Thea couldn't understand their reasoning. In this condition, instead of staying safely in your divine realm, you reveal yourself to cause trouble, then demonstrate to everyone what "barely clinging to life" looks like?
"Thea, see if you can heal him." Diana still felt some gratitude toward these deities who'd once blessed her. After examining Hermes' wound, the injury was very serious, but she wasn't worried. Originally very talented and having received Morgan le Fay's magical insights, hardly anyone in this era could surpass Thea in healing arts. Diana was confident in her lover's abilities.
Who? Eyes closed, lying on the ground playing dead, Hermes was truly badly hurt. He didn't know Diana had followed his plan but brought an extra person. A bad premonition arose in his heart.
This sudden intruder might ruin his plan. This made him extremely anxious.
But he was currently a critically wounded patient who'd been pretending unconsciousness. Immediately jumping up to see who this unplanned participant was—anyone with common sense would know that was impossible. Anyone would realize he was faking. And he didn't have the strength to jump up now anyway.
While his mind raced, he still had to maintain an unconscious appearance. This truly tested his acting skills.
Incredibly anxious inside but having to suppress his consciousness deep in his mind—if his body showed even a hint of trembling, Diana would realize he was playing dead. After all, she had Athena's blessing and wasn't easily fooled.
Then he heard a clear female voice respond to Diana, followed by warm magical power wrapping around his wound.
Hermes realized his martyrdom act was wasted. The plan had undergone huge changes right from the start! Diana had a healing demigod companion. Who was this person?
Unlike Heracles, who'd been trapped in the Giant's Lair but hadn't experienced the Twilight, these gods hiding in divine realms were different. Their connection to the mortal world had been slowly eroding their power for millennia—a form of slow self-destruction. Finally waking from slumber to find Zeus gone, several desperate deities had crafted this scheme.
Compared to their prime, their power had plummeted. Hermes sensed his time running short—an invisible blade at his throat.
He was both pawn and player, seeking survival in chaos. But he'd never imagined Thea would appear as such a huge variable.
These Old Gods, just crawling from their divine realms, didn't know about Thea and Diana's relationship. Arrogant and hasty, Hermes had only done cursory research before staging today's drama.
Thea's divine power was genuinely demigod level with vague Greek traces. Had Hippolyta deceived the gods? Were there two children instead of one?
Though incredible, a gentle, rich magical power filled with life force directly healed his wound. Continuing to feign unconsciousness would be inappropriate.
Hermes regretted it to his core but still pretended to be dazed as he opened his eyes.
"You are...?" Though mainly looking at Diana, his peripheral vision caught Thea's commanding presence and striking features. Her calm gaze seemed to carry scrutiny.
Thea's gaze met Hermes' peripheral vision. The god of speed and thieves actually felt fear. How was this possible! No matter how weak, he was still a chief god! How could he feel fear? He must be overthinking, feeling guilty.
Not knowing fear emotion had already merged with Thea's gaze, Hermes—thinking he'd just overthought—instinctively avoided Thea's eyes, his own flickering.
Though feeling his plan had serious flaws, he still tried to continue the act.
Stumbling a few steps, he found Thea had healed him very well. Both demigods had sharp gazes—playing cripple wasn't a good strategy.
Clearing his throat: "You're the Amazon daughter Diana, right? I've seen you... You shouldn't have come here. Take this girl and run—to the ends of the earth. Otherwise, she'll surely die before the Queen of Gods."
His words were prepared lines, but he regretted them the moment spoken.
Thea naturally caught the flaw, saying very sincerely: "You're the god of speed Hermes, right? Your speed is unmatched among gods. We'll cover you—you take this woman and leave first."
Hermes wanted to slap himself. He really was an idiot! What now? Say his speed didn't work? Humans could lie through their teeth, but he was a deity. If he said his speed didn't work, he'd be finished immediately. No discussion.
These were the rule's constraints. Admitting you couldn't do it yourself meant automatically abandoning divine authority. The consequences were too severe.
While desperately thinking of countermeasures, Diana's interruption temporarily saved him.
"Queen of Gods? You mean Hera?"
"Correct. Hera's might is everywhere. Her jealousy is unmatched, so..." He couldn't continue. What should he say next?
Thea laughed aloud. Everywhere? That was an exaggeration at best—more likely borrowed power from a divine artifact.
Olympus had a divine mirror observing all worldly affairs. That was the source of her knowledge about everything.
From the centaur battle onward, she'd felt vague surveillance.
Hermes found Thea's laughter somewhat grating. "Young one, don't underestimate the Queen of Gods. She has unimaginable divine power."
"Is that so?" Through continuous calculation and reverse monitoring, Thea had roughly grasped the other party's location. She seemed to be in another dimension—the Greek gods' common area. Mount Olympus?