Perhaps it was Shendu's wicked sense of humor, or perhaps he was simply feeling playful.
Using the power of the Monkey Talisman, he transformed the Netherworld warriors of the Fifth Parallel Universe into a legion of hamsters.
Even Logan, standing guard at the main hall of the Netherworld, failed to escape the potency of this "transfiguration."
The unusual disturbances outside likewise drew the attention of Hades within the darkness.
Then, something happened that completely defied Shendu's expectations.
In the center of the Netherworld hall.
The Netherworld Key began to vibrate slowly, wisps of dark hetero-energy dissipating outward before finally materializing into a humanoid figure clad in pitch-black armor, resting steadily upon the throne at the center of the hall.
Several ghost fires ignited. Above the throne, the light of the clock symbolizing the countdown to resurrection was being gradually swallowed by the encroaching shadows.
Hades.
He had emerged from the Netherworld Key.
His presence enshrouded the Earth of the Fifth Parallel Universe.
Seated upon his throne, Hades took in the scene before him at a single glance.
A trace of bewilderment flashed within the body still being constructed from hetero-energy.
With a long sigh, he directed his gaze toward the glaring source of hetero-energy lingering just outside the hall. "You finally came after all."
His voice pierced the veil of the Netherworld's gravitational pull, ringing clearly in Shendu's ears.
The Fifth Parallel Universe was unlike any other; it was enveloped by a gravitational force ten times stronger than that of any ordinary world.
Unless they were warriors recognized by the Netherworld, mere mortals would be crushed into dust the moment they stepped foot here.
Yet this gravitational pull had zero effect on either Shendu or Zoran.
The essence of a Nebula Body was more than enough to allow one to traverse any universe at will.
Of course, for Zoran, even without the passive protection of a Nebula Body to shield against external forces, a mere tenfold gravity was far too insignificant.
This was his comfort zone.
"Oh?" Shendu looked out toward the Netherworld hall.
Hades had advanced the schedule of his own resurrection, a development that brought Shendu joy rather than surprise.
"It seems you couldn't wait either, did you?" Shendu conversed with Hades across the barrier of gravity.
"I was meant to awaken at this very moment. Of the seven days linked to the hundred-thousand-year reincarnation cycle, one day was originally set aside as preparation, preparation for conquering the other parallel universes..."
"Now, it seems that won't even be necessary," Hades said calmly.
His complete resurgence was supposed to mark the dawn of the Netherworld's campaign of conquest.
No other parallel universe could withstand a single blow from the Netherworld; even the First Parallel Universe, with its formidable resistance, could only hold out against the Netherworld's iron cavalry for less than three and a half hours.
War souls born from the dark abyss possessed overwhelming might.
However, the appearance of Shendu, a Nebula Body whose existence defied all calculations, changed everything.
He was a battle maniac who had chosen Hades as his opponent ahead of time.
Without defeating Shendu, no amount of reserved time would enable the Netherworld to begin its conquest of other worlds.
Shendu's gaze crossed the gravity-isolating veil within the hall, locking eyes with Hades upon the throne.
At present, Hades' body had not yet regained its physical form.
Hades gazed back at Shendu until his eyes shifted slightly, inadvertently landing on Zoran standing beside him.
Hades paused.
The faint aura emanating from Zoran was something he felt he had encountered somewhere before.
"When was that?" Hades murmured to himself.
He did not fear that Shendu had come to obstruct the final stages of his resurrection; true power disdained such petty disruptions.
Yet, Zoran...
Hades' gaze suddenly sharpened.
He remembered. Though he had never crossed paths with this presence directly, he had suffered a setback at this very person's hands once before!
One hundred thousand years ago!
"Two Nebula Bodies? Hahaha." Hades suddenly burst into laughter. "To think my resurrection would attract the attention of so many powerhouses..."
He clenched his fists, causing his armor to emit a tight, creaking sound.
"To greet such distant guests is truly an honor," Hades sighed, though his tone betrayed not a shred of retreat.
In a sense, viewed as a villain by some, Hades was never one of those traditional, underhanded villains.
On the contrary, he walked a righteous and upright path.
Regarded as a powerhouse in his own right and serving as the supreme superior of the Four Guardians, his conviction was by no means weaker than that of his subordinates.
Baseness was a word that had nothing to do with him.
The clock representing his resurrection was slowly eroded by the darkness, and Hades' physical form had completely materialized from the chest down.
He extended a palm toward the exterior of the hall; the great doors rumbled open, and the barrier dissipated entirely.
With an open palm, he calmly invited: "Since you are here, why not step inside for a chat?"
Even at his most vulnerable moment, facing two Nebula Bodies, Hades appeared unhurried and composed.
Two figures flashed, appearing openly within the interior of the Netherworld hall.
Hades raised a hand slightly, causing two black stone thrones to rise in tandem.
"Please," he said leisurely.
Shendu seated himself brazenly, leaning his massive, menacing form back against the throne with absolute ease.
Zoran, meanwhile, flicked his wrist, shattering his throne back into rubble. With a light chuckle, he hovered into the air beside Shendu.
Watching this, Hades couldn't help but feel that the contrasting styles of these two Nebula Bodies, Shendu and Zoran, were vividly on display through their seating choices.
It truly was fascinating that two individuals with such vastly different personalities could walk and travel together in such tacit harmony.
"The two of you will have to wait for me just a moment longer," Hades said calmly.
"No rush, just a brief wait," Shendu replied with a wave of his hand, his gaze fixed on Hades with a fighting spirit that made no attempt at concealment.
Yet, at this very moment, a bizarre sense of harmony hung between the three of them.
It was as if they had never been adversaries, as if they were merely guests visiting the Netherworld, and as if they had no intention of engaging in a fierce battle shortly.
"For two Nebula Bodies to coexist so harmoniously... it truly opens my eyes," Hades said slowly, as if recalling something.
"The world bustles with activity, all for the sake of profit; even those who stand at the pinnacle are inevitably bound by attachments and shackled by chains, never truly masters of themselves."
Whether he was probing the relationship between Zoran and Shendu or simply expressing a sudden philosophical musing, it was difficult to tell.
Shendu draped his leg lazily over the armrest of the throne. Compared to Zoran, he appeared far more unbridled and untamed, while the aura of a supreme monarch radiating from him was all the more intense.
Having rediscovered his true self earlier, his conduct and demeanor now heavily mirrored the reckless youth of his past.
Demons possessed no limits on their lifespan; time held little to no meaning for them, and the only thing that could truly influence them was their own state of mind.
"I have fought endlessly against Snow Emperor for over a hundred thousand years. As powerhouses ourselves, seeing such subtle harmony between the two of you is truly astonishing," Hades sighed.
"Is it that strange?" Shendu's gaze swept past Hades and landed once more on Zoran.
He knew nothing whatsoever of this "Hades" or "Snow Emperor."
His purpose had been utterly pure from the very beginning. Unlike Zoran, he was not someone who enjoyed reasoning with others.
To put it bluntly, he couldn't be bothered to lecture anyone.
Thus, he completely glossed over the deeper implications behind Hades' philosophical musings.
He only caught the gist of a single question:
Why were he and Zoran on such good terms?
Shendu suddenly broke into a wide grin.
————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]