"Aether!"
"Queen of the Underworld!"
As a graceful and dignified voice echoed, Aether, Hypnos, and Thanatos, the three deities of the Underworld, hurriedly knelt on one knee in respect. The one approaching was none other than Persephone.
At this moment.
Persephone took elegant steps forward, her long dark purple dress paired with striking blood-red high heels, exuding a mature and noble aura.
In a soft and graceful voice, Persephone said, "Aether, you will be in charge of the affairs of the Astral Plane, and the Demon Star will assist you whenever needed. As for the Book of Eternity, you may seek it from your eldest sister, who will give it to you."
"I obey!" Aether knelt respectfully on one knee, saying, "Thank you, Queen of the Underworld!"
Persephone simply smiled and nodded, then turned her attention to Hypnos and Thanatos. "Hypnos, Thanatos, the mortal world is nearing its end. Once all preparations are complete, the two of you may begin initiating the Apocalypse."
"Understood!" 2
The twin gods solemnly nodded. The time had finally come—Apocalypse! The importance of this event was beyond question. Once the Apocalypse began, the entire Underworld and the world itself would enter a phase of profound transformation.
For the Underworld, this was the most critical opportunity. Seizing it would bring tremendous benefits and growth, which was unquestionable.
Precisely because of this, this was both the best and possibly the only opportunity. If anything went wrong, it could lead to significant problems. And who knew how many issues would arise afterward?
After giving her instructions, Persephone departed. The three deities of the Underworld exchanged glances, knowing it was time to get to work and begin taking action.
Aether went to find Hestia to retrieve the Book of Eternity. Using the power of the Helmet of Invisibility, he made his way to the Astral Plane, hiding himself carefully as he tracked the movements of the Solar Fire.
Meanwhile, Hypnos and Thanatos descended to the mortal world to complete their final preparations. Many things had to be set in place. Once everything was ready, they could simply wait for the Apocalypse to begin—the prelude to everything. For the Underworld, this was the most important moment, was it not?
In summary!
In the mortal world.
At this moment.
After the Spartan expedition, the mortal world was already on the path to destruction. The golden age of humanity, where people were supposed to live without illness or disaster, possessing endless life, was coming to an end.
Now, only about twenty percent of the golden age's human population remained, and they had begun to change. Their lives were drawing to a close.
Their food began to rot. Their bodies started to fail. Their lives turned into a struggle...
Various calamities.
Various torments.
These had begun to appear gradually. Under the influence of the deities of the Underworld, the effects had spread to all humans of the golden age, including those in the seas, where even many who had been living in seclusion on distant islands were affected.
This was inevitable and undeniable—the destruction of the golden age humans was a certainty.
Not even Poseidon could prevent it. He only sheltered a select few, very special humans from the golden age who possessed unique talents, hiding them away from the rest of the world, ensuring they remained safe.
However!
These individuals were a mere handful. For the vast majority of golden age humans, their final days would be filled with pain and suffering.
This was the natural order of things.
In the golden age, they enjoyed unparalleled privileges, and now, in this era, it was only natural that the price for those privileges had to be paid.
What? You didn't enjoy these privileges? Well, as part of the collective known as golden age humans, it doesn't matter. The label of "human" may be just two words, but shedding it comes at a great cost!
This was the undeniable truth. As Hypnos and Thanatos descended into the mortal world, the twin gods did not hide their presence. In fact, they saw no need to.
Everything that needed preparation was already done. Now, all that remained was to tie up loose ends, and there was no need for them to remain hidden.
In fact, being open about their presence was the best approach. There would be no problems.
To the gods, the arrival of the twin deities signaled that the Underworld was finally beginning the Apocalypse! Or rather, the countdown to the Apocalypse had already begun, and everything was truly about to start.
This was undeniable. The Underworld was extremely busy now—that much was certain. The work of the Apocalypse was laid out before them. This was the end of the world, not something to be taken lightly.
It was necessary to ensure that everything was handled perfectly. This wasn't a matter of simply saying something and making it happen—that was obviously impossible.
There were many things to deal with, and handling them perfectly was key. Humanity needed to be wiped out, but even after their destruction, a spark of hope had to remain.
To put it simply!
This was meticulous work. It wasn't as simple as unleashing a flood and being done with it. If it were that easy, then...
Well...
Apocalypse! Creation!
These processes wouldn't require such careful preparation. They would simply take action without a second thought. At any time, whether ending or creating a world, countless tasks were involved.
It wasn't just about wanting to give it a try without consequence—things didn't work that way.
Hypnos and Thanatos had this work to do. They needed to ensure that everything was in place, leaving no room for errors.
This was the task of the twin gods, and the rest of the deities, knowing this, quietly left the mortal world. Now, all they could do was wait for the Apocalypse to begin.
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