The Greece Antagonist-Chapter 401 - 275: Green, Healthy Living (Total 6.5k, begging for votes at the beginning of the month)

Chapter 401: Chapter 275: Green, Healthy Living (Total 6.5k, begging for votes at the beginning of the month)

Three days and three nights later, as the sunlight broke dawn and the sea fog dispersed.

The gentle rays of the sun pierced through the lingering smoke of Mount Etna’s crater, lighting up the dim interior.

The once restless magma had lost its dark red color and scorching temperature, turning into a pile of completely burnt-out, solidified ash and residue.

“Crack~~”

Accompanied by the crackling sound of breaking, Luo En’s greyish-black mud shell peeled off, his eyes slowly opened, and bird-shaped flames of gold and red shimmered and floated within his pupils, while the golden wheel behind him also moved in sync to the eleventh slot.

—The eleventh incarnation [Phoenix].

Besides granting him the ability to move swiftly through the air, he also acquired the trait [Revive from Death].

That is, while the host body is destroyed, the Phoenix takes the hit instead, allowing for a true [Resurrection], which basically gives him an extra life when facing enemies.

Unfortunately, after the Phoenix dies, it needs a long period to be reborn from fire before it can regain the power of [Resurrection]. Thus, the cooldown period for this incarnation’s power is quite long and should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary.

Even so, Luo En was still immensely thrilled with his current gain.

With an extra life, he had more options at his disposal, and his plans stood a greater chance of success.

After calming his excitement, Luo En extracted himself from the solidified remains of the magma, leaped up, and arrived in the cave above.

“You’re awake? Not bad.”

Next to the extinguished forge furnace, Hephaestus shook his now-empty wine jug, stood up to examine Luo En, who was radiating a restrained light from his eyes, nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze towards the completely cooled and solidified core magma at the cave entrance, and couldn’t help but express his regret.

“This furnace is no longer usable.”

“Sorry for the expense.”

“Not at all, you saved my foster mother and gave me such fine wine; both in sentiment and reason, I ought to repay you with something.”

Hephaestus waved his hand dismissively, then a sly smile played across his face.

“Consider this, my early wedding gift to you both.”

Upon hearing this, Luo En couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

It seemed that the God of Craftsmanship was hell-bent on matchmaking him with Thetis, so he specifically bestowed the Phoenix, with its [Rebirth] power, upon him.

When he would face Olympus, even if Zeus blamed and severely punished him, he would have the chance to revive and not leave Thetis a widow before her marriage.

Brother, let’s say no more. I acknowledge you as my son. When I marry your mother, I will certainly arrange the best table for you!

Taking advantage of the chaotic family ties, Luo En inwardly quipped a few sentences before he took a deep breath and spoke in a grave tone.

“Is it about time we left?”

Hephaestus nodded solemnly, taking out a full set of handcuffs, shackles, chains, and other such implements from a nearby treasure chest and methodically fitting them onto Luo En.

Luo En tried to summon his Divine Power to break free, but the dense Divine Patterns on the surface of these metal implements flickered to life, quickly absorbing the rebellious energy and further reinforcing the restraints.

No way through, he then summoned the [Bull], relying on the brute strength enhanced by his physical limits to resist the fetters on his body.

Yet, even as veins popped on his forehead and blood vessels nearly split his skin, he could not shake the fetters in the slightest.

Seeing this, Hephaestus proudly replied.

“Stop wasting your effort. These are implements specially crafted for your Divine Power, based on the blood sample Thetis sent. And, as per your request, I enhanced their performance by several fold; theoretically, even if you became the Chief God, you wouldn’t stand a chance of breaking free.”

Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

Luo En said nothing but skeptically raised his hand.

After a moment, as he looked at his empty palm, a satisfied smile finally emerged on his face.

Good, the twelve-sided die containing the power of [Chance] couldn’t be summoned, which meant that his most special [Chance] Divinity was indeed restrained by these implements.

On the one hand, wearing these things to confess his sins, Zeus should not be able to see the particularity in him and strike him down immediately.

On the other hand, based on the principle of the enemy sharing a common origin, these things effective against him should theoretically work on that beloved teacher ancestor as well.

Having dispelled his last doubts and made ample preparations, Luo En finally settled down, ready to officially proceed to Olympus with Hephaestus.

“Don’t rush, hide this well.”

With those words, Hephaestus secretly passed a key into Luo En’s hand, whispering the explanation.

“I made an extra one, just in case. If things go south, use this to discreetly unlock your shackles and make a successful escape.”

Luo En nodded, accepting Hephaestus’s thoughtful gesture.

Then, the God of Craftsmanship led the convicted felon to the awaiting chariot on the island, and together, they rode toward the Sacred Mountain of Olympus amidst the stars.

~~

In the silent and grim minor hall, Zeus, the King of Gods, who had held sway over Olympus for a thousand years since the Titan War, sat upon his majestic Divine Throne, overseeing the criminal below with a thunderous, commanding presence without a word.

“How bold of you to attempt to harm a demigod!”

“Your Majesty, I merely didn’t want him bothering Thetis, so I pushed him out, and the Hundred-Handed Giants killed him.”

Luo En bowed his head, defending himself honestly.

“Still trying to justify yourself?” Zeus scoffed disdainfully before waving his hand impatiently, “Hephaestus, lock him in the prison for now, until the verdict is decided.”

“As you command, Father God.”

Upon hearing that Zeus did not intend to execute Luo En on the spot, Hephaestus let out a sigh of relief, quickly leading the “insignificant” criminal towards the prison designed within Olympus.

As they left that somewhat oppressive space, Luo En also couldn’t help but feel unburdened.

The most difficult hurdle had been cleared.

With Zeus not killing him on the spot, it proved that his greatest secret had not been exposed.

And to imprison him to await disposal meant that the business with Peleus had not touched the Divine King’s sore spot. At best, it was a trivial matter of no significance.

The severity of the punishment was negotiable.

As long as he demonstrated enough value, he might still replace the dead Peleus and become the candidate to marry Thetis.

Negotiation, huh? I like it.

Luo En sat cross-legged in the gloomy prison, contemplating how to gain the trust of His Majesty the King of Gods and obtain the final piece his plan was missing.

——Twelve Divinities, you’re the only one left.

“Yi ya~~”

The slight sound of the metal gate being pushed interrupted Luo En’s train of thought. He was taken aback for a moment, a murmur of doubt rising in his heart.

So soon?

However, accompanied by a series of crisp footsteps, a figure he had not anticipated walked out of the dim passageway.

Seeing the queen, wearing a crown upon her head and clad in plain ceremonial dress, Luo En was truly astonished.

“Lady Hera, why have you come?”

“To see how you are.”

As if her distinguished status was of no concern, Hera opened the door to the cell and placed a box filled with food in front of Luo En, speaking with a gentle and contemplative voice.

“Hungry? Here, eat something first.”

“…”

Listening to that suggestive tone and seeing the tender care, Luo En couldn’t help the fine sweat that beaded on his forehead.

Hera gave her trembling little lover a sidelong glance and huffed in displeasure.

“What’s there to be afraid of? He’s not on the mountain.”

That’s a relief.

Upon hearing these words, Luo En finally felt the lump in his throat settle.

Fortunately, Hera hadn’t lost her mind to the point of brazen rebellion, just to commit adultery in front of her husband. Otherwise, if Zeus were to catch a hint, he would chop him to pieces.

Still, if the King of Gods was not on the mountain, where had he gone?

Hera seemed to understand what Luo En was thinking. She handed him the plate full of food, her tone taunting and sarcastically cold.

“He knew I was returning and left Olympus in advance. Right now, he’s probably fooling around in some nymph’s embrace!”

She had come to see through her husband the King of Gods.

Lustfulness was one aspect, but the deep-seated schemes were another.

He might have loved her once, but to secure his Divine Throne, he would rather womanize every day than return to Olympus for a normal conjugal life with his lawful wife.

Because the offspring she bore him often possessed strong talents, likely to become a potential threat to Zeus’s position as the King of Gods.

But it didn’t matter. What he failed to provide, someone else had already satisfied.

Hera softly gazed at the man before her, younger than Zeus, more handsome than Zeus, and also more loyal and loving than Zeus, her eyes filled with approval.

“I’ve heard about the Thetis matter. You’ve done well.”

In her early years, she had cared for Thetis herself and was fond of the child’s intelligence and propriety, in view of Thetis as a stepdaughter.

Thetis had also treated her with respect, even adopting the abandoned Hephaestus to mend the mother-son relationship for her.

Therefore, upon learning that her husband was using Thetis as bait to strike at Poseidon and even planning to force her into marriage, Hera was uncontrollably furious. She ended her separation and hurried from the Argo Holy Land to Olympus to confront and accuse him.

In the end, Zeus, feeling guilty, fled in advance, and Hera encountered Luo En, who had just been imprisoned.

For the sake of a woman, he had risked himself and was willing to take on all the blame. By contrast, her husband the King of Gods would definitely lack such resolve.

Numerous attempts to murder mistresses and illegitimate children proved that women, like bastards, were just tools for him to satisfy his desires and maintain his position as the King of Gods.

Her judgment in choosing a husband may not have been the best, but her eye for a lover was not bad at all.

Hera picked up a handkerchief, gently wiping the beads of sweat from Luo En’s forehead and the grains of rice from the corner of his mouth, her eyes flashing a hint of cold light as she earnestly pledged to her lover.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you!”

“Mm, I’m waiting for your good news.”

Luo En nodded vigorously, then pointed to the now-empty food container, a big smile on his face as he suggested.

“It’s about time. Shouldn’t you go back and rest?”

Their current situation was still unclear when Zeus would return. With Hera being so suggestively close, he was genuinely afraid the King of Gods would return unexpectedly, expose their affair, and in a fit of rage, have him slaughtered.

Yet the queen in front of him showed no intention of leaving just yet; instead, she licked her moist lips, her bright eyes flashing with a familiar intensity.

“I’ll fulfill what I promised you, but how will you repay me?”

Luo En understood the implication in Hera’s eyes, his heart nearly stopping on the spot.

No way. Now? Here?

Sister, stepmother, my lady, please spare me — it could be lethal!

Just as Luo En was retreating step by step to the corner, determined to resist, Hera unapologetically grabbed the chains and dragged the trapped prisoner towards her. She bent over him with a conqueror’s stance, proudly declaring her claim.

“Even if you marry Thetis, part of you is mine!”

Alright, she was jealous again, yet her means of revenge between her husband and lover were not the same.

COMMENT

0 comment

Vote

3 left

SEND GIFT