American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 235 Diana: I got up, killed in one strike, what's there to say? [Bonus Chapter]

"man?!"

Diana blurted out, her voice filled with unprecedented shock, her azure eyes widening instantly as if she had seen some incredible mythical creature.

She almost instinctively took a half step back; this was the first time in her life that she had gotten so close and so clearly to a living, breathing man.

In the knowledge of Paradise Island, 'man' is more of a concept from books, a vague shadow in history.
Rather than... rather than the one before me exuding a calm strength
It is helping her tangible being with miraculous skills.

Realizing her preconceived error and her current loss of composure, Diana felt her cheeks burning, but fortunately the shadow of the cell provided cover for her.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her black hair cascading down her shoulders, her voice filled with sincere remorse: "I'm so sorry! It was me... I was too reckless. It was too dark here, I... I..."

She was momentarily at a loss for words to explain her absurd deduction.
The words stuck in my throat.

Locke waved his hand dismissively, interrupting her embarrassed explanation.

"It's alright, the lighting was bad, it's understandable." He clearly didn't take this small misunderstanding to heart, and his attention quickly returned to the important matter. "Hurry up, the weapons aren't ready yet."

"No need to rush, sir, you should have enough time."

"Om-!"

But before she could finish speaking, Diana felt the invisible force field surrounding the giant sword suddenly intensify!

A dense buzzing sound filled the air.

This time, she vaguely 'saw' it.
Beneath the pulsating electric arc, some more subtle and powerful force is at work.

It's not just simple burning or forging.
Rather, it was some kind of force she couldn't comprehend acting on the most minute level of matter!
Countless electric arcs, hundreds or thousands of times finer than a human hair, vibrate at an incredible high frequency, precisely 'tapping' at every molecular structure of the sword blade, much like a self-aware, deft carving knife.

The cracked openings were forcibly 'smoothed' and rearranged, and the fatigued and damaged internal structure was strangely 'awakened' and strengthened!

The deeply hidden impurities were stripped away in an instant.

The whole process was faster than I could have imagined.

this.
This is something that no traditional magic or dwarven blacksmithing skills could achieve.
What it shows.
It is a precision that transcends the limits of ordinary people!
"Alright, let's test the feel of it."

While Diana was still immersed in shock, Locke completed the final step. The invisible force field around him quietly dissipated, and the dense buzzing and electric arcs disappeared as well.

"It seems to be working well now? You should give it a try."

"OK."

Diana did as she was told, and with a hint of anticipation, reached out and grasped the hilt of the greatsword.

The feeling she experienced upon first touch astonished her once again.
The sword, as if possessed by life, conformed to the shape of her palm.
With a little effort, she easily lifted the greatsword, which was at least half the weight it had been before!
This was not a reduction in material, but rather a force she couldn't comprehend that optimized its weight distribution, achieving a near-perfect balance.

The dark blade now flowed with a faint, deep blue luster, restrained and profound, as if slumbering thunder was sealed within the metal.

Unable to contain her excitement, she swung her sword in mid-air. The sound of the sword cutting through the air became light and sharp. The greatsword seemed to be an extension of her arm. Every change of direction and every exertion of force was smooth and fluid, and it was more comfortable to handle than she had imagined.

After her initial elation, she was struck by the realization of her earlier rudeness and the immense favor she was receiving.

She quickly and carefully placed the greatsword against the wall, her face filled with sincere apology, and said again, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Locke, I misunderstood you just now."

Then, as if remembering something important, she quickly walked to the pile of hay in the corner of the cell, rummaged around for a moment, and pulled out a loaf of bread carefully wrapped in a clean linen cloth.

She offered the bread to Locke with both hands, her eyes pleading:
"I'm sorry... you've been so busy, please have this."

The simple food seemed to be the only expression of her gratitude she could muster, shining with a rustic radiance in the dark cell.

As Locke watched her clumsy yet sincere actions, the slight helplessness he felt from being mistaken for the wrong gender dissipated.

He waved his hand and introduced himself formally in a calm tone: "Just call me Locke. Locke Kent, an ordinary farmer from America."

"Oh~"

Diana nodded, remembering the name, but still stubbornly held up the bread with both hands, repeating with even greater determination, "Then, Mr. Locke, please be sure to eat it."

Looking into the girl's determined eyes, Locke knew he couldn't refuse her feelings. He smiled helplessly and accepted the bread that was as hard as a brick.

How could he not see that this was the most simple and sincere way the girl could think of to repay him when she had nothing of her own?

He shrugged, broke off a small piece, and chewed it.

The texture was so rough it scraped against my throat, and the taste was bland with a hint of staleness.

He made no attempt to hide his opinion: "Honestly, this stuff is really hard. No exaggeration, it's the worst bread I've ever eaten."

However, instead of being annoyed by what she heard, Diana smiled brightly, like the rising sun.

Immediately, she straightened her back, her face regaining the solemnity of a warrior, and earnestly explained, her tone carrying the pride of the Amazon:

"We Amazon warriors take pride in simplicity."

"The desire for food and drink is never our goal."

"Really?" Locke chuckled. "Then once this is over, I'll definitely take you to try what 'unpretentious' food is all about."

After saying that, he pointed to the dark red armor on the ground and gestured to Diana, "Bring that over too. Sharp teeth alone aren't enough; you need thick skin. You don't want to turn into a glass cannon in the arena, do you?"

"A glass cannon?"

Diana repeated the unfamiliar word with a puzzled look, her brow furrowed slightly.

"that is"

Locke explained in the most straightforward way, gesturing with his fingers in the air, "Its attack power is as fierce as cannon fire, but its own defense is as fragile as glass, shattering at the slightest touch. It sounds impressive, but in actual combat, it is often the quickest to die."

Diana immediately realized what was happening, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes.

He immediately dragged the entire set of heavy, dark red armor pieces, covered in deep cuts and dents, to Locke.

Locke said no more, his gaze becoming more focused.

The "Platinum Star" quietly appeared behind them.
This time, even finer, hair-like arcs of electricity simultaneously wrapped around all the components, including the breastplate, shoulder armor, and arm guards.

To tell the truth
Repairing armor is obviously more complex than repairing a single sword.

The entire process was completely silent, with only the barely audible hissing of the electric arc and the sight of the armor components slightly suspending and rotating in the energy field.

Until Diana could no longer contain her surging curiosity and broke the silence:

"Mr. Locke."

"Are you... really just an ordinary farmer?"

She simply couldn't reconcile the incredible skill before her with the simple title of 'farmer'.

His gaze remained fixed on the armor before him.

Upon hearing this, Locke smiled with pride and corrected him, "I am a farmer with five children to support, so I should be considered... not so 'ordinary' now."

Five children?

Diana's deep blue eyes widened slightly; this number clearly challenged her understanding of family structure. "Then you and your wife wouldn't be..."

“I have never had a wife.” Locke shrugged, his hand still manipulating the arcs. “The children were gifts brought by the stork.”

"Oh~"

Diana immediately realized, "Oh, it's a stork..."

So she asked with genuine concern, "Then...aren't you even more tired raising five children alone?"

"tired?"

Locke chuckled, manipulating the electric arc to repair a gap. "To be honest, I don't think so. In fact... it was quite easy."

The composure in his tone seemed genuine.

"The children have been very sensible since they were little and know how to take care of each other. In addition, I have my older brother and sister-in-law to help take care of them. It's a big family, lively and happy."

Listening to this, Diana couldn't help but exclaim from the bottom of her heart, "You are truly a great person..."

Locke smiled but remained noncommittal.

Diana hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question that had been lingering in her mind, "But... when a father's love is shared among five children, don't they... feel resentful? Don't they feel... that they haven't received enough?"

The girl's question seemed particularly clear in the silent dungeon, carrying a kind of innocent naiveté.

Locke did not answer immediately, nor did he look at Diana; his gaze seemed to penetrate the dark red armor and see into a more distant place.

The sharpness in his eyes was gradually replaced by a gentleness, as if recalling the sun-drenched wheat fields of a Kent farm in the afternoon.

"Complaints? No, love isn't measured that way."

"You can't think of love as a fixed cake, where if you cut more for one person, everyone else will inevitably get less."

He paused, seemingly searching for the most suitable metaphor, before finally returning to his most familiar territory:
“You see, it’s like the sunlight. It shines on my cornfield, and it also shines on my brother’s barn. Does the sunlight become thinner because it shines on two fields at the same time?”

"No. It will only bring life to both lands."

"or."

“It’s like rain,” Locke continued, letting a ray of lightning nourish the scales like raindrops. “It falls on one leaf, but it doesn’t stop it from nourishing another leaf.”

"Love, especially the love of family, is more like this... an inexhaustible source."

"It will not be exhausted by sharing, but will become... richer and warmer in the flow and giving."

He turned his head slightly, glancing at Diana's confused face out of the corner of his eye.

"Do you feel that your mother doesn't love you enough?" Locke asked softly.

Looking down at her dusty hands, Diana's voice unconsciously lowered.
“I…I don’t know. I just feel…as her only daughter, I seem to have never received her complete love.”

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her slightly trembling voice, but she couldn't hide the deep-seated disappointment. "For example... for example, from childhood to adulthood, I have never been allowed to enter my mother's bedroom."

"How many times have I lingered outside the palace gates..."

She clutched the hem of her clothes and sighed, "But I could only watch as other young soldiers received guidance under my mother's command, secretly burying my envy deep in my heart."

"That door is always closed to me... as if it holds a secret I can't touch."

"This time, I sneaked in and disturbed my mother's ceremony, which resulted in both of us being sent here."

Diana's voice was choked with sobs, and her eyes were red like newly blooming roses, but she stubbornly tilted her face up, refusing to let the moisture condense into tears.

Locke listened quietly.

Listening to Diana's choked-up story, about the closed door, the grievances of being excluded, and the 'intrusion' that led them to this place.

Locke did not interrupt until Diana finished speaking.
He slowly opened his mouth, pulling Diana out of her self-blame: "Diana, do you remember the price I mentioned before?"

"cost?"

Diana blinked her blurry eyes, trying hard to remember.

"I've taken in two griffins."

Locke casually dropped this astonishing information.

"A griffin?" Diana was completely stunned, momentarily forgetting her grief. "What griffin?"

"It was promised by your General Phillips himself."

Locke explained, “She will give me two griffins, a male and a female, as long as I bring you and your daughter back safely.”

"What...!" Diana was about to scream in shock when she suddenly realized where she was. She quickly covered her mouth, suppressing her voice as a rapid breath. "How is this possible?! That's a griffin! A sacred companion!"

"And...and they're a male and a female...I remember there aren't many female griffins on our Paradise Island; they're the hope for the continuation of the species..."

To her, the price was unimaginably generous.
Or…

Crazy.

Locke smiled at her shocked expression and asked, "Then do you know why I accepted this troublesome task without hesitation when I heard the conditions?" Diana shook her head blankly.

“Because the moment I heard the word ‘griffin,’ the first thought that popped into my head was,” Locke’s lips curled into a slight smile, “I wanted to take them home to be my children’s mounts. They deserve the best!”

He paused, his gaze fixed on Diana's face, his tone becoming meaningful:

"And you, Diana... tell me, on Paradise Island, as Queen Hippolyta's only daughter, did you receive only the best of everything?"

Diana instinctively wanted to argue that her mother wouldn't even let her into her bedroom, so how could it be considered "the best"?
But before the words could be uttered, a series of images involuntarily flooded into my mind:

She possesses
It is the most perfect body.

It was from my mother's mouth

—A perfect body shaped by boundless soil and nourished by the waters of life.

It takes mountains as its source of power and thunder as its spiritual ocean.

She received the most rigorous and comprehensive combat training on the island, personally instructed by the most outstanding General Phillips.

What she sensed was her mother's undisguised pride in front of everyone.
She suddenly realized
Everything her mother gave her was the finest and most precious thing that Paradise Island could offer.

My mother was never stingy.

Her mother had been trying her best to prevent her from entering the bedroom.
Perhaps.
Did they predict this day long ago?

Behind that tightly closed door lies not estrangement.
This thought, like a ray of light, pierced through the gloom that had settled in Diana's heart.

But it also brought a deeper sense of fatigue.
Unconsciously curling up, Diana leaned against the cold corner of the wall, gently resting her flushed cheeks on her bent knees.

A deep and sudden drowsiness overwhelmed her thoughts.

Something's not right...

She thought vaguely.

Logically speaking, her physical body should be sufficient to support her in maintaining a conscious and combat-ready state for extended periods under any extreme conditions.

But at this moment, his heavy eyelids felt like lead weights, and even lifting them seemed difficult.

Was it that the mental strain of the past few days had finally reached its limit?
Is it the unseen aftereffects of traveling between different dimensions on the body?

still…

Is there some kind of life-consuming restriction on this dungeon?
She began to have wild thoughts, trying to dispel her sleepiness with a mental struggle, commanding herself to stay awake in this strange and dangerous place…

Can.
As soon as her gaze fell upon the figure before her, those hands that steadily controlled the lightning.

The leaping blue-white light, the focused and calm profile, seemed to carry a strange, reassuring power.

His movements as he repaired the armor were unhurried, carrying a steadiness and reliability that came from the earth, as if he could hold up the sky even if it collapsed.

My vigilance gradually melted away.

Diana's tense nerves gradually relaxed.

She tried to hold on a little longer, at least until the armor was completely repaired…

The dam that can be consciously controlled has already breached.

Finally, amidst the low hum of the fine electric arcs, Diana's heavy eyelids slowly drooped and closed completely.

She remained curled up, her breathing became even and long, and her head tilted gently towards the cold stone wall. She drifted off to sleep without any warning.

"Finally fell asleep."

Locke muttered to himself as a tiny, almost imperceptible arc of azure electricity quietly retracted into his palm.

Yes
The irresistible drowsiness in Diana's mind
In reality, Locke was gently stimulating her calming acupoints with an electric arc, soothing her overly tense and nearly broken nerves.

Gazing at the sleeping girl's face, which had lost all its defenses and even revealed a hint of childishness, Locke snapped his fingers, pulling the last wisp of electricity away from the newly refurbished armor. The armor pieces fell to the ground with a soft thud.

This little girl is far from being the Wonder Woman who will save the multiverse in the future.
Now she
Like a fully drawn bow, if it continues like this, the string will eventually break.

If she doesn't get a good night's sleep, the immense mental pressure alone will be enough to drive her into a little madness before tomorrow's brutal battle even begins.

Locke sighed softly, his figure began to blur, and tiny sparks of electricity emanated from his edges. As if merging into the air, he slowly transformed into invisible lightning, about to be drawn away from this filthy place.

Before he completely vanished, he took one last look at the sleeping Diana.

Honestly...

Locke himself was somewhat puzzled.

In fact, all he needed to do was to search each place one by one over the next few days, find Hippolyta and Diana, bring them back to the main world, and catch two griffins and leave.

Why go to the trouble of repairing the equipment for this little princess whom we've just met, and even worry about her mental state?
Was it because of those two griffins?

In order to find Hippolyta more efficiently?

Or is it a hidden memory from a past life that gives her a natural affinity for the identity of 'Diana'?

Or perhaps they simply don't want to see this little girl get utterly thrashed in the arena tomorrow?

Or perhaps, it was simply that she didn't want to see the despair and hopelessness that followed the shattering of hope on that young face, which was etched with unwavering determination?
It's even possible that they mistook the child for Clark, subconsciously treating her as their niece?

What kind of nonsense is this...

Locke couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm going through menopause soon, I've become so fussy...

There is no answer.

"Fuck-"

A slight crackling sound of electricity.

A flash of lightning disappeared in an instant, and Locke's figure vanished completely from the dungeon, as if he had never stood there.

Only the sleeping Diana remained, leaning against the cold stone wall.

And beside her was a set of brand-new armor and a greatsword that seemed to flow with a faint crimson light in the darkness, as if intertwined with her destiny.

Silence returned
until
The deafening roar impacted every inch of the circular arena's stone walls, the sound waves echoing repeatedly beneath the dome.

The yellow sand trembled slightly as countless Amazon warriors stomped their feet and shouted in a frenzy, and the dust they kicked up danced in the sunlight.

High on the grandstand, Queen Hippolyta, clad in platinum armor, sat beneath a canopy, her face icy.

"Silence! Silence!" The host, draped in a magnificent feathered cloak, amplified his voice through magic, drowning out the clamor of the crowd. "First, let us welcome the supreme ruler of the Empire with the highest respect."

"Her Majesty Queen Hippolyta is here to watch the battle!"

"!!!"

The cheers, as loud as a tsunami, rose again.

After the cheers subsided slightly, the host roared in an even more hoarse and excited tone: "Now, let's present the first 'appetizer' of today's program!"

"A mountain destroyer from the frozen north, who once tore three Imperial Legion squads apart with his bare hands!"

"Now, it's Troll Time!"

"boom--!"

The heavy gate on one side of the site was suddenly pulled up with a roar.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a colossal figure, five or six meters tall, roared and charged out!

Its rough, grayish-green skin was like rock, its gaping maw had protruding fangs, and its murky yellow eyes held only primal ferocity. On its shoulder, it carried a huge log that required several people to encircle!

Upon its appearance, it slammed a log into the ground, producing a dull, loud thud.

Then he looked up at the sky and let out a defiant roar, causing his foul-smelling saliva to splatter everywhere.

"Look at that power! That wildness!" the host exclaimed enthusiastically. "Let's see how it 'treats' today's challengers!"

Then, her tone shifted, becoming undisguisedly inciteful:
"And today's reckless challenger is precisely..."

"—The intruders' spies!"

"Whoa—!!!"

A chorus of contempt and hostility surged toward the entrance from all directions, as if to drown it out.

but.
Right in the middle of this vortex of noise and malice...

A red figure, ignoring all the mockery and curses, stepped step by step from the shadows into the blinding sunlight and scorching yellow sand.

She wore the dark red armor that Locke had resurrected, the armor shimmering with a scarlet light in the sunlight, mysterious and chilling.

In his hand was the same newly repaired greatsword, its tip dragging across the sand, leaving a straight mark.

Upon seeing the main character appear, the host loudly announced the start of the competition:
"Now... the match begins..."

However, before she finished speaking...
"Wow——!"

A sharp, crisp, and chilling tearing sound suddenly rang out, abruptly cutting off the host's words and drowning out all the noise in the room!
"."

what happened?
Time stood still.

Then came a deathly silence.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the center of the arena.

The troll that was swaggering and roaring just a second ago...
Its movements froze in place.
From forehead to bridge of nose, from chest to waist...

A straight line of blood quietly appeared.

Under the gaze of countless stunned eyes, the troll, along with the heavy log on its shoulder, slid neatly and slowly to both sides along the line of blood...

"Pfft!!!"

The enormous corpse, perfectly cleaved in two, crashed heavily onto the sand, kicking up clouds of dust.

Only then did the internal organs and foul blood belatedly gush out, instantly staining a large area of ​​sand red.

Instant kill!

Absolutely! Without a doubt! The visual impact is off the charts!
Instant kill!

The silence lasted for a full three seconds, as if the entire spacetime had been severed by this sword.

Immediately, the host let out a near-manic roar, attempting to regain control of the out-of-control situation:
"Unbelievable!!!"

"What happened?! Did you all see that?! One strike! Just one strike! Our 'spy' lady gave everyone a resounding slap in the face!"

"She tore the trolls apart! She shattered all our expectations! This is insane!!"

After a brief moment of deathly silence, the entire venue erupted into an even more chaotic roar.

There were gasps of shock, whispers of awe, disdainful sneers, angry howls, and even cheers that were instantly ignited by this violent aesthetic!

And in the field
The red figure merely adjusted its sword-wielding posture slightly, the greatsword pointing diagonally at the ground, its scarlet armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

She raised her head, her gaze piercing through the clamor, calmly sweeping across the entire arena, and finally, resolutely landing on the cold empress on the high platform.

The first round is just the beginning.
And for the remaining nine games, she will crush them all with the same efficiency!

The Amazons of Paradise Island!

Never weak!
-
P.S.: There should be another update this afternoon.

(End of this chapter)