Openly defying the Divine King was not without precedent, but those who had done so were either special deities like the Heavenly Empress or the Sea Emperor, or they had already suffered terrible punishnts. Hers did not intend to get involved in this, and when his voice fell, Olympus once again fell silent.
In silence, the clouds once again gathered. The Divine King was still smiling, but his smile now had a trace of coldness.
"An unfamiliar deity... Hers, this is quite rare."
"Your Majesty, perhaps he was newly born, unaware of your power, similar to what the Goddess of Beauty once was—this is entirely understandable," he replied politely, while blinking in the direction of Aphrodite. The embodint of love and beauty had intimate relationships with many of the gods of Mount Olympus, and Hers was no exception.
"You are right, my child, I should always be extra tolerant of the offenses of the ignorant," the Divine King nodded slightly, acknowledging this rationale. However, to confirm this, he looked again at his ssenger.
In front of Hers, Laine’s apparition had been conjured. This was an entity he had never seen before, perhaps indeed a newly born deity.
"Does anyone recognize him?" asked the Divine King, to which the gods all shook their heads. Seeing this, Zeus narrowed his eyes and said with a smile:
"Since no one knows him, then perhaps it is as Hers has said—so let’s wait here for him. If he has co to witness my power, then I will grant him this opportunity. As the King of All Gods, it is only proper to show such magnanimity."
The longer one lives, the more often strange beings co to challenge him, and it was not uncommon for mortals and deities alike. Thus, after a brief surge of anger, Zeus instead relaxed his mood, seeing this as an amusent and an opportunity to demonstrate his power once again.
Engrossed in his thoughts, Zeus did not notice the brief look of astonishnt that flashed in Athena’s eyes upon seeing the image of that unfamiliar god.
The goddess recognized his presence—he was the one who had once entrusted her with a Divine Artifact. What truly surprised her, though, was not just this fact.
For just now, the apparition that Hers had projected seed to nod at her.
...
In the Underworld, within the Narcissus Plains.
Walking on the grey land, Laine casually observed his surroundings.
Previously, he had examined the vicinity in turn. Unlike the real Underworld, this version in the Tapestry of Fate had neither the comings and goings of wraiths nor any trace of the Primordial Deities.
Places like the Abyss and the Land of Eternal Night certainly existed, but they were rely that—existent. Yet, within them, Laine felt no semblance of consciousness.
Just as he had thought before, this world had no trace of a second Great Divine Power. Whether this was because the scant Creation Force was insufficient for this task, or simply because it was never done, was unknown.
But this only made Laine surer—false is false, even if it was Zeus of this counterfeit world, his power was likely mostly a matter of "setting." After all, even though to the Creation Force, all things are equivalent, the information carried within a fragnt of mory is insufficient to transform into such vast energy.
"And these souls, they are nothing but copies," he muttered.
His gaze swept across the surroundings. The Underworld in this original version of fate was much livelier than in reality.
Perhaps because of the great wars in the Mortal Realm, the souls of the deceased had flocked to the Underworld. Crowds of figures paid their silver coins (Obolus) and were ferried across, then walked so distance until they arrived at a grand palace to face the judgnt of the three Underworld judges.
Unlike the Spirit Realm in reality, which judged a soul based on abilities and deeds during life, these three, who in life were renowned humans and then elevated upon death, rendered the fate of mortal souls on the simple scales of ’good’ and ’evil.’
Those lives interwoven with ’good’ and ’evil’ would stay here, in what was known as the Narcissus Plains, a place covered in fields of golden wheat. They fed on it, and as they wandered, their mories of life were gradually erased, along with any trace of their existence.
The souls ’evil’ far outweighing ’good’ would be sent near Tartarus to endure punishnt. The gods had built a massive prison there to confine these sinners.
And those with ’good’ far outweighing ’evil’ could continue on, enjoying an eternal and blissful life in the Elysian Fields constructed by the gods until the last of their soul energy was consud and they dissipated into the world.
As for the judgnt of "good" and "evil" in a person’s life, it’s quite an obvious matter. Those who are devout and faithful are undoubtedly the most "good," while the opposite is considered the most "evil." In other standards of judgnt, there is also a strong tint of subjectivity.
However, this is normal, for the judges and paradises established by the gods are naturally prepared for the devout. Deciding "good" and "evil" based on faith doesn’t seem so strange after all.
"Hmm—so for the people who originally existed in this world, after she enters, will she rge into one with her forr self?"
Eyes flickering, Laine had already bypassed the judges and arrived within the Fields of Truth. However, at this mont, it was the scene of Hers on Mount Olympus morphing his image that appeared. Following this intangible connection, Laine directly "saw" everything happening there.
In a myriad of "falseness," suddenly having one truth was undoubtedly very conspicuous. What really intrigued Laine was whether this ant that Athena had also "seen the future"?
Although it was just the future as it was originally... He watched as the goddess cleverly found an excuse to temporarily leave the company of the other gods and headed straight to her palace. And as one could almost envision, the first thing Athena would observe was the "history" under this particular trajectory of destiny.
What had happened in the past, what role she played in it, why this world looked so similar to the original yet differed in myriad ways—once she looked, such confusion would almost certainly erge in Athena’s heart, and then she would try to explore the reasons behind it.
"The thing is, it is already the third epoch now, simply regard the original trajectory as sothing to be viewed."
Withdrawing his attention, Laine refocused his thoughts on the Underworld.
Before him, a figure had appeared without him noticing. The master of the Underworld had detected him, or rather, had been aware of him the mont he unguardedly set foot upon this land. Yet it wasn’t until Laine reached this point that Hades felt he had no choice but to confront him.
Even though he did not detect the aura of this unknown deity, Hades had been feeling an alarm in his heart. So, if possible, he truly did not wish to face Laine.
"Strange deity, why have you co?"
Speaking cautiously, Hades could not simply ignore the presence at his doorstep, regardless of everything.
"I have co for destruction."
With sincere tone, Laine replied.
"Destruction... Has so mortal provoked you, and you wish to bestow upon him eternal punishnt?"
With eyebrows relaxing, Hades inquired.
If that were the case, then it was not a matter of great concern. He had been wondering why this deity had co directly to the Fields of Truth.
The Olympian gods had similar wants in the past but never inford him about them; they would simply take away or do sothing, never regarding him with any importance.
"If that were the case, then I agree."
"No, you misunderstand."
Shaking his head slightly, Laine looked at Hades.
"I am referring to everything."
"Every soul? That’s probably not such a good idea,"
With a tone carrying a trace of astonishnt, this ti, Hades couldn’t help but sound dismissive.
It was not that no god ever ca here to claim the souls of so mortals, but to ask for all was a bit too extre.
"Of course not every soul."
With a smile, Laine slowly corrected:
"By everything... I an this entire world."
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