With a flash of light, Athena vanished, leaving Bell deep in thought. He understood well that defeating Zeus with his current strength was an almost insurmountable challenge. The disparity was immense; Zeus surpassed Bell in strength, status, and sheer power. The two were not comparable in any sense. As Bell pondered this reality, he was aware of the complexities surrounding his situation.
"Hehehe"
Gaia observed Bell's contemplation without rushing him. She recognized that true growth comes from facing challenges step by step, rather than having everything handed to him. If an elder paved every path, the child would never truly mature.
"Here..."
Athena stepped into the sanctuary, where countless constellations intertwined and a radiant light filled the space. This was the sanctuary of her birth, a treasure that had existed since the dawn of her being. Despite her divine status, Athena couldn't leave the Temple of the Earth without risking exposure. Fortunately, Gaia had helped her find this sanctuary.
"This is...?!"
Athena gasped as she beheld the Earth Scepter, the artifact that symbolized dominion over the earth. Crafted by Gaia herself, it rivaled Hades' Helmet, Poseidon's Trident, and Zeus' Thunderbolt in power. The thought that such a divine weapon was entrusted to her was astonishing. The Scepter of Earth was, in essence, equal in significance to Hades' Pluto Sword, forged by the three one-eyed Titan brothers from rare materials.
"Great-grandmother!"
Gratitude welled in Athena's eyes as she continued deeper into the sanctuary. There, a magnificent holy garment radiated light—her Saint Cloth. Like Hades' Underworld Cloth, Poseidon's Sea Emperor Scale, and Zeus' Heavenly Garment, this cloth was uniquely hers, shaped by divine law. Gaia had made special adjustments, perhaps out of affection for Athena.
"Sanctuary..."
Athena reached the sanctuary's pinnacle, gazing at the 88 constellations shining above. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a beam of light, intertwining it with the constellations.
In an instant, the sanctuary resonated with harmonious singing as the brilliance of the constellations illuminated every corner. Athena closed her eyes, absorbing the earth's authority and harmonizing the laws of the sanctuary, rapidly grasping its essence.
With Gaia's gift, Athena made significant strides in her development. In certain aspects, she was now nearly on par with the older generation of god kings. Meanwhile, Bell had to continue his journey of growth step by step.
Yellow Springs!
This was one of the mightiest empires on the land, home to millions of brave warriors, unafraid of death. Their belief in Hades promised them eternal life after death, for they worshiped the god of the underworld—Hades himself.
Indeed, Yellow Springs Kingdom was an empire founded by the underworld on earth. Unlike the other gods, the underworld had little interest in belief systems. Other gods sought followers and faith; the underworld was indifferent to such pursuits.
Persephone handled the kingdom's affairs adeptly. Under her guidance, Yellow Springs Kingdom flourished rapidly, blessed with the power of the underworld—akin to possessing an immortal body. With such blessings, their growth was staggering, outpacing other nations.
While Persephone sent two underworld fighters to the kingdom, she remained occupied. The ongoing war on earth demanded her attention, and the tumultuous battle between heaven and earth was overwhelming.
In the underworld, most gods participated in the celestial conflict, while a ghost fighter remained behind to guard Yellow Springs.
"Well!"
Quinn glanced at Stander, who sighed heavily. "What troubles you?"
Stander shook his head, "I wish to partake in the god battles. Here, it feels too simple!"
"Hehehe"
Quinn smiled. "This is the arrangement of the Empress of the Underworld. We must obey."
Stander replied respectfully, "Of course I obey Lord Hades' wishes, but as a warrior, I feel restless. My duty here, while important, feels inadequate compared to the battlefield."
"Indeed!"
Quinn empathized with Stander's feelings. A warrior's place was on the battlefield, particularly for someone like Stander, the former patriarch of Yellow Springs Kingdom.
"Um?!"
Quinn sensed a shift, his expression brightening. The movement of the magic star signified the birth of a perfect underworld warrior in Yellow Springs. As Quinn activated the magic star, it vanished instantly. Within Yellow Springs, a newborn was enveloped by its light. In mere moments, he aged to 18—the pinnacle of youth.
With a sudden flash, he appeared before Quinn and Stander, declaring, "Earth Star Carl Kern!"