The leisure area of the garden of the Chamberlain mansion, offered a haven of warmth and tranquility. Sunlight filtered through a canopy of fragrant blossoms, painting the plush cushions in soft, dappled light. The gentle melody of Hera's harp drifted on the air, a soothing balm to the sense.
Selena, clad in a simple brown tunic beneath a crisp white cassock, ascended the stone steps. Her hands were tucked deep into her pockets, her movements languid as she approached. She sank deep behind the harpist, her eyes fluttering closed. — You've been playing such melancholy tunes lately, — she sighed, the sound tinged with a hint of amusement.
Hera's fingers stilled on the harp strings. She turned, a delicate vein pulsing on her forehead. — Merlin and Thalia annoy me! — she exclaimed, her voice dripping exasperation. — They make my life a living hell. And... I miss Arthur terribly... — she confessed, her voice softening to a near whisper, the hint of tears clinging to the air.
Selena chuckled, a warm, affectionate sound. — Owwwnnnn, Hera... — she teased, snuggling deeper into the cushions. — You're so adorable! You're actually expressing your feelings! You've grown so much...
— HEY! — Hera retorted, throwing a decorative pillow at Selena. — This is not... Aaatchim!! — she sneezed, covering her mouth with her hand. — For heaven's sake, someone's talking about me. It's the only explanation... — she muttered, dabbing at her nose. — I've been like this for days...
Her gaze narrowed as she looked at Selena. — What are you laughing at?!
Selena, still reclining with her eyes closed, wrapped her arms around herself, a picture of languid contentment. — Oh, I miss him so much... Ahn, I love him... — she purred, breaking into a fit of giggles. — Even your sneeze is cute!
Hera crossed her arms, her cheek puffing out in a pout. — You say that, — she whispered, a hint of jealousy coloring her tone, — But you miss him either...
…
ARTHUR TREADWAY
On the stormy battlefield, where the sun had been a stranger for days, its absence a palpable weight, some beings lost their sense of time. The lightning touching the earth, our confrontation lasted. The atmosphere's air thrummed with tension; the stench of bodies burned by the lightning clinging to the wind. The fallen, their bodies charred and broken, littered the landscape, was a grim testament to the destructible power of Zeus.
I sheathed my sword, a slow deliberate movement. Zeus approached; his footsteps heavy with divine arrogance. My fist flashed out; a blur of motion aimed at his chin. — Too slow, Zeus! — I murmured, a wicked smirk playing on my lips.
The impact of my fist against his jaw was like a thunderclap, the force of it sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield. Zeus's head snapped back, and he was launched skyward.
— MORTAL!!! — Poseidon roared, surging towards me, his eyes blazing with fury.
I raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in my eyes. I was distracted by Zeus. What kind of amateur donkey draws the attention of his enemy? Why didn't you catch me distracted?
I hadn't even used a single technique, a single martial art. "Do these two really believe they're gods?" I thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"Don't underestimate them!" the Spirit of Justice growled in my mind. "They haven't begun to unleash their true power."
Poseidon approached me, his fist hurtled towards my face.
I sidestepped the right blow with effortless grace, then, with blinding speed, unleashed a flurry of punches, targeting his ribs and stomach. Suddenly, a searing bolt of lightning slammed into me, throwing me backwards.
— Zeus... — I grunted, landing heavily on the scorched earth. My body throbbed with pain, the electric charge burning through my flesh.
"Boss, I suggest you pay more attention to the lightning," Alfred's voice echoed in my mind, with his usual dry sarcasm. "They are extremely dangerous!"
"I noticed, Alfred," I snarled, my eyes fixed on Zeus as my body began to knit itself back together.
Poseidon coughed, a spatter of blood staining his lips. Zeus, seeing his brother wounded, clenched his right fist and raised his Master Bolt that crackled with renewed energy.
"That's going to be a problem..." I sighed, watching the divine weapon pointed in my direction.
Zeus unleashed the lightning. I dodged, my movement fluid and precise.
— You missed, — I taunted, stepping aside from the blast. — Are you blind? — I lunged forward, aiming a right punch at his cheek
But before I could connect, Poseidon's trident slammed into me again, the force of the blow sending me flying.
I landed heavily, gritting my teeth against the pain. "Alright, first let's finish off Poseidon who is injured..." I planned, seeing Poseidon with a bent over posture, holding his stomach with his right hand. "And we end Zeus."
I let my naivety blind me.
I moved forward to grab Poseidon's neck.
Poseidon's eyes widened and he gritted his teeth when he realized that I was already in front of him.
But a powerful lightning bolt was coming towards my back. I dodged at the last hour, and immediately advanced to again, land a punch in Zeus' chest.
About to hit, Poseidon again slammed my ribs with his trident, sending me away with a shockwave.
On the ground, I gritted my teeth. As I looked up, another lightning bolt streaked towards me. I dodged, but the energy grazed my arm, leaving a raw, burning wound. "This is getting tiresome," I muttered, wiping a smear of blood from my royal attire.
Poseidon materialized before me; his trident poised to pierce my chest. I held the trident, my grip like iron, and with a swift kick to his stomach, wrenched it from his grasp, spinning to face him.
I raised the trident, ready to plunge it into his neck, but Zeus unleashed another lightning bolt, the force of it crushing me, the pain excruciating.
I endured the blast, my almost burned face contorted with pain and rage. I surged forward, with veins on my face, to land a devastating punch on Zeus's chin, the impact sending him rocketing skyward, breaking the sound barrier.
I stared at my fist, a flicker of surprise crossing my face. — Is this... my true strength...? I knocked him out with a punch...? — I whispered.
On the ground, Poseidon, his mouth bleeding, watched as my body, moments before mangled and burned, healed itself as if by magic. — Who... are you...? — he breathed, his body trembling.
— I'll deal with you in a moment! — I growled, spreading my wings and soaring towards the sky.
High above the clouds, Zeus floated, unconscious, still propelled upwards by the force of my blow. — There you are, little bird! — I called, flying above him and going down for a kick with both legs. — Time to wake up!
The impact slammed into Zeus' stomach, his body contorting, his eyes snapping open. He plummeted towards the earth, breaking the sound barrier once more.
I descended below the clouds, waiting for him to fall. As he approached, I readied my fist, aiming for his back.
He tried to control his fall when I whispered in his ear. — I see no future of prosperity and peace with you alive! — a chilling promise. My fist connected, the impact of it shattering his backbone.
He was launched back into the clouds, and I pursued him, preparing a final blow to his face. But then, Poseidon, wielding his trident with both hands, channeling his Qi, struck me in the ribs, sending me hurtling towards the ground at supersonic speed.
The blow nearly knocked me unconscious in the air. The pain was blinding.
…
In the silent Union camp, Qin-Shi saw my descent and screamed. — Watch out! — He scrambled out of the way.
The queens of Jinhan and Hiyunnis watched, their eyes wide with terror. — HMMM! HMMM!!
I crashed into their meeting tent, obliterating everything and creating a crater in the earth. My vision swam, my head throbbed, but with a shake, I regained to my senses. "If this continues" I thought, spitting out, "I'll end up dying..."
Beneath the rubble, I contacted Alfred. "Alfred, situation report!"
Alfred's voice was crisp and analytical. "Poseidon's attacks are non-lethal, but they are disruptive, creating perfect openings for Zeus' lethal strikes. Given that boss have yet to land a killing blow, and that their regeneration rate appears to exceed the Immortal Real, I estimate your probability of victory at fifty to sixty-five percent."
I struggled to my feet, my face contorted in veins and a rigid posture. I heaved the debris off me, emerging from the wreckage.
"Listen to the robot!" the Spirit of Justice commanded. "Your odds are slim and dwindling with each passing moment. Think!"
Qin-Shi scratched the back of his head, a nervous smile on his face. — Take your time, master... — he mumbled, edging away.
I glared at him, then turned my attention back to the Olympian brothers. They stood on the field, their bodies fully recovered. I realized that Poseidon pushed me away to give them time to recover, he's wise.
In the view of the onlookers, I vanished from the Union camp, leaving only the echo of an explosion. I moved as fast as I could to finish the battle, drawing my sword from its scabbard, preparing to sever Zeus's head.
…
My blade made only a slight cut on his neck, barely scratched his neck. It refused to cut deeper, as if his skin was harder than gold.
He looked at me, a mocking smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with amusement. — Keep trying, — he teased. — Maybe you will manage it eventually... — he taunted.
I saw Poseidon's trident arcing towards me, I tried to pull back my sword to dodge in time, but it was stuck. The trident slammed into me again, sending me flying.
"Little me!" the Spirit of Justice commanded.
Across the battlefield, every soldier of my army, even those in my camp, floated in the slightly beneath the clouds, levitating as a silent, spectral army. Lancelot, the Saint of the Temple of Light, took his place at the forefront, his hair billowing around him, his eyes burning like twin suns. The runes of Light blazed on his arms, his fists clenched, awaiting for my command.
Below them, I spat out blood, my gaze fixed on Zeus. "I've heard of body strengthening techniques," I rasped. "But... to this extent?... This can only be Golden Body..."
— You have no honor! — I snarled, pushing myself to my feet. — Two against one? — I grunted, standing up. "Keeping the army in the air is a tactical advantage but lowering them now would be a clear sign of weakness. And my Qi pool won't hold out much longer. These... they fight in perfect harmony, alternating between attack and defense when seamlessly..." I sighed, my grip tightening on my unresponsive sword.
"Spirit of Justice," I called in my mind. "How much of my lifespan do you want?" I asked.
The Spirit of Justice's voice resonated with ancient power. "Nothing. They are mine! I will show them their mortality!"