Chapter 160: If You Don't Fight, You Don't Leave

The setting sun sank westward, twilight like blood.

At Mycenae's city gate, slaves strained to push the heavy gate, its hinges emitting a shrill creak.

"Hurry! The gate must be shut before sunset!"

The guard who had earlier inquired about Heracles' madness urged them on impatiently, then suddenly his motion halted——

Outside the gate crack, a tall figure stood silhouetted against the light.

The setting sun cast a crimson halo behind him, his bronze armor gleamed coldly, and his red cloak snapped in the wind.

His muscular outline was clearly visible even through the armor, and he exuded a suffocating pressure.

The guard narrowed his eyes, muttering inwardly: Another hero? He looks mighty... Humph, even a hero can't enter while the gate is being closed!

"The gate's closed, come back tomorrow!" he waved rudely: "Scram!"

Saying that, he gestured to the slaves to keep pushing the gate.

Other guards stood behind him, saying nothing to stop him, after all it was the rule.

But just as the two gates were about to meet——

Whoosh!

A large hand sheathed in bronze armor thrust suddenly into the gap!

Before the guards could react, they heard a deafening explosion——

The entire gate was torn off its hinges by that person with a single hand!

The gate, capable of withstanding giant beast attacks, was tossed aside like a toy, arcing through the air to smash far away on a hill outside the city, unleashing an earth‑shaking roar!

The guards and slaves froze like wooden statues, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

The person strode slowly into the city, his armor clanking with each step.

He walked straight up to the guard who had driven him away, looking down at the man collapsed on the ground.

"You dare block Ares' path—your courage is commendable."

"But I am not pleased."

The guard's pupils contracted sharply——

Ares!?

He opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something, but only a "gurgle" came from his throat.

The next second, Ares' large hand clamped onto his skull.

Plop!

In a muffled thud like a watermelon bursting, blood and brain matter sprayed everywhere!

Ares shook the red‑white matter from his hand, spared no glance at the other guards and slaves, and strode into the city.

The remaining guards turned ashen; only after Ares' silhouette vanished around the corner did one bold soul tremble and speak:

"Quick... quick go tell the king!"

He stumbled to his feet and ran desperately toward the royal palace.

"Something terrible has happened!"

He rushed to the palace gates and shouted hoarsely at the guards before the hall:

"The War God Ares has come! He's entered the city!"

"What?!" the hall guards exclaimed, instantly turning and sprinting toward Eurystheus' bedchamber, moving so fast they disappeared in the blink of an eye!

"The king!"

Heedless of etiquette, he burst straight into the bedchamber, interrupting Eurystheus as he was dallying with a maid, and before the latter could flare up, he blurted out:

"The War God Ares has come—he just entered the city!"

"What?!" Eurystheus leapt to his feet, flinging the maid to the ground, his face flashing with surprise as he wondered what the fellow wanted.

Besides.......... he too is of Zeus' bloodline, so Ares and he could be considered brothers!

Could it be that the Heavenly Queen sent him to aid me?

After all, the Heavenly Queen is the one who makes Hercules' twelve labors as difficult as she wishes.........

Thinking this,

Eurystheus immediately dressed and ordered the guards:

"Go find him, find him!"

「I......... 」

His words had not yet finished.

Outside, a sonic boom suddenly rang out, cutting off his speech and making him turn his head to look outward.

He saw two streaks like meteors slash across the sky, but before he could make them out, they turned into a red and a golden flash, instantly piercing the clouds and vanishing among the distant mountains.

Only a deafening sonic boom remained, echoing over Mycenae and making the palace windows hum.

Eurystheus could sense that one of the streaks was Ares' aura—so who was the other?

Let's go see and find out!

His mind full of doubt, he immediately changed his tone:

"Ready the horses! I'm leaving the city!"

In front of Li Ya's house.

As Ares entered the city, Yu Lin sensed a powerful presence arising—precisely, it was aimed straight at him here.

Taking another look, he saw a formidable aura—clearly the newcomer meant no good.

Thud‑thud.

Accompanying the footsteps.

He stopped before Yu Lin, lowered his head and looked down at him, his eyes filled with scrutiny and fighting spirit.

Yu Lin was about to speak when Ares cut him off with a low voice:

"Father."

Yu Lin: ".......???"

He twitched the corner of his mouth: "Who are you? I'm not married yet, don't talk nonsense, okay?"

Ares, however, wore a confident smile that said, "I've already seen through everything."

"I am Ares."

"I know you don't want to reveal your identity; you've done this before—temporarily sealing your memories for some purpose!"

He clenched his fists, battle spirit boiling: "Now, let me help you awaken your memories!"

"Don't let Mother down again!"

"............. Yu Lin fell silent again."

Well, this guy's taking him for Zeus?

He helplessly rubbed his forehead: "I really am not Zeus; my name is Yu Lin."

"Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Ares sized him up from head to toe, then glanced at Li Ya standing aside, looking bewildered, and nodded solemnly:

"Yes."

"You're called Yu Lin now, right?" Ares grinned, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "Fight me once, and you'll know!"

Yu Lin waved his hand: "No fight; you can leave."

Ares stood with arms crossed: "If we don't fight, I won't go."

"You don't want your affairs disturbed, do you?"

Yu Lin: ".......... First time hearing such a request."

He sighed: "All right, how about a different place?"

Ares nodded satisfactorily: "Sure."

Yu Lin turned his head to Li Ya and said: "I'll be back soon."

Before his words faded, his figure leapt into the air, turning into a stream of light that shot toward the horizon.

Ares laughed loudly, his crimson cape billowing, and followed close behind.

In an instant, the two vanished above the clouds, leaving only Li Ya standing where she was, her face full of worry.

Actually, Hera, watching this scene through the mirror afterward, rubbed her forehead and shook her head, her face full of helplessness.

She had clearly sent Ares to probe!

How did this guy go straight for the pitch?!

Forget it; she'll endure her own son.

She switched the mirror's viewpoint to Ares, then her gaze fell on Yu Lin, who was locking eyes with him.

"Yu Lin? An Eastern name........"