Boros stepped into the heavens.
Meanwhile, Uranus quietly observed everything, his deep eyes filled with thought as he murmured, "Boros, will you succeed?"
"Forget it."
"It doesn't matter."
Shaking his head, Uranus muttered, "If you succeed, then I can entrust everything to you. This mythological world has already undergone tremendous changes."
"Perhaps."
"This is the only chance."
"You must succeed."
"If you do, it will mean I have no opportunities left."
"But if…"
"If you fail…"
"Then…"
"That will be my chance."
Uranus' voice was faint, barely audible. With his last words, his shadow vanished completely.
At that moment, Uranus had made his decision. Whether it ended in failure or success, he was ready. He refused to remain trapped like this any longer.
For gods, pride is absolute.
Gods, by nature, are lofty beings, unwilling to be bound forever. They yearn to go further, to ascend to greater heights.
Uranus, however, was eternally confined to the heavens.
This was a fate he could no longer tolerate.
No matter what.
Uranus was determined not to endure this any longer. Whether it ended here or he broke free, he would not shy away from death. In this age of heroes drawing to a close, as the mythological world moved toward stability, Uranus recognized this as his sole chance.
If he missed it, the outcome would be sealed forever.
For this reason, Uranus refused to let the opportunity slip away. He had to break free from his prison. Success or death—either was preferable to eternal imprisonment.
This was his resolve, the path he chose to take.
Boros was already preparing for the future.
The result?
No one knew. But Boros had no choice but to keep forging ahead, success or failure. Even if it meant facing death, he understood that retreat was not an option.
This was destiny.
Gods refuse to be shackled. Thus, they march on.
For Boros, there was no other way.
To take the final step, one must have the courage to face death. Boros possessed that courage. In truth, every god had such courage.
When an opportunity arises, it must be seized.
Otherwise, the only outcome is failure.
As the culmination of Zeus, Abel, and Apollo, Boros resolved to forge ahead no matter the outcome.
This was the inevitable result.
...
In the Earth's Core.
Athena, holding the Staff of the Earth, stepped into the core.
At the same time, Gaia emerged from the temple within the Earth's Core. Seeing Athena, her gaze was tinged with emotion. "Athena, as I expected. You've come here at this moment. After all these years, all your efforts—it seems you, too, plan to proceed forward during this opportunity."
Athena's voice was soft. "Earth Goddess, I have no choice. Forever remaining a puppet, or simply wandering this world endlessly…"
"The future…"
"Sigh."
Athena sighed faintly. "It's a matter of no alternatives."
If she failed.
Compared to Poseidon or Boros, Athena's fate would be even worse. She would forever be bound to humanity. Though appearing to be an independent entity, she would merely be a vassal of mankind.
Such a future.
Athena could never accept that. She was a supreme god-king.
As a god-king.
Could Athena accept such a fate?
Impossible.
"I understand," Gaia said with a nod. Her tone was gentle. "Every god walks the path to transcend destiny. That is the essence of divinity. All gods have a predetermined fate, and breaking free requires shattering that destiny."
"Uranus."
"Kronos."
"Hades, Poseidon, Zeus."
"Athena, Abel."
"Since the birth of this mythological world, seven god-kings have emerged. As for Typhon…" Gaia thought of her final, ambitious child and shook her head calmly. "He doesn't matter."
"So."
"In this context, Uranus failed. Zeus and Abel also failed. They merged with Apollo to form a new god-king—Boros."
"In a way."
"This is the uniqueness of the Greek pantheon."
"With the disappearance of Zeus, Abel, and Boros, the number of god-kings has dwindled."
"One might say."
"Athena, you should know that your greatest obstacle is not others but Boros. Boros is no longer the third-generation god-king; he is truly the fourth-generation god-king."
"For every generation of god-kings, only one can transcend."
"Kronos and Hades have already claimed two spots."
"Now."
"From a theoretical standpoint, only two spots remain."
"Uranus, Poseidon, Boros, and you."
"You are all vying for the last two positions."
Gaia's words were startling, revealing a truth that most gods couldn't even fathom.
"…"
Athena fell into complete silence, unsure how to respond. Her gaze was deep, reflecting her struggle to process this revelation.
Gaia, however, didn't allow Athena to dwell further. She continued calmly, "Uranus and Boros have both entered the heavens."
"If Boros succeeds, he will claim one position."
"If he fails, that position will belong to Uranus."
"When the Absolute God of Chaos created this mythological world, four opportunities were granted."
"Now."
"Those four opportunities are in play. One will go to either Uranus or Boros. As for the remainder, what will become of you and Poseidon?"
Gaia's voice sounded like a soliloquy, yet it was clearly directed at Athena.
"…"
Athena's silence grew heavier.
At this moment.
It was as though her world had collapsed.
No jest.
Athena truly felt an overwhelming despair. This wasn't hyperbole. In this mythological world, everything was predetermined.
Even the so-called opportunities were merely allocations left by the Absolute God.
Only four spots.
"Yes."
Gaia's voice carried a hint of mockery as she continued, self-deprecating, "Only four spots. Just four. This is the Father God's mercy, but also the last mercy. Even I am not included among the final four."
"Hmph."
Gaia snorted coldly before shaking her head. "There's no need to say more. In essence, it's meaningless. Athena, whatever you intend, whether you succeed or not, I cannot say. But since you've come this far, just keep moving forward."
Gaia gazed deeply at Athena as if she had much more to say, but in the end, she said nothing.
In an instant.
Gaia vanished.
Athena exhaled deeply, gazing at the shifting Earth's Core before stepping deeper into the temple. She understood she had no choice but to continue forward.
...
In the Underworld.
Hades sat on his throne. Although he had not left the Underworld, he could easily perceive the chaos of the mythological world using his divine power.
"Brother, what's happening?"
"The outcome."
"It will soon be clear."
Hestia asked curiously. Hades explained, "When the mythological world was created, the Absolute God of Chaos left four spots. I and Father claimed two."
"This was the Absolute God's mercy."
"But…"
Hades did not elaborate further. It was unnecessary. Words wouldn't change anything.
"I see…"
Hestia blinked. She didn't care much about the details, only shaking her head in amazement. "So, everything is predestined. Even this so-called path was planned long ago."
"Indeed."
Persephone added with a sigh, "Everything is predetermined. That's the most despairing part."
Hades had long known this truth.
For him.
It made no difference. As someone who had already transcended, he understood the hierarchy between the strong and the weak. The Absolute God had no obligation to consult anyone.
Thus, Hades never dwelled on it.
"Then…"
Hestia asked curiously, "Who will succeed? Athena, Boros, or Poseidon?"
"Brother, do you have a guess?"
Hades thought for a moment and said calmly, "Poseidon's outcome is uncertain. He has harnessed the power of the Outer Gods and is no longer a true part of this mythological world. In essence, he has stepped beyond the Absolute God's control due to his nature as an Outer God."
As for Boros and Athena.
"Perhaps."
"All their efforts, everything…"
"Will ultimately amount to nothing but bubbles."
"Perhaps success is theirs, or perhaps it never belonged to them at all."
Hades' voice was soft yet cryptic, leaving an air of mystery.
With that, he said no more.
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