At the end, the Amazon Queen's expression grew solemn as she asked earnestly,
"Sir, I have one final question. Please help me understand."
"Speak."
"What is your purpose in doing all this for the Amazons?"
"To let as many innocent children as possible grow up embraced by love. If I must name a purpose, that would be it."
Samael recalled a female hunter—outwardly strong and confident, yet soft and fragile inside—and smiled faintly as he answered. For a brief moment, he also thought of the old soldier who had warned him at the city gate, and his smile widened.
"Besides, bringing back the captured men is just a small way to return the kindness shown to me."
The Amazon Queen then raised her sword solemnly, making her oath and demand.
"Very well. I will keep my promise. But you must also promise that once you've handled this urgent matter, you'll continue answering my questions and help refine the plan."
Samael sighed, his tone laced with mockery.
"Even with all nine of you sisters as my captives, that's more than enough to trade for those seedlings. And now you still want to hold me to something else? Isn't that a bit greedy?"
Hearing this, the Amazon Queen looked momentarily awkward. After a pause, she spoke again.
"Forgive me. This concerns the survival of the Amazons—I cannot back down. But as compensation, I will remain your spoils of war."
Samael immediately shook his head in refusal.
"No need. I couldn't possibly accept that. If you insist on repaying me, that belt will do. Consider it my tuition fee for future lessons."
"Agreed."
Without hesitation, Hippolyta unfastened the [Military Sash of the War God] and handed it to him. She had never been one to covet divine relics.
According to legend, Heracles' ninth labor was to obtain Hippolyta's [Military Sash of the War God] and present it to Princess Admeta, daughter of King Eurystheus. At that time, the Amazon Queen had sympathized with the hero's plight and admired his strength, so she readily agreed to give up the sash, hoping for a peaceful departure.
However, just as Hippolyta was about to offer the [Military Sash of the War God], the Amazons—misled by rumors—believed their queen had been captured and forced. They rallied together and attacked Heracles and his companions.
In the ensuing chaos, Heracles retaliated fiercely, killing seven or eight of the nine sisters. In the end, Hippolyta stepped forward and, in humiliation, handed over the [Military Sash of the War God] to save the last surviving sister.
From then on, deep enmity took root between the Amazons and the Greeks. Later, Queen Hippolyta was abducted by King Theseus of Athens and died in a conflict, cementing the feud.
For generations after, these valiant women fought bitterly against the Greek city-states. During the Trojan War, the Amazons, led by their new queen Penthesilea, joined Troy's ranks without hesitation. Sadly, Penthesilea met her end at the hands of the peerless Achilles, dying on the battlefield—thus closing the chapter of Hippolyta and her sisters.
Now, the very artifact that once brought ruin upon the Amazons had fallen into Samael's hands ahead of time. Perhaps this time, their fate would change.
As he pondered this, his face suddenly darkened the moment his fingers brushed the [Military Sash of the War God]. In an instant, he grabbed Hippolyta's arm and pulled her behind him.
"Boom!"
A golden streak of light shot down from the canyon above, piercing the night sky and embedding itself deep into the rocky ground. The explosion of divine power sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering the terrain in wave-like bursts.
Samael held onto Hippolyta, evading the blast as he swiftly leapt back, landing lightly on a nearby slope.
"Sisters, it was these two vile outsiders who seized the Queen! Kill them!"
But before Samael could even steady himself, a woman with pale, slender arms and golden hair coiled in a bun drew her bow and fired an arrow, shouting furiously.
"Wait! This is a misunderstanding! They mean us no harm! They can help us Amazons escape this predicament!"
Hippolyta instinctively stepped forward to respond.
"Oh, right! Men always want to dominate us women! They'll ride roughshod over us, even snatching our last sacred land! These scoundrels must have bewitched the Amazon Queen! For Themiskyra, they must die!"
The elegant woman with fair arms and a voluptuous figure immediately denounced them loudly.
Under her provocation, the canyon erupted into chaos. One after another, Amazon warriors appeared, eyes burning red with fury. Like a raging tide, they charged down from above, hurling javelins and loosing arrows in a relentless assault.
Samael raised his hand and summoned the Medusa Shield. Using a hollow in the mountain slope and the divine artifact to deflect the rain of projectiles, he turned coldly toward Hippolyta.
"Weren't there only nine of you sisters? How did so many Amazons appear?"
Hearing his voice, the Amazon Queen snapped out of her daze, her commanding aura faltering.
"There's still a final contingent waiting at the harbor, ready to board our ships…"
It was clear Hippolyta hadn't been entirely forthcoming earlier, having kept something back.
Samael's brow furrowed, his expression darkening.
"Let me persuade them. This is merely a misunderstanding."
Hippolyta's face tensed with unease, fearing that this man—the one who might save the Amazons—would now lose his patience and turn against them.
But before she could speak, a fresh wave of arrows and spears rained down upon her in a dense, unending storm.
These women, devotees of Ares, the god of war, had bloodshot eyes and bulging veins across their foreheads. They cursed and roared, gnashing their teeth like a pack of she-wolves scenting blood.
How could this happen?
Pulled back just in time and shielded once more under the Medusa Shield, Hippolyta stared blankly, disbelief written across her face.
"Can't you see? They've gone mad. They won't stop until they've killed us all—you included."
Samael's tone dripped with mockery, his cold snort laced with amusement.
Just as his gaze met Heracles', preparing to charge up the canyon and carve out a path, Hippolyta seized his arm, her voice half pleading, half desperate.
"The blood of Ares in our veins does bring certain negative effects, but it would never drive us to madness without cause. Please, do not slaughter my sisters."
Samael glanced at her familiar yet distant face. His tone softened slightly as he asked, amused,
"I've helped you once again. So what's your bargaining chip?"
"Myself…"
Samael's brow arched, his expression hardening.
"…and the entire Amazon tribe!"
As Heracles braced himself to charge through the storm of arrows and spears, ready to unleash carnage, Hippolyta closed her eyes, her face pale as she forced out the words.
Hmm. Now this was getting interesting.
Samael nodded in satisfaction, then raised the Medusa Shield and slammed it against the mountainside. The pulsing power of the earth roared through the cliff, sending tremors and fissures rippling in all directions.
Amid the Amazons' sudden panic, the ancient serpent summoned his steed and pulled Hippolyta onto the saddle.
As Pegasus spread its wings and soared upward, breaking through the thinning storm of arrows, Samael turned and shouted to his loyal demigod companion.
"Heracles, retreat!"
The mighty hero seized a rocky outcrop and launched himself upward. His feet slammed against the cliff face with thunderous force, propelling him forward at a near-vertical angle, defying gravity as he raced after Samael and Hippolyta. Each impact sent violent tremors through the mountain, splintering the rock into a web of cracks.
The surging divine wind around him deflected incoming spears and arrows. Only a blur of light marked Heracles' path as he sped away, covering miles in an instant.
Behind them, the Amazons—blood still boiling but slowly cooling—stood frozen, staring in stunned disbelief.
...
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