Chapter 1285 The Pantheon Gods

Chapter 1285 The Pantheon Gods

As Andohr settled onto his throne, Seraphine, the Goddess of Information, entered the hall with a graceful stride. The rumors she had gathered from her network of spies had hinted at the impossible, yet here it was confirmed—Andohr had indeed escaped his long confinement.

"Seraphine," Andohr greeted, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Andohr, you're here... How did you...?" Seraphine's voice faltered, her usually unflappable demeanor shaken. Even she, the omniscient goddess, couldn't fathom how Andohr had managed his escape.

"I grew tired of waiting for the pantheon to care about my fate," Andohr replied with a scornful laugh. "So I took matters into my own hands and won, as I always do."

Silence fell over the hall for a moment as Seraphine processed his words, then gracefully took her seat on a throne adorned with carvings of hooded figures—a symbol of her vast network of spies.

"Are you going to tell me how you managed your escape, or will you send me to Snowheim like you did Lathander?" Seraphine asked, crossing her arms.

"Curious as ever. Very well, I'll indulge you because, unlike the others, you actually gave a damn," Andohr remarked, a rare smile playing on his lips.

"I recently discovered that the essence of Noah, the God of Light, was a key force maintaining the bindings of my prison. Even before his birth, his destined essence contributed to my confinement. So, when the God of Darkness killed his own brother, without realizing that his previous incarnation had made Noah a pivotal seal bearer and my jailer, the bindings weakened just enough for me to break free," Andohr explained, carefully omitting certain details. Seraphine noted the gaps in his story but chose not to press further, knowing it would be futile.

"So where is his mother?" Seraphine asked, only to see Andohr chuckle.

"Where else? She is in Oblivion," Andohr stated nonchalantly, causing a chill to run down Seraphine's spine. Oblivion, a name that hadn't been uttered in nearly two thousand years, was feared even by gods. It was a prison crafted by Andohr, existing outside the realms of physical space and time. Those who threatened Andohr or the pantheon were banished there, where they would endure an eternity in stasis. Time did not pass in Oblivion, making even a second feel endless. The rumors said that beings confined there would lose their minds within days from their perspective, unable to perceive the passage of time.

"Don't you think that's a bit excessive, Andohr?" Seraphine questioned, her voice tinged with pity for Harriet.

Andohr maintained his composure in the presence of Rudra, keenly aware of the God of War's immense power. Rudra, a god capable of matching Andohr in combat, commanded a level of respect that Andohr could not afford to dismiss lightly. Unlike with Lathander, where Andohr felt free to display his irritation, he understood that provoking Rudra could lead to dire consequences.

Rudra, for his part, seemed indifferent to Salesi's presence. His focus was solely on the dynamics of power within the pantheon. To him, Salesi, a mortal elevated to divine proximity, did not merit his attention or regard. His eyes were reserved for the figures of true power and consequence in the room.

The atmosphere shifted again as another significant figure entered the hall. Zorian, the God of the Sun, made his presence known with a powerful aura. His appearance was striking, with a long, flowing white beard and a muscular physique that radiated strength and vitality.

Zorian's entrance brought a hush over the room, his bright aura casting a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the cooler tones of the hall.

As he approached his throne, Zorian threw a cold glance at Andohr, his gaze sharp and discerning, reflective of his ancient wisdom.

With a wave of his hand, Zorian closed the hall's doors, signaling the commencement of the meeting.

"Andohr, your schemes led to the God of Darkness killing his own brother, and the entire realm is paying its price," Zorian stated, his voice deep and stern.

"You mean the mortal realm? Because, let's not forget, I am the God of Time and Space. I understand how realms work. The God of Light's essence was in the mortal realm; he hadn't fully ascended to our realm, hadn't fully become a god. His death won't impact the realm of gods like Rainar's death impacted this realm," Andohr retorted with a snide chuckle.

"The good old Andohr, never giving a damn about the mortals. Some things never change," Rudra chuckled, amused by Andohr's unchanged nature.

"And you lecture me about mortals, Rudra? That's fucking rich," Andohr scoffed.

"When was the last time you gave a damn about anything other than your little paradise and yourself?" Andohr challenged, only to see Rudra burst into boisterous laughter.

"That is true. As the god of war, when they start to pray to me, they've already fucked up," Rudra said, his laughter echoing around the hall. Although delivered with humor and nonchalance, Seshat recognized the profound truth in his words. Rudra, as the God of War, understood better than anyone that in war, no one truly wins.