Chapter 64
"Atalanta, what the hell are you doing?" the Goddess of the Hunt yelled towards the individual fighting. Artemis had long, straight hair is a vivid blue, flowing down her back. Her eyes are a striking green, bright and attentive. Her top is a form-fitting, sleeveless piece in shades of white and light purple. Golden bands adorn her upper arms, adding a touch of elegance to her warrior-like appearance. Around her waist is a wide, golden belt with pouches and decorations, perfect for carrying her hunting tools. A white cloth drapes from her belt, partially covering her short skirt, which is also decorated with golden designs. Her long, dark gloves reach up to her elbows, providing protection while she hunts. She wears black, thigh-high stockings with a crisscross pattern. Her boots are sturdy yet stylish, suitable for traversing rough terrain. At the back of her outfit, small, golden crescent moons can be seen, symbolizing her connection to the moon and the night sky.
"I'm doing what I'm doing, Lady Artemis" Atalanta retorted, effortlessly dodging an incoming attack from her foe. She has long, blonde hair styled with green highlights and cat ears, enhancing her feline traits. Her eyes are a striking green, matching the highlights in her hair, which gives her a fierce and determined expression. She wears a short, blue dress with black and gold accents, which features a detailed, heraldic design on the front. The dress has puffed sleeves and a skirt that flares out slightly, adorned with black fleur-de-lis patterns near the hem. Her arms are protected by black, fingerless gloves that add to her combat-ready look. Her legs are covered by thigh-high black boots with intricate teal patterns running down the front, and gold accents at the feet. These boots are both practical for movement and stylish, complementing the rest of her outfit. Additionally, she has a long, slender tail that curls up behind her, further emphasizing her cat-like attributes. Her animal ears and tail, once thought to be burdens, now seem to enhance her unique allure. They set her apart from others, adding an air of mystery and enchantment to her presence. Rather than shying away from her supposed curse, Atalanta wears it with pride, embracing her identity as a beautiful beast in human form. This acceptance of her unusual traits only adds to her appeal, making her all the more intriguing to those around her.
"Don't sass me, Atalanta!" Artemis shouted angrily, wagging her fingers left and right in frustration. "Now tell me, what the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her voice raised as she watched Atalanta spar with someone in the arena.
"I'm doing my best, Lady Artemis" Atalanta replied calmly, her voice carrying a note of determination. As her opponent lunged with a light spear, Atalanta skillfully dodged the attack by leaping aside. In a swift motion, she unleashed a barrage of arrows towards her foe. However, her opponent easily deflected the incoming arrows with the bracelets that her foe wearing.
"Clearly not, as you're having a hard time fighting a rookie" Artemis remarked in a mocking tone, her gaze shifting between Atalanta and her opponent with a hint of pride. Despite her outward toughness, inside, she felt a swell of pride for both of them. She understood that every battle, win or lose, was a valuable learning experience, shaping them into stronger warriors.
"Thank you for pointing that out, Goddess of Obvious" Atalanta retorted sarcastically as she distanced herself from her opponent. As she created some space between them, Atalanta prepared to unleash another volley of arrows when she noticed, from her peripheral vision, an incoming projectile. Reacting swiftly, she backflipped to dodge the arrow, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"What was that for?" Atalanta shouted towards Artemis, who was attempting to conceal her bow behind her back with limited success, evident by the awkwardness of her movements. Despite her attempt to hide her actions, Artemis's whistling betrayed her attempt at subtlety.
"Lady Artemis, stop being hard on Atalanta, even if you don't mean it" came a gentle plea from a girl with dark red hair, neatly gathered into a bun. Her golden eyes are intense and focused, suggesting her unwavering determination and sharpness in combat. She wears a sleeveless, white and blue dress with gold accents, designed to allow freedom of movement. The dress features intricate patterns, especially on the blue fabric, adding a touch of elegance to her warrior appearance. The dress has a high slit and is paired with a blue sash tied around her waist, enhancing her agile silhouette. Her arms are adorned with black fingerless gloves, offering both protection and dexterity. Her legs are clad in black leggings, ensuring ease of movement and flexibility, and she wears stylish yet functional shoes with gold accents that match the overall color scheme of her outfit.
"Coming that from you Hippolyta" Artemis responded with a mocking tone towards the girl named Hippolyta, pointing her chin towards the sparring duo. Hippolyta's eyes followed Artemis's gesture, landing on the girl with black hair styled in a high ponytail as dark as the night sky of Olympus. With eyes as blue as the ocean, she wore a form-fitting brown leather armor that hugged her figure, revealing her belly button. A brown skirt with intricate patterns adorned her waist, and despite the practicality of her attire, she wore brown heels nearly two inches high, seemingly without hindering her mobility. However, it was her iconic bracelets, adorning both forearms, that completed her distinctive appearance.
"Look what you did to your own daughter; you train her so hard that she doesn't feel like a proper girl anymore" Artemis remarked in a sad tone, tinged with a hint of mockery, directed towards Hippolyta. She observed as Diana chased after Atalanta, as Atalanta continued to shoot arrows while Diana deftly deflected them with her bracelets. Their interaction resembled that of a cat and dog, an ironic comparison considering Diana's name, though she lacked the ears to match the analogy.
Hippolyta's expression tightened at Artemis's words, a mixture of defensiveness and concern crossing her features. She watched as Diana and Atalanta's sparring session continued, her heart torn between pride in her daughter's strength and a pang of guilt at Artemis's accusation. However, she shook her head to erase that thought. "Diana is strong and capable, Artemis. She may not fit the mold of a 'proper girl' by conventional standards, but she is a warrior, and that is something I'm proud of" Hippolyta asserted proudly. Her smile widened as she observed the sparring between Atalanta and Diana, noticing how her daughter always seemed to find joy in their mock fights.
"Hmph, she's not going to find a man at this point if she keeps up her tomboy personality" Artemis remarked with a tsundere sound, her tone mocking but not meant to be taken seriously. Despite her tough exterior, she couldn't deny a sense of concern for Diana's well-being. Her gaze shifted to Diana, who had stopped chasing Atalanta and conjured a bow, shooting energy-based arrows at her opponent.
"Don't worry about that, Lady Artemis" Hippolyta said, trying to placate Artemis with a smile before continuing, "She will find the man of her dreams, just like how I found mine." She nodded sagely as she reminisced about the man who had once fought her and made her submit. Her cheeks flushed as she fidgeted, her movements betraying a sense of unease.
"I want to feel his body over me again, and make me cry like a bitch in heat..." she thought to herself, but stopped herself at the last second by coughing lightly. Quickly regaining her composure, she glanced at Artemis, who looked at her with disgust, as if she had heard what Hippolyta was thinking.
"I think you mean, you are LUCKY that you found him" Artemis remarked in a mocking tone, emphasizing the word "lucky" to Hippolyta. She turned to look at Atalanta and Diana, who were engaged in a fierce exchange of energy arrows, captivating the surrounding huntresses who watched in awe.
Hearing this, Hippolyta shook her head with a smile. "No, no. You got it all wrong, Lady Artemis. You got all of it wrong" she said, repeating her words to emphasize Artemis's delusional point of view. She then smirked and continued in a proud tone, "He was the one who challenged me and asked for my hand, so I think it's safe to assume that he was attracted to my womanly charms, unlike you." She coughed lightly to mask the last words, though the hint of smugness was clear.
She then turned her attention back to the ongoing match. Her daughter was using a technique that involved some kind of teleportation, leaving behind afterimages. Remarkably, these afterimages could still attack for up to ten seconds before disappearing. Hippolyta's eyes shone with pride as she watched Diana's impressive display of the skill she inherit from his father. She then thought melancholy "Where the hell are you?"
"You..." Artemis started to retort but held herself back to avoid making a fool of herself. "Hmph, even if I don't have womanly charms—and that is a big if—I..I would still be able to find a man for myself if I wanted to" she declared proudly, puffing up her chest. However, her face turned beet red, revealing her uncertainty about what she was saying.
"Then let's make a bet, Lady Artemis" Hippolyta said with a smirk, already anticipating the outcome. "If Diana finds a husband first, then you'll grant me whatever wish I want." She paused, watching Artemis's face as the goddess furrowed her brow. "And if you find a husband first—and that is a big if—then my daughter and I will officially join the hunt, just like you've always dreamed of." She didn't miss a beat, taking a jab at Artemis and tempting her like the devil she could be.
"You made me remember something disgusting" Artemis said, glaring at Hippolyta with a scornful look. She pointed toward Diana, who was still using her strange teleportation technique, shooting arrows at Atalanta after each teleport. However, Atalanta's superior speed allowed her to easily dodge the arrows.
"You made her think there is no better husband than your sperm donor, grooming her to be her own father's wife. You're sick" Artemis spat, her words dripping with venom.
"I'm Greek, you're Greek, everybody here is Greek" Hippolyta said with a shrug before continuing, "So, do you want to bet, or is the Eternal Virgin Goddess scared?" She smirked as she looked at Artemis, who seemed on the verge of exploding with anger.
Artemis took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'm going to make you join and control both of you, while preventing you from grooming Diana any further" she said in a calm, yet firm voice.
"Blah, blah, blah" Hippolyta mocked, taking a jab at Artemis. "You're either thirsty for a husband or not."
"Fine" Artemis responded, extending her hand to Hippolyta. The latter took it firmly before Artemis declared, "In the name of Queen Hera, this bet is to be fulfilled, whoever the winner may be." Her tone was serious as she swore in the name of the goddess Hera, sealing their pact with a solemn oath.
Artemis then proceeded to make a tsundere sound. "Hmph, prepare to be my servant in the hunt, Hippolyta" she declared in a proud tone, turning to face an approaching figure.
"Hello, Athena"