Amidst the rubble and collapsed buildings, only a slender figure weaved through. The ground was littered with broken wood and stone, but this was thanks to the fact that these palaces were the dwellings of deities, after all. If it weren't for the residual divine power protecting them, they would have likely ended up like those lives caught in an unjust disaster, not even leaving a body behind.
Thus, following a faint intuition, the goddess quickly moved through the ruins of the collapsed buildings. The roaring outside the mountain grew fiercer as if the warring parties had finally realized something and were frantically unleashing their power.
Now and then, some shockwaves would strike Mount of the Gods, but Athena foresaw them and avoided each one. Until at a certain moment, stepping over an overturned column, the goddess, who appeared no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, finally found her destination.
It was a long-deserted chamber, seemingly sealed by some mysterious force for many years. Indeed, it was precisely because the force entirely sealed it off that its defenses outperformed other buildings, allowing this secluded palace to survive under Gaia's power and become one of the rare exceptions on Mount Olympus. (See 3-11)
However, the power of the seal had its limits, and now, that incomprehensible force had dissipated in the collision. There was nothing left that could stop a deity. Observing this scene, Athena fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward to push open the grand doors.
The sound of the doors opening should have been loud, but it seemed imperceptible under the thunderous noise from outside the mountain. She flashed into the palace, then shut the doors behind her. Instead of the elaborate decorations and exquisite carvings of other temples, there were only several paintings hanging on the walls, seemingly the masterpieces of the room's previous owner.
Walking slowly forward, Athena's bright eyes surveyed everything in the palace.
The paintings on the walls were different from each other, seemingly recording the moments most deeply etched in the previous owner's memory: the creation of the Golden Generation of life, spreading hydrology across the sea, the previous Divine King leveling the ocean in battle, and meeting the blond youth for the first time on an unnamed island.
Perhaps it was an innate closeness to art, perhaps bolstered by the scepter of Wisdom, Athena soon resonated with the emotions contained within the paintings. Despite never having met her, Metis's image gradually filled her mind.
Stepping closer, Athena, endowed with hydrology, easily recognized the material, even though the person who wrote them used many personalized terms and directional remarks, but this did not perplex the successor of the same godhood. At just a glance, Athena realized they were the previous owner's attempts to decipher a power known as 'witchcraft,' and she had already made some progress.
Her research was rough, but it had formed a rough framework and system. However, compared to the initial samples of research, she did not want to use 'Magic Power' as the foundation for this new system. Flipping through the past manuscripts, Athena gradually realized why she had researched this power.
Initially, it was out of curiosity; the author of these manuscripts, having witnessed the wonders of witchcraft, hoped to understand its underlying principles. Later, due to some premonitions, she invested more energy into it. Perhaps it was a warning from the scepter of Wisdom, or maybe she accidentally glimpsed a corner of the future, but either way, she foresaw some change in the Laws.
Perhaps one day, the deities would be restrained on earth because of their reckless actions, so upon realizing this, she secretly began her research into this unique power, trying to 'divinize' it.
In the process, she shared her speculations with the Divine King, who had not yet ascended the throne; however, he did not truly believe her 'Alarmist talk.' He merely documented the matter and naturally changed the topic with the master of the place.
In such circumstances, the author of the notes had no choice but to continue the unfinished research alone until one day, she did not return, leaving these manuscripts behind, unnoticed by others henceforth.
"..."
"...Divine Arts, is this the name you chose? It's a fitting appellation."
A soft voice echoed in the side chamber, and within Athena's hands, Divine Power and Elements merged. The next moment, a glowing sphere appeared in her palm, emitting a warm light, bringing some illumination to this quiet chamber.