I Am Hades, Lord of the Underworld!

Aether's divine body shimmered with boundless light.

At this moment!

Aether felt an entirely new kind of divine power, something he could never have imagined, no matter how much he had tried to conceive it before.

Soon enough, Aether regained his composure, but the divine power emanating from him now clearly indicated that he was no longer just an ordinary Chief God of the Titans. He had truly ascended to the level of a God-King.

Aether exhaled softly, returning to his original position, and smiled at those around him. "Miss Hestia, thank you for your help."

"It's nothing, really," Hestia responded casually with a playful smile. "It's not a big deal. But! You should be careful yourself. In theory, as Mother Goddess mentioned, absorbing the Heart of Space and inheriting the position of Lord of the Astral Realm in the Underworld should allow you to reach the level of a God-King."

"However..."

"I understand!" Aether interrupted without any irritation, smiling. "Compared to a true God-King, I am more like a weak one. I didn't advance step by step; instead, I was forced to this level. It will take a long time to make up for the foundational gaps."

In simple terms, Aether's foundation was insufficient.

Aether had absorbed the Heart of Space and, with the power of the Underworld's Astral Realm, had forcefully ascended to the level of a God-King. This was a shortcut, a way to reach the God-King level. Is he a God-King? Yes, undoubtedly!

But!

If we were to rank it, where a normal progression to God-King would put one's foundational level at 50, and Hades' deeply rooted foundation at 80 upon reaching God-King, then Aether would be at level 1.

Exactly!

The difference was that vast. Aether would need a long time to stabilize and restore his foundation, to gradually climb back up. But this wasn't really a big deal since Aether didn't need to jump straight into battle.

Moreover.

A God-King!

A God-King is the clear demarcation between the upper and lower tiers. Even if Aether was a weak God-King, compared to Mephisto or Moriah—who had reached the pinnacle of the Chief God of Titans—he could easily overpower them.

No joke!

That's the real difference, the terror of a God-King. In the original myth, when Zeus left and passed the position of God-King to Apollo, Apollo's situation was exactly like Aether's now—forcefully elevated to the level of a God-King.

Yet, even so, Apollo was still an invincible God-King. That's the difference between a God-King and those below. Even if I'm an underdeveloped God-King, I'm still a God-King.

Simultaneously!!!

At the moment of Aether's transformation and elevation to the God-King level, an infinite amount of divine power began spreading out from the Underworld. Could Hades not stop this? That would be a joke! 

With Hades' power, sealing everything would be exceedingly easy. After all! The aura of the Seven-Headed Ten-Horned Red Dragon, Mephisto, and the Seventy-Two Demon Gods had not leaked out to date.

Some things can be hidden, while others should be revealed at the right time. It's a way of letting everyone know: I have power, so you'd better behave.

"…"

Mephisto, who was hiding in the upper realm and making his moves, suddenly sensed something. He looked up curiously and murmured, "Is this… Aether's aura?"

"Hehehe~~~"

Mephisto removed his hat, elegantly performed a gentleman's bow, and congratulated, "Aether, congratulations! You've taken the lead. Now, I must work even harder."

After that, Mephisto put his gentleman's hat back on and continued with his arrangements, laying the groundwork for the Seven Heroes to help him take the final step.

Similarly!

At the same time that Mephisto sensed it, Moriah also felt it. She murmured, "Aether, did you succeed? That's wonderful!"

A beautiful smile appeared on Moriah's face, and without further words, she quietly resumed her work.

Moriah and Mephisto.

These two strongest deities of the Underworld, besides Aether, were busy working on their paths to becoming God-Kings.

A God-King!

A God-King!

Those two words represent the road that countless gods pursue with fervor and madness. For many gods, they lack the qualification even to glimpse or imagine the level of a God-King.

For Mephisto, he ascended from being a devil to a demon god in the last Mythical World. When the Mythical World perished, he created Contract Hell to survive, later being captured by the Demon Star and becoming one of Hades' underworld gods.

His goal was to reach the level of a God-King, and all this time, following Lord Hades, the path that was once blocked had been opened.

This is Hades' uniqueness. Hades grew from the foundation of the World Tree, and each god who follows him is, in essence, an original god of a budding Mythical World.

Without Hades' restrictions, they are fundamentally on par with the eight Ancient Gods. Hence, the path ahead is open.

This is why, despite Hades himself being merely a God-King, the Underworld has the potential to birth other God-Kings. Although it is very difficult, either requiring time or the completion of very challenging rituals to advance further.

Rituals!

Well~~~

Simply put, it's similar to how Aether absorbed the Heart of Space to become the Lord of the Astral Realm. It's a transformation of authority and essence, and not everyone can ascend to God-King without assuming duties and responsibilities like Hades.

Mephisto and Moriah, in contrast to Aether's inherent Heart of Space, need to find their own paths step by step.

This is the basic requirement for reaching God-King status. They are not like Hades, who was born a God-King. For born God-Kings like Hades, the challenge is figuring out how to step into the Ancient God level, initially breaking free from the chains of fate, and ultimately becoming a Creator God, truly escaping destiny's grasp.

But for these gods, their focus is on stepping into the God-King level, which comes with many demands.

Still!

Regardless, that infinite divine power has announced to the entire Mythical World that the first God-King level deity of the Underworld has been born.

Lord of the Astral Realm: God of Space, Aether!!!

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Read Ahead

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