Chapter 419: Temple Ruins

“Next, I will announce the battle plan.” Her gaze swept across the crowd, landing precisely on the formation of the Hermes Familia. “The Hermes Familia will handle the diversion. Your mission is to draw the attention of the monsters on the periphery as much as possible to create an opening for the strike team. Remember, your goal is just to stall them. Do not push yourselves too hard.”

“Understood!” the members of the Hermes Familia responded in unison.

“Falgar,” Artemis said, looking at the burly male beastman in the ranks. “Command of the diversionary force is yours.”

“Understood.” The blond beastman gripped his greatsword and nodded heavily, his gaze as steady as a mountain.

“Then, while the diversionary force tears open their defensive line, we will break into the interior and confront Antares directly.” Artemis shifted her gaze toward Aiden, Asfi, and the others.

“We?” Asfi frowned. “Lady Artemis, are you coming with us?”

“That door will only open through my divine will.” Artemis spoke in a low voice. “I must go.”

“Lady Artemis…” Lante and the girls beside her couldn’t hide the sorrow welling in their eyes. They clearly knew the deeper meaning behind this journey.

“I will go as well.” Furina stepped forward. Her petite frame appeared incredibly resolute in that moment. “I want to witness this to the very end.”

She had already learned the entire truth, so even though she was terrified, she had to muster the courage to stand up.

“Hehe, in that case, you naturally can’t leave me out.” Hermes smiled as he stepped up, removing his hat to offer a flamboyant bow.

“Wait, Lord Hermes, what are you trying to…” Asfi panicked, rushing forward to stop him.

However, her next words were silenced by Hermes gently resting his hand on the top of her head.

“Hahaha, you knew perfectly well I’d do this,” Hermes laughed loudly, his smile as free and unrestrained as ever.

“…Honestly, you’re the worst.” Asfi sighed helplessly, though her cheeks flushed slightly.

Watching the god and his reliable dependent continue their usual antics even in such a tense moment slightly relaxed the adventurers’ taut nerves, prompting a few good-natured chuckles.

“Then let’s go all out,” Aiden said with a smile.

“I’m really looking forward to the Guild’s reward,” Lulune licked her lips, flashing the sly grin unique to Chienthropes.

“That’s right, we’re very particular about our money,” an adventurer in the crowd joked.

“Of course, us too,” Robin chimed in with a soft laugh.

“After all, it is the rightful privilege of an adventurer,” Tifa added with a smile.

“Yeah! Exactly!”

The oppressive atmosphere was washed away as the adventurers eagerly voiced their agreement. The passion and confidence unique to adventurers reignited on their faces.

“Thank you, my children.” Artemis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were brimming with maternal love and tenderness. “The battle ahead will be grueling. There may even be sacrifices. But… I hope that every single one of you returns victorious.”

“For the lower world we love so dearly!”

“Ohhhhh—!”

All the adventurers thrust their weapons high, unleashing a heaven-shaking roar. Their fighting spirit pierced the clouds.

Right at that moment, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the impassioned battle cries, echoing from the edge of the camp.

Aiden and the others whipped around, only to see an adventurer locked within the pincers of a massive black scorpion. Blood instantly dyed the ground crimson. With a flick of the monster’s giant pincers, the adventurer’s body was thrown like a ragdoll, slamming heavily into a large tree. He didn’t make another sound.

Immediately following, dense rustling noises echoed from the forest. Hundreds of equally massive, highly toxic scorpions swarmed out of the woods. It was a suffocating, black tide that made their scalps tingle.

“How is this possible?” Asfi’s face displayed sheer shock. “The monsters… they attacked us first?”

“Who cares?!” The beastman Falgar hoisted his greatsword, unleashing a deafening roar. “Proceed according to plan!”

“He’s right. The battle just started a bit earlier than expected, that’s all.” Lulune drew her daggers, a fierce glint in her eyes.

“Clear the way—!”

No further words were needed. The adventurers roared and surged forward like a torrent of steel, crashing head-on into the black tide of monsters.

“Go! You have a more important mission!” Falgar cleaved a giant scorpion’s head cleanly in half, dark green fluids spraying everywhere. Without looking back, he bellowed at Aiden and the team.

“Don’t die.” Asfi’s voice sounded somewhat thin against the chaotic backdrop of the battlefield.

Aiden, Asfi, Robin, and the others didn’t hesitate for another second. Shielding the three deities—Artemis, Furina, and Hermes—they swiftly pushed through the narrow path carved out by the flesh and blood of their fellow adventurers, tearing through the chaotic swarm of scorpions.

“I leave Lady Artemis in your hands, Mr. Aiden.” Lante severed the front pincer of a giant scorpion attempting to ambush her. She watched Aiden’s retreating back, a trace of melancholy flashing in her eyes.

Before long, the strike team arrived at the Ruins of Elsos.

An ancient stone bridge spanning a dark green, toxic river was the only entrance to the ruins.

“To think a ruin of this scale exists…” Tifa couldn’t help but marvel at the majestic architectural complex faintly visible within the dense forest.

“These are ancient temples forgotten by history,” Artemis said softly, a hint of nostalgia in her tone.

“It’s very quiet. It doesn’t seem like a monster’s nest at all,” Robin noted, looking around with furrowed brows.

The silence inside and outside the ruins was terrifying. Aside from the wind, not a single monster’s roar could be heard.

“That ambush earlier was a lesson. Absolutely do not let your guard down,” Asfi warned strictly.

“Let’s go.”

Aiden took the lead, positioning himself at the very front of the group. Godslayer: Surtr was already gripped tightly in his hand, faint embers dancing across the blade.

As they proceeded down the gloomy corridors, the monotonous echo of their footsteps against the empty stone magnified the unease settling in their hearts.

“What is this light?” Firefly asked, pointing at the walls.

Various symbols were carved into the walls on both sides of the corridor: scorpions, entities resembling Spirits, and reliefs of altars. These ancient engravings emitted a faint, soft glow.

“It’s the light of the seal,” Artemis explained.

When the group reached the end of the corridor, a colossal stone door blocked their path.

“We’re here. This is the sealed door I mentioned earlier,” Asfi said.

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