And now, Heracles was the sa, if he gave up the fundantal principles in his heart, he wouldn't have had to travel across the ocean.
"I will."
Nodding heavily, Heracles found that Protheus's face had beco even paler.
Clearly, despite the help of faith over the years, he still couldn't leave his cage for long.
Watching this scene, there was a certain stifling feeling in Heracles's heart.
Along the way, the great hero had hardly encountered any trouble.
Whatever the opponent, they would ultimately fall before him.
But now, facing the absolute power and might of the Divine King, facing this deity who knew he couldn't save him but still chose to help him, Heracles felt utterly helpless.
The invisible prison that belonged to Protheus was just a tiny square, and even a single step was absolutely impossible for him to take.
"Hahaha… *cough cough* don't feel sad, your talents are exceptional, and you are still young."
"Perhaps one day, you might accomplish sothing that would stun anyone in this world, and even if I am still here, I will be happy about having helped you today."
Laughter mixed with coughs, the Bronze Creator gently waved his hand, and Olymus, who had not yet awakened, floated from the ground to his side.
"Take your friend and leave, my power is running low."
"...One day, I will find a way to rescue you."
Stepping forward, it seed as if he saw that invisible barrier, that boundary set by sovereign power.
Heracles solemnly made a vow, a promise to his own soul.
Protheus smiled and nodded, for him, this was one of the rare joys he had in millennia...
"—wait, young man, you—!"
Suddenly, things changed unexpectedly.
A bit dazed due to the drain on his divine power, Protheus's figure swayed, and at that mont, the previously unconscious Olymus suddenly woke up.
With a strong push, the Forethinker's body was pushed away from that invisible barrier.
Left inside was only Olymus.
"—Olymus, you?!"
Caught off guard, even Heracles did not grasp what had happened.
Why would Olymus do this, and more critically, how did he hide the truth that he wasn't unconscious in front of both him and Protheus?
You see, although in the mortal realm, Olymus was already a hero of remarkable strength.
But in front of two deities, one an almost invincible demigod, he still seed so feeble.
All changed in an instant, Heracles instinctively wanted to move forward, but in front of him, a purple array pattern slowly erged, blocking his way.
"Bang—!"
That was the noise coming from beside him.
At Heracles's side, Protheus too was blocked by that pattern from moving forward.
"Heh... no use wasting your energy."
"Heracles, this isn't that bad."
"I'll stay here, you guys leave."
"However you think about it, this is the perfect conclusion."
In the center of the purple array pattern, Olymus spoke with a voice calm as water, his face showing no extra emotions, just a slight sense of relief.
"Olymus..."
This companion who had traveled with him for many months now seed sowhat strange to Heracles, not just because of the sudden choice he made, but also because of the hidden machinations.
However, as if he saw the question in Heracles's eyes, Olymus softly explained:
"You actually don't need to think too much, initially, I ca here with no benevolence in mind."
"Your arrival was just an accident, and whether or not you were here, I would have co back to this place anyway."
"Heracles, you think yourself clever, but deep down, you still rely on your own strength."
"You think I am far from your match, and hence you had no guards up against ."
"But oh heroic one, skilled in martial arts, you were too careless—as a captain of this fleet sent by the Deities, while others might be grateful for the creator's kindness and ultimately leave the realm of All Gods' Faith, how could I possibly leave?"
"Being chosen to pilot this alchemy ship had to an the church trusted . And even if I truly abandoned my Faith, with my strength, how could the Gods allow to leave?"
"Moreover, even if I retreated a thousand steps, ten thousand steps, and did manage to leave, how could I retain such a grand alchemy ship, which would allow travel between continents and oceans?"
"..."
Irrefutable, Heracles had to admit that Olymus was right.
There were many incongruities about his adversary, aside from these two points, in fact, many more.
Yet he had never paid them enough attention, perhaps it truly was pride in his own power... and in front of Heracles, Olymus continued.
"...Heh, so there is only one conclusion left, the Gods were willing to let leave, as it was them who sent here. This ship was left to , if not you, soone else following the footsteps of the creator would have co."
"As for why I could pretend to be unconscious and evade your sensors, naturally, it is because I possess an imitation of the Netherworld King's Invisibility Helt, able to shield my presence."
"In the original plan, I would have brought a group of passionate youths pursuing the legend of the creator, letting most of them perish along the journey—finally, when they barely survived and t the Bronze Creator here, I would use the Deities' blessing in front of you to execute them."
"In the end, I would return with a few who regretted their journey midway, and wavered, they will now kneel before the statues of All Gods."
"Then we will tell the inhabitants of the continent with 'facts', that the legends about the creator are false, that he is brutal, cold-hearted, and utterly rciless."
Calmly stated, but hearing all that Olymus said, a chill surged up within Heracles's chest.
Turning black into white, altering History, distorting the truth... no venomous word could suffice to describe these acts.
Opening his mouth, Heracles intended to ask why the other had ultimately not proceeded as planned, but he finally didn't speak.
If it was rely because he feared his martial prowess, he could have just continued pretending to be unconscious and returned with him to the continent.
Since Olymus had made such a decision, what he thought was already apparent without asking.
"...There's no need to look at like that, Heracles, maybe I'll regret it soon enough."
"Humans, are always complex."
The middle-aged man smiled, then he looked at the complex-looking Bronze Creator.
Unlike Heracles, Protheus knew, once the other had replaced him here, there was no possibility of departure for him.
"Haha... Bronze Age Creator, I would like to ask you a question."
"Ask."
Not knowing how many tis he had sighed today, Protheus nodded.
"What I want to know is... after experiencing so much, have you ever been disappointed with the human race?"
"Probably... not."
"Golden Age... that perfection was just an illusion. Silver Age, my departure wasn't really because of their sins."
"It's just a result molded by others, no matter how perfect, it's still false. Only in the Bronze Age did I craft them with my own hands."
"I liked them initially, now thinking about it, maybe it leaned more towards affection for my creations."
"But when I was confined here, that affection changed."
"For I gradually found that people who make decisions like yours are rare, and most would never think they'd sacrifice for sothing else in their lifeti."
"But when the mont cos, there will always be people like you making choices that surprise , others, and even themselves."
"And that, perhaps, is the greatness distinguishing sentient beings from other species."
"No matter how dark, you can always find a bit of light in so corner."
"..."
In the center of the Sea Eye, he stepped back, aligning his body with the increasingly epheral silhouette of Divine Power.
Not knowing if he was satisfied with the answer, Olymus simply nodded.
"I see."
"Now, leave this place."
"Heracles, leave this place, to complete your grand adventure."
"If an opportunity arises in the future, you might co back to visit ."
"Then, tell your legendary story."
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