"Drystan... how do you know my true name?"
Since Hades brought him to the underworld, the name Drystan had been completely severed from his identity.
He was no longer the proud and brave red dragon Drystan; he was the Dragon of Death and Sin, Falms.
Even Drystan himself had gradually forgotten that name.
Hearing it from [Deception]'s mouth after so long, Falms' feelings became increasingly complex.
"This was never a secret, Falms. It's just that no one cared about your origins. Honestly, if you weren't Hades' guard dog, who would care about beings like you and me?
But if I remember correctly, you were a very powerful [deity] in your original domain, weren't you? Have you never thought about breaking free from Hades' control one day and returning to your domain?"
[Deception] stepped forward, approaching the window, separated from the Dragon of Death and Sin by only a wall.
"Or have you grown accustomed to the dark, damp, and decaying environment of the underworld and to groveling at Hades' feet?"
"[Deception], what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Let's cooperate. I can help you break free from Hades' control and escape this damned underworld. All you have to do is help me kill someone."
"Tell me who this person is first, then I'll consider whether to cooperate with you."
"One of the seven apostles, [Rage]. You've seen him, right? That brainless idiot who only solves problems with brute force."
"What do you mean? You want me to kill your companion?"
Hearing this, [Deception] let out a cold laugh and continued, "He is not my companion; at most, we are just colleagues. Besides, if he doesn't die, certain developments will become very troublesome, so I must find a way to kill him.
Coincidentally, you want to regain your freedom, and I need a powerful ally.
This is a win-win situation, isn't it?"
At this, Falms fell into silence. As the once-proud red dragon Drystan, it certainly wasn't content with being Hades' guard dog.
But having faced Hades in battle, Falms knew just how terrifying Hades' power was—an enemy it could never hope to defeat.
How could a mere demigod like [Deception] have the audacity to make such bold claims?
"[Deception], how can I trust that you can really help me? Just knowing my true name doesn't mean I'll trust you completely."
"The contract you signed with Hades is now in my hands."
With a thought, [Deception] produced an ancient-looking parchment. Sensing Hades' unique aura emanating from it, Falms' eyes lit up.
"Where did you get that!"
"I should be asking you! Have you been in the underworld this whole time?"
"Not just here. The master assigned me many tasks to complete. The underworld is the last stop."
[Deception] took a deep breath, ensuring Falms wasn't paying attention, then urgently asked, "So, what are you doing here? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I came here to stay alive. After you left, the [Divine Emissary] appeared."
Hearing this, [Deception]'s face changed drastically.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me. They suddenly appeared and attacked Qing.
We're out in the open while they're hiding in the shadows.
At this rate, we'll be picked off one by one. I need to find a way to counter them or at least identify them before it's too late."
"How can that be? The [Apostle] hasn't been completely eradicated yet. The [Divine Emissary] shouldn't be appearing at this time. John, could you be mistaken?"
"What do you think?"
[Deception] knew John wouldn't lie about something like this, which made the situation even more dire.
With the [Apostle]'s authority not yet fully gathered and the [Divine Emissary] appearing so soon, the pressure on [Deception] was immense.
"By the way, I need to ask you something, [Deception]. Did you know Hades is holding two deities from the Norse pantheon in the underworld?"
[Deception] nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the Norse god of war and the goddess of death. I heard the master mention it before. They caused trouble and were suppressed here."
"You know? That's great. Can you take me to them? If possible, I want to release them and take down the Dragon of Death and Sin out there!"
"What? No! Didn't you hear our conversation? I barely managed to deceive it into helping us deal with [Rage]. You can't kill it now!"
"[Deception], how long do you think this lie can hold up before Falms realizes?
Be grateful that the underworld's aura has corroded Falms' mind to such an extent that it can't think straight.
And you seriously expect to trick it into doing your dirty work?
In contrast, I think the two Norse deities are more trustworthy.
Right now, our interests align.
Kill Falms, steal Hades' treasures, take everything we can, and then pin it all on Tyr and Hera! Isn't that more feasible than your plan?
Can you guarantee Falms won't realize it's a lie before [Rage] awakens?"