The monsters they fought at the beginning of the labyrinth were made of stone, but this one looked like it was made of flesh and bone.
It was over four meters tall, had a bull's head, long horns, and red skin, and he wasn't wearing anything to cover his red, muscular torso.
He was naked except for a piece of cloth over his private parts, and his hairy legs and feet were exposed.
He held a double-edged axe with a short handle in his hand.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
The monster roared at them.
"Let's do this together, Diomedes. It's the only way we can win."
Diana said she drew her sword and shield for the first time since we entered the labyrinth.
Diana advanced slowly with her shield raised and walked to the left of the Minotaur, who initially didn't move.
It was only when she got a few inches from the exit that the Minotaur charged at her, causing the ground to tremble under his weight.
The Minotaur attacked Diana with his axe; she defended with her shield, but the blow forced her to take a few steps back.
He attacked again, and to evade this attack, Diana jumped over his head in the air and landed in front of him.
When she landed on the ground, the Minotaur turned his body and attacked with his axe.
That's when Dio entered the fight and teleported in front of his attack, in front of Diana, and used his shield to stop his attack.
What happened was scary. The monster was too strong for the shield, and the axe cut through the metal and almost hit Dio's arm.
But the reason he interrupted worked better than he thought it was stopping his attack gave Diana the chance to strike on her own.
She jumped on top of him and tried to stab the monster in the heart, but he was smarter than expected and pulled out his weapon, punching Diana in the face and sending her flying.
After that, the Minotaur attacked Dio, and he jumped backward to escape.
Dio threw his useless shield with the Minotaur's weapon attached to it toward the labyrinth behind him.
Diana passed by his side with her sword ready; she tried to strike the monster's head, but he turned his face and barely avoided the blow.
She hit the Minotaur hard enough to tear off one of his long horns, which he then held in the air.
Diana moved quickly and hit him on the wrist with her shield, which made him drop it.
Dio teleported once again to appear behind him and tried to cut his leg.
However, he seemed to be prepared for this, as as soon as Dio appeared, he kicked Diohard in the stomach, which caused him to fall backward.
It was a powerful blow, the strongest he felt since coming to this world, but his endurance, healing factor, and adrenaline ensured his return to the fight.
Dio looked at the Minotaur and saw a shiny golden lasso encircle his neck.
Diana started pulling the lasso in the back and tried to strangle him.
But the Minotaur's strength caught her off guard when he twisted his entire body to the side and thew her toward the cave wall.
"BOOOM!"
The Minotaur turned to Dio and looked tired. He lowered his body and got down on all fours on the ground, and reminded him of a charging bull.
Dio could wait for the last moment and avoid his attack, but another idea came to him. He released his sword and opened his arms in a provocation that his enemy accepted.
He tossed dirt behind him with his back hooves a few times and charged toward him with all four limbs on the ground.
A few meters away from him, Dio closed his eyes and focused on executing his next trick.
When he was about to hit Dio with his horn, he opened his eyes and spoke the words.
"Επικαλούμαι το άτρωτο του ποταμού Styx!"
(I summon the invulnerability of the River Styx!)
As he said these words, a thin layer of dark energy enveloped his entire body.
"BAAAAMMM!"
The Minotaur struck his horn right in the center of Dio's body, but when his horn touched his skin, it shattered and broke, so only his head hit him.
Still, Dio didn't feel any pain.
The spell he used now summoned the power of the River Styx's invulnerability from the underworld and made his body impenetrable to a certain degree of damage for as long as his energy could sustain it.
Dio deactivated it after just a second to save more energy.
The Minotaur's strength was strong, so he was dragged and stopped only when his back touched the cave wall.
Dio didn't want to waste the opportunity, so he wrapped his arms around his neck and quickly chanted his next spell.
"Επικαλούμαι τη δύναμη του Sisyphus!"
(I summon the strength of Sisyphus!)
As Dio finished speaking, he felt a surge of physical strength running through his body.
He pulled with all of his strength without pausing and raised the Minotaur's neck.
"CRACK!"
When he heard the sound of the broken bone, he released him, and the monster fell to the ground and then transformed into smoke.
Sisyphus, the man condemned to push a giant boulder uphill, was never able to reach the summit.
He isn't a god of strength or anything like that, but his task symbolizes it.
"Magnificent, Dio, you did it!"
Diana suddenly appeared and said.
"It would have been a bit easier if you had helped,"
Dio replied and looked a bit frustrated.
Dio wasn't convinced by her small act. The only real blow she delivered was the one that tore off the Minotaur's horn.
"If I did that, it wouldn't be your test."
Diana explained while smiling as she moved ahead and left him behind.
Before following her, Dio headed toward his sword on the ground. Unfortunately, the darned monster stepped on it and broke the blade.
But Dio kept it anyway; a broken blade is better than nothing.
After following Diana through the hole in the wall, the other side had the next test's opponent already there.
A pretty woman with blue eyes and white hair, she wore a Greek-style white toga that was thrown across her shoulder and a golden tiara on her head.
When Dio saw her, he immediately took an attack stance.
"It's good to see you again, Ariadne."
Diana greeted the woman warmly.
"The same, Diana,"
She replied.
Now that Dio knew they both knew each other, he lowered his guard. It seems they've reached the end of the labyrinth.
"This is Ariadne,"
Diana introduced her.
"She's in charge of the labyrinth,"
She continued.
"Pleasure to meet you,"
Dio greeted the woman in front of him.
'If my memory serves me right, she is Dionysus's wife.'
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Son of Hades."
She replied with a polite gesture.
"The tests this year were truly impressive, Ariadne."
Diana continued the conversation.
"I don't create the tests, Diana; I only guard the labyrinth."
"These were the most deadly I've ever seen."
Diana countered.
"The child's father wanted to know if he was worthy."
"My father!"
Dio interrupted their conversation.
"Worthy of what?"
Diana asked.
"His gifts,"
Ariadne replied.
She then turned around, and behind her, he saw something covered by a black cloth, but from its shape, it was clear that it was armor.
"And did I pass the test?"
Dio asked Ariadne.
"Both tests?"
Dio followed up and looked at Diana.
"Yes, my student, you're ready."
Diana responded with a smile.
"I wouldn't show you the prize if you hadn't passed."
Ariadne added.
Dio smiled happily as he walked up to the cloth and removed it.
He was right about the armor, but there's also a sword and shield, which makes him very happy.
...
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