In a steel fortress built of poured concrete.
A long-haired man with distinct Egyptian features held a glass of red wine, overlooking his base, where soldiers patrolled constantly.
In just one year, Ismael's life was drastically different from his past of hiding and fleeing with his subordinates. He had transformed from a minor warlord into the de facto ruler of his homeland, Khandaq.
All of this was thanks to one person, but he couldn't bring himself to be happy, his brow furrowed.
Footsteps sounded from behind, and an old man, whose aged face couldn't conceal his commanding presence, strode in, leaning on a gentleman's cane.
Despite being in the base of a warlord who controlled a nation, he moved as if he were a monarch walking through his own palace.
"Are you troubled about your country?"
"Your Excellency."
Upon hearing the voice, Ismael turned around calmly and bowed, a hint of surprise on his face.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the celebration banquet in Kowait, celebrating the victory in the war against Khandaq and the occupation of tens of thousands of square kilometers of land?"
The man before him was the sole, most powerful supporter behind the warlord of Kowait, the very reason Kowait had the confidence to fight Khandaq to a standstill.
"I don't like mortal banquets."
The old man sneered.
"When wine glasses clink, people harbor calculations, filth, darkness, and violence in their hearts, yet they feign gentleness and refinement on the surface.
That taste of hypocrisy and weakness disgusts me."
"For someone like Your Excellency, who has attended the banquets of the gods on Olympus, our mortal feasts are naturally not worth your notice."
Ismael bowed his head. The open collar of his shirt revealed a portion of a fierce, scarlet scar, the edge of a five-pointed star.
"Olympus..."
Hearing the familiar word, the old man let out a cold laugh, mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Your Excellency, do you know where you found my ancestor's crown?"
Ismael hesitated for a moment before bringing up another matter.
"I've been searching for it, but I haven't found it."
"You don't need to know.
That place holds no benefit for you."
Ares glanced at him.
Originally, he had casually instigated wars between two countries, but this small nation sandwiched between the Middle East and Egypt had given him a surprise.
When he found this mortal, as he usually did when supporting a minor warlord, he detected the scent of magic and demons in the bloodline flowing through him.
"Is it because Black Adam is sealed there?"
A flicker of hatred appeared in Ismael's eyes, and he clenched his fist.
"Thousands of years ago, my ancestor, King Akton, ruled this land. If it weren't for Black Adam, I would have long since controlled this country that belongs to our family."
His ancestor had created a crown, through which he made a pact with the six great demons of hell. His family was meant to rule this country permanently, but Black Adam had ruined everything.
"Don't think that just because you have the pact with those six demons, you can defeat that mortal chosen by those annoying sorcerers."
Ares's expression was disdainful, a subtle warning.
"You have the power of the Six Hells Demons, and he has the abilities of the Six Egyptian Gods.
How can demons compare to gods? Even a mortal who has mastered some of a god's abilities is no different."
He didn't care that Ismael, after being supported by him, viewed Khandaq as his own possession. He had no interest in condescending to rule a mortal kingdom.
He was only interested in war. Khandaq or Kowait were merely playthings that provided him with amusement.
The two countries were like lions and tigers in a coliseum, and incidentally, they allowed him to absorb power and reminisce about his former strength.
"You are right, Your Excellency."
Feeling the displeasure of this ancient deity, whose name was constantly sung on earth since time immemorial, Ismael trembled and lowered his head.
He knew that this God of War feared that if Black Adam were released, he would first destroy his own forces and then repel Kowait, thus preventing the war between the two countries and ruining his amusement.
"In a while, I will let your Khandaq win once."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Excellency."
...
Under the bright moonlight, the sea shimmered like scattered silver, the sound of the waves soothing and tranquil.
But for many Amazons, this night would be sleepless.
On the palace's observation deck by the sea, Hippolyta's brow was etched with worry. She had her subordinates bring out two long-stored divine artifacts. First, a dark golden shield was presented.
"This round shield is called the Shield of Divine Power."
Diana took the heavy shield, her eyes sparkling slightly. Her hand brushed over the classical patterns on the shield's surface, which seemed to radiate sunlight.
What a beautiful shield, magnificent and dignified.
"Although it wasn't forged by Vulcan himself.
But it's made of the same divine metal as your Silver Bracelets of Submission," Hippolyta introduced to her daughter.
"It's indestructible and can withstand attacks from gods for you."
All divine weapons were forged from divine metal, making this shield truly a divine artifact.
During the day, Hippolyta proposed to David that if he could achieve a great feat and slay Ares, the God of War, the Amazon tribe would honor David as their king, just as they honored the gods.
She then asked her daughter, Diana, to accompany David.
"When a god is killed, their divine body dissipates into the heavens and earth, not to be defiled by mortals. My daughter, the princess of the Amazon tribe, will assist you and serve as a witness to your slaying of the God of War."
If a god were slain, their body would vanish, leaving no evidence.
It had to be personally verified by the princess for the Amazon tribe to believe it.
"My Diana..."
Under the moonlight, Hippolyta gently stroked her daughter's face with a complex expression in her eyes.
Her daughter had never left the island since birth, living a carefree life, untouched by any conflict or real combat.
"Her first time leaving the island, and she has to face the evil and terrifying Ares."
Moreover, she had to travel with a powerful ambitious individual with ulterior motives. As a mother, she wished she could take her place, but unfortunately, she lacked the strength.
"Don't worry.
Pray for me, Mother."
Touching the shield in her hand, Diana showed no fear, her fighting spirit soaring. In the moonlight, she appeared like a female war god sculpted from white jade, radiating heroic valor.
"I will return to Themyscira with glory!"
The thought of fighting the powerful God of War from mythology and potentially participating in the great feat of slaying a god sent a thrill of excitement through her.
"I hope this shield can protect you."
Facing her pure and innocent daughter, Hippolyta sighed inwardly and solemnly retrieved a beautiful divine sword from her attendant.
"This... this is..."
Diana recognized the precious sword. The Amazon tribe had even built a special tower treasury to protect it, considering it their most treasured possession, forbidden to anyone.
She had never seen the divine sword so up close and couldn't help but reach out to touch its cold, hard blade.
"It is called the Sword of Vulcan."
Two vicious dragons formed the crossguard, embracing the blade inscribed with ancient, mysterious patterns. The thin, sharp edge could cut through hair and slice through metal as if it were mud.
"It bears the name of the God of Fire and is one of Vulcan Hephaestus's most powerful masterpieces, capable of cleaving through anything in the world."
"Anything?"
Diana's eyes flickered as she thought of the man currently sleeping peacefully in their tribe's royal palace.
Despite the tribe's best efforts, they hadn't managed to inflict any damage on him. She wondered if this divine sword could break through his defenses.
"It will help you slay Ares."
"Isn't slaying Ares the trial for that man named David?"
Diana took the precious sword and swung it a couple of times, unable to put it down. The extremely thin and sharp blade sliced through the air, emitting low whistling sounds.
Hearing her mother's words, she looked puzzled.
At the end of their meeting in the great hall earlier that day, that man had casually mentioned his name, stating that the Amazon tribe needed to know the name of their future ruler.
His arrogant demeanor, as if he already considered the Amazon tribe his possession, had unsettled many of the Amazon warriors.
Hippolyta dismissed her attendants, leaving only the last divine artifact with her.
"Diana, only another god can kill a god!"
Even if "killing" merely meant driving a god from this world, only another god could achieve it.
"Although that outsider is powerful, close to divine, I know very well that he carries no divine aura. He is not any of the gods from the various civilizations of this planet."
"Does that mean he is destined to fail?"
Diana frowned.
"Precisely."
Hippolyta stated, deeming it an impossible feat.
"So, when this outsider who invaded Themyscira and arrogantly sought to conquer us exhausts some of Ares's power with all his might, and is then killed by Ares, you, my daughter, the princess of the Amazons, will complete the great deed of slaying the God of War."
"Me?
But didn't you just say that only another god can kill a god, Mother?"
Diana pointed at herself, full of confusion, her mother's words leaving her somewhat dazed.
"Diana, this is actually your destiny... This sword is a gift from Zeus to our Amazon tribe. It has another name: 'God Slayer'."
Hippolyta hesitated for a long time after saying one sentence, as if she suddenly got stuck. After a few seconds, her eyes flashed, and the words that came out became fluent.
"God Slayer?"
"This sword is an exception. Zeus gave it to us so that it could be used by the Amazon tribe's most powerful warrior to slay the god of war."
...
After spending a night in the Amazon royal palace, David felt a bit surprised. He had let go of Wonder Woman, but the Amazon tribe hadn't gathered more forces to try and attack him while he slept.
"Are they too proud, or do they believe they can definitely win?"
In the bright morning sunlight, David smiled faintly.
When Diana, escorted by her tribespeople, appeared on the island's coast with a completely new demeanor, his eyebrows twitched.
Diana was clad in a battle skirt, wearing a winged diadem, and donned battle boots. She carried a sword on her back and held a round shield in her hand, looking every bit the warrior goddess ready to ride her chariot into battle. It was enough to make people turn their heads, captivated by her heroic spirit and beauty.
"Shield of divine power, Sword of Vulcan, Hermes' Flying Sandals... After not seeing her for a night, she's acquired three more divine artifacts."
David paid a little attention to the Sword of Vulcan. It was an artifact capable of cutting at the subatomic level, possessing infinite power. Even a Kryptonian's physical defense could not ignore it. Diana had once used it to sever Doomsday's arm with a single strike.
By the beach, Diana saw the man bathed in sunlight, looking relaxed and handsome, like the legendary sun god Apollo. A complex feeling stirred within her. Her mother had told her everything. This man before her believed he had a chance to conquer the Amazon tribe, but he didn't know that she was already destined to win.
"However..."
Diana glanced back at her mother and tribespeople, who were watching her with expectant eyes. Why did everything before her feel inexplicably familiar? It was like the epics and myths passed down through the ages.
"A despicable king presents a great hero with a seemingly impossible trial, a danger so perilous that 'nine deaths out of ten' wouldn't even describe it. Like Heracles and his Twelve Labors, Jason and the Golden Fleece, Perseus and Medusa... They all believed the hero could not possibly complete it and return alive. But the story often ends with..."
After a moment of ominous déjà vu, Diana looked at David again hesitantly. She felt a pang of pity and reluctance for this man who was about to conquer her tribe.
"Not enough. This time, the outcome might be different."
This man still didn't know he had fallen into a trap, didn't know about the destiny that had been set.
"As a mortal, you are destined to fail at slaying gods."
I've posted a bit less today. I'll make it up this afternoon or tomorrow. Recently, due to my elder's serious illness, I've been exhausted physically and mentally. Purple Yam will maintain the basic update of 4,000 characters per day. I'll write more when I can, around 4,000-5,000, but more than that is temporarily impossible. I hope for everyone's understanding. <(＿＿)>
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