#623[Thousand Faces Soul Eater]AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 621 [Thousand-Faced Soul Eater]
"Who is he?"
In the Underworld, Heracles watched the grey feathers dissipate into the air.
God of Sleep' sneak attack was within his expectations, but if not for Ender's help,
even if he realized the other party's intentions, he wouldn't have been able to resist at all.
After all, in the original timeline, God of Sleep, who had not personally wielded the Authority of Dream, but had instead scattered it among the three thousand Dream Daimons, was still able to ambush Zeus with Hera's assistance. The Great Hero naturally wouldn't be an exception.
However, since the other party had already left, he needed to know the origin of this god.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is an existence from Hell."
Ender slowly spoke, offering his opinion.
"You don't need to pay too much attention to him. He doesn't dare to stay in the mortal world for long—did you notice the mark he took?"
"Are you referring to that lightning-shaped God King's Mark?"
"Yes."
Nodding slightly, the puppet smiled.
"That's not something that 'contains the power of Zeus's strike.' How could the power of Great Divine Power be carried by just a mark?"
"In this world, there aren't many materials that can achieve this. That's definitely not something the God King could create casually."
"In fact, that's a marker, a trigger. That's why Zeus confidently allowed Hellhound Cerberus to wait for a rabbit by a stump."
"Because even if Hellhound Cerberus couldn't actively activate this mark, once the aura locked onto by the mark appeared within range, it could still passively trigger the God King's sensing, thereby allowing him to descend his power."
"But now..."
It wasn't very certain, but according to the prayers of Ender's Bardfollower who traveled the continent, something major seemed to have happened on Mount Olympus.
So, in this situation, if Hellhound Cerberus didn't actively trigger the mark and cause a reaction from royal authority and order, then it wouldn't change anything.
"I understand. Without knowing when the God King can refocus on this situation, as long as he carries this mark, he must leave the present world as soon as possible and return to the abyss..."
With a sudden realization, Heracles temporarily put the matter out of his mind.
He glanced at the sleeping three-headed dog and ultimately did nothing.
Although Hellhound Cerberus objectively stood in his way, there was no enmity between them.
Even if he thought it might want to seize the relics of Typhon's offspring on him, that was still only a 'possibility.'
Without the God King's Mark, Hellhound Cerberus no longer posed such a powerful threat.
Friend or foe, the Great Hero decided to let the other party decide in the future.
"So carefree? Don't you want its power?"
In a good mood, Ender asked casually.
"At least, I'm genuinely not interested in power obtained this way."
Shaking his head slightly, Heracles looked beyond the Underworld Gate.
To his surprise, the Black Knight and the ferryman of the River Acheron, who were rumored to guard this place and keep watch for the Underworld King day and night, were not here.
Only a long river surged endlessly, like the painful wails of living beings.
"Don't worry about why they're not here. Just go straight through."
"In fact, you still have an enemy to face."
"Enemy?"
"Yes, an enemy."
Nodding slowly, Ender spoke the name.
"Ancient Evil, Thousand-Faced Soul Eater." (See 3.168)
"To successfully cross the River of Forgetfulness, it is one of the challenges you cannot bypass."
...
The Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, an Ancient Evil that emerged during the Typhon Disaster.
It was formed by the convergence of countless billions of souls, sustained by the power descended by the Blood and Flesh Great Mother, and even defiled a small tributary of the River of Forgetfulness.
However, not long after that great catastrophe passed, a god from the Spirit World personally intervened, using the cyclical, all-eroding power of the Well of Reincarnation to cleanse the pollution.
But while they could dispel the Ancient Evil's pollution, they failed to capture the Ancient Evil itself.
Unlike existences like the Star of Death Omen, which have a fixed body and intentionally seek death, the Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, formed by the convergence and sublimation of countless souls, has no main body.
Or rather, the strongest soul body that constitutes it is the main body, but this main body is not indispensable.
Every moment, billions of evil spirits fight, roar, devour each other, and spread pollution within its body.
The pursuit of external souls is its instinct, and chaotic intent is its nature.
Even after being defeated many times by the Spirit World, it always manages to survive in some way, then gradually regain powerful strength.
And whenever it regains strength, it will once again spontaneously impact the place where souls gather most abundantly and powerfully—the River of Forgetfulness.
And judging by the time, since its last defeat, its power is about to reach another peak...
Buzz—
"Damn it—what is this thing!"
Nine-Ring Witchcraft: Otherworld Teleportation!
Space fluctuated for a moment, a pale silver light flashed, forming a small portal.
Stepping out, bathed in the light of the Nether Moon, Jordano's face was extremely grim.
Behind him, the silver-white portal trembled slightly, and some chaotic hissing sounds that reached deep into the soul emanated from within.
Ever since that day, 'he' completed the plan he had meticulously cultivated for many years, capturing the Goddess of Youth and her divine artifact, 'Jordano' directly came to the Underworld.
Here, he had once dealt with the Dark Elves and had extracted dragon blood for research to explore the mysteries of Life.
In his plan, this was to be his new base to evade the gods' pursuit and peacefully acquire eternal Life and power... Who would have thought that it would end before it even began?
Here, 'Jordano' hadn't stayed long before he was inexplicably sought out by a terrifying existence.
It traversed between the Spirit Realm and reality, insane and evil, making it impossible for 'Jordano' to resist.
With no other option, after an unsuccessful escape, he could only reluctantly abandon his plan to stay in the underground world and temporarily seek refuge in the Underworld.
After all, through these days of contact, he had gained some understanding of this terrifying existence.
According to ancient records, this was most likely an Ancient Evil born during the Typhon Disaster.
Such an existence cannot be killed; it can only wait for it to seek its own demise... Sighing, 'Jordano' carried the bronze giant coffin and surveyed the environment of the Underworld.
He didn't know that his 'own' memories were actually full of falsehoods, and the so-called 'plan' was riddled with holes.
Even the reason he was targeted by the Ancient Evil, Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, was a pre-arranged outcome, yet 'Jordano' only believed it was his bad luck.
However, in reality, a fragmented, stitched-together soul like his was inherently the Ancient Evil's favorite delicacy, and even naturally had the potential to become one of its 'main souls.'
And once he was legitimately devoured by the Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, all clues would end there.
As a Great Wizard who had planned everything, yet ultimately died due to 'luck,' 'Jordano' would bear all the blame alone, and no one would ever be able to glimpse the truth behind it.
Under the Mother Tree's power, this soul-stitching would become incredibly rational.
Even if someone could pull it out again, they would believe it was the work of the Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, and not that someone had previously split his soul...
"Oh?"
On the vast, boundless plain, scattered white bones moved with difficulty.
'Jordano' was about to leave this place and find a hidden spot to hide.
But in the next moment, a surprised gasp quietly sounded from behind him.
Cold sweat instantly seeped from his back; all his senses told him there was no one else here.
But 'Jordano' was certain this was not his imagination.
The nearly instantaneous Seven-Ring Witchcraft: Greater Teleportation began to construct; this invisible enemy was definitely not someone he could handle.
However, before this witchcraft could be released, his consciousness gradually blurred.
Standing on the ground, 'Jordano' simply fell asleep, without the slightest resistance throughout the entire process.
'Thump—'
'Clang—'
The bronze coffin fell with him, making a sound on the ground and attracting the attention of a few skeletons.
Soul fire burned within their skulls; instinct told them that if they could hunt the Life of the fallen person, they would undergo some kind of destiny-altering metamorphosis... But in the next moment, the void rippled.
The grey-haired youth stepped out of it, casually crushing the mindless lower Life forms.
"Look what I've stumbled upon?"
"A human Great Wizard tainted with the aura of an evil entity, and a severely wounded, unconscious god?"
With a strange expression, God of Sleep hadn't expected to encounter something so interesting right after escaping his predicament.
Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, he recognized her aura.
However, this daughter of the God King and Queen of Heaven was now locked in a bronze coffin, her traces concealed by various means.
If she hadn't been right under his nose, God of Sleep admitted he might not have noticed her presence.
And such strict concealment of her aura was clearly to deal with the God Court's investigation.
Taking a step forward, God of Sleep wanted to do something.
Since he had encountered her, there was no reason to give up. If he could bring the Goddess of Youth back to Hell, that would be a great merit, wouldn't it... However, God of Sleep's expression changed slightly, and he abruptly stopped.
On his body, the mark he had taken earlier was glowing brightly.
Ender's judgment was not entirely accurate. In fact, if it weren't for God of Sleep standing there, even if Zeus had been sealed on Olympus, he wouldn't have been able to take the mark Zeus left on Hellhound Cerberus.
But in front of God of Sleep himself, these issues were not issues.
As a god who had indeed caused Zeus to fall in his original destiny, God of Sleep had a way to make this mark fall into an alternative kind of slumber.
But the prerequisite was that nothing was stimulating it, keeping it in an active state.
...A connection from bloodline, or the residual law aura on Hebe?
He wasn't entirely sure, but God of Sleep knew it was best not to try and take the other party away.
Zeus's mark was already very dangerous; if something went wrong by accident, it wasn't something a Goddess of Youth could make up for.
"Tsk... I'll leave it to that evil entity. It seems to be coming over."
"An existence that devours living souls... Truly sinful."
A hint of disgust flashed in his eyes, and God of Sleep's heart stirred. He left the human's aura behind.
To be able to awaken from his Authority, no matter how it was done, was quite extraordinary.
Let them fight to the death; as for himself...
With a flick of his sleeve, God of Sleep swept the human away.
Although from his perspective, this human wizard's soul seemed to have some problems, it didn't matter.
There were many ways to transform into a demon; he could very well let the other party inherit memories and be born as a new individual.
After this process, similar to re-gestation, the various defects in the soul would no longer exist.
Of course, as a price, the newly born creature would have almost no substantial connection to the previous one, only possessing the same memories.
...
"So you mean, because no one can predict the evil entity's movements, and there's no guarantee it won't choose to attack while I'm taking the potion and submerging into the Underworld River."
"Therefore, the best way is to eliminate the danger in its infancy?"
Heracles propped the sky-supporting bronze pillar across the Acheron River, successfully crossing this river where the ferryman was nowhere to be found.
Unaware of what was happening in another corner of the Underworld, Heracles frowned as he listened to Ender's meaning.
"But the Underworld is so vast, and the Ancient Evil's form is elusive."
"Even without mentioning their immortal nature, I wouldn't be able to find its trace."
...That's true, but I don't have a much better solution—hmm?
In the middle of his reply, Ender's tone suddenly paused.
At the same time, as if sensing something, the Great Hero looked up, gazing at the distant grey wilderness.
At the end of his sight, something between tangible and intangible seemed to have noticed their presence.
Vaguely, he seemed to hear the wails of billions of living beings.
...Looks like I don't need to go looking for it, do I?
With a calm expression, Heracles gripped his bronze staff.
"Ancient Evil: Thousand-Faced Soul Eater..."
Even if he infiltrated the Spirit World and reached the core of the fourth layer, the Myriad Spirit Realm, the Great Hero couldn't be sure he would achieve his wish.
So before that, being able to defeat this evil entity that likes to corrupt souls in advance wouldn't be a bad idea—
—No!
His expression changed slightly, and Heracles turned his head to look in another direction.
There, another aura was slowly rising.
Like the Thousand-Faced Soul Eater, they all exuded the aura of an evil entity.
But the feeling they gave off was completely different.
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