The Myth of the Greek Heavenly Demon

The ground crumbled, streams dried up, and trees and rocks shattered, scattering in all directions.
In the midst of the black smoke billowing everywhere, I admired the work I had created with a refreshing feeling.

“This is it.”

Pure destruction, complete overwhelming force.
This was exactly the essence of pure power handled by a demon.

The creek, which would have once risen to my chest when sitting, had disappeared without a trace.
The surrounding area looked as if it had been completely overturned by the landslide.
Naturally, the arrows and spears flying toward me were buried as well, leaving no trace of their original forms.
And, of course, those who had shot them would not have survived either.
At least, that’s what I thought…

“So, your so-called gods protect their followers after all?”

-Huuung!

Sweeping away the dust as if brushing it away, I swept the obstructing haze into the sky.
It revealed the wall of moonlight that surrounded me like a fish tank.

“Yes… It’s a familiar spell.”

Beyond it, Artemis, who had been frenzied earlier, was now pale, biting her lip and glaring at me with her arm outstretched.
She must have been startled by the explosion that had troubled her, so she quickly deployed a barrier to protect the huntresses.

“Having a large number of people isn’t always good. Look at them, cowering like crabs after barely a warm-up.”

Exactly 70 seconds.
It took 70 seconds for them to use a method similar to teleportation, discover me, and encircle me.
In that time, my elite battalion would have already devoured a peak master and finished looting the corpse.
Bringing such good equipment, tracking dogs, and hunting dogs, and even taking the leisure to attack me, only to hide behind a goddess when scared by a single explosion like fireworks.

“That’s just at Girl Scouts level.”

“…You truly intend to bury your bones here today. No one dares to insult my huntresses under the crescent moon.”

“Aren’t you the one who doesn’t particularly take care of those followers?”

I coldly sneered at the act that seemed nothing more than hypocrisy or self-satisfaction.
But I knew that beautiful psychopath had gruesomely killed many, regardless of gender.

“In the end, if it doesn’t fit your vanity, you cruelly abandon them. Isn’t that the god you are?”

-Shhh!

In response to my will, darkness enveloped my body and instantly transformed into clothes that wrapped around me.

“Hmm, good. For a first creation, it’s not bad, right?”

For the first time in a while, I was clad in pants that snugly fit my lower body and leather shoes similar to boots. The silk cloak draped over my shoulders was quite reminiscent of what I often wore in my previous life.
However, the upper part would likely wear out quickly with all the movement. Hercules and Chiron, those Greek men, frequently went around shirtless, so I didn’t bother making an upper garment.

“It’s not like I have a body to be ashamed of showing. What do you think?”

A splendid six-pack, well-toned forearms, and broad shoulders.
With this physique, even if I returned to Earth, I’d have to decide between a career in entertainment or sports at the international level.

As I joked and looked at her, Artemis, who was trembling, pointed at me and shouted.

“So, I see now… that arrogance of yours—it comes from being backed by a god, doesn’t it?”

“Backed by a god?”

Suddenly, as if she had realized something, Artemis got excited and yelled loudly.

“There’s no use hiding it! Stealing my energy rudely in Passos, and the power that just created those clothes. It was all possible because of a god’s help! No wonder a trivial and filthy man like you could handle my divine power like that…”

What nonsense is this?
All the magic, divine demonic qi, and divine power are all my innate qi, my skills.

“No, that’s called my master’s Five Elements Harmony Technique…”

“Even if you tricked my brother Apollo and the foolish Ares… Divine power is something only the noble gods can wield. What nonsense is this?! Who is it? Hermes? Ares? No, it must be stepmother Hera using your filthy hero’s blood to insult me!”

In that thick skull of hers, she had already concluded that I was insulting her under Hera’s patronage.
The funny thing was, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
It was laughable how, even in this situation, she tried to trample me under her feet.

“Think whatever you want. I’m tired of talking.”

“How dare you borrow the power of the gods to insult an Olympian god, and though you were spared by an untimely stroke of luck, that luck ends today. I resume the hunt permitted by Zeus!”

-Squeeeeak!

As the signal to resume the fight sounded, Artemis nocked her arrows with fluid grace; in an instant, they flew towards my head, heart, and that unspeakable place.

“No, you bastard, you wretched bitch who deserves to be dismembered and fed to dogs?!”

Was it you who taught Atalanta to aim there without hesitation on our first encounter?!
As a man, no, as a human being, I trembled at the shamelessness of aiming at that place without any hesitation.
So, like last time, I tried to grab it, but the momentum and killing intent contained in the arrow were vastly different from before.
Whether it was due to some great enhancement, each arrow contained a momentum far surpassing the flicking technique of the Shaolin abbot.

In other words.

It only meant they were just at the level of the Shaolin abbot.

“Vexation is hard to cool.”

-Kwack!

Unlike the silver divine weapon stolen from Passos, the ten black blades awakened by the demonic qi of the Reversed Heaven Technique had a fundamentally different momentum.
They were an incomparable, slightly murky, unrefined, and rough silver divine weapon’s blades.
Reminiscent of the claws of the Four Evils, it was a terrifying weapon.

-Kagagagang!

A silver arrow shattered in an instant before it even touched me.
But it was merely a trick.

“The prey is caught in the trap!”

-Puhwaak!

The silver divine energy surging from the arrow changed form the moment I broke it.
The shattered arrow fragments intertwined with silver divine energy, forming a large net that covered me.

“Oh…! This is educational!”

-Pwakakak!

But even that was nothing compared to the claws of the Four Evils.
The net was torn to shreds as I gathered strength in my legs.

“Kyaah!”

“Hunt! It’s a hunt!”

“How dare you insult us?!”

“The one who insulted the name of Artemis!”

“”“Offer the burnt sacrifice with blood and flesh!”““

Fifty or so huntresses rushed towards me in an instant.
The timid demeanor they had just moments ago, like soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, was gone. Moving as one, they thrust their silver spears at me with remarkable sharpness.

“Hooh?”

For a moment, I thought of wiping out these ignorant dogs all at once.
But there was no rush, and I had something to check. I decided to take a slightly detoured approach.

“Phew…”

As I caught my breath and calmed my heart, the demonic energy of the Supreme Demon that was rising in my hands gradually subsided.
My lower body stood firm like roots on the ground, while my feet lightly touched the earth like dandelions in the spring breeze.
The arms of my upper body were soft like the branches of a zelkova tree, while my hands were as solid as tempered steel.

“Let the power of all things dwell within me.”

“Kyaahaha! His eyes are mine–”

The spear of the huntress charging at me was caught in my hands, and like interlocking gears, my body moved, receiving her attack and spinning to drive my elbow directly into her face.

-Thunk!

“Huh…?”

In an instant, blood and flesh-covered teeth flew through the air.
Her lips, ground by my elbow, and her teeth, were brutally torn, and the lead huntress, having lost her balance, crashed to the ground.

“Urgh?! W-wait!!”

“Foolish Girl Scouts.”

In the midst of a life-and-death battle, where war and fight were intertwined.
There was no pause button.
Like a hammer breaking an anvil, my foot, lifted high, decisively stomped on the head of the defeated.

-Bang!

“Argh!!”

“…Oh. Quite sturdy.”

The divine power dwelling within my body seemed to protect vital points from fatal blows, like a rebounding force technique.
The head that was struck with the intent to shatter was quite intact.

“Then I can do a bit more.”

“Wait!”

Ah, I said there are no pauses.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

As I was about to deliver the finishing blow to confirm the kill, there were those who couldn’t resist and jumped at me.

“Stop it! You dirty bastard!”

“Attacking someone who’s already down!”

“Do you have no honor at all?!”

Wow…
I couldn’t help but be amazed by the chilling déjà vu, just like when I saw their goddess on Passos Island.
Maybe bringing up good and evil and honor whenever it suits them was just like those immature orthodox juniors?

“This is all a problem of upbringing.”

Even Atalanta, who fiercely charged at first and continued to display violence, learned the overwhelming difference in power and human decency from me, day in and day out.
She had become quite the dignified warrior, displaying leadership by turning the daughters of Ares and Aphrodite, along with their fan club, into her own legion.

“I will engrave the human code of conduct into your bodies, just like your junior.”

-Whoosh!

The hand, drawn sideways like a bowstring, rotated widely, and the spear and sword thrust at me were instantly swept away, soaring high into the sky.

“What?!”

“Ack!”

“Eek!”

As the three fools started their act with their suddenly empty hands.
My fist had already moved on to the next form.

“Supreme Fighting Demon – Wave Air Strike”

-Crash!!

Striking and shaking the empty air.
The muscles of my whole body, the flow of power, and the air currents from all directions.
Grabbing and pulling everything to create a qi strike that was not quite a qi strike.
This technique requires immense skill to perform, as even the slightest mistake would reduce its power by half.
But when executed perfectly, it unleashes a devastating blow that feels like manifesting qi without spilling a drop.

Just like this.

“Ugh…”

“Gah!”

“Ahhh!”

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ground trembled violently, and dozens of huntresses who faced it head-on fell one by one, bleeding from their eyes, noses, and mouths.

No matter how much you strengthen your body with divine power, if it’s not your own energy, you can’t protect your entire body with it.
If an external shock were completely blocked, it would blind the person, so it was only natural.
There was no miracle that could block attacks that shook the entire body and interior.

“Oh? This is interesting?”

Shaking my hands while examining the fainted huntresses and those cautiously forming a siege around us, I couldn’t hide my astonishment.

“Let’s see, stimulating the muscles to increase strength and endurance, and boosting the nerves to heighten reflexes? Isn’t this totally like a game buff?”

Just as internal qi and demonic qi enhance the body and heighten reflexes, the divine power was spreading throughout the huntresses’ bodies, maximizing their overall physical abilities.
Judging by the degree of enhancement, reflexes, and strength, each of their skills was at least at the pinnacle level.
Considering how they moved as one and pressed on, the danger level was almost near the ultimate state.

“Divine power that doesn’t affect the body, internal energy, or true energy. To use it this way, that’s impressive.”

And, considering that I knocked down that crowd without using any tricks, I couldn’t help but rejoice at the potential of my enlightened body.
To the extent that I could subdue trained huntresses blessed by the gods without even using a single trick.
This body was almost perfectly replicating my enlightenment.

“Well, it seems the effort was worth it.”

It wasn’t just the Reversal Technique and the Overpowering Technique.
Every aspect, from the Supreme Fighting Demon Technique that doesn’t use qi to my basic martial arts, reflexes, and movements, had undergone a complete transformation, significantly elevating my overall strength.

“Then, the final test.”

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the sharp bursting sound echoing in my ears, I slowly closed my eyes and caught my breath.

-Swaaah…!

-Whoosh…!

Five arrows flew in erratic patterns, weaving through the air like swallows performing acrobatic feats, trying to mock me.
But I could sense everything: the shifting points of aim, the divine power guiding them.
It was all as clear as if it were in the palm of my hand.

“Is this what they mean by dramatic rebirth?”

-…Aaaaah!

-…Eeeeek!

The dazzlingly dancing arrows soon changed direction and rushed at me from all sides, and my lightly pressing foot shook the ground as I leaped lightly.

-Tak!

Like the elm tree swaying in the wind, my flexible arm and razor-sharp hand sliced through the air.
Like a flower seed riding the spring breeze, my foot kicked off the air, and my robust leg rotated my body like a giant tree.
And at the exact time when the arrows flew, everything stopped.

-Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!

Five light metallic sounds.
The five arrows and the five divine powers that collided with my fist achieved nothing.

In an instant, the five arrows scattered.
Without changing their targets, the five arrows immediately hit the ground and exploded, shaking everything around.

-Boom!

-Bang!

“Ahhh!”

“Help me!”

Listening to the sound of the explosions and the screams, I slowly opened my eyes as I descended.
On the desolate wasteland filled with silver smoke and the cries of young girls, Artemis glared at me, trembling.

“Στο όνομα του θεού μου, σίγουρα θα σε σκοτώσω!!”

With the divine energy of moonlight burning in her eyes, the Goddess of the Crescent Moon pointed a spear at me.

Finally, it was time to taste the main dish.