"Oh, I didn't expect you to be able to break through the spell I set up as a defensive measure and come here."
As Liliyana and Ares looked at the giant man sitting by the spring, he also cast his gaze upon them, emitting a sound like a rumbling earthquake.
"Oh, humans whose fate is already sealed by Death, how long has it been since I last faced beings like you? It's truly nostalgic."
Hearing his voice, Liliyana opened her mouth but said nothing. Although she was referred to as an "Italian Society's Genius Child" alongside another individual, a genius child was still a child. In front of a being that transcended human reason, she was no different from an ordinary human, equally powerless to resist.
However, in front of her, the "farmer from the Greek countryside," after hearing Melqart's words, calmly replied:
"How would I know? Don't you have any idea yourself? You speak in a very strange way."
"Hey, you're the one who just broke through my defensive measures, aren't you?"
Melqart looked at Ares, a peculiar expression flashing across his face:
"There's a familiar yet strange scent about you. This scent… it's somewhat like a disobedient god, similar to us, yet there's a slight difference. But that doesn't matter. What's important is, hey, human, do you know my name?"
"How would I know a stranger's name?"
Ares muttered:
"I'm not omniscient."
"Hmm, do I really have to announce my name to you myself? Or do you think the name of an ancient king is unimportant? Come on, answer me."
Upon hearing Ares's words, Melqart seemed a little angry.
He propped himself up and turned to face the two, which allowed them to see the broken golden sword embedded in his chest.
Noticing their gazes, Melqart touched his chest again, and in a thunderous voice, he said solemnly:
"Did you humans forget my majesty just because you saw my unsightly, heavily wounded body?"
"What's the matter? Speak properly. Why are you getting so agitated?"
Melqart was vaguely showing signs of anger, but Ares, as if oblivious, waved his hand and said to him:
"You want a name? That's easy. Let me give you one… How about 'Golden Flash of Sardinia'? Or, judging by your appearance, 'Italian Big Daddy' would also work."
"Nonsense!"
Melqart slammed the stone altar beneath him, and the terrifying force instantly made the entire underground temple tremble.
However, this commotion also roused Liliyana from her state of fear. She regained her composure and immediately realized the outrageous things the man standing in front of her had been saying. So, she quickly interjected and apologized to Melqart:
"Honorable God, please allow me to speak. Your divine name is Melqart—that should be correct, shouldn't it?"
"Hmm, indeed, ha, finally someone sensible has arrived."
Upon hearing Liliyana's words, Melqart's anger turned to joy. He laughed heartily:
"I am indeed Melqart. I also like the name Baal, and Baal-Hadad is not bad either, but on this island, I should still be called Melqart, hahahaha."
Melqart's loud laughter caused waves to ripple in the spring within the underground temple, while Ares, beside him, turned his head and sincerely said to Liliyana:
"You didn't really need to respond, Miss. Listen, your voice is trembling. Anyway, even if you humor this guy, what he wants to do won't change."
"That's true."
Hearing Ares's words, Melqart said arrogantly:
"Then, you two insignificant beings who don't even know the etiquette of a king, since you're so understanding, this King will conveniently give you a glorious task."
"May I ask what mission you wish for us to complete?"
Liliyana was an honest child, still politely asking Melqart at this moment.
"You are to strive for the resurrection of the ancient King!" Melqart boomed: "Quickly return to the surface and warn the others, tell them that Melqart is very angry with the juniors who have defiled his territory. This small island, I will personally smash it with my own hands and cast it into the sea!"
"Yes… tell the others that Melqart is very angry, that this island will be personally smashed by him and cast into the sea… Huh?"
Liliyana only then realized what Melqart was saying. She repeated it incredulously, muttering:
"Sink Sardinia into the sea?"
"That's right, children who cannot escape the fate of Death! When your own toys are covered in mud, I believe you would do the same, wouldn't you? Yes, it's like washing away the filth with water. The worms living on my territory, I will cleanse them with seawater. Do you understand?"
Melqart spoke utterly unreasonable words as if they were self-evident. Upon hearing him, Ares pursed his lips in dissatisfaction and said:
"Damn it, indeed all crows are black. Gods, no matter where they are, are all the same, disgusting like dog shit."
"What did you say?" Hearing Ares's blasphemy, Melqart, who had been preparing to lie back down, suddenly turned around, his eyes wide, and asked angrily: "Say that again!"
"Sir!" Liliyana also cried out anxiously: "This is a genuine God! Don't anger him!"
"So what if he's a God? Just a Phoenician god," Ares replied. "It's as if everyone out there doesn't have a formidable alias."
"Ha." Melqart, hearing this, laughed in extreme anger. He boomed: "So, you also have a name like mine, God-King, Dragon-Slaying Hunter, Great Warrior? Very well, you strange mortal, I permit you to announce your name today, let me see how resounding your title truly is!"
"Alright!" Ares also laughed: "You said it."
Unlike Liliyana, Ares did not possess the common knowledge of this world's magical community, nor did he need to. He was treating Melqart as his prey, and according to the teachings of Artemis and Apollo, the first thing to do when facing fierce prey is to try and provoke its anger or fear, causing it to lose its composure.
As a God-King, Melqart would likely not experience fear, but when it came to provoking the wrath of a god, probably no one understood it better than Ares. When he was acting on Olympus, he basically started conflicts daily. Among the Olympus Twelve Main Gods, no one except Hestia and Artemis had been spared his provocations.
It only took Ares three sentences to provoke Melqart to a level of anger that made him lose his composure.
His first sentence was: "I am Ares, the God of War of Olympus, the protector of the Greeks."
His second sentence was: "I also have the alternative name Mars, the Roman God of War. Of course, the Romans are also my people."
His third sentence was: "I heard the Phoenician were eradicated from this island by my people, and they even gave you a nice nickname, Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies. Isn't that cute?"
As he finished speaking, Liliyana stood frozen with her mouth agape, her brain crashing, while Melqart, enraged, roared:
"Outrageous! I'll kill you!"