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"..."
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Uncertain whether it was up or down, the hull rged with the swirling currents.
Like a speck of dust falling to the earth, apart from instrunts showing paraters, there was nothing to prove that they were moving forward.
Standing at the very front of the cockpit, in front of Heracles, the indicator of the ship's status was slowly turning blood red.
Even gliding with the flow, the alchemy ancient ship had reached its limit.
It could not progress any further, for at the very heart of the Sea Eye, the pressure was enough to keep the body of a Titans God in a constant state of dissolution and repair.
This last stretch, nothing could take their place and move forward.
"Last ti, we just stepped directly into the sea. Leaving the protection of the alchemy ship, we faced the vortex that could tear us apart into thousands of pieces in an instant."
"For thousands of years, billions of tons of seawater have been accumulating energy in rotation, its released force enough to shake mountains."
"And even just an insignificant fraction of it is still enough to suppress a mortal like ."
Approaching the isolation chamber's door, Olymus walked in slowly.
Even though he had experienced it once before, this ti, he still had no assurance of survival.
"We can't do more, or rather, there's only one thing we can do."
"That is to pray that the creator of the Bronze Age notices us, just like every previous ti."
"And this ti too, he still chooses kindness."
"Perhaps, but I never leave my fate to destiny."
"Whether or not soone cos to help , I will reach the place I want to go."
Tightening the leather on his body, Heracles walked into the isolation chamber, waving to the one behind him.
"Amon, I'm entrusting you to look after the ship here."
"Your body is still a bit weak, I'll teach you so moves when we have the chance."
"No problem."
Without looking back, the doors of the isolation chamber closed behind him.
As Heracles moved forward, the sound of doors shutting one after another rang in his ears.
In deep waters with currents this strong, opening a window directly would instantly tear the hull to shreds.
So all air-tight doors were closed securely, and the water reserves from all directions began to pour into the isolation chamber.
"Olymus, good luck, I hope to see you again later."
"I will, and I wish you safety on your journey, my friend."
Soon, when the chamber was filled with seawater, the isolation zone's outer door slowly opened.
Heracles stepped forward and leaped.
The next mont, amidst the vast expanse of the Sea Eye, there was one more human, diminutive as a speck of dust.
...
Thud——
Thud——
Thud——
...
Turbulence in all directions, no left, no right.
Leaving the alchemy ship, in just an instant, the great hero could no longer find his way back.
The undercurrent surged from every angle, his limbs as if dragging on galloping steeds.
Only by truly stepping into this place did Heracles finally understand why Olymus had refused his offer of help and instead entrusted their hope of survival to that benevolent god.
Personal strength, no matter how great, has its limits.
But the power of nature is infinite; it is the marvel of the world's creation.
If Heracles were on the surface of the sea, he could still use his strength as leverage, maximizing the force he could exert.
But here, even with all his strength, it was ultimately futile.
His heart throbbed violently in his chest as ceaseless energy surged from every inch of his body.
No matter how much he struggled, Heracles could only follow the waves, unable to control his own direction.
"Now you understand, this is nature, the force of all things in this world."
"And the reason why gods seem powerful is less due to their divine power and more due to their authority rooted in the origin of the world."
"You battle the Earth God, you're shaking the foundations of the earth. You oppose the Sea God, you're fighting the boundless ocean."
"Don't be fooled by my usual lack of combat prowess, that's only on the Mortal World."
"Just like here... right now, you're not even a match for ."
The voice echoed in his mind, and in the pocket on the hero's chest, the puppet seed entirely unaffected by the Sea Eye.
A thin film of light covered it, preventing a single drop of seawater from reaching it.
"How's Olymus, how is he doing?"
Instead of seeking help right away, Heracles instead inquired about his companion's condition.
Though he was being swept along with the currents, the sea here actually couldn't harm him.
After all, the center of the Sea Eye hadn't fallen upon him.
And with the animal hide on his body, the great hero's condition actually wasn't as desperate as it seed.
"Well, he's doing fine right now."
"Although he barely lasted less than the duration of a water clock before his strength gave out."
"But just a second before he could turn back, divine power protected his life."
"Heh, that's not surprising."
"Since the battle with Typhon, the laws in many nearby sea areas have beco sowhat similar to those of the land... but not so much here."
"After all, without the aid of Divine Power, even with the Fire Thief's Divine Body being so powerful, his strength would have long ago been worn to dust by the Sea Eye," (see 3-58)
Clack—
Tumbling out of his pocket, Ande explained as he gradually made his way up from his chest, until he was sitting on Heracles' shoulder.
His movents remained unaffected amidst the swirling undercurrents, and even between the indistinct shadows, the puppet's state seed noticeably different from before.
A sense of the divine rose from the tiny doll, and for a mont, Heracles felt the surrounding water currents quiet down.
So this is a Deity... even if Ande was just a Faith God and not the naturally sacred Nature God he spoke of.
Yet when the shackles upon him were partially removed, he remained a king, supre over the mortal world.
At that mont, the self-satisfaction that had crept into the great hero's heart in recent days vanished without a trace.
Drifting in the dark current, Heracles once again straightened his attitude.
Confidence is good, but if one cannot correctly asure the gap between oneself and others, then every ounce of trust becos nothing but a brick to bury oneself.
"Heh, you need not envy ."
"It's hard to say for Innate Gods, but becoming a Faith God like might not be so difficult for you."
"However, what is gained from faith, must ultimately be constrained by it… never mind, that is a matter for the future."
"For now, I will take you there directly."
"He has already noticed , and if it weren't for my presence, perhaps you would have already been scooped up by his Divine Power."
"Let's go, follow this path straight ahead, and at its end, you'll see Protheus bound."
Speaking softly, the puppet's index finger then stretched out.
In the next instant, like a Titan tearing through clouds, the sea water transford under the influence of Divine Power.
The Void faintly vibrated, and quickly, a temporary spatial passage materialized before them.
It existed alongside the surrounding sea water as if on two different dinsions, with no interaction between them.
At the sa ti, Heracles finally regained his lost sense of direction.
This was the power of Divinity, "Changing Space."
Perhaps the great beings who created Divinity, sensing the disadvantages of Faith Gods—who were neither born with great authority like the Nature Gods nor could draw infinite Divine Power from their godhood—
relied solely on faith to sustain their existence, holding authority that was largely inconsequential.
Thus, when the holders of Divinity one day elevated their realms and beca true deities, they could access unique knowledge and power from their Divinity.
With these abilities, Faith Deities might not have the advantage in front of gods who truly commanded related authorities, but in other situations, they could dominate completely.
Over ti, many would lant, their Divinity felt as though it were a part taken from a Divine Artifact.
Not only did it enable them to beco gods but also granted them additional authority, even if it didn't seem quite complete.
Of course, that was rely speculation.
After all, if such an artifact did exist, it would definitely be beyond their comprehension.
"Alright."
With the water around him pushed aside, Heracles took the opportunity to leap into the channel that had been temporarily carved out.
His virility subtly rising, the moisture on his clothes evaporated.
"But, Mr. And... do you intend to accompany ?"
"Yes."
Nodding slightly, the puppet affird.
"Speaking of which, a long, long ti ago, I too revered him greatly."
"But later on, I thought that perhaps he was indeed too young at the ti."
...
Drip-drip...
Drip-drip...
...
Within the dark space, the sound of flowing blood continued unceasingly.
The bound one bore the pain, carrying the sins of an era.
Suspended in the air before him, an unconscious middle-aged man lay there.
However, compared to the Fire Thief's wounds, no injury marked the man's body.
Tap-tap...
Lifting his head gently, Protheus looked in the direction of the sound.
In his perception, one young, one elusive breath drew near.
And on both of them, there exuded an aura that the Fire Thief found familiar.
Tap-tap—
A fla ignited; kindled by spirit, fire burned upon his shoulder.
Stepping out from darkness, Heracles locked eyes with Protheus just as he erged.
Hands bound together, iron nails stained red with blood and driven into his chest.
Not like a Deity, but as a prisoner ets a hero.
Facing the Creator he had longed to see, Heracles found himself speechless.
"You... are the Bronze Age Creator."
"The sacred Fire Thief, Forethinker Protheus?"
"...Cough cough cough... Yes, it's ."
"If what you speak of is how people refer to , then that indeed pertains to ..."
Breathing hoarsely, his voice seed to have traversed the ages.
Gazing upon the young and fearless visitor, Protheus exhaled deeply.
"Son of Zeus, beloved of the era, oh humans, you have finally co..."
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