Chapter [101]

Hephaestus felt the power growing in his chest, a dark energy that seemed to pulse in sync with his fury and despair. He knew there was no escape, and the only thing left was to take as many of his enemies as he could with him.

The energy began to radiate from Hephaestus, growing more intense with each passing moment. Kaito realized that the situation was about to spiral out of control. Wasting no more time, he opened the dimension of the Coliseum, a portal materializing swiftly around him.

SHUUUM!

Kaito grabbed Athena by the arm and, with an agile movement, pulled her with him into the dimension of the Coliseum. He could have escaped alone, but he had other plans for Athena—he wanted her divinity, and he knew he would have to kill her to obtain it.

Aphrodite, seeing Hephaestus about to explode, felt fear grip her body. Her eyes widened as she watched Kaito and Athena disappear into the portal, leaving her behind with Hephaestus.

"Beloved, don't do this! Remember that once, you loved me!" Aphrodite cried out, her voice filled with desperation and regret.

Hephaestus ignored her words. His gaze was fixed on the void, his heart full of hate and determination. He felt nothing for Aphrodite anymore, only the desire to end everything.

BOOOOOM!

The explosion was devastating, a wave of dark energy that spread through the entire hall of Olympus. The columns were destroyed, the ground cracked, and everything around was consumed by Hephaestus's power. Aphrodite was engulfed by the explosion, her desperate scream silenced as everything disintegrated around her.

....

Zeus was in a distant part of Olympus, far from the hall where Hephaestus's explosion had occurred. He was gravely injured, his body marked by battles and his expression laden with pain. At his side, Ophis observed him with an indifferent look, without any sign of pity or remorse.

Zeus watched Hera, his wife, disappear before his eyes. He felt the weight of loss, a pain that seemed deeper than any physical wound. His eyes turned to Ophis, filled with disbelief and despair.

"Ophis, why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?" Zeus shouted, his voice weak from his wounds.

He had never done anything against Ophis and could not understand the reason behind the fury of the Infinite Dragon Goddess.

Ophis remained silent for a moment, simply observing Zeus. She had nothing personal against him; all she wanted was Olympus for herself. She desired Olympus because she believed that only in a place like that could she find the absolute silence she so longed for. That was her sole objective.

Zeus took a deep breath, feeling his strength fade. He knew there was no way to defeat Ophis, not in his current state. The only thing left was to protect what remained of his kingdom, even if it meant surrendering it to her.

"Very well, Ophis... If it's Olympus you want, then it shall be yours," Zeus said, his voice filled with resignation. He knew it was the only way to prevent further destruction. Slowly, he raised his hand and made a magical vow.

"I swear by the River Styx... that I relinquish Olympus and pass my authority to Ophis."

boom!

The sound of thunder echoed, as if signaling the vow had been sealed.

Zeus's words echoed through the space, and a bright light began to envelop him. Energy emanated from his body, moving toward Ophis.

Ophis watched as the light enveloped her, feeling the power of Olympus being transferred to her. She had no reason to refuse; after all, this had been her goal from the beginning. The light shone intensely around her, and Zeus's vow was sealed.

...

Within the dimension of the Coliseum, Kaito and Athena faced each other. The atmosphere was charged, the tension palpable. The silence between them seemed to last an eternity until Athena finally broke it.

"Why did you save me, Kaito?" Athena asked, her voice full of confusion. She didn't understand why Kaito had pulled her out of Olympus, especially after all he had said about destroying the gods.

Kaito observed her for a moment before answering, his eyes cold and calculating.

"I didn't do it to save you, Athena. I have other plans for you. I need your divinity, and the only way to get it is by killing you."

Athena's eyes widened, surprised by Kaito's blunt response. She knew he was dangerous, but she hadn't expected him to be so direct in his intentions. Her body tensed, and she gripped her sword tighter, ready to fight for her life.

"So, that's it... You brought me here to kill me?" Athena said, her gaze growing more serious. "If you think it will be easy, you're very mistaken. I won't fall without a fight."

Kaito smiled, his translucent wings extending as he prepared for combat. "I don't expect it to be easy, Athena. But I will get what I want, no matter the cost."

Athena struck first, her spear shining with intense energy as she aimed directly at Kaito. He dodged skillfully, his wings beating strongly to evade the attack. Kaito then countered with Vendetta, his spirit lance, aiming at Athena's chest.

CLANG!

Athena blocked the blow with her shield, the impact reverberating through the Coliseum. She pressed against Kaito, trying to push him back, but he was agile, dodging her strikes effortlessly. The battle continued, both exchanging swift and precise attacks, each trying to find an opening in the other's defense.

SWISH!

Kaito moved with agility, spinning Vendetta and attempting to strike Athena from behind, but she ducked in time, countering with a side strike. He dodged again, his wings vibrating as he stepped back, keeping a safe distance.

Huff...

Huff...

Athena breathed heavily, feeling exhaustion begin to take over her body. She knew she couldn't falter, but Kaito was fast and relentless, each of his moves showing a clear intent to end her life. She raised her sword once more, determined to fight to the end.

Kaito decided it was time to use his full power. He closed his eyes briefly, connecting to the essence of nature around him. Suddenly, vines emerged from the Coliseum floor, intertwining and advancing toward Athena.

CRACK!

SWISH!

The vines wrapped around Athena, binding her arms and legs. She struggled to free herself, but the strength of the plants was irresistible. Kaito looked at her, his eyes gleaming with a mix of fury and determination.

"I am a fairy, Athena. I control nature."

Athena, breathing heavily, raised her head to face Kaito. Her eyes were full of pain but also something else—a plea for understanding.

"Would you believe me if I said I had nothing to do with the massacre of the fairies?" Athena asked, her voice trembling but firm.

Kaito remained expressionless, his gaze cold and implacable. "All gods are guilty," he replied, his voice laden with hatred.

Kaito did not hesitate. He advanced, raising Vendetta, and with a precise move, pierced Athena's chest.

SHINK!

Athena's eyes widened, feeling the blade pierce her body. The pain was immediate and intense, but at the same time, a strange feeling of relief washed over her. Her body began to glow, transforming into pure energy as her divinity was transferred to Kaito.

Kaito watched as Athena's body dissolved into particles of light, her divinity flowing into him. He closed his eyes, feeling her power merge with his own, further increasing his strength. When all the energy was absorbed, he opened his eyes, an intense glow emanating from his irises.

Kaito then raised his hand, and with a firm gesture, dissolved the dimension of the Coliseum. The marble columns began to disintegrate, turning into particles of light carried away by the wind. The sandy ground disappeared, giving way to the void that preceded the return to the original reality.

Olympus lay in ruins after Hephaestus's explosion. Among the debris, Ophis remained silent, her expression blank as she surveyed the destruction around her. Kaito approached, still feeling Athena's energy merge with his power.

"Did you kill Zeus?" Kaito asked, his gaze fixed on Ophis. There was a mix of expectation and apprehension in his voice.

Ophis, without changing her expression, replied calmly, "I let him go. He already gave me what I wanted."

Kaito frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Ophis's decision, but restrained himself. He knew that confronting her directly would be imprudent, even suicidal.

"It's time for you to leave as well and let me have my silence," Ophis said, her voice serene but weighted with an unmistakable authority. She didn't need to explain further—her desire had always been to find a place of absolute peace, and Olympus was now hers.

Kaito kept his gaze fixed on Ophis for another moment before taking a deep breath. Without saying a word, he prepared to leave.

SHUUUM!

A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, shining intensely before Kaito disappeared, leaving Ophis alone among the ruins of Olympus. The Infinite Dragon Goddess looked around, finally finding the silence she had longed for.