Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Chapter 471 - 130: The Collapse_3

But no matter his fate, under such circumstances, Athena, who carried some of her brother’s symbolism, undoubtedly also became special. She possessed certain ’qualifications,’ and thus it was only natural for her to personally complete it all.

As she unfolded the scroll, and pressed her palm onto the title page, divine power surged, and it seemed to Athena that she could hear the ’whooshing’ sound of flowing water.

A dim light released from the Divine Artifact established some sort of connection. With the Goddess of Wisdom as a medium, the world’s concepts began to flow into it, becoming its text and enhancing its power.

However, for some reason, Athena felt that, although the Divine Artifact appeared to be absorbing [History], those bygone times didn’t really seem to merge into it.

They seemed to be going elsewhere... and what really made it gradually ’complete,’ were actually more subtle things. Hidden between the annals of History, they were the bedrock that constructed this world. Under such assimilation, the artifact itself also began to expand.

Time ticked by, second by second, and as the world deteriorated, the artifact slowly grew as large as a palace, and its swallowing speed became even faster.

The deafening roar of thunder grew denser, but to the ears of the Goddess of Wisdom, there was an increasing loudness without strength.

"Hmm?"

After a while, at a certain moment, Athena’s expression changed slightly. It was as if she noticed something, and with a gesture of her hand, the accompanying Shield of Aegis immediately fell into her palm.

The next instant, accompanied by a roar of fury, a massive bolt of lightning crashed down.

"Athena, what are you doing!"

Boom——

Lightning clashed with the shield. Although Zeus’s power had greatly weakened, he still possessed a strength unmatched by the gods. However, when this force powerful enough to crush any True God struck the small shield, it only caused Athena’s shield-bearing arm to tremble slightly, then it had no further effect.

Beneath the Genesis Artifact, the one shield in the world that could exempt itself from Zeus’s [Thunder]. Like the natural opposition of all things, the massive lightning seemed to have struck into an abyss, raising not even the slightest ripple on its surface.

"Huh——"

Taking a deep breath, Athena knew that Zeus had discovered her actions.

This was always bound to happen. Now that the damaged world had few living beings left. Following a flash of divine light, the goddess’s skirt transformed into golden armor.

As soon as the Divine Artifact began to draw power, Athena could have left. The king of the fantasy world could not destroy such an artifact’s true form, and she had no need to guard it. So, the reason she chose to stay was simply because she did not wish to leave yet.

Holding the spear symbolizing [Victory], the girl who was usually gentle and intelligent now seemed to have changed. Her eyes were sharp and eager to fight, like a war-seasoned Valkyrie. Athena, shielding against the raging thunder, flew to the front of Mount of the Gods.

"Athena, do you know what you are doing?"

Even though his presence was greatly weakened, Zeus’s gaze remained sharp. He was already aware of the inevitable failure, but that did not mean he would wait passively for death.

Easily discerning the other’s thoughts, Prometheus shook his head.

In the distant sky, at the very center of the earth, the battle between two deities was clearly visible, and just as visible was the growing shadow of a scroll.

It seemed like it existed yet did not, impervious to all attacks or destruction. Everything just passed through it as if it were merely an illusion.

There was nothing mortal left on the earth; they had already turned to dust in the previous clash between the giant hand and the world.

"Everything must come to an end, sooner or later, even the world. It’s not today, then it will be some other day. It’s just facing such an irresistible end... I chose to accept it."

"Madman!"

"Accept? I don’t accept!"

A cry of rage once again stirred the fear within him. Under the sway of his emotions, Poseidon summoned all his remaining strength and caused the waters of the four seas to surge into the sky.

Give him some response, at least...even a swift death would be better than the torment of waiting for death.

However, under Poseidon’s watch, the giant hand capturing the world remained motionless, simply continuing its slow rhythm, tightening its grip.

Everything remained as before.

...

Time continued to pass, various loves and hatreds played out across the world for the last time, but the shadow of the scroll kept expanding.

It grew larger and larger, overshadowing the land and the tumbling heavens, and eventually became one with the world itself, constrained by the world’s remaining strength.

Then at a certain moment, accompanied by a crisp sound, under both internal and external assault, the world’s final struggle ended. All civilization and the past were frozen at that moment, everything in the world collapsed into illusion, becoming part of the Divine Artifact. And the giant hand enveloping the world closed in turn, clasping the middle of the scroll.

Everything came to a halt.

"Very good."

Nodding with satisfaction, Laine was pleased with the result.

This Divine Artifact still needed time to assimilate the gains from this event, but the outcome was always predetermined. However, as Laine gripped the Annals of Time, his gaze did not linger on it initially.

Because aside from the Artifact, where the fantasy world had once existed, there remained a drop of ’liquid’.

That was the fundamental essence that had once constituted the world...the remnants of the Genesis Divine Power.