In the Underworld.
The Elysian Fields. While Poros and Athena take action, is Hades oblivious to their plans? Not at all. Hades not only anticipates but truly understands what they are attempting. Even the barest thought reveals to him the moves they intend to make and the thoughts driving them.
And yet...
Hades has no intention of stopping them. Though he won't help, he merely observes.
Sometimes, certain matters don't require interference, nor should they be stopped. Hades, like Poseidon, sees this as a game—and a game with only two players would simply be too dull.
Arrogance? Pride?
These are qualities inherent to all gods. Hades and Poseidon have made the same choice: to wait and see if Poros and Athena can spark a miracle amidst seemingly impossible odds.
A miracle is only called a miracle because it defies all likelihood, manifesting against overwhelming odds. This is the heart of Hades and Poseidon's interest as they await the outcome, curious to see if a miracle can indeed unfold.
"Poros."
"Athena."
"Then let me see… what your ultimate outcome will be. Can you bring about this miracle?"
Hades' lips curl into a smile.
Persephone and Eris stand beside him, momentarily stunned by his words. It seems they don't fully grasp what's happening. But eventually, they too sense the excitement and amusement in Hades' voice.
Some things are beginning to get interesting.
Hades and Poseidon have each forged their own paths and have already become god-kings who defied fate and created miracles. Now they wait, eager to see if Poros and Athena can pull off a similar feat.
This unpredictability, this faint possibility of the impossible, is what fascinates them most. Will the gods be able to chase this so-called miracle to success amid certain death?
No one knows what the future holds, and that very uncertainty makes it all the more thrilling.
To the gods, while they do enjoy wielding absolute control from on high, they also savor the unpredictability of events that elude their grasp, the unexpected occurrences that spark their interest.
And now, that very scenario is playing out before them. Hades and Poseidon are hopeful that Poros and Athena will succeed in bringing about a miracle.
Otherwise, everything would simply be too boring.
As for the other Ancient Gods—or even the Earth Goddess as the Creator God? Frankly, to these two god-kings, it's all irrelevant.
Sometimes, events unfolding right in front of you don't feel significant—until they truly happen, revealing the weight of despair. When this occurs, you realize that all you can do is accept it helplessly.
Looking at the path before them, they understand just how much these two god-kings have sacrificed to reach this point. Ultimately, each must continue to walk their path alone, step by step.
In short, both Hades and Poseidon are eager to see what paths Poros and Athena will choose. What lies ahead? Is it a new road to the future, or something else entirely?
Only time will tell.
...
In the Mortal Realm:
"…"
At this moment, Mephisto wipes the sweat from his forehead. For a god-king like Mephisto to be sweating, it's easy to imagine just how astounding his recent actions were.
"Finally…"
Exhaling deeply, Mephisto mutters, "I finally succeeded. It was far more challenging than expected. No wonder His Majesty's original command was simply to complete the first step if possible."
To be honest, Mephisto hadn't expected it to be this difficult. Sure, he anticipated challenges, but nothing on this scale.
"But!"
"The first step is complete. Now, I just need to wait as time unfolds."
"An opportunity."
"This is the one and only chance."
With a look of solemnity, Mephisto contemplates his work.
The Seven Sins of Humanity.
The scheme crafted by Mephisto and the other gods of the Underworld would have been impossible without god-king-level power. Even the power of Hades' Helm of Invisibility could only partially conceal such an undertaking.
This is the fundamental reason. There was simply no way around it.
Humanity is, at its core, the protagonist of this world. Mephisto and his allies' actions aim to destroy human history itself, erasing human civilization. Such actions will undoubtedly impact the entire mythological world.
This will plunge the entire mythological world into chaos. Should this happen, it would indicate a significant disruption.
Therefore, each step taken by Mephisto and the Underworld gods is fraught with difficulty, for a single mistake could trigger disaster.
The reason for this? It's self-evident. Mephisto and the other Underworld gods' actions defy the fundamental laws governing the mythological world.
Nonetheless, Mephisto has finally completed the first step, though only a seventh of the total task.
And yet...
That alone is already an immense achievement. His Majesty's vision is to fulfill even this fraction of the plan within a world of myth, and reaching that seventh portion is nearly the upper limit.
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