From the very beginning, only three of the eight god kings would emerge victorious, and Hades had already secured his place among them. For the others to have any hope of winning, they had to acknowledge that the price for victory was steep.
Poseidon and Athena's choice to collaborate with Hades underscored their understanding: Hades's triumph was a foregone conclusion. Their only path to victory lay through alliance or trade with him.
As the god-king banquet concluded, an eerie silence settled over the realm. The eight god kings did not rush into battle; instead, they seemed to be waiting for something, creating an unsettling atmosphere. What were they anticipating?
This stillness felt like the calm before a storm—a storm whose severity was unknown. Each god king understood that the danger lurking ahead could engulf them in an instant, erasing them from existence. Under such ominous conditions, vigilance was paramount.
What lay ahead was uncertain, yet the tension was palpable. When peril approached, its true nature remained hidden, revealing itself only when it was too late.
"Husband."
Both Persephone and Yan Mo addressed Hades as he returned to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Hades nodded, his voice calm. "Prepare to conclude the war with the gods that has yet to fully unfold."
"Understood," they replied, their expressions serious. The battle between heaven and earth had been long delayed, and Hades's emergence from his binding was just the beginning. Time was of the essence, and the conflict could no longer be postponed.
The previous god-king banquet had seen Zeus reduced to a mere spectacle. With that chapter now closed, it was time for Zeus's reign to come to an end—a conclusion that many among the god kings viewed as beneficial.
Yet, everything was just beginning. The stakes were high, and caution was essential. If the situation escalated uncontrollably, it could lead to chaos, especially with Zeus potentially plotting from the shadows.
Now was not the time for hesitation. Hades aimed to end the conflict between heaven and earth swiftly, dismissing the trivial games that had taken place. The need to act decisively had never been clearer.
Waves of divine power surged forth as Hades issued his orders. The underworld launched an all-out assault, its ferocity a thing of nightmares. The sheer pressure felt by the high heavens was overwhelming, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling.
In this atmosphere of dread, silence enveloped Gao Tianyuan. The weight of impending doom pressed down upon everyone, leaving them frozen in thought, contemplating their next moves.
Within a decade, the forces of Gao Tianyuan began to falter, their territory shrinking under the relentless advance of the underworld. If this trend continued, in another hundred years, Gao Tianyuan would face utter collapse.
"Huh..." Amaterasu exhaled a breath, her expression calm yet radiating a sense of urgency. "Tsukiyomi, Susanoo, you both sense it—the full might of the underworld is upon us."
Tsukiyomi and Susanoo remained silent, weighed down by the gravity of the situation. They had underestimated the power displayed by Hades and his allies, and now they faced an overwhelming force.
"This is dire," Tsukiyomi finally spoke. "Amaterasu, we must summon the elder gods. This conflict is beyond our capabilities. The strength exhibited by our enemy is far beyond what the three of us can manage."
Indeed, the difference in power was staggering. Once merely a god king, Hades had ascended to the realm of the Primordial gods. In this light, god kings were nothing more than ants—unworthy of attention.
The disparity between the two levels of power was unmistakable, and now the three god kings understood that they needed the assistance of their elder counterparts. This battle was no longer theirs alone to fight.