Chapter 879
Chapter 879
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 879
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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"Me? Afraid of your contractor? As if! Fine. I accept the challenge. But if you lose, you'd better be prepared."
Artemis glared at him with wide eyes, throwing a tantrum.
Whether it was thanks to Zeus or her innate hot-blooded nature, the duel was on.
In Greek mythology, there are a few tales of gods clashing with humans.
And gods generally despised humans who tried to climb up to their level. The story of Arachne was a prime example. She challenged Athena, won, but ended up turned into a spider.
The key point here was that even winning against a god got ششher turned into a spider. There was a real chance that a defeated Artemis might harbor resentment and come after him.
But my divine seat is Zeus. The king of Olympus.
The god he'd contracted with.
Even if some mishap had led to Artemis's contempt, it didn't erase his authority. If the Lord of the Skies' prestige had truly fallen to the dirt, Artemis would have ignored him and done as she pleased.
Since the Lord of the Skies was presiding over this duel, it meant he had no intention of betraying him.
"So, how will this duel work?"
Artemis asked him.
"There will be six rounds in total."
"Six?"
Ate furrowed her brow. From her perspective, six was more than expected. He pointed at the bound nymphs with his finger.
"There are five nymphs captured here. Five rounds will stake their chastity. If you win, I'll free the nymphs. But if I win, their chastity is mine."
"...Not their lives, but their chastity? The more I see, the more you reek of Zeus."
Flames sparked in Artemis's eyes.
"Just kill them cleanly instead."
"These women swore a lifelong vow of chastity. Killing them would just tarnish your reputation without much real loss. But losing their chastity to me? That would be a massive humiliation for you all."
"Twisting your schemes just to humiliate a goddess—it's revolting."
Artemis shot him a look laced with contempt and disgust.
"So? You refusing? In the end, you just have to win. If you dodge the challenge here, word will spread that you're an irresponsible goddess who let her servants die."
Artemis couldn't back down. Her pride was on the line. Without a presiding god, maybe, but with a higher god like her watching, she couldn't ignore it.
"Even if it's unfair, I'll accept for the sake of my servants."
"Sniff! Lady Artemis!"
"To duel such a despicable human for our sake!"
"I'll serve you forever, Lady Artemis!"
The nymphs called out her name, shedding tears of emotion.
"For the sixth round, stake your soul! I'll make sure you suffer eternally!"
Artemis bellowed ferociously. The hostility pouring from her was genuine. Honestly, he felt a twinge of fear. If this were reality, he might have focused on escaping.
"Fine. If I lose, do whatever you want with my soul—roast it, fry it. But if I win... your chastity is mine."
"Y-You insolent human!!!"
Artemis screamed, her face flushing beet red with rage. He clutched his chest against the overwhelming pressure from her aura, feeling like his heart might burst.
To Artemis, chastity was more precious than life itself.
"...It's not even your real body anyway. Calm down."
He barely squeezed out the words.
The Lord of the Skies stepping in worked. Artemis gritted her teeth and reined in her aura.
"...Zeus. No, Father. This stakes my chastity. I am the goddess of chastity. Must I wager it against some mere human? The very idea is an insult."
Artemis's long lashes trembled faintly.
"I'll report this to her."
"Zeus...!!"
The Lord of the Skies poked at her temper. She was trapped—backing out would tarnish her authority just as much.
"Who said I'm afraid of losing?! I already said I'd accept the duel!"
Artemis shouted, fully aware of what she'd lose and gain.
He grinned. But it still wasn't enough.
"System! This is a god versus human duel! You have to officiate!"
The most impartial thing in Atlantis was the system. Its help was essential to his plan.
"I know. So I'll pay AP as compensation."
If the price was fair, there was no reason the system couldn't be moved.
"Stat equalization. Make my stats and Artemis's exactly the same."
The Artemis before him had superior stats. If they fought now, he wouldn't last five minutes. For any chance of victory, their stats had to be matched.
"......More than I expected."
He glanced sideways at Artemis. Her face was full of irritation. But she couldn't stop him. She had no right to. As an exile surviving in Atlantis, he was exercising his legitimate rights.
He checked his AP.
He was short about 50,000 AP.
He'd estimated 400,000 AP. Meaning Artemis's stats were 250,000 AP higher. Even for one of Olympus's Twelve, that was excessively high for her prestige.
50,000 AP.
No small gap. With original knowledge, he could earn it in a week, but not right now. Except for one method.
"Lord of the Skies! I'm short 50,000 AP!"
Normally, he'd be ignored. But this situation piqued the Lord of the Skies' interest. He wouldn't sit out something this fun—especially with Artemis's virginity on the line.
"Hold on."
It was Artemis.
"Before the duel, specify the exact format."
"...Haven't decided yet. How about we alternate picking the events? Six rounds total, so I pick three, you pick three. No objections if it's reasonable."
"You pick the first event. Then I'll pick the next."
He saw through her scheme. The second—even rounds—would let her decide the sixth, where her chastity was at stake.
And she'd pick something maximally favorable to her.
He didn't want to give her that leeway, but seeing her blazing eyes, he needed to yield this time.
She quietly accepted stat equalization... so I should concede here.
To truly crush an opponent, break them in their field of confidence.
The problem is, I can't guarantee victory even then.
He already knew this feat from the original. He just hadn't done it because challenging a god was insanely risky.
Equalization meant no tricks would work.
He checked his stats and nodded. Mana had hit 100. He instinctively knew how to wield it. At this level, he could probably use an aura blade—what they called sword aura.
The rumors spread fast. Probably the work of the King of Ma-cheon.
"Make it private. I have zero interest in being entertainment for other divine seats."
Artemis said. But he thought differently.
"Private? I can already see the divine seats sulking over missing the fun. I demand public. Artemis, are you scared of losing?"
Grind. Artemis gnashed her teeth again. He was starting to worry about her dental health. Or maybe gods regrow teeth?
"...Fine. I permit it. An arrogant human like you will make fine amusement for the gods."
Artemis didn't entertain the notion of losing even slightly.
Normally, divine seats were blocked here, but with owner Artemis's permission, that changed.
"One condition, though. Can't show something this precious for free, right? Lord of the Skies?"
"Set the viewing fee to the maximum."
"I have a condition too. Gods, watch quietly. No interference allowed."
System alerts flooded in. Some divine seats he recognized, others not. Most connected to him paid up.
No telling how many were tuning in right now.
For reference, he got 300 AP per viewer. Normally split with Artemis for 500 each, but 200 went to system fees. She'd get about the same.
Over 30,000 AP in under a minute. At least 100 divine seats watching.
"Human. Pick the first event."
He hoisted one nymph.
"This nymph is the stake for this round. If I win, her chastity is mine. No complaints?"
"If I win, release her safely."
All six rounds staked a woman's... no, a virgin's chastity.
He'd win by any means.
So he had to pick events he could win.
"First up: footrace. Any objections?"
"...A footrace."
He was certain. Artemis was thinking of Atalanta right now. In Greek myth, Atalanta was famed for racing, and she'd vowed chastity to Artemis. Though some said it was a namesake.
"I picked the event, so you pick the venue."
He said magnanimously. It couldn't be in the bath anyway.