Expedition to Mount Athos - (1)
This place is the Underworld connected to Thebes, a training ground for heroes. Today, as usual, Chiron and the deceased instructors were teaching the aspiring heroes.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell echoed throughout the area.
Ding—ding—ding—
"Isn't that the signal to gather in the building?" "Looks like we'll be postponing training for a bit."
At the call of the centaur sage, the heroes began to set down their weapons and gather at the building nestled within the gorge. They all appeared to have just finished intense training, as they panted and sweated profusely.
"Everyone, gather around! Today, a very special guest is visiting us!"
"Chiron, when you say a special guest..." "Who could it be? We already have all these great heroes here..."
At Chiron's words, the aspiring heroes glanced at the deceased instructors nearby. After all, great heroes like Perseus, Cadmus, and Bellerophon were already teaching them.
Someone even more special than these legendary heroes? Could it possibly be... a god?! No way, a god wouldn't visit this place directly... right?
As the thought of a deity started to form in their minds, someone entered the gathering place.
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A towering figure, with massive muscles and clad in shining armor, strode in confidently, attracting all eyes. He walked up to Chiron on the platform and spoke boldly.
"Are these the ones gathered here to become heroes, Chiron?" "That's right, Lord Ares. Lord Hades informed us in advance that you would be assisting us for the next two months."
...?! Who? Did Chiron just say Ares?
Wait, is that really a god? And not just any god, but Ares?!
The god of war, one of the twelve Olympians and son of Zeus?!
No wonder the overwhelming presence. The sheer power emanating from him...
"O-Oh! I-I'm honored to meet Lord Ares! I am from Sparta..." "Greetings, Lord of War. Your blessings on the battlefield have always been appreciated..." "Golden-helmeted Lord Ares! It's an honor to meet you in person!"
Realizing who they were facing, the aspiring heroes hurriedly bowed or prostrated themselves, reacting like any other mortal in the presence of a god.
Yet Ares paid no mind to them. He continued his conversation with Chiron, as if the only one here worthy of his attention was the centaur.
"Indeed, it seems I've found myself working in the Underworld once more, though it's only for two months." "Have you worked in the Underworld before?" "Ah, yes. During the great flood, I was caught up in Athena's treachery and, well..." "Hahaha! I'd love to hear the full story someday."
The aspiring heroes pricked up their ears at the casual conversation between the centaur sage and the god of war. Hidden within their exchange might be secrets of the gods.
"Teaching mortals how to slay a few monsters must be hard work." "Even so, they're all excellent students. It's quite rewarding." "Well, since I'm here, I might as well gauge their abilities. Let's see..."
Ares glanced around as he conversed with Chiron. The mortals, unable to meet his gaze, lowered their heads in submission. But one boy mustered the courage to briefly lock eyes with the god of war.
"Hah...!" "Oh... what's your name?"
Although the boy quickly dropped his gaze, unable to withstand the pressure, Ares saw enough courage in him to warrant a response.
"M-Me? It's an honor! My name is Peleus, Lord of War!" "Quite bold for a mortal. Very well, you'll start."
At the same time Ares was conversing with the heroes in the training grounds, the Lord of the Underworld, Hades, was receiving new information from the messenger god Hermes, who had just arrived at his fortress.
"Hermes, you seem to visit the Underworld quite frequently these days." "Haha, my father told me to keep a close watch on the Gigantes since the prophetic hero has been born."
Hermes scratched his head awkwardly at my question. So, the prophetic hero... I had my suspicions about Heracles, but I wondered what the other gods thought.
"Do the other Olympian gods believe Zeus's claim?" "Not really. Especially Lady Hera, she's been furious and shouted so loudly that all of Olympus is in an uproar. As far as I know, she yelled something like, 'That scoundrel Zeus had another illegitimate child and is now using this prophecy as an excuse!'" "Given Zeus's past behavior, it's no wonder few believe him." "Rumor has it that Lady Hera is scanning the mortal world with fire in her eyes, determined to kill this Heracles."
Does Hera know that I hid Heracles for a month? She probably does. Which means I can't keep him hidden in the Underworld for much longer. Hera's anger is justified, after all... especially since Zeus secretly had Heracles suckle her milk. That would only enrage her more.
But Heracles is indeed the prophetic hero. How could I convince her? To prepare for this, I had Heracles bathed in the River Styx, though there are still uncertainties.
No matter how much Heracles grows, if Hera herself directs divine punishment at him, he might not survive. Which means...
"Hermes. Convey this message to Hera." "To Lady Hera?" "Tell her that killing a mere infant will only stain the hands of the queen of the gods. Wouldn't it be better to set a task for him once he has grown?"
If the queen of the gods, who is furious at her husband's illegitimate child, calms down and listens to my advice... barring sudden encounters with the Gigantes or the direct wrath of Gaia, no one will pose a serious threat to Heracles. And following Hera's tasks could serve as valuable experience for him as a great hero.
"Understood. I'll deliver the message when I return to Olympus."
Perhaps this is a cruel thing to ask of my nephew... Training him for battle to defeat the Gigantes is no different from tempering a blade in fire.
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No matter how much mortals call me a god of mercy...
I am, after all, the god who rules the Underworld.
After discussing Heracles and hearing the thoughts of Olympus, it was time to move on to the main reason Hermes was here.
"Let's get to the point. You've come to the Underworld to report on the Gigantes' movements, haven't you? Speak." "Yes. Recently, something strange has been happening. The monsters that the heroes are supposed to defeat have been disappearing from Thebes." "Disappearing monsters?" "Yes. Perhaps Lady Gaia is trying to ensure that the heroes fail in their quests. The Gigantes remain bound to the Fields of Phlegra..."
So now Gaia is actively obstructing the heroes? It seems her prophetic abilities are starting to take shape.
She must have grown more certain that the mortal heroes are connected to the Gigantes.
If that's the case, raising Heracles into a great hero might become more difficult. The monsters he was destined to slay might be moved or killed by other heroes...
"So Apollo and I scoured the mortal world and found that, unexpectedly, the monsters were much closer than we thought." "Closer? Where?" "Near Mount Athos in northern Greece, in the region of Macedonia. If all the monsters are gathered in one place, isn't this a perfect opportunity for many heroes to gain renown?"
Gaia likely moved the monsters to prevent the heroes from accomplishing their tasks. The earth goddess influencing creatures born and raised on her domain would not be difficult.
"So Lady Athena plans to issue an oracle and organize an expedition. Heroes will be gathered in Macedonia, and we'll provide them with support." "But that may be exactly what Gaia wants. The heroes could be annihilated."
A large-scale expedition of heroes...
But if the monsters that Gaia gathered ambush the heroes, it could lead to their destruction. This is likely Gaia's ploy. However, I'm sure Olympus is aware of this possibility...
At my remark, Hermes smirked and replied.
"But wouldn't only a hero who can overcome such trials prove themselves to be truly exceptional?"
In other words, only those who can survive Gaia's trap will emerge as the greatest heroes. If Athena issues an oracle, heroes from all over Greece will flock to join the expedition.
More mortals will undoubtedly die.
"...That's true. So, who will lead this expedition?" "The hero leading the expedition to conquer Mount Athos is an interesting one. Lady Artemis seems quite taken with him... Ah! I remember now."
Olympus must have already chosen a hero to lead the expedition. Supporting someone with the potential to become a great hero is, after all, the best strategy.
"It's Orion, the son of Uncle Poseidon."Expedition to Mount Athos - (2)
A divine oracle was issued from the Temple of Athena across Greece. The oracle called for an expedition to gather under the leadership of Poseidon's son, Orion, to exterminate the monsters gathered on Mount Athos.
The gathering point for the expedition was the Kingdom of Macedonia, near Mount Athos.
"They say all the monsters we need to slay have gathered there?" "The oracle from the goddess Athena confirmed it, so it must be true. Many monsters have gathered on Mount Athos..." "No wonder I couldn't find any monsters when I went to hunt."
As a result, many who had failed to find the monsters they were meant to hunt flocked to Macedonia from across Greece. They came with hopes of achieving great feats and becoming legendary heroes under the guidance of a divine oracle.
"If Poseidon's son is leading the expedition, surely we'll have the blessing of the sea." "Orion is recruiting members for the expedition in Athens! Are you going to join?" "I heard the heroes from Thebes' training grounds are accepted without question. Doesn't that seem a bit unfair?" "Hmph. Is he playing favorites just because they're from the same training ground?"
Orion's reputation as a giant hunter was well-known throughout Greece, so most heroes accepted him as the leader of the expedition. His arrows, known for their perfect accuracy, had dominated many hunting competitions in Greece.
However, many were dissatisfied with Orion's decision to automatically accept those from Thebes' training ground. This dissatisfaction finally boiled over when Orion chose a small, frail-looking man to join the expedition, while rejecting others.
"Orion! Why was I rejected, and yet that scrawny fellow was accepted?!"
A bald Spartan warrior, with black tattoos, protested to the massive, blue-haired Orion, his face filled with frustration. But Orion calmly responded.
"That's because Perieres over there is stronger than you."
"What did you say?! You mean to tell me that scrawny runt, who looks like he hasn't even trained properly, is stronger than me?"
At those words, the man named Perieres stepped forward and replied in a smooth voice. Although he started to say more, something seemed to catch in his throat, causing him to cough.
"Ha! Not trained properly, you say? Have you even fought a monster before? A sphin—urk!" "...What nonsense is this? Who are you, and where do you come from?" "Well, I graduated from the hero training ground and thought about becoming a king in Messene... but I ended up here."
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At his words, the crowd that had gathered to join the expedition burst into laughter. However, none of the heroes from Thebes' training ground joined in.
"Hahaha! Becoming a king? This guy's a real comedian." "He should join a troupe and play a clown, not join the expedition. Is it really right to accept someone like him, Orion?" "Orion, I think there's something wrong with the way you're picking members for the expedition."
Faced with the grumbling crowd, Orion exchanged a somewhat awkward glance with Perieres. Perieres shrugged and raised his voice.
"How about we settle this fairly with a pankration match? If I lose, I'll recommend you in my place."
"Hah! Pankration, you say? Fine, but don't blame me if you meet Thanatos afterward!"
Thus, what began as a recruitment for the expedition turned into an impromptu pankration match. Spectators formed a circle around the two men who were about to fight.
Orion, holding a staff, acted as the referee while the heroes prepared themselves.
"All right! By mutual agreement of the participants, we'll be conducting a Kato-style pankration! Let the match begin!"
In Kato-style pankration, the match continues even if the fighters fall to the ground. As soon as Orion gave the signal, the two fighters, now stripped bare for the fight, lunged at each other.
The Spartan warrior attacked first, letting out a fierce shout as he swung his powerful right fist. His massive muscles bulged as he put all his strength into the punch. However, the punch missed Perieres, who dodged it effortlessly.
Then came Perieres' counterattack.
Born as a demigod from the wind god Aeolus, Perieres had the ability to control wind. His fists, infused with the power of wind, rained down like a storm, striking the Spartan's abdomen, chin, and head.
"Gah... Ugh!"
The Spartan warrior staggered back, beaten by a relentless barrage of blows. However, being a warrior, he retaliated with a savage kick aimed at his opponent.
But once again, his attack missed the mark, and Perieres, dodging with ease, taunted him with a mocking smile.
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"Come on now. You can't just charge in recklessly like that. I can't trust someone like you to watch my back on the expedition."
"Shut up, you bastard! Haaaah!"
Angered by the barrage of punches, the Spartan charged forward. But just as he did, he felt something hook his leg, and suddenly the world flipped upside down. Perieres had tripped him and immediately slammed him into the ground.
Thud!
The Spartan's head hit the ground with a sickening thud. Though he could have died from a concussion, his shallow breathing indicated that he was still alive. The fallen warrior was foaming at the mouth and was quickly carried off to a physician. Orion then declared the victor.
"As you've all seen, the winner is Perieres! If anyone else thinks my judgment is wrong, come forward and I'll deal with you personally."
"Huh. That big guy went down so fast." "He didn't even land a single hit before being knocked out. How did Perieres move like that...?" "What kind of training do they do in Thebes?" "Did that Spartan offer his ankle to Zeus or something?" "It didn't break, so probably not."
Though the defeated Spartan had been a muscular warrior, the towering figure of Orion loomed even larger, and the crowd quieted. With no more challengers daring to question Orion's decision, about 200 to 300 people were selected as members of the expedition. Some of these were from Thebes' training ground, but there were many who were not.
Before setting out for Mount Athos, the expedition stopped at a mountain far from the Kingdom of Macedonia to conduct a special ritual, seeking the gods' blessings for the journey.
Dozens of animals, including deer, leopards, and birds, were hunted by the heroes and piled onto a wooden altar. Armed heroes stood beneath it as Orion, the leader of the expedition, approached with a torch and lit the altar, shouting loudly.
"O gods of Olympus who watch from above! Protect these brave warriors who seek to hunt the monsters!"
Boom!
As if in response to his call, a bright blue bolt of lightning suddenly struck from the clear sky, enveloping the altar. The lightning was brief but intense, and when it faded, all the animals on the altar had vanished without a trace.
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"L-Lightning?! Does this mean Zeus is watching over us?" "Not just the goddess Athena, who issued the oracle... the gods of Olympus themselves are watching this expedition!" "I'm so glad I came to Athens. This expedition is bound to be legendary...!"
The heroes cheered, interpreting the lightning as a divine response. This was their chance to make a name for themselves. With the gods watching over them, what hero wouldn't feel his heart race with excitement?
Orion, too, raised his voice once more and shouted loudly.
"We shall hunt every beast and monster on the land and offer them all to the gods of Olympus!"
A boastful, even arrogant declaration from the demigod. But from Orion, the greatest hunter in Greece, such words were not empty.
That is, until a voice resonated from the earth itself.
"Hunt every beast and monster on the land? Child of Poseidon. Can you take responsibility for those words?"
Suddenly, a soft but commanding voice echoed, causing the heroes to freeze in shock. What was this voice? This overwhelming presence... it was surely a god. But weren't the Olympian gods blessing this journey?
"W-Who are you?!"
Orion shouted toward the mysterious goddess, while the heroes hurriedly drew their weapons. After a moment of silence, the majestic yet gentle voice answered them again.
"...I am Gaia, goddess of the earth. You will pay for daring to insult the earth."
Gaia, the goddess of the earth? According to myth, she was the grandmother of Zeus... a Protogenoi?! How...?
The heroes, their imaginations running wild, could no longer think straight. The ground beneath them began to crack and tremble.
Rumble... Crack.
The earth shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck. A massive fissure began to spread across the land, and the heroes, unable to conceal their panic, were thrown into chaos.
But it was still too early to panic.
From the widening fissure in the ground... numerous monsters, which were supposed to be on Mount Athos, crawled out onto the surface.
Grrr... Bark! Hissss—
"T-The golden sword of Chrysaor! How is this possible... the monster born from Medusa's severed neck is here?!" "My gods... that two-headed serpent-tailed dog... that's Orthrus! Even Typhon's children are here!" "Send word to the city immediately! We need reinforcements!" "Dammit! Zeus, help us!"
Expedition to Mount Athos - (3)
Chrysaor, the Golden Sword. A massive serpent-like monster that floats a golden sword in the air and controls it. It was born alongside Pegasus after Medusa's head was severed by Perseus... Unlike Pegasus, Chrysaor inherited more monstrous traits, and by the time Medusa sought it out, it had long disappeared.
Orthrus. A gigantic two-headed dog with a snake-headed tail. The firstborn of Typhon and Echidna, it is the sibling of Cerberus, who guards the Underworld, and Chimera, who was slain by Bellerophon.
While the most notable threats were these two demi-god-level monsters, other beasts followed in their wake, and they were no less dangerous. These included harpies, creatures with the head of a woman and the body of a giant bird of prey; moving trees; man-eating stags; giant lizards, and more.
"All those monsters that were hiding in the mountain are charging at us! Quickly, shoot down the ones in the sky first!" "Don't back down! This is a war between us and the monsters, and the gods are watching!" "It'll take time for the messenger sent to request reinforcements from Macedonia to return! We must hold out until then!" "I dedicate my battle to the War God Ares!"
Krrrk! Roar! Hissss—
With the monsters charging in a frenzied mass, the heroes swiftly readied themselves for battle. Spears and arrows flew in every direction as the monsters closed in, eager to devour the humans.
As the two forces collided, filled with murderous intent, the battlefield erupted in a chorus of human screams and beastly howls. The clash of spears and swords against claws and fangs set the stage for a fierce battle.
Amidst this chaos, several heroes stood out.
Among them was Orion, the hero leading the expedition.
Whoosh— Thunk.
Another of Orion's arrows pierced the throat of a beast. Known as the greatest hunter in Greece, the son of the sea god was still able to precisely target only the monsters, even in the midst of the chaotic melee. His powerful arms pulled back the bowstring once more, aiming at a new target—Orthrus, the two-headed offspring of Typhon, who was tearing through humans with both of its heads.
Thunk.
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Growl?!
Orion's arrow, renowned for its unerring accuracy, pierced the beast's leg. Realizing it had been hit, Orthrus dropped the human it was holding in its mouth and charged at Orion.
"This beast...!" "Orion! It's coming your way! Be careful!"
The nearby heroes tried to stop the beast, but their weapons barely scratched its tough hide. While it wasn't as impervious as the Nemean Lion, another child of Typhon, Orthrus's skin was thick enough to resist most attacks.
Grrrr—
"Its hide is too thick! It's not even the Nemean Lion!" "Damn it! Orion, we need to—" "I know, everyone stand back! I'll kill this thing myself!"
Only Orion, the son of the sea god, with his immense strength, had been able to pierce its leg. Realizing this, Orion discarded his bow, pulled out the massive club strapped to his back, and readied his shield.
In the midst of the battlefield, where heroes and monsters clashed, Chrysaor was furiously attacking heroes with its venomous fangs and the flying golden sword, while the shrieks of men being torn apart by man-eating stags echoed around them.
Orion charged toward the center of the battlefield, clutching his club tightly as Orthrus rushed at him, baring its fangs.
Grrrrrr!!!
"A child of Typhon! You're the perfect prey for my legend!"
With a roar, Orthrus leaped toward Orion, and the hunter swung his mighty club.
At the palace of Olympus, Apollo stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the scene below. Although his father Zeus had accepted the sacrifices offered by the heroes as they entered Mount Athos...
"Apollo, you'll watch over them and assist as necessary." "Understood, Father. But what exactly do you mean by 'assist as necessary'?" "Exactly what I said. Gaia is sure to try to prevent the heroes from accomplishing their tasks. She won't allow the expedition to reach Mount Athos unscathed." "So...?" "You may intervene at 'appropriate times,' as you see fit."
Zeus had instructed him to watch over the expedition and provide aid when needed. Although Heracles had been born, Zeus feared that something unfortunate might happen to prevent him from becoming a great hero, or worse, that Hera might kill him.
Zeus's plan was to raise as many heroes as possible, increasing the chances of finding a great hero to lead the gods in their battle against the Gigantes. He couldn't rely solely on the infant Heracles; as the king of the gods, he had to prepare for the worst.
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Reflecting on his conversation with Zeus, Apollo glanced down through the clouds. Suddenly, someone sat beside him quietly.
It was his younger sister, Artemis, the goddess of the moon.
"Little sister, what brings you here?" "Brother, shouldn't we help them? Look at how the heroes are struggling." "But these trials are necessary to forge great heroes, don't you think? We can't just rely on that infant Heracles, whom Father dotes on so much." "But still..."
The beautiful goddess looked down at the mortal realm with a worried expression. Apollo noticed the concern, love, sorrow, and impatience in her eyes and sighed.
His sister Artemis was a chaste goddess, sworn to purity. However, he had noticed for some time now that she seemed to have grown fond of a certain mortal.
"That hero fighting Orthrus so bravely down there... couldn't we at least save him?" "...I'm not sure."
Artemis, the goddess of hunting and archery, had developed a closeness with Orion, Greece's greatest hunter. It seemed inevitable that they would grow closer, but Apollo found it hard to tolerate.
How dare a mere mortal covet a goddess sworn to chastity under the River Styx's oath? And with me, Apollo, watching? How dare he overstep his place...?
"...I don't like this at all." "Huh? What did you say, brother?" "Nothing. If you feel that strongly, I'll send a raven to help the mortals a bit."
Since Orion was Poseidon's son, Apollo couldn't directly punish him. However... what if there were an 'unfortunate accident' during his battle with a monster?
Near the Kingdom of Macedonia, the battlefield had long since turned into a bloodbath. The war between the heroes from across Greece and the mythical monsters was slowly tipping in favor of the monsters.
While many of the beasts had launched the first attack on the humans, the heroes were not without skill. Those who had trained in Thebes or honed their abilities by hunting monsters in the mortal realm were not to be underestimated.
However...
"Damn it! Somebody do something about that flying sword... Ugh!" "Huff... Is there no one left with the blood of the wind god?"
Hissss—
Chrysaor, with his hardened scales, venomous fangs, and a body that was a weapon in itself, was a significant threat. But the real problem was his ability to control the golden sword, which flew through the sky, striking down the heroes one by one.
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"Ack... Guh!"
Another hero, who had introduced himself as the son of the south wind god Notus, screamed as Chrysaor's sword impaled his abdomen. While Orion fought Orthrus, who would deal with that terrifying monster?
If not for the warriors from Thebes, who seemed to have experience fighting giant serpents and managed to distract the beast, the entire expedition might have been wiped out by now. Despite the prolonged battle, Chrysaor still looked unscathed, while the morale of the expedition members was slowly crumbling.
Then, something flew overhead.
Caw—caw!
"What... what is that sound?" "That shadow... in the sky... is it a harpy?!"
Even in the midst of battle, the piercing cry of the bird caught the attention of the heroes. They glanced upward and were relieved by what they saw.
A distinct birdcall, a large black form, and the sacred energy emanating from it.
"It's Apollo's sacred raven!" "Isn't that the raven that reported the affair of Princess Coronis from Thessaly?" "Lord Apollo is watching over us! Praise Phoebus Apollo, the shining god!"
Once, Apollo had a white raven that served as his messenger to Princess Coronis, with whom he had a romantic relationship.
However, when Coronis betrayed Apollo by having an affair with a mortal named Ischys, the raven immediately informed Apollo.
In his rage, Apollo killed Coronis with his arrows but soon regretted it. He turned his fury on the raven, whose feathers turned black as they were scorched by Apollo's divine gaze.
Thus, the black raven became Apollo's sacred bird, and now it appeared here.
The sacred raven soared over the battlefield and then dived straight toward Chrysaor. At first, the raven was merely a small dot in the sky, but as it descended toward the earth, it grew larger and larger, until it was the size of several men combined. The enormous raven swooped down and slashed its talons across Chrysaor's back.
Hissss!
Blood sprayed from the monster's back as it writhed in pain. Seeing this, the heroes regained their fighting spirit and charged at Chrysaor once again.
The flying golden sword was now busy fending off the raven, and Orthrus was being handled by the expedition leader, Orion.
If these two demigod-tier monsters could be neutralized on the battlefield, the odds would shift in the heroes' favor!
The remaining monsters were nothing compared to the Sphinxes, Pythons, or the other great beasts the heroes had trained against in the Underworld.
"We've got this! We survived the training grounds of Thebes! These beasts are nothing compared to that!" "Lord Ares, lend me strength for my sword!" "Quick! Let's finish them off and go help Orion!"
Unless some new threat emerged, the expedition would likely end in victory for the heroes.