After finally managing to catch his breath, Steve looked at Arthur with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude, his voice still choked by the water that had nearly claimed him:
"Thank you... thank you so much for saving my life."
Arthur gave a small, sideways smile, shaking his head as he continued to support him.
"Don’t thank me just yet... Let’s get out of the water first. It’s not good to stay soaked, especially in a place like this."
The two of them struggled their way to the warm, golden sands of Themyscira’s coast. As soon as their feet touched solid ground, Steve collapsed onto the sand, breathing deeply, his eyes fixed on the clear blue sky that seemed just as surreal as everything around him.
While he was still recovering, Steve finally noticed how Arthur was dressed: the lower half of an improvised armor, his unbelievably defined muscles gleaming under the sun, something that made Steve feel a bit self-conscious about his own lack of muscles. He looked up, surprised, and slowly got to his feet, brushing the sand from his hands before extending one toward the man who had just saved him.
"Once again... thank you for saving me..." he repeated, now with more strength in his voice, his hand outstretched in a friendly gesture.
Arthur shook his hand without hesitation.
"Arthur... Arthur Morgan. And no need to be so formal."
Steve let out a small, relieved laugh.
"Steve Trevor. Nice to meet you." He then looked around, his eyes sweeping over the paradisiacal landscape and the verdant hills in the distance before turning back to Arthur.
"Could you... tell me exactly where we are?"
Arthur crossed his arms, glancing sideways at the horizon.
"This is Paradise Island and—"
But before he could finish the sentence, the unmistakable sound of horse hooves cut through the air, rapidly approaching them.
Steve frowned, turning toward the source of the noise. Within seconds, he saw a squadron of women on horseback, armed, imposing, and incredibly beautiful, riding toward them with speed and precision. At the front of the group, a woman with a firm expression and sharp gaze led them skillfully: Antiope.
"Wow..." Steve let out a perplexed sigh, almost unaware that he was speaking aloud.
"It really is paradise..."
Arthur sighed resignedly beside him.
"You’re going to regret saying that..." Arthur muttered, already anticipating what was coming.
Steve barely had time to process what was happening when he noticed, among the warriors, the presence of Diana. She rode with determination, and as soon as she spotted Arthur, she quickly dismounted, running up to him with a clear expression of relief. Her eyes scanned Arthur’s body from head to toe, making sure he was alright.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laden with concern.
Arthur nodded with a calm smile.
"Of course, just a little rescue."
Antiope soon approached, her sharp gaze falling on Steve.
"Looks like you’ve caught the intruder, Arthur," she said, offering a faint smile, though her hand rested firmly on the hilt of her sword.
"Intruder?" Steve’s eyes widened as he instinctively took a step back. But before he could say anything, several Amazons had already drawn their bows, aiming directly at him.
"Whoa... easy!" he exclaimed, quickly raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"No need for violence!"
(This isn’t paradise... it’s hell...) Steve thought ironically, as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Before the tension could escalate even further, a distant boom ripped through the air. The magical barrier surrounding Themyscira trembled once again, and in the distance, several boats crossed the crystalline waters, dangerously entering the island’s territory.
Antiope shot Arthur a grave look.
"What they’re carrying... those are the firearms you mentioned, correct?"
Arthur followed her gaze, quickly assessing the situation.
"That’s right..." he replied with a smile that mixed confidence and adrenaline.
"Now... mind if I handle them myself?"
Antiope arched an eyebrow but then nodded.
"They’re all yours."
Arthur tilted his head in gratitude.
"Thank you very much."
Without wasting any time, he began approaching the boats, which were now already docking on the shore. The enemy group, composed of German soldiers, disembarked quickly, their weapons at the ready, forming a threatening line.
"Nicht bewegen! (Don’t move!)" shouted one of the soldiers, probably the leader of that squad, aiming his weapon directly at Arthur.
He didn’t stop.
"Nicht bewegen!" the soldier repeated, this time more forcefully, realizing that his warning was having no effect.
Arthur remained calm, stopping just a few meters from the men. Then, he adjusted his posture, rolled his shoulders as if warming up, and with a cold smile, replied fluently in German:
"Es ist schon eine Weile her, dass ich wirklich trainiert habe, also werdet ihr, Mischlinge, großartige Sandsäcke sein."
(It’s been a while since I’ve properly trained... so you Nazi vermin will make great punching bags.)
Steve, watching from a distance, widened his eyes in shock.
"He... he speaks German!?" he exclaimed, unable to believe what he had just heard.
The soldiers, enraged by the provocation, opened fire immediately. The bullets tore through the air... but hit nothing.
Arthur moved with superhuman fluidity, dodging each shot with impressive ease. His body seemed to anticipate the bullets before the triggers were even pulled, a mix of his superhuman instincts and, of course... the Spider-Sense that alerted him with absolute precision to any danger.
Steve watched, slack-jawed.
"My God..." he whispered, stunned.
Arthur didn’t stop. Once he was at a safe distance, he flexed his legs and launched himself forward in an explosion of speed.
What followed was a brutal spectacle: bones breaking, cries of pain, bodies being tossed aside like rag dolls. Arthur struck with lethal precision, each movement aimed at quickly incapacitating or eliminating his opponents.
Blood stained the white sand, contrasting sharply with the island’s serene beauty.
Arthur had always been a gentle man... there was kindness in his heart. But against these men—murderers, executioners, uniformed monsters—he offered no mercy. He knew all too well what they did in the concentration camps... knew the lives they destroyed.
The fight ended as quickly as it had begun.
Arthur stood tall, shaking some of the blood off his hands, surrounded by the unconscious or motionless bodies of the soldiers.
From a distance, Steve still watched, paralyzed.
"My God..." he repeated, unable to tear his eyes away.
"The person who saved my life... doesn’t even seem human anymore."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let’s see if even your insolence can amuse a king."