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Upper Layers, Outer Gate 120 — Mount Olympus
Inside the magnificent Sun Temple, Apollo was greeted by the sight of his younger sister passing through.
The handsome god with blond hair and blue eyes sat at a stone table in flowing white robes, absentmindedly plucking the strings of his lyre while studying musical theory.
He dismissed the nymph attendants serving him before smiling at Artemis. "You don't seem to be in a very good mood."
"Is Zeus here?" Artemis's icy expression softened ever so slightly upon seeing her brother.
"He's at the summit," Apollo replied.
At that very moment, lightning tore across the sky and crashed into the palace atop the mountain.
A deafening explosion followed.
The palace shook violently before gradually settling back into stillness.
Apollo didn't even bother looking up.
"Another pantheon," he sighed. "You think they'll take a break once in a while and let people have some peace."
Artemis remained as calm as ever.
"So Zeus really is at the summit." She continued walking as she added, "Brother, several of our strongholds in the South Area have been destroyed. Send someone to rebuild them."
"Nothing major." Apollo's fingers brushed the strings, producing a few clear notes.
Only after Artemis had left did he finally raise his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"Specifically mentioning the South Area... If I remember correctly, Zeus sent Artemis to deal with that Ryo Yagami."
Thinking back to the cold expression she'd worn just now, Apollo couldn't help smiling.
To everyone else, she'd looked exactly as she always did.
But as her brother, he could clearly see the anger simmering beneath the surface.
"So she came out on the losing end..." He shook his head. "Or maybe Zeus was the one who set her up. Still, that's probably for the best."
Apollo had never approved of Artemis taking out her anger at Algol on Ryo.
Unfortunately, while his sister was cold by nature, she also cared a great deal about her appearance.
Having the words [Ugly Woman] written across her face for days without being able to erase them... It wasn't surprising she'd redirect her anger toward Ryo, even if Apollo thought it was unfair.
Still, better Ryo than Algol. That woman now stood at the very peak of Little Garden.
With a sigh, Apollo summoned a maid. He handed her a Gift Card.
"Go down to the Lower Layers. Travel to the edge of the East Area and deliver this anonymous Thousand Eyes points card to Arcadia's leader. Tell him it's a gift from me."
"Yes, Lord Apollo." The maid bowed and departed.
Apollo simply smiled, returned to his lyre, and continued playing for his own enjoyment.
It was peaceful enough.
...
..
At the summit stood Zeus's palace. The scorched roof was slowly repairing itself.
Artemis arrived wearing a light veil over her face before entering without hesitation.
Inside was an enormous, nearly empty hall. Since Zeus focused almost entirely on the lower layers, the true rulers of the upper Greek pantheon were effectively Hades and Hestia.
And lately, with Olympus constantly being harassed by various god-kings, Zeus naturally couldn't bring his collection of youthful attendants into the palace.
Without them, there was little point in decorating the place. Aside from the throne, the only furnishings were two violet thunderclouds floating overhead, providing light.
Seated upon the lone throne, Zeus had just received the evening newspaper from a servant.
He was about to begin reading when he noticed Artemis approaching.
A warm smile immediately spread across his face. "My dear daughter. What brings you here today?"
Artemis stopped below the throne and looked up at him with icy blue eyes. "I want command of the Mars Divine War."
Zeus paused. A smile flickered in his eyes.
He understood immediately.
Artemis had clearly suffered a setback against Ryo.
He just didn't know how serious it had been.
"Very well. The position has been vacant ever since Eunomia failed in her duties." He hesitated. "But your personal guard and Odysseus are both participating in the Godslayer War..."
"They were killed." Her answer was flat.
"...What?" Zeus blinked.
For a moment, he wondered if he'd misheard.
Only then did he realize he'd never actually asked how large the conflict between Ryo and Artemis had become.
His face darkened. "You mean Ryo wiped out your entire force? Including Odysseus's Heretic incarnation?"
"He killed me too." Artemis's tone never changed.
Zeus inhaled sharply. The breath was so forceful that even some of the thunderclouds overhead seemed to get sucked downward.
He had severely underestimated what had happened. "He actually dared kill your Heretic incarnation?"
"Why wouldn't he?" Artemis's cold gaze never left him.
Zeus understood.
His daughter, usually distant but fiercely proud, now held a grudge against him. After all, the entire conflict had started because of the deliberately provocative order he'd given her.
If anything... Her hostility toward Ryo probably wasn't even one-tenth of what she now felt toward Zeus himself.
He'd tried to outsmart someone and ended up hurting himself instead.
Suppressing a bitter sigh, Zeus tried to smooth things over, "I never expected him to be quite so... uncivilized."
"It doesn't matter." Artemis interrupted him calmly.
She wasn't talking about Ryo. She meant Zeus's attempt to comfort her.
Yes, she disliked Ryo. And yes, she fully intended to get even someday.
But compared to what Zeus had done... Ryo was practically forgivable.
If Ryo decided tomorrow to storm Mount Olympus like Algol once had and assassinate Zeus... Artemis wouldn't hesitate to show him the way.
That was how she felt now.
"All of Greece's Heretic Gods in the South Area should be dead by now." Her emotionless words made Zeus's face twitch. "Give them to me. I'll lead them onto the battlefield of the Divine War."
Zeus struggled internally for a long moment.
"...Fine."
That single word seemed almost squeezed out through clenched teeth.
Artemis got the answer she wanted.
Without another word, she turned and left.
Zeus remained seated on the throne, newspaper in hand, his face dark as thunder. Above him, the storm clouds rumbled in perfect harmony with his mood.
There had been several reasons for arranging Ryo's opposition in the lower layers.
Every one of them tied into his plans for the Godslayer War.
But now... every participant he'd prepared there had been slaughtered by Ryo. All those schemes had become meaningless.
Worse, his chances of using the Godslayer War to reach the two-digit level had just been cut by at least twenty percent.
How could he not be furious?
Boom!
Zeus slammed the hand holding the newspaper onto the throne. The divine steel seat cracked at one corner.
He stared silently through the palace's open doors for a very long time.
In the end, he endured.
The image of Algol charging up Lower Olympus was still fresh in his memory.
That endless darkness. That terrifying demonic silhouette.
He could still see it every time he closed his eyes.
There was no way. There could be no way. Outside the Godslayer War, he absolutely could not continue targeting Ryo.
That would be suicide.
'Endure...'
Lightning hissed from Zeus's nostrils as he glowered, picked up the crumpled newspaper, carefully smoothed it flat, and lowered his eyes to read.
.
.
.