One Punch Might Kill You

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Hera's expression instantly filled with terror.

Even when Apollo, seated on the throne of the gods, had reduced her to mortality, Hera had not truly panicked. She was Queen Hera. After so long standing above all others, she did not believe humans could harm her.

But Damon was different.

When she had still been queen of the gods, she had seen how Damon instantly killed Eris and crushed Ares. Not long ago, she had personally watched the invincible First Born beaten until he could not fight back.

If he wanted to kill her, Hera was truly afraid.

Because he was unrestrained.

He did not treat gods as anything special.

"Did I not promise to help you restore Themyscira?" Damon said to Diana with a smile. "If you become queen of the gods, anything Hera can do, you can do. Anything she cannot do, you can still do. Not only can you save Themyscira, you might even defeat the First Born and save the gods."

"Apollo asked for death himself. He brought the First Born to Olympus, where plenty of gods are waiting to be killed and make him stronger. Kill Hera and become queen of the gods. Only then will you have a chance to defeat the First Born."

"No."

Diana refused flatly.

"Why?"

"Sacrificing one person to save more people is not something I can do," Diana said gravely. "Besides, I think your motive for encouraging me to become queen of the gods is not pure."

He did have a small selfish thought.

If Diana became queen of the gods, the value of his collection would rise.

Damon laughed.

"You understand me quite well now. Almost as well as Lilah."

"Often, only an enemy truly understands you."

Diana snorted and turned to Hera.

"I will have him release you and return your divine power, but you must promise to restore Themyscira."

"I... I promise," Hera said hurriedly.

"Do you know why people dare offend you?" Damon looked at Diana and spoke slowly. "Because you are simple. Pure. You do not have many schemes, your methods are not very high, you are not wicked, and you are very righteous. Offending someone like you carries no burden at all."

After speaking, Damon released Hera.

Hera collapsed to the ground. Then the divine power drifted out of Diana and entered Hera.

In an instant, lightning flashed.

Several bolts descended from the sky and lit the night. Within the light, Hera slowly stood, and an aura that seemed to stand above heaven and earth erupted from her. Her dress vanished, replaced by a peacock cloak, with only simple strips of green cloth covering what needed covering beneath it.

"The gods of Olympus are either lechers or bitches."

Damon clicked his tongue and turned to return to the Disciple.

"Where are you going?"

Lightning flickered as Hera asked Damon in a low voice.

Damon stopped, turned, and glanced at her. Then he slowly raised his fist.

"This punch might kill you."

"Ah..."

That one look instantly made Hera behave. The lightning around her vanished.

Zola could not help laughing.

"A bitch is still a bitch. One sentence scared you out of taking revenge?"

"What did you say, you little bitch?"

Hera immediately snapped back.

"Enough."

Diana shouted.

"Hera, first we go to Themyscira. Then..."

She looked up toward the sky.

If things were truly as Damon said, they were in serious trouble.

The group, who had originally been preparing to rest, boarded the Disciple one after another. The Disciple started and headed straight for Themyscira.

When they arrived again, the ship slowly descended from the sky.

Everyone stepped out and saw the stone statue kneeling in the center of the square.

Hippolyta.

All around her were countless snakes, and they looked extremely agitated.

Those snakes were the Amazons.

"Hera."

Diana looked at Hera grimly.

Hera was somewhat unwilling, but she still used her divine power to cast the spell. Light flashed, and all the snakes transformed back into Amazon warriors. Diana rushed toward her sisters in excitement.

"The queen. Why has the queen not recovered?"

Someone cried out in alarm. Only then did Diana realize her mother was still a statue.

"Hera?"

Diana looked at Hera furiously.

Hera looked stunned.

"This has nothing to do with me. I released the spell the same way I always have."

"Are you telling the truth?"

Diana asked suspiciously.

Hera glanced at Damon nearby and said, "I have no need to lie to you."

"Then what happened?"

Diana was lost.

She had thought that once Hera recovered her divine power, her mother and the others could be restored. Now even Hera could not do it. Diana did not know what to do and instinctively looked at Damon.

"Master."

The Amazon warriors suddenly knelt to them in unison.

Hera said smugly, "A wise choice. But that still will not save your queen. It truly was not me."

Silence fell.

No one answered.

Hera had just been about to continue when a lazy voice sounded nearby.

"Get up."

Swish, swish, swish.

The Amazon warriors rose.

Hera looked at Damon awkwardly. She had almost forgotten that Damon had once enslaved Themyscira. They had not been kneeling to her at all.

She was now both afraid of and angry at Damon.

"What do we do now?" Diana asked Damon, at a loss.

"Have you not noticed someone else is missing?"

Damon looked around and spoke casually.

"Donna."

Diana reacted at once. After Donna parted from her, she had returned to Themyscira. When Diana came back and found everyone had turned into snakes, she assumed Donna was among them. But now Donna was nowhere to be seen.

"It seems Themyscira has another enemy besides Hera," Damon said lightly. "The First Born may very well attack Themyscira. Hippolyta has not recovered, so as princess, you are queen for now. Prepare the defenses first. Also, tell me where to find Hephaestus."

"What are you going to do?"

"Have him upgrade my Disciple," Damon said casually.

The Disciple was, after all, only a standard Time Master ship. The recent attack had exposed its weaknesses. Hephaestus was the god of fire and the forge. Many divine weapons were crafted by him. He should be able to improve the Disciple.

Diana gave Damon the address, then hesitated.

"Go and come back quickly. I... Themyscira needs you."

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