Smashing the Amazon Captain
I swung Zeus's Sword with all my might at Euryale. She managed to raise her shield just in time to block it, but a massive explosion rang out.
BOOM!
The sound was like thunder itself, shattering her thick bronze shield into pieces. The impact sent her flying backward.
"Whoa!"
Even in the midst of that, she somehow kept her balance without falling. Not bad—she was a real pro.
Euryale hurled the shield handle at me and charged like a shot. —Thrust incoming! The Secret Book, now with an eye for human martial arts, shouted out. My own training had sharpened my senses too; I could read her attack right away. It wasn't a simple thrust—it was a feinting wraparound stab. Blocking that head-on would've punched a hole through my chest.
Clang!
Our blades clashed with a metallic ring. She'd triggered her feint once, but I parried the sharp thrust perfectly. Still, she had one more trick up her sleeve. The moment our swords met, she stepped on my thigh, leaped up, and climbed onto my shoulder. Then she locked her legs around my arm. It was that aerial armbar from Earth's MMA fights I'd seen. With her full weight slamming down, there was no escaping it.
But not this time. I caught Euryale with one hand and held my ground. Pure monstrous strength.
"What?!"
Hanging upside down from my arm in midair, Euryale's eyes widened in shock. They say technique beats strength. But overwhelming power nullifies even the best techniques.
"Hrah!"
With a shout, I slammed her straight into the ground.
"Gah!"
She let out a short scream, mouth gaping wide. I followed up with a kick to her gut, sending her flying over ten meters. Thud! She crashed hard into the cave wall, curling up in agony with groans escaping her lips.
"Take a look at what happened to your subordinates!"
No mercy for enemies—that's my motto. I strode toward a boulder in the cave. It was calf-sized, but I lifted it with ease.
"Rrrraaagh!"
My muscles bulged like they might burst under the weight. I hurled it at the Amazons battling Atalante. BOOM! Crash! Bang! The massive rock rolled across the floor with deafening noise. The Amazons it hit or crushed were in pathetic shape.
"Aaaagh!"
"Kyaaak! Argh!"
Horrific screams filled the cave. Heads smashed, arms mangled, legs pulverized. Overwhelming power. Even if Amazons were ten-to-one fighters, flesh and bone couldn't withstand being crushed under a boulder—they turned into ground meat.
"You gonna keep going?!"
My roar made the Amazons flinch in fear. Even martial arts masters feared superhuman strength like this. When I grabbed Euryale by the hair, dragged her up, and hoisted her like a trophy, their faces drained of fighting spirit.
"Cough... cough!"
Blood poured from Euryale's mouth nonstop.
"If you want your subordinates to live, tell them to surrender. You know what happens if you keep fighting, right?"
Luckily, Euryale wasn't just a stubborn idiot.
"Cough... Everyone... stand down... and surrender..."
"Captain!"
"It's a meaningless fight... We can't die like dogs..."
The vast power gap broke them. They'd already lost their captain and over a dozen warriors, and Thematos the cannibal giant hadn't even joined yet. No way they could fight on. I had Thematos watch the prisoners. He perked up immediately.
"A lunchbox gift?"
"Don't eat them. I'll get in trouble."
The Amazon queen's fate was still up in the air. Dead in battle? Fine. But feeding surrendered prisoners to a cannibal giant? That'd earn me some serious grudges. I strictly ordered Thematos not to snack on them like dried persimmons.
"Treat the wounded for now. And you."
I called over the youngest-looking Amazon for interrogation. She didn't fit in with the group at all.
"P-please spare me."
Unlike the others, her eyes lacked steel—she was a total greenhorn. A kid, really.
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen."
"Haa..."
Good thing I hadn't squashed her with that boulder. I'm ruthless with enemies, but my heart softens for kids like this.
"I won't kill you, so answer honestly."
"Y-yes..."
Looking up at me with a terrified face, she made me realize even Amazons had soft ones like her. The rest were honed blades, but this one was awkwardly clumsy.
"Sophitia! Spill secrets and you'll be severely punished!"
One Amazon snarled at the kid in front of me. So her name was Sophitia. I gestured at Thematos to deal with the yeller.
"Eat her?"
"No, just..."
"Tch. Got it."
Thematos flicked her forehead hard, and she collapsed spitting blood.
"Kyaa!"
Everyone froze and shut up. That was merciful, really—I'd seen him decapitate with a flick before. Still, the Amazons glared at Sophitia murderously.
"Alright, Sophitia. I've got some questions."
"Yes, uncle..."
Thematos burst out laughing at "uncle."
"Kuhahaha! Uncle! Uncle! Peleus, you'll end up bald like me someday. They'll call you uncle too!"
Early twenties called uncle... Well, to a fourteen-year-old, maybe.
"Hmm... Yeah, this uncle's got questions. Answer truthfully."
I gathered intel from Sophitia: where the queen was, how many had landed—about 350—number of captains, etc. Crucial stuff poured out. The Amazons glared but couldn't stop her. Thematos's stomach had been growling gurgle gurgle the whole time.
"Peleus, the captain's eyes are glazing over. Can't we just eat her? You humans hate cloudy mackerel eyes too, right?"
"Don't treat humans like mackerel. Shut up for a sec—I gotta write a letter."
"Love letter to the Amazon queen?"
"Something like that."
Queen Penthesilea was holed up in Naxos Village, the biggest on the island, on the west beach. About 350 Amazons—enough heavy infantry to beat a thousand mainlanders. No wonder the village fell.
"Sophitia. What's the situation in Naxos Village now?"
"Her Majesty rules wisely. All the villagers joyfully welcomed her."
"Sophitia, you're young, so I'll forgive this once. Ditch the flattery—I want the truth. How many village soldiers died at the welcome? And how many more under her 'wise' rule?"
"...Hic."
Sophitia's face crumpled. Hard to badmouth the queen with others around. Time for a life lesson.
"Sophitia."
"Yes, uncle."
"You're already screwed."
"Huh? Wh-what?"
Her teary eyes went wide. Pure innocent girl, clueless about the world.
"Screwed, I said. Even if the Amazons win, your normal life ended ages ago. What do you think happens if this uncle kills the queen?"
"That..."
"You'll be executed as a traitor. Your sisters'll spit on your grave—or just toss you for wild dogs, no burial."
"Ahh!"
Her face paled in shock, then twisted as she burst into sobs.
"Hic! Waaah!"
She knew I was right. Her Amazon career was over. Just the traitor brand left.
"It's all your fault, uncle... uncle!"
I shook my head at her resentment.
"Nope. Not me—you, and all of you."
I pointed at her and the Amazons.
"You picked a fight with me and lost. That's why everything's a mess. Because you lost, Sophitia."
She was speechless. I patted her head, then turned her toward her comrades.
"Look at them. Your former sisters. What faces are they making?"
"...They resent me. Hate me."
"You're soft but not dumb. Yeah, they're resenting a weak little kid like you—instead of owning their defeat and faults. They picked you as the scapegoat."
Some Amazons bit their lips.
"Think about it. You fought hard, Sophitia. Spilling in interrogation? Unavoidable for a loser handing fate to the victor. Force majeure, they call it. So shouldn't they understand?"
Her expression went blank.
"Anyone with shame would protect you—apologize for putting you in this spot. They're the adults, responsible for this fight. But the vibe? Blaming and bullying you, like it's your fault."
I pulled her close and whispered.
"Imagine one of them in your shoes. Could they stay silent and resist?"
"No... Probably not."
"Exactly. They'd all spill too—'cause of this uncle. Even if I failed, that cannibal over there snacking a few and burping would've gotten everything."
"...Yeah, I think so too."
Her childish eyes turned fierce. She'd grasped her fate.
"Your Amazon life ends here. But there's one way out."
"What is it, uncle?"
"Kill them all. Seal every mouth that knows today's events. Can you?"
"No... I can't. They're mean sisters, but I don't want that."
"Not on good terms, huh?"
"Yeah... I'm dumb, always getting scolded."
She pondered, then asked.
"Uncle, I don't wanna die."
"Nobody does. But death doesn't care about age."
"...Uncle, please. What do I do to live?"
I figured saving this ugly duckling wouldn't hurt. Atalante, watching quietly, stepped in.
"I'll take her."
"Atalante, you're too soft-hearted."
"Peleus, you say that, but you're taking her anyway."
"...I don't like sharp women."
Scapegoating happens in failed groups. This time, the kid drew the short straw. No choice—I'd take her. Back on the mainland, she could live in Sparta. My estate had room. She'd lived rough; helping her grow into a normal girl seemed fine.
"Sophitia. One way to live."
"...What?"
"Deal with this uncle. Work for me once, and I'll take you off this island."
"What work?"
"Deliver my letter to the Amazon queen. Then..."
I pulled her aside so others couldn't hear and explained. Soon after, I wrote the letter and handed it over.
"Take it to the queen in Naxos Village. Do exactly as I say after, and you'll live. No mistakes. Got it?"
"Yes, uncle."
Sophitia headed down the mountain with a determined look. I watched her small shoulders. Her fate was in her hands now.
—What if the kid betrays you? The Secret Book, who'd been watching, asked.
—I'd be bummed I couldn't save her. But the plan's fine. I told her nothing important.
—True. Ignorance is safest for that kid.