บท 23: Chapter 23: A Surplice and the Chaos Sea Beneath the Black Sea
Thirty thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. For Hades, this period was primarily spent in intense meditation, deepening his understanding of various laws and refining his divine power. He had been diligent but constrained. Without reclaiming a crucial part of his essence, he was capped at the pinnacle of a major god. Only after retrieving this essence could he advance to the level of a Titan Lord and eventually ascend to the status of a God-King.
During these millennia, Hades also made significant progress. He deepened his mastery of the laws of the Seven Deadly Sins, fully integrating the Great Sin Crest and the Great Sin Crown into a powerful artifact. Combined with the power of the magic stars, this artifact became a perfect tool to control the Seven-Headed, Ten-Horned Red Dragon, ensuring absolute dominance over the beast.
Aside from this, his greatest achievement during this time was this artifact, now a critical component in managing the dragon. After thirty thousand years, Prometheus finally completed his preparations and approached Hades.
"Lord Hades!" Prometheus bowed respectfully. "I apologize for the delay. Preparations took longer than expected, but we are now ready to proceed."
Hades nodded silently in acknowledgment.
Prometheus took the lead, guiding Hades. Their journey was swift, taking only ten years to reach a colossal whirlpool.
Hovering above the vortex, Prometheus' white robe billowed as he explained, "Lord Hades, the two Crystals of Technique are hidden beneath this whirlpool. However..."
Before Prometheus could finish, a cacophony erupted. Sea monsters, beasts, and sirens emerged from the depths, their eyes gleaming with a ravenous hunger as they surrounded the whirlpool, emitting deafening roars.
Prometheus sighed, "Lord Hades, this is our first obstacle. These creatures draw power from the Sea Realm and cannot be killed."
Hades understood immediately. He extended his hand, and a dark purple light emanated. Magic stars transformed into eerie skulls, and a moment later, dark purple chains shot out, ensnaring the sea beasts, monsters, and sirens.
Sealed by the power of the magic stars, these creatures let out enraged howls but were utterly immobilized. This was the sealing power inherent to the magic stars. Without any forewarning, even a God-King might struggle to break free from such a seal.
As Hades subdued the myriad sea creatures, one magic star pulsed softly. Following the signal, Hades' gaze landed on a peculiar creature, a beast with a dolphin's body, a fish's tail, and a dog's head, which was howling madly.
Cetus, the Whale Beast.
In certain myths, it was said that Hades created this monster with his own blood, intending it to be a secret weapon to overthrow Zeus and claim the throne of the God-King.
Such tales were wildly exaggerated. The idea that a mere sea monster could defeat Zeus was absurd. Even Typhon, the father of all monsters and the last of the Titans created by the primordial goddess Gaia, had been defeated.
Hades scrutinized Cetus and then commanded the magic star to devour it entirely.
Tianshen Star absorbed Cetus, and with the combination of the magic star's essence, black gemstones, and Cetus, a new Surplice was forged. It rested silently on an altar, awaiting its future bearer.
This unexpected gain pleased Hades. While the Crystals of Technique left by the Ancient God were the primary objective, acquiring a Surplice was a welcome bonus.
The entire encounter transpired swiftly, so much so that even Prometheus was unaware of what had occurred.
Observing the sealed sea creatures, Prometheus continued, "Lord Hades, I will now open the passage to the depths."
Hades waited patiently. Prometheus raised his hands, gathering a vast amount of divine power to form a barrier. The whirlpool transformed into a gateway leading to an unknown realm.
Together, Hades and Prometheus descended into the vortex. As they vanished from sight, the sea above returned to its tranquil state, as if nothing had happened.
They found themselves in an expansive, labyrinthine divine pathway. This passage, constructed by an Ancient God, was inaccessible to ordinary gods. Only with the barrier Prometheus had prepared could they proceed.
Hades, inherently unique as a born God-King, merely endured the passage's trials. Such barriers were ineffective against him.
Soon, they emerged into a vast, open space, a world unto itself.
"Black Sea..." Hades surveyed the surroundings, recognizing the place instantly. He also confirmed Prometheus's words.
Though they had signed an Absolute God's Pact, and Prometheus sacrificing himself to trap Hades seemed unlikely, Hades remained wary. The Black Sea was perilous, and trusting Prometheus entirely was not an option.
"Black Sea!" Prometheus echoed, then added, "Lord Hades, the Crystals of Technique are not hidden within the Black Sea itself. According to my calculations, we are fortunate to have arrived during the ebb tide. The Black Sea's tide cycle of 30,000 years would otherwise engulf this realm. We have only 3,000 years before the tide returns, so we must act swiftly to reach the deepest part of the Black Sea and retrieve the Crystals."
"Understood." Hades's response was terse. He harbored no illusions about Prometheus's warnings. He trusted his instincts over Prometheus's reassurances.
They pressed on toward the depths of the Black Sea. The sea's waters carried the Law of Decay, and countless gods had been eroded by its power over the eons. These gods, now mere puppets of the Black Sea, guarded its depths, ready to destroy any intruders.
These puppets, like the sea monsters above, were immortal, their very essence tied to the Black Sea's corrupting influence. Hades used the magic stars to seal them away, enabling their passage.
After a journey that lasted nearly a millennium, they finally reached the heart of the Black Sea, where it connected to the Chaos Sea.
The Chaos Sea Beneath the Black Sea
The Chaos Sea was a realm of primordial forces, a place where reality and chaos intertwined. It was here, in the most hidden recesses of the Black Sea, that the Crystals of Technique were said to be located.
Peering into the abyss, Hades and Prometheus stood at the threshold of a domain few dared to enter.
Prometheus, maintaining his composure, remarked, "The Crystals of Technique are somewhere within this vast expanse. We must be cautious. The Black Sea's ebb will not protect us here. The forces within the Chaos Sea are far more dangerous and unpredictable."
Hades nodded, taking in the gravity of their task. The path ahead was fraught with peril, but the potential rewards—a glimpse into the forgotten techniques of the gods—were worth the risk.
As they prepared to descend into the Chaos Sea, Hades couldn't help but reflect on the vastness of the cosmos and the mysteries it held. Each step brought him closer to unlocking the secrets of divine combat, and perhaps, a future where he could shape his destiny.
The journey into the depths of the Black Sea and beyond was only beginning. With the Crystals of Technique within reach, Hades and Prometheus faced challenges that would test their resolve and reveal the true nature of their alliance.
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