manynovel Page 61
Page 61
"If you want to win Demeter's favor, the best way is to make her empathize with you. That girl is a doting father who is obsessed with her daughter. As long as you make her feel that you are one of her kind, or that you are a child who lacks maternal love, she will naturally send her blessings to you."
As Hera said this, a troublesome expression appeared on her face. Clearly, she wasn't very good at dealing with Demeter either.
After all, empathy is the greatest challenge for the Greek cyborgs, and Demeter, as a cyborg with relatively rich emotions, is clearly an outlier among them.
"I understand."
Quinn didn't want to talk too much about the things between the Machine Gods, so he just nodded to show that he had memorized all the information. His obedient child-like appearance made Hera smile brightly again.
"You're way cuter than any other guy I know. If someone hadn't already set their sights on you, I'd want to have you all to myself."
Upon hearing this, the white-haired girl hiding behind the Roman columns became visibly uneasy. But before Dione could react, Hera turned and kissed Quinn on the cheek. "Keep it safe. This is my blessing. This kiss is the divine power of the guardian of marriage. By kissing your doll, she can ensure that her future spouse will never abandon her."
After saying this, Hera turned and left, disappearing into the hall of state.
[You have received Hera's blessing, and with Hera's departure, you can clearly see that the white fur, which was previously difficult to hide, has calmed down again. After much thought, you decide to abandon the idea of exposing the other party's observation from the sidelines. In any case, you have already obtained what you needed most. Now, all you have to do is wait for news of Perseus's great victory.]
[So, after transferring Hera's blessing to your doll, you then spent the rest of your time waiting for war reports from Cyprus while planning how to develop music and opera, making sure all the traditional Roman arts were in place in advance.]
You had hoped to excel in both literature and sports, striving to gain Apollo's blessing before Perseus's victory. However, it is clear that your Roman Praetorian Guard's strength is overwhelmingly superior to that of Cyprus. In less than a month, Perseus sent back good news: he had successfully defeated Polydectes and brought back his mother.
Perseus is famous in Greece for fulfilling his revenge, and so is your Roman Praetorian Guard. The perfect heavy infantry phalanx and legionary tactics impressed even the god of war, and their courage to fight to the death impressed the Thracians. From this battle onward, Rome came into the sight of the gods.
Athena immediately realized that Rome, under your rule, was her true enemy, far more powerful than the Thracians, whom her old adversary protected. Her once-promising hero, Perseus, was now your student and could not be used by you. She knew she needed to secure allies immediately; otherwise, Athens could not possibly withstand attacks from both Thrace and Rome simultaneously.
As always, she approached her best friend, the moon goddess, and her brother, Apollo, hoping to form a city-state alliance. However, this time, the moon goddess hesitated. The source of this conflict was not the god of war, whom she disliked, and she didn't have much reason to help Athena fight against Rome, especially since she had a fairly good impression of you.
As for Apollo, the god of light has already seen your busy schedule and knows that you are quite interested in music and art, and have plans to make Rome a capital of music and art. He does not want to ruin the potential of a future artist because of a little squabble between goddesses.
For a moment, Athena was isolated and helpless, while the God of War, who should have been isolated and helpless, was now surrounded by people.
Because of you, Vulcan directly joined the Roman side. Although Cyprus, under the command of Aphrodite, was defeated by your Rome, she didn't care, because you yourself are her ward. In a sense, Rome is also a city-state under her protection. The Thracians, having already been allied with Rome, also joined the Roman camp.
At this moment, you hold the power of most of Greece in your hands, and you will win this battle because of the Golden Apple.
Chapter 139
The resulting war is still inevitable.
Therefore, you decided to bring Perseus into the Europa family's fold and bring the plan to a complete close. You approached Medusa, hoping she could assist you in creating a legendary artifact.
You plan to create the legendary artifact "Medusa's Head - Rome" based on Medusa's Eye.
Chapter 128 Hercules (Happy New Year)
Perseus's most famous treasure is Medusa's head, and Quinn happens to have a few more opportunities to forge legendary treasures. Using one of these opportunities to equip his good student with a legendary treasure, thus integrating his adventurous life into his clan's history, would definitely be a worthwhile deal.
As for Medusa, she didn't mind Quinn's thoughts. After all, all Quinn wanted to do was study and reference Medusa's Eye of Deception, not to take it out alive.
[You approached Vulcan and obtained from him the material that could help you create the Petrifying Eye—nanomechanics. Yes, along with your various activities in Greece, just as UO of the Moon warned you, the Mechs are gradually restoring their bodies, the most obvious of whom is Vulcan, who has regained the power to create nanomechanics.]
[And in return for you, the one who helped him regain his divine power, Hephaestus is willing to serve as your assistant in creating treasures, helping you prepare the "Head of Medusa" for Perseus.]
With the help of the Vulcan, the creation of your treasure went very smoothly. In just one week, you completed this treasure, which is almost a one-to-one replica of the Petrifying Eye. However, unlike Medusa's eye, which can be used at any time, your creation requires a certain amount of time to charge. But this cost is nothing in the age of gods.
Choose a good time to announce that Perseus will come to see you. When he arrives at the Roman palace, he will see a magnificently decorated hall where you, as the King of Rome, and Medusa, who founded Rome and is regarded by the Romans as the mother of Rome, are both present, which is unusual for them.
This solemn scene made Perseus break out in a cold sweat. He didn't know what kind of trouble you were up to now, and he instinctively felt that you were going to give him some difficult tests again.
[But you simply waved your hand, and a Roman guard brought the "Head of Medusa" placed on a woolen cushion to Perseus. You announced that Perseus had officially completed his apprenticeship and could now decide his own future as a free Roman. As his teacher, you were to give him a gift.]
[Your gift left Perseus speechless. He could tell at a glance that this treasure contained immense power. He never imagined that you would go to such lengths for him, rescuing him from the Cypriot court when he was young, bringing him back to Rome to hone his skills, giving him an army to take revenge, and then bestowing upon him a rare and precious treasure after the revenge was completed.]
Perseus was deeply moved. He might resemble someone you knew from the past, but in terms of character, he was indeed a benevolent hero who would help the weak and vanquish monsters. Gratitude was the essence of his character. He knew who in this world cared about him the most, and so he made a decision.
[To help you win this battle among the gods and become the true victor]
[The legendary Greek hero Perseus officially joined Rome, the culture transformed into "Rome," and Perseus successfully joined the Europa clan. His legendary adventures will be incorporated into the Europa clan's epic.]
According to official Greek history, the founding of Rome attracted the attention of the gods, who held a grand banquet in Rome. However, a golden apple sparked a conflict among the gods, which escalated into war among the Greek city-states. The kings of these city-states fought amongst themselves, and Perseus resolved his lifelong grievances during this war. With the help of the Roman king, Perseus conquered Cyprus and returned in triumph. To repay the Roman king's kindness, he voluntarily served the Roman king as the head of his clan, abandoning his original lineage and joining the European clan.
[Your legendary tale "Hero Mentor" has been transformed into a personal trait, making it easier for your wards to embark on legendary adventures and attract the attention of special beings when they reach adulthood.]
You have gained 1 trait point.
Watching Perseus announce his desire to join his clan in front of him and Medusa, Quinn could barely contain his smirk. It took him a while to calmly accept his student's application, allowing him to call himself the Son of Europe from now on. He then reassured him to go back to sleep and discuss the plan to conquer Athens the next day.
With Perseus' departure, leaving only Quinn and Medusa in the entire Roman palace, he could no longer suppress his smirk, revealing a sinister grin reminiscent of the Dragon King's return.
"That's my irresistible charm."
"?"
Medusa turned her head to look at Quinn, who suddenly lost his composure. She didn't understand what a man's oath of allegiance to her had to do with charm. But the next moment, she noticed the change in Quinn and couldn't help but blink. In that blink, she began to wonder if there was something wrong with her eyes.
Because the man whose body was already a perfect embodiment of artistic aesthetics in her eyes suddenly began to become blurry and uncertain, Medusa tried to see Quinn clearly with surprise and doubt, but the more she wanted to see him clearly, the more blurred Quinn's figure became in her eyes. On the contrary, after she gave up thinking, Quinn appeared clearly in her field of vision again.
What... happened to you?
"Oh, it's just a slight promotion."
What is an upgrade?
Medusa's bewildered expression went unnoticed by Quinn, who was focused on his personal trait panel, where the trait had changed from "robust" to "Hercules" and was now at level three, feeling the boost it provided.
Compared to the "alluring beauty" trait, which focuses on appearance and charm, Hercules' physical attributes see exceptionally significant advancements with each level. Level one transformed Quinn from a normal modern man into a super-god, and level two directly transformed him into a superhuman with an innate physical nature. As for Hercules...
Quinn didn't feel anything particularly special. He didn't experience any significant physical changes, nor did he feel that he had suddenly gained some kind of incredibly powerful strength. However, he had a very subtle feeling.
The earth beneath his feet seemed to be pulsating; something alive had entered his field of vision and was constantly emphasizing its presence.
You have acquired the trait "Hercules".
[You have been set as a special focus by "the world," and Gaia is trying to contact you. However, due to your lack of the trait "genius," Gaia is unable to reach you, leaving Gaia confused and uncertain.]
You have been set as a special follower by "MoonUO"
Because you possess the trait "Hercules," you have gained a new personal trait, "Solo Manifestation."
Chapter 129 You Bath with the Goddess
[Solo Manifestation: Your existence hovers between history and reality, capable of existing anywhere by your own will. Death is far removed from you, and the only way people can fight against you is by banishing you.]
The description written on the character interface confirms the value of this trait skill and also corroborates Quinn's initial guess that the Hercules trait in the simulator evaluation represents the most perfect body in the Type-Moon world. Now, Quinn, who has unlocked this trait, also has the potential to enter the Type-Moon combat power t0 list.
He could clearly feel the will and pulse of life of the Earth. Through the pop-up window of the simulator, Quinn could roughly realize that at this moment, one of the two major restraining forces in the Type-Moon world, representing the manifestation of the will of the planet in which humanity lives—Gaia—was trying to pull him into its camp.
Chapter 140
This is both a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that my actions of arbitrarily influencing history should not incur Gaia's displeasure, and I might even receive help from this restraining force in the future. The bad thing is...
The relationship between myself and another restraining force—Alaya—is likely to reach a freezing point.
But it doesn't matter anyway, since my actions have already determined that Alaya will most likely not like me.
[Having gained new power, you are full of confidence in your future. You notice that Medusa has begun to pay attention to the changes in your body, which makes you feel gratified. This proves that the goddess of monsters has developed feelings for you, and she will feel uneasy because of your changes. Therefore, you decide to work even harder.]
Over the next few months, you transformed Perseus's victory into the foundation of Rome. The wealth from Cyprus became your army, and your Roman Praetorian Guard expanded once again, giving you the confidence to wage new wars. As always, you made good use of your talents, allowing Perseus to continue conquering territories for you.
This time, Perseus's army was aimed at Athens. Faced with the combined forces of Rome, Cyprus, and Thrace, the people of Athens were filled with fear, and even their patron goddess Athena was overwhelmed with worry. But she did not give up; she possessed many treasures that could help the Athenians withstand the difficulties.
[But your allies also brought you the secret of the treasure in Athena's possession long ago. According to the gods of war and fire, after Athena heard that you had created the head of Medusa for Perseus, she specially prepared a shield that was like a mirror. As long as one holds this shield, one can avoid the power of the petrifying eye.]
This was not good news, but Perseus was fearless. He still went to war with the gift you had prepared for him, promising you that he would return victorious. It was a war destined to be difficult, and indeed it was.
Perseus's siege of Athens lasted for months. Wielding the head of Medusa and the power of his petrifying eyes, he easily won the battles against the large army outside the city. However, whenever the city was attacked, the Athenians, who had obtained the shield of the goddess, were able to hold the city firmly, and the contest between the two sides became a stalemate.
Even though you are far away in Rome, you can still hear from the battle reports sent back from the front lines about the Athenians' tenacity in defense and Athena's constant efforts to win alliances among the gods.
[As you know, if Perseus wants to conquer Athens, he must continue to increase the number of allies in your alliance. So you began to exert your efforts, hoping to gain more support from the gods. Your first target was Apollo, the chief god worshipped by the Hyperions, who controlled a considerable number of city-states.]
To attract the attention of this supreme god, you began to create various musical instruments from later generations and compose numerous Roman operas and music from later times, including many modern pieces. Although your work was rough, it did attract Apollo's attention. He looked at you as if he had seen a treasure, believing you to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration. In particular, operas were exactly what he was looking for.
He has decided to reward you, bless your doll, and lend you a small hand in this war.
[Apollo's blessing has endowed your doll with a heavenly voice; her words can move even the grass and withered stones to tears. You have already received more than half of the blessings of the main gods. Your doll now looks completely indistinguishable from a normal living being, except that she is not yet conscious.]
But more than your puppet, you're concerned with the help Apollo can provide after joining your Roman alliance.
[About fifteen days later, you receive news from the front lines that the Hyperions have also joined the war against Athens. They came under Apollo's authorization. With the addition of the Hyperions, Perseus's army now numbers over 20,000. Faced with such an army, the Athenian resistance is as futile as bones in a tomb. Soon, you receive good news from Perseus.]
He breached the gates of Athens, forcing the Athenian king to surrender and sign a treaty of vassalage to Rome. The treasures Athena had bestowed upon the Athenian king fell into Perseus's hands, becoming his spoils of war. However, he decided to entrust you with the right to share the spoils.
Faced with Perseus's goodwill, you readily granted him the treasure he rightfully deserved. Although the goddess's treasure was priceless, the goddess herself was far more valuable to you.
With the fall of Athens, no city-state in Greece could withstand the Roman coalition anymore. The gods also foresaw the outcome of the war. Thus, the title of the undefeated champion in the Roman pantheon naturally no longer belonged to Athena. Ares, the god of war, or Mars, the god of war, as the protector of the Roman city-states, naturally became the ultimate victor in this mortal war.
Although the wars of the mortal realm have ended, the struggle between the goddesses has only just begun to intensify.
Because the goddesses now have to find a way to guide the ultimate victor of this war, who is you, to marry the woman you desire.
Faced with this dilemma, Cupid withdrew from the battle first. If the winner were someone else, she would definitely try to get involved in the struggle, but not you, because she can't satisfy your desires. With Cupid's withdrawal, the other goddesses not only failed to notice the problem, but became even more passionate.
[Especially the Moon Goddess, in her view, arranging a marriage for a mortal is a simple matter for a deity. In this regard, the biggest rival among the goddesses is the Goddess of Love. Now that the Goddess of Love is no longer involved, they have an opportunity. So, she starts frantically recommending her nymphs to you, trying to pair you up with one of her handmaids. However, this tactic naturally doesn't interest you, because your goal is very clear.]
[You followed Hera's guidance and began developing seawater hot springs around Rome.]
Finally, on the first night after you built your hot spring resort, as you were enjoying the newly built hot spring, a familiar figure appeared in the swirling steam. It was Athena, who was soaking naked in the warm spring water with you.
At this very moment, you are bathing with a goddess.
Chapter 130 The Price the Defeat of the Goddess
Immersed in the warm spring water, Quinn watched through the swirling mist as a woman entered the water. She was slender and graceful, with a touch of heroism in her demeanor. He was quite certain that the woman in front of him had also noticed the presence of a second person in the newly built hot spring, and he was also certain that she was pretending not to know.
Because, as soon as the woman stepped into the hot spring, she seemed to open up and walked straight towards him.
"Huh?!" A startled cry rang out as the woman approached; her scream was devoid of emotion, entirely feigned anger.
Oh no, it's coming.
Quinn was ready.
"Mortal, how dare you peep into the goddess's bath?!" Athena, just as Quinn had predicted, uttered the phrase Greek goddesses often used to punish mortals who offended them, "I will punish you, you disrespectful one..."
"Will it turn into a deer or a cow? Or perhaps a laurel tree or a stone?"
Quinn spoke first, finishing Athena's lines and choking the goddess who had deliberately entered the hot spring. Athena, whose lines had been stolen, glared at Quinn with displeasure. However, she was completely naked, with only the mist covering her body, and she looked incredibly charming, like a cool woman suddenly revealing a shy demeanor.
Hera was right. Athena had a mysterious fascination with hot springs. When she was in a hot spring, her sanity would decrease. This reminded Quinn of the Roman legend of Minerva and hot springs. It was said that the goddess of wisdom, Minerva, endowed hot springs with the magical power to heal wounds. Minerva was Athena's name in Rome.
"You know me very well. Europa, the Pantheon, and the Apple of Gold were all schemes you set up specifically to get revenge on me, weren't they?"
After staring for a few seconds, Athena simply sat down beside Quinn.