For 30+ Advance/Early chapters :p
atreon.com/ScoldeyJod
On Paradise Island, Leo's third day of training came to an end. The sun, a burning flame, was sinking into the sea. Tomorrow, he and Diana would leave the island and return to the human world.
Tomorrow was also the day of the annual Amazon Warrior Competition, a tradition that had existed since ancient times. It was a grueling competition of cross-country running, swimming, horseback riding, archery, and spear throwing, designed to select the strongest warrior. All of the Amazons would be there to watch.
The eve of the competition was always a special time on Paradise Island.
As Antiope was coming down from the training ground, she saw Diana, without her crown, her black hair flowing freely, standing in her path.
"Your Highness Diana!" she started to say, but Diana stepped forward and took her arm, blinking dexterously like a little girl.
"Antiope, will you take a walk with me?"
Antiope, helpless against her niece's charm, but also filled with a deep affection for her, nodded without hesitation. As night fell, they came to the cliff next to the training field.
"Antiope," Diana said, "thank you for training Leo these past few days."
"It was nothing. Teaching him is no different from teaching any other Amazon," she said, then added, her voice deep, "Have you really decided? You're leaving again tomorrow?" Her eyebrows furrowed with dissatisfaction. "It's only been three days. The boy has just learned a few things. To make him a real warrior, he needs more time."
Diana laughed. "Antiope, at first you were so reluctant to teach him. Now, you want to teach him more. Just like you did with me, when I was a child, training in secret."
"I admit," Antiope said, "he has some ability in learning and fighting. But he is, after all, just an ordinary human. No matter how much he practices, he will only be able to improve his ability to protect himself a little."
"As long as he has a foundation, that is enough," Diana said.
"Could it be…" Antiope recalled the strange scene of Leo's sudden reversal three days ago. She pondered for a moment, then looked at Diana. "Your mother, does she not plan to summon him? Some of the Amazons have gradually begun to recognize him."
"That's not enough," Diana said, her beautiful eyes shining brightly. "Antiope, can you please do one more thing for me?"
"Speak, Your Highness," she said solemnly.
"I want to sign up Leo for the warrior competition tomorrow morning."
"What did you say?!" Antiope suspected she had heard wrong, her face full of surprise. But then she understood. If Leo could perform well in the competition, he would win the recognition of most of the Amazons. And the Queen herself would be there to watch.
But not to mention that he was just a human teenager. Even if he had the power to defeat her, he would never be able to stand out in the competition. It was a test of overall physical fitness and technical skill, not just a one-on-one battle.
"Your Highness, you will ruin yourself," Antiope exclaimed. She wasn't worried about Leo; she was worried about Diana. Their relationship was now one of shared honor and disgrace. To let a human teenager who had only trained for three days compete with the most brave and powerful Amazon warriors… she couldn't even imagine it.
"It is decided," Diana said softly and surely, and then she turned and left, leaving Antiope standing alone in a daze.
In the ancient round building, Leo sat on the bed in the main hall, waiting for Diana. Her nightly reward had been the only thing that had gotten him through the hard days of training. After all, who could resist the Wonder Woman version of a god-pillow?
And the rewards were different every night.
On the first day, she had worn a golden royal costume, like a noble and elegant god. He had felt that even a single finger movement would be a blasphemy.
On the second day, she had worn a white, knee-length skirt, pure and beautiful, like a white peony. The thin, soft fabric had a completely different feel from the gorgeous royal costume.
And last night, she had worn the corset and short leather skirt that she used for training, her tight-fitting top exposing a healthy and slender waist.
So, although it had just been simple hugs, each night had been… different.
He looked up with a heart full of expectation and scorching heat. Diana was wearing her red and gold battle armor, the one she wore when she transformed into a superhero, with her longsword and round shield on her back.
"Auntie, are we leaving?" he asked, quickly getting up.
"No, we'll leave tomorrow morning," she said, looking at him directly. "Tomorrow morning, you will participate in the Amazon Warrior Competition."
"Okay," he nodded simply.
"Do you know what that is?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've vaguely heard the female soldiers talk about it," he said, shrugging, "but I don't know the specifics."
"And you still agreed?" she asked, coming to stand in front of him, her left hand gently holding his face.
"You arranged it, so you must have your reasons," he smiled.
"That's right," she said to herself. "Tomorrow, you will not only participate, but you will also find a way to win first place."
"That might be… a bit difficult," he said, his confidence suddenly lacking.
"What if I do this?" she said, and then, she lowered her proud head.
His pupils shrank as if the universe were collapsing. He could smell the scent of violets, and a good, warm feeling came from his somewhat dry lips.
Woo—
His eyes opened wide, looking at the beautiful face so close to his. And then, his eyes suddenly turned into the icy silver of the gods. He held her familiar waist with both hands, his black hair turning an unreal silver, a frantically growing cloak falling over his shoulders.
In that moment, Leo seemed to usher in some kind of awakening, a surging, invisible demigod power surging outward, shaking the dust from the Mother Box not far away.
His "Parasite" ability had been triggered.