After a closer examination, Suren marveled at this divine construct, resembling a "plane." The craftsmanship was beyond words, far surpassing anything humans could achieve, a feat beyond any science or technology.
This was, in fact, a bow—a gigantic bow.
But in both the plentiful resources of this divine era and the advanced technologies of the future, no one would ever think of creating a man-sized flying weapon from gold, fire, and pure light.
This weapon seemed to exist on the border between material and immaterial, glowing faintly like light yet firm enough for Suren to step on without falling.
It was undoubtedly a divine creation, and among the gods, there was one who could forge such an artifact.
Inwardly, Suren couldn't help but think, "Goddess Athena, your care for me knows no bounds."
Indeed, this bow had been forged by Hephaestus, god of the forge, with the help of the three Cyclopes, a gift on par with those given to Zeus himself.
Only Athena could persuade the greatest artisans of divine Greece to collaborate on such a masterpiece.
The three Cyclopes were Zeus's earliest allies; it was they who had crafted his Thunderbolt, Poseidon's Trident, and Hades's Helm of Darkness.
And Hephaestus was repaying a favor he owed Athena: his son, Erechtheus, had been abandoned for his ugliness and left to die, only to be saved and raised by Athena herself, who ultimately crowned him king of Athens.
Add to this Hephaestus's deep admiration for various goddesses—his wife Aphrodite, as well as Athena and even Gaia herself—and it was clear he could not refuse Athena's request, for any reason.
"Athena, this is your blessing to me."
Suren instinctively thanked the goddess and lifted the massive bow, which towered over him by several feet, declaring, "Then I shall name it… Aurum Altissimum, symbolizing the goddess's faith in me!"
"Thank you, Goddess, for your trust. I promise, Suren will not disappoint you!"
Stepping onto Aurum Altissimum, this artifact forged by the god of the forge was both weapon and transportation in one, designed with Suren's abilities in mind.
Though he had trained extensively in Pankration and wrestling, Suren's most formidable skill remained his archery, a talent recognized by the goddess of the hunt herself as second only to the "Silver Bow" Apollo.
While he had only trained a few years under Athena, he had spent over a decade under Cynthia's tutelage, mastering the bow.
As he took flight, the bow's golden, radiant form shimmered, dissolving into pure light as it shot through the sky.
The Aurum Altissimum could be taken to any realm of the gods; it was a marvel of beauty, art, and utility combined.
Though Hephaestus was skilled, it seemed the goddess of art herself, Athena, must have had a hand in the design.
As Suren mused over this, Athena herself appeared beside him.
It had been a year since they last met. Athena had not visited him at all in that time, leaving him to face the monkey king on the island alone.
But here she was, standing gracefully upon Aurum Altissimum, unperturbed by its light wings. Suren wasn't surprised, though; he simply said, "Goddess Athena, thank you for this gift. Is it time to begin the next trial?"
Athena ignored his formalities, simply asking, "Do you like it, Suren? The gift I prepared just for you?"
"Very much," he replied with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity."
There was no way he could lie—no man could resist a gift like this. Suren truly loved this weapon, crafted so meticulously by Hephaestus under Athena's direction.
"As long as you like it, Suren," Athena murmured, her tone and mannerisms identical to the young Pallas he'd come to know. Suren could tell that Athena was once again suppressing her divine presence, making herself as unassuming as possible for his sake.
One cannot look directly upon a god.
A god could shield their divine nature to appear human, but if they revealed their true form, their aura alone would overwhelm any mortal in its presence.
Take Semele, for instance. She was the mortal mother of Dionysus and a lover of Zeus, much to Hera's displeasure.
When Hera sowed doubt in Semele's mind about Zeus's identity, she asked him to reveal his true face. Tragically, she died the instant she saw him, burned by the godly lightning that accompanied his presence.
As the god of thunder, Zeus's aura held the authority of a father and the terror of a king; those too weak would be destroyed instantly.
Athena's aura, by contrast, carried the brilliance of wisdom and the power of righteous war—a noble energy, fierce yet tempered, unlike the bloodthirsty spirit of Ares.
Though Suren's body was nearly immortal and his mind resolute, he couldn't help but feel moved.
Here was an exalted goddess who, despite her right to be free and indifferent, considered every little detail for his comfort. How could he not feel a deep sense of gratitude?
Though he knew he should probably maintain some distance from these mysterious goddesses, Athena's mindful care gave him a complicated feeling, something he couldn't quite name—a blend of gratitude, kinship, and a strange closeness.
"Goddess Athena, now that I've endured the trial of fire and trained in self-defense, what is the next step for me?"
Suren could decide his path on his own. But he had vowed to follow Athena's guidance after accepting the Trial of Heavenly Fire, and so he would keep his word until she chose not to guide him.
"Next, Suren, you will go to Calydon and confront the boar sent by Artemis's wrath."
Athena smiled. "During the harvest festival, Calydon's king neglected to honor the goddess of the hunt. Now, all their bounty will be trampled by her fury."
"Calydon will suffer a barren year."
Athena knew full well the reason for Artemis's temper.
Normally, Artemis's gentler nature would have led her to send nothing more than a harmless little pig as punishment, and she'd even smile, feeling she'd taught the mortals a lesson.
But now, Artemis was separated from the one she loved and could not see Suren until she found a way to break her vow of chastity.
Years of longing and frustration found an outlet in Calydon's king's blunder, unleashing a beast far more menacing—a true divine beast with skin that could not be pierced, tusks sharp as blades, a savage spirit, and a natural thirst for destruction.
Although it fed on thousands of livestock each day, it derived special pleasure from trampling and ruining Calydon's crops.
The punishment was fitting: the king's failure to honor the goddess in a season of harvest would be repaid with a ruined harvest year for Calydon.
Many heroes had already tried to subdue the boar, only to fall to its might. The king, Oeneus, had issued a summons across Greece, and his son Meleager was gathering all the heroes he could find.
A creature born of divine wrath and possessing divine power, the boar could not be felled by just one man.
"But I think the boar isn't the real issue," Suren said with a slight smile. "The true root lies in King Oeneus himself. If he doesn't find a way to appease Artemis, what good will it do even if the boar is slain?"
"That's not for you to worry about."
Athena's eyes glinted with hidden intent. "Handsome Suren, your only task is to deal with the boar. Leave Artemis's wrath to me."
Once Artemis laid eyes on the one she longed for, Athena knew her anger would melt away.
Suren sighed with relief and smiled. "In that case, I'll leave it to you."
He didn't doubt Athena's word; if the goddess of wisdom said so, then it had to be true.
The Calydonian boar?
Pah. With just a little effort, I've already reached the limit of what this era's heroes can do.
To Suren, only the gods were worth his wariness and respect. Among the mortals below Olympus, nothing in this world posed a serious threat.
"…Back in my day, I strolled through life with my hands in my pockets, never knowing a worthy opponent."
"Very well, then—the Calydonian boar will fall by my hand!"
Without a hint of concern for Athena's presence, Suren spoke with unshaken confidence, his words filled with a quiet, invincible pride.
Athena clapped approvingly, her gaze filled with genuine admiration. "Well said, Suren. As a hero blessed by three goddesses, you should carry yourself with such confidence."
"Go forth, my brave and beautiful Suren. Calydon shall be but the first chapter of your journey, only a fleeting vista along the way."
With that, Athena disappeared, leaving Suren once again alone upon his vessel of light—the divine weapon, Aurum Altissimum.
It was Athena who guided him along his path.
And only he was granted the honor of Athena's direct guidance.
As Greece's renowned "Mother of Heroes," Athena had guided many chosen champions on their adventures.
But never had any hero received so many personal visits from the goddess herself, nor such meticulous guidance.
For most heroes, Athena would merely give a hint or point them in a vague direction. But Suren had been granted care and attention beyond anything other heroes could hope for.
"The Calydonian boar…"
Suren murmured to himself. "Very well, I'll deal with this beast that tramples the earth."
"After all, Athena has already assured me that Lady Artemis will forgive me!"
---
Calydon was boiling with resentment.
Ancient Greece wasn't a unified state; it was a region, much like India, filled with many city-states. Although slavery was a common, and admittedly backward, practice, the citizens of each city-state held considerable power and status.
Now, with the Calydonian Boar's rampage, the people of Calydon had suffered tremendous losses—all thanks to their king Oeneus's foolishness in offending the gods.
Calydon's prince, Meleager, held great renown among his people. He was a powerful hero blessed at birth with the prophecy of the Fates that his "life would last as long as a single log of firewood."
His mother, Althaea, had thus hidden that fateful log, known only to herself and kept even from King Oeneus.
This prophecy, however, was a blessing in disguise. As long as that log remained untouched, Meleager's life was safe from all other mortal threats, safeguarded by the Moirai, the Fates themselves.
In a way, Meleager was a pseudo-immortal hero.
Standing before the people of Calydon, Meleager declared solemnly, "I swear to you, I will hunt down the Calydonian Boar. We have assembled some of the finest heroes across Greece—trust us to bring you peace!"
As he spoke, Meleager's gaze fell upon a striking figure in the crowd—a wild, green-haired, cat-eared huntress.
Amid the other "heroes" present, she was an especially unique sight.
This girl, with her vibrant green hair and feline ears, emanated the blessing of the goddess of the hunt. Dressed in a flowing emerald dress and knee-high black boots, she had an air of unshakeable composure, her sharp, cold eyes showing the keen instincts of a seasoned hunter.
Watching her, Meleager felt a growing admiration, thinking to himself, Atalanta… what a beautiful name. They say she's a princess of Arcadia, daughter of Iasus—a match for me in every way…
Though he was quite ordinary in appearance, his thoughts were anything but. Though they had scarcely exchanged a word, he was already imagining their future children, choosing names in his mind.
Leading all these heroes to slay the boar—surely she'll see my worth…
Atalanta, daughter of Iasus and Clymene, had been abandoned as a child, left to die by a father who'd hoped for a son. But Artemis, moved by pity, had ordered a mother bear to care for her, and so Atalanta grew up a fierce, capable hunter in the wilderness.
Naturally, she became a devoted follower of Artemis, spending her days hunting and delighting in her freedom.
And so, Atalanta vowed to the goddess of the hunt and the moon that she would remain forever a maiden.
To her, hunting was far more interesting than men!
Her gaze remained cold and indifferent, her thoughts entirely elsewhere. As for Meleager's evident admiration, she hadn't the faintest notion. She simply thought, Why does this man keep staring at me?
Is it because he doubts my strength as a woman?
Once more, her femininity seemed like an invisible shadow, a reminder of the unfair limits imposed upon her.
With her green eyes lowered, Atalanta's expression turned somber. Even as she grew stronger, able to hunt down centaurs and slay wild beasts, she could never quite escape the shadow of her womanhood.
A bright, youthful voice suddenly broke her reverie. "Have you not set out yet? Then Athena was right—looks like I'm just in time!"
Suren wasn't here to bicker with the less talented, nor would he behave like some zoo animal putting on a show to gain their respect.
Without another word, he invoked Athena's name. That way, no one could give him trouble, for to question him would be to question Athena.
It was a simple but necessary measure. Though ancient Greece was famed for its epic heroes, politics and envy simmered wherever people gathered.
Suren knew all too well that his entrance would make him the center of attention, stirring others' envy.
To invite no jealousy would be a sign of mediocrity, after all!
As expected, Suren's fair, youthful beauty and his striking entrance atop Aurum Altissimum sparked resentment in those itching for a bit of spotlight.
While they wouldn't refuse his help outright, they were sure to find some way to put him to the test, under the pretext of "tempering his arrogance."
Yet with Athena's name behind him, their grievances fell silent. Jealous though they were, they could only swallow their envy.
A hero acknowledged by the goddess Athena herself…
In all of Greece's vast roster of "heroes," only a rare few earned such an honor.
Meleager's eyes widened in brief surprise, but he quickly recovered and welcomed him with a smile. "Welcome, traveler from afar. I am Meleager, the one organizing this hunt. You are welcome to join us in the pursuit of the Calydonian Boar."
As he offered his greeting, the others watched Suren's response with anticipation.
Suren spared him a single glance, ignoring him to ask the group, "Where is the Calydonian Boar?"
Atalanta's emerald eyes flashed, admiration blooming in her gaze.
In Suren, she saw a truly commanding presence—not a manufactured charisma but the aura of someone who had genuine strength.
And that beauty—almost ethereal. So, this remarkable man had earned the trust and guidance of the goddess Athena herself?
Compelled by an impulse she couldn't quite place, Atalanta spoke up. "I am Atalanta, stranger. I know where the boar is…"
She hesitated. "But first… may I know your name?"
Atalanta quickly clarified, "After all, it would be strange to keep calling you 'stranger,' wouldn't it?"
Around them, Meleager and the other heroes were astounded. Not once had Atalanta shown any interest in their names or introduced herself to any of them. Meleager himself had gone to great lengths to learn her name.
Is it possible, they thought bitterly, that looking this good really does make all the difference?
"Ha—well, little kitty, I am Suren."
With her cat ears and tail, Suren found Atalanta quite charming. It was likely Artemis's blessing, giving her the agility and reflexes of a feline.
He couldn't help wondering why Artemis hadn't granted him a similar boon, considering they'd both been abandoned as infants, left to be raised by animals in the wild.
Atalanta's gaze turned icy at his words. She hated Suren's casual, almost patronizing tone, as though he were talking to a child. The way he called her "little kitty" set her teeth on edge.
Another "hero" who underestimates me because I'm a woman? she thought, fuming.
With a heart stoked by anger, she swiftly drew her bow and released an arrow.
It was a formidable shot, as powerful as any magic arrow—a testament to her prowess, a hero in the god-filled age of Greece.
But Suren caught it with ease, his hand closing around the arrow mid-flight as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He studied it curiously. "Little kitty, what's upset you? Why would you attack me?"
Seeing this effortless catch, Atalanta fell silent. She knew this was no simple reflex but a rare talent possessed only by the most elite of archers.
Suren hadn't seen her arrow with his eyes. The moment she released it, he'd already intuited its path, capturing it with skill beyond most mortals.
This was a hunter's instinct, a skill inherent only to the finest archers, one that rendered them nearly immune to similar attacks.
When he stopped her arrow with such ease, she realized she had no rebuttal. Among those who could intercept her arrows so precisely—without counting the gods themselves—this man likely had no equal.
Though Meleager had no grasp of archery, and thus no insight into the exchange between them, he loudly protested, "How dare you disrespect Atalanta? Is it because she's a woman?"
Suren didn't even spare him a look.
"Are you Atalanta, disciple of the goddess Artemis?"
He smiled and said, "Well, it seems we have that in common. Do you not like my nickname? You really do remind me of a kitten…"
"Alright, alright," he added with a shrug, "if it was disrespectful, I apologize."
The aura of Artemis surrounded him so clearly that it almost overflowed. Atalanta, well-accustomed to the goddess's presence, recognized it immediately.
"I forgive you."
Looking away to hide her slight smile, she added, "It wasn't a big deal, really. I wasn't angry."
No, that was a lie.
She should have been furious.
Atalanta despised being belittled, and yet here was Suren, treating her as though she were a cute pet, calling her "little kitty." She should've been outraged and never forgiven him.
But instead…
Why did she feel a strange warmth, almost like a gentle swelling in her chest?
If any other man had spoken to her like that, she would have shot to kill.
Watching her smile, Meleager's jaw tightened, feeling his luck slipping away. The other heroes he could handle, but this new rival… He'd come to Calydon expecting to emerge victorious, to win Atalanta's heart, only to find himself competing against this unearthly beauty.
One of his uncles muttered quietly, "Let him take the first strike. He claims Athena herself guided him to hunt the Calydonian Boar, so let him prove it."
They were brothers to Queen Althaea, after all, and had witnessed firsthand the horrors of the monstrous boar. They doubted any mortal, not even a hero, could take down the thick-skinned, nearly invincible beast alone.
The boar had already killed twenty-three heroes, leading them to believe it would require the combined strength of all Greece's heroes to succeed.
Another uncle urged, "It may be impossible for one man to defeat it… but he's certainly stronger than us. If he tires the boar out, Meleager, it'll be much easier for you to land the killing blow."
The plan appealed to Meleager. For a Greek hero, honor was paramount, and he was already convinced the boar's death would secure his legacy. Why not let Suren be the sword that paved his way to glory?
Atalanta, however, had regained her calm. "Suren, I know where the boar is… but first, tell me—do you truly have the strength to hunt it?"
"Many have perished under the beast's tusks," she warned. "That's why Meleager gathered so many hunters. The boar is no ordinary foe."
Suren simply smiled, replying, "Compared to me, it's just sand beneath my feet."
Was he speaking of the boar—or the people around them?
Wordlessly, Atalanta turned, leading the way. Suren didn't hesitate to follow.
Not wanting to be left behind, Meleager quickly declared, "The hunt for the Calydonian Boar… begins now!"
A proclamation, a formality—an attempt to remind everyone who led this hunt.
Suren had no interest in such honors, but as he followed Atalanta, he couldn't help wondering, If Athena sent me to hunt this boar in my search for love…
Does she think that women who admire strength will fall for me afterward?
It had never occurred to Suren that his true love might be a female hero. True love was built on mutual admiration, and most Greek heroines, with their… eccentricities, left him hard-pressed to feel any attraction.
Atalanta moved with swift, soundless grace through the forest, but Aurum Altissimum allowed Suren to match her effortlessly.
Before long, they saw the boar trampling fields, tearing up crops in a frenzy of destruction.
The monstrous creature towered over fifty feet, its tusks reaching ten, a true behemoth. As it ate, its massive form seemed to grow even larger…
Meleager's face turned pale as he stammered, "It's… even bigger than before?"
Atalanta glanced at Suren, her voice grim. "I arrived a few days ahead of you. The boar was only thirty feet then. But Meleager wanted to wait until all the heroes had arrived to begin."
"Now that you're here, Suren," she said, "if Athena truly sent you as the hero to defeat this creature… show me your skill."
Suren dismounted Aurum Altissimum, drawing the enormous divine bow. "A creature that size… one shot won't be enough, but…"
His arrow flew true, piercing the boar's eye even though it was still closed, hitting the mark through the slightest gap.
So easy was his strike, so flawless his aim, that even his modest hesitation could not mask his skill.
Atalanta's lips curved into a faint smile—she respected skill above all else.
---
T/N: lmao ishtars bow basically. Aurum Altissimum Aurum basically stands for "gold bike" while Altissimum is "the tallest", also my favorite of the original classes are archer, caster and lancer!
my favorite for uhhh the extra classes maybe avenger? dunno
Sunday? Updates? No! X 😤
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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