[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 4
The Hippogriff carriage descended slowly, finally coming to a gentle stop in front of a palace suspended beneath Mount Olympus.
The dome was inlaid with thousands of Alexandrite stones, each one radiating multicolored brilliance in the sunlight, like a galaxy fallen into the human world.
The steps were cast in gold, flanked by black-armored guards holding Star Flame Halberds. Shallow golden runes flowed in the on their necks, flickering faintly with their breathing.
This was the gods’ curse and blessing.
Loyal subjects would enjoy extended fortune and longevity; the disloyal would suffer ten painful diseases.
“I have brought you this far. The rest of the journey requires you to go up alone.”
Hermes escorted her to the mountain gate. Li Jia nodded obediently to express her gratitude. Perhaps out of compassion, or perhaps because he was ranked among the Twelve Olympians, he already knew something.
He looked at her and whispered, “Don’t choose red.”
Before Li Jia could react, Hermes drove the Hippogriff carriage away.
Only after entering the mountain gate did Li Jia realize she was the last person on the selected list.
“Li Jia Vance.”
“The tenth candidate.”
As per custom, the gate guard took the name tag from Hermes and loudly announced her arrival.
The queue, which had been chatting, suddenly fell silent. All eyes turned to the entrance. A champagne, moonlight-colored skirt was the first to come into view. Silver high-heeled shoes stepped on stardust with every stride. The silver chain on her ankle chimed softly with her steps, like a symphony of silver bells and starlight.
She was so beautiful it was impossible to look away.
Li Jia walked to the line with composure. She noticed a flash of admiration in the eyes of several older people.
A red-haired woman in the line chuckled, covering her mouth: “The Vance family’s daughter truly lives up to her reputation, but what good is being beautiful? Everyone gathered here is a useless person abandoned by their family.”
“It is my honor to serve the Lord God.”
Li Jia offered a sincere prayer, ignoring the red-haired woman’s blatant, provocative words.
“Ignorant fool.”
The red-haired woman felt a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton. Her anger was cleverly returned by Li Jia, and unable to vent her frustration, she could only viciously kick the gravel at her feet.
Who didn’t know that those sent here were people despised by their families?
Worthless.
Useless.
Only fit to be the lowest of slaves.
“Quiet!”
A white-haired old man walked down from the steps. He clapped his hands, and two maidservants carrying vessels walked down beside him. Both wore veils, obscuring their faces. The only noticeable features were their hair colors.
Dazzling golden hair and ocean-like blue hair.
The old man cleared his throat and began, “Now that everyone is here, all of you standing here have been sent by various families. The God Realm never needs the disloyal.”
“This year’s night banquet is different from the past. There’s no need to participate in a banquet for selection. This year’s selection criteria is only one: traverse the forbidden zone of the Divine Mountain alone.”
“Each of you will take an Oath Ice Crystal. The utterly disloyal shall not set foot on the Divine Mountain. The scenery within the Divine Mountain is created by the will of the Lord Gods and represents the deepest fears within your hearts.”
He paused after speaking.
“Selecting an attendant and choosing a Lord God is inherently a dual, co-dependent process.”
Leaving this cryptic statement, the old man turned and departed.
According to the rules, the ten candidates stood in a line. Beside Li Jia was a girl much shorter than herself, with chestnut-colored, seaweed-like long hair and large, amber eyes, making her look like a finely carved porcelain doll.
“What’s your name? I’m Linai.”
The doll-like girl spoke kindly. Realizing she was talking to her, Li Jia relaxed considerably when faced with a harmless inquiry. She smiled and replied, “Li Jia Vance, just call me Li Jia.”
“Okay, Li Jia. Are you, like me, voluntarily coming to the Divine Mountain to serve the Lord God?”
Linai asked quietly, having heard Li Jia’s previous answer.
Li Jia noticed the word “like.”
She couldn’t help but lightly flutter her eyelashes, subtly hiding her emotions.
Was she also here with a “purpose”?
Li Jia had already considered this on the Hippogriff carriage. Although her chance was only one-tenth, after careful thought, who would willingly become a slave to be trampled upon? Her chance of being selected increased greatly.
“Then which Lord God do you most wish to serve?”
“Or rather, which Lord God are you infatuated with?”
Li Jia did not answer Linai’s question but posed one to her instead. Although a smile hung on her lips, her eyes were secretly contemplating something.
“Artemis.”
“I want to stay by the Goddess of the Hunt’s side for a long time.”
Linai understood the meaning behind Li Jia’s words, her earlobes blushing, her voice soft yet full of sincerity.
That’s good.
Not the target she wanted to capture.
Li Jia retracted her wary gaze and returned to normal, saying lightly, “Linai, you will get your wish.”
The two maidservants padded to stand before them and slowly uncovered the serving tray. Five small, bean-sized stones of different colors lay on the vessel, with four stones of each color.
“The colors of the Oath Ice Crystals correspond to different Lord Gods.”
“Athena is wood-colored; Apollo is gold; Demeter is green; Artemis is blue; and Hera is red.”
“You may choose the same Lord God, but the Lord Gods will not necessarily choose you. Decide for yourselves.”
The blue-haired maidservant’s voice was gentle, like the mildest spring wind, clear and pure, flowing like a stream.
“You may begin your selection. Those who are not sincerely devoted will not be able to cross the Divine Mountain’s forbidden zone.”
The golden-haired maidservant spoke next. Unlike the blue-haired maidservant’s softness, her tone was deep and magnetic, carrying an innate ability to compel submission, a mix of temptation and control spreading through the body.
“Master, the target of the capture has appeared!”
An AI electronic voice sounded in Li Jia’s mind. Li Jia was slightly stunned for a few seconds: If you communicate with me now, won’t they hear you?
The System cried profusely again. This was the best Master it had ever guided among so many capturers. She cared about the System—it felt lovely.
“No, Master. Only you can hear my voice, and you don’t need to speak. I can sense what you want to express.”
That’s good. I don’t want to be treated like a monster and roasted on a spit.
“…”
The lowly System: My sincere feelings have been misplaced. $> wedge <$
You just said the target of the capture has appeared.
Where is she now?
“Please wait, Master. The target has appeared and is now syncing with the original novel.”
A flood of information poured into her mind: She has golden hair, which spills down like molten gold silk, reflecting a tapestry of gold leaf in the sunlight. Those red pupils are her most captivating feature, with a deep, dark red flame burning within, like solidified lava, or a ruby soaked in fresh blood.
Golden hair and red pupils.
This was the useful information Li Jia gleaned.
“It’s your turn.”
A sudden, slender figure within reach enveloped the girl entirely. Li Jia froze in place.
The overwhelming pressure made Li Jia feel on the verge of suffocating.
When did she appear?
The hot breath of the newcomer lingered at her nose, and she almost cried out but fiercely suppressed her fear.
No, she can’t collapse now.
She hasn’t chosen her own ending yet.
She is unwilling.
She cannot die.
Li Jia collected her thoughts and immediately entered a state of focus. There was no time for her fear to catch a breath.
She smiled, raised her head, and looked directly into those red pupils. She quietly swallowed, opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“It’s your turn.”
The heat flared at her nose again.
This time, Li Jia’s gaze fell upon the golden-haired maidservant’s vessel. The unchosen red stone sat alone in the far-right corner, just like her.
The stone looked as if it were congealed from fresh blood, its surface covered with fine, winding cracks, as if scarlet liquid could ooze out at any moment, staining one’s hands.
The other four colors looked much more gentle and peaceful.
Li Jia lowered her eyes, hiding the deliberation within. Hermes’ warning, the Capture System’s prompt—all clues woven into a tight spiderweb.
She was not a fool.
Li Jia’s fingertips unhesitatingly picked up the red stone, as if holding an ambitious, beating heart.
The red-haired woman saw Li Jia choose the red stone and curled her lips into a mocking smile: “A thing courting death. How can you withstand Hera’s wrath? Vance family’s girl, your ignorance is truly astonishing.”
Out of the ten people, only Li Jia chose the red stone.
Li Jia’s heart finally settled, simultaneously feeling fortunate that this Lord God’s notorious reputation made no one dare to touch her.
Good. No one would compete with her.
The first small step of the capture mission was successful.
“If I could be chosen by the Lord God, it would be the honor of a lifetime.”
Li Jia gazed intently at the veiled woman in front of her, speaking each word with great sincerity.
She had to learn how to express her loyalty.
To cast a long line to catch a big fish.
“Interesting.”
The golden-haired maidservant took in her every move. She leaned down, and a wet, warm finger slowly touched Li Jia’s cheek, tracing her lips, chin, neck, and down to her collarbone.
A silver ring was worn on the end of her left finger. The ring was crafted from silver foil, with rose vines intertwined around the band. The branch of the vine held a pigeon-blood red gem. The ring’s intimate curve rubbed against her skin.
The fingertip, calloused and smooth, felt like a snake’s scale, sending shivers down her spine.
Li Jia’s heart was already a mess. What game was this aloof Lord God playing?
She couldn’t guess.
Her body trembled uncontrollably. The fear of the unknown prevented her from maintaining her outward composure any longer.
By the time she regained her senses, the golden-haired maidservant had moved to stand before Linai.
Linai smiled and picked up the blue stone, her amber pupils reflecting a look of anticipation: “I hope the Goddess of the Hunt will like my devotion.”
When the last candidate’s choice was settled, according to the rules, the candidates swallowed the stones.
An instant, bone-chilling cold spread throughout her body, but at the same time, Li Jia felt a fire ignite in her chest.
Simultaneously, a five-colored halo lit up the entrance of the Divine Mountain behind the palace, and a staircase woven from thorns and starlight emerged.
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