Chapter 204: The Successor to Authority! Slay the Dragon and Start the War!
In the bustling Guild headquarters, Goddess Loki led Arthur as if entering an uninhabited realm, walking straight through the wide hall.
She ignored the respectful yet confused greetings of the staff along the way, heading directly for the internal corridor behind the counter, which was strictly off-limits.
Because their steps were too open and aboveboard, the internal staff mistakenly thought they had been granted permission by the front desk personnel and didn't intervene.
Following the red velvet carpet straight ahead, a staircase leading underground appeared before Arthur and Goddess Loki.
"Stop! Goddess Loki!"
A furious, exasperated roar exploded from behind them.
An elf, his ample flesh straining against a tightly tailored suit, was chasing them, panting, with a team of staff, blocking their path.
This elf's face was shiny with oil, a stark contrast to the usual elegant image of his race, and it was the first time Arthur had seen such a sight.
Goddess Loki, meanwhile, had a mischievous smile, like "Oh, I've been found out," as she turned around and looked him up and down.
"Chairman Royman, it's been a few days, and it seems your waistline isn't being very friendly to your suit again?"
"Now is not the time for that!"
Royman's fat face flushed red, sweat beading, as he stretched out a plump hand to block the staircase entrance.
"Goddess Loki, ahead is the Sacred Altar. Without Uranus's permission, no one is allowed inside! Please turn back!"
"Don't be so rigid."
Goddess Loki completely disregarded his warning. Instead, she took two steps forward and, with a playful smile, pinched the plumpest part of his belly.
"I truly have a matter of utmost importance to discuss with that old god. Just make an exception, just this once."
"No! Absolutely not!"
Royman gasped in pain, yet he dared not truly lay a hand on a Chief God. He could only retreat repeatedly, his face turning from red to green.
"I repeat, the Altar is…"
"No matter, Royman, let them in."
A majestic and deep voice echoed from deep underground, instantly overriding all the noise on site.
That voice seemed to carry immense power, causing the aggressive Royman to instantly wilt.
He looked at Goddess Loki with utter helplessness, then glanced at Arthur, finally lowering his head in resignation and leading the staff to clear the way to the underground staircase.
…
The staircase was deep and dark, even the light of the magic stone lamps seemed to be swallowed by the darkness, with only footsteps echoing in the dead silence.
After an unknown descent, four brightly burning torches finally came into view for Arthur and Goddess Loki.
On an altar carved with intricate patterns, a giant old god sat upon a grey stone throne, casting an indifferent gaze from the shadows of his hood.
"Speak, Loki, what do you want from me?"
Goddess Loki strode onto the altar, chuckled, and pointed at Arthur behind her.
"My family's most outstanding child, Arthur pendragon, you must have heard some rumors about him, right?"
Uranus's old face, etched with the furrows of time, showed no discernible emotion, merely allowing Arthur's figure to be reflected in his ancient, azure divine eyes.
"The Holy Sword User, renowned throughout Orario, I have been watching you."
"Fels, come out, there's no need to hide."
As his words fell, a figure cloaked in black silently stepped out from the shadows of the torches.
Fels, whose face was obscured, nodded to Goddess Loki and Arthur in turn.
"A pleasure to meet you, Goddess Loki. We meet again, Holy Sword User."
Goddess Loki's eyes flickered, clearly intrigued by this mysterious person of considerable magical power.
Arthur also nodded in return, then refocused his gaze on the ancient deity seated high on the throne.
"In short," Arthur began, his voice calm and powerful, "I need a sufficiently powerful god to guide me in controlling the power within me. Loki recommended you."
"Oh?"
A solemn and mighty voice vibrated the air, and a vast pressure, not divine power yet far surpassing it, instantly filled the entire space!
The air solidified, the torchlight flickered, and even the hard stone walls seemed to groan.
This power was enough to make any mortal instantly prostrate themselves, their consciousness collapsing.
However, those present were all extraordinary.
Fels, cloaked in his mysterious robe, swayed gently like a phantom, effortlessly shedding the pressure.
Goddess Loki, with crimson divine power flowing around her, still leaned against the edge of the divine throne with a relaxed expression.
And Arthur, with strands of pale light swirling around his body, stood firm as a rock, enduring the god's test head-on.
Uranus's knuckles, resting on the armrests, suddenly tightened.
On that statue-like face, which had remained unchanged for millennia, an expression of uncontrollable shock and emotion appeared for the first time.
"A thousand years… I never imagined that a mortal could truly stand shoulder to shoulder with us through his own strength."
Fels sharply turned his head, his gaze from beneath the cloak fixed intently on the calm and collected Arthur.
Goddess Loki, meanwhile, patted the divine throne with a triumphant look, speaking bluntly.
"You can ask this kid for the details later. The most important thing right now is to help him sort out that overflowing authority as soon as possible."
"I know you never interfere with the outside world, so name your terms of exchange…"
"I can."
Goddess Loki's incessant chatter was abruptly cut off by these two words. She looked up at the old god, whose composure was like an ancient well, with utter astonishment.
Uranus's lips slowly curved into an extremely stiff smile—it seemed to be his first in a thousand years.
He made a promise to Arthur, who also looked puzzled.
"As fellow holders of the Authority of the Celestial God, I am pleased to teach you how to master it."
"But in exchange, you must also promise me one condition."
Goddess Loki clicked her tongue, leaving the decision to Arthur.
Arthur pondered for a moment, then met Uranus's expectant gaze, asking in return.
"What do you need me to do?"
Uranus calmly shook his head: "Not you, but all of you."
"This year, too many wondrous things have happened."
"So much so that even I, who have long resided underground, can't help but begin to hope… for that distant peace."
"You… peace…"
Goddess Loki seemed to realize something and slapped her thigh.
"The Three Great Adventurer Quests!?"
"Are you senile, old man? Divine power can't deal with that damned Black Dragon!"
Uranus did not reply; this was indeed just his conjecture, a gamble.
Arthur, meanwhile, lowered his eyes, information about the Three Great Quests flashing rapidly through his mind.
Behemoth, the King of the Land, and Leviathan, the Ruler of the Sea, had both been vanquished by heroes in the annals of history.
Only the final calamity, the apex of the sky, the Black One-Eyed Dragon King, remained a sword hanging over the world.
All of Orario, the hope of all humanity, rested on the emergence of a hero who would defeat the Black Dragon and usher in true peace.
After an unknown period, Arthur's scattered thoughts returned. He looked up and responded in a deep voice.
"I haven't seen that Black Dragon, so I cannot determine if my authority is effective against it."
"But I can promise you, that beast will ultimately die by my sword!"
The majestic God looked down at the spirited Child of the Stars, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease, and even, for the first time, made a joke.
"Just a heads-up, I cannot leave the Altar, so you'll have to be a day student. Is that alright?"
Arthur chuckled and nodded: "Then, from now on, I will rely on your guidance, Teacher Uranus."