Hestia was well aware of her three brothers, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. In reality, they were natural enemies. Coexisting peacefully? That was absolutely impossible. Each of them would rather eliminate the other, and this was the mindset of all three.
In this situation, she and her sisters Demeter and Hera could be crudely referred to as commodities. It's harsh to say, but in reality, that was the case.
However, even as commodities, the treatment they received varied greatly. Hades respected Hestia, acknowledging her as his sister.
And Zeus? The Zeus in the original stories is hard to say, but the current Zeus, with the help of Metis and Prometheus, had changed significantly. He no longer viewed Demeter and Hera as just nuisances. He was much less arrogant and had undergone considerable change.
As for Poseidon? He was a cold and indifferent person, showing no feelings. To him, his three sisters were of no consequence.
This was why Hestia ultimately chose to side with her eldest brother. She knew her nature wasn't suited for conflict. To protect herself and stay out of disputes, her best option was her eldest brother. Other options were out of the question.
Indeed, when the Titanomachy began, Hestia stayed in the underworld, sipping tea and watching the show. As for her duties? Well, in the Golden Age, there wasn't much for her to do. It wasn't until the Silver or Bronze Age that her responsibilities would become relevant. By then, she could easily pick a few, maybe even a few dozen, subordinates to handle the work for her.
This was the life Hestia wanted—what could be called "slacking off."
"Leaving."
"Leaving."
Hestia waved her hand with a smile, saying, "Lord Hades, you keep busy. I'm going back to rest."
Hades was left speechless by his sister's words. How could she be so relaxed while he, as a ruler, was overwhelmed with work? Yet, as he watched his sister leave, a smile appeared on his face. He nodded quietly, saying nothing more.
Meanwhile, as Hades and Hestia chatted, the underworld continued its rapid operations. The Ouroboros, symbolizing the union of heaven and earth, had advanced further after devouring the Red Lotus Ouroboros.
However, for the Ouroboros to fully transform, it wasn't about anything else but Hades' strength. Only when Hades reached the level of an Ancient God could the Ouroboros be born. This was a matter of limits. As a God-King, the highest level Hades' subordinates could achieve was also that of a God-King. Crossing this boundary was impossible. This was why Erebus and Nyx had not fully pledged themselves to Hades—they simply couldn't.
Afterward, as the Ouroboros underwent its transformation, attention shifted to the Demon God Pillars. The seventy-two pillars of demon gods, which would have taken millions of years to reconstitute under normal circumstances, had now been reconstituted in a short time. The seventy-two demon gods had reappeared, manifesting simultaneously at Yomotsu Hirasaka.
"Greetings, Lord Hades!"
The seventy-two demon gods kneeled on one knee, declaring their loyalty to Hades. Their eyes were filled with boundless fervor and devotion. Born from the underworld, these demon gods, the pillars of the underworld, were intrinsically linked to it. Unlike other underworld gods, they could never detach or rebel.
Baal, Beelzebub, Astaroth, and Asmodeus, representing the top four pillars among the seventy-two demon gods, bowed their heads, kneeling at the forefront. Each possessed the power of a Chief God.
Moreover, the rest of the seventy-two demon gods, starting from the level of a First-tier God, had varying levels of divine power. Even the weakest among them had the peak power of a First-tier God. After their rebirth, their overwhelming divine power surged through the underworld.
Hades quietly surveyed the seventy-two demon gods and said, "Go rest, stabilize your laws and divine power, and solidify your essence."
"Yes!"
The seventy-two demon gods returned to the demon god pillars. Hades then raised his hand, using a divine stone to swiftly forge seventy-two sets of underworld god armor, which he sent into the demon god pillars.
Each demon god pillar was a small world. In Hades' view, while there was currently a clear disparity in power among the seventy-two demon gods, as pillars of the underworld, it wouldn't take long for them to ascend in unison with the World Tree. Reaching the level of Chief God was just a matter of time; becoming God-Kings depended on Hades' own progress.
However, at this moment, Hades was contemplating another issue. His memories contained records of a game featuring seven great beasts representing humanity's evil aspects. Among them, one was a collective entity of the seventy-two demon gods. So, could it be possible for him to recreate this manifestation of human malice?
The concept was intriguing. As the ruler of the underworld, Hades naturally governed over death, darkness, and evil. Theoretically, creating such an entity would significantly enhance the underworld.
Enhancing the underworld wasn't just about the World Tree's growth. It also involved the efforts of underworld gods and the addition of various deities, all of which could contribute to the underworld's development. So, what were the chances of successfully crafting human malice by hand? Hades needed to ponder this carefully.
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