After hearing Ares recount everything that happened on the Pallene Peninsula, Jason and the Heroes ultimately chose to participate in the trial proposed by the God of War.
While dealing with a group of Snake-Footed Giants who could contend with the Gods was indeed very dangerous, the glorious achievements left behind upon success would truly be insurmountable.
The Greeks of the Heroic Age pursued such great deeds, and many Heroes were willing to go to any lengths, even sacrificing themselves, to accomplish them.
And assisting the Gods in defeating their enemies, such a great feat, so far, it seemed only Cadmus, the founding monarch of Thebes, had ever achieved among humans.
Rumors circulated throughout the Greek World that after Cadmus passed his throne to a goddess-appointed successor in his later years, he left Thebes, traveled the world, and eventually transformed into a dragon in Illyria, gaining immortality. Some also said that Cadmus ascended to the divine realm after his death, joining the ranks of the Gods, and some had seen his spirit patrolling the earth. All these narratives further deified the Hero Cadmus.
It can be said that it was Cadmus, this Hero, who ushered in the Heroic Age of the Greek World, and even in the current era, not even Heracles's achievements currently surpass Cadmus's.
Therefore, after Jason agreed to Ares, none of the other Heroes on the Argo retreated; they all expressed their desire to follow Jason in accomplishing this great feat.
Thus, Ares immediately used his divine power to summon the Argo, which the Argo Heroes had hidden on the Colchis Kingdom's coast, and made it grow a pair of wings, allowing it to fly through the clouds. Then, Ares had the Argo Heroes and himself board the ship, preparing to fly towards the Pallene Peninsula.
Medea also wanted to board the ship, but Ares refused her. The God of War stopped his junior sister and said to her with a serious expression:
"You stay home obediently; you don't need to get involved in this matter."
"Hmm, why? I'm more useful than Jason, right?" The little witch looked at her senior brother with a hint of defiance and shouted, "Many people on the ship can't beat me; if you don't believe me, ask them."
"This time, we are not going to fight the Snake-Footed Giants on the Pallene Peninsula. Besides, none of you, except Heracles, can beat them."
Ares glanced at Medea and said:
"I'm leaving you behind because I hope you'll diligently study your magic and sorcery and stay peacefully on Colchis Island. If you feel uncomfortable staying at home, go to the Underworld to find your teacher."
Medea rolled her eyes, then dejectedly took a step back and said, "Alright."
However, her hands, clasped behind her back, secretly cast several spells, intending to teleport herself onto the Argo.
Ares didn't say anything when he saw her go down, but the Heroes saw the God of War walk directly into the Argo's cabin and pull out another Medea from the small cabin where Medea lived alone.
When he threw this Medea onto the ground outside the ship, the Medea who had been standing outside the ship also dissipated like a phantom.
The Heroes exclaimed in wonder, while Ares expressionlessly said to Medea:
"With such petty tricks, you think you can fool your senior brother? When I told the teacher that your demonic arts were not up to par, I wasn't deliberately lying to scare you. You can't even outplay your aunt Circe, and you still dare to show off? Don't spend too much time with these people and think your magic is strong. You don't even have the qualifications to show off yet."
A group of Argo Heroes immediately felt offended after hearing Ares's words, but there was nothing they could do; the person who spoke those words was simply too powerful for them.
Medea sat on the ground, rubbed her backside, and gave Ares a defiant look, pouting her lips as she stared at him.
"Don't glare at me like that. I've already spoken with the teacher. If you don't obediently stay in the Colchis Kingdom from now on, she'll drag you back to the Underworld and make you stay home and study." Ares waved his hand, "This is for your own good, Medea. You don't want to be easily manipulated and played with by others in the future, do you?"
"Sigh." Medea whined and acted cute on the ground for a long time, but seeing that Ares wasn't falling for it and was determined to make her stay, she could only pat her backside and stand up.
"Then, senior brother, when my magic is perfected, you won't restrict me anymore, right?" Medea asked, somewhat uncertainly.
"By then, you'll be an independent sorceress. Why would I still control you? I'm not your father." Ares rolled his eyes, "Alright, your senior brother is very busy lately. Be good and don't be willful."
"Alright." Medea shook her head and said, "Then I'll go back."
This time, she genuinely put away her crescent staff and obediently returned to her home.
And after Ares watched Medea return, he immediately took the Argo Heroes, boarded the Argo, and flew towards the entrance of the Pallene Peninsula.
Of course, he also didn't forget the Colchis Dragon, which he had just subdued. In fact, on the Argo's journey to the Pallene Peninsula, the ship's power was provided by this sleepless giant dragon. It was forced by Ares to be harnessed, pulling the now airborne Argo through the clouds, laboring for its freedom.
Under the efforts of the Colchis Dragon, the Argo quickly traversed the long distance, carrying the Heroes to the camp of the Gods' army on the Pallene Peninsula.
As the Argo descended from the clouds, the Heroes looked down at the earth and were immediately startled by the vast, continuous expanse of camps and armies near the Pallene Peninsula. Jason leaned over the ship's railing, looking at the walking demigods, minor gods, and various creatures that existed only in fantasy on the ground. He swallowed and quietly asked:
"Lord Ares, are these…"
"Those are our legions."
Ares glanced at him and said nonchalantly:
"You don't really think that we Olympus Gods rule this world relying only on the power of the Twelve Olympians, do you?"
The Heroes did not speak, but Ares had already seen the answer in their expressions. The God of War pondered for a moment, then decided to tell them some unconventional words.
"Gods are not omnipotent, even the chief Gods are not. For chief Gods like us, we cannot defy Zeus's will, and although Zeus controls heaven and earth, there are things he cannot do."
Ares instilled his concepts into these Heroes:
"As long as one understands the Gods well enough, it's not impossible for mortals to kill Gods. Of course, replacing us is also not impossible."
"This…"
Ares's words sparked countless imaginations among the Heroes on the Argo. They either pondered deeply, were shocked, dared not speak, or were in disbelief. Only Heracles, who knew Ares's purpose, gave his teacher a deep look but said nothing.
As the Argo approached the ground, it also attracted the attention of the Gods' legions below. However, when Ares released his aura, the armies below quieted down again and continued with their respective tasks.
Ares had the Colchis Dragon guide the Argo to land directly in the open space at the core of the camp. Then, he led the Heroes into his tent.
"Rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will call you for your mission."
Ares instructed these Heroes like a general addressing his soldiers.
The Heroes had no objections, but Jason still asked somewhat uneasily, "Lord Ares, can we know what we are going to do next?"
"Yes," Ares said to Jason, "I want you to infiltrate the Pallene Peninsula next and scout out the true strength of those Snake-Footed Giants."