Leon blinked. He hadn't expected that. Despite their limited interactions, Artemis had grown to feel something for him. It felt sudden, perhaps even a little surreal. But he didn't flinch.
"Maybe." Leon replied simply. "It's possible."
He had long since stopped resisting affection from others. Hestia wasn't the only one in his heart, and if Artemis had joined the list, he wasn't opposed.
Hearing his calm response, Artemis' eyes lit up, her lips forming a soft smile. She turned her gaze skyward, staring at the moon shining bright above.
Then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, she reached out and grabbed Leon's hand.
"Come with me." She whispered.
Without waiting for his reply, she pulled him toward the forest.
From within another tent, Hestia emerged, silently watching the two disappear into the trees. Her expression was unreadable.
"…Artemis." She whispered, the name barely leaving her lips.
Then she exhaled deeply and sighed.
"Well, if that's how it is, then I guess we'll all be together. Let's pull in Hephaestus too while we're at it." She muttered, arms folded as she turned away and vanished back into her tent.
Meanwhile, Leon had followed Artemis to a serene lake nestled under the silver moonlight. The surface sparkled with soft radiance, like liquid stars.
"Leon." Artemis turned and smiled, holding both his hands. "Dance with me."
Standing at the edge of the shimmering water, she extended her arms. Leon didn't respond immediately. His gaze swept over the glowing lake, the moon hanging overhead, the quiet rustling of trees…
It felt familiar. A scene straight out of the original story.
But before he could linger on the thought, Artemis tugged him forward, and he stumbled into her rhythm.
Under the glowing moonlight, amidst the luminous lake, a god and a mortal danced, slowly, gracefully.
They said nothing and no one else would ever know.
— — —
The next morning, things returned to normal. Everyone went about their routines.
Leon remained inside his tent, focusing on his usual routine. He only came out to prepare meals, just like before.
Three more days passed in this manner. And then, at last, his divine power surged again, growing another 2%.
It now comprised 5% of his total magical capacity.
"It should be enough…" Leon muttered as he stood, stretching slightly. "Even if it's not, I can't wait any longer."
"Antares will begin its movement tomorrow."
His expression turned grim. Throughout the past week, even as he focused on divine energy, he had kept a constant watch on Antares, scanning its state every thirty minutes using his veins of light and shadow.
And now, he knew. The monster was on the verge of acting. Its presence had warped the entire Great Sea of Trees.
Corruption had spread beyond the ruins. Its "tentacles" were reaching the outside world. And the sheer power radiating from its body was overwhelming.
Leon was certain now, Antares would act within the next two days and he had no intention of gambling on exactly when.
Since the time had been narrowed down so closely, there was no point in waiting. It was better to strike first, on their own terms.
During breakfast, Leon laid out the situation for the group. Hermes frowned slightly as he listened, clearly troubled by the news.
"Is Antares preparing to move?" He asked. "How's your magic power, Leon?"
There was a subtle hope lingering in his tone, as if wishing for a few more days, enough time for Artemis to have a greater chance at resurrection.
But seeing the determined light in Leon's eyes, Hermes sighed inwardly. So the limit had arrived.
"Has it already come to this day?" Artemis murmured, her expression unreadable. She glanced at Leon, then lowered her eyes slightly. "My heart feels… complicated."
"Don't worry, Artemis." Hestia reached out gently, comforting her. "It'll be fine. Leon's here."
The others, Asfi, the adventurers, stayed silent. They simply listened, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"We'll move after breakfast." Leon declared, his tone calm but resolute.
"Artemis and I will head to confront Antares. The rest of you, retrieve Rethusa and the others."
"No problem." Hestia nodded with unusual seriousness. "Leave it to us."
Hermes offered his signature smile. "We'll handle it."
Leon turned to Hestia, adding, "Ellie will protect you all."
"Got it." A crisp, clear loli voice answered before Hestia could speak.
From Hestia's hairpin, a streak of light fluttered out. Ellie appeared in midair, her fairy wings shimmering with light.
Everyone around them froze, eyes wide in shock.
Aside from Hestia and Leon, none had ever seen a creature like Ellie before. Their curiosity was palpable, especially Artemis' but there was no time for explanations.
As Ellie hovered beside Hestia with an eager expression, Leon turned to the group.
"Then, let's go!!!"
— — —
Once called a sea of green, the Great Sea of Trees was now anything but.
Under Antares' corruption, the once-vibrant forest had turned into a murky wasteland of grey and purple. Not a trace of life could be seen. Most of the native creatures had either fled or perished, drained of vitality by the lurking terror within.
The moment they stepped into the boundary of the forest, Leon and his party were ambushed.
From the shadows, countless lesser Antares, spawned offshoots of the main body, swept toward them like a plague tide.
Asfi and the other Hermes Familia members immediately sprang into action, their weapons flashing as they countered the onslaught.
These smaller monsters, while numerous, weren't particularly powerful. The adventurers, all above Level 3, could handle them without too much difficulty. Still, Leon wasn't taking any chances.
"Ellie, send clones with them." He ordered.
"Roger." Ellie responded cheerfully, immediately splitting into several miniature versions of herself. Each avatar zipped into the gear or clothing of the adventurers.
Leon couldn't guarantee the safety of adventurers not traveling directly with him but if they were part of his team, even temporarily, he would protect them. Just as he had with Loki Familia on their expedition before.
Truth be told, he could have used Gate of Heaven but the magical consumption was far too great.
Especially now, when everyone knew he had been conserving power for Artemis' resurrection, using such a costly technique would only draw unnecessary concern, even disapproval.
Using Ellie's clones as guardians was far more efficient. With Ellie's current capabilities, even her weakest clone was a match for a Level 1 adventurer, more than enough to keep the party safe.
As the adventurers cleared a path, Leon moved with precision and speed. Although he refrained from using magic, his physical prowess alone was overwhelming. He carved through the Lesser Antares like a blade of judgment.
The group surged forward, pressing toward the heart of the forest where the ruins lay.
Even when Antares sent a volley of divine energy crashing down from the sky, Leon activated his Tenseigan mode, using its protective beads to neutralize the attack with ease.
The journey across was long, the ruins were located at its very center. But despite the distance, Leon's group arrived in just thirty minutes. That alone spoke volumes of their strength and coordination.
Had it not been for Ellie's clone carrying Hestia and the others through magic flight, the journey would have taken hours, especially with their Arcanums sealed.
Upon arrival, no one hesitated. They stepped into the ruins without pause. These ruins were once the sacred ground of Elsos, a grand temple constructed for Artemis in ancient times.
Now, it was nothing but crumbling stone and withered memories. The interior was dim, the air heavy with the scent of time and decay.
Surprisingly, Antares did not attack. Perhaps too many of its offspring had been destroyed en route and it was still regenerating them.
Leon and the others continued forward, their steps echoing through the broken halls, until they reached a massive stone door.