Chapter 3044 - Ch: 75-80

American Comic Book: Odin's Son, with Fiancées All Over the Universe

Continuing from WebNovel:

In Marvel As First The Son Of Odin

Change Hu wen to Arthas

Chapter 75: Radiant Cross Ray Destroys Dark Thunder

Arthas crossed his hands in front of his chest in a cross shape, a posture resembling an ancient and sacred ritual.

The Divine Power within him surged out like a bursting river at this moment.

A blinding golden beam of light erupted from the edges of his arms, carrying a terrifying roar that seemed to tear through space.

The beam of light was pure and scorching; wherever it passed, even the Dark Divine Power in the air was instantly vaporized.

The Dark Zeus avatar opposite him clearly didn't expect this young man to have such a powerful trump card.

The black lightning spear in his hand had to condense again, transforming into a pitch-black lightning storm that collided with the beam of light.

"Rumble—!!!"

Two completely different energies fiercely clashed in mid-air, unleashing a deafening roar that made the entire divine mountain tremble.

Platinum-gold radiance and pitch-black lightning intertwined and devoured each other, forming a massive energy vortex at the point of contact.

The surrounding space began to collapse under the terrifying pressure, and fine black cracks spread through the air.

Rocks splattered, dust flew, and the plaza outside the Temple of Athena was instantly leveled.

Arthas gritted his teeth, his feet sinking deep into the ground to resist the powerful recoil.

But the battle intent in his eyes grew even stronger, his arm muscles tensing as he continuously increased the output of his Divine Power.

In the hollow eyes of Dark Zeus, which burned with pale lightning flames, a trace of unconcealed solemnity now appeared.

He had originally thought this was just a slightly talented mixed-blood bastard he could easily crush.

But now, the purity and intensity of this power had subtly begun to threaten the foundation of his avatar.

The purifying attribute contained within that light made him feel a throbbing pain deep within his soul.

"Is this the bloodline of Aphrodite? To be able to unleash such an overbearing attack."

Dark Zeus's low voice echoed through the thunder, tinged with surprise and greed.

This combination of divine radiance and a warrior's fierce might was simply the perfect War Machine.

The energy output of both sides reached a delicate balance; neither could overcome the other.

The beam and the lightning remained in a stalemate in the air, emitting a sizzling sound that made one's scalp tingle.

Dark Zeus suddenly reined in part of his offensive, and a sinister smile appeared on his blurry lightning face.

He seemed to have changed his strategy, no longer eager to crush with brute force, but instead attempting to break his opponent psychologically.

"Young man, your power surprises me, and it also makes me... appreciate you."

His voice became full of temptation, no longer a hoarse roar, but rather a 'benevolence' like that of an elder.

"You possess such great potential, why waste your life in such a doomed situation?"

"Look at the goddesses behind you; they are mere remnants of an old era, failures abandoned by fate."

Arthas was not swayed by his words in the slightest; the light beam in his hands continued its steady output.

But he did not interrupt the other party, instead coldly watching the former God King, wanting to see what else he could spout.

Seeing that Arthas didn't retort, Dark Zeus thought his words were working, and his tone became even more fervent.

The black lightning behind him transformed into a massive illusory throne.

"Join me, child, as long as you submit to me and offer your loyalty."

"I will bestow upon you supreme power, making you the Vice Monarch of the New Olympus, second only to one, above ten thousand."

"Even..."

He extended a finger made of lightning, pointing at the pale-faced goddesses behind Arthas.

"Even these once high and mighty goddesses, Hera, Athena, Artemis..."

"I can bestow them upon you, let them become your slaves, for you to toy with, for you to dominate."

"Think about it, what kind of glory, what kind of pleasure would that be."

"You will possess the most beautiful women in this world, possess the power to control life and death."

"Isn't that far more worthwhile than dying for them?"

Dark Zeus's voice echoed in the air, every word like poisoned bait with a hook.

He knew the weaknesses of male gods: power, beauty, status—these were primal instincts that no male creature could resist.

Hearing these words, the faces of the goddesses behind him instantly turned ashen, their eyes filled with humiliation and anger.

Hera trembled with rage, her scepter almost crushed in her hand. That was her husband, yet he wanted to bestow her upon someone else like an object?

Athena clenched her fists, her nails piercing her palms, blood flowing down between her fingers.

Artemis gnashed her silver teeth, wishing she could rush forward and tear that foul mouth apart.

But at the same time, a deep fear arose in their hearts.

They feared Arthas would waver, feared that this youth, who had just brought them hope, would also fall to the temptation of power.

After all, that was the promise of the God King, something countless male gods dreamed of.

All eyes focused on Arthas, awaiting his answer.

The air seemed to solidify, even the wind stopped howling.

Arthas slowly withdrew his hands, and the dazzling Cross Ray dissipated with them.

He straightened his body, lightly patting the dust from his clothes, his movements as elegant as if attending a noble banquet.

Then he looked up at the towering Dark Giant.

A cold, disdainful, almost pitying sneer played at the corner of his mouth.

"Are you done talking?"

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Is this your scope? Is this the God King of Olympus who once ruled the world?"

"No wonder you've degenerated into this monstrous state; it's truly... disgusting."

Arthas took a step forward, plunging the Excalibur into the ground with a crisp clang.

He pointed at Dark Zeus, golden flames of fury burning in his eyes.

"Who do you think I am? Do you think I'm some worthless trash who sells his dignity for power?"

"I am Huwen Odinson, the Prince of Asgard, and the son of Aphrodite."

"My power is for protecting those I wish to protect, not for enslaving anyone."

"As for the power and status you mentioned..."

He spat contemptuously.

"In my eyes, they're not even as good as a pile of dog shit on the roadside."

"And."

Arthas turned around and glanced at the goddesses behind him, whose expressions were complex.

His gaze instantly softened, imbued with a reassuring firmness.

"They are not objects, nor are they anyone's slaves."

"They are my family, my elders, beings I will protect with my life."

"As long as I can still stand, as long as I still breathe."

"No one, no god, can touch a single hair on their heads."

These words, firm and resounding, struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, shattering Dark Zeus's ridiculous arrogance.

The goddesses behind him were completely stunned.

They looked at the figure, not particularly tall, yet appearing incredibly towering at this moment, and tears streamed down their faces uncontrollably.

Hera covered her mouth, crying like a little girl.

For thousands of years, no one had ever defended her like this, no one had ever treated her as a family member who needed protection, rather than a political symbol.

Athena felt her heart skip a beat; an unprecedented tremor instantly filled her chest.

This man... this man...

She couldn't even find words to describe her feelings at this moment, only wanting to keep watching him until the end of time.

Artemis was utterly mesmerized.

She clutched her broken bow tightly, her knuckles white.

At that moment, she even had a crazy thought: if she could die for him, it would seem like a happy thing.

"Good... very good..."

Dark Zeus's temptation was mercilessly trampled, and his 'benevolent' mask shattered instantly.

In its place was endless shame and savage killing intent.

"Since you refuse a toast and prefer a forfeit."

"Since you want to be a hero, a savior."

"Then I shall grant your wish!"

"I will crush you, and those hussies behind you, into powder!!!"

Dark Zeus let out an earth-shattering roar.

He no longer held back his power, and his ten-meter-tall body began to swell violently.

All the surrounding Dark Divine Power converged towards him; the black lightning became denser, even tinged with a hint of blood.

In the sky, the massive lightning vortex reappeared.

This time, it wasn't just one lightning bolt, but thousands of black lightning snakes writhing within it.

The oppressive power was several times stronger than before.

Clearly, he was truly intent on killing and was about to launch a full-scale assault.

AI Model: gemini-3.0-flash

Facing this world-destroying scene, Arthas's expression was surprisingly calm.

He didn't panic or feel fear; instead, he took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

He was adjusting his state, mobilizing every bit of power he could within his body.

Except for that pink "Echo of Love."

That was the meeting gift he had saved for his mom, and also his trump card for facing the unknown primordial godNyx or the true form of Dark Zeus.

To deal with a mere avatar, even a God-King Level one,

there was no need to reveal this trump card yet.

"The power of light alone is enough to send you to hell."

Arthas suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils having turned completely into pure gold.

He once again struck that classic cross-shaped pose.

Only this time, he wasn't in a hurry to fire; he was charging up.

"Buzz— Buzz— Buzz—"

The surrounding space began to emit an overburdened buzzing sound.

Countless golden specks of light converged from all directions; they were the light elements drifting on Mount Olympus.

Upon Arthas's arms, divine power condensed to the extreme, even beginning to manifest as physical crystals.

The light grew brighter and more dazzling.

Finally, his entire being seemed to transform into a miniature sun.

"Still resisting? Courting death!"

Dark Zeus saw Arthas's intention and gave a disdainful cold snort.

The thunder spear in his hand formed once again; this time, the spear was dozens of meters long, entwined with the shrieks of countless vengeful souls.

"World-Extinguishing Thunder Punishment: Void!"

He waved his massive hand.

That giant thunder spear, capable of piercing heaven and earth, smashed down toward Arthas with a momentum that could destroy everything.

Just at the moment the thunder spear was about to strike him,

Arthas moved.

He didn't shout; he only let out a low, powerful roar from deep in his throat.

"Profound Meaning of Light..."

"Super Cross Ray!!!"

"BOOM——————!!!"

A beam of light, three times thicker than before, gushed out from between his arms.

It was no longer a simple ray of light, but a destructive torrent of light.

The core of the light beam appeared as an extreme bright white, entwined with golden spiral patterns.

It was a stream of photons compressed to the limit, carrying invincible kinetic energy and high temperature.

The two forces collided again in mid-air.

But this time, there was no stalemate.

No evenly matched struggle.

Arthas's "Super Cross Ray," strengthened by charging, was like a red-hot knife cutting through butter.

Only a momentary pause,

and that seemingly invincible black thunder spear began to crack and disintegrate inch by inch.

"What?!"

A look of horror finally appeared on Dark Zeus's blurred face.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

His full-strength strike was actually crushed head-on?

How was this possible? Was this really the power a newly-matured god could possess?

But the fact was right before him.

The platinum-colored light beam was unstoppable; after shattering the thunder spear, its momentum didn't decrease.

With an indomitable aura, it slammed hard into Dark Zeus's chest.

"No————!!!"

Dark Zeus let out a shrill scream.

But his massive body appeared so clumsy before the light beam that he had no time to dodge.

The light beam directly pierced his chest, leaving a large hole several meters in diameter.

No blood flowed from the wound, only black smoke being frantically purified by the Divine Power of Light.

Following that, the light beam did not disappear.

Arthas maintained his output posture, roaring as he pushed his arms forward.

The light beam swept horizontally.

*Sizzle—*

It was like an eraser wiping away pencil marks.

Half of Dark Zeus's body was directly sliced away by the light beam.

A massive amount of dark divine power dissipated in the air, turning into harmless particles.

"This... what power is this..."

"I am not reconciled..."

With only a head and half a shoulder left, Dark Zeus was still letting out unreconciled roars.

But he no longer had a chance.

Arthas took a deep breath, and the divine power in his body erupted once more.

The light beam suddenly expanded, completely swallowing what remained of Dark Zeus.

Within that dazzling radiance,

the invincible avatar of the Dark God-King melted and dissipated rapidly, like snow under the sun.

Not even a trace of ash was left.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

The light faded.

Arthas still maintained that cross-armed pose.

But his arms had already dropped, trembling violently.

The Greek Battle Robe he wore was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body.

He gasped for air, his chest heaving violently.

This strike had nearly drained all his divine power, except for the "Echo of Love."

The feeling of exhaustion made his vision turn black in waves, and his legs felt a bit weak.

But he still forced himself to stay standing because the battle wasn't over yet, and because someone was behind him, watching him.

"It's over..."

Hera stared blankly at the empty sky ahead.

The shadow that had loomed over her heart for thousands of years, the nightmare that had terrified her for countless days and nights,

just like that... it was gone?

Blown to bits by this child in a single strike?

She felt as if she were dreaming.

But the lingering scent of scorching light elements in the air reminded her that this was all real.

"Arthas!"

Artemis was the first to react.

She rushed forward recklessly, supporting the swaying Arthas.

When her hand touched Arthas's burning and still trembling arm, her heart ached so much that tears almost fell.

"How are you? Are you hurt?"

She anxiously checked Arthas's body, her voice carrying a clear sob.

"I'm fine... just a bit weak."

Arthas forced a smile and leaned against Artemis.

Well, although she was wearing stiff Hunting Gear, the goddess's figure was still very soft.

This wasn't a loss.

"Give me a hand, Aunt... oh, no, Sister."

"My legs are a bit weak."

He spoke half-jokingly, trying to hide his weakness.

"What time is it, and you're still being cheeky!"

Athena also hurried over; she checked Arthas's condition and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming it was just exhaustion of divine power.

The way she looked at Arthas was so tender it was as if water could drip from her eyes.

"Well done, Arthas."

"You not only saved us but also upheld the dignity of Olympus."

Hera walked over, looking at Arthas with a light in her eyes she had never shown before.

It was recognition, gratitude, and a deep kind of reliance.

"Thank you, child."

"What you said just now... I will never forget it for the rest of my life."

"From today on, you are the true King of Olympus."

"Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go,"

"Hera will support you unconditionally."

With the destruction of the Dark Zeus avatar,

the dense fog around them seemed to dissipate quite a bit as it lost its power source.

A long-lost ray of sunlight pierced through the thick clouds, falling upon this landscape of devastated ruins.

It happened to shine upon Arthas and the goddesses.

Within that golden radiance,

the youth surrounded by the goddesses appeared so dazzling.

He had proven with his actions that power was not just for destruction,

it was also for protection.

And on the distant mountain peak,

within that pitch-black Temple of Night,

a pair of eyes seemed to see this scene through layers of obstacles.

A gentle and familiar voice sighed softly in the void.

"This child... he really is like his father."

"No, he's much cuter than his father, who only knew how to fight."

Arthas recovered a bit of strength and stood up straight from Artemis's embrace.

He looked up at the temple that still stood in the darkness.

That was the final destination, and the place he had to go.

"Let's go, everyone."

"The watchdog has been dealt with."

"Next, it's time to bring the main person home."

Though his voice was tired, it was still full of strength.

The goddesses nodded, following behind him with determined eyes.

This time, they were no longer weaklings seeking protection, but Valkyries fighting to protect that youth and the hope in their hearts.

The wind stopped.

The clouds dispersed.

The road to the mountain peak, though still rugged, was no longer dark.

Because there was a person radiating light leading the way.

And the bond known as "love" became indestructible at this moment.

Chapter 76: Seeing the Primordial in the Inverted Galaxy, Questioning the Heart in the Depths of Night

The final stretch of the path to the mountain peak was unexpectedly calm.

Gone were those annoying Dark Divine Attendants, and that nauseating aura of decay had vanished as well.

Even the heavy pressure from before, which felt as if it would crush one's spine, had disappeared.

In its place was an absolute, pure silence.

It was like stepping into a vacuum; even the sound of footsteps was swallowed whole.

Arthas walked at the very front. Although the Excaliburin his hand was still glowing, that bit of light seemed so insignificant in the face of such extreme darkness.

Finally, they crossed the last stone step.

The view before them suddenly opened up, yet it made everyone catch their breath in an instant.

There was no grand palace as they had imagined, nor were there any gloomy cages; even the ground beneath their feet had vanished.

In its place was a vast and boundless starry sky.

Countless dazzling stars flowed beneath their feet, and the deep Milky Way swirled overhead.

It was as if they had stepped into the deepest part of the Universe with a single stride, suspended in the void.

"This... where is this?"

Behind him, Hera instinctively grabbed the corner of Arthas's clothes, her voice trembling slightly.

As the former Queen of Heaven, she had seen countless grand spectacles.

But this was no ordinary illusion; it was a real, existing space.

Someone had moved the entire starry sky to the peak of Mount Olympus, or rather, this place itself was a node connecting to the primordial origins of the Universe.

The extreme contrast between that vastness and one's own insignificance made one involuntarily feel an urge to prostrate themselves in worship.

"This is the Temple of Night."

Athena's voice, though calm, also carried a hint of awe.

"Mother Goddess Nyx's divine domain."

"Here, the concepts of time and space are blurred."

"Everyone, be careful. Do not get lost in the starlight."

Arthas took a deep breath. The spatial divine power within him began to circulate instinctively, allowing him to steady himself in this weightless void.

He looked up toward the very center of this starry sky.

There, a mass of the deepest, purest darkness swallowed all the surrounding starlight.

"Since you have come, then come over."

A voice suddenly rang out directly in everyone's minds.

The voice was neither male nor female, and its age was indiscernible; it sounded like both a baby's cry and an old man's sigh.

Ethereal and distant, yet carrying an irresistible majesty.

As the voice faded, the mass of darkness slowly dispersed, revealing a throne carved from obsidian stone.

Upon the throne sat a figure.

She wore a long dress that seemed to be woven from the night sky, its hem adorned with countless real stars.

Her face was obscured by a thin black veil, making it impossible to see clearly.

But those eyes, exposed to the air, made Arthas's heart suddenly contract.

What kind of eyes were those?

There were no whites, nor were there pupils.

Only two swirling Nebulas, so deep they seemed capable of sucking away one's soul.

With just a single glance from her, Arthas felt as if all the secrets in his body had been seen through.

Even the divine power that had been restless within him became incredibly submissive at this moment, not daring to act out in the slightest.

This was... a power that transcended dimensions.

Arthas silently made a judgment in his heart.

Even from God-King Odin, he had never felt such a terrifying sense of oppression.

Odin's pressure was like a mountain; though heavy, there was at least the possibility of climbing it.

But the one before him was like the entire Universe.

Facing the Universe, what else can a mortal do besides feel awe?

This was a primordial god.

This was the Goddess of the Night, Nyx.

Child of Aphrodite.

Nyx spoke slowly, her tone calm without a single ripple.

And... the survivors of Olympus.

For what reason have you intruded into my domain?

Is it to challenge me? Or is it... to seek death?

Following her words, the surrounding starlight instantly became sharp.

The previously soft Nebulas transformed into countless sharp swords, suspended above everyone's heads.

With just a single thought from her, everyone here would turn into cosmic dust in an instant.

The goddesses trembled under this pressure, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Hera wanted to speak but found her throat as if it were being choked, unable to make any sound; even Athena was dripping with cold sweat at this moment, unable to lift the shield in her hand at all.

Before this primordial mother goddess, these so-called main gods were simply like children who hadn't grown up.

But Arthas did not kneel, nor did he retreat.

Withstanding that terrifying pressure enough to crush a soul, he forced his spine to straighten.

Although the golden divine power in his body was suppressed, it still circulated tenaciously, protecting his mind.

I am not here to challenge you, noble primordial mother goddess.

Arthas's voice was somewhat raspy, yet exceptionally clear.

He looked directly into those Nebula-like eyes, neither humble nor arrogant.

I have come here for only two things.

First, to purify the dark filth that has defiled the sacred mountain.

Although that was your doing, I believe that as the primordial will of the Universe, you also do not wish to see this world destroyed by such distorted things.

Second, and the most important point.

Arthas paused and took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incredibly firm and infinitely gentle.

I have come to take my mother home.

"Home?"

Nyx seemed to have heard an interesting word.

She leaned forward slightly, and that sense of oppression instantly intensified several times.

"Do you know what you are saying, little fellow?"

"This is her home."

"It was I who gave her the only sanctuary in the darkness."

"If not for me, she would have been torn to pieces by me long ago, just like those foolish male gods."

"What right do you have to take her away?"

"Because I am her son."

Arthas shot back without hesitation.

This answer was simple and blunt, yet so righteous that it left no room for rebuttal.

"No matter how safe it is here, and no matter how well you treat her."

"If there is no freedom, then it is a prison."

"And my mother, what she lacks least is the courage to pursue freedom."

"Back then, she dared to refuse the use of divine authority for the sake of free will; today, I dare to take her away for the sake of her freedom."

Nyx fell silent, and a strange light flickered in those Nebula-like eyes.

It seemed as if she were reminiscing, or perhaps scrutinizing.

After a long while, she let out a light chuckle. There was no anger in that laughter; instead, it carried a hint of playfulness.

"Very interesting."

"Truly similar."

"That kind of foolish, ignorant-of-the-heavens-and-earth gaze is exactly the same as hers back then."

"However, courage alone is not enough."

Nyx slowly raised her hand.

The surrounding starry sky changed instantly, and countless images emerged in the void.

Those were Arthas's deepest fears and also the things he desired most.

"If you want to take her away, let me see your true heart."

"Let's see if you can still maintain this so-called 'courage' when facing true despair and temptation."

The scene shifted.

Arthas found himself back in Asgard.

But this was no longer the magnificent divine realm he was familiar with; it was the ruins after Ragnarök.

Flames were burning, and palaces were collapsing.

Odin lay in a pool of blood, the Gungnir in his hand broken in two.

Frigga, Thor, Loki... everyone he loved had become cold corpses.

And the one who caused all this was none other than himself.

"Look at this."

Nyx's voice echoed in his ears, full of enchantment.

"This is your future."

"The power you possess will ultimately destroy everything you love."

"Your so-called protection is nothing more than a catalyst that accelerates death."

"As long as you give up now, as long as you stay here with me."

"I can help you rewrite this ending."

"I can give you eternal peace, letting you live forever in the most beautiful dream."

The scene shifted again.

Arthas saw Diana.

She was covered in blood, collapsing in his arms, her gaze gradually losing focus.

"Why... why did you leave me..."

"If you hadn't come looking for Aphrodite, we wouldn't have died..."

That piercing pain, that suffocating feeling of losing his beloved, was so real that Arthas almost broke down.

His body was trembling, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

Is this an illusion? Or a prophecy?

Before the power of a primordial god, the boundary between reality and illusion had long since blurred.

"Kneel down."

"Submit to the darkness."

"As long as you nod your head, none of this will happen."

Nyx's voice grew louder and louder, striking Arthas's sanity like a magic spell.

She reached out her hand, and in her palm was a mass of warm and peaceful darkness.

That was the temptation to escape, the relief of abandoning responsibility.

Arthas looked at that mass of darkness, his gaze somewhat dazed.

It's really tiring.

From birth until now, he has always been fighting, always been running.

If I could just stop like this, if I could be immersed in a beautiful dream forever...

But he suddenly remembered something.

He remembered Diana's innocent smile under the starry sky, Sif's stubborn tears, and Brunhilde's persistent and deep love.

He remembered Odin's clumsy yet heavy fatherly love, and Frigga's meticulous care for him.

And... that mother he had never met, who was willing to be imprisoned for over a decade for the sake of freedom.

"No..."

Arthas lowered his head and squeezed out a single word from between his teeth.

"This isn't right, this isn't right, this isn't right!"

"This kind of peace... is fake."

He suddenly looked up, the daze in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by an even more blazing golden light.

"A true future is not obtained by escaping."

"It is struck out punch by punch with these hands of mine!"

"Love is not possession, nor is it control."

"And it is certainly not locking someone in a cage for the sake of so-called 'well-being'."

"That is cowardice! That is selfishness!"

"If my future is destined for destruction, then I will smash it to pieces before that destruction arrives!"

Arthas roared.

The Echo of Love divine power within his body was completely detonated at this moment.

Pink light surged out from his body; it was a power more dazzling than starlight and more resilient than darkness.

"Break for me!!!"

He threw a punch toward the illusion before him.

He used no techniques, only a pure explosion of will and divine power.

"Crack—!"

It was as if a mirror had been shattered.

Those terrifying images and enchanting voices instantly shattered into pieces under this punch.

The starry sky became clear once again.

Nyx still sat on the throne, but that layer of black veil seemed to ripple slightly.

Arthas gasped for air. The feeling of breaking free from the illusion was not pleasant, and his mental strength was greatly depleted.

But he remained standing, his gaze as clear as water, without the slightest hesitation.

"Such petty tricks are useless against me."

"My mother didn't bow her head to you back then, and neither will I."

"We of the Odins Son family have tough bones."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The goddesses were all stunned; they had also fallen into their own illusions just now and had almost succumbed.

They hadn't expected that this youngest child would be the first to break free and even shoot back so domineeringly.

This mental state was simply terrifying.

"Hehe..."

"Hahahaha..."

Nyx suddenly burst into laughter.

This time, it was no longer a cold laugh, but a genuine, joyful laughter.

That laughter shook the entire starry sky, causing the surrounding stars to flicker along with it.

"Good, very good."

"As expected of her child."

"Although there's a bit of that annoying Asgardian recklessness, that scent from the depths of the soul..."

"Is truly nostalgic."

Nyx slowly stood up from the throne.

As she moved, the starlight across the sky actually began to converge toward her, transforming into an incomparably magnificent starlight robe.

The black veil on her face slowly dissipated, revealing a stunning face that took one's breath away.

It was a beauty that transcended the limits of race and aesthetics, carrying endless mystery and nobility.

But at this moment, that face wore a faint smile.

The way she looked at Arthas actually held a hint of... affection?

"You passed, little fellow."

Nyx walked down the steps barefoot, step by step.

With every step she took, a black lotus would bloom beneath her feet.

She walked up to Arthas, reached out her hand that seemed carved from white jade, and gently lifted Arthas's chin.

From such close proximity, Arthas could even smell the cold fragrance on her, like that of a night-blooming cereus.

"Originally, I intended to turn you into a star and hang you in the sky."

"But now, I've changed my mind."

"You possess that pink power; it is the best gift Aphroditeleft for this world."

"Since you are the continuation she chose, I will also give you an opportunity."

"An opportunity to see her."

Nyx turned around and waved her hand toward the deepest darkness behind her.

"Come out, Aphrodite."

"Your precious son has come to take you home."

"If you don't come out, this brat is going to tear my old bones apart."

As her voice fell.

That darkness slowly split open a crack.

An incredibly familiar and warm aura surged out from within.

Arthas's eyes instantly turned red.

The person he had searched for so long, crossing countless worlds.

Finally, she was right before his eyes.

Chapter 77: The Goddess of Beauty Sheds Tears Amidst the Galaxy, Mother and Son Reunite with Wordless Love

With a gentle wave of Nyx's hand, the long-closed dark rift finally opened completely.

It was as if a heavy curtain had been drawn back, revealing the treasure that had been hidden behind it all along.

There were no world-shaking fluctuations of divine power, nor was there any dazzling, brilliant light.

Only a single figure slowly emerged from that deepest darkness.

Her steps were light, seemingly a bit hesitant, yet also seemingly a bit eager.

Those bare feet stepped upon the starlight of the void, each step sending out gentle ripples.

When that figure was fully revealed before everyone, even the stars across the sky seemed to dim for a moment.

It wasn't because her power was so strong, but because she was simply too beautiful.

That kind of beauty surpassed linguistic description and transcended racial boundaries.

It was the collection of all things beautiful in the world, the personification of the concept of "Beauty" itself.

She wore a simple white Greek robe, without excessive decoration, appearing somewhat worn only due to the passage of time.

But worn on her, it surpassed the most magnificent feathered garments in the world.

Long golden hair fell casually over her shoulders, shimmering with a warmth like the morning light.

Her skin was whiter than snow, yet not pale, instead radiating a healthy, lustrous glow.

However, those eyes that should have been full of life and smiles were now filled with an indelible exhaustion and weariness.

Those were the marks left by over ten years of imprisonment, of enduring alone in the endless darkness.

She was Aphrodite.

The most beautiful goddess of Olympus, and the biological mother Arthas had never met.

She slowly came to a halt, standing less than ten meters away from Arthas.

Those eyes, as deep blue as the Aegean Sea, were now fixed intently on Arthas, her gaze filled with disbelief and overwhelming joy.

"Little Wen...?"

Aphrodite stopped in her tracks, her gaze searching through the crowd.

When she saw the youth standing at the very front, radiating a familiar golden divine power, whose features bore some resemblance to hers but also had the rugged lines of Odin,

her body trembled violently.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears rolled down like broken strings of pearls.

"Is it really you...?"

"My child..."

Her voice trembled, carrying a joy of disbelief and the longing suppressed for over a decade.

Arthas stood there, as if a freezing spell had been cast upon him.

He had fantasized about this scene countless times in his mind.

He had thought about what he would say and what he would do.

Would he coolly declare "I've come to save you" like a hero, or would he act like a spoiled child?

But when this moment truly arrived, when he finally saw the woman who gave him life and bestowed him with power,

his mind went completely blank.

All his prepared lines were forgotten entirely.

Only his heart was beating violently in his chest, as if it were about to jump out.

Tears slid uncontrollably from the corners of Arthas's eyes.

He sniffled, trying to hold them back, but that palpitationsoriginating from the depths of his bloodline simply could not be suppressed.

That sense of grievance and that longing completely erupted at this moment.

He was not the Asgard prince who slaughtered all in his path on the battlefield.

Nor was he the magic genius who commanded respect at Kamar-Taj.

At this moment, he was just a child who had been away from home for too long and had finally seen his mother.

"Oh, crying already?"

In this deeply moving moment, a slightly cool finger suddenly poked Arthas's cheek.

Nyx had approached Arthas's side at some unknown point, a trace of a playful smile on her exquisite face.

She looked at Arthas's reddened eyes, as if she had discovered some new continent.

"Weren't you quite fierce when you were talking back to me earlier?"

"Even saying things like 'the Odinson family has hard bones.'"

"How did you turn into a little crybaby the moment you saw your mother?"

Nyx's voice was clearly teasing, even carrying a sort of wicked humor an elder might use to poke fun at a junior.

She seemed to quite enjoy seeing this boy, who had been so stubborn just a moment ago, reveal such a vulnerable side.

"You really are just a child who hasn't grown up yet."

"Talking about how hard the Odinson family's bones are, yet you go soft the moment you see your real mother."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but reach out and pinch Arthas's nose.

The action was intimate and natural, without the slightest air of a primordial god.

Arthas's face turned red with embarrassment from this sudden teasing.

The sorrowful atmosphere was instantly diluted quite a bit.

He wiped his face somewhat sheepishly and muttered:

"You... please stop teasing me."

"At a time like this... this is a normal physiological reaction, okay!"

Nyx gave a light laugh and didn't continue to tease him, instead giving him a gentle push.

"Go on."

"Don't keep her waiting."

Having received permission, Arthas no longer cared about his image; he broke into a run and charged toward that figure.

Just like when he was a child in Asgard's Golden Palace, rushing into Frigga's embrace.

No, it was even more urgent and forceful than then.

The distance of a few steps felt like crossing light-years.

"Mama—!!!"

He finally cried out the name he had silently repeated countless times in his heart.

"Little Wen!"

Aphrodite also opened her arms, welcoming her child.

The next second,

the mother and son embraced tightly.

Arthas buried his head deep into the crook of Aphrodite's neck, greedily breathing in that familiar scent.

It was the warmth he had felt countless times within the Echo of Love divine power.

It was the scent that belonged to a mother.

There was no sense of unfamiliarity, only the peace of a soul returning to its place.

"You've grown... you've really grown up..."

Aphrodite's hand trembled as she stroked Arthas's back, feeling those broad and sturdy shoulders.

Her tears wetted Arthas's collar.

"When I sent you away, you were only so tiny..."

"You hadn't even opened your eyes..."

"I'm sorry, Little Wen... I'm sorry..."

"Mama couldn't be by your side..."

"I made you suffer..."

"No... I didn't suffer."

Arthas raised his head, looking at the face before him that was like a pear blossom in the rain.

He reached out, clumsily wiping away Aphrodite's tears.

"I lived very well in Asgard."

"Old Man Odin was very good to me, and Mom Frigga was also very good to me."

"And Thor, Loki... I have a wonderful family."

"But..."

His voice choked up for a moment.

"But I missed you."

"I really missed you."

This single sentence, "I missed you," completely shattered Aphrodite's final psychological defenses.

She pulled Arthas into a tight embrace again, as if she wanted to meld him into her own body.

"I missed you too... every day, every minute, every second."

"In this dark, sunless hellhole,"

"the only way I could keep going was by thinking of you, thinking that you were growing up safely outside."

"I didn't dare go look for you, I didn't even dare to ask for news about you."

"I was afraid Zeus would discover your existence, afraid he would turn you into one of those emotionless monsters."

Aphrodite loosened her embrace slightly, cupping Arthas's face and examining it meticulously, her eyes full of guilt and heartache.

"Giving you to Odin was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life."

"I knew that although Odin can be stubborn at times, he is a good father and a god who keeps his promises."

"Only in Asgard, in a place isolated from Olympus, could you be safe."

"But I didn't expect... that you would actually find your way back."

"And for my sake, barge into such a dangerous place."

"What does danger matter?"

Arthas caught Aphrodite's hand, nuzzling it against his cheek, and revealed a brilliant smile.

"Even if it were hell, as long as you're there, I'd fish you out."

"Besides, I'm very strong now."

"Look, even that avatar of Dark Zeus was blown up by me."

He puffed out his chest like a little boy wanting to show off his grades to his parents.

"Yes, you are very strong."

Aphrodite laughed through her tears, her eyes full of pride.

"I felt it."

"The divine power flowing within you is purer and warmer than that of any deity I have ever seen."

"You inherited the best things, Little Wen."

"You are my pride."

There were no melodramatic interrogations, no so-called misunderstandings about "why did you abandon me."

Because love is a shared language.

Arthas could feel Aphrodite's helplessness and sacrifice back then.

Aphrodite could also feel Arthas's understanding and acceptance of her.

Between mother and son, some things don't need to be said too clearly; a single look or an embrace is enough.

Standing not far away, Hera, Athena, and the other goddesses also had reddened eyes as they watched this scene.

Especially Hera, who had always been known for her severity.

But at this moment, she was crying the hardest.

Perhaps it was because she herself was a mother, or perhaps it was because she knew too well how much Aphrodite had suffered all these years.

"That's wonderful... it's truly wonderful..."

Hera muttered softly while wiping her tears.

"This silly girl has finally waited for this day."

Artemis turned her back, secretly wiping the corners of her eyes.

She had always presented herself as strong and disliked showing weakness in front of others.

But a scene like this was truly hitting below the belt.

"Is this what motherly love is...?"

For the first time, this chaste goddess had such a direct and profound understanding of this emotion.

Nyx still stood to the side, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She did not disturb the reunion of the mother and son.

For a primordial god with an endless lifespan, time was of little value.

She was willing to give these two little ones a bit of time for warmth.

Moreover, seeing Aphrodite's heartfelt smile, she, as a friend, actually felt a strange sense of satisfaction in her heart.

"It seems my decision was the right one."

She whispered to herself.

"Alright, Mama."

Arthas steadied his emotions; although he still wanted to linger in Aphrodite's embrace, he knew there was serious business to attend to.

He released her with some reluctance, but still held Aphrodite's hand tightly.

"Since we've recognized each other, we should talk about how to leave this place."

"I promised the aunts and sisters that I would completely purify the darkness here."

"And I'm taking you home."

When he mentioned the word 'home,' his gaze was exceptionally firm.

Aphrodite paused for a moment, then glanced at Nyxnearby, a look of hesitation in her eyes.

"Little Wen, things aren't that simple."

"Although Nyx allowed us to meet, she..."

"She isn't completely free either."

"Furthermore, the true bodies of those dark male gods are still sealed below. If we just leave like this..."

"The balance here will be broken, and the darkness will swallow everything."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Arthas smiled confidently and turned to look at the primordial mother goddess who was watching them with great interest.

"Since Aunt Nyx was willing to let me in, she must also want to solve this problem, right?"

The way he called her "Aunt" was quite smooth.

There was no trace of the tension from their earlier confrontation.

This kid's socially fearless nature was acting up again.

Nyx raised an eyebrow, clearly finding the form of address somewhat novel.

If any other god had dared to call her that, they would have been thrown into a black hole long ago.

But looking at Arthas's face, which bore some resemblance to Aphrodite's, she actually couldn't find it in her to be angry.

"Aunt?"

"Heh, you little rascal, you certainly know how to take an inch when given a mile."

"But you're right."

"I indeed am tired of these days of playing babysitter."

Nyx slowly stepped forward, the stars across the sky pulsing with her steps.

"For these dozen or so years, I have been suppressing the dark power of those waste dark male gods."

"While it's not exactly a difficult task for me, it is indeed very annoying."

"Since you, little rascal, have inherited the powers of 'Love' and 'Light,' and even have the purification attribute,"

"then perhaps you really can help me completely clear out this trash."

"Clear them out?"

Arthas's eyes lit up.

"You mean... I can take out all those dark male gods?"

"No need to hold back?"

Nyx gave a cold laugh, a flash of disdain in her eyes.

"Hold back?"

"Why keep those things that have completely fallen, leaving only desire and the instinct for destruction? For the New Year?"

"As long as you have the ability,"

"I have no objection if you kill them all."

"Anyway, they weren't very likable when they were alive either."

Having received the primordial god's permission to kill, Arthas suddenly felt much more confident.

Since the biggest boss was on his side, the remaining matters would be much easier to handle.

"Since Aunt Nyx has spoken,"

"then I won't be polite."

Arthas gripped the Excalibur in his hand and turned to look at the goddesses behind him.

"Everyone, did you hear that?"

"Our Great Cleanup Plan has officially passed approval."

Aphrodite looked at her high-spirited son, her eyes full of gratification.

She knew that the infant who once needed her protection had already grown into a great tree that could provide shelter from wind and rain.

Not only could he protect himself, but he could also protect her, his mother.

This feeling was truly wonderful.

"Little Wen."

She called out softly.

"Mama will be with you."

"Good!"

Arthas nodded heavily.

"Together, we'll wash this Mount Olympus completely clean."

"And then, we're going home!"

"Back to Asgard. I'm going to introduce you to Mom Friggaand the Old Man."

"They'll definitely be very happy."

Chapter 78: The Goddess of Beauty's Secret Affection; The Holy Sword Points Only to the Path of Faith

Aphrodite gently stroked Arthas's somewhat messy black hair, a complex emotion of wanting to speak but hesitating flickering in her eyes.

She actually really wanted to tell this child the true secret of his birth.

Going to Asgard was fine; after all, that was where her son grew up.

It was just about that "old man"...

Aphrodite sighed softly in her heart.

In truth, she and Odin didn't have a husband-and-wife relationship in the worldly sense, and they weren't even considered lovers.

Back then, she had merely borrowed Odin's powerful Divine Power Seed and combined it with her own origin to conceive this child.

Strictly speaking, Arthas was her solo masterpiece; Odinwas, at most, a... friendly sponsor?

Between them, it was more of a physical inheritance of power and a spiritual resonance.

However, seeing Arthas's excitement at the prospect of a "family reunion," the explanation at the tip of Aphrodite's tongue was swallowed back down.

In such a touching moment of reunion, it didn't seem appropriate to discuss complex ethical and biological issues.

It would be such a buzzkill if the child couldn't temporarily accept the fact that he actually had no father, only a mother.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Aphrodite smiled tenderly, reaching out to help Arthastidy his messy bangs.

"As long as I can be with you, I'll go anywhere."

As for that old fellow Odin, she would settle the score with him slowly later; friends wouldn't care about a bit of status anyway.

Just then, Hera straightened her somewhat tattered golden gown and led the goddesses forward slowly.

This once-insufferable Queen of Heaven no longer had the arrogance and bitterness of the past on her face.

She looked at Aphrodite and bowed deeply, performing a gesture reserved only for the most respected deities.

"Welcome back, Goddess of Beauty."

Hera's voice was a bit raspy, yet exceptionally sincere.

"Though it may be a bit late to say this, and it might not make up for the suffering you've endured all these years..."

"But we still must say: thank you."

"If you hadn't stood before us back then, Olympus would have long ceased to exist."

Athena also stepped forward, placing her shield against her chest, her gaze burning as she looked at Aphrodite.

"Not only must we thank you for your sacrifice back then."

"But we must also thank you for raising such a wonderful child for Olympus and for this world."

She turned to glance at Arthas, who was wiping the holy sword, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

Artemis, Hestia, and the other goddesses also gathered around, chattering away to express their gratitude.

That sincere emotion brought a hint of warmth even to the cold Temple of Night.

Aphrodite's beautiful eyes, like deep lakes, blinked, and a meaningful smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

As the goddess in charge of love and beauty, her perception of emotions was acute to the extreme.

She could clearly feel a special, pink atmosphere permeating the air.

When these goddesses looked at Arthas, their gazes weren't as simple as looking at a savior or a junior.

The racing heartbeats, the lingering gazes, the subconscious body language wanting to draw closer.

Even Artemis, who claimed to hate men the most, had a flushed face while looking at Arthas's back.

Even Nyx, sitting on her throne with an unfathomable expression...

The way she looked at Arthas just now also held an unprecedented maternal love and... interest?

"Oh my, it seems my precious son's charm isn't inferior to mine back in the day."

Aphrodite chuckled inwardly, even feeling a bit proud.

Is this what they call 'a tiger mother has no dog of a son'?

To max out the favorability of all of Olympus and even a primordial god in one breath—this move was truly something else.

But this was fine; at least the child wouldn't have to worry about finding a wife in the God Realm... though now it seemed there might be quite a few wives.

"We are all sisters; saying such things makes us strangers."

Aphrodite smiled and waved her hand, her calm and elegant posture instantly taking control of the atmosphere.

She reached out and gently patted the back of Hera's hand.

"As long as you don't blame me for giving birth to a troublemaker."

"If this child bullies you in the future, feel free to come to me and complain."

"I'll help you teach him a lesson."

These words both dissolved the goddesses' embarrassment and invisibly drew them closer, establishing Arthas as everyone's "group favorite."

"Alright, save the reminiscing for the victory banquet."

Nyx's languid voice interrupted the tender moment.

She rose from her throne, her black starlight gown trailing a galaxy-like path through the void.

She walked up to Arthas, her expression turning serious.

"Little guy, although you defeated the avatar of Dark Zeusand passed my spiritual trial..."

"That doesn't mean things are over."

"The true trial has only just begun."

Arthas immediately wiped the smile from his face and gripped the Excalibur tightly.

"Aunt Nyx, please speak."

"Do I need to chop down all those dark male gods below?"

"I'm good at that; I guarantee I'll clean them out thoroughly."

His confidence was bursting right now; after all, he had just killed a God-King level avatar.

Nyx shook her head and extended a finger, gently tapping Arthas's forehead.

"It's not as simple as just chopping people."

"Although Dark Zeus is suppressed deep within the seal, he was once a God-King, and his origin power has merged with the foundation of Olympus."

"Pure physical destruction cannot completely eliminate him; instead, it might trigger the collapse of the entire divine mountain."

"To completely eradicate this tumor, there are two paths before you."

"The first path is very simple and efficient."

Nyx turned to look at Aphrodite.

"Let your mother take action."

She pointed to Aphrodite beside her.

"Her 'Divine Authority: Dominion of Love' is the bane of all emotional creatures, even fallen gods are no exception."

"As long as she is willing to violate her own principles and activate her divine authority to forcibly control Zeus's mind..."

"She can order Zeus to destroy himself, and order all the male gods to kill each other until they are reduced to ashes."

"No bloodshed, no risk; she only needs to move a finger. This is the safest way with no risk, and you will still be the hero who saved Olympus."

Hearing this, the eyes of the goddesses lit up.

This was indeed a perfect plan, resolving the greatest threat without a drop of blood.

But Aphrodite's face turned pale instantly, her body trembled slightly, and a flash of pain appeared in her eyes.

If she did this, it would mean breaking the principles she had held onto for over a decade.

It would mean she had ultimately become that "tyrant" who used power to enslave the will of others.

Then what would her sacrifice back then, and the words she said to Nyx in prison, even count for?

"But..."

Nyx's tone shifted, her gaze fixed intently on Arthas.

"Doing so would go against your mother's true heart and the 'Free Will' she upholds."

"So, the second path is for you to go down personally."

"Without any opportunistic methods, without any forced-control divine authority."

"Relying only on the sword in your hand and the faith in your heart to defeat him head-on and purify him."

"But this will be extremely dangerous; you might even die."

"Choose, child of Aphrodite."

"Will you choose the tempting 'power' and shortcut?"

"Or will you choose the incredibly difficult path that can protect 'faith' and dignity?"

Nyx's voice echoed in the empty temple, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.

Everyone's gaze focused on Arthas.

Aphrodite clenched her hands nervously; she didn't want her son to take risks, but she also didn't want...

With almost no hesitation, without even a second of thought.

Arthas laughed out loud.

He hoisted the holy sword onto his shoulder, his face showing that signature sunny and confident smile.

"Aunt Nyx, are you testing me?"

"Is there even a choice?"

He walked to Aphrodite's side and reached out to wrap an arm around his mother's shoulder.

Feeling her body tremble, he gave her his firmest support.

"My mom would rather sit in prison for over a decade than bow her head for this principle."

"If I made her break this rule now just for the sake of convenience..."

"Then what would I become?"

"Wouldn't I become an unfilial descendant who forced his mother to break her vows?"

Arthas turned around, the Excalibur pointing toward the churning darkness below the temple.

Golden divine power erupted from him, pure and dazzling.

"Besides, I'm not the type who likes to take the back door."

"Old man Odin taught me that true glory can only be obtained from the edge of a sword."

"A victory gained by controlling others into suicide is too cheap."

"I don't want it."

"I choose the second path."

"I'm going to use this sword to meet that old bastard fair and square."

"I'll make him lose and accept it completely."

"I want every stone on Mount Olympus to see."

"Light triumphs over darkness not through conspiracies or tyrannical enslavement."

"But through faith."

"The same free faith my mother had back then."

These words were powerful and resonant, echoing throughout the Temple of Night.

Aphrodite looked at her son beside her, tears streaming down her face again.

But this time, they were tears of happiness; she knew her persistence had not been in vain.

This child truly understood her and had truly inherited her most precious trait.

Nyx looked at Arthas, the admiration in her eyes growing even stronger.

She clapped her hands gently, the sound exceptionally crisp in the silent starry sky.

"Good."

"Very good."

"Truly her offspring."

"Since you've made your choice, I won't be stingy either."

With a wave of her hand, the starlight in the hall flared up, turning into a pillar of light that enveloped Arthas.

"This starlight will protect your mind and shield you from the spiritual pollution of the dark origin."

"Go, little guy."

"Go prove it to the world."

"The power of faith is sometimes more terrifying than divine authority."

"Go put a perfect end to this farce."

Arthas took a deep breath, feeling the majestic power within him.

He looked back at the goddesses and at his mother.

"Wait for me to return."

With that, he leaped, turning into a golden meteor.

He charged without hesitation into that deepest, most terrifying dark abyss.

Chapter 79: The Trinity God King, Divine Power of LightResisting the Abyss

Without the slightest hesitation, Arthas leaped into the bottomless dark vortex, bolstered by that layer of Starlight Shield.

The sensation of falling was exceptionally long, as if he were crossing the boundaries of time and space, falling toward the reverse side of the world.

The sound of the wind in his ears gradually transformed into the roars of countless vengeful spirits; it wasn't just an auditory experience but a direct assault on the barriers of his soul, attempting to plant seeds of fear deep within his heart.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, and a frigid aura capable of freezing divine power tried to permeate every pore of his body.

However, the golden divine power on his body burned like a raging flame, incinerating all the dark auras that tried to approach into ashes, trailing a dazzling wake of fire through the darkness.

Finally, his feet touched solid ground.

No, it couldn't be called ground at all; it was a purgatorial breeding ground composed of a mixture of rotting flesh, twisted bones, and black rock.

The sensation from the soles of his feet was slimy and disgusting, as if he were stepping on countless corpses that were still squirming.

Before he could even steady himself, a nauseating, foul wind rushed at him, carrying a thick stench of sulfur and decay.

Following it was a giant black hand large enough to crush a mountain peak, descending with a shadow that blotted out the sky.

That was the true body of Dark Zeus.

He was more than ten times larger than his avatar above; his entire being was like a living volcano composed of Dark Lightning, breathing out black smoke of destruction with every breath.

The black hand gave Arthas no room to breathe; black lava flowed within the palm lines, carrying absolute power and pressure.

"Boom—!"

Arthas raised the Excalibur, bracing himself to block this first strike.

The blade collided with the giant hand, erupting in a deafening roar.

The massive impact caused the ground beneath his feet to collapse instantly, slamming him bodily into a deep pit and kicking up clouds of black dust.

But this was only the beginning.

Countless pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the darkness; they were the Fallen Souls of the former gods of Olympus.

Poseidon's trident swept forward with corrosive black seawater, transforming into a hideous water dragon.

Beneath Hades's helm of invisibility, a scythe of deathsilently swung toward Arthas's neck with cold killing intent.

Hermes turned into a streak of black light, the short sword in his hand lunging toward Arthas's heart like a venomous snake.

There were also Apollo, Hephaestus...

These once-lofty main gods had now become mindless killing machines, like a pack of hungry wolves smelling blood.

"Damn it! This is too many! And every single one of them is so fierce!"

Arthas soared out of the pit, narrowly dodging Poseidon's water tornado, but his arm was grazed by Apollo's Dark Light Arrow.

Even with Nyx's starlight protecting him.

Facing the siege of so many main god-level entities, with a God King-level Zeus watching like a tiger, he felt unprecedented pressure.

He felt an unprecedented pressure, as if he were carrying the entire Mount Olympus on his back.

Simple Divine Power of Light was no longer enough.

He had to become stronger; he had to bring out his trump card to carve a path of survival out of this desperate situation.

Arthas came to a sudden halt in mid-air, a dazzling golden light erupting from his body, forcing back the Hermes who was attempting a sneak attack.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes to sense the power deep within his body.

It was the bond connecting him to the three most important women in his life, the gift he had obtained after completely conquering them on their wedding night.

"Echo of Love... Full Power!"

Arthas snapped his eyes open, the golden light in the depths of his pupils instantly replaced by a gentle yet domineering pink.

"Vroom—!!!"

Three illusory figures emerged behind him, as solemn as guardian deities.

Diana's heroism—that was the ultimate combat instinct and all-around enhancement of divine power brought by her demigod physique.

Sif's tenacity—that was the absolute defense and sturdiness bestowed by the Asgardian Earth Goddess.

Brunhilde's sharpness—that was the indestructible conviction and speed brought by the leader of the Valkyries.

These three distinct divine powers, harmonized by the "Echo of Love," merged perfectly, creating a qualitative leap.

The Greek battle robes on Arthas's body burst apart, replaced by a magnificent set of armor condensed from platinum divine power.

Pink divine runes flowed across the armor, emitting a suffocating God King pressure.

At this moment, he was no longer fighting alone.

He was a "Trinity" God King who had gathered the strengths of many, fusing the three top attributes of Light, Earth, and War.

"Trinity God King Mode... Activate!"

Arthas gripped his sword tightly, feeling the power surging like the sea within him, a confident, wild grin curling his lips.

"Radiance: All-Out Strike!"

Arthas's left hand suddenly snapped open, his palm aimed at the charging Fallen Gods.

Countless platinum-colored light bullets sprayed from his palm like a torrential rain.

Each light bullet contained purifying divine power and had an auto-tracking effect.

"Bang bang bang bang bang—!"

Dense explosions echoed through the abyss, and the entire space was illuminated by the platinum light.

The Fallen Gods trying to approach were blasted staggered, and the dark aura on them was purified and dissipated in large patches.

Hermes was the fastest, but he also took the most hits, being blasted into a sieve and sent flying with a wail.

"And you, big guy!"

Taking advantage of the moment the minions were suppressed, Arthas aimed his target at the largest figure.

"Radiant Flash Step!"

His figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving only a golden afterimage.

The next second, he appeared directly above Dark Zeus's head.

The Excalibur was held high, terrifying divine power condensing on the blade, even causing the space to distort.

"Radiant Heavy Slash!"

"Boom—!!!"

This strike carried the momentum of splitting heaven and earth, hacking fiercely into Dark Zeus's shoulder.

The platinum sword light was like a red-hot blade cutting through butter, directly slicing through Zeus's thick layer of lightning armor and carving deep into his flesh.

Black blood spurted out like a dark fountain.

Dark Zeus let out a roar of pain, his massive body actually forced to one knee by this single strike.

The ground beneath his knee shattered, with countless cracks spreading in all directions.

"It's not over yet!"

Arthas pressed his advantage, flipping in the air using the recoil.

The longsword in his hand danced again; this time, he didn't use brute force but showed extremely high skill.

"Ultra Slash!"

A giant light wheel with incredibly sharp edges formed in his hand.

But that wasn't enough.

He injected the divine power within his body into it, making the light wheel even more violent and expanding its size several times over.

"Super Ultra Slash!"

"Go!"

Arthas threw it with force.

The giant light wheel, accompanied by a space-cutting hum, whistled toward the just-steadied Dark Zeus.

Zeus raised his Thunder Scepter in an attempt to parry.

"Screech—!"

The piercing sound of friction was agonizing to hear.

The light wheel collided with the scepter, sparks flying everywhere.

Although it failed to cut the scepter, the massive impact still pushed Zeus back repeatedly, even leaving a bone-deep wound on his chest.

But this was a God King-level monster after all, and on his home turf.

The brief setback did not crush him; instead, it incited an even more frenzied ferocity.

"Roar—!!!"

Dark Zeus steadied himself and slammed his scepter into the ground.

Countless bolts of black lightning erupted from the ground, forming a massive lightning cage in an attempt to trap Arthas within.

At the same time, the other Fallen Gods closed in, launching a new wave of attacks.

"Radiance: Shatter!"

Facing the encirclement, Arthas didn't panic at all.

He funneled divine power into his feet and stomped hard on the void.

A terrifying shockwave rippled outward from him as the center.

The surrounding space seemed to be shattered, and the black lightning cages instantly disintegrated under this shockwave.

Along with them, the surrounding gods like Poseidon and Ares were also shaken, their blood and energy churning, their offensive stalling.

"The God King mode is strong, but the consumption is too high."

While parrying with his sword, Arthas secretly complained in his heart.

In this state, every one of his strikes burned a massive amount of divine power.

That combo just now was cool, but it had already consumed nearly thirty percent of his divine power reserves.

If he couldn't end the battle quickly, he might be worn down to death by this group of lunatics.

Furthermore, this was the abyss of the Dark Temple; dark divine power continuously replenished the enemies' consumption, while Arthas could only rely on his own reserves.

This was simply an unequal war of attrition.

"Puchi!"

In a moment of inattention, Hades's invisible scythe slashed across Arthas's back.

Although he had Sif's earth power protecting him and the wound wasn't deep, that frigid death aura seeped in through the cut, trying to freeze his blood.

Arthas let out a muffled groan and slapped a Palm Light Bullet onto Hades's face, forcing him back.

At the same time, he mobilized the pink divine power in his body to quickly expel that death aura.

"That was close... You bunch of underhanded old bastards, can't play fair, can you?"

Arthas charged left and right through the monster crowd, the sword light in his hand like a platinum swimming dragon.

Every swing of his sword took away large patches of dark aura, and every collision triggered a violent explosion.

But the number of enemies was simply too many.

And their coordination was disturbingly perfect, as if the same brain were controlling these dozen or so bodies.

Zeus was responsible for the main attack and suppression, Poseidon for crowd control and harassment, and Hades for sneak attacks and finishing blows.

The other main gods were responsible for filling gaps and acting as meat shields.

This was a dragnet, a web intended to completely strangle Arthas.

"I can't just take hits passively; I have to find a way to break the deadlock."

Arthas's brain worked at high speed.

He spotted an opening—a lapse in coordination between Hephaestus and Ares.

"Now!"

The Light Wings behind Arthas flapped hard, and his speed instantly skyrocketed to the limit.

He performed the Radiant Flash Step again, turning into a streak of light and darting straight through that gap.

His target was the one at the very back—Dark Zeus.

To catch the bandits, one must first catch their leader.

As long as he took out Zeus, the core, the other Fallen Gods would lose their command and turn into a disorganized mess.

Arthas spun in the air, his right leg wrapped in dazzling platinum divine power, kicking fiercely at Zeus's head.

"Boom!"

Zeus raised his left arm to block.

The massive collision sound shook the entire abyss.

Zeus's massive body was actually kicked back half a step by this kick.

But he did not fall.

Instead, he took the opportunity to reach out with his right hand and grab Arthas's ankle.

"Caught you... little bug."

A hideous smile appeared on Zeus's distorted face.

"Oh no!"

Arthas was startled.

Before he could break free, the Thunder Scepter in Zeus's hand had already come crashing down fiercely.

This time, the distance was too close to evade.

"Bang!"

A solid hit.

Arthas felt as if he had been struck by a meteor.

The platinum armor on his body was instantly covered in cracks, and he was slammed into the ground like a cannonball.

Acute pain spread through his entire body, and his internal organs felt as if they had all been displaced.

If not for the triple divine power protecting him, this strike could have potentially killed him outright.

"Cough, cough..."

Arthas crawled out of the ruins, spitting out a mouthful of blood tinged with gold.

The light on his body had dimmed considerably, but the fighting intent in his eyes had not yet been extinguished.

"Is this... the power of a God King?"

"It certainly... has some kick to it."

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze becoming even more ferocious.

Dark Zeus did not give Arthas a chance to catch his breath.

He strode forward, each step triggering an earthquake, while the other Fallen Gods also closed in, surrounding Arthas as countless attacks charged up, preparing to deliver the final blow.

Arthas seemed truly trapped in a desperate situation.

But he didn't give up.

He gripped his sword tightly, feeling the "Echo of Love" within him that, although somewhat depleted, was still warm.

That was Diana and the others' power; it was their trust.

How could he fall here?

He had promised to bring his mom home.

"Want to kill me? It won't be that easy!"

Arthas squeezed his body's potential once more.

The platinum divine power erupted again; though not as dazzling as before, it was even more condensed.

With his back against a massive black rock, he assumed a defensive stance.

Since he couldn't break through, he would defend.

As long as he could still stand, there was hope.

"Come on!"

"Let me see what else you've got!"

Arthas let out a provocative roar.

He was answered by a sky full of Dark Divine Arts and artifact attacks.

Light and darkness collided once again.

This was a bitter struggle with no end in sight, as well as a contest of wills.

In the process of being sent flying again and again, and standing up again and again.

The wounds on Arthas's body increased, and his divine power grew weaker and weaker.

But he never fell.

That platinum light was like a candle in the wind, flickering and precarious, yet it stubbornly continued to burn.

In this endless dark abyss, it became the sole source of light.

Every release of "Radiance: Shatter," every swing of "Radiant Heavy Slash," was his declaration of defiance against fate.

Watching this from above, Aphrodite's heart was breaking.

She could feel her son's pain, could feel the torment that body was enduring.

Several times she wanted to rush down regardless of everything, or directly activate her divine authority.

But every time she saw Arthas's stubborn eyes, she held back.

That was a man's battle; that was her son's choice.

She had to believe in him.

The battle continued.

Arthas was like a stubborn rock, standing firm amidst the dark tide.

Though he could only maintain a stalemate, and though he looked as if he might collapse at any moment, he simply did not fall.

Chapter 80: Spatial Divine Light Annihilates the Demons, Unyielding Pride Reflects in the Abyss

The battle had already lasted for far too long.

Arthas could clearly feel that the Divine Power of Lightwithin him, which had once surged like a vast sea, was now like a few trickles remaining in a dried-up riverbed.

Every swing of his sword and every dodge was overdrawing his life force.

The brilliant pink glow of the "Echo of Love" had also grown dim and lackluster, even beginning to flicker unstablely.

Although he had cut down many of the surrounding Dark Gods, they were like an endless swarm of cockroaches; as soon as one batch fell, another would crawl back up.

Furthermore, as time passed, the dark energy at the bottom of the abyss was slowly mending their wounds.

"Huff... huff..."

Arthas leaned against a giant rock that had been sliced flat, gasping for breath.

Sweat mixed with blood blurred his eyes, turning the world before him into a sea of blood-red.

Although the Excalibur in his hand remained sharp, its golden-blue light had receded to the surface of the blade.

"I can't go on... if this continues, I'll really be worn to deathhere."

He glanced at Dark Zeus, who was approaching with a sneer not far away, and the surrounding Fallen Godss watching him like hawks.

It was time to settle this.

While he still had one last ounce of strength left.

Arthas closed his eyes, and images of his training in Kamar-Taj surfaced in his mind.

The Ancient One's wise teachings, the profound mysteries of Space Magic, and the utilization of dimensional power.

And the insights he gained while following Odin in Asgardto learn the fine control of divine power.

"Compress the light... to the extreme."

"Fold the space... then release it."

He snapped his eyes open, the last bit of divine power in his pupils beginning to burn frantically.

He did not take that iconic cross-shaped stance again.

Instead, he slowly cupped his hands in front of his chest, as if holding an invisible heart.

"Weng—"

The surrounding space began to vibrate violently.

This was no ordinary fluctuation of divine power, but a resonance of the laws of space.

Countless tiny spatial cracks appeared around him, devouring the surrounding dark aura.

Simultaneously, all the remaining Divine Power of Light in his body was poured into the space between his hands without reservation.

It was an extremely unstable orb of energy that fused the attributes of light and space.

The light it emitted was not blinding, yet it carried a heart-palpitating aura of destruction.

"What... is this?"

Dark Zeus stopped in his tracks, a look of wariness appearing in his crimson eyes for the first time.

He instinctively sensed danger.

That power did not seem to belong to the rules of this world.

"Stop him!"

At Zeus's command, dozens of Fallen Godss around him charged forward with roars.

All sorts of Dark Divine Arts and artifact attacks rained down on Arthas.

"Too late!"

A manic smile curled at the corner of Arthas's mouth.

He thrust his hands forward, wrists close together, assuming that classic firing pose.

A distorted, blue-white beam of light erupted forth.

"Specium Ray!!!"

There was no massive explosion, nor any earth-shattering Shockwave.

Because wherever this beam passed, all matter was directly annihilated.

Whether it was dark divine power, hard rock, or even space itself.

Everything was reduced to nothingness.

The stream of light spread out in an eerie fan shape, instantly covering a 180-degree range directly in front of him.

"Argh—!!!"

Shrieks of agony rose one after another, only to be cut short in an instant.

Hermes, Ares, and a large group of unnamed subordinate gods who were charging at the front.

The moment their bodies touched the stream of light, they were like a sand painting blown away by a wild wind.

No resistance, no remains.

Every trace of their existence was wiped from this world.

Even their souls were torn apart and devoured by that terrifying spatial power.

The stream of light lasted for a full five seconds.

By the time Arthas lowered his hands and collapsed to his knees in total exhaustion.

The once crowded and noisy bottom of the abyss had become much emptier.

The dense swarm of Fallen Godss from just moments ago was now missing a full third of its number.

Within that fan-shaped area, only a smooth, mirror-like black void remained, with not even a speck of dust left behind.

"This... this is impossible..."

The surviving Poseidon and Hades retreated repeatedly in terror.

They stared at that void, the madness in their eyes replaced by fear.

This power had already exceeded their understanding of divine power.

This was simply erasure.

If that beam of light had been aimed at them just now...

The two chief gods looked at each other, both seeing deep lingering fear in the other's eyes.

"Cough, cough... cough..."

Arthas lay on the ground, coughing violently.

With every cough, a large amount of blood was spat out.

Although this move was terrifyingly powerful, it had also completely drained his body.

Now, he didn't even have the strength to move a finger.

The backlash from the depletion of divine power caused him excruciating pain, as if every cell was wailing.

Yet he still struggled to lift his head, looked at the results of his battle, and grinned with a blood-filled mouth.

"How's that... old man... this shot... was quite something, wasn't it?"

"Clap... clap... clap..."

A slow and heavy sound of applause echoed in the deathly silent abyss.

Dark Zeus stepped over the place where his companions had vanished and walked up to Arthas step by step.

He did not show fear like the other gods; instead, his eyes were filled with greed and fanaticism.

"Splendid."

"Truly splendid."

"Son of Aphrodite, you have given me too many surprises."

"This power... this power that fuses space and light... it is simply a perfect work of art."

Zeus looked down from above at Arthas, who was like an ant.

On that face composed of dark lightning, a nauseatingly "kind" smile appeared.

"I've changed my mind, little fellow."

"It would be a pity to kill you."

"I will give you one more chance: surrender to me, submit to me."

"As long as you offer your loyalty, I can spare your life."

"In fact... I can make you a new chief god, to rule this upcoming new era with me."

Zeus extended his massive black hand, hovering it over Arthas's head.

It seemed like an invitation, but it was actually a threat.

"Think about it, what kind of future that would be."

"No more of those hypocritical goddesses, no more of those damned rules."

"As long as we join forces, even that old hag Nyx won't be a match for us."

"Then, I will be the one and only King of Gods."

"And you will be my right-hand man."

Of course, this was only what he said.

In his twisted heart, he was thinking of something else entirely.

As long as Arthas nodded, as long as Arthas lowered his soul's defenses.

He would not hesitate to devour this young deity.

Devour that special spatial divine power, devour that "Echo of Love" that could trigger miracles.

That way, he could truly evolve to a realm beyond that of a primordial god.

This was his true objective.

Arthas although his body couldn't move, his mind was still sharp.

He looked into Zeus's eyes, which were filled with greed, and saw through him clearly.

He was tired of this clichéd villain routine from books.

Right-hand man? More like a mobile power bank and spare rations.

"Heh..."

Arthas let out a disdainful chuckle.

He struggled to roll over, lying on his back and looking up at the pitch-black void.

"I say... big guy."

"Has your brain been fried by lightning?"

"Or have you been down here too long and developed delusions?"

"What did you say?"

Zeus's smile froze on his face.

That hovering palm trembled slightly, and black lightning began to dance at his fingertips.

"I said..."

Arthas took a deep breath; though his voice was weak, the mockery in his tone was at its peak.

"You want me to surrender to you?"

"Why don't you take a good look at your own pathetic state first?"

"Stinking of rot, with a wretched face, what can you do besides make empty promises?"

"Want to devour me? Want to be the King of Gods?"

"Keep dreaming your pipe dreams."

"I, Huwen Odinson, even if I die here, even if I rot here."

"Will never bow my head to trash like you."

"Because..."

Arthas's gaze suddenly became sharp, piercing straight into Zeus's heart.

"You don't even deserve to be called a god."

"You're just a pile of... dog shit with power."

"Boom—!!!"

The moment those last few words left his mouth.

Zeus's feigned "mercy" completely collapsed.

In its place was endless rage and killing intent.

It was the shame and anger of having his thoughts exposed, and the wounded pride of being provoked by an ant.

"Fine!"

"Very well!"

"Since you want to die, I will grant your wish!"

"You little brat who refuses a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"I will pull out your soul and roast it over Hellfire for ten thousand years!"

"I will make you watch as that bitch mother of yours and those goddesses up there die miserable deaths one by one before your eyes!"

Zeus let out a deafening roar, and the entire abyss trembled under his fury.

He raised the Thunder Scepter high in his hand.

Endless dark divine power began to converge at the tip of the scepter.

It was no longer a probing attack, nor a reserved attempt at recruitment.

It was a true killing move, capable of destroying everything.

"Dark Divine Punishment: World-Ending Black Lightning!"

A black lightning ball several hundred meters in diameter formed at the tip of the scepter.

The energy contained within was enough to level the base of Mount Olympus.

The terrifying pressure caused the surrounding space to begin to collapse.

Poseidon and Hades were so frightened they hid far away, fearing they would be caught in the blast.

Arthas lay on the ground, watching that growing black sun.

He no longer had an ounce of strength to resist, unable to even move a finger.

Even Nyx's layer of starlight shield had been completely exhausted in the previous outburst.

Is this... the end?

I'm a bit unwilling.

I haven't taken Mom back to Asgard yet.

I haven't gone back to see Diana and the others yet.

I haven't...

But he did not close his eyes.

Nor did he show any sign of fear.

He still looked directly at the descending death.

That faint touch of disdain still hung at the corner of his mouth.

People of the Odinsson Family would die with dignity.

Even at the final moment, he wouldn't let trash like this look down on him.

"Come on!"

He roared in his heart.

"Kill me if you have the guts!"

"As long as I have a single breath left, I won't let you off even as a ghost!"

By now, Zeus's pressure had already sealed off the space of the entire abyss.

"Die!!!"

Dark Zeus sneered.

The scepter in his hand, carrying that World-Ending Black Lightning, smashed down ruthlessly.

It was absolute power, an irreversible death.

Darkness instantly swallowed all light.

Just as that black lightning was about to touch the tip of Arthas's nose.

Just as the aura of destruction had already singed his eyelashes.

Time seemed at this moment...

To stand still.