The Greece Antagonist

Accompanied by the faint light of dawn, a large group of handsome men and beautiful women, led by the god Pan, arrived at the settlement of the Arcadians.

Since this place had originally been a refuge for mountain villagers, with rugged terrain and inconvenient access, it had not suffered much from the impact of foreign cultures, thus the architecture and the locals' way of life had maintained their primitive charm.

As far as the eye could see, some were herding cattle and sheep in the valleys, some were cultivating grains on the gentle slopes, and others were foraging and hunting with their bows and arrows, singing rustic tunes from the countryside at the top of their lungs, which involuntarily made Apollo frown.

Fortunately, not far from the city gates, a middle-aged man with slightly curly hair and dressed in jewels and finery welcomed them with a broad smile.

"Midas, the monarch of Phrygia, my good friend, who recently traveled to this place, heard of your arrival in Arcadia and admired you, so he wished to sponsor a feast."

Pan stepped forward to give the middle-aged man a hug, warmly introducing him to the present deities.

Without any doubt, the group accepted Midas's warm invitation and together went to the outdoor banquet he had prepared.

As a city neighboring Arcadia, relying on the mountains for resources, the banquet offered a great amount of game and mountain delicacies bought from the villagers.

After meticulous cooking by the accompanying Phrygian royal chefs, it proved to have a unique flavor, much to the deities' satisfaction, which also led them to look upon the Phrygian monarch with more friendliness.

Halfway through the feast, the foreign monarch stood up from his seat, toasted to Apollo and Pan, and sighed with a shake of his head.

"I heard that yesterday, the two of you competed in musical prowess in the forests of Arcadia, and the divine music almost made all the nymphs and sprites boil over with excitement; it's a pity indeed that I missed such a spectacle."

Hearing Midas's compliment, Apollo, the victor, showed a reserved yet self-satisfied smile.

However, Midas then changed his tone and, with a smile, revealed his intention.

"In fact, the special reason for inviting you today is to hope that the two of you will compete again, allowing us mortals the fortune to appreciate music from the deities."

At these words, Apollo turned his head to look at Pan beside him, his face showing a mocking smile.

He was no fool and naturally understood the hidden meaning behind Midas's words and his true intentions.

Clearly, yesterday's contest had not convinced Pan, which was why the young god had specially brought his good friend, offering a feast, and through him, hoped to challenge again.

At that moment, with his machinations laid bare under Apollo's scrutiny, Pan, slightly embarrassed, let out an awkward smile and swiftly pretended to scold Midas.

"What's there to compare? Whether one loses or wins, doesn't it all end the same?"

"Not the same at all, I have always believed the tunes from the Syrinx flute to be the most perfect music in this world! The thought that it could be defeated by your lyre, I must confess, I find it unimaginable."

Midas shook his head repeatedly, his every word a compliment to Pan.

At this, the proud Apollo could not simply sit idly by and immediately stood up to respond.

"Since the Phrygian monarch has kindly invited us, then Pan and I will each perform a piece here, allowing all of you to judge."

"Wonderful! Thank you for accommodating this small request!"

Having his wish fulfilled, Midas immediately burst into hearty laughter and clapped his hands to summon his servants, pulled out a large handful of gold and silver coins, and gave his orders with a grave voice.

"Let the nearby villagers come and enjoy the feast, listen to the performance of the two deities, and then let them vote on which side has the more beautiful music!"

On hearing this, Apollo slightly furrowed his brow, but he did not refuse the arrangement.

Whether the judges were the woodland god and his attending nymphs or these mortals before him, he was confident that his music could conquer all listeners.

The surrounding villagers, upon receiving Midas's invitation and hearing that there would be a performance to watch, food to eat, and money to take, immediately flocked to the venue, packing the area tight and peering curiously inward.

The audience was now in place, and the competition began.

Announced by Midas, Pan was the first to play his Syrinx flute, with a lively and spirited melody, like stones clashing, cliffs thundering, and woods howling.

Being the god of the shepherds, Pan was extremely familiar with these sounds in the deep mountains and forests, playing them with an almost haunting authenticity that shook the soul.

The villagers who had lived for a long time in the Arcadian region were also exceptionally excited, clapping and cheering in response, singing along in their out-of-tune folk music, blending seamlessly into this frenzied celebration.

Even Midas, the foreign monarch, cheered loudly with delight, clapping and stomping his feet to dance wildly to Pan's accompaniment, alongside those near him.

The disorderly twisting of bodies and singing that hardly qualified as music made Apollo frown in disdain.

For this art god who prided himself highly, everything about the scene was a visual and auditory torment.

Finally, when Pan played the final note and ended his performance,

Apollo no longer held back and decisively picked up his lyre, casting his bright-eyed gaze into the distance, strumming the strings. The lyre sounded mournful and melodious, like babbling brooks, like the chattering of swallows and warbling of orioles, like the sudden rise of a gentle breeze, like the first glimpse of moonlight, enchanting those present into a world of infinite tranquility and beauty.

As the piece concluded, silence fell upon the venue, as if stunned by the breathtaking melody.