Eris had uncovered an issue with this mythical great world: its underworld.
The Yellow Springs.
Hell.
These two realms, surprisingly, were not created together.
To be precise!
Something very peculiar and intriguing had emerged, something fundamentally critical to the underworld. One might even call it a heaven-sent opportunity.
No, that's not quite right.
This was more than just a stroke of luck—it was akin to inheriting the wealth of the richest person in the world.
What does this mean exactly?
This mythical great world lacked the concept of death. Everything within it could exist indefinitely.
But!
This was an unsustainable situation.
To put it more simply:
A mythical great world requires a stable cycle of life and growth. Consider the Greek pantheon's mythical great world: it nearly collapsed under the strain of focusing solely on humanity as the protagonists.
To be honest!
Had the mythical great world not insisted on making humans the focal point, the Greek pantheon's world wouldn't have reached such a precarious state. Instead, it could have flourished completely.
This possibility was quite significant.
However!
The mythical great world itself would never allow such a situation. It functioned like a rigidly programmed system—intelligent, yes, but bound by its core programming.
It adhered strictly to foundational principles.
And the cycle of life and death was an absolutely critical element.
In this particular mythical great world, the central framework revolved around the Astral Realm and the Yellow Springs. These were its two most vital barriers.
Yet the greatest issue lay in this:
The Yellow Springs represented the role of the underworld but didn't actually fulfill its functions. In other words, this mythical great world lacked a cycle of life and death, as well as a proper hell.
At first glance, this might seem fine—it could develop gradually.
But!
If, at this point, the Lord of the Underworld were to arrive, establish a brand-new hell, and…
Then what?
At that moment, Hades would no longer be seen as an invader but rather as a collaborator. This was indisputable for the mythical great world.
Hades' status would equal that of the world itself, making them partners of the same rank.
In such a scenario…
Control would be impossible. However! If Hades perfected the cycle of life and death, fully establishing it, then what would happen?
It was self-evident.
The mythical great world would have no choice but to cooperate with Hades, the Lord of Hell. There would be no other option! It would be forced to collaborate.
Once collaboration was established…
Well then!
The situation would become highly advantageous for Hades. He would no longer be just an outsider—he'd become one of the primary stakeholders in this mythical great world.
From that point on…
As long as humans were left untouched and the world's stability maintained, all other resources would essentially be free for the taking.
It was as though a mother brought home a new husband who then bullied all her children, as long as he left her favorite child alone. This was precisely the situation.
This prospect was what had Eris so thrilled.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"The Crystal Wall Gate must be stabilized here."
"Wait… no…"
"It must first be confirmed and reported back to His Majesty before permanently anchoring the Crystal Wall Gate here."
"But!"
"We need to move faster."
Eris was so excited that she was practically bouncing. For someone as cold and ruthless as this goddess to act this way, it was clear just how much this discovery meant to her.
Eris' excitement was undeniable. Moreover, for her, this opportunity was critically important.
What was most striking, though, was this:
This mythical great world lacked any Ancient God that aligned with the Yellow Springs or hell.
So…
Eris was even more exhilarated.
This meant the title of Lord of Hell didn't suit her, and even if she took the position of Lord of the Netherworld, it wouldn't be a perfect fit.
But!
As Eris gazed at the Yellow Springs before her, her grin grew wider. If her plan succeeded and she executed it flawlessly, wouldn't becoming an Ancient God be guaranteed?
As for whether her lord would agree to this…
Uh…
Eris hadn't even considered the possibility that her lord might refuse.
For Hades, external matters were of no concern. As long as the underworld wasn't harmed, he didn't care what others pursued. Any material stored in the Magic Star could be freely taken by any underworld deity who found it useful.
For Hades, these things simply didn't matter. He was indifferent to such trivialities.
Indeed, Hades had always been this way. Any improvements among the underworld deities or the Specters were welcomed.
As long as the underworld remained unharmed, Hades had no qualms about anything.
This was precisely why the underworld deities worked so hard—there was no greedy overlord skimming off their efforts. Their lord was genuinely hands-off.
If you found a way to become an Ancient God, great! Even if you aspired to become an Absolute God, Hades wouldn't mind.
Why?
Because if you became an Absolute God, Hades could also ascend to that level through the feedback of divine power—and he'd still be stronger than you.
So, for Hades, what was there to worry about? What was there to guard against?
In his eyes, these concerns were meaningless.
This was precisely why Eris was so elated.
She had found something truly extraordinary.
Now!
She had a real chance to step into the ranks of the Ancient Gods.
Aether and Baal were pursuing their own advancements, and while Eris didn't know the specifics, she could guess the general direction.
If they succeeded, becoming Ancient Gods would be a certainty.
As for Eris, she couldn't afford to fall behind. She had to work hard to strengthen herself.
That was just her nature.
Having made all the necessary preparations, Eris was ready to report back to Hades.
…
Underworld: Elysium.
Hestia had already returned to continue her work through the night.
Well…
To put it plainly, Hestia wasn't merely staying up late—she had completely abandoned sleep and rest.
Granted!
For a deity, this was hardly a necessity.
Still!
For someone like Hestia to forsake rest so entirely was rare indeed.
Currently, only Hades and Persephone remained in Elysium.
"Ahh…"
Persephone sighed with a hint of nostalgia. "Life here has grown so peaceful. It's incredible how much the underworld has changed over time!"
"Is that a bad thing?"
Hades asked calmly, curious about her perspective.
"No…"
Persephone smiled warmly. "My lord, it's not bad at all. I'm just amazed. Over time, the underworld has truly transformed."
"In the past…"
"The underworld seemed calm, but in reality, it was a whirlwind of activity every day."
"Now…"
"The underworld has settled into genuine peace. Each deity has their own responsibilities, and though their tasks vary in importance, the chaos is gone."
"The underworld is finally on the right track."
Hades nodded silently, sharing her sentiment.
Indeed!
Without him even noticing, the underworld had reached this milestone. What was once urgent had now calmed.
Today…
The underworld required no haste. Its plans could proceed steadily, step by step.
It was remarkable!
The underworld had undergone a complete transformation.
At the very least.
Hades himself had gone from being a struggling lord of the dead to standing firm against even a mythical great world without faltering.
Now, the underworld was only missing one final piece.
The Lord of the Netherworld.
Once this figure emerged, the underworld would transition into its next phase.
Hades would ascend to the level of Creator God, aiming for Absolute God.
At that point!
The underworld would have reached its pinnacle.
"I wonder…"
"How is Eris faring in her exploration of that mythical great world?"
Persephone suddenly thought of Eris, her mind turning to their plans.
Clearly!
Eris' progress was crucial for the underworld's future.
If…
If Eris succeeded, the rewards would be immense—staggeringly so.
Hades replied calmly, "You need not worry about Eris. With her abilities and divine power, resolving the challenges will be a matter of course."
In Hades' eyes, Eris was exceptional.
Her abilities, her divine power.
All of it!
Eris was unparalleled. No other underworld deity could rival her.
Because of this.
Hades had entrusted her with exploring the new mythical great world.
The reasoning was simple.
Eris was the best choice for the task.
…
Their conversation abruptly ended as both Hades and Persephone sensed something.
"My lord? What is it?"
Persephone asked, gripping her staff tightly. Had something happened?
"A small world once home to four Specters."
"Their world has been completely overtaken by a Dark God."
"The corruption has nearly reached its peak."
"Now…"
"That small world is on the verge of being devoured."
Hades explained the situation.
"Oh?"
Persephone frowned slightly. She was aware of this issue.
However!
She hadn't expected it to escalate so quickly. Even for a Dark God, corrupting a small world shouldn't happen this fast.
After all!
While destroying and consuming a small world provided some benefits, the gains were much greater when the corruption was done gradually.
This was akin to preparing a delicacy. Eating it raw might suffice, but proper preparation brought out its best flavors.
Yet!
In the blink of an eye, Hades vanished.
"Really now…"
Persephone shook her head with a wry smile.
"It's just a small world. Letting it go would've been fine, but of course, my lord had to intervene. Then again, that's just who he is."
Persephone smiled softly.
This was Hades. No matter who it was or what it was, if anyone dared target what was his, it would never be allowed!
------------------
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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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