The time was chosen for the 'dark moment' when Nyx's power was strongest, able to most effectively shield the eyes of the gods and the fluctuations of divine power.
Through dreams, Hypnos implanted information about a newly discovered 'Ancient Soul Crystal' somewhere on the edge of the Underworld into the subconscious of several minor gods who regularly supplied rare souls to Iapetus.
And indeed, soon, the fluctuation of divine power belonging to the Titans quietly infiltrated the Underworld, with obvious greed and impatience.
It was Iapetus!
He was clearly acting in secret, not informing the other gods, fearing the treasure would be divided among others.
He followed the deliberately guided faint induction, cautiously crossing the barren Underworld, avoiding several obvious gathering places of the dead, and finally arrived at the location Hades had predetermined—a bottomless isthmus that appeared to be a natural pathway, with alarming roars and a faintly twisting gravitational pull emanating from the crevices, surrounded by eroded rocks.
Not far from the edge of the rift, a dark purple crystal core, radiating an alluring aura as if condensing the sorrows and power of countless ancient ages, quietly hovered there, emitting fluctuations that made Iapetus tremble.
"Found it!" Iapetus's eyes exploded with ecstasy, and he didn't even particularly consider why such a 'treasure' appeared in such a dangerous place.
Greed overrode his caution.
He couldn't wait to reach out, his divine power transforming into a giant palm, seizing the 'Pseudo-Soul Core'.
Now!
Hades, concealed in absolute [Secrecy], had a cold light in his eyes.
Metis made her move!
She remotely invoked the convergence of the Acheron and Cocytus rivers! In an instant, the space around Iapetus was filled with invisible wailing and pain, the lines of law became chaotic, and his perception of divine power seemed thrown into a turbid swamp, instantly losing precise lock on the 'Pseudo-Soul Core' and the surrounding environment.
Almost simultaneously, under the silent cover of Hypnos's dream gauze! Iapetus felt a sudden, extremely deep drowsiness, as if the fatigue of hundreds of millions of years surged in an instant, slowing his consciousness and reaction by half a beat!
Hades, on the other hand, mobilized the authority of [Hades], combined with [Subterranean Wealth]'s control over the earth's veins, and most secretly distorted the structure of the underworld soil beneath Iapetus's feet!
The seemingly solid ground instantly transformed into an invisible trap!
"What's happening?!" Iapetus finally sensed the deadly crisis. The drowsiness and confusion of the law made him stagger, and the sudden sinking beneath his feet caused him to lose his balance!
He was furious, trying to erupt with the divine power of a Titan and wanted to raise an alarm—
But a cold will, symbolizing the absolute end, like the sharpest scythe, silently pierced the core of his divine soul!
Thanatos made his move! The power of [Death] did not kill him directly, but was like a basin of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the flames of resistance trying to ignite in his soul, plunging his divinity into an almost frozen state.
The divine light in Iapetus's eyes suddenly dimmed, his outstretched hand weakly hung, and his huge divine body fell like a puppet with its strings cut, tumbling towards the crevice radiating the terror of Tartarus.
The entire process happened in a flash—no earth-shattering explosions, no dazzling displays of divine power—only a series of precise, deadly, and silent cooperation.
Just as Iapetus's divine body was about to be completely swallowed by the rift, a solemn and cold figure appeared on the bank of the Styx in the distance—Styx.
She 'just happened' to witness the final scene of Iapetus being completely consumed by the扭曲 darkness of the Abyss, and sensed the pure destruction and disorder belonging to Tartarus.
Styx's face remained cold; she merely glanced quietly at the crevice, which was gradually returning to 'calm' as if nothing had happened, then turned and left, as if conducting a routine inspection.
The plan was a success.
Hades, Metis, Thanatos, and Hypnos, holding their positions, quietly retreated in [Secrecy], leaving not a trace of direct connection.
A few days later, the news spread, shaking the entire divine world: Iapetus, the god of souls, had unfortunately been consumed by the surging Tartarus Rift while secretly exploring the edge of the Underworld, his divinity destroyed, returning to the embrace of Chaos!
The goddess Styx, who witnessed it under the name of the River of Oaths, confirmed that Iapetus had been swallowed by the abyss, validating it as an 'accident'.
Recalling Iapetus's greedy collection of souls, the gods were shocked, but most accepted this explanation—after all, Iapetus often ventured into dangerous situations to collect souls.
They were more concerned about the whereabouts of the [Soul] divinity left by Iapetus.
When Cronus on Mount Olympus heard this, he only roared in anger, blaming Iapetus for his incompetence and recklessness, and did not investigate further.
His attention was more focused on the increasingly haggard and determined face of Rhea, who was pregnant again.
And in the depths of the Underworld, Hades sensed the [Soul] divinity gradually detaching from the laws of the world due to the fall of its original owner—masterless and restless.
He knew that one of the biggest obstacles on the path to [Reincarnation] and great divine power had been removed.
He extended his hand, and the authority of [Hades] was like a magnet, beginning to slowly attract and absorb the masterless [Soul] divinity.
This process would take time and required careful integration to avoid negative reactions from the law.
He slowly reached out, and the authority of [Hades] naturally manifested, transforming into an invisible gravitational field and beginning to envelop and pacify the restless origin of [Soul].
At the same time, the twelve kinds of power radiance already present in his body lit up in turn, like stars guarding a throne, forming a complex and orderly force field.
Success!
The Soul Divinity completely merged with him, becoming a key link in his system of power.
He not only clearly sensed the state of every soul in the Underworld, but also vaguely perceived the faint fluctuations of those living souls on the earth.
However, as he immersed himself in the joy of growing power, a will, extremely subtle yet with undeniable urgency, pierced his perception with needle-like precision through layers of concealment.
It was Gaia!
"Hades!" Gaia's voice was unprecedentedly solemn. "Rhea's labor has begun. Your brother Zeus is born."
Hades was shocked! Although he had expected it, hearing this news still made him feel the gears of fate roaring loudly.