Chapter 7- iron paradise
The cold grip of silver chains bound them as the Hunters of Artemis marched their captives deeper into the woods. The demigods barely had time to breathe before they were brought before the towering Tree of Artemis—a massive, ancient oak that stood watch over the Hunters' camp. Its branches spread wide like arms of a goddess, though the girls didn't live inside it—it was a symbol, a sentinel near their base.
The prisoners were made to wait beneath its shadow.
A yawn echoed behind them.
"Good mor—what the hell—Axel?!"
It was Nova, arms folded, her black and spikey hair was is messy from sleep. She stared at him like she'd just seen a ghost.
"Why are you here?"
Axel winced. "Long story…"
But before he could continue, another voice cut through—the sound of someone dropping a bow after a long night's hunt.
"Marco?"
It was Elizabeth, bow still in hand, eyes wide with disbelief. "What trouble did you get yourself into this time?"
The Hunters bristled as Nova marched forward.
"Alright, untie them. Now."
"Out of the question," one of the Huntresses snapped. "We can't do anything without Diana's approval—"
"Who's Diana?" Ethan cut in, irritation bubbling. "Isn't Artemis your leader?"
The Hunter froze. Then scowled.
"Excuse me—did you just cut me off? First of all, shut up. Second of all, Artemis is away. Her chosen one is Diana, the Iron Paradise."
Arthur and Axel exchanged a glance, the same thought flashing in their minds.
"Titled Demigod," they whispered in unison.
Half-born pov
The arena buzzed with training noise until the crowd hushed. A towering boy, broad-shouldered and unimpressed with the world, walked into the sand.
"Hey," he said lazily, "you guys got 80 cents?"
One camper blinked. "Uh—what for?"
His friend smirked, stepping forward. "You looking for trouble, big guy?"
The boy's gaze didn't waver. His answer was flat, sharp:
"I am."
With a single bored kick, he sent the camper hurtling across the arena, crashing into the fence. Gasps erupted as his friends rushed to stand in defiance, even through their terror.
But then a voice like silk drifted through the air.
"Having the courage to stand for your friend is beautiful."
All eyes turned skyward.
Descending gracefully, as though the heavens themselves carried her, was a girl in a flowing dress. With each step, a golden thread shimmered beneath her feet, holding her as if even gravity dared not touch her. Her hair caught the sunlight, her eyes unreadable.
The threads coiled around the boy casually, not binding, just reminding.
"Now," she said softly, "mind telling me why you wanted 80 cents?"
"Bored," he replied arrogantly. "That's it."
The girl sighed, shaking her head, as whispers spread like wildfire.
"Romance," someone whispered. "The Chosen of Aphrodite."
Anglia Silversong.
The boy shrugged off the thread with a roll of his shoulders.
"Name's Leo Stoneheart," he said. His smirk sharpened. "But you can call me what they all do—Lion Roar choosen of ares."
The arena held its breath two titled Demigod and massive tension which coming from spectators Anglia and Leo was rather calm
POV : Hunters' Camp
Chains rattled as footsteps approached. She carried herself with the weight of command, every step measured, every glance sharper than steel.
"Enough," Diana said. Her armor caught the silver moonlight even in daylight, her blade at her side. Her voice was iron itself. "They leave. Now."
But her eyes narrowed at Axel. She crossed her arms"you stay i have a talk with you" axel friendly asked"oh did I caught your attention iron paradise?"
"You're a titled demigod, aren't you? Pride of a King?"she said to axel exposing him as choosen of zeus
The words froze him. He chuckled under his breath, eyes half-lidded.
"I didn't expect less from the Iron Paradise… or should I say—the Princess of the Amazons."
Her hand went straight to her sword hilt.
"…How do you know that?"
POV: – Outside the Base
Nova's face turned red with frustration.
"Why couldn't I get a brother with a brain?"
Elizabeth groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Tell me about it. My brother's basically a tunnel of emo nonsense."
Clarita tilted her head. "Where exactly is Artemis anyway?"
Nova sighed. "Amazon Island. That's where she's gone."
The group stilled. That explained it—the whispers of Dionysus, Abyss, Apollo… it all connected.
Meanwhile, Arthur knelt by the wounded Hunters, light pooling from his palms as the mercy of a fool cleansed their pain. But his face twisted.
"No, no, no… I forgot to cleanse it." he forgets to cleanse the corruption zone from his fight with hazman
A low growl rumbled from the shadows.
From between the trees, figures emerged—mutated, deformed, their bodies warped by the black haze of the Hazman's corrupted zone.
Dozens of glowing eyes pierced the forest gloom.
The monsters closed in.