The Pantheon II

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Chapter 83: The Pantheon II

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Two months passed, and such a long time with Yovan changes people, and even beasts such as Antarisa.

It was snowing while Antarisa was relaxed on the cold snow, several odd beasts were moving about, trembling as they passed by her.

In fact, some beasts were bringing her fresh meat, and others were worshiping her. It was quite the odd scenery, especially knowing of Antarisa's previously lazy nature.

Not far from her were several of the Kuja Tribe, desperately trying to get her to go back. She stayed with Yovan a bit too long much to her people's dismay.

So while Yovan was away doing some chores, they took the opportunity to convince her. The ones closer to her did, so she was patient, "This is for our future, so please believe in me."

Her words stunned her sisters. She was unusually gentle, not in her Empress mannerism at all as she added, "I... We can not rely on the Marines forever. There will come a time when they hunt us, one way or another. You two should know this best."

They tried to hide it well, but Hancock could still see the fear in them. Her sisters like her were slaves, with the slave mark imprinted on their backs. They were suffering from the same fear of the World government as well as resentment.

Hancock didn't tell them anything about Yovan. She just hoped they'd trust her, and she especially didn't let them know about the Pantheon.

Speaking of the Pantheon, its members are about to have their first meeting as Hancock walked into a relatively small house to the side.

She made sure no one can hear anything before she brought out a Venetian pink mask that hid her identity.

She then started communication through a special Den Den Mushi that acted as a projector, showing her three screens.

"Zeus, King of the gods; god of the sky, lightning, thunder," The one in the lead spoke, strangely not putting on any mask. He was a skinny brown-haired man with blue eyes.

"Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty and Love." Hancock introduced herself.

"Gaia, God of Land. No, the World!" The person who introduced himself as such was a man, and it was Crocodile.

"Isn't that a girl's name?" The last person on the call calmly remarked.

"It's not." Crocodile or Gaia responded.

"It is." The unknown person said.

"Shut up." Crocodile was finding it hard to keep his temper down.

"Oh well, Ares, God of war, violence, bloodshed." Ares remarked as he eyed Aphrodite, "You seem familiar."

"I can say the same," Aphrodite responded.

They weren't really sure, but it felt like they know each other. They had some theories, but they didn't want to come to any conclusions, especially with the masks hiding most of their face.

Even Ares's hawk-like eyes were well hidden because they are certainly something that will give him away. In fact, he was invited to the Pantheon by Crocodile himself since the latter was quite close to him.

"And you seem weak. Why are you the King of Gods?" Ares noted as he eyed Zeus.

"Tahahahahah, I've been told similar things in the past, but here we are." Zeus laughed Ares' words off.

"Here we are what?" Ares wasn't willing to let it go.

"I mean, I was chosen by God to be the God of lightning and thunder, no? I naturally have the capabilities to back my position up, In fact, God once told me that I will one day be his right-hand man, and here I am." Zeus responded with pride apparent on his face.

"God... I see. I don't know the name of this God of yours, and I don't know yours either." Ares made it plenty apparent that he was here to get information, understandably so.

"Tahahaha, I would feel ashamed if I hide my name because there is nothing anyone can do to catch me, so I don't mind telling you... Tinny D. Sinj!!!" Zeus actually introduced himself.

"Ah, ok." Ares nodded though he was thinking to himself, 'Zeus is most certainly a front. He must be quite weak, covering for the so called God.'

Ares was right. Yovan just chose the one most fit to be a cover, someone he deemed to be very interesting.

Tinny D. Sinj is actually one of the weakest even amongst Bege's men, but his mouth utters lies like a machine gun. In that regard, he's unmatched.

"Sorry for the late arrival, Apollo, God of the Sun." Another screen appeared, and all it showed was a bunch of golden flames moving about strangely.

"Hm?" Ares couldn't help but narrow his eyes at Apollo, "But where is this God of yours?"

"He is here of course. Always among us. Always looking after us, but he left the task of introducing the Pantheon to me, so let's start right now," Zeus said with a smile, "The Pantheon's goal is to be an untouchable force in the World."

And then there was silence, mainly because the Gods thought he'd say more, but he didn't, so Ares had to question, sounding offended, "Is that it?"

Ares even had to set aside Zeus' answer because it told him a lot of things. Either this unknown god is capable of seeing a lot of things, or he's actually among them, one of the gods in the meeting.

"No, I was just building tension, why you gotta blow it?" Zeus said with a frown, driving a few facial twitches down Ares' face.

"Ahem, anyway. The way the Pantheon will work is by having high stakes in each other's business. Basically, if one of us benefits, the others do too.

Thus we'll see value in each other succeeding. We'll support each other in more ways than one, including protection though only if death isn't a certainty.

Betrayal means all the other members hunting you to the end of the world. Using that rule to manipulate us into eliminating an enemy will result in the same fate."

And then Zeus remained silent, and so did the others assuming he was just building tension.

"Well??" Zeus said with confusion, "I'm waiting."

"Huh?"

"..."

"..."

'Just why did Yovan choose him as the King of Gods??' Hancock had to wonder, seemingly speechless.

"If you are trying to convince me to join the Pantheon, a force that no one else heard of, then you're failing miserably," Ares stated, disappointment apparent in his tone.

When Crocodile told him about the Pantheon and stressed its value, he decided to hear what they have to say, but, "This God of yours, his reputation isn't enough for me to join. Do you know why? Because he has none."

Well, Yovan's reputation is a bit odd, and perhaps it would've worked if he chose to make himself known because only a few pirates of significant power don't know about him, and every Marine knows about him.

He was not only responsible for the infamous or renowned Fall Massacre, he was one of three individuals to ever escape the Impel Down.

The last time someone escaped was approximately twenty years ago, and Shiki, the individual that escaped didn't come out unscathed while Yovan on the other hand remained a mystery.

The third individual that ever escaped was none other than Shiryu. He simply vanished from the Impel Down, and the Marines were almost certain it has something to do with Yovan.

So it's safe to say that he's incredibly famous, especially after his new bounty was released.

[Yovan Night (The Stranger) - Only Dead: 1,000,000,000 Beli!!]

His bounty rose so high before even reaching New World, but Ares does know who leads the Pantheon, and Yovan wasn't willing to share, not with the risks of doing so being so high.

He was already started to be called Yovan 'Misfortune' Night, so why make his luck even worse? He has to be careful.

"That's all I'm allowed to say. The choice is yours. Will you actually join the Pantheon or not?" Zeus stated, seeming more serious than ever.

"I'll join." Gaia or Crocodile said.

"I'll join." Aphrodite accepted as well.

"I'll join." And so did Apollo.

Ares was left speechless. What? Why? How? He was questioning his sanity considering Zeus' offer wasn't worth any consideration at all.

Zeus didn't even tell them much, seemingly asking them to just believe! That wasn't something Ares would normally allow, but the meeting was happening through Den Den Mushis, so there wasn't much he could do.

He could only eye Crocodile specifically, giving him a questioning look only to receive a simple nod.

He realized there and then that he was an outsider. The other individuals joined the Pantheon before this meeting even took place because they know something he doesn't.

But he wasn't trusted enough to be allowed such information, understandably so. He is after all one of the Warlords of the Sea.

Ares stayed silent for a while, thinking things through. He focused mostly on what Crocodile told him beforehand, and he told him many things.

"I can safely assume that becoming a part of the Pantheon means no longer having the ability to leave it, assuming you all have the capability to stop me," Ares remarked as he narrowed his hawk-like eyes.

"I can also assume that you can't tell me much because the information about the Pantheon might be too dangerous or a secret, so I'll join."

Ares' intent was a bit complicated. Either the Pantheon's purpose will be disappointing, In which case, he will take it over, and use it for a goal of his, or...

"Tihahahaha!" Zeus let out a loud laugh before, "We have no interest in ruling the World... Too many responsibilities. Our purpose is greater, and it will start with taking over the entirety of the Underworld."

Tinny D. Sing started stroking his chin like a wise man while reciting what Yovan told him to say though he took the liberty of adding a few twists and turns to it, "Our Goal is to seek the unseekable, to uncover the hidden, and to survive..."

Zeus simply made up a purpose on the spot, not their true purpose, but as he continued, Ares' eyes couldn't help but widen, a significant feat considering his usually calm nature.