"I'm coming with you!"
Upon hearing that there was still an enemy called 'Fate,' Luo Hao forcefully pushed Roy away, standing up from his embrace and straightening her posture with pride.
Though she was nearly exhausted and powerless, she never shrank back in the face of danger. While such behavior might seem somewhat arrogant and foolish, it was impossible not to admire her, sighing at how she truly lived up to being the sect leader, the ancient China's King of Wuxia.
Roy, while admiring Luo Hao's indomitable spirit, also knew she had little combat strength left. Now, she couldn't even defeat a single Heretic God, let alone the deity who controlled Fate—the mastermind behind it all. It was simply impossible.
Roy carefully chose his words, softening his tone as he said, "...Sister, why not wait here for my return?"
"Do you look down on me, Luo Hao, thinking I no longer have the strength to fight?"
Luo Hao glared at Roy angrily.
Roy very much wanted to say that was exactly what he thought, but he managed to hold back. Otherwise, before he could even deal with the God of Fate, he might end up fighting Luo Hao right here.
The sect leader's stubbornness was both infuriating—like now—and endearing, such as in battle, where her tenacity ensured she would fight to her last breath, never abandoning her comrades.
Not long ago, in the battle against three Heretic Gods, Luo Hao had pushed past her limits, swiftly eliminating them at the cost of severe injuries, ensuring they wouldn't interfere with Roy's fight against the Last King. It was her sacrifice that secured their victory.
Had the Last King joined forces with his three subordinates, unleashing their full power, Roy wouldn't have even been able to use Human Order Incineration Protocol, let alone Holy Right, before being killed.
After dealing with the three Heretic Gods, Luo Hao had forced herself to use secret techniques, aiding Roy in his struggle against the Last King despite her grievous wounds. Faced with such devotion, Roy found it impossible to resent her stubbornness now.
Roy briefly considered knocking Luo Hao unconscious—the simplest solution—but he knew if he dared, their eventual reconciliation would come only after a bitter fight once she woke up.
As Roy agonized over how to persuade Luo Hao to stand down, Athena quietly appeared behind her. Summoning her "Aegis of Medusa," she struck the sect leader's head with the shield. Already weakened from the expended secret techniques and her injuries, Luo Hao collapsed without even a chance to react.
Yet even unconscious, her body instinctively used the last remnants of her magical energy to keep herself afloat on the sea's surface. Remarkably, she didn't fall—she remained standing, unconscious but upright. This unyielding pride and dignity somehow evoked a pang of tenderness in those who saw her.
Luo Hao's flower-like beauty softened as her breathing steadied—a subconscious recovery technique to heal her wounds and replenish her energy. Such details revealed just how many battles this warrior had weathered in her lifetime.
"I know what's on your mind, but you're afraid of causing a rift with her. So let me take the initiative to knock her out for you. Even if she wakes up, she'll only come after me, not you."
As if sensing Roy's stunned expression, Athena flashed him a radiant smile.
"Truly, Athena knows me best. You actually figured out I wanted to knock her unconscious."
Roy shook his head, exhaled, and gave Athena a thumbs-up.
Seeing this, Athena grew even more smug. "...Having spent so much time with you, while I wouldn't claim to read your every thought, I've come to understand your way of thinking... Besides, unlike this woman who refuses to recognize what's good for her and remains stubborn even now—such a woman is simply laughable, not even comparable to Aphrodite."
Athena still maintained her adult form at this moment. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, adorned with a beautiful wreath. Her slender figure was draped in an ancient Greek priestly robe, beneath which her snow-white legs and flawless jade-like skin exuded an alluring charm. Her exquisitely beautiful face was utterly mesmerizing.
Her gaze seemed to say to Roy, 'See? I'm the one who understands you best. Come praise me!'—which amused Roy greatly.
"Yes, my Athena is the most understanding and perceptive!"
"Pah! Who's your Athena?!"
The goddess's cheeks flushed as she lightly scoffed, but her night-like eyes shimmered with hidden delight. She practically glowed with happiness, her smile turning even more bewitching.
Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, had once said Athena had developed true feelings. Though Athena vehemently denied it, she knew Aphrodite was right—only her pride as a goddess prevented her from admitting she'd fallen for the Demon King.
"Oh, and there's this one too!"
Athena seemed to recall something. With a wave of her hand, an owl soared up from beneath the sea's surface. Clutched in its massive talons was a girl of about thirteen or fourteen—Guinevere.
The Last King and Lancelot had both returned to myth, but the Divine Ancestor, having already lost her divinity, could no longer rejoin the myths. Roy hadn't expected this Divine Ancestor Queen to survive the earlier battle's aftermath, yet by sheer luck, she had.
However, Guinevere wasn't in the best condition—breathing heavily, clearly severely injured.
Upon seeing Roy, the Divine Ancestor Queen didn't cry out. Instead, she gave him a complicated look and said in a voice both clear and hoarse: "...Perhaps this is for the best. The King was already exhausted. Letting him rest is a fitting end. Lord Roy, Guinevere is now your prisoner. Do with me as you will."
Roy stroked his chin as he studied Guinevere. Like Asherah and Aphrodite, she had taken on the appearance of a petite thirteen or fourteen-year-old after becoming a Divine Ancestor, yet carried a mature aura. Her platinum hair framed a youthful, enticing face—a rare beauty in her own right.
Guinevere had shed her identity as the ancient goddess. Now, she was simply Guinevere—the nominal wife of King Arthur in legend, though theirs had been a marriage in name only.
After Guinevere spread the Arthurian legends during the Middle Ages, King Arthur had effectively become a Heretic God. Since Roy had already cuckolded even Veeraj, he didn't mind doing the same to King Arthur one more time.
Thinking this, Roy spoke up: "...Athena, first help treat her wounds. Don't let her die, then return to Rome first. After I deal with the 'God of Fate,' I'll consider how to handle her."
Though Roy said this, Athena had long since discerned what this man's so-called "handling" entailed—nothing more than having the three Divine Ancestors, Guinevere, Asherah, and Aphrodite, serve him together. However, she didn't call him out on his little scheme and felt no reaction whatsoever. Compared to the deeds of her mythological father, Roy was practically a saint.
"Then this maiden shall await your triumphant return in Rome!"
Athena gave a slight nod and summoned several owls once more, seizing Luo Hao, Annie, and Guinevere before vanishing into starlight in the blink of an eye.
Watching Athena depart, Roy took a deep breath and stepped forward, heading straight for the "Netherworld."
Compared to the Last King, the "God of Fate" would be much easier to deal with.
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