In response to Sterl's question, the high-ranking deity calmly retracted his hand. In a place unseen by anyone, a bloodstain on his palm quickly began to heal.
He gazed steadily at Hades, but inside, his mind was in turmoil. To think that this faint Divine Power level had withstood his full-force strike—there was no doubt this could be called a turning point. Even though he had not been able to strike at full power due to the constraints of the world's rules, and had refrained from using his high-ranking deity's various abilities, it was still impossible for someone at the faint Divine Power level to resist it.
And yet... he had been wounded!
As for Hades, after taking the blow, he appeared largely unharmed. Such strength, before the world's fusion was complete, was undoubtedly incredibly powerful! In any faction, this would be enough to change the course of a battle.
The reason he had struck was simple: he had sensed that Hades had not used all of his power. So, he wanted to see just how far this person's limits truly extended.
"Apologies, I was merely testing your value."
After realizing Sterl's true strength, the high-ranking deity immediately changed his tone, speaking to him earnestly.
"I've already defeated that useless fool—doesn't that prove enough?"
He chuckled, glancing briefly in Diana's direction. His cold demeanor softened slightly.
"Mr. Hades, this concerns whether my Orichalcum Kingdom can successfully complete the fusion. It's something I had no choice but to do, so I hope you understand. To show our sincerity, the war against Ashen will be co-led by you and Eterna."
The other gods of the Orichalcum Kingdom were almost stunned at the sight of such a humble attitude from a high-ranking deity. Was this... a plea? A high-ranking god, pleading with a faint Divine Power-level being?
At the same time, their hearts were filled with shock. Clearly, the value of Hades had been acknowledged by the high-ranking deity—he was someone to be contested for, extremely important and crucial.
To co-lead the entire Orichalcum Kingdom with Eterna—didn't that mean this outsider had reached the highest level of visible power in the Orichalcum Kingdom in less than a day?
This was utterly absurd!
But with Hades' displayed strength, no one dared voice any objections. It could only be said that surprises awaited the strong everywhere. With power, one could truly do as they wished.
"Is this what you call sincerity? I'm not interested in being some free labor."
He interrupted without showing any courtesy. While it seemed like he was becoming the second-in-command of the Orichalcum Kingdom, in reality, it was merely a public position. Sooner or later, he would fall out with the Orichalcum Kingdom, and this avatar held almost no value to him.
"You can make demands. As long as it's something my Orichalcum Kingdom can fulfill, we will meet your request."
The high-ranking deity continued, his eyes flashing briefly with a barely noticeable shadow. Hades' strength was immense. For an ordinary faint Divine Power-level being, Hades could easily crush them.
As for the Orichalcum Kingdom's treasury, it surely contained valuable items.
Whatever, he would ask for ten or eight items first and see what he got.
And the last condition? Not only could it be used to take advantage of the final progress with Diana, but it also served as a reassurance to the high-ranking deity, showing that he was helping the Orichalcum Kingdom solely for Diana's sake. Since Diana was from Orichalcum, no matter what, he wouldn't turn against them.
Upon hearing this, the high-ranking deity's mouth twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but regret what he had just said.
This Hades doesn't have a shred of humility or decency left, does he? Is he trying to hollow out the royal palace or something?
But once the words were spoken, they couldn't be taken back. Upon further thought, he realized that if these were the only costs to bind Hades to their side, then after dealing with Ashen and other local forces, and once the royal palace fusion was completed, they could win him over. The Orichalcum Kingdom would gain a deity with unlimited potential, and in the great catastrophe to come, they would have an added hope!
Cough, cough
, ten items is too much, but I can make the decision to allow you to choose five. However, this can only happen after we've decisively defeated Ashen. Also, the Soul Treasure will only be given to you after we've helped you eliminate most of Ashen's forces and after the Orichalcum Kingdom is completely out of danger."
"As for Goddess Diana, given that the Orichalcum Kingdom is currently facing a critical moment, the contract cannot be dissolved until the crisis is fully resolved. Additionally, I must consult with Goddess Diana herself on this matter."
With that, he turned his gaze toward Diana. She was still immersed in shock and a hidden sense of joy, not believing that Hades actually valued her so much. Moreover, from the looks of it, he seemed to want to keep her as his possession. The thought made her heart race, as if a small deer was leaping wildly inside her chest.
This Goddess of Archery and the Swamp, as her humanity gradually returned, once again felt the flutter of excitement in her heart—and it was more intense than ever before.
But the strength and potential Hades had shown so far were simply beyond imagination. If nothing else, it was only a matter of time before he ascended to high-ranking divine authority. There was even a possibility he might reach the powerful Divine Power level in the future.
Recalling the moment when Hades had descended from the sky in her moment of despair, Diana nearly lost herself in thought. There was nothing wrong with following such a god. She knew that being by his side could only bring her greatness. Without hesitation, she nodded. "I am willing."
The moment those words left her mouth, the other gods around her looked on with bitter expressions. As gods, why was she so exceptional, while they, on the other hand, had lived for so many years as if they were nothing more than dogs? They had never received the favor of a goddess, nor even held her hand. The only interaction they had with any goddess was a passing glance as they went about their daily routines. Occasionally, they'd spar in battle when developing their abilities, almost as if they were mere tools.
As they thought about this, many of the gods couldn't contain their frustrations. With the pressure from these native factions, a surge of anger rose within them. They made plans to find a few female slaves after everything was over, to vent their pent-up desires.
"Fine, since that's the case, she is yours now."
The high-ranking deity nodded, speaking nonchalantly.
A faint Divine Power-level god was nothing to worry about. With the resources of the Orichalcum Kingdom, it wouldn't take long to cultivate another one once things settled down.
In comparison, if they could use this opportunity to gain an ally with such potential, it would be a huge profit.