Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

At this point, Atalanta's mood soured considerably, and even her gaze toward Samael became more distant.

"Of course!"

Samael frankly admitted it without any hesitation, then looked at Atalanta with a gentle gaze.

“However, I came for you, Big Sister, not for Princess Arcadia.”

Atalanta frowned slightly, crossed her arms, and leaned against a pillar, her gaze puzzled: "What's the difference?"

Samael rolled his eyes and helplessly spread his hands in protest.

"They're definitely different!"

I want to win, not to force you to marry me, or to covet the throne of Arcadia. I just need to use this as an excuse to give you your freedom.

This unexpected answer left Atalanta stunned. She looked at Samael in astonishment and muttered to herself.

"why?"

Samael stepped forward, patted Atalanta's shoulder familiarly, and smiled brightly.

"For a lion, only the vast wilderness and rugged forests are the right places for her to live and roam."

"Big Sister, I once looked up to you and followed in your footsteps, so I don't want to see this worldly cage become a shackle that binds you, causing you to lose your true nature."

At this moment, Samael, leaning against the windowsill, bathed in moonlight, winked mischievously and grinned.

"So it doesn't matter who the Arcadia princess is; it's just a pointless bloodline certificate."

But in the world, there was only one Atalanta, the hunter who truly possessed the skill to hunt the Calydon boar!

The moment the ancient serpent turned, a figure fell into his arms, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, buried her head in his chest, and whispered in a muffled voice.

"Thanks…"

"There's no need to thank me. You helped me along the way before, so now it's my turn to help you."

Samael, as if comforting a lost child, gently shook his head in response and smiled as he stroked Atalanta's head.

Nestled in this embrace, the huntress felt as if she had returned to the familiar mountain streams and forests, where she no longer needed to distort her nature or pander to complex human hearts in order to gain approval; she could simply be herself.

This long-awaited reunion filled her with both nostalgia and delight, gradually soothing the loneliness in her heart.

However, the only drawback is...

"You brat, while I can understand quirks, could you please stop touching my tail? To a lion, that's a provocation, you know?!"

Atalanta gazed at the claws wreaking havoc behind her, her voice low and chilling.

Chapter 170 Atalanta's Awakening (4/5)

On the roof of the palace, the two sat high up, enjoying the gentle breeze.

"So, you want me to throw the race and deliberately lose to you tomorrow?"

After hearing Samael's plan, Atalanta frowned slightly; it didn't quite fit the aesthetics she pursued.

"There's nothing I can do. I've witnessed your speed firsthand, boss. Among all the heroes of Greece, perhaps only Hercules could rival you in this regard."

Samael flattered her without batting an eye, continuing to maintain his "weak" persona.

Of course, he's just a hero; he doesn't count as a god.

It's just about helping Atalanta escape, not actually marrying her, so why make such a big fuss?

The female hunter hesitated for a moment, glancing at the completed racetrack, somewhat uncertain.

"What about the others?"

Samael raised an eyebrow, his face radiating confidence.

"Big sister, don't underestimate me. Apart from you, no one on the field can beat me! No matter what, I am Athena's chosen one. How could I easily lose to those wicked bastards?"

The inexplicable sense of reliability in that tone eased Atalanta's anxiety considerably, and she finally nodded slowly.

"Okay, see you tomorrow, go to bed early."

Having received the promise, Samael waved his hand, transformed into a two-legged pterosaur, leaped down from the high wall, and flew into the capital city shrouded in night.

Atalanta patted her forehead, a look of realization dawning on her eyes.

I almost forgot, this guy is also a follower of the Orpheus religion, so he probably has very few rivals on the track.

In fact, tomorrow's competition requires sealing divine power and relies entirely on one's own talent and skills, so it is relatively fair for both heroes and ordinary people.

To give an analogy, even if Zeus and Heracles were to compete on the same track, disregarding the factors of divine power and authority, the king of the gods might not necessarily be able to outrun that great hero.

However, Samael possessed a physique like a magical beast, giving him an innate advantage over more than 80% of the contestants. Not to mention the added benefit of his bloodline, he was practically a four-legged beast in human form.

Strange, this kid is clearly quite talented, why have I never noticed him before?

Was it chasing after my back and figure? Could it be that I have overshadowed his inherent brilliance?

Atalanta watched Samael's departing figure, resting her chin on her hand, frowning in thought, a strange sense of melancholy creeping into her heart.

Never mind, I'll ask you another time.

The hunter temporarily put aside her thoughts and, using the trees growing outside and the sharp corners of the house, leaped several times and nimbly jumped into the bedroom.

Just as she was about to close the window and get some sleep, a slender, fair hand rested on the windowsill.

At the same time, a shadow descended from the night sky, folding its wings and swooping into a secluded courtyard.

Hercules, who was drinking at the stone table, glanced up, then relaxed his muscles and continued drinking by himself.

The bipedal pterosaur that landed transformed into human form. Samael, emerging from the shadows, hummed a cheerful tune as he walked towards his bedroom, preparing to rest up and be in top condition for tomorrow's match.

However, as he passed by Hercules' side, the inexplicable silence of the courtyard made him slightly uneasy, as if something was missing.

It wasn't until he was about to step into the inner room that Samael suddenly realized what was happening and turned to look at his demigod bodyguard.

"Where is Hippolyta?"

She said it was stuffy here and she wanted to go out for a walk…

"When did this happen?"

"You just left not long ago, should I go find her?"

"Forget it, we went to the registration point during the day. There aren't many people in Arcadia who can hurt that Amazon Queen. It's good enough that she doesn't go around harming others. Let her do whatever she wants."

The ancient serpent yawned, waved casually, and then, with the satisfaction of successfully persuading Atalanta and petting the cat, crawled into the house to sleep.

The following day, the priestesses threw spices into the burning sacred fire and offered devout prayers. Members of the Arcadian royal family arrived one after another and entered the stands.

Since Princess Atalanta's mother was a sea goddess and did not live with the King of Arcadia for long, the person in charge of this marriage matchmaking was naturally only the middle-aged man known as "Father".

On the field, as the three-foot wooden stakes were driven into the starting line with each strike, the athletes walked onto the open space one after another to warm up.

King Iasos gazed at the assembled youths, his eyes lingering for a moment among the divine offspring before he nodded in satisfaction.

Since Heaven did not grant him a son, he could only use his daughter to recruit outstanding heroes to succeed him on the throne and continue the family bloodline.

Fortunately, his newly acquired daughter was a demigod with extraordinary beauty and strength, who had shone brightly during the hunt in Calydon.

If, in the future, this daughter were to marry the powerful hero who had defeated her and bear children, then the bloodline of the Arcadia royal family would surely become even more noble.

Thinking of this, the king nodded with pleasure, forced a fake warm smile, and waved to his daughter beside him.

Atalanta turned to look at the man she called "Father" and whispered softly.

“You know, I swore to serve the goddess Artemis and have no intention of getting married.”

The king's face was full of smiles, like a father overflowing with love for his daughter.

“Child, what nonsense are you talking about? Go on, pursue your own happiness, and choose a worthy successor for Arcadia. I will be proud of you.”

"But that's just what you want, not what I want."

"Atalanta, my daughter, the mission you must bear is to continue the royal bloodline. What woman doesn't get married and have children?"

The king frowned slightly as he looked at his daughter, whose reaction seemed a little unusual, and his tone became more serious.

"Ha, you've lost your son, so you hope I'll give birth to a grandson so he can replace me and become a tool trapped on the throne? Is that your plan?"

"Atalanta! I'm doing this for your own good. Do you intend to defy your father in front of so many people and embarrass me?"

Faced with his daughter's cold laughter and mockery, the king's facial muscles twitched slightly, then he straightened his face and gave her a gentle but firm advice.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely keep my promise to you."

Atalanta rose expressionlessly and slowly walked down the steps. She paused briefly as she passed the king, her voice indifferent and low.

"But this is the last time I'll help you. Please don't use the name of blood ties to manipulate me in the future."

I don't owe you anything...

Upon hearing this, King Iasos's expression shifted between light and shadow as he looked up and gazed at the speaker.

In an instant, he suddenly noticed that the Arcadian princess he had brought back from Caludon after exhausting all his emotional appeals had somehow abandoned her luxurious gold and silver ornaments, torn off her comfortable silk clothes, and put on that humble hunter's outfit. With a confident smile on her lips, she walked into the arena with her head held high.

Chapter 171 You Chase Me, You Catch Up with Me (5/5)

The boss is awesome!

As a completely rejuvenated Atalanta walked past him, Samael winked approvingly.

However, the female hunter seemed not to see him at all, and walked straight ahead into the track with an aura as clear and refreshing as a mountain spring. She got into position and focused intently on the road ahead.

Soon after, the activated magic beam shot straight into the sky and exploded in the clouds.

Atalanta sprinted like an arrow released from a bow, quickly leaving the other competitors far behind and taking a commanding lead.

This is not good! The boss seems to be serious.

Upon seeing this, Samael's breath hitched.

The current situation clearly doesn't match the script we agreed on last night.

So, we have no choice but to get serious?

The ancient serpent first sighed helplessly, then its eyes blazed with fierce flames, and its lips unconsciously curled up, forming a joyful arc.

In an instant, the muscles beneath his clothes contracted and pulsated like a venomous python, and he seemed like a ferocious beast awakening, stamping his feet and charging forward.

The howling winds all around stirred up billowing dust, creating a terrifying scene that caused onlookers on both sides to cough frequently, and gasps and shouts came from their seats.

On the stands, Hercules stared at a figure among the contestants clad in sealed armor, his expression strange, lost in thought.

That build...it looks kind of familiar.

The competition unfolded fiercely, with the contestants running wildly out of the city, their hearts pounding with fear and excitement, their faces flushed, and the veins on their bodies bulging like earthworms as they desperately chased after their opponents.

That's right, to participate in this competition, you have to give it your all to get a ticket.

But the land in Greece was limited, and not all descendants of the gods were fortunate enough to acquire their own kingdoms and territories, nor were all humans able to break down the social barriers between commoners and nobles.

If they win, they can not only have beautiful wives, but also potentially become the heirs of the Kingdom of Arcadia. For most participants, this is a chance to rise to the top in one step.

Therefore, even though Princess Atalanta's harsh condition was that anyone who lost would have to give up their life, people still came in droves to challenge her.

Having come to this competition, they are all prepared to give it their all, whether they are confident in their own strength, hoping for a lucky break, or are prepared to fight for victory.

Therefore, this long-distance race was far more intense and fiercely competitive than the Olympic Games, where athletes fought for honor.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of people had passed the starting line, crossed the capital of Arcadia, and rushed towards the next stage of the mountain road and dense forest.

However, fate is not synonymous with fairness. No matter how hard one tries, sometimes talent is far more important than effort.

Ordinary people who gamble with wishful thinking are the first to fall behind.

Some of them tripped and fell, injuring their fascia, crying out in grief and fear; others tumbled down steep mountain paths, breaking bones and tearing tendons, screaming and groaning in agony…

Before the progenitors and skilled warriors could even mock the overconfident fools of the eliminated contestants, they soon tasted the bitterness of defeat on the third track.

This is a complex terrain combining swamps, dense forests, and mountain streams, inhabited by a wide variety of magical beasts. A moment's carelessness can turn you into a monster's meal.

Some fell into the swamp, experiencing the despair of being swallowed up inch by inch in fear; some were entangled and strangled by suddenly appearing demonic plants, becoming food; some were frightened and panicked, leaving the track, but in their escape, they disturbed the nearby demonic beasts and were torn to pieces, skin and bones...

What makes these participants even more miserable is that, in addition to natural threats, there are also a constant stream of insidious and hidden man-made obstacles such as pitfalls, snares, and animal traps on the track.

Amidst the rising and falling screams, one contestant after another was defeated, covered in dust and grime, collapsing to the ground and wailing.

In just half the journey, more than 70% of the participants were eliminated. After receiving basic treatment from the teams following behind, they were escorted back to the capital to await the victor's judgment.