Chapter 7 Killing Python

[3rd POV]

Even though he knew he was much stronger than the giant snake Python, Ares still didn't dare to let his guard down.

The snake wasn't dangerous because of its strength but because of the deadly poison inside it. 

If it bit him, even Ares wouldn't escape unscathed.

He had never fought a snake before and mostly fought humanoid beings, either from his own memories or Ares'. 

However, Taro had watched survival experts on TV, especially a man known as "Snake Master."

This person was great at handling snakes with a lot of courage, and it left a lasting impression on him. 

After watching these experts catch snakes, Ares could now use his authority as the God of War to devise clever ways to deal with them.

Even though Python wasn't a normal snake and could spit venom, its body was still similar to a snake. 

This meant that as long as Ares managed to hold down its head, Python's strength alone wouldn't be enough to overcome him.

Right now, Ares didn't have any special snake-catching tools and decided to use his spear instead.

He held the flaming tip of the spear in his hand, moving it back and forth in front of Python's eyes, trying to distract it.

After sensing Ares' hostility, the Python grew agitated. In the Age of Gods, these monsters who walked alongside the gods weren't particularly afraid of the gods.

If it were one of the three prominent gods or Queen Hera, the snake might back down. However, Ares was merely a fourth-generation god, and his status and reputation weren't enough to make Python feel threatened. 

Python raised its upper body, puffed itself up, and hissed, showing it was ready to attack.

Seeing Python's stance, Ares immediately understood it was about to strike. He stayed very alert, waving his spear in front of the snake to keep its attention.

Meanwhile, Ares's other hand tightly gripped his shield, lifting it to his side in a ready position, prepared to block any of Python's incoming attacks.

After all, Python was just a creature, and its wild nature couldn't be suppressed. 

Ignoring Ares' flaming spear, it suddenly raised its head, its entire upper body shooting toward Ares like an arrow shot from a bow.

In mid-air, Python's massive mouth revealed its enormous venomous fangs, and two streams of toxic venom as thick as water jets shot out of its fangs toward Ares' face.

Fortunately, Ares was already prepared. He raised his shield and activated his divine power. 

The skull face on the shield opened its mouth wide, unleashing a huge wave of fire that completely vaporized the venom mid-air. 

Meanwhile, Ares didn't pause his other hand. He swung his spear and hit the side of the Python's body, knocking its attack off course like a stick.

Python suddenly tried to bite, but it bit into one of the four pillars that Zeus had created with his divine power. 

Taking advantage of the situation, Ares spun around, slamming his shield forcefully against Python's head. 

At that moment, when the residual divine energy from Zeus on the pillar paralyzed Python, Ares pushed Python's head firmly against it, trapping its dangerous mouth and venomous fangs.

The waves surged, and Python sensed the coming danger. It desperately twisted its enormous body, thrashing in the sea and causing a massive tsunami. 

Python coiled around Ares' waist and arms, trying to stop his attacks. 

However, at that moment, Ares had already gripped the hilt of his sword and was ready to strike with his fiery blade.

He channeled his divine power, completely ignoring Python's strength, and pressed the sword's edge against its neck. 

After a fiery streak cut through the air, Python's body crashed to the ground on Delos Island, sending up a huge cloud of dust. 

Ares pinned its head against the pillar, and it was separated from its body. 

He kept it that way until he was sure the Python's soul had permanently left its body and released his shield, allowing the snake's head to fall to the ground.

"Ha."

After seeing the dead giant snake, Ares breathed a small sigh of relief. 

This was his first real fight since coming to this world, and his opponent was the dangerous monster, Python, that could even threaten gods. 

Even though this monster would later become a stepping stone for Apollo, Ares didn't dare to be careless.

However, he couldn't simply leave the giant snake. 

Killing Python not only earned him the favor of Leto and her children but also a significant favor from the goddess Asteria, who had transformed the island of Delos under her feet.

She would owe him a massive favor in return.

Asteria's daughter, Hecate, was one of the most powerful magic of the Greek pantheon, associated with the night, roads, the underworld, and witchcraft.

Ares believed that in order to fully understand the black pendant, relying solely on Hephaestus's forging techniques might not be enough. 

He would need to tap into the mystery of this world as they could provide the necessary to uncover the secrets of this black pendant.

Moreover, since it confirmed that this was the Type-Moon World, Ares knew that knowledge of the mystery would be crucial to survival here after the Age of Gods. 

With Asteria's introduction, Ares might be able to learn true magic from Hecate, the Goddess of Magic.

But that was a matter for the future. 

To avoid raising suspicion from Zeus, Ares had to take things slowly, step by step. He first checked the giant snake's body and then started looking for any useful parts, hoping to find something valuable.

In this time, the bodies of phantasmas species were full of treasures. He could strip the skin to make a shield, bones could be crafted into weapons, all of which were incredibly powerful.

However, when his palm touched the Python's body, it suddenly deflated like a balloon and rapidly shrank. 

In the end, the flesh and internal organs of the giant Python completely disappeared. 

When Ares picked it up, all that was left was the snake's skin, a few bones, and two fangs without poison glands.

"What's going on?"

Holding the snake skin, Ares was momentarily confused. He blinked, then glanced down at the black crystal pendant hanging on his chest. Inside, he sensed a strong ether energy.

'Since the giant snake Python is dead, its flesh and blood magic no longer has a source, and the magic became free and was quickly absorbed by this pendant?'

Seeing this, Ares speculated to himself:

'It seems this pendant needs some kind of energy to activate. I just don't know how much it needs.'

After figuring it out, Ares casually gathered up the remains of the giant serpent Python. 

Even though its flesh had been absorbed by the black pendant, the parts that remained still had strong magical power. After returning, Ares could ask Hephaestus for help and surely create some powerful treasures.

After counting his spoils, Ares returned to Delos Island and returned to his normal size. 

As he stepped back into the range of the four towering pillars, Ares could clearly feel that the gaze on him had become much friendlier.

He pretended not to notice and walked straight into the temple in the center of the floating island. 

Suddenly, the temple suddenly burst into bright light, and dazzling golden beams illuminated the entire island.

At that moment, Apollo, the god of prophecy and medicine, was finally born.

To be continued...