Merlin had always been clear about the fact that magic had no real limitations except for one's own abilities, but I was continuously trying to find logic behind all my spells limiting my imagination and as a consequence, their strength.
Reaching such a conclusion in the critical fight I was locked in, was truly a godsend gift.
As the big cat pounced on me, I dismissed my garden and blinked as high in the sky as possible, having an idea didn't mean I'd be able to replicate it immediately.
Focusing on the image of the illusory flowers floating and following me wasn't enough. I needed to make sure they wouldn't just float and follow me, I needed them to keep up with my movement and continuously heal me.
I thought of directly make them bloom on my body, but I was afraid that would be too much even for me to imagine.
My brain was working at full force spitting images to reference from until finally I had an idea.
I could fake being and angel!
A crown of flowers levitating above my head like an halo but still connected to me through being part of my being.
Then came the magic circle, although it was true that magic was limitless, I needed the correct language to bring it to reality. Taking the [garden of illusory flowers] circle as I base, I forced my brain to think in runic through my trait [babel tower] and looked for the correct tunes to add to the circle; it took some time but I managed to incorporate the runes for [bindind] and [divinity] into the circle without it collapsing.
All that was left now to do, was to cast the spell.
Garden of illusory flowers!
Initially, the sky was covered by blooming flowers dispersing everywhere, then they rapidly started rotating around me, compress themselves and finally creating a beautiful crown of flowers from Avalon was levitating like an halo just above my head releasing a soft light and filling my body with healing power rapidly mending every part of my broken body.
[congratulation, new spell added to your grimoire]
[Crown of Avalon: spell of the nature path of magic, grants extreme regeneration to the body of the caster.
Restrictions: stigma "Will of Nature"]
With newfound resolve and excitement, I was ready to engage the beast once again.
I coated my fists with Archana and carrying the momentum from the fall I blinked above the Golden kings head sending a fierce punch his way. We made contact and the beast was thrown off by my strength, he clearly didn't imagine my seconds prior battered body to be able to produce such strength, but I knew it was useless.
Sure I could heal myself rapidly, but the Archana consumption of this new form of my garden was extreme to say the least.
I needed a big shot. Something that could kill the already injured monster in one hit. But my spells were off limits, just as my weapon.
I can't punch him endlessly, I will be depleted of Archana before killing him and at that point I' be done for.
Engaging again in fight with the lion with my now free mobility I was able to put another electric needle on his back.
One on the head, one on the tail, this better be enough.
Keeping up with the magical beast was starting to get harder and harder, cuts and broken flesh were being healed at rapid a rapid pace, but I needed to finish this.
How? What the fuck can I do? It's not like I can borrow Father's authority over thunder.
But did I need to? My Archana had already developed and incredible amount of electric attribute from that incident, my understanding of lightning was great, why couldn't I just…?
I started to focus all the Archana I wasn't using to keep up my crown, on my hand, guiding it to perfectly coat every cell of my skin multiple times, pressing lightning together continuously concentrating its strength in a single point of contact.
Of course the lion didn't just let me do my thing and started to shoot me with rock bullets.
Trying to read the mana flow to predict trajectories, maintaining my healing spell and creating my next move all simultaneously, was pure torture for my brain.
Multiple times during the entire process I thought I'd die just from the strain. But now I was ready.
My fist radiated a brilliant blue energy.
My crown softly giving off a lime green light.
I was ready.
Imitating the footwork I'd use with my spear art I approached the lion with a series of feints, I was replicating the 2nd form of my art with my fists.
Allégro.
With the decisive strike I hit the Golden King straight in his jaws.
All the Archana I had concentrated in my fist exploded outwards with a powerful lightning striking my enemy and bouncing to and from the different needles I had previously placed on my enemy.
RUMBLE
Thunder was dancing freely in the now dark sky and as soon as my prey fell lifeless on the ground, my crown exploded as I was unable to keep everything going anymore.
A myriad of flower were released and scattered in the sky seemingly wanting to unite with the thunder.
That night, Avalon and the Olympus were rejoicing and holding hands for the first time in history.
As I was watching the beautiful show in front of me I noticed the presence of someone approaching.
Hali with a bunch of my men had come to rescue me.
Ha, they sure are late.
And with that thought lingering in my mind, I finally lost consciousness under the starry sky.
_____________________
-Hali's POV-
I honestly couldn't believe what I had seen. If it wasn't for that man's comrades boasting about how strong their Second Commander was, I would have certainly thought all this was just a bad joke.
Dimitris, wearing a flowery crown that seemed to come from another world destroyed the monster I didn't even think of approaching, alone. With such a powerful lightning that if there was still someone doubting he was the rightful son of The Lightning Bringer they would be deemed crazy on the spot.
[he actually did it.]
"What do you mean father?"
[I was getting tired of Zeus boasting about his new son and challenged him to make him kill the Nemean Lion barehanded. Sure it's not the level of Heracles, but the effect might bite me back.]
I stayed silent. The state Dimitris was in right now was an after effect of the challenge my father brought upon him.
Maybe Dimitris was right in saying my father wanted him dead…
[It's not what you're thinking. I would have brought you here to finish the already heavy wounded Lion and save his life at the last moment. You like that man right?]
I put the comment my father made in the back of my head and still blushing I ordered his men.
"Let's just take him to his master… pick up the lion, it's his rightful spoils."
When the order was issued, Dimitris' men started fighting for who had the right to take him, but since no Odysseus or Eurylochus were around, of course I wouldn't let anyone get to him. I sprinted before the shocked sight of his men and picked him up carrying him on my back.
Damn he's big.
Blush was creeping again on me at the thought of being so close to Dimitris, but then a man named Menelaus shattered all my daydreams.
"Ehm… miss Hali, I think for your own safety is better if one of us brings the second commander back… Even if the captain is unconscious, Eurylochus will certainly kill you on the spot."
"Fuck, can't have shit in your fucking ship. Sure, get him."
Leaving Dimitris body to a now beaming with happiness Menelaus I thought for a second that he might have tricked me, but then again… better safe then sorry.
______________________
-Dimitris' POV-
As I opened my eyes back on the ship, I found myself lying next to Odysseus, a multitude of notifications and an astonished Merlin looking at me with confusion.
"You know what? I'm not even gonna ask. That crest sure is useful to make you recuperate so fast."
[quest completed: confer with the commissioner for your reward.]
[incredible feast accomplished: defeat a mythical beast stronger then you; spirit essence of the Nemean lion granted.]
"Fuck, I still feel like shit."
"Of course you do. Do you even realise what you just did? You killed a mythical beast, the same one Heracles did, with a huge difference: he was stronger then you when he did it."
"Damn did he really go through those 12 labours here?"
Merlin slapped his face.
"THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE!"
"I know, I just needed to ease the tension. My body may be fine, but my brain is still fried."
"Just tell me everything, I'll get you some tea."
"Master, you are a life saviour."
"Yea yea, spill the beans now."
I then started my faithful report especially focusing on my use of the [garden of illusory flowers] and the final blow that took everything I had.
When I finished Merlin was just smiling bitterly.
"You know Dimitris? When you told me about the quest I honestly thought Zeus was pulling a stunt on you to humble you a little, even though there really was no need. I'm shocked you were able to accomplish this feat with your wits more so than your strength. A real mage indeed."
Those little words of affirmation meant the world to me. Ever since I was forced into this world, along with every challenge there always was someone recognising my effort.
"Thank you…"
"You're welcome. Now what do you want to do with your spoils?"
"Oh… what can be done?"
"Well I can commission someone to make clothing with the mane of the lion, armor with the skin and you should have gotten the spirit essence of the lion right? It's not one of my circles, but earth was my 3rd circle, I'm sure we can do something with it."
"Can the clothing be a little more modern…?"
"Yes, what about the armor? Full set for you?"
I look at Odysseus who was still unconscious beside me but didn't give an answer.
"Gotcha, 2 upper body armor for you and Odysseus."
"Thanks."
"Sure, now please talk to your daddy, he wants to give you a spear."
I was stunned a second, but then I remembered that the quest had indeed a spear as a prize.
I got up from the bed and went to my cabin for a little privacy, it also felt extremely uncomfortable to talk to someone nobody else could hear or see.
"Father, I completed the mission."
[You did. Splendidly so.]
"Thank you."
[Tell me Dimitris, what spear would you like? A replica of Astrape maybe?]
"I wouldn't dare."
I took out the jade bident and the training spear I had been using since now.
"Is it possible to have something similar to these? I also quite like the bident, I think it's perfect for my level of mastery over lightning Archana…"
[sacrifice them to me. I'll have something made especially for you using them both.]
I snapped my fingers and fire enveloped both the spears sending them to the Olympus.
[You achieved something incredible today, be proud of yourself. You gave honour to my name.]
"Thank you father."
[Dimitris, I'll have your spear ready in a few days. Keep up the good work.]
I said my goodbyes and with newfound motivation I was ready to challenge myself even harder. This feeling, being part of a family, was something I deeply wanted and needed and nothing would take it away from me.
Exiting the cabin I found Eurylochus and Hali fighting for unknown reasons, but my mood couldn't be swayed so I approached them with the after effect of the recognition I had just experienced and inquired what was going on.
"And how the fuck are you already up and kicking after what you've been through?!"
"You wretched woman! How dare you talk this way to the Second Commander?!"
I just raised my hand and stopped them.
"Hali. That is not an answer to the question I made, explain or get the fuck out of my way."
It seemed that Hali had tried to recruit Eurylochus to come and save me, but he refused saying my direct order was to protect Odysseus and Merlin, that's also why they got back to me late.
"Good job Eurylochus, perfect judgment. I knew I could trust you."
My friend puffed his chest and was ready to leave when I stopped him.
"Now, since I'm back and I still need to recuperate, why don't the 2 of you have a challenge?"
Fire ignited in their eyes and I knew I had hooked them.
"I'm sure there's still plenty of prey in the island, let's see who can get more game, but let's also put some ground rules. Hali, since Eurylochus doesn't have an internal space you are forbid to use yours; only one beast must be brought back at the time, no stacking of 2 or 3 beasts at the time Eurylochus."
Both of them had fire lit in their soul, I just needed a little more fuel and this island was as good as conquered.
"As a prize for the winner… I'll answer any kind of question, only one thought, what do you say?"
Upon hearing my proposition, both of their eyes sparkled like stars and simultaneously shouted with all they had.
"CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!"