Several days later, Mount Parnassus.
Samael led Medusa, Athena, Ladon, Cerberus, the Harpies, and the others to the mountain's base. Gazing up at the towering peaks that pierced the clouds, they were met with a heavy, primordial aura.
This place lay at the border of Phocis, Phthiotis, and Boeotia. Stretching northwest to southeast, it was a limestone ridge belonging to the Pindus Mountains in central Greece.
In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus was most famous as the birthplace of a new humanity. According to legend, when Pandora opened the box of evils, mankind fell into corruption. The Olympian gods unleashed a great flood to wipe away the old, virtue-less race.
Deucalion, descendant of Prometheus, and his wife Pyrrha built an ark, narrowly escaping destruction. Drifting here, they received Gaia's aid. Near her temple, they remade humankind from stone.
Clearly, the hidden temple on Mount Parnassus shared an unusual bond with Gaia, the Earth Mother. Samael had come on this journey to pay a visit to this ancient grandmother of the Greek world.
But by the time they arrived, night was already falling. After a brief discussion, they decided to rest for the night in a mountain hollow and recover the divine power consumed by their long trek.
Out in the field, Athena and Medusa—normally bitter enemies—worked together with surprising harmony. One gathered firewood and food, while the other set up camp, inscribed defensive spells, and scattered powder to ward off beasts and insects.
Once everything was in place, they drew lots to decide the order of the night watch. Thoughtfully, they put Samael, exhausted from the journey, in the final shift, giving the ancient serpent a chance to rest properly beforehand.
Lying in the camp, Samael watched the two figures sitting side by side at the fire, seriously discussing their plans for tomorrow's exploration, and felt deeply relieved.
Indeed, the two were natural adversaries, often bickering and undercutting each other over trivial things. Yet, from Typhon's invasion last time to this expedition to Mount Parnassus, when it truly mattered, Athena and Medusa could become each other's support.
They quarreled like sisters within the walls but stood united against outside threats. Their relationship wasn't harmonious, but their ability to restrain themselves and act according to the situation was rare.
It wasn't in vain—the lessons he, the Serpent Mother, Tina, Themis, and Chiron had taught them had borne fruit.
Seeing no cause for worry, Samael closed his eyes and rested, leaving the two girls to work out their differences on their own. That night, the ancient serpent slept soundly.
When he awoke refreshed, he took the dim-witted Cerberus to relieve Athena and Harpy from the last watch. At the mountain pass, something new caught his eye.
Holding the hellhound's leash, Samael approached with interest.
Hmm. Those two gray-white stone sculptures shaped like giant wolves must be Medusa's handiwork.
Nearby, a giant monster's corpse lay shattered across the ground, different parts marked by frost, scorching, corrosion, and cuts. It seemed Ladon, awakened by the noise, had used it as a target to test his Magecraft.
On the rock wall, two giant bats were pinned by bronze spears, killed in a single throw—the force driving through stone. That was clearly Athena's work.
As for Harpy's spoils, Samael's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the boar meat roasting over the fire, fat sizzling and dripping.
That bird hadn't changed—always finding food no matter the time.
The two chunks of boar skewered on spears were crisp and golden, almost overcooked. Samael plucked one down, intending to taste the offering his students had prepared.
But just as the meat was about to reach his mouth, the ancient serpent's brow twitched. Turning, he smiled gently at Cerberus, who was staring up at him, drooling with longing.
"You've worked hard these past few days. Here, eat this first."
After a brief pause, Samael crouched down, gently stroking Cerberus's head as he brought the spear-skewered boar meat to the hound's mouth.
Catching the scent of roasted meat and the dense Mana within, the hellhound let out an eager whine before pouncing, tearing into the savory flesh and devouring it.
After wolfing down the half-side of pork, Cerberus licked at its gums, still unsatisfied.
Half an hour later, Samael glanced at the dumb dog circling him, eyes full of longing. Smiling, he rubbed its fluffy head.
Hmm. So it's not some alchemical scrap Athena whipped up—it's actually edible.
Lifting the skewer again, the ancient serpent sat on a boulder and began eating with ease.
And since the dumb dog had tested the meat for him, Samael tossed it some of the tougher, bony chunks to satisfy its hungry stare.
Oblivious to the fact it had just been used, the hellhound cheerfully continued trotting behind him.
Through the long, uneventful night watch, Cerberus's three heads entertained themselves, snapping playfully at one another with lively expressions, carrying the same foolish charm as a team of sled dogs.
At dawn, the group gathered and set out, climbing higher in search of the hidden Temple of the Earth Mother.
But before finding the temple, they instead stumbled upon a chaotic mix of monsters and beasts dwelling on the mountain.
Still, Samael and the others released every one of the disturbed creatures.
Killing the monsters that had attacked them in the hollow was one thing—but scouring the mountain to slaughter every beast they'd flushed out would be excessive.
Gaia was not only the goddess of the earth, but also of life. Who could say if these beasts weren't under her protection?
Yet after three days of searching, overturning every limestone ridge and scouring every cave, they still found no trace of the mysterious structure on Mount Parnassus.
Even Samael began to wonder if the myths had been mistaken.
"Don't you think the monsters and beasts on Mount Parnassus are too weak?"
At Athena's words, Samael suddenly understood.
For creatures holding such vast territory, being so easily overpowered by their group was far too suspicious.
Gaia must be here. But the Earth Mother wasn't someone you could meet just because you wanted to.
With no better option, the ancient serpent gestured to the two girls behind him.
Athena and Medusa summoned the Ram's-Horn Shield and the Scythe of Time. As the two divine artifacts brushed against one another, rippling waves spread in every direction.
"Rumble!"
The clouds above churned and sank, condensing into a heavy fog that sealed the mountain. The earth quaked, and all of Mount Parnassus split apart, revealing a narrow passage leading deep within.
When the tremors finally settled, Samael drew a deep breath and stepped into the darkness, descending toward the abyssal depths of the earth.
But the deeper he went, his serpentine pupils gathering light to steady his vision, the images reflected along the stone walls made him suck in a sharp breath.
What the hell… this mountain's insides are insane!
...
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