Night suddenly let out a gentle smile.
"Who knows? Humans are a contradictory bunch who learn through failure, feeling hatred and fear while simultaneously possessing genuine courage.
As a warrior, I naturally yearn for victory, and as a living being, my basic instincts make me entirely averse to the pain of having my body torn apart.
But even if losing or dying are incredibly terrifying prospects, there is still one thing in this world far more frightening than both!"
"Something... more frightening?" Briseis murmured automatically from the side.
What could possibly be so terrifying to her hero, a noble soul shining so brightly in the sunlight?
She had never seen a powerful hero with a more stable, confident, and spirited demeanor, so what could possibly cause such an exceptional figure to bow his head?
The Sun God and the others were also stunned, completely drawn in by Night's words.
"Then what is this more terrifying thing? Can you tell me, mortal?" Helios asked.
"It is courage itself!"
Hearing his direct words, Achilles and the others were thoroughly shaken.
What? Why would it be courage?
Their minds were entirely unable to process the logic for a moment.
Wasn't courage a positive word, a beautiful symbol? Why would anyone fear it?
Ignoring everyone's shock, Night said smoothly. "Exactly, courage. What is far more terrifying than failure or death is losing the courage to face your fears directly!"
A sudden clarity struck them as he explained his meaning, leaving Achilles and the others completely blank as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through their minds.
Losing the courage to face fear directly was the ultimate terror.
"The meaning of battle isn't to depict hatred, but rather a process of revealing the ideal version of oneself. No matter how others view combat itself, to me, fighting with everything I have, enjoying the process of climbing a massive peak, conquering it, and then continuously scaling even higher mountains is undoubtedly a joyful experience.
If I choose to run away the moment an enemy grows stronger, dodging the challenge over a minor setback or an injury, then I am choosing the easy path. True, the power of a divine artifact is immense and highly tempting, but relying on it means I would never be able to truly defeat Achilles at his strongest!
That realization is far more terrifying than anything else."
At this moment, Night was speaking partly from the heart, which made the resolve in his tone even more moving to those listening.
The courage to face fear directly, huh?
After hearing his speech and looking at Griffith, who seemed to lament such a horrifying future and reject a version of himself that would yield, the hearts of everyone present underwent a massive upheaval.
What was fear?
It was a survival instinct carved into human DNA to seek safety and avoid danger.
When encountering something irresistible that put them in extreme danger, humans naturally felt fear over the terrible consequences that might follow.
When the risks of an action vastly outweighed the rewards, the majority of people wouldn't choose to gamble on a tiny, minuscule probability that was less than one percent.
Even if someone backed down because of it, no one would mock or blame them.
After all, humans had no inherent obligation to conquer the things they feared, nor did they have a reason to spend their entire lives chasing a hopeless, despairing path.
Yet, at this moment, they felt an iron will and a steel resolve, a calm lament entirely devoid of hesitation.
It was precisely this incredibly tranquil demeanor paired with those words that dealt a massive blow to Achilles and the others.
Everything required a contrast to be truly appreciated.
When a human took a brave, bold step forward despite feeling immense fear, that act was true courage!
'I see... so that's how it is, I understand.'
Helios finally understood what was driving Night to perform such a noble yet brutal act upon himself.
At the same time, they saw a proud heart that wasn't repulsive, but rather viewed all creation with an absolute, equal detachment, treating every powerful obstacle ahead as a goal to be crushed and surpassed.
He had set a massive mountain for himself, and finding the climb too easy, he had stripped off all his protective gear to face the harshness of the steepest nature completely bare.
How incredibly arrogant, yet how remarkably humble.
He wouldn't look down on anyone, yet he possessed absolute confidence that he would surpass that fear and hardship to reach a higher dimension.
How could a true warrior feel fear or disadvantage just because Achilles obtained his original armor? How could a truly powerful soul descend into anxiety and unease just because he lacked a proper set of equipment?
Much like the mighty Heracles of old, who didn't immediately think of his monumental feats when completing the Twelve Labors?
By comparison, what was powerful was never the armor itself, but the man. The mere name of Heracles was enough to strike terror into the hearts of his enemies.
And just like Heracles before him, no matter how difficult the trial, he would absolutely never back down.
Sensing that absolute certainty radiating from Night's every word and expression, Helios felt as though he was witnessing another legendary name rising rapidly upon the milestones of Greece.
"Is that so? I like your answer very much, Griffith." From this moment on, he truly began to appreciate the unique charisma of the hero before him.
Compared to a violent battle, what the Sun God admired far more was that courage, the determination to take a step forward even after conquering fear itself!
A mortal who surpassed the gods in ways even the immortals couldn't comprehend.
The sun was a symbol of courage and a symbol of pride, and as the Sun God, he should possess a relentless, fearless spirit, yet he had actually learned this lesson from Night today.
Feeling that soul that burned hotter than anyone else's, that relentless and fearless determination, Helios was deeply moved and finally came to a decision.
"A surging soul is more than enough to awaken the fires of fury that conquer death and fear; the flame of your courage looks very much like the sun.
Hero Griffith! Do you have something you wish to protect? A pure heart just like my own defense of my beloved island of Rhodes?"
He paused, then smiled. "No, I ask too much.
You have already revealed it to me completely, and as a god, I should know it better than anyone. Your will to depict an ideal, to defend your glory without a single tremor, and to chase after the light of the future is completely free of doubt. Therefore..."
He adored the courage of the hero Griffith, loving his iron will and steel resolve.
As long as the flame of this courage never faded, he was entirely willing to guide him forward.
Just as he deeply loved the humans on the earth below.
That is right.
He was preparing to help Griffith complete the mission of fighting the hero Achilles!
And for that purpose, since Griffith had just lost his armor...
.
.
.
(End of the Chapter)