That Alaric was able to so quickly establish an intimate relationship with the princess of Colchis undoubtedly shocked the Argonauts.
However, the one who was most shocked was Circe, Medea's aunt, who had long since crossed that line with Alaric herself.
The Witch of the Eagle was not shocked that Medea and Alaric would reach this step.
As early as when Medea, under Hecate's guidance, gradually grew up and became a young maiden.
The Witch of the Eagle had already seen through the emotions hidden deep within the girl's heart, just like her own past.
What truly surprised her was Medea's initiative.
Circe prided herself on understanding Medea well. Toward this innocent and lively girl, she had never dared imagine that Medea would take the initiative to such an extent.
She had never expected that behind all this were the machinations of one of the people Medea revered the most, the goddess Aphrodite.
Nevertheless, Medea falling in love with Alaric was regarded by the Argonauts as an enormous success.
Just as the gods had anticipated, although the Argonauts were incapable of dealing with the dragon, and even if they completed Aeetes' first two conditions they still would not be able to obtain the Golden Fleece from under the dragon's protection.
They could instead seek help from someone capable of handling the dragon.
Medea was precisely such a key figure.
Therefore, regarding Alaric's success in courting Medea, the Argonauts expressed one hundred and twenty percent support.
In their view, Alaric's actions were entirely a massive contribution to their mission, at the very least, he had reduced the difficulty of obtaining the Golden Fleece by eighty percent.
Thus, when they met Alaric again after the banquet ended, they all praised him as the greatest contributor.
Since everyone said so, Jason, as the leader, naturally could not be an exception.
However, having to personally congratulate his romantic rival and support him in pursuing the woman he loved made him feel as though he had swallowed a mouthful of filth.
Seeing Jason's heart being cut like a knife while he still forced a smile to congratulate and support him, Alaric nearly laughed out loud inside.
Although that segment of history would no longer come to pass, he still intended to mete out punishment to the scumbag Jason.
Even though everyone believed that, with Medea, the dragon would no longer be an obstacle, the first two trials still had to be completed.
Early the next morning, the heroes disembarked from the Argo and arrived at the fields on the eastern bank of the Phasis River.
King Aeetes, the nobles of Colchis, and the mages from the Mystra Academy were already waiting there, watching how they would complete the trial.
There, they saw the legendary fire-breathing giant bulls.
The appearance of those giant bulls truly startled them.
What kind of ordinary bulls were these?
Judging by sheer size alone, each "bull" was comparable to a slightly smaller elephant. Their entire bodies were covered in crimson, metal-like armor.
Their horns did not curve forward, but instead were sharp like a pair of awls, gleaming with a cold light.
In terms of physique, these bulls were the typical case of powerful upper bodies and comparatively slender lower bodies, but that was only relative.
In truth, whether upper or lower body, they were terrifying beyond measure compared to ordinary people.
One could tell from their appearance alone that these "bulls" contained immense power.
At the same time, they possessed extraordinary abilities. Merely approaching them, one could feel the surging high temperature hidden within their fiery-red bodies.
What shocked people the most were the claws on the bulls' legs, as well as the red, arch-like structures on their backs.
What kind of bull was this?
Anyone familiar with Pokemon would immediately recognize this as the legendary Steam Mythical Pokemon, the only existence that combines both Fire-type and Water-type attributes, Volcanion.
Of course, its original inspiration was not a bull at all, but a komainu.
However, in Greece, where no one had ever seen a komainu, mistaking it for a bull was hardly a big deal.
Of course, the Volcanion appearing here was neither summoned by Alaric nor manifested through a Reality Marble.
Instead, it was a creation modeled after Volcanion, produced through a third party and an artificially constructed pseudo-soul.
Like earth-element laborers, Volcanion was not created primarily for combat, but for work.
Although it did not possess the phantasmal-beast power of a true Volcanion, as a mass-producible existence it naturally had its own uses.
For example, it could handle heavy labor with its robust body.
For example, it could use its water and fire powers for fighting, irrigation, incineration, and the like.
Though such a Volcanion was far weaker than the real one, because its prototype was a Pokémon, it still possessed certain Pokémon traits.
Such as elemental power, skills, abilities, recovery capability, and the capacity to grow continuously stronger.
These mass-produced Volcanions could be regarded as versions of the real Volcanion stripped of their phantasmal-beast power.
And the two Volcanions before them were the very first ones created, and also the strongest among them.
Facing the two terrifying colossal beasts, the Argonauts were completely dumbfounded.
"Guys like this… just looking at them is terrifying," someone said helplessly.
"Exactly. Just getting close makes me feel that horrible heat… how are we supposed to engage them in close combat?"
"Even the strongest brawler would be helpless if they got burned the moment they touched them."
"So?" Aeetes said with a satisfied smile upon seeing the Argonauts' expressions.
While secretly praising the effectiveness of the Mystra Academy, he continued.
"Young ones, if you were to be killed by my divine bulls, that would be far too regrettable. Abandon the trial.
No one will mock you or say that you lack courage, because aside from myself, only true gods can complete my trial."
As if responding to Aeetes' words, Volcanion snorted loudly, yet what burst forth from its nostrils was not air, but blazing flames.
This terrifying force of nature cowed the Argonauts, making them afraid to step forward.
At last, perhaps unwilling to submit to intimidation by two beasts, or perhaps unwilling to be labeled cowards, someone among the Argonauts finally stepped forward.
"I am not afraid of these two things at all. They're nothing more than two beasts. So what if they can breathe fire? I'll deal with them myself."
Idas was one of the two sons of Aphareus. His brother was Lynceus, the Argonaut's lookout with extraordinary eyesight.
Unlike his brother, Idas did not possess keen vision, but he was immensely strong.
Born with divine strength, he believed that in terms of raw power, he could contend with the two "divine bulls."