Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Hill gazed at the colossal screen, feeling somewhat confused.

The will of Styx likely wouldn’t care about Lansendel and Amanata’s petty affairs, but... standing behind them is AO, and he surely wouldn’t be indifferent.

Just like Aislin, who is gradually being carved into shape; although her appearance remains the same, Hill can discern from the changing gloss of her skin that she has already become a true tool.

The methods of Styx are indeed marvelous.

Hill can’t completely comprehend how he accomplished it.

If it weren’t for Hill’s precise judgment of matter, this transformation would be genuinely hard to detect.

Just like the ongoing fight, but mainly it’s Lansendel and Amanata hurling words at each other, clearly unaware of anything.

Wait, is Lansendel really oblivious?

Hill pondered for a moment... With this guy’s ability to create Strange Objects and his sensitivity, he shouldn’t be completely unaware.

Just like Celene, who appears to be cheerfully supporting Lansendel, shouting ”hit his face,” might not be completely oblivious either.

After all, it’s thanks to her that Aislin’s body retains human vitality.

The Toril Deities who can live long and well are all adept at playing dumb.

Of course, this is when their interests are not threatened... Lansendel might have realized AO’s goal wasn’t to get Cyric’s attention to assist Amanata.

Instead, AO hoped Lansendel and Celene’s focus wouldn’t be on Heavenly Mountain.

No, Hill thoroughly reviewed his memories... AO had prepared two strategies.

Whether achieving the goal on Heavenly Mountain or plunging Toril into a twin sun crisis, to him, both results were acceptable.

That’s why he seemed so genuine... The appearance of Cyric was both a push for Lansendel and a test for him.

Regardless of whether Lansendel can uphold his bottom line, AO never loses out.

So... what could possibly appear on Heavenly Mountain that would pique Lansendel’s interest?

The Light of Justice?

Or... the Wheel of Destiny?

Hill wasn’t sure whether Lansendel had thought of anything... but he did remember a certain entity.

That Greek God, Hermes, who had previously appeared in Aesces and left faint traces in Toril.

If he emerged, Lansendel would indeed show some interest... After all, Tai Ji once appreciated him greatly, even offering him very valuable prophecies.

Hill wasn’t sure if his speculation was correct... but Lansendel wasn’t the type to pursue power recklessly.

He didn’t particularly like Heavenly Mountain, so he wouldn’t easily absorb its radiance... He’s not being split in half by Amanata now, needing immense energy to compensate for his losses.

Thus, Lansendel can still act wilfully.

And gods with a bit of sense like him won’t easily allow their divine powers to become great divine powers... Tai Ji’s fall, Jacob’s self-harm, and even Black Eye Mystra’s inexplicable demise are all bloody lessons for the Toril Gods.

Hill felt he wasn’t wrong... the only reason Lansendel would stop watching from the sidelines and dash to the upper layers of Heavenly Mountain is Hermes’s appearance.

Otherwise, he would, like Shaer, just watch the spectacle through a camera, never rushing to the upper layers.

Where the God of Order stays for years on end, even the air becomes stagnant... This is what the deities who once had the privilege of visiting those Heavenly Mountain hosts said.

Though they slightly embellished their speech, those grand and beautiful poems essentially conveyed the same message.

So, AO is interested in the Greek Gods, yes?

Shaer suddenly sauntered to the colossal screen: ”Hill, your white box can share hosts with William’s Divine Artifact, right?”

Hill listened absurdly to the word ’host’ coming from the Lady of the Night’s mouth and nodded silently.

Then, hastily added a ’yes.’

After all, while Shaer could see his actions, she was still facing away from him at this moment.

”That’s good.” Shaer took out a small light ord imprinted with a purple eye and inserted it into the white box.

Hill couldn’t help but touch his nose... only doing so allowed him to mold his almost distorted face back to normal.

William, truly a good man!

Though they haven’t formally entered into a marriage alliance, it seems he’s already begun converting some shareable wealth into their joint property!

Of course, some things he can’t share with Shaer even if he wants to... those belong to the God of Time and Space.

William has usage rights but not ownership, so he can’t include them in post-marital assets.

But he clearly shares management rights of artifacts and Strange Objects closely tied to Toril with Shaer.

Such as this white box player Hill is using now... Hill chose this because it’s a Toril exclusive.

Meaning, the connected server was created by William and Coron using the half of the Pseudo Magic Net snatched from a Grand Duke of Hell.

While the God of Time and Space’s Space-time Crystal seems still responsible for managing the Undead Tribe’s affairs, in Toril, he uses the pseudo Magic Net artifact as a transceiver.

That transfer tool, naturally, was placed at Gerns.

So, William would often appear there, and the Undead Tribe would temporarily lose connection due to Toril’s sudden closure.

The God of Time and Space would absolutely not let his Divine Artifact, his true form, appear in Toril... Coming from wartime, he had long been accustomed to not putting his life in the hands of strangers.

Even without the AO stories spread by William, he wouldn’t take that risk.

Otherwise, William wouldn’t have been able to so easily let Lansendel and the others become one of the administrators of that artifact.

Anyway, the item snatched from the devil’s hands, he would never take back to Teraxil for use.

Who knows if there would be any residue inside?

Hill actually agrees with the cautiousness of William and the God of Time and Space, so he completely doesn’t plan to use Teraxil’s playback tool in Toril... even if it’s clearer.

The God of Time and Space, deeply influenced by past concepts, would never take his best finished product to another world for use.

The Toril exclusive player is at least two generations lower than the Teraxil special product... The difference lies in the core space-time crystal.

That is to say, a downgrade chip was used.

But, even so, seeing Shaar directly put a certain plugin into this white box, Hill genuinely felt displeased... Seeing the silly friend next door walk into a wonderful married life, this is how it feels!

Although he had attended friends’ weddings before, seen classmates bring their kids to reunions... yet for some reason, William’s case really stung his eyes.

Even though he could still laugh and listen to those little kids call him uncle!

Hill was a bit puzzled why his thoughts felt so sour.

He himself hadn’t fallen for anyone!

Strange?

Hill shook his head, dispelling that strange feeling, and looked up at the giant screen... Although Lansendel’s attempts to smack Amanata’s face were indeed dashing, at this moment, the giant screen of the Heavenly Mountain still caught his attention.

Hill confirmed his judgment... the Greek Gods System is important.

Otherwise, Shaar wouldn’t place her first target at their doorstep.

This Lady of the Night, although she didn’t catch AO’s traces through pure intuition like her sister, once she gains some information, she can find that faint trace rapidly.

”Why the Greek Gods System?” Celene’s attention was also drawn over.

”Didn’t you just say, the old man might plan to update the Toril Pantheon?” Shaar coldly retorted.

”Eh?” Celene pointed at the sparse Greek Deities, ”There are only a few of them left!

And they’re all goddesses.

Is the old man thinking only the two of us are good kids, so he decided to use only goddesses in the future?”

Hill felt he saw Shaar clench her fists.

But actually, this Lady of the Night hadn’t moved at all.

So... did he see the shadow force’s fluctuations?

”The male deities of the Greek Gods System are merely sleeping, not all dead.” Shaar tried to maintain her calm.

”Strange?” Celene couldn’t comprehend, ”You mean that Zeus?

He, what’s the difference with Amanata?

No, he can certainly have children much faster than Amanata.”

”Heh~” Shaar sarcastically remarked, ”Although Zeus is asleep there, it’s not only him sleeping.

The old man merely wants to add some divinity that Toril doesn’t have, not to find a dad for himself.

That Zeus thing, wherever he goes, he wouldn’t play the grandson.

In the past, there was no choice because the Heavenly Mountain chose to shelter him... But now, neither the Dukes of Demons nor the Abyssal Lords can be overlooked.”

”Why must it be the Greek Gods System?” Celene begrudgingly asked, ”Why does the old man like to use trash so much!”

”Because the Ferun Pantheon, its former imitation object, was the Greek Gods System.” Shaar said slowly, ”But, the imitation was a total failure.

The War God he wanted ended up becoming like Heim’s mess.

The Military God he wanted ended up being like Tampas... Heh~ The Red Knight somewhat resembles her father, but still, not much better.”

Hill was a bit confused... War God, Heim? Military God, Tampas.

Did Shaar say it backwards?

Or... was AO’s failed handling that flavorful?

A bit too wondrous?

”Then, who is Shuni aiming at?” Celene suddenly got curious.

”Goddess of Love seems quite fitting.” Shaar sneered.