Chapter 171 - 26 Fear or Gift

Chapter 171: Chapter 26 Fear or Gift

For ordinary deities, the world hadn’t changed at all. Yet, the moment Bronze Humanity was born, it silently shook the hearts of many gods.

Whether it was the new gods who had tasted the Golden Apple or old gods like Helios who had been restricted to intermediate divine power for thousands of years, they all noticed the change.

Thus, atop Mount Olympus, in less than a century, seated upon a bronze chariot, Hades returned here once more.

Of course, perhaps ‘short’ wasn’t the right word to describe it, since from his birth to now hadn’t been all that long.

Gazing upon the Divine Palace that had been rebuilt, the God of the Underworld couldn’t help but compare it to his own abode. He easily concluded that the surface was indeed preferable to the underworld.

It wasn’t a matter of the architecture itself, but that Hades could use as many gemstones, as precious materials as possible to construct his temples, yet it would not change the desolate solitude of the place.

He himself didn’t care, but since all the other gods cared, he reluctantly had to start caring as well.

“Hades, you’ve come too?”

“Our dear brother is truly exceptional; he always manages to create something out of the ordinary. Thankfully, he didn’t hide this time. Otherwise, no one would know to what realms he would’ve stealthily traveled.”

Even from afar, the booming voice of Poseidon carried over.

Following the sound, Hades looked towards the south, where the Sea Emperor was flying alone toward Mount Olympus.

This was a good thing, after all, just before, the Lord of the Underworld had worried Poseidon would bring along his Sea God kinsmen. Fortunately, at least when it came to monopolizing, his brother had never disappointed.

“Stop wasting time, Poseidon, our sisters are there too. Don’t keep them waiting too long.”

Concise and to the point, Hades had no intention of saying more. He led the way into the grand hall where matters were discussed, and seeing this, the Sea Emperor promptly followed suit.

Behind them, Helios, who had just finished parking his Sun Chariot, also rushed in. In fact, if it wasn’t for the importance of the Sun’s presence to the mortals, making it impossible to leave him out, the Divine King would have preferred not to invite this Titan deity to join the feast of division.

Mount Olympus housed many temples, for the most part, the abodes of the True Gods. However, near the peak, the Divine King had ordered the construction of a palace where the gods could resolve disputes and discuss matters.

He named this temple Rikte, meaning ‘place of justice and honesty.’

Today, following Zeus’s summons, gods of intermediate divine power or greater gathered; many of them possessed even more formidable divine power. They all knew the purpose of their congregation, for the newly born humanity.

Prometheus was the exception. As the creator of Bronze Humanity, he was permitted to join this meeting and even took a seat close to the front.

Before this, no one understood faith, nor knew where this power originated, or why feeble humans suddenly came to possess such ability.

Prometheus himself didn’t know, but at least he’d had close contact with the Golden Humanity, which was the reason for his seat here.

“Fear.”

Without hesitation, Helios was the first to stand up. He was only a step away from great divine power, and faith gave him hope.

“Let humans, like the Golden Humanity, build temples for the gods and provide sacrifices and offerings.”

“If they refuse, then let drought, storms, earthquakes, floods come upon them. When they feel fear, they will naturally pray earnestly for the mercy of the gods.”

“I object.”

Prometheus immediately retorted.

He was pleased to see humans providing faith to the gods. After all, the more important they became, the less likely the gods would want to see them extinct. However, he could not accept Helios’s suggestion.

“Sheer violence cannot win genuine devotion, just as the former Divine King used violence to subjugate you. As the result shows, he did not gain your true loyalty.”

“You—”

Helios felt waves of anger surging within him as Prometheus’s words struck at the heart of the matter. But he was about to speak, he complied under the sharp gaze of Zeus.

“Continue.”

Turning his head, Zeus addressed Prometheus.

With a slight bow, the Forethinker continued to express his views.

“Experience tells us that suffering can only make one submit, while beneficence can inspire respect. Just as children treat their parents, it is not out of fear, but because of affection.”

“Thus, the gods should protect humanity and bestow blessings, so that humans will faithfully believe in the gods, and our faith will flow continuously.”

Nodding, Zeus too had his first encounter with the power of faith. In fact, he felt that both sides had a point.

Power indeed finds it hard to win sincere respect, but thinking of himself, Zeus felt that even if someone was always good to him, he might not necessarily reciprocate in kind.

Not to mention anything else, the infant still developing within him at that time was proof.

“Hestia, my sister, what do you think about this matter?”

Somewhat unexpectedly, Zeus suddenly asked for her opinion, but the goddess of the hearth and protector rose to express her views.

“I think anything forced upon others is unreasonable. If it were me, I would tell humans that those who believe in me could gain protection, receive blessings. The more devout they are, the more I will give in return; those who don’t believe in me, I won’t punish, but will leave to their own devices. However, if they dare to desecrate the divine, to speak ill, then I too will bring disasters upon them.”

“Since the gods have given humans free will, we should abide by it. Otherwise, the faith brought by the Golden Humanity would not have been so weak in the past, and this might be the warning that the world gives to the divine beings.