The door opened like a vortex, and an immature boy stepped through. He appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, with waist-length black hair and a youthful face that seemed even more innocent compared to Hades's mature visage.
However, as his lacquer-black eyes scanned the distance, they seemed to encompass the entire universe. It was clear who this young man was—it was Hades! In this state, he could control all his divine power, laws, aura, and concepts, achieving a perfect concealment thanks to the blessing of the helmet of Pluto.
Though the two Primordial Gods might regard this as a weaker state, Hades wasn't about to be careless; he made sure to prepare for any eventuality.
Dressed in a black robe, Hades stepped out of the gate of the world, grasping it in one hand as it vanished without a trace. He stood still, refraining from releasing his divine thoughts, instead gazing into the distance. His naked eyes could see only a thousand miles of barren plains, devoid of life—just endless stretches of red land.
"Die."
"Destroy."
"Crazy."
"Evil God…"
Hades sensed the pervasive aura of the Evil God. Cradling Cerberus in his arms, he murmured, "This is the breath of an Evil God. This world has been invaded, or rather, someone—perhaps like Poseidon—has touched the path of the Evil God. You'll understand once we explore further."
He contemplated the implications: even touching the path of the Evil God could manifest in two ways. The first was like Poseidon, who wielded the power of the Evil God; the second was a puppet under the Evil God's control. While they might seem similar, a significant difference existed between the two.
The former had the potential to truly ascend to the pinnacle of divinity, while the latter was merely a controlled vessel.
Regardless of the nature of the threat, Hades felt no hesitation; he understood that standing still would lead to no insights.
Each step he took was deliberate, and though slow, under the power of the gods, it felt as if he compressed the distance before him. The vast, red terrain was crossed in mere moments, revealing a familiar yet foreign architectural style.
"Japanese…"
"I see."
Upon spotting the people clad in kimonos within the city, Hades recognized where he had arrived. With such a style, the presence of kimonos could only indicate a connection to Japanese mythology.
Now aware of his location, Hades relaxed slightly. This world, while not considered powerful, but was unique. It lacked the protection of a true absolute god. In essence, although this world was significant, it hadn't been forged by absolute deities. Instead, it had gradually developed over time, birthing gods who stabilized its existence.
At the apex were five Primordial Gods—gender-less, they could embody either male or female forms, recognized as the singular deities, the strongest entities of this grand world.
In addition to these five, there were twelve other gods, including the Seven Generations of Gods. If the first five represented the essence of divinity, the latter twelve were instrumental in creating the world itself.
Among them were Izanagi and Izanami, well-known figures in mythology.
These deities generally possessed the divine power of god kings, making each one a true god king, as they were responsible for crafting the world. They were honored as the Seven Generations of Gods.
With Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susanoo at the core, the Gao Tianyuan pantheon was established, called the Tianjin Gods. This indicated that the mythical world was not weak!
Among the five Primordial Gods, the twelve god kings, and the Tianjin Gods, many formidable beings existed. Yet, they lacked a foundational core: the absolute god. Without a myth crafted by an absolute deity, this vast world resembled a fragile reed in the wind—unstable and not anchored.
In simpler terms, it was akin to children fighting—if one couldn't win, they would run home to find a parent to fight on their behalf. But what if the other child had no one at home? They were an orphan.
This notion implied that anyone who ventured into this world and wasn't intimidated by a Primordial God could engage in plunder and battle freely, gaining everything they desired.
"The grand world of Japanese mythology…"
Hades mused over the myriad myths present in this expansive world. While he was familiar with some prominent legends, many common deities eluded his memory. After all, this world boasted eight million gods—a staggering number.
Similar to the Golden Age, where the gods of the Titan pantheon exceeded eight million, expecting Hades to remember them all was impossible. Nevertheless, understanding the world he had entered sparked some thoughts.
"So…"
"Evil God."
"Yamata no Orochi…"
Hades contemplated, unsure if his judgment was accurate. However, based on the myths of this world, his most likely adversary seemed to be Yamata no Orochi.
As the Evil God in the legends of Japanese mythology, if the Evil God truly existed, this was to be expected.
"And…"
Now that he understood his surroundings, Hades felt a sense of relief.
His appearance shifted from that of a youthful boy to that of a young man of seventeen or eighteen years. He began to release his divine sense and power, gradually perceiving the essence of the world around him.
"This power doesn't seem to belong to the lesser realms of the ninth or tenth senses, but rather to the true essence of nothingness."
"With that in mind…"
Hades wasn't a hesitant individual. Besides, even if complications arose, he could easily retreat. Locking onto the overwhelming surge of the Evil God's aura, he moved forward without hesitation.
He was eager to discover this power of nothingness that transcended the tenth sense. After all, he harbored grand ambitions, and Yamata no Orochi would serve as an excellent springboard.