Orphée's past experiences gave him some insight into the Underworld's affairs.
Now.
Clearly.
Orphée had pieced together something alarming.
"Retreat!"
"Albiore!"
"Go!"
Orphée let out a loud shout.
"Alright!"
Albiore, though unaware of the full situation, knew the cause was lost.
And at all times, Orphée, ever elegant and refined, like a melancholic noble, had suddenly roared with such ferocity.
This alone proved things had truly changed.
Albiore.
Orphée.
The two ultimately chose to retreat, moving swiftly.
And.
From start to finish.
Esdeath and Kanae had no intention of pursuing.
They had only engaged the Saints to test their strength.
Darkness gradually enveloped all of Andromeda Island.
In an instant.
The island seemed to transform into a massive, pitch-black hemispherical dome, looming over the sea.
Then.
The dark divine power vanished—or rather, became transparent. All returned to calm, as if nothing had happened, yet as if everything had.
Andromeda Island.
Alistair looked at June, sitting on the ground in a duck-like posture, and spoke slowly: "June, feeling any better?"
"Your Majesty…"
June lifted her head, her eyes still red-rimmed.
She didn't understand.
What had she done wrong? Why? Why had she been abandoned like this? Had she truly done something wrong?
"What did I do wrong?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
Alistair regarded June, musing briefly: "Weakness is the original sin, June. Among the Saints, you were indeed too weak."
"I…"
June fell silent, unsure of what to say, lowering her head quietly.
Alistair shook his head: "Never mind. It's not that important. Stand up. It's time we left."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
June nodded silently, rising to her feet.
Alistair had little desire to comfort June.
In time, she'd figure it out herself.
It wasn't a big issue.
After all.
Alistair's guidance of June was merely planting a seed—more accurately, a wicked amusement.
To be precise.
This seed of Alistair's held no power to force someone into darkness.
It would only take root and sprout from the darkness born within one's heart.
"Your Majesty."
Esdeath and Kanae returned.
Alistair turned, asking: "Esdeath, Kanae, how did it feel?"
Esdeath pondered briefly: "Albiore is no match for me. In a true life-or-death fight, I could kill him."
Kanae shook her head: "I'm no match for Orphée. If he chose a fight to the death, I'd be the one to fall."
"And."
"I sensed Orphée realized something and left quickly."
Alistair nodded: "Not surprising."
"Albiore, among Silver Saints, is said to rival Gold Saints."
"But that's merely rivaling."
"As for Orphée?"
"He truly surpasses most Gold Saints. In the last Holy War, he single-handedly stormed the Underworld."
"But."
"I only had you face them to see what this world's Saints are like."
"From now on, you'll need to work harder!"
Alistair smiled at the two women.
Their determination would spur others to strive.
King against king.
General against general.
Soldier against soldier.
Until the board could be flipped entirely, it was best to play by the rules.
Moreover.
At their level of status, handling everything personally?
That, in a sense, would be utterly shameful.
Alistair hoped his kin could grow steadily, while his subordinate gods would need to progress more slowly.
Persephone's case was special, propelled by a surge of world force.
It was like a pig standing in the wind's path—bound to take flight no matter how you looked at it.
Thus.
Persephone's rapid rise was normal. Besides, didn't her qualification as Lord of the Underworld stem from her own ability?
"Speaking of…"
Alistair, about to leave, paused, lost in thought.
"Dust."
Persephone asked softly: "What's on your mind?"
"Well!"
Alistair waved a hand: "No rush. Let's deal with this later. For now, we return to the Pure Land of Bliss."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Esdeath, Kanae, June.
The three women followed Alistair and Persephone.
The group of five, enveloped in dark divine power, vanished in an instant.
Leaving only Andromeda Island, wrapped in darkness.
Andromeda Island, cloaked by Persephone's divine power, was impenetrable to ordinary gods.
No!
Even Athena herself couldn't step foot within.
As always.
A God King is a God King.
Below a God King, forever below.
And Athena, even as an exceptional Supreme God, remained just that—a Supreme God. Against Persephone, now a God King, she was insignificant.
The two chessmasters of this game.
Were no longer Persephone and Athena.
But Persephone and Apollo.
Hades' Castle.
Alistair led the group back to Hades' Castle, then said: "Persephone, link Hades' Castle to Andromeda Island for travel."
"Alright."
Persephone smiled and nodded, raising a hand.
A pulse of divine power bloomed, establishing the connection.
Alistair continued: "Esdeath, Kanae, once back, arrange for people to station on Andromeda Island. Though it holds no real value for us."
"But."
"I believe the Sanctuary won't give it up so easily."
"Training in real combat is far better than secluded practice."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Esdeath and Kanae nodded earnestly.
"As for June…"
Alistair glanced at her, shaking her head: "Live in the Pure Land of Bliss. Help Demeter, Charon, and Pandora. You don't need to face the Sanctuary. I don't have such cruel tastes, forcing betrayals and watching master-disciple conflicts."
"Yes!"
June nodded obediently, voicing no objections.
The group returned to the Pure Land of Bliss via Hades' Castle.
The three women soon departed.
Persephone said softly: "Dust, are you planning to create a deliberate opening?"
Alistair explained: "Just giving Esdeath, Kanae, and the others a place to train. Plus, leaving an opening for both sides to probe isn't strange."
"Otherwise."
"Who knows what the Sanctuary might do."
"Balance."
"We need to maintain it for a while. Calculating the time, we have about a year and a half."
"That's enough to conquer four worlds."
"Once that time passes."
"This game called the Holy War might become quite simple."
Alistair's explanation made Persephone nod seriously.
Indeed.
Better to guide than block.
Or rather!
Since Persephone and Apollo's clash, tensions had grown razor-sharp.
If both sides maintained this standoff, who knew what bizarre events might erupt.
Better to.
Use Andromeda Island as an outlet, letting both sides probe and fight. No one would die, so let the game play out.
Alistair's side needed Andromeda Island as a breakthrough for training.
As for problems arising?
Please!
That was impossible.
"Dust."
"Persephone."
Demeter, clad in black silk pajamas paired with black lace undergarments, stood at the doorway, looking as if she'd just woken, exuding a languid charm.
Alistair, seeing this, pondered.
Hmm~~~
Alistair was definitely having another 'mother-daughter bowl' today!
…
Sanctuary
"Your Holiness!"
Albiore knelt on one knee, his voice heavy with helplessness: "Chameleon Bronze Saint: June!"
"Confirmed to have fallen to darkness."
"She's gone to the Underworld!"
Each word from Albiore seemed forced through gritted teeth.
He…
Truly didn't know what else to say.
"How can this be?"
"My senior?"
Shun's eyes widened in shock. How was this possible?
"Sigh!"
Saori Kido shook her head, a touch of helplessness in her voice: "This is my fault. I didn't notice June's emotions, giving the Underworld an opening."
"Albiore."
"This isn't your fault. Go rest."
"Shun."
"You rest too."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
"Yes, Miss Saori."
Albiore and Shun both seemed to want to say more but ultimately left.
They needed to calm down.
Though.
Saying this now was too late. When their disciple and senior truly fell, they finally realized, feeling the sorrow.
In Alistair's words, this was classic hypocrisy.
Please!
You forgot her, and now this mess? Isn't that just laughable?
Do it, own it—don't act like you're the victim.
That's just plain ridiculous.
With Albiore and Shun's departure, three remained in the Goddess's Temple.
Saori Kido.
Orphée.
And!
The Pope, Shion, revived by Saori Kido to oversee operations once more!
Normally.
In a complete Underworld, when a Saint died, even Athena, as a Supreme God, couldn't revive them.
Because their souls were sealed in the Eighth Prison of the Underworld, locked by Hades. Unless Hades released them.
Otherwise?
Revival was nearly impossible.
But who let Hades die, shattering the Underworld? All reincarnation duties shifted to the Netherworld.
Naturally.
Athena could revive them directly. Tartarus didn't care—for him, it was irrelevant.
"Orphée."
Saori Kido asked softly: "Can you share what you noticed?"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
Orphée nodded. Saori raised a hand, and Orphée stood.
Orphée frowned slightly, explaining: "I once lived in the Underworld for a time. I know well that every Underworld Warrior, though seemingly alive, feels like a puppet."
"But."
"The Terrestrial Demon Star I saw today was entirely different. She was brimming with life, a true living being."
"Not like the puppet-like feel of the past."
"Moreover."
"Lord Pope, I…"
Shion, seeing Orphée's glance, nodded: "Shaka has confirmed this. The Rosary's sealing effect on Underworld Warriors is gone. It seems, with the Demon Stars changing hands, their essence has shifted."
"Most critically, entering the Underworld again to find the Rosary Tree is no longer feasible."
"That sort of thing."
"Can only happen once. It's impossible a second time."
Shion knew this well—it was nearly impossible. No, it was impossible.
How it was done before was recorded in the Star Tower.
But now?
Don't be ridiculous!
The Underworld now had a true God King in charge. Most crucially, beyond Hades' Castle, even Accumulated Corpse Aura techniques were barred from Yomotsu Hirasaka.
Now, Accumulated Corpse Aura techniques linked to the Netherworld.
"As expected."
Orphée nodded knowingly, continuing: "Your Holiness, Lord Pope, beyond that, the one fighting Albiore—was she an Underworld Warrior? I'm not sure. Her aura was indeed of the Underworld, yet different."
"It's like…"
Orphée struggled to describe it.
"Demon."
At that moment, Shion spoke calmly.
"Exactly!"
Orphée nodded gravely: "She felt like a demon. Or rather, an immature demon?"
Saori Kido then said: "Orphée, you've worked hard. Rest well."
"Yes!"
Orphée said no more, bowing respectfully before leaving.
In the Goddess's Temple.
Only Saori Kido and Shion remained.
Saori Kido said softly: "Shion, it seems with Persephone's rise to God King, the Underworld has undergone a true upheaval."
"True Underworld Warriors."
"And suspected demons—new warriors."
"It appears."
"The Underworld is growing in ways we don't understand."
Shion sighed deeply.
When he was first revived, he didn't grasp what had happened.
But!
Learning that Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, had become the new Lord and a true God King.
As Pope, with access to the Star Tower, Shion knew much.
He instantly realized this was a big problem.
Or rather.
Things had gotten truly troublesome.
Saori Kido shook her head: "Olympus is silent for now. As long as Persephone doesn't act, and no Underworld gods intervene, the Holy War relies on the Sanctuary alone."
"Your Holiness, I will prepare for this war."
"Yes."
Shion departed, while Saori Kido gazed into the distance, murmuring: "Underworld, what changes have occurred?"
"Persephone, what are you doing?"
"Or rather…"
"Is this truly all your doing?"
As the Goddess of Wisdom, Saori Kido had clearly sensed something. After all, she wasn't a mere mortal vessel but a true divine body, reshaped by divine power—a divine body in every sense!
***
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