What's wrong with me, a mage, loving to farm?

Chapter 323. Miya and Athena's Promise

The Golden Apple exclaimed, "That's Achilles! His death was caused by Apollo! Uh, why was he so hostile towards you?"

Yes, why is that?

Can you please stop acting cute?! Why did an ancient hero suddenly appear?!

"Lord Achilles, if I were to say that you have mistaken me for someone else, you would certainly disagree."

Kroya rubbed her temples in exasperation.

Miya, who was standing next to her, had already silently taken a few steps back—although this was one of the children of the gods summoned by the Golden Apple, it was still just a resentful spirit, and its combat power was questionable.

Kroa, who often trains by exchanging magical blows with Him, shouldn't be defeated by such a son of God. If all else fails, then He can step in.

In fact, Kroya was quite curious as well.

Just how powerful is this son of god? To be on the safe side, he pulled out his spare magic wand and instantly unleashed a barrage of defensive spells—

"Earth Protection!"

"Reflecting Phoenix Whirlwind!"

"Source Fire Shield!"

"Rainbow refraction!"

A great deal of shield light shone on his body, then silently returned to calm, and the moment his shield was ready, Achilles emerged from the river.

He wore a simple battle dress, very similar to the divine outfit that Ivy had created before, openly displaying his strong physique and the scars on his body.

He now held a spear and a shield, and with extreme ferocity, he thrust the spear at a tricky angle, sending a whooshing sound through the air.

"bite!"

The spear made contact with the shield around Kroa's body, and various colors of light flashed in turn. Even so, the spear still managed to pierce into the shield, the magic power stubbornly flickering like a light bulb about to go out.

"Wow!" Kroya exclaimed in surprise, "The power of that spear..."

Based on his current magic power level, he should be able to fight against opponents below the legendary level without much difficulty. Defensive magic is the key to testing the quality of magic power, yet he was almost able to break through it.

We can't be so arrogant anymore. If we really get pierced, it will be so embarrassing!

A slight chill ran through him. He tapped his staff lightly, unleashing the spatial magic he was currently most proficient in.

"Rainbow Grass Land!"

The iridescent meadow spread out beneath his feet, replacing the wild grass and blood river that had once grown there, as if a vast distance separated him from Achilles.

This is the combat skill of a powerful mage, especially one skilled in spatial magic; toying with a warrior is incredibly easy for them.

It's rare to have such a powerful warrior as a sparring partner, so he's determined to give his magic a good test.

Achilles did hesitate for a moment after the Rainbow Grass Land unfolded, but it was more like he was thinking, and he made his choice the next second.

Achilles simply stomped the ground hard, and his entire body charged forward like a cannonball, shattering many of the spells thrown by Kroa along the way with his shield.

It was like a violent meteor flying towards him from the ends of the earth, carrying with it a violent aura that was constantly gathering strength.

"So strong."

It was truly quite shocking. This powerful being, like a human cannonball, was someone Kroya had never seen before. He really seemed capable of piercing the heavens and the earth with his spear and shield.

"Shooting star~"

"Even if I were hit like that, I'd be bedridden for days, right?" he muttered, but his hands didn't stop moving.

"Come forth, my army!"

He drew a circle in front of him with his finger.

The spatial modules belonging to the Ark quickly formed a spatial portal.

Some magical plants and beasts stored in his Rainbow Grass Land were released, starting with some soft, milky-yellow sponges.

As soon as they appeared, they rapidly expanded, actively meeting Achilles's powerful blow that could pierce mountains and the earth. The sponge trembled slightly, dissipating the force like waves.

Immediately afterwards, a group of Ironbone Bamboo soldiers, also armed with wooden shields and spears, engaged Achilles in battle, followed by rubber trees whose bodies were dripping with light blue sap.

Ironbone Bamboo was mainly used for restraint, while Blue Rubber sprayed out sticky rubber liquid to try to limit Achilles. In addition to them, there were some small but highly defensive insects such as bees and mantises that launched attacks, each carrying a small crossbow and magic wand, all of them living weapons.

Further away, pea shooters and corn cannons are slowly being erected, with electric vines, prism flowers, and other magical plants providing assistance.

The sunflowers are in full bloom, releasing a golden glow that can add a bunch of divine blessings, while the descendants of lotus, olive, and thirsty sea glow algae nearby are calling for the support of their constellation ancestors.

Kaba, the Earth Thief Rat, and the Golem Construction Team work together to build a one-time magic tower that may not have a long lifespan, but whose attack power is strong enough.

Layer upon layer of encirclement surrounded Achilles, making it virtually impenetrable. Even this ancient hero, the son of the gods, was caught in a fierce battle amidst a vast ocean of troops.

Logically speaking, to deal with a hero who can single-handedly destroy an army, unless the individual heroes are exceptionally strong and their combined strength is enough to overwhelm an elephant, then no matter how many there are, they're just easy prey.

Fortunately, the magical plants and beasts that Kroa personally cultivated were indeed powerful enough. Even though Achilles could sweep away a whole area with just his spear and shield, he was still held back tightly.

If it were a real mortal enemy, Kroya would definitely not hesitate to overwhelm the opponent with his army of magical beasts and plants, since the soul would return to Eden and be reborn.

But since this wasn't exactly a mortal enemy, he thought he might as well try out the forbidden spell he had only recently learned.

The army also gave Kroya ample time to prepare forbidden-level magic.

Holding a bottle of Radiant Essence, he began muttering incoherently as he prepared for his spell: the arrangement of elements, the structure of the spell, the incantation…

After he finished reciting the long incantation, he couldn't help but complain to Miya beside him, "Why do we have to recite incantations? There's no such thing as a spell!"

The latter blinked: "I didn't say you had to recite it. Spells are for helping mages control the elements. Your elemental control ability doesn't require reciting spells at all."

Kroa: "..."

He gave Miya a look of grief and indignation, then suddenly flung the Essence of the Void in his hand, and a dazzling and sacred light appeared from the platinum essence.

"Heavenly Tribulation Reincarnation Light!"

The instant the sacred, platinum-gold light appeared, everything in the space froze, as if a pair of distant, indifferent eyes had opened, glanced at it, and then closed again…

The space in front of Kroya shattered one piece after another, and even the Rainbow Grass Land could not remain stable. All the scenery in front of him disappeared with the shattered space, leaving only darkness in the end.

This means that the space here has been destroyed. The chaotic magic caused by the shattering of space can easily crush even gods. Of course, while it's not quite that exaggerated, it can still bury legends who didn't have time to escape.

Fortunately, Kroya had collected all the magical beasts and plants when the forbidden spell was activated; otherwise, it would have been terrible if Achilles hadn't wiped out his army but instead destroyed his own forbidden spell.

"The feeling of casting a spell is really refreshing."

Kroya took a few breaths to calm herself down, and drank two more magic potions before finally recovering, recalling the feeling of casting the spell just now.

The unique feeling of having complete control over the elements and the magic of the void, to the point that even space itself had to bow down to him, was something he had done countless big and small things in his daily life, but this was truly something he could never forget.

He even cast a spell to store his experience so he could relive it later and learn something from it.

His success in executing this move was partly due to luck and a bit of cleverness. First, this was his Rainbow Grass Land, and second, it was the special space of the Ark. It certainly wouldn't have been so easy in the outside world.

"Well done. You succeeded in casting such a powerful forbidden spell on the first try. When we get back, I will teach you forbidden spells other than Time and Illusion."

"Achilles is still alive." Miya popped her head out from the side. "Have you considered leaving him here? Such a powerful warrior would be useful even if he couldn't provide you with ancient knowledge."

"Of course I've considered it."

Looking at the vast space that was slowly reassembling, his gaze fixed on a certain spot, and he smiled:

"He would probably accept my invitation."

As he said this, he touched something in his pocket that had been itching to be used ever since Achilles appeared.

It seems it really is related to that ancient hero.

Olive branch, owl... they all seem familiar. It seems to be a goddess named "Athena".

He shook his head. Inside the Ark, it seemed that the power of the World Veil had been greatly reduced, and some vague memories could be recalled.

Thinking about this, he felt even more confident.

At the edge of his vision, Achilles, his body torn and bleeding from the fragments of space, stood up strong, his ankles the most severely injured.

But he still stood up and looked at Kroa.

"How can you be so sure he'll agree?" Miya asked curiously.

"Of course, I need your help, teacher! Do you think he might have a wish, a wish so strong that he wants to be resurrected? Would you grant his wish?"

Kroya placed a laurel wreath woven from olives on Miya's head. This was the very first laurel wreath he had ever received from the Evergreen Olive Tree.

An owl silently appeared on Miya's shoulder, its head turning 180 degrees, seemingly out of curiosity, and perhaps with a touch of nostalgia.

Long, long ago, the goddess who served its ancestor's ancestor's ancestor mercifully sprinkled sacred oil on the body of a dead hero to prevent him from decaying.

Miya stroked the olive wreath thoughtfully: "Well, what can I do? You're my apprentice."

In fact, He was quite curious about what would happen, for He was a true hero who had emerged from lost mythology.

Just how much knowledge does he possess? How many secrets can be uncovered? These things alone are enough to make Mia risk everything, not to mention Kroya's request.

"Thank you so much!"

Kroa chuckled, slowly took out a golden bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at Achilles.

His aura surged instantly, and the power of "Poem of the Rainbow" was unleashed to its maximum. The rainbow light almost merged into one, like a radiant sun.

He stood right in the center of the sun.

Achilles' eyes reflected Cloa, who was raising her bow and arrow. The golden bow shone with the sunlight, and the young man holding the bow was handsome and radiant, as if he were blessed by the light.

"Apollo..."

"Apollo!!!"

In that instant, he immediately recalled his memories before his death: on the battlefield where flesh and blood were flying, that golden arrow that was more intense than the sun.

That was the "destined death" that his mother had tried so hard to avoid.

Even though his mother burned him in heavenly fire and soaked him in the River Styx, he still had a single weakness in his ankle, from which he could not escape, and was eventually killed by an arrow shot by Apollo.

It is indeed a great honor and destiny for a warrior to die on the battlefield, but he cannot tolerate that despicable god, that despicable god who dares not fight him head-on, but only dares to shoot arrows from behind!

He really had no way out when he tried to rush out.

The arrow shot out with a "whoosh," and in an instant, it struck his ankle, the scorching arrow wreaking havoc on his body.

It's exactly the same as before.

"Apollo..."

He should have closed his eyes to meet death after he fell, but a holy figure wearing an olive wreath and with an owl perched on his shoulder suddenly appeared.

"Athena, the goddess!"

Achilles struggled, pleading, "Beautiful, holy, and pure goddess! My war is not yet over..."

He convulsed and grabbed the white dress that Miya had changed out of, with tremendous force, almost pulling it off completely. Luckily, Miya reacted in time and tugged at it, preventing it from being ripped off.

"..."

This was the first time Mia had encountered something like this. Fortunately, she was the Ring of Light that granted wishes. She bent down and placed her hand on Achilles' forehead.

Compassionately said, "The great hero is far away. Please put down the war and enjoy your life."

The platinum light continuously flowed from Mia's hands to Achilles' body, and the bloodlust and resentment receded in the platinum light—he was indeed resentful, for the real hero had long since died, and even his body had been burned to ashes by the sacred wood.

What Miya is doing now is to recast the body of someone who has the memories of a hero. This is actually one of her specialties, as resurrection magic is a miraculous power that belongs to her.

But what He didn't expect was that, while He was casting the spell, the owl that was originally just there to make it look more convincing suddenly flapped its wings and flew onto Achilles.

The owl hooted, then opened its beak and spat out a piece of green olive branch, accompanied by what seemed to be a soft, womanly sigh.

"This is..." Miya, being the closest, naturally felt it most clearly. Her gaze seemed to pierce through time, seeing a goddess breaking off an olive branch.

She was an elegant and intellectual goddess with a strong physique, wearing a helmet and a battle robe embroidered with exquisite patterns—the two different qualities of warrior and scholar blended so harmoniously in her.

The goddess bowed slightly to Him, saying, "Thank you for helping my hero. We will meet again in the astral realm."

Miya seemed to already know something, and said softly, "Athena, time is the hardest chasm to cross. You've held onto your power for so long, just for a human?"

Athena was surprised that Mia could speak to her across time. After a slight pause, she replied, "He is, after all, my favorite hero, and besides, this war is related to me."

"A powerful treasure, a miracle that can grant any wish... I will strive to preserve heroes who should not have died, and with my olive branch, I can truly resurrect them."

There won't be many, just some heroes who shouldn't have died.

Would you be willing to accept my request?

I make a promise between my past and your future.

"..."

"This is happening now, yet you're trying to influence the past." Miya stared at her. "Goddess, do you know what you're doing?"

Athena smiled: "Of course, I know perfectly well."

She winked slyly, her blue pupils gleaming with wisdom: "So I will ask some friends to help me, and I will leave them my knowledge as a reward."

Knowledge as a reward...

After a brief moment of thought, Miya couldn't resist the temptation and nodded, "Okay."

"I will try my best, and I will wait for you in the star realm."

"Oh, consider this as payment."

The olive branch gradually melted in the goddess's voice, helping Mia's platinum-gold magic to quickly wash over Achilles' body, along with a strange fragrance.

Achilles held a bottle tightly in his hand. It was a strange bottle that seemed to be formed from starlight—it hadn't appeared before, but it appeared after Mia nodded.

Miya looked at its twinkling starlight, not quite sure what it was, and could only look at Kroya.

Kroa, watching from afar as the owl spat out the olive branch, was actually a little worried. The olive branch was a powerful creation that sustained the owl's existence.

Unexpectedly, the owl seemed even more energetic after spitting out the olive branch, which reassured him a little. Rather than an ancient hero whose usefulness was still unknown, he hoped the owl would survive. After all, he had raised it for so long and had developed feelings for it.

Relieved, he suddenly noticed something in Achilles' hand and saw Miya looking at him, so he curiously walked over.

"Um?"

"Is this... a constellation song?"

"Aquarius?"

He was very surprised. How come there was a song about Aquarius all of a sudden?

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(End of this chapter)