Chapter 441: Unreaching Voice (4)

A brown-haired woman had her eyes closed inside a white meeting room in the Hall of Protection. She then slowly opened her eyes after deep thought.

"As I'd thought," she muttered as she sighed deeply. "It seems I've made a hasty decision."

Gaia, the brown-haired woman, expressed deep regret. The law of keeping the gods in the divine realm that she had announced caused immense shock among the gods.

'Ragnarok.'

Her decision might cause the war among gods passed down in Norse mythology.

"Haaa."

Gaia closed her eyes again. Oh Kang-Woo had a point; if the gods were allowed to do as they wanted in the physical realm without any restrictions, the destruction during the Day of Calamity would pale compared to the chaos that would ensue.

'If something like that were to happen when Earth's protection is gone... the world would self-destruct before the Demon of Prophecy even gets a chance to devour it.'

It was unavoidable, so Gaia announced the law as Kang-Woo suggested. However...

Gaia closed her eyes tighter as anxiety flushed over her. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't help but wonder if she could have made a better choice.

'At least the opposing faction is gathering around Odin.'

Odin was the furthest thing from being evil; his desire to protect the world was real since he had once been Earth's guardian deity.

"Uranus," Gaia called.

"Yes, Lady Gaia," Uranus replied as he approached Gaia.

"How is the situation in Asgard?"

"As I have mentioned, gods who oppose the law you have announced are gathering there."

"..."

"However, they do not seem to be preparing for an assault yet. A few gods from radical factions are pushing for a war, but Odin has been suppressing them personally."

"Odin has?"

"Yes."

"..."

"Ah... but I have heard that Odin's actions have become strange after meeting Heimdall not long ago."

"Strange?"

"Yes. I do not know why, but unlike how he usually inspects the situation outside the palace daily, he has been screaming inside the palace all day... I still have yet to acquire any details."

"Hmm."

"But from the circumstances we can see, it is true that Odin is trying to avoid a war."

Gaia's eyes sank.

'Perhaps...'

She thought of the possibility of being able to resolve this chaotic situation without a war.

'Although my child has said that talking is meaningless.'

There was no better way than avoiding a war through negotiations.

'I should try to talk to him.'

They had made far too hasty of a decision due to the collapse of Earth's protection and the fact that the Demon God's heart fell into the hands of the Demon of Prophecy.

'I was too impulsive.'

The fact that Kang-Woo easily overpowered her retainer Zeus also impacted her decision greatly because she was sure that even if a war took place, they would be able to win as long as Kang-Woo and Olympus joined forces.

However, Gaia did not expect Odin to be so assertive. She never thought that Odin, who had been Earth's guardian deity before her, would completely oppose her decision and form an opposing faction.

"Odin," she muttered faintly.

'A war against Odin must be avoided.'

The physical realm would without a doubt be affected by a war between gods.

'It's not just that.'

The negative effects aside, pitting gods against each other when they should be standing together against the Demon of Prophecy was even worse.

"Uranus, call Zeus over."

"Zeus?" Uranus looked at Gaia in dissatisfaction. "Are you perhaps... thinking of sending Zeus as an envoy?"

"We can't afford to go to war without attempting conversation."

"I should be the one to go."

"No. It has to be Zeus."

Uranus was without a doubt the second-in-command of Olympus. No one in their right mind would send their second-in-command to enemy territory as an envoy.

'But I can't just send anyone either.'

To make sure her desire to talk gets through to Odin, she needed to send a god of adequate power and position in Olympus as an envoy.

"How about Heracles...?" Uranus asked.

"I feel bad to say this, but this sort of mission is not suited for him."

Uranus was left speechless.

Gaia gently caressed Uranus's arm and continued, "There is no need to worry. Zeus is certainly immature, but he would never do anything that would dishonor Olympus."

"I agree." Uranus nodded.

Zeus was a severe philanderer, but he was able to separate business from private matters. No, he was more serious and dignified than anyone in the face of other factions exactly because he cared deeply about appearances.

"Understood." Uranus bowed lightly and contacted someone.

The meeting room door opened soon after and entered Zeus.

"Hm? What's wrong? You don't look well." Gaia expressed perplexity after seeing Zeus.

His face was haggard as if his life force had been squeezed out. His golden hair was completely disheveled and he smelled terrible. It was shocking, considering how well he took care of his appearance.

"A nightmare..." he mumbled.

"Nightmare?"

"Yes. I've been under the weather the last few days as if I've had a terrible nightmare."

"Hmm. Why don't you just not sleep?" Gaia asked as she tilted her head.

Staying awake was no problem whatsoever for beings with Deific Essence.

"No, that's not the problem." Zeus shook his head lifelessly. "It's just that whenever I'm alone... especially when I'm sitting down, I'm reminded of a horrible memory."

Zeus sighed deeply in frustration, not understanding what was wrong either.

Gaia stared at Zeus in worry.

She would not have thought much of it if Zeus was a normal human, but he was a god; one of the most powerful in Olympus, no less. She could not even imagine what sort of nightmare he was suffering from for him to be in such a terrible condition.

"More importantly, what have you summoned me for?" Zeus asked.

"Oh..." Gaia hesitated for a moment but then slowly said, "I have a favor to ask you."

Gaia explained her plan to converse with Odin.

"You want me to go to Asgard as an envoy?" Zeus asked to confirm.

"Yes. Even if he is part of an opposing faction, Odin is an honorable warrior. He would never bring you harm while you are there."

"Mm. I was not worried about that in the first place." Zeus nodded. Not even the most evil of gods would attack an envoy from an enemy faction. "It's just that I promised to support the God of Splendor's plan."

Although Zeus was a playboy, he was honorable enough not to break a promise that he had made after losing in a duel.

Gaia shook her head and explained, "I am not suggesting we withdraw the plan. I just want to hear Odin's opinion. It would be better for everyone if we could avoid a war through compromise."

"Mmm..." Zeus fell into thought with his arms crossed. He then nodded and looked at Gaia. "I understand, Mother. I will relay your will to Odin."

"I will be counting on you, my child."

Gaia placed her hand on Zeus's shoulder and smiled.

"I will also help myself to some of Asgard's women while I'm there..."

"You! Have you still not come to your senses?!"

"Hahahaha! I was just joking."

Zeus smiled slyly as always and turned around. He slowly turned into white powder and began to disappear; he was canceling his manifestation in the physical realm and transferring his body back to the divine realm.

"In that case, I will be off."

Zeus bowed lightly and waved. He then disappeared from Earth completely.

"Please." Gaia brought her hands together. "May my voice reach him..."

The goddess of parental love prayed sincerely.

***

"What?" An old man wearing an eyepatch over one eye was sitting inside an enormous palace. "Zeus... has come here?"

"Y-yes, my lord." The confused Heimdall nodded.

Odin, the old man with an eyepatch, frowned aggressively. "Has he come to declare war?"

Odin then shook his head. Olympus had already declared war the moment they sent him Thor's head. There was no point in them sending an envoy to directly declare war.

"What will you do? Just say the word and I will eliminate Zeus—"

"No." Odin raised his hand and shook his head. "Let him in."

"L-let Zeus in?!" Heimdall yelled. "He is the son of our mortal enemy who killed Thor!"

Odin stared at Heimdall furiously in silence. "I told you to let him in."

"Yes, my lord." Heimdall nodded as he bit his lip.

Creak.

A sly-looking blond man walked through the palace doors. Zeus bowed lightly to Odin.

"Why have you come?" Odin asked as he stared down at Zeus with sunken eyes.

He could not imagine for what reason his mortal enemy who killed his son had sent her child as an envoy.

"I have come to relay Mother's— I mean, Lady Gaia's words."

"Gaia's words?" Odin frowned aggressively.

Zeus nodded and continued, "Lady Gaia would like to converse with you, Lord Odin."

"What?"

The atmosphere within the palace froze. Odin clenched the armrest of his throne to the point that it could break. He glared at Zeus in front of him with deep resentment.

"She wants... to talk?" Odin stammered.

His white beard trembled as if he was experiencing the greatest humiliation of his life.

"Yes, that's correct." Zeus lowered his head.

"Hah." Odin smiled and lowered his head. "Hah... Hahahahahahaha!!!!"

Rumble—!!

Enormous energy stormed within the palace.

"Lord... Odin?" Zeus looked up at Odin in confusion.

Crack.

Odin stood up from his crumbled throne.

"Gaia, Gaia, Gaia... How much will you insult me until you are satisfied?"

"What do you..."

"Hehehehe, very well."

Odin looked down at Zeus in animosity. He slowly walked down toward Zeus and grabbed him by the neck.

"Kurgh!"

Odin had once been at the pinnacle of all Earth's gods. There was no way Zeus would be able to resist him.

"Gaia..." Odin mumbled as he choked Zeus. "I will make sure you feel the excruciating sorrow... of losing your child."