Don't Bow Your Head, The Crown Will Fall

Antiope led her squad of female knights, bringing Xi Nian with them, through the town of Themyscira to ascend a mountain peak.

Riding his white horse, Xi Nian's eyes suddenly lit up.

The peak of this mountain seemed to have been cleanly sliced off by some great power, creating a wide, open natural training ground platform. The ground was covered in grass as soft as carpet, facing a sky and ocean without end or boundary.

On the purely natural training ground, dozens of tall female warriors, bare-chested and clad in battle skirts, sparred fiercely and earnestly with each other. Each of them possessed physical capabilities beyond ordinary humans, and they wielded real swords and spears.

The sharp clash of sword edges and spear tips sent sparks flying, and the ringing of metal on metal was ceaseless!

These were the female warriors of the Amazon tribe. If faced by an equally sized modern human army, they would undoubtedly be crushed into pulp!

When facing invaders, they would be the first to charge forward and engage in fierce combat!

Seeing Antiope arrive on her black horse, the female warriors on the training ground immediately stopped their movements and respectfully saluted in unison: "General!"

Following that.

Their undisguised hostility, like sharp sword edges, all fell upon the youth behind Antiope.

Without anyone needing to explain, everyone knew Xi Nian's identity at a glance.

After all, as a human, and a male at that, he was far too recognizable on Themyscira. Moreover, he wore the Star-Spangled Tiara, exclusive to royalty, on his head!

If looks could kill, Xi Nian would have clearly died countless times over.

Xi Nian sighed inwardly, understanding the source of the Amazon warriors' hostility.

These female warriors possessed a more potent and fiery spirit, far more fierce and volatile than the guards. To them, who revered strength, he, an underage human, was far from worthy of the Amazonian princess.

But, but!

Understanding did not equate to acceptance!

They could indeed look down on him as a human, but right now, he wore his aunt's crown!

Xi Nian, who had struggled to even sit steadily on the white horse earlier, now had eyes like torches. He coldly raised his gaze, meeting the hostile stares of the female warriors one by one!

Bathed in the golden sunlight, the Star-Spangled Tiara emitted rings of majestic, flashing halos, making the young Xi Nian, seated on the white horse, appear truly like a member of royalty. Many Amazonian female warriors instinctively averted their gaze, unable to look directly!

Antiope was somewhat surprised. She had intended for the most valiant and powerful female warriors to confront Xi Nian, wanting to intimidate him and make him realize he could not bear the weight of the magnificent crown.

However.

Antiope's intention was wrong, terribly wrong!

In truth, Xi Nian himself admitted he couldn't bear the immense significance of his aunt's crown. But as long as this crown remained on his head for another second, he would absolutely not yield or bow to anyone, nor allow anyone to tarnish its brilliance!

If he were to bow his head, it would be Diana's dignity and honor that would be diminished!

This was Xi Nian's unshakeable principle!

Antiope seemed to suddenly realize this and shouted to the female warriors, "Why aren't you saluting quickly!"

The female warriors exchanged glances. Regardless of their reluctance, they still saluted Xi Nian, who was on the white horse, and the magnificent crown he wore: "Greetings... Your Highness!"

Xi Nian patted the white horse, and even the horse seemed more obedient at this moment, lowering its body obediently.

Antiope dismounted her black horse and issued instructions to the female warriors: "Rest here for now. After lunch, we will resume training."

"Yes! General!" The female warriors tidied up their weapons. Before long, ordinary civilians brought figs, cheese, bread, and freshly roasted meat.

These female warriors weren't reserved; they sat in circles, eating their meals on the spot.

The horses were tethered to the side of the grassy area.

Xi Nian sat alone on the grass, and soon, a sumptuous meal was brought before him.

"Your Highness, this is basically how our Amazon warrior lunches are handled. If you're not accustomed to it, I can arrange for you to have lunch indoors." Antiope walked over, still holding a roasted lamb leg. Perhaps due to Xi Nian's earlier actions, her impression of him had changed considerably, and her expression was far less icy than before.

"It's like a picnic, a pretty good experience." Xi Nian shrugged. After washing his hands with water, he began eating the bread and roasted meat on the spot.

He was truly hungry.

Watching Xi Nian eat with such gusto, Antiope suddenly had a moment of reflection.

She remembered Diana as a child, after being permitted to train with the warriors, also refusing to have lunch in the palace and instead dining with them on the training ground's grass.

Antiope said, "Thank you."

"What?" Xi Nian looked at her, not understanding.

"Thank you for upholding Princess Diana's honor just now." Antiope said expressionlessly.

"You don't need to thank me for this," Xi Nian stated bluntly. "She is my family, and this is my duty."

"A family's duty..." A flicker of an unusual expression crossed Antiope's eyes.

After finishing lunch.

Xi Nian thought he could go back to rest, but then he saw Antiope suddenly stand up and pick up two gleaming Ancient Greek Swords from the weapon rack beside the training ground.

Ching!

Antiope held one Ancient Greek Sword herself, and the other sword was stuck diagonally into the grass in front of Xi Nian: "Come on!"

"What do you want to do?" Xi Nian looked at the long sword, his brow furrowed.

The scene drew the attention of all the female warriors present, who turned to watch.

"Inviting you to battle is my duty," Antiope said coldly. "Now, it's time for you to fulfill yours—pick up your sword and fight me."

"I don't use swords..."

Before Xi Nian could finish speaking, Antiope suddenly lunged forward with a powerful stride, the ancient Greek sword in her hand whistling through the air as she swung it towards him!

Damn it, she's serious!

Xi Nian's pupils contracted sharply. Almost instinctively, he gripped the long sword stuck in the ground with both hands, pulled it out, and held it horizontally in front of his body to block—

CLANG!!

One sword spun through the air, completing several rotations before embedding itself diagonally in the grass behind Xi Nian.

Xi Nian looked at his empty hands, feeling a sharp pain in his tiger's mouth.

Antiope, who had closed the distance, had suddenly changed her strike from a chop to an upward flick, knocking the sword out of Xi Nian's hands.

"Duty requires corresponding ability to be fulfilled," Antiope stated coolly, looking at Xi Nian. "Too weak! Someone like you, wanting to take this island's most precious treasure? As the wolf and scorpion guarding Your Highness Diana, it is my duty to snap your neck at any moment!"

Xi Nian remained silent. Instead, he turned, pulled the long sword from the ground once more, and grasped it in his hands!

"Again!"

Facing the strongest general of the Amazon tribe, the human youth wearing the Star-Spangled Tiara declared with conviction.