The chaos of the night quickly settled.
By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night’s violence.
The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods’ prisoners into custody.
Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.
The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal-he was almost a godlike figure.
Inside the Hall of Gods’ headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.
On the throne facing the entrance sat a man clad in golden armor, his face hidden behind a golden mask. He was unusually tall and muscular, even while seated. His guards, who stood at nearly six and a half feet tall, appeared as small as a child in comparison.
This man was Satan, the Supreme Leader of the Hall of Gods and the mightiest being in Streuqua. No one knew what he looked like, nor could they gauge the full extent of his strength.
Even the name “Satan” was only known to outsiders and passed down through legend. Since the Hall of Gods was founded centuries ago, he had maintained his position as Supreme Leader.
Though many had challenged his authority, the outcomes had always been catastrophic. Among those challengers were leaders from some of the most powerful factions in the underworld. Over time, his fearsome reputation had been cemented in everyone’s minds.
As Satan reviewed the latest battle report from his subordinates, his crimson eyes-hidden beneath his mask-narrowed with anger and deadly intent. He had never anticipated that his carefully laid plans would end in utter failure.
Bailey, Willem, and the assassins from other nations were all elite fighters. Together with the elite force from the Hall of Gods, wiping out Sacred Wrym Summit should have been a given. But the results had been a crushing disappointment.
Were his subordinates incompetent, or was the defender of Sacred Wrym Summit truly that strong?
“Everyone, what do you think went wrong with this mission?” There was a long silence before Satan finally spoke. His voice was hollow, emotionless, and gave no hint of joy or sorrow.
A man in a large black robe with his features hidden spoke up. “My Lord, the failure of this mission falls mostly on Grizz Lord Bailey.”
He continued, “With his strength, he was never fit to hold the title of God King. He didn’t have the power or the leadership to handle the responsibility, which led to the mission’s failure.”
At that moment, a woman with a seductive figure and an Erythian mask spoke up. “Poseidon, you might want to watch your words. Bailey was personally appointed by His Lordship.
Are you questioning his judgment?”
“Hera, don’t stir things up. I’m not questioning His Lordship’s decision- I’m just saying Bailey wasn’t fit to replace Hades,” Poseidon countered coldly.
“At the end of the day, you still refuse to admit it.” She laughed lightly.” Everyone acknowledges Bailey’s strength, and his appointment as God King was a unanimous decision. So, you can’t just talk him down like that.”
“If he’s so great, why did the whole plan go south? Why was the entire army wiped out?” He scoffed.
“You…” Hera was momentarily silenced.
“That’s enough!” A loud voice cut through the tension. The man in front of them, a broad-shouldered figure with blonde hair, spoke sharply. “No more arguing in front of His Lordship.
Show some respect.”
Poseidon and Hera fell silent. It was apparent the two still held some reverence for the blonde man.
“Zeus, what do you think?” Satan turned his head slightly toward the blonde man. His crimson eyes fixed on him.
“My Lord, I believe the primary reason the mission failed was a lack of proper intelligence.” Zeus analyzed the situation calmly.
He continued, “Our understanding of Sacred Wrym Summit was insufficient, and much of what we gathered was useless. Worst of all, we severely underestimated Arion’s strength. This led to Bailey’s ambush failing, and in the end, everything fell apart.”
“Go on.” Satan nodded.
Zeus’ tone grew more serious. “From my investigation, it’s clear that Arion’s strength has exceeded the limits of a mortal. Unless you, my Lord, intervene personally, no one stands a chance against Arion.”
His words were filled with a respectful tone, though Zeus himself believed that even if Satan faced Arion, victory wasn’t guaranteed.
“I cannot leave the Hall of Gods’ territory for personal reasons. So, I must consider the mission to kill Arion a failure.” There wasn’t the slightest change in Satan’s tone. “While we can’t destroy Sacred Wrym Summit, our plans for Dragonmarsh must continue.
What do you propose next?”
“I suggest focusing on the royal family of Dragonmarsh,” Zeus said, lowering his voice. “According to my investigation, their king is dying. Once he’s gone, the nation will fall into chaos. If we seize this opportunity to place a puppet prince on the throne and help him secure power, the entire nation will be ours.”
“A sound strategy.” Satan’s crimson eyes glinted with interest. “Zeus, you’ll lead the operation. All the resources of the Hall of Gods are at your disposal, including Hera and Poseidon. This mission will succeed-failure isn’t an option.”
