"Hypnos?"
"Um?!"
Thanatos, despite his fierce demeanor, was far from foolish. The gods were no fools; their wisdom was born from countless ages of experience. Thus, while Thanatos felt a bit perplexed, he maintained his composure.
Hypnos explained calmly, "His Majesty has already demonstrated the necessity of self-restraint. The strength of the Underworld has reached its peak. Now, we must stabilize this power."
Thanatos nodded in understanding. "If we continue to restrain ourselves, the weak will be absorbed, leading to exhaustion. When it comes time to absorb the strong, significant problems could arise."
Hypnos affirmed, "Exactly. This is our greatest concern. The solution is clear: we must approach this situation with caution."
Thanatos agreed, realizing that Hades' pause was not merely precautionary. It was a strategic choice to allow the Underworld's strength to stabilize and grow steadily, ensuring that as they continued to evolve, they would remain themselves.
Hades' confidence in his subordinates was unwavering; he knew they would follow his lead without question. Their intelligence meant they understood his intentions without the need for elaborate explanations.
"I see," Thanatos said, then turned to leave. Hypnos, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes in thought. "Eris, how is your endeavor progressing? Zeus's impending downfall is ultimately irrelevant if we don't adapt."
Hypnos recognized that Eris should ideally return to the Underworld, especially since the situation had shifted drastically—Metis was gone, Prometheus dealt with, and Zeus was on the verge of defeat. Yet, she chose to remain in the outside world, likely plotting something significant.
On the Magic Star, a heartbeat resonated as a soul arrived, having traveled from the heavens to the Underworld, much like Dington. This soul was the epitome of an Underworld warrior.
The Magic Star had greatly evolved through this trans-dimensional journey. As Hades' intrinsic treasure, it had absorbed immense power over time. With the transformations of Hades' attire, helmet, sword, and the Magic Star itself, it had become a formidable artifact.
As time passed, the enhancements became apparent. Even in different realms, the power of the Magic Star rivaled that of Hades' other possessions. This growth was a positive development for Hades, who welcomed the evolution of his treasures.
The transformations had been numerous, and now, the Magic Star had undergone a remarkable change—particularly in how it shaped the Underworld warriors.
Suddenly, a pair of eyes opened, revealing a figure radiating an aura of death, like one emerging from a mountain of corpses. The figure's presence was both eerie and commanding.
With a chilling smile, the new warrior knelt respectfully, declaring loyalty. For the Underworld fighters, their devotion to Hades surpassed that to any other deity, even the queen or high commanders. They were Hades' most loyal subjects.
At that moment, Hades observed the newly born warrior with a calm, indifferent gaze. His expression revealed no emotion, yet it was clear he valued the loyalty of his fighters above all.
This new warrior, dubbed the Corpse Turtle: Leo, was a perfect embodiment of the Underworld's might, akin to Dington in strength and purpose.