It seemed that Peleus, the hothead, had finally suffered a loss at the hands of a female Hero. However, the one who threw Peleus to the ground was not Polydeuces, the younger sister of the Gemini twins, but Atalanta, the huntress from Arcadia and a devout follower of Artemis.
Polydeuces had just fought Peleus to a standstill with her sword skills, earning Peleus's acknowledgment. When Peleus, still eager for more, proposed a second wrestling match, Castor, the doting older brother, immediately stopped his sister from participating.
Perhaps in his eyes, all the male Heroes on this ship, including Heracles, were lecherous old men, each one looking for an opportunity to act improperly towards his sister, Polydeuces.
Therefore, Polydeuces stepped down, and Atalanta, who had been unconvinced but had not yet shown her strength, stepped up to wrestle Peleus.
This young girl from Arcadia looked small and slender, but her petite body contained extremely strong explosive power. In terms of pure strength, Atalanta, who could not yet go berserk, was certainly no match for Peleus, a demigod. However, she relied on the explosive power and keen judgment she had honed over years of fighting wild beasts in the wilderness, seizing an opening from Peleus, and then, with a burst of power, threw Peleus to the ground.
"Beautiful!"
Seeing Atalanta's throw, the Heroes on the Argo cheered. They might have initially held patriarchal views, but those who could board this ship at least valued their reputation. After seeing Polydeuces and Atalanta display strength no less than their own, these Heroes accepted them both and cheered for their wonderful performance.
Peleus, who had been thrown to the ground, immediately got up. He brushed off the dust from his body, his expression showing no displeasure. He smiled brightly and extended his hand to Atalanta, praising her:
"I lost, that was a truly beautiful throw!"
"Alright." Seeing that the match between Peleus, Polydeuces, and Atalanta had concluded, Jason, as the captain, clapped his hands and walked over. He addressed the Heroes, saying:
"With this, no one should have any objections to these four companions today, right?"
The Heroes nodded one after another, but at this moment, Medea, one of the parties involved, suddenly stepped forward. She strained to stand on her tiptoes, amidst a group of tall and strong Heroes, and raised her hand to Jason and the others:
"I have an objection!"
"You?"
Looking at the rather cute little witch, Jason and the others exchanged glances, then all burst into laughter.
"Yes, after all, you are also our companion, we cannot overlook you."
Jason suggested with a smile:
"Then Medea, why don't you perform a magical feat for everyone, one that won't harm anyone."
"Why do Polydeuces and Atalanta get to have a one-on-one fight with Peleus, but when it comes to me, it turns into performing magic?"
Medea pointed at Peleus, unconvinced.
"Does that even need asking?" Jason replied without hesitation, "Of course, it's because you're a witch, and the other two are a swordswoman and a huntress. Your ability to cast magic is the greatest help to us. We don't ask you to charge into battle like them."
"Are you looking down on mages?" Medea shouted, raising her staff, "I'm telling you, mages can also charge!"
"Exactly! I fully support Medea." Seeing this, Ares, controlling Perseus, also raised his hand and said, "Why do you think we mages can't beat you brutes in close combat?"
"Then Peleus, what do you think…"
Jason turned to Peleus and said to him:
"Why don't you humor her."
"Are you asking me to be a guinea pig for her magic?"
Peleus walked forward with a troubled expression, but he did not refuse. Although it was the Age of Gods, where even the gods were not rare, mages like Medea, who specialized in divine authority fragments from the Age of Gods, were still as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Even Peleus was somewhat curious about what Medea could achieve.
So he came before Medea, looked down at the small and lovely girl in front of him, and asked her:
"Little girl, what kind of contest do you want?"
"Hmm, have you heard of 'Pankration'?"
Medea lowered her head in thought for a moment, then asked.
"Huh? You mean, you want to box with me?"
Peleus looked at Medea's delicate, fair arms with a wry smile, then replied:
"People will say I'm bullying you this way, let's not."
"Don't worry, I promise I won't."
Medea showed a confident expression, gripping her staff, and said eagerly.
Peleus looked around, and the other Heroes also urged with great interest:
"Just let her try, Peleus. If you make the great witch unhappy, she might secretly curse you."
Peleus glared fiercely at the onlookers who loved to see a spectacle, then helplessly withdrew his gaze and said to Medea:
"Then let's do it, 'Pankration'. I'll try to hold back."
"I advise you to go all out."
Perseus said to him sincerely:
"For your safety."
"Perseus, what do you mean? How could I possibly lose to such a small girl…" Peleus hadn't finished speaking when he saw Medea opposite him, in the blink of an eye, apply several enhancement spells to herself using the "High-Speed Divine Words" technique.
Her body was enveloped in a series of visible halos, and then the Heroes saw this small girl directly throw her staff aside, clench her fists, and charge towards Peleus.
Whoosh!
With one punch, she actually created a visible shockwave in the air. Peleus quickly blocked, and with a muffled "thud," when he pulled his hand back, his entire palm was red and numb from the vibration.
"What a beautiful punch!"
After seeing Medea's attack, even Heracles, who was tucked away in the corner, cheered for her:
"Little girl, your boxing skills are almost the best I've ever seen!"
"Hehe, you flatter me, you flatter me."
Medea shyly touched her ponytail, then regrouped. She clenched her fists, slightly bent her body, and, with the standard stance of a boxer, suddenly flashed to Peleus's side and delivered a fierce whip kick.
Thwack!
In this kick, Medea's slender, white leg truly seemed to transform into a white whip, lashing out ripples in the air, and then fiercely striking Peleus's left thigh, causing his skin to immediately break open and bleed.
"Damn it! So fierce—"
Peleus let out a short exclamation of pain, but Medea did not give him any chance to breathe. After the whip kick, she immediately bent down and rushed into Peleus's chest and abdomen, then took a deep breath and shouted sweetly:
"Hecate, Hundred-Strike Punch!"
In an instant, Medea's shadow, like a boxing champion, delivered hundreds of high-speed jabs simultaneously. Amidst the continuous thudding sounds, Peleus, who was fighting her, was actually sent flying by her and landed in the sea outside the ship's railing.