Now, the goals were quite clear.
To obtain the blood of the Goddess of Wisdom Athena and forge the god-slaying sword.
For this, Jason needed to resolve the ongoing conflict with Queen Hera.
At the same time, he had to complete the destiny that came with being Jason, embarking on a path for the Golden Fleece that was entirely different from the original, thereby shattering his fate completely.
With this, he would offer the highest tribute to Athena, who had always been watching him!
These two matters were the most important things to accomplish at present.
Moreover, the issue with Hera had to be resolved as quickly as possible.
The latest deadline could not exceed one month!
Because after one month, the aura of destruction from the Ancestor of All Monsters Typhon on Jason's body would become utterly impossible to suppress.
At that time, the one coming for Jason would be King of the Gods Zeus himself.
The next morning,
Athena departed, and the white-robed hero also left the steep mountain that imprisoned Phrixus.
He left behind the name of Jason on the mountain.
And from this point onward, he embarked once more on his journey!
The destination he headed to now was a place called the Kingdom of Iolcus.
This was naturally an unfamiliar kingdom. Jason had never set foot in that land. To be precise, the transmigrator who had crossed over and inherited Jason's identity had not.
But for Jason, that kingdom was far from a strange place.
Because that kingdom was the one that rightfully belonged to Jason!
That was right. Do not forget, Jason was originally a prince!
Back then, when Jason was not yet called Jason but Diomedes, it was Pelias, the current King of Iolcus, who had usurped the throne that originally belonged to him.
This led to Jason receiving the name Jason from the wise centaur Chiron.
And from there, his grand adventure unfolded!
Jason's Quest for the Golden Fleece was also the challenge set by this uncle who had stolen Jason's throne.
Pelias had said that as long as Jason could journey to distant Colchis and bring back the Golden Fleece, which no hero had obtained before, he would return the throne to him.
Thus, the heroic path of the Golden Fleece was born, passed down through the ages.
Now, this white-robed youth naturally had no interest whatsoever in the Golden Fleece or the throne.
But since this was the tribute offered to the great Goddess of Wisdom Athena, Jason could only grit his teeth and proceed.
As for why the matter with Queen Hera, which should have been prioritized, was set aside in favor of heading to the Kingdom of Iolcus first, the reason was simple.
From this moment onward, the one embarking on the journey was no longer the white-robed hero clad in Athena's sacred garment.
It was the child of the Goddess of the Crossroads Hecate, Jason!
When the name Jason echoed across this continent, there was no need for further words. Queen Hera would naturally come seeking him.
Thus, this Quest for the Golden Fleece would evidently not be easy.
Since this was the tribute to Athena, the goddess who doted on Jason to the extreme yet was full of mischievous whimsy, she would certainly not let her dear little Jason pass through it smoothly.
She would surely use every trick at her disposal to delight in playing with Jason.
And among them, there was a major consideration awaiting Jason.
When the moment of god-slaying was placed before him, would Jason truly raise the god-slaying weapon and strike down a god!
At the same time, on this Quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason would inevitably face suppression from Queen Hera!
"What should I do?"
At the foot of the mountain, wearing Hades's Helm of Invisibility, Jason slipped away from the bustling town below, where everyone was discussing who the hero was that had climbed to the summit and met the great god.
In a forest path, holding the guide in his hand, Jason fell into contemplation.
The guide given to him by the Goddess of Wisdom Athena would point the way for him, so Jason was not worried about getting lost in ancient Greece.
But the current problem was.
"Pegasus and Cerberus went to escort Atalanta. Should I wait for them to return, or head out on my own?"
Jason hesitated.
After all, his mount and his little dog that could fight on his behalf were both gone!
And while Jason pondered this, how could the Goddess of Wisdom Athena possibly not have considered everything thoroughly?
Therefore.
"Jason."
A familiar yet light voice suddenly rang in Jason's ear.
Turning his head instinctively, he saw a beautiful golden-horned deer emerging from the woods into Jason's view.
After a brief moment of surprise, Jason's expression lit up with realization. He said, "Sister Deer?!"
"Long time no see, Jason." The gentle voice rang in Jason's ear once more. This time, Jason was certain. It was Sister Deer's voice!
The golden-horned deer, Jason's Sister Deer, was the familiar of the Moon Goddess Artemis.
Jason had a very good relationship with her. After all, to the golden-horned deer, Jason was a child she had watched grow up.
Then, Jason immediately stepped forward and hugged the golden-horned deer, saying happily, "Sister Deer, long time no see. Oh, right, Sister Deer, do you know? Now I can understand your words. The great Goddess of Agriculture Demeter gave me the power to listen to the language of all things!"
"Yes." The golden-horned deer gazed at Jason gently. She said, "Is that so? That is wonderful, Jason."
"Yes, yes. By the way, Sister Deer, why are you here?"
"A great goddess suddenly told me last night that you needed me, so I hurried over right away."
The golden-horned deer spoke softly to Jason, rubbing her face gently against him.
A great goddess. It must be Athena.
Jason realized this and was no longer surprised by the golden-horned deer's arrival.
"Then, Sister Deer, would you be willing to travel with me again?"
Jason looked at the golden-horned deer.
"Accompanying you is my honor. Of course I am willing."
"That is great. I knew you were the best, Sister Deer. Oh, right, Sister Deer, before we leave, wait for me just a moment."
As Jason spoke, he turned and dashed into the nearby bushes.
After a short while, Jason emerged, having shed his white robes and changed into black attire embroidered with the underworld butterfly.
From this moment, he was temporarily no longer the white-robed hero.
He was the student and child of the Goddess of the Crossroads Hecate, Jason!
The golden-horned deer tilted her head, looking at Jason in black. Though she did not understand the situation, she did not ask.
"How do I look, Sister Deer?"
Jason asked, showing off in front of the golden-horned deer.
"Very handsome. But Jason, you yourself are like the radiant God of Light Apollo, so no matter what you wear, you are always so handsome and beautiful."
The golden-horned deer praised him generously.
"Hehe, still, you are the best, Sister Deer. Unlike Pegasus and Atalanta, who show no reaction at all." Jason pouted.
"But I remember that white robe was bestowed upon you by a great god, the Goddess of Wisdom Athena." The golden-horned deer looked at Jason with concern.
"Ah, that is fine. This is a temporary allowance from Goddess Athena. Until I resolve the matter with Queen Hera, I will not wear that sacred garment for the time being."
After Jason explained, the golden-horned deer nodded lightly.
"Then, Sister Deer, I will have to trouble you for the coming days."
Jason approached the golden-horned deer, who lowered her body.
"It is no trouble. Carrying you forward is my honor." The golden-horned deer replied gently to Jason.
Thus, under the bright sunlight illuminating the youth's handsome features, a gentle breeze stirring his golden locks.
The beautiful golden-horned deer once again bore the hero on her back and set forth on a new journey.
And this hero's journey would inevitably be watched by the gods above.
...
That day,
The Sun God Helios was about to return to his temple with his sun chariot.
At dusk,
The Goddess of Wisdom Athena crossed the vast ocean and arrived at a special island.
That island was named the Isle of Invisibility.
Many years ago, it was a very famous island.
Numerous heroes came here.
Because on that Isle of Invisibility once dwelt a fearsome monster.
It was said that she imprisoned two beautiful goddesses.
And any who came to the island and slew that monster would not only spread their great name to every corner of Greece, leaving an eternal legend.
But also win the hands of the two beautiful goddesses on the island.
And the name of that monster on the island, her name was Gorgon!
Or, in a more familiar form, Medusa!
But that was back then, many years ago.
In the end, that fearsome monster was subjugated by the great hero Perseus.
However, he did not win the beautiful goddesses in marriage, for the beautiful goddesses she had 'imprisoned' had long been devoured by her before Perseus arrived.
And the god who had guided the hero Perseus to slay Medusa was none other than the goddess who had suddenly come here now.
The Goddess of Wisdom, Athena!
Athena walked across the barren Isle of Invisibility, soon arriving at the island's temple, which appeared exceptionally desolate under the weathering of wind and rain.
Around the temple were placed all manner of petrified figures: the heroes who had once come to subjugate the monster Gorgon.
Athena passed through this petrified, shadowy place and entered the temple.
Even after countless years had passed here.
The terrifying magic that lingered in the temple had not dissipated. In a daze, Athena even felt waves of endless resentment crashing toward her.
This caused Athena's brows to furrow slightly.
"It seems you are not welcoming my arrival."
Athena halted her steps, her lips curving upward slightly as she said faintly.
Her voice echoed through the vast, quiet ancient temple.
But no one answered.
Because now, in this Isle of Invisibility, in the midst of the Blood Temple, there was indeed only this one goddess, Athena.
Thus, Athena could not help but smile, then continued forward, proceeding all the way to the depths of the temple. To the innermost sanctum of this Blood Temple.
Here, Athena could sense powerful magical fluctuations.
And this place was profoundly shadowy.
But this was inevitable, after all. This was where that fearsome monster, Gorgon, had once died!
Athena arrived here and waved her hand, dispersing the magical fluctuations assaulting her.
"I understand."
Athena said faintly. "I will leave soon. Rest assured, I have no intention of disturbing your slumber. Well, that does not seem quite right.
Because I am indeed disturbing you."
As her words fell, Athena reached out, and a vial of potion appeared in her hand.
If Jason were here, he would surely widen his eyes and ask Athena when she had taken the potion given to him by his senior brother, Asclepius, the son of the God of Light Apollo.
That was right. The potion Athena held now was precisely the one Asclepius had given Jason long ago, capable of reviving the dead!
"By the way, can it revive you three sisters? Well, you ultimately devoured your two sisters and merged with them, so it should work.
Well, I will mention it to Hecate later and have her meet with Hades. Even if not, we can make an exception.
So."
Athena stepped forward to the place where the magic gathered most densely.
She slowly poured the potion from her hand downward.
"Awake, Gorgon."
With Athena's voice falling, the golden potion dripped into the dim temple.
...
Several days passed.
On the journey to Iolcus, Jason and the golden-horned deer.
An unexpected event, one that brought no joy at all, descended.
In an ancient forest.
Jason's eye twitched as he looked at the god before him, who was smiling cheerfully at him, wearing a feathered cap and holding a caduceus.
Indeed, it was none other than Hermes!
Why is it you again? Can you stay away from me?
Jason's face nearly bore those words.
This was not because Jason disliked Hermes. To be precise, Jason's impression of him was not bad, as he had helped quite a bit.
But Jason disliked encountering Hermes during travels, because whenever he did, without doubt, what awaited him was just two words.
Trouble!
"Long time no see, Jason."
"Long time no see, great Messenger of the Gods, Lord Hermes."
Jason flashed Hermes a smile as standard as could be, saying softly, "Then, farewell!"
With that, Jason wanted to urge Sister Deer to hurry away.
"Do not be in such a rush, Jason. And this time, it is not that I seek you out for something."
Hermes tossed his caduceus, blocking Jason's path, then said with a laugh to Jason, "I came to find you this time to tell you that your senior brother Heracles has run into trouble."