"Darling, do Odinson and Ares really sound that similar?"
Leon shot Diana a sideways glance after she had instinctively cried out "God of War—Ares!"
"Sorry… I just reacted without thinking."
Realizing she had misheard him, Diana offered an embarrassed apology.
"You're beautiful. I forgive you."
Under the effect of the Lasso of Truth, Leon had just spoken his honest thoughts.
"Stand down!"
Trusting absolutely in the power of the Lasso, Queen Hippolyta quickly composed herself and motioned for the Amazon warriors—who had been poised for battle—to withdraw.
The man before them…
Might very well be a true god.
He was far too lucid to resemble someone suffering from delusions of identity. And that mountain-like weight—requiring more than a dozen elite Amazon warriors working together just to move him—suggested something far beyond mortal.
"You—"
Hippolyta was about to continue questioning him when a war horn blared from outside the palace—an unmistakable signal of invasion.
Woooo—
"Enemy attack!"
"Queen Hippolyta! A human fleet has breached the barrier and entered Themyscira—they're advancing toward the coast!"
An Amazon warrior strode into the hall, dragging a man in a thick leather coat as if he weighed nothing.
"Let me go!"
"Let me go right now!"
"The Germans are coming!"
Clutching tightly to the notebook containing the formula of the German Empire's notorious poison gas specialist, Steve Trevor was in full panic.
"They have guns and artillery! We need to run—now!"
He felt cursed by fate.
He had just escaped one nightmare only to tumble straight into another.
Who were these absurdly strong, long-legged warriors in short skirts? Some kind of prehistoric tribe?
The moment he had swum ashore, they had seized him without giving him the slightest chance to explain.
"Hey, brother—did they capture you too?"
Seeing Leon bound in the hall, Steve immediately felt a sense of solidarity.
"Yeah, brother. What a coincidence."
Leon replied cheerfully, completely unconcerned.
After the brief exchange, Steve scanned the hall. He stared at Diana for exactly two and a half seconds—utterly stunned by her beauty—before forcibly dragging his gaze away with monumental effort.
Turning to the regal woman clearly in command, he pleaded sincerely:
"The German army brings war wherever it goes. They'll crush everything in their path. You don't understand how dangerous they are! We need to escape together!"
"Escape?"
"There are no deserters among the Amazons."
Hippolyta shot him a cold look and raised her fist.
"Amazons—prepare for war!"
"Yes!" ×N
The war cries of the Amazon warriors thundered through the palace as they rushed out to assemble.
Hippolyta then turned to her sister.
"Antiope. Go ahead. I'll follow shortly."
"Understood!"
Handing the other end of the Lasso of Truth to Diana, General Antiope vaulted away in a series of powerful leaps, vanishing from sight.
"And as for you…"
Hippolyta's gaze fell upon Steve Trevor, who swallowed nervously.
"You brought war to Themyscira. Until this battle ends, you will be confined in the stone prison."
"What?!"
"Why?"
"Why aren't you running? That's the German army!"
"And why am I the only one being locked up? What about him?"
Steve pointed helplessly at Leon.
"He is different."
With that brief answer, Hippolyta signaled the warrior to take Steve away.
"Mother—I want to fight too!"
Diana stepped forward eagerly.
"Diana, your duty is to watch over our 'friend.' War is more dangerous than you know. We cannot afford to lose you."
Hippolyta gently touched her daughter's cheek, then departed without looking back.
"She's gone…"
"Gone indeed~"
Diana murmured softly as her mother disappeared.
A teasing male voice echoed behind her.
She stiffened.
When she looked back—
Leon was no longer bound.
At some unknown moment, he had freed himself from the Lasso and now lounged atop the bronze throne at the head of the hall, legs crossed.
In his arms, Bast rested in her black cat form, lazily being stroked.
YoRHa Unit 2B fed him peeled sunflower seeds.
Arcee (A2 Mode) stood nearby, casually weighing the neatly coiled Lasso of Truth in her hand.
The situation had completely reversed.
Diana hadn't even sensed it.
The overwhelming gap in power made her instantly alert, like a poised leopard.
"You…"
"Relax, darling. I mean no harm. After all, what adult gets angry at a child?"
He meant strength—not age.
In terms of age alone, if Diana were a lake…
Leon would merely be a tadpole within it.
"Leon Stark Odinson."
"That's a bit long. Just call me Leon."
He gestured lightly.
Arcee understood at once and returned the Lasso to Diana.
Holding it again, Diana found herself believing him—mostly.
Still, she hesitated.
"I'm sorry, Leon. I can't gamble with my people's lives. Could you…?"
She lifted the Lasso slightly.
"Of course, darling. I've never been able to refuse a beauty."
The ones he refused were usually already dead.
Leon stepped down from the throne and approached her, naturally grasping both her hand and the Lasso, wrapping them together.
"You truly bear no ill will toward Themyscira?"
"Truly."
"You really are the God of Battle?"
"Truly truly."
"You are truly Odin's son?"
"Truly, truly, truly."
"Then why have you come to Themyscira?"
"I love… you… you all…"
It felt as though a miniature sun ignited in his throat. The more he tried to deflect, the less he could speak. The Lasso began to burn hot in his grip.
Forced by truth, words burst from him:
"A computer must have electricity! When tired, one must rest!"
"A judge must know the law! A doctor must know medicine!"
"A man must be a man! A woman must be a woman!"
After blurting everything out in one breath, Leon gasped heavily, nearly scorched by that inner sun.
Was the Lasso always this terrifying?
"Love?"
"You… all? What were you going to say?"
Diana tilted her head slightly. She seemed to realize something—but chose not to press.
Feeling it would be impolite to continue, she released him from the Lasso.
"I'm sorry, Leon. Are you alright?"
"Oh my gods—"
She grasped the hand that had held the Lasso.
His palm looked horribly burned—like severe scorch trauma.
Though confused why the Lasso's backlash had been so intense, Diana felt immediate guilt. She gently blew on his palm to cool it.
Then she hurriedly pulled a small yellow oil-paper packet from a hidden compartment in her skirt and applied fragrant medicinal powder to the wound.
It was a specially formulated Amazon salve—designed to cleanse, prevent infection, and accelerate healing.
Watching her carefully tend to him—aware of his divine status yet not fully understanding the resilience of a true god—Leon couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips.
Behind his back, he subtly flashed a triumphant gesture toward Arcee and 2B.
Arcee facepalmed.
2B, not fully understanding but eager to participate, tilted her head and made a cheerful peace sign.
Looking down at Diana as she meticulously bandaged his "injury," Leon couldn't help but admire her.
Even a man who had seen countless beauties had to admit—
She was purity incarnate.
More breathtaking than any film or comic depiction.
The Amazonian warrior skirt, the wild grace of her people, and the nascent divine power of Zeus stirring within her—
Wasn't she practically inviting him to leave his mark upon that flawless blank canvas?
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