Hearing the commotion behind him, Jason turned back in surprise, only to see Peleus, grandson of Zeus, and the Dioscuri siblings, Castor and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, also holding blades and stepping out of the ranks, intending to walk towards Atalanta and Medea.
Seeing Jason look over, Peleus gave him an honest smile:
"Captain, I think Medea and Atalanta are right. These slaves really shouldn't die here."
"Do you know what this means?" Jason asked anxiously, "Facing Athena and Poseidon at the same time? Do you know how terrifying that is?"
"Aren't Heroes supposed to confront terrifying things and ultimately overcome them?" Peleus grinned, gave Jason a thumbs-up, then walked over to Medea and shouted to her, "Count me in!"
Jason then looked at the Dioscuri siblings passing by him and shouted to them:
"What about you two? Haven't you siblings always looked down on humans?"
"I'm just accompanying Polydeuces to do what she wants to do."
Mr. Castor, the Greek sister-complex, said so.
"There's no helping it. Who told us we're called Heroes? Although we don't want to help humans, occasionally, we also need to do what 'Heroes' should do, right?"
Polydeuces brushed her hair back and said with a proud look:
"Besides, I don't like seeing a certain woman act so high and mighty."
And so, the original indigenous god siblings, who disliked humans, also joined Medea's ranks.
Jason stomped his foot in frustration. As the captain of the Argo, he was arguably the most afraid of death among the Heroes, and precisely because of this, he was also the clearest-headed among the Heroes at this moment.
They were not outliers like Heracles; they could not possibly contend with the unimaginably powerful gods. Offending Athena and Poseidon, perhaps at this moment when all gods were present, out of respect for the other deities, they might have a moment of triumph, but later, Athena and Poseidon would absolutely slowly settle accounts for their actions.
If gods of equal standing did not help them, they would surely die in the future.
But at this moment, Jason was gently pushed from behind.
He turned around and saw Orpheus looking at him with a smile, and Asclepius, with his white hair and a look of disdain.
"What are you thinking, you?"
Asclepius said to Jason:
"Life is but fifty years. When we die, our souls will all eventually fall into Hades's hands. Since that's the case, why don't we live a more spectacular life within our limited time? That way, we'll also be worthy of Chiron's teachings… And if Heracles were still here, he would be the first to stand up and defy the gods in the sky, wouldn't he?"
Jason blinked, recalling a certain great Hero who had been left on the shore due to his own mistake. For some reason, when he thought of that Hero's majestic but silent figure, a surge of courage appeared in his heart.
"Damn it."
Jason said through gritted teeth:
"You all say you got on my pirate ship, but I think I got on yours instead!"
With that, the blonde captain lowered his head and, driven by a surge of momentum, came to stand behind Medea and the others.
Asclepius and Orpheus exchanged a smile at the sight and followed Jason, standing behind Medea.
After Jason took action, more Heroes on the Argo successively shouted slogans and joined Medea's ranks. However, a considerable number of Heroes remained still; some were followers and children of the Sea God, some were followers of Athena, and others were Heroes protected by minor gods, whose own patron deities could not afford to offend Poseidon and Athena.
Theseus also did not move. A hapless child like him, who claimed to be the son of Poseidon and was destined to make a name for himself in Athens, could only watch Jason and the others play the Hero now.
Seeing the Heroes on the Argo split into two factions on the spot, Perseus also stood still. His gaze slowly swept over the Heroes led by Medea, and then he asked:
"Today, are you all intending to commit sacrilege?"
"You can't say that, Perseus, and the Gods shouldn't misunderstand either."
Jason quickly stepped forward to explain:
"We absolutely have no intention of blaspheming the gods. We stand here merely to express a stance. If you settle accounts later, find the true culprits and don't involve me…"
"Enough!" Perseus slammed his scythe down heavily, looking at the little witch opposite him, and angrily said, "Medea, have you forgotten who raised you?"
The little witch's eyes darted around, and she said with a grin, "Of course, my parents, my aunt, and my dear teacher!"
"Stop playing word games with me!"
Perseus said in a low voice:
"Quickly step back, otherwise…"
"So slow, what a waste!"
Before Perseus could finish his sentence, suddenly, Poseidon's voice came from the sea.
Accompanied by a mighty roar of waves, a tall and majestic figure leaped out of the sea and landed directly beside Perseus. When his toes touched the ground, the entire island of Poseidonia Kingdom trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
The Heroes blocking the slaves immediately lost their footing, swaying back and forth. At this moment, an unimaginable pressure swept over them from the person in front. This pressure, from one of the highest divinities in the Greek World, caused the surrounding air to congeal. The Heroes instantly felt as if their necks were being gripped by a large hand, unable to move, and even breathing became difficult.
With disheveled hair and a golden crown, the Sea God Poseidon was wreathed in waves, his divine eyes glaring furiously at the Heroes who dared to defy him. He said in a deep voice:
"Zeus, no matter what you say today, this group of people must die!"
Athena, standing on a cloud, looked at the silent Zeus beside her, then at Ares, who was lowering his head, lost in thought. Then she suddenly commanded:
"Perseus, kill them."
"My Goddess, but my junior sister…"
"Kill them." Athena's command choked Perseus's words of excuse. He looked at Medea with an extremely conflicted gaze, then took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they had become utterly indifferent.
"I'm sorry, Medea."
Perseus aimed his weapon at his dear junior sister:
"You brought all of this upon yourself."