Chapter 172
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Athena, Goddess of War (2)
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-Whiiing!
"...."
"...."
Born of a bloodline incomparably noble and exalted, the eldest daughter of Olympus evoked the image of its lofty mountaintop realm.
Just as it represented her, Athena's inner world was a separate heaven mimicking Olympus's towering peaks.
In this space of authority where heaven and earth shifted at her will and left and right flipped at her command, Athena felt regret for the first time in ages.
'What a pity. Truly a pity of a hero.'
Gazing at the black-haired hero standing before her in full view, Athena couldn't hold back her lament.
She knew it too.
In this incident, Dianes was merely the victim, and her half-brother—Olympus's disgrace, Apollo—was in a position beyond defense.
How could Athena overlook a god brazenly committing acts against his own divinity?
'That flute, no less! Not content with mentioning it before my eyes, he had to flaunt it!'
When that shameful history she'd barely buried in the recesses of memory resurfaced before all eyes, she screamed inwardly.
If she could, she'd have smashed that parasite-like face with her shield instead of Dianes.
Yet she was Athena.
A goddess of Olympus, Zeus's eldest daughter, and the guardian of order and law in Greece.
No matter how disgraceful Apollo had been, he was still one of the Twelve Olympians, the sun god destined to shine brilliantly over Greece.
For such a being—not a Titan or Gigante—to fall unconscious to a mere demigod of unknown bloodline?
And that, in front of gods, demigods, and spirits?
The moment it happened, it ceased to be a mere squabble between god and mortal.
It became an unprecedented event: a single demigod punishing a god for neglecting his divine duty, when even the supreme gods and divine judges could not.
'Rebellion, insubordination, blasphemy, hubris, negligence...'
Even the mildest interpretation warranted hurling him into Tartarus.
The severity of the crimes or malicious intent wasn't the issue.
His brief transgressions amounted to treason against Olympus and the order of Greece.
'If you'd only bowed your head a little, it would have been good for both of us...'
Beneath her cool facade, Athena inwardly lamented, suddenly resenting the hero before her.
'If you'd yielded just a bit, I could have smoothed it over!'
This was Dionysus's festival period.
No murder or punishment was permitted in the festival grounds during it.
Dionysus had decreed on his divine authority: if blood was spilled in the revelry and feast bearing his name, sending someone to pay Charon's fare on the Styx,
he would personally turn the culprit into a pig and serve them as the main dish at the banquet.
With everyone—regardless of status, gender, or age—united in drink and celebration,
if Dianes apologized to Apollo first, even that fool would forgive him as a drunken whim.
Whatever followed, if Poseidon and Amphitrite's son who clashed spears in the deep sea properly left the forest, even Apollo couldn't touch him.
'Ah, must I punish this pitiable hero with my own hands?'
But the situation had reached this point.
Athena faced the bitter reality of piercing a worthy opponent she'd not met in ages with her own spear.
'If only there'd been a slight opening! Just a tiny gap!'
Then, no matter how stubborn and prideful the hero, he'd kneel to her logic and escape unscathed.
Yes.
Athena coveted the black-haired warrior facing her across the way.
How long had it been since rhetoric pushed her back like this?
Even if her reasoning, justice, and cause lagged far behind, she was Athena.
The Greek judge who'd never yielded in judgment or advocacy since birth.
No matter the disadvantage today, the vast gap in years and experience made her defeat in this debate undeniable.
'In these times, for a hero of such intellect and philosophy to appear.'
In this Greece where most disputes ended in blood and steel, one with such firm philosophy, intellect, and conviction to defy authority.
Who else deserved the title of hero?
"For your sake and out of care for you, I urge you one last time. Repent your sins before this Athena and beg for mercy. I swear as Olympus's judge and Greece's goddess of justice: your life and safety will be guaranteed."
For the first time, Athena shed her icy demeanor, revealing true sincerity.
Dianes, facing her spear, looked surprised at Athena's expression but soon smiled and shook his head.
"Why spoil the fun?"
"?!"
-Clang!
The metallic wail that had rung countless times from clashing spears now surged up her arm.
"Y-You...?"
"We've come this far—what's with the half-hearted talk? Goddess. You're dying to fight yourself."
The demigod who'd followed her here, smiling amiably through their heated debate,
now grinned ferociously.
As if itching for battle right that instant.
Clearly an unforgivable insult and grave sin against a goddess.
Yet Athena couldn't rebuke the rudeness.
Because Dianes spoke the truth.
New intellect, different philosophy, firm conviction and pride.
And the power and feats backing it—Athena had seen them clearly.
As a warrior goddess herself, how could she feel nothing facing such a noble fighter?
She wanted to fight, to clash.
Spear to spear, blood spilling, making him spill blood.
Within the ever-rational, cool-headed Athena burned a volcano of Ares-like battle lust.
And this foolish demigod had properly ignited it.
"I'm not soft like Ares."
When the ironclad Athena in all things drew her blade, she annihilated foes with every means at her disposal.
Setting aside personal feelings and circumstances, devoting all wisdom and might solely to extermination.
"You. Die."
Short, certain, absolute warning.
Not as Olympus's judge, but as Athens's war deity and leader of battles, Athena's eyes flashed.
Stripped of the mask of cool reason, beneath lay a single warrior.
An invincible general armed with honed spear and steadfast shield.
"Hahaha..."
Delighted at the goddess's true face he'd craved, Dianes chuckled and nodded.
"How can one gain anything in this world fearing death?"
With those words, black flames erupted from his hand, instantly forming a bizarre black weapon aimed at her.
"A strange weapon?"
"Perfect for facing a war goddess."
About three cubits long, the shaft ended not in a typical spearhead but a massive gladius-like blade.
"To manifest divine power into form already... No good. This Athena will guide you to the right path, by any means, before you commit further sin."
"Good, good. The myths will record: Goddess Athena underestimated her foe and tumbled in the dirt."
If a third party saw, they'd scarce believe these were the same pair locked in fierce verbal elegance moments ago; now they glared savagely.
Direct, aggressive provocations flew between them, and demigod and war goddess launched into mortal combat without quarter.
Great Bear Mountain Breaker
-Boom!
The hefty weapon Dianes swung—what martial artists called a moon blade—arced through the air wildly.
"!?"
Shattering earth, platforms, pillars, and heavens, a massive black aura hurtled toward her.
Athena shuddered at the sight.
It was the manifestation of destructive power intent on pulverizing all before it, surging like a tsunami to engulf her.
"[α...αἰγίς!!]"
⟨ Aegis ⟩
Summoning in haste her cherished weapon she'd never imagined drawing against a demigod, the goddess's shield manifesting on her arm roared against the black wave seeking to devour its mistress.
-Wooong!
The divine shield Aegis gleamed radiantly, empowered by her divinity.
Before its aegis of protection, the black surge shattered; beyond the fading brilliant light, Athena moved.
"[σπάσει το παράθυρο!]"
⟨ Window Breaker ⟩
A spear piercing all.
The polar opposite of Dianes's recent strike.
Precise as an arrow from a divine bow, resolute as an advancing legion—Athena's assault.
"Haaap!"
"...Hoo!"
Tension mingled with a smile on Dianes's face at the sharp, immense momentum; this time, raised skyward like a legion's standard...
-Whoosh!
It plummeted toward Athena's head.
Arrow or greatsword?
Offense heedless of defense crossed in an instant.
-Kuuung! Kwaaaang!
The world's edge, infused with the goddess's inner realm, crumbled.