One Thing at a Time

Absyrtus felt a warmth he had not felt in a long time. It was his father's embrace, the warmth of family, a warmth he had thought he would never experience again.

Aeëtes spoke in a trembling voice. "Thank you for coming to our aid in our hour of danger, great hero. Your virtue moves me, and I am willing to give you a third of my kingdom in return for your kindness."

A third of his kingdom! Everyone found it hard to believe. Colchis was vast, encompassing not only its mainland but countless islands overseas. Its wealth was immeasurable.

The people aboard the Argo were stunned as well, but they felt no resentment. Bai Mo had done something all of them had wanted to do but could not, and now they felt nothing but pride.

It was pride in their humanity. Medea was the exception. She immediately tried to activate the threads on her fingers, but Heracles' words stopped her.

"Witch, if you do that, I won't turn against our brother. Don't think everyone's like you!"

Medea stopped. Since Bai Ermo had already betrayed her, she might as well keep this to restrain him.

That was what Medea thought, but Heracles had something else on his mind.

Brother. Heracles had always scoffed at the word. Curses and schemes had reduced him to his brother's slave. He showed respect only to those he approved of, and that took more than strength; it took character.

In Bai Mo, he had seen those radiant things, things he had been gradually losing and had ignored, things that were returning to his heart.

Humanity.

On Mount Olympus, the gods watched the scene unfold. They had differing views of this drama. Some gods cared only for profit and were cursing Bai Mo's stupidity, while others were fiercely loyal and also denounced him.

But that was not all. Athena even smiled. Few people could bring a smile to the goddess of wisdom's face, and the chief gods, including Zeus, felt the same.

The sun god secretly clenched his fist. He was the younger brother of Artemis, the moon goddess, and was naturally overjoyed to see this. That ray of sunlight had fully expressed his thoughts. Artemis also cried out in approval. She had no such restraints and made no secret of her admiration for Bai Mo.

Medea clicked her tongue and could only abandon the idea. But she soon said, "The enemy is right in front of us. Let me go, quickly! There's still a chance!"

Yes, Bai Mo's actions were tantamount to betrayal. Nearly everyone from Colchis and the Agor thought so, but Heracles and Atalanta did not.

Atalanta looked at Bai Mo, her heart full of pride. Looking at him felt as pleasant as basking in the sun. It had been a long time since she had properly enjoyed the sun since boarding the Argo.

Hearing Medea's words, Atalanta frowned and said, "Don't judge him by what's in your own heart. He's not that kind of person!"

The next moment, the people and gods on the Argo, in Colchis, and even on Olympus were astonished.

After making sure Absyrtus was safe, Bai Mo seized the unfinished blade and struck the mast of Aeëtes' flagship. Driven by Electric Current Push, the blade could cut through anything. The mast toppled straight down like a tree struck by a demonic beast, and Bai Mo kicked it into the sea. Not only that, the mast had also been broken in the middle.

"Holy shit!"

The people aboard the Agor shouted. They could not understand why Bai Mo would do this when he was already safe and had received enough wealth.

Jason understood, and his heart was full of bitterness.

"Hero, what have you done?!"

Aeëtes cried out. He could not understand what he was seeing.

"Aeëtes, will you spare the Argo and Jason, who took the Golden Fleece?"

Bai Mo asked calmly. His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears.

Jason raised his head, trying not to let what was in his eyes fall. He was the captain. He had to take responsibility for the ship, the crew, and this mission. If he showed any desire to take Bai Mo back aboard, everything the Argo had done would come to nothing.

"For your sake, as long as the Argo returns the Golden Fleece and hands over Jason and my daughter, I can let bygones be bygones!"

Aeëtes' answer made his meaning clear. Bai Mo put away the unfinished blade and looked at him calmly.

"Aeëtes, everyone has times when they have no choice. You do, and so do I. I won't let you stop my friends. Bringing your son back was me doing what I believed was right. Now, Aeëtes, don't let it weigh on your conscience."

Bai Mo immediately shot toward another ship, leaving him with one final sentence.

"Go and do what you believe is right."

Bai Mo moved like lightning, pushing Electric Current Push to its limit. He broke another ship's mast with a single blow, then kicked it into the sea.

The ships of Colchis' fleet mostly had only one mainmast. Once it was broken, they could essentially only rely on their sailors to row.

That would be enough to return to their territory, but if they wanted to catch the Argo, Poseidon himself would have to intervene.

On Olympus, Ares sprang to his feet and shouted his approval.

"Good! Bai Ermo, you are worthy of the blood of a god! That venomous dragon did not die in vain at your hands! I will receive you with the highest honors!"

Ares longed for war, and he admired warriors, but he despised disloyal ones. Bai Mo's actions filled him with joy. He was noble of heart and loyal to his comrades, and he had the courage and mettle to face a hundred enemies alone! Ares had forgotten that Bai Mo belonged to Athena and spared no praise!

Aeëtes had no choice. "Stop him! But don't kill him!"

The people of Colchis were speechless. Don't kill him? What were they supposed to make of that? But they understood. Even if he was their enemy, they admired the man from the bottom of their hearts.

An archer drew his bow and loosed an arrow, but the next moment, the arrow suddenly became incredibly swift. Even Bai Mo did not dare be careless. He turned sideways and used the unfinished blade to deflect it past him, sending sparks flying.

"What the fuck? Since when could you do that? Didn't you hear? Don't kill him!"

"No, I-I don't know, but... but I don't care anymore!"

The soldier shouted, openly contradicting his superior. He was not the only one. All the soldiers of Colchis were suddenly like this. Their strength began to surge and grow, and their will to fight burned uncontrollably!

Aeëtes could hardly believe it, but it was happening. He knew what this was: a blessing, the blessing of Ares, the god of war!

Why had the blessing appeared now? He had already lost the Golden Fleece. He had not expected the war god to grant his blessing, and had not even made a sacrifice before setting out. Even when they had the Golden Fleece, the war god had not always granted his blessing. Why had it appeared now?

Where had it been before? And Aeëtes had never seen a blessing this powerful. With it, they would dare take on even Heracles. But... why now?

Atalanta could not believe it. Only Heracles uttered one word heavily:

"A trial."

Everyone now watched Bai Mo with grave expressions. This was Colchis' greatest source of strength, yet when the Agor had entered Colchis, Ares had shown no reaction. No matter what sacrifices were offered, he had remained unmoved. And now this blessing of the war god, which could allow them to fight the Agor with Heracles aboard, had appeared for Bai Mo's sake.

Bai Mo had already begun cursing Ares' entire family in his heart. Aminos, I'm still only at Electric Current Push. They could overwhelm me with sheer numbers, and now they've got a group buff on top of that.

Countless arrows came at him like a raging storm. Bai Mo immediately raised his blade to defend himself, but a few slipped through the gaps and left wounds on his body.

I can't keep letting them pin me down like this. If this goes on, I'll be in danger once the melee soldiers surround me. But this is an opportunity. Their hostility seems to be focused on me now. I can turn around and leave, and they might give up attacking the Argo. I'm a small target on my own, and my chances of surviving are high.

Bai Mo immediately pulled away. After destroying another mast, he prepared to break out, but Aeëtes' command made his pupils contract.

"Warriors of Colchis, attack with all your might! Pursue the Argo!!!"

Bai Mo immediately felt a surge of anger when he heard it, but a chill soon dispersed it. What he needed now was reason, not hot blood. Athena's olive branch had worked again.

Aeëtes was indeed the lord of Colchis. What a scheme.

Ares' blessing had descended, but they were still Aeëtes' soldiers. Though Ares had filled them with fighting spirit, he would not force them to attack Bai Mo.

Aeëtes knew this was his last chance to reclaim the Golden Fleece. Bai Mo was only one man. He might be able to destroy every ship's mast, but as long as a few ships got close enough to hold up the Argo until the others rowed over, they would have a chance!

Bai Mo gave Aeëtes a long look and tried to reach the Argo, but he was held up. Bolstered by their fighting spirit, the soldiers were not only powerful but fearless in the face of death. Bai Mo, however, did not want to kill indiscriminately, and for a time he was tied down.

Medea also looked at Aeëtes. She turned and went to her room, then began preparing some ritual implements. Heracles seized his great bow and shot an arrow that blasted apart a fast ship pursuing them.

Yes, it blasted the ship apart.

Bai Mo was frantic. He could see quite a few arrowheads embedded in the Argo's stern. The archers had now turned their weapons on the Agor and were firing at it furiously.

Calm down. The first thing you need to do is calm down. Bai Mo took a deep breath and began looking for a way out of the predicament.

At that moment, Medea made a decisive choice. They were at sea. If a fight broke out, even if the formidable fighters on the Argo won, the ship was destined to be reduced to nothing in the battle.

Medea knew that only a god's blessing could counter another god's blessing.