The mechanical engineer units were not Li Lin's primary combat machines; their combat capabilities were limited. Performance-wise, even a dozen mechanical engineers combined couldn't defeat a single Dominator Alien, let alone other more advanced mech units. Even the battlefield-oriented Kog'Maw, which lacked close-combat functionality, could take out dozens of mechanical engineers before self-detonating via its "hidden reserve energy" protocol.
Yet, despite this, Atreus—wielding only remnants of celestial power—was being toyed with by a single mechanical engineer, barely managing a defensive stance. Li Lin shook his head at the sight, disappointed that the mechanical engineer allowed Atreus even a semblance of resistance. After all, only one mechanical engineer was permitted to fight him, and even then, its laser systems were disabled.
Seated beside Li Lin, Iula hadn't even bothered to watch the fight, merely grimacing at Atreus' cries of pain and sighing in shame on his behalf.
"This man once joined the Rakkor Military Order and ascended Mount Targon," she muttered, "and was even acknowledged by Pantheon. But here he is, still the same warrior who loses more than he wins, showing no signs of improvement."
As the fight progressed, Atreus, believing he had "figured out" the mechanical engineer's attack patterns, blocked one hammer strike with his divine shield and thrust forward with his spear. However, the mechanical engineer's quantum computation algorithms allowed it to adapt instantly. The repetitive, predictable moves it had shown earlier were merely a ruse to lull Atreus into complacency.
In a blink, the mechanical engineer vanished from his sight, activating its overload acceleration module. Before Atreus could react, a heavy punch struck his back, leaving a bloody bruise. Without giving him a chance to recover, the mechanical engineer delivered a vicious low kick that snapped Atreus' right shinbone.
"Urgh!" Atreus grunted, biting down to suppress his scream. The failed counterattack left him at a severe disadvantage. Despite the searing pain, he forced himself to stand on one leg—only to be struck again. This time, the engineer drove its elbow into his chest, sending him flying tens of meters. He crashed into the ground, scattering dust and debris.
"Again!" Atreus roared, his resilience undeterred. He struggled back to his feet, his deep brown eyes briefly flashing with a golden light.
"I felt Pantheon's power… faintly," Zoe whispered, though Li Lin had already noticed the subtle transformation in Atreus' body.
Even without being in a life-or-death situation, this latent change intrigued him. But it didn't last long. While Atreus managed to push back the mechanical engineer momentarily, the machine soon regained dominance, delivering a thunderous shoulder strike that slammed Atreus into a stone pillar at the edge of the training ground.
Atreus coughed up clotted blood, his face contorted in pain. He could feel several ribs broken, one even puncturing his lung, making every breath a struggle. Still, he tried to rise.
Iula's expression turned grave as she noticed the extent of his injuries. She could tell that Atreus was nearing his limit. In the Rakkor Military Order, sparring never went this far—it was never meant to push someone to the brink of death.
Just as she prepared to plead with Li Lin to end the fight, a cold gust of wind swept past her. In the blink of an eye, Li Lin had appeared beside Atreus.
When did he move?
Stunned, Ioula watched as Li Lin placed a hand on Atreus' shoulder. "Rest for now," he said calmly, giving no room for argument.
His armored right hand transformed, a needle extending from his index finger. It pierced a vein in Atreus' neck, and countless nanobots flooded into his bloodstream, traveling to his injuries. These advanced machines seamlessly integrated into his cells, repairing tissues, mending bones, and even healing internal organs in moments.
Atreus blinked in astonishment as the pain vanished, replaced by a sense of wholeness. "Incredible… So this is how you treated me before?" he asked, staring at Li Lin's now normal hand after the armor retracted. "What is that?"
"Think of it as a healing serum," Li Lin replied, already walking back to his seat. "Get ready. Next, you'll face ten mechanical engineers at once."
Atreus stiffened, gripping his scarred divine shield tightly with one hand and his spear, *Conqueror's Star*, with the other. His eyes darted around warily as the ten mechanical engineers, following Li Lin's orders, encircled him.
"This can't be…" Iula whispered in alarm, her composure shaken.
Although she didn't know how Li Lin had healed Atreus, the near-miraculous magic of the Mount Targon was something she had witnessed before, so it didn't surprise her. What truly unsettled her was seeing her close friend struggling against a single robot, brought to the brink of death. Facing ten of them, it seemed only a matter of time before they would end his life.
Iula turned to look at Li Lin, only to see him smiling faintly, his demeanor calm as he waved dismissively. "Don't worry. I've got this under control."
"…" Ioula hesitated, her concern lingering. As the piercing clash of metal filled the training grounds, she eventually turned her gaze back to the battlefield. In the center, Atreus was besieged, desperately fending off the mechanical soldiers. Yet, his current state wasn't much worse than before—at least not yet. The robots, limited to melee attacks, could coordinate strikes from five directions at most, meaning he only had to handle five at a time.
The chaotic melee persisted, and Atreus sustained more bruises, soon accompanied by the sound of breaking bones. However, the golden light in his eyes only grew brighter. Before long, he drove his spear through one of the robots, striking its power core and rendering it inert. But as quickly as one fell, another stepped in, exploiting the opening to continue the onslaught.
After enduring another drawn-out battle, Atreus, battered and bloodied, collapsed once again. Li Lin healed him and immediately sent him back to face a replenished group of mechanical soldiers. The pattern repeated, but the battles grew increasingly intense. Starting unarmed, Atreus progressed to using basic weapons like metal rods, knives, and swords, before being pitted against opponents wielding a diverse arsenal.
Li Lin, showing no hesitation, activated transdimensional portals to summon an endless stream of reinforcements. The number of mechanical soldiers gradually escalated from ten to fifteen, twenty, and then over a hundred. The battlefield expanded, becoming a chaotic warzone.
Atreus rose from each defeat, enduring grievous injuries: shattered bones, torn flesh, even regurgitating fragments of his own organs. Many times, he stood on the brink of death, his vision clouded, his mind filled with the flickering light of memories. Yet, he always pushed himself to rise again.
Hours passed. The elderly Iula, her heart aching, watched Atreus's struggle without blinking, unwilling to let exhaustion distract her.
Finally, covered in blood and riddled with wounds that would have killed any ordinary person, Atreus stood firm once more. With sheer willpower, he ignited the celestial energy within him, channeling it into his spear for a devastating attack. His thrust pierced through all the mechanical soldiers before him, their bodies crumpling into a heap of broken parts.
His blood, a mix of red and faint gold, dripped from his battered hands. Staggering forward, Atreus climbed atop the mountain of destroyed robots. In that moment, the dull brown of his eyes gave way to a blazing golden radiance. Even his damaged spear, shield, helmet, and tattered cloak were instantly restored, shining with the grandeur of a starry sky.
He felt the power surging within him—divine, overwhelming, but searing his mortal body with unbearable pain. Despite regaining this godlike strength, he remained a mere human. This was the price he had to pay to wield the might of the Titans.
"I actually did it…" Atreus murmured, disbelief and triumph lacing his voice. He glanced toward the distant figures of Li Lin, who smiled knowingly; Zoe, who looked bored; and Iula, who clasped her hands tightly, her worried gaze locked on him, silently praying for his safety.
Then, he raised his head to the sky. Where the constellation of War had once dimmed, a new star now blazed brilliantly in its place.
The star bore his name—"Atreus."
(End of Chapter)
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