The next day, early morning.
As the first ray of golden sunlight fell upon Themyscira, the main island area buzzed with activity. Female warriors, usually engaged in drills or on duty, were fully armed, and beautiful female civilians in long white dresses gathered in a mighty throng, heading towards a large ancient architectural complex on one side of the coast.
The entire structure resembled an ancient open-air arena, with a flat, spacious super-plaza in the center. The Amazonians filled every tier of stone steps surrounding the plaza.
"Silence! Her Majesty the Queen has arrived!"
As Antiope's shout rang out, the sounds in the arena immediately quieted.
Under the focused gaze of countless eyes filled with adoration, respect, and love, the supreme ruler of the Amazonians—Queen Hippolyta—wearing a crown symbolizing power, appeared on an independent platform at one side of the arena. She sat majestically on a golden throne, her demeanor imposing yet graceful.
"Your Highness the Princess has arrived!" Antiope, standing on the platform, continued to call out.
As Diana, in her golden royal attire, appeared behind the Queen, all Amazonians almost instinctively looked towards her head.
The former silver tiara was gone, replaced by a vibrant flower crown worn on her black hair.
"Your Highness the Princess really gave her tiara to a human..."
"That was the Amazonian royal artifact, the Star Tiara!"
"The Queen actually agreed!"
"Why would something like this happen?"
Seeing this scene, the Amazonians in the arena's seating area immediately erupted in a clamor of discussion, their faces filled with shock or confusion.
Over the past few days, only a portion of the Amazonians had seen it; most had only heard rumors.
And now, seeing Diana replace her tiara with a flower crown, they found it difficult to accept the fact.
Diana, with a slight smile, stood gracefully beside the Queen's seat, still holding her head high and chest out, radiating confidence and beauty—she was still the strongest and most beautiful jewel of the Amazonians!
"Let's begin."
Queen Hippolyta, as if deaf to the discussions, spoke calmly.
Antiope nodded, then immediately leaped down from the ten-meter-high suspended platform and loudly announced, "The competition is about to begin! Now, I invite the contestants to enter!"
Tall and strong female warriors, clad in light leather armor, walked from the arena's main gate into the center of the plaza, enjoying the attention and applause of the Amazonians.
Eight competing female warriors stood in a line on the plaza.
Antiope glanced behind them in surprise; Vincent was not there.
Did he change his mind? That would be good too.
Antiope secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up at Diana on the platform. She found Diana smiling, still watching the direction of the arena's main gate, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"No!" Before Antiope could lower her head, she heard the fervent applause inside the arena abruptly cease.
From the Amazonian Queen down to the Amazonian civilians, all looked in unison towards the arena's main gate.
There, a figure, just making it in time, appeared in the vast arena.
Vincent, with silver hair, wore white casual trousers and a very conspicuous tiara on his head. On his back was an ancient sword with a hilt featuring two intertwined dragons.
Every Amazonian recognized that sword—
It was the "Sword of Vulcan," forged by the God of Fire, Hephaestus, a supreme artifact capable of slaying gods!
The significance of this divine sword was far greater than that of the Star Tiara!
The former symbolized Diana's power, the latter her identity and honor, and at this very moment, both exclusive divine artifacts were on a human youth!
In this competition, there would be no actual combat, so the weapons they carried would largely be unused.
Therefore, this represented Princess Diana behind him.
Queen Hippolyta looked at Vincent, who was the last to enter, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, never expecting their first meeting to be in this setting.
In the arena.
Antiope scanned the contestants, including Vincent: "Since everyone is here, the competition will now..."
"Wait a moment!" Vincent suddenly raised his hand and asked curiously, "Could you please explain the content and rules of the competition?"
The plaza instantly fell silent.
The competing female warriors were dumbfounded. You don't know the content and rules, yet you're competing—for what?!
Antiope frowned, suppressing her temper, and raised her hand to explain: "It's very simple. Starting from this plaza as the initial point, swim through the sea outside, and land on the beach on the other side of the island. There will be horses prepared on the beach. Using a bow and arrow, hit three targets set up along the path."
"Finally, whoever returns to this plaza first through the arena's main gate and throws a spear through the ring of the arena's structure will be the winner."
Worried that Vincent hadn't heard clearly, Antiope spoke slowly, "Did you understand? If there's anything you don't understand, I can explain it to you again..."
"No need, let's just start quickly." Vincent waved his hand, appearing very casual.
Antiope found it hard to watch any longer and gritted her teeth, saying, "I declare the competition officially open!"
As soon as she finished speaking—
Except for Vincent, who remained standing, the other eight female warriors swiftly rushed out.
They climbed the dozens of meters of rope ladders set up in front of the plaza, preparing to enter the sea adjacent to the arena via the ladders.
Watching Vincent, who remained motionless, many assumed he had given up directly.
Just as a female warrior was nearing the top of the ladder, Vincent finally prepared to set off. He merely adopted a slight squatting starting posture.
The next instant—
Antiope, who was nearby, changed her expression.
She could distinctly feel that Vincent seemed to have transformed, his eyes as sharp and calm as a god's, and his aura, which had been harmless, shifted into a fierce, imposing pressure carrying actual energy!
"Divine power, how is that possible!" Antiope exclaimed.
Bang!
With divine power flowing through him, Vincent pushed off with his feet, leaping twenty to thirty meters high, landing on the top of the empty rope ladder!
His silver hair flew wildly in the strong wind as Vincent sprinted forward, leaping towards the opposite shore of the hundred-meter-wide sea!
Thump!!
Vincent landed in the shallow water of the sea, followed by a powerful push-off. The seawater exploded outwards as he reached the area where horses and bows were prepared.
He did not choose to ride a horse, nor did he pick up a longbow.
After all, there was no need.
Vincent casually picked up three arrows and quickly rushed up the mountain path, moving faster than any horse!
He saw the first target along the way.
Vincent did not stop his pace but threw an arrow with his bare hand. It cut through the wind and undoubtedly hit the bullseye!
A blue smoke, representing him, rose into the sky like a beacon!
Unlike the first time he gained his aunt's power, perhaps it was the second time he acquired this power, or perhaps it was the result of his training over the past few days—
At this moment, Vincent was like a demigod since birth!
He continued to run along the mountain path, passing the remaining mountain checkpoints with superhuman speed and stamina!
Inside the arena.
Although Vincent's figure couldn't be seen, everyone could clearly see three blue smoke signals, representing Vincent, rising from different island locations, separated by less than ten seconds!
The Amazonians in the arena were stunned, as if witnessing a miracle.
Then, finally, a second color of smoke appeared in the sky.
At the same time, at the arena's main gate—
Kicking up a trail of rolling dust, the demigod Vincent, leaving afterimages, rushed into the plaza!
From departure to return, it took less than a minute.
"Finally, completing this will finish it, right!" Vincent came before Antiope, who was still in a daze. He took the unprepared spear from her hand and threw it with all his might towards the golden ring ahead!
"Wait, the ritual isn't complete yet..." Antiope exclaimed, startled.
But it was too late. The spear transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the air!
Gurgle!
Just then, a golden goddess statue rose from the center of the plaza. The spear Vincent threw struck its chest, piercing through, and the deflected spear chipped a corner off the metal ring, scattering sparks of fire, before disappearing into the distant sky!
"Um, did I mess things up?" Vincent looked at the hollow in the center of the goddess statue, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
Queen: "..."
Diana: "..."
All Amazonians: "..."