The Greece Antagonist

"Stop, I have something to say!"

"Do you want me to record your last words?"

Athena, polishing the gleaming tip of her spear, asked with a smile, approaching her target unhurriedly.

Seeing the increasingly radiant smile on that face, Luo En shivered without the cold.

Based on his understanding of this Goddess of Wisdom, the happier she smiled, the harsher her actions would be.

As Athena was about to reach him, Luo En steeled his heart and hurriedly spoke up.

"Themis! I've just seen the primeval Goddess of Justice!"

"Oh? Tell me more." Find exclusive stories on empire

At these words, Athena's sparkling eyes shone with intense interest. Setting down her Spear of Victory, she beckoned to Luo En, who was at the doorway.

Feeling the oppressive aura around him lighten, Luo En glanced at the large expanse of divine light patterns enfolding the courtyard like an iron bucket, and braced himself to walk into the yard.

He had no choice, but to sell out the primeval Goddess of Justice early, in order to ensure that he would not be turned into a sieve by the goddess catching him in the act.

Luo En made up his mind, carefully considered his wording a few times in his head, then recounted his recent discoveries and speculations about Astraea.

Athena listened attentively to the analysis across from her, pondering with bright, thoughtful eyes.

"Your meaning is, Themis used a certain secret technique you are unaware of to project and house her consciousness within her disciple Astraea's body. The two consciousnesses can actively switch as needed to deal with different situations," she summarized.

"Exactly, only this would explain the drastic differences in their behavior and logic from one time to the next."

"Yes, that would make sense; no wonder I always felt that Astraea's gaze at me sometimes seemed odd…"

Luo En inquired subconsciously, "Odd in what way?"

"Well, it contained pity, resignation, and a hint of guilt…" Athena described briefly through recollection, then concluded, "Basically, like the emotions of an elder caring for the younger."

Luo En thought for a moment and then understood the complex emotions of Themis.

After the first Goddess of Wisdom, Metis, was swallowed by Zeus, the primeval Goddess of Justice took great offense, therefore established the law of marriage to restrict Zeus's authority, and indignantly left Olympus.

Considering the background of the two joining forces to build Olympus's new order during the Titans' war, Metis and Themis were likely old acquaintances with no shallow relation.

They might even have been close friends.

And Athena, as Metis's daughter, appearing before Themis, would inevitably remind the Goddess of Justice of some heartbreaking old affairs, revealing true emotions.

Observing the expression of someone who had hit the jackpot in front of her, and Athena, leisurely drinking honey water at the table, Luo En suddenly realized.

"So, you sought me out this time for…?"

"Just a casual chat…" Athena answered with a smile.

"Then why were you squatting in my house with a spear?!" Luo En couldn't help but raise his voice, a look of irritation on his face.

"I am a goddess of war, isn't it quite reasonable to carry a spear with me?" Athena blinked and then tossed the Spear of Victory aside and pointed at a golden-haired tot whose form was materializing in the center, her face the picture of innocence, "And look, it's Nike, you know her, what's with the fuss?"

The argument was sound, the justification detailed.

For a moment, Luo En found himself speechless.

But seeing the nearly uncontainable teasing glint in Athena's bright eyes, Luo En realized, not foolishly, that the cunning goddess before him had played him yet again.

A chalet wouldn't be necessary, but passing by to vent her frustration was true.

Understanding the intricacies of it, Luo En gave a resentful look, complaining with a scowl.

"Lady Goddess, I've gone to great lengths to find allies for you to strengthen the Academy of Athens, writing the Codex to educate the Athenians, and you aren't grateful, but instead, you squat in the garden with a spear to ambush me. Isn't that a bit too much?!"

"How could it be? I came specifically to bring you a gift," Athena said with a slight smile, raising her hand to make a gesture, and a beautifully ornate golden Great Cup inscribed with dense spells settled into the palm of the Goddess of Wisdom.

Seeing that dazzling brightness and the obscure significances it carried, Luo En couldn't help but be thrilled.

"The Holy Grail is completed?!"

"Although I know you have your own plans, to spend so much time and effort just to create a drinking vessel… it really doesn't fit with the traditional divine concept of using all means to enhance strength," Athena shook her head, tossing the golden Great Cup over, her words tinged with a trace of helplessness.

In an era of strife and turmoil, using rare materials and a lot of time to create a drinking vessel as one's sacred object clearly went against the conventional ideology of using all possible means to increase one's power.

Even the renowned Goddess of Wisdom could not fully comprehend Luo En's choice.

In response to this doubt, Luo En laughed without saying anything, just patiently imbued his own divinity into the Holy Grail in his hands.

Seeing that she couldn't get any answers from him, Athena rolled her eyes at Luo En and carelessly reached into the whirling Magic Circle Diagram, humming a tune as she threw a square, silver metal case towards him.

"Lucky for you, I've prepared something else," she said.

Hearing the crisp clashing sound, Luo En immediately put away the Holy Grail and poked curiously at the silver metal box on the ground, engraved with a pattern of stars and a flame motif.

"Sacred Robe? Made of silver? You didn't just throw me a set that no one uses, did you?"

But as soon as his fingertip touched the surface of the silver metal box, the entire module instantly disassembled into over a hundred precise parts, which automatically flew onto Luo En's body and merged with him.

As the silvery-white Sacred Robe completely formed on his body, Luo En felt a majestic and ancient divinity surge into him, pouring into the sixth slot of the gold wheel, faintly outlining the phantom of a flame, and his face subtly changed.

"This is…"

"The Altar Seat, specially prepared for you by me and Aunt Hestia,"

Athena gave a certain someone a disdainful glance and proudly provided an answer.

Upon hearing the true name of the Sacred Robe on his body, Luo En suddenly understood.

In Ancient Greek mythology, the Celestial Altar is the ever-burning altar of sacred fire in the Celestial Realm.

Legend has it that after the Titanomachy, the Olympus faction set up an altar in the heavens to honor the hard-won victory and to signify the eternal brilliance of Olympus like flames, enshrining the sacred fire within it.

And the first person to light and guard this flame was none other than Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth.

Therefore, its significance is extraordinary; it represents the beginning of Olympus's glory and carries the hidden meaning of commanding the stars.

Likewise, among the eighty-eight sets of Sacred Robes that he and Athena designed, the Altar Seat is one of the few functional ones.

Not only is the sacred fire that has been burning since the era of mythology stored in the mirror-like guard over the chest, but this Sacred Robe has also been granted special authority by Athena, which can strip any Saint of the right to use their Sacred Robe.

In other words, the Altar Seat is actually the head and commander of the future entire force of Saints, the de facto representative of the goddess, sworn to protect the sacred fire drawn down from the grand altar of Olympus, ensuring its eternal flame.

"Are you courting death, daring to touch that thing!"

Luo En looked at Athena before him in astonishment, pressing his hand against the mirror on his chest, sensing the fire that throbbed and burned in sync with his heart, and felt it somewhat burning to the touch.

The original sacred fire, Olympus's eternal glory.

It civilized the savage, brought light to darkness, and bestowed nobility upon the mundane.

The reason why the golden race of humanity could emerge from ignorance at an astonishing rate and establish a civilization second only to the gods was not only due to the guidance of Prometheus, the Forethinker, but also related to the sacred fire that Prometheus stole from the Celestial Realm.

However, the ending was tragic.

The golden race of humanity and their civilization were obliterated in divine fury, with Prometheus himself still hanging on the Caucasus Mountains, awaiting desiccation.

With such a harsh precedent in mind, how could Luo En not tremble at heart?

However, Athena spoke with a tranquil expression, as if everything was under her control, and comfortingly said,

"Don't worry, Aunt has already decided to hand over to you the responsibility of guarding the sacred fire and altar, so from now on, this is your normal duty. As the rightful guardian of the Altar Seat, it's quite normal to be imbued with the scent of the sacred fire, and no one will suspect you."

"What if?"

Luo En looked at confident Athena with suspicion, feeling that there was something hidden beneath those bright eyes.

"There's no 'what if'."

Athena made her solemn promise once more, her face blooming with a determined and radiant smile.

"Because I will intervene, personally teaching you how to control and conceal this power."

"Teach?"

Luo En murmured instinctively, and then he saw Athena beckoning him, holding the Spear of Victory that Nike had transformed into, and polishing the tip of the spear leisurely.

Damn!

In an instant, as if a current ran through his brain, Luo En suddenly came to his senses and, without hesitation, turned around and bolted.

He knew all too well that this petty woman never intended to let him off tonight!

"Buzz~~"

With the tail of the Spear of Victory slamming down, the surrounding space spiraled into a giant, seemingly sealed-off Labyrinth, pulling the displaying [Goat] back into the base.

"Class hasn't even started yet, why are you running?"

The soft and sweet voice behind him was devoid of any traces of mundanity as Athena, with her shield in her left hand and spear in her right, approached with a smiling grin.

Cornered, Luo En looked at the radiant smile on her face, and he wanted to cry but had no tears.

He knew he couldn't escape a thrashing tonight.

If that was the case, there was no more to say.

So what if she's the Chief Goddess? I'm not a pushover either!

Luo En let out a roar of anger and despair, fully activated the authority within him, and charged forward with gritted teeth.