Chapter 179
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Practical Compression Training
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"Why me?"
"Eh?!"
I honestly couldn't figure out what this guy was basing his confidence on, asking me of all people to be the judge.
Breaking it down point by point, there was no reason for me to watch him and that other fool rolling around, fighting over who was Galatea's lover.
"You two are the ones sticking together because you like each other. What right do I have to judge who's the lover and who isn't?"
No, seriously.
Sure, I'd set the stage, but Galatea and the other daughters of Oceanus choosing their own partners and sitting with them? That was entirely their decision.
It wasn't something for me to butt in and yap about.
"To put it bluntly, if those two like each other, what business is it of yours?"
"Wha—what do you mean? I proposed to Galatea first! Even Father Poseidon approved it!"
Hah, Greek etiquette has really hit rock bottom.
What, is she some fish in the market to be claimed first-come, first-served? Screaming about proposing first?
"And look! Compared to that scrawny wimp with nothing but a body to his name, I'm big and strong! I've got wealth aplenty! And above all, as the proud son of Poseidon, isn't it only natural that I become the beautiful Galatea's mate?"
Polyphemus, clearly not expecting me to push back like this, was sweating bullets as he rattled off his self-praise and background.
But did he know?
That pathetic PR of his was only stoking my anger further.
"Hey, this won't do. Time for a beating."
"Huh?"
Doubting if he'd heard right, his single eye stared at me, and I repeated it clearly, syllable by syllable.
"I said, let's have a little fight."
Dianes (former Heavenly Demon, demigod candidate, current half-god half-man), age 24.
A devout romantic at heart.
From time immemorial, males had competed for females, but trying to steal another man's woman through external power rather than one's own charm was utterly despicable.
And from my perspective, the one who'd paired them up and felt proud watching the cute couple? How could I just stand by while this cyclops tore them apart?
Besides, Neri, who was like a little sister to him and whom he cherished dearly, wouldn't stay quiet if she saw this.
"Wh-why?"
"Think of it as your Uncle here trying to keep Poseidon Bro's son alive."
Love triangles have their limits.
Especially when the woman is Galatea.
The Sea Queen's sister, leader of the Thousand-Wave Sisters Squadron, and the royal big sis who'd practically raised Neri!
No matter that he was Poseidon's son—if this guy kept pushing Galatea and something went wrong, the Sea Queen would charge onto land with twin blades drawn.
No, she'd definitely come.
Look at him—his temper flaring, that hand sneaking toward his stone club.
As I stared silently, he noticed my gaze and the hand meekly withdrew.
"What? Wanna test me?"
"N-no, it's not... that..."
"Put it down. Now."
His insolence meter was already at +1, buddy.
The brute who'd been aggressively shoving Acis around was nowhere to be seen; now he trembled like death itself stood before him.
A textbook case of the strong bullying the weak and cowering before the strong—pathetic third-rate villain material.
Yet even so, I couldn't help feeling a spark of interest watching Polyphemus.
'This guy's getting more interesting the more I look.'
Decent instincts, a subtle stubbornness, and the restraint not to cross lines in the heat of the moment—essential qualities for any martial artist.
And a one-eyed giant straight out of myth? Even if it wasn't me, any martial world denizen would want to take their time "cooking" him.
"I-I'm the son of Poseidon! No matter how close you are to the gods, as Athena's magistrate, you know she and Poseidon don't get along!"
"Strength, money, and now pulling rank? You've got nothing but the worst traits."
Interest aside, that warped mindset from head to toe needed fixing—with fists if necessary.
Theseus was the same; guys with nothing going for them always fell back on their backing at the end.
Maybe smash his head into the ground first.
I'd just decided to kick off when a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
"Acis?"
"Di-Dianes. Hold on a sec."
Acis stopped me, then with a resolved expression, said this out of nowhere:
"I ask you too! Please judge between me and Polyphemus—who's more worthy to be Galatea's lover!"
...What the hell is this now?
"Did you even hear a word I said?"
I might need to drill some sense into this one's head too.
As I sighed in disbelief, Acis leaned in close to my ear and whispered:
"Even if you drive Polyphemus off with your power now, that cyclops won't give up on Galatea."
"Probably not...?"
He was the type to eye the situation and try brute force to the bitter end, even knowing he couldn't win.
His words and behavior screamed he'd bide his time now and strike later.
"Then isn't it better to make him give up for good in a situation where you can help? You can do it, right? For Galatea's sake, please!"
"Hmm..."
Acis had a point—solid logic.
Unless I outright snapped his neck, that cyclops would keep hounding Acis and Galatea relentlessly.
And if something went wrong? The fallout wouldn't stop at that couple—it could splash back to me, the Love House host.
Far better to settle it so he never approaches Galatea again.
'Oh. Wait... If I do this, then that, it could turn into...?'
"...Dianes?"
Something pretty entertaining was shaping up.
My overheated brain from piled-up work had just flashed with peak amusement potential, so I nodded quietly.
"Would you do anything for Galatea?"
Feeling the ominous vibe in my serious question, Acis's face stiffened.
But the handsome demigod soon nodded with resolute eyes.
"Yes! I want to become a hero who can stand proudly before Galatea."
...Good. Very good.
The pure scent of devoted love.
The aroma of carnage I adored.
"Don't regret it."
"That's how it went down. From today, repeat after me: 'We're dead meat.'"
The fifty warriors lined up neatly before me.
Dressed lightly, each with a single sword at their side, they stared blankly up at me.
"Thanks for the sponsorship, Ares Bro."
"Heh, a deal's a deal? You're really gonna show me an epic brawl?"
Standing tall on the high podium like a Roman emperor overlooking the warriors.
Behind me, the crimson-haired war god slung an arm over my shoulder.
"Of course. Don't you know real fights are dogfights?"
"Dogfights?"
"The best ones are called skylomakhia in Greek."
"Ah! Kugh, you get it!"
Skylomakhia—the Greek term for dogfight.
Ares slapped his forehead in admiration.
Knew you'd love it.
This was the Chamber of Time and Spirit.
Otherwise known as Ares's divine realm—an endless colosseum.
Using the excuse of Dionysus's feast to buy some time, I'd dragged Acis here and assembled the Jason family.
Then begged a drunk Ares rolling in the nearby woods to lend me his realm, where I'd crashed for nearly a year, to gather the Argonauts.
"By request of my sworn brother, the great fighter Dianes, I've lent my divine realm. Show me warriors worthy of the name! Got it!?"
-Yes, sir!!
"M-my god. Is that really Ares?"
"O Zeus... This isn't a dream, is it?"
"...Glad I got up ready to die that day."
The fifty-odd, including Jason, had been dragged here clueless, but Ares's towering encouragement left them thrilled beyond words.
Yeah, soak it up now.
You'll be crying soon enough.
I wondered how they'd fare after my long-planned Heavenly Demon Divine Cult practical compression training.
"Hey, you really pitting that skinny punk against Uncle's daughter? How you handling the aftermath?"
"With the God of War lending a hand like this, those guys'll figure it out if they've got brains.
Poseidon's covered separately—no worries."
The outcome's direction lay elsewhere anyway, so no godly outrage or extra trouble.
If Poseidon stubbornly sided with his son, I'd have to pull out ultimate: Execution Summon.
"Just sit back and enjoy the show. The training scenes'll be a treat too."
"Kuhuhu, damn right. Turning my divine realm into a training ground—what a clever idea."
Musclehead battle maniac or not, Ares was Zeus's eldest son, one of Olympus's Twelve Olympians.
I wasn't dumb enough to invoke personal ties for his realm.
Offered something he'd love instead, and luckily, it hit the mark.
"Anyway, enjoy the show."
[Grrr... It's starting!]
-BOOM!
I unleashed divine demon energy, and Reverse Heaven Void ballooned instantly, enveloping me and Ares in a swirl.
"Oho? Stylish! Eye candy!"
"Huuuugh...!"
Sword, spear, staff, axe, bow—etc.
Ares cheered as divine demon energy shifted through a thousand forms in seconds, but I had no time to respond, pouring all focus into control.
A moment later.
Feeling it solidify as intended, I whooped involuntarily.
"...Done!"
-Thud!
With that, fifty-odd black shadows emerged from the darkness.
Wearing wide-brimmed hats and fluttering black robes, pitch-black from head to toe—like shadows rising to life.
"Wh-what the hell?"
"N-not human. Magic?"
The sudden bizarre figures surrounding us and Ares had them buzzing, but we just eyed my summons with keen interest.
"Cool stuff. Like cloud clones, but the divine power and force density is worlds apart. Almost like Bro's golden maidens?"
"First try, but it worked better than expected... Whew!"
Rigid Qi Humanoids—ones I'd occasionally made in my past life when needing qi guards.
Recreated here via divine power and magic.
But unlike mere doppelgangers or simple clones...
[Heh heh heh, good, very good!]
The central command was me and Reverse Heaven Void.
In other words, these fifty rigid qi humanoids were clones copying my exact enlightenment—each matching an incarnation-level martial artist, if not quite my full self.
The power to create incarnations, normally requiring transcendence to manifestation realm.
Elevated further via divine demon energy.
Usually too draining for the main body unless down two or three bodies.
But this myth era's overflowing spirit energy and divine power made it possible.
"Alright, let's begin."
At my gesture, the fifty clones sprouted swords from their hands and charged, each targeting a warrior.
-Waaagh!
"Wh-what is... Gahk!?"
"Zetes!?"
"Aaaah! J-Jason!"
Like wolves pouncing on sheep, the clones breached formations in seconds, felling warriors left and right.
"C-calm down! Form up... Ngh!"
-Clang!
[....]
"Wh-what the hell!"
Jason desperately rallied them into formation, but even he was busy blocking blades at his throat.
The carnage began.
The prelude to the Twelve Divine Demon Forms practical compression training.