"Hahaha"
"No nonsense! Really!"
Athena quietly observed the beautiful scenery before her, listening to the sounds of children playing. A gentle smile emerged on her face; she cherished this kind of peace and longed to protect it. She murmured, "If only every place could embody such tranquility. War and chaos do not belong to humanity; they are merely imposed upon them by the gods."
Sighing slightly, Athena looked at the children playing below. Though their appearances varied, they all shared two cinnabar moles on their foreheads, signifying their unique identities. This sight plunged her into deep thought.
"My lord goddess!"
At that moment, a voice called from behind. Athena turned in astonishment to see an old man approaching with a cane. Her surprise was fleeting, but it underscored her shock. How could she have been discovered? How was it possible for her hidden aura to be perceived here? This was almost impossible!
"Hehehe"
The old man bowed his head slightly, saying, "My lord goddess! My name is Mu, and I am the patriarch of this race. According to our clan's prophecies, one day a goddess will come to lead our people down a very different and glorious path."
"Prophecy...?"
Athena regarded the old man kneeling respectfully before her, falling into deep contemplation. Could the prophecy have foretold her arrival? In such a vast world, anything could happen.
Athena replied softly, "Have you all been waiting for my arrival?"
Mu nodded respectfully. "Master Goddess! Our clan has been waiting a long time. According to the prophecy, under the leadership of a woman, our family will truly enter this world. Because of this, we have never left Mu Continent, but have quietly awaited your arrival, goddess!"
"Um! I see."
Athena nodded calmly. "I want to understand what the Mu Continent is. Do you possess the ability to create battle garments?"
"Yes!"
Mu affirmed. "Our family has resided on the continent of Mu since its inception. Here, we have inherited a very special ability—an ability to forge and repair battle garments."
He continued, "In fact, extraordinary talents can use their own will to resurrect and evolve their battle garments."
"I see."
A clear realization dawned upon Athena. She understood that while her holy garments contained everything, they had yet to fully manifest. The 88 holy garments were gestating but could not be born. For a long time, Athena thought that time alone would suffice, but now she recognized that she was missing the most crucial element: the Mu Continent before her.
Though Athena cherished compassion, she was still a noble goddess. She observed everything before her with calm determination and stated, "If that is the case, summon all the people from Mu Continent to come here!"
"Yes!"
Mu retreated respectfully, his frail body seeming on the verge of collapse, yet his smile radiated joy because the awaited person had finally arrived.
Athena remained composed, holding the scepter of the earth as she gazed into the distance, lost in thought. She questioned whether her choice was right, but regardless of the answer, she knew she had to make this choice.
"Is this what my great-grandmother referred to as the guidance of fate?"
"It's frustrating!"
Athena shook her head, murmuring to herself, "No wonder every god seeks to surpass the confines of fate. It seems that while one thinks they are forging their own path, fate has already laid out the course. This feeling is truly maddening!"
Ultimately, Athena calmed herself, deciding that instead of lamenting over such dissatisfaction, it would be better to grow stronger and truly transcend fate.
"Are you certain there's no issue?"
On the other side, a young man regarded Mu seriously. "Brother! You must understand that the goddess in the prophecy has never materialized, and the prophecy..."
"Shut up!"
Mu's expression turned serious as he said, "Di Cao, you know very well that the prophecy has existed since our family's birth. How can you doubt its authenticity?"
"Brother!" Di Cao spoke boldly, "I have no doubts about the prophecy's authenticity, but in my eyes, is that goddess truly worthy of our family's loyalty? You know as well as I do, big brother, that after the extinction of the golden age, our family has managed to survive in this Silver Age era. If we leave the Mu Continent, what will become of us?"
Listening to Di Cao's words, Mu fell silent. He knew his brother had a point. Were things really that simple? They had survived until today against all odds, only to risk it all now?
"But!" Mu said quietly, "Dicao, this is our family's choice. Our fate has already arranged everything!"
Di Cao responded earnestly, "If that's the case, then I choose to withdraw. I refuse to entrust my life to this so-called fate. I am willing to accept the power of the magic star and become a fighter serving His Majesty Hades!"
With that declaration, strange laughter erupted as a skull transformed into a magic star and integrated into Di Cao's body. Instantly, Di Cao's aura surged, and everything began to shift.