(~˘▾˘)~~(˘▾˘~)
======
Within the fortress of steel and cement,
A long-haired man with distinct Egyptian features, holding a glass of red wine, gazes down at his base where soldiers are patrolling ceaselessly.
In just a short year, Ishmael's life has drastically changed from his previous days of leading his men to hide in XZ. Now, he has transformed from a small warlord into the actual ruler of his homeland, Kahndaq.
All of this was bestowed upon him by one person, but he couldn't feel any happiness, frowning tightly.
Footsteps sound from behind, and an old man with a commanding presence and weathered face, leaning on a gentleman's cane, walks slowly.
Facing a warlord who controls a nation within the base, he walks like a monarch strolling through his palace.
"Worried about your country?" he asks.
"Your Majesty."
Upon hearing the voice, Ishmael turns calmly, offering a slight bow and showing a hint of surprise on his face.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the celebration banquet in Kovick, commemorating the victory of the Kahndaq and the conquest of thousands of square kilometers of territory?"
The man before him is the most formidable supporter behind the Kovick warlord, and Kovick and Kahndaq are locked in a closely matched struggle.
"I dislike your mortal banquets," the old man sneered contemptuously.
"Amidst the clinking of wine glasses, despite harboring various calculations, sordidness, darkness, and violence in their hearts, they present themselves as refined and cultured on the surface. That hypocrisy, that weakness, disgusts me."
"For Your Majesty, who has attended the banquets of the Olympian gods, our mortal feasts naturally don't warrant your attention."
Ishmael bowed his head, revealing a scarlet and ferocious scar in the shape of a pentagram on his open shirt.
"Olympus..."
Upon hearing the familiar word, a mocking smile played on the old man's lips, an air of contempt in his eyes.
"Your Highness, I wonder where you found my ancestor's crown."
Ishmael hesitates for a moment, then brings up another matter.
"I've been searching for it but couldn't find it."
"You don't need to know. That place is of no benefit to you."
Ares glanced at him.
Originally, he just randomly incited two nations to start a war, but this small country nestled between the Middle East and Egypt has given him a surprise.
As he was about to find and support a small warlord as usual, this mortal, magic, and demonic essence flowing through his veins, caught him off guard.
"Is it because the Black Adam is sealed there?"
A look of hatred flashed in Ishmael's eyes as he clenched his fist.
Over a thousand years ago, his ancestor King Ahk-Ton ruled over this land. If not for Black Adam, he would have long controlled this nation that rightfully belonged to their lineage.
His ancestor had created a crown through which he made contracts with the six demons of Hell, intending to have their lineage rule the land forever, but Black Adam had destroyed everything.
"Don't think that because you obtained contracts with those six demons, you can beat that mortal chosen by those annoying wizards."
Ares warned him faintly, with a look of disdain on his face.
"You possess the power of the Hell Six, but he wields the abilities of the Egyptian six gods. How can a demon compare to god? Even if he's just a mortal with a fraction of the abilities of a god."
He doesn't care if Ishmael, whom he propped up, considers Kahndaq his possession. Ruling over a mortal's nation is of no interest to him. He is only interested in war—whether Kahndaq or Kovick, they're just playthings to provide him entertainment.
The two nations are like lions and tigers in a colosseum, allowing him to absorb strength and reminisce about his former might.
"You're right, Your Majesty."
Feeling the dissatisfaction emanating from the ancient god who had been praised through the ages, Ishmael shivered and lowered his head.
He knew that this war god feared the release of Black Adam, who first destroyed his own power base and then repelled Kovick, preventing a war between the two nations, thereby ruining his enjoyment.
"After a while, I will let your Kahndaq win once."
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty."
...
Under the bright moonlight, the sea sparkled like scattered silver, and the sound of gentle waves filled the tranquil air.
But this night was destined to be sleepless for many Amazons.
At the watchtower of the palace by the sea, Hippolyta's brow was furrowed with sadness. She had her followers bring two artifacts that had been stored for a long time, and the first among them was a dark golden shield.
"This circular shield is called the Shield of Divine Power."
Diana received the heavy shield, her eyes shining slightly as her fingers traced the classical patterns on the shield's front, radiating like the sun.
Such a beautiful shield, gorgeous yet majestic.
"While it didn't come from the hands of Vulcan, it shares the same material as your Guardian Silver Bracelets – both forged from the metal of the gods."
Hippolyta introduced it to her daughter.
"It's indestructible, capable of protecting you from attacks even by the gods."
The weapons of the gods are all forged from divine metal, and this shield could very well be considered an artifact.
During the day, Hippolyta had proposed to David that if he could achieve an extraordinary feat, slaying the God of War Ares, the Amazons would hail him as a king, much like they revered the gods.
She had later suggested that her daughter, Diana, accompany him.
"After the death of a god, their essence scatters throughout the world, not to be desecrated by mortals. My daughter, the Amazon princess, will aid you and serve as a witness to your slaying of the God of War."
When a god is killed, their body dissipates, leaving no evidence. It must be verified by the princess herself for the Amazons to be convinced.
"My Diana..."
In the moonlight, Hippolyta's gaze was complicated as she touched her daughter's face.
Her daughter had never left the island since birth, living carefree, without participating in any conflicts or real battles.
'To leave the island for the first time and confront the evil and terrifying Ares.'
Moreover, she would be traveling with a powerful and ambitious companion. As a mother, Hippolyta wished she could take her place, but unfortunately, she lacked the strength.
"Don't worry.
Pray for me, Mother."
Touching the shield in her hands, Diana showed no trace of fear. Her spirit was high, and under the moonlight, she looked like a war goddess carved from white jade, exuding a resolute and heroic aura.
"I will return to Themyscira with honor!"
Thinking about battling the powerful God of War from myth, possibly participating in the great cause of killing gods, her whole being was fired up with determination.
"May this shield protect you."
Facing her pure and innocent daughter, Hippolyta sighed inwardly and then solemnly presented another beautiful divine sword.
"This... this is..."
Diana had seen this sword before. The Amazons had even built a tower vault to protect it. It was the most treasured possession of the Amazons that she knew, and no one was allowed near it.
She had never seen this divine sword up close before, and she couldn't help reaching out to touch its cold, hard blade.
"It's called the Sword of Vulcan."
Two serpentine dragons adorned the blade, with ancient and mysterious inscriptions, and the thin blade was sharp enough to cut through hair and iron as if it were clay.
" God of Fire," Hippolyta said. "It's one of the most powerful creations of Hephaestus, the God of Fire. It can cleave through anything in the world."
"Anything?" Diana's eyes sparkled as she thought of the man currently asleep in the palace.
She and her tribe members had exerted all their efforts and hadn't inflicted any harm on him. She wondered if this divine sword could break his defenses.
"It can aid you in slaying Ares."
"Isn't the test of slaying Ares for that man named David?"
Taking the sword, Diana waved it a couple of times, the incredibly sharp blade slicing through the air with a low whistle.
Hearing her mother's words, she looked puzzled.
Earlier in the palace, that man had casually mentioned his name, claiming it was because the Amazon tribe needed to know the name of their future ruler.
His arrogant demeanor, as if the Amazon tribe was already under his control, left a sour taste among the Amazonians.
Hippolyta had her attendants leave after leaving the last artifact.
"Diana, only another god can kill a god!"
Even though the term 'kill' here only referred to expelling a god from the world, it could only be done by another god.
"Although the outsider David is powerful and close to a god, I know very well that he does not have the breath of a god. He is not a god from any civilization on this planet."
"Isn't he doomed to fail then?"
Diana frowned.
"Yes," Hippolyta said. This was an impossible feat.
"So, when the outsider, who invaded Themyscira and arrogantly seeks to conquer us, tries his best to consume some of Ares' power and gets killed by Ares.
My daughter, the Amazon princess, it's up to you to achieve the feat of slaying the God of War."
"Me? But Mother, didn't you just say only another god can kill a god?"
Diana pointed at herself, her confusion evident, her head spinning from her mother's words.
"Diana, this is actually your mission... This sword was given to us Amazons by Zeus himself. It also has another name: 'God Slayer'."
Hippolyta hesitated for a moment before finishing the sentence. It was as if she was caught on a thought, but after a few seconds, her eyes flickered, and her speech became fluid.
"God Slayer?"
"This sword is an exception.
Zeus gave it to us specifically for the strongest warrior of the Amazon tribe to wield, to slay the evil God of War."
...
Having spent a night in the Amazon palace, David felt slightly surprised.
He had let go of Wonder Woman, but the Amazons hadn't attempted another attack while he slept.
'Is it that they disdain such actions, or do they believe they're certain of victory?'
Under the bright morning sun, David's lips curved into a smile.
As Diana was bid farewell by her people and emerged on the island's coast with a new appearance, David raised an eyebrow.
Dressed in warrior attire, crowned with a circlet, wearing battle boots, carrying a sword on her back, and holding a shield, Diana looked like a war goddess about to mount a chariot and ride into the battlefield. People couldn't help but look sideways, their hearts stolen by her heroic aura and beauty.
'Shield of Divine Power, Sword of Vulcan, Hermes' Winged Sandals...
In just one night, she's gained three artifacts.'
David paid slight attention to the Sword of Vulcan.
It was a weapon that could cut through the subatomic level, with limitless power. Even the physical defenses of Kryptonians would be nothing before it. Diana had used it to slice off the arm of Doomsday.
On the beach, Diana felt complicated when catching sight of the man who had a nonchalant demeanor and a handsomeness that resembled the legendary sun god Apollo under the sunlight.
Her mother had told her everything. This man thought he had a chance to conquer the Amazons, but he didn't know, he was destined to lose.
'But...'
Diana turned back, glancing at her mother and her people with expectant eyes.
Why did everything before her feel so familiar?
It was as if from an ancient epic or myth.
'Scheming kings presented seemingly impossible tasks to great heroes—trials more dangerous than words can describe. Like Hercules and his Twelve Labors, Jason and the Golden Fleece, Perseus and Medusa...
They all believed those heroes could never succeed or return alive. Yet, often, the story's ending was...'
After a moment of ominous vision, Diana hesitated and looked back at David. Suddenly, her feelings for the man trying to conquer her people held a trace of regret and pity.
'It won't be enough. This time, the outcome might be different.'
This man didn't know he had already fallen into a trap, didn't know the fate that awaited him.
'As a mortal, he's destined to be unable to slay a god.'
======
(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power-stones!~(˘▾˘~)