Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Beside her, a crystal-clear twig trembled slightly, as if speaking in a language that ordinary people could not understand.

Listening closely, though she couldn't fully comprehend it, Gaia still felt greatly rewarded.

Like Heracles, though Mother Earth had no idea who this person was, after the disaster in the starry sky, a vivid painting formed by ruby-like leaves gently fell in front of her.

With just one glance, the deity who commanded the earth directly locked onto the figure in the painting and detected the aura of Zeus' bloodline.

She was puzzled at the time, but Gaia ultimately made her choice.

Until this moment, though she hadn't fully understood, the gathering of so many special existences together must hold some secret.

"As I thought... By regaining my strength, I have also regained my wisdom."

"Outer God... I will remember your merit."

Nodding with satisfaction, looking at this Outer God whose power alone could create an Ancient Evil Being, Gaia merely smiled, not at all fearing the opponent's ability to corrode everything.

Joking, she was the Mother Earth.

Unless the entire Mortal Realm was destroyed and shattered, even if the other side worked for a billion years, it wouldn't be able to corrupt the center of the present world.

...

By the shore of the East Sea, in Athens.

At the foot of the towering Mage Tower, Star God Amon was reading a book as usual.

Despite almost finishing Hermes' collection, he had never shown any longing for the outside world.

In fact, to him, though the entire Chaos World was dazzling and colorful, nothing could be more interesting than this human alchemist.

Especially the vague ideas the other had put forward, even though they had never communicated face-to-face, Amon had gleaned some understanding from the details.

Concrete... concrete, gathering others to become oneself, cultivating truth through falsehood, how fascinating this path was.

He wouldn't interfere with the other; on the contrary, he would try his best to help Hermes succeed.

After all, if his schemes on the other side succeeded, he would naturally need a powerful Divine Artifact, one that could influence situations and change strengths in the hands of Great Divine Power.

In this regard, Hermes' future true 'masterpiece' would be quite good... Tilting his head slightly, Star God Amon looked westwards over the earth.

"It shouldn't take too long."

"The Divine King of this world is too impatient and too naive... But it's normal; young people are eager, which is why I like them."

"Just counting the time, isn't he about to return... tch."

"Then I'll make a simple bet, I'll bet on his victory this round—but of course, he wins first, then I'll win."

"It doesn't matter if I can't win."

"In any case, I won't lose."

Returning his gaze, Star God Amon shrugged slightly.

No more thinking about it, just thinking makes him a bit impatient.

Lately, through some unique means of his own, Amon had also uncovered some secrets about the transition of the previous epoch in Chaos.

Nobody knew what exactly he inferred from this... or what he learned.

······

Over the Western Sea, Atlas silently faced the gaze cast from the Mount of the Gods.

After a moment, the Divine King withdrew his gaze, and Atlas lowered his head slightly, looking at the existence in front of him.

The first to enter his vision was not Heracles, but the lean figure of Prometheus and the lurking Epimetheus beneath the sea.

A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, and finally, he shifted his gaze back.

Is it you, the hero of the Mortal Realm?

Heracles, the name relayed by the demons, unexpectedly was favored by his two brothers as well.

On his person, Atlas will find a way to redemption... but not today.

When the end of this epoch comes, everything will be settled. He will personally raise the war flag and lead the charge at the forefront of the army.

"Heracles... I know you."

"You are the Son of the Divine King... a pathetic wretch deceived from beginning to end."

The voice thundered, like a thousand warriors beating drums in the sky.

Feeling the sudden oppression descending from the Mount of the Gods, Titan sneered.

Feeling angry that he knew a demigod's story, knew the cause of his mother's death?

Not afraid of the other's threats, but considering certain matters, Atlas ultimately did not reveal the truth he knew.

"...But it doesn't matter, no matter who you are, I understand your intention, and I can kill Ladon, uproot everything in Hera's Golden Apple Garden."

"But I won't do it because this is your task, your destiny—Hero of the Mortal Realm, I can give you the power to defeat formidable enemies, but you must agree to my conditions."

"Mortal, do you accept?"

"I accept."

Wanting to ask what it means to be 'a pathetic wretch deceived by others,' but the hero eventually held back his question.

After years of tempering, he gradually understood one truth.

Some things, knowing them in advance is just the root of disaster.

When he ascends to the Spirit Realm, all the past will eventually be revealed to him.

"Tell me, what is your condition?"

"As long as it's within my power, I will definitely fulfill it for you."

Nodding slightly, like a Mountain falling.

Atlas held up the sky and spoke his 'condition.'

"Since you've made your choice... then listen carefully."

"Ever since the collapse of the Mount of the Gods, the sky tilted northwest, and I have held it up here."

"Countless years have passed, long enough for me to lose track of time."

"No one is born wanting to support the heavens, I too have days of weariness. So I hope to have a successor, someone to support the sky until the end of this epoch."

"So I am the one you've chosen?"

Shouted the hero, frowning slightly.

"I am willing to agree with you, to support the sky for the remaining time of this epoch; however, I still have my own matters to attend to, and I don't even know if I have the capability."

"No worries, I don't need you to replace me right now... As for capability?"

Slightly turning his head, Titan spoke lightly.

"That is your problem to consider."

"I can lend you the power to support the sky, granting you unparalleled authority and responsibility, but the precondition is that you truly have the 'qualification.'"

"Not everyone can support the heavens... even among deities, very few are qualified to bear this burden."

"Even if entrusted with the emblem of supporting the sky, they would be crushed by it."

"So, mortal, before seeking my help, ask yourself—do you have the ability?"

Saying no more, Atlas closed his eyes.

Following the direction he had previously looked towards, Heracles knew this was the test left for him.

There, the bronze column connecting heaven and earth stood unmoved by the sea and storm, its existence itself stabilizing the sky through the sea, and the sea through the sky.

On it was a trace of the symbol of supporting the sky, passed from Atlas' shoulders, a result of millennia of scouring by two forces.

The Titan's meaning was clear: to prove he could bear the burden of supporting the sky, he must first lift this pillar that suppressed the Divine Child.