The war began the moment Diana took her fighting stance.
There was no declaration before the battle, no drawn-out standoff.
As Link's almost tangible divine pressure engulfed the entire island, the Amazon princess moved.
She became a streak of golden light, too fast for the naked eye to follow. Though she moved second, she struck first, crossing the distance between them in an instant.
The Sword of Hephaestus traced a deadly arc through the air, its edge sharp enough to sever space itself, and slashed straight for Link's neck.
This strike was the pinnacle of Amazon combat skill, the concentrated power of a demigod, and the ultimate sentence passed upon an invader!
The tens of thousands of Amazon warriors in the arena could not even make out Diana's figure. All they saw was a golden streak hurtling toward the man suspended in the air like a demon god.
Time seemed to stretch in that moment.
Link still wore a trace of regret for the stubbornness of a bygone age.
He did not dodge.
Faced with a sword strike capable of slaying a god, he merely raised a hand, as though brushing away a bothersome fly.
But in the next instant, his expression froze.
Riiip—
A soft sound rang out, like cloth being torn.
The blade wreathed in sacred flame had actually cut through his indestructible skin, leaving a clear wound on his arm, deep enough to expose bone!
For the first time, blood flowed from his Kryptonian body.
A sharp, long-forgotten pain shot from his arm straight to his brain.
Link lowered his gaze to the wound on his arm and the crimson blood. For a second, he stood stunned.
Then he smiled.
It was a smile of wild, feverish excitement.
"Interesting."
He looked up at Diana, who had retreated