Chapter 180: Antares Crusade Team

In just a single night, the monstrous entity had learned to wield Artemis' divine power, launching attacks from a distance.

"That creature has to be dealt with—immediately," Sol muttered coldy.

Suddenly, Rethusa, visibly weakened and heavily bandaged, knelt before Sol, her head pressed to the ground, her voice edged with pleading. "Sol-sama, please...save Artemis-sama."

Watching Alfia's earlier efforts to block the divine attacks had instilled her with a glimmer of hope—she now believed this god before her was her best chance to rescue their goddess. For the Artemis family, relying on their own strength was no more than a hopeless dream.

Following their leader's lead, the other Artemis family members also knelt in a unified display of respect and desperation.

"Stand up, children of the Artemis family. Artemis and I share a close bond—I will do everything in my power to bring her back safely." Sol extended a hand to help Rethusa, noting her fragility. He hoped she wouldn't lose her life to overexertion after all the time he'd spent healing her wounds.

"If you plan to face Antares, then please...let me join you. I must be the one to retrieve Artemis-sama from that monster's clutches." Rethusa's words were fierce, her eyes burning with anger and determination.

"We'll go, too!" one of the adventurers cried.

"Yes, Artemis-sama must be saved!" The other children of Artemis rallied, visibly recharged with a sense of purpose.

It was clear that Artemis held an esteemed place in their hearts.

"It's admirable to be so determined," Sol cautioned, "but the coming battle will be treacherous. If you join in your current state, you will die." His voice was calm but direct.

The Artemis family members fell silent, though the fear of death flickered in their eyes. Yet, none of them backed down. They were resolute, proving they were indeed carefully chosen by Artemis, wholly worthy of her trust.

"As long as I can help rescue Artemis-sama, I will not turn away," Rethusa replied without a moment's hesitation. She spoke as if voicing the will of every member of the Artemis family.

"Very well," Sol responded. "Rest now while we prepare for the crusade. Heal your wounds, and hold on to life in the coming battle."

"Yes, sir!" they chorused.

Rethusa and the others gathered to rest, replenishing their supplies from the village's stockpiles, which included weapons, healing potions, and magical swords—whatever they could gather for the perilous task ahead.

The resources, as Sol had said, would serve them well in this life-or-death encounter. Otherwise, they might find themselves bringing these supplies with them on a journey to Hades.

"Let's make our own preparations as well, Alfia. This fight with Antares is inevitable."

Sol had no intention of summoning additional support from Shen and Akali. If Alfia, the strongest among them, couldn't subdue Antares, then even adding two more high-level warriors wouldn't turn the tide. However, Shen's abilities allowed him to offer long-range support if necessary; should the need arise, he could rely on Shen's intervention as a last resort.

"Are you truly letting all of them join? It could become dangerous," Alfia whispered to Sol once the Artemis family members had gone to rest.

Sol rolled his eyes in response. "Why didn't you say that to those kids earlier? They've already made their stance clear. Refusing them would only make them follow on their own."

He reasoned that keeping them within sight at least allowed him some control, reducing the chance of reckless actions.

"Just keep them a safe distance from the battlefield so they don't complicate things for me," Sol added.

"Oh, is that what you think of me?" Alfia shot him a look, her expression unreadable.

With everyone working together, the Artemis family's preparations for the assault on Antares were soon complete, mostly relying on the Artemis family's own resources. This battle served as an opportunity to clear out their entire inventory.

The short rest didn't fully heal the Artemis family's injuries, but every member appeared at the assembly point. They were resolute, undeterred by the risks of facing Antares.

Sol's confidence in finding the monster's lair was bolstered by the attack from the previous night. With its colossal size, locating Antares would be straightforward once they were in the right area.

Led by Alfia, the group moved swiftly toward the forest where Antares was located. As the strongest among them, Alfia naturally took charge. Though usually positioned as a rear mage, her capabilities made her an adept guide, especially in such dense but minimally hazardous terrain.

Though the Artemis family had its own forward scout, she was gravely injured—Rethusa and this scout bore the most severe injuries. The single night of rest was nowhere near enough to fully heal them, yet she too rose from bed without hesitation to join the rescue mission. As the vanguard, it was her duty to stand beside her comrades in times of need.

"Remember what I told you yesterday," Sol called out, turning to face the Artemis family. "Stay close, and do not act independently—especially once we're inside the forest!"

Though their fervor was commendable, overzealousness could lead to impulsive, dangerous decisions. He wouldn't risk their lives due to unnecessary recklessness.

"Stay alert," Sol warned, his voice taut. "Something is approaching."