Eve of Descent

Themyscira.

Xi Nian's third day of training on the island came to an end. Half the sun had sunk beneath the horizon, and the sea seemed to burn with raging flames.

Tomorrow would be the day Diana and Xi Nian left the island and returned to the human world.

At the same time, it would be Themyscira's annual Amazon warrior competition. This was an ancient tradition on Themyscira, where martial strength was revered—a contest spanning individual cross-country trials, swimming, horseback riding, archery, javelin throwing, and more, meant to select the strongest warrior. Every Amazon would come to watch and celebrate.

Either way, Themyscira's eve was destined to be unlike any other.

When the female general Antiope came down from the mountain where the training grounds stood, she saw Diana waiting along the only path back to her home, her black hair hanging loose over her shoulders without a crown.

"Princess Diana!" Antiope was about to salute when Diana stepped forward first.

Like the little girl she had once been, Diana looped her arm through hers and blinked playfully. "Antiope, would you take a walk with me?"

"You." Antiope felt somewhat helpless toward her, though there was even more affection than that. She nodded without hesitation.

Night fell as the two arrived at a cliff beside the training grounds.

"Antiope, thank you for training and teaching Xi Nian these past few days," Diana said.

"It was nothing. Teaching him was no different from teaching some other Amazons." Antiope shook her head and said gravely, "Have you truly made up your mind? To leave Themyscira again tomorrow and return to the human world outside?"

Antiope raised her brows, dissatisfied. "It has only been three days. That boy has merely scratched the surface of everything. If he is to become a true warrior, he needs far more time to temper himself..."

Diana suddenly chuckled. "Antiope. Weren't you reluctant to teach him at first? Why do you want to teach him even more now? Just like how you secretly trained me when I was little."

Antiope neither confirmed nor denied it. "I admit that he has some talent in learning and combat. Unfortunately, he is still only an ordinary human. No matter how much he trains, he can only improve his ability to protect himself a little."

"As long as he has a foundation, that is enough," Diana said.

"Could it be..." Antiope inexplicably recalled the strange scene from three days ago, when Xi Nian had suddenly turned the tide.

After pondering for a moment, Antiope looked at Diana. "Does your mother still have no intention of summoning him? Compared to a few days ago, some of the Amazons have gradually begun to accept him."

"That still isn't enough." Light flickered in Diana's beautiful eyes.

"Antiope, could I ask you to help me with one more thing?" she said.

"Princess Diana, please tell me." Antiope nodded solemnly.

"I want to register Xi Nian for tomorrow morning's warrior competition," Diana said.

"What did you say?!" Antiope briefly suspected she had misheard, her face filled with shock.

But she quickly understood.

If Xi Nian performed well in the warrior competition, he could win the recognition of most Amazons in a single stroke. And at tomorrow's competition, the Amazon Queen would also take the stage to watch the entire event.

Yet never mind that Xi Nian was only a human boy—even if he possessed the strength that had defeated her three days ago, it would be impossible for him to stand out in the competition. The odds of him humiliating himself were even greater.

After all.

Tomorrow's contest would not be one-on-one combat, but a comprehensive test of physical ability, techniques, and skills!

"Princess, this will ruin you!" Antiope could not help crying out.

Naturally, she was not worried for Xi Nian tomorrow. But Diana and Xi Nian's relationship was now practically one of shared glory and shared ruin!

Having a human boy who had trained for only three days compete on the same stage as the bravest and strongest Amazon warriors—even Antiope could hardly imagine what kind of spectacle that would be!

"It's decided."

Diana spoke softly yet firmly, then turned and left, leaving Antiope standing there alone in a daze.

Inside an ancient circular building.

Xi Nian sat on the bed in the main hall, waiting for Aunt Diana to arrive.

His aunt's nightly reward had kept him going through the grueling daytime training of the past few days. After all, who could resist a Wonder Woman version of a divine body pillow?

Besides, every night's reward was slightly different.

The difference lay in what Aunt Diana wore.

When she first came here, she had worn golden royal attire, like a noble and elegant goddess.

It made Xi Nian feel that even moving a finger would be a desecration.

When Aunt Diana appeared here on the second day, however, she had changed into a white, knee-length gauze dress with an ancient Greek style.

She looked pure and beautiful, like a white peony.

The thin, soft fabric of an ordinary gauze dress felt completely different from the exquisitely crafted royal gown.

As for the third night—last night.

Aunt Diana had worn the cropped cuirass she often used during training, along with a leather short skirt. The fitted cuirass covered only half her upper body, revealing the healthy, flawless curve of her slender waist.

Therefore.

Although the first three nights had consisted of nothing more than simple embraces, each had carried an indescribable difference.

Anticipation and heat stirred in Xi Nian's heart. Just then, familiar footsteps sounded from the corridor.

He raised his eyes and looked over.

Tonight, Diana wore a crimson armored battle dress—the outfit she wore when becoming a superhero—with her personal weapons, including a longsword and round shield, strapped to her back.

"Aunt Diana, are we leaving Themyscira?" Xi Nian quickly rose to his feet and asked curiously.

"No. We will depart after tomorrow morning." Diana stared straight at him. "Tomorrow morning, you will take part in the Amazon warrior competition."

"Alright." Xi Nian nodded readily.

"Do you know what the warrior competition is?" Diana raised her valiant brows.

Xi Nian spread his hands and answered frankly, "I vaguely heard the female warriors mention it, but I don't know the specifics."

"You agreed to me without even knowing what it involves?" Diana came close before Xi Nian, gently cupping his face with her left hand as she asked.

Xi Nian smiled. "Since Aunt Diana arranged it, there must be a reason."

"Then it's settled." Diana said confidently, "Tomorrow, you will not only compete—you must also find a way to take first place."

"That may be... a little difficult?" Xi Nian severely lacked confidence. Although he knew little about the competition, he still knew it was a contest between female warriors.

"What if I do this?" Diana said, suddenly lowering her proud head.

"Mm?!"

Xi Nian's pupils contracted as though his inner universe had collapsed. He could clearly smell the faint fragrance of violets nearby, and an exquisite warmth touched his somewhat dry lips.

"Mm—"

Xi Nian's eyes slowly widened as he looked at the breathtakingly beautiful face so close to his own. His eyes abruptly turned divine ice-silver!

His hands held that familiar slender waist. His black hair shifted toward an unreal silver, growing wildly and cascading over his shoulders!

At that moment, Xi Nian seemed to undergo some kind of awakening. Surging, intangible demigod power rippled outward, shaking a little dust from the Mother Box in the distance!

Ability: Lord of Kin.

Triggered!