NOVPUBChapter 774 -279: The Real Person Shot by Arrow
鈥渀
鈥淭he city gates have fallen, the rear formation holds steady, the front formation enters the city.鈥
Outside the City of Eryxis, watching the towering golden figure and the pursuing red shadow, Laine calmly instructed.
Immediately, the army outside the city split into two, pressing against the defenseless city walls.
The last person able to influence the outcome of the war had left鈥攅ven if staying meant nothing.
After all, this was the Goddess of Agriculture. With the aid of divine power, relying on the 鈥榞reat force of bricks,鈥 Demeter might still possess some combat prowess.
...
But when limited to the same level of strength, even the Underworld deities, historically ignored by the Olympian gods, could likely beat this member of the Twelve Main Gods.
Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, or the North Wind, East Wind, and South Wind gods,
these True Gods with only weak divine power could easily defeat Demeter in the mortal realm; it鈥檚 no wonder she wasn鈥檛 taken seriously by other deities.
Aphrodite acted so brazenly precisely because she had nothing to fear in terms of consequences.
鈥淚ndeed.鈥
鈥淭he war machines you prepared are indeed something unique.鈥
The massive stone gate opened, traces of blood still staining the ground.
潡堭潣凁潡答潣?co
Entering the City of Eryxis, Laine approached the fallen beast鈥檚 corpse.
Invisible runes flickered on the skin, wisps of red aura gathering from all around.
The war was over, but this 鈥榮acrifice鈥 continued.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all thanks to my teacher; I鈥檓 merely the manipulator.鈥
鈥淢oreover, it seems Eryxis experienced internal turmoil; their defeat was inevitable.鈥
Without claiming credit, Solomon calmly explained.
Unsurprisingly, the result of this blood sacrifice was quite successful.
Except for the new consciousness possibly being somewhat influenced in form by these demons, everything went smoothly.
Yet, looking at Laine before him, a trace of doubt flashed in Solomon鈥檚 eyes.
The sacrificial ritual wasn鈥檛 exactly advanced mysticism; on the contrary, it was rather common.
Even though Hermes鈥 alchemy runes were as concealed as possible, they were still easy to detect.
Solomon had no knowledge of the origins of this person suddenly appearing in Athens, whom Andrea inexplicably trusted so much, nor whether he had discerned anything.
Perhaps the former King knew something; maybe his teacher did too.
But at least for Solomon, he harbored a bit of curiosity amidst his caution.
Superior wisdom is humans鈥 most precious asset鈥攖his adage from the Church of Knowledge is one Solomon has always believed in.
鈥淚n any case, you indeed did well.鈥
鈥淭he effects of alchemy鈥 have also opened my eyes.鈥
With a slight smile, Laine gazed at the burning city before him.
Cries and screams interspersed, but evidently, neither he nor Solomon cared about them.
鈥淚s there anything you desire, as a commendation for your efforts?鈥
鈥淭his鈥︹€
Hesitating for a moment, Solomon didn鈥檛 understand the man鈥檚 meaning, but instinctively declined,
鈥淚鈥檓 just completing the task assigned by my teacher, and serving Athens is my duty.鈥
鈥淗mm, I understand your loyalty to Athens.鈥
鈥淭hen let鈥檚 phrase it differently, Solomon: Are there any challenges you are facing?鈥
Still smiling, Laine continued, 鈥淚n fact, I鈥檝e always been quite interested in alchemy, although it faces many limitations.鈥
鈥淔or instance, altering thoughts, soul, changing space, distorting reality鈥攁ll are impossible at present.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 currently merely an auxiliary part of the extraordinary system, not mainstream.鈥
鈥淓ven your teacher was first a wizard, then researched alchemy on that foundation.鈥
鈥淓ngaging other methods to tackle unresolved issues in the alchemy domain might yield solutions.鈥
鈥溾€︹€
Falling silent, Solomon鈥檚 heart sprang into vigilance.
Yet, looking at the beast鈥檚 corpse before him, he thought better of rejecting again and again.
Perhaps the other party had indeed discovered the ongoing sacrifices, and was testing the water with a proposal; in that case, he would accept it.
Regardless of what was said, he had no intention of implementing any of it.
鈥淚f you say so, Lord Aiven, I do have some questions.鈥
鈥淎ll living beings have emotions鈥攖hey express their feelings through joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.鈥
鈥淛ust like this city, with soldiers clashing and flames consuming vast areas of residences.鈥
鈥淧ain, rage, hatred spreading among people, ushering love and hate.鈥
Adjusting his posture, Solomon earnestly inquired,
鈥淚n your view, are emotions innate or acquired?鈥
鈥淚f innate, what kind of emotions exist in a newly born soul, and are these emotions the truest ones within humanity?鈥
鈥淚f acquired鈥 then for life, are emotions a boon, or a shackle?鈥
Half of his question was casually contrived, while the other half was influenced by the surroundings.
This query arose when Solomon observed the consciousness being gradually tainted by blood, turning violent and bloodthirsty.
Alchemy seeks 鈥榩urity,鈥 but what truly constitutes purity?
If a thread of a mortal soul were assimilated by a real god, becoming part of them, is this elevation, or corruption?
鈥淓motions鈥 are probably acquired; as for whether they are a boon, I cannot say.鈥
鈥淵et I believe, in contrast to the world, perhaps emotions are life鈥檚 greatest asset, although maybe a disadvantage.鈥
鈥淚n short, without experimentation one lacks the rights to conclusions. I know of a special witchcraft that can collect emotions emanating from life.鈥
鈥淭hrough this, you might find the true truth.鈥
Stirred slightly, Solomon鈥檚 questions reflected later philosophical pondering on human nature and divinity.
For a moment, Laine found it difficult to provide a precise answer.
Nevertheless, he wasn鈥檛 aiming to solve the query; he merely wanted to ascertain whether this peculiarly named individual was merely coincidental, or indeed had something special.
The name 鈥楽olomon鈥 was essential in countless future legends.
If in this uncollapsed destiny there was indeed some fateful convergence, then the individual must have some distinctive quality.
鈥淗ope it aids you, no need to refuse; it鈥檚 merely a fringe witchcraft.鈥
Handing over a book, Laine strode forward.
鈥淭he follow-up in this city is your responsibility.鈥
鈥淚鈥檒l leave behind a small number of soldiers, departing with the others in two days to western Athens to face the challenges of All Countries.鈥
路路路路路路
Swoosh鈥
Bang鈥
A pale golden glow streaked through the sky, then descended upon an unnamed hill.
Demeter looked somewhat disheveled, yet quickly regained her composure.
Along the way, she hadn鈥檛 managed to shake off the pursuing demon.
Quite the opposite, under its wings, she was chased for a considerable distance.
Fortunately, the demon seemed inherently repulsive to mortal order, eventually being expelled from this time and space.
Unclear of its whereabouts, Demeter breathed a sigh of relief.
鈥淧hew鈥斺€
鈥淒emophon鈥︹€
Her expression shifted, recalling the Athenian prince turned against his father, reminding the Goddess of Agriculture of her foster son with the same name.
He was meant to gain immortality through flames, yet ultimately succumbed to mortal ignorance.
Had he not met an untimely fate, perhaps this innately extraordinary individual could have become a renowned demigod hero in the mortal realm.
But reality holds no 鈥渨hat ifs.鈥
The Demophon of old was dead, killed by her own hands.
The queen鈥檚 expression of despair and agony still lingered in her memory; Demeter had no regrets.
Mortals remain ignorant, nothing surprising there.
The sole pity is Eryxis now lost from her hands.
鈥淭here will be better ones in the future; just a city filled with unbearable memories鈥︹€
鈥淧erhaps it鈥檚 a boon after all; from now on, I鈥檒l have something better.鈥
Comforting herself, Demeter extracted a fine incense stick.
This was crafted with the method left behind by those two gods of not strong but peculiar authorities.
Myrrh, Styrax, frankincense each in four and two portions.
A portion of cedar and ginger, paired with half portions of orris, cardamom, cinnamon, juniper berries, iris flower, and cypress, along with seven dried raisins, several drops of wine, honey, and lotus essence.
Processed according to different chronologies and rituals, crushed into dry grass, sealed in a container for two weeks, merged with essential oils, wine, grapes, and left to rest again.
After a month鈥檚 wait, the final incense stick was thus made.
Since that day, Demeter had prepared these early.
鈥淭his is what you promised me, the power to twist a god鈥檚 mind and will.鈥
鈥淎 mortal鈥檚 emotional power can only plunge deities briefly.鈥
鈥淏ut a god-derived hatred and pain can truly bind another god.鈥
鈥淓ven if it鈥檚 not eternal鈥︹€
Stretching her hand out, she lit the incense before her.
The sky had darkened; once Athens reached Eryxis, it was already afternoon.
Under the dim glow, Demeter鈥檚 face bore no hatred, only a hint of anticipation.
鈥淒o not disappoint me, come see me soon.鈥
鈥淭his time, I will completely erase the past disgrace.鈥
Previously, she had witnessed the power embedded within that miraculous golden arrow.
Making one intrinsically love another, an illogical power indeed.
Before, she only heard of the goddess of justice鈥檚 sword permitting no lies, and of Aphrodite鈥檚 girdle bewildering others.
After all, divine minds are so sublime鈥攂eyond mere objects鈥 influence.
Only contact with True God鈥檚 level power could potentially exert any influence upon them.
The Goddess of Justice once accessed the world鈥檚 core during ancient eras through 鈥榣egislation鈥橕 Aphrodite allegedly enjoyed the legacy of the father of gods or some other existence.
Yet, over time, all are merely transient effects鈥攕uch divine artifacts like the twin golden arrows, she indeed was witnessing for the first time.
Making one love another or viscerally hate them鈥 a divine blessing from the world, perhaps.
Yet, was such power only to be used as a one-time tool for revenge?
鈥淥h, certainly not; this is merely the most wasteful usage, whereas I have a better way.鈥
鈥淣ot everyone in the world is Poseidon.鈥
The memories acquired weren鈥檛 pleasant, yet the Goddess of Agriculture chuckled with pride.
In this instance, Demeter felt that Athena鈥檚 insight was indeed correct.
Sharp intellect is truly among the most priceless of life鈥檚 assets.
Even if she was not Athena鈥檚 equal, pondering long enough occasionally yielded flashes of brilliance.
鈥渀
