The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak

As time passed, the Panathenaic Festival drew near.

Souta felt a tinge of exhaustion, the strain of exerting even a small amount of energy weighing on him. Yet, he didn't dwell on it, knowing it was all part of the process to train his men. With him absent, the rest of the squad would continue their training autonomously.

Rather than delving into teaching them flashy combat arts or intricate skills, Souta focused on imparting the basics—the cornerstone of any proficient warrior.

Accompanied by Alice, Souta stepped through the portal, leaving the remainder of the squad behind to manage affairs in Astros.

Soon, Souta and Alice arrived at the Land of Eternal Spring, Athena's territory within Olympus. It sprawled across a vast expanse, dwarfing even the Hall Plains in size. To put it into perspective, the Hall Plains occupied just one-twelfth of the Land of Eternal Spring's territory. Within this expansive domain lay dozens of countries, all united in their worship of Goddess Athena.

This land had stood for millennia, experiencing unparalleled prosperity. While occasional conflicts arose among the mortal countries within, they were swiftly resolved through the intervention of Athena's warriors.

Welcome to the Land of Eternal Spring, specifically the Acropolis of Athens—the seat of power ruled by the Athen's Champion. This prestigious position represents the pinnacle of authority within the entire territory. The Acropolis rarely intervenes in the affairs of mortal countries unless the situation threatens numerous lives.

As the main headquarters of the Athen's Champion, the Acropolis of Athens houses the majority of warriors affiliated with the legion. It serves as a beacon of aspiration for the people of the Land of Eternal Spring, as their goddess resides within its walls.

Exiting the portal, Souta and Alice gazed around in wonder. Although Souta had visited this place numerous times in the game, the real-life experience held a distinct allure.

"So this is the Land of Eternal Spring..." Alice murmured, taking in the bustling scene as numerous warriors emerged from other portals. The festival had drawn warriors from all corners, converging them here.

"We're in the Acropolis of Athens, and over there..." Souta gestured toward a grand and magnificent palace in the distance. "That's the Palace Goddess, the divine residence of our Goddess Athena. No one is permitted to enter unless granted permission by our Goddess herself."

"Hm..." Alice nodded, casting a glance at him. "You seem quite knowledgeable about this place, especially considering it's our first time here."

Souta smiled and shrugged. "You could say that. It's always good to do some research beforehand."

Alice chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind for next time."

While they conversed, two warriors approached them, offering salutes. "Grain Leader Souta, we've arranged your lodging. Please, follow us."

"Okay," Souta replied with a nod.

The two warriors led them to an exquisite building. Given Souta's status as a Grain Leader and his renowned achievements in the Hall Plains and Selnes Country, his accommodations were of the highest caliber. His reputation even surpassed that of some Chief Captains.

After learning about their lodging arrangements, Souta and Alice set off to explore the Acropolis of Athens.

Countless individuals bustled about, and the streets teemed with numerous experts going about their business. The entire place pulsed with activity and vitality.

"Grain Leader Souta!"

Souta and Alice halted in their tracks at the sound of their names. They turned to see a tall, striking woman approaching them.

Souta smiled warmly and greeted her politely. "How are you, Grain Leader Ibis?"

Ibis shook her head with a smile. "Don't be so formal. I'm no longer a Grain Leader. That position now belongs to you."

She's the Grain Leader who was dispatched to secretly help Souta in the Hall Plains. She fought alongside Souta, Governor Ray, and Gerxuzs against the No God Emperor. After that battle, she retired, leaving her position vacant. Souta then assumed her role.

Ibis glanced at Alice and said, "And you must be the second-in-command, Alice, right?"

Alice nodded and replied, "I'm Alice Fambell. It's a pleasure to meet you, Grain Leader Ibis."

Ibis waved her hand. "Don't mind titles. As I said, I'm just a normal warrior now."

Souta, Ibis, and Alice conversed for a while before parting ways.

After the incident in Hall Plains, Ibis decided to retire and settle in the Acropolis of Athens. It was here that she met and married her husband. The battle in Hall Plains seemed to have pushed her towards a desire for a normal life, away from danger.

Souta, however, felt apprehensive about living a normal life. He understood that he couldn't afford it, knowing what lay ahead in the future. Even in this seemingly peaceful Land of Eternal Spring, the specter of war loomed.

He realized that the only path to attain that semblance of normalcy was to confront and survive all the dangers that awaited him. Only by enduring until the end could he acquire the strength to shape his destiny as he desired.

Souta shook his head as he glanced at Alice. "How's your training going?" he asked.

"It's fine. I'm still improving," Alice replied. Then, something crossed her mind, and she inquired, "And what about you? I thought you'd be spending more time training before we head to Walpurgis."

Souta shrugged, offering a smile. "Well, it's nothing serious. Taking a bit of rest isn't so bad."

"Is that so..." Alice narrowed her eyes, casting a suspicious glance at him.

Souta closed his eyes as they continued walking. "I'll explain it to you later. No need to worry."

Alice watched him for a moment before following. If he said there was nothing to worry about, then she supposed there wasn't much she could do.

The two arrived in front of a vast plaza. In the center stood a towering statue of Goddess Athena, exuding a peculiar energy. Merely approaching the statue, people with injuries felt their wounds closing at a visible rate.

Alice gazed at the statue, reminiscing about her encounter with the goddess. The ethereal aura Athena emanated during their meeting was surreal.

"This statue was erected thousands of years ago using various high-quality materials. It grants buffs to anyone within a thirty-meter radius," Souta explained.

"Hmm..." Alice lowered her eyes and observed the diverse crowd offering prayers to the statue. She glanced at Souta and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you going to pray?"

"Nope," Souta shook his head. "I'm not really the praying type. But if I were to pray, I'd do it at the temple, consulting the oracle."

"So you still believe in prayers?"

"Sort of."

"This place is beautiful," Alice muttered, her gaze lingering on the majestic statue.

"Yeah, it's peaceful. It's been blessed by the gods. Natural disasters won't touch this place," Souta nodded in agreement. He glanced at Alice and added, "There will be a march on the last day of the festival. As a Grain Leader, I have to attend, and I'll bring you along."

"Sure, I'm fine with that," Alice replied.

The plaza was bustling with people of all kinds, chatting and laughing with each other. The atmosphere was vibrant and alive. Whether they were ordinary folks or powerful warriors, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves on this day.

Souta and Alice strolled through the streets, chatting animatedly as they sampled various foods from the street vendors. They also took in the sights, visiting beautiful spots and marvels like the statue of the Goddess Athena.

Being in a place overseen by a god was truly a unique experience. The mana density alone was noticeably higher compared to other places they had visited.

As they walked, various warriors who recognized Souta greeted him warmly. Some, like Manduk, were familiar faces, having sparred with him after he reached the fourth stage.

There were numerous events taking place at the festival. Souta and Alice decided to attend the musical event, finding seats among the audience. They watched as various performers took the stage, their music predominantly centered around the Goddess Athena, fitting for the occasion.

Souta was taken aback when he spotted Grain Leader Carmel on stage. He hadn't known Carmel possessed such musical talent, let alone could perform so remarkably.

"Perhaps singing is Grain Leader Carmel's hobby," Alice speculated quietly.

"Probably. And what about you? What's your hobby?" Souta asked, his attention divided between Alice and the performance on stage.

"Me? Um... How should I put it? I guess I don't really have a hobby..." Alice replied, sounding uncertain.

"You're not being truthful. I can tell," Souta chuckled lightly.

"Ugh... Well then, what's your hobby?" Alice deflected, avoiding the question.

"You already know. It's training. I spend most of my free time doing that. It's just that I can't right now, for some reason," Souta replied.

"What happened?" Alice's eyebrows furrowed in concern as she waited for his response.

Souta didn't answer immediately. He turned to look at her for a moment before returning his gaze to the performance. "Well, something occurred in the Dream Realm that caused damage to my inner consciousness."

"Inner consciousness?!" Alice exclaimed, standing up in shock. Damage to one's inner consciousness was considered serious and difficult to repair.

"Shhh!" Souta hushed her, placing a finger to his lips. With a snap of his fingers, he erected a barrier to muffle their conversation. "Calm down. It's not severe, and I can repair it. I'll explain further later; there are too many people around here."

Alice nodded, gradually calming down upon hearing his reassurance.