The Greece Antagonist

God of Wine? Upon learning the true identity of the person before him, Hercules felt a sense of familiarity arise within his heart. He immediately dropped his guard and stepped forward to ask respectfully. "How come you are here?" "Of course, it is for him…" Luo En turned his head to look at King Thessaly, Admetos, lying in the coffin, and sighed deeply. "After all, having met, I ought to pay a visit." "So, you specifically brought back his spirit from the Netherworld?" Hercules looked at Luo En before him and could not help but respect him deeply. Divine beings and humans are not the same species in any sense, and the mercy the gods claim to have is often but condescension from on high. A divine being that could empathize with human hearts and cherish the distinction between gods and mortals was exceedingly rare. With this in mind, the strong man looked at the disarray of the graveyard and scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, please forgive my rashness." "It's okay, I understand." Luo En waved his hand and looked towards Hercules with a light laugh. "To challenge the entire order of the Netherworld for a friend, you're quite audacious. In light of your great effort, I'll gift you this." As he spoke, he spread open his palm, and a golden-red light with a human outline emerged and flew into Hercules's hands. Seeing his friend's spirit easily obtained, Hercules could hardly believe his eyes. However, just as he was eager to allow Admetos's spirit to return and awaken him, a deep musing voice came to his ears. "Are you sure you want to do this? Although I've given you the choice, I hope you've considered certain things clearly before this." "What?" Hercules stopped his actions and turned to ask. He still held great respect for this god, who was like a mentor and friend. Luo En pointed towards the intermittently visible Mount Olympus and admonished in a grave tone. "Returning to Thessaly in secret might be glossed over, but defying the divine decree to revive Admetos will not be so easily excused." Seeing Hercules's body visibly tensing, Luo En quickly added. "If it's only about preserving friendship, then it's best to stop here. You might save him from the God of Death once or twice, but with the current state of Thessaly, he is fated to die for his land and his people in this battle against the giants. Then, how will you prevent it?" "…" Hercules bit his lip, sinking into a long silence. Indeed, Thessaly had lost the favor of the gods, and Admetos's unilateral participation in the assembly at War God Mountain also signified betrayal in the eyes of Father God Zeus. He had fought the giants and understood that these monsters were not beings that ordinary humans could confront. Thus, the destruction of Thessaly and the death of Admetos were destined. "Every mortal is destined to die. Yet, as a son of Zeus and the most promising of the Divine Blood Heroes, with nearly infinite life, are you sure you want to gamble everything for them?" The question, aimed straight at the heart, came from the God of Wine's lips. Hercules looked at the spirit of Admetos in his hand, while the laughter and encouragement from the feast still echoed in his ears. "Go back. This isn't where you belong." The tall figure turned his head to gaze upon Thessaly under the night sky, where the lights within the city were sparse, and the weeping of those mourning their departed loved ones resounded through the wind. Looking at the flickering flame of the spirit in his palm, and the lights in the city gradually being swallowed by darkness, he found his answer in an instant. "This is precisely where I belong! These are the deeds I must undertake! Mortals worship us, support us, not because of my bloodline, but because I can bring them hope! If I could prevent a tragedy yet did nothing, what right would I have to consider myself a hero?" With that, he unhesitatingly pressed the ball of spirit light into his friend's chest. After a burst of radiance, Admetos was not yet awake in the coffin, but he gradually started breathing, and his complexion began to grow rosy. The Queen of Thessaly surged out from the protective barrier, threw herself upon her husband, and listened to the heartbeat resounding in his chest once again. She could not help but cry tears of joy, profusely thanking the two present, then rushed her husband back to the Royal Palace to prepare for further medical treatment and care. Luo En watched the queen safely enter the city, then turned to look at Hercules, who appeared relaxed and refreshed, and raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Aren't you afraid of His Majesty's punishment? Be careful, or you might even lose your identity as the son of Zeus." "What determines my identity has never been my bloodline, but my actions. Without the title of Zeus's son, without the favor of the gods, would I cease to be Hercules?" The robust man laughed heartily in response, gazing earnestly at the deity who had thus counseled him. Luo En showed a knowing smile and extended his hand ahead. "Then, on behalf of War God Mountain, I congratulate you on your return to the Mortal World, hero of humanity." Hercules enthusiastically clasped hands with the God of Wine, forming an unspoken alliance, then immediately got to the point. "I will stay in Thessaly, fighting alongside Admetos until the last moment! But if it's just us, Thessaly's fall is inevitable. We need reinforcements! Many reinforcements!" "Rest assured, I have already issued a call to arms to the entire city-state of Greece. A large number of Divine Blood Heroes are on their way. In two or three days, they will assemble in Thessaly! More than last time!" However, upon hearing Luo En's response, the great hero shook his head, seemingly not quite satisfied. "Not enough. I need at least one Chief God to preside over the defense!" Immediately, Hercules paused, then added with a cough, "Preferably, one whose connection to War God Mountain is not that deep…" Luo En immediately understood. Hercules, although determined to defy Zeus's decree and stand on the side of humanity to defend Thessaly City, had not completely lost hope in the Father God. Thus, he still wanted to keep a back door open for himself and Thessaly. In other words, the Chief God taking over Thessaly should preferably not be him and Athena, these leaders of the rebellion. Tsk, tsk, this unfortunate child still got off lightly from Zeus's wrath. "He's not suitable, how about me?" A stream of starlight fell upon the barren mountain, and the Goddess with golden diadem and white arms stepped forth, her demeanor regal and graceful. "Hera, Lord Hercules?" Seeing that face, identical to the temple statues, Hercules trembled, bowed his head, and worshipped. Hera nodded, giving a serious look to this illegitimate child who had almost died at her hands but was now revived because of her. "Do you still remember the meaning of your name?" Without hesitation, Hercules replied, "Of course!" "Very good," Hera nodded with satisfaction, her expression stern, "then guard Thessaly for me, and fight for the people here to survive. This is the trial I bestow upon you, the glory I grant you!" "I will heed Your Oracle, great Queen of Heaven!" "Your name, your fate, they all started because of me, there's no need for us to be so formal with each other." "Alright, Mother Goddess." Hercules clenched his right fist to his chest and knelt, his expression reverent and devout. Hercules—the man bestowed with glory by Hera, this was his name, and his fate. Having successfully subdued this son of prophecy and enlisted him under her command, Hera glanced at her lover who had dragged her here to save the day and unconsciously licked her lips. Speaking of appearance fees, shouldn't we settle up? Luo En's face turned bitter, the joy from stealing Zeus' favorite completely gone, and his kidneys began to cry out softly. However, before he could think of a way to escape, Hera had already grabbed his arm, speaking righteously to her newly accepted son. "Alright, hurry back to the city and make preparations with Admetos for the joint defense. Before the reinforcements arrive, the God of Wine and I will stay in Thessaly to prepare for any eventuality. That's settled then!" "Mother Goddess, I'll make the arrangements right away!" With that said, Hercules turned and strode toward Thessaly Royal Palace. As he looked back, seeing the handsome man and beautiful woman standing together under the starlight, he couldn't help feeling they were a perfect and harmonious match. —The God of Wine, he could be your father... Vaguely, the words the Mother Goddess Hera had said to him when she appeared as an old woman echoed in his mind. Hercules thought about it and nodded seriously. Yes, indeed! Compared to that "Bloodline Father" high above in Olympus, this "Spiritual Father" who ran about for the lives in the Mortal World, deserved his respect and approval more. So, this choice, it can't be wrong! This time, unlike when he entered the city in secrecy, Hercules took off his Invisibility Cloak, revealed his true appearance, and walked with his head held high through the great gates of Thessaly Royal City, toward the palace under the night sky. Watching his big brother can shoulder some of the burden, leaving the desolate mountain without a backward glance, Luo En remained behind, wanting to cry but having no tears. Brother, save me... "Speaking of which, how did Admetos suddenly pass away from illness?" With a contemplative voice, Hera stepped forward, gazing at Thessaly City under the night sky, her face showing confusion. "I recall he was bouncing around alive at the last meeting at War God Mountain." "It's because of this..." Luo En raised his arm, showing a black skull emblem on his hand. "The Mark of the Dead?" Hera was slightly startled, then she had a sudden realization. "He was just pretending to be dead, his soul never entered the Netherworld!" For some unknown reason, she began to feel a bit sorry for Hercules who was kept in the dark. "No, Admetos really died once." Luo En shook his head, replying somberly. "Moreover, if Hercules hadn't come or hadn't wanted to stay, he might already be at the Court of Judgment now." "Why?" Despite the stratagem to entice Hercules to their side involving a bit of deception, risking life seemed beyond Hera's understanding. "Admetos requested it himself, it was also a gamble he set up." Luo En paused, explaining sternly. "He didn't want to deceive his friends or betray his faith, yet he didn't want to watch Thessaly fall idly by. Thus, all he could do was stake everything on a bet for Hercules to make his own decision!" "Including himself?" Hera was even more surprised. "Sacrificing civilians, sacrificing nobles, sacrificing personal guards, and at the critical moment, even the King can be placed on the scales..." Luo En recounted the words Admetos had personally told him that night, his gaze deep. "Compared to the Divine King and his will up in Olympus, human lives indeed seem as trivial as dust, their well-being does not count for much. But like gathering fleece to make wool, and feathers can sink a ship, the weight of so many lives together eventually tips the scales toward this place." In his musings, he looked up at the small lights on the mountain below and the vast stars in the sky, scoffing and shaking his head. All beings are like ants, but ants can build high towers! This was a truth that the high and mighty Divine King would never understand. As Luo En silently pondered, a hot rush of air poured into his ear, "Alright, let's not talk about this, how are you planning to spend tonight?" Behind him, Hera had moved closer, licking her moist lips as she asked. Seeing Hera's near-tantalizing gaze, Luo En showed a dry smile on his face. "Sigh, can we take a break?" Hera returned the smile, then... "Bang!" The figure trying to sneak away downhill was caught by the ankle, stumbled, and crashed to the ground, then as if dragged by a beast, slid all the way into a small grove. Struggling, the ten fingers embedded in the soil made deep trenches on the ground, his cries for help drowned out by wails.