"Let's go and retrieve him."

The three gods and Charlotte nodded at Van as he stood in front of them. Commanding them as if he really was their King. No, at this point, he probably actually is. It wasn't just a title that was forced on him like how it was back in America's Pit.

​​

Now, he was embracing it. He had zero knowledge in politics, zero knowledge in how to rule, but what he does know is what it's like to live in the worst conditions the world has to throw on you… and no one shall live like that under him, or at least that's what he wants to do.

"Wait, King Evans. I am missing one crucial fact of information about you. Without knowing it, I can not serve and advise you well."

Van and the others were about to turn around and head towards where they parked their flying mount, but before they could even take a single step, Athena stopped in her tracks and called for Van's attention, "I need to know how strong you are, and for that matter, how strong your aged companion is… personally."

"You want to fight?" Charlotte could not help but slightly raised an eyebrow at Athena's words. She was a bit scared of fighting these gods, but there was also a huge part of her that wanted to do so. And if it was a friendly battle, there was no risk of losing her life.

"Yes. I already know how strong Artemis and Dionysus are from when we exchanged hits earlier. I need to know where your strength stands so that I could gauge whether or not… you need to run or fight."

"Sounds good to me, been a few days since I last did a good stretch. What about you, boy?"

"...Sure?" Van said as he walked back, "But where will we be doing it?"

"I saw an empty area without people about 10 kilometers south west that is suitable," Artemis joined in on the conversation, "It's a nice spot, not too flat, not too rocky. Are you able to fly, Evans?"

"...I can walk in the air."

"What about you, Charlotte?"

"Well, I can propel myself with force."

"That settles it, then," Athena nodded her head before looking at Charlotte, "I suppose we need to ask permission first?"

"No need, we can cause as much destruction as we want as long as we don't hurt anyone," there was a hint of excitement in Charlotte's tone as she looked to the direction that Artemis pointed to, "Salim won't mind, he's a friend anyway… and unconscious."

"Very well."

Musad was about to get back to the Pit when he saw Van's group returning to the chopper and he could not help but be slightly nervous when he saw the serious look on Charlotte's face. He quickly jumped out of the slightly already elevated chopper and ran towards them.

"I… is there something wrong, Madame Charlotte?"

"We need to borrow your chopper for a bit to go there."

"I thought you were leaving? I already informed President Ishaq that you were about to leave."

"Change of plans, we need to stretch our muscles a bit before we would go," Charlotte said.

"A… again?" Musad had already heard the report of his colleagues about the damage done in the prison, and now they wanted to "stretch their muscles" again?

"If only it is alright," Athena interrupted the two, "We dare not intrude if your laws do not allow it."

"Well… brother did say I should give your group whatever it is you need," Musad could only let out a sigh as he looked at the pilot, "Hop on in then, you wanted to go to the empty lot, right?"

And so, the group once again got inside the chopper.

"Why do you have a huge empty lot out of nowhere here?"

"Oh, I think they're planning to build an airport," Musad explained, "The engineers have been working on it for years, but they were finally able to make one of the huge flying aircraft that the ancient people used to fly in work."

"...Seriously?"

"Yes, once it is built, we would be able to travel to other countries faster. The gryphons are getting rare lately, and they can't really handle country to country flight. We've been working with China as well since their satellites are still working…"

Musad chattered the whole trip. Although Athena did not seem to mind as she was the cause of him not stopping his mouth from moving as she asked him about all sorts of things about that world. But luckily, their destination wasn't that far and they have reached it before Athena's 2nd wave of questions.

"Should we wait for you here, madame Charlotte?"

"If you want to accidentally die," Charlotte snickered, "Don't let anyone near this area. No government, no media, and definitely no normal people."

"...Okay, but I need to inform the President."

"Hm."

Musad quickly got inside the chopper, patting the pilot to leave and no longer disturb the group.

"How are we going to do this, then?" Charlotte started stretching her muscles, "I am giving it my all, okay? You won't die anyway."

"That is fine, I wouldn't have it any other way," Athena said as she fixed her ponytail, tightening the tie, "Use every arsenal you have. It isn't only you I need to gauge, but me as well. I know I have grown weaker from King Evans absorbing my God Soul, but I do not know to what extent."

"Who goes first, then?"

"King Evans, as he is the more important one."

"...Alright," Charlotte just shrugged her shoulders as she joined Artemis and Dionysus, who were standing far away. The empty field was about 3 kilometers long and was as wide as well. But considering how fast Van had become, then this should be considered small. But the question is… how fast is Van now? Charlotte squinted her eyes as the thought popped up in her mind.

There hasn't really been an instance where he had to exert himself except from the time that she chased him, as well as when he showed off from Angela's orders when they left the New Wall. And there also hasn't been an instance where Van had leveled up… but considering Levels are useless to Van, there wasn't really a good way to gauge how strong and fast he was now…

...was there a chance that Van was actually stronger than her now?

"A student will always surpass the master."

As if reading her thoughts, Artemis walked near Charlotte and let out a slight giggle, "That has always been a master's goal, is it not?"

"I'm not the boy's master."

"...Oh," Artemis could not help but let out a slightly awkward hum, "Then… what exactly are you?"

"...A babysitter."

"Cheers to that!" Dionysus also approached the two as he handed them their own goblets, "Don't worry, I didn't put Hypnos's bodily fluids in there anymore. Just consider it… a pre-fight warming of the body type of warm up?"

"...Right."

Dionysus then summoned a grapevine, molding it into the shape of a bench for them to sit on. And so, while the three were relaxing and waiting for the spar to start, Van and Athena were talking.

"Go all out. Dominate me before I could even see you coming," Athena said as she walked further away from Van. If it wasn't for Van's slightly increased hearing, he would definitely have heard Athena's words, "That's always been Hermes's tactic."

"And what's yours?"

"Mine's the opposite," Athena said as she stretched her arm, summoning a spear that was almost as tall as 3 Vans. She then tapped the end of its shaft on the ground three times before looking straight into Van's eyes, "I wait."

[Summon Aegis]

"With respect, King Evans, do you even know how to use tha--"

Before Athena could finish her sentence, a bright golden light flashed in front of her eyes. With the distance between them, all one could really see was a golden blur trailing across the horizon. Musad, who could still see the empty field from the skies, sees something different.

It was as if a golden bird was gliding on the ground, burning and swallowing anything that stood on its path. And soon, he could see a skirt of wind exploding through the golden bird's sides.

"..." Yup, it was a good idea not to stay and watch, Musad thought as he signaled the pilot to hurry up.

"350, 690, 1200, 1850, 2000, 2100, 2220, 2310…

...is this really it?" Athena continued to follow the golden streak as it traveled across the horizon. But after a few seconds, her vision was suddenly blocked by something.

"..." Athena calmly blocked the object that was threatening to hit her head. She already knew what it was, but she can't really contemplate as Van was suddenly beside her.

"4210," Athena only slightly shifted her body to the side as Van's foot glided just a millimeter away from her nose, with her eyes slowly following it, "Diversion, basi--"

Before Athena could finish her words, she felt something holding her feet, "Oh? Slightly above basic."

Athena quickly swung her spear to the roots that were wrapping around her foot. After doing so, she didn't run away and instead stood her ground, only dodging Van's strikes with very minimal movements. She was also pointing her spear in different directions, redirecting where Van would strike her.

"..." Van decided to retreat as he realized this. Athena… Athena was playing with him.

"Oh, 5200 meters per second. Can you still move faster than that?" Athena said as she once again tapped the shaft of her spear 3 times to the ground.

"I don't know," Van said. He hasn't realized it while he was moving, but the surrounding area seemed to be a lot colder now. Did Athena also have some kind of ice skill?

Van was about to try another tactic, but before he could do so, Athena plunged her spear to the ground and suddenly started taking off her tank top.

"What are you doing!?" Van quickly screamed, "If you think this is going to make me hesitate, you thought wrong!"

"That… is not my intention at all, King Evans," Athena blinked a couple of times as she stopped short in unbuttoning her brassiere, "You are fighting naked, I only found it fair to do the same."

"...Fighting what?"

"Fighting naked," Athena furrowed her eyebrows, "Could it be you do not know? Ordinary fabrics usually do not survive at extremely high speeds."

Hearing Athena's words, Van's eyes slowly widened. He then slowly turned her widened eyes downwards, only to see his little brother waving at him without any care in the world.

"...Fuck."