Chapter 153
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Eagle's Assault
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Justice's Nemesis pondered whether to cleave me with her sword of judgment or split me with her scales of balance.
Meanwhile, Eris, who harbored no qualms about performing divine deeds, debated whether to dig into my heart or rip it out.
I quietly transformed into a snake and slipped away from the scene.
"Ahh!? Where did it go?!"
"Brother? Brother! Come back right now! That thing in your head...!!"
Ame ya.
I thought it was just the brutal joke typical of ancient gods. But that big sister was seriously trying to split open my skull.
I slithered out silently, as if I'd always been a snake, deploying my Veil of Darkness to dart stealthily through the trees.
I have no idea how I managed to use lightness skill with a snake's body, but since both my human form and snake form are me, calculating my sense of balance and movement made it surprisingly effective.
Maybe because it used my entire body for propulsion, not just my feet.
It felt even stealthier and faster than in human form.
In any case, with movements so stealthy even Hades would admire, I melted into the forest shadows and circled toward the seaside.
I was scared my sisters might reverse-trace my senses like anti-detection radar and come chasing with swords drawn.
And since they knew my destination, they might ambush me along the way.
"Shh-shh!"
'Well, Eris aside, I never expected even Sister Nemesis to turn red-eyed and grab her sword.'
But was that really so strange?
In the martial world, unless it was external martial arts training, the equation of energy equals dantian was common knowledge.
The inner energy of the lower dantian: the foundational Earth Repository.
The true energy of the middle dantian: the self-realized Human Repository.
The upper dantian: heavenly energy, the transcendent Heaven Repository.
This form of inner energy cultivation across the Three Repositories—heaven, earth, and man—was common to all, righteous or demonic.
The lower dantian's Earth Repository developed the body from third-rate to peak.
The middle dantian's Human Repository, awakening self-awareness, spanned from super peak to Flower Realm.
And finally, the upper dantian's Heaven Repository, where one opens the heavenly gate and communes with the heavens.
Has anyone in the long history of the martial world truly awakened and mastered it?
Even I in my previous life had only glimpsed its edge, the fringes of heaven's law, yet with that, I overturned the entire martial world like a god from myth.
My current state was the Extreme Demon or Flower Realm, having awakened the middle dantian of the Human Repository.
Normally, neither piercing Oedipus's Heavenly Kill nor transforming into a snake—not even with Bone Shrinking Art—would be possible for my current self or past self.
However, the upper dantian and heavenly enlightenment opened upon surpassing Heavenly Demon Realm remained with me. Combined with the imperfectly opened upper dantian, I could manifest these powers through this world's divine power, a new energy.
Now, pondering how true gods manifest their powers, a hypothesis flickered in my mind.
'Like a martial artist's lower dantian, gods need a divine seat equivalent to the upper dantian to refine divine power into authority.'
Of course, divine power, bolstered by the abundant spirit force of the mythic age, far surpassed human inner energy in difficulty and utility.
Without a divine seat, even demigods like Heracles or Atalanta were limited to using aura like innate strength.
The boundary between demigod and god is probably the divine seat.
'Then what about me?'
I still knew little of divine power, divine seats, upper dantian, or Heavenly Demon Realm.
But if power over heavenly energy is divine power, and upper dantian equates to this era's divine seat...
I might self-achieve the realms of ancient asuras, Eight Pure Ones, Heavenly Sovereigns—equivalent to Olympus's gods.
'Then first, I need to awaken this divine seat Hera granted me.'
I was about 80% certain, but all principles and enlightenments require proof.
The goddess blessed me with a true divine seat in seed form. Experiencing its flowering and awakening firsthand would easily validate my hypothesis.
-Thump! Thump!
The path to that realm I'd vaguely grasped while facing mighty gods.
The enlightenment I'd sought and yearned for in my past life finally opened before me.
The instinctive desire of those who cultivate martial arts and break through realms, the greed that had shackled and lost its way, now blazed thrillingly.
"Shaaaaak!"
My simple snake mouth produced only a eerie metallic hiss, but I truly shouted with all my might for the first time in ages.
I can go further. I can become better.
Beyond the transparent ecstasy of reaching Extreme Demon and shedding my mortal form, greater pleasure and sublimation awaited.
The joy of having a goal to charge toward with fervor once more—surpassing even my past life—was an ecstasy beyond worldly treasures.
And beyond that goal, I'd already witnessed the powers awaiting.
Poséidon's earthquakes, Amphitrite's torrents, Hera's magic—calamities of nature tailored for their targets, now wieldable by my hand. The realization enthralled me like a drug.
The law of the strong devouring the weak, philosophy of my entire life.
Its pinnacle, the untouchable throne of supreme strength, finally revealed itself.
'I really did well to be reborn!'
Whether I live to old age, become a god and perish, or return to the demonic realm of the Three Paths, I could boast to those crotchety Twelve Demon Gods with all my might.
For the first martial artist to reach ultimate completion of Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the True Divine Realm beyond—no one else—would be me.
Expressing joy through my entire body, I followed the sea breeze, slithering up a tree to survey the forest.
The bright full moon, merry music from afar, the moonlit sea—all shimmered beautifully, as if celebrating my fortune.
'Heh heh heh~ Hmm?'
With senses suppressed lest Nemesis drop from the sky with her judgment sword, my snake senses—far keener than human—didn't miss the fifty youths dashing orderly toward the shore.
'Perfect timing.'
They stifled sounds to avoid detection, their body heat flashing like bonfires below the cool forest canopy.
Judging by the strange currents lurking offshore, the Nereid sisters were also standing by for the perfect moment.
Deep Sea Kingdom sponsored, directed by Dianes, supervised by Nesneria: Romance Camp in Greece.
They say after watching fires or fights, the next best is peeking on romance.
I'd worried about emceeing, but letting them have fun alone seemed more entertaining.
'Let's see you do well.'
Kekeke.
Maybe because the clue to breaking through my stalled realm resolved in an instant.
Like loosening a taut string for a break, I paused to enjoy some leisure.
I'd rushed busily till now and would continue, so savoring my own production was fine.
I coiled comfortably(?) far enough not to be spotted.
'Should've brought Atalanta?'
Fifty heroes and fifty goddesses in a massive mixer party.
A shame to watch such prime entertainment alone...
[Hmm. What a pity. Among Okeanos's daughters, even I had my eyes on a few.]
[!?]
A deep voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
At the same time, I sensed something plummeting toward my snake form.
'...An eagle?'
A massive eagle, straight out of DMZ ghost stories, gleamed its talons at me.
[But this one's plenty big—should fetch a fair price!]
[What?!]
-Kwaduk!
-Hwiririk!
I sprang away like a spring just as the eagle's talons pulverized my branch—nearly simultaneous.
[Hoo, I heard from Poseidon and Ares you're skilled with powers. Didn't expect such quick adaptation though?]
[Who are you?]
The giant eagle perched on the shattered branch, golden eyes flashing at me.
Without Veil of Darkness, I'd be pulp.
I raised my head, slithering to the adjacent tree, glaring at the eagle.
I wanted to revert and guard, but a gap mid-imperfect transformation might invite a fatal strike.
-Shaaak!
[Hm? Uh-huh?]
Infusing venomous fang with an upgraded heart poison that once repelled Artemis, I glared.
The eagle, having struck first, absurdly tilted its head.
[You don't know who I am?]
[Who else? A crazy bird picking fights outta nowhere.]
[Well, that's on me... But c'mon, how many gods in Greece take majestic eagle form? Two at most.]
Honestly, how could I not know.
In this mythic Greece, two gods with eagle forms?
But my venom surged at the mood-ruining antics.
[Oh! Your little show's curtain's rising. Let's watch and chat. Call it a private audience with a major god. Fine first-meeting gift, no?]
[What?]
[Good spot secured. Hurry—the wave sisters' dance of thousand-fold waves isn't everyday viewing.]
[...Sigh.]
Utterly bemused by it patting the spot beside with its wing and switching attitudes, I sighed deeply and hopped over.
[They say couples resemble each other—even this?]
Our queen, ever swinging her whims everywhere.
Seeing the eagle's god-tier my-pace topped it, deflating my venom into amusement.
[Introductions?]
[Needed? You know me, I know you. Plus, secret from Hera. Don't want fuss.]
The chuckling god flapped, grinning slyly, shifting to let me settle comfortably.