Hebe and Apollo reached a consensus, temporarily setting aside their grievances. Together, they ascended above the Temple of Delphi, looking down upon the sanctuary of the Earth Mother.
The once peerless and magnificent Temple of Delphi was now a scene of utter devastation. The great gates were shattered, and rubble lay strewn across the ground, as if some gargantuan entity had violently rampaged through. The towering Roman pillars before the temple had been snapped in half, their former sacred radiance now dim and hollow—a silent testament to the tragedy that had unfolded.
Even the sacred river, blessed by the gods as it flowed from Mount Olympus, was no longer clear. Its silts were no longer pure white, and the gold and jewels at its bed had lost their luster. The waters were now choked with a dense aura of death and destruction, emitting a foul stench that chilled the soul.
"The situation is graver than anticipated."
Apollo and Hebe sat within the Chariot of Light, concealed behind a bank of white clouds. Their foe was an Abyssal Serpent with strength rivaling a Major God; a reckless frontal assault would yield no advantage. They had to assess the situation before making their move.
"The body of Delphyna is gone. The priests and Nymphs of the temple have vanished without a trace; I fear they have all perished."
Apollo's eyes shimmered with divine light. As the all-seeing eye of the God of Light, the feedback told him that no life remained within the Temple of Delphi. He felt a surge of revulsion toward the savage, bloodthirsty beast.
"The aura of death is overwhelming," Hebe noted, frowning. The stagnant air made her uncomfortable, as her Godhood of Life now held dominance within her. "I will see if it can be purified."
Hebe extracted a wisp of energy from the sacred river. A thread of purplish-black miasma coiled around her jade-like finger. Even a fraction of a Major God-level monster's aura possessed an autonomous, predatory consciousness. The miasma twisted, transforming into a tiny serpent that flickered its tongue, baring needle-sharp fangs to strike.
A shimmering silver radiance erupted from Hebe's palm—pure, peaceful, warm, and brimming with vitality. It possessed a magnetic charm that seemed to draw all light-seeking creatures toward it. Yet, to the miasma-born serpent, this warmth was a lethal poison. It writhed and struggled to flee, but the silver glow ensnared it instantly.
Like snow meeting a scorching sun, the miasma of death and the abyss hissed violently as the Life power took hold. Within moments, the miasma evaporated into nothingness.
"Purification power can cleanse Python's miasma. Would you like to try your Light, My Lord?" Hebe turned to the tall, handsome god beside her.
"Mm."
Apollo nodded and drew a similar wisp of miasma from the polluted river. His palm ignited with a blinding golden glare—the power of the Unconquered Sun. It was the ultimate temperature of the world, a peerless force capable of incinerating all things. The extreme heat scorched the miasma; the dark purple mist twisted and emitted shrill, ear-piercing shrieks in a vain attempt to resist, but it was eventually reduced to naught.
A flicker of surprise crossed Hebe's eyes. As expected of the destined Sun God, Apollo's mastery over light and heat was already no less than that of Helios.
"It seems the power of Light is equally effective against Python. However, this was but a single wisp. Python's scales provide unparalleled defense. Breaking through that armor to strike at its core will not be easy," Apollo said, his eyes of prophecy peering into the immediate future. "Breaking that defense is the key."
Hebe's mind whirled, and a spark of brilliance flashed in her violet eyes. "Lord Apollo, before we came here, I consulted Mother regarding Python."
Queen Hera had a hobby of collecting various monsters as pets. When it came to the beasts of the world, she knew them all by heart. Naturally, she possessed knowledge of Python.
"Oh? And what did the Queen say?"
"Legend says Python was born at the boundary of the abyss and the ocean. While the Abyssal aura granted it the power of Destruction and Death, its essence remains that of the sea. Born as a gargantuan serpent, it retains many of the instincts of its kind..."
Monsters bred in the ocean were typically colossal and bloodthirsty, yet their intellect was often lacking. Python shared these traits. Furthermore, oceanic monsters possessed another characteristic: they were insatiably lustful. Their unions were often indiscriminate of race, leading to the birth of many bizarre creatures.
"What are you suggesting, Lady Hebe?" Apollo asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Though Python possesses Major God-level strength, it lacks the wisdom to match. By employing the right strategy to weaken it, slaying the beast will be simple."
"I see. Since you speak with such confidence, I assume you have a plan?"
"Lord Apollo, have you ever heard of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: The Honey Trap?" A dangerous, beautiful smile touched Hebe's lips.
"Thirty-Six Stratagems? The Honey Trap?" Apollo was taken aback. Though he didn't know the origin of the phrase, the wise god immediately grasped its meaning. He looked at Hebe with sudden, solemn respect, his previous hostility softening. "I did not expect you to be willing to make such a sacrifice for the sake of the hunt. You are truly a venerable goddess!"
"?"
Hebe tilted her head. Who said I was going?
"My Lord, I never said the 'Honey' in this trap would be me."
"?"
Not you? Then... Apollo's expression shifted, his gaze becoming wary and dangerous. "Are you suggesting...?"
"Naturally, as the primary force of this expedition, you shall be the one to play the beauty," Hebe laughed. To Apollo, that radiant smile looked incredibly punchable.
"Me? Why me? You are a goddess! The Honey Trap should be your role!"
"You are mistaken, My Lord. Firstly, to lure Python, we must rely on the charm of Aphrodite's Cestus. I have already secured it."
To borrow that artifact from her sister-in-law, Hebe had traveled to many mountains to find rare gems, commissioning Hephaestus to forge them into exquisite jewelry to bribe Aphrodite.
"Since Python's scales are impenetrable, we shall strike from within. While it is beguiled, we shall have it drink this jar of specialized divine wine. I secured it from Father's Cornucopia."
Hebe produced a jar of wine. The moment it appeared, a dense fragrance filled the air; just a whiff of the fumes made Apollo feel slightly lightheaded.
"Furthermore, I have the garments and a one-time curse potion provided by Lady Athena. It will transform you into the perfect Serpent Witch of a monster's dreams." She displayed the magnificent dress and a vial of dark green liquid.
The golden-haired goddess looked at the handsome god, her expression a mix of feigned confusion and reproach. "I have done so much preparation. Surely my Lord can contribute a bit of labor?"
"..."
The children of Hera truly have hearts of pure black!
Hebe had changed into practical hunting gear, her long golden hair tied up. The beautiful goddess was currently stirring a large golden cauldron with a silver spoon the size of a person.
"Sage..." "Ambergris Bloom..." "Myrtle..." "Mandragora Root..."
One by one, Hebe added the ingredients. The potion flickered with various eerie lights as she stirred, eventually settling into a shimmering, peach-pink liquid.
"Lady Hebe... what exactly does this batch do?"
The speaker possessed a voice of unparalleled beauty, like a nightingale in a valley or a clear spring over stones. Combined with a unique cadence, it was incredibly alluring.
A 'beauty' clad in gossamer robes moved gracefully toward Hebe. Her appearance was staggering! Beneath hair like spun gold, her delicate face was flawless. Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings over soul-stirring blue eyes that radiated both high nobility and pride. She wore magnificent robes, and around her slender waist was the golden Cestus. Beneath her torso was a tail of emerald jade—it did not look terrifying, but rather possessed a strange, mesmerizing beauty.
This was a serpent-tailed witch, a creature of light and allure, capable of driving any male creature to madness.
"Pfft... Lord Apollo, your disguise is flawless. I am certain Python will be conquered by your grace," Hebe said, struggling to contain her laughter.
Indeed, this peerless serpent witch was Apollo, transformed by the curse potion and the charm of the Goddess of Love.
"..." Apollo rolled his eyes, taking deep breaths to steady himself. Endure. It is all for the future! Once Python was slain, he would become the new master of the Temple of Delphi and the controller of the oracles. His status on the mountain would soar. Endure, Apollo!
"Thank you for the praise. I would be happy to transfer this 'honor' to you," the Serpent-witch Apollo said, his voice laced with the sound of grinding teeth.
"The wine from the Cornucopia can intoxicate Python, but it cannot inflict substantial harm. Therefore, we must add a little 'spice' to the jar." Seeing that Apollo was on the verge of exploding, Hebe stopped teasing him.
"Oh?" Apollo looked at the potion, sensing nothing particularly special.
"Wait a moment."
Hebe drew a drop of the wine from the Cornucopia and let it fall into the cauldron. The wine met the peach-pink potion, which emitted a soft pink glow before turning into a perfectly transparent, crystalline liquid. A mesmerizing fragrance of wine wafted out.
Hebe extended her hand, her palm glowing with silver brilliance. She pushed her Purification power to its limit, merging it into the disguised nectar.
"Lord Apollo."
Apollo understood immediately. He poured his own pure divine power of Light into the mixture. Then, the aura vanished into nothingness.
The moment Python drank this "fine wine," the surging tides of Purification and Light would detonate inside its body, shredding its organs and crippling its strength.
Within the Temple of Delphi, the majestic sanctuary lay in ruins. Amidst the broken pillars and fallen walls, the hideous Abyssal Serpent, Python, lay coiled in the center, digesting a recent "meal." Its breathing was long and heavy, exhaling clouds of miasma that corroded the stones of the blessed temple.
Suddenly, Python's eyelids flickered. Its tongue darted out, sensing an exquisite scent of wine in the air. The serpent opened its eyes, greed and hunger flashing in its vertical slits.
The giant snake fully awakened, hissing as it uncoiled its massive body and slithered toward the source of the fragrance. When it reached the broken gates of the temple, it finally saw the intruder—a serpent-tailed witch.
The golden Cestus possessed unparalleled charm; it allowed any creature to see the embodiment of their most beautiful desires, luring them into obsession. Python's massive eyes flared with lecherous intent. This witch was perfectly to its taste, triggering an immediate urge to mate.
"Oh, Great and Terrible Python of the Abyss... I admire your towering form and your mighty strength. I heard you conquered the sanctuary of the Earth Mother through your peerless power, and so I have brought two jars of fine wine to celebrate your glorious victory," Apollo said, fighting the urge to tear the filthy, lewd monster apart.
The flattery of the serpent-beauty clearly pleased Python. It flicked its tail proudly, and its triangular face took on a human-like expression of arrogant delight.
Hiss, hiss!
Apollo quickly presented the wine. Python used its tongue to coil around the jar, intentionally brushing against the 'beauty's' ivory arms. Its eyes shimmered with a lustful light that required no translation.
"..." The Serpent-witch shielded her face with a hand, appearing shy and demure. Beneath her long lashes, a murderous intent flared. Damned monster! Accursed Goddess of Life!
Python nodded with satisfaction and drained the wine in a single gulp.
The rich fragrance filled its maw. Wine from the Cornucopia was a luxury fit only for the gods of the mountain; the exquisite taste made Python narrow its eyes in bliss.
Suddenly!
Python's expression of enjoyment froze. It felt as though a ball of fire was incinerating its belly. Two forces, entirely antithetical to its Abyssal power, began to rampage through its core.
HISSSSSS!!!
The agony caused Python to thrash its tail violently, slamming against the earth and creating massive fissures in the ground. The divine powers of Light and Purification tore through the soft organs beneath the iron scales. The extreme pain drove it into a frenzy. No matter how stupid it was, it now knew the wine was a trap.
Python turned its head, its crimson vertical slits searching for the bold, insolent wretch. It would fill her veins with venom and watch her die a hideous death!
Yet, the serpent-beauty was nowhere to be found.
"Are you looking for me?"
A masculine voice, full of solar fire, rang out from above. Python struggled to look up. The peerless, golden-haired male god stood suspended in the air, his sky-blue eyes as cold and indifferent as an ancient sea. He held a golden bow that radiated blinding light. He drew the bow to a full moon and released.
Tens of thousands of light arrows rained down like a shimmering storm, burying Python beneath a deluge of brilliance.