Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins
The silver moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees as Artemis led Saitama through the forest. Her hunters followed at a respectful distance, their curious gazes flicking between their mistress and the bald hero.
"So," Saitama said, breaking the silence, "do you guys do this camping thing often?"
Artemis sighed, her patience wearing thin. "This isn't camping, Saitama. We're hunting monsters, protecting mortals, and maintaining the balance of nature."
"Oh," Saitama replied, his face unchanging. "Sounds like a lot of work."
Before Artemis could respond, a blood-curdling roar echoed through the forest. The hunters immediately nocked their bows, forming a protective circle around their goddess and their strange new companion.
"Manticore," Artemis whispered, her silver eyes scanning the darkness. "Saitama, this creature is dangerous. Stay back and—"
Her words were cut short as Saitama casually strolled past the protective circle, heading towards the source of the roar.
"Hey!" he called out. "Could you keep it down? People are trying to sleep."
The manticore burst from the underbrush, its lion body tensed for attack, scorpion tail poised to strike. It lunged at Saitama, who simply stood there, looking mildly inconvenienced.
Just as Artemis was about to loose an arrow, Saitama raised a hand and flicked the manticore on its nose. The beast froze mid-attack, then crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The forest fell silent. The hunters lowered their bows, exchanging looks of disbelief. Artemis approached Saitama, her expression a mix of awe and frustration.
"You... you defeated it with a flick?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Saitama shrugged. "Yeah, I didn't want to kill it. Seemed like overkill."
Artemis studied him intently, her silver eyes searching his face for any sign of pride or boastfulness. Finding none, she felt a strange warmth in her chest, a feeling she hadn't experienced in millennia.
"Perhaps," she said slowly, "I've misjudged you, Saitama. Your strength is matched only by your restraint."
Saitama scratched his head. "Thanks, I guess. So, what's for dinner? All this monster-flicking is making me hungry."
As if on cue, a flash of light appeared, and Hermes materialized, holding a steaming cup of instant noodles.
"Special delivery for the baldy!" he announced cheerfully, handing the cup to Saitama.
Saitama's eyes lit up. "Udon! Thanks, speedy guy!"
As Saitama contentedly slurped his noodles, Artemis found herself smiling despite herself. She turned to her hunters, who were still staring at Saitama in awe.
"Set up camp here," she ordered. "And... prepare an extra tent for our guest."
As the hunters bustled about, Artemis sat next to Saitama, watching him enjoy his meal. For the first time since hearing the prophecy, she felt a glimmer of curiosity about what the future might hold.
"Tell me, Saitama," she said softly, "what is your world like?"
And so, under the moonlit sky, surrounded by the sounds of the forest and the bustling of the hunters, Saitama began to tell Artemis about his world of heroes and monsters, of city-destroying threats and shopping sales.
Little did they know, this quiet moment was the beginning of a bond that would shake the foundations of Olympus and redefine the very nature of heroism in both their worlds.
As Saitama finished his tale of battling alien invaders and shopping for groceries, Artemis found herself leaning in, captivated by his nonchalant recounting of incredible feats.
"And then I punched the alien ship," Saitama said, slurping the last of his noodles. "It exploded. Pretty normal Tuesday, really."
Artemis shook her head in disbelief. "Your world sounds... chaotic. Yet you speak of these battles as if they're mundane occurrences."
Saitama shrugged. "After a while, it does get pretty boring. That's why I was excited about that udon sale."
A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the campfire and the distant howls of monsters in the night.
Suddenly, Artemis stiffened, her silver eyes narrowing. "We're being watched," she whispered.
Before Saitama could respond, a massive figure emerged from the shadows. It was the Nemean Lion, its golden fur gleaming in the firelight, impervious to mortal weapons.
The hunters scrambled for their bows, but Artemis held up a hand, her gaze fixed on Saitama. "No," she said. "Let him handle this."
Saitama stood up, brushing crumbs from his suit. "Hey there, big cat. You're kind of interrupting our campfire. Mind leaving?"
The Nemean Lion roared, charging at Saitama with earth-shaking force. Saitama sidestepped the attack effortlessly, causing the lion to crash into a nearby boulder.
"Guess not," Saitama sighed. "Alright, let's get this over with."
As the Nemean Lion turned for another attack, Saitama cocked back his fist. "Serious Series: Serious Pat," he announced calmly.
His hand moved in a blur, and suddenly he was gently patting the Nemean Lion on the head. The fearsome beast froze, its eyes wide with confusion. Then, to everyone's astonishment, it began to purr.
Artemis couldn't help but laugh, the sound like silver bells in the night. "Saitama," she said, wiping tears from her eyes, "you continue to surprise me."
As Saitama continued to pat the now-docile Nemean Lion, Artemis felt something shift within her. The warmth in her chest grew, and she found herself smiling more freely than she had in centuries.
"Perhaps," she thought to herself, "this prophecy won't be such a terrible thing after all."
As the night wore on, the hunters gradually relaxed, some even daring to approach the purring Nemean Lion. Artemis and Saitama sat side by side, sharing stories of their worlds and adventures, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the forest.
And somewhere in the vast tapestry of fate, a thread began to glow, connecting the Goddess of the Hunt and the Hero for Fun in ways neither of them could yet imagine.
As the night deepened, the hunters gradually retired to their tents, leaving Artemis and Saitama alone by the dying embers of the campfire. The Nemean Lion had curled up nearby, its gentle snores a stark contrast to its fearsome reputation.
Artemis found herself studying Saitama's profile in the flickering firelight. His bald head and unremarkable features belied the incredible power she'd witnessed. She was struck by the contradiction he presented – immense strength coupled with utter humility.
"Saitama," she said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. "I must confess, I've never met anyone quite like you."
Saitama turned to her, his expression as neutral as ever. "Thanks, I think. You're pretty unique yourself. Not every day I meet a moon goddess."
Artemis chuckled, then her expression grew serious. "About the prophecy... and what it implies for us..."
Saitama scratched his head. "Yeah, that's pretty weird, right? I'm not really sure how all this god stuff works."
Artemis sighed, her silver eyes reflecting the starlight. "I've maintained my vow of chastity for millennia. The idea of breaking it, of... having a child... it's overwhelming."
Saitama nodded sagely. "Having kids does sound like a lot of responsibility. Probably even harder than being a hero."
His simple statement, devoid of any pressure or expectation, made Artemis smile. "You're not wrong," she admitted. "Though I suspect raising a child with you would be... an adventure."
As if on cue, a shooting star streaked across the sky. Artemis, on impulse, reached out and took Saitama's hand. She was surprised to find it warm and calloused, a testament to his training and battles.
"Perhaps," she said softly, "we should take this one day at a time. See where this strange path leads us."
Saitama looked at their joined hands, then back at Artemis. For the first time, a small smile tugged at his lips. "Sure," he said. "That sounds good to me."
As they sat there, hand in hand under the vast canopy of stars, neither the goddess nor the hero could have predicted the challenges that lay ahead. But in that moment, a seed of something new and beautiful began to take root – a connection that would transcend worlds and shake the very foundations of Olympus.
The night wore on, and as dawn began to paint the sky with hues of pink and gold, Artemis and Saitama found themselves still talking, laughing, and sharing stories. It was the beginning of something neither of them had expected, but both were increasingly eager to explore.