For 30+ Advance/Early chapters :p
atreon.com/ScoldeyJod
Antiope led the female knight team and Leo through the town of Paradise Island to a mountain. The top of the mountain seemed to have been sliced clean off, leaving a wide-open, natural training platform covered in soft grass, facing the endless sky and ocean.
On the grass, dozens of tall, shirtless female warriors practiced against each other, their movements brave and earnest. Their physical fitness was far superior to that of ordinary humans, and they fought with real swords and spears. The clash of blades filled the air, sparks flying with every clang of metal.
These were the warriors of the Amazon clan. An equal number of modern soldiers would be crushed into meat foam.
Seeing Antiope arrive, the female soldiers on the training ground stopped and saluted with respect. "General!"
Immediately afterward, their unconcealed hostile eyes, like sharp blades, fell on the young man behind Antiope. They all knew who he was at a glance. A human male was a rare sight on Paradise Island. A human male wearing the royal starlight crown was an impossible one.
If looks could kill, Leo would have died a thousand times over.
He sighed. He understood their hostility. These warriors, who admired strength above all else, could not see how a mere boy could be worthy of their princess.
But understanding did not mean acceptance.
They could underestimate him as a human, but he was wearing his aunt's crown.
Leo, who had been a little unsteady on the white horse, now sat up straight, his eyes like torches. He coldly met the hostile gazes of the female soldiers, one by one. The golden sunlight glinted off the starlight crown, making the young boy on the white horse seem like a true member of the royal family. Many of the Amazon warriors subconsciously avoided his gaze, not daring to look directly at him.
Antiope was surprised. She had deliberately brought him here to be intimidated by her most brave and powerful warriors, to show him that he could not bear the weight of the crown.
But she had been wrong. So wrong.
Leo also felt that he could not bear the weight of his aunt's crown, but as long as it was on his head, he would never bow his head to anyone. To bow his head would be to tarnish the dignity and honor of his Aunt Diana.
This was his red line.
"Salute!" Antiope shouted at the female soldiers.
They looked at each other, and then, reluctantly, they saluted the crown on the head of the boy on the white horse. "Your… Highness!"
Leo patted the white horse, and even the horse seemed to obey him now, happily leaning down.
Antiope dismounted and instructed the female soldiers, "Rest for now. We will practice again after lunch."
Ordinary civilians brought figs, cheese, bread, and fresh roasted meat. The female fighters gathered in a circle and ate on the spot.
Leo sat down on the grass alone, and soon, a plentiful meal was delivered to him.
"Your Highness," Antiope said, holding a roasted leg of lamb. Her face was far less cold than before. "This is how the Amazon soldiers eat. If you are not used to it, I can arrange for you to have lunch indoors."
"A picnic is a nice experience," Leo shrugged, and began to eat.
Antiope looked at him, a little stunned. She remembered that when Diana was a child, after she had been approved to train with them, she had refused to eat in the palace, and instead ate with them on the grass.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?" he asked, confused.
"For maintaining the reputation of Her Highness Diana," she said, her face expressionless.
"You don't need to thank me for that," he said bluntly. "She is my family. This is my obligation."
"Family duty…" A strange color flashed in Antiope's eyes.
After lunch, Leo thought he could go back to rest, but Antiope stood up and picked up two ancient Greek swords from the weapon rack. She held one herself, and threw the other, sticking it in the grass in front of him.
"Come on!" she said.
"What are you doing?" he asked, frowning at the longsword.
This scene had attracted the attention of all the female soldiers on the field.
"I am inviting you to fight," Antiope said coldly. "Now, it is time to perform your duty. Take up the sword and fight me."
"I don't know how to use a sword…"
Before he could finish, Antiope dashed forward, the Greek longsword in her hand swinging toward him.
Damn it, she's serious!
His brown pupils shrank. He subconsciously grabbed the longsword and held it up to block.
CLANG!
His sword spun and flew out of his hands, landing in the grass behind him. He looked at his empty hands, a sharp pain in his wrists. Antiope had not only blocked his parry, but had also disarmed him in the same motion.
"Obligations require ability," she said, looking at him coldly. "You are too weak! And you want to take away the most precious treasure of this island? As the guardian of Her Highness Diana, I have an obligation to bite your neck at any time."
Leo didn't speak. He turned around, drew the longsword again, and held it in his hand.
"Again!" the human teenager wearing the starlight crown said confidently, facing the strongest general of the Amazons.