Chapter 46: Paradise Island
By: Rowing Without Oars 233
Figures emerged from the shrubs, arriving at the coast. Each one had an arrow nocked, their bows aimed at the two uninvited guests.
Amazons.
A group of muscular female warriors, each clad in golden armor. Though each set was different, they were all adorned with complex and exquisite patterns. They wore Bracelets of Submission made of gold and silver, and broad belts were fastened around their waists.
Their powerful muscles were beautifully defined, and every one of them had a resolute and steadfast expression. Most had their hair tied back, some in braided circlets.
Of course, every one of them was, without exception, hostile, looking as though they were ready to start a fight at the slightest provocation.
Orin Vale even suspected that the magic protecting the Amazons might have some kind of warning system. On the surface, they looked like nothing more than a primitive tribe, but in the Original Work, people landed on the island time and again for various reasons. No matter which part of the coastline they were on, or if they were air-dropped directly in a random corner of the island, the Amazons would always pop out at the first moment, like automatically respawning mobs in a game.
Orin Vale refused to believe they didn't have a defense system.
Soon, a woman of outstanding bearing arrived, riding a fine steed and leading a small troop of cavalry. She was tall and majestic, clad in magnificent armor, with her long hair flowing behind her. Her face was solemn and awe-inspiring.
"Your Majesty," the lead Amazon soldier on the scene greeted her with a salute.
This quickly confirmed for Orin Vale that this was the ruler of Paradise Island, Wonder Woman's Mother, the Amazon Queen Hippolyta.
Zola nervously shrank behind Orin Vale. "What are they? Primitive Natives? They're not going to stew us in an iron pot, are they?"
"Relax, they won't," Orin Vale said.
Queen Hippolyta approached, her brow furrowing slightly when she saw Orin Vale's fully-enclosed armor.
"Man, what is your intention in breaking into Paradise Island, wearing this so-called 'technological' weapon?"
"This girl is being hunted," Orin Vale said, gesturing to Zola behind him. "Hermes guided her here to seek asylum."
As soon as he said this, a stir went through the Amazon warriors, as expected. Hippolyta's frown deepened, seeming a bit surprised herself, and her mind began racing.
A blonde Amazon beside the Queen shouted, "Lies! How could the great Gods allow a filthy man to defile Paradise Island? Men are full of lies and cannot be trusted."
Orin Vale raised an eyebrow. Before he could say anything, the alarm on his helmet's display flashed. Then, a massive target was marked behind him.
He whirled around. The sea behind him was roiling with violent waves as a colossal shadow suddenly burst from the water!
It was some kind of bizarre sea monster. Its enormous body erupted from the surface like a towering mountain peak, sending white spray everywhere. Its long, thick body was covered in black scales, its face was savage, and huge fangs protruded from its mouth as it rode the great waves through the air.
The Amazons all looked astonished. Queen Hippolyta shouted, "Evade! Evade!"
The female warriors quickly dispersed. Some drew their swords, others revealed their spears, and still others immediately drew their longbows, aiming at the sea monster.
These were the Amazons. To put it nicely, every one of them was a fearless soldier. To put it bluntly, they were a bunch of reckless hotheads. Whether it was mythical ghosts and monsters or aliens, they would just charge in head-first.
Perhaps that was why they were always one of the resident background characters in every major event. The number of times their home was invaded and they were wiped out was comparable to the Green Lantern Corps, the Universe's infamous team-wipe specialists. Even their hot-headed attributes were identical to the Green Lanterns.
This time, however, there was no need for them to risk their lives.
As Orin Vale turned, energy mixed with electric current was already gathering in the right hand of his armor, transforming into a spinning disk.
Eight-Split Light Wheel!
The serrated edges whirled. The Light Wheel shot from his hand, slicing through the air with the faint, pleasant hum of highly concentrated Specium Energy.
In that instant, the sea monster's pupils contracted, as if it sensed an immense threat from that spinning Light Wheel.
If it had another chance, it definitely wouldn't have charged onto the shore so recklessly to face this terrifying existence.
Of course, it was too late.
The spinning blade tore through its body with ease, like a skilled master chef slicing through a potato with a kitchen knife. Both sides were smooth and flat, the cuts perfectly clean.
With a single blow, the sea monster was sliced in half, its eyes still wide in exaggerated shock even in death.
The Amazons who were still moving into position and forming up all froze in unison. They turned their heads, one by one, to stare in disbelief at the scene on the coast.
From their perspective, it looked as if the iron-armored man had merely waved his hand.
And a mountain peak had been sundered at his command.
This clearly wasn't something a mortal should be able to do, right?
Orin Vale dispatched the sea monster behind him with a flick of his wrist, as casually as slicing a potato. Then he turned back and sincerely stated, "We're the good guys."
The Amazons: "..."
The blonde Amazon soldier who had spoken earlier paused for a moment, then turned to Hippolyta. "Since it was Lord Hermes's instruction, perhaps we should listen, Your Majesty."
"..."
It wasn't that they were cowardly.
Amazons are never afraid.
It was just that when someone could casually display the mountain-splitting, rock-shattering power, anything they said suddenly gained a lot more credibility.
Because whenever you started to doubt if he was lying, you just had to think, "Does he even need to?" and the suspicion seemed to resolve itself.
And just like that, Orin Vale and Zola smoothly entered Paradise Island. Afterward, some female warriors were even assigned to deal with the two massive halves of the sea monster's corpse on the coast.
It was so big, you couldn't even fit it in a single pot. Who knows how many meals it would make.
Although they were slightly more inclined to believe Orin Vale's words after his display, they still had their doubts. As they walked, Queen Hippolyta asked Zola, "Hermes told you to come to Paradise Island? You're being hunted?"
Zola nodded.
"Hunted by whom?"
"I don't know..." Zola hesitated. "But he said... he said the reason I'm being targeted is because..."
"Because of what?"
Hippolyta narrowed her eyes.
Zola stammered, "He said... he said I'm pregnant with Zeus's child..."
Hippolyta's steps came to an abrupt halt. The surrounding Amazons also froze, their gazes all focusing on her.
First came surprise.
Then, a dawning realization, as if everything suddenly made sense.
"I see, so that's how it is. That's why you're being targeted by 'her'... No wonder he told you to seek refuge here."
Hippolyta began walking again, muttering to herself.
"Oh? You know who's hunting her?" Orin Vale asked.
"Yes."
Hippolyta nodded and calmly spoke a name.
"The Queen of Heaven, Hera."
(end of chapter)