The party.
Alistair had to admit, it was a fantastic idea.
He'd have to throw more of these in the future—whenever there was a chance. A joyful gathering always helped everyone unwind and relax.
During the party, games were the main attraction.
After all, what's a party without games? It'd be odd not to have them.
As for the outcome?
Ha!
Alistair, naturally, emerged victorious. Come on, as the God of Darkness, losing at something like this? He might as well find a block of tofu and crash into it.
Persephone gracefully stepped out of the room.
Today, she wore a flowing white dress, exuding elegance and nobility.
"Really," Persephone said with a helpless yet indulgent smile. "Dust, you're such a troublemaker. Time's already tight, and now, with only two days until the portal's cooldown ends, we still need to find Prometheus."
Alistair walked over, wrapping an arm around Persephone's slender waist. "Come on, everyone had a blast playing games."
"Let's go," he continued. "This time, just the two of us. Let's take a stroll."
Persephone playfully tapped his forehead, her gentle demeanor almost overwhelmingly charming.
In an instant, the two vanished.
Hades' Castle.
Andromeda Island.
They arrived at Andromeda Island.
Standing on the shore, Alistair gazed at the rolling waves and the distant sea, squinting slightly. "Persephone, from what I know, in the Age of Myth, Prometheus was chained by Zeus to the Caucasus Mountains. Later, he was freed by Heracles. Do you know where he is now?"
Persephone shook her head gently. "Dust, you've got it wrong."
"That's just a fabricated tale."
"Oh?" Alistair raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A fabricated tale?"
This was getting interesting.
A juicy story!
Persephone, knowing her god-lord's curiosity, explained softly, "In the Age of Myth, Prometheus brought fire to humanity, and for that, Zeus supposedly chained him to the Caucasus Mountains."
"But that's just a story."
"In truth, human progress is unstoppable. Bringing light and fire to humanity was something Prometheus was destined to do."
"After all, he's not just the God of Wisdom but also the God of Fire."
Alistair nodded, having suspected as much.
Myths, after all, were just stories to be taken with a grain of salt.
The gods weren't fools. They wouldn't do something as absurd as myths sometimes suggested.
A group of beings who'd lived for eons, acting like idiots? That was simply unrealistic.
Alistair smirked. "So, Zeus was wary of Prometheus—perhaps even threatened by him?"
"Exactly," Persephone nodded. "During the Titan Era, with the help of Metis and Prometheus, the goddesses and god of wisdom, Zeus rose step by step to defeat the supreme Titan God. But afterward, issues arose."
"I can guess," Alistair said casually. "In some myths, Zeus is depicted as the sole god, supreme above all."
"Obviously, in this world, he didn't achieve that."
"So, wary of Metis and Prometheus, who aided him so effectively, Zeus naturally grew cautious."
"That's one part of it," Persephone continued. "But the core issue stems from Metis. Before Cronus was sealed, he cursed Zeus, declaring that Zeus would be overthrown by his own child."
"And that child—the first of Zeus and Metis—was Abel, the Sun God, erased from myth."
"Abel's situation led Zeus to act against Metis and Prometheus."
Persephone gazed at the sky, as if trying to glimpse the Olympus of old.
Alistair nodded knowingly. "No wonder you were so cautious at first, Persephone, always acting with restraint, never overstepping."
She chuckled softly, saying nothing.
Alistair continued, "Speaking of which, Athena's situation is quite unique, isn't it?"
Persephone nodded. "I don't know all the details, but I've learned a lot from my mother. Prometheus was chained to the Caucasus Mountains, enduring endless torment."
"Later, Heracles seemingly freed him."
"But that's not the truth."
"Heracles, a demigod with a glorious life, became the God of Strength, rivaling Ares and Athena."
"Freeing Prometheus was just a facade."
"The truth is, Prometheus was sealed beneath the sea, a fact even Poseidon doesn't know."
"After all, by then, the Three Kings' War had ended. Poseidon's divine body had vanished, and he'd fallen into eternal slumber."
Persephone explained everything softly, while Alistair's eyes gleamed with understanding.
As for where Prometheus was sealed?
That was easy to find.
As a God-King, Persephone could locate him effortlessly.
"Moreover," she added, "Metis and Athena. Metis was also sealed by Zeus, and whether she still lives is uncertain."
"But Zeus used this to control Athena, turning her into his loyal dog on Earth, forever working for Olympus."
Persephone detailed Metis and Athena's situation.
"How dull," Alistair shook his head, unimpressed. "Zeus, frankly, lacks the boldness and vision of a true leader."
Alistair found it boring.
Trust those you employ, or don't employ them at all.
Even among gods, without a subordinate god contract—well, Alistair's contracts were different, given his supreme rank.
But still.
Zeus's pathetic display?
Alistair had no words.
"Indeed," Persephone nodded. "Much happened afterward, but everything remained under Zeus's control, up to today."
"Fine," Alistair said, smacking his lips. He'd gotten the gist of Zeus's story.
It matched his understanding.
"Nothing too significant."
"Let's go find Prometheus."
"And," he added casually, "releasing the God of Wisdom should make this game far more interesting."
Alistair's smile grew wider.
Yes!
In his eyes, all this was just a game.
Unlike the worlds he'd conquered before, where he was an invincible player mowing through enemies, this world required a slower, more strategic approach.
"Good," Persephone nodded with a smile. They'd played enough; it was time for serious business. Releasing Prometheus wouldn't disrupt much but would certainly make things more intriguing.
"After all," Alistair said, "a wise god like Prometheus—the smarter they are, the more terrifying their vengeance."
"Who knows what'll happen next in this world? The disappearance of Primordial Gods, Zeus's absence—these need investigation, but it's not our job."
"Prometheus is the perfect tool for that."
"Plus," he added with a grin, "why would Prometheus, Zeus's subordinate, rebel over Metis? If she's still alive, he'll likely try to free her."
"That's a great way to keep Athena in check."
Persephone said softly, "Dust, so you've got your eye on Athena?"
"More precisely," Alistair mused, shaking his head, "I'm interested in Saori Kido."
He wasn't sure about Athena, but Saori Kido? Definitely intriguing.
"No hiding your desires, huh? But that's you, Dust," Persephone said, smiling. They exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly.
They crossed Andromeda Island and, in an instant, departed.
Above the sea, countless islands dotted the horizon.
Some were unique.
This was a mythical world, after all, with islands imbued with special divine power.
These islands were decent enough.
Some even housed scattered gods—surviving Titans, new gods from Zeus's era, or fourth-generation deities.
But these gods were minor, living quietly on these special islands, enjoying scenic retirement.
As for meddling on Earth?
Please.
That was for the big players. These small fries stayed out of it, obediently watching from the sidelines.
And the islands chosen by the Sanctuary to nurture Cloths?
Heh.
Those were handed over without a fight. No one dared provoke the Sanctuary's might.
Sure, Saori Kido seemed like a professional hostage, always getting captured or on the verge of it.
But in truth?
That was just the surface. Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, was also the Goddess of War and Victory. Without weapons, her fists alone could pummel Ares into the ground.
In the Three Kings' War, she'd shattered Poseidon's divine body.
Provoke her?
You'd have to be out of your mind.
The Phoenix Islands.
In this world, their origin was clear.
"Long ago," Persephone explained, "Phoenix fell here, his body fragments forming these islands."
"The Phoenix Islands hold his life essence."
Alistair nodded, unsurprised.
In the original story, the Phoenix Cloth was stored on Death Queen Island, nurtured by the island's divine power and Phoenix's essence.
"Hm?" Alistair frowned, sensing something. "Persephone, what's that island?"
Persephone followed his gaze. "That's Death Queen Island."
"But it's not formed from Phoenix's essence."
"It's a fragment of the lost Mu Continent."
"Oddly, though, when it merged with the Phoenix Islands, it channeled Phoenix's essence into its volcano, creating the perfect divine power for nurturing."
"The Sanctuary uses it to nurture the Phoenix Cloth."
Persephone, having learned much from her mother, explained clearly.
"As expected," Alistair said, squinting. "Death Queen Island."
His suspicions were confirmed.
"What's wrong, Dust?" Persephone asked.
He smirked. "Something interesting's happening. Let's check it out."
"Alright," she replied, asking no further questions.
If he wanted to investigate, they'd investigate.
Honestly, Persephone felt there was nowhere she couldn't go, especially with the ability to return to the Pure Land of Bliss instantly.
No big deal.
They soon arrived at Death Queen Island.
It was eerily silent.
"Death Queen Island is sealed off," Persephone said. "Ordinary people can't come here."
"It's a place for exiled Saints."
"Except…" She paused, as if realizing something.
Alistair smiled. "Exactly, Persephone. As you suspect, something's off here. What's hidden on this island?"
"Why is it like this?"
His grin widened.
The reason was simple.
With his perception, Alistair could clearly sense a dark power on Death Queen Island, beckoning him, pleading for his arrival.
***
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