The sea of Pontonoris is full of a thousand colors. Compared with the last time Zeus came, this ancient palace of Poseidon has been completely renovated.
The sea reflects the color of the sky, colorful corals grow on the seabed, and fish of all colors swim among them. Creatures with sacred bloodline thrive here, and they use their own magic to show the extraordinaryness of this place.
Because of the gathering of the gods, thunderclouds and strong winds rose and fell over the sea, flowers grew in the air, and petals fell, bringing bursts of fragrance. In the ocean, huge seashells opened their shells, and star-like pearls shone brightly.
All this was prepared for both parties of the wedding, but when the King of Gods stepped down from the golden chariot, he discovered, as expected, that the sea nymph Thetis was not sitting in the main seat.
"It seems that she also knows that this wedding is definitely not held for her, but she probably only thinks that the protagonists are me and her father..."
The thought flashed through his mind, and Zeus walked into the palace surrounded by a group of nymphs.
It was a pity for him - the reason why the God King knew about the prophecy of Thetis was not because of divine inspiration and he suddenly went to Mount Nyssa to ask for advice. In fact, he first fell in love with this beautiful sea nymph, and then sought the guidance of fate. After all, one accident was enough.
As for the result... Obviously, just as he worried, it was another Metis, so Zeus decisively gave up on her. Just like he never approached Aphrodite, the God King might not care about the status issue, just as he never showed mercy to his granddaughter. But for some people, he always kept a distance.
In the huge temple, Zeus walked into the main hall surrounded by a group of nymphs. The gods who had arrived earlier were already toasting, drinking and chatting.
Seeing the king of gods entering the temple, the gods came forward to greet him, and Zeus laughed in response. He sat on the golden throne prepared for him, and then talked and laughed in a low voice with Hera beside him.
Compared to before, the Queen looked much better, and this wedding with all the gods also made her feel good. Therefore, Hera rarely took the initiative to pour a glass of wine for Zeus, which surprised the king of gods.
Perhaps it was because he had too many illegitimate children over the years, and Hera hadn't been kind to him for a long time.
Time passed minute by minute until Apollo, who was on duty, arrived, and almost all the gods who were willing to attend the banquet were present.
The heavy palace door slowly closed with a loud noise. All the gods realized that the wedding was about to begin, and they also turned their eyes to the King of Gods and the Sea God Nereus, waiting for their speeches.
This wedding can't really be just a wedding... Just like Poseidon, who was looking at the leader with a gloomy face at the moment, and occasionally glanced at his queen Amphitrite.
However, this sea nymph, who was also the daughter of Nereus, seemed to be unaware of what was happening. She just shuttled among her former sisters, showing off her current life to them.
There were no true gods among Nereus' children, so Amphitrite was the one with the highest status among them.
"Let's get started, Hera. You are the guardian of the marriage, so it should be you who presides over it."
Without standing up, Zeus signaled to Hera in front of the gods.
"I?"
Somewhat surprised, Hera looked at Zeus, but she only got a look of affirmation in return.
The King of Gods had no intention of saying anything. His focus was never on this wedding. In comparison, even that grand event in the mortal world was more worthy of his attention.
Zeus was not sure whether everything would go smoothly. After all, there were always unexpected events. Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance.
"All right."
Nodding in agreement, Hera slowly stood up from her seat.
If Zeus didn't want to say it, then he didn't have to. She didn't really understand what this sudden wedding was about. But there was nothing wrong with the Queen of Heaven giving a speech on behalf of the King of Gods, so Hera straightened her expression and spoke in a calm and confident tone.
"Everyone."
The golden crown swayed, and the Queen looked at the 'protagonist' of the wedding who was pushed to the corner.
"Today, at the invitation of the King of Gods..."
"…"
Squeak——
After a while, the door that was originally closed suddenly opened, and Hera's speech was interrupted.
The gods looked over and immediately recognized the person. She was the wedding guest, another little-known daughter of Nereus.
Some of the gods were about to rebuke, but the next moment, they fell silent.
Because everyone saw the familiar yet unfamiliar golden fruit.
······
Walking hurriedly in the palace, Oniké held a silver tray in his hand.
There was no wine glass, only a treasure on the tray that exuded a fragrance and radiated a dazzling brilliance. Even if he just smelled it, Oniké could feel the power in his body surging and even growing slightly.
This is not an illusion. Compared with the true gods, they actually do not have the so-called "upper limit of divine power", because the regional gods without priesthood and authority can only approach the lower limit of the true gods infinitely, but cannot reach it.
There are exceptions, but Onik is not one of them. Feeling the power surging in her body, she was once again shocked by the power of this legendary divine object.
Treasures that increase divine power, even just a little bit, are extremely terrifying. In comparison, the so-called "golden apple tree" planted by Queen Hera from a branch is like a crude fake. Even though Onikki has never eaten it, he can feel the gap between the two.
But at this moment, as she dragged the silver plate, she felt no joy in her heart.
As the sons of the ancient sea god, the fifty sea nymphs born to Nereus, the gentle sea god, and Doris, the ocean nymph, are collectively called the Nereids sisters. Although they are not true gods, most of them are familiar with the affairs of the Olympian gods through what they have seen and heard.
So just now, when the uninvited goddess of discord Eris took out the golden apple in front of her, Ounice was still very excited, but when she saw the line of black words on it, all her joy turned into horror.
[Dedicated to the most beautiful goddess]
This was a gift from Eris, a congratulation to the host of the wedding, so it should have been a gift to Eunice's sister Thetis.
But there is no need to think about it, Ounice doesn't think his sister deserves the title of "the most beautiful goddess" at all.
She tried to refuse the gift, but Eris did not give her the chance, and when she was forced to take the apple, she had to give it away unless Eunice kept it for herself.
"But staying is impossible... Compared to Thetis, I dare not call myself the most beautiful goddess."
After gritting his teeth, Ounice felt that the situation was not good.
If this was just an ordinary wedding banquet, a wedding held by their Ocean God family, it would not be a big deal to receive such a gift, but now all the gods are here, even those hidden gods are here.
With her thoughts in disarray, Ouni continued to walk forward. At one point, she was even a little glad that she was the one receiving the gift.
Just as there are always a few kings and descendants of gods with abnormal thinking among mortals, Ounice has no doubt that if some of her sisters got this gift, they would probably take it for themselves, and even really think that they are the most beautiful goddess from then on.
Tap tap tap——
Footsteps echoed in the corridor, and the door was right in front of him. Ounice took a deep breath and gently pushed open the heavy door.
Following a friction sound, the door slowly opened.
"...Here, I will witness this sacred marriage and give eternal blessings to both parties. I wish -"
The Queen's speech was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Hundreds of eyes were focused on Ounice, bringing pressure like a mountain.
The sea fairy was speechless for a moment, until she saw the God-King on the golden throne wave his hand, and then the huge oppression suddenly dissipated.
"Daughter of Nereus, why have you come here to interrupt the wedding process?"
Not far from the side of the God King, the wind god Zephyros spoke loudly, and Onik immediately raised the silver plate.
Under the gaze of the gods, the golden apple is so conspicuous and eye-catching.
"Your Majesty, dear guests, just now, Her Highness Eris from the underworld brought this gift."
Taking a step forward and placing the tray of golden apples on the table, Ounice felt as if he had relaxed a lot.
"I sent a gift...but where is she?"
A spirit asked, and Ounice explained truthfully.
"Her Highness Eris said that she did not receive an invitation from the God King... so she left after putting down her gift."
There was a moment of awkwardness, and even the goddess of fire blushed. The discord between the goddess and Hestia was secondary, but Hestia did not think of her brother who was far away in the underworld.
"Ahem, then you can keep the things... Moanda, is this the golden apple you gave to Eris?"
Hestia coughed lightly, and seeing Oenike's nervousness, she signaled that she could leave. She changed the subject casually, but the goddess of life said that she had never left a golden apple for the gods of the underworld.
"Perhaps it was given by the Earth Mother to her two younger brothers and sisters. Although it has never been acknowledged, it is said that the true gods born in the netherworld are indeed related to the two original gods."
Some gods guessed this, and this idea was quickly recognized. However, while speaking, Hestia suddenly noticed that the sea nymph had not left here yet.
"Is there anything else you want?" she asked, and the next moment, Hestia regretted it.
Because of the gaze of the gods, Oenike hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward and turned the tray.
The other side of the golden apple was then revealed to the gods... along with a line of words.
[Dedicated to the most beautiful goddess]
There was silence for a moment, and Ounice quietly left the palace, but no one cared about her now.
A golden apple does not represent anything, and a golden apple with words engraved on it cannot prove anything. If it appears in other places, at other times, or in an environment where only some gods are present, it is just an ordinary apple.
Even if this was a treasure made by a goddess for herself, it would even become a laughing stock. The value of a trophy was never determined by the trophy itself, but by its audience. Unfortunately, this wedding brought together more than 90% of the important "audience" in the world of the original gods Chaos.
Getting the golden apple with the words "Dedicated to the Most Beautiful Goddess" engraved on it does not prove that you are the most beautiful. But if you get it under the witness of almost all the gods in Chaos, then this concept can really become true.
The first generation of Titans knew that, long ago, the Lord of the Spirit World had used this to obtain [Time], and the current gods also knew how Zephyrus, the God of the West Wind, gradually became the leader of the four wind gods and exercised some of the authority left by the God of Weather in the world.
For women, whether true beauty comes from character, marriage, strength, wisdom, appearance or talent, this has never been determined before, and goddesses have often argued over this. But when the Chaos gods choose a winner together, the authority she represents can truly serve as a better interpretation of beauty.
Even from this extension... If you can make other gods related to "beauty" gather around you, will you be able to break the limits of true gods like the complete ocean, the unified sun and light, or the current God King?
No one knows, and everyone is speculating on this point. After all, the God King of all generations is the only known existence that was not born at the beginning of creation, but can still break the upper limit of true gods. Moreover, even if you get the interpretation of "beauty", it does not mean that you can conquer other goddesses. This is much more difficult than selecting "beauty".
But no matter what, although there are many problems, this is a possibility after all, and with the endless life of the gods, even the smallest possibility has a chance of realization.
Bang!
In the quiet palace, Hestia suddenly took action. A blazing flame suddenly ignited and rushed towards the golden apple. However, many powerful gods could see clearly that the goddess of fire was not trying to snatch it away, but to destroy it.
Obviously, as the eldest sister of the God King, Hestia had foreseen something, but she did not want this to happen. However, under the burning of her flames, the golden apple was not damaged at all, but shone even more brightly in the flames.
This is the importance of the golden apple.
There is no material in this world that can remain indestructible in the hands of a powerful god...but the golden apple is one of the exceptions. Before exhausting its boundless life force, few things can truly destroy it.
Of course, the creation of life can naturally be integrated into life, but if a goddess eats her directly, it would be no different from forcibly possessing the golden apple.
"Tsk, that's interesting. Are you going to destroy such a good thing?"
"Destroy!"
With a slight smile and a light shout, the red-dressed girl among the gods suddenly turned around, and a blue figure appeared behind her. The blue-dressed girl pointed her finger, and Hestia's flame was extinguished immediately.
Ignoring the worried look of the Moon Goddess beside her, Hecate walked out from the crowd of gods. She glanced at the gods present with a playful look, especially staying for a moment with Aphrodite and Hera.
She knew that there would be fun today. Although the prophecy was very vague and showed some terrible pictures, Hecate still came.
"Don't be in a hurry to destroy the body... The most beautiful goddess, tsk tsk, does anyone want to claim her?"
Chapter 333 This time it will be divided into eight petals
"Hekate, give it to me, this is not something you can joke with!"
Frowning, Hestia took a step forward when she saw the flames were extinguished.
The golden apple is difficult to destroy, but not indestructible. The simplest solution is to let a living creature eat it.
Although not all the gods present were willing to eat the golden apple at this time, there were still some who could do so, such as Zeus.
However, the God King just watched quietly, and in front of her, Hecate had no intention of backing down. A blue figure walked out of her body, and then turned from virtual to real. In the eyes of the gods who were either horrified or fearful, another "Hecate" stood in front of Hestia, preventing the goddess of fire from advancing an inch.
"What is this? Is there any other method among the gods that can double one's power through incarnation?"
Her expression changed slightly. Hestia had thought that this was some special secret technique, but now after a brief touch of it, she felt that it was not the case.
The opponent's strength was not inferior to hers, and was even stronger... During the confrontation between the two figures, the girl in the red skirt seemed not to feel the increasingly solemn atmosphere in the hall. She walked forward slowly, picked up the golden apple, and then looked at it carefully.
She had always been curious. Golden apples were also fruits, and if they were fruits, they should be able to be planted. However, from ancient times to the present, no one had ever really used them to plant. They just regarded them as consumables.
"It's a pity that we can't take it away and plant it."
Shaking her head with some regret, Hecate held the golden apple in her hand.
"Hestia, I can't give this to you. After all, this is a treasure dedicated to the most beautiful goddess... Are you the most beautiful goddess? If so, I can give it to you~"
"She's not, are you?"
Suddenly, a voice came from among the gods who were silent for a moment.
Hecate looked in the direction of the voice and unexpectedly saw a strange yet familiar figure.
One of the original twelve Titans, wife of Coeus, god of the lightless celestial bodies, and goddess of light, Phoebe.
After receiving the invitation from the King of Gods, a brief argument broke out between the two ancient gods who had been living in seclusion for a long time. In the end, Phoebe came here on behalf of the couple.
In any case, the goddess of protection Leto was their daughter and Apollo was their grandson, so it was not surprising that she came here to participate in the wedding banquet.
However, this is only true for others. For Hecate, the other person has another identity - she is her nominal grandmother.
He was also the one who was most enthusiastic about sending her to eternal sleep in the ancient times.
"Oh."
She laughed without showing any smile. For Hecate, whether it was the title, the faith brought by the "most beautiful goddess", or even the symbol of beauty, it was of little use to her. And perhaps it was precisely because she knew this that no one stood up to stop her behavior.
But Fubai suddenly said this... Could it be that she also wanted to be the 'most beautiful goddess'?
"You want it too?"
With a hint of mockery in her eyes, Hecate looked at the woman who was trying her best to hide her desire.
Perhaps it was because she had been away from the world for too long, she didn't even remember how to be less straightforward.
"Since you want it, I'll give it to you."
"etc--"
As soon as Hecate finished speaking, Hestia's expression changed.
The Goddess of the Magic Web would most likely not be interested in the golden apple, she knew that, so when it fell into Hecate's hands, the Goddess of Hearth was not so anxious, but Phoebe was different.
However, the girl in the red dress didn't care what she said. She just sneered, then stretched out her hand and threw the golden apple at Phoebe.
A golden shadow streaked across the sky, attracting the attention of all the gods present, and the Goddess of Light subconsciously stepped forward, wanting to take in this unexpected surprise.
She had never thought that she would actually get this treasure just by asking. Maybe Hecate was trying to mend their relationship. She had never expected that she would be so obedient...
Wow——
If there are no accidents, there must be accidents.
When the golden apple was flying in the air, it suddenly stopped. Seeing this, Phoebe's face changed and she quickly stretched out her hand to grab it, but she felt another force pulling it on the golden apple.
She raised her head and looked at the golden throne of the God-King. Hera's white arms were also stretched out, reaching for the apple with the words engraved on it.
"Your Highness, this is the wedding banquet I'm hosting. It's not a good idea for you to snatch the gifts from the guests."
"Hera, you are only the host of the wedding. The gift from the goddess of discord is not for you. Besides, how can you tell that I am 'robbing'? Aren't you the one I am robbing?"
You're welcome, Fubai rebuked on the spot.
At the current conference, apart from the God King, no one can make the Goddess of Light afraid. Moreover, her daughter and grandson are also here. It is still unknown whether Zeus will openly favor his Queen!
"I am the Queen of Heaven, the wife of the God King. Everything in this world belongs to the God King. As the Queen who shares power with him, can it be considered as 'robbing' if I take away my own things?"
Her expression was calm, an invisible aura rising from her body, lightning rising around her.
Faced with this scene, Fu Bai's face looked a little ugly, not because of the other party's words, but because of the other party's strength.
At least the power of level 18 or above, the specifics cannot be felt without actual fighting... The opponent is almost at the end of the realm of powerful power. Even if this is all due to faith, the power is real.
The trajectory of the golden apple began to move towards Hera, little by little, inch by inch, but unwaveringly.
Then the next moment, another force was applied to it, and the movement of the golden apple suddenly stopped.
"Aphrodite, what do you mean?"
Hera turned her eyes slightly and looked at the goddess of beauty, and the other party looked at her nonchalantly.
With just one glance, both parties knew that the other party would not let go easily.
"Do I need to ask, Hera? As the daughter of Uranus, the father of heaven, and the master of love and beauty in the world, what in this world is more worthy of being called the 'most beautiful' than 'beauty' itself?"
Aphrodite took a step forward, the golden belt around her waist gleaming.
This is her magic weapon. According to later legends, it briefly bewitched the King of Gods. It is also the treasure that Hercules needs to seize in the trial. It can greatly enhance the charm of the wearer and complement the goddess of beauty.
At this moment, all the gods were captivated by Aphrodite's beauty, even Zeus couldn't help but take a second look at her.
If the other person's identity was not special, he would not care whether she was Ares' wife... What a pity.
The God King remained silent, and when Aphrodite finished speaking, the situation became tense. However, Hera was the Queen of Heaven after all. Over the years, she had made more than one step forward with the help of the Gods, and even when she was fighting one against two, she gradually gained the upper hand.
When the golden apple continued to move, as expected, two more forces were placed on it.
One is weak, the other is strong.
Near the moon goddess Selene, under Phoebe's angry gaze, a goddess wearing a moon crown and carrying a bow and arrow stretched out her hand.
Artemis smiled, she didn't really care about being called the most beautiful goddess, but just like why she followed Hecate here, her only purpose in coming here was to make the King of Gods unhappy.
Of course, it would be the same to make Phoebe unhappy. In terms of their dislike for their grandmother's family, the cousins were surprisingly consistent.
But she is the powerful one, and the weak one is very interesting... Next to Poseidon, Amphitrite, the Queen of the Sea, also stretched out her hand.
"Hey, what are you doing here... Oh, I get it, you just want to take advantage of the situation, right?"
The tone was very impolite, and the girl in the red dress looked as if she had suddenly realized something.
"In this way, you are also a god who has competed with a group of powerful goddesses for the title of 'most beautiful'... What's more, what if you win? Gods always have to have dreams - By the way, I know a guy who can help you have a beautiful dream. Do you want me to introduce you to him?"
"you!"
Amphitrite was filled with anger and gritted her teeth secretly, but she didn't dare to say anything.
Hecate's daily activities also included the ocean, and she had suffered many setbacks at the hands of the other party. She simply pretended not to hear and continued to focus on the golden apple.
As they spoke, five invisible divine powers crisscrossed, and with the addition of Amphitrite, more goddesses had gleams in their eyes.
Yes, winning or not may not be important, but joining in is a good thing in itself.
Over the years, the gods have discovered that doing great things in the history of human civilization, or spreading deeds in the form of epics, can also bring faith, and even this kind of faith is stable and not prone to fluctuations.
Then the next moment, several more auras flew into the field.
One of the Graces, the wife of the wind god, stretched out her hand, but perhaps because she had received the hint long ago, Zephyrus did not react. At the signal of the mother goddess, the goddess of youth also stretched out her hand and stood on the side of Hera, adding to the Queen of Heaven. Aphrodite was not to be outdone, and she ordered the goddess of harmony to join in. On the other side, watching the gods leave one after another, the goddess of agriculture Demeter hesitated for a moment, and finally stretched out her own power.
For a moment, different divine powers intersected in the field, and the collision of power between the goddesses became more and more obvious. Several main gods still had the energy to say something to prove their legitimacy, and the ordinary goddesses could only focus their energy on the gathered power.
Especially when the bright-eyed girl who had been watching for a long time also stood up, and when she reached for the golden apple, the power in the field seemed to have broken through a limit.
The power that was originally suppressed seemed to be about to explode. The divine power close to double digits overlapped, which was enough to blow up the entire Pontonoris Sea, and all the gods involved would not have a good end. However, none of the gods present were worried about this, because the next moment, the God King who had been silent since the beginning finally stood up.
The order of royal power descended into this palace, and the supreme power suppressed the divine power entangled in the golden apple.
The entanglement of power between the goddesses was instantly severed, but inside the palace, the atmosphere between them did not ease at all.
"I knew it..."
Hestia sighed, feeling somewhat helpless. She felt that she could understand why Zeus had not responded yet.
It was not a good idea to intervene in the competition for beauty between goddesses, especially when the participants were either his wife, daughter, sister, or daughter-in-law. He must have been in a difficult situation... Thinking of this, Hestia glared at Hecate.
Then the girl in the red dress ignored it and continued to watch the show happily.
"Okay, goddesses, I know you all want this apple, but this is no reason for you to fight at the wedding banquet."
Sitting on the golden throne, the God King who had stopped the fight looked around and seemed to have no idea how to deal with the matter.
As he spoke, Hera looked at Zeus first.
"Really? Then, my God King, why don't you decide who owns the apple?"
The Queen of Heaven, who was known as "Bull-Eyed Hera" in the human world, looked at her husband with bright eyes. She wanted to see what answer he would give.
Chapter 334 The Referee and the First Helper
"Hera, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you."
"If Themis were here, I would be happy to consult her and let her use the golden scale to measure the true goddess of beauty. But if you let me be the judge - I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to put aside my feelings for you and make a truly fair decision."
Zeus suppressed the rebellious forces with a wave of his hand, and once again silently demonstrated his authority. But in the face of Hera's request, the king of gods flatly refused.
Whether or not he actually has such deep feelings is one thing, but since he said so, then it is true.
"Is it impossible to make a 'truly fair decision'? Is this something that needs to be thought about, Zeus? Shouldn't your queen be the most beautiful one?"
Hera did not take Zeus's evasion seriously at all, and her words were still sharp and pressing. However, Aphrodite, who was watching this scene not far away, sneered.
"Hera, there is no point in forcing the King of Gods. The authority of the gods is inviolable, and you cannot change that. I am the goddess of beauty, this is a fact recognized by the world, and it is also a truth recognized by the laws of the world!"
"Really? It's just skin and bones. If the 'beauty' you understand is just the beauty of the outside, then that only shows how shallow you are. Power and authority are the treasures that adorn a woman, and marriage is the guarantee of it - but then again, you only have a face that's acceptable."
Hera retorted without any hesitation, sitting beside the golden throne.
She had long been dissatisfied with Aphrodite, and the other party was the same with her. The grudge between the two sides was not a one-day thing.
Once upon a time, the newly born goddess of beauty was forced to marry Ares by the king and his wife, and Hera took the opportunity to put her within the restrictions of marriage, thereby expanding her authority. But for the goddess of beauty, marriage is exactly what she cannot tolerate.
Indulgent emotions and free joy come from the beauty of nature. This is the authority and instinct of Aphrodite, the embodiment of love and beauty, born from the legacy of the Father. For her, the existence of marriage is tantamount to locking her in a cage, which is something she cannot tolerate. So it didn't take long for the goddess of beauty to let herself go.
Therefore, Hera, who had personally presided over the marriage between her son and Aphrodite, felt that her authority had been violated, and she began to dislike the goddess of beauty. Even her believers on earth had a lot of conflicts with her because of this.
The favorite thing of Aphrodite's clergy is to use their own charm to attract the spouses of the clergy of the Queen of Heaven Church, so as to destroy their marriages and gain the favor of the gods. On the other hand, if someone can resist this temptation, or even persuade the believers of the goddess of beauty to take the "right path", they will receive additional gifts from Hera.
In short, the conflict between the two was known to all gods, and even the king of gods was troubled. However, due to power and status, Hera usually had the upper hand. However, this time, facing the irony of the queen of heaven, Aphrodite could not help but clench her fists.
"You forced me to do this!"
She silently thought to herself that she had not originally planned to use her "ultimate move". After all, once this was done, it would be difficult to end it. However, in order to protect her reputation as the "Goddess of Beauty" and to prevent Hera from really stealing the concept of "beauty", she could not care less.
Silently, the golden belt around Aphrodite's waist suddenly lit up with a light that ordinary people could hardly see. She picked up the wine glass in front of her and took a sip.
The wine slid from the corner of her mouth, flowed down her neck, passed through her collarbone, and seeped under her clothes. Aphrodite turned her head and showed a bright smile to the person not far away.
"Ares, tell me, who is more beautiful, me or your mother goddess?"
"...ah..."
His eyes were dazed for a moment. In Ares' eyes, his wife, who had always been distant to him, was so beautiful.
Her eyes are like the stars in the sky, her lips are like the sweetest wine, and her skin is as white and smooth as milk. At this moment, she is the moon in the night sky, the only one among the gods!
"Needless to say, Afu, how could the Mother Goddess be comparable to you..."
Boom!
Before he finished speaking, a huge roar sounded from above, and the next moment, the entire palace began to shake. However, immediately afterwards, under the power of the God King, all the noise was suppressed.
Beside the golden throne, Hera glared at her disappointing son, her eyes were about to spit fire. Ares actually dared to say such words in front of the gods. She could almost imagine that her son personally admitted that he was not as beautiful as Aphrodite. This matter would probably be laughed at by the gods for ten thousand years!
"That's enough!"
Zeus finally couldn't bear to watch any longer after he shouted angrily. Even as he spoke, he couldn't help but glare at Ares.
This idiot, how could he and Hera give birth to such a thing. If you had inherited one tenth of my ability, you wouldn't be manipulated by Aphrodite.
"call--"
Zeus let out a breath, his anger was only for a moment, and Ares was just a small matter. He had originally planned to let the existence of the golden apple ferment among the gods, but he never expected that even if the use of force was prohibited, the situation could escalate so quickly.
Add fuel to the fire? No need, it was just Hera and Aphrodite, he couldn't imagine what would happen if he let it go... Zeus decided to speed up the process as he glanced at Athena who was involved but still felt out of the script.
He was quite satisfied with the development of the matter. In terms of creating conflicts, the effect of the Golden Apple was better than he had imagined. Although the two people who had the most intense conflict were not the ones he wanted, he should not hesitate any longer and should just proceed to the next step.
Zeus then showed an angry look on his face, as if he was angered by the argument between the goddess of beauty and the queen of heaven. But he glanced at the gods and seemed a little helpless.
"You are all my relatives, my arms, or the respected ancient gods. Going to war for such false reputation is not a wise move, and it will only make this matter a laughing stock."
"So how are you going to solve this?"
As if she enjoyed watching the fun, Hecate conjured up a huge pumpkin for herself. She sat on the edge of the pumpkin, swinging her legs, and broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.
"Since the Goddess of the Magic Web is so interested in this, and it seems that you are not going to fight for the golden apple, why not let you decide where it belongs."
There was a gleam of divine light in his eyes, and Zeus said casually.
Many gods present were horrified when they heard this, but before they could question it, Hecate shook her head.
"Don't leave such troublesome things to me, little Zeus. I'm here to watch the fun, not to become the one doing it."
Glancing at the Queen of Heaven and the Goddess of Beauty, who had had the most intense verbal conflict before, Hecate sneered, then lay back, and disappeared in a flash.
It turned out that at some point, a large hole that could just accommodate one person appeared in the center of the pumpkin.
"Come on, Zeus, start your show. Let me see what you are going to do."
"...Since you don't want to, forget it. But the arrival of the goddess of discord is indeed an unexpected event."
Zeus was not angered by the outrageous words, and seemed to have a high tolerance when facing Hecate.
He looked at the gods, and looked into the eyes of each one separately, as if trying to select a fair judge.
Some looked expectant, others were unwilling to be tainted, but in the end Zeus chose no one. When the last god left his sight, the king of gods smiled.
"I know that many of you here would like to be the judge, but I want to say that, except for Themis' golden scales, there is no other god who can make all the gods feel that his judgment is fair and correct."
"So, I decided to leave it all to fate."
He stretched out his hand, and the three-color scepter of the God King appeared in his palm. Zeus waved it lightly, and a phantom appeared in the air.
Through the illusion, the gods saw a temple and a believer kneeling there to pray, and when the image was raised, they saw a city.
"That is my believer, one of my agents on earth. Not long ago, he prayed to me and prepared to hold a grand event for me and my favorite daughter as a gift to God."
"Perhaps this is the revelation of fate... The world is selecting a wise and fair hero, and the conflict between the gods requires such a person. How about letting this grand event decide who will own the golden apple?"
The gods looked at each other and they felt that the proposal was acceptable.
No matter who among the gods makes the judgement, they will not be convinced. Although it is a bit of a joke to hand it over to mortals, they can use various means to ensure that the mortal's choice is not influenced by the will of the gods.
As for the fact that this event takes place in Athens, it may give certain gods an advantage... Athens doesn't just have the Church of Knowledge, and there may not be fewer visitors from other countries gathering here, and they may be of higher quality.
"That's it, then."
Still furious, Hera looked expressionlessly at Ares and Aphrodite, then glanced at Athena who was standing quietly beside them.
It's already such a joke... No matter what, the golden apple must be hers!
······
Wow——
Crash——
…
In the east of the earth, a human festival was being held; on the Sea of Pontonoris, a marriage ended in failure. The couple who were supposed to be the protagonists did not even have the chance to say a word. They could only huddle aside and watch the gods who were about to break out into a war.
And at the edge of the sky and the end of the sea, the eternal river flows unceasingly, never stopping for a moment.
That is the [River that Rings the World], the symbol of the ocean god Oceanus's ministry, the starting point of the world's ocean currents, and the boundary that separates the sea and the void.
Here, a temple that is always flowing stands between the river waves. Except for the Ocean God and his wife, almost no one can set foot here.
But today, something unexpected happened. In the empty hall, a third person appeared.
"What do you think... Oceanus, this is your last chance."
"In the past, you have worked hard for three epochs, but you know very well that if nothing unexpected happens, you will not be able to succeed on your own even after another three epochs."
Standing in the shadow - or rather, the place where he stood would become the shadow itself.
Erebus looked at the still hesitant Ocean Lord and stated the facts calmly.
This was his last attempt in a short time. After the wedding banquet at Zeus's place was over, he had other things to do. The Sea of Pontonoris... He had other things to do with Pontos.
Although the other party had already fallen asleep, it was not difficult to wake him up as long as he wanted.
"You know, Oceanus, in this world, most people don't wish others good luck just because they've suffered. On the contrary, when they've been caught in the rain, they want more people to get caught in the rain with them."
"And in this world, there are only two people who once did not have great power, but later gained it and are still active in this world."
"Lian, and Zeus - unfortunately, they both have ill intentions towards you."
"Your Highness Erebus, there were indeed some misunderstandings between us." The Ocean God used this excuse more than once to refuse, saying something he didn't quite believe in. However, his attitude of refusal softened again and again: "But malice, isn't it——"
"Heh, doesn't Ryan's sword hurt, or have you forgotten it so quickly?"
The Lord of Darkness smiled faintly and continued,
"As for Zeus - I dare say that as long as he is still the king of gods, you will never be able to unify the sea. Even if Pontus has already fallen asleep and Poseidon can't even stop you."
"…"
Lies don't hurt people, the truth is the sharpest knife. The sword mark that once cut off the long river was indeed fresh in the memory of Oceanus, and Zeus' attitude was almost revealed.
Even though he had sent two daughters to him, one of whom was swallowed by him and the other gave birth to the goddess Graces with him, Zeus still did not relax his vigilance against Oceanus.
No matter what, the other party would never allow him to unify the sea and work together with his wife to become the true supreme being who controls the sea and water.
"Tell me what you want me to do."
After a moment's silence, just when Erebus was about to leave, Oceanus finally gave in.
The other party was right. If I just waited, I might not be able to seize the opportunity even if I really had one. But even though he let go, Dayangshen had already made up his mind that he would never be cannon fodder.
No matter how wonderful the other party's words were, Oceanus would not do anything unless his method could allow him to reach a higher realm first.
As for what happens after it is touched... that is another matter. What choice I will make at that time will naturally depend on the situation.
Chapter 335: The Lost... and the Long Silence
Half a day passed, and in the palace of the Ocean God, a secret conversation that no one knew about began and ended.
Under the full power of the Lord of Darkness, time and fate were cut off, and the laws of all things could not be seen. Everything here was hidden, and even the world itself could not perceive what was happening here.
This was more tight than when the secrets of the Silver Humans were concealed in the Second Age, because Erebus did not understand the authority of the God-King, nor was he very clear about the extent to which Zeus was now closely connected to the order of the world.
Although strictly speaking, he was actually looking for and creating teammates for him, but as Erebus had already planned, he was not really trying to help Zeus, and his method of creating helpers was definitely not acceptable to the King of Gods.
This is exactly why the Lord of Darkness has only recently started to act, because the abnormal turbulence and loss of the world's power has indeed made many things much easier, turning the impossible into possible. When the power is poured into the outside world, the induction of the inside will naturally decrease.
"It seems that you have also realized what you need most. In comparison, having two more enemies who are already on bad terms is not a big deal. After all, before, you were not even qualified to be an enemy."
After the secret talk ended, Erebus finally revealed a satisfied smile.
He felt very good that the first stop after leaving Zeus went so smoothly.
He heard that people who believed in fate believed that a good beginning would often bring good luck to the subsequent things. He didn't know much about fate, but he was willing to believe that this was a good omen.
"... Maybe. I just don't know what role I play in your plan, or in your plan for the future world?"
There was a hint of self-mockery in his tone, and his expression was somewhat tired, not physically, but mentally.
Oceanus didn't know whether his choice was right or wrong, but he was still moved by it. However, when he thought about the price he would have to pay, he hesitated.
Erebus did not tell the whole plan, but just the part that involved him made the Ocean God feel terrified. It made him think of some things that happened a long time ago... Fortunately, they are all in the past.
"Of course, I will play the role of the Supreme Being of the Ocean and Water. Isn't this exactly what you want? Besides, I didn't ask you to do anything, Oceanus. I just told you what I was going to do. As for whether you will do it or not, I can't force you to do it. After all, you can regret it at any time, and I can't ask you to swear an oath on the Styx."
"But my dear nephew, this world is so small, and there are only so many places. If you get more, others will inevitably get less. This is something that cannot be changed. So as long as you still want to move forward, you will definitely make enemies with others, just like the path I described for you - you can choose not to do it, but you know very well that every time you do something, you will become stronger, and when you finish it, you will get what you want, and of course, you will also have more corresponding enemies."
"It's up to you to go or not. I'm not the God of the Sea, and no other God of the Sea has a more unique opportunity than you."
Speaking in a calm tone, the Dark Lord actually did not think highly of his indecisive nephew.
In fact, from the fact that he chooses to have many children and make many relatives, we can tell what kind of god he is, but I am not worried that he will refuse.
The conspiracy will be exposed, the calculation will be discovered, but at this moment, I am wholeheartedly thinking about him and analyzing the future path. As for the troubles that will be caused in the process, isn't that justified?
"There are no eternal enemies, Oceanus. As long as you can achieve what you want, you must make a choice - or are you willing to entrust your fate to Zeus? At least you should be glad that you still have a choice, while many people have no chance to choose at all."
"…Huh—maybe."
With a sigh, Ocean God finally confirmed:
"I believe you can do everything else. As a primordial god who coexists with the world, your power is unquestionable. But there is one thing I remember. In the past, only the God King could lock the gods into the abyss."
"How can you send an Olympian god into Tartarus and prevent him from being released by Zeus?"
"This is my business. As I said before, you can always regret it, right?"
With a faint smile, Erebus did not explain.
The Abyss was also one of his expected stops, but it was not one of the first few destinations because he didn't know much about that place.
The place was closed to the entry of great divine powers, especially since the Third Age. But at least there was one thing he was relatively clear about.
At the end of the Second Era, Kronos abandoned everything and opened up a boundary in the abyss. That was witnessed by the power he left in the souls of the silver humans. The other driving force behind that was Ryan, so in a sense, the spirit world and the abyss should be considered enemies.
Over the years, those creatures called devils have had a lot of dealings with the outside world, and he also used this opportunity to learn about some of the changes there in recent years.
The abyss gave birth to life, and even fought against the interface opened by Kronos... These were all unexpected, but reasonable. Comparing this with the information he had obtained, he further confirmed how the interface called Hell was opened up - by stealing the power of Tartarus.
But this also proves that the idea of growing by opening up the world and absorbing the original realm of the gods is feasible. Kronos can only tear each other with the unconscious abyss and eat away at it over a long period of time, because he is not the original god after all, but he doesn't need these... Of course, that's all later.
For Erebus now, he has made preparations before and after the event, and all he needs is the right time.
"That's it. You still have plenty of time to hesitate. But I hope that when the opportunity comes, you will have made the final decision."
Having said this, he waved his long sleeves, and the figure in the shadow disappeared as quietly as he had come, leaving the Ocean God alone in his palace.
He has nothing more to say, and the rest will be revealed by time.
…
brush--
In the blink of an eye, from the outer sea to the inner sea, Erebus, who had left the Ring River, crossed the long distance and arrived at the Ionian Sea.
The human kingdom was on a large island not far away, and a few ships were cruising in the coastal waters. However, the reason why Erebus came here was just because it was closer to the Sea of Pontonoris.
Zeus was still there, so he was in no hurry to go over. After once again reviewing his preparations, Erebus repeated the only condition he lacked.
"A moment."
Or more precisely, the timing of his death.
Although he has been working hard for this, he actually doesn't know whether Ryan can provide this opportunity. Because the opponent has never shown that kind of invincible and strong dominance before, nor has he ever made him feel invincible. The last time the two sides fought, they were only a negligible gap.
So if it's just Ryan like this... can he really come to 'kill' him?
"It doesn't matter. I never put everything on the line. Between you and Zeus, or the spirit world and the living world, there has to be a winner."
With a faint smile, the Lord of Darkness felt that it was not a big problem.
Oceanus is only the first, but he will definitely not be the last. He will gather all the helpers he can find one by one, and then create an opportunity, a reason, for himself and them to weigh how many cards Ryan has left, or whether what he shows is all he has.
If he could really fight against the lineup he had imagined by himself, then there was no doubt that such an invincible force would be enough to tear him apart - and then he would go and die, leaving him to continue to fight the laws of the world. After all, the God King was also one of the members of the lineup, and he didn't believe that Ryan, who had killed Zeus, could still live in peace with the world as he did now.
But if not... that's no big deal. Many beings will wipe out all traces of the spirit world outside, and then they will all become enemies with Ryan, and he is just one of them. At that time, the Lord of Darkness will activate the backup option - that is, Zeus will be the unlucky one again.
"If I think about it this way, it seems that no matter which option I choose, the God King will inevitably be in trouble."
"But it's normal... I am the master of the Lightless Realm, Ryan is the master of the spirit world, and even Kronos has become the master of Hell now, but only the God King has never been the master of the world and destiny."
Looking at the colorful lights on the sea of Pontonoris, Erebus felt a little regretful. He heard that Ryan liked to paint, but unfortunately, he was not very good at it.
Otherwise, he would have to paint a picture to commemorate Zeus, like "The Last Wedding" or "The Feast of the Golden Apples".
"That day will mark the end of the Third Era, and the God King will lose his throne once again. I just wonder who will be the fourth God King?"
······
It was late autumn, the year 852 in the new calendar.
The gods' attention was focused on the sea, some on the wedding and some on the river. Humans gathered around Athens, waiting for a visual and auditory feast to decide the winner who was destined to be famous all over the world.
As a year that will soon go down in history, just like 1914 and 1931 in later generations, it has not only attracted the attention of gods and men on the practical level, but has also created ripples in the realm of destiny.
At this moment, when the competition had just begun to select topics, signs of various colors were raised in the hands of hundreds of thousands of spectators in the trapezoidal viewing platform. Twelve numbers appeared in the air, recording the number of signs of different colors.
This is not image recognition, but a simple application of alchemy, because each person's voting sign is placed in a simple mechanism. Only one can be selected at a time, and the next one can be picked up after the previous one is put down. Through the transmission structure, it is easy to calculate how many people have raised each sign.
Sitting in a secluded corner, Iapetus watched the lively crowd with interest.
In the past, competitions and contests were not uncommon, but they were all stages for heroes and wise men, and the audience could only cheer and watch. But now Athens' design has really set a precedent, making people surprised and delighted to be able to participate in it.
Iapetus was no exception. He was holding a black sign and enthusiastically joined the noisy crowd.
"Things are changing so fast. I still remember that humans used to kowtow to each god and their leaders carried huge stones to build temples for the gods. Time flies, and so many years have passed..."
Iapetus, the god of speech, had a lot to do with the birth of mankind, and his eldest son Prometheus was the creator of bronze humans.
Ever since he and Gaia created the Silver Generation, this ancient Titan has been living in seclusion in his own place, no longer participating in the affairs of the gods. Even though one of his descendants was imprisoned and the other went to hold up the sky, he turned a blind eye to it.
But perhaps because a person's life is too boring, he often transforms into a human and comes to the mortal realm to experience life.
As for this time... perhaps it was because he had once glimpsed his fate and was pulled invisibly, or perhaps it was simply because as the god of speech, Iapetus liked this kind of occasion where wise men debated. In any case, he came to the world again and came to this arena.
He was in a good mood. After all, the Titan, who was once the weakest, had become stronger with the increase of intelligent life - well, he was still the weakest.
After all, Mnemosyne, the second weakest Titan, had disappeared without a trace, and the remaining Titans of the first generation were all powerful gods. Even if Hyperion, who had become 800 petals, could survive, [Sun] was not comparable to [Speech] in the field of battle.
But for Iapetus, he didn't plan to fight anyway, whether he was strong or not was the same. Days like this are simply perfect -
"Um?"
Suddenly, Iapetus froze for a moment, he couldn't believe what he saw.
He took a deep breath and looked there again, but this time he saw nothing.
"Huh - it turns out I was seeing things."
"Yes, the Mother Goddess has been missing for a long time. How could she appear here? She was not seen when Typhon was suppressed. Such a debate in the human world cannot attract her attention... Yes, it is impossible. This is absolutely impossible."
He comforted himself silently, but Iapetus felt that he should run away.
Although Gaia had promised before that the matter of the silver man would be the last thing she asked him to do, and that she would even use her power to protect him from now on, Iapetus had no hope for this.
No one knows what Mother Earth can do. For example, her previous action of crashing into the sacred mountain was something that even the God of Speech could not understand.
Therefore, although he really wanted to watch this event, it would be better for him to stay away from it as soon as possible to avoid trouble.