(Sorry for the late update y'all, hope it's good. Also, apologies if I'm incorrect on my Ancient Greek Architecture, please tell me if I'm wrong.)
gemm1mt: You…uh…probably should've said that another way. I just realized that I was so excited when I started this saga I didn't pay close enough attention to what I was doing. I'm trying to rectify that.
Chapter 17: Proof by Combat
(Themyscira, the next day)
Drew lounged on top of one the long stone horizontal forms held up by a few pillars in the form of a melanistic leopard. He watched several of the Amazons training in full armor and gear in a large Amphitheatre below him, several steps of seating circling around the almost football field sized sandy arena at the Amphitheatre's heart. His keen eyes studied the armored and armed women, going head to head with one another as they traded blows as they trained. The Amazons were still perplexed by a young man who could turn into beasts, but not as greatly as the average joe. Drew reasoned it was because of the magic Diana's people lived with, there was no doubt in his mind they had encountered shapeshifter before…they just didn't expect him to be one. Diana and her mother stood watching the women training. The queen wanted the shapeshifter to get a visual of how her warriors fought and a glimpse of the ferocity needed in the inevitable battle.
"Boy!" Queen Hippolyta called out.
The warrior women in the arena suddenly stopped fighting and looked up. The queen and princess turned around and looked up. The shapeshifter dropped to the ground, landing on his paws. He walked down the steps in his black panther form. As he approached the royalty of the Amazons a few steps away, he shifted to his human form. The shadowy transformation seemed to almost stay as he stood in his ninjutsu garb.
"Your majesties." The ninja said.
"Let us see what you can do when you are not in the form of a beast." Queen Hippolyta said, her voice as rough as the stones that formed the Amphitheatre.
Chaos Chimera nodded in understanding. He walked past them and down to the arena. The warrior women looked at him and then at one another in confusion.
"So…uhh…who is going to be my opponent?" Chaos Chimera asked, turning around to look at the queen.
"Artemis!" Queen Hippolyta called out.
The women separated and walked up to sit in the stands of the Amphitheatre. He heard some of the sand swaying then he turned around. The ninja blushed under his mask. The beautiful woman that stood before him is as tall as Wonder Woman and had her physical build as well standing in black and red armor. Her long fiery red hair is held in a pony tail that flies to below her waist as well as the bangs falling to either side of her face hiding part of the red dome less Corinthian-like helmet with a yellow star at its center. Her black and red breastplate had a metal plated skirt connected to the cuirass by a thick leather with metal platting belt. Her red greaves clasped around her long muscular legs and her red sabatons stood firm in the sand. Her red arm guards clasped the part of her arms from below the elbows to her wrists. Leather wrappings are strapped on her hands almost like a training boxer's. In one hand she holds a hoplite shield with the insignia of a standing lioness roaring to the heavens. In the other she holds a doru spear and at her waist, another leather belt holds a scabbard which has a xiphos sword sit within it.
"She will teach prepare you personally for battle. Our sisters will see what this 'ninja' as my daughter calls you, can do. Artemis is one of our finest warriors and has fought with us in our revolution thousands of years ago before we settled here. She will test you, to see if you are ready to fight with us." Queen Hippolyta stated.
The ninja turned his head and nodded to her. He turned to look back at the woman called Artemis.
"Diana tells us you have spirit and skill." The Amazon, Artemis said, her voice is as exotic and powerful as her sisters'.
"I hope to honor her praise." Chaos Chimera replied.
"*Chuckles* Let us see, boy." Artemis replied, a smirk on her face.
"Begin!" Queen Hippolyta ordered.
Chaos Chimera placed his right fist into his left open palm then bowed to the Amazon. Artemis raised an eyebrow in curiosity then slowly nodded her head. The ninja stood up after that, both hands lowering to either side of him. The claws in his gauntlets extruded and the Amazons eyed them with curiosity. Artemis began jogging forward and the ninja walked forward. The Amazon leapt forward, lunging with her spear. The ninja twisted to the side and bent his upper body down, ducking the spear. He quickly turned to the side, twisting around. The Amazon quickly slashed to the side with her spear, but the ninja had leapt over it while kicking out with his right leg. His armored foot slammed into the Amazon's shield and sent her toppling backwards. However, Artemis planted the blunt end of the spear into the ground halting her from falling to the ground. The ninja took a step back, to which the warrior was surprised at along with the others.
'What is he doing?' Artemis grunted in her mind.
The Amazon growled as she lunged forward, her spear thrusting forward. The ninja's left claws blocked the bladed end of the spear then pushed it aside. Chaos Chimera swiftly flipped around in the air sideways with his left foot slamming into the hoplite shield in an arc. Artemis twisted with the momentum and jabbed forward with her spear. Chaos Chimera was cut at the side of his neck, the fabric torn open as the blade cut through it, the blade was stained red with Drew's blood. The Amazon's attack only left a scratch, but the blood was plain to see on her spear. Her sisters cheered and Artemis grinned at the boy. The cut on the ninja's neck instantly healed, to which Artemis's eyes widened in surprise suddenly.
"(Come on, Artemis!)" One of the Amazons from the crowd cried out in their language.
"(Show him the Amazonian way!)" Another called out.
Artemis's eyes narrowed in focus, her vision focused on the glowing eyes of the ninja. The Amazon rushed forward and thrust her spear forward. The ninja slashed the blade to the side with his right claws then slashed the shield with his left claws, leaving three scratch marks across the shield.
"Come on!" Artemis bellowed, slamming her spear against the shield.
The ninja nodded then rushed forward. His speed surprised the Amazons, seemingly clearing the distance in a heartbeat as his right claws slashed forward, cutting the bladed end of the spear into pieces. Artemis growled as she slammed the shield into the ninja's face, sending him tumbling back a few steps. She pulled out her xiphos sword and lunged with the blade. The ninja caught the blade with his gauntlets, the claws pointing skyward. The Amazons gasped in surprise, but Artemis growled as she pulled back her sword then lunged forward. She head-butted the ninja, her helmet making contact with the ninja's masked forehead. The ninja stumbled back for a moment or two, but regained his footing. The Amazon warrior stood tall, her sword in hand and shield before her, with her eyes focused ferociously at the ninja. His own eyes narrowing back at her. They readied to race towards each other.
"Enough!" Queen Hippolyta called out.
The warriors looked at her, as did the crowd.
"It seems…this one is good enough to stand beside us." Queen Hippolyta stated, surprising herself along with Artemis.
"My queen! We haven't finished-" Artemis grunted in response.
"I have seen enough. My daughter's testimony as well as this event have proven his skill as a warrior. While he isn't as lethal as you are sister, he can stand side by side with us for what is tome come." Queen Hippolyta interjected.
Diana smiled, nodding to the ninja. The ninja extruded his claws then bowed to the queen and princess then turned to bow to Artemis. The warrior woman was still in her fighting stance, still wanting to battle with the boy. But she relented.
"It seems you are fortunate, boy." Artemis grunted.
"If it's any comfort, I'm sure you would have beaten me if this had continued." The ninja replied.
"Hmph, well, at least you aren't a fool." Artemis grunted, but with a smirk on her face directed at the ninja.
The ninja felt his cheeks burning at this, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Artemis chuckled as she walked away as the crowd left. Diana and her mother walked down to talk with the ninja.
"I must admit; it was impressive that you were able to fight as long as you did against Artemis." Queen Hippolyta said.
"If you can call that fighting. She had me beat at every turn. She was incredible." The ninja responded.
The queen couldn't help but smile at that.
"Your respect for us honors us. The Lasso of Truth and what I just witnessed proves your worth as an ally." Queen Hippolyta.
"Thank you, your majesty." The ninja replied.
He took off his mask and examined the cut.
"Gonna have to fix this again." Drew sighed.
"I shall leave you to repairing your uniform. Diana, return to me in awhile. I must discuss something with you." Queen Hippolyta said.
"Yes, mother." Diana responded.
Queen Hippolyta walked away.
"You fought well." Diana chuckled.
"Hardly." Drew chuckled in reply.
Diana laughed at this.
"May I ask if you have any idea of what your mother referred to?" Drew asked.
"That is between my mother and I. Perhaps later you shall know, but not now." Diana responded.
Drew nodded in response.
"I sense that battle shall soon be upon us. Prepare yourself for what is to come. I wish to see you again after it is done." Diana said, placing a calm yet firm hand on Drew's shoulder.
"Y-Yes, ma'am." Drew gulped nervously, his cheeks burning crimson.
Diana smirked and winked at him before flying off.
To be continued…
(Again, sorry for the wait.)