Hades possessed the Crest of Darkness, while Zeus wielded the Crest of Light. These crests were counterparts. If Hades had one, it was only natural that Zeus would possess the other. As for Poseidon? Hades wasn't sure what Poseidon held.
However, it was certain that whatever Poseidon possessed would be equivalent. The three god-kings of the third generation were meant to be on equal footing, no matter how favored Zeus was by Fate.
Fate, that capricious force, couldn't provide Zeus with more than the world allowed. The world maintained its fairness, and its arrangements for the three god-kings were balanced.
For Zeus, the moment the Crest of Light merged into his body, boundless divine power erupted from him. In an instant, Zeus forcibly broke through the constraints of his own essence, stepping into the realm of a Chief God.
"Hades!" Zeus's face contorted with rage. "You will pay for your arrogance and conceit!"
Having ascended to the level of a Chief God, the laws Zeus wielded now held far greater power. But there was a fundamental problem.
The issue with Zeus was never about his rank or the level he had reached. In truth, while the level of power is crucial for a deity, the problem lay elsewhere. Zeus's control over his divine power, his mastery of the laws, and his training were pathetically inadequate. It was like an ordinary person wielding a Gatling gun.
Against weak opponents, a Gatling gun could indeed secure victory. But when facing a highly skilled special forces operative, having such a powerful weapon was effectively useless.
This was the core issue. Zeus was in such a situation now. Discussing anything beyond this would be meaningless.
For Hades, facing Zeus's display of greater divine power and laws was trivial. He could simply watch quietly, knowing that a mere application of the Law of Devouring would effortlessly neutralize everything Zeus threw at him.
They were not even on the same level. From beginning to end, there was no comparison. Even though Zeus had forced his way into the realm of a Chief God, defeating him would be a simple task for Hades.
"Zeus," Hades said quietly, "you are truly disappointing."
"Gak, gak, gak~~~"
As Hades's words fell, it was clear this battle needn't continue. He raised his hand, releasing strands of divine power. The Demon Star appeared, transforming into dark purple chains that began to bind Zeus.
The combination of the Law of Sealing and the Law of Devouring was not something Zeus could resist at this moment. If Zeus had undergone rigorous training, he might have been able to fend off Hades's formidable assault. But as it stood, Zeus was unable to withstand Hades's offensive.
In an instant, the dark purple chains formed by the Demon Star had nearly completely bound Zeus.
"This is…" Zeus's expression shifted. "The Law of Sealing?!"
Without hesitation, Zeus quickly retracted Mount Olympus and the Crest of Light, storing them away just in time before the chains of the Demon Star sealed him completely.
And thus,
Zeus hung suspended in the sky, swaying like bait on a fishing line. His expression was one of extreme displeasure.
Hades nodded slightly, his voice calm. "At least, Zeus, you had the sense to retrieve Mount Olympus and the Crest of Light before being sealed. Otherwise, I wouldn't have hesitated to take them."
Hades spoke without any pretense. From start to finish, his words were measured and honest. Given the chance, he wouldn't hesitate to seize anything that belonged to Zeus.
Such was the nature of the gods—a constant struggle for power and dominance. If the roles were reversed, Zeus would act without hesitation. This was the norm among deities.
"Hmph!"
Zeus snorted coldly, his demeanor indifferent, as if devoid of any emotions. For him, it was clear that he didn't care about death and was unconcerned about other matters.
The reason was simple. Zeus knew he wouldn't die. The worst he would face was a period of confinement by Hades, after which he would be released.
The protagonists of the Titanomachy were Cronus and his three sons—Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Only by joining forces could they hope to defeat Cronus.
Unless someone attained the Ultimate Power, capable of taking down Cronus single-handedly, killing any one of the three would mean surrendering any chance of victory.
"Zeus," Hades said quietly, "I can lift your seal, but it will cost you. What is it that you seek here?"
Hades asked calmly, while Zeus remained silent. After a moment, he replied, "Hades, you can't kill me. Sealing me is only a temporary measure. You can't afford to kill me."
Zeus was correct. This was a limitation imposed by the world and the constraints of Fate. At least at this moment in time, Hades was unable to kill him.
However,
Hades gazed at Zeus and continued, "Zeus, you are very confident. If that's the case, then I'll extract the Law of Thunder you possess."
Hades extended his hand calmly, as threads of divine power formed a scythe. Hearing Hades's words, Zeus began to struggle violently.
But it was futile. The Demon Star, with its inherent Law of Sealing and the Devouring Law bestowed by the Golden Apple, rendered any of Zeus's struggles meaningless.
"Hades, could you spare Zeus? I can offer you something that will satisfy you," a gentle voice interrupted. Zeus ceased his movements and slowly turned his head. A goddess with long black hair, dressed in a flowing black gown, approached.
Hades paused and looked at the goddess, who possessed the strength of a peak Major God. He spoke evenly, "Goddess of Wisdom, Metis."
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