…
"Divine Power—Loading."
"Boost On."
A vast tide of divine energy surged from within YoRHa Unit 2B, converging at the muzzle of the sword-shaped cannon she wielded.
There was no need for complex containment systems—only extreme compression.
"Steel beasts… return to your slumber."
"Lost lambs… embrace death."
"Holy Spear—"
"Gungnir Smasher!"
As her chant fell—
SHRIEEEEK—!!!!!
A beam of hyper-compressed golden divine energy erupted from the cannon's edge.
The recoil was catastrophic.
Even with her bio-integrated Vibranium skin and her Vibranium-woven gothic dress absorbing the kinetic backlash, 2B was forced to brace herself, heels digging into the sand.
She was driven backward over a dozen meters before the momentum finally dissipated.
Golden vascular-like lines flared across her face and dress—visible channels of absorbed kinetic energy pulsing beneath the surface.
Far offshore—
The seven German warships that had been attempting to retreat beyond Themyscira's cloaking barrier vanished in a single instant.
Not shattered.
Not broken.
Erased.
No wreckage. No debris.
The damage output was absurdly excessive.
The ocean along the beam's path vaporized instantly, exposing the seabed in a straight vacuum corridor that pierced far beyond the island's barrier.
Then—
ROOOOAR—!!!!!
The displaced seawater crashed inward from both sides, colliding violently and generating a tidal surge dozens of meters high, racing toward the beach.
"Oh~"
"Praise be to Death."
Leon spread his arms theatrically, sincerely impressed.
Queen Hippolyta's pupils constricted.
"Protect the wounded! Anchor yourselves with your weapons! Do not let the wave sweep you away!"
Without hesitation, she and General Antiope drove their swords deep into a massive exposed rock, pulling Diana into their arms.
The other Amazons followed suit.
Only Leon's group stood apart.
From his System Storage Space, Leon produced a parasol forged from Vibranium—its materials supplied by the Vibranium Miner and woven through the Regeneration Cradle's 3D fabrication system.
Bast took it and unfurled it.
The Vibranium parasol spanned 2.5 meters in radius—more than enough to shield Leon and his attendants.
Leon had briefly considered calling Diana over—
But Hippolyta and Antiope had moved faster.
As for 2B—
She did not seek shelter.
Instead, she stepped forward alone, facing the tsunami her own cannon had unleashed.
The wave seemed distant.
It was not.
It arrived in an instant.
2B chose her timing precisely—
And released every layer of stored kinetic energy in controlled succession.
BOOM—
A hemispherical golden shockwave exploded outward from her position, neutralizing the majority of the incoming surge.
The remaining water collapsed from above.
CRASH—
Rain poured down in sheets.
Only Leon's umbrella-protected party—and 2B, who maintained a subtle kinetic field to divert rainfall—retained composure.
The Amazons, by contrast, received an unavoidable cold drenching.
[System Prompt: Proceed with today's Daily Check-In?]
'System, why is this "wet look" not remotely seductive?'
[Ding! Daily Check-In complete.]
Reward Acquired: Endless Ice Cream.
Description: Flavor selectable.
Introduction: Women conquer the world with strength. Men conquer women with ice cream.
'…'
'System, thank you. Truly.'
At this rate, whether Leon surpassed the gods remained uncertain—
But unlike Tony and Nebula drifting helplessly in space at the beginning of Avengers: Endgame, starving to death in some forgotten cosmic corner?
That would never be his fate.
"Thank you, Leon."
"If it weren't for you… I cannot imagine how I would face the loss of my sisters."
Soaked but dignified, Diana bowed sincerely.
It was not exaggerated—
But it was grand.
"You're welcome."
Leon smiled gently.
One hand rested elegantly behind his back.
The other—still heavily bandaged—lifted Diana's hand.
He pressed a light kiss to her knuckles, maintaining steady eye contact.
Diana returned the smile.
Something unfamiliar stirred within her.
Something not found in books.
Queen Hippolyta, recognizing the unmistakable tension between them, stepped in—drawing Diana back to her side.
She was about to formally thank Leon—
When Antiope suddenly collapsed into her arms.
"Antiope?"
"Antiope!"
Hippolyta's voice trembled.
Antiope's lips had gone pale.
Her breathing grew shallow.
Within seconds—
She could no longer respond.
"Oh no!"
Diana tore open Antiope's blood-soaked armor.
A bullet wound in her chest.
She must have been struck earlier—
Sustained only by sheer will.
To protect Diana.
"No!"
"You'll be fine! You have to be!"
Diana tried desperately to tend the wound.
Tears mixed with seawater still clinging to her face.
In moments—
She was sobbing.
Because she knew.
It was futile.
No Amazon could save Antiope.
As despair closed in—
Leon stepped forward.
Activating Observation Haki, he scanned Antiope's condition and clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Impressive."
"Most people hit by a rifle round get cleanly penetrated. You nearly caught the bullet in your pectoral muscle."
He tilted his head.
"Unfortunately, partial deflection means maximal internal trauma."
"Pulmonary laceration. Severe vascular damage. Massive internal bleeding in the thoracic cavity."
"And you've remained conscious this long?"
"A miracle."
In Leon's view, she had drawn the worst possible outcome.
Either let the bullet pass cleanly—
Or stop it completely.
Instead, she had achieved the catastrophic middle ground.
Diana seized Leon's hand as if it were her final lifeline.
"You can save her, can't you?"
"Please! I can't lose her!"
"Diana…"
Hippolyta wanted to stop her daughter from placing blind faith in an external god.
But she, too, did not wish for Antiope's life to end.
She turned her head aside—
Silently permitting it.
Even if the price would be unimaginable.
Because the truth was undeniable.
When Leon's attendant had erased an entire fleet without effort—
Themyscira had already lost the right to choose.
Their fate was no longer self-determined.
They were not the ones choosing.
They were the ones awaiting selection.
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