Māra.
Sesshōin Kihara.
The origins of these names require little explanation.
To Hades, drawing from his past memories to craft human evil was a calculated decision. If only one god embodying Love and Desire had been born, it would have been inconsequential.
However, the emergence of two entities to represent Love and Desire seemed fitting.
Māra, as the elder sister, symbolized Desire.
Sesshōin Kihara, as the younger sister, symbolized Love.
Their creation was unique.
Initially, there should have been only one god: Māra. Love and Desire were meant to be one entity, a single representation of human evil's essence.
But during the absorption of Eros' divine power, an unexpected divergence occurred.
What should have resulted in the sole birth of Māra instead gave rise to Sesshōin Kihara.
The birth of the two sisters brought both advantages and complexities.
On one hand, their combined divine power pushed the boundaries of their potential.
As an entity of human evil, had Māra been born alone, her strength would have peaked at the pinnacle of a God-King's level. That would not have been surprising.
Even the mightiest gods born from humanity's collapse—entities like Māra—could not immediately ascend to the ranks of the Ancient Gods.
This was because Māra represented only a portion of humanity's evil. To ascend to the level of an Ancient God, her full potential would have required time and growth.
However, absorbing Eros' divine power introduced an unforeseen outcome.
By splitting into two entities, Māra and Sesshōin Kihara together surpassed their initial limitations. Their combined essence transcended the threshold of the Ancient Gods.
Now, Love and Desire, when united, formed a true Ancient God, one whose strength was remarkable even among others of that rank.
This transformation made the two sisters' creation an unexpected blessing.
Despite the inherent challenges of being dual entities, Hades viewed it as inconsequential. The unique nature of dual gods offered certain advantages. Their potential for strength and quality exceeded that of many singular gods.
"Let us go," Hades said calmly.
"Yes!" the sisters replied without hesitation.
With that, Hades retrieved the divine core of Sesshōin Kihara, just as he had taken Māra's.
The divine core, willingly surrendered, ensured Hades' complete control over their essence.
Had Sesshōin Kihara resisted, Hades could have forcibly extracted her core and merged it with Māra, reverting the dual gods back into a single entity. While this process was simple for Hades, it would have been catastrophic for the sisters.
Fortunately, such drastic measures were unnecessary. Everything proceeded as planned, yielding the best possible outcome.
Hades led the sisters out of the river of human history and returned to the Underworld.
Meanwhile, the Mythic World reeled from the birth of Love and Desire.
The gods, sensitive to the slightest shifts in power, quickly discerned what had occurred.
But for the Mythic World itself, there was nothing to be done. Though it understood Hades' actions, it could not retaliate.
Challenging Hades in the Underworld would be suicidal, as the Mythic World lacked the strength or leverage to intervene directly. The situation left it powerless and frustrated.
The only solace was that humanity's collapse had been halted. While the damage could not be fully repaired, even partial restoration offered hope.
The Mythic World now focused on stabilizing human history, seeking to preserve whatever remnants it could. Complete destruction would have wiped away everything accumulated during the Heroic Era. The prospect of salvaging even fragments was a minor victory.
But these efforts left the Mythic World exhausted, its resources stretched thin as it scrambled to manage the aftermath.
If further crises arose, it feared being overwhelmed entirely.
Elsewhere, Poseidon observed the events with an amused expression.
"Hades, as expected of you," he murmured. "You've done what no one else dared to imagine—cultivating human evil to create gods, and even drawing in Eros' divine power to enhance them."
Cronus, too, had been observing. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he pieced together Hades' plan.
"Using humanity's history to nurture human evil," Cronus mused. "An impressive feat—but it can only be done once."
The collapse of human history had created a unique opportunity. But Cronus understood that the Mythic World would never allow such a scheme to succeed again. The gods and the world itself would remain vigilant, ensuring such a scenario could not repeat.
"This tactic is not repeatable," Cronus concluded.
He considered the broader implications. Human evil encompassed many aspects, including the Seven Deadly Sins, of which Love and Desire were but one. Could Hades repeat this process for other aspects?
Cronus dismissed the notion.
The Mythic World would never fall for the same trick twice. Hades might succeed once, but attempting it again would be futile.
"This method is only viable if he targets other Mythic Worlds," Cronus said aloud.
He glanced at Rhea.
"Rhea, does Hades possess a Crystal Wall Gate?"
Rhea nodded gently.
"Yes," she confirmed. "Hades has obtained a Crystal Wall Gate, and he has already begun exploring other Mythic Worlds."
"Just as I thought," Cronus said.
He quickly deduced Hades' intentions. Ordinary worlds lacked the depth of history needed to nurture human evil. Only a Mythic World's vast narrative and humanity's rich history could give rise to entities like Māra and Sesshōin Kihara.
Thus, Hades would use the Crystal Wall Gate to access other Mythic Worlds, repeating his success elsewhere.
Cronus paused in thought.
Though he understood Hades' strategy, he decided it was irrelevant to his current goals. Their paths were separate, and there was no point in concerning himself with Hades' plans.
"Let him be," Cronus said finally. "Our objectives do not overlap—for now."
He focused instead on his own journey. As the former Titan King, Cronus had once been unmatched. Yet in this new era, he was one of the weakest God-Kings.
This disparity might have crushed the pride of another. But for Cronus, it fueled determination.
"I will surpass them again," he vowed silently.
Failure had tempered him, transforming his mindset. Where once he might have been consumed by pride, he now embraced the humility needed to grow stronger.
Rhea smiled as she observed her husband.
Though the climb ahead was steep, Cronus was undeterred. With his newfound resolve, it was only a matter of time before he reclaimed his former glory.
When that day came, the return of the Titan King would surely shake the heavens.
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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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