Chapter 315 Gap
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The formless wind howled down from the peak of Mount Olympus, swirling around the endless mountain range.
Having received a 'heavy responsibility' from the hands of Zeus, Zephyrus naturally dared not delay.
Yet before setting out, he did not forget to carefully observe the mortal who had caused such a commotion.
It had been a thousand years since the Mortal Realm last saw a true sun, and the same was true for Zephyrus.
However, at this very moment, even he could not discern any difference between that human's power and that of the Ancient Sun God.
Caught between the Mount of the Gods and the Sky, it was as if the Titans of old had returned, venting their grievances and hatred against all Gods.
"No... there is indeed a difference."
"Those two Suns..."
His expression remained unchanged, but waves stirred in his heart.
The God of West Wind felt that he might have vaguely discovered some kind of secret.
Could those three flaming Suns that hung behind the Divine Chariot and swiftly traversed the Mortal Realm every day really be the sacred artifact left behind before the Ancient Sun God fell into eternal slumber?
He had thought so before, but now it seemed that the result might not be as he had imagined.
"Huff..."
"Perhaps I was just overthinking."
"It's merely a struggle for interests amongst the Gods, how could it have come to this?"
Exhaling a breath, Zephyrus thought that, for a deity, if there was anything more terrifying than eternal slumber, it was surely endless torment.
It was precisely because they thought this way that they gave eternal life to mortals who dared blaspheme and then subjected them to infinite suffering.
Eternal longevity was the great calamity of Hell, and such was the punishment Zeus inflicted upon Prometheus.
But compared to what he had just imagined, even the punishment received by the Forethinker seemed no more than this to Zephyrus.
Hyperion, once the ruler of the stars, it was truly unimaginable...
"Ha, I still think too much, but this does remind me nonetheless."
"Seeking allies beyond the Divine Court... His Majesty has his own calculations, but I must also do what I must, so who would be the most suitable to seek out?"
Casting aside his unease, the God of West Wind calculated in silence.
The Underworld... it was probably unnecessary.
Although the Divine King once swore not to interfere with the rule of his two brothers over the Underworld and the Ocean, nominally, both were Principal Gods of Olympus.
Besides, since the Divine King gained power rivaling the Primordial Gods, no one compared the three brothers together anymore.
So from this perspective, Hades was naturally out of the question.
And aside from Hades, be it the Goddess of the Nether Moon or the Lord of the Nether River, Zephyrus was not a new god born in this epoch, so how could he act knowing Achilles' 'origin.'
Thus, going to the Underworld was unnecessary and was naturally excluded from his range of choices.
As for the Ocean... its priority had to be placed further down the line.
Then, after a brief thought, Zephyrus moved and headed toward the sky above.
Although the Starry Sky did not compare to the Mount of the Gods, it had few limitations on deities, especially as one got closer to the depths of the stars.
Even for considerations of time, this was the God of West Wind's first chosen destination.
...
Deep in the starry sky, shrouded in darkness.
As he traveled among the various celestial bodies, Zephyrus remembered the divine battle that had once erupted here.
It was here that the Second Generation God King contended with the Ancient Sun God, but now they had both long since disappeared.
At that time, he merely roamed the peripheries, yet he had come this far today.
The affairs of the world were unpredictable, indeed beyond comprehension.
Even the very first person he visited today just happened to be another one involved back then.
...
"Greetings to you, revered Mother of Light."
"It has been thousands of years since our last meeting, and you are even more radiant."
In the pitch-black void, Zephyrus finally appeared on a remote blue celestial body. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire
A simple palace stood atop the celestial body, and if not certain he wasn't mistaken, it was hard to believe this was the dwelling of a Titan Deity.
But Zephyrus knew well that this secluded corner was where the ancient god, who had reached the pinnacle of Divine Power, resided.
Mother of Light, Theia; since Hyperion's defeat, she had not been seen by humans for ten thousand years.
Yet, even without direct contact, just observing the part of the godhood of [Light] that had been separated and wielded by Apollo, one could fathom what a might this Ancient Titan Goddess possessed.
"Revered Mother of Light, I come by order of the Divine King to inquire about a matter."
"..."
At first, no one responded to him, but when Zephyrus mentioned the name of Zeus, he finally heard a sound.
With the sound of a portal opening, after several thousand years, the God of West Wind finally met Theia again.
However, once she had been a presence he could not reach, and now, he was the Angel Envoy of the Divine King's command.
Tap-tap—
"Zephyrus... what brings you here."
She walked forward slowly, the light-colored long dress just grazing the floor.
Exiting from the temple, the Mother of Light calmly looked at this unexpected guest.
There was no hostility, but neither was there friendliness.
The God of West Wind knew that if it weren't for the Divine King's search, this reclusive ancient god would likely not even have acknowledged him.
Yet regardless, he had come with the will of the Divine King.
Whatever she thought, she had to hear the wishes he brought.
"Your Highness Theia, please forgive my impudence."
With a faint smile, Zephyrus did not go straight to the point.
He merely glanced over the barren stars and then, as if somewhat indifferently, asked:
"But before conveying His Majesty's will to you, there is a puzzle I wish to ask you about."
"To my knowledge, since the end of the epoch, His Highness Hyperion seems to have vanished for thousands of years."
"I wonder... if you have any whereabouts of him—"
Buzz—
Reflectively stepping back, Zephyrus's complexion changed drastically.
His words were not yet finished, but the shock of the void already swept over him.
There was no heaven-shaking momentum, no grand endless sound.
Yet, in an instant, Zephyrus only felt an immense force suppressing him.
He could resist, but any action would bring greater consequences.
At that moment, the little complacency he held since becoming a Principal God evaporated instantly in the face of Theia.
Such deep and vast Divine Power, authority several levels above his own.
Even with a part of [Light] separated by Apollo, Theia remained the supreme ruler of the world's domain of light.
"So this is the pinnacle of Great Divine Power, a being with the 'Divine Power Level of 20' as the Goddess of the Magic Net put it..."
"I cannot fathom the strength of Great Divine Power, but I can feel the might of a True God's extremity..."
An untimely shock arose in his heart, and Zephyrus did not doubt that if Theia exerted just thirty percent of her power, she could easily defeat him.
Such prowess... compared to Zeus, who rarely revealed his strength, Zephyrus felt a direct and immediate impression of Theia.
"Your Highness—please, stop."
"In fact, this is the very reason I have come."
"Currently, on Mount Olympus, there is an enemy holding a Divine Artifact. And that Divine Artifact..."
Summoning Divine Power to resist the immense pressure, Zephyrus slowly said: "That Divine Artifact feels exactly the same as that of His Highness Hyperion of old."
Swish—
In a blink, Theia appeared before Zephyrus.
The eyes of the Titan Goddess locked onto his, and the God of West Wind assured her once more.
"This is true; it was upon discovering this that I came here, intruding upon your hermitage."
"...you had best be speaking the truth."
Emotionless, the Mother of Light's heart did not actually harbor much anger.
Hyperion... she had warned him more than once, yet he persisted in his ways.
But whatever fate befell him, she had long ceased to care.
However, not caring was not the same as indifference; if there really was any sign of him, Theia would still be willing to see it for herself.
Especially considering what Zephyrus had just said—that it was a Divine Artifact with Hyperion's very essence.
If it truly was so...
"—Who?"
Lifting her head slightly, a divine glow seemed to flash in Theia's eyes.
Among the deep starry skies, a dim and lightless celestial body instantly turned to dust.
Yet, in the next moment, the Mother of Light looked in another direction.
Clearly, her attack had not harmed the true adversary.
"!"
Expression changing, it happened unexpectedly at her side.
Zephyrus immediately transformed into a shapeless airflow, moving away from this perilous celestial body.
He felt fortunate that until he successfully distanced himself, he did not encounter any presence intending harm.
"Who is it!"
Searching for the target at the first opportunity, the God of West Wind found nothing.
He only sensed a hidden power surrounding, opposing the Theia on that celestial body from afar.
"Hmm... you've been given a chance, yet you still won't run?"
Suddenly, a somewhat familiar female voice rang near his ear.
Zephyrus instinctively tried to dissolve into the wind again, but this time it was not as simple.
Like a heavy hammer pounding in his brain, the God of West Wind's vision went dark.
He dared not hesitate further and fled rapidly to a distant place.
Whoever dared to obstruct the Divine King's commands would pay the price.
But before that, Zephyrus thought it wiser to continue with the mission left incomplete.
"...Who are you, and why do you impede me."
Ignoring the departing wind god, Theia's gaze roamed the void as if looking at an invisible presence.
Until Zephyrus's aura gradually faded, that persistently moving presence finally paused.
As if realizing that she could not hide from Theia's sight, after a ripple in the void, the girl clad in a red dress finally revealed her form.
"It's you..."
As if recognizing this deity she had never actually met, Theia asked again: "Why do you seek to impede me?"
"Naturally, because that sword doesn't belong to you, besides, I promised someone else to give that dull fellow a hand."
Casually kicking away a floating shard of stone in the starry sky, Hecate sat directly on an irregular smaller celestial body.
Her expression was clearly a bit unhappy; if not for today's events, she would be sitting on the lunar chariot right now, savoring freshly made juice.
Hmm... not fruit wine, just juice.
Before turning blue, she always found juice far tastier than wine.
"I should help, yet I don't want to."
"I can't help it, I really don't like that Achilles fellow—he may seem humble, but in reality, he's incredibly arrogant."
"After much thought, I decided to find you."
"Hmm... in short, you aren't going anywhere today; the affairs of the Mortal Realm are none of your concern."
"... So, have we met before?"
Raising no doubts about other matters, Theia asked again.
Though not certain, she had a feeling that this entity's coming to her was perhaps not for just those reasons.
She seemed reluctant for her to be involved, especially after Zeus's invitation... In her calm, Theia suddenly realized.
Perhaps she ought not to just go, nor believe Zephyrus's words alone.
But the question remained; if just to find something to do, why stop the God of West Wind alone?
Then stopping her, what was it for?
"Have we met before? Of course not, nor do we need to know each other."
"Just stay where you are; why concern yourself with so much."
Pouting, swinging her little legs, Hecate affirmed she spoke no lies.
Even without Selene's connection, today she would still choose to stop Theia, and certainly wouldn't have stopped Zephyrus from leaving.
Having no choice, being one who held grudges, although Hecate never actively retaliated against the Light Deity, she wouldn't halt others from doing so either.
Especially this time, as she willingly stepped into that inescapable abyss...
"This is fate."
With an air of seriousness, Hecate remarked in passing.
Before coming, she had made a prophecy but saw nothing.
But seeing nothing was just that; it didn't concern her much.
To do what she wants to do, without regard for others' opinions.
As early as the Golden Age, Hecate had already learned this.
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