"Buzz!"
In an instant, dozens of Magecraft arrays formed and flared to life before the serpent heads. Amid the trembling surge of the Ether tide, hundreds of purplish-red beams erupted at once.
The airspace swept by those beams seemed to fall into an eerie stillness. One evolved Dragonfang soldier after another turned into gray-white stone statues and plunged into the sea below.
…
On the flagship of Colchis, the blond man who had arrogantly claimed the throne watched the Dragonfang troops be wiped out in the blink of an eye. He sprang to his feet, his face livid.
"Areopagus… Furies…"
His gaze turned icy. With one hand, he spun the Sword of the God of War and reversed his grip, pointing the crimson gem at the pommel toward the sky. Under the surging blood aura, massive rings of light formed one after another, their oppressive power building as they locked into place.
…
Inside the captain's cabin, Jason stared at the gear-like halos above, watching them adjust their angles and align with the Argo. His chest heaved violently, his face drained of color, his teeth chattering as his mind screamed in panic.
It's over. Ares is here. That brutal, war-crazed god!
Should I… jump ship?
Driven by sheer survival instinct, the thought of retreat surged up unbidden. As the divine pressure continued to rise, his legs trembled, nearly giving out.
Even on deck, the strongest of the Argonauts felt their hearts tighten.
Facing that strike alone, it might be possible to dodge it. But blocking the attack while protecting the Argo at the same time was almost impossible.
"You just keep sailing forward. Shake off the Colchis fleet. Leave the rest to me."
At that moment, accompanied by a calm, steady voice, the figure who had annihilated the evolved Dragonfang troops lowered the shield, stretched his limbs, and spoke evenly.
"I'll stay behind. Let them go first."
Heracles glanced at the glowing rings overhead and stepped forward without the slightest fear.
"Me too. I can help!"
Atalanta leapt down from the lookout tower and took her place behind Samael with a soft snort.
"Hah. Why should only one person steal the spotlight? I want to see what that high-and-mighty bastard who toys with human fate is really capable of!"
"I still haven't repaid the favor from the Calydon Hunt. Count me in!"
"A Spartan never retreats on the battlefield!"
Caenis, the Prince of Calydon, and the twin swordsmen all stepped forward in unison, refusing to be left out.
"Who said I was alone?"
Warmth welled up in Samael's chest. He pressed his lips together in a faint smile, then turned toward the descending crimson light. With solemn resolve, he dropped to one knee, slammed his right fist onto the deck, and began to chant.
"Athena, ruler of the battlefield and guardian of wisdom. Beneath the heavens, where your will points, there shall be the edge of my spear. With victory, I call upon your name!"
In that instant, the deck of the Argo shook violently. Golden light patterns rippled and flashed, converging into a massive Magecraft array centered on Samael.
The stars responded in kind. A pillar of golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping the supplicant. Light condensed into armor, spirit gathered into a bow.
Crying owls fluttered down, alighting on either side of the one bearing divine favor, feathers transforming into wings.
At the same time, the sound of a warhorse's neigh rang out. Pegasus, the celestial steed, burst forth from the pillar of light, wings beating as it knelt obediently before Samael.
In that moment, the clear, elegant silhouette merged with the supplicant. Bathed in golden radiance, the figure slowly rose, like a war god guiding the light of victory. Vast power swept across the entire Argo, not bloody or frenzied, but resolute and solemn.
The heroes stood stunned. When they finally came back to their senses, their eyes were filled with disbelief, elation, and reverence.
This was… a divine descent.
The goddess Athena was protecting them, protecting the Argo.
"Blood Dominion, Sword of the God of War!"
At the same time, the focusing rings fired off a murderous crimson beam, its target fixed squarely on the Argo.
"Hum!"
At the critical moment, the one bearing the divine descent swung up onto Pegasus and shot skyward from the deck. The Medusa Shield raised high in his hand surged against the torrent, grinding down the overwhelming crimson beam inch by inch until it shattered.
"Whoosh!"
"Hiss!"
Amid the shrill tearing of the air, the spear concealed within the Medusa Shield was hurled forth. It transformed into a jet-black streak that erased the blood-red light, punching straight through the halo formed by the converging Sword of the God of War.
"Boom!"
The unleashed divine might roared outward. Under extreme distortion, dense divine sigils shattered and detonated one after another.
Golden and crimson ether exploded violently, shockwaves ripping outward in all directions. The sea heaved up waves tens of meters high, and the scarlet blood mist was blown apart.
Reflected off the sea's surface, a riot of aurora-like colors spread across the sky in tangled ribbons, perilous and breathtaking all at once.
"A war between gods must be decided by gods."
The solemn words echoed in everyone's ears. The Argonauts, struggling to steady the ship amid the storm and towering waves, snapped out of their daze.
"Withdraw! This is a battle for the gods. If we stay, we'll only distract the Lady Goddess!"
Jason immediately drew his sword and roared the order, urging the crew who served as the ship's engine to push the Argo forward at full speed.
"Storm waters ahead!"
The Prince of Calydon, who remembered this region all too well, spotted the dense clusters of wind pillars, thunderclouds, and lightning ahead. As he kicked away a Dragonfang soldier scrambling up, he couldn't help shouting a warning.
On the lookout platform, Orion waved his club and gestured wildly.
"Then we're right on course! The most dangerous place is also the safest. Charge in! We know this area better than the Colchis lot. Let's see if those bastards dare follow!"
That was exactly Jason's plan. He intended to use the storm sea's unique environment to shake off the Colchis pursuit and immediately ordered the ship into the terrifying storm zone.
Under the flickering glow of lightning arcs, a multicolored scale gleamed brightly in the palm of the brown bear plush.
Retreat now? But that guy is still…
At the lookout, Atalanta watched the golden and crimson forces collide and the water columns erupt again and again from the sea. Her fingers clenched so tightly around the railing that it visibly warped.
Just as worry threatened to overwhelm her and the urge to leap from the Argo to help surged up, a hand reached out and gently clasped her wrist. A soft whisper followed.
"When someone you care about is in danger, it's only natural to worry. I understand that feeling.
"But don't worry. Ares can't beat that guy. As long as we're safe, he'll catch up soon."
The companion called Diana cupped Atalanta's hand with a warm smile, gently tugging and swaying their joined fingers in an intimate, reassuring gesture. Her words carried an inexplicable sense of trust that eased the huntress's heart.
"That's true. Athena isn't just the goddess of wisdom, she's also a goddess of war. There's no way she'd lose to Ares."
Atalanta steadied herself, murmuring seriously under her breath.
Ahahaha, she really is adorable. I'm almost reluctant to hand her over to the Areopagus.
Seeing this, Artemis couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, briefly tempted to reveal the true nature of a certain monster to her own follower.
However, before the mischievous huntress goddess could act on that impulse, the Argo lurched violently and plunged into the storm sea.
The treacherous environment forced the two mobile cannons on the lookout to quiet their thoughts and focus completely on the wind pillars sweeping in from all sides.
...
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