The legacy of human history repeats in cycles: destruction, rebirth, destruction, rebirth.
To humanity, these cycles appear as new beginnings. But in truth, they are anything but.
A simple analogy: for someone to ascend to godhood, it might take millions or even tens of millions of years. But once they've achieved it, the experience and enhanced potential mean the next attempt might take only half the time—five million years. The third attempt might take three million, then one million, and eventually, perhaps only a few years or even months.
This is humanity's uniqueness.
The endless cycle of destruction and rebirth may seem cruel to individuals, but for humanity as a whole, it is the perfect process for continuous evolution.
This relentless adaptation and refinement are the essence of humanity's strength and uniqueness. Over countless cycles, humanity accumulates vast potential, growing stronger and more remarkable with every iteration.
But what happens if this cycle collapses?
If human history itself collapses, the consequences would be entirely different. This is the so-called "collapse of human order." The moment it occurs, the resulting chaos would destroy the foundations of human history. This, above all, is the greatest danger.
For humanity, it represents an existential crisis.
This is why the Mythic World has become so chaotic and hysterical. The collapse of the Heroic Era—an era born from the lessons and growth of past wars—has shattered the continuity of human development.
Everything must start anew.
Of course, to Hades, none of this matters.
From beginning to end, Hades observes human history's collapse with detached indifference. To him, it holds no inherent significance.
As time passes, humanity's history continues to disintegrate, steadily moving toward annihilation.
To Hades, this outcome is enough.
"It ends here," Hades said softly.
In an instant, the cascading collapse of human history halted. Peace returned, as if nothing had ever happened.
What caused this? What was happening?
This bizarre phenomenon defied explanation.
No one knew what had transpired. But Hades understood. His creation had obeyed perfectly.
With a faint smile, Hades' figure vanished, reappearing moments later in a shimmering stream of light. He stood silently, seemingly waiting for something.
Meanwhile, the Mythic World itself was in a dazed state.
"What just happened?"
"What's going on?"
The gods collectively felt as if they had missed something crucial. Despite their endless efforts to prevent the collapse of human order, it had seemed inevitable. And yet, in an unexpected twist, the collapse abruptly stopped. Though not repaired, the cessation alone offered hope.
To the Mythic World, this small reprieve was monumental. Even the faintest glimmer of hope was better than complete destruction.
For Hades, however, the complete annihilation of humanity's history held no value. His aim was the breakdown of history, not its total destruction. Only through collapse could he draw out the full potential of humanity's evil, nurturing the entity he had cultivated—the human evil known as Desire.
Now, that evil had fully emerged in its prime form.
There was no need to push things further. Continuing might cause complications, possibly even undesirable consequences. Hades understood this perfectly and had no intention of overextending.
The principle of balance dictated restraint: taking too much could lead to weakness rather than strength. Overconsumption of human history would leave the evil without a foundation, leading to a state of vulnerability and regression.
Instead, leaving a portion intact while attaining the peak of power was the ideal strategy.
Hades stood in the long river of human history, calmly waiting.
He understood well that human evil was not so easily controlled. It required careful manipulation to bring fully under his dominion. While it had been born of his divine power, its essence was separate, and failing to secure its core could spell trouble.
Thus, Hades waited, prepared to destroy it entirely if it failed to submit. He would not tolerate anything outside his control. If it could not be ruled, it would be erased.
Suddenly, tendrils of divine power swirled around Hades, like a child seeking affection from its parent.
"You've done well," Hades said softly, his voice calm. "A good child."
At his words, the divine power stirred joyfully, boiling over in excitement. In mere moments, this power began to coalesce, forming a distinct silhouette.
Then, a tremendous suction force erupted, spreading outward. The demand for energy was overwhelming, pulling divine power from every corner of the Mythic World.
This was not surprising. The birth of such an entity required vast amounts of divine energy. The absorption continued unabated, consuming everything in its path.
But suddenly, the jubilant energy of human evil faltered. What had been a gleeful celebration shifted into eerie stillness. The entity seemed to freeze, lost in confusion and unable to act.
Hades' expression remained calm, but he extended a hand, drawing a strand of divine power from the chaotic mass.
"This divine power…"
Hades frowned slightly. He recognized its source—it belonged to the Ancient God of Love, Eros.
In the Greek Mythic World, eight Ancient Gods existed: Gaia, Uranus, Erebus, Nyx, Pontus, Tartarus, Eros, and the mountain goddess Ourea.
Among them, Eros and Ourea were the most unusual.
Ourea remained in a state of slumber, uninterested in worldly affairs. After a brief venture into the Sea Realm, she returned to her rest.
Eros, however, had a far stranger fate. He had essentially destroyed himself. What exactly he had done was unknown, but the result was catastrophic.
Eros' divine essence remained scattered throughout the Mythic World, awaiting restoration. His plan had been simple: his child, Cupid, would eventually inherit his essence, collecting the fragments and reviving Eros.
But plans had changed.
Cupid had not yet been born. Though a minor inconvenience, it was not catastrophic. The alignment of love's laws ensured Cupid's eventual birth. For Ancient Gods, time held little significance.
But now…
Something unforeseen had begun to unfold.
The scattered divine power of Eros had somehow intertwined with the entity Hades had nurtured—the human evil known as Desire.
This fusion was far from simple. The fragments of Eros' essence carried an unparalleled affinity for love and desire, which, when combined with the burgeoning entity, created an unprecedented and unpredictable blend.
Hades carefully examined the strand of divine power he had drawn.
"The Ancient God of Love, Eros..." he muttered.
This was unexpected. Eros' divine power, scattered across the Mythic World, should have remained dormant until Cupid was born to reclaim it. Yet somehow, a portion had converged here, at the moment of Desire's birth.
The implications were vast.
For Hades, this intrusion was both a risk and an opportunity. Eros' divine power could strengthen Desire, enhancing its dominion over humanity's darker impulses. But it could also destabilize it, introducing variables that might spiral out of control.
The nascent form of Desire trembled. The once-clear connection between Hades and the entity wavered, as though a foreign presence was interfering.
"Interesting," Hades murmured, his expression unchanged.
With a wave of his hand, he enveloped the chaotic fusion in a cocoon of his divine power, isolating it from external influences.
Inside, the forces of Desire and Eros' divine essence struggled, as if caught in a storm.
Hades observed silently. For now, there was no immediate danger, but the potential for instability loomed large. If the fusion succeeded, Desire could evolve into something far more formidable. But if it failed, the backlash could devastate both the entity and the surrounding Mythic World.
He was prepared for either outcome.
"This is an uninvited guest," Hades said, narrowing his eyes. "But it seems... this guest might serve a purpose."
For Eros' divine power to appear at this precise moment was no coincidence. Hades considered the possibility that the Ancient God had foreseen his plans and sought to intervene.
However, Eros had long since fallen into obscurity, his power fragmented and dormant. The Ancient God of Love had no means to act directly.
Which meant...
"This is no interference," Hades concluded. "It's a natural consequence of my actions."
By manipulating humanity's history and emotions, Hades had inadvertently tapped into the dormant remnants of Eros' power. Love, after all, was inseparable from desire. The overlap between their domains had drawn Eros' essence into the fray.
For now, Hades remained watchful. If Desire could assimilate this power, it would emerge as an even greater force, fully aligned with his goals. But if the process became uncontrollable, he would destroy it without hesitation.
"Continue to grow," Hades said softly, addressing the swirling mass of divine power. "Show me what you are capable of."
The cocoon of divine energy pulsed, and for a moment, the Mythic World trembled.
Somewhere in the vastness of the Mythic World, ancient gods stirred. They sensed the disturbance but could not identify its source.
Hades, standing amidst the chaos, was unfazed.
His creation was in flux, and the outcome was uncertain. But whatever the result, Hades would remain the master of his domain.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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