I, with my frail and sickly body, simultaneously traverse hundreds of worlds.

Page 5

Having crossed the swamp, Bai Zhi turned and drew her bowstring, firing arrows at the monster's joints. The accuracy was decent, but the damage was insufficient, barely scratching the surface.

In short, it's all mockery.

The monster grew even angrier after being attacked, roaring once more as its massive body charged forward, only to stomp into the swamp, its lower body sinking deep inside, unable to escape.

The monster's inherent ability to dry out caused the swamp's moisture to evaporate and shrink rapidly, turning into clumps of earth and rocks, quickly losing its chance to trap it. However, a weakness eventually appeared.

The similarity between hunters and assassins lies in their ability to strike a fatal blow, leaving no chance for their prey.

Without consulting Atalanta, but sharing the tacit understanding of archers, he trusted that she would choose the best point of attack; this time, he aimed for her mouth.

Four arrows shot out of the forest in quick succession toward the monster's eyes and ears, accurately hitting its target based on its predicted trajectory.

"good chance."

Drawing back the bowstring, ethereal magic gathered in the arrow, Bai Zhi took a deep breath, and fired the arrow of light.

The monster, its weak point injured, roared and exposed the fatal weakness of its mouth. In an instant, a beam of light traveled along its open mouth, pierced through its palate, and shot into its brain.

Warcraft is not a mythical beast or a divine beast; it has not escaped the realm of living beings. If its fatal and vulnerable weakness—the brain—is breached, it will perish on the spot.

The enormous creature slowly collapsed, and Bai Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead. In such a short time, the process had been a brush with death, but thankfully it was resolved successfully.

A thud was heard beside her, and Bai Zhi said, "Good teamwork, Atalanta."

"..." However, Atalanta did not answer him immediately. Bai Zhi looked over in confusion and saw Atalanta with a strange look in her eyes, as if to say, "How could you possibly have such an ability?"

"Tell me, what am I really like in your eyes?"

“A noble scion in distress, you shouldn’t have such strength. Just your archery skills and physical abilities alone would make it difficult to subdue you, except for me, of course.”

Experts see the details, while laymen only see the spectacle. Although only one arrow was shot, Atalanta could sense Bai Zhi's skill.

This was also what puzzled Atalanta. Bai Zhi, whom they had met for the first time, did not have the confidence he displayed now. Back then, he was like a nouveau riche who had just acquired a treasure mountain, but now he was a spirited new hunter.

'You guessed right.' Bai Zhi thought to herself, but she didn't show it on her face: 'Hehe, I am a genius, but more importantly, I have a good teacher.'

"Teacher, my skills were taught by Lady Artemis. Who is your teacher?"

At this point, Atalanta became genuinely curious. Would a nobleman invite a hunter to teach him? No, could it be a hero? Surely not a demigod?

"Well... how should I put it..."

I don't know how to explain Bai Zhi, so let me introduce the teacher. In Greek, it means to expose one's own family, which is a symbol of displaying glory.

But how should he answer?

Are you suggesting that your teacher is also my teacher, and that my teacher secretly teaches me every day until dawn without telling me?

Fortunately, he didn't need to answer the question that raised seven doubts.

Because I have arrived.

"Hehe, I'm Diomedes' teacher!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, feeling the warm touch on the back of his head, and seeing the silver strands of hair falling down on both sides, Bai Zhi's face immediately stiffened. In particular, Atalanta's increasingly wide pupils made him break out in a cold sweat.

Oh no~ We're doomed.

The Greek Runaway Prince: Chapter Seven - Gods Love Heroes

"Artemis...sir?"

Having escaped the dagger, Atalanta, who was about to prepare the monster food, stared blankly at Artemis, who was close to Bai Zhi's back, her mind unable to process what was happening.

"calm down."

Bai Zhi had no doubt that people could do the most outrageous things when they were hot-headed, especially with Atalanta's increasingly deteriorating expression; it was possible that a dagger would be plunged into his stomach at any moment.

Unfortunately, it was no use. Atalanta's expression remained broken, and her arm unconsciously tightened its grip on the dagger, ready to slit her throat at any moment.

"Little Atalanta, it's been a long time."

As if oblivious to the atmosphere, Artemis greeted them warmly.

"Lady Artemis."

As expected of a god of faith, Artemis's voice was more effective than Bai Zhi's. Atalanta instantly snapped out of her daze, teleported close to Bai Zhi, and punched him in the abdomen. The instantaneous pain almost made him vomit up his stomach acid. Then, he was grabbed by the arm, pulled and twisted, and pressed to the ground, unable to move.

"Lady Artemis, please be careful not to let that filthy man defile your pure body."

Am I really that bad? Bai Zhi was very depressed.

“Oh my, you two have such a good relationship. Little Atalanta, let me introduce you. Little Diomedes is your junior brother. These past few nights, after you fall asleep, I have been personally teaching him his skills.”

With each word Artemis spoke, Atalanta's expression darkened further. By the end, she nearly broke Bai Zhi's arm, but the conversation didn't stop there.

"Little Diomedes is progressing very quickly; in just a few days, he's almost caught up with you. Little Atalanta, don't let your junior brother surpass you!"

click-

"Huh? What's that sound?" Artemis tilted her head, looking bewildered.

"It's nothing, just someone's jealousy." Bai Zhi gasped, grateful for the experimental memories of Honkai Bai Zhi Paimon. A mere dislocated arm was nothing compared to human experiments.

"Shut up." Atalanta snorted, twisting her arm to put the dislocated shoulder back in place. With Artemis present, she wasn't willing to let her sect suffer a similar fate. She would wait until Lady Artemis left...

Shivering, Bai Zhi quickly stood up and moved away from the heroine who had committed the sin of jealousy.

“Lady Artemis, please allow Atalanta and me to prepare a sumptuous dinner for you.” Bai Zhi pointed to the magical beast, which was the offering to be presented.

If we don't change the subject, I feel like I'll have to be constantly on guard against jealous female hunters hunting me in the wild from now on.

“Yes, I really like the offerings you made, little Diomedes.” Artemis readily agreed. Compared to the meat, financial reports, and hunting offerings of the people of this era, Angelica’s unique methods were more appreciated by the gods.

“Okay, Atalanta, let’s go together.”

Bai Zhi offered a way out, but Atalanta snorted.

The two of them worked together to deal with the brown bear monster.

The meat of monsters is tougher than that of wild boars, and their special ability to dry makes the meat dry and hard, without any moisture.

After discussing it, the two decided that Bai Zhi would fetch water from the stream and pick spices, while Atalanta would process the meat.

With everyone working together, a barbecue was quickly set up outdoors. During the process, Artemis watched with a smile, like a mother watching her child grow up.

The monster meat undergoes special processing, is seasoned with spices, and is cooked at a controlled temperature, allowing its aroma to quickly develop.

“It’s delicious. I accept this offering. Little Atalanta and Little Diomedes, eat together.”

Artemis took a bite, praised it, and invited the two of them to eat together.

No one could refuse the Moon Goddess's kindness, especially since the flesh of magical beasts could enhance human qualities.

After finishing the meal, Bai Zhi's internal injuries healed, and Atalanta's strength also increased.

Artemis looked up; it was a full moon night. She got up and headed toward the lake. The two exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.

"Young Diomedes, today is the appointed day. Let me see your growth, and let Hera see my teaching abilities."

Artemis took out a celestial bow that shone with moonlight and said.

"I understand. I will not let Lady Hera down." Bai Zhi nodded; he was already mentally prepared.

"Lady Hera?" Atalanta asked in confusion. Why would she mention the Queen of Gods, and what kind of agreement was it?

“When Lady Artemis first taught me, she made a promise with me: when you, Atalanta, have completed my task, I will have an archery duel with you. Victory will mean that my training has been successful, while defeat will mean that I am not mature enough.”

As she explained the agreement, Bai Zhi paused for a moment before slowly saying, "The main god I worship is Queen Hera."

After a moment of silence, Atalanta's gaze toward Bai Zhi was filled with unprecedented killing intent. She had worshipped Lady Hera, yet she had still provoked Lady Artemis. This was a great disrespect and an insult to her devout faith.

Atalanta's senses toward Angelica suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

"Lady Artemis, what if I accidentally kill this guy? Will that cause you trouble?" Atalanta was referring to whether Lady Hera would cause trouble.

"Don't worry, Hera and I agreed to test Diomedes's aptitude to see if he can accomplish great things and become a hero. This duel is Diomedes's very first trial."

Artemis's sweet tone was tinged with indifference and even cruelty.

Gods love heroes, love to create heroes, and love the deeds that heroes bring to them; however, they do not care about heroes who have not yet grown up.

Because...the gods favor heroes.

"It is the Bow of the Sky. The victor of the duel will obtain it. As for the duel, the distance is limited to around the lake. Whoever kills it first wins."

Artemis clapped her hands, and the moonlight, gazing upon them, transformed into two brown bear-like magical beasts. They roared and charged towards one of the people.

Neither Bai Zhi nor Atalanta possess strong melee combat abilities; their first thought is to dodge and kite each other.

Thinking this way, they acted accordingly.

Atalanta dodged the monster's attack, firing arrows as she fled. The monster couldn't keep up with her speed, but ordinary arrows couldn't kill it.

Bai Zhi wasn't as agile as Atalanta, and the monsters were too close, so she could only dodge but couldn't create distance, putting her at a disadvantage.

In that instant, the two recalled all the times they had killed magical beasts before, exchanged a glance, and then reached a consensus.

Bai Zhi stopped dodging and stood still, conjuring an ethereal light arrow. The monster in front of her wasn't about to let this opportunity pass; it roared, and four arrows shot from afar, stopping the monster...

The Greek Runaway Prince: Eleven more gods await him after Chapter Eight.

Cooperation and mutual benefit: the hunters' unspoken understanding.

When the Aether Arrow pierced the brain of the last Moonbear Beast, it let out a mournful cry and vanished into the moonlight.

After retracting the arrow, Bai Zhi silently turned her gaze to Artemis, while Atalanta lowered her head, looking as if she dared not look directly at her.

Defeating a monster alone without following the instructions is considered a failure, let alone cooperating with an opponent.

This was a serious blow to Atalanta.

“Little Atalanta, look at me. It is neither failure nor success. You have given me another answer: to cooperate in the fight against a powerful enemy.”

Artemis gently lifted Atalanta's head and patted her dejected little head with a smile that seemed so genuine.

“You have done very well, little Atalanta. This bow of the heavens will be your coming-of-age gift.”

“Lady Artemis, I have not fulfilled your request, I cannot accept it.” Atalanta was very disappointed: “My power is insufficient to kill the monster, it only served to restrain it. The one who truly killed the monster… was Diomedes.”

Bai Zhi's self-introduction is no match for the name uttered by the gods.

Atalanta refused to lie to the moon goddess.

“No, without your cooperation, I wouldn’t have been able to shoot that arrow.” Bai Zhi did not take credit.

In reality, he doesn't care about success or failure.

With the existence of the Angelica Space, all he needs to do is survive until new Angelica appears, such as the Three Pure Ones Angelica, the Mercury Serpent Angelica, the Star God Angelica, and the Demon-Slaying Great Sage Angelica. Then he can achieve his goal, live peacefully, and travel around to explore the unknown.

“Take it, little Atalanta. The Bow of the Sky suits you, but not little Diomedes. His vow to Hera is not yet fulfilled, and he needs other rewards.”

Artemis gave the sky to Atalanta and came before Bai Zhi.

"Young Diomedes, you are not yet mature. Your skills, strength, speed, and temperament have not yet reached the standard of a hero, so..."

Artemis crossed her arms and pointed a finger at Bai Zhi's chest, towards her heart.

The bright moonlight will protect your growth.

The etheric crystals that covered his body flowed through his blood to his heart, where they condensed into a crystal within a silver halo.

"This is the gods' wish, my blessing, and my curse. Little Diomedes, you will eventually become a hero in the trials of the gods."

Withdrawing her hand, Artemis spoke words of farewell: "Go, for Prometheus, the god of wisdom of the Caucasus, will show you how to become a true hero."

"...Thank you for your blessing, Lady Artemis. I will reach the Caucasus Mountains and fulfill my vow to Lady Hera." After a moment of silence, Bai Zhi responded with a smile.

Turning around, in the moonlight, the crystallized heart provided endless power, nourishing his body, making him increasingly robust, however...

"Cough cough."

The weakness has returned; the crystallization or mineral disease in the heart is more severe than the one that has spread throughout the body, and this is the weakness of Greek Angelica.

"She's a good child." Artemis looked on with regret as she watched Bai Zhi's figure disappear. "I don't know when we'll be able to meet again."

"Lady Artemis, should I call him back?" Atalanta raised the Heavenly Bow, preparing to use physical means to keep Bai Zhi here: "With your divine artifact, I can do it."

“No, no need.” Artemis tilted her head, smiled and shook her head, “There are still eleven gods waiting for Diomedes. If I keep him here, Hera will be angry.”

"Is that so? What a pity." Atalanta put down the Sky Bow with a hint of regret.

Moon Goddess and Tower Cat watched the immature hero depart, hoping for their next meeting.