Chapter 172: A Bit Awkward

No one knows how long passed, and the entire mountain range has become unrecognizable.

The ground is riddled with deep pits as if a giant beast had gnawed it; the forest has turned to scorched earth, the burning remnants spewing black smoke; even the sky's cloud layers are torn into fragments by the battle's aftershocks.

Hera in the heavens is already growing impatient.

She looks at the seemingly indestructible Ares on the ground, and the dreadfully strong Heracles.

She slams her staff heavily and lowly shouts:

"If you also intervene, I don't believe he can resist your combined attack alone!"

Boom—!

As Hera's staff strikes down, the phantom of the Olympus Divine Mountain rises behind her.

The figures of the Gods appear one by one, and they raise their arms together with Hera—

Crack!

A golden thunder splits the heavens, followed by a second, a third… countless Thunder Lights intertwine into a massive net that blocks the sky, descending toward Heracles!

Ares, locked in fierce combat, suddenly looks up, his scarlet cloak rustling.

He suddenly sweeps a spear at Heracles and roars to the heavens:

"Mother!"

"Our battle is not over yet!"

His whole body ignites with a blood-colored divine flame, and his spear erupts with a blinding glare:

"None of you may interfere!"

Swoosh—!

The spear flies from his hand, turning into a blood-red meteor that rockets upward against the heavens!

Heracles is utterly astonished, apparently not expecting Ares to strike at Hera!

Rumble—!

The instant the blood spear collides with the Thunder Net, the whole sky seems torn apart!

The dazzling flash dims the sun and moon, and the shockwave cracks the space into spider‑web fissures, revealing a pitch‑black void.

But in an instant, the power of law restores the shattered space to its original state.

And Ares's spear…

Bang!

It explodes in the air into countless fragments, raining down like a blood rain upon the earth.

"Puff—!"

Ares spits out a mouthful of blood, his massive body crashes to the ground, falling into a coma.

Hera looks at this troublesome son, and helplessly waves her hand.

A Golden Light envelops Ares, sending him back to the War God Palace.

"Continue."

She coldly orders, and the Thunder Net presses down again!

At that moment—

On the summit of the Caucasus, Chiron and Prometheus seem to have finished a conversation, their faces serene, showing a relieved smile as they turn to gaze at the sky.

His body begins to radiate pure silver light, each strand of his mane turning into a flowing river of stars.

Hum......

Accompanied by a tremor of space, a divine bow materializes automatically in Chiron's hand behind him.

The bow's body is entwined with starlight, its string woven like moonlight.

He slowly draws the string, and the silver light of his whole body surges into the arrow like a tide—

It is the crystallization of his flesh, his soul, and all his wisdom!

Heracles......

Chiron turns his gaze toward his beloved disciple below the mountain: "Just let me, the teacher."

"... help you one last time."

Swoosh—!

The instant the silver arrow leaves the string.

The arrow drags a brilliant stellar trail, and wherever it passes the void blossoms into lotus‑shaped ripples.

The moment the Thunder Net contacts it—

Splash!

Like shattered crystal, the golden Thunder Net turns into countless Light Dots scattering across the sky!

And Chiron's figure gradually becomes transparent.

"I'm leaving."

He finally smiles at Heracles, his silver‑glimmering body soaring into the heavens, transforming in the night sky into the eternal centaur constellation.

Teacher.........

Heracles's voice trembles, his eyes on the verge of tearing.

Even though Chiron said this is the inevitable path, even though he already understood the meaning of sacrifice—yet seeing his revered master turn into stars before his eyes, he still cannot accept!

"Her—!!"

He roars to the heavens, golden divine fire erupting from his body! Muscles bulge like molten lava, and the Zeus blood flowing in his veins boils completely!

Boom!

He crushes the ground beneath his feet, soaring skyward with fire that threatens to incinerate the world!

Hera saw him charging, a flicker of panic crossed her face, but she quickly regained her dignity.

She raised her scepter high and said in a cold voice:

"Obstinately ignorant!"

The tip of the scepter burst forth with blinding golden light, and a divine spear entwined with destructive power condensed out of thin air!

"Go!"

The divine spear tore through the air, its speed so fast it ripped space!

Heracles did not dodge or evade, his iron fist wrapped in golden divine fire, he boldly met the attack!

Boom——!

At the moment fist and spear collided, the shockwave shattered the clouds within a hundred-li radius!

At first, he actually withstood the spear's impact, even pushing it forward!

But soon——

"Add divine power!" Hera shouted fiercely.

The gods behind her simultaneously raised their hands, and vast divine power surged into the spear!

Boom!

The spear's power surged, and Heracles was forced to keep retreating.

His fist began to crack, divine blood spilled across the sky, finally——

Thud!!

He was slammed hard onto the ground, blasting a pit a hundred zhang wide!

Amidst flying dust, Heracles lay at the pit's bottom, his chest pierced by the spear, blood continuously gushing out.

His vision blurred, his ears rang.

In a daze, Yu Lin's face seemed to appear before him, and his past words echoed in his ears:

"If anyone needs my help, shout my name three times toward the heavens."

Heracles' blood-stained lips curled slightly.

He exerted his last strength and roared toward the sky: "Yu Lin——!!!"

After the three cries——

The heavenly phenomena suddenly changed!

The clouds swirled like a vortex, and a pure white hand like jade, entwined with golden divine patterns, tore through space and seized the spear!

Crack.

With just a light squeeze, the divine spear turned into specks of golden light and vanished!

Immediately afterward, a figure appeared at the edge of the pit.

Yu Lin lowered his gaze at the wretched Heracles and smirked:

"Heracles."

"My friend, you look a bit miserable."

Heracles had no strength to stand, he could only force a smile: "I'm about to die, of course I look a bit miserable."

"Help me."

"Hmm." Yu Lin nodded, turned his gaze to Hera and the gods in the sky:

"Hera, give me face and release Prometheus."

Hera saw Yu Lin appear; although she had anticipated it, his actual arrival still made her feel quite troubled.

Clearly she was about to kill Heracles...... what a pity.

She dared not gamble; she felt a supreme aura not belonging to Zeus on that hand, meaning Yu Lin likewise had supreme backing.

What if that supreme being intervenes?

Hera gritted her teeth and asked: "Yu Lin, what exactly did he give you?"

"I can also give you!"

Yu Lin shook his head and smiled:

"Because he is my friend."