Kapitel 320: Beauty and Achilles

"Didn't expect that someone with a beauty rivaling the goddesses would end up like this..."

Heracles remarked while stretching his fingers, slowly drawing the bowstring of his obsidian longbow.

"Is it because of Achilles?"

'Beauty' and 'Achilles'.

These two words triggered sore points in Penthesilea's mind, causing her sanity to evaporate instantly.

The degree of 'Mad Enhancement' within her deepened once again.

Her eyes were filled with endless madness, and an infinite killing intent erupted, resembling both a primal beast and a vengeful ghost.

"A—CHILL—EEESSS—!!!

She roared to the sky, charging forward like a wild beast on all fours, her berserk strength leaving deep craters in the ground.

"Since you're in so much pain..." Heracles's gaze remained unchanged, calmly releasing the bowstring. "I'll be the one to grant you release."

*Swish—!!!*

An arrow, as powerful as a sniper rifle, shot out, precisely piercing Penthesilea's shoulder. She stumbled slightly, but without slowing down, continued charging toward Heracles like a savage beast.

By now, her mind had been completely dominated by madness. Regardless of how severe the injuries, she felt no pain. Before tearing apart the 'Achilles' in front of her, she wouldn't halt her assault!

"ACHILLEEESSS—!!!"

Her thunderous roar echoed through the temple as a visible mist of blood lingered around her. It was the blood of the god of war flowing within her, now fully awakened with her killing intent soaring to its peak.

The ancient power had been completely unleashed!

Under the influence of the god of war's blood, Penthesilea's speed skyrocketed once again.

*Whoosh—!*

Like lightning, she dashed toward Heracles, her clawed arms swinging with a barely perceptible blur.

*DING!*

The claws collided with Heracles's skin, producing a crisp sound reminiscent of clashes between iron. Despite Penthesilea's ferocious attack, it couldn't penetrate the defenses of his 'God Hand'.

"It's over." Heracles declared solemnly.

The obsidian longbow in his hand transformed again into an axe-sword, and the massive weapon, accompanied by a sharp wind, ruthlessly smashed into Penthesilea's body.

*BOOOOM—!*

Under such a terrifying impact, Penthesilea's 'B+ Endurance' seemed as fragile as paper. She uncontrollably flew backward, smashing the walls into pieces.

Unlike Heracles's monstrous defense, Penthesilea couldn't withstand his attack at all. His axe-sword left a monstrous, grotesque wound, almost splitting her body in half.

Crimson blood flowed out from her body like a winding river.

Facing such a dreadful injury, she lay powerless in the pile of rubble, her vitality dissipating like a candle in the wind.

It was as if history repeated itself; she once again lost to Heracles.

The blood of the god of war granted her a powerful status and strength, but everything crumbled under the iron fist of Heracles.

"Damn it... if only I could have... more power..." Penthesilea muttered in a daze.

"Oy, oy, this can't be the end, can it? I haven't had my fill yet, y'know."

Ozymandias spoke while smirking playfully as he sat on the throne.

*Snap!*

In the next moment, he snapped his fingers.

"This isn't Greece. Until Osiris gives the nod, not even Hades can snatch anyone from me."

Ancient and mysterious powers quickly rippled through.

The blood flowing out of Penthesilea's body retraced its path, closing her massive wound at a visible pace. In just a few breaths, she was fully restored to her peak condition.

As Ozymandias's greatest Noble Phantasm, the Great Temple Complex known as Ramesseum Tentyris was more than just an imposing pyramid.

Aside from the Dendera Electric Bulb, comparable to ancient divine power, the temple housed numerous heat-sand Sphinxes and stone lion beasts. He and his followers, being part of the legend of the immortal pharaoh, couldn't be killed within the temple.

Moreover, as the amalgamation of all Egyptian temples, Ramesseum Tentyris naturally gathered the power of Egyptian gods. Inside the temple, Ozymandias was the supreme god-king, capable of freely harnessing the power of all Egyptian gods.

Penthesilea's revival was the result of Ozymandias using the power of Osiris. He pulled her back from the brink of death, returning her to the realm of the living.

In a sense, Ramesseum Tentyris could be considered a perfect Noble Phantasm. There were no flaws in offense or defense. Until the temple disappeared, Ozymandias was an invincible being.

If not for the desire to witness a good show, he would have killed Heracles the moment he stepped into the temple.

"Beautiful battles, of course, need a give and take to make them interesting. If it's just getting beat up from one side, it's a bit too dull, don't you think?"

Ozymandias spoke with crossed legs and a hand supporting his cheek, appearing as leisurely as a spectator in a coliseum enjoying two wild beasts fighting in the arena.

"Oh well, let's consider it as adding a bit of spice to the show. Get ready, Berserker, this is a gift from me to you."

*Snap!*

He snapped his fingers casually, and three ancient and mysterious powers rose, merging successively into Penthesilea's body.

"In the name of Seth, I grant you the immense power to support heaven and earth."

"In the name of Horus, I grant you the swift speed to gallop through the sky."

"In the name of Osiris, I grant you an inexhaustible body."

"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"

Penthesilea roared toward the sky, her aura skyrocketing like a rocket, and her divinity continuously increasing, as if a true goddess of war had descended upon the world.

Her gaze was locked onto Heracles, and in an instant, she appeared in front of him.

*Swish!*

The claw on her right hand mercilessly swung down.

*Pu-chi!*

Crimson blood slid down as three deep wounds instantly appeared on Heracles's chest.

Under Ozymandias's influence, the current Penthesilea had reached a truly extraordinary level of strength, easily breaking through Heracles's defense.

Though injured, Heracles's expression remained unchanged. Taking advantage of Penthesilea getting close, he seized her hands, gripping her wrist joints, and with a sudden burst of strength, executed a ruthless shoulder throw!

This was the comprehensive combat technique 'Pankration' that he had learned from his mentor, Chiron, a perfect blend of boxing and wrestling. He had used this technique to kill the Nemean Lion, a creature impervious to conventional weapons.

*BOOOM!*

Penthesilea, in a head-over-heels position, was smashed into the ground. Cracks spread several meters around, proving that Heracles had shown no mercy, solely hell-bent on killing her.

Yet, despite being supposed to have a broken neck and dead, her vitality showed no signs of decline.

*BOOM!*

Penthesilea kicked Heracles in the chest, sending him flying four or five meters away.

With a powerful push, she freed her head from the earth's restraints, stood up, and stared directly at him with eyes filled with killing intent and madness.

Heracles touched the wounds on his chest, observing the blood on his fingertips, his expression still unchanged.

It seemed like this would be a tough battle.