Servant of the Cutting Wind

I sighed as I gazed upon the King of Crete, who had transformed into a servant of the cutting wind.

"You've long forgotten shame, it seems. To borrow Boreas's power and abandon your humanity."

"Shame? Kuhahaha!"

Idomeneus spread his pitch-black hands, now shaped like sickles, and advanced.

"Defeat is breathing down your neck. And the whispers of Hades have begun in your ear. Peleus, death is the ultimate and eternal defeat. Shouldn't you struggle and try everything? I thought you'd understand my intent."

"I'm not condemning that."

I despised the man, but I didn't think his words were wrong. Even if he became something other than human, I respected that burning will to fight. What made me click my tongue was the power he'd borrowed—of all things, Boreas's.

"Just the fact that you've served as a minion of the North Wind God leaves you no room for excuses, Idomeneus. You knew he was a god who delighted in cannibalism!"

Pointing out his ugly secret so abruptly made his eyes bulge wide.

"How do you know that?!"

He clearly didn't know about the Secret Book, so no wonder he was shocked.

"Peleus, just how much do you know? You really can't be left alive. Yes, you've been a thorn from the start."

"I have no intention of letting a man who's abandoned humanity live either."

Crackle! Zap!

Drawing Zeus's sword banished the inky darkness of night, scattering brilliant white light around us. I was determined to butcher him today. I, who sought to bring about the end of the gods for humanity's sake, and Idomeneus, who offered humans as sacrifices for a god's gluttony—we could never stand together.

Rumble! Boom!

Thunder roared violently in the night sky. Flash! The heavens blazed with light, turning the world as bright as day for a moment. Then, fireballs rained down from the clouds like meteors.

It seemed the rainbow god Iris and the North Wind god Boreas had finally clashed in earnest. It was a calamity beyond human will—a disaster incarnate.

"What tremendous power…."

Thanks to Iris swiftly intercepting, the battle raged dozens of kilometers away in the sky, yet the shockwaves reached us fully. The explosions up there were on a scale that could obliterate a small city in one blow, and they kept coming endlessly. The might of enraged gods was jaw-dropping.

"But the gods' fight is for the gods. First, I'll take your head, Idomeneus."

"Heh heh heh, will it go as you wish? Even Zeus's sword is bothersome to this body, now a servant of the cutting wind."

Somehow, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Idomeneus was slyly retreating. I pressed forward, refusing to yield ground.

"Planning to run?"

"As if. No matter how fine the sword, in the hands of a nobody like you, this elder can handle it. But first, I should secure Sparta's jewel."

With those words, Idomeneus rocketed skyward at incredible speed. Empowered by the wind god, he moved like the wind itself. Whoosh! A gale swept through, and in an instant, he charged toward Princess Helen.

Atalante, guarding the princess, loosed arrows swiftly, but they passed harmlessly through Idomeneus's body.

"Pathetic!"

Idomeneus unleashed a gust that engulfed Atalante.

"Kyaa!"

With a short scream, she was flung back, slamming into a nearby great tree before tumbling down. It was a merciless blow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that might have snapped her waist.

"Princess Helen!"

"Protect the princess!"

The heroes around them roared in unison. But Idomeneus had already snatched Helen and burst into greedy laughter.

"Kuhahaha! Whatever you say, Helen is mine! A body that can no longer be king of Crete needs the world's greatest beauty at least!"

His words enraged the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suitors, who began drawing on their powers. Startled by the sudden disaster, they were still renowned heroes. And saving Helen would all but guarantee Sparta's throne.

"God Apollo!"

A truly heroic voice echoed. It was Diomedes, king of Argos—one of the standout heroes among the suitors. So he was backed by Apollo.

"Goddess Athena!"

This time, Odysseus called upon his power. With everything in chaos, he'd decided to use force. Renowned as a hero of wisdom, he was no slouch in battle either.

The other heroes invoked their patron gods as well.

"This is a problem."

It was good they were psyching themselves up to fight, but the issue was that shouting their gods' names made text swarm across the Secret Book.

Other gods' eyes turned here too—not all welcome.

Probably because of Atalante. A most unwelcome presence for me.

I'd fallen out of her favor for slaying the Calydonian boar. The silver lining: she didn't know I'd saved Python and thwarted her hunt. If she did, the goddess would've acted long ago.

"For Princess Helen!"

The first hero charged the fearsome servant of the cutting wind. Truly brave. Frontally assaulting a monster empowered by Boreas. It was Agamemnon.

"Wait, you…."

I was about to say you're nothing without your team when Agamemnon's scream rang out.

"Arrrgh!"

Agamemnon flew skyward in the opposite direction. This guy's been airborne a lot today.

Using him as a meat shield, the other heroes swarmed the servant. What a dazzling lineup: Great Ajax. Diomedes, king of Argos backed by Apollo. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Menelaus, prince of Mycenae. Atalante, Artemis's warrior. Odysseus, favored by Athena. And more.

Arrows flew, swords swung, spears hurled—a barrage of mighty attacks poured onto the master of the gale.

"Graaaah!"

Idomeneus howled in pain from the onslaught. His flesh tore, black blood streaming. But he was on another level now. The servant of the cutting wind was essentially Boreas's apostle. He erupted in mad laughter, sweeping away the charging heroes in one go.

"Kuhahaha!"

With each burst of his insane cackle, agonized screams followed.

"Krak!"

Great Ajax's prized shield shattered, hurling him into the royal woods. He'd risen to hero status on pure human strength alone. Formidable against men, but weak against transcendent beings.

"Sun God!"

Diomedes, king of Argos, showed Apollo's warrior prowess but was shredded by wind blades, collapsing in a spray of blood.

"Princess Helen!"

Menelaus, prince of Mycenae—a future legend, but still a novice. Blessed with Zeus's blood, yet he couldn't withstand even one blow.

Surprisingly resilient was Atalante, dodging the winds with near-miraculous agility. The problem: her arrows did no damage.

She's fallen out of favor!

I grasped it instantly. Unlike the others, Atalante's attacks were useless against him.

Artemis isn't granting the girl her power anymore.

The Secret Book agreed. With Artemis's power, her arrows would've pierced him—but they just whistled through like wind. Atalante's darkening face showed she'd realized her rift with the goddess.

"Athena!"

The only one holding out was Odysseus. As expected of a great hero, living up to his name. Using tricks and wits to bridge the overwhelming gap.

But even he would fall soon. The watching gods grew restless.

Idomeneus had transcended humanity into Boreas's apostle. The other heroes relied on human strength or mere patronage— no match. Apostles required apostles. But the gods showed no intent to intervene, abandoning their heroes. Only Athena seemed genuinely concerned for hers.

"Everyone, fall back!"

Odysseus shouted, firing a divinely empowered arrow at the charging Idomeneus. Thwang! It sounded like a sniper rifle. Clang! Sparks flew massively from Idomeneus's body—the arrow wounded him. But he remained sturdy, yanking it out and blasting the heroes with wind.

"No chance like this!"

Hearing Athena bid retreat, Odysseus had no will to continue. Time for me to step up properly.

Shall we?

How cowardly, Peleus. Just watching the heroes wear him down.

The protagonist always enters last. Win together, and glory's shared. Cornered foes make my feats shine brighter.

So I let the charging heroes be fodder or bait.

"Alright. Let's go."

Ending my observation, I leaped forward. Odysseus was slipping away, leaving Atalante cornered and fighting desperately. Idomeneus swung his black sickle-hands wildly at her.

"Looks like your goddess's love has abandoned you!"

Mocking her powerless arrows. Atalante gave her all, but mortal skill couldn't match a god's apostle. I wedged between them, blocking the strike on her crown.

Kaaang!

Black sickle-hand clashed with Zeus's sword, spraying light everywhere. The energy collision hurled Idomeneus back; I, holding Atalante, skidded too. One arm around her, I crouched to barely stay upright. The ground bore rail-like gouges from my feet. My soles burned.

"You okay?"

"Ugh…."

Atalante looked dazed from the impact. Damp hair and dry grass clung to her beautiful cheek. Her face was pale from overexertion.

"Fall back. Leave this to me."

She'd tried her best but seemed frustrated at her uselessness.

"…Got it. Thanks."

She nodded and withdrew.

"Idomeneus!"

Now it was just him and me. Sliding back into position, he sneered as he approached.

"No need to call—I ain't going anywhere. Yes, it comes down to you and me, Peleus!"

Rumble! Boom!

Thunder crashed, lightning flashing in the stormy sky. Rain and wind whipped up. A new god joined the watchers.

Zeus showed up at a perfect moment. With other gods' champions falling, his defeating Boreas's apostle would save face—especially for a petty supreme god like him. Olympus's big shot only felt better topping everyone.

"Boreas! With the North Wind's power, sweep all away!"

Idomeneus roared, drawing more divine power. The mood demanded I shout too. His name suited perfectly.

"Long live Hestia!"