Next chapter up! Hope you enjoy it.

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???’s POV

Run faster. Don’t stop. Everyone’s counting on me. The number of times I told myself this mentally is too high to count. If I don’t hurry, everyone will be captured. Feral tigers are following me, tracking my every move, waiting for me to slip up. Despite the branches I keep running through, I can’t stop. Even though my skin is covered in scratches and blood, even though my clothes are torn, I need to push through. I’m completely exhausted, but I must find people to help. Please oh goddess Artemis help me. Ah! I tripped on my own tired feet. Is this my end? Is this our end? Their teeth are about to gnaw right through me…An arrow? Wah, all the tigers are dead. I see a carriage hastily making its way over to me. A woman in priestess garb runs over to me. I’m…losing consciousness…wait the message. Please…save the Hesperides.

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Polly: “Her wounds aren’t deep, but there are a lot of them. She must have been running as fast as she could without carrying about the pain.”

Itsuki: “Ok, Polly please set up a barrier. I’ll start cooking something easy for her to eat like porridge or something.”

Eulina: “I’ll try to make her something quick and easy to wear. She can’t just wear torn rags all day.”

The three began to do their respective jobs as they settled down for the girl to wake up. Once the jobs were done, Veri called the three to attention.

Veri: “Ok, you guys might be getting caught up in something really big if she really did say the Hesperides.”

Itsuki: “Oh, she did mention that. I kinda forgot since I was worried about her. What are Hesperides anyway?”

Veri: “Hesperides are nymphs, but they have a higher standing than normal nymphs you see lying around. Their job is to tend to Apollo’s golden apple grotto. Their leader is usually she who is blessed with golden hair like their apples, and those apples are harbingers of chaos if used improperly.

Polly: “Huh? What does learning about the leader do in this situation?”

Veri: “Sigh…you guys are so inobservant. Itsuki, what color is this child’s hair?”

Itsuki: “Oh, it’s just golden…GOLDEN colored!”

Eulina: “Does that mean the leader of the nymphs is with us right now?”

Veri: “Based on the age, probably not. She is, however, most likely the one to inherit the leadership position of the Hesperides. My guess is that the other nymphs bought time for this one to escape and hopefully get help.”

Itsuki: “But what purpose would invading them have? Do those apples taste that good?”

Veri: “The ultimate drink of the gods is called ambrosia, and those apples are the major ingredient in that. However, there is a strong protection that is supposed to prevent any invaders into the grotto. Only Apollo is allowed to enter the grotto other than the Hesperides, thus only Apollo is capable of making ambrosia.”

Itsuki: “I see. So the protection is being compromised. That means someone strong enough to get past Apollo’s protection is the culprit…They must also really want ambrosia since Apollo isn’t around to make it anymore.”

Eulina: “That…doesn’t bode well, does it?”

Polly: “Hey Veri, do you have any idea who might be behind this?”

Veri: “This reeks of Ares. He probably needs to appease Zeus with it or convince him to follow through on something. Zeus is terribly weak against ambrosia, and based on the timeline, he’s been on withdrawal for 40 something years. Zeus, however, isn’t stupid enough to assault the ones involved in one of the ingredients. Ares is.”

Itsuki: “I get it. Well it’s probably a chosen of Ares doing this then with Ares himself breaking the protection. That just means we have a chance then. If it was Ares himself, we’d be instantly killed.”

Veri: “Well, here is the problem. Despite my increased level of control over my aura and powers, if Ares’s chosen sees me as a valkyrie, Ares will know without a doubt. You should understand at this point what that battle junkie will do. He’ll jump down Mount Olympus illegally and come straight to me for a fight, and we can’t handle that yet. That’s why you can not summon my valkyrie form no matter what whenever we’re in the presence of Ares’s chosens.”

Itsuki: “Well damn. So, a chosen of Ares and his army of tigers versus realistically me. I can’t expect Polly and Eulina to fight off a horde of tigers.”

Polly: “Hm, this would be easier if Veri could be a valkyrie again, but I guess that’s out of the question. I really want to see it though.”

The little nymph began to stir, causing everyone to watch her. Her eyes slowly opened, and she began to panic.

???: “Ahhh! I can’t believe I fell asleep…did I die? No, I don’t think so…I need to save everyone! Ah…”

Finally noticing the other people surrounding her, the nymph began to calm down.

???: “Hello…I think you all are the ones who saved me. Thank you so much. My name is Eryth, the next leader of the Hesperides. May I ask who you are?”

Itsuki: “Hey there Eryth. My name is Itsuki Hideyoshi.”

Polly: “Polly Dreamstone! Nice to meet you!”

Eulina: “I’m Eulina Moretz. I’m glad you’re ok.”

Veri: “Veri’s the name. It’s a pleasure.”

Eryth: “Ah, I just realized my wounds are cured and my clothes are new. Thank you for that. But enough of that! I saw that you were able to instantly kill the tigers chasing me. Please, I beg of you. Come with me and help save my people. A man calling himself Hercule, Chosen of Ares, broke through our barrier and launched an assault with a horde of tigers. I was barely able to escape…but all of my sisters were being thrown into cages. If he manages to take them away, I don’t know what I’ll do!”

Itsuki: “Calm down there. First of all, eat this. It’s some porridge. Get your strength back up before you exhaust yourself again.”

Eryth: “Ah…thank you. It’s delicious.”

Veri: “Little nymph, tell me, was he after the golden apples?”

Eryth: “Yes…though it seems he wishes to enslave our entire tribe to produce the apples for Ares. Naturally, we refused, but he was too strong for us.”

Eulina: “Well, now we need to make a plan. The odds that all the apples have been harvested already are low, so we still have a chance.”

Itsuki: “Polly, you can defend yourself right?”

Polly: “To a reasonable extent. Why?”

Itsuki: “Well I have a plan. Just hear me out. Currently, the only one in our party that can fight is me. Furthermore, the nymphs are being thrown into cages, while this Hercule guy is bagging all of the golden apples. He most likely locked the cages and has his tigers guarding them. I will attract the attention of most of the tigers as best as I can while also engaging Hercule in battle. While I distract him, I need the rest of you to free the nymphs.”

Veri: “Oi! That’s too dangerous. You can’t expect that Hercule guy to be normal. As a chosen of Ares, he probably has extreme strength and bloodlust. I can’t approve.”

Polly: “Me neither!”

Itsuki: “So we let him do whatever he wants? I could care less about apples, but I refuse to ignore him enslaving the nymphs.”

Eryth: “Itsuki…”

Eulina: “Ok everybody. Calm down. I think Itsuki’s plan is the best one we have. Our job is important. If we can free all of the nymphs, that should throw a huge wrench in Hercule’s plans. We’ll have the advantage at that point. We just need to pray that Itsuki can hold out.”

Veri: “Sigh. Fine.”

Polly: “Grrr…I guess so.”

Itsuki: “It’s decided. Eryth, lead the way please.”

Eryth: “sniff Yes, thank you so much everyone.”

With tears of hope in her eyes, Eryth guided the carriage through the forest, as the group made their way to the grotto.

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Meanwhile

Zeus: “Ambrosia…I have this craving for it! Apollo would only give me one bottle a year, that ungrateful cheapskate. ARES! You told me you would get me a never-ending supply. Why do I not have it yet?!!”

Ares: “Patience, Zeus. I have already sent my chosen to recruit some people to make it for you. More importantly, have you prepared the beasts for the other plan?”

Zeus: “Yes, I have. As you have said, this world bores me. The scurrying that these insects showed after all hell broke loose with the sealing of Apollo was entertaining! Now that so long has gone by, they’ve settled again. What a resilient bunch. However, that too is boring. I have made your demon beast army. You shouldn’t need more than 100 demon tigers.”

Ares: “Haha yes, my chosen has an odd obsession with tigers. But, this is great. I wonder how these humans will react when the Baroque Kingdom falls. Hahahaha. I can’t wait to hear their screams of fear…”

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At the Hesperides Grotto

Hercule: “Good. All of the nymphs have finally been captured for God Ares. They scurry around so much that it took way too long to round them up. Hahahaha. Now, I need to throw these golden apples into a sack for him. You, golden haired wench, lead me to the apples.”

???: “No! I refuse. Those apples are not meant for you or Ares!”

Hercule: “HAHAHA you don’t have a choice. Apollo isn't here to protect you! Either take me to the apples or watch as my hungry tigers devour your sisters one by one. I could easily murder the whole lot of you thanks to this newfound power Ares gave to me. You don’t want that, do you?”

???: “…I understand.”

Hercule: “Don’t get any funny ideas. That one that escaped is probably dead right now. I sent three of my tigers after her. No one can help you now. Now MOVE.”

Hercule chained the golden haired nymph and had her lead the way. She could only pray and hope at this point.

???: “Eryth…I hope you are safe, my daughter.”

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In a speeding carriage, Itsuki’s group accelerated towards the grotto, desperately attempting to make it on time. Eulina had given the anxious Eryth Lute to hold, hoping the soft bear could give her some comfort. After a while, Eryth realized how close they were to the grotto, she immediately told Polly to stop the carriage. Eulina quickly sang an Invigoration Song along with a Speed Song in order to boost Itsuki’s vitality and speed. Afterwards, Itsuki switched to his Legato form, wished the girls good luck, and dashed towards the den of tigers waiting for him. Operation Save the Hesperides had begun.

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Hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Some foreshadowing here about the future of the next destination of Itsuki and his gang. Big fight next chapter. I wonder if Eulina should make a horde of teddy bears? Until next time!