Note: Snow Emperor → Snow Empress for clarity. The former was the official translation.
…
An imperceptible change was quietly taking place.
The core of the Netherworld Black Hole lay in that microscopic speck of light known as the singularity.
Much like the keyhole of a safe, the only way to open the Netherworld Black Hole and regain one's freedom was by impacting the singularity.
Moreover, the hetero-energy used to strike the singularity had to be Hades' own; even the slightest discrepancy made success impossible.
Snow Empress was a powerhouse boasting an hetero-energy of six white holes, as well as the mightiest entity across the Seven Parallel Universes one hundred thousand years ago.
Yet even so, after being sucked into the Netherworld Black Hole, she had been entirely incapable of affecting it by striking the singularity.
Doing so required at least a hundredfold increase in hetero-energy.
Because of this, Snow Empress' astonishment was only natural.
She had been sealed away here by Hades for a full one hundred thousand years. Given Hades' personality, they were sworn mortal enemies.
The Wolf Tribe and the White Tiger Tribe were no different.
Yet just moments ago, Hades had inexplicably used his own power to impact the singularity, forcibly opening the Netherworld Black Hole.
He had actually taken the initiative to let her and her followers out?
Snow Empress could not fathom it, nor could Ghost King.
In the sky, the exit of the Netherworld Black Hole continued to expand, its dim nebulas swirling together. This was the first chance in one hundred thousand years, there was no way they could give it up.
"The exit of the Netherworld Black Hole is now open. The day of freedom is today! Follow me and break out of the black hole!"
Snow Empress waved her arm lightly, and the throng of White Tiger warriors following behind her rose toward the exit of the Netherworld Black Hole, charging outward.
In the Netherworld of the Fifth Parallel Universe.
"Hmph!" Hades steadied his breath, channeling his hetero-energy into a fierce strike against the singularity with both hands.
Moments later, he finally ceased.
He knew full well what he was doing: opening the Netherworld Black Hole and releasing Snow Empress.
Yet this was not because he had been persuaded by her so-called philosophy of love.
On the contrary, the action he was taking right now aligned entirely with what he had said before. True powerhouses seek life amidst death.
He was releasing Snow Empress to restore equilibrium to the currently one-sided combat situation.
Even though he and Snow Empress were archenemies.
This was the only way to break the deadlock right now. Besides, Shendu, that Nebula Body, wasn't targeting him alone.
Snow Empress would undoubtedly be able to share the pressure for him.
With that thought in mind, Hades kept one hand guiding the Netherworld Black Hole as a smile touched his lips. "I have invited an old friend to join us as a guest. I trust the two of you won't mind."
"Oh?" Shendu abruptly halted his movements, casting his gaze deep into the Netherworld Black Hole, where a rhythmic pulse akin to rumination was emanating.
Zoran, meanwhile, stood quietly, as serene as if he had drifted into a trance.
He knew what Hades was doing.
There was one and only one person in the Netherworld Black Hole whom Hades could call an old friend.
Yet Zoran made no move to stop him. After all, adding a mere Snow Empress amounted to no real trouble at all.
Sure enough, as the pulsing subsided, the entire Netherworld Black Hole shuddered.
The very next second, several beams of light touched down. With Snow Empress, clad in long robes and veiled of face, at the core, and surrounded by her cluster of White Tiger warriors, they materialized upon the earth of the Netherworld.
The Netherworld hall that had just recently stood tall had been pulverized by the black hole, leaving the surrounding landscape completely unobstructed, vast, and empty.
It was practically tailor-made as a battlefield for everyone present.
"Hades..." Across the distance, Snow Empress addressed Hades.
She spread her hands with supreme grace, her voice gentle: "Could it be that you have finally understood love? True love?"
This was the only possibility Snow Empress could conceive of. Perhaps only by comprehending her creed of love had Hades chosen to release her, his sworn enemy.
"Love? Hmph!" Hades let out a cold laugh. "Love can destroy everything! Love is always destroying... everything!"
He stepped down the stairs from his tattered throne, his armor clanking with resonant weight.
"Times have changed, Snow Empress. The reason I released you from the Netherworld Black Hole is simply because even I have encountered an opponent I can scarcely withstand."
Hades spoke with utter candor, withholding not even the slightest detail.
He could easily have spun a lie to Snow Empress, or employed a subtle scheme to turn Zoran, Shendu, and Snow Empress' faction against one another.
Yet Hades did not. Or rather, he simply disdained such petty tactics!
Releasing Snow Empress would alter the current landscape.
As for the choices the other three powerhouses would make, Hades had never wished to interfere.
After all, if he were to perish in this battle, whether Snow Empress remained sealed within the Netherworld Black Hole or not would lose all meaning.
"An opponent that even Hades finds difficult to withstand..." Snow Empress murmured the words, lowering her brow in thought.
Judging from the hetero-energy Hades had just used to strike the singularity of the Netherworld Black Hole, he was immensely powerful, far stronger than he was one hundred thousand years ago, standing squarely at her tier of might.
Then, just how powerful must an opponent be to compel Hades, against his best inclinations, to open the Netherworld Black Hole and set her free?
Snow Empress cast her hazy gaze into the distance.
Her eyes locked straight onto Shendu's unmasked, unshielded stare.
Shendu's gaze was brimming with exhilaration, simple, unadulterated, and completely devoid of any extraneous thoughts.
Snow Empress paused, shifted her gaze away, and looked toward the right.
Immediately afterward, her eyes crossed paths with Zoran's tranquil expression.
"Two Nebula Bodies!" An irrepressible low gasp escaped from the ranks of the White Tiger Tribe.
Yet this voice did not come from Snow Empress, but rather from her elder, Ghost King.
No matter how refined his composure usually was, he could not help but feel stunned at this exact moment.
For two extra Nebula Bodies to suddenly emerge across the Seven Parallel Universes was simply too fantastical!
"Splendid!" A look of delight crossed Shendu's face as he turned to Zoran. "Brother, how about we take one each?"
"Very well," Zoran raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"I'll take this one." Shendu pointed directly at Hades. This was the powerhouse with whom he shared an agreement, and the opponent he had picked out long in advance.
If he could, he would have loved to fight two-on-one.
However, all four Nebula Bodies present possessed power residing in roughly the same tier. He might have been arrogant, but he was not stupid.
Having divided their opponents, Shendu instantly entered combat mode, a Dragon Blast surging forth in the next instant.
He had waited far too long for this!
A brilliant flash of fire swept past the Netherworld Black Hole, illuminating the battlefield in the blink of an eye, piercing through the Netherworld's gravitational pull as it hurtled straight toward Hades.
"Well-come!" Hades declared in a soaring voice, letting out a grand shout.
He reinvigorated the Netherworld Black Hole, swallowing part of the Dragon Blast's force within the black hole while meeting the remainder head-on with his own power.
The already battered hall was thoroughly reduced to rubble, and Hades' figure was driven backward into the distance by the sheer might of the Dragon Blast.
Wisps of dense smoke rose straight into the firmament.
Shendu gave no quarter, flashing forward in relentless pursuit of Hades.
On the other side, Zoran rolled up his sleeves, drifting gracefully toward the White Tiger Tribe with an air of effortless calm.
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