Chapter 638: Chapter 638: Foolishness
As they knelt, forces unknown to ordinary people flew from their heads and fell upon the twelve superior beings in front of them, some of which were absorbed.
Who knows how long it lasted.
A batch of armored men, carrying weapons, stepped into the palace.
"Is it over?"
Hearing this, the combatants stood up one by one, their eyes gleaming brightly, and were escorted out by the men.
After everyone was escorted away, a radiance erupted from John in the palace. A long-bearded man emerged and scoffed, "Truly foolish."
"Foolish?"
Elsewhere, a comet-like light heralded the arrival of a strikingly beautiful woman wearing a mini-skirt and high boots, clutching her boots in hand. She gracefully removed them and said, with a disdainful expression, "Ignorant beings. If you cannot reform your adorable ink stains, why then would they question the power of faith?"
"Heh, heh, well, well, dear sister—the righteous goddess of the hunt, Artemis!"
"Why? Is the faith in my sister’s power growing weaker lately? I feel like I barely amount to one anymore."
Instantly, Artemis’s expression darkened.
As the goddess of the hunt, during Ancient Times when human civilization was so undeveloped, she had been a chief deity of mortal faith.
But as technology advanced, humans began to forsake the survival era of hunting, and the strength derived from faith dwindled steadily.
Meanwhile, gods of travel, thieves, and medicine like Hermes flourished in the blossoming age of civilization!
Now Hermes’s might had begun to overshadow hers!
How could this not infuriate her?
Suddenly, in the palace, resembling divine light akin to John’s radiance, a man and a woman slowly appeared glowing brightly.
"Ingenious Shen Herdostos, goddess of love Aphrodite, and the chief goddess Wishehheh!"
The moment the three arrived, the faces of Atis and Hermes stiffened slightly.
Though their statuses were higher than many, they were not particularly special, especially when facing Wishehheh, who held a supreme rank among Olympus’s elite deities.
Why had she suddenly appeared now?
Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, glanced around and then slowly spoke: "Our brother is dead!"
"What did you say?"
Everyone was stunned.
Their brother? Dead?
Was this not one of the ten supreme gods of their divine realm?
How could this be?
Who could slay one of the ten supreme gods?
Before the group could question further, Hister, the god, slowly knelt down reverently in front of the lightning god’s statue and solemnly said, "The life of Ares, taken for our father’s reign, has fallen into mortal hands. High Deity Pu trusts us to deliver punishment!"
"What? Who has died? Ares? Truly?"
At Hestia’s declaration, everyone stared in disbelief, mouths agape.
Who was Ares?
He was one of the more veiled gods in darkness, also the unyielding embodiment of battle.
Since the rise of Xin Atu’s faith, they had awakened and waged war in recent years upon Mount Suss.
Ares had always been the protagonist of conquest upon Earth!
How many followers had succumbed to Ares’s overwhelming strength, delivering their souls forth willingly in prayer, providing him the power of faith?
Yet now, such an undefeated force, a god who always vanquished foes in battle, had been slain?
And according to Johnny Hestia, had perished by the hands of an ordinary mortal?
How could such a thing happen?
Only now, at the hearth of the gods, Zeus himself could be implored for guidance!
Hermes outright cried out in indignation, "How could such a thing be? Surely you’re joking, Husky!"
"Do you think the gods joke about matters like this?"
In response to Hermes’s protest, Jobster, wearing a perpetual solemnity, extended a light hand towards Hers.
An unfathomable pressure suddenly emerged—a force so overpowering that Hister trembled visibly, feeling compelled to kneel under this weight.
"Are you not kneeling yet?" The hearth goddess calmly observed Atles.
Following which, Atles, Hephaestus, and Alfred woke from their alarms. Though filled with doubt, they knelt one by one, uttering devout pledges.
Minute after minute ticked away, while Beijing Country’s treasury released a scorching flame from underfoot, opening a sealed package.
At that moment, a charismatic young man slowly emerged from the fire, saying, "My father’s divine soul has yet to fully awaken from slumber! What news do we have?"
"What—the Light God Apollo!"
Seeing the man, every figure present reacted cautiously.
Because—they knew within Jessis’s divine conference Apollo stood supreme—none of Jack’s champions were able to rival him!
Even some among their ranks harbored grievances towards Apollo’s wrathful power yet dared not challenge him!
This extended far across Earth!
The Vatican’s Great Emperor Hall was one of his greatest bastions of faith!
At Apollo’s arrival, Hestia hurriedly rose, declaring urgently, "Apollo Maris is dead!"
"What?"
The normally undaunted Apollo appeared momentarily startled, his tone growing grave. "Maris is dead? How did he perish?"
"We do not yet know."
Hestia was already accustomed to Apollo’s cold indifference and replied matter-of-factly, "Now, only a remnant of China’s divine body has been cultivated on Earth—a significant artifact awaits. Ares’s will rests with China!"
"If that’s the case, let it spread—followers extinguish China’s legacy entirely!" Apollo sneered, "Even such a minor task was incompetently handled."
As he finished, Apollo slowly turned and strode off.
"You—"
Hestia’s face darkened at Apollo’s contemptuous words.
Apollo was undoubtedly one of the strongest gods, but Hestia remained among the highly revered, with unmatched status.
Yet now, Apollo dared speak so brazenly. How could she not feel indignant?
However, she knew nothing of "Apollo’s greater plan." His grasp upon Earth extended across millennia into Tang Dynasty mythology! He sought to expand dominion within the Water Realm, utilizing crucial relics. And destruction alone would prove useless; Ares’s final transmission hinted at the identity of his killer.
"Oh?"
As Apollo approached the fire’s edge, he halted, turning slowly. "Who could assassinate Ares?"
"I still do not know."
Hestia shook her head in frustration.
"Indeed!"
Apollo nodded briefly and mused, "Tang Shixin, a figure so insignificant as a mongrel or ant, dares claim any hold upon divine mythos? Where is Michael?"
Suddenly, a great flutter resonated across the void!
Forth emerged Gong Yu—a dazzling winged man radiant in golden brilliance, kneeling before Apollo with utmost grace. "Light God Apollo! My lord, your word is beyond reproach."
"Summon Yang Chuan alongside all Great Angels. Bring China forth, deliver the mortal before divine justice. Whether they resist or kneel, let their fate unfold without attachment." Apollo calmly instructed Michael.
Stepping into divine elegance, Michael smiled knowingly, matching Apollo’s aura, and replied with assurance, "Worry not, great Apollo, my lord! Where your sword’s fate beckons, all shall bow before its might. Even alone, your Michael shall succeed."