On the half-destroyed sun star, Hades and Hyperion faced each other, silently observing. Their surroundings were filled with an overwhelming divine aura, preventing anything from approaching.
One side, dark as a black sun, heralded death. The other, blazing as daylight, incinerated all.
This divine battle had drawn countless eyes from the moment it began. The outbreak of the Titan War was well known among the gods, but it was clear that the lower-ranking deities could not determine the outcome. The true core of the war lay with the three God-Kings and the Chief Gods of the Titans. Everything else was merely a prelude, a warm-up.
The battle between Hades and Hyperion was central to the entire conflict, and the outcome could influence everything.
"Hades," Hyperion spoke hesitantly, "You are different from Poseidon and Zeus. For you, becoming a God-King was easy, almost too easy. But unlike them, you are not a God-King by force but by sheer depth of foundation."
Hyperion could see that Hades was not a God-King simply because of his position but because of his profound foundation, which even shocked him. It was clear that this depth was not something a mere God-King could achieve.
"A God-King..." Hades paused briefly before continuing, "Being a God-King is not the end but merely the beginning. Without enough foundation and accumulation, one can never take the next step."
For many gods, becoming a God-King was an almost insurmountable challenge. But for beings like Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, the position of a God-King was straightforward to attain as long as they possessed their essence.
However, becoming a God-King is not the true beginning. The true path starts with the laws. The divisions among gods into third-tier, second-tier, first-tier, True Gods, and Major Gods are defined by their understanding and mastery of the laws. The Titan Chief Gods are special entities that surpass Major Gods but have not reached the level of a God-King.
The true core lies in these divisions. While gods below the rank of God-King might overcome higher-ranked deities through superior artifacts or techniques, from the God-King level onwards, surpassing higher levels becomes nearly impossible without the requisite foundation in the laws.
For Hades, cultivating the World Tree, gathering faith, forging artifacts, and other efforts all serve the purpose of enhancing his mastery over the laws. He has always focused on this, understanding that the true strength of a god lies in their laws. Hades also pondered whether one truly needed Ultimate Power to become an Ancient God, or if it was possible to reach that level solely through mastery of the laws.
Hyperion fell silent for a moment, then remarked, "Hades, it is undeniable that you are exceptional. Your considerations are far-reaching."
"Fate," Hades continued, "I know what my fate is. To change it, I must prepare thoroughly; otherwise, all efforts are meaningless."
According to the mythic world, Hades was destined to be slain by a Pegasus wielding the power to slay gods. This was considered an unchangeable destiny, just as Cronus was destined to be overthrown by his son.
Even if Cronus wanted to avoid this fate by abandoning his position as a God-King, having already reached the level of an Ancient God, he chose not to. This stubbornness reflected a divine pride, a trait shared by many gods who, despite being favored by the mythic world, would be discarded when their time came.
"Fate," Hyperion sighed, shaking his head, "Hades, our conversation must end. Our battle needs a conclusion."
Hades remained silent, surrounded by countless laws that manifested as varying shades of black light. For Hyperion, surrounded by the radiant laws of the sun, his divine power began to shine brilliantly.
In an instant, as the two gods clashed again, their laws collided—Hades' laws of the underworld against Hyperion's solar laws. The brilliant light from their clash illuminated the entire star realm.
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