Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1176: Chapter 899: Light King

Ten minutes ago, while Huai Shi and Hercules were fighting each other.

The door of the Eternal Frozen Heart was pushed open by a late traveler, and in the darkness, the skeleton sleeping in the water tank seemed to sense something, gently moving in the divine wine.

But still immersed in the dreams of the past, not yet awakened.

Has someone come?

Can’t hear clearly, could it be a passing guest?

A long journey, is he tired? Maybe I should invite him to rest a bit, but I’m too sleepy, can’t get up, sorry, food and sleep are in the cabinet, please help yourself.

In silence, Iz removed the cigarette from his mouth, quietly staring at the skeleton head sleeping in the water tank.

For a long time, he slowly knelt on the ground.

He lowered his head, as if facing a high and mighty figure, respectfully speaking: ”Sir, I come from the mountain encounter, bringing greetings from The Mother of Gold and Moon · Mamakiria.”

Mamakiria?

Sounds like I’ve heard it somewhere? It’s a familiar name, but still can’t remember.

In the water tank, the skeleton’s dark eye sockets were illuminated by the light rising outside.

A bit uncomfortable.

Feeling a bit uneasy in the slumber.

Outside, are they holding a banquet? Are father and them drinking overnight again? Another victory? Have they defeated the enemy yet again?

The light, too bright, too violent.

Those indulgent banquets, those cruel trophies, those blood-flowing honey wine...

The skeleton remains immersed in the fragments of dreams.

Past memories seem to emerge again, but those distant outlines are too vague to recall.

Only remembering a sturdy figure sitting at the highest point, raising a horned cup, laughing loudly, waving to himself.

”My child.”

The one-eyed man raised his arm, proudly calling: ”Come here! Come to father!”

Who is he?

I... who am I?

Can’t remember.

After a brief wait, Iz finally mustered the courage, raised his gaze, examined the skeleton in the water tank without any reaction, and sighed helplessly.

Hands into the chest pocket.

”Excuse my offense.”

He took out a small box from the inner pocket at his chest, unfolded it, presenting it in front of the skeleton.

In the box lined with brocade, lay a delicate green branch, carefully preserved, it hasn’t shriveled or withered, still glowing with its former bright color, the living leaves still emitting life.

It was a piece of mistletoe never seen above Helios!

Instantly, countless bubbles rose from the water tank.

The silent skeleton’s eye sockets revealed a faint glow.

It seemed, the long dream finally ended.

He opened his eyes.

Finally recalled the past.

”Ah, so it’s like this?” The incomplete skeleton whispered softly, ”I remembered...”

”I am not Publius, am I?”

.

.

”Enough! Enough! Stop interfering!!!”

On the throne, Publius roared in rage, already losing all patience, brutally wielding his power, causing Helios to tremble violently, the earth thundering.

Had enough.

This incessant obstruction and variable!

He raised his pupils, his cracked face full of killing intent, looked at the stunned Huai Shi in the distance, wanting to completely eliminate any opponent in front!

No matter who, cannot stop his advance!

No matter who, cannot change the result he achieves!

Thus, Publius raised his right hand again, amidst the empty five fingers, Alchemy above the Great Grandmaster was exhibited once more.

Infinite high temperature gathered, forming a fiercely rotating vortex.

A flame storm enough to destroy the entire city was compressed onto the palm, forming a wind tunnel the size of a ping-pong ball, even rapidly enhancing its power.

Emitting endless dazzling light!

”I am Publius!”

He raised his right hand high, proclaiming to this world: ”I am immortal!”

”No...”

The skeleton in the water tank murmured blankly.

”I am the god of this world!”

Publius roared, inspiring divine might, floating above Helios:

”——I am The Lord of the Sun · Apollo!”

”No...”

In the water tank, the skeleton head trembled violently, dark eye sockets continuously flashed with sparks, like those returning memories.

”I am not Publius, I am not Apollo.”

It murmured in chaos, tracing back its origin: ”I am... I am...”

In that instant, the last memory emerged from the quickly repairing soul, bringing him to that most crucial answer, that already destined result.

”I am... Balder...”

He suddenly realized, swallowed by the sun wheel descending from the sky.

He said:

”——I am, Light King!”

Thus, at that instant, the doors opened by the Eternal Frozen Heart surged with radiant sunlight, illuminating all.

In the dark universe, an eternal flame burst into light.

Light, descend!

.

.

In the illusory temple, a sound of breaking was heard.

Zeus, lost in thought, clenched his fist and shattered his wine glass, but then couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

”Hahaha, hahahaha, hahahahaha!!!!”

He laughed so hard he bent over, applauding for the magnificent unfold of fate: ”Where there is gain, there must be sacrifice. So that’s how it is, is that it!!!!”

To gain something.

One must give up something.

This is the essence of Alchemy.

To desire the power and position of a god, one must abandon their mortal flesh—Publius went as far as to completely divide himself for it.

Blood, flesh, soul, desire, and even... the worthless bones!

So much so that he never realized his ritual of god-making had already succeeded, even long before Huai Shi and others ascended Helios, the true god had already descended.

It was just, what resurrected wasn’t the already perished Apollo.

The targetless ritual kept functioning, and eventually pointed to the only existence in the same domain that wasn’t polluted by the Ranch Owner and still had a possibility for resurrection.

Before the power of god, the god’s consciousness had descended, attaching itself to the bones abandoned by Publius.

However, due to a subtle difference in the ritual, a disorder occurred, as if the descent happened head-first, even forgetting who it was, the consciousness of god and the fragmented memories of Publius mixed together.

A brand new life was born.

A skeleton... possessing the essence of god!

Zeus asked abruptly: ”Did you know from the beginning?”

”Guessed a bit, after all, I had that dream.”

Tong Ji raised her eyebrows: ”After all, the impression was quite deep.”

In this world, just a few, who did not fall with the other gods, nor got killed by their own hands, the Sun God.

And so passive like a salted fish...

It’s only him, right?

The alien species among the Nordic gods, who did not assert authority with violence, but brought warmth and laughter, happiness and peace to all things...

Regrettably, the notion that good people don’t live long doesn’t just apply to mortals.

It also flourishes among gods.

Even before the fall of gods, before Tong Ji slew the similar kind, he had already lost his life to the tricks of the god of deceit, died in the hands of his uncle.

No, it could be said that even without Loki, he would fulfill his fate and meet such an end, right?

From the beginning, before Balder was born, his death was destined.

Tracing back to the roots, it must return to the ’social history of gods’ that Tong Ji once told Huai Shi.

The existence of a ’Pantheon’, in essence, is the alliance of gods, within which all gods must have duties. However, some duties are always those nobody wants.

Like in company team-building where the newcomer must carry the bags, when the boss commits an error a junior needs to take blame, or in class after school cleaning, some group needs to clean the toilet.

While Current Circumstances are so beautiful, who then guards Hell?

Like the misfortunate Hades in the Greek Pantheon who was deceived by his own brother, there is always someone with bad luck.

In Dongxia, it’s the Taishan Mansion with significant responsibility; in Egypt, it’s the half-alive Osiris, and in the Nordic... everyone promotes the democratic voting system—meaning everyone pushed the duty to the most disliked person in the team.

Loki.

To appease his unfortunate brother, Odin and Loki set a pact, having Loki temporarily manage Hell, with the Future handed to his daughter.

In compensation, his son would take the identity of God of Light and set a marriage contract with her.

Yet, which of the Norse Gods doesn’t know their promises are like mere words?

From the beginning, Odin never intended to fulfill his promise.

Especially, when he found out that the Underworld’s Goddess had already prepared the wedding halls for his son in Hell, he decided to renege on his vow.

Queen Frigga pleaded with all things in the world to swear never to harm this god who brought light and warmth to the world, and all things faithfully bound by the vow complied with their promises.

With one exception.

Parasitic Galla.

Thus, Balder died under Loki’s machinations.

Cause of death: The uncle’s daughter is not attractive, can’t find a match, so he has to make do with him.

Regrettably, in such ancient times, there was no story about retreating from marriage.

What a shame.

Thereafter, the world lost joy and sunlight, and the gods lost the Sun God whom they could trust and find comfort in.

This is the origin of ’Dusk is Coming’.

And when Odin tried to cheat again, sending envoys to the Underworld, demanding Balder’s soul, they were stopped by the maidens of the Underworld’s Goddess.

Both sides laid down another pact.

If, as Odin claimed, all things mourned Balder’s death, then the Underworld’s Goddess would let Balder return.

The result was regrettable.

When all things mourned Balder’s passing...

Zeus couldn’t help but glance beside him.

—But one ’accidentally passing-by’ Raven expressed it was very pleased, never mind, it didn’t matter, it was all good, it’s a big year, people are dead, still a child, it’s for his own good...

Mourn? Mourn what, mourn who?

Didn’t you see I’m cheerful?

To this, Tong Ji has always been indifferent!

And so, a knife fiercely stabbed the hearts of the Nordic Gods, even after so many years...

”A promise must be kept, I think there’s nothing wrong with that. Eh, it’s all in the past, tea, tea.”

Tong Ji smiled, picked up a pink teacup, and winked proudly.

”After all, everything is part of fate, isn’t it?”