I Am Hades, The supreme GOD of the Underworld!

The essence of war lies in greed and desire.

For humanity, these two elements — greed and desire — have always driven their progress. Unending greed and desire push humanity to continually improve, propelling them forward with each advance.

Whether it's self-improvement or technological progress, this is humanity's core. The more they possess, the more they crave. Humanity's desires and greed are boundless. That is what humanity is: complex beings whose growth stems from their greed and desire, the very heart of human progress.

In truth, this drive is universal across all life. Desire, regardless of its form, compels living beings to improve. Even the gods are subject to it; it is their yearning for higher realms that fuels their endless pursuit of power. This hunger for advancement is at the core of all existence.

Yet, for humanity, these traits of greed and desire are particularly pronounced, evolving into a relentless motivation that makes them, in essence, the protagonists of their world. This aspect of humanity remains unchanged through time.

Prometheus only paused briefly to reflect on these thoughts before he returned to his work. Teaching humanity was no laughing matter. He couldn't afford to be careless, for the cost of negligence was one the great mythological world would make clear. Humanity, especially in the Silver Age, was cherished, a race regarded almost like a beloved child.

In this era, humans were crafted to near perfection. With potential, ambition, greed, and creativity all fused together, they were held in the highest regard, embodying all the qualities that made them worthy of the gods' attention.

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The Mortal Realm

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The thunderous battle cries filled the air as countless humans clashed. Terrifying screams and roars echoed as human warfare surged forward with violence and brutality. In each confrontation, it was as if they sought to consume each other entirely. This ferocity was the hallmark of humanity.

No matter the time, humans could always unleash shocking levels of potential and greed, devouring everything their enemies possessed until nothing remained. This was the frightening power of humanity.

Amidst the bloody battlefield, Mephistopheles smiled. Clad in a black suit and hat, he looked less like a gentleman and more like a demon.

Indeed, Mephistopheles was a demon. More than that, he was a demon god. His voice was magnetic and full of delight as he spoke, "Marvelous! Humanity! Grow quickly, keep growing! Only through the fires of war will heroes emerge."

"Amazing! Heroes!"

His smile grew wider and more manic until he looked like a man possessed. The long years of waiting had finally paid off. The Heroic Age was at hand, and new heroes were set to be born. The anticipation was exhilarating. Who would these heroes be?

"Humans! Do not disappoint me!" Mephistopheles' eyes gleamed with intense excitement, looking almost like a crazed demon who had prepared meticulously for this moment. He watched the war unfold, noting every detail as humanity grew rapidly through battle.

"Splendid!"

"Keep growing, humanity!"

Mephistopheles cast one last, lingering look at the surviving humans on the battlefield, who were now celebrating their victory and looting the defeated. Then he turned away and left.

It was time to move on.

Mephistopheles harbored no attachment to this place, but he did prepare small blessings for those humans who displayed courage. If any of them truly grew into heroes, if they ascended to greatness, then who could say what might happen?

The growth of heroes was of utmost importance to Mephistopheles. Every hero was a treasure of the mythological world, greater than any god. Heroes alone could lead the mythological world to evolve and advance.

Because of this, he dared not overlook even the smallest possibility of a hero emerging.

And so, as this battle drew to a close, Mephistopheles sped off to the next battlefield. He intended to carefully set his plans in motion, step by step, building his foundation ever stronger.

In the past, his ambition had been to attain the level of God-King. But now, things had changed. Through his master, he saw an opportunity for an even higher transformation — the chance to become an Ancient God.

Given this possibility, Mephistopheles was determined to work even harder. As he traveled the mortal realm, observing battles and contemplating what lay ahead, he suddenly sensed something unexpected.

"What…?"

With astonishment in his gaze, Mephistopheles looked down, his expression filled with disbelief as he murmured, "How is this possible?"

Below, in a coastal city-state, Mephistopheles had discovered something that shouldn't have existed — divine power and life essence that once belonged to Zeus, the former God-King.

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