Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Meanwhile, having dodged attack after attack and closely following Atalanta, Samael glanced back at the miserable state of the participants behind him, his eyelids twitching involuntarily, and he inwardly cursed wildly.

Hey sis, is this race across the dangerous Arcadia Mountains just to avoid getting married a bit too hardcore?

This female hunter had lived in the Arcadia Mountains since childhood, and no one knew the environment and terrain better than her.

Choosing this venue wasn't the end of it; to ensure everything went perfectly, she even resorted to traps—it's outrageous!

Only by personally experiencing this legendary event could Samael truly understand how strong Atalanta's determination to protect her chastity was.

The female hunter, far ahead of the pack, glanced back at the miserable state of those behind her, raised her eyebrows, and gave a haughty snort.

"My distant homeland, Arcadia, is a place of rugged mountains and towering peaks. I leap and frolic among the rocks. You think you can defeat me in my area of ​​expertise? Men, ha!"

When Atalanta's gaze fell upon the relentlessly pursuing figure, she slowed her pace slightly until she was level with the person.

"Phew! Big sister, I've finally caught up with you. It's just acting, you don't have to take it so seriously, do you?"

Seeing this, Samael breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head resentfully, and couldn't help but complain.

"Kid, I don't have a habit of breaking promises. As promised, I'll give you a head start."

Atalanta turned and smiled, but in an instant the huntress's expression turned cold, her gaze sharp.

"But remember, you only have ten minutes. Run fast, and whatever you do, don't let me catch you. If I win, I won't hold back!"

Before Samael could react, Atalanta immediately stopped and stood calmly in place.

Holy crap, they really changed their minds! What happened?

Samael was completely bewildered and wanted to stop and ask for clarification.

But seeing Atalanta with her arms crossed, lips moving as she meticulously counted, the ancient serpent had no choice but to grit its teeth and charge forward.

Forget it, let's just win this race first, and ask again after we reach the finish line.

Atalanta leaned against a tree beside the track, silently calculating the time while closing her eyes for a short rest.

In the blink of an eye, a full ten minutes had passed, and only a few scattered people, panting heavily, rushed past her location and caught up with her.

These fools, blinded by power and beauty, actually dare to challenge nature; how idiotic!

When the time came, Atalanta suddenly opened her eyes, transforming into emerald light and shadow, flashing and moving through the forest as swiftly as the wind.

Hmph, run first, I will turn into a whirlwind and overtake you from behind!

In Arcadia, the hunters of the forest will not lose to any outsider!

The racers who had overtaken Atalanta had no time to rejoice before they turned around and were shocked to find that the distance between them and the huntress was rapidly shrinking.

No matter how hard they tried and how much they pushed their physical limits, they couldn't change the situation. They could only watch helplessly as the running lioness easily passed by them.

In just a few breaths, one... two... three... caught up with the previous eighth person before the overwhelming momentum eased slightly.

Including that guy, there are two left.

Atalanta glanced at the contestant clad in closed armor, her head held high with a proud smile playing on her lips.

Soon, the female hunter seized the opportunity, using a slight, agile turn at a bend ahead, and was about to overtake the contestant in second place.

Just then, a golden, glistening fruit was thrown from the side and rolled to Atalanta's feet, its rich and alluring aroma possessing a captivating magic.

Chapter 172 I've been putting up with you for far too long! (1/2)

Finally…she finally stopped!

The young god-born boy named Hippomenes glanced back at Princess Atalanta, who was bending down to pick up the golden apple, and was overjoyed. He immediately took the opportunity to run away and create distance between them.

However, this advantage lasted only a few minutes before the hunter who had devoured the golden apple caught up again.

Hippomenes was startled and instinctively turned to look at Atalanta.

The hunters running through the jungle were momentarily thrown into disarray as their eyes met. They instinctively slowed down, seemingly unwilling to overtake the young man and cause him to lose his life.

Great! It works!

Thanks to the goddess Aphrodite, if I win the competition, obtain this beautiful princess, and possess the throne of Arcadia, I will surely preside over the sacrifice for you!

With less than a third of the journey remaining and still holding the advantage, the young man of divine lineage couldn't help but feel excited as he muttered a prayer.

"Crack!"

"puff!"

But Hippomenes' joy was short-lived. Suddenly, he heard the crisp, trembling sound of a branch snapping and the dull thud of muscles tearing behind him.

She actually...

The young man, a descendant of the gods, watched as the princess gritted her teeth and plunged a branch into her thigh muscle, letting blood ooze from the wound, yet still relentlessly pursued the prince. His heart clenched suddenly.

Atalanta's gaze, revealed when she inadvertently looked up, was filled with untamed wildness and ferocity.

It shouldn't be like this!

As Atalanta rapidly approached, Hippomenes awoke as if from a dream, his face turning pale.

Absolutely can't lose!

If he loses, this arrogant Arcadia princess will definitely not let him off!

However, when his fingers reached into his robes and touched the second golden apple, he felt much more at ease.

Yes, I can! I can win!

I've heard my elders say that even among the powerful twelve Olympian gods, only three virgin goddesses—Hestia, the goddess of the hearth; Artemis, the goddess of the hunt; and Athena, the goddess of wisdom—could resist the influence of the power of love.

Atalanta was just an ordinary demigod, and there was absolutely no way she could escape the attraction of lust.

The words, which seemed to be a form of self-hypnosis or self-encouragement, seemed to echo in his mind. Just as the huntress was about to catch up with him, the young god descendant immediately took out the second golden apple and threw it far behind him.

Atalanta clenched her teeth, a slight stinging sensation coming from her cherry lips, and a strong metallic taste seeping into her mouth.

Even so, she still subconsciously looked up, her emerald eyes fixed on the trajectory of the falling golden apple, and uncontrollably jumped up.

Yes, that's it, get it, eat it.

Hippomenes ran while looking back, his right hand involuntarily clenching into a fist in nervous excitement, his heart pounding with anticipation.

However, at the same time, a sudden gust of wind, carrying a swift black shadow, brushed past him in the opposite direction.

Amidst the collapsing rocks, the dark figure leaped up and, with lightning speed, grabbed the golden apple first, then landed in a cloud of dust from a sudden stop.

"Give me!"

Atalanta's eyes turned red as she twisted her body and rushed straight towards the dark figure.

I felt something was off since you hadn't come over for so long, thank goodness you turned back!

Samael sidestepped Atalanta's lunge, hiding his other hand, which was holding the golden apple, behind his back. He turned to look at the bewildered young god-born man in front of him, his face grim.

"What did you do?"

"I…"

Gazing into those pitch-black serpentine eyes that seemed to devour all light, Hippomenes felt a chill run down his spine, speechless and covered in cold sweat.

run!

Driven by instinct, the young prodigy dared not look back. He gritted his teeth and strode forward with his somewhat stiff legs, sprinting toward the starting point of the mountain peak. A vortex of air surged around him, making his steps even lighter and faster.

He was the great-grandson of the sea god, possessing pure divine blood. His ancestor, Poseidon, not only ruled the ocean but was also a god who could control sea storms.

There's no need to pay them any attention! I'll win soon!

Do you still want to take advantage of someone's misfortune?

You think you're worthy?

Samael's gaze was icy, his muscles bulged, and the moment he stomped forward, the air distorted slightly, and a terrifying sonic boom sent waves of earth flying several meters high.

"Give me back my things!"

Atalanta's pupils contracted, and she roared in anger. She immediately leaned forward, like a lion with its mane bristling, and leaped more than ten meters on all fours, relentlessly biting the guy who had stolen her treasure.

Haha! Great! It's a mountain stream area! Once we get through this section, we'll reach the finish line.

I have the blood of Poseidon in my veins, and all rivers, streams, and oceans will protect me!

Hippomenes gazed at the shimmering expanse of water ahead, overjoyed, eager to establish absolute dominance in his area of ​​expertise.

"Buzz!"

However, he had only run a short distance when he felt a violent shockwave in the air behind him.

In an instant, the dark figure that had turned back earlier ran across the water without any hindrance, creating layers of water curtains that enveloped the person and formed a magnificent rainbow due to the high-speed friction.

Hippomenes, who was jolted awake from his daze after being splashed with water, was shocked to discover that the guy was running faster on the water than on land!

How is this possible? Could it be that the sea god bloodline in my body is fake?

Hippomenes was utterly bewildered, his eyes filled with disbelief.

What the young progenitor didn't know was that the competitor was the son of Tiamat, the source of the ocean's saltwater. He had crossed the Sea of ​​Imaginary Numbers, experienced the Great Flood of West Asia, bathed in the rivers of the Underworld, and even Oceanus had soaked in them for hundreds of years. In terms of the ocean's affinity, even if his ancestor Poseidon himself were to participate, the protection he received might not be stronger than that of this monster.

In the instant Hippomenes was stunned, another figure, on all fours, leaped like the wind among the rocks and overtook him.

It's Princess Atalanta!

The young prodigy instantly regained his senses and desperately chased after them. Seeing the gap between himself and the two ahead widening, he couldn't help but reach into his robes again, his eyes gleaming.

Immediately afterwards, the third golden apple was maliciously thrown into the ravine outside the track.

Atalanta, who was running, suddenly twitched her nostrils, like a cat that had spotted a point of light on a wall and was eagerly pouncing on it. She leaped off the track, ready to intercept the tempting golden apple.

But another figure was faster than her. With each step, the force of the impact created waves tens of meters high, instantly cutting off the rushing river and revealing a layer of smooth pebbles on the riverbed below.

With a physique stronger than top-tier magical beasts, and at least twenty flashes of physical talent and divine blessing, Samael soared into the air, grabbed the third golden apple in one hand and Atalanta in the other, and forcefully turned back onto the track.

What the hell is this monster?!

Hippomenes turned around and stared in disbelief, cursing under his breath.

But at this point, having exhausted all his options, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and run forward.

Fortunately, the complex mountain stream was finally over, and ahead, after a stretch of open space about 100 meters long, lay the long-awaited finish line.

We're here! Almost there! Victory is mine!

So what if you're more talented? So what if your bloodline is stronger than mine? I am the one favored by fate and love!

Hippomenes' thoughts wandered, and a smile appeared on his face.

But after he had only run a few steps in the open area, the deadly roar behind him began again.

Amidst the swirling grass clippings, some persistent fellow strode past Hippomenes and rushed toward the finish line.

What's even more infuriating is that he was holding the stray cat that was scratching and rummaging through his arms.

Damn it! All of this belongs to me!

Gazing at the two figures entangled together ahead, Hippomenes was filled with rage and malice. He drew water vapor from his hand, which coalesced into a deep blue trident.

Just then, Samael suddenly turned around and unleashed a whistling punch that landed squarely on the young god descendant's face.

Hippomenes immediately coughed up blood, his teeth shattered, his facial bones and nose broke, and his body flew backward like a boulder rolling down a mountain, kicking up dust everywhere.

"I've been putting up with you for ages!"

Samael clenched his fist, his gaze dark and his voice icy.

Not far from the finish line, Hippomenes, nearly unrecognizable after being smashed into a deep pit, uttered mournful cries as his body struggled and writhed in the mud like a maggot desperately trying to survive.

Chapter 173 The prize is actually myself? (2/2)

Click...click...

The ancient snake slowly moved towards the deep pit, its neck and knuckles moving and making a series of popping sounds.

Hippomenes looked on in terror and immediately crawled out of the pit. The blood flowing from his wounds was diverted and guided by the power of the sea.

Therefore, those who are related to water and life are divine descendants, so we can take our time and play with them!

Samael sneered, his gaze chilling.

Pursuit is not wrong, but knowing the consequences and still daring to use such bait that distorts will makes him deeply disgusted.