Chapter 157: Kin and Deity
The surging waves that inverted the sky gradually vanished. Pontos was gone. Night had passed, and a new round of sun was just rising.
Tedus looked at the Goddess and his daughter in the sky with a complex expression. He stood up slowly, clutching his chest. His face was pale. As the agent managing the city-state’s Authority on behalf of the patron Deity, although he did not benefit from the majority of the Authority power, he had to withstand the backlash from the change in Authority.
Tedus deeply understood that this was the reason Deities used their kin (descendants) to rule the city-state. The power of the kin originated from the Deity. They received grace and honor from the Deity. When the backlash arrived, they were the first to be corroded by it.
Because everything—bloodline, power, and status—originated from the Deity, the rules also deemed their endurance of the backlash as equivalent to the Deity enduring the backlash.
The Kaya Deities, especially God-King Kronos, were truly geniuses. He led the Deities to avoid the vortex of faith, manipulating the rise and fall of civilizations, and summarized a method for new Deities to ascend safely and without hidden dangers.
From then on, the status of the Divine Descendants in the mortal world was elevated because they could act as shields for the new Deities against catastrophe.
As for the established Deities who did not need their kin to serve as shields and could communicate directly with the Great Source domains, they were completely indifferent to everything in the mortal world. The city-state, the descendants—their annihilation would be preferable.
The descendants of the divine blood must ultimately follow the path of the source of their bloodline. At the end of that path, only one entity can enjoy the supreme position in that domain!
If they are no longer needed to serve as shields, why should the Deities show favor to their kin? Is it merely because they share a bloodline?
Why do the Divine Descendants unanimously suppress new supernatural powers born among mortals? Because the Divine Descendants are filled with panic and envy!
If the Ancestor God can already communicate stably with the Great Source, the Deity will not intervene even if the descendants’ rule is overthrown. This dynamic, in turn, aligns with the Authority of the God-King (Destruction) and the Queen Goddess (Creation), the eternal cycle of rebirth and annihilation.
Tedus did not openly reveal his inner turmoil. He actually knew everything. The Abyss and the Devils were not necessarily enemies!
As the eldest grandson of Ronamos, during his time managing the city-state on behalf of the Son of God and the City Founder, he had understood everything. The reason his father died young was due to acting as a shield. The so-called curse of Gorgan was only enough to deceive Athena.
The reason the Son of God, Ronamos, remained unharmed was the principle of “shielding.” The relationship between the Divine Descendants and their Ancestor Deities was not as close and beautiful as mortals imagined.
The Goddess of Elegance might truly love Her son, but She did not necessarily cherish Her other descendants. Tedus watched the Goddess, who was possessing Athena, descend elegantly from the sky.
With every step the golden-eyed Athena took, the dazzling holy light softened a little, and the aura of elegance enveloping the entire city shrunk a little. She walked to the giant lion and stroked this creature of formalized system, nurturing and strengthening Her.
The killer whale in the distance bowed playfully to the golden-eyed Athena, then swam toward Cimali.
The gray-dark serpentine shadow also did not dare to linger under the gaze of the golden-eyed Athena and quickly retreated to the Northern March.
The giant lion, like a playful husky, rolled around Athena a few times, releasing the power of the Authority. This power nourished and strengthened Her.
As the crimson Authority power of the city-state surged into Athena’s body and soul, She felt Her soul was immersed in the legendary Sea of the Great Source. Her power was greatly enhanced in a short time.
The golden light in Her eyes slowly dissipated. The Goddess’s projection returned the control of the body to Athena. The projection then shrunk into a divine power mark, appearing between Her eyebrows, radiating a golden glow.
The giant lion, seemingly sensing the departure of the Goddess, circled Athena a few times in the sky, then vanished.
At this moment, facing the rising sun, Athena touched the white robe and purple ribbon formed by the divine power. She walked barefoot onto the high platform and bowed to Her father.
Tedus returned the bow. As a father, he could accept Her bow. As a descendant of the Divine, he had to salute the Ancestor Deity.
Athena extended Her fair right hand, grasping Her father’s calloused hand. Facing the populace in the square, She spoke softly: “The will of the Goddess is to deploy troops to the Northern March to purify the projection of the Abyssal Archon Dorkabach!”
Her voice was gentle yet firm. Although not loud, every person in the square heard it clearly.
Tedus clutched his painful chest. After taking several deep breaths, he raised Athena’s right hand and roared with all his might:
“I, the King of Medimus City-State, hereby appoint Crown Princess Athena as the Plenipotentiary Military Officer. She shall have the authority to mobilize all forces of the city-state to form the Abyssal Extermination Legion. We seek vengeance! We shall purify the Northern March! This is the will of the Goddess!”
The crowd in the square first fell silent, then began to roar in unison:
“Vengeance! Vengeance!”
A Divine Descendant widow, whose two successive husbands died at the hands of the dark worshipers, had a red ribbon tied in her blue hair. Although over 30, she was still alluring. She drew the Wonder short sword her second husband gave her and shouted: “I will join the army! I will seek blood vengeance from the Demons!”
A Divine Descendant youth, who looked to be only 15 or 16, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, was furious. His father and brother were serving in the Northern March and died on the night of the fortress’s fall.
“I, Ator Rona, will seek vengeance against Alexius!”
The youth’s mother’s hair turned white overnight from sorrow. She grasped the youth’s hand tightly in horror, saying: “You cannot go! You are the only male left in our lineage!”
Ator looked at his mother’s weathered face and white hair. He said with steadfast resolve: “If I do not go, how can I face my father in the afterlife? Some things are destiny, and some things are responsibility!”
“Ator, you cannot go. You are the only male descendant in your line. You have a responsibility to perpetuate the family. I will go in your stead.” A young man with a longbow strapped to his back said to Ator. He was a member of the Rona family, and a cold aura emanated from him.
“Yes, son. That is an Abyssal Archon, a titled Demon. We cannot defeat him. We simply cannot defeat him.” The youth’s mother muttered despairingly.
The grieving Royal City began to lick its wounds like a savage beast. The sorrowful people gradually rallied. The entire atmosphere of the Royal City shifted from sorrow and fear to fury and vengeance!
A few days later, Athena led 15,000 men and several hundred Divine Descendant Nobles in three columns toward the Northern March. The primary purpose of the mortal soldiers was to provide the Authority boost. The strength of the commanding officers would be greatly enhanced.
The center column was led by Athena, who was possessed by the Goddess. The left column was led by Dikens, wielding The Frost Blessing. The right column was led by Great Hero Arnold Bain.
King Tedus remained in the Royal City, awaiting their triumphant return.
“The Deities, the Divine Descendants, and the city-state. When will we ever be able to control our own destiny?” Tedus murmured, watching the army depart. His expression was one of profound confusion and melancholy.
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