Antiope led a squad of female knights, taking Xi Nian through the town of Themyscira and up a mountain peak.
Riding atop a white horse, Xi Nian felt his eyes light up.
It was as if the mountaintop had been sliced away by some immense force, leaving behind a natural training platform open on all sides. The ground was covered in soft, carpet-like grass, while beyond it lay the boundless sky and sea.
On the natural grassy training ground, dozens of tall female warriors stood bare-chested in battle skirts, fiercely and earnestly sparring with one another. Every one of them possessed physical abilities beyond those of ordinary humans, and the weapons in their hands were all real blades and spears.
Sword edges and blade tips collided violently, scattering sparks as the ringing clash of metal echoed without end!
These were the female warriors of the Amazon people. If a modern human army of equal numbers faced them, it would undoubtedly be crushed into pulp!
When facing invaders, they would be the first to charge forward and fight!
When they saw Antiope arrive on a black horse, the female warriors on the training ground all stopped at once and respectfully saluted in unison. "General!"
Then.
Their undisguised hostile gazes, sharp as sword blades, all fell upon the young man behind Antiope.
No one needed to explain it. Everyone recognized Xi Nian's identity at a glance.
After all, as a human—and a male one at that—he was far too conspicuous on Themyscira. Not to mention the royal Star-Spangled Tiara on his head!
If looks could kill, Xi Nian had probably died countless times already.
Xi Nian sighed inwardly. He could understand where the Amazon warriors' hostility came from.
These female warriors were far more fierce-blooded than the female guards, much more unyielding and hot-tempered. To women who revered strength, an underage human like him was nowhere near worthy of an Amazon princess.
But, but!
Understanding did not mean accepting it!
They could look down on him as a human, but he was wearing his aunt's crown!
Xi Nian, who had barely been able to sit steadily on the white horse earlier, now fixed his gaze like a torch. He raised his eyes coldly and met every hostile stare from the female warriors head-on!
Beneath the golden sunlight, the Star-Spangled Tiara radiated rings of majestic, flashing light. At that moment, Xi Nian, seated on the white horse, truly seemed like a member of the royal family. Quite a few Amazon warriors instinctively averted their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze!
Antiope was somewhat surprised. She had deliberately brought Xi Nian before the bravest and strongest female warriors to give him a show of force, to make him realize that he could not bear the weight of that magnificent crown.
But.
Antiope was wrong—terribly wrong!
In truth, Xi Nian also believed that he could not bear the immense significance of his aunt's crown. But so long as it remained on his head for even one more second, he would never yield to anyone, lower his head, or let anyone tarnish its radiance!
If he lowered his head, it would damage Aunt Diana's dignity and honor!
This was Xi Nian's reverse scale!
Antiope seemed to suddenly realize this as well and shouted at the female warriors, "Why aren't you saluting him already?!"
The female warriors exchanged glances. No matter how unwilling they were, they still saluted Xi Nian on the white horse—and the magnificent crown he wore. "Greetings... Your Highness!"
Xi Nian patted the white horse. Even the horse became much more obedient now, meekly lowering its body.
Antiope dismounted from the black horse and gave the female warriors an order. "Rest where you are for now. Training will resume after lunch."
"Yes, General!" The female warriors began putting away their weapons. Before long, ordinary civilians brought over figs, cheese, bread, and freshly roasted meat.
The female warriors were not restrained in the slightest, forming small circles and eating right there on the ground.
The horses were tethered together at one side of the grassland.
Xi Nian sat alone on the grass. Soon, a generous serving of food was delivered before him as well.
"Your Highness, this is generally how we Amazon warriors handle lunch. If you are not used to it, I can arrange for you to eat indoors." Antiope walked over, holding a roasted lamb leg in her hand. Perhaps Xi Nian's conduct just now had changed her opinion of him somewhat, because her expression was far less cold than before.
"Let's call it a picnic. It's a pretty nice experience." Xi Nian shrugged. After washing his hands with clean water, he began eating the bread and roasted meat on the spot.
He really was hungry.
Watching Xi Nian eat with such relish, Antiope suddenly became lost in thought.
She remembered how, after Diana had been permitted to train alongside the warriors as a child, she had also refused to return to the palace for lunch, choosing instead to eat with them on the training ground grass.
Antiope said, "Thank you."
"What?" Xi Nian looked at her in confusion.
"Thank you for protecting Princess Diana's reputation just now." Antiope's face remained expressionless.
"You don't need to thank me for that." Xi Nian said bluntly, "She is my family. It is my duty."
"The duty of family..." A strange look flickered in Antiope's eyes.
After lunch.
Xi Nian thought he could finally return to rest, but then he saw Antiope suddenly stand and take two gleaming Ancient Greek Swords from the weapon rack beside the training ground.
Swoosh!
Antiope held one Greek Sword in her hand, while she thrust the other diagonally into the grass before Xi Nian. "Come!"
"What are we doing?" Xi Nian looked at the longsword, his brows slightly furrowed.
This scene also drew the attention of every female warrior present, and they all turned to watch.
"I am challenging you to a fight. It is my duty." Antiope said coldly, "Now, fulfill your duty—pick up the sword and fight me."
"I don't know how to use a sword..."
Before Xi Nian could finish speaking.
Antiope suddenly sprinted forward in a single stride. A fierce wind rose around her as she swung the Greek longsword in her hand at Xi Nian!
Damn, she was serious!
Xi Nian's brown pupils suddenly contracted. Almost instinctively, he gripped the sword embedded in the ground with both hands, pulled it free, and held it horizontally before himself to block—
Clang!!
One sword spun through the air, turning several times before stabbing diagonally into the grass behind Xi Nian.
Xi Nian looked at his empty hands, feeling a sharp pain in the web between his thumb and forefinger.
Antiope, who had rushed before him, had suddenly changed her slash into an upward strike and knocked the longsword from Xi Nian's hands.
"A duty requires the corresponding ability to fulfill it." Antiope looked coldly at Xi Nian. "Too weak! Someone like you wants to take away this island's most precious treasure? As the wolf and scorpion guarding Princess Diana, it is my duty to bite through your neck at any time!"
Xi Nian said nothing. He merely turned around, pulled the longsword from the ground again, and gripped it in his hand!
"Again!"
Facing the strongest general of the Amazon people, the human boy wearing the Star-Spangled Tiara spoke with absolute certainty.
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