"RIIIIIIIIIIING"
A loud alarm rang throughout the entire room. The clock read 6 a.m., the time I had agreed upon with Díaz.
Even though my body did not truly need rest, I could not deny that I had absolutely no interest in facing the next trial: Leo.
It didn't take a genius to understand that I would be facing some kind of giant mechanized lion with chains and plates of metal, and having barely survived a hydra last time, I legitimately did not see myself with the mental strength for this.
But Díaz's insistence was so strong that I genuinely could not simply ignore her.
I opened the HUD only to upgrade my abilities. Right now credits were not a problem, so I raised all my skills by a level, doing a quick review of them:
[Search V: recognition of terrain, allies, rivals, and analysis of the incarnations]
[Null: eliminates my presence for any rival of my same level or lower, as well as for incarnations as long as I remain still]
[Pause III: with this upgrade the action time increased to 6 seconds out of 10, and Break's power was improved]
[Fast-forward II: for 10 seconds my speed triples and slows my surroundings, at the cost of damage from overexertion (this will be slightly mitigated with each level)]
Aside from Null and Search, all my abilities were single-use, and curiously Fjölkaldra could not be upgraded, despite being unlocked as an ability.
—Frost… —I said, expecting some kind of response, but as expected, the axe completely ignored me.
The ability I used in the well was another one that I should add to my repertoire:
[Ísandráttur: blizzard of the dragon of icy death]
Seeing it listed made me feel far more powerful than I looked in the mirror. Even with a much slimmer body than I had ever had in my life, there really wasn't much muscle.
Without further thought I got dressed, took my axe, and left with a sarcastic:
—I'll be back.
My room gave no response.
The connector was, as always, packed with indescribable people going back and forth toward the center, while others gathered in colorful groups to talk. And even though it was early, there were already those mourning their companions.
—You're late.
She replied with a firm and cold voice. Wearing the same uniform in which I first met her, silver hair swaying with the abrupt movement as she turned to look at me, and her large golden eyes fixed on me.
—Sorry, I think I fell asleep.
—As if that were possible.
A quick glance around me left me somewhat disappointed.
No one else had come.
Only Díaz.
—Were you expecting a farewell party?
—Sorry…
—They've spoiled you too much, even overprotected you. I will remove those bad habits.
—Bad habits?
The young woman sighed and pointed behind her.
The connector depicted a great lion breaking golden chains.
—Well… I guess there's no other choice —I said as I stood before the wall that instantly chilled my body.
—Good —Díaz extended her hand toward me.
—Are you serious?
—If you don't take my hand you won't guarantee that we're on the same team.
—That's how it works? Then why doesn't everyone else do that?
—Because it's not a guarantee. Let's say it's a 70–30 chance. But if, for example, three pairs held hands, one pair would be split by the trio's function.
—Then why not just form teams of three?
—Sometimes it's annoying how you question how this game works.
The irritation on Díaz's face made it clear. I took her hand and together we entered the lion's jaws.
Heat quickly took over my entire body.
A dry and harsh wind struck my face while sand embedded itself into my skin.
When I opened my eyes we were in the middle of a desert, one surrounded by a large wall of piled stones.
In the center, an oasis surrounded by palm trees and what from a distance looked like a large stone statue.
The desert of Leo.
I quickly felt thirsty and exhausted. Díaz was no exception. Standing beside me, she did not hesitate to remove her uniform, remaining only in her military skirt and a white shirt with the top buttons undone.
—What are you looking at? —she asked when she saw me distracted.
—Honestly… nothing.
—What?
Instantly something unexpected for a president of her stature happened: she blushed and puffed out her chest with pride.
—Just so you know, my bust is much fuller than it looks under my clothes.
—Forgive me, President, but I genuinely couldn't care less about how flat your feminine figure is. In fact, now I feel uncomfortable thinking you look like a sixteen-year-old girl.
We both fell silent.
And before replying, Díaz simply began walking toward the center of the oasis.
I sighed and followed her example. I removed my coat, leaving only the shirt underneath, and tied my ponytail into a bun before it started to become annoying.
Díaz had also gathered her hair, hiding it beneath her military cap.
The walk toward the center was quick.
There were no enemies present.
Only an intense heat that became more unbearable with every passing second.
My throat dried, while my clothes grew heavier with sweat. Díaz, a few steps ahead of me, was the same. I could hear her breathing heavily, and the sweat soaking her clothes showed she was in an equal or worse state than I was.
It was as if the challenge itself consisted of reaching the oasis…
The oasis…
—President… —I said almost inaudibly.
The wind struck me and the sand kept blowing in an unbearable wave of heat.
She did not stop.
She kept moving forward almost hypnotized.
With one eye closed, I opened my HUD and activated [Search V].
As expected.
The territory was the smallest I had been in since Aries, only a few dozen square meters.
The only point of interest: the oasis.
Where clearly a lion rested.
I pressed the icon, starting the analysis, but until I had it in front of me I couldn't get much information.
The rest of my suspicions were what I expected.
From other sides around us, pieces were slowly advancing.
Three black with purple backgrounds.
And one white with a blue background ahead of us, the fastest, advancing in a straight line toward the oasis.
In fact, before I realized it, it passed right by the oasis, ignoring it completely.
Until it stood before us.
Our ally was someone I already knew.
Wearing a sports hoodie soaked to the sleeves, shorts, and a pair of sneakers, all in a blinding neon green with black accents.
His characteristic hair now repainted with electric green streaks made me grind my teeth.
—Achilles?
—That's me —he said, pointing to himself with a picture-perfect smile.
—You know him? —said the poor Díaz, almost in pain.
—Yes, that's Achilles.
—That's me.
—You already said that.
—I know.
His aura was warm, electrifying, and suffocating at the same time.
Without a doubt an example of what someone would call charismatic.
But for me it was overwhelming.
—You know… we're in trouble —he said as if he had discovered the truth of the world, pointing upward—. The sun is falling.
Stupidly, shielding my eyes with my arm, I looked up.
The blue sky had almost been swallowed by the blazing brilliance of the sun.
—It wasn't like that when I entered. I firmly believe it's falling —Achilles commented, crossing his arms with that dazzling smile.
—That's why the heat… —Díaz said shortly before dropping to her knees.
—President!
I rushed to catch her before she fell onto the sand.
Her body was light.
I would bet she didn't weigh even sixty kilos.
—I'd like to say we should go to the oasis… but I bet you're not stupid, right?
—It'll be a massacre.
—Exactly —Achilles continued—. Give me the girl. I'll carry her.
The young man snatched the woman from my arms and began running.
It was incredible that he had such skill even as the sand caused his steps to sink.
But there was no time to lose.
I began moving as fast as I could after him.
—Are you serious…?
Carrying Fjölkaldra on my back, it began releasing a cold vapor.
—You could do that? —I said immediately.
—You have control over my most powerful scale, and this is what you do with it —Frostmagmar complained from the edge of the axe.
—Sorry!
Search interrupted me.
Not only me.
Achilles had stopped.
We were only a few meters from the oasis.
But a figure completely halted his advance.
—Tristan… I think you'll have to take the girl.
Without hesitation he turned and, as if carrying a sack of potatoes, threw Díaz into the air.
Just in time to receive the direct attack of a massive axe.
Almost the size of a person.
A double-bladed labrys with a handle as long as Achilles himself.
Its wielder…
No.
Wielderess.
A muscular woman, almost naked, barely covered by cloth that concealed her modest parts.
Showing an abdomen carved by the gods themselves and bronzed skin as if she competed in bodybuilding contests.
With jet-black hair.
And a face almost as beautiful as the goddess Aphrodite herself.
A face that had made Achilles sigh in life.
—Who would have thought we'd meet again here —the young man said, struggling against the labrys' handle—.
Pentesilea.