Chapter 149: Punished

The travel we took together strengthened Lena's friendship with the two girls, and I didn't feel left out either.

Lena and I had a lot of fun going to Remnant and Rias' world for a few days and doing different things before returning to our own.

She also talked to everyone in the chat during this time while showcasing her social skills.

The days slowly passed, and just a few days later, it was Lena's and my birthday.

At first, I thought about inviting all the girls, but then I dismissed the idea, and there would be time for that later.

We celebrated our twentieth birthday at a country villa and were attended only by people from this world.

Jonathan and Martha Kent were there, along with Clark and Kara, Zatanna, Diana, Cortana, Shinoa, and Talia.

"Tony, can I have a moment?"

Superman asked somewhat shyly, resembling a bashful guy unsure of what to do.

"Hmm?"

I turned my head to him.

"Administrator-kun... today there will be a group..."

I interrupted Shinoa to prevent her from finishing her question.

"Zatanna, could you keep an eye on that tipsy troublemaker?"

I looked at her.

"No problem."

She shrugged... and with magic, she restrained her who emitted an indecent groan but the Kents were in another room.

"So, what's up?"

I went outside with him.

"I did invite Lois on a date, and she agreed."

He began quite cheerfully.

"But..."

"You don't know how to arrange your date?"

I tilted my head, roughly guessing what to expect from him.

"Oh God, you really are... Smallville."

I chuckled.

"How do you imagine it?"

I asked.

"Well... so that she enjoys it?"

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh, Operation 'Date of Steel' is going on. Don't worry, your date will go as planned... Are you planning to tell her you're Superman?"

"Not yet,"

He shook his head.

I immediately informed Lena, who had already mentioned it in the chat, and we started brainstorming Clark's date together.

It wouldn't be too 'magical,' as Lois didn't know many of his secrets.

The next day, Lena, Shinoa, Cortana, Zatanna, and I had a small get-together at our house.

Kara was also there, but she watched from afar, and Talia was just listening through the door.

After that, we started preparing a nice date for these two lovebirds in Metropolis, and everything was simply magical with a touch of magic... and on their second date a couple of days later, she already gave herself to him.

He also used the Kryptonite he kept at home to not break her at the first push...

...

It was now time for the two stages of meeting between the queens of Atlantis and Xebel and the King of Tuatha De Danann.

The first stage of negotiations would take place in Atlantis, and the second in Thierna Na Oge.

I acted as a kind of guide from one place to another as I understood the importance of the moment and the potential alliance.

"Anthony, we are ready for the meeting."

Atlanna said to me, with Mera nodding and standing beside her.

"Then..."

I opened the portal through which the royal procession could be seen. It was not too large and consisted of only seven sentient beings.

I didn't engage much in the conversation and let them negotiate the alliance themselves, which they eventually did.

I even built an embassy for Tuatha De Danann in Atlantis in seconds that looked quite nice against the backdrop of the architecture.

In the end, an alliance was formed between them, and it all ended well.

I was satisfied that they were striving for peace under the rule of their queens.

In ancient Atlantis, Poseidon patronized those trying to gain support from at least one state at the time.

He wasn't very lucky with people's worship, and... he punished them, creating tsunamis or drying up rivers...

This brings me to the point that some underwater inhabitants continue to believe in Poseidon and pray to him as Mera informed me.

After my appearance, this began to change because many felt a part of my power on themselves.

"And... do they worship my statue?"

I asked, looking through the water and other structures at my statue, which Atlanna decided to erect in the city.

I also saw a couple of Atlanteans bowing to the statue... the same thing was happening in Xebel.

"Anthony... you recently created a large building in the city center in seconds, and everyone knows about your power. Also you were able to subdue Karaten who now serves as a shield for two race... possibly already for three."

Mera explained.

"Yeah, from the perspective of a regular... being, this should look impressive."

I nodded to acknowledge that.

I was just a man without any special powers a year ago, and now to create a beautiful multi-story building in a second... meant nothing to me.

I didn't stay there for long. I teleported back to my laboratory to continue working after ensuring everything was okay.

...

A few days later, another problem arose with Diana's absence.

After defeating Ares, she went to the gods to deliver the two surviving sons of Ares, and then she came back and said that some gods especially Hera were VERY angry with me.

Diana was recently asked to return to Olympus... but she hasn't returned for a whole day now. 

She usually has a communicator to communicate with the outside world, through which Cortana could track her... but the communicator was nowhere to be found.

Cortana simply couldn't find the signal.

"She's strong, what could happen to her? Maybe she just decided to visit Themyscira?"

Lena speculated.

"However, the fact that she didn't even tell us about it is strange."

"And I think so too, so I'd better check."

I decided to kiss her and teleported to Themyscira.

The island stood unchanged, but the Amazons seemed worried about something.

I couldn't find Diana on the island, but I did find a broken transmitter.

I descended to the group of Amazons, among whom I recognized one redhead Artemis.

"Where's Diana?"

I immediately asked while landing nearby which caused an earthquake.

"You..."

She raised her bow but then lowered it.

"The princess told me a lot about you. She... has been punished by the gods. I don't know the exact reason, but she has been exiled under the island to undergo trials and find something for the gods."

"Punishment?"

I raised an eyebrow and... laughed as if I had heard the funniest joke.

"Apparently, I didn't quite convey my thoughts through Aphrodite."

I wiped the smile off my face and spotted the underground entrance in the mountain on the other side of the island.

"I tried to appease Zeus!"

Aphrodite herself appeared next to me, and dark clouds appeared above the island again, with lightning flashing within them.

"But... after Ares's death, Hera was furious and forced Zeus to punish at least Diana."

She explained with obvious fear on her face as she felt my growing anger and my mere presence pressing down on her simply because of my mood.

"And Zeus... he offered Diana an alternative."

She said carefully while ignoring the Amazons.

"He offered Diana to become a goddess through the bed... she refused..."

"Oh, even now he can't keep his twig in check, huh?"

I said, looking up at the sky.

"It seems... the gods are often nothing but bastards who should be gotten rid of to avoid a stab in the back."

"...".

Aphrodite fell silent, biting her lip.

"You wouldn't... accept me, would you?"

She asked, and I understood what she meant.

She wasn't talking about my faction per se but about being a lover or a wife.

I stayed silent, but she understood me perfectly.

She may be divine and have a decent character right now, but... I can't ignore what she did before.

I'm not some old magician or mage with thousands of years of experience who wouldn't care about a girl's past.

I have loving girls who have been with me from the beginning, and I hope they will be with me until the end.

Of course, it sounds somewhat hypocritical coming from me... but I can't go against myself.

However, I think I could learn to love her if we had more time...

"I'm coming, Diana."

Then beams of light burst from my eyes, piercing the sky and the clouds and hinting at what was about to happen.

After that, I teleported to the dungeon's entrance that was locked with huge doors.

However, they couldn't withstand the collision with my palm, and I easily entered the room.

The gods created these dungeons to contain dangerous creatures, such as the Hydra or the Echidna.

I found the Hydra's body a little deeper down, and the Amazons were fighting the Echidnas alongside Hippolyta.

"Found you."

I dropped from above while crushing the Echidna, and all the others simply turned to dust in the next moment.

"Diana, you could have warned me about the punishment."

"Tony, glad to see you here."

Diana smiled at me with a sweet smile that warmed my heart.

"The punishment came unexpectedly, and I didn't have time. Forgive me."

"Tony, huh,"

Hippolyta measured me with a look.

"If it weren't for my daughter's joy, I would have pierced you with this sword."

She shook it as if trying to emphasize the weight of her words.

"Mom!"

Diana exclaimed.

"What? We argued with you because of him, but thankfully it all ended well. However, you are being punished again because of what he did wrong!"

Hippolyta pointed at Diana.

"Tony is not to blame. Ares wanted war, and innocent people would have died. We did what was necessary."

Diana defended me.

"I came because I was worried about your absence."

I honestly told her.

"I'm glad to see you're okay."

"I'm fine,"

She stared at me, and Hippolyta noticed it dissatisfied.

She was quite sensitive by nature despite all her seriousness and strength.

"What have I done to deserve all this, O Gods?"

Hippolyta raised her head towards the sky while maintaining her regal demeanor even with such a "human" gesture.

"Divine intervention,"

I said this when feeling the entire dungeon seemingly sealed by divine will.

"This shouldn't be happening."

Hippolyta furrowed her brow.

"The gods... have they imprisoned us?"

She asked somewhat uncertainly aloud.

"Diana, can you tell us more about what happened and how?"

I asked the warrior.

"Yesterday, the gods suddenly summoned me to them, and I couldn't refuse..."

Diana's story wasn't very long, but it gave me some ideas about what was happening.

Zeus offered her godhood through the bed, but it was strange that Hera didn't react to it... which was odd.

After Zeus got mad that Diana refused, he sought a way to punish her. Hera suggested the Underworld, and he agreed.

Hera is known for her vengeful nature especially towards Zeus' mistresses.

However, Hera's son died recently.

"That sounds suspicious. This all seems like a big trap... for me?"

I said uncertainly.

"That... could very well be true. The gods are vengeful. I know that all too well."

Hippolyta sadly smiled.

"So we just need to survive and prove that Tony is innocent."

Diana said confidently.

"It's unlikely to work out. Diana, if the gods of Olympus want my death... I won't just sit idly by."

I said, looking her in the eyes.

"Let them do something good before... but all that good is completely overshadowed by all the crap they've done. All the destroyed cities, shattered destinies because they felt like it."

"I... understand, you're within your rights."

Diana lowered her head, fully accepting my words.

 "But they... are gods."

"You recently beat up two little gods."

I chuckled while remembering Ares' sons.

"And Ares fell by my hand, so..."

"There you are."

A formidable voice rang out, full of weariness and joy.

"Well, I'm sure of one thing. If I have to defend who and what I am... then I'll do it without restraints. I am the Invincible Hercules."

The man was towering over two meters tall. He confidently strode towards us gradually growing to two and a half meters.

"Hercules..."

Hippolyta pronounced with visible disdain.

"Hera's lapdog?"

I suggested.

She didn't seem to love him at all—in fact, she seemed to dislike him—but she might have hidden her feelings to steer someone she despised towards someone else.

He was previously sealed down here on the lowest level and bore the weight of the entire island on his back.

He was being held captive, but someone freed him... as well as gave him weapons capable of killing gods.

...

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