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(Fate) Chapter 178: Excited Heracles
🕑 Added 2024-10-27 15:30:02 +0000 UTCSoon, the Argo approached the legendary Clashing Rocks, towering like massive pillars before them.
The sight of the immense cliffs left some of the crew questioning whether they would truly close in on them as the legends said.
At that moment, a seabird flew overhead, and to their astonishment, the cliffs actually began to move.
The sea roared violently as the rocks crashed together, causing the Argo to shake uncontrollably.
After what felt like an eternity, the sea calmed, and the cliffs separated once more.
"We can't make it through in that short of a time," Heracles, who had been staring at it without any fear, frowned.
After hearing his words, the heroes came to their senses and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Just as they began discussing how to proceed, the sea, which had originally returned to calm, began to surge again, forming a huge whirlpool.
From the depths of the whirlpool emerged a towering sea monster—a giant sea nymph with twelve grotesque legs.
The heroes of the Argo, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the enormous creature, immediately readied themselves for battle.
"Hey!!" But before anyone could act, Medea, who had been influenced by her mentor Hecate's peculiar habits, spending her entire time in her room, with potions and magical concoctions finally stepped out of her quarters and looked at the huge creature in front of her, her eyes lighting up with excitement, as she shouted toward the sea monster, "Wait, aren’t you… Scylla, the water nymph?"
The heroes, who still in shock from the appearance of the monster, were even more confused by Medea’s reaction, but before they could process what was happening, the monstrous creature spoke it's her voice was extremely beautiful and melodic, which did not match her terrifying appearance at all.
"Yes, little witch of Goddess Hecate. I am the water nymph Scylla, whom Promise judged that day. I’ve been waiting for you here for quite some time."
The sea nymph Scylla, once a close friend of Thetis, the wise oceanic goddess, had been cursed by the witch Circe and transformed into a terrifying monster due to the betrayal of her lover.
Despite her monstrous form, she never forgot the kindness of Promise, who had helped her in the past, so, upon hearing of the Argo’s journey, Scylla had waited at the strait to assist the heroes.
After Medea introduced her identity to the heroes and shared her tragic backstory, the group immediately dropped their guard, expressing sympathy for her plight.
"By the way, Lady Scylla, do you know how my aunt.."
"She’s doing well now," Scylla responded with a smile—though, in her current form, her smile appeared more frightening than comforting.
So, Medea could only smile and nod awkwardly, internally offering a moment of silence for her aunt, Circe, who was likely still dealing with the aftermath of her curses.
"By the way, where is Promise? Doesn't he want to see me?"
"Oh, no, it’s not like that…"
Medea quickly explained, recounting how Promise had temporarily left on other matters.
After hearing the explanation, Scylla, recalling her past with Promise, nodded with understanding, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Nevertheless, she assisted the crew to pass safely through the strait....as for how she did it.
Well, by simply and roughly standing between the gorge and using brute force to prevent them from closing as the Argo passed .
Afterward, she waved goodbye and returned to the depths of the sea.
After she left, Helen couldn't help but come to Medea's side as she puffed up her cheeks and said to her jealously: "Sister Medea, why haven't I heard you talk about this before?"
Hearing this, Medea blinked, looked at the little standing in front of her, and laughed, saying, "Because this is a little secret between Promise and me
"Hmph, what's the big deal? Brother Promise and I have our own little secrets too!" Helen said unhappily.
Looking at this scene,
Meleager, the prince of Calydon, glanced over at Atalanta standing in the distance and couldn’t help but comment to the stag Actaeon beside him,
"Hey, tell me, could it be that this is the reason why Promise suddenly chose to leave?"
"It’s hard to say," Glancing at the trio, Actaeon replied thoughtfully, then taking over the topic, he added, "Speaking of which, who do you think Promise will end up choosing in the end?"
"Oh, that’s obvious!" Pollux, one of the Gemini twins and Helen’s older brother, chimed in confidently. "It’ll be my adorable sister, of course. She’s the cutest in the world!"
"I’m not so sure," Meleager interjected. "I’d say the huntress Atalanta has a good chance.
You guys weren’t there in Calydon, but after the whole tribute to goddess Artemis, everyone thought they looked perfect together!"
“Not to mention her running skills. Under the witness of Artemis, the goddess of moon, and Apollo, the god of light, Promise is the only one who’s ever beaten her…”
“Although it may be true, but let’s not forget the divine prophecy from the great goddess of beauty, Aphrodite herself.
“My sister, Helen, is destined to be the most beautiful woman in the world. So, obviously, only Promise is worthy of marrying her. And it’s not like she’s been subtle about her feelings either.”
The group went silent for a moment, unable to argue against that point.
“Well, all that sounds reasonable,” Jason also chimed in, joining the conversation.
Glancing at Medea, he pressed his beating heart and couldn’t help but say, “But the little witch is pretty great too. And I always have an inexplicable premonition that… If Promise doesn’t choose her, things might not go well for me…”
Though the discussion seemed to have multiple valid points,
Actaeon the stag made his stance clear. “All of that might be true, but I’m still rooting for the huntress! She’s the best match for him!”
Meleager nodded in agreement, backing his fellow hunter. "Same here."
Pollux, without hesitation, countered, “The Gemini twins are standing by Helen. We’re rooting for my sister, obviously!”
Jason also said firmly. “I’ll say it again: Promise must choose that witch…”
As the group continued their debate over Promise’s future, a voice suddenly cut in.
“Hmm, isn't it okay to just marry all of them?”
Theseus, the large and muscular hero, had finally had enough of the bickering and decided to chime in with his own “solution.”
Their voices were quite loud, so everyone on the boat was actually listening.
Moreover, in this era, even though there was Hera, the goddess of marriage, it was actually possible to marry all of them.
So, although his comment might have seemed outrageous, given the nature of the era—where polygamy was sometimes a reality, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
However, just as Theseus finished speaking, the entire group fell silent for a while, and then reacting in unison, did the same time together...swiftly moving away from him.
Before Theseus could react, he heard a whoosh sound and a sharp arrow fell at him' feet.
Not only that, but a magic bottle also shattered beneath his feet, corroding the floor in front of him.
Oops, my hand slipped...Medea had this expression.
"Brother Theseus."
Helen smiled, and looked at Theseus with her purple eyes, saying, "Helen suddenly wants to eat fish. Can you jump down and catch some fish for Helen?"
So, in front of everyone's eyes, Theseus, with a stiff expression, jumped off the Argo...
Heracles, who witnessed the whole process, could not help but shake his head.
Like everyone else, he ignored Theseus who jumped down and his cries for help.
'Who can you blame for your own death?'
But...who will Promise choose?
Glancing at the three women on the boat, he couldn't help laughing.
The great hero was very excited!
......
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