American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 241 Diana, my child, you will be crowned queen!

Hippolyta.

Locke initially intended to use the honorific title as he was used to, but after some thought, he decided to address him by his first name instead.

Upon hearing this, Hippolyta, dressed in a plain white dress, did not answer immediately.

Her gaze remained fixed on her daughter, as if she wanted to see back all the missed mornings and evenings, all the unresolved worries, from her daughter's upright posture and the hand tightly gripping the long sword.

After a long while, she finally shifted her gaze slightly away, her voice as soft as a stream flowing under the moonlight:

"I'm worried...of course I'm worried."

She slowly turned her elegant head to look at the huge demonic shadow beside her. There was no fear in her eyes, but rather a familiarity and peace that seemed to have transcended time.

"But I trust her more."

A genuine smile spread across her lips.

Hippolyta raised her long neck slightly, her white dress outlining her well-proportioned figure, and her slender waist was held upright in the chair.

She proudly stated:

"I believe in my daughter; she has found her own path and... strength."

"Besides."

Her gaze swept casually over Locke's menacing figure, her crossed legs beneath her long skirt gracefully shifting position as she added in a meaningful whisper, "She's not alone now, is she?"

Locke's enormous vertical pupils shifted slightly, slowly turning in the shadows, finally settling on Hippolyta's serene and unmoving face.

He was silent.

Shadows churned around him
After a long while, he finally uttered a confused sound, like a lost person muttering to himself.

"I still... don't understand what's going on," he sighed.

The unspoken meaning in his words pointed to Diana, who was standing guard below, and also to this inextricable and tangled connection.

"It's alright... Locke..."

Hippolyta gently interrupted him, trying to dispel the hint of helplessness in his words.

She tilted her head slightly, calmly meeting those inhuman eyes that could make everything tremble.

There is no fear within it, only an understanding that can encompass all things.

"it does not matter."

She repeated herself gently, "You don't know me...that's normal."

She paused, a distant memory flashing across her eyes, followed by a faint, misty sadness, before continuing:
"Just like... you are not the Locke in my fragmented memories, the one who would laugh and talk about corn and griffins on Paradise Island at sunset."

"At this moment, you have your story, and I have my memories..."

"that's enough."

Hippolyta did not elaborate, seemingly believing that this was not the time to discuss it in detail.

She simply looked at him quietly, as if examining the soul within that demonic body that had left such a deep imprint.

The air fell silent again for a brief moment, with only the faint rumble of weapons clashing below.

A moment later, Hippolyta made a move that Locke had not anticipated.

She slowly raised her hand, her movements calm and unhurried, and extended her slender yet powerful hand toward Locke's huge, scale-covered demonic claw.

"However, I think we should start right now, from this place."

"Hello, Mr. Locke Kent."

Her gaze gently fell once more upon Diana in the audience, then returned to Locke's face, and she said softly, "I am Hippolyta, Queen of Paradise Island, and... Diana's mother."

This self-introduction is concise and clear.

Locke was stunned.

Those burning vertical pupils stared at the unsuspecting hand that hovered silently in mid-air before them, then slowly rose to meet Hippolyta's clear and calm eyes.

He pondered for a moment.

In an instant, the suffocating demonic energy surrounding him suddenly subsided!

The towering demonic body rapidly shrank and deformed in a few breaths, and the scales covering its body and the wing shadows on its back turned into streaks of light and dissipated.

Under the watchful eyes of the surrounding guards, who instantly became suspicious and even subconsciously took a half step back, the hideous demon had vanished, replaced by a black-haired man wearing only slightly dusty work pants and a bare, well-built upper body.

He still had that same angular face.
At this moment, however, all inhuman characteristics have been shed, and the most essential 'human' form has been returned.

Locke extended his human hand and gently shook hands with Hippolyta.

“I am Locke Kent.”

"A farmer."

A handshake, a touch of separation.

However, after completing this simple action, Locke secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

One can only say that the Queen truly lives up to her title as Queen…

This composure and calmness are far beyond what ordinary people possess.

To tell the truth
Honestly, if the other person breaks down emotionally the moment they meet, crying and making a scene while demanding answers or hysterically accusing others, then he really has no choice but to transform into a demon and flee far away.

This calm and restrained exchange made him feel more at ease.

He ignored the complex gazes of the guards around him, still filled with shock, inquiry, and curiosity, as if they didn't exist.

My gaze passed over the canopy and returned to the two figures facing off in the arena below.
The Queen in her platinum armor, and her daughter Diana.

A battle seems imminent.

Now, at least for the time being, he can focus on this crucial showdown from a relatively 'normal' perspective.

However, Queen Hippolyta's gaze involuntarily fell upon him from the corner of her eye.

This posture…

That's more like the figure she remembered, lacking that oppressive demonic power, but possessing more of the earth's weight and reality.

Her thoughts drifted away like mist, as if trying to return to a distant moment sealed by time, until—

"Diana is in danger."

Locke's deep voice jolted her back to reality.

She turned her head and saw Locke with his brows furrowed, staring intently at the audience.

Although neither of them used any divine power, they fought solely based on their combat skills.

However, the battle below was still almost one-sided!

The empress, clad in platinum armor, was practically a god of war.
Her movements were concise and efficient, displaying honed and refined killing skills.

Each thrust of the golden spear in her hand was precisely aimed at the weak points in Diana's greatsword's defense, or at the slightest openings in her footwork.

"clang--!"

With a loud crash, Diana barely managed to parry a thrust with her greatsword, but the immense power contained in the spear sent her staggering backward, her hands going numb.

Without pausing, the Queen charged forward like lightning, her left arm armor, shrouded in a ring of solid golden light, slamming into Diana's breastplate!
"boom!"

Diana let out a muffled groan and flew backward, crashing heavily onto the scorched ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

She struggled to get up immediately, but the Queen's golden spear was already upon her, carrying a chilling aura of death, and aimed at her throat!

Forced to scramble to the side, she narrowly avoided the fatal blow.

The host's voice blared through the magical megaphone, filled with excitement and amazement:
"Too fast! Too powerful! Her Majesty the Empress has demonstrated absolute dominance!"

"Diana was completely on the defensive; her attacks couldn't touch His Majesty at all, while His Majesty's every counterattack was like thunder!"

"Look! Another exquisite parry and counterattack! Diana has been knocked back once again! She can only struggle in Her Majesty the Queen's ocean of power!"

On the high platform, Hippolyta, having regained her senses, watched her daughter being knocked down time and time again, yet rising tenaciously each time. Though a pang of heartache crossed her eyes, a deep trust shone through them even more.

She still spoke softly:

"I believe in Diana."

Upon hearing this, Locke's lips twitched involuntarily, and he muttered a helpless complaint under his breath, his gaze still fixed on the perilous battle unfolding below:
"Your Majesty, this is no longer a matter of belief..."

He carried a hint of undisguised anxiety:

"This is an absolute difference in strength and experience! That mirror image of you showed no mercy whatsoever!"

“I still believe in her.” Hippolyta’s tone remained unwavering, as if stating an irrefutable truth: “Diana is the last and only pure eternal soul in the Well of Souls.”

"She possesses both supreme compassion and an untamed wildness within her."

"And also bear divine power."

"Now that she is whole, no Amazon can defeat her. Not even me."

Listen to Hippolyta's words, which are like epic proverbs.

Locke couldn't help but raise his hand and press his temple.

This mysterious and absurd explanation gave him a huge headache.

But since it concerned Diana, he restrained himself and asked the crucial question:

"Where...this world came from?"

He recalled Marbas's constant references to the dimension of oblivion and the world in his pocket.
"Why are there Amazons here? And they seem...more warlike?"

Upon hearing this, Hippolyta gave a bitter smile.

She gently shook her head, her voice lingering:

"It was you...and it was me...we created this world together."

Before Locke could show any surprise, she continued her explanation, her tone heavy:

"Blessed by the goddess Gaia, the Olympian gods, and the heroic spirits of women throughout history, we Amazons were born with a sacred mission."

"—Unite all beings in the world with love and compassion."

"However…"

Her voice lowered, filled with sorrow, "Back then, after experiencing the war brought by Hercules, our people were blinded by hatred, ignoring my warnings and advice, and launched a bloody revenge against Hercules and his followers..."

"We have turned our backs on the foundation of the divine oracle, and the price we have paid is the loss of most of the gods' favor and blessings. Even worse, the Well of Souls, which gave birth to the very essence of our people's souls, has been polluted by uncontrollable hatred and violence."

A deep sorrow flashed in her eyes: "Since then, the eternal souls born from the well have no longer been as pure as before, but have been filled with elements of madness and belligerence..."

She raised her eyes, her gaze piercing the night as she looked down at the golden-armored empress locked in fierce combat with Diana, her expression incredibly complex:
"I cannot bear to see my people, this ancient people, slide into the abyss of utter destruction, nor can I bear to see those souls, who should be immortal, sink into eternal madness..."

"So, I've borrowed from you... Yamato."

"With the power of a blade, the corrupted well of souls was cleaved open!"

Hippolyta's voice was resolute: "I will separate the soul in the well, along with that uncontrolled source of hatred and belligerence!"

She pointed to the vast, brightly lit empire below, filled with battle and fanaticism: "And those corrupted souls that were separated and fell into chaos and belligerence, and the source of that unyielding obsession... are the mirror empire that you and I have banished here together."

"They are the 'shadows' that I had to give up in order to preserve the eternity of the Amazon."

A look of surprise flashed in Locke's eyes.

He truly hadn't expected that this gentle yet resilient queen would act so decisively and ruthlessly!
In order to preserve the core of the tribe, they were so heartless as to sever a part of the soul that was already 'diseased'!

No wonder.
He couldn't help but recall the history Ali had mentioned earlier at the temple.
Hippolyta's sister Antiope, due to ideological differences, led a group of her people away and established the Barna Amazons, which deviated from tradition.

Now think about it
What Antiochus took away back then was not just his people with different beliefs, but those, as Hippolyta said, those whose souls had been corrupted by hatred and driven mad after the War of Hercules.

Hippolyta's silence and indifference back then may not have been weakness, but rather a kind of...

A resolute act, like scraping the bone to remove poison, a purification that was... a helpless but necessary process?
He seemed lost in thought, feeling as if a hidden historical thread was faintly visible before his eyes.

Then, pointing to the war-torn empire below, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time:

"So this world..."

He had long felt that the structure of this world had an indescribable strangeness.

The spatial barriers are as thin as a sheet of paper, and the origin of the world lacks a certain core sense of weight.

Hippolyta's gaze followed him, and she nodded slightly, confirming his perception.

Her voice was ethereal, and she used a delicate metaphor:
"This world is not the complete universe; it is merely a forgotten dimension, a pocket world."

She repeated Marbas's words, her voice calm as she described a delicate yet fragile model:
You can think of it as our main world.

"The main channel of the river, flowing ceaselessly, occasionally produces a few bubbles or a splash of water due to the energy surge during its operation."

"It contains some information and rules of the main world, but its scale and completeness are far inferior."

"Its actual size is probably less than one-tenth the size of Earth."

"In fact... there is no such thing as the universe or starry sky."

She raised her hand and pointed to the sky, "That seemingly boundless sky is actually just a fragile, simulated illusion."

"That's why it's called the pocket dimension, the forgotten world, or another dimension."

“Here, as long as you have enough power, you can easily break through the constraints of the ground beneath your feet, touch the edge of the almost undefended ‘world bubble’, and thus fall into the dimensional gap or arrive at other equally tiny and isolated pocket worlds.”

Locke suddenly realized.

All the doubts were answered.

That's it
This fragile and isolated dimension is nothing more than a defective product accidentally thrown out by the main world.

Hippolyta saw this as a key point.

So after she wielded Yama's Blade and cleaved open the corrupted Well of Souls.

He then guided and sealed the split portion of the soul's torrent directly into this 'pocket dimension', which had a weak connection to the main world.

These exiled souls were reborn and multiplied here, and a new queen was born.

And with that enhanced desire for conquest and warlike nature in his bones, he actually managed to gain a foothold here, and even grow stronger, eventually establishing this world that constantly conquers other pocket worlds.

—The Empire, Shemisgela!

Seeing the look of realization on Locke's face, Hippolyta's lips curled into a slightly helpless smile, and she explained softly:
"Previously, I was inside the palace, secretly observing the state of this dimension through magic, maintaining a certain balance..."

"But unexpectedly, that girl Diana barged in at that moment..."

Her eyes were filled with lingering fear and pity.

"She unintentionally disrupted the stability of the ritual, and the ripples in space swept my daughter and me into this world that should have been isolated..."

"This was an accident."

"."

Locke gave Hippolyta a deep look, recalling the slightly unusual, hesitant reactions of General Phillips, the priestess Menalis, and others when he first arrived at Paradise Island.
He didn't completely believe the story, at least not that it was just an 'accident'.

"Is that so?" he asked with a light laugh.

But meeting Locke's gaze, Hippolyta maintained her gentle and composed expression, nodding slightly:
"of course."

There was no further explanation, as if the facts were simply that straightforward.

Locke smiled helplessly, but still turned his gaze back to the arena below.
At least that's where the most crucial thing is right now.

"boom--!"

Diana, who had been completely suppressed by the Queen and repeatedly knocked down, knelt on the ground after a clumsy roll to avoid a fatal stab, but did not immediately get up to fight back.

An unprecedented realization arose in her heart.

The Queen's spear once again transformed into golden lightning and pierced through!
This time, Diana neither blocked nor dodged!

She actually closed her eyes!
"She gave up?!" the audience exclaimed.

But just as the spear was about to touch her brow—

With a seemingly slow sidestep, she let the deadly spear glide past her cheek!

Simultaneously
The greatsword, which was always tightly gripped, moved upwards with a natural arc of light!

"clang--!"

A strange, resounding boom!

The Empress's seemingly effortless strike was deflected by this seemingly effortless sword, the immense power being redirected to one side, causing her stance to falter slightly!
For the first time, an incredulous look of astonishment appeared in the Queen's usually icy eyes!
Diana slowly opened her eyes, her deep blue pupils now crystal clear, as if reflecting the balance of the entire world. She looked at the Queen and calmly spoke:
“I saw...your pain, your anger, your...resentment.”

"But that's not the path I should take."

"My power comes from protecting, from creating, from...completeness."

"boom--!"

She didn't use any fancy moves; she simply held the greatsword horizontally, its tip pointing at the Queen, and then...
—Thrust!
The Queen's pupils contracted!

Faced with this sword strike that returned to its original simplicity, she felt an unprecedented threat!
Instinctively, her platinum divine power burned wildly as she tried to condense the strongest defense, and she even subconsciously wanted to use some deeper, more forbidden power to fight back!
A flash of madness crossed the Queen's face.
Who said that? Who said you can't use divine power?

She didn't say that it was all just Diana's own assumption and her own tacit understanding.
As long as you unleash your divine power here, you can easily...
Can.
Just at the last moment before that destructive power was about to erupt—

The Empress paused.

She looked at the resolute and unwavering Diana before her, sensing the vast and boundless potential within her.
疲惫
It swept through her mind, which had been ravaged for thousands of years.

Perhaps... this child is whole.
He is the only warrior in the prophecy who can lead the Amazon out of the shadows.
This thought slipped through her defenses.

What followed was complete relief.

The platinum divine power that had been boiling and burning throughout her body, as if it were making a final desperate attempt, quietly dissipated.

She even closed her eyes slightly, and slowly loosened her grip on the golden spear.

"Danglang——"

The divine spear fell to the ground with a clear, ringing sound.

She didn't adopt any defensive stance, but simply raised her head slightly, facing the sword that represented 'completeness' with an almost martyr-like composure.

But Diana's sword tip stopped precisely just millimeters from touching the Queen's brow.

There was no penetration.

The Queen slowly opened her eyes, looked at Diana before her, and said nothing.

She simply stood there quietly, accepting her defeat with silence and a completely unguarded attitude.

The sword tip hovered, its light swirling.

An eerie silence fell over the entire room.

Everyone held their breath, watching the two figures facing off in the arena.

The silence was broken only by the host's hesitant voice, trembling with disbelief: "The...tenth match...winner...Di...Diana..."

Her verdict, however, was like a drop of water falling into a dry riverbed, causing not a ripple.
The audience remained silent.

Their gazes were complicated as they stared at their defeated rulers.

But just as this silence was about to solidify into eternity
A hoarse yet resolute voice suddenly boomed from a corner of the stands:

"Shemisgela—Eternal Glory!!"

"boom--!!"

The silence was instantly ignited!
Thousands upon thousands of Amazon warriors, whether they hated or revered Diana before, pounded their chests and the railings in front of them with deafening roars!
Instead of shouting new slogans, they spontaneously began to sing the ancient war song that had been passed down from ancient times in their deep and powerful voices!
"Hoh—! Hoh—! Hoh—!"

The majestic singing and the sound of hammering merged into a tragic yet heroic torrent that surged throughout the entire arena!
The queen was stunned.

She felt the overwhelming loyalty and conviction.
For the first time, a look of bewilderment appeared in those eyes that had always been filled with violence and coldness.

Diana looked at her, her clear eyes filled with understanding, and she spoke softly:
"Do you see? Your subjects, they never follow you in your endless killing and conquest..."

"What they admire is that soul that bears the name of Hippolyta, and who never yields, no matter where she is or what form she takes!"

"."

The Queen gave Diana a deep look, a slight smile playing on her lips before her expression turned icy again. She abruptly raised Diana's right hand and declared to the entire audience:
"By the ancient covenant! The Ring of Victory has been completed with a ten-game winning streak!"

"I, Hippolyta, in the name of Empress of the Empire, hereby declare—"

"Diana Kent, for the Ring of Victory... Lifetime Champion!!"

After a brief silence.

"Alas--!!!!"

"Diana! Diana! Diana!"

The enthusiastic cheers erupted without restraint this time!

The roar surged skyward, as if it would lift the dome of the entire arena!

All barriers, fears, and doubts transformed into pure respect for the strong and adoration for the legendary warrior who won the Empress's personal coronation!

On the high platform
Locke looked down at Diana, who was surrounded by cheers from the crowd.
Seeing the bright smile on her face, a relieved smile involuntarily appeared on his usually calm face as well.

Beside him, Hippolyta looked down at her daughter, as if proclaiming a prophecy already written in the stars of destiny.

The sound, carrying a sacred echo, reached Locke's ears:

"my daughter……"

"On the day you were born, the entire forest of Paradise Island whispered a name."

"—Diana."

"I watch with pride as you grow day by day and become the embodiment of justice."

"But one day, my life will come to an end, and you will—"

"Be crowned king!"

(End of this chapter)