"Has the goddess Demeter fallen?"
In the sky garden above the interstellar city, Peperoncino, upon receiving the message, wore a surprised expression.
“Those humans are really capable,” Aphrodite said, her face showing displeasure.
“They’re not human, Goddess,” Peperoncino said calmly to Aphrodite. “You’ve seen those who fought against Kirstalia on the front lines; you should know better than we do what kind of opponents they are.”
Aphrodite raised an eyebrow and then revealed a beautiful smile: "She is just a nascent being who has only recently been established as a new god. It's just that because her powers are similar to Demeter's, she resonated with them unnecessarily, causing her to relax in battle."
"Is this how you view the death of your companion goddess?" Peperoncino asked.
“Discontented, you human who calls yourself Peperoncino?” Aphrodite said leisurely.
“Please allow me to say a few more harsh words, these are my most frank thoughts,” Peperoncino said. “You are not a good woman, you are far more charming in the myths of pan-human history than you are now. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, daughter of Zeus who sometimes also has the side of death. It is said that Aphrodite is a goddess with two sides, but I can only see one side of her now.”
"Disappointed? As a human, you see that the goddess does not meet your expectations?" Aphrodite smiled indifferently, still scrutinizing the other party with a condescending attitude.
“How could that be… I was just reminding the goddess that no matter how you view the fall of Demeter, you should not continue to underestimate that man,” Peperoncino said. “Regardless of the reason for the defeat, that man did indeed personally destroy three Olympian gods. This process was very meaningful for the new gods, just like the great god Zeus is now.”
Defeat the old gods and reign as a new one.
In Greek mythology, this is how the lineage of the Olympian gods originated.
Uranus, Cronus, and Zeus.
"Are you saying that I will also become that man... no, that newborn god who ascends the steps to the throne of God?"
“I cannot answer that,” Peperoncino said. “My supernatural powers are not yet sufficient to foresee the fate of the gods. There is only one thing—”
“Tell me about it?” Aphrodite looked at him.
"Whether gods or humans, all can perish by underestimating their enemies. There are many similar examples in the myths of pan-human history," Peperoncino calmly pointed out.
Aphrodite laughed: "What an interesting remark. You are indeed an interesting human. If you could just obediently choose to submit to us, you wouldn't have to continue following Kirshtalia, anxiously waiting for your former companions to come knocking on your door."
“I’m not worried. After all, besides Kirschtaria, only Debit still has a fighting chance among the remaining Hidden Ones.” Peperoncino didn’t care. “All I can do is stand by Kirschtaria’s side until we are defeated and not betray his trust.”
"That's why I say it's a pity, humans."
Aphrodite shook her head, her attitude as casual as if she were regretting not getting the item she wanted.
In this respect, she bears some resemblance to the woman in Pan-Human History who seduced Paris for the golden apple.
Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Genius's Lack of Confidence
Seeing the once bustling interstellar city transformed into a wasteland resembling a post-apocalyptic wasteland, even Kirshtalia couldn't help but show a slight expression of surprise.
Standing atop these desolate ruins, amidst the swirling sandstorm, Kirshtalia gazed at the sky, a sense of melancholy suddenly rising within her.
When was the last time I felt this way?
Was it the assassination attempt that happened when I was fifteen?
"You're actually here, Kirshtalia?" Hinako's voice sounded from behind. "Coming to a place like this without a single guard, Chaldea will probably launch an attack immediately if they find you."
“Thank you for your concern, but I was not that relaxed. I only left my post out of curiosity to conduct a little investigation on the battlefield left by the goddess Demeter,” Kirshtalia said calmly.
Hinako Akuta said expressionlessly, "I'm not worried about you. A man like you doesn't need anyone to worry about him. But if you get killed in a place like this, the whole plan to call us here will be ruined."
"It's ok."
That's all Kirshtalia said. Then, before Hinako Akuta could say anything more, he changed the subject.
"But then again, it was truly an extraordinary battlefield; even the goddess Demeter was shot down."
His expression was quite serious, making it impossible to tell whether he was feeling regret or lamenting.
"This means that Chaldea... no, that man has grown to a rather troublesome level, and the alien apostles are all just watching from the sidelines," said Hinako Akuta.
“According to the intelligence we received, it seems that Professor Shiomi has separated from the others. He only took two companions with him, and then entered the interstellar city without any attempt to conceal his whereabouts, engaging in a high-profile battle with the defense forces, which eventually escalated into a battle with the goddess Demeter.” Kirshtalia turned around. *Clang*
He was standing in the center of the crater where Demeter had disappeared.
"Are you saying that the man did this on purpose?" Hinako Akuta frowned.
It's hard to say whether it's reasonable or not.
Without rear support, they were invincible, killing anyone who stood in their way. It seemed to be going smoothly, but it had the air of a high-stakes gamble.
"not only that."
Kirshtalia gently waved her wand, tracing it through the air.
Then, a series of magical reactions occurred, marking a path leading away from the crater and away from the western ruins.
Tracking magic.
Track down the target by using the magical residue left at the scene.
"That man must have a lot of combat experience, right? Why would he leave such... amateurish marks?" Hinako Akuta couldn't help but mutter to herself.
As soon as she finished speaking, she realized what she had said and her face lit up with disbelief.
"Wait a minute, could it be that tide Jian Tianxi did this on purpose?"
"Given the current situation, this is the only possibility," Kirshtalia said. "To break away from that warship, operate alone on Olympus, and to carry out this operation so conspicuously—"
Hinako Akuta hesitated for a moment: "Are you using yourself as bait?"
“Without a doubt.” Kirshtalia gave a somewhat helpless smile. “And it’s quite a sweet bait. My ally, the great god Zeus, probably didn’t even realize this. Instead, he saw it as the incompetence of mortals and prepared to unleash even greater power to annihilate them.”
But the truth is that Shiomi used this method to attract the attention of Olympus, especially the great god Zeus, and to draw other gods closer.
The ruins in the western region of the interstellar city show that once a full-scale war with the gods begins, the surrounding area becomes unsafe.
"It seems that Shiomi-sensei is deliberately separating the battlefield from the main force to reduce damage to friendly forces." Thinking of this, Kirshtalia added.
“Luring and killing a god…” Hinako Akuta stared at Kirshtalia, “If anyone else had said that, I would have thought that person had gone mad.”
“But that’s just how it is,” Kirshtalia shook her head. “Even if I tried to stop him, Zeus wouldn’t listen.”
They are indeed allies, capable of communicating on equal footing.
But even Kirshtalia cannot overturn a decision that has already been made.
So what do you plan to do?
"In short, neither you nor Peperoncino should fight alone again," Kirshtalia said seriously. "Whatever the final outcome, the three of us, as Hidden Ones, should face the battle against Chaldea together."
Otherwise, it's hard to say whether they would get caught up in the battle of the Olympian gods.
Even if she were an immortal elf, Hinako Akuta would probably be unable to revive under such extreme circumstances and would be completely annihilated.
"You're actually worried about your companions?" Hinako Akuta asked, slightly surprised.
“Accept my offer, become Hidden Ones together, and launch a rebellion against Pan-Human History,” Kirshtalia said. “We were originally comrades. Even if we were to become rivals in the end, that would be after the victory.”
"Is that so? Xiang Yu, Saber, and I will all stay in the rear and await orders."
Hinako Akuta did not deny Kirshtalia's attitude. She turned and left without seeing Kirshtalia nod slightly in thanks.
Once Hinako's figure disappeared above the crater, Kirshtalia glanced at the traces left by Shiomi and couldn't help but sigh.
The great cause he pursued had already been achieved by someone else.
Although I really wanted to try to persuade Shiomi, I knew there was no way I could.
pat-
A light, soft thud was heard as the object landed.
“It seems that it was the right thing to call you back with a Command Spell while your magical reactions were still active,” Kirshtalia said.
Katniss clicked her tongue in amazement: "The interstellar city has been reduced to this horrible state. Those Chaldea guys—"
“Don’t worry about it. The odds of winning are getting lower and lower, but even so, I don’t intend to give up.” Kirshtalia remained calm. “I called you back simply because I hope you will continue to fight for me and witness how this Lostbelt will end.”
"That's strange, I never thought you'd say such discouraging things," Katniss remarked, but she also realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Disappointing remarks?" Kirshtalia looked surprised. "Was what I just said discouraging?"
“That’s how it sounds to me anyway,” Katniss said.
"I see."
Kirshtalia had an expression of having made a new discovery.
A born genius, a magician capable of changing the world.
For the first time, this man lacked the absolute certainty he had about what he was about to do.
Similarly, this was the first time in Kirshtalia's life that she lacked absolute confidence in the inevitable battle.
Chapter Eighty Bathing
"Well……"
When Shio opened her eyes, she saw Morgan's smiling, azure eyes.
He lay on a patch of green grass, his head resting on Morgan's lap, while she sat on the ground with her knees bent.
"Did you sleep well, my husband?" Morgan asked in a low voice.
"How long have I slept?"
"About an hour."
The only response he received was from Scáthach, who was emerging from a nearby pond. Water droplets gathered on her spotless body, forming small streams that trickled down her flawless white skin.
“It’s been quite a long time.” tide Jian sat up.
This is the forest area in the eastern part of the interstellar city. After the battle with Demeter ended, they moved all the way here.
After all, there was no point in staying in those ruins, as they could not pose a sufficient threat to Zeus.
Only by demonstrating their continued commitment to destroying interstellar cities can they force the Olympian gods to take further action.
"Why is Master taking a bath..." tide Jian was halfway through her complaint when she noticed that Morgan was also simply wearing a cloak and no clothes, and his body was still damp.
Then Xijian remembered that when she fell asleep earlier, she had been resting her head on her master's lap.
On the grass where they were, there was only a large, soft blanket.
"Thanks to my beloved disciple, I am covered in sand and dust." Scáthach brushed her hair aside. "Although appearances are trivial matters on the battlefield, since we need to conserve our energy, why not take this opportunity to bathe and cleanse ourselves, just in case?"
“That makes sense…” tide Jian didn’t mean to criticize her master’s behavior. “I mean, it wasn’t discovered, right?”
Morgan laughed at this point: "With my husband here, it's not difficult to deceive the all-knowing and all-powerful God. If you're uneasy, you can confirm it now."
"That's good." tide Jian breathed a sigh of relief.
As Morgan said, the covert operation continued smoothly, and Olympus lost track of them.
After leaving the western part of the interstellar city, Shiomi deliberately used her familiar to guide the three of them to the urban area before stopping.
They quietly entered the woodland in the eastern part of the interstellar city to rest.
The battle with Demeter also took a toll on Shiomi.
After all, the goal is not to defeat, but to kill a god, which requires even more absolute power. Otherwise, Demeter might escape unscathed, just like before.
After hiding, tide Jian took a nap.
“My beloved disciple, why don’t you take a shower too?” Scáthach sat down and reached out to unbutton his shirt. “You’re covered in filth, like you’ve been rolling around in the mud.”
“…It’s time to take a shower.” tide Jian hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.
After all, there are readily available and convenient conditions right now.
He got up from the ground, took off his clothes, and jumped into the crystal-clear pool water to wash away the dust and grime from his journey.
"Speaking of which, where are Artoria and the others right now?" Morgan said.
“I can’t give you the specifics either. I just left behind ravens to guide them, so they could avoid our route and try to avoid contact with the power of Olympus.” Shiomi wiped the water from her hair. “And considering that we’ve only just entered this place, Zeus was able to quickly summon lightning to intercept us…”
"Are you saying that the vanguard composed of Pan-Human History followers has likely been wiped out?" Scáthach asked.
“Perhaps they’ve been wiped out, or perhaps some survivors remain.” Shio shook her head, giving an ambiguous assessment. “Contacting Sakura and the others now would bring unnecessary trouble to the special operations team. Once they are targeted and become Zeus’s primary target for elimination, we will also be hampered.”
"So you mean we should at least take care of the interstellar cities and the forces below before contacting Storm Border and the Special Forces?" Morgan asked.
Shiomi nodded in agreement: "At least for now, this is the safest approach. After all, unlike Lostbelts, we can't afford to sacrifice even half a person..."
Even if all Chaldea survivors except Shiomi were to die in battle, it wouldn't fundamentally damage the situation, but Shiomi simply couldn't accept such an outcome.
Therefore, we must always be at the forefront, making sure that the enemy's most dangerous firepower falls on us, and then crush us all.
"How do you feel?" Scáthach suddenly asked.