Sensing the meager divine power left within her and looking back at the dense blood-red aura relentlessly closing in, the Ocean Goddess sighed and waved her hand in resignation.
"Forget it, let's split up. Without the mark to track us, you should be able to shake them off."
As an ocean nymph renowned for her wisdom, Thetis's combat skills and accumulation of divinity were only average at best. She could keep up until now only because she was taking advantage of the ocean's blessing in the water.
At the moment, in this chase that had lasted for two days and nights, she was at the end of her tether.
From a rational standpoint, sticking by this guy's side serving as a beacon was meaningless. It was better to part ways now.
Though she herself bore the mark of vengeance, the other side was clearly drawing more hate.
Whoever managed to escape would do so based on their own skill and the will of the heavens.
"Run? We aren't at the end of our rope yet."
However, just as Thetis made her move, Luo En unceremoniously dragged the Ocean Goddess, who was preparing to depart in a different direction, back to his side.
He then picked up Thetis, shook off the cluster of venomous snakes behind them, leaped out of the water with great force, traced runes in the air, and shouted.
Instantly, two splendidly colored divine warhorses leaped out from the Magic Array reflected on the sea surface, pulling a bronze chariot to their master's side.
Luo En decisively threw Thetis into the chariot and then grabbed the Spear of Nation-Building and fiercely struck the two warhorses' behinds.
The two warhorses neighed in pain and immediately carried Thetis forward, hooves thundering, breaking away from the perilous area first.
Then, seeing the blood-red light approaching from behind, Luo En also acted, invoking the Extreme Speed of [Goat] and the Sea's Blessing of [Great Whale], running across the sea surface headlong.
In a few breaths, he was like a comet, crossing the vast ocean, smoothly traversing the rolling waves, quickly catching up with the bronze chariot pulled by the divine warhorses, leaving Eris and The Furies far behind.
Eris and The Furies, infuriated, cursed inwardly as they jumped up and down.
From the Primordial Ocean to the inner sea of Occhanos, they had been led on a merry chase. Boasting the ocean's protection, a warrior's skills, and storm-like speed... Was this a Lesser Deity from household affairs? A newcomer responsible for brewing and serving wine for Olympus?
Family, who would believe this if we told them!
"Charge! He can't maintain multiple divine powers for long; he won't get far!"
Eris flapped her black wings, teeth gritted, as she issued the command.
After being chased for a distance then led on another, her anger was flaring.
Today, come hell or high water, she had to catch that pair of fugitives, hang them up, and lash them fiercely to vent her fury.
The Furies responded with angry gazes, stirring up an even more intense crimson storm, sweeping towards the speeding bronze chariot on the sea surface.
Watching the relentless redness still biting at their heels, Thetis frowned and looked at Luo En, who appeared calm beside her, and probed.
"Do you have any other methods?"
Luo En nodded reassuringly, steering the bronze chariot through the vast sea fog, racing toward a group of islands scattered ahead with a not-so-kind friendly smile on his face.
My dear friends, here I come again.
Accompanied by a certain evil-doer pulling the reins, the bronze chariot maneuvered through gaps between islands with agile trajectories, and vast clouds of blood-red mist and swarms of writhing snakes engulfed the islands in their path.
In an instant, the sky was filled with screams and curses.
Several figures rose into the air one after another, searching for the culprit.
However, as their gaze fell upon the Goddess of Discord, Eris, fluttering her wings amidst the crimson storm, and The Furies, their complexions paled, and they cursed under their breath before plunging like dumplings into the deep sea to flee.
Damn it! Which idiot provoked all four of these calamities and even led them from the Primordial Ocean to the nearby seas!
In the meantime, Thetis looked back at the chaotic sea behind them and the crimson storm that had paused slightly due to the disturbance. She then turned a haunting gaze toward the chief troublemaker who had once again plagued the ocean deities.
"It's a necessary sacrifice!"
Luo En patted Thetis's shoulder, answering her with gravity.
On his handsome face, a sincere solemnity and weight emerged, as if he were a saint moved by compassion for the world.
I will thank you for your sacrifices and be with you.
Of course, in spirit...
To show that he was not bluffing, Luo En faced the "fellow Daoists" behind him and silently made the sign of the cross in his heart.
At this moment, seeing the crimson storm break through the barrier and begin to spread rapidly, closing the distance, Thetis immediately spoke up in a deep voice.
"They're coming again! Hurry up!"
Upon hearing the warning from the Ocean Goddess beside him, Luo En felt a huge sense of relief.
Thank goodness, she is not a true Madonna.
After all, he had brought the group of sea deities into the water behind him because Thetis could no longer run quickly.
If the Ocean Goddess had really decided to criticize him morally, hoping to get justice for her fellow compatriots behind him, Luo En would have no choice but to respect her decision and throw her off the chariot.
However, the advice that followed cleared Luo En's doubts and refreshed his understanding.
"South by southeast 45 degrees. There are lots of islands there..."
My goodness, you're the real King Yama in disguise.
Watching as Thetis, without a moment's hesitation, sold out the unrelated ocean deities and their kin around them, Luo En muttered to himself.
Indeed, none who got mixed up in the Age of Greek Gods and managed to preserve themselves were true white lotuses or saints.
Even if they appeared white on the surface, they were black inside, having done plenty of conscience-stricken deeds.
For instance, in her attempts to drive off Ares who had come knocking, she didn't hesitate to betray Adonis.
No wonder the brand of The Furies was successfully imprinted on her.
Since none of us are good people, I can rest easy.
Luo En shrugged off his mental burden, turned his head, and quietly reminded his increasingly in-sync comrade.
"Remember to put on a disguise."
"Which layer are you referring to?"
Thetis turned around, her body surrounded by floating runes, transforming the figure within the cocoon of light to resemble a mermaid, then a snake woman, then a bird, and then sea beasts.
"..." After a moment of silence, Luo En made a gesture of salute, "…My apologies."
Following suit, he also activated the cognitive distortion of remembered Divinity, the frenzy of the God of Wine's Divinity, adding several disguises to himself, while using the Authority of the Great Whale to envelop the entire bronze chariot, just in case.
Quick as lightning, a blur of azure light skillfully swept across several islands.
The crimson storm followed closely, bringing with it a disastrous blood-red hue that caused the cursed ocean deities and their kin to lament incessantly.
After several such diversions, the sea deities and their kin used as shields learned better and began to dive and escape before the accursed Great Whale could come for them, to avoid disaster.
Soon, Luo En realized that there might not be enough shields.
And worse, Thetis, clutching the increasingly hot and burning mark of the serpent on her back, with cold sweat on her forehead and a pained expression, was a troubling sight.
Seeing this, Luo En immediately diverted some of his attention and inquired with concern.
"Hatred, it seems to activate and strengthen the power of this brand..."
Thetis, holding back the pain as if bitten by a venomous snake, responded in a low voice, her cherry lips unwittingly bitten and bleeding.
The Furies were born of hatred. The greater the conflict and chaos, the stronger the divinity they displayed.
No wonder Eris and The Furies behind him were not afraid of offending the ocean deities and instead fought with even greater vigor.
Thinking of this, Luo En frowned deeply.
Can't keep dragging this out? That's a problem...
As Luo En was starting to feel overwhelmed, a dazzling golden light pierced through the crimson clouds ahead, accompanied by a high and authoritative shout.
"You reckless felons, the seas of Occhanos will not tolerate your tyrannical behavior!"
Hearing that righteous declaration, Luo En couldn't help but show a relieved smile on his face.
After such turmoil, someone at sea has finally stepped in to take charge!
And when Luo En's gaze settled on the golden figure wielding a sword and scales, his eyes filled with fervor.
My, a big fish indeed!
At the same time, Luo En adopted an indignant expression, turned around, and called out as he followed the golden figure's steps.
"You're right, I stand against evil with heaven as my witness!"