Chapter 1634: The Goddess Descends

The public selection of the Swan Constellation’s Cloth inheritor, although not widely spread, is like a wall with no leaks—Sister Suya was able to know some information in advance and make plans, so Lamias naturally doesn’t believe there are no similar figures appearing.

In any case, Satur’s recommendation was in hand.

To show her gratitude, before the day of departure arrived, Lamias was extremely excited and gifted Satur a night of passionate intimacy—she released the Nemea Beast that night and provided three portions of Energy Herb at no charge.

Perhaps realizing that Lamias might not return in the future… Nemea nearly exhausted all its strength that night in hopes of a direct hit.

Whether it succeeded or not, Lamias didn’t know, but she was aware of the scientific view of “early four, late five” offspring, yet she didn’t kindly remind.

Looking at Satur, who was sleeping soundly with a pale complexion, Lamias thought for a moment and swiftly took the amethyst from Satur’s body.

“Consider it your so-called support.”

Better than nothing.

…

On the day of departure, only Nemea came to see Lamias off. As for Satur, he didn’t appear; it’s said there was a sudden task at Pegasus Camp… The sleeping potion used on Satur yesterday exceeded the dose, it’s uncertain if he can wake up in time.

“Do you have any relatives or friends in the Sanctuary?” Lamias looked at Nemea and asked.

“No.” Nemea shook her head, “Someone like me, how could I have any important relatives in the Sanctuary? Why do you ask?”

Lamias shook her head, directly thinking… According to the novel’s storyline, she should be able to receive a side quest from Nemea!?

Nemea might be some big shot’s illegitimate daughter, and possesses very strong talent, given one opportunity, she could transform from a ugly duckling into a Swan, etc.

“You should be careful on this journey.” Nemea handed Lamias a small parcel, “There are some edibles inside, take care of yourself on the road.”

Nemea’s dry rations*1, GET.

“Alright then.” Lamias put the parcel away, then glanced at Nemea, who was somewhat reluctant to part… Isn’t this guy regretting that once she leaves, there might be no chance to sleep with Satur, hence becoming extremely sorrowful?

Lamias felt her thoughts seemed a bit dark.

“Lami, remember to come back, successful or not.” Nemea said with watery eyes, “I think I might not have succeeded last night!”

“…” Lamias was silent for a moment, finally shaking her head, then walked into the team heading towards the Sanctuary.

Nemea sobbed into the handkerchief, watching them off with tears… until the team finally disappeared, she sighed forlornly, then opened the cloth-wrapped item she had.

This was something Lamias gave her before leaving, saying it was a memento.

Unwrapping it revealed a piece of beast hide… Nemea read the content on the beast hide in astonishment: [Cloth Meditation Training Technique]

…

…

Clearly, the team heading to the Sanctuary is more than just this one. The journey has only just begun, and they haven’t merged yet.

But the team mostly consists of people who originally were in Lamias’ camp, not many, around thirty or so, mostly female… However, among those in the team, Lamias only saw one familiar face.

Sister Suya.

The somewhat weary-looking Sister Suya was surprised too when she saw Lamias appearing last in the team… She even approached Lamias directly.

“I really didn’t expect to meet you here.” Sister Suya said with surprise, “I originally thought you would only group with people like Nemea, but now it seems I underestimated you.”

“Are you alone?” Lamias asked expressionlessly.

Sister Suya shrugged, “You know how precious a candidate slot for the Cloth is. We’re unlike those with influence and background; a single slot is already luxurious for us.”

So, those close sisters of yours inevitably became sacrifices to this luxury, didn’t they… Lamias didn’t expose it, there’s no need to at this moment. She even smiled, “Congratulations on your success.”

“You too.” Sister Suya squinted her eyes, “So it seems your slot was given by Lord Satur, right? I know you spend a lot of time together.”

Lamias didn’t confirm or deny, the selected ones in the front of the team were gathered in groups of threes and twos, seemingly discussing something, not particularly mingling… Upon arriving at the Sanctuary, everyone would be competitors.

“How about we form an alliance?” Sister Suya suddenly proposed.

“I’ll think about it.” Lamias took a step back… Are you kidding, wouldn’t you discuss any conditions before forming an alliance?

“I have some information about this competition.” Sister Suya whispered, “But I need someone to help me walk all the way to make the information valuable.”

“Information sharing, then we’ll compete in the end.” Lamias didn’t hesitate.

“Deal.” Sister Suya was apparently more straightforward.

Afterward, Sister Suya began gathering other female warriors in the team… while Lamias looked at the item Sister Suya gave her before leaving, finding herself deep in thought.

The item Sister Suya gave was evidently a part of the [Cloth Meditation Training Technique], but containing less than one-third of its content.

“Only by following you all the way will I be continually granted the subsequent content?” Lamias shook her head, had she not obtained the Meditation Training Technique from Satur in advance, she might really have worked with Suya seriously.

“It’s just a pity, Suya must have already undergone training and the progress might be far ahead of mine…” Lamias looked at the female warriors gradually tempted by Sister Suya’s persuasion, shaking her head again… These female warriors, their progress might never catch up to Sister Suya.

But… how did Sister Suya also have the [Meditation Training Technique]?

…

…

Sanctuary, Twelve Temples.

The ritual proceedings began, the stairway on Mount Olympus cast down from the sky, the goddess carrying her Scepter walked down the steps. Anyone sensing anything in the Sanctuary knelt down, calling out the goddess’s name: Athena.

Around the Twelve Temples surrounding the Goddess Temple, golden light simultaneously shot out, twelve Gold Saints, representing the strongest combat power, gathered in the center of the Goddess Temple.

The goddess, clad in a pure white robe, descended the final step of the staircase. She gathered her divine light, appearing as an innocent young girl akin to one from the mortal realm, captivating and charming.

Yet anyone could sense the immense divine power hidden within this girl… The goddess’s gaze was not gentle; it was filled with an aura of slaughter.

Do not forget the goddess’s divine roles—besides being the goddess of wisdom, she also governs war, as the goddess of war.

The authority over war seemed to have grown within the goddess due to the fall of War God Ares.

The goddess’s majesty was even greater than before—this was the thought in the minds of nearly twelve Gold Saints at this moment.

Indeed, due to the goddess’s increased authority over war, they, as her twelve most loyal Saint Fighters, experienced different degrees of power enhancement.

“Await…” The goddess’s voice resonated: “Musa, follow me.”

Among the kneeling Gold Saints, a long-haired man slowly stood up… The other Saint Fighters did not raise their heads, remaining like statues, kneeling in place.

As for Musa… he was the Saint Fighter of the Virgin constellation.

At this moment, within the Goddess Temple, between the enormous pillars on either side of the passageway, the goddess walked forward unhurriedly, with Musa following closely behind.

Musa could not see the goddess’s true face, nor could he discern her emotions at this time; he could only remain silent.

“How goes the selection of the successor for the Swan Constellation’s Cloth?” The goddess suddenly asked, yet she did not pause.

“The candidate female warriors are already on their way to the Sanctuary,” Musa pondered and responded: “According to the schedule, they should all arrive by the end of the fifth day… There seems to be an abundance of candidates this time; apart from those nurtured by the Sanctuary, some have been sent from various places…”

The goddess did not stop, her voice unfaltering, “Do you think the Swan Constellation’s selection should not be so widely publicized?”

Musa shook his head and said: “It is the divine oracle of the goddess; all things have naturally been considered.”

The goddess suddenly stopped—she had reached the end of the path. She raised her head and looked at the Divine Throne deep within the temple, unexpectedly saying: “Poseidon has annulled the alliance with Mount Olympus.”

“What?!”

Even Musa, implicitly the chief among the twelve Saint Fighters, was taken aback at this moment. He raised his head abruptly, his mind racing: “Poseidon… why so sudden? Could it be because of the Underworld?”

“He did not specify,” the goddess shook her head: “He merely directly withdrew his army to the Golden Ocean, and as for the Marine Fighters, they have not yet been withdrawn, but it shouldn’t take too long… The news has yet to reach the mortal realm.”

For the time being.

Musa furrowed his brows and said: “Once Poseidon’s army withdraws, the achievements we’ve painstakingly attained on the Battlefield of the Gods may…”

“The war in the mortal realm has been dragged out too long.” The goddess suddenly spoke: “Mount Olympus’s intention is for me to expedite the conclusion of the mortal war and then recover the forces deployed in the mortal realm. The news of Hades’s serious injury is true; rumors suggest that the Underworld will be succeeded by Prince Prin, the young master of the Underworld. Father God surmises that Hades may directly transfer his rank.”

Wave after wave of news rendered Musa almost unable to digest all this in a short time… Initiated by the Underworld many times, the Battle of the Gods has now entered the mid-to-late stage, with both sides’ strengths having been revealed. Perhaps just one opportunity could directly declare the end of hostilities.

“Among the adversarial human empires, many demigods have pledged allegiance to the Underworld,” Musa sighed, “Wanting to swiftly cease hostilities in the mortal realm is no easy task unless the gods intervene directly, but then the Underworld will surely not stand idly by… If the Battlefield of the Gods and the mortal realm are merged, the mortal realm might truly be destroyed.”

The mortal realm cannot endure the wanton display of divine powers… Even the goddess before him, at this moment, is certainly not the actual descent of the divine body.

“After the Swan Constellation’s Cloth inheritance ceremony concludes, I will promote five Gold Saints and already twelve Silver Saints,” the goddess slowly stated: “This is Ares’s bestowal… Musa, I need you to select five Silver Saints with sufficient potential for advancement, as well as bronze.”

“Understood.” Musa nodded his head.

A one-time promotion of five Gold Saints could be considered unprecedented in Sanctuary’s history… But the Sanctuary’s Twelve Temples can only accommodate twelve Gold Saints, and as for the newly promoted five Gold Saints, what their future holds—perhaps can only be pondered carefully after the war.

The promotion of Silver Saints, however, seems relatively straightforward.

In fact, once the war is over, how many Gold Saints can survive remains an unknown—at this moment, they are still in the Sanctuary only because the time to employ gold’s battle strength has not yet arrived.

“This war, though sparked by my sister…” The goddess sighed with melancholy at this moment: “However, the many hidden conflicts amidst it are difficult to articulate. Musa, even now, I cannot see through the fog of war.”

This matter already involves the topic of the gods, and Musa dared not make any rash presumptions… At this moment, he could only be a listener.

“The Underworld is unlike Mount Olympus of the divine realm.” The goddess sighed: “After all, the divine realm is created from fragments of the world… But the Underworld is provided by Hades, and it is not the Underworld in the true sense as we know. Thus, there are many secrets between Father God and Hades that the gods do not know. Or, this can even trace back to the true origin of the Divine Nation. Musa, although I descended by the suggestion of Mount Olympus, privately, there are also some matters I wish to entrust to you.”

Musa’s expression turned solemn at this moment… He was well aware that the upcoming discussion was the true intention behind the goddess’s solitary summons to the Goddess Temple.

A golden light orb separated at this moment from the goddess’s body and then slowly approached Musa.

Musa’s complexion was profoundly moved as he already sensed the contents within this orb, unable to suppress his shock: “What is this?”

“If I perish in this divine battle, it will replace me, being reborned in the mortal realm.” The goddess’s voice became increasingly ethereal, “Musa, are you prepared to guard it with your life, my most loyal Saint Fighter?”

“This will be my lifelong promise to protect!”

“Go, then.” The goddess moved towards the Divine Throne on the steps, sat down, eyes closed, “Awaken me upon the commencement of the Cloak of Sanctity battle, Musa.”

Musa turned and left, his expression grave.

The goddess on the Divine Throne gradually opened her eyes, sighing wistfully, “Will the future really be as Sister Clotho’s prophecy said… With the fall of the gods?”

“The one who should not exist… where exactly are they?”

…

…

Beyond the Sanctuary, a weathered team finally stepped onto the territory of the Sanctuary after passing layers of checks.

Lamias swept the hat off, gazing dazedly at the majestic Goddess Temple in the distance, and the Twelve Temples encircling it… She couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Come on!

I haven’t missed reading Uncle Kurumada’s comics!

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PS: Next chapter before midnight…