"Hmph!"
"Kronos, aren't you utterly disgraceful?"
At this moment, a voice echoed from afar.
"..."
Kronos's expression darkened, tinged with indifference, exuding dissatisfaction. This wasn't surprising.
For Kronos, the arrival of this individual meant the appearance of Uranus, the Sky God, and his father, who had once been the first-generation God-King.
Uranus descended slowly, gazing at Hades and Kronos before him with a playful smirk. He taunted, "Kronos, you're really disgraceful! Surpassed entirely by your son!"
"Surpassed by my son?"
"Uranus!"
Kronos replied coldly, "Compared to you, the so-called Sky God, defeating you doesn't seem to be a challenge."
His tone was calm, as if he didn't take Uranus seriously at all. This wasn't unwarranted.
Though Uranus had freed himself from the shackles of the sky, his power hadn't increased significantly. While this liberation allowed him to transcend the bonds of fate, the key issue was that Kronos, after his initial defeat, had returned with substantially enhanced divine power.
In the past, Kronos had already defeated Uranus in direct combat. Now, with his newfound strength, defeating Uranus seemed even easier.
"Hmph!"
Uranus snorted coldly, his expression full of discontent. Yet, he couldn't be bothered to argue with Kronos. Kronos, too, saw no point in continuing the exchange. After all, as a guest here, causing a fight in the Heart of the Ocean wouldn't merely be a matter of disrespecting Poseidon; it would be an outright disgrace. That would be a humiliation of the highest order.
"Humanity's downfall."
"The evil of mankind."
Uranus turned to Hades, his tone brimming with intrigue. "Hades, you truly excel. Cultivating a god of the underworld through such means—unlocking humanity's potential during their war—was remarkable. Using the collapse of mankind's rationale to absorb this potential, the underworld deity birthed from this process will be extraordinary."
"..."
Pandora fell silent.
What?! How could they know?! This wasn't information the outside world was supposed to be aware of! How on earth did they find out?
Pandora was bewildered. The matter of humanity's evil was something only the gods of the Underworld should have been privy to. The gods outside shouldn't have had any knowledge of it. And yet...
The reality was undeniable. While most gods remained ignorant, Uranus and Kronos clearly knew.
If Kronos knew, it could be explained—Rhea might have told him. But Uranus?
How could Uranus have this knowledge?
This was far too bizarre!
"Hehehe~~~"
Uranus scrutinized Pandora and chuckled lightly. "Little girl, you seem quite shocked."
"It's nothing surprising."
Before Pandora could respond, Uranus continued in a calm tone. "Humanity's evil and their collapse—don't think these are forces any random god can manipulate or let fall apart. It's no simple task."
"Humanity's evil!"
"Such a force, without Hades as the Lord of the Underworld, would corrupt even me or Kronos with mere contact. This evil, born of humanity, is not something just anyone can touch."
Uranus's explanation was delivered with a serene tone.
Pandora now understood. When all other possibilities are eliminated, and only one's lord could achieve such a feat, the conclusion becomes clear. This was undoubtedly the work of her lord. No one else could accomplish it.
Hades then spoke, his tone steady: "It's not surprising. The unique malice inherent in humanity is inherently corrosive to any god."
Hades's words were succinct. Yet, they underscored his mastery over this force.
Corruption by humanity's evil? Sorry, Hades was well aware of it. Precisely because of this understanding, he chose to harness it. For him, it was all too simple.
As the Lord of the Underworld, Hades inherently governed not just life and death but also darkness, sin, and original sin itself.
These domains—darkness, evil, sin—were all within Hades's grasp. This made his control over humanity's evil possible.
"Hades."
"Uranus."
"Kronos."
At that moment, a woman's voice emerged. It was Athena, who stepped into the Heart of the Ocean, gazing silently at the three God-Kings. Her expression carried a trace of complexity.
She now stood among them, having attained the strength to do so. Yet, her achievements had come at a great cost—her mother.
Athena was not a god devoid of emotion. On the contrary, she cared deeply for familial bonds and friendships, even if she was indifferent to romantic love. Her mother, Metis, had made immense sacrifices for her.
Metis, a mother willing to give her life for her child, was someone Athena valued dearly.
But what was done was done. Dwelling on the past served no purpose.
"Earth Mother God."
Uranus and Kronos squinted slightly, examining Athena closely.
The Earth Mother and Steel God were known to all gods. However, the means to awaken and activate these positions were shrouded in mystery. Now, before them stood a true Earth Mother God. To not be curious would be strange.
"Interesting."
Kronos sensed the boundless divine power within Athena, a smirk forming on his lips. Things were getting more intriguing.
Was he now inferior not just to Hades but also to Athena?
Yet, this didn't faze Kronos. If it had been in the past, it might have been a massive blow. But now?
Kronos had undergone profound changes in his mindset. He had transformed fundamentally.
He now believed that being surpassed was merely an incentive to strive harder. Eventually, he would surpass them all. This was the confidence that came from deep within his soul.
"Hades."
"Athena."
"Kronos."
"Uranus."
"Since we're all here, let's sit down and talk."
At this moment, a voice filled with elegance but tinged with an inexplicable wickedness sounded. It was a strange voice, enchanting and seductive, yet exuding ominous undertones.
Even Rhea, without Kronos's protection, would have struggled to endure it.
However, the gods present, being of similar stature, were unaffected. They would not be subdued by mere words.
Pandora, bound to the underworld, had no issue either. Her unique situation shielded her from such influences.
Led by the voice, the four God-Kings and their companions entered the depths of the Heart of the Ocean. Poseidon awaited them, seated upon his throne.
Hades, Athena, Kronos, and Uranus each took their seats. Pandora and Rhea stood at Hades and Kronos's sides.
All eyes now turned to Poseidon. His aura seemed unchanged, yet his demeanor had shifted. The cold, mechanical indifference of the past was gone, replaced with a faint smile.
More importantly, Poseidon's divine power had become enigmatic, blending divinity and malevolence in a strange fusion.
"Poseidon," Hades said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Hades," Poseidon replied, his tone both elegant and wicked.
Their gazes locked momentarily before both gods turned away, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. What lay ahead? No one knew.
------------------
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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