"Fine, I won't touch you…I won't touch you." Adam hurriedly withdrew his fingers, Lena's analysis caused his gaze to become gloomy.
According to Lena the damage done to her spine had rendered her completely immobile. That's to say that from this day on, Athena would always be a cripple! For a lofty goddess, who resided in the heavens to be reduced to this. Adam's heart couldn't help but bleed for her.
And indeed the light in Athena's eyes was fractured and broken. Adam could feel a heavy air of despair emanating from her body.
"Lena, can you help her?"
"No my lord. As I've previously stated, divine physiology is too complex for even myself. I'm afraid healing her is beyond me.
She won't be of any use as she is. I sugget leaving her here until you find a way out of this place."
"No. We may not have any close ties to eachother, but how could I just leave her here—"
At this moment, Athena's gaze silently drifted towards Adam, her lips moved slightly, and she spoke weakly. "My fate is sealed . . .there is nothing you can do . . .you can leave."
Having truly accepted her fate, Athena said these words without any hesitation or reluctance. Her every word was suffused with the will to die.
This scene prodded the deep wounds within Adam's heart. In the era he lived, he'd powerlessly watched several of his loved ones die in his arms without being able to save them. He was helpless then and now he was even more helpless now.
He understood Athena's despair:To fall from being a heavenly goddess to a cripple was far too cruel an experience. Even is she returned. . . would her fellow Olympians respect her? Would her servants and mortal followers look at her the same way? But ...how could he.. .accept it just like that!!??
A decisive light flashed through his eyes, and he immediately took Athena's soft, helpless body into his arms despite her protest and growled. "Shut up! I do not care that you were once a powerful Olympian with a pristine and a untouched body! Nor I do I care about your newfound wish to die. You're the one who dragged me into this mess and I'm not letting you get out of it so easily."
Athena had never heard been spoken to in such a disrespectful way. Then she felt her body be firmly embraced, and her eyelashes trembled faintly. Anger and humiliation began to build within her heart that had remained indifferent for a long time. And there was something else building. . .some other indescribable emotion she could not name. . .
But before long, the slight agitation in her eyes dispersed and they once again covered in the dull grey sheen of despair.
Adam carefully scouted the dark world around him. The darkness was entirely pitch black and he could hear no sound for miles, but oddly enough he could feel something beckoning him forward.
But as he took another step, another flood of pain seared his nerves and he froze him in place. His body trembled and he roughly gasped several mouthfuls of air as he fought to keep himself upright.
But at this moment, suddenly, a cold, ancient voice slowly spoke out from the space in fornt him.
"The curse I created…I never thought another would use it even after my death. It seems I wasn't mistaken; something grave is happening in the world above."
This sudden unknown presence caused tense up and brace himself. "Who…who is there!!??"
"Young mortal, you do not need to be afraid. I am only the merest wisp remaining of the soul of the deceased Titan god Hyperion that gaurds his final will. I will bring you to no harm." The ancient voice sounded once more.
It was cold and imperious and caused the air to faintly tremble.
"Titan god… Hyperion?" Adam lifted his head and looked deeply into the space infront of him. Lena spoke with his mind, supplying the information he did know know. "Hyperion was a first generation Titan and the Titan of the east; The lord of divine fire and heavenly light. He was the right hand of the Titan king Cronus when he ruled in the golden age!
But eons later, when the Titans were defeated Zeus and his generation of gods, their physical bodies were destroyed and what remained of them was cast into the deepest pit of Tartarus. If this is really the vestage of Hyperion—"
A pillar of golden fire descend onto the space in front of Adam before Lena could finish. It's radiance so bright, it nearly blinded him as it blew apart the surrounding darkness.
[WHOOOOMMMMM]
Horrible laughter filled the space around Adam as the flame took on a vague form—the fiery outline of a man.
"You.. are really what remains of a Titan?" Adam lifted his gaze to look into the entities glowing golden and asked.
"Why, of course," the burning entity said, as if explaining something to a child.
"Why did you appear in fornt of us? What do you want?"
"Why to tear Olympus down and annihilate the gods. To tear Zeus apart myself and to make him experience the unending agony that has plagued my soul all these years!
But that isn't the question you should have asked me. Rather you should have asked me if I had a way to remove the curse on your body and heal the goddess in you arms."
Adam sharply rasied his head. Something akin to hope appearing in his eyes. "What did you say? Is… Is what you said true?"
Then he said to Athena with an excited voice. "Did you hear that? He claims to be able to heal injuries! I know this situation isn't ideal, and he may not be trustworthy, but at the very least. . . This is better than nothing, isn't it?"
Athena's eyes which had been closed for a while now quietly fluttered open and the despairing broken light contained within her pupils lifted just a little.
"Please, spirit of Hyperion, help us if you can. I'm willing to give you anything in exchange, willing to pay any price."
The flaming spirit immediately burst into a loud bout of raucous, mocking laughter. "Athough I am able to help you. You and I are not related to eachother in anyway and I owe you nothing. The goddess in your arms is daughter of my hated enemy. I have no reason to help you, unless. . .."
"Unless what?"
"Unless you can survive my trial, take on my resentment, and promise to exact my vengeance! Then, I will do everything I can to help you. Otherwise, I don't have any obligations to do you this kindness."
"Okay!"
Immediately after Hyperion's remnant spirt finished speaking, Adam nodded immediately without the slightest hesitation: "I accept your trial!"
What a joke!
His body was cursed and ailing; plagued by torturous and unending pain whiles Athena who'd been transported here with him had sunk into an abyss of despair and carried a death wish.
Their situation was already as dire as it could be, so what reason did he have to second geuss?
"Haha yes, very good." The spirit began to laugh: "But there really is no need for you to agree so quickly.
My trial is not a test of strength, but a test of innate ability, willpower, and raw determination. Rather than a trial, a more honest way of describing it would be to say that it is a deathtrap.
For only an exceptionally powerful will and soul can hope to overthrow the dynasty of the gods.
And once you enter the trial, there are only two possible outcomes. One, is to pass the trial and obtain my aid, respect and recognition. And the other...."
"Is death!"
"There is no failure here, there is only success or death!"
"Even so, do you dare take on my trail?" Hyperion asked slowly.
Adam glanced once at Athena, and nodded strongly. Despite Hyperion's scathing words, his voice was still resolute: "Yes!"
"Very well then, mortal. You are already within the trial grounds. The moment I dissappear from your sight the trial will begin. You have ten breaths until that time.
In the meantime I advise you to give up on your goddess friend here. Though you wish to help her, she will only serve as a burden to you.
The trial will be difficult enough on your own, if you insist on bring her along and protecting her, you will not survive."
"Don't… mind… me... Leave . .. me… be…" Athena's eyelids faintly trembled, and her voice was extremely feeble.
Afam bent down, and whispered gently into her ear: "I know its a long shot but there really is hope for you and me. Do not fret, I wont let you come to any harm!."
" I… don't need… your… protection…" Athena's lips quivered, and every word she spoke greatly exhausted her.
"You have no say in this matter!" Athena let out a soft whimper as Adam hoisted her up against his chest: "You are no longer the powerful Olympian goddess who lorded over the world. Now you are a weak, defenseless woman who cant even walk on her own.
Until you regain your strength, your everything will be decided by me!"