"Hehehe"
Erebus chuckled lightly, his demeanor calm as he continued, "Because of this, Nyx and I have chosen to hide in this darkness. Otherwise, we would gradually be consumed by the night."
Hades nodded, responding, "But that's not the only reason you are willing to help me."
His voice was cold, devoid of emotion—not by design, but simply reflective of his feelings. Yet, he remembered the assistance Erebus and Nyx had provided him. They were the first he sought out when he needed aid. From their initial intervention to their continued support, Hades would not forget their kindness. This was why he had come here to express his inquiries.
"Yes!" Erebus affirmed with a smile. "Hades, do you believe that Gaia has reached the pinnacle of the Primordial gods? When compared to the Lord of the Heavens, the two of us are not lacking. But tell me, how long do you think it will take for us to break through and become absolute gods?"
Erebus posed this question, clearly having ventured into the realm of Japanese mythology, as he had an understanding of the Lord of the Heavens' power.
In fact, Gaia and the Lord of the Heavens had already ascended to the apex of the Primordial gods. Such divine power is nearly impossible to surpass, especially for the younger generation of gods. This represents the highest limit achievable in any great world.
Just as there are tiers among god kings, Primordial gods are no different. While Hades might compete with older Primordial gods, he faced a vast chasm when confronting top-tier gods like Gaia and the Lord of the Heavens. Without the right background or fortune, bridging this gap would be nearly impossible.
However, Hades' father, the supreme Titan king Cronus, had once reached this apex in his prime. Yet, even Cronus, a top-tier Primordial god, was ultimately meaningless under the world's diminishing influence. He was eventually overthrown by the heirs of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, as fate dictated.
This helplessness under the world's design illustrates that even at the height of power, it can become insignificant. Under the world's might, everything loses meaning.
This is the limitation imposed on gods by the world. Yet, this is just one grand realm; each world is unique. Although absolute gods are credited with creating their realms, they do not govern their development. Each realm evolves based on circumstances, and the final outcome is often unpredictable.
"They will never break through."
Hades replied to Erebus, his tone calm. "Among the heavens and worlds, Gaia and the Lord of the Heavens have already transcended into absolute gods. They are the true rulers—absolute deities of the earth and the cosmos. Others cannot hope to reach that level, which is indisputable. However, the duration of an absolute god's retreat is too long to affect them directly."
Since ascending to Primordial status, Hades had learned much. In reality, the number of absolute gods is limited. Although many transcendents may have emerged since the birth of the cosmos, this number remains relatively small.
Erebus nodded, affirming, "Indeed! Just as you said, Gaia and the Lord of the Heavens cannot break through, and the same is true for us. We are constrained by the world. Whether in the Chaos Sea or among the heavens and worlds, we cannot progress further."
Erebus shook his head, his expression marked by calmness tinged with bitterness. This is the most ironic aspect of being a Primordial god. Hades transitioned from god king to Primordial god, which gave him the confidence to control his fate and incorporate others into his strength.
But for the Primordial gods, such advancements are nearly impossible. It is an outrageous irony! Gods are bound by their nature, making it impossible for them to truly restrain themselves.
This is why Gaia and the Lord of the Heavens must first retreat to stabilize their transcendent state before they can attempt to regain their original selves. The limitations on their strength are unalterable.
No doubt exists: a Primordial god's success is also a burden. Their identity as Primordial gods is what leads them to this despair.
"So..."
Nyx expressed her thoughts, "Hades, do you now see? For Primordial gods, this so-called invincible power often feels more like a shackle. Any other god can pursue countless avenues for growth, but as Primordial gods, we find ourselves in a hopeless situation."
"Um." Hades nodded, his tone steady. "For Primordial gods, this is indeed a most hopeless predicament. In this case, we can enter the Underworld. With the absorption of Hell and the Underworld, this realm has already evaded the world's influence."
This confidence allowed Hades to make many more choices.
Now, Hades had surpassed the world's limitations, though he had not transcended the boundaries of fate. What his father could not accomplish, Hades now had the potential to do.
Perhaps if Cronus were aware of this, he would feel a mix of outrage and disbelief—striving desperately to achieve what Hades had managed to accomplish so effortlessly.