The Expedition to Mount Athos - (2)
A prophecy was delivered from the Temple of Athena throughout Greece.
The content of the prophecy stated that an expedition would be formed to eliminate the monsters gathered at Mount Athos, alongside Poseidon's son, Orion.
The gathering place for the expedition was the Kingdom of Macedonia, near Mount Athos.
"They say all the monsters that need to be hunted have gathered there, right?"
"The prophecy of the goddess Athena said so, so it must be true. There are many monsters at Mount Athos..."
"That's why I couldn't see any monsters when I went to hunt."
As a result, countless individuals who could not find the monsters they were meant to hunt flocked to Macedonia from all over Greece.
With the hope that being part of an expedition formed by the divine prophecy would allow them to achieve remarkable feats and become great heroes.
"If Poseidon's son is the leader of the expedition, we can surely receive the blessings of the sea."
"I hear Orion is recruiting members for the expedition in Athens! Are you going to check it out?"
"I heard that anyone from the Theban Hero Training Center is accepted without question, which feels a bit unfair..."
"Hmph. Are you discriminating against those from the same training center as you?"
The reputation of the giant hunter, Orion, was widely known in Greece, and most heroes recognized him as the leader of the expedition.
His arrows, which swept through numerous hunting competitions in Greece, were known for their accuracy.
However, many were dissatisfied with the notion that only those from the Theban Hero Training Center would be selected.
That dissatisfaction erupted when Orion chose a small-statured man simply because he was from the same background.
"Hey, Orion! Why am I disqualified while that scrawny guy passes?"
A Spartan warrior with a bald head and black tattoos spoke with a face full of discontent to the towering figure of Orion, who had blue hair.
However, Orion responded nonchalantly.
"That's because Perieres over there is stronger than you."
"What?! You might be able to say that, but that guy doesn't even look like he has trained properly!"
At those words, the man called Perieres stepped forward and replied in a smooth voice.
To be precise, he seemed to choke on his words as if something had caught in his throat...
"Huh. You say I haven't trained properly? Have you ever fought a monster? Sphinx... Ugh!"
"...? What nonsense is this? Reveal who you are and where you come from."
"Well, I graduated from the Hero Training Center, so I was thinking of going to Messene to play king... I came here while pondering that."
At those words, the onlookers who had come to join the expedition burst into laughter.
However, for some reason, none of the graduates from the Theban Training Center laughed at him.
"Hahaha! Playing king? This guy is quite amusing."
"It seems he should be playing the fool in a comedy troupe instead. Is it really right to select someone like this, Orion?"
"Orion, it seems the method of selecting expedition members is flawed."
Faced with the complaints of the many gathered in Athens, Orion exchanged a slightly awkward glance with Perieres.
Upon meeting Orion's gaze, Perieres shrugged and shouted loudly.
"Then how about we settle this with a pankration? If I lose, I will recommend you."
"Ha! A pankration? Fine. Don't blame me if you face Thanatos!"
Thus, an unexpected pankration match took place at the gathering for recruiting expedition members.
The spectators settled in a circle around the two men preparing for the match.
Orion, holding a stick, took on the role of referee, while the heroes warmed up.
"Now, according to the agreement of the two contestants, we will proceed with Kato-style pankration, so keep that in mind while watching!"
Kato-style pankration allows the match to continue even if a contestant falls to the ground.
As soon as Orion's words fell, the two, now stripped down for the match, charged at each other.
The first strike came from the Spartan warrior, who swung his right fist with a battle cry, his massive muscles bulging with power.
However, his punch missed Perieres and merely grazed past him.
Then came Perieres' counterattack.
Born of the wind god Aeolus, he had the ability to manipulate the winds.
His demi-god fist, wrapped in wind, surged like a storm, striking the solar plexus, jaw, and head.
"Ugh... Ack!"
Ultimately, the Spartan warrior was relentlessly battered by a flurry of blows and staggered backward.
But perhaps because he was a warrior, he fiercely lifted his foot and aimed it at his opponent.
Yet, even with that fierce momentum, his attack missed again...
Perieres, effortlessly dodging the warrior's strikes, taunted him with a very annoying expression.
"Tsk tsk. How can you charge in so foolishly? At this rate, I can't trust you to watch my back even if you join the expedition."
"Shut up! You scoundrel! Hraaaap!"
Fueled by anger from the many punches he had taken, the warrior charged, but he felt something trip his foot, and the world flipped upside down.
With his legs caught, Perieres seized the staggering warrior and slammed him down.
Boom—
Having fallen headfirst to the ground, he could have suffered a concussion, but fortunately, he seemed to be alive, his chest rising and falling lightly.
The fallen warrior, foaming at the mouth, was carried away by the crowd to see a doctor, and Orion declared the victor.
"As you all saw, the winner is Perieres! If anyone thinks my judgment is wrong, step forward. I will face you myself."
"Hah. That giant was taken down in an instant."
"He knocked him out without taking a single hit. How is he moving like that..."
"What kind of training did he undergo in Thebes?"
"Was that Spartan's ankle dedicated to Zeus?"
"Since it didn't break, I don't think so."
The warrior who had just been carried away looked muscular and strong, but...
People quietly stepped back from the giant hunter, who appeared to be twice as massive.
As those who disputed Orion's judgment disappeared, several hundred people were selected as expedition members.
Among them were heroes from Thebes, but there were also quite a few who were not.
Before departing for Mount Athos,
They moved to a mountain located quite a distance from the Kingdom of Macedonia to prepare a special ritual to receive the blessings of the gods for this expedition.
Deer, leopards, birds, and dozens of hunted beasts by the heroes were piled onto a wooden altar, with armed heroes standing below.
Then, Orion, the leader of the expedition, approached the altar with a torch in hand and lit it, proclaiming loudly.
"O gods of Olympus, who watch from above the clouds! Bless these brave warriors who seek to hunt the monsters!"
Boom!
As if responding to that cry, a blue lightning bolt suddenly fell from the clear sky, striking the altar.
When the brief but intense lightning ceased, all the beasts placed on the altar vanished without a trace.
"Lightning?! Is Zeus watching over us here?"
"Not only the goddess Athena, who delivered the prophecy... but the gods of Olympus are paying attention to this expedition!"
"I'm glad I came to Athens; surely this expedition will...!"
The heroes, believing this to be a response from the gods, erupted in cheers.
This was undoubtedly a chance to gain fame.
There was not a single hero whose heart did not race at the thought of the gods watching their journey.
Orion raised his voice once more and shouted loudly.
"I will hunt all the beasts and monsters that exist on this land and offer them to the gods of Olympus!"
A statement so arrogant it could be deemed reckless.
Yet, as the greatest hunter in Greece, Orion could be forgiven for saying such things.
Until a voice resonated from the earth below.
You will hunt all the beasts and monsters that exist on this land? Poseidon's child, can you take responsibility for that statement?
The heroes were taken aback by the sudden soft voice.
What was this voice?
This pressure.
It was undoubtedly a god.
But... were the gods of Olympus not blessing this journey?
"Wh... who are you?!"
Orion questioned the unidentified goddess... and the heroes hastily drew their weapons.
After a brief silence, that grand yet gentle voice echoed in their ears.
...
I am Gaia, the goddess of the earth.
You shall pay for your audacity in insulting the earth.
The goddess of the earth, Gaia? According to mythology, she is akin to Zeus's grandmother...
The Protogenoi?! What is happening...
While they spread their wings of imagination, they could no longer continue their thoughts.
For suddenly, the ground began to split from a distance.
Rumble...
Crack.
As if an earthquake had struck, a massive crack in the earth gradually spread.
The vibrations that shook the surroundings continued for a while, and the heroes could not hide their confusion at this sudden situation.
But it was still too early to be confused.
From the greatly split crack... countless monsters that should have been at Mount Athos crawled up from the ground.
Growl...
Bark! Hiss—
"The... the golden sword of Chrysaor! How can this be... why is a monster born from the severed head of the goddess Medusa here?!"
"Oh my god... a two-headed dog with a snake's tail... that's Orthrus! I never thought the children of Typhon would be here too!"
"Request support from the city immediately; we need more reinforcements!"
"This damn... Zeus...!"