Chapter 178
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Polyphemus's Challenge
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They say a Thousand Catty weighs roughly 600kg when converted to kilograms, right?
But 600kg? To a peak expert, that's no different from a 10kg dumbbell.
Once you pass first-rate, the whole world feels like candy. For someone at peak or beyond, even yelling "Take this! Thousand Catty Drop!" barely fazes them—it's just a bit heavy, that's all.
But what if the Thousand Catty Drop wasn't a thousand catty, but ten thousand... or a hundred million?
Pfft, even if weight equals power, why pour that much internal energy into a Thousand Catty Drop? In that time, with that energy, you could land several effective hits.
A Thousand Catty Kick! A Thousand Catty Smash! That's all just made-up stuff from wuxia novels.
In reality, the Thousand Catty Drop is only good for internal energy training—that's the point.
Sure, it's useless in real combat, but that's only when fighting peers.
When you're bullying the weak and rampaging, nothing beats the Thousand Catty Drop.
Exactly like right now.
"But you know..."
"Grrrrrr!!"
The weight I was currently applying was ten thousand catty—an extra zero tacked onto a thousand.
I'd started with a thousand catty and gradually ramped it up, but one surprising thing stood out.
This Cyclops was holding up better than expected.
His entire body—muscles, bones, meridians—was locked rigid, unable to twitch. Yet he was enduring the pressure on his crown solely with his neck and shoulder strength.
I'd worried his oversized build, bigger than a decent building, might mean he was overexerting and at risk, but the Cyclops race turned out to be insanely tough.
"Beg for mercy, huh? Just say 'Please spare me' once, and I'll let you live."
"Grrrrrk! You... do you know who I...?"
Who? The crazy bastard trying to kill my slave—no, grad student—no no, my precious future subordinate.
"Wow~ Alright, alright, I respect that spirit. Let's see how long you last."
-Kruuuuush!
"Gwaaaack!!"
My internal energy focused in an instant, spiking the pressure on his head.
Sensing it, the one-eyed giant's body drenched in cold sweat like he'd been caught in a downpour. Even the head under my foot grew slick with moisture.
"S-Spare me! I surrender!!"
Realizing his neck might snap if this continued, the Cyclops cried out in surrender, his face pale as a ghost.
He was a next-gen god, once revered as a sage deity. Even as a reckless criminal, he deserved one more chance.
Honestly, wasting a chance to see a mythical monster up close felt like a shame too.
-Boom!
I lightly lifted my foot from his crown and leaped back. His massive body toppled like a felled log.
"Eek!?"
"What're you so shocked about?"
"Hwahk?!"
The Cyclops rolled his eyes back and collapsed. I landed silently behind Akis, making him jump twice in succession, flailing like a fish.
Well, who wouldn't freak out seeing an eight-chi giant crash to the ground right in front of them?
But this guy seemed more startled seeing me than the Cyclops.
"D-Dianes? Y-You're alive?"
"...What the hell does that mean?"
Correction: he really was shocked to see me.
"Who's going around calling me dead?"
"B-But yesterday, they said you got punished by Lady Athena..."
According to Akis, yesterday I'd punched Apollo's pretty face, then vanished into the forest for Athena's judgment. The rumor had spread through the whole forest that I hadn't returned.
Chiron, Karyklo, and Apollo had started showing their faces to prevent Dionysus's banquet from being ruined, but the one who'd dragged me off was Athena.
With Athena—the epitome of strict justice in Greece—handling the judgment, most figured I'd be dead, or worse.
"It was chaos yesterday. Master Chiron said he'd look into it, so everyone was just waiting..."
I showed up perfectly fine and knocked down the hulking Cyclops in one go, leaving Akis speechless.
"It all worked out somehow."
At least I wouldn't die by lightning on the roadside or spend my life as a wolf or snake.
Though some annoyances had piled up.
"R-Really? That's a relief..."
I waved it off, telling him not to worry, and Akis let out a huge sigh of relief.
...But was it really?
I'd released the death-row inmate after a hearty last meal, so to speak.
If he knew what I was preparing for the guys who'd join one of this myth era's top events, "relief" wouldn't be the word.
Heh heh heh...
As I cackled inwardly, a heavy presence stirred behind me.
"Groooan..."
"Oh, worthy of the Pirate King's son. I was debating fetching Asclepius if you didn't snap out of it."
His energy spent, the Cyclops trembled as he barely propped himself up into a sitting position. He stared at me in disbelief.
Damn, even sitting, he loomed over us.
What kind of genes did the gods have to spawn giants like this?
As I pondered the link between divine mysteries and modern genetics, focus returned to his vacant single eye.
"Po..."
"Po?"
I waited patiently for whatever he'd say next, but he started sweating bullets again.
-Boom!
He slammed his head into the ground.
The impact nearly toppled Akis; my feet even lifted slightly—no need to mention that.
Anyway, after the sudden kowtow, he bellowed like thunder.
"Po-Poseidon's son, Cyclops Polyphemus, greets the great one!"
"...Huh?"
"The divine might that toyed with this body—Poseidon's bloodline—like a child! This one eye sees your overwhelming presence! You must be kin from the lofty heights of Olympus!"
I'd pegged him as a spoiled brat relying on brute strength and Poseidon's backing.
But beyond that sturdy body, he had sharp wits and keen instincts, belying his brutish looks.
"Hoo...? Not bad instincts."
In his brief greeting, he'd flattered me while subtly boasting his stamina and internal energy, emphasizing Poseidon's favor as his father.
Naturally drawing my attention.
The cradle of civilization, huh.
Even mid-boss randos outclass Cao Cao's sons in base specs.
Chop off an arm, and you'd get a seven-treasure pagoda for free.
"Nice to meet you, Cyclops Polyphemus."
"Th-The honor is mine!"
"But by what right do you meddle in the bonds I've forged on Aphrodite's behalf, at Poseidon and Amphitrite's request?"
My words made the prostrated giant flinch violently.
"Y-Yes...?"
"I mean it. Let me introduce myself first. The one who shared drinks with the Sea King and traded spears,
Ares's drinking buddy,
Hermes's confidant,
Queen Hera's personal performer, and..."
I casually lifted my sleeve, revealing a new bracelet.
A chain forged from true silver and adamantium bore an engraved owl with spread wings at its center.
"Athena's Archon. They call me Dianes."
Seeing the bracelet on my arm, Polyphemus's eye widened in shock.
This was Athena's condition for smoothing over the Apollo incident.
If the opponent tries a background flex, you counter with a bigger one and crush them.
The circumstances of getting it were a headache, but whatever—use it when you need it.
* * *
'Th-This is bad...!'
Even living as a shepherd on some remote island, Polyphemus knew what an adamantium bracelet engraved with Athena's symbol meant.
Athena's Archon.
Athena, who held the highest rank in Greece after Zeus, Hera, and the Big Three.
The guardian of Greek order would sometimes bestow a bracelet and authority on a hero to enact her will when order was threatened.
Legends said Perseus borrowed artifacts from countless gods, and Bellerophon bridled Pegasus—Poseidon's grandson—all thanks to her blessing.
To meet Athena's legendary Archon in person.
And in this context, of all things!
'...I'm dead!'
And it wasn't just the Archon title.
The names this dark demigod rattled off were ones where even a false boast could summon lightning on the spot.
Worse, his own father Poseidon and his wedded wife Amphitrite were among them. Polyphemus felt like dying.
'...But!'
Even facing death, a man has lines he can't cross.
Polyphemus gripped his pounding heart, straightened his back, and cleared his throat.
'Plus, this demigod doesn't see me in a totally bad light!'
Those eyes!
Seeing them watch him with eager interest, like urging him to entertain further, instinct flashed like lightning. Polyphemus decided to go all in.
"This Polyphemus dares request one thing of Athena's Archon and great hero Dianes!"
"What?"
'...Yes!'
The hero's smile deepened. Polyphemus inwardly cheered his instinct's accuracy and shouted boldly.
"Judge between this Akis and Polyphemus—which is more worthy of beautiful Galatea's hand!"
In the midst of Dionysus's banquet, under the eyes of all gods and heroes.
Poseidon's son had declared his bold suit, ripples spreading far and wide.