Humanity possesses all virtues of goodness.
Humanity harbors every shadow of darkness.
This duality defines humanity's essence. It can be said that humans are the most complete beings, encompassing every aspect of existence. By contrast, other entities—no matter how powerful—are inherently lacking.
This includes the gods.
Despite their lofty status, every deity bears unique deficiencies. These gaps in divinity have often been supplemented and balanced by humanity itself.
Now, as the Heroic Era draws to a close, the true nature of humanity is becoming evident.
During the racial wars, humanity's power and potential were breathtaking, a force to be reckoned with. Yet, with the end of that era, humanity has undergone drastic changes, revealing its dual nature.
This is the undeniable reality.
---
The Sea Realm
Drip. Drip.
The faint sound of water droplets echoed in the vast sea palace. Poseidon, seated on his divine throne, slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was initially cloudy but gradually cleared, replaced by a deep, dark blue radiance.
"Your Majesty," Nereus said, stepping into the temple and kneeling respectfully.
"Hmm..." Poseidon's voice was calm as he asked, "Nereus, how long have I slumbered?"
Nereus answered softly, "Several million years, Your Majesty. The Heroic Era has come to an end, and humanity is about to enter a new age."
"Hah," Poseidon chuckled. Though known as a cold and merciless god, a faint smile appeared in his eyes. "How meaningless. What does this have to do with the Sea Realm? The Sea Realm remains sealed off from the Mythological World. This is a matter for the other divine kings."
"However," Poseidon added, his tone shifting, "this could also be an opportunity."
His eyes narrowed slightly, signaling that he had already made preparations for what lay ahead.
Yet, Poseidon's approach differed greatly from Hades'. While Hades had built his own Underworld, fostering its growth with the World Tree, Poseidon's Sea Realm remained intrinsically tied to the larger Mythological World.
Hades had elevated the Underworld to an autonomous entity, comparable in essence to the Mythological World itself. Though younger and less developed, the Underworld had become an independent realm. This made external interference from the Mythological World virtually impossible.
The Sea Realm, however, was merely a segment of the Mythological World. Despite Poseidon's dominion over it, it remained under the overarching influence of the Mythological World's structure. His confinement within the Sea Realm was thus unavoidable, a reflection of his lack of sovereignty over the larger cosmos.
For Poseidon, breaking free required meticulous planning.
"Seize this opportunity to advance," Poseidon mused aloud. "For me, and likely for Polus and Athena, the goal remains the same."
After a pause, Poseidon refocused. "Nereus, has there been any movement from the Underworld?"
"None, Your Majesty," Nereus replied steadily. "Millions of years ago, the Underworld captured Typhon and sealed him away. Since then, the Underworld has severed almost all ties with the Mythological World, maintaining only the basic cycle of life and death."
Though Nereus' tone was calm, his thoughts were tinged with admiration.
The Underworld's self-sufficiency, supported by the World Tree, was a testament to its strength. It had no need to interact with the Mythological World, an independence few could dream of achieving.
Nereus, aware of the Underworld's progress in cultivating the four elemental beasts of earth, water, fire, and wind, suspected that Hades had completed the final step of his preparations. With Typhon's capture, it seemed the Underworld had solidified its position.
"..." Nereus' reflections led him to shake his head. The disparity between Poseidon's situation and that of the Underworld was stark and unbridgeable.
"Hah," Poseidon remarked, observing Nereus' reaction with indifference. "It's undeniable that I, Zeus before me, and even Polus and Athena now, are far behind my elder brother. He has outpaced us all."
"Wait patiently," Poseidon continued. "Once the Heroic Era ends, the Underworld will reemerge."
"Do you mean..." Nereus hesitated. "Will the Underworld intervene in the cycle of destruction and creation this time?"
Poseidon shook his head. "For the Underworld, such cycles are meaningless. It has no need to involve itself. However, knowing my brother, he will undoubtedly have other plans."
Nereus pondered this for a moment but ultimately dismissed his speculations as futile. The Underworld's true intentions were beyond his comprehension.
"Forget it," Poseidon said. "Continue with your preparations. The end of the Heroic Era represents the last great upheaval for the Mythological World."
"If we fail to seize this opportunity," Poseidon sighed, "everything will be for naught."
His expression turned serious as he leaned back on his throne. Poseidon knew that his path was not the orthodox one for a god. His role within the Mythological World had always been marginal, met with resistance and exclusion.
When humanity's age fully dawned, if he had not achieved his goals by then, his aspirations would crumble.
"Go and prepare," Poseidon ordered.
"As you command." Nereus bowed and departed.
Left alone, Poseidon gazed into the distance, a rare hint of melancholy in his eyes.
"What will happen next?" he murmured. "Will I succeed? No one knows. Yet, no matter the outcome, I must give it my all. This is my last chance."
---
The Celestial Realm
Polus reclined on his throne, watching angels perform their ethereal dances. He appeared as a king lost in indulgence, though his mind was elsewhere.
"Your Majesty," Hermes entered the hall, kneeling. "The Heroic Era is nearing its end. Should the Celestial Realm begin preparations?"
The cycles of destruction and creation were of great significance to the Celestial Realm. Properly managing these transitions could yield tremendous benefits for the divine hierarchy.
"There's no need," Polus replied dismissively. "Do what needs to be done. I will handle what comes next."
"As you command." Hermes retreated without protest, well aware that Polus, despite his mild demeanor, was a ruler whose word was absolute.
"Destruction and creation," Polus muttered coldly. "Meaningless now. Once, these cycles brought significant gains. But now? Adding a few more Divine Kings to my retinue serves little purpose."
He fell silent, lost in thought, until a faint chuckle echoed in the hall.
A shadowy figure materialized beside him, arms crossed. "Interesting thoughts, boy," the figure said. "But do you truly believe your plans will succeed?"
"I don't know," Polus admitted after a pause. "But I have no other choice."
The shadow studied him for a moment before laughing again. "Your resolve is admirable. Let's see how far you can go in this chaotic sea of change."
As the shadow vanished, Polus' gaze remained fixed on the distance, his mind focused on the coming storm.
"An era of upheaval is upon us," he murmured. "This will sweep through the Chaos Sea, through every mythological world and every god. None can escape. We must move forward, no matter the cost."
With a deep breath, Polus settled back into his throne, awaiting the moment to strike.
"This opportunity," he said quietly, "is the last and only chance. No one will let it slip away."
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