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**Chapter 383: With Clockwork, Studying is a Cinch!**
Before Yang Le could sense something amiss, Wonder Woman had already withdrawn her gaze and addressed Phillips.
"Now there are no men left. Is there any reason to block us further?"
"This…" Phillips hesitated, flustered. Though she’d lived nearly a millennium, this situation was unprecedented. Yet she quickly regained her composure.
This was thanks to the gods they revered—the Olympian leader, Zeus. That old lecher had indulged in every conceivable vice, and his lineage alone made Amazonians, who’d existed since ancient Greece, no strangers to spectacle. Yang Le’s antics were small potatoes by comparison.
"Still no," Phillips shook her head. "How can I trust this isn’t an illusion?" She’d been bitten by such tricks before. Their previous failure stemmed from deception; they couldn’t afford ambiguity now.
"How could this be fake?" Yang Le pounded her chest emphatically, her ample bosom trembling with the motion—a sight that once again drew all Amazonian eyes.
Wonder Woman again halted Yang Le’s antics, inwardly grateful her ally wore battle armor. Otherwise, the trembling might’ve become *too* distracting.
As Wonder Woman prepared to argue again, hoofbeats echoed. A majestic white stallion led a contingent of riders toward them.
With superhuman vision, Wonder Woman spotted the rider atop the white steed and softened her expression.
The woman exuded regal bearing, untouched by time yet radiating an ancient aura—as if a figure from antiquity had stepped into the modern era. Her armor, intricately etched with timeless patterns, rivaled even Diana’s in craftsmanship.
"Welcome back, Diana," the Amazonian smiled, her tone warm as a grandmother greeting a grandchild.
"Happy to see you, Aunt Antiope," Diana reined in her sharpness, bowing respectfully.
Antiope nodded, then asked, "Why are so many gathered here? Has something happened?"
"I’ve brought someone who might help the Amazons find the killer of our queen." Diana stepped aside, revealing Yang Le. "But they’re being barred entry."
Antiope studied Yang Le, then blinked in surprise. "You’ve found an Amazonian as your ally?"
Centuries of experience let the elder Amazon recognize kinship instantly. Antiope’s curiosity turned to Phillips, awaiting an explanation.
"Your Highness," Phillips bowed. "Princess Diana returned with a man who altered his form. I merely upheld duty by barring entry."
"But he’s clearly female now," Diana countered.
Phillips fell silent. A princess could be indulged, but as captain of the guard, she’d overstepped by arguing further.
Antiope paused, then ruled, "Let them pass."
"This—" Phillips blinked, unsure she’d heard right, but Antiope’s gaze silenced doubt.
"Amazon law doesn’t prohibit a man-turned-woman from entering Paradise Island," Antiope smiled at the starlit sky. "Even the gods haven’t barred her."
The Amazons looked up. The night was cloudless, moonlight spilling evenly over all—a rare, clear sky.
"Proceed." Antiope stepped aside, her guards parting the ranks.
"Thank you, Aunt," Diana breathed in relief, yanking Yang Le toward the city. Their haste made them look like newlywed lovers seeking blessings.
"A fitting gesture," Antiope nodded with a grandmother’s indulgence.
…
As an Amazonian, Yang Le’s pace couldn’t keep up with Wonder Woman’s. Dragged along, they raced through the city to the royal palace, where Queen Hippolyta’s chambers lay in disarray—unmistakable evidence of foul play, no illusion needed.
"Now what?" Diana asked urgently, her impatience palpable.
"Get the right answer, of course." Yang Le stretched, then bypassed Diana’s questions by activating the Omnitrix on his belt. A flash of light replaced the Amazonian woman with a rotund robot—his favorite shortcut: Clockwork.
"Now I’m a genderless machine," Yang Le patted his metallic belly.
Wonder Woman smirked at the cheerful Clockwork. "Why not transform earlier to bypass the guards?"
"Save the small talk." Yang Le waved her off. "Time to work."
Diana fell silent, raising a hand toward the palace, letting Yang Le take the lead.
"Clockwork can see the past. Brace yourself."
Yang Le explained as his crown’s gears spun counterclockwise, casting a white light over the sprawling chamber. Time reversed like a rewound film—the shattered palace restored to its former grandeur. Patrolling Amazon guards materialized, the scene mirroring a normal day.
"Follow me," Yang Le urged, striding into the palace. Diana trailed, unnoticed by the spectral guards—ghosts of the past, irrelevant to their present mission.
Inside, they found Queen Hippolyta seated on her throne, her bodyguard at her side. Diana froze, her gaze locked on her mother.
(End of Chapter)
Before Yang Le could sense something amiss, Wonder Woman had already withdrawn her gaze and addressed Phillips.
"Now there are no men left. Is there any reason to block us further?"
"This…" Phillips hesitated, flustered. Though she’d lived nearly a millennium, this situation was unprecedented. Yet she quickly regained her composure.
This was thanks to the gods they revered—the Olympian leader, Zeus. That old lecher had indulged in every conceivable vice, and his lineage alone made Amazonians, who’d existed since ancient Greece, no strangers to spectacle. Yang Le’s antics were small potatoes by comparison.
"Still no," Phillips shook her head. "How can I trust this isn’t an illusion?" She’d been bitten by such tricks before. Their previous failure stemmed from deception; they couldn’t afford ambiguity now.
"How could this be fake?" Yang Le pounded her chest emphatically, her ample bosom trembling with the motion—a sight that once again drew all Amazonian eyes.
Wonder Woman again halted Yang Le’s antics, inwardly grateful her ally wore battle armor. Otherwise, the trembling might’ve become *too* distracting.
As Wonder Woman prepared to argue again, hoofbeats echoed. A majestic white stallion led a contingent of riders toward them.
With superhuman vision, Wonder Woman spotted the rider atop the white steed and softened her expression.
The woman exuded regal bearing, untouched by time yet radiating an ancient aura—as if a figure from antiquity had stepped into the modern era. Her armor, intricately etched with timeless patterns, rivaled even Diana’s in craftsmanship.
"Welcome back, Diana," the Amazonian smiled, her tone warm as a grandmother greeting a grandchild.
"Happy to see you, Aunt Antiope," Diana reined in her sharpness, bowing respectfully.
Antiope nodded, then asked, "Why are so many gathered here? Has something happened?"
"I’ve brought someone who might help the Amazons find the killer of our queen." Diana stepped aside, revealing Yang Le. "But they’re being barred entry."
Antiope studied Yang Le, then blinked in surprise. "You’ve found an Amazonian as your ally?"
Centuries of experience let the elder Amazon recognize kinship instantly. Antiope’s curiosity turned to Phillips, awaiting an explanation.
"Your Highness," Phillips bowed. "Princess Diana returned with a man who altered his form. I merely upheld duty by barring entry."
"But he’s clearly female now," Diana countered.
Phillips fell silent. A princess could be indulged, but as captain of the guard, she’d overstepped by arguing further.
Antiope paused, then ruled, "Let them pass."
"This—" Phillips blinked, unsure she’d heard right, but Antiope’s gaze silenced doubt.
"Amazon law doesn’t prohibit a man-turned-woman from entering Paradise Island," Antiope smiled at the starlit sky. "Even the gods haven’t barred her."
The Amazons looked up. The night was cloudless, moonlight spilling evenly over all—a rare, clear sky.
"Proceed." Antiope stepped aside, her guards parting the ranks.
"Thank you, Aunt," Diana breathed in relief, yanking Yang Le toward the city. Their haste made them look like newlywed lovers seeking blessings.
"A fitting gesture," Antiope nodded with a grandmother’s indulgence.
…
As an Amazonian, Yang Le’s pace couldn’t keep up with Wonder Woman’s. Dragged along, they raced through the city to the royal palace, where Queen Hippolyta’s chambers lay in disarray—unmistakable evidence of foul play, no illusion needed.
"Now what?" Diana asked urgently, her impatience palpable.
"Get the right answer, of course." Yang Le stretched, then bypassed Diana’s questions by activating the Omnitrix on his belt. A flash of light replaced the Amazonian woman with a rotund robot—his favorite shortcut: Clockwork.
"Now I’m a genderless machine," Yang Le patted his metallic belly.
Wonder Woman smirked at the cheerful Clockwork. "Why not transform earlier to bypass the guards?"
"Save the small talk." Yang Le waved her off. "Time to work."
Diana fell silent, raising a hand toward the palace, letting Yang Le take the lead.
"Clockwork can see the past. Brace yourself."
Yang Le explained as his crown’s gears spun counterclockwise, casting a white light over the sprawling chamber. Time reversed like a rewound film—the shattered palace restored to its former grandeur. Patrolling Amazon guards materialized, the scene mirroring a normal day.
"Follow me," Yang Le urged, striding into the palace. Diana trailed, unnoticed by the spectral guards—ghosts of the past, irrelevant to their present mission.
Inside, they found Queen Hippolyta seated on her throne, her bodyguard at her side. Diana froze, her gaze locked on her mother.
(End of Chapter)
