."


    However, this unexpected show of concern caused Luo En''s forehead to sweat even more.


    He was now absolutely certain that during his absence, Hestia''s big mouth probably sold him out more than once!


    "Oh, by the way, I made a trip to Knossos Pce earlier, and King Minos told me he wants to marry his daughter¡ªmy High Priestess¡ªto you. The whole ind of Crete is his prepared dowry. What do you think?"


    The seemingly light question rang heavier than a thousand pounds in the ears of Luo En, who faced being betrayed in and out by his teammates, looking crestfallen and on the verge of tears.


    ¡ªWhat do I think? Am I supposed to kneel and behold?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 150: Chapter 112: The Deeper the Love, The Harder the Beating

    After a lengthy silence, Luo En raised his head to meet those eyes that shone like stars, and he responded solemnly.


    "To the deities, the kingdoms of the Mortal World are meaningless."


    As a man who aspired to ascend to divinity, he naturally would not be attached to worldly kingship.


    Soon after, Luo En pursed his lips, looking seriously at Athena before him.


    "Of course, if you wish for me to marry her, I will do so..."


    Athena was slightly taken aback by the unexpected answer and the gaze filled with unusual emotion; she couldn''t help but look away andughed softly, shaking her head.


    "Your affairs, you should solve them yourself; I can''t manage so much."


    Noticing the slight upward curve at the corners of the Goddess''s mouth, Luo En felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart, and he couldn''t help but wipe the sweat from his brow.


    The key to this question wasn''t really about making a choice, but about seeing his attitude.


    If he agreed, then it would mean he had long harbored intentions and harbored ill will.


    If he opposed, then it would mean he was insincere, all evasion and concealment.


    Therefore, facing this ssic attitude problem from a woman''s mouth, tackling it with a scientific mindset was certainly doomed to fail.


    To break out of the dilemma, one could only throw the hot potato back and respond to the question with another question, forcing the other party to decide.


    For instance, letting Athena decide whether he should marry that high Priestess.


    Of course, before that, he had to make clear that he had no personal affair with the high Priestess, and everything was conducted as a matter of official business.


    And judging from the oue, although Athena did not get a clear answer from someone, nor did she provide clear instructions, she seemed to be in a good mood now.


    "Take a seat first, let''s talk about something else."


    Upon hearing that invitation, smooth as a divine melody, Luo En finally rxed his taut nerves, feeling immensely relieved.


    Thank goodness, back when he worked at that gamingpany, in order to attract more types of customers, his bosses had him incorporate elements of romance development into many of the game development projects.


    Thus, during his research, he had delved into numerous rtionship conundrums between men and women.


    Otherwise, facing one pitfall after another, he feared he wouldn''t have made it a few steps before his chariot would have already tumbled into a ditch.


    Having navigated through difficult and perilous paths, Luo En finally settled into his seatfortably, but before he could even catch his breath, Athena across from him was caressing the newly fired wine cup in her palm, looking at someone with a somewhat teasing gaze.


    "Speaking of which, a new esoteric cult that worships Dionysus, the spirit of wine, has sprung up in Crete Indtely. Do you have any clue about it?"


    "Isn''t that quite normal?"


    Luo En also smiled, stood up, and filled Athena''s wine cup to the brim.


    "Music, poetry, forests, wild beasts, strife, ughter, intrigue... these things, good or bad, all have their devotees. Thus, it''s not strange for humans to worship anything.


    After all, it''s a world where beasts roam rampant, disasters are frequent, and deities and monsters are everywhere; humans could die at any moment.


    Since one''s life is uncertain and one doesn''t know if they''ll wake up when they go to sleep, it doesn''t really matter what you believe in¡ªas long as it makes you happy."


    Athena nodded as if in agreement, raised her cup towards the other side in a gesture, and then, tilting her head back, she drained the blood-like wine in one gulp.


    Luo En raised his cup in return and simrly drank down the exquisite wine with grace.


    Both set down their cups, exchanged a smile, and seemed to have reached some sort of understanding.


    That''s right, there are countless named and unnamed sects on earth.


    Compared to those cults that worship death, pestilence, Titan spirits and frequently demand sacrifices, a Dionysian esoteric cult mainlyposed of the general popce is as gentle as amb.


    Their greatest rebellion is merely hiding in the forests, tearing off their masks of identity, indulging in wine and song, and freeing their true selves.


    As long as they don''t shake the mainstream thought, who cares about these mortals and their fleeting pleasures?


    "It seems that you have already chosen your path."


    Upon hearing Athena''s meaningful whisper, Luo En couldn''t help feeling a bit guilty.


    Without hearing a response, Athena simply smiled nonchntly, lifted her cup, and once again poured the sweet wine into her throat. Then, setting down the cup, she looked solemnly across at him.


    "Since that''s the case, I will personally preside over the God of Wine festival half a month from now and enjoy the celebration with the people."


    "...?"


    "At that time, I will assist you in ascending to divinity, as promised."


    "...!"


    The soft murmur echoed in his ears, and as Luo En looked at Athena elegantly drinking from her cup, he couldn''t help but show a look of surprise and emotion.


    A conscience! The conscience of the gods!


    I had almost forgotten about this, but sister Athena had not only thought it through in advance, she was actually going to follow through!


    If things go ording to the n of the Goddess of Wisdom, with the Festival of Dionysus established as the official celebration in Crete Ind, attracting tens of thousands to gather in Knossos City, then Dionysus, the spirit of wine who is the main object of worship, will inevitably harvest arge number of followers.


    By then, my ascension to godhood would be just around the corner.


    After mentioning the promised date and specific ns, the Goddess of Wisdom sitting at the dining table put down her wine ss and turned to look at the backyard.


    "Auntie, I''m hungry, let''s make some food."


    "Coming right up! I''ll start preparing now!"


    At this moment, hearing Athena''s call, Hestia swiftly popped in through the back door, eagerly making her way to the stove.


    Having just confessed her guilt in wooing others away, she ought to provide some necessarypensation to her great-niece who had suffered a loss.


    ¡ª¡ªI must do my best to serve her well!


    The Goddess of the Hearth silently made a vow while energetically picking up a spat and a kitchen knife.


    "I''ll help too!"


    Luo En, equally touched, immediately rose to his feet, hoping to return the favor to the generous and kind Goddess of Wisdom in the living room.


    However, before he could leave his seat, a delicate and translucent hand gentlynded on his shoulder, exerting an immovable force.


    At the same time, that breathtakingly beautiful face lifted with a smile, revealing a light smirk.


    "You are not needed."


    "Huh?"


    "The divinity within you is still too weak, and you are not skilled enough in its use, even with my help, to kindle the sacred fire and refine the divine essence needed toplete a sessful ascension to godhood¡ªthese alone are insufficient."


    Athena patted Luo En''s shoulder, continuing to speak with a tone filled with depth and concern.


    "Therefore, I have specifically set aside half a month for you to prepare."


    "Prepare?"


    Luo En swallowed, sensing that something was amiss.


    "That''s right, I n to give you intensive training during this half-month to ensure you have sufficient ability to endure the pains of the divine fire and the impact of refining divine essence."


    The Goddess of Wisdom looked at Luo En with earnestness, her good intentions clear.


    "Time is of the essence, so let''s start today."


    Seeing the radiant smile on Athena''s face and the sincerity in her eyes, a chill shot up from Luo En''s tailbone to the crown of his head in an instant.


    Run!


    The thought was almost instantaneous, and without hesitation, Luo En ducked and turned, dashing towards the front door.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But, as the space before him blurred, his surroundings seemed to fold and reverse.


    In a trance, Luo En, who was originally running forward, inexplicably appeared in the empty backyard.


    Simultaneously, a feeling of being sealed and enclosed enveloped the area, as if the entire backyard was perfectly segregated from the world, bing an independent microcosm.


    Looking at the mysterious glowing runes surrounding him, Luo En finally remembered.


    Apart from producing Minotaur warriors, Crete Ind was also famous for the Labyrinth of Minotaur...


    And one of Athena''s titles as a Great Mother Goddess of the Minosians was exactly ¡ª Mistress of the Labyrinth.


    Moreover, with a reputation as a Goddess of Magic, it was evident that this wisdom deity who excelled in both magic andbat was highly adept in the arts of base formation and spatial reconstruction.


    "There''s no rush, we have all night, we''ll take it slow."


    Athenaforted gently, and as she spoke, she plucked a branch from the nearby shrubbery.


    Luo En looked over and couldn''t help but stare.


    Because, it was covered in thorns...


    "I appreciate your kindness, maybe some other time?"


    Luo En, sweating profusely, declined with a tremulous voice and an expression of horror.


    "Ascending to godhood, inheriting divine duties, does not permit any ck or oversight."


    However, Athena gently shook her head, her tone tender yet resolute.


    "I''m doing this for your own good!"


    Looking at the thorny whip slowly forming in the hands of the Goddess of Wisdom, and the glinting thorns on it, Luo En involuntarily shed tears of gratitude and inwardly offered his sincere praises.


    ¡ª¡ªI don''t believe you for a second!

 Chapter 151: Chapter 113: Rescue or Bootlicking?

    At night, Luo Eny on the bed, covered in wounds, groaning weakly with eyes full of sorrow and anger.


    "What do you mean, ''it''s for your own good''?"


    Bullshit! That woman clearly just wanted to find a legitimate reason to beat him up!


    Straining to twist his head back slightly and looking at the row of blood spots on his buttocks like stamps, Luo En felt even more depressed, grinding his teeth with regret.


    Initially, Athena had shown some mercy, wrapping divine power around the thorny branch in her hand, with the thorns serving merely for show.


    But he had subconsciously fought back, identally using the skill that burst forth from Artemis during thest divine oracle of gold.


    ¡ªRapid Shooting of Silver.


    As the Goddess of the Hunt, the bow and arrow were Artemis''s signature, making her also the Goddess of Archery and the Female Archer God.


    In Homer''s hymns of praise, it was mentioned that Artemis possessed a golden bow and arrows that could instantly shoot millions of arrows at the enemy, creating an overwhelming barrage, and for this reason, she had another alias¡ª"Iokheira" (She who covers the sky with arrows).


    Simrly, this skill had also been disyed in the hands of the great hero Hercules.


    ording to records of Greek mythology, one of Hercules''sbors was to y the trouble-making Hydra of Lerna.


    However, as a top-notch divine creature with immortality, Hydra''s heads would grow back even after being severed. It could even go so far as¡ªchopping off one head, two would grow back.


    To truly kill this beast, one would need to eliminate all of its heads at the same time.


    In the end, Hercules used his bow and arrows to shoot out hundreds of arrows at once,pletely killing the Hydra of Lerna.


    And perhaps because he had been on particrly good terms with the Goddess of the Hunt, theirpatibility was excellent.


    So, in this random draw, Luo En directlynded on Artemis, gaining the Group Archery skill of the Goddess of the Hunt.


    However, limited by the levels of Divine Power and Divinity, and his proficiency, he could currently only split his arrows into three to seven identical ones. Not to mentionparing it with Artemis''s one arrow that could turn into thousands, it was even somewhat short of Hercules''s one arrow turning into hundreds.


    Of course, after all, it was a newly acquired ability, which required time for practice and coordination.


    As a Divine Artifact imbued with chance, those dice were never more than a tool to pry open the doors of fate for him, unable to let him skip the umtion process and level up the so-called skills to max immediately.


    But this wasn''t entirely a bad thing either. What''s easily gained is also easily lost.


    And the cyclical, gradual learning allowed him to transform that sliver of opportunity granted by the dice into a force he could genuinely grasp, into the true steps leading to divinity.


    Yet it was precisely because of this indefinite situation¡ªwhether good or bad¡ªthat Luo En identally revealed the Moon Goddess''s move during his defensive counterattack training with Athena.


    The result...


    The woman''s face immediately darkened, and she withdrew the Divine Power wrapped around the branch on the spot, catching him and giving him a severe beating.


    It was downright vicious!


    Moreover, she specifically targeted ces with plentiful flesh and nerves!


    Knowing full well that Athena and Artemis were at odds, why the hell did he carelessly show off the Moon Goddess''s move?


    Luo En looked at his own rash hands, feeling the stabbing pain all over his body, and couldn''t help but feel like crying without tears.


    When Athena left him alone to go upstairs, her posture, which seemed like there was still more toe, clearly indicated she was nning to make this training session that provided a legitimate reason to beat him a regr routine in the future.


    Just thinking that only one day had passed and there were still a full two weeks until the God of Wine Festival, Luo En couldn''t help but see darkness before his eyes, feeling the future was bleak.


    This petty woman, did all her nutrition go to her brain? No wonder she doesn''t grow up!


    "Yiya~!"


    The tightly closed door was gently pushed open, and Luo En on the bed, who was grumbling to himself, reflexively tensed his muscles in a defensive stance, and swiftly turned to look back.


    Hestia crept into the room, hugging the wall, and with a sheepish smile ced an insted food container on the table and gently opened it, revealing the warm meal inside.


    "Haven''t eaten yet? I saved you some dinner."


    However, seeing the attentive and gentle Goddess of the Hearth, Luo En turned his head away, his face darkened with anger.


    He hadn''t forgotten who had betrayed him that day.


    Not to mention, it wasn''t even enough that he had deserted the battlefield, she had even used the pretext of punishing Stheno and Euryale to drag away his spare revival armor, Little Medusa, leaving him isted and alone to face Athena''s ferocious assault.


    What''s more infuriating was that during the several hours he was being brutally beaten in the backyard, this woman never stepped forward to rescue him even once.


    What happened to never leave nor forsake? What about staunch allies? What about the external brain and symbiote inseparable?


    After all that, she still thought a meal could win him over, but how could it be that easy?


    "Bang!"


    As Luo En silently recounted Hestia''s transgressions in his mind, a hand suddenly pped the bedroom table. The abrupt thud scared the patient on the bed.


    "Athena has gone too far!"


    Hestia, sitting at the table, had an indignant expression as she began to list her niece''s faults.


    "Even if you have a good rtionship with Artemis, she shouldn''t have struck so hard, right? It''s simplywless!"


    "..."


    Luo En looked at the Goddess of the Hearth skeptically, and although he didn''t speak, the disdain in his eyes was more than clear.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Why didn''t you step in when Athena was here?


    Now that she''s back in her own room and I''ve been beaten up, youe out toin on my behalf?


    Are you here to save the day or to lick my wounds?


    And you only mention Artemis, huh?


    Leaking secrets, betraying teammates, deserting in the face of battle, not saving me from death...Don''t you think you should exin your own actions first?


    Under the victim''s prating gaze, Hestia, already not made of the sternest stuff and feeling guilty, blushed and gave an awkward smile, hastily changing the subject with her usual tricks.


    "Come on, eat first, the food is getting cold."


    Luo En looked at his own half-paralyzed body, then at the table a dozen steps away, and couldn''t help but feel even more speechless.


    "Can''t move? No problem! I''ll feed you!"


    Realizing her oversight, Hestia hurriedly tried to make amends. She immediately took on an appeasing smile, served several hot dishes into a bowl, and attentively brought it over to the bed, helping Luo En sit up.


    "Hoo~ Hoo, ah, open your mouth, careful it''s hot."


    Seeing the spoonful of meat congee brought to his lips, along with the caring smile on her face, Luo En rolled his eyes but eventually obediently opened his mouth.


    Forget it, why should the external brain give the symbiote a hard time, after all, he still needed her to attract fireter on.


    Seeing the victim showing signs of reconciliation, Hestia, who had been somewhat uneasy, finally rxed. She redoubled her efforts to attend to the patient on the bed, eager to make up for her mistakes, and didn''t forget to make empty promises.


    "Don''t worry, if she dares to do this to you again, I''ll make sure to kick her butt!"


    "Yaay!"


    However, the sudden opening and closing of the room door immediately deted the fierce determination of the domestic Goddess as if floodgates had opened, changing her expression and causing her hand to tremble, nearly shoving a full spoonful of meat congee into Luo En''s nostril.

 Chapter 152: Chapter 114 Athenas Road of Defeat

    ```


    As the noticeably smaller figure squeezed into the room from outside, Hestia''s tense nerves finally rxed. She couldn''t help but pat her chest, looking forward at Anna with a full measure of reproach.


    "Anna, you scared me to death!"


    At that moment, Little Medusa, transformed into the form of a young girl, hurriedly held up her index finger to her lips, making a silence gesture, and casually pointed next door.


    "Shh, she''s not asleep yet..."


    Instantly, Hestia quickly covered her mouth, making a quieting gesture, even her breathing became careful and cautious.


    Come on, one of you is the Goddess of the Hearth, Zeus''s big sister; the other is a Gorgon Sisters, a hero killer... Are you really that scared of her?


    Seeing the two behave like thieves, Luo En rolled his eyes wildly, unable to stop himself from inwardly ridiculing them.


    However, having just stolen her niece''s thunder, Hestia naturally had no way to be tough about it.


    Medusa was facing the suppression of her bloodline¡ªafter all, whether in Greek mythology or the modified version in Roman mythology, Athena had herpletely under control.


    As for Luo En himself...


    Certain bedridden wounded, closing his eyes, recalled Athena with a smile on her face, picking up a thistle, and whipping him all around the yard; he shivered at the thought and quickly shook his head, forcefully dispelling that nightmarish figure.


    Too terrifying, untouchable, untouchable!


    The three people in the cottage exchanged nces, subtly reaching a consensus, and simultaneously lowered their voices and slowed their breathing.


    "Mmm, this can be used to heal wounds."


    The petite Medusa came forward and handed a half-open wooden box to Luo En.


    Inside was a dark red paste, emitting a cool scent mixed with a hint of sweet fishiness as it entered the nostrils.


    When did she learn to make healing magic potions?


    Luo En was somewhat surprised, his gaze immediately falling on the other arm that the little girl had pinned to her side.


    Beneath the unadorned, transparent clothing, there was a faint mark.


    That wound seemed freshly scabbed over, with traces of blood still lingering.


    This little fool!


    At this point, already understanding in his heart, Luo En red fiercely at Little Medusa in front of the bed, and raised his right hand high.


    A shadow loomed, and Medusa instinctively shrank her neck.


    But in the end, that raised hand gently came down, forcefully rubbing the little head.


    "Don''t do this next time..."


    The gentle admonition carried an unmistakable sense of authority, and Little Medusa, looking at the stern face, helplessly nodded obediently.


    Having received the satisfactory response he desired, Luo En''s face once again broke into a smile.


    However, due to the excessive movement, stinging pain once again spread through his body, making him involuntarily wince, revealing a pained grimace.


    "You''re not healed yet, it''s better not to move around."


    Hestia, seeing this, couldn''t help but feel a mixture of guilt and sympathy, and advised him, immediately embracing his reclining upper body in her arms.


    Suddenly, a soft, full sensation came from behind his head, making the immobile Luo En suffer even more, in pain yet blissful.


    At that moment, watching Hestia spoon-feed her nominal "brother," Little Medusa, who was faintlypetitive, refused to be outdone.


    "I''ll help you apply the medicine!"


    So saying, Little Medusa scooped out a piece of dark red ointment from the box, gently spreading it over Luo En''s various wounds with her hands.


    Feeling the slight coolness of the ointment and the delicate touch of fingers gliding on the skin, Luo En not only unknitted his brow but even gradually curved the corners of his mouth upward, faintly enjoying the sensation.


    The Goddess of the Hearth feeding him, the Medusa applying medicine ¡ª such treatment wouldn''t be exchanged even for a king.


    ```


    Luo En reflected on his thoughts while he couldn''t help but get lost in daydreams.


    Actually, if he could enjoy such benefits every day in the future, he''d be willing to be whipped by Athena every single day.


    Even, let the stormse even more fiercely!


    Just as the injured man on the bed closed his eyes to fantasize, the sudden tug at the wound on his chest, and the spoon that almost stabbed into his throat, made him flounder like a fish gasping for air. He sat up abruptly from the gentle embrace of the bed, a visage full of sorrow and indignation.


    "Anna, Hestia, you guys..."


    The mournful usation stopped abruptly as Luo En''s neck creaked stiffly upward like rusted gears, turning a few inches to look in horror at the silver-haired goddess who had appeared at his bedside without notice.


    Meanwhile, Hestia and Little Medusa were maintaining the same posture next to him.


    Gulp...


    Simultaneously, the three of them swallowed their saliva, their hearts uncontrobly wavering as they subconsciously pulled away to assert their innocence while making a divine division.


    However, Athena standing in front of the bed raised her hand in aforting gesture and showed a faint smile to Hestia and Little Medusa.


    "No need, carry on with what you''re doing, I just came by to check in."


    The two, one tall and one short, nodded stiffly, their expressions numb and mechanical.


    Following that, Athena turned her gaze back to Luo En in the gentle embrace and her smile grew even warmer.


    "Hmm, they''ve taken good care of you, looks like you''ll be able to recover in less than a day."


    Luo En also nodded stiffly, a fineyer of cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.


    Then, Athena changed the course of the conversation, her smile now brilliantly dazzling.


    "So, let''s move your training schedule up, and start tomorrow morning."


    Upon hearing that kind and gentle pronouncement, Luo En on the bed nearly cked out and nearly passed out.


    "Don''t y toote, go to sleep early tonight."


    In the end, Athena left behind a tender instruction, waved her hand amiably, turned around, exited the room, and even had the courtesy to close the door behind her.


    However, the moment the third visitor stepped over the threshold, the room was filled with the sounds of bowls and wooden boxes crashing to the floor, along with frantic exmations and a cry of anguish that was dyed by over a minute.


    At the same time, the Goddess of Wisdom in the hallway had her smile vanish, herplexion turning as dark as the bottom of a pot, and the veins on her clenched fist protruding as it popped with the cracking of bones.


    She was a Lesser Deity I had painstakingly cultivated, yet my aunt got there first!


    I told that guy not to get too close to Artemis, yet there he is, mingling with that woman!


    And tonight, weren''t you all not supposed to interfere? Why are you all showing up to curry favor?


    Each and every one of you, none letting things go my way!


    Watching her master''s clearly unpleased expression, Nike standing behind held up the y pot in her right hand, somewhat at a loss.


    "What should we do with the potion?"


    "Throw it away!" The Goddess of Wisdom huffed coldly.


    "What about the food?" Nike then raised the food box in her left hand, blinking in distress.


    Athena gave the lesser deity behind her an annoyed nce for bringing up the inconvenient topic, grinding her teeth and casting a mncholic gaze toward the living room.


    "Hasn''t it not eaten yet?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Woof?"


    Meanwhile, the Golden Hound, which had been dozing under the table, seemed to sense an invisible chill in the air, awakening bewildered and innocently sticking out its head.


    (ps: At the moment, the Lesser Deity system belongs to Hestia; Medusa has the highest intimacy; the fastest rtionship progress belongs to Artemis... as for Athena¡ªbusy for nothing, lingering in her defeat.)

 Chapter 153: Chapter 115: Big prison, the snake is about to die

    For over ten days, faint screams could be heard every morning emanating from a residential house in Knossos City,


    and the residents who heard rumors of it gradually became anxious, worrying whether some evil spirit had infiltrated the city.


    Even a few households near the source pooled money together to invite a priestess from the temple to perform an exorcism.


    Fortunately, the effect seemed to be significant, as the daytime screams disappeared, leaving only vague tremors at night.


    Eventually, as the festival of Dionysus approached, even these odd urrences gradually vanished.


    In their ce, a celebratory and lively atmosphere took hold.


    At the temple''s behest, wines from all the city-states of Crete were transported to Knossos City topete for quality, vying to be selected as the divine offering for the next year.


    Owing to the ind''s developed maritime trade and convenient location, travelers and merchants from both inside and outside the ind flocked to the city, some for the pure joy of the festival, and some in search of business opportunities, all joining the grand event.


    Consequently, the port''s ships bustled daily, and the streets were teeming with people, with stalls and inns filled to capacity every day.


    The city''s defense forces soon felt the pressure mount, and even the precious Divine Blood Guard waspelled to take on defense and patrol duties.


    The temple in charge was working non-stop, and in just a few days, High Priest Ariadne had lost a good amount of weight.


    There was no choice, as King Minos was advanced in years and had been greatly weakened by thest conflict, now he could only lie in bed, clinging to life.


    That a few princes managed to handle their responsibilities well under the strict control of the old king was no small feat.


    And the only secretary knowledgeable about all governmental affairs, who could carry the burden, was in secluded cultivation.


    In desperation, the overwhelmed high priest had to seek help from the Goddess of Wisdom they worshipped.


    And it was precisely because of this that Luo En finally got a chance to breathe after being subjected to his daily beatings, and luckily escaped Athena''s clutches.


    After resting for two days, the survivor finally managed to sit at the dinner table and have a normal meal, for the first time in half a month.


    As the hot food entered his mouth, Luo En, looking at the empty seat beside him, felt almost moved to tears and uttered his heartfelt emotion.


    "The family of King Minos, good people indeed!"


    Hestia and Medusa, sitting at the dining table, nodded in agreement with this sentiment.


    However, Stheno and Euryale, trying hard to lower their presence in the corner, were not so pleased when they saw someone finishing their meal and skillfully brandishing a whip, and they silently mourned towards the empty chair.


    Help! Come back quickly, I''m about to die, snake!


    ~~


    Early in the morning, with the umted pressure perfectly released, Luo En left two sobbing snake-women hugging each other in bed and stepped out the door in high spirits to wee the sunrise of the Dionysian festival.


    The streets were crowded, bustling with people in diverse attire and appearances, moving back and forth.


    Some gathered in groups, drinking merrily and chatting; others strolled through the marketce, buying local Crete specialties like spices, wine, and ores; and some were attracted by the street festivities and mouth-watering local delicacies, stopping to watch and taste¡­


    Dawn had just broken, and the entirety of Knossos City was immersed in a sea of joy.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Watching his neighbors, who had set up stalls early in the morning and were surrounded by a bustling crowd, busy to the point of not touching the ground, Luo En couldn''t help but lift the corners of his lips in satisfaction and tossed the parchment covered in writing into the trash bin.


    The festival was not just a formality for worshipping the gods and a closed-off wild revelry; it served as a way to attract more customers and attention, injecting new life and vitality into the city. It also brought about prosperity inmerce, poption, economy, and even political and cultural influence.


    Therefore, any city-state capable of hostingrge celebrations often left a significant mark in the history of the world.


    Like Athens, Delphi, Rome, and so on...


    Although Athena hadn''t been harassing Luo Entely, considering that this was his own ascension ceremony, he had been scheming tirelessly behind the scenes, hoping to do well in the festival and simultaneously allow the entire Crete Ind to benefit as much as possible.


    Win-win was the essence of a healthy and longsting cooperative rtionship.


    The sunrise ascended, and the mist dispersedpletely.


    The long-awaited opening ceremony of the festival proceeded in an orderly fashion.


    In the sacrificial site surrounded by audiences, the Priestesses dressed in white robes gathered in front of the altar to chant the sacrificial text, while High Priestess Ariadne, holding a torch made of fennel, olive branches, and grape vines, approached the altar to light the holy fire.


    As the mes soared high into the sky, the statue of Athena at the center seemed toe alive, her Spear of Victory in her right hand striking the Aegis Shield in her left, producing an exhrating sonority.


    Instantly, ripples of golden light spread from the statue as the center, washing over the city in all directions. In a moment, it had spread throughout the entire city.


    Suddenly, specks of golden light dust floated down from the sky, like a shower of luminescent rain, sprinkling every corner of Knossos City.


    Those showered with the light dust all felt a surge in spirit, with fatigue vanishing and chronic ailments in their bodies lessened or healed.


    Feeling the substantial changes in their bodies and having received the divine grace, the people burst into excited and enthusiastic cheers, worshipping the kind Great Mother Goddess together.


    The statue nodded slightly in response and then returned to normal, shedding its halo and transforming back into an ordinary sculpture, leaving the revelry to the mortals.


    And with the conclusion of the ritual to the gods, the mortal revelry officially began.


    The minstrels plucked at their harps, opera troupes sang softly apanied by the flute, people wore ivy crowns and animal skins, and carried ritual staffs, parading with enormous wine jars. Wine from Knossos, Athens, Samos, and other city-states was freely distributed to cheering passers-by for them to drink and savor.


    The maenads d in animal skins and wild makeup shouted the name of Dionysus, the God of Wine, thanking him for this substance that nourishes the body and soul, thanking the heavens for the bestowed joy.


    Spurred on by the wine, the pedestrians were infected by the festive wave and raised their sses in celebration, loudly praising his name.


    As the headiness of wine deepened, spontaneous performances of oratory, debate, dance,bat, and magic emerged in streets and alleys, drawing rounds of apuse.


    In the light foam of the wine, people''s dreams were intoxicated, small differences butrgely the same.


    They were thicker than water; they were connected by blood.


    Under the libations of wine, countless golden specks erupted from the joyful emotions of the people, transforming into torrents of divine rivers, converging towards some ce in the unseen realms.


    Meanwhile, as the vessel, Luo En was officially facing the trial of ascension to godhood.

 Chapter 154: Chapter 116: The Opening Carnage

    Feverish, restless, surging¡­


    Rolling emotions ceaselessly battered his mind, bringing a burning pain to his spirit.


    Luo En didn''t hesitate any longer, quickly stepping onto the deserted top-floor balcony into the prepared Magic Array, drinking a cup of blood-like wine, letting down his guard, closing his eyes, and fully activating the Divine Blood within his body to awaken its Divinity.


    In an instant, the trials of the flesh followed one after another.


    Inch by inch, his muscles were torn and reformed by the rampaging Divinity, bing even more resilient; drop by drop, his blood was purified and transformed under the scorching of divine fire, turning from golden-red to pure gold; his bones and organs shook with excruciating pain under the wash of Divinity...


    Impurities were expelled from his pores, while traces of dross were incinerated to nothingness by ignited Divinity; his heart and the world seemed to be fiery and vividly red...


    Yet facing the dual torment of body and spirit, Luo En merely furrowed his brows, surprisingly feeling that it was bearable.


    It had to be said that Athena was always reliable.


    Though he had been blood-ravaged for half a month, the benefits were indeed substantial.


    During this process, not only had Luo En''sbat skills improved dramatically, reaching an invincible state among his peers, but his own use of Divinity and Divine Blood had also significantly improved. His body''s endurance had also gained a manifold enhancement,


    Therefore, even this bone-piercing agony was still within his tolerance, and it hadn''t yet broken through the threshold of endurance.


    If that was the case, then let it be more intense!


    Luo En opened his pale golden eyes, extended his arm oozing with foul qi and blood from his pores, grabbed the grape wine from the table beside him, and tilted his head to pour the whole jar down his throat.


    In an instant, the vast sea of faith above Knossos City stirred up a frenzy, madly rushing into a certain concave "hole," in that boundless darkness, endlessly ripping, expanding, repairing, and tearing again...


    And as the crimson wine surged into his body, it became a thick golden Divine Liquid akin to Divine Blood under the push of Divinity and the power of faith, filling the cracks in his body and heart.


    Gradually, Luo En''s body went through a strange transformation under the dual nourishment of the wine and faith.


    ¡ª¡ªAs if a newly-made exquisite wine, sealed and buried in the earth, waiting for time to ferment, eventually transforming into a supreme elixir that could intoxicate even the gods.


    Meanwhile, inside Knossos Pce.


    Athena looked at the jar of "wine" that was fermenting in the dust, contentedly withdrawing her gaze.


    All was going well.


    However, this was bound to be a rtively lengthy process; to obtain the perfect spirited wine, she needed to wait patiently.


    The Goddess of Wisdom on the throne picked up her wine ss, took a light sip, perked up, and flipped through the n in her hands.


    The festival in question was called the God of Wine Festival, but it wasn''t about worshiping a spirit of wine that was originally obscure and nameless.


    The first day of the festival involved the ceremony of opening the jars of fermented mature wine, including a grand offering where wine was dedicated to the gods.


    The second day was the Water Jar Festival, where people drank new wine in open feasts and wagered, incidentally selecting the new wines designated as offerings for the next festival, also marking the peak of secr revelry.


    The third day was the Cooking Pot Festival, where people disyed a pot of cooked vegetables to gather around the hearth with family members, paying tribute to Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, who blessed the peace and order of home life.


    This was the focal point of the ceremony.


    Since wine is a seasoning of life, a product brewed for the family hearth, it should be attributed to the achievements of the Goddess of the Hearth, which is why Hestia was the one they needed to officially worship as the Chief God of Olympus.


    Of course, this nominal act was meant to ward off the objections and undue attention of the Olympus deities.


    With both the grand offering to the gods and the main sacrifice to Hestia in ce, who would care about the so-called God of Wine, Dionysus?


    Even Zeus himself, were he to attend, would probably find no fault with this festive celebration.


    And as the biggest sufferer and the thickest shield in the whole ceremony, Hestia wholeheartedly approved with both hands and feet.


    After all, he was a Lesser Deity she had nurtured.


    Athena looked at the grape wine in her ss, furrowed her brows, and pushed the tray aside.


    The wine, it had turned sour¡­


    Outside the window, night fell, and the cheering gradually subsided, signaling the official end of the divine celebration.


    ~~


    The next day, the spontaneous entertainment and celebrations of the people began in an orderly fashion, following the n.


    There was not only the evaluation of sacred wines but alsopetitions for various local delicacies and pastries. The buzz and joy of Knossos City continued unabated.


    Of course, there were those who drank too much and caused trouble, and the city defense forces and the Divine Blood Guard, under the goddess''s signal, did not hesitate to strike hard, capturing all these troublemakers and throwing them in jail to sober up. They also recorded their names, prohibiting them from participating in the next God of Wine Festival.


    On the third day, the lively atmosphere persisted until sunset.


    Warm hearths arose, and the fragrance of meals wafted from every household.


    Everyone, harboring gratitude for the Goddess of the Hearth, praised the hard-won stable life, then began to enjoy a sumptuous meal with family.


    And at this very moment, within Hestia''s residence.


    A secretive figure, taking advantage of the night, quietly crept up to the top floor and waved forward, sending countless golden streams of light toward the central cocoon that was as tall as a person.


    That was the pure power of belief.


    After doing all this, the secretive figure nodded in satisfaction, slipped back into the living room, and by the flickering hearth fire, a naive face was illuminated.


    Meanwhile, inside the Knossos Pce, the Goddess of Wisdom looked down with her far-seeing bright eyes and sat back on her throne, her face cold as she crumpled the several pages of parchment on the table into a ball and stuffed them into the wastebasket, her movements quite agitated.


    Good, very good, it''s done without me lifting a finger.


    The lights in the great hall flickered unsteadily, and the grinding sound of teeth could be faintly heard.


    On the fourth day, as the remnants of night faded away, the first rays of the newborn sun pierced through the haze of dawn, casting light upon thend.


    Crack~!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Apanied by a crisp cracking sound, the cocoon on the top floor cracked and shattered, and a figure nearly two meters tall, with a slender and robust physique, excitedly opened his eyes, feeling the endless surge of vitality within and couldn''t help but want to shout out loud.


    "Don''t be careless! Gather your mind, find your shards of Divinity, and inscribe your first Divine Law!"


    A deep and stern voice came from behind, and Luo En immediately became serious. He hurriedly reined in his rampant thoughts and calmed his heart, perceiving a translucent thin slice floating quietly in his inner world.


    At a nce, flowers bloomed everywhere, grapevines grew and spread, and beautiful colors reflected a myriad of scenes, like the miniature of a small world.


    Divinity!


    Realizing that he had really taken that crucial step, Luo En was overjoyed.


    However, reminded of the previous instruction, he immediately suppressed his nearly wayward thoughts. He carved into the Divinity using the sharp cone of his divine intent, inscribing the content of the first Divine Law he had chosen after careful consideration.


    ¡ª¡ªMadness!


    This not only suited the characteristics of wine but also perfectlyplemented the authority of the God of War.


    In this way, he could maximize hisbat potential.


    Finally, as thest inscription waspleted, the pain of carving into his soul gradually faded.


    Luo En, having sessfully ascended, withdrew his mind and took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, turned around to look behind him, and showed a relieved smile.


    "We did it!"


    "Yes, I know."


    Athena at the staircase nodded indifferently, appearing very calm. Then she nced up slightly, gesturing with her hand, her voice low.


    "So, are you going to put on some clothes first?"


    At that moment, as a cool breeze blew by, Luo En felt a chill beneath him, and suddenly realized his clothes had shattered due to the surge of Divine Power, leaving him stark naked.


    Embarrassment and mortification made him involuntarily clench his legs and hastily open the Magic Circle Diagram, pulling out a spare set of clothes and quickly putting them on.


    Only when the rustling noise ceased did Athena lower her eyes, carefully examining the newly enshrined deity before her, nodding in satisfaction with an impartial evaluation.


    "Not bad!"


    "You taught well."


    Luo En habituallyplimented, smiling modestly.


    For some reason, his ascension process was also unusually smooth, and the Divine Power in his body seemed to be stronger than expected.


    "Alright, now that you havepleted your ascension,e with me to meet the visitor outside," Athena called from the staircase.


    "Visitor?" Luo En was puzzled.


    Athena didn''t answer directly but instead revealed a deep and meaningful expression: "Once you go down, you''ll naturally know."


    So secretive?


    With a hint of curiosity, Luo En followed Athena''s footsteps down the stairs, and they opened the front door together.


    Outside the door stood a dignified, majestic young man with fine features, elegantly positioned with fragrant and lightly fluttering long hair draped over his shoulders. On his head, he wore a crown woven fromurel, wood of the God of Love, olive branches, or water lily leaves; and around his waist hung a silver bow and arrow, and sometimes, a golden sword.


    As the door opened from inside, the youth''s face brightened with delight, his eager gaze darting about, impatient to step over the threshold.


    "He..."


    Yet, a slender and agile figure was even quicker.


    "Finally, I see you again, Luo En!"


    The Huntress, with her golden hair and silver eyes, dressed in a brisk hunting outfit, came up to him enthusiastically, grabbing his arm and shaking it, her joy overflowing.


    At that moment, the two deities inside and outside the door simultaneously darkened their expressions.

 Chapter 155: Chapter 117: Clown Contagion

    ¡ª¡ªGod of Light and Prophecy, Apollo!


    Almost the instant he saw the dazzling young man at the door, Luo En confirmed his identity.


    There was no helping it, there were only so few male chief gods on Olympus that they could be counted on one hand.


    Given his close rtionship with Artemis and the standard silver bow and arrows, plus this peacock-like grandeur, he was most likely the legendary brother-inw.


    At this moment, the Apollo outside the door and the Athena inside were both so angry they almost seemed to seep ink from their faces.


    Seeing that something was amiss, Luo En quickly interjected between the enthusiastically weing hunting goddess and made frantic eye signals to remind her of the asion. Meanwhile, he managed to keep a polite smile and made a ritual inquiry in an attempt to divert the topic.


    "Lady Artemis, Lord Apollo, what brings you both to Knossos City?"


    Finally, Artemis noticed the subtle atmosphere around her, and as if waking from a dream, she quickly distanced herself from Luo En, returning to her poised stance and began to exin with a smile.


    "It was Athena who invited us. She mentioned that there was a grand celebration happening on Crete Ind, and that it was very lively, with some fine entertainment to follow. We happened to be free recently, so we decided toe and see."


    The hunting goddess patiently answered the question, but her eyes did not nce at her apanying brother nor at Athena, who had extended the invitation and was ying host. Her gaze remained fixed on someone else the whole time.


    Gradually, a sh of irritation crossed the handsome face of Apollo, and he stepped forward, cing himself in front of Artemis, and asked coldly.


    "Where is Aunt Hestia? Isn''t this her home? And who are you? Howe you''re here?"


    A scrutinizing nce was cast, filled with sternness and an underlying displeasure and hostility.


    "He is a lesser deity newly recruited by my aunt, and, like you, is also a distinguished guest of Crete Ind."


    Athena quickly came forward with a smile, calmly responding.


    Though the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom was soft and gentle, the message within was firm, exuding an authoritative presence that brooked no doubt.


    The reprimanded Apollo paused for a moment, his innate arrogance dimming slightly as he reevaluated Luo En, still with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.


    "A new lesser deity recruited by my aunt? Why haven''t I heard of this?"


    At that moment, the Goddess of the Hearth, awakened by the noise outside the door, came downstairs rubbing her bleary eyes, and bluntly huffed.


    "Hey, Apollo, what business is it of yours whom I recruit? Do I have to report it to you first?"


    "Aunt Hestia, how could that be? I was merely concerned about you."


    Upon seeing her, Apollo immediately put on a smile, hurriedly exined in a soft and genteel manner, his movements were graceful, making one feel as if bathed in the warmth of spring.


    "Never mind! I''m perfectly fine!"


    Hestia bluntly rolled her eyes at the nephew outside the door and pulled into focus Luo En, who was at the center of attention, drawing him to her side before hiding behind Athena and muttering softly.


    "Hey, did this fellow bully you?"


    Luo En mechanically shook his head while struggling to maintain the obligatory polite smile on his face.


    "No? That''s good! If he dares to mess around, watch how I tten him!"


    The Goddess of the Hearth, standing to one side, rolled up her sleeves, revealing a delicate and pale arm, waving it through the air in a "trust me, I''ve got this" gesture, backing up her newly recruited lesser deity.


    Buddy, I''m begging you, if you don''t want me dead, stop talking!


    While enjoying the goddess''s protection, Luo En felt the murderous intent around him grow thicker, and his facial expression began to crumble.


    Meanwhile, Apollo, ignored outside the door, Athena, used as a meat shield inside, and Artemis, left aside, all clenched their teeth, their gazes dark.


    "Isn''t it a bit rude to leave guests waiting outside?"


    Finally, following Luo En''s "kind" reminder, Hestia, as if a switch had been flipped, pped her forehead and smiled with formic hospitality.


    "Right, right, right,e in first, let''s have dinner!"


    Facing the Goddess of the Hearth''s enthusiastic invitation, the three chief gods of Olympus stepped into the house expressionlessly, like marites. They took their seats and waited for breakfast to be served, then picked up their portions and began tearing and chewing with a creaking sound.


    It felt as though three zombies were gathered around the dining table, enjoying a feast of human flesh.


    In the dim light of the dying fire, reflecting on the faces of the three gods in the living room, a terrifying and sinister atmosphere spontaneously arose.


    Luo En, who was hiding in the kitchen helping out, couldn''t help but swallow hard, feeling a chill creeping up his body.


    At this moment, Hestia, who was bustling between the kitchen and the living room to top up meals for her three nephews and niece, couldn''t help but scratch her head and mutter to herself.


    "What''s gotten into them? Eating so much first thing in the morning?"


    "Hungry..." Luo En, in the kitchen, rolled his eyes and huffed discontentedly.


    Hearing the resentment in her nephew''s words, Hestia shrank her neck guiltily and chuckled to herself before stealthily poking her head out and ncing around the living room, muttering softly.


    "Athena really, why did she have to invite that annoying guy over?"


    "Apollo?" Luo En raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, when we were on Olympus, he and Poseidon would always pester me, insisting on reciting poetry to me, asking which notes to fill in for a song. How would I know? It was so annoying!" Hestia vented about her past irritations while expressions of discontent yed across her face in the kitchen.


    Luo En, listening to this, couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.


    Reciting poetry? Composing music?


    So, the God of Light was also an artistic youth?


    But indeed, offering poems and music to the Goddess of the Hearth was like casting pearls before swine.


    "To be honest, I moved out of Olympus and fled to Crete Ind just to escape their annoying antics."


    As Hestia continued to share her past in the kitchen, she began toin about her equally unrulyndlord.


    "Athena knew all about it and still dared to let that guy in, wait until I deal with herter!"


    Realizing that this stand-off was not the way to go, the Goddess of the Hearth, who had gradually picked up bad habits from someone, decisively added a few more spoonfuls of salt to the newly prepared dishes.


    Momentster, the new meal was served, and after eating a few bites, the muscles in the faces of the three chief gods in the living room twitched slightly. They promptly put down their cutlery, ending the long and oppressive meal, ready to get to the main point.


    "The weather is nice today, how about we go hunting together?" Athena suggested first.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Sure!" Artemis and Apollo looked at each other and nodded happily.


    Then, Athena turned to Hestia in the kitchen, a faint smile appearing on her face.


    "It''s rare for us to gather, how about you join us, Aunt?"


    Being cooped up at home for so long, Hestia was somewhat tempted and immediately pulled Luo En along with her, nodding her head.


    "Alright, Luo En and I wille along to have a look too!"


    Seeing Hestia holding the hand of the newly promoted Lesser Deity with an intimate gesture as she walked out of the kitchen, a shadow fell over Apollo''s sunny face, and his gaze toward Luo En was quite hostile.


    Simrly, detecting the undisguised enmity from his young uncle time and again, Luo En couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.


    In the pantheon of Greek gods, Apollo represented absolute rationality, in contrast to the irrational madness embodied by Dionysus, the God of Wine. The Greeks believed that following Apollo''s rationality would lead to a better life, whereas falling into the madness of the God of Wine was an excellent way to break free from constraints and shackles.


    At the same time, the political stance of the Apollo sect in Delphi City, advocating for aristocracy, was in sharp contrast to the populist approach championed by the Dionysian Sect.


    Clearly, he and this young uncle were naturally at odds.


    Whether it was ideology or interests...


    Luo En''s gaze swept over Artemis and Hestia, his eyes flickering with deep thought.


    Funny, I''m not too fond of you either, dear uncle...

 Chapter 157: Chapter 119: Pure Love War God Annihilates Minotaur Chief?

    Strait of Messina.


    The once disastrous sea monster Scy floated miserably in the water, each of its six heads pierced through by an arrow, leaving a thumb-sized bloody hole. The grayish white brain substance and golden-red blood diffused around with the tidal surge, creating a strong stench of blood that attracted numerous fish, shrimp, and sea beasts to feast on her.


    Clearly, this demigod with divine blood had met an inescapable death.


    Simrly, under the crushing strength, all other areas of the battlefield showed a one-sided trend without even needing the chief gods to take action personally.


    Above the sky, the Nine Muses spread out in a ring formation, in groups of three, with arms crossed over their chests, raising their voices in song.


    The Siren women, who were ustomed to noisy and foul-mouthed chatter, each fell silent with fear, attempting to flee. However, amidst the Muses'' high-pitched singing, they uttered painful wails, their ck feathers flying all about, and their bodies exploded into clouds of blood mist, eventually plunging one after another into the sea.


    Simrly, the Three Siren sisters, who were the origin of the bloodline, weren''t spared from difficulty under the bombardment of the Muse Goddesses'' divine words, and kept floundering in the sea, with their vibrant scales shedding profusely.


    Since the Nine Muses and the Siren women had a longstanding grudge, these typically petty Greek goddesses showed no mercy and dealt a deathblow without hesitation.


    Amidst the sea, the Three Gorgons drove their chariots through the waves, and under their petrifying gaze, Lamias, cursed never to close their eyes, turned to stone, were granted eternal rest, and sank into the deep sea.


    Compared to the Muses who openly sought vengeance, the younger Gorgon Sisters were much gentler, presenting death in a merciful way.


    On the shoreline, Artemis, who finished the battle first, gestured slightly and twenty hunting nymphs quickly formed two groups.


    One group dragged away the remains of the giant monster Scy, beginning to clean up the battlefield; the other spread out in a crescent formation, guarding nearby to prevent any unseeing sea beasts from ramming into their chief god.


    As for the Goddess of the Hunt, using the reason of continuing the hunt and looking for a campsite, she promptly left behind the defeated lesser deities and took Luo En to the nearby Sicily, where they strolledfortably through the woods with her long-lost beloved.


    Under Artemis''s eager and tender gaze, Luo En could only muster a smile and loyally followed behind the Goddess of the Hunt.


    There was no choice; a county official was no match for the present regtor. With enemies on all sides, he had to try to appease one first.


    Fortunately, a woman in love is a very emotional creature. Luo En merely indicated that he became a lesser deity of Hestia mainly because he had been favored by the Goddess of the Hearth and due topatibility with the divine office. This tactfully brushed past his ambiguous rtionship with the Goddess of the Hearth.


    Artemis, who initially wore a gloomy expression, suddenly brightened up and became somewhat jubnt.


    "Auntie? Well, that''s no problem then, she''s really nice!"


    So, as long as it''s not the old rival Athena, all is well, right?


    Seeing the schadenfreude almost written on Artemis''s face, Luo En couldn''t help but quietly scoff at the "deep affection" behind the backstabbing between the two virgin goddesses.


    However, while pleased to know that Athena did not seed, Artemis,petitive by nature, soon discovered that Luo En, due to his divine office, was incorporated into the God of Stove''s system. She promptly dragged him to find a campsite without question and took it upon herself to learn the skills of making fire and cooking.


    Clearly, even for her revered auntie, Artemis wasn''t ready to give up and was even considering developing another divine office early to im her little lover in advance.


    But as someone ustomed to being served, the Goddess of the Hunt managed to start a fire despite lowering her status, but she found the following steps troublesome and looked expectantly to the professional at her side.


    Luo En was torn betweenughter and tears and had no choice but to squat down next to Artemis, patiently teaching her how to marinate, cook, and grill.


    Soon, the Goddess of the Hunt, having grasped some principles, excitedly sprinkled salt and spices evenly over the cleaned lean meat and patiently turned the skewers.


    Watching Artemis''s technique mature, Luo En became lost in thought by the fire.


    Seriously, does this count as teaching someone how to steal your own chief god?


    "It''s done, try it quickly!"


    While Luo En was quietly contemting, Artemis presented her firstpleted dish to her teacher with a radiant smile.


    Although he wanted to delve into more profound activities, the full moon had not yet arrived and there were too many idle eyes around.


    For now, he could only endure it.


    Looking at the skewer of meat with a rather nice color in front of him, Luo En tried to pull his arm out from a pair of headlights, ready to take the skewer and give it a thorough tasting.


    However, a fair and delicate hand suddenly reached out from behind him, grabbed the skewer of grilled meat, and began to stuff it into her mouth, chewing vigorously.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Hmm, it''s all lean, a bit tough on the teeth; not marinated long enough,cking vor; and it''s even charred, the heat wasn''t controlled properly..."


    Hestia, who had arrived on the scene, professionally critiqued her niece''s crude cooking skills and then, with a serious expression, squeezed next to the beginner to show the warmth and kindness of a family elder.


    "How can this do? Come, let me teach you~!"


    Artemis watched the sudden intrusion of this third party in disbelief.


    She wasn''t actually interested in learning how to barbecue; she just simply wanted to spend time with a certain someone.


    Suddenly, the Goddess of the Hunt looked helplessly toward Luo En, who had been squeezed aside, her eyes conveying a silent plea for help.


    But before she could speak up, the Goddess of the Hearth beside her seemed to remember something and muttered to herself.


    "How can we have meat without soup?"


    Immediately after, Hestia swiftly turned her head and gave her oblivious Lesser Deity a stern re, scolding with righteous indignation.


    "What are you standing there for? Go and gather some mushrooms and wild vegetables!"


    "I''ll also..."


    Artemis subconsciously stood up, wanting to follow and continue the private world for two.


    But Hestia put on a strict teacher''s demeanor, pressing her down with one hand, her charming face full of smiles.


    "Come on, let me teach you how to grill deliciously."


    Almost immediately afterward, as if to prevent her niece from being distracted and worried, she quickly turned her head to the side.


    "Athena, go help over there!"


    "Sure, Auntie."


    The aunt and niece exchanged a subtle look, Athena nodded cheerfully, waved her hand with a smile, and under the bewildered gaze of Artemis, she grabbed Luo En''s cor and dragged him toward the mushroom-filled woods.


    Meanwhile, the Gorgon Sisters intentionally or unintentionally kept the hunting Nymphs who wanted toe to the rescue and break the tension at bay, ensuring that the misceneous crowd could not disturb the Goddess of the Hearth''s family lesson.


    No...!


    Seeing her beloved cabbage being poached right in front of her by her greatest rival, Artemis couldn''t help but roar with grief and fury in her heart.


    Well done!


    As Hestia saw Athena catching her "long pass" and understanding the n, she couldn''t help but clench her fist, excitedly waving it in secret, praising the wisdom of her great-niece.


    Following the advice of the Goddess of Wisdom, she not only caught someone on this ind with malicious designs on her family''s vegetable plot but also managed to send her cabbage away safely while having the chance to properly educate the thief.


    Everything was perfect; Athena was as reliable as ever!

 Chapter 158: Chapter 120: The Pure Love War God Wears Her Horns

    "making a good meal is a vast field of knowledge. But don''t worry, I will teach you ''slowly''..."


    Before the fire, the Goddess of the Hearth thought with satisfaction, while adopting the imposing attitude of an elder, she nced at the fire with sinister intent, towards Artemis who had mored to learn cooking.


    Seeing that the two figures had disappearedpletely into the dense forest, Artemis ground her silver teeth and looked seriously at the elder who had captivated her darling, a ze seeming to ignite in her eyes.


    "Fine, Aunt, teach me more in the future, I''ll learn patiently."


    Since she had been discovered, she wasn''t going to pretend anymore.


    She might as well turn sneaky kidnapping into an outright corner-cutting.


    Having an added functions in cooking and brewing for the Goddess of the Hunt, so what?


    Once she had learned all these things, she''d see what the other side could use to stop her!


    The gazes of the two Goddesses collided through the air, each harboring their own schemes, each with their own resentment and defiance, their eyes sparking with a fierce light.


    At that moment, Apollo, who arrivedte, saw this situation and was immediately struck with an idea. He approached with a handsome face that bore a gentle and eager smile.


    "Aunt, Sister, you''re both here? I also..."


    "We''re running out of firewood." Before he coulde close, Hestia showed her consistently unfriendly side.


    However, the God of Light was well-prepared, his eyes earnestly seeking his sister from the same mother.


    "What are you dawdling for? Go find some now!"


    Artemis looked back and unceremoniously waved her hand to shoo him away.


    "..."


    Apollo''s face stiffened, and the gentle smile began to strain.


    But in the end, under the pressure of kinship and the tyranny of his elder sister, the God of Light, his mind turning to mush, meeklymanded The Nine Muses, who apanied him, to honestly collect firewood in the forest.


    And after dismissing the uninvited guest, the two Goddesses instinctively turned their heads to look at each other; their gazes intense and full of emotion, as if seeing only the other in their eyes... or should I say, their rival?


    Meanwhile, Luo En, who had been dragged into the small woods, breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had finally managed to shake off Artemis for a while; he could hardly handle her fiery enthusiasm.


    However, Luo En''s joy didn''tst more than a few seconds. As he saw Athena approaching with a cheerful smile and considered the delicate scene with just the two of them, he fell deep in thought.


    Something seemed off...


    The Goddess of Wisdom approached step by step, her smile growing more radiant.


    "No need to think anymore, now, nobody can save you."


    The next moment, Athena''s expression changed, the space around twisted and closed off, and her hands skillfully snapped off a branch, gradually stripping away the errant twigs, while her eyes as dazzling as stars looked ominously at a certain person in the field.


    Instantly, familiar memories flooded his mind, and Luo En shivered uncontrobly, wailing in his heart.


    Damn it, drive the tiger to devour the wolf and secretly cross the Chencang!


    Lady Hestia, Little Moon,e quickly! You two fools don''t even realize you''ve been robbed!


    "Wait a moment! If you draw them all here, our hunt won''t be able to continue..."


    At the critical moment, Luo En boldly raised his voice, cautiously reminding.


    As soon as these words came out, Athena raised an eyebrow and snorted, tossing away the branch in her hand.


    "I''ll take note of this for now, but you''ll exin to meter, what exactly is going on between you and that crazy woman!"


    "I should be asking you! Knowing full well that Lady Hestia is close to me and that Apollo has designs on Hestia, yet you still invited that guy. Aren''t you afraid that I''ll end up with eight arrows in my back, practically a suicide?"


    Luo En countered unreservedly, ring back at Athena to show his displeasure.


    Constantly yielding would only lead to beingpletely oppressed by this woman, so it was essential to show some backbone when it was necessary, indicating his emotions and stance.


    Of course, this also involved using questions to answer questions as a strategy.


    After all, no one was clean.


    Hearing the resentment interwoven in Luo En''s words, Athena''s face softened somewhat, and she assured solemnly.


    "Don''t worry, with me here, he can''t touch you!"


    "What about Hestia?"


    Luo En nced at the Goddess of Wisdom, his gaze somewhat gloomy.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Having just dealt with the ordeal involving Artemis, he couldn''t help but feel a bit of psychological shadow now.


    Moreover, despite Apollo appearing to be a gentleman of impable manners, his track record in matters of love was anything but proper.


    There was the killing of a wife¡ªwhen his lover Coronis was pregnant, he fell in love with the mortal Ischys. An enraged Apollo secretly shot her. During her cremation, Apollo rescued the unborn child from her body, and that child was none other than Asclepius, the Medicine God.


    There was the seduction¡ªyoung Huntress Cyrene, while grappling with a lion barehanded, caught the attention of Apollo. The God of Light, against the maiden''s wishes, abducted her in his swan-drawn chariot to Libya, presenting the girl as a gift for all to see.


    There was the relentless pursuit turning to furious embarrassment¡ªNymph Daphne was lusted after by a lovestruck Apollo and was relentlessly pursued. Unable to bear the harassment, she eventually implored her father, a river god, to turn her into a Laurel Tree to escape Apollo''s search. When Apollo arrived, he "affectionately" decided he would use theurel''s branches to crown himself, its wood to craft his lyre, and its flowers to adorn his bow. Thus, the segmented Daphne was forever deprived of the chance to revert to her original form.


    ¡­Essentially, nearly every woman connected with this God of Light ended with a less than favorable fate.


    This glimpse into his dealings gave insight into the fact that Apollo''s handling of rtionships was far from as noble and righteous as his divine office suggested.


    The reason Hestia had been able to live her life peacefully after rejecting her nephew was simply that she, being one of the Twelve Olympians, held a revered status and had the power to protect herself.


    But over time, who could guarantee that the God of Light, ostensibly bright but with a somewhat twisted heart, wouldn''t harbor some crooked thoughts.


    "If you''re worried about your aunt? Then there''s even less need to."


    Athena nced at Luo En in front of her and mused deeply with profound meaning.


    "Among the three great virgin Goddesses, her chastity is the most unbreakable. Not only does Apollo stand no chance, even my uncle Poseidon and Father God Zeus can''t go against her wishes. Because the entire order of Olympus is founded upon her vow of chastity!"


    Upon hearing this Earth-shattering secret, Luo En could not conceal his astonishment.


    He found it hard to imagine that the seemingly gullible homebody next door had yed such a critical role in the establishment of the Olympian order.


    As if she saw the doubt in Luo En''s eyes, Athena proceeded to exin the reasons at length.

 Chapter 163 Chapter 122 Im Actually the Victim?

    What is that?!


    Meanwhile, at the campfire, Hestia and Artemis, who had been getting along so lovingly, abruptly stood up when they saw that giant wave looming over the sea, fast approaching Sicily, their expressions slightly changing.


    As the angry waves neared, the nine Muse Goddesses, who had been picking up shells by the seaside, instantly soared into the air, singing in unison at the top of their lungs.


    "Aa--Aaa--Aaaa----"


    The high-pitched monosybic divine words, spurred by divine power, transformed into a resounding hymn. Rings of golden ripples shed directly against the ferocious hundred-meter-high wave, attempting to intercept it.


    But after only a brief contact, the golden ripples were engulfed by the colossal sound of the wave.


    The tide''s overwhelming force showed no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, it became even more violent and turbulent, as if a giant were roaring in anger.


    Seeing ten thousand tons of seawater about to crash down upon them, the caught-off-guard nine Muse Goddesses couldn''t help but lose color in their faces.


    "Hum!"


    At that very moment, the sky suddenly brightened, a fierce ze shot up to the heavens, enveloping the entire ind of Sicily.


    It was Lord Apollo!


    Seeing the handsome man, looking like the sun ascending to mid-sky, the nine Muse Goddesses couldn''t help but let out excited cheers.


    Under the gazes of a flock of admiringdies, Apollo, wishing to show himself off, gracefully nodded his head and elegantly pulled out the golden longsword at his waist. He pointed it toward the sky while his left hand brushed over the sword''s de. Golden red ether crazily converged in the sky, a zing light spiraling and extending around the de, forming a shimmering trail, like the corona of the sun.


    ¡ªLight, reborn here!


    The god of light and prophecy, with the motions of authority and a halo upon him, gently waved his hand, and a hundred-meter-long sword of corona swept across the sky.


    In an instant, the sky-high wave was neatly split in two, and the water vapor, rising due to the high temperature, rapidly dispersed, forming a vast expanse of white mist.


    The refracted light, forming a splendid rainbow in the mid-air, made the god of light and prophecy stand out even more handsome and imposing.


    At that moment, crisp apuse rang out simultaneously from the woods, and Luo En and Athena involuntarily nced at each other.


    "That was quite a spectacle..."


    "I thought so too..."


    Both praised Apollo''s grace sincerely, yet their eyes were filled with schadenfreude.


    It''s like having a pillow handed to you when sleepy; no sooner had the bait been hung than someone couldn''t wait to bite.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And to have two at once...


    Tsk tsk, where does this unprovoked spirit ofpetitione from?


    Luo En looked up at the god of light and prophecy in the sky, showing off uninvited, and shook his head with the air of one who had been there before.


    However, he was also somewhat puzzled.


    "Speaking of which, why are all the Muses by the seaside? Weren''t it Artemis''s hunting Nymphs who were guarding outside before?"


    "Maybe they heard that the seaside of Sicily had some marvelous shells that could capture the sound of tide to use as recording material for their songs?"


    "..."


    Luo En turned his head toward Athena, who was nonchntly standing by, a subtle look in his eyes, while internally he grumbled to himself.


    If I get unknowingly tricked in the future, it is definitely your fault.


    "...Die!"


    As the two of them tacitly squatted in the dense forest, shielding the radiantly luminous Apollo in front of them, an irate, indistinct roar followed from beneath the nearby waters. A half-man, half-snake monstrous figure with a serpent-like tail measuring hundreds of meters and hair undting like sea snakes charged towards the shore. Its pincer-like giant ws, harder than the finest steel, swept towards the God of Light up in the sky with the speed of lightning.


    It''s not Poseidon?


    Seeing that unexpected figure, Luo En''s eyes slightly revealed a touch of astonishment.


    "Father of Sea Monsters¡ªPhorcys, he represents the fury of the sea, an extension of Poseidon''s authority."


    Athena, standing beside him, provided an answer in a grave tone, her face showing a hint of regret.


    "Looks like the real target wasn''t lured out..."


    Phorcys? The husband of the demon Keto?


    Luo En listened quietly, understanding in his heart.


    ording to legend, sea monsters would appear when Poseidon became enraged. When he wielded his Trident, he could easily stir up tremendous waves, spark storms and tsunamis causing continents to sink and thend to shatter, pulverize all things, and even trigger earthquakes. When he drove his chariot across the ocean, the waves would calm, and dolphins would follow in his wake.


    Though Phorcys is often portrayed as a monster, as an offspring resulting from the divine union of the Old Sea God Pontos and Mother Earth Gaia, he is one of the primeval sea gods in Ancient Greek mythology.


    At the same time, as a symbol of the sea''s fury, Phorcys was coincidentally an embodiment of Poseidon''s wrathful image and power.


    Therefore, His Majesty the God of the Sea had likely already secretly subdued this mindless divine monster couple and incorporated them into his system of lesser deities.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t be that easy to mobilize such a massive tide of beasts to besiege Crete Ind.


    However, this ce is not Crete Ind.


    Even without counting Hestia, specialized in eating melon seeds and cooking, there are three chief gods left in the battle, plus a whole bunch of apanying lesser deities.


    Now, the tables have turned, friend!


    Looking at the Father of Sea Monsters who furiously collided with the hunting party from Sicily, Luo En couldn''t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude.


    And seeing Apollo and the Father of Sea Monsters in the midst of a real fiery battle, shing divine powers at the ocean''s surface, Athena couldn''t help shaking her head.


    How could such a level of friendly match suffice?


    When out hunting, there must be blood!


    "Let''s go help. Although we couldn''t lure out the main target, eating some shrimp when there''s no fish is still eptable," the nefariously wise Goddess of Wisdom immediately dragged Luo En onto her chariot, ready to go "help" the God of Light and Prophecy.


    Watching Little Medusa eagerly stuff the reins into his hands and the God of Stove lesser deity switch allegiances once again, Luo En was caught betweenughter and tears, feeling helpless. He could only steer the heavenly steeds, having served the Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis, he was now at the service of Goddess Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.


    Looking at the chariot speeding across the sky, and the two figures huddled on it, Artemis and Hestia in the camp exchanged looks.


    "Auntie, we''ll be right back, keep the meal warm!"


    Apanied by augh filled with joy, Athena, who had sessfully sneaked away, armed with spear and shield, stood shoulder to shoulder with Luo En who handled the chariot, both racing towards the fierce battle at the sea.


    "Curse it! Don''t run!"


    Artemis, the first toe to her senses, immediately started angrily using a certain owl of its shameless theft, while blowing a whistle to summon her golden chariot and the Nymphs who were hunters, chasing after them with all her might.


    As the two hunting parties moved farther away, the only one left behind, tasked with guarding the home and cooking, was the Goddess of the Hearth. Gazing at the empty camp and the fire that hadn''t yet been extinguished, she couldn''t help falling into deep thought.


    Something seems off?

 Chapter 164 Good Words Cant Persuade a Dead Ghost

    ```


    In the dimly lit cave, a somber youth named "Asclepius" put down the medical book in his hand and gazed deeply at the old man with gray-white eyes, his brow furrowed.


    "Are you truly blind?"


    "In a world where ck and white are indistinguishable, we are all blind. What you see may not be farther-reaching than what I see."


    The old man, or perhaps the blind poet Homer, disguised as some God of Wine, murmured meaningfully, then lifted his head toward the silver-haired youth, changing the topic abruptly.


    "So, take my advice, it''s better not to go to Cyprus."


    Asclepius picked up the invitation on the table adorned with rose patterns, nced at the signature of Adonis, the Prince of Cyprus, and spoke indifferently.


    "I trust my patients; they would not harm me."


    "But he''ll bring you no small trouble."


    Luo En tapped his cane forward, earnestly advising, his gray-white eyes looking at the somber youth before him, showing a hint of pure goodwill.


    Asclepius, the son of the God of Light, Apollo, and a mortal princess, was the future Medicine God.


    The Centaur Chiron, outside the cave, was his mentor, teaching him medicine and hunting.


    As the child grew up, his talent in medicine had already surpassed his teacher''s, and he began to emerge from Mount Pelion, practicing medicine in various city-states and making quite a name for himself.


    This attracted many patients suffering from strange illnesses, inviting him to treat them.


    Adonis, who sent the invitation, was one of them.


    After numerous earnest invitations from his patients, this future Medicine God, having dealt with several cases, returned to his dwelling on Mount Pelion to prepare medicine and pack his bags for a journey to Cyprus Ind.


    However, unlike the future Medicine God, who was devoted solely to healing and oblivious to other concerns, Luo En was well aware of the concealed ailment of the Prince of Cyprus and the trouble it entangled.


    Because of an attack by a Wild Boar transformed by Ares years ago, the Prince of Cyprus had since developed some unspeakable condition unique to men.


    Even Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love who could harden cotton into steel nails, personally took action, exhausting all her wiles to no avail.


    With no other choice, Adonis had to seek help from various doctors, abandoning all concealment.


    But after years of consultations and countless tonics, his condition had shown no sign of improvement.


    Therefore, as Asclepius, the esteemed student of Chiron, grew more prominent, the beleaguered Adonis naturally set his sights on this skilled physician, persistently inviting him to Cyprus to perhaps solve his private affliction.


    If it were just about healing, it might be simpler, but the situation involved the disputes of the gods of Olympus.


    Ares risked getting his face wed by his old lover Aphrodite just to scare that pretty-boy Adonis into trouble, lessening the Love Goddess''s interest in him.


    Should this future Medicine God actually cure him, that brute Ares might do something reckless.


    Moreover, whether Hephaestus, Zeus, or other deities yed a part in Adonis''s mdy is uncertain.


    If this future Medicine God wants to avoid trouble, the best thing to do would be to stay out of the matter.


    After all, his father Apollo is still serving a sentence in Thessaly, and his aunt Artemis is too preupied to pay attention; if an ident were to ur, no one is avable to protect the boy.


    A certain cheap uncle watched his "nephew" in a metaphorical sense, appearing calm on the surface, but his thoughts were already in turmoil.


    ording to the original n, the well-being of this cheap nephew was actually his first choice to manipte Apollo and trap the God of Light into prison.


    ```


    But during the expedition to Arcadia, Pan''s lecherous goat inadvertently took the bullet, effectively recing the role of the future Medicine God, Asclepius.


    Thus, Luo En simply went with the flow and didn''t reallyy a hand on his unsuspecting nephew.


    Even under the entrusted care of his old lover Artemis, he came to Mount Pelion and got on good terms with the sage Chiron, looking after Apollo''s kin "by the way."


    Yet, even so, the future Medicine God always seemed to find a way to get into trouble.


    To have something to show to his old lover Artemis and out of respect for the future Medicine God, Luo En, upon knowing the next patient whom Asclepius intended to visit, deliberately stayed a few more days on Mount Pelion, hoping to persuade him against taking risks.


    However, just like his father, the God of Light, Asclepius clearly was not someone who took advice willingly.


    At this moment, the future Medicine God gazed at the blind old man before him, falling silent for a moment, solemnly reflecting.


    "With the gods of heaven and earth as my witnesses, I vow to do my utmost with all my capabilities and judgment, abiding by the creed of seeking the best interest of the afflicted, no matter the towering mountains or the long roads, nor the rough paths ahead!"


    With these words, he slung his neatly packed satchel over his shoulder.


    Clearly, this honorable future Medicine God would not forsake any patient in need of healing for his own personal desires and gains.


    Seeing this stubborn ox headed for the pit, Luo En felt helpless but still fished out a bronze badge from his bosom and handed it to the future Medicine God.


    "If you insist on going, take this with you."


    "What is this?"


    Asclepius asked in confusion, looking at the badge with a Medusa pattern in its center.


    "The emblem of the Pandion family, the City Builders of Athens."


    Luo En spoke in a deep voice, leaning on his staff.


    "Since you wish to heal and save people, once you''re done with this, have a look around Athens.


    There are many people there, and consequently, many patients. Plus, Goddess Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, seems to be preparing a new academy hoping to attract talent from various city-states. It would be an ideal ce for academic development and the study of medicine.


    Your teacher Chiron has also received an invitation, and in time, perhaps you and your mentor can reunite in Athens."


    Asclepius nodded, cing the badge in his breast and rising to walk towards the cave entrance.


    And in the instant he stepped out of the cave, the future Medicine God paused briefly, his low voice carrying into the cave.


    "Although there seems to be a scent on you I don''t care for, thank you¡­"


    Watching the young man''s figure recede into the distance, eventually vanishing into the dense forest''s end, Luo En couldn''t help but lower his head to sniff himself, muttering under his breath.


    A dislikeable scent? Such a keen nose?


    Is it because of the nine Muses? Or perhaps it''s because of his aunt Artemis?


    Of course, the most likely reason is probably rted to Apollo''s Divinity.


    It''s apparent that the rtionship between this father and son is quite strained.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Luo En muttered to himself for a while, shook his head, and with his staff, made his way to the clear valley stream.

 Chapter 165 Until I Took an Arrow in the Knee

    The Centaur Sage by the river''s edge rose up on all fours from the verdant meadow and looked back at the old man behind him.


    "Has he left?"


    "Hmm..."


    "Shouldn''t you be leaving too?"


    "Almost time, I guess."


    Luo En nodded, sat down on a piece of bluestone with a bend of his waist, swiftly pulled out paper and pen, then suddenly took on a serious demeanor and asked earnestly.


    "So, whom did we talk aboutst time?"


    "Uranus, the Father of Heaven."


    "Very well, Teacher Horse, please continue, I''m all ears."


    "..."


    Chiron nced at the blind old man before him and ultimately chose not to correct the strange address, opting instead to patiently continue the story about Uranus, the first of the Titan Gods.


    A few days earlier, the blind poet who called himself "Homer" hade to his dwelling on Mount Pelion, pretending to seek medical advice.


    During the consultation, he showed no concern for his own afflictions; instead, he eagerly asked a myriad of strange questions.


    For instance, where did the primal Life originate from?


    Did a ruler by the name of "Chaos" exist within the ancient Chaos?


    What was the past of the twelve Titans?


    Were the gods of the Titan era more like men or more like beasts in their usual ways?


    Before the woman Pandora came into being, how did the first golden humanity procreate?


    These perplexing questions covered local customs, historical legends, rumors, and secrets among other things; many were beyond his own knowledge, so he could only pick a small portion of the questions he knew about to exin.


    Yet, he was extraordinarily content.


    And to obtain more detailed information, the odd old man even used his blindness as an excuse, lingering on Mount Pelion for several days.


    A gentle breeze brushed by, the old man, now an audience, listened quietly to Chiron''s exnation, while his pen moved over the parchment, inscribing line after line of profound and beautiful Sacred Words.


    "Uranus, from which all life is born, a constant in the universe,


    The oldest of gods, the beginning and end of everything,


    Father of the cosmos, you orbit the earth likes,


    The abode of the blissful gods, you traverse in but an instant,


    Guarding the heavens and the earth, enveloping all creation!


    In your heart, you endure the inevitability of Nature''sw.


    Within you lies the indomitable deep blue, shining bright, ever-shifting,


    An outstanding spirit of bliss, you see all things, and you will birth Cronos,


    Hear me speak, grant the faithful a holy Life."


    As thest sentence finished, the blind old man set aside the parchment to dry with satisfaction and continued to inquire.


    "Good, what about the next one, the second-generation Divine King, Cronos? What kind of existence was he?"


    The Sage Chiron pondered for a moment, as usual, offering a fair description.


    The old man''s pen began to move again, and as he traced the letters, Chiron caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye: around the blind man, nine graceful figures seemed toe in and out of view as if made of air.


    Whenever there was a pause in coining phrases or he faced difficulty in refining the text, the nine figures would react differently:


    Some would grasp the old man''s arm, taking the pen for him; others hummed in his ear, calming his mood;


    Some brushed past his grey eyes, broadening his vision within Chaos; others gently cradled his ancient head, awakening thoughts from their wellspring.


    ...


    At the same time, the expressions, demeanor, and aura of the old man''s aged face seemed to shift continuously, now somber, now cheerful; now dignified, now lively; now angered, now serene... as if countless roles, memories, and personalities flooded into his brain, collectively coloring the lines of Sacred Words beneath his pen.


    "Cronos, father of gods and men, you age not,


    Clever, pure, strong, and valiant Titan,


    You destroy all and rebirth all,


    In the bond of Immortality, you embrace the infinite cosmos,


    Cronos, eternal master of time, Cronos of a thousand faces,n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Son of Gaea and starry Uranus!


    Origin, growth, decay, husband of Rhea, precursor of dignity,


    You dwell in every corner of the universe, you are the ancestor of life,


    Cunning and bravest of all! Hear my plea,


    Grant my Life abundance and an unblemished ending."


    The period dropped, the scratching pen ceased its motion, and the old man showed a contented smile, passing the parchment filled with characters across.


    "How is it?"


    Gazing upon the Sacred Words, Chiron''s eyes revealed astonishment, as though he could see through the paper to the grandeur of history past, as if the silhouette from a certain memory sprang into vivid existence on the page.


    Yet, imperfect it was.


    "It''s beautifully written."


    "Which part?"


    "I mean the character portrayal..."


    Chiron looked at the description of Cronos on the parchment and honestly pointed out the errors.


    Upon hearing this, Luo En couldn''t help but give a wry smile.


    This Centaur Sage, Chiron, was in fact a full deity born of the Titan King Cronos and the goddess Philyra.


    But because Cronos mated with Philyra in the form of a horse, Chiron was born in the shape of a centaur.


    His mother Philyra, unwilling to nurse him due to his odd appearance, ultimately transformed herself into a linden tree.


    Combined with the notoriety of Cronos for devouring his offspring, it''s only natural that Chiron''s view of his parents wasn''t too favorable.


    As for the skeptic in question, Luo En, the author himself, had a prepared justification ready.


    "Since it''s a Sacred Word praising the gods and creation, it''s only natural to show them in a more favorable light, and a bit of embellishment is appropriate."


    Chiron, after a moment''s thought, nodded in agreement and, realizing his own impertinence, showed a hint of an apologetic look.


    Teacher Horse, what a good soul!


    Seeing this, Luo En felt moved that in thends of Greece, he encountered such a rare species of pure goodness but also couldn''t help feeling a twinge of guilt for the half-hearted concealment.


    Well then, as a pragmatist, he would only bother to embellish that scoundrel Cronos when it served a purpose.


    The reason for doing so was that whitewashing Cronos would indirectly cken Zeus''s act of usurpation.


    As humankind proliferated upon the earth, the gods seemed unaware that an era where culture determines faith had arrived.


    The pen is mightier than the sword; if one can control this narrative power, reshaping the image of the gods in literature and history, then one inevitably influences humanity''s belief in different deities.


    And of course, writers have always loved to mix in their personal agendas.


    But to create a universally acimed literary work, expanding one''s influence requires the sharpest minds and inspiration.


    It was for this underlying purpose that Luo En braved the risk of deeply offending Apollo, managing to acquire the nine Muses from the God of Light, and took this opportunity to descend to the mortal world and, under the collective pseudonym "Homer," carry out his long-nned scheme.


    ¡ªwhich was to revise the "Sacred Words," write the "Divine Chronicle," and surreptitiously grind up the doctrine of his Dionysian Sect and sneak it in.


    Of course, to appear impartial, it was necessary to seek out the parties involved and the informed, to conduct "historical research."


    The good-hearted Chiron was his first interviewee.


    Aside from this, he had other designs regarding Teacher Horse himself.


    It seems that because the linden tree that his mother became was a kind-hearted type of tree towards the world. Its flowers could be used in medicine, and the bark was used for divination tablets.


    Thus, even without parental love, Chiron never wallowed in self-pity norshed out against the world, but instead grew up to study diligently and be a sage.


    Generally speaking, besides being outstanding hunters with the lower body of a horsebined with exceptional bow and arrow skills, centaurs also have a savage side that involves snatching various items.


    For instance, the centaur tribes Luo En and Artemis encountered in Arcadia were the untamable kind.


    Only Chiron was especially marked with the impression of a "sage," his gentle nature also being unique among centaurs.


    Grown up, Chiron mastered all sorts of knowledge, and thanks to hisposed character and clever teaching methods, the number of "future heroes" of Greece educated by him were countless.


    Hercules, Achilles, Asclepius whoter became the god of medicine, and Castor who became part of Gemini were all his students.


    In addition, Jason, the leader of the Argonauts and the suitor of Medea, was also one of his students, truly his influence was widespread.


    Moreover, the reason Luo En chose the residence of Teacher Horse as his first stop was partly due to his old me Artemis''s entrustment to look after his cheap nephew Asclepius, and partly because he intended to scout for Athena.


    ¡ª¡ªHeeding his advice, that Goddess of Wisdom founded the "Academy of Athens" in Athens, focusing on the poprization of academia and magic.


    Since it had just started, there was a severe shortage of both teaching staff and student sources.


    The widely respected sage Chiron was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.


    Furthermore, as an unwee son of Cronos, Chiron was also well-suited to be an ally in opposition to Olympus.


    Although he was uninvolved in worldly disputes, in these chaotic times, inaction was seen as a weakness, and that would not necessarily spare you from fate at a critical moment.


    As far as Luo En knew, one day in the future, while resolving disputes among the centaurs, Chiron, the good-hearted, would be hit by a mysterious poisoned arrow and suffer continuously due to his immortality.


    Until the non-confrontational Centaur Sage became "Sagittarius," retired to Olympus, adorned the heavens with divine authority, and returned his immortality to the gods, he would finally be freed from this pain.


    And the person who fired the poisoned arrow was none other than his most proud disciple, the great hero Hercules.


    Moreover, it was Hercules, who in a quarrel over a cask of wine brewed by the God of Wine with a group of centaurs, started the conflict.


    The hot-headed great hero pursued and brutally assaulted these centaurs who angered him.


    But one arrow aimed at the centaurs skimmed off the unlucky arm of one and, unfortunately, hit Chiron in the knee.


    The participants of this tragedy, aside from Hercules and that group of centaurs, included the venom smeared on the arrow, originating from the Hydra that the Great Strength God had in.


    A destiny cobbled together by a series of "coincidences," if there wasn''t some trickery involved, even Luo En would not believe it.


    Therefore, whether as a suspect of the case or to vex the King of Olympus, he had to snuff out this potential future, and lure the talented Teacher Horse to Athens.


    With this in mind, Luo En''s expression turned solemn as he spoke in a deep voice.


    "Teacher Horse, your disciple Asclepius has already epted the invitation from the Academy of Athens and ns to reunite with you in Athens after his travels in Cyprus. Through the revtions of fate, I foresee some misfortune might befall him, so..."


    Chiron, upon hearing this, fell silent for a moment, then pulled out the Bronze Eleph of Medusa from his bosom, and after several days of hesitation, finally made up his mind, replying solemnly.


    "Athens, you say? Very well, I shall go..."


    Seeing that he had finally managed to lure the Centaur Sage onto the bandits'' ship, a certain unscrupulous deity who specialized in deceiving the honest showed a satisfied smile.


    Buy one, get one free, perfect!

 Chapter 166 As Long as the Hoe is Swung Well, There is No Corner that Cant be Dug Out (4.2k)

    The next day, Mount Pelion.


    The wise Chiron, unable to put his mind at ease about his disciple, decided to set out for Athens at the earliest opportunity.


    Before parting, Luo En moved his lips but ultimately chose to remain silent, not revealing to Chiron the matter of the future Medicine God heading to Cyprus.


    Although Asclepius was just an illegitimate son whom Apollo didn''t think highly of, he was still considered a rtive within the Olympian System. Even if he identally offended those uncles and aunts, as long as they were wary of Apollo and Artemis''s status, they would likely show some restraint, and probably wouldn''t go too far.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After all, the example of Pan''s deathy before them, and Apollo had just been exiled to the mortal world for a simr affair.


    If another such incident were to ur, Zeus, for the sake of maintaining superficial justice, would also have to crack down hard on the one who caused trouble.


    But if Chiron followed shortly after to Cyprus and got involved with his student in the troublesome affairs there, he might not be so lucky.


    After all, who made this Centaur fellow the character no one likes?


    Having been around the Olympus rtives too much might lead to Zeus recalling Chiron, this illegitimate brother, prematurely, transforming him into a constetion, reiming his divinity, to adorn his own heavenly authority.


    So, after much thought, Luo En decided it was wiser to let the old fellow go to the Academy of Athens to teach his lessons properly.


    However, with the absence of this ever-helpful sage as a subject of interview, Mount Pelion lost its significance to remain.


    After sending off Chiron from his sight, Luo En shook his head and transformed from an aged blind man back into a handsome young form, turning to walk into the valley.


    Past the dense woods of the outer area, a cheerful song carried by the wind reached Luo En''s ears.


    "Come, let us start with the Muse. They sing together in chorus, narrating events with their voices to delight the great mind of Zeus, father of Olympus. Sweet is the song that flows from their lips, a sound endlessly pleasurable; their pure voice carries, pleasing the hall of their father, Heavenly God Zeus, the snowy peaks of Mount Olympus, the halls of the immortals are filled with echoes. They start their immortal song from the beginning, first praising the race of respectable deities¡ªthe ones born from the union of Earth and wide Heaven, givers of all useful things. At the beginning and the end of their songs, they praise Zeus, father of gods and men, as the most intelligent among the deities, the most powerful and strong. Furthermore, they also sing of mortals and Giants, pleasing the heart of Zeus in Olympus¡ª they are the Muses of Olympus, outstanding daughters of Zeus, bearer of the Divine Shield..."


    Within the open valley, the nine manifested literary Goddesses surrounded the gurgling stream, standing or sitting, opening their scrolls to review, humming impromptu the preludes they hadposed.


    It was both the opening of a book and a hymn written for the Muses themselves.


    "They tread lightly in dance, by the azure springs or around the altar of Wine and Merriment. After bathing their delicate bodies in the Parnassus River, Hippocrene Spring, or Oute Erpe, they perform beautiful and lovely dances atop Mount Helicon, energy flowing in their steps. They leave here at night, wrapped in thick fog, humming melodious songs of praises for the gods..."


    As the lyrical sentences turned into musical notes, flowing from their lips, various scenes from the past three years emerged in the minds of the Muses.


    Within them were poems and wine, music and songs, performances and audiences, each frame an unfading silhouette treasured in memory.


    Caught in waves of reverie, the tune from the Muses'' mouths gradually went off-key, and one by one, they blushed.


    ¡ªAs if, what they were reading was not a literary masterpiece crafted with exquisite words, but a love poem dedicated to the Muses themselves.


    ¡ªOr perhaps, it was both, a fusion of meticulousness and romance.


    "p p~"


    Clear apuse came from within the woods, as the handsome [audience] leaned against a tree trunk, smiling and offering his usual [listening] and [praise] to the Muses'' performance.


    "God of Wine, sir!"


    At the moment they saw Luo En, the nine Muses cheered in unison, excitedly gathering around him.


    Waving their manuscripts in hand, they chattered with inquiries.


    "This line, [praising Zeus¡ªthe bearer of the Divine Shield], should we add an adjective, [the Almighty Zeus]? It would correspond well with the next line [praising the venerable Hera¡ªthe Goddess with golden sandals from Argus], right?"


    "Isn''t that tooplicated?"


    "I think it''s just right."


    Calliope, skilled in epic heroism, Clio, who values precise history, and Euterpe, focused on lyric poetry, had differing opinions.


    "Here, should we add a rest?"


    "I think an aria is more appropriate!"


    "No, the overall rhythm should lean towards joyfulness!"


    Euterpe, adept in solos and love poetry, Melpomene, responsible for tragedy and elegy, and Thalia, in charge ofedy and pastoral, were unbending.


    "This this this, [praising Zeus, bearer of the Divine Shield, father to the bright-eyed Athena, as well as Phoebus Apollo, Artemis who delights in archery, Poseidon the bearer and shaker of the earth, venerable Themis, seductive Aphrodite...], how can we use simplified dance gestures to represent each deity''s traits?"


    "Why use dance? Can''t we project the corresponding constetions onto the stage as well?"

 Chapter 167 Face-to-Face with the Minotaur (4.2k)

    On the hillside, the King of Thessaly, Admetos, looked at the terrifying figures that were emerging from the dungeon, his face turning pale.


    Gigantes!


    They were the bloodline of the Titans, also called "Earthborn."


    Legend has it that when the second Divine King, Kronos, castrated Uranus, the Father of Heaven, on themand of Mother Earth Gaea, Uranus''s divine blood sprayed from his wounds below, which was absorbed by Gaea, and thus she bore arge number of Titan Giants, the forebears of the Gigantes.


    Latter, the Titanomachy broke out, Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys engaged in bloody ughter throughout Thessaly, achieving final victory.


    But those Titan bloodlines who did not submit to the rule of Divine King Zeus merged into the Gigantes, continuing their resistance against Olympus.


    However, in the face of the increasingly dominant demigods of Olympus, the Gigantes n frequently battled and lost, suffering continuous defeats.


    The most recent charge could be traced back to the upheaval caused by As, the Titan Giant, over a decade ago.


    Even though the Gigantes, under the leadership of As, stormed Mount Olympus with fierce momentum and challenged the gods, they ultimately fell at the hands of Goddess of Wisdom Athena, leading to their leader, As, being reduced to a prisoner holding up a corner of the heavens.


    Since that significant blow, the severely weakened Gigantes gradually disappeared from sight.


    Yet, just over a decade had passed, and these remnants of bygone times could not contain their restlessness, burrowing out of their underground burrows.


    And, thending site they chose was none other than the very Thessaly over which he ruled.


    The King of Thessaly, surrounded by deep shadows, looked up at the entourage of towering Giants with difficulty, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, internally regretting not heeding the temple Priest''s warning.


    ¡ª¡ªRecently, bizarre sounds have been constantly emerging from underneath Thessaly, and a sense of unease is evident among the insects, fish, birds, and beasts in the mountains.


    The Priests, sensing the anomalous events, had urged him to perform a grand sacrifice to the great god Zeus, to gain divine revtions from the gods.


    However, he was then deeply in love with his newlywed wife and did not take this matter to heart.


    As a result, one misstep nted the seed of disaster.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Realizing the urgency of the situation, the King of Thessaly immediately drew his bronze sword and yelled at his guards.


    "Hurry back and report, have the city seal the gates, be on full alert!"


    With the approach of those towering figures, Admetos tore off his loose robe and took up a round shield from a guard, shouting boldly as he thrust himself forward.


    "Form a phnx, face the enemy!"


    Clearly, he was attempting to put together a makeshift defensive line centered around himself.


    In the world of the gods, humans are far too insignificant and fragile.


    Even the Divine Blood Guard, descended from the family of City Builders, were but slightly stronger ants against these Gigantes.


    At this moment, the only thing that might pose an obstacle to them was he himself, a Demigod and City Builder.


    Whether from the duty of a king or the consciousness of a strong man.


    He needed to step up at this moment, to buy enough time for the people of Thessaly to react.


    And en route to the preparation, Admetos did not forget to push the handsome shepherd behind him, signaling his guards to usher him onto a warhorse.


    Although as monarch of thend, his days were not particrly affluent, given that it was a region ravaged by the Titan war, a wild and ruggednd.


    But ever since he followed the oracle of great Zeus and the prophecies of the temple Priests, taking in two ves from a foreignnd, everything in Thessaly had started to improve.


    Not only did fishing and herding flourish under theborious work of the two foreign ves.


    But even he personally had good fortune due to his kindness toward the shepherd behind him, leading to marriage with a beautiful wife.


    ¡ª¡ªThe King of Iolcus, Peli As, agreed to give his daughter in marriage only to someone who could ride in a chariot drawn by lions and bears, and the shepherd behind him, using his unique talent for controlling animals, satisfied the marriage requirement, allowing him to marry the princess from the neighboringnd.


    Now, he and his wife lived in harmonious happiness.


    To express his gratitude to the shepherd, Admetos not only reduced his hardships but also frequently visited the ce where the shepherd herded, taking the role of an audience to listen to his music.


    After many such visits, Admetos, although vaguely aware of the shepherd''s extraordinary origins, wisely did not probe further. The other was quite content with this way of getting along, and the two thus formed deep friendship.


    Whether because of friendship or gratitude, he wanted the shepherd to survive.


    However, the shepherd stubbornly stood his ground, refusing to mount the horse, squandering his earnest effort.


    Admetos raised his shield, gritting his teeth to block a gray-brown arm, then swung his sword to sever two fingers as thick as tree trunks, unable to help but turn his head and shout angrily.


    "You fool, if you don''t go now, it will be toote!"


    "No need..."


    As the shepherd was being pushed by the two Divine Blood guards, he murmured, raising his head towards the front, a look of conflicting emotions and a sense of humiliation surfacing in his eyes.


    "We don''t need to run anymore."


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    At the same time, the ground shook, ether in the air furiously converged and surged. A majestic golden figure of a Bull, moving at breathtaking speed, charged down the mountain path, ramming and trampling over the Titan Giants in its way, nting itself like a mountain in front of the Apollo and the field in Thessaly where the King stood.

 Chapter 229 168

    Luo En''splexion changed, and he immediately spoke to defend himself.


    "Lord Apollo, I think you have misunderstood us. We came here following Lady Artemis''s will to visit you, with no other intentions whatsoever."


    "So, it wasn''t a coincidence earlier; you had already arrived?"


    Apollo instantly seized on the loophole in the words and looked towards the Muses beside him with a sinister gaze, bellowing in anger.


    "Speak! Did you lead these Giants here?! Are you trying to have me killed by the hands of the Gigantes?"


    Hearing such usations that cut to the heart, the faces of the Muses turned pale, and they were boiling with unspoken grievances.


    Heaven knows, they were merely using the pretext of traveling to the mortal realm to check on their former master, never even intending to show themselves.


    Who would have known that they would encounter the Gigantes causing chaos, and, on top of that, inadvertently involve their former master Apollo in the mess?


    Moreover, since when could they, a group of Muses who adored literature and poetry,mand the Gigantes to kill their former master and scheme for power and status?


    At that moment, Luo En could not help but stand up for the Muses and spoke out against the injustice.


    "Lord Apollo, you may suspect me, but please do not impose baseless usations on these innocentdies!"


    Upon hearing this, Apollo, previously dominated by rage, seemed to cool down slightly and looked darkly at Luo En before speaking solemnly.


    "You are right, they didn''t have the courage to do so before, but now it seems they dare to engage in these outrageous acts, all because of your instigation, isn''t it?"


    "Lord Apollo, please watch your words!"


    Calliope, the eldest sister, couldn''t help but raise her voice, issuing a solemn murmur.


    "Though you have been sentenced to misfortune, and exiled to the mortal realm, even in your absence, we have always adhered to our Divine Office and responsibility, never harboring any ill thoughts against you!"


    Then, the Muse in charge of heroic epics pointed her finger at Luo En beside her, took a deep breath, and shouted angrily.


    "And the God of Wine would be even less likely, as he himself has just saved you! And it was before us!"


    Seeing his own Muses defending an outsider, Apollo could no longer contain his fury.


    "Stop with your pretense! He came here just to relish the sight of my downfall, didn''t he?"


    "Lord Apollo, if that''s what you believe, then I have nothing more to say..."


    Luo En sighed, his spirits dampened as he raised his hands resigningly.


    "In that case, I shall leave your presence now, and I will also relinquish my guardianship. I will exin it myself to Lady Artemis."


    The nine Muses heard this and felt a tight grip on their hearts, instinctively wanting to speak out, yet they were stopped by a gesture from Luo En.


    The God of Wine took a deep breath and, with the most sincere tone, gave a stern warning.


    "But these nine Muses are innocent! From now on, please treat your Lesser Deities well and do not impose unwarranted suspicions upon them!"


    However, the preaching tone once again unsurprisingly hit Apollo''s sore spot, provoking further anger in the prideful God of Light.


    "Shut up! It''s not your ce to lecture me! Get out!"


    Luo En, without an alternative, shrugged helplessly, turned to look at the nine Muses at his side, and managed to squeeze a trace of a smile onto his face as he instructed them solemnly.


    "Thessaly has just experienced chaos caused by the Gigantes. It is good that you remain, to ensure Lord Apollo''s safety. But do not let my affairs create a rift between you."


    "Have you said enough? Get out!"


    Hearing his downfall mentioned over and over again, Apollo scolded angrily.


    After finishing his piece, Luo En no longer lingered and promptly turned to walk towards the forest path behind.


    As that figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Calliope turned back and looked earnestly at the Chief God before her and spoke seriously.


    "Lord Apollo, you should not treat the God of Wine this way."


    Upon hearing this, Apollo, who had just managed to suppress his anger, exploded again, a dark and scornful smile spreading across his handsome face.


    "What now? Do you also wish to instruct me on what to do?"


    "No, it''s just a piece of advice."


    Calliope shook her head, then with a "snap," she broke the wax tablet in her hands, decorated with rays of light, and tossed it aside without expression, speaking contemptuously.


    "From this moment on, please forgive me for being unable to serve you¡ªsomeone who nders heroes, a despicable person!"


    "Calliope, you!"


    Looking at the shattered symbol of a Lesser Deity at his feet, hearing the undisguised scorn, Apollo''s face went through a drastic change, his body trembling with rage.


    However, before he could finish speaking, aurel crown was also thrown at his feet.


    "I feel the same,"


    Clio, the keeper of history, pped her hands and, with thest scroll in hand, turned around.


    "Me too!"


    "Count me in!"


    "Me as well..."


    Immediately after, as if triggering some kind of chain reaction, Oute Erpe dropped her flower basket, Terpsichore abandoned her evergreen ivy, Euterpe discarded her music scores, Melpomene loosened her dagger, Thalia gave up her tambourine...


    Each Muse left behind the symbols rted to Apollo, discarding them like worthless rags.


    They then turned and without exception, briskly walked towards a distant mountain path as if trying to catch up with someone''s figure.


    Seeing his former lesser deities sever ties with him one after another, Apollo''s handsome face turned from green to purple, from purple to ck, until his anger twisted his features, and he wildly trampled the broken symbols on the ground, bursting into a hysterical roar.


    "Get out! All of you, get out!"


    Meanwhile, a figure trekking up the mountain path heard that piercing roar and casually stopped, a yful smile spreading across his face.


    Question¡ª


    How would a proud young master, ustomed to being high and mighty, feel when, due to some reason, he falls from the clouds, and the insignificant characters he used to look down upon, whom he himself despised, bring along a group of beautiful subordinates he once ordered about, to extend a helping hand just when he is most destitute, especially if his subordinates happen to witness the process?


    Answer¡ª


    His pitiful pride would surely hurt, wouldn''t it?


    Moreover, the imbnce in his mind could lead to misinterpretation ofmon kindness, turning any slight movement into suspicions and betrayals in his eyes.


    As is well known, the firmest defenses are often broken from within.


    The same goes for undermining foundations.


    With theption of the "Sacred Words" and the "Divine Chronicle" still unfinished, those Muses wouldn''t pass up the chance to leave behind timeless poetry.


    Even if they are goddesses, they cannot escape the pursuit and whims of being literature enthusiasts.


    Andpared to ying a supporting role to the God of Light, my stage here allows them to realize their self-worth.


    After three years of slowly boiling the frog, along with teasing them with the "Sacred Words" and the "Divine Chronicle," it''s obvious who''s more attractive.


    So next, I only need to take the Muses for a spin in front of Apollo, who is serving his sentence in Thessaly, candidly expose some facts and issues, and mess with the mentality of that God of Light. Some people will then automaticallyplete all the mental gymnastics, sketching out a series of targeted conspiracies, pouring out all their grievances and discontent on the figures they disliked.


    No worries, I can take the me, even to the end when those suspected Muses and themselves are all included.


    Apollo might sense that something is amiss, but even if it''s wrong, he won''t bow his head.


    That God of Light is too proud. It''s a fatal weakness in his character, and regardless of whether he sees clearly or not, he will fall into the trap.


    So, Lord Apollo, I have raised your lesser deities myself, be at ease.


    At this very moment, just as someone had predicted, the Muses began to appear at the crossroads one after another, sprinting forward to catch up with his pace.


    "God of Wine, wait for us, we''lle with you!"


    "Apollo has gone too far!"


    "We''ve had enough! Let someone else serve him!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Exactly!"


    And upon hearing the Muses chirpily recount what had just happened, Luo En couldn''t help but be surprised at the decisiveness of these artistic goddesses.


    It must be said, there really is a streak of madness in the bones of these Muses, no wonder they are sometimes considered the apostles of the God of Wine in some mythological lineages.


    But then again, daring to confront Apollo face to face, to turn against their chief god in the form of a lesser deity, that''s no small risk either.


    Luo En pondered for a moment, then looked at the surrounding Muses with a worried expression and asked with concern.


    "So what will you do? With things turning out this way, won''t you be in trouble?"


    "Don''t worry, it''s Apollo who''s gone too far. Even if Father God were to me someone, it wouldn''t fall on us. If ites down to it, we''ll go straight to the Temple of Memory and have Mother Goddess decide!"


    Calliope, as the eldest sister, stood tall and firm in her response, while the Muses around her echoed her sentiments.


    However, Luo En still caught a trace of unease in their eyes, so he showed a heartwarming smile and spoke earnestly.


    "I''lle with you!"


    Feeling the solemn promise, a warmth flowed through the Muses'' hearts,pletely melting away the trace of apprehension about the future following their choice, and a strong sense of attachment and emotion welled up within them.


    The God of Wine, he really is someone worthy of trust and reliance.

 Chapter 171 A Ladys Witty Strategy Pacifies the World, Losing Both Her Daughter and Soldiers

    ```


    Several dayster, it was nighttime.


    Luo En sat at his bedroom desk, activated the illuminating fluorite, and, as usual, pulled out several ancient magical tomes from the bookshelf that appeared beside him, hungrily flipping through them.


    As the sacrednd of the Goddess of Memory, the collection of books and knowledge reserves here were, undoubtedly, the mostprehensive library in all of Greece.


    In theory, as long as Goddess Mnemosyne nodded her head, any visitor granted ess could peruse any materials and books they desired.


    The ones before him were essentially the textbooks he urgently needed, which could greatlyplete his framework of magical knowledge.


    While reading, Luo En turned the pages of the magic tomes at a very fast pace, scanning ten lines, even a hundred lines, with his eyes at a time.


    But even so, as soon as he put down a book and closed his eyes, those obscure and difficult passages would clearly emerge in his mind, as if directly etched in the depths of his memory, transforming into an immortal pce, never to fade.


    ¡ª¡ªThe crown of thoughts, the pce of memory.


    This was the blessing from the nine Muses and the Goddess of Memory.


    It is said that there was a Greek poet ¨C Simonides ¨C who attended a feast, and after he passionately recited a lyric poem in the grand banquet hall praising the great gods Castor and Pollux, he was called out by an oracle of the gods. Meanwhile, the banquet hall copsed, and not a single guest inside survived. The bodies were indistinct and hard for families to recognize, yet Simonides identified each one based on their seating arrangements in the hall, as if he used his hands to rebuild the pce of memory with the revtion of the oracle.


    Therefore, Greeks believed that there was a pce governed by the Goddess of Memory deep within human memory; those who could open it would tap into the spring of knowledge and wisdom.


    Thus, using it for literary creation, to continue writing the "Divine Chronicle" and the "Sacred Words," was merely its initial application. To harness one''s learning abilities and make the umtion of knowledge leap qualitatively, that was the real way to unlock it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And with the blessing of thoughts and the ess permissions given to him by the Goddess of Memory and the nine Muses, Luo En frantically scoured through tens of thousands of various books on the shelves. Within just a few days, he had nearly swept through the entire library, constructing his own pce of knowledge deep within his mind.


    His knowledge reserves and magical level also soared dramatically as a result.


    Unfortunately, thepletion of the "crown of thoughts" signified that he no longer had a reason to stay.


    Theoretically, he was about to be shown the door by the Goddess of Memory.


    However, after Luo En quickly finished flipping through several magical tomes in his hands, he calmly pulled out paper and pen from beside the desk and wrote down today''s three "reading reflections."


    ¡ª¡ªThe Man Who Sold Statues, The Fox and the Grapes, The Lion and the Wild Donkey


    Soon, under the blessing of the Muse''s inspiration, the three vividly interesting stories with witty and humorousnguage werepleted.


    After reviewing them and ensuring there were no taboo phrases, Luo En was satisfied. He dried the ink and stuffed the three sheets of parchment filled with his reflections into the magical tomes he had read, preparing to hand them over to the Goddess of Memory the next day.


    As per the usual practice these past few days, upon receiving the returned magical tomes and reading his "reflections," Mnemosyne would most likely praise his learning attitude and generously extend his stay in the Temple of Memory, encouraging him to continue his diligent efforts.


    After all, history had proven the enduring cultural impact of Aesop''s Fables.


    Moreover, in a world of gods rife with schemes and battle, some fables that stray from grand narratives and have a unique content were simply a delightful diversion that added color to the life of Mnemosyne, who loved reading and knowledge.


    And it was for this reason that the Goddess of Memory turned a blind eye, allowing Luo En''s prolonged visit.


    Havingpleted the updates for the next day, Luo En felt refreshed andfortable in both body and mind.


    No help for it, the life of an author is always so simple and pure.


    ¡ª¡ªHappy with manuscripts in reserve, in agony without them.


    "Ee-ya~"


    Just as Luo En stretched his body, preparing to meditate and rest in bed, the door was quietly pushed open, and a sly, graceful figure slipped in, taking advantage of the night.


    "Euterpe?"


    Seeing the lively and cute Muse, Luo En paused for a moment and asked subconsciously.


    "It''s sote¡­ what brings you here?"


    "To discuss poetry¡­"


    Euterpe tightened her grip on the wax tablet in her arms, and her sparkling eyes fell on Luo En and the bed behind him. She couldn''t help but lick her moist lips.


    Incidentally, she presided over love poetry¡­


    As the temperature around them rose, Luo En immediately caught on, his throat dry as he gestured for Euterpe to sit by the bed, preparing to discuss the true essence of love with her.


    And when it came to such ethereal matters, experience was the best teacher!


    Obviously, the Muse who had willinglye over also deeply agreed.


    But just as the two culture enthusiasts were about to delve deeper into a literary exploration, two more figures squeezed through the half-open door.


    "Thalia? Melpomene? What is this..."


    ```


    "Discussing the script¡­"


    "Coaching the lines¡­"


    The two Muses, responsible foredy and pastoral, as well as tragedy and elegy, exined their presence with a fleeting nce, while casting a mncholic look towards their sister who had appeared in the bed.


    But before they could speak, three more figures squeezed into the room.


    Suddenly, it was three elder sisters of the Nine Muses¡ªCalliope, who presides over heroic epics, Clio, who presides over history, and Euterpe, who presides over lyric poetry.


    Right after the door had closed, it was pushed open again from the outside.


    Polymnia who presides over hymns and rhetoric, Urania who is in charge of astronomy and astrology, and Terpsichore who is in charge of choral singing and dance also came in.


    Within the somewhat cramped threshold, the nine Muses gathered together, looking at each other with embarrassment and subtle expressions.


    Luo En cleared his throat to break the eerie silence and cautiously inquired the six Muses who had just arrived.


    "Are you also here to talk about the script?"


    "Script? What script?"


    The three elder Muses looked confused upon hearing this.


    "We heard from Mother that you were about to leave and came specifically to see you off."


    "Yes, because of Mother''smand, we are afraid we won''t be able to leave the Temple of Memory together and apany you."


    Am I leaving?


    Soon Luo En realized it was a casual brush-off from the Goddess of Memory¡ªjust yesterday, she had signaled him to update more and ck off less.


    She probably couldn''t bear to lower her dignity, feigning a just image devoid of any private deals with him, purposely adopting a distanced attitude.


    By the way, it also kept those Muses at a distance from him until the problem was resolved.


    But these Muses, as daughters, believed it to be true, thinking their parting was imminent, and thus all crammed in to cherish thest moments of their time together.


    Realizing the misunderstanding, Luo En immediately smiled and spoke a good word for the Goddess of Memory.


    "No problem, I can understand Goddess Mnemosyne''s predicament."


    "That is only the will of the Mother Goddess, it does not represent our thoughts!"


    At this, the Muses, upon hearing these words, felt even more anxious and excitedly grasped Luo En''s arms, seriously stating.


    "Whenever and wherever, we are willing to be with you, we have absolutely no intention of abandoning you!"


    Seeing their line of thought, seemingly starting to stray, Luo En subconsciously wanted to speak up to correct it.


    However, the nine Muses exchanged looks, as if they hade to a certain resolution, and solemnly dered.


    "Tonight, let us honor this promise in our own way!"


    Honor this promise?


    As Luo En was somewhat perplexed, nine arms grabbed onto his arms, wrapped around his shoulders, cradled his head, or pressed on his chest¡­


    A pair of eyes, whether lively, solemn, gentle, or serious, all stared intently at that handsome face, their burning gazes igniting the air in the bedroom.


    In that moment, Luo En realized what the nine Muses meant by "honoring the promise."


    And before he could speak, the fiery and impulsive "love" took the lead, plunging down to seal his lips with a passionate prolonged kiss.


    As Euterpe took the initiative, the remaining eight Muses were not to be outdone and surged forward, each one filling up the divine male spirit in their own way.


    While the Muses are nine goddesses with distinct personalities, because of their shared "artistic" divine office, they could also exist as a collective thought.


    "Click~"


    The fluorite shattered, and the room plunged into darkness.


    Amidst repeated "devotion" and "admiration" from the nine Muses, the new leader of the Muses could no longer restrain himself, turned over and rose up, refilling the nine desires over and over, leaving his own marks imprinted.


    Meanwhile, at the heart of the Temple of Memory.


    Goddess Mnemosyne, in front of her desk, gazed at the swaying bookshelves around her and the faint, alluring sounds from deep within the temple, with a face ck as the bottom of a pot.


    But in the end, looking at the three book reviews in her hand, she could only resignedly sketch out several lines of Hermes Script, isting herself in a peaceful environment, and continued reading the manuscript in her hands.

 Chapter 173 Have the guts to speak up on the main account, Ares! (4.7k)

    Cyprus.


    A slender silver-haired youth, clutching a bag in his arms, stumbled hastily through the dense forest.


    Severe abrasions on his arms and legs, blood seeping from his forehead, and a bronze arrow piercing through his left shoulder de... Every one of these signs unmistakably indicated that he was fleeing an assassin''s pursuit.


    "Escape? Can you escape?"


    A dark cold snort sounded; a middle-aged man with a head of disheveled red hair and a red beard, dressed in a Thracian-style green robe, carrying a wooden spear, followed leisurely behind the silver-haired youth, showing no hurry to end the chase. It seemed he was simply enjoying the process of hunting and tormenting his prey.


    Seeing his pursuer closing in once more, the fleeing silver-haired youth, or rather, the future Medicine God Asclepius, clenched his teeth and reached into his bag, pulling out two y bottles and hurling them behind him with all his might.


    The red-haired man raised his hand to touch his cheek, where a faint trace of dark, foul-smelling blood oozed out. He sneered and waved his wooden spear.


    You''ve tried that move already, brat!


    Blood-red glyphs shot forward, shattering the two flying y bottles in mid-air.


    At the same time, a crimson Divine Power spread out, igniting suddenly like a fierce me,pletely consuming the fragments of the bottles and the medicinal powder that scattered within.


    Seeing hisst means of self-defense easily neutralized, Asclepius, who was already losing a lot of blood, grew even paler; a surge of despair rose in his heart.


    Originally, he had merely epted the invitation of the Prince of Cyprus, Adonis, to treat his hidden illness.


    But who would have imagined that after curing Adonis and being sent out of the city, he would run straight into a madman?


    This fellow, upon learning he was the doctor who had cured Adonis, didn''t say a word and started chasing him with a spear.


    Although he managed to severely injure the man''s eyes with a hastily concocted lethal Magic Potion while the man was off guard,


    this only provoked the man''s ferocity and brutality, leading him to continue the chase with a cat-and-mouse attitude, forcing the injured Asclepius to keep fleeing.


    And whenever the prey showed any sign of resistance, his pursuer''s expression would grow even more excited, and his actions would be more cruel.


    The dozens of wounds, big and small, on Asclepius''s body were left by the maniac behind him.


    If he weren''t a skilled doctor able to care for himself, he probably wouldn''t havested long before his Divine Blood emptied from his veins, and he would have died a cruel death.


    Even so, Asclepius was nearing his limit.


    Not only were the Magic Potion and the Divine Power within his body exhausted, but even his physical stamina and mental will were on the verge of copse.


    Realizing that it wouldn''t be long before he would die a humiliating death on this inevitably short path of escape, Asclepius gritted his teeth and came to a sudden stop and turned around.


    I''ll fight to the end!


    However, seeing his meek prey dare to turn and bare its ws at him, the red-haired man immediately frowned displeasedly, thumping his wooden spear against the ground.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Run, run, you little brat, run for me!"


    Crimson Divine Power burst forth with the red-haired man''s cold snort, grazing Asclepius''s cheek, arms, and hair, leaving terrifying deep pits around him.


    Nevertheless, Asclepius stood still and unmoving ahead, pulling out a half-broken staff from his waist and assuming a resolute stance.


    Seeing this, the red-haired man suddenly lost some of his enthusiasm. The ragged eye dripping with blood looked towards his prey from afar, shing a trace of cruelty.


    "Want to die? Then I shall grant you your wish!"


    Amid the grim cold shout, the red-haired man swung his arm, hurling the palm-wood spear forward like a crimson meteor, tearing through the space as it descended towards Asclepius.


    Sensing the fierce and raging Divine Power bearing down on him, the nearly suffocating Asclepius realized how ludicrous his supposedst stand was.


    The disparity between them was as wide as that between the clouds and mud.


    Once that man lost interest in toying with him, he couldn''t even block a single strike.


    As the zing redness rapidly filled his view, Asclepius closed his eyes in defeat.


    Yet, after a few breaths, the anticipated pain and death did note as expected.


    Instead, a warm arm patted his shoulder.


    "Hey, kid, how long do you n to stand there dumbstruck? Aren''t you leaving?"


    An elderly voice echoed around his ears, and Asclepius instinctively opened his eyes to find the source.


    Suddenly, he saw a two-meter-tall, silver-grey-haired, blind old man, gripping the crimson spear with his raised right hand, his muscles bulging, the golden Divine Power flowing within his body steadily eroding the Divinity on the spear.


    ¡ªHomer?


    Astonished by the blind old man''s exaggerated muscles that seemed forged of steel and the tremendous Divinity emanating from him, Asclepius couldn''t help but be dumbfounded.


    ¡ªThis is... a poet?


    "Haha, just when I''m feeling bored, another onees to seek death!"


    At this moment, seeing someone sessfully block his spear, the red-haired manughed in delight rather than anger, his bloodlust growing even more intense and wild. With a sonic boom through the air, he turned into a crimson blur, lunging forward.


    Seeing this, the blind old man''s heart tightened. Without thinking further, he kicked behind him and with his freed left hand, began to rapidly trace a series of Hermes Script in the direction where Asclepius was falling.

 Chapter 174 The Mage Knows Martial Arts, Even the Gods Cant Withstand It

    "Buzz!"


    The earth trembled, ether buzzed, and a fierce blood light burst into the sky from the center of the explosion, igniting the air around it.


    Every Hermes Script, linear divine pattern, Titan Holy Word, and primal alphabet that shot toward it were instantly dispersed by the blood light the moment they got close.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Even curses and spells formed frombinations of curse words, magic, witchcraft, and ceremonial curses on a grand scale were unable to inflict any damage.


    The magic power that came into contact with Lycurgus, now possessed by Ares, was not so much resisted as it was annihted instantly by the pure and domineering divinity of war.


    Even the few stray spells that barely prated theyer of burning blood brilliance andnded on the body of the King of Thracians could only leave sparks on steel, unable to leave any noticeable marks on that rigid irond body.


    ¡ªFull magic resistance! Dammit!


    Seeing that blood-colored figure withstand a bombardment of magic forms, striding out of the sea of fire and rapidly approaching, Luo En, boosted by the "Goat''s" Divine Speed, cursed under his breath and again increased the distance.


    For a mage, distance is life.


    It provides sufficient reaction time for the spellcaster and gives them a sense of security.


    ¡ªTrying to run? Coward!


    Ares looked at the fleeing figure with scorn, then leaned back, his arm holding the spear tensed, muscles bulging out under the skin, his whole body taut like a longbow at full draw.


    Witnessing his opponent''s action, and the wooden spear ignited by the blood-colored war divinity, Luo En''s hairs stood on end. He instantly pushed the "Goat''s" Authority to its limit, his body flickering and shifting through the woods, leaving behind a myriad of afterimages.


    Almost at the same instant, Ares'' arm swung forward, the blood-red spear shooting out, a string of sonic booms following one after another, nearly piercing eardrums.


    The next moment, the raging and swift blood torrent tore apart and annihted every obstruction in its path, instantly piercing through a mountain nearly a hundred meters high, to say nothing of the rocks, trees, insects, fish, birds, and beasts along the way.


    Bang bang bang bang!


    The duplicated images one by one shattered, and the materialized body, sensing danger, urgently twisted and turned its head.


    "Puff!"


    Ultimately, that blood-colored, burning-out spear grazed Luo En''s cheek by a hair''s breadth, taking with it a wisp of golden-red blood strands, before embedding into the stone wall behind him, its tail vibrating intensely.


    Tch, so close.


    Seeing his confident strike fail to achieve the expected effect, Ares, discontented, reached forward to retrieve the Divine Artifact once more.


    Luo En reached up to wipe away the trail of blood on his cheek and, using that streak of Divine Blood as ink, rapidly sketched his most proficient Hermes Script in front of him. Dozens of Magic Circle Diagrams of varying sizes formed in an instant, interlocking like gears in motion, restructuring the space around and even the "World"!


    Suddenly, the soil stirred, the wind danced furiously, the waves curled angrily, and the mes gathered.


    Still not giving up? Useless!


    Ares, watching the frenziedly surging attacking forces of the four elements around him, scoffed and waved the blood-colorednce in his hand.


    Once hit by that wooden spear, no matter how intricate the magic, how vast the elemental aggregate, all would copse and disintegrate.


    In the ancient Thracian mythology, much like most Southeast European ancient myths, the world is made up of four elements.


    They are air, earth, water, and fire.


    When earth, air, fire, and watere together, they form the "Mountain of Origin", and from it, the World Tree, the "Big Palm Tree", was born.


    As Thracia was conquered and the concept of the "World" erased, the death of the World Tree, the "Big Palm Tree", began with the concept of the four elements thatprised the world fading away until the core divinity itself copsed and ended.


    As a symbol of the world''s demise, this spear imbued with the will of death could easily dismantle those so-called magics founded on elements, reconstructing the "World" and manifesting miracles.


    This is also precisely the reason he, as the King of Warriors, possesses such formidable resistance to magic.


    Had enough fun? My turn!


    Ares swung his long spear, scattering the magic forms swarming around him, and then with a sneer, he strode towards his prey a hundred meters away.


    However, just as he took a step forward, his body suddenly stiffened, and he slowly lowered his head, his smile freezing along with it.


    In his field of view, circles of light were lighting up beneath his feet, densely interwoven into one piece.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Before he could react, violent roars followed, and caught off guard, Ares was thrown high into the air.


    Opportunity!


    At the same time, Luo En narrowed his eyes, and the "Goat''s" Divine Speed was instantly pushed to the extreme, his body soaring into the air, striking Ares, who was defenseless and without leverage, with lightning speed.


    The swift "Goat" vanished, reced by a huge magical boar with sharp fangs and a coat of mottled fur.


    ¡ª¡ªA top-tier divine beast, the "Wild Boar" imbued with the Hunting God''s Authority, the embodiment of destruction in the mountain forests.


    Legend has it that it could destroy anything with a single hit and would continue demolishing until its target turned to dust. Its irritable nature and fierce attack power made even tigers, leopards, and lions retreat.


    "Boom!"


    At the same time, Luo En''s clenched fists, like a battering ram, smashed fiercely into the exposed chest of his target.


    "Crack!"


    Apanied by a grating sound of bones shattering, Ares, like a meteorite falling from the sky, smashed heavily onto the ground.


    Suddenly, darkness swarmed his vision as dark red blood spurted from his mouth.


    And just as Ares'' consciousness became chaotic, the shadow of his shameless attacker followed closely like a bone-deep abscess, stomping firmly on his chest, further deepening the War God''s injuries.


    Damn it!


    Summoning a shred of focus through the pain, an infuriated Ares instantly grabbed the opponent''s ankle with one hand and swung the wooden spear in his other hand, attempting to regain the initiative.


    But the opponent decisively kicked him away, giving him no chance to strike back.


    Following that, Ares tumbled backwards, falling into a heap.


    Yet before he could hit the ground, his shadow-like opponent, utilizing the Authority of Divine Speed, appeared preemptively at Ares''nding spot, unleashing a barrage of straight punches, hooks, leg sweeps, and roundhouse kicks on the shell that housed the War God''s will.


    For a moment, crackling explosions sounded like muffled thunder, resonating together.


    Dizzy and disoriented, Ares was like dough smashed on a cutting board, enduring repeated pounding and torture.


    "Hum!"


    Finally, the vast spilled Divine Blood ignited into a fierce, crimson me, forcing the opponent to retreat.


    With his body twisted grotesquely, Ares slowly climbed out of the crater, and beneath the waves of blood-red mes, his broken bones realigned themselves, flesh regrew, and even his head, which had turned to his back, was twisted back into ce by his hands.


    The striking visual in front of him was filled with a sense of horror, as if a demon was returning from hell. Your next chapter is on empire


    Watching the scene unfold, Luo En immediately felt a headacheing on.


    Just now, he had used magic, Authority, and cunning to lure Ares into a pre-set trap, exposing his weakness. He then closed the distance and unleashed the "Infinite Martial Refinement," taking hisbat skills to the extreme to subdue his opponent.


    But with a moment''sxity, this monster, riddled with fatal injuries, revived on the spot with full health, and even its momentum surged higher.


    Indeed, dealing with a Chief God who had surpassed "Immortality" to achieve "Immortality" was quite tricky. Even if it was just an Avatar, it was far beyond ordinary Deities.


    Therefore, it had to be a one-hit kill!


    A fierce light shed through Luo En''s eyes.

 Chapter 175 The First One鈥擯hanes!

    "Hahaha! Good, very good!"


    At this moment, Ares, having healed his wounds, spat out a mouthful of blood foam and burst into a frenziedughter. He then tore off the strip of cloth from his eyes, his bloodshot eyes staring at Luo En ahead, his face corroded by poison revealing a fierce excitement.


    "Little one, you''re worth my full effort!"


    "As a reward, this King will grant you death¡ªin the way of a warrior!"


    No sooner had his voice fallen than the bloody figure rushed in front of Luo En in an instant.


    So fast!


    Fast enough to even match the speed of [Goat]!


    Luo En watched as the spearhead rapidly erged before him, a chill in his heart. He immediately sidestepped and leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the heavy and forceful strike.


    Fortunately, what [Goat] possessed wasn''t just speed, but also unmatched agility inplex terrain.


    Seeing his strike miss, Ares pressed down on his wrist, the spearhead flicked upward, aiming straight for his target''s throat.


    Luo En then traced out over a hundred runes of Hermes Script in the air, but this time not to attack. Instead, they flew out in every direction, segmenting and transforming the space around them.


    Both [Goat], derived from Pan, and [Bull], from Crete Ind, possessed the trait of [Labyrinth].


    Consequently, Ares, trapped within it, had difficulty discerning direction and could only watch helplessly as his opponent reopened the distance and fled backward.


    "You only know how to flee? Coward!"


    Witnessing this warrior, who clearly possessed formidablebat skills, starting to avoid the fight again, Ares, as the king of warriors, cursed this disgraced member of the warrior ss.


    However, Luo En cast a sweeping nce over the several deep pits gouged out by the blood-colored spear on the ground, and the terrifying intent to kill they contained; without a moment''s hesitation, he turned his head and ran even faster.


    Death! I must kill this coward!


    Unable to bear it any longer, Ares mmed his wooden spear into the ground, breaking apart the Magic Array that trapped him, and then charged furiously towards the disgrace of the warrior ss, his crimson eyes gradually filling with blood.


    Seeing the bloody shadow relentlessly pursuing him, Luo En took advantage of the terrain and magic, fighting and retreating.


    The swarming Runes and denselyid Magic Circles along his path detonated in session, but failed to slow down Ares''s speed.


    Instead, as time passed, the bloody figure behind him drew nearer and nearer, the crimson mes even igniting the sky, his frenzied and brutal roars growing louder and louder.


    "Die! Die! Die!"


    Listening to the deafening roar behind him, Luo En''s eyes narrowed, his peripheral vision caught sight of the monstrous beast-like figure with blood steaming and burning all over, and he felt greatly reassured.


    Indeed, to invoke the war divinity to such an extent is not without its limits.


    The answer is, it requires the sacrifice of rationality!


    And this, too, perfectly fits Ares''s usual way of fighting.


    To exchange brains for brute strength? Utter folly!


    A trace of coldness flickered in Luo En''s eyes, and he then looked ahead at the vast blue sea, a sense of relief washing over his face.


    Atst, we''re here!


    And Ares, fully engulfed in his battle frenzy, by harnessing his burning war divinity to constantly break through his limits, closed in during the chase, wielding his spear and lunging at his target with a piercing thrust.


    At the same time, the figure standing in the midst of the sea halted its escape, turned sharply and began rapidly chanting the Sacred Words.


    "Let this rage rise! Waves flow backward by its power, all things perish for it! King of fire and smoke, the sovereign who swims in the vast sea, bearing the sin of [Envy], none shall stand above him!" Read exclusive chapters at empire


    In an instant, the sea surface churned and swelled, as a Great Whale with hard scales, sharp teeth, and spiky underbelly emerged from the waves in a burst of blue.


    It exhaled mes from its mouth and smoke from its nostrils, its jealousy towards "those stronger" erupting into a piercing shriek, with surging waves rolling towards the crimson light.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡ªLooking for death!


    Ares,pletely lost in his madness, raised his wooden spear and with a nastyugh, thrust it through the blue illusion of the Great Whale.


    "Ssh!"


    The towering waves, devoid of divine power, copsed in an instant, turning into a rain curtain that poured down upon the shallows.


    However, in the next moment, thend nourished by the rainfall sprouted dense grapevines. The tender green sprouts like living things climbed up Ares''s limbs, burrowed into his wounds, voraciously draining his Divine Blood, and instilling a strange intoxication into his body.


    Feeling the itch on his body, the King of Warriors instinctively summoned his divinity, attempting to ignite his Divine Blood and transform it into a crimson me to burn away all evils, purging all negative states.


    But before the crimson could fully brighten, a figure broke through the dense rain and charged into Ares''s presence in an instant.


    Lush green grapevines grew wild at his feet; clusters of dark red grapes burst open, and the air was filled with intoxicating scent of wine.


    In a daze, Ares saw surrounding that figure were heads of various animals: goats, great whales, bulls, wild boars...


    He had two horns on his head, his hands entwined with grapevines, and his feet shaped like the hind legs of a goat, reminiscent of Pan''s cloven hooves.


    Had Ares read the unabridged version of "The Orphic Hymns" and the [Divine Chronicle] within a certain secretive cult, he would''ve been astonished to find¡ªall these details matched the mythological narratives in the secret scriptures.


    It was¡ªThe First One, Phanes!


    The next moment, the [Great Whale]shed its tail, giving rise to new waves and storms; the [Goat] ran, fast as lightning; the [Bull]''s hooves stomped, the ground thundered and trembled; Lastly, the [Wild Boar] erupted in a brutal roar, proudly presenting its sharp tusks like two pointed long spears, and charged, unstoppable, towards the king of warriors.


    Ares''s pupils dted rapidly, and he instinctively let out a roar, swinging his long spear forward.


    Two shadows interweaved, and the unignited bloody divine me was quenched by the overwhelming waves; A drenched Ares stiffly lowered his head, staring in disbelief at the sted-open chest and the vacant thoracic cavity.


    That bloody heart was vividly in Luo En''s hand.


    "Pfft!"


    Apanied by the muffled sound of flesh being crushed, Lycurgus, possessed by Ares, copsed to the ground like a puppet downed from its core.


    Finally, it was over...


    Once he confirmed thest wisp of life had extinguished from that shell, Luo En breathed a sigh of relief, feeling incredibly fortunate.


    Fortunately, Cyprus Ind was by the sea, which allowed the [Great Whale]''s specialties toe into y;


    Fortunately, the sea''s blessings possessed a healing effect, reawakening the shattered divine avatar;


    Fortunately, Ares chose to abandon his wits, giving in to blood rage, and stubbornly contested every attack to the end...


    Fortunately, he had the foresight to construct the concept of "Phanes" in the Divine Chronicle and [Holy Verses] heposed, setting the foundation to simultaneously wield the power of four divine avatars, hiding his strongest trump card.


    Otherwise, it might have been him lying down now.


    Luo En slowly looked down, feeling a lingering fear as he gazed at the wooden spear that had pierced through his shoulder de, and took a forceful attempt to pull it out.


    A jet of blood shot from the wound, sting a deep pit in the sand. The dense intention of death materialized like ink, causing the grapevines around to wither and perish.


    He had to expel this power as soon as possible!


    Witnessing this scene, Luo En''s heart tightened, and he immediately threw the wooden spear into the Magic Circle Diagram, intending to leave the battlefield quickly and find a secluded ce to recuperate.


    However, he had only taken a few steps when the divine avatar that simultaneously bore the images of the [Bull], [Great Whale], [Goat], and [Wild Boar] abruptly shattered, dissipating into specks of light dust.


    Damn it!


    The [Original] state, wielding four avatars at once, was not perfected and couldn''t be sustained for long!


    Luo En cursed under his breath, suddenly feeling a brutal force from the wound on his shoulder violently barging into his body.


    "Pfft!"


    With his organs jolted, a sweet, bloody taste filled his throat, and he spat out a puddle of deathden ck-red blood. His vision began to spin wildly.


    In the midst of severe pain and confusion, Luo En barely concentrated a shred of will, diving into the sea, trying to counteract the surging death intent in his body with the sea''s healing magical protection.


    However, faced with the will of a dying [World], the solitary sea divinity clearly couldn''t provide effective suppression.


    When the intention of death burst forth in another concentrated outbreak, Luo En''s vision darkened. He managed to set up a protective spell just in time before hepletely lost consciousness, and his uncontrolled body sank into the depths of the dark sea.


    Time passed and how long, no one could tell; then, a faint light began to glimmer in the darkness.


    A graceful silhouette, amidst the escort and murmuring of marine creatures, swam through a resplendent coral forest, toward that flickering cocoon of light at the center.


    Is it him?


    The golden-haired, blue-eyed goddess hesitated for a moment before she bit her lip and reached out to lift the cocoon of light.


    However, as if instinctively feeling something, two arms broke through the flickering cocoon and firmly wrapped around her slender waist, a head nestling into her warm, soft bosom.


    This little bastard!


    Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the golden-haired goddess''s cheeks flushed and she cursed under her breath, trying to shake the other off.


    But in the next moment, several tendrils as thin as hairs¡ªlight-like vegetal roots¡ªpierced into her skin, causing the sea divinity and divine blood within her to gush out like a breached dam.


    At the same time, an eerie intoxication made her feel as if she had been force-fed barrel upon barrel of strong wine; her whole body went limp and hot, unable to move, as she let the creature, like an octopus, cling onto her, frantically sucking and drawing.


    Moreover, the loss of divine power and divine blood brought an inexplicable sense of pleasure, continuously washing over her mind and reason.


    "Mmm, get me back quickly!"


    In her urgency, she couldn''t afford to think further, and with a suppressed moan escaping her lips, she hastily summoned a white dolphin and gave themand.


    The dolphin immediately carried the joined pair on its back, flicked its tail, and vanished swiftly into the vast darkness.

 Chapter 176 The Birth of the Minotaur God (Bounty Begins, First Release for Votes)

    Several dayster, on a verdant ind.


    The bright sunshine poured onto the beach, radiating a warm, generous heat; the moist sea breeze brushed through the woods, bringing in the fresh air.


    An outline beneath the shade of a tree yawned as if awakening from a great dream,zily stretching his limbs before shifting into a new position, ready to continue savoring the delightful moments on the sunny beach.


    However, the soft and delicate touch in his hand jolted him into alertness, prompting him to open his eyes involuntarily.


    Immediately, beneath him, a "cushion" with a appearance of golden hair, blue eyes, and curves in all the right ces that promised a quality sleep, came into view.


    Luo En''s expression became slightly stiff, and after racking his brain for a while, he could not recall any memories of it, so he looked down at the golden-haired goddess with a bit of an embarrassed expression.


    "Um..."


    "Thetis, I was the one who saved you and brought you ashore,"


    The golden-haired goddess seemed to know what he wanted to ask and responded indifferently, but her voice carried a whiff of some deep-seated resentment.


    "So, can you get up now?"


    "Oh, sorry."


    Upon hearing her faint reminder, Luo En snapped back to reality, quickly chuckled and scrambled off her body, stealing a nce at this Ocean Goddess.


    Thetis? So this is what she really looks like?


    Surprisingly beautiful, no wonder Zeus, that old lecher, had his eye on her.


    The man under the shade couldn''t help but admire the supreme beauty of the Ocean Goddess in front of him, while feeling a stir of emotions in his heart.


    Indeed, it was an unavoidable karmic tie...


    In fact, the epic hero saga "The Iliad" has ater part about the confrontation between Lycurgus, the King of Thracians, and Dionysus, the God of Wine.


    "For his defiance against the Heavenly God, he once chased the mad


    nursemaids of Dionysus down from sacred Mount Nysa,


    they were struck to death with pruning-hooks by the murderous Lycurgus,


    dived into the waves to flee, and Thetis sheltered him in her trembling arms,


    the mortal''s roars kept causing him to shiver."


    Simply put, the young Dionysus, intimidated by Lycurgus, transformed into a Bull and fled into the sea. Only by the Ocean Goddess Thetis'' protection did he survive.


    Although he was not the original, young God of Wine of history, and Lycurgus was more than just the King of Thracians.


    But after being injured and entering the sea, the encounter with Thetis he had, had not deviated from the tracks of fate.


    As Luo En''s thoughts surged, his "savior" bit her lip and couldn''t help but say coldly, "Have you stared enough?"


    Realizing that such staring might be impolite, Luo En quickly withdrew his gaze and took a few steps back, trying to indicate that he meant no offense.


    "Stop!"


    However, seeing him retreat, Thetis called out to stop him, sounding both angry and anxious.


    "Help me up!"


    "Huh?"


    Facing this unexpected request and looking at the Ocean Goddess whoy motionless on the beach, Luo En felt puzzled and blurted out his question.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    "It''s all your fault!"


    Thetisined bitterly, revealing how her good intentions to rescue him resulted in being drained of strength by a certain ''human juicer''.


    After hearing the victim''s grievances, Luo En suddenly felt slightly ashamed.


    Without thinking too hard, he understood what had happened.


    Simply because he had been too gravely injured to fight against the will of death contained in the Divine Spear, his body''s self-protective mechanism was triggered. It opportunistically took the approaching Thetis for a source of healing, forcibly taking the Ocean Divinity from her body to gradually cleanse himself of the remaining power.


    No wonder he felt so refreshed upon waking, recovering so quickly from such serious injuries.


    After all that trouble, the Ocean Goddess not only served as a makeshift cushion but also painfully acted as his blood pack for several days.


    Seeing the culprit responsible still standing there, dumbfounded, Thetis felt even more infuriated.


    "Aren''t youing over?"


    Upon hearing that resentful call, Luo En came back to his senses, gave a sheepish smile, and hurriedly helped up the Ocean Goddess, who had shown him such kindness, from the sandy beach.


    After being exploited for several days and nights, Thetis was clearly exhausted, and even with assistance in standing up, her body seemed boneless and limp, copsing against Luo En without the strength even for simple walking.


    "How about, I carry you?"


    Seeing her state, Luo En proactively suggested.


    Only after she nodded sullenly did he carefully lift the Ocean Goddess on his back, and ording to her directions, carried her to the bedroom constructed on the ind,ying her on the soft bed made from a giant m.


    "You rest first, I''ll set up some magic arrays nearby to help you recover as quickly as possible. If there''s anything you need, just call me."


    After saying this, Luo En exited Thetis''s chamber, sliced his finger, and using his divine blood as ink, he began to carefully draw runes.


    Watching the busy figure outside the chamber, the Ocean Goddess lying within the m finally let down her guard with a sigh of relief, her tense body gradually rxed, and the spirit she had mustered slowly sank into a deep sleep.


    She was utterly exhausted after the ordeal of the past several days and nights.


    Trusting me so quickly?


    Seeing the defenseless sleeping beauty within the mshell, Luo En couldn''t help but shake his head with a wry smile, patientlypleting thest stroke of the magic array, and activating it in one smooth motion.


    Immediately, multiple intersecting beams of light rose from the ground, forming a closed circle,pletely protecting Thetis along with her chamber.


    As the runes pulsed and flickered, magic power particles began to converge towards the center incessantly.


    Having done all this, Luo En pped his hands with satisfaction, turned, and came to the front of a deep pool, sinking his consciousness into the sea of his mind, starting to seriously check on his own condition.


    It must be said, with the nourishment of Thetis, the blood pack, he had recovered very well, his wounds healed.


    Moreover, within the golden wheel, the vine of his life that sprouted, had grown even further, with its green-red tendrils extending into the fifth slot of the golden wheel, the branches bearing mature grapes dripping with purple-red divine liquid, coalescing into a figure holding a long spear, its aura violent and frenzied¡ªThe Fifth Incarnation, the Warrior!


    Luo En, gazing at the bronze altar with five of the twelve sides of the die now lit, couldn''t help but open his eyes and tighten his fists in excitement.


    Clearly, after his battle with Ares andpletely annihting thetter''s incarnation, the vine¡ªwhich had drunk abundantly of the blood of war and devoured the remnants of the divine heart¡ªhad sessfully catalyzed the fifth incarnation for him.


    How generous my great-grandfather has been, not only sending reinforcements from afar, helping consolidate this fifth incarnation for me; knowing I temporarilycked a suitable weapon, he even exploded a rare equipment drop.


    While mockingly joking, Luo En opened the Magic Circle Diagram and took out the sealed divine spear, examining it closely.


    Legend has it that one of the three supreme gods of Rome ¡ª Mars, the god of war, once bestowed a Spear of Nation-Building made from a branch of the World Tree to his son Romulus, with which he founded the Roman Empire on the seven hills.


    ording to the origins of Greek and Roman mythology, if I''m not mistaken, this is that very Spear of Nation-Building of the future.


    Sweet!


    Luo En eximed, caressing the Divine Artifact that had given him so much trouble before.


    However, as they came into contact, the red runes on the spear began to pulse, unleashing waves of violent humming, as if it wanted to break free of its restraints and return to its former master.


    Hmph, trying to escape?


    The Minotaur god, not deigning to offer experience with disdainfulughter, summoned The Fifth Incarnation behind him at once.


    Instantly, The Warrior bathed in the blood light bellowed, reaching out to grab the restless spear. The pure, domineering essence of the war divinity poured manically into the Divine Artifact, burning away the old markings and stamping a new allegiance.


    After a moment, the finally tamed Spear of Nation-Building ceased its restlessness and let out a submissive hum in Luo En''s hands.


    However, before the Minotaur god could rejoice in his conquest again, a crimson beam of bloodlight tore the clouds apart and plummeted like a redet onto Cyprus Ind.


    In the midst of a violent explosion, a burly and fierce silhouette stepped out of the burning mes from the crater, erupting in a furious roar.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "My spear! Who? Who did this! I''ll ughter them!"


    Oh, the victim hase looking for me.


    On the Nameless Ind, Luo En casually stowed the war spear back into the Magic Circle Diagram, while gazing towards Cyprus Ind, where the red glow bled across half the sky, his eyes showing a hint of malice.


    Stay connected via empire


    Perfect, the next act still requires your participation, great-grandfather...

 Chapter 177 The Day the Goddess Suffers

    Several dayster, on the lush deserted ind.


    The rosy twilight bathed the ind, and the sea breeze brushed gently.


    In the sleeping chamber, Thetis let out a soft murmur, awakening from her slumber, stretching her limbs within the confines of a giant mshell.


    The stiffness of her divine power and the weakness of her body jolted her to the realization of her predicament, prompting her to sit up and open her eyes to assess herself and her surroundings.


    Thankfully, nothing was amiss.


    Her neatly dressed attire, the familiar furnishings of the room, and theck of any trace of an outsider''s presence, allowed the Ocean Goddess to breathe a sigh of relief. Her tense body rxed against the mshell, and a trace of fondness grew inside her for a certain figure who annoyed yet amused her.


    That little rascal, though flippant in his ways, at least had some integrity, truly not taking advantage of one in a vulnerable state.


    It wasn''t in vain that she had taken the risk to save him.


    "Awake? Would you like toe out and eat something?"


    Just as Thetis was lost in thought, a gentle inquiry drifted in from outside the hall.


    The Ocean Goddess looked up at the wall and door where several Hermes Script symbols formed eye shapes, giving her a feeling of being subtly spied upon. Her face stiffened, and she instinctively pulled her slightly low neckline higher, criticizing inwardly.


    Alright, there is a line, but not by much¡­


    On the open ground before the great hall, Luo En, hearing the door being pulled open, looked up and saw the graceful figure approaching him. He reached for a rabbit, grilled to a golden crisp on the fire, and smiled as he offered it to her.


    "Here, I just made this; try it."


    Thetis pursed her lips, sat down after bending her knees, and epted the other''s gesture of goodwill, cing it in her mouth ready to make a symbolic taste.


    However, as the savory strands of meat touched her pte, the Ocean Goddess widened her mouth and decisively picked up the pace of her eating.


    Not bad, worthy of being a Lesser Deity under the Goddess of the Hearth, Hestia.


    Moreover, having slept for so many days, she was truly hungry.


    "To prevent any idents, I left a few protective spells inside your sleeping chamber, my apologies for the intrusion."


    "Hmm," Thetis nodded slightly, neither approving nor disapproving.


    "Seeing you awake safely puts my mind at ease. I must also thank you for your assistance earlier."


    "No need for thanks, helping you was also helping myself," Thetis responded after swallowing a piece of the rabbit meat, looking up at Luo En in front of the fire with anguid expression.


    "If you and the others could just visit my father''s and sister''s homes less often in the future, I would be extremely grateful."


    Hearing this remark tinged with a hint of grievance, Luo En couldn''t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Stay tuned with empire


    It seems the wool he had sheared before was a bit too much; the Queen of the Sea and the old man of the sea probablyined quite a bit in Thetis''s ear.


    Butints aside, it was better than having a knife in the back.


    Given the Ocean Goddess''s demeanor and actions, she clearly intended to represent her father''s and sister''s family, showing a desire to make amends with Crete Ind.


    After all, the powerful Poseidon of the oceanic gods was still incarcerated, Antis had already sunk, the three-headed giant with a hundred arms was squatting permanently at the doorstep of the sea deities, and the recent Gigantes rebellion in Thessaly hadn''t been reassuring, raising concerns.


    The Queen of the Sea''s family, now holed up at home, and the old man of the sea, were likely as skittish as scared birds, fearful this could be a signal from Zeus to make a move against them.


    And in such uncertain times, it was even more important not to give others a handle to use against them.


    Otherwise, the slightest misstep could bring a disaster upon the Sea of Okeanos.


    For instance, if something were to happen to her¡ªa Lesser Deity closely linked to the Chief Gods¡ªwhile at sea, the Queen of the Sea''s family and the old man of the sea, already at odds with Crete Ind, would undoubtedly be the prime suspects.


    By then, no amount of talking could clear their names.


    No wonder this woman, even after saving him, appeared so detached and cool.


    Was she coerced into it after all?


    Luo En momentarily didn''t know whether tough or cry, then a sincere smile spread across his face.


    "Next time, you could visit the human city-states along the coast, my treat; I promise you will be well taken care of."


    Seeing the person opposite had understood her intention, Thetis''s expression also rxed quite a bit, and she nodded slightly.


    Honestly, because her father was a peacemaker and a lover of routine, she also didn''t want to make enemies with the other deities.


    So, if there were things she could help with, she would help.


    It was best if everyone minded their own business and continued to lead their peaceful lives.


    Besides, the taste of this roast meat and mushroom soup was really good...


    Thetis put down the skewer in her hand, sipping the savory thick soup from her bowl, feeling utterlyfortable in body and mind.


    However, just as she was preparing to focus on enjoying this peaceful time, the night sky, which had already darkened, started showingrge swathes of strange crimson. Dark red lightning struck down towards the sea surface, whipping up a raging ether storm.


    What''s going on?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Thetis, who had been drinking soup, couldn''t help but twitch her eyelid and looked up toward the strange phenomenon, waves of confusion rising in her heart.


    Ssh~ Ssh~~!


    In the sound of water that rose and fell, the exceptionally active schools of fish began a frenzied tearing at each other, with the fierce-looking Sea Beasts surfacing, charging at one another.


    Influenced by the scent of blood in the water, the creatures became excessively frantic, engaging in a desperate, bloody skirmish as if they were Soldiers who had drunk their courage for the battlefield, unleashing the enraged will forced upon them onto their foes.


    "Come out! Show yourself, you scum of the sea!"


    The tempestuous roars echoed louder than thest as a burly figure holding the Golden Sword stood at the center of the blood-colored storm, furiously shing at the sea surface.


    With each rune on the sword''s body shimmering and shifting, ribbons of blood-colored light fell sharply like Sharp Swords, the surging Magic Power creating rainbow-like streams of light upon contact with the air.


    It was breathtakingly beautiful, yet extremely dangerous!


    The surrounding seawater boiled over, and the inds in its path began copsing one after the other.


    The intense tremors also reached the feet of the two individuals.


    ¡ª Sword of the War God!


    Seeing this scene, Thetis''s face changed dramatically.


    ¡ª It''s Ares!


    Why would he cause trouble in the Sea of Okeanos?


    Suddenly, the Ocean Goddess seemed to recall something, abruptly standing up and intently staring at a particr figure opposite her.


    "What have you done?"


    "What? Isn''t he looking for you?"


    Luo En blinked, pretending to be clueless and innocent, hoping to bluff his way through.


    "One can disguise their appearance, one can mislead with false origins..."


    Clearly, as a sage among the Ocean Nymphs, Thetis was not as easily deceived as Hestia.


    "You seem to possess some sort of blessing from the ocean, and your injuries, were they caused by the Divinity of war?"


    The Ocean Goddess, recalling the scene from their first encounter and looking at the wildly raging Warrior King in the heart of the blood-colored storm, trembled slightly in her voice.


    "So, what exactly have you done to him?"


    "Uh, we had a small... altercation," Luo En reluctantly admitted when he saw he couldn''t keep the truth hidden any longer.


    "And then?"


    "I identally killed his incarnation..."


    Upon hearing this, Thetis felt darkness before her eyes and nearly fainted.


    Disaster!


    Why did I, on a whim, pick up this cmity and bring it home?


    In this moment, the Ocean Goddess realized she''d inadvertently gotten herself entangled in a massive problem and, looking at the culprit before her, her guts twisted with regret.

 Chapter 179 May There Be No Wild Boars in Heaven

    As a parchment sketching out the general location and area fell into his hands, Luo En nodded in satisfaction.


    He gave it a cursory nce and, with his extraordinary memory, etched the content into his mind before stuffing the "letter of challenge" into the Magic Circle Diagram.


    "Your body hasn''t fully recovered, and it''s not suitable for you to appear before that War God. Stay here for the time being, I''ll go and draw him away," Luo En said.


    Hearing the arrangement, Thetis let out a sigh of relief.


    She was truly afraid that this fellow would force her hand, insisting that she stab Adonis along with him and board the ship only after leaving behind concrete evidence of the deed.


    As Thetis was pondering to herself, a cool metal badge was thrust into her hand by the other party.


    The Ocean Goddess spread out her palm to see a bronze badge emzoned with the Gorgon Medusa Emblem¡ªexquisite in design and craftsmanship, with special runes engraved on both sides.


    "This is reciprocity," Luo En said with a slight smile. "Consider it my way of repaying you for saving my life. If you need to, use it to contact me, and I''ll do my best to help you once."


    Are you sure this is about repaying a debt, and not about exacting revenge?


    Thetis muttered to herself skeptically, feeling the emblematic suspicious object in her palm somewhat hot to the touch.


    Although driven by circumstances, she had to coborate with the man before her to fool Ares, who was blocking the door.


    But that didn''t mean she wanted to tie herself to that sinking ship, and from now on, share risks with some unsteady people.


    However, after much hesitation, she still pocketed the badge.


    It''s okay to have it, just not use it if necessary.


    Seeing that Thetis had epted the token, Luo En also showed a smile, releasing more goodwill.


    "I identally damaged your dressst time. I''ll get you a better one when I return," he said.


    Last time?


    Thetis murmured to herself, seemingly recalling something.


    All things considered, they had only met twice in total.


    Apart from this time, the other encounter was during the negotiations on Sicily.


    And unfortunately, on that trip, she not only was robbed clean but also had a piece of her dress torn off.


    Instantly, a certain Ocean Goddess''s face darkened, and a murderous aura filled her eyes.


    "Time is of the essence, I''m leaving first!"


    At this point, Luo En apparently realized he had identally slipped up and hastily dived into the surging dark red sea, vanishing into the tumultuous waves in a blink of an eye.


    This little rascal!


    Thetis looked up to find the slippery eel had already made a hasty escape upon sensing danger, grinding her teeth in frustration and clenching her fists unconsciously harder.


    ~~


    Southwest of Cyprus Ind, in the Paphos District.


    Here in the shallow waters to the southeast, there is a cluster of jutting rocks¡ªsome rising out of the sea like stctites, others standing tall in the water like giant mushrooms, thergest one about 30 meters high. Myth has it that Goddess Aphrodite, the deity of love and beauty, was born from the foam produced by the waves crashing against the rocks on the nearby shore.


    Therefore, they are also called the "Rocks of Aphrodite."


    To the north, the Bay of Polis Forest is said to be the favored spot where the "God of Love" would often swim, hence also known as "Aphrodite''s Bath."


    Gazing around, between these two capes in the small bay, the waters are clear and sandy white, with the densely leaved carob trees and silver-gray olive trees on the shore intertwining into forests, and the pale blue Troodos Mountains in the distance soaring like a giant jade screen, creating a scene of outstanding beauty¡ªtranquil, pristine, and harmonious.


    Until the arrival of an unwee guest.


    Apanied by the sound of sshing water, Luo En emerged from the sea''s surface, looked back at the iing blood-red storm about to hit an ind far away, and immediately took out the Spear of Nation-Building that had been sealed in the Magic Circle Diagram, pouring a strand of war divinity into it.


    In an instant, a scent tinged with death and the smell of blood surged into the sky.


    "Found you, you damned thief!"


    Suddenly, Ares atop the sea, like a shark that smelled blood, roared with excitement and irritability, swiftly turned around, and headed straight for the location of his beloved spear without a second thought.


    So fast!


    At that moment, Luo En, who was in the Bay of Polis Forest luring the enemy, saw the streak of lightning-fast blood light that plowed two hundred-meter-long furrows into the sea surface, approaching him rapidly, and he immediately took a deep breath and dived down.


    As the essence of war spread, the once-clear waters gradually turned dark red and murky, and various shallow sea fishes and sea turtles looking toy eggs on the ind scattered and fled in panic.


    Sensing the increasing proximity of that tyrannical presence, Luo En sped through the panic-stricken sea creatures and dashed into the coral forest indicated on the map.


    Gazing into the distance, mshells of various sizes, adorned in different colors, were scattered across the fine sand between the coral forests, consuming nkton as usual, slowly moving and growing.


    Not these!


    Luo En''s gaze swept hastily over the scene, undeterred, he swam through the vast coral forest, heading deeper.


    Finally, at the bottom of the sea, amidst oddly-shaped stones, he came to a halt, his gaze settling on a peculiar mshell more than a person tall, its surface glittering with a rainbow''s glow.


    Legend has it that after Titan King Cronus cast the severed genitals of his father Uranus into the sea off Cyprus, bubbles furiously emerged from the spot where the flesh had plunged.


    Soon after, a beautiful, gigantic mshell appeared, surrounded by numerous smaller shells and pearls. The great mshell, nudged by the sea breeze and waves, reached the shore, and as it trembled slightly, the two halves parted naturally, and from within emerged a breathtakingly beautiful long-haired goddess: such was the distinct birth of the Goddess of Love.


    It seems this is it.


    He actually hid his mistress in such a ce, awaiting their secret rendezvous to awaken her. No wonder Ares, that brute, searched all over Cyprus and couldn''t find her.


    While muttering to himself, Luo En approached the iridescent giant m and reached out, pressing on both sides of the shell, attempting to pry it open.


    However, truly befitting the divine vessel that gave birth to Aphrodite, it was incredibly hard; mere brute force couldn''t budge it an inch.


    "Bang!"


    At that moment, a thunderous ssh from above rang out as crimson quickly spread across the water''s surface.


    Luo En steeled his heart, his gaze falling regretfully on the tightly closed iridescent mshell.


    Then, I apologize.


    "I am one whose sharp fangs imperil all who approach, I grant thee destruction!"


    With a silent chant, the halo behind Luo En turned, and the [Boar] carrying the divine power of [Destruction] emerged, slowly merging with his figure.


    Continue your journey at empiren/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Bang!"


    The next instant, amidst a piercing loud crack, the tusks of the [Boar] sank into the gap between the two shells. Making use of the divine right of [Destruction], he forcefully pried them apart.


    The pink flesh of the m, sensing danger, trembled as it spat out a figure that had been enveloped within.


    Half-asleep and half-awake, Adonis struggled to open his eyes, only to see in a daze a wild boar with variegated fur baring its teeth at him, revealing an almost human-like smile.


    This terrifying and bizarre scene provided a strong visual and psychological shock.


    With a jolt, Adonis fully awoke, hastily sitting up on the sandy seafloor, hisplexion deathly pale, looking around in panic.


    Yet what he saw was a deste emptiness.


    What, another nightmare?


    "Found you, you little bastard!"


    Just as Adonis was beginning to rx, a nightmarish voice emanated from the coral forest, and the tyrannical figure wielding a golden sharp sword appeared before him.


    In an instant, the handsome man''s blood ran cold, and his eyes turned ashen.


    It''s over, Ares!


    Meanwhile, Ares, upon seeing Adonis, first froze and then, sensing the residue of the [Spear of Nation-Building] within him, immediately erupted into an angry, sinister chuckle.


    "Goodd, you again? Die!"


    The golden sharp sword swung forward, unstoppable, its brutal crimson light sweeping violently, shredding everything in its path.


    "No~!"


    At this moment, Aphrodite, realizing something was amiss and racing from Olympus towards the Bay of Polis Forest, looked upon the crimson de splitting the sea and couldn''t help turning deathly pale, letting out a mournful cry like a cuckoo shedding blood.


    But distant water cannot quench a near thirst, and s, the reach was too short.


    A certain essence, intertwined with the heart''s blood of the Goddess of Love, unceremoniously dissolved beneath that expanse of blood-red light.


    "Ares!"


    The voice, filled with grief and chill, reverberated to the heavens as the disheveled Goddess of Love and Beauty, like a raging lioness, pounced upon the ravaging crimson on the sea.


    At this very moment, hidden in the forests of Cyprus.


    A certain culprit who took advantage of the chaos to flee, hearing that blood-curdling cry, crossed himself before the vast expanse.


    Brother, may your journey be peaceful...


    May the Netherworld be without wild boars, or Ares.

 Chapter 180 The Ancestor Arrives, Bringing Fairness (5.7k, total of 8.3k for the day completed)

    Several dayster, a young bard with golden hair and blue eyes, carrying a pack on his back, arrived outside the city of Thebes.


    Gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar "hometown" before him, Luo En, in his new disguise, was flooded with mixed emotions.


    Not long ago, he sessfully incited Aphrodite''s wrath by orchestrating the death of Adonis.


    As a result, War God Ares, under his old me''s frenzied pursuit, skulked back to Olympus, disgraced, and dared not leave his home.


    The Sea of Okeanos naturally returned to its former tranquility, and the troubles of Thetis were likewise smoothly resolved.


    But to be on the safe side, Luo En didn''t turn back to cozy up with the Ocean Goddess, but decisively left the scene of the crime, prepared toy low in a different city-state for a while, avoiding attention and clearing his name.


    Thinking it over, the nearly faded words "hometown" in his memory came to mind.


    Thus, he took the opportunity to visit Thebes, and to continue his journey as a wandering bard.


    After all, the Goddess of Memory in the Temple of Memory was awaiting his updates, and the nine Muses sitting vigil in their empty abode were waiting for him to redeem them with his manuscripts.


    Of course, his current identity was still "Homer."


    In fact, under his and the nine Muses'' management, this pen name had be not just an individual, but a creative collective, possessing a stack of disguises to facilitate their work in various city-states.


    Looking into the roadside pond at his vastly different reflection, and noting the passing townspeople''s obliviousness to him, Luo En nodded in satisfaction.


    The disguise, a tripleyered concoction of Illusion Technique, Dice of Chance, and Divinity of Memory, was indeed very convenient to use.


    After a brief pause to ensure he hadn''t left any loose ends, Luo En crossed the overgrown path by the main road and arrived at a barren hill on the outskirts of the city.


    Thend here was nearly devoid of life, with jagged, scorched stones piling up on the arid, cracked surface, exhibiting signs of something resembling lightning strikes and scorching.


    Upon reaching the peak of the deste hill, the terrain became abruptly steep, with the seaside cliff almost forming a 90-degree angle with the sea''s surface, as if cleaved by a heavenly de.


    A few withered, decayed nks were buried in the dark brown soil, and the only few sprouts of verdant young shoots that pierced through brought a fragile glimmer of life to this barren spot.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    This ce was once the resting pce of Princess of Thebes, Semele, as well as the ce where he first arrived in this world.


    Standing before the ruins, Luo En stared at the unrecognizable former residence, searching his distant and somewhat fuzzy memories, hoping to find a sense of familiarity nearby.


    Unfortunately, he failed.


    Having only spent a little over a month in the cradle, he had no deep impression of the flowers and grass of this mountain.


    Even after so long, he could barely remember what his mother looked like.


    The only impression he had was that she was fairly young, full of longing for love, often enjoyed teasing him, and had given him the nickname "Little Lion."


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    "Sorry..."


    Luo En shook his head, a bit sheepishly, then leaned over and ced a gand in his hand on the scorched earth.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was handwoven by him using grapevines from the fields and a few wildflowers picked along the way up the mountain.


    "I have a piece of good news and a piece of bad news," the figure in the wind muttered to the gand on the ground, "The good news is, I''m still alive, and I n to avenge you, and myself..."


    Then, Luo En paused for a moment and continued somewhat helplessly.


    "But the bad news is, he''s also still alive, and quitefortable. I heard that he''s recently hooked up with the wife of the King of Sparta, Tyndareus."


    "¡ª¡ªTransforming into a swan to possess Leda, giving birth to twins and the beauty Helen. ording to prophecy, this should be the eighth..."


    A gust of sea breeze fluttered over, making the gand rustle as if it werementing a heartless scoundrel.


    Luo En nced at it and shook his head, muttering to himself.


    "Let''s not, I can''t deal with him right now. That old guy is still quite spry, having just dealt with Poseidon and Apollo together."


    The sea breeze intensified, and the quivering of the gand seemed to grow even fiercer.


    Seeing this, Luo En could only helplessly raise his hands.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll find an opportunity to collect some interest for you sooner orter. And I promise you, sooner orter, I''ll send him down to keep youpany. That okay?"


    Under the reassurances of that "devoted son," the gand settled down as if it were satisfied.


    A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and fell upon the mountaintop, making the gand''s buds shine brighter and its leaves appear more lush.


    The weather cleared up...


    Luo En looked up, gave a self-deprecatingugh, then stood up from the ground, brushed the dust and grass clippings off his clothes, and strode down the mountain.


    ~~


    Having consoled his prematurely departed mother, the devoted son seemed to shed a burden from his heart. His steps felt lighter, and he even had the leisure to engage in his old trade as a wandering bard, sitting under the shade of a tree by the roadside with a Lyre in hand, singing Sacred Words to passersby to earn his fare into the city.


    "I summon the first-born, of dual gender, who traverses the heavens,


    Emerging from the egg, with golden wings resplendent,


    Your bellow like that of a Bull, the origin of joyous Divine Race and mortals,


    Unforgettable sowing, endless revelry of the world, The First One, Phanes..."


    However, the passersby, upon hearing his song, quickly changed their expressions and hastened away.


    He hadn''t evenpleted one measure before he found himself in a void of solitude.

 Chapter 181 The Self-Cultivation of Chinese Chives (4.1k)

    On the deep night of the next day, the pce of Thebes.


    A cold wind passed through the doors and windows, pouring into the great hall, where King Pentheus, sitting alone on the throne with eyes closed in meditation, heard a creaking noise. He couldn''t help but shiver and, in a fluster, stood up, drawing the bronze longsword from the rack beside him and looked around vigntly.


    "Who''s there? Quit these ghostly tricks ande out!"


    Waving the bronze sword in his hand through the air, Pentheus issued a warning.


    However, the only response to him was the whistling of the wind outside the door.


    It was merely a false rm.


    A faint blush colored Pentheus''s face, which subsided as he sheepishly slid the bronze sword back into its sheath, rxing his anxious heart slightly.


    Yet, even so, the thought of that handsome young intruder who had appeared and vanished without a trace in the great hallst night caused the young king''s expression to be uncertain.


    With all those Divine Blood Guards keeping watch, they still hadn''t noticed how he had disappeared.


    Moreover, after two continuous days of searching the entire pce and city, the guards still hadn''t found any trace of the man.


    If it was so easy for him to infiltrate and disappear, did that also mean that if the man wanted to assassinate the king, it would be equally effortless?


    Realizing that this threat might still be lurking in some corner of the pce, Pentheus was immediately filled with a sense of chilling dread and couldn''t help but lower his head to look at the token engraved with the image of a toxic dragon next to the throne.


    The heretics of the Dionysian Sect were still locked in the dungeon. If he were to release them...


    Apanying his wandering thoughts, his hand hesitantly reached below.


    "What''s wrong? Have a mere imposter god''s tricks frightened you?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The sudden voice echoed in the empty great hall, Pentheus''splexion darkened, and he immediately drew his sword and turned around, going on the defensive.


    However, a pale finger lightly pressed against the de, effortlessly pinning down the weapon capable of cutting through metal as easily as mud.


    "It''s me..."


    A deep and slightly hoarse voice came from in front of the throne amidst a blood-red mist, while the entire great hall, unbeknownst to when, had filled with a ghostly red glow.


    A pair of long, narrow eyes imbued with crimson scrutinized the young King of Thebes, shaking their head in disdainfulughter.


    "Descendant of Cadmus, the dragon yer, and blood kin of Ares, the War God, a true scion of divinity, is actually afraid of a mere imposter god, an utter disgrace to your ancestors."


    "I am not!"


    Pentheus felt a surge of blood rush to his face, making his cheeks flush red as he stiffened his neck and loudly retorted, seemingly trying to prove something to the enigmatic figure before him.


    "Where is your courage then? Show it to me." The figure in the blood mist looked down provocatively, gently coaxing, "Being humiliated to your face and letting him escape in front of a crowd, what should you do with such a man who has brought shame upon you?"


    "I will butcher him sooner orter!"


    Anger rose in Pentheus''s heart, and he sneered coldly.


    The figure in the blood mist nodded approvingly at this answer.


    "That''s more like it, my king. You should be the most esteemed being in thisnd, any who dare defy you shall pay in blood!"


    Hearing the blood shadow''s praise, the young king was immediately invigorated. Enjoy more content from empire


    However, thinking ofst night''s scene, he soon felt depressed and troubled again.


    "True, but the guy ran too fast. My men couldn''t keep up, and if we can''t catch him, what can we do?"


    The blood shadow nced at Pentheus who wasining and smirked, a fleeting contempt in their eyes before speaking softly.


    "He can run, but some people can''t get away."


    "What do you mean?" Pentheus pondered thoughtfully.


    "Since that heretical god ims to be ''merciful,'' I wonder if he would be willing to make a small sacrifice for his innocent followers?"


    Upon hearing the meaningful whisper in his ear, Pentheus instantly understood and excitedly grabbed the City Builder token beside the throne, infusing it with Divine Power and activating the Runes within.


    Soon, a squad of Divine Blood Guards opened the main doors of the pce''s great hall and entered in session, asking the king on the throne with bated breath.


    "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"


    "Immediately go to the dungeon, hang all the heretics in the square one by one, until that runaway heretic fromst night surrenders!"


    Pentheus sneered as he tossed the token, giving the directive.


    Upon hearing this, the captain of the Imperial Guard hesitated, carefully reminding him.


    "But Your Majesty, your mother and several of your aunts are also in the dungeon, should we..."


    However, the hesitation only caused Pentheus''s face to darken, his eyes ring up with a furious crimson.


    "Silence! Whosoever worships a false god, whoever joins a heretical sect, they are condemned to death! Execute them all!"


    "By yourmand..."


    Under his tyrannical gaze, the captain of the Imperial Guard dared not speak further, reluctantly picking up the token from the ground and summoning his men to head toward the dungeon.


    After the Divine Blood Guard assigned with the task hadpletely vanished from his sight, Pentheus immediately turned his head, eager to inquire.


    "How did I do?"


    The shadow in the darkness apuded with a smile, eyes revealing approval.


    "That''s how a wise monarch should act; you surpass even your grandfather!"


    Pentheus nodded in satisfaction, his young face aglow with excitement and cruelty under the blood-red light.


    Yes, I am the king of Thebes!


    None shall defy my will! Not even the gods!


    However, just as Pentheus was reveling in his delightful fantasy, the squad of Imperial Guards that had previously been ordered to the dungeons returned, their faces aghast.


    "Your Majesty, it''s terrible! The heretics have escaped!"

 Chapter 182 Diligently Filling Pits and Frantically Digging (5.1k)_2

    Seeing how amiable the man behind him was, themander of the Imperial Guard was moved beyond measure and felt even more fortunate about the choice he had made earlier.


    But at this point, under the King''s strict orders, he was powerless and could only afford the man behind him a little dignity and convenience.


    Therefore, themander of the Imperial Guard did not walk quickly, and even intentionally loosened the chains a bit.


    However, this action infuriated Pentheus, who had followed them.


    This hot-tempered King could bear it no longer and grabbed the chain, shoving the sphemer who had greatly embarrassed him into the cave beside the stable.


    "Build a wall! Quick, seal off all the exits!"


    Under Pentheus''smand, the Divine Blood Guard, although disgruntled, had to seal off the cave entrance due to their duties and the families they had left in Thebes.


    After the task waspleted, the worried Pentheus specifically inspected every wall to ensure there was no skimping, and only then did he nod his head, satisfied.


    This distrustful behavior made the Divine Blood Guard even more irritated; their view and attitude toward this young King dropped to an all-time low.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Meanwhile, the oblivious Pentheus took a proud look at thepletely sealed cage before him, a sinister smile appearing on his face as he picked up a burning torch.


    "You''re quite the talker, aren''t you? I''d like to see how long you can keep it up!"


    With that, the vtile King prepared to throw the torch into the cave.


    The surrounding Soldiers'' faces changed color. The cave not only contained the Apostle thrown into it but also arge store of horse fodder.


    A fire could signify a substantial loss for the kingdom.


    Had Pentheus gone mad?


    The crowd wanted to intervene, but it was toote.


    A burning torch was hurled from Pentheus''s hand, flying into the sole airhole that remained above the cave.


    "Boom!"


    Simultaneously, a thunderous roar shook the earth from within the cave.


    With dust spreading, the bricked walls enclosing the cave copsed, and the heretical Apostle emerged unscathed, holding the torch.


    In the torchlight, his figure seemed taller and more handsome than before.


    Under the eyes of onlookers, some relieved, some astonished, Luo En stepped forward and stuffed the burning torch back into Pentheus''s hand, with a slight smile, his voice deep. Your next read awaits at empire


    "For the second time..."


    As the sensation of searing heat hit him, Pentheus cried out in surprise and in a panic, dropped the nearly burned-out torch, looking at the man before him with a trace of fear.


    Everything seemed to take him back to that fearful night in the pce.


    "Seize him! Arrest this deceiver''s follower!"


    With his heart trembling, Pentheus instinctively hid behind the Divine Blood Guard and shouted loudly.


    "Your Majesty! I believe you are mistaken, Bhus is a genuine, venerated deity!"


    Finally, a Divine Blood Guard, unable to restrain himself, was the first to retort.


    Following suit, several others echoed his sentiment.


    "Indeed, we have heard of his divine name in Thracian, in Athens, on Crete Ind..."


    "Yes, he is the spirit of wine, the embodiment of joy, and also the most important attendant of the God of Stove, Hestia!"


    "Even Olympus, where the gods reside, holds a ce for him. There is no reason for Thebes to expel such a deity who brings peace and joy!"


    Upon hearing this, Pentheus became so enraged his face turned alternately white and green.


    "Silence! All of you, silence! Have you all been bewitched by this chatan?"


    Immediately afterward, his eyes swept the room,nding on themander of the Imperial Guard walking towards him, and Pentheus''s face brightened as he shouted sternly.


    "Botes, aren''t you going to control your men? Arrest that heretic who has been leading the people astray!"


    However, themander of the Imperial Guard remained unmoved, speaking indifferently.


    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, but I cannotply because I also share that belief."


    "You!"


    This unexpected betrayal made Pentheus tremble with fury.


    "Madness! You''re all mad!"


    "Whether I''m mad, I''m not sure, but I witnessed those women who escaped from the prison as if from thin air, who under the God of Wine''s blessing, turned water into milk, made tree branches exude honey, and fed themselves well. And your mother and sisters are among the leaders of these women."


    Themander of the Imperial Guard paused, adding solemnly.


    "Your Majesty, had you been there to see the miracles with your own eyes, you would have fallen to your knees in worship."


    In the recounting of themander, Luo En could even sense a stream of faith power emanating from him, flowing towards his own domain of the heart.


    The spirit of wine, the embodiment of joy, the being that brings delight to the world...


    It seems his relentless image marketing and persistent writing efforts were paying off.


    Look at this, such is the power of reputation, to conquer without a battle.


    Observing the scene where nearly half of the Divine Blood Guard sided with him and the impotent fury of Pentheus, Luo En felt immensely content.


    "Traitors! All traitors! You even let those heretics''pdogs go and made excuses for them!"


    At this moment, Pentheus was more uncontrobly enraged than ever, and he yanked off themander''s shoulder rank, barking out orders.


    "Summon all the infantry and cavalry, arm them with weapons and armor, leave the city, blockade Mount Cyllene, and capture all the heretics immediately! Anyone who defies will be executed!"


    "No need to trouble yourself..."


    As Pentheus issued his angrymands, Luo En approached the young King, speaking with a smile.


    "I can take you to meet those believers of the Dionysian Sect. Before your authority, they will surrender and ept their punishment."

 Chapter 184 Can Play Without Sharpening?

    "Goddess of Discord? I see."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Luo En suddenly saw the light and gazed intriguingly at the notorious goddess of cmity in front of him.


    The Goddess of Discord, Eris, in the "Iliad," was the sister of the War God Ares, and the daughter of Zeus and Hera, spreading pain and hatred among opposing sides, and she single-handedly orchestrated the [Golden Apple incident] that triggered the Trojan War, pulling countless heroes and the gods into that strife, killing each other.


    The reason she appeared in Thebes and bewitched King Pentheus into courting death, Luo En also roughly understood.


    Simply put, because the city-builder of this city-state was the dragon yer, Cadmus, and his wife¡ªthe Goddess of Harmony, Harmonia.


    As the goddess representing harmony and concord in Greek mythology, Harmonia was a natural nemesis to Eris.


    Now, with Cadmus and his wife Harmonia having abdicated and transformed into dragons due to the curse of the gods, their whereabouts unknown, Thebes without their protection, for Eris, was simply a piece of delicious pastry exuding a wonderful aroma.


    To torment the descendants on her old rival Harmonia''s territory, to stir up conflict in the sanctuary of harmony, for the small-minded Eris, was an irresistible pleasure.


    Unfortunately, the obstinate Pentheus became the first victim of her deception.


    That''s why he vigorously arrested the followers of the Dionysian Sect, sparing not even his own mother and sisters, personally stirring up turmoil in his ownnd.


    Moreover, counted up, Luo En himself also shared the blood of the Goddess of Harmony, Harmonia.


    In a sense, he and the Goddess of Discord, Eris, were also enemies.


    Having teased out a fair amount of useful information from this exchange, Luo En smiled faintly, feigning modesty as he shook his head and declined.


    "Thank you for your favor, but I regret to say, I already serve someone¡ªLady Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth."


    "So what?"


    The red-haired goddess of cmity remained unfazed, speaking haughtily.


    "Just agree, and I can make the Father God nod!"


    She could persuade Zeus?


    Luo En''s eyes narrowed slightly, his heart chilled, and he immediately overturned his previous guesses.


    If ording to the records of the "Iliad," she was merely the sister of the War God Ares, the daughter of Zeus and Hera, she could not possibly have this confidence and power.


    After all, even Zeus himself had to show deference to Hestia. Find more chapters on empire


    For a mere daughter to attempt to go against the Celestial Order and make Zeus offend Hestia for her sake sounded like a fool''s dream.


    At this moment, Luo En''s thoughts were racing, and suddenly he recalled another record from the "Divine Chronicle" and "Works and Days."


    ¡ª Eris, also known as Enyo, was born from the death and bloodshed of Nyx...


    At the same time, a passage Luo En had read in the Temple of Memory also surfaced in his mind.


    "Enyo finds delight in war, even refusing to support either side in the battle between Zeus and the monster Typhon so as to prolong the war indefinitely. Enyo took pleasure in the ongoing death and destruction caused by the war. In the conflict, the Goddess of Discord, Eris (Enyo), escorted Typhon, while the Goddess of Victory, Nike, led Zeus. Amidst the reign of thunderbolts and lightning from the heavens, the just Enyo maintained the bnce of power between Zeus and Typhon..."


    Here, both Eris and Enyo''s names appeared, indicating that they were originally the same entity.


    Indeed, this Goddess of Discord did have the authority that made Zeus wary, such that in the [Golden Apple incident], a certain Divine King directly abstained from judging the issue of "who is the fairest goddess," which was no surprise.


    Now, Eris''s identity was on the verge of being revealed.


    Like the Three Fates of [Inevitability], who also originated from Nyx, and Hecate of [Chance], she too was an extension of the will of the Goddess of the Night, and after the battle with Typhon, she sided with Olympus.


    However,pared to the other two, Eris, while esteemed, had inherited even fewer powers.


    Considering that she called Zeus "Father God," it was very likely that after the battle with Typhon, the trouble-making Eris was seriously weakened, then subsumed by Zeus, and underwent rebirth using Hera''s womb.


    And after many versions had been drastically revised, she was now reduced to squabbling with Harmonia, the harmony goddess of the fourth generation of gods, on a day-to-day basis.


    No rush; just y along with her a bit.


    Luo En observed the enigmatic goddess of cmity curiously, posing as if intrigued and cautiously inquired.


    "I have a question, hoping you can enlighten me."


    "Speak."


    "With your status, why do you trouble yourself with Thebes? Without the protection of the dragon yer and the Goddess of Harmony, they are at best ineffective descendants."


    As Luo En asked the question, he looked down at the city of Thebes with pity.


    In ancient Greek mythology, Thebes was as famous as Athens and Sparta, and even surpassed Troy in culture, history, and qualifications.


    Yet, for some reason, this city-state always seemed to possess a tragic quality; Semele was struck by lightning to death, Oedipusmitted "patricide and married his mother," Hercules ughtered his own family, Antigone buried her brother, among other tragedies that took ce within this polis.


    A shadow named "misfortune" perpetually cast its pall over this city-state.


    Moreover, Eris personally appeared and took part in the gruesome war of "The Seven Against Thebes."


    Luo En truly could not fathom what grudge or resentmentpelled this mysteriously ranked Goddess of Discord to tirelessly torment the minor city-state of Thebes.

 Chapter 184 Can Play Without Reduction?_2

    Eris did not directly answer but instead threw out a question with relish.


    "Lad, do you know what the oldest and most intense human emotion is?"


    "Fear!"


    Luo En blurted out, lowering his head in deep thought.


    At this moment, upon hearing the answer, Eris nodded with satisfaction, a look of approval spreading across her face.


    "That''s right. Fear is not only the most intense of human emotions, but it is also the genesis of the gods!"


    As she spoke, the red-haired goddess mused unhurriedly.


    "The great Heavenly God Uranus despised all of his children.


    He said that these seeds were growing only toward evil,


    and one day, they would pay for it.


    Thus, the Heavenly Father gave his children a mocking name called ''Titans'',


    which means ''The Frightened,'' born carrying the burden of fear..."


    Luo En listened silently as the doubts in his eyes gradually dissipated somewhat.


    The Frightened¡ªTitans born carrying the burden of fear?


    So this was the origin of the Titan gods.


    And following that, Eris pointed to the ground, her scarlet eyes revealing a hint of mockery.


    "Likewise, when the world stabilized and the gods no longer derived enough authority from their devouring, human fear became particrly important.


    The fear of thunder gave birth to the invincible ''thunderbolt'';


    the fear of war sharpened the god of war''s great sword, gold bow and arrows, and the spear of victory;


    the fear of death made even sleep terrifying to life;


    andstly, the reverence for divine affairs brought prosperity to Olympus..."


    Luo En nodded, lost in thought.


    The principle was simple: the birth of faith stemmed mainly from two sources.


    From growing wildly in [Fear], or fermenting in [Grace].


    Compared to thetter, the former is easier and more convenient to obtain.


    And it brings immediate effects.


    Most of the ancient gods were born from humankind''s fear of nature.


    And the Titan gods born carrying the burden of "Fear" were no exception.


    They needed human fear as the cornerstone to consolidate their divine power.


    For this, they continuously descended disasters, stirred up strife, and warned mortals to maintain awe, continually offering sacrifices to the chief gods above with their humble bodies, in reverence and worship.


    Therefore, ''Discord'' is the norm, aligning with their interests, whereas ''Harmony'' is like poison to them.


    But now that the Goddess of Harmony has transformed into a dragon and left thisnd, why torment the Thebans time and again?


    At this point, Eris seemed to perceive Luo En''s confusion and spoke lightly.


    "Because thisnd has produced a [Seed] drastically different from [Fear], which seems capable of shaking the glory of the gods, and I don''t like it."


    A seemingly light statement, upon reaching Luo En''s ears, was like a thunderp.


    For, the [Seed] Eris referred to might very well be him!


    The sole God Among Men among the Twelve Olympians!


    The only one of all Titan bloodlines who forged adder from joy rather than perfecting divine work with fear¡ªa standout!


    It appeared that Eris''s actions might well have been prompted by Zeus himself.


    Luo En suppressed his surging emotions and maintained a calm exterior.


    "Then have you found it?"


    "No, because it has long been uprooted."


    Good...


    Luo En quietly breathed a sigh of relief and feigned confusion as he continued to inquire.


    "Then why do you continue to treat the Thebans so harshly?"


    "The soil that grew the [Seed] must be thoroughly overturned and pests weeded out!"


    Eris gazed down upon Thebes from above, her scarlet eyes showing a touch of cruel excitement.


    "Besides, I like it!"


    At this response, Luo En was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Indeed, the Goddess of Discord wouldn''t be herself if she didn''t stir up trouble and create fear for the gods to increase their worship. It''s not like she''d engage in charity every day, is it?


    "Hey, after all that''s been said, how are you finding things?"


    After a simple exchange, Eris continued to inquire, her proud chest thrust forward, a hint of a seductive smile on her face.


    "If you satisfy me, I can fulfill one of your requests, any one..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Seeing that the conversation was getting nowhere, Luo En simply tore off his disguise and shook his head in refusal.


    "Forget it, I''ve been into lighter tastes recently, I prefer vegetarian."


    Facing Luo En''s gaze, Eris unconsciously scanned over her ample chest, quickly catching on to the taunting implication and couldn''t help but fly into a rage, waving her hand dismissively.


    "Unappreciative fool!"


    In an instant, the space surrounding Luo En surged with blood energy.


    Blood seeds scattered nearby at some point drew the surrounding blood energy, condensing into crimson sharp swords that shot towards the target at the center from all directions.


    At the same time, Luo En raised his right hand, grasping forward.


    In an instant, countless light patterns fluctuated in the space before him, Hermes script, linear divine patterns, Titan Holy Words, and primitive letters constructed a dazzling magic circle diagram that focused on the center.


    In a ze of splendid auroras, the two deities faced each other with angry curses.


    "You really had ill intentions!"


    "Aren''t you the same?"


    Clearly, neither was a good bird; they had both been setting up the battlefield under the guise of "peaceful" conversation.


    Once they turned hostile, they each prepared to strike with thunderous force.


    However, two cunning deities had counted on each other, the advantage nullifying the other.


    For now, they could only stick to the old rules of the Age of Greek Gods and fight it out for real.


    Whoever wins gets to decide.


    Wielding blood-colored twin swords, Eris cut through the pre-set magic arrays, initiating the attack while delivering a moral critique.


    "Pah, shameless wretch!"


    "A mighty Goddess of Discord only knows how to bully mortals and uses underhanded sneak attacks, and you have the nerve to criticize me!"


    Luo En retorted without mercy, instantly manifesting an incarnation as a [warrior], while gripping the massively transformed [Spear of Nation-Building], shattering countless crimson sharp swords and thrusting forward.


    A strong will to destroy and refinedbat skills made Eris''splexion change drastically when she took the hit head-on.


    "What is that thing?"


    "I''ll tell you once you''re lying down!"


    Seeing Eris''s fear of the [Spear of Nation-Building], Luo En felt greatly reassured.


    Status doesn''t represent strength, as shown by Nereus, the senior who was waited on hand and foot.


    Just as Eris relied on Zeus''s wariness of her and didn''t care about Hestia''s opinion,


    he didn''t need to consider Zeus''s views either, and was ready to deal with this troublesome Goddess who stumbled upon his spear.


    At the same time, Eris also realized this deity affiliated with the hearth system, oddly enough, had an off-the-chartsbat ability. She immediately became somber, but then her eyes shown with a surprised delight as she stared straight at Luo En''s back and called out loudly.


    "Father God, he''s bullying me!"


    Luo En had a sudden feeling of foreboding and looked back instinctively.


    Continue your adventure at empire


    However, all he saw was a pitch-ck night sky.


    Almost at the same time, there came a whistling sound from the front.


    Not good!


    In an instant, Luo En''s thoughts raced, and he immediately turned forward again, his [Spear of Nation-Building] sweeping horizontally with the force of his arm and waist.


    "ng ng ng ng!"


    In that moment, countless blood-colored sharp swords were shattered one after another, and two crimson longswords followed closely, heavily striking the spearhead.


    Golden and red ether explosions intertwined in the night sky, and two figures were flung back.


    ¡ª Luo En 200 meters, Eris 100 meters.


    But as the Goddess of Discord bowed her head to look at the shallow cut below her rib and the unharmed figure across from her, her smug smile froze.


    ¡ª She was bleeding, the other was not.


    Even a surprise attack only resulted in a stalemate.


    This guy is not easy to deal with!


    Noticing the sinister buildup quickly forming in the other''s eyes, Eris felt her heart lurch, a strong sense of bad omen filling her mind.


    The next second, she didn''t hesitate to trust her instincts, and a pair of pitch-ck wings unfurled behind her.


    Then, the two massive wings pped fiercely, carrying her swiftly away.


    She''s fleeing?


    Luo En watched Eris, who had just stood up to a few strikes and now turned tail to run. After a moment of hesitation, the [warrior] behind him instantly changed into a [Goat], activating the power of Extreme Speed to give chase.


    I''ve dealt with Ares, can''t I handle you too?


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!