For Specters, their personal qualities are insignificant. The true value lies in their armor, crafted from the essence of the Demon Stars, the black gemstones from the Underworld, and rare divine, demonic, or monstrous creatures. These armors are the core of their power. As long as the Underworld Armors exist, a vast army of Specters can be easily raised.
When a Specter dies, their blood, soul, will, and experiences are fully absorbed by the armor, enhancing its power. This power is then passed on to the next wearer, creating a cycle where the strength of the Specters continually grows more formidable over time.
Furthermore,
Each transformation of the armor feeds back into the Demon Stars, which in turn strengthens Hades. As Hades' divine power grows, it also enhances the Demon Stars, which then further empowers the armor. This forms a perfect, self-sustaining cycle between Hades, the Demon Stars, and the Underworld Armors.
This interconnected system represents the ideal synergy between the Lord of the Underworld, the Demon Stars, and the Underworld Armors. In contrast to the original story, where due to various limitations, such a perfect cycle couldn't be achieved, Hades now stands on the brink of unprecedented power.
During his journey through the stars, Hades reclaimed the Demon Stars, gained a Titan Chief God-level subordinate, and forged seven pieces of Underworld Armor. Yet, his exploration of the Demon Stars wasn't complete. The final destination was the last of the 108 Demon Stars: the Earthly Prime Star.
The Heavenly Prime Star and the Earthly Prime Star
As the two leading stars among the 108 Demon Stars, the Heavenly Prime Star and the Earthly Prime Star are the core of all the Demon Stars. On the Heavenly Prime Star, Hades managed to subdue a Titan Chief God-level subordinate. Now, his attention turned to the Earthly Prime Star, sparking his curiosity about what it might hold.
As Hades wandered through the Earthly Prime Star, he found it surprisingly ordinary compared to the Heavenly Prime Star. It lacked any particularly notable features and seemed rather mundane.
But then...
Just as Hades was about to leave, he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible trace of divine power. This delicate signal, so subtle that even he, the master of the Demon Stars, nearly missed it, drew his attention.
"What is this?" Hades murmured to himself. Extending his divine sense, he scanned every inch of the Earthly Prime Star. His meticulous search led him to discover a peculiar object—an inconspicuous stone-like seed lying casually on the ground.
Hades picked up the seemingly ordinary stone, turning it over in his hands. As he examined it, realization dawned on him.
"A World Seed?"
Hades' voice carried a rare tone of contemplation. The World Seed is an exceedingly rare divine item, yet also one of the most impractical. Theoretically, it holds immense potential but is rarely utilized effectively.
The World Seed
As the name implies, a World Seed can germinate into a world. For example, the Norse Pantheon's Mythological World is grown from Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Such seeds are the perfect cores for a god's divine realm. However, in practice, they are often deemed impractical.
The primary reason lies in the colossal resources required to cultivate a World Seed. The process of nurturing and growing it into a full-fledged world demands an enormous investment, particularly during its initial phase—rooting and sprouting. This requires the power of a world itself, which is incredibly difficult to obtain without venturing deep into the Sea of Chaos, a perilous undertaking.
Hence.
World Seeds, while theoretically potent as the heart of a divine realm, are often seen as impractical because the cost of nurturing them far outweighs their benefits. Most gods, who could afford such investments, do not prioritize cultivating divine realms to such an extent.
However...
Hades' thoughts raced as he played with the seed in his hand. He began to formulate a bold idea—no, an extraordinarily bold idea.
"Lord Hades!"
Mephistopheles was summoned and knelt respectfully, awaiting instructions. "What are your orders?"
Hades asked calmly, "Is the Sea of Chaos truly dangerous?"
"…"
Mephistopheles was momentarily taken aback. He thought, "What does Lord Hades mean by this? Is he contemplating something dangerous?"
"Lord Hades!" Mephistopheles replied gravely, "When my Mythological Universe collapsed, I forged the Contract Hell intending to navigate the Sea of Chaos and find new worlds. But that was a desperate measure. The dangers of the Sea of Chaos are beyond words."
Mephistopheles' response was a veiled warning: *Don't even think about it.*
He internally panicked, fearing Hades might entertain reckless ideas. "Lord Hades, please reconsider. The Sea of Chaos is not to be trifled with."
Hades merely nodded, his expression calm and unchanged. Mephistopheles sensed an ominous resolve in Hades, a sign that he was about to embark on something audacious. Hades, despite his current status as a Major God, seemed poised to explore the depths of the Sea of Chaos—a venture fraught with unparalleled peril.
"Let's go," Hades said quietly. "Opportunities always require bold attempts. Father has given me only 500,000 years. Within this time, if I do not take unconventional paths to seek breakthroughs, the onslaught of the Titan Pantheon will leave me with no recourse but a bitter end."
Hades' voice was soft, but to Mephistopheles, it carried a chilling determination. This wasn't just a matter of potential; it was a declaration of relentless ambition.
"Understood, Lord Hades!"
Mephistopheles, though bewildered and apprehensive, obediently followed Hades, preparing to support his master in whatever unprecedented challenge lay ahead.
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