Earth Star Carl Kern!
The newly born warrior of the underworld—there's no need for pretense.
Persephone, the queen of the underworld, swiftly recognized the emergence of this new fighter and sent him into the realm of Japanese mythology to partake in the divine war. "Fight! Become stronger in this battle of the gods to survive."
Deep within the underworld, Hades' soul, having merged with the World Tree, gradually awakened. As he slowly opened his eyes, they reflected only endless darkness and eternity, devoid of emotional fluctuations.
Returning to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where he sat on his throne, Hades opened his eyes fully. Instantly, it felt as if time in the entire underworld had stopped. A vast and infinite divine power enveloped everything.
In that moment, every being in the underworld fell to their knees, gripped by overwhelming fear, as if a colossal eye was scrutinizing them.
"Husband!"
Persephone appeared in the Pure Land of Bliss, her expression a mix of concern and relief. She gazed at the awakened Hades, who exuded an aura of terrifying divine power, as if it were teetering on the edge of control.
Yet, within moments, the divine power surrounding Hades faded, leaving him calm once more. His eyes, once shrouded in darkness, now sparkled with a glimmer of light. Hades slowly raised his head. "Persephone."
"Huh"
With a sigh of relief, Persephone spoke seriously, "My lord, please avoid such extremes in the future. If you completely abandon emotions and desires, what difference would there be between you and nothingness? It becomes meaningless and dangerously reckless."
A fleeting smile touched Hades' lips, his voice gentle. "I understand, don't worry. I won't let it happen again. Merging with the World Tree was my first experience, and though it has stabilized now, some accidents were to be expected."
Persephone shook her head, exasperated yet fond. "You and your stubbornness..."
Hades' soul was now intertwined with the World Tree, allowing him to understand it deeply and integrate his divine realm into his very being. Other gods were aware of this potential, but few dared to follow his path. The world is vast, and the instinctual nature of this mythological realm often lacked emotion, merely orchestrating events without regard for individual significance.
Even those gods who had cultivated the World Tree understood the dangers of such actions. Hyperion, for instance, never entertained the thought of merging with it—because it is perilous.
However, the danger was now irrelevant for Hades. He had succeeded in merging with the World Tree, rendering those dangers moot.
"Really..."
Persephone shook her head in resignation. "What are your plans now, my lord?"
Hades replied, "I'm just one step away. The Primordial God has revealed himself, but I remain on the brink."
He worked diligently to attain ultimate power, striving to advance from the God King to the level of a Primordial God. While the kingship is hierarchical, even a god king like him found himself powerless against overwhelming threats, like those posed by the Titan king, Cronus.
Only when he reached this pinnacle would he wield true authority.
In the era of Cronus, apart from Gaia's affection, no Primordial God dared to defy him. He was the invincible force of power.
Hades lacked the intense desire to rule that Cronus possessed, but as a king of gods, he could not refrain from battling for what was his. Only the strength of a Primordial God could secure his claims.
"O Primordial God!"
Persephone spoke softly, "Since you're so close, how do you plan to proceed?"
In the ongoing Battle of Heaven and Earth, what Hades needed was strength. Only by transcending to the Primordial God level could he continue to play a significant role in this conflict. Otherwise, relying solely on his kingly power would not suffice to alter the tide of war.
"There's no rush," Hades replied calmly. "Another opportunity will soon present itself."
His eyes shimmered with a new light, indicating a deep understanding of his path. Hades now stood before the threshold of becoming a Primordial God, ready to step through.
No matter how much he had strengthened himself over the years, he sensed that this final leap would be far more challenging than any step taken before—potentially dozens of times more difficult. Yet, he felt a perfect grasp on it now; this was not a monumental challenge.
"That's good."
Persephone nodded, her smile returning. "There are still ten thousand years until the banquet of the god kings. It's time to prepare."
Hades responded with a calm demeanor. "There's no need to hurry. I'm curious about what might happen to Zeus in the meantime. Can Bell and Athena remain passive and watch as events unfold?"
Persephone pondered this. She seemed to know something, yet not entirely. Hades raised his hand, channeling divine power into the nine-pointed star on Persephone's forehead. In an instant, countless memory fragments emerged, as if time itself had transformed.
At that moment, Persephone fell into a profound silence. Hades gazed into her eyes, seeing the holy mountain of Olympus reflected within. He whispered softly, "Gaia, what choice will you make at this alternate banquet of god kings?"