Deep within the dense forest, Samael and Medusa immediately dropped the ingredients they had been gathering. Taking positions to the left and right, forming a pincer formation, they advanced swiftly toward the source of the commotion.
Grass and foliage rustled as sharp currents cut through the air. Dozens of auras closed in from all directions at high speed.
Up ahead, the ground erupted into deep craters, trees splintering in waves as two figures clashed violently at the center. Samael's pupils narrowed slightly, instinct urging him to step forward and assist.
Whoosh!
At that instant, two arrows, trailing golden-red heat waves, shot straight toward Medusa and Samael.
Ssssh!
Thud!
The purple-haired goddess reached into the void, summoning the Scythe of Time. Twisting her waist, she swung it in a graceful arc, slicing the flaming arrows cleanly in half.
Samael, favoring strength over technique, met the other arrow head-on, shattering it with a single powerful punch.
As their movements paused, a deep rumble rolled out from the opposite side of the forest.
A golden chariot, drawn by four magnificent warhorses blazing with light and heat, descended from the sky, thundering forward.
"Step back! Pardon your lives!"
Atop the chariot stood a striking youth with short golden hair, his features finely chiseled like marble. His sharp, sculpted face radiated a divine beauty. He held a silver bow in one hand, with a quiver of golden arrows at his waist, his brows furrowed as he shouted his warning.
Surrounding the golden chariot were goddesses clad in flowing garments, graceful and intelligent in bearing, gathered closely around the radiant young god.
Nine in total—some held iron styluses and wax tablets, others wore flower crowns while clutching scrolls. A few carried flutes and flower baskets, others bore lyres entwined with ivy, harps, or short swords. One held a shepherd's staff and tambourine, another wore a veil of sorrow, and one carried an astrolabe glimmering faintly with starlight.
Nine? The Nine Muses?
Samael paused in thought, his expression darkening.
The Nine Muses—daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the Titaness of Memory. Though seemingly unfit for combat, they were unparalleled in support.
Through the resonance of his divine connection to fate, the ancient serpent discerned their True Names and individual powers.
Calliope, muse of heroic epics—able to empower heroes.
Clio, muse of history—capable of unveiling her opponents' origin myths.
Euterpe, muse of lyric poetry and music—healer of spirits and inspirer of courage.
Terpsichore, muse of dance and choral song—enhancing teamwork and unity.
Erato, muse of love poetry and solo song—sharing damage and warding off charm.
Melpomene, muse of tragedy and elegy—confusing enemies and lowering their morale.
Thalia, muse of comedy and pastoral verse—bringing joy and hastening recovery.
Polyhymnia, muse of hymns, rhetoric, and geometry—gifted in logic, capable of Magecraft calibration and trace tracking.
Urania, muse of astronomy and astrology—able to divine her foes' next moves and harness starlight to control the battlefield.
Together, the Nine Muses formed a complete divine array—a presence that sent a faint sense of unease through Samael's mind.
Then, accompanied by a rhythmic tremor in the air, twenty nymphs emerged in succession. Transparent wings fluttered softly behind them. Clad in light armor and combat boots, they bore weapons of every kind—bows, swords, shields, spears, and lances.
They drew their bows as one, loosing a volley that arced through the air, enclosing the battlefield where Athena and Artemis were fighting. The arrows struck the ground, forming a circular barrier around the area.
Hunting hounds, their leashes slack and teeth bared, advanced in formation beside the nymphs. Dividing into two flanks, they pressed in from both sides, moving with trained precision.
If I'm not mistaken, the one clashing with Athena is Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.
And that young brat over there—with features strikingly similar to hers, his eyes locked on the huntress, his gaze following her every move—definitely a sister complex. That must be Apollo, God of Light.
A silver bow, golden sword, sun chariot, and the Nine Muses... no doubt about it.
Still, for the main god of Olympus, this level of arrogance is absurd.
Seeing such overbearing force arrayed before him, Samael's eyes narrowed. He fixed his gaze on the arrogant youth commanding the battlefield and ordering Artemis's twenty battle nymphs forward.
He frowned and let out a cold snort.
"What, planning a group brawl? Fine by me—I'll play along."
The ancient serpent, long harboring deep resentment toward Olympus, flexed his wrist and let out a cold roar.
At once, divine power rippled outward from his body. The essence of fate expanded in a pulse, enveloping most of Mount Taygetus and completely severing the presence of both sides, blocking Olympus's detection.
Apollo sensed the disturbance, his eyelid twitching as he fixed a cold gaze on the approaching black-haired man. The instant that figure crossed the barrier of arrows, he drew his silver bow to its full length without hesitation.
The Nine Muses, attending him in unison, activated their authorities one after another, blessing the God of Light and his bow and arrows.
As divine might gathered and condensed, Apollo released the string with a sharp twang, firing his arrow.
Sensing himself locked onto, Samael reached into the void. The air before him twisted and collapsed inward. With a single punch, golden-black spectral light surged forward and met the crimson-gold arrow in midair.
Boom!
Just as the arrow neared within three feet of the ancient serpent, its divine power was spent. It shattered instantly, dissolving into fragments as golden-red flames scattered in every direction.
Purification, armor-piercing, burning, tracking...
As expected, a chief god of Olympus was no easy opponent.
Samael shook his numbed arm, his crimson serpentine eyes narrowing, gaze shadowed and cold as he looked toward Apollo, who stood like a star among his gathered divine companions.
Didn't work... This—
But across the field, the God of Light was even more stunned.
A joint strike from himself and the Nine Muses—and that man had taken it head-on.
Boom!
At the same time, Athena seized her chance. She dodged a plague-tipped arrow, crouched low, and charged forward, bringing her Aegis Shield crashing down with tremendous force.
Artemis hastily raised her golden bow to block, but under Athena's overwhelming strength, she was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing through dozens of massive trees before crashing to the ground.
"Sister!"
The God of Light, ever the devoted brother, paled at the sight. He immediately took the reins of his solar chariot, ready to rush into the fray.
"This is between her and me. I can handle it myself. I warn you—no one interferes!"
"But—"
"Be quiet! If you want to help, stop anyone else from interrupting. I said it's mine, and I'll take it back myself!"
The proud and unyielding Goddess of the Hunt emerged from the drifting smoke and dust, refusing Apollo and the battle nymphs' aid. Her cool gaze locked onto Athena across the field, and with a silent nod of mutual understanding, the two resumed their duel.
Perhaps out of respect, the Goddess of Wisdom did not press her advantage. She waited until Artemis had steadied herself before engaging again.
So this was just a fair fight over prey. Samael glanced over and quickly understood the cause and current state of the conflict.
A simple misunderstanding. No need for the rest of us to get involved.
Whoosh!
The ancient serpent tilted aside, easily dodging a provocative arrow. His serpent eyes flickered coldly.
Tch. Brats. I can't stand them.
And besides—your father's the only one qualified to talk terms with me.
You're still far from it.