However, reality has no "ifs," and the order of Law does not shift with the will of an individual.
Therefore, at this moment, even though power continued to flow from the earth into her body and her mere gestures still held the power that made all the gods tremble, standing between heaven and earth, this oldest of the innate gods still felt a profound weariness in her heart, and a desolation as if abandoned by all things in the world.
Across from her, the Divine King continued to recklessly pour out his power, and Gaia was like a ruler proving his might, a handy tool. Around Mount of the Gods, the originally reverent gazes of the gods gradually shifted, and for the first time, they realized that perhaps this venerable Mother Earth was not as formidable as they had thought.
The third-generation Queen of Gods wore a Golden Crown, her current solemn and majestic appearance inevitably reminded Gaia of her past self: so young, so confident, and even possessing the same power—the sovereignty that parted the world. Only her First Era had passed, and now, Gaia was nothing but an uninvited nuisance.
Even beyond that, Mother Earth also noticed the fleeting presences that had passed by.
Laine and Erebus, the two she had always suspected, yet this time, it was as if they had not even noticed her.
From dealing with the other gods, to their internal strife, then venturing into the starry sky, from start to finish, no one had spoken a single word to her, as if she were no longer worthy of attention.
In particular, Erebus had merely greeted the Divine King and paid no heed to his sister standing by.
And her own sister... Nyx probably had visited as well, but Gaia sadly realized that if the latter did not wish it, if "Mother Night" who presided over "Secrets" did not tread upon the earth, then she would not even be able to sense her presence. Clearly, Nyx had no intention of appearing.
All mixed together, Gaia's despair and anger were difficult to express in words.
"Ah—!"
Thump—
Transforming sorrow and fury into power, Gaia mustered her Divine Power once more.
A vast radiance surged up wildly, once again colliding with the "Thunder," yet this time, under Mother Earth's incredulous gaze, Zeus's hand did not even waver.
"How, how can this—"
"—Mother Earth, you have gone too far," the Divine King said, momentarily stunned, but he immediately realized something. Trying hard to contain the joy in his heart, before the gods, facing the Ancient God who had once made him extremely wary, he spoke righteously.
"I know, because of the matter with the Titans, you may hold dissatisfaction towards me, but Gaia, this is not a reason for you to vent your anger recklessly!"
"Fabricating lies, defaming the Divine King with so-called 'Golden Apple Tree'; endangering the current peace, trying to destroy the Mount of the Gods. Gaia, you must feel it by now, the world has brought down punishment, and this is the reprimand for your arbitrary actions!"
All the life in the world seemed to be mocking her, and as she looked around, she could not find a single person to stand by her side.
"..."
"..."
"Hahaha... Zeus, son of Uranus, offspring of Cronus..."
After a moment, Gaia lifted her head, looking at the Divine King who stood proudly among the clouds. Her voice was a bit hoarse, but at this moment, the entire continent seemed to echo with her voice.
"I curse you."
"I curse you... My era may have passed, but one day, yours will also come to an end."
"I will be waiting for you, Zeus... I will be waiting until the end of all things."
Boom—
Long before Gaia had spoken her second sentence, the Arrows of Thunder struck down again, but this time, the Divine King could do nothing to stop it.
Gaia's figure had disappeared; no one could stop her on the earth, even as she neared the brink of collapse. And her final curse spread through heaven and earth with the trembling sounds of the earth's crust.
The expression of the Divine King remained unchanged, as if he did not care about the helpless rage of the loser making her exit, but only Hera, who knew him well, noticed that Zeus might not be as calm inside as he appeared.
Because she had once heard Zeus speak of the 'prophecy' given before the dissolution of the second-generation Divine King.
"Zeus, a curse without the support of power is meaningless, nothing more than empty words... Now, it is time to do what a Divine King must,"
Stepping forward, Hera spoke softly.
"...Yes, a joke, nothing but the last attempt at dignity by an old-timer of the bygone era unwilling to leave the stage,"
Nodding, Zeus took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at the gods bowing their heads under his gaze.
Not by the election of the gods, but by supreme power, he was now truly the Divine King.