Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Shaer didn’t mind Celene’s irrelevant answer, just laughed clearly: ”Artemis’s true divinity is not the Moon Goddess.

She leans more towards hunting.”

”Hmm?” Celene asked a bit confused, ”Why? Has the old man finally realized Shantia is no longer useful?”

Hill calmed his mind, trying hard to figure out how the sisters shifted the conversation to Shantia.

Hunting... what does it have to do with the Goddess of the Earth?

Then he finally remembered the rumor that the Beast God, Marla, was born from the Goddess of the Earth and the Father of the Forest.

If Artemis were to truly appear in Toril as the Goddess of the Hunt, she would directly suppress Marla, who wished for the extinction of human life and the existence of only flora and fauna on the earth.

Marla, known in Toril as a waste god who nearly killed a demigod, had actually died.

However, he had a pair of biological parents who usually remained silent but would strive to save their son at critical moments.

Thus, it’s not without reason that evil Druids often choose to collaborate with Marla’s followers or even become his followers themselves.

Although Hill remained silent, he could actually sense the deadly aspect of nature on Marla.

However, his parents were rather selfish... Shantia and the Father of the Forest clearly used divine souls’ union, having no real connection, just to give birth to an offspring destined to appear by fate.

For Shantia, who was supposed to become the Mother Earth, she actually avoided many responsibilities that should have belonged to her.

The underground area leading to the Underdark from Toril’s surface is a prime example, abandoned by her and then exploited by evil races.

Others might not understand this and think it’s because Shaer deprived her of her land rights.

But Hill, as an offspring of the earth, knew very well... Shaer only deprived her of the Land Without Light.

That was actually at the deepest part of the Underdark.

In theory, as long as it’s a place where plants can grow, even if it’s special spore plants underground, Shantia should have divine authority over it.

However, in those places, Shaer’s shadow force is the strongest.

Therefore, Shantia straightforwardly abandoned everything below the earth.

The Dwarves, whether from the kind faction or the evil faction, were the first to realize this and turned Moradin’s faith into the main faith of the underworld creatures.

Although the Zholar are thriving in the underworld, the true power holders below the earth are still the Dwarves.

This is all because of Shantia.

The same goes for above the earth.

Even though she is indeed one of the ancient Toril deities, people never think of seeking help from this Goddess of the Earth when in danger in the forest or prairie.

Not to mention the later emerging Natural Divine System; even the Elf Deity System is more reliable than her for assistance.

Even the fairies, born in Toril, eventually became vassals of the elves.

The most powerful deity that she gave birth to in this world was Marla.

In the end, people only regarded her as the Harvest Goddess, to the point that she had to work hard to create an Agriculture Goddess to separate this divinity from herself... this was all due to Shantia’s own efforts.

Hill always thought, even though this one was wasted to some extent, someone with AO’s strong control desires might actually let her live comfortably... turns out, being too much of a waste also doesn’t work?

By the way, Lansendel can’t possibly become the father of the Agriculture Goddess again... Does AO think Amanata is unsuitable?

Hill actually wanted to watch some big drama!

But it seems like AO is about to flip the table.

Hill is certain, as long as Artemis confirms her mission is merely to make Marla disappear from Toril... then she will definitely perform her role as the Goddess of the Hunt to the fullest.

Then, what about Apollo?

Although Tampas isn’t a good thing either, comparing him to Shantia is truly humiliating for him.

Tampas only has a thick skin, but at least he won’t fail in his primary duties.

Then, is Apollo meant to fill in the obvious gap left by Tyr, who won’t focus on Toril?

But Apollo’s own attributes... tsk, could it be they’re looking for someone who Lansendel wouldn’t find too annoying to inherit the prophecy divinity?

Right now in Toril, aside from racial prophecies, most others are basically monopolized by prophecy mages... and these people have grown increasingly insane due to their lack of restraint.

Mages are always persistent for power... so, even knowing that peering into fate lines would reflect damage onto their souls and drive them more insane, they still won’t stop their steps.

Especially when the crazier the prophecy mage is, the more accurate their predictions become.

But water that has been spilled, can it really be easily retrieved?

The mages of Toril may suffer from all sorts of mishaps, but clearly, it’s those who can’t let go, who are unwilling to part that suffer.

Those who truly know and understand what shouldn’t be meddled with are living quite comfortably!

As long as you surpass level 30, mages aren’t so easily dragged into trouble.

Hill shook his head... He simply couldn’t fathom AO’s cunning schemes.

If it weren’t for Shaer and Celene mentioning it, he truly wouldn’t have considered the consequences of Artemis appearing in Toril.

Indeed, tug one string and the whole body moves.

With this thought, Hill’s mind lingered on one matter: Could Lansendel’s refusal to act as the Father of the Harvest God really have such a significant impact?

He recalled Marla... If the children of Shantia are manifestations of their father’s negative aspects, then AO altering the lines of fate becomes understandable.

Amanata has only a few redeeming qualities.

Obviously, Shantia can’t handle it.

So... an agricultural goddess like Ata... Is it that Ambori ceased causing trouble, hence birthing a more unscrupulous one?

Hill suddenly found himself somewhat in agreement with AO’s approach, feeling slightly embarrassed... He realized he couldn’t intervene in this matter again.

So, is it truly because Lansendel was pulled away from that doomed fate by him?

It truly is... Fate, after all, is just a web of traps.

One ring gone, and all else falls to dust.

Some entities believe they can master this game of rings; once annoyed, they feel compelled to restart... or switch to a different setup.

Hill understood this to be the fundamental laws of the multiverse, yet he found it displeasing.

He touched his bound throat... finally realizing what fate didn’t want him to mention wasn’t the caution of Artemis against Shantia’s presence.

With the cowardice of that Earth Goddess, she would rather let her divinity be supplanted by the Goddess of Agriculture than courageously resist upon discovering AO’s plans against her.

When she, due to her own plea, let a war between Celene and Shaer persist for tens of thousands of years, yet hid deep within the earth without a sound. When she, finding Celene profoundly injured and having to seek others’ help, feigned ignorance, fearing the overly potent Shaer, opting instead to directly ally with the Forest Father who arrived with the elves in Toril, offering to bear progeny for him, Shantia’s backbone was forever without any chance of stiffening.

She had already abandoned everything she could discard, so forsaking basic laws didn’t matter... Wasn’t she even unable to grasp the fundamental laws of the earth unto herself?

Even the Teraxil’s Earth Goddess, though dormant for millennia, never abandoned her principles, yet within Shantia’s heart, nothing mattered as much as her own comfort.

So even if she knew AO’s ploy and Shaer and Celene’s indifference, the most she’d do is timidly seek an alliance... if unsuccessful, she’d just give up carelessly, abandoning everything.

As long as she remains undead and without suffering, she’d accept anything.

AO’s true target, however, was Apollo, who had decent relations with Cyric.

Apollo’s inclination toward neutrality is quite evident.

He’s not as disgusted by evil as Athena and his sister.

Though due to a bit of luminescent trait, Zeus appointed him as the Sun God... but this handsome little prince truly disliked the job.

In many ways, Apollo is quite similar to Lansendel, pursuing freedom, with a penchant for happiness.

However, Apollo adheres more stringently to rules than Lansendel, even when annoyed; he completes his duties... After all, he has vulnerabilities.

Between this sibling pair, while Artemis evidently charges ahead, Apollo is actually the one deciding their course.

He stands alone as a strategic rival to Athena.

Yet, he’s a male deity.

Zeus’s most cautious son.

The Greek gods tend to ascend in a manner that always made those ascended uneasy.

Though prophecy claims Zeus’s youngest shall overthrow him... yet prophecy never claimed the Greek plane would collapse!

Zeus, trusting prophecy, wouldn’t dismiss other offspring either.

Apollo was one of those sons whom Zeus guarded against... Greek patriarchal legacy made these goddesses significant indeed, but less threatening.

Artemis served as a double-edged sword: though shielding Apollo, the sword’s other end pointed back at this brother who adored her.

The line between Apollo’s madness, genuine or feigned, remained a mystery to all.

Just like Athena, with judgments entirely unbiased and equitable... she never swayed, but does that mean she truly wants to watch her kind suffer under such unjust laws, grieving yet obliged to endure?

She had to act so.

If she acted otherwise, Zeus would surely exploit it.

Hence, the Greek pantheon appeared devoid of virtuous figures.

Kindness always became the sword aimed back at them.

Yet, Hell granted them fair judgment, and even Heavenly Mountain acknowledged the attributes of these gods as rightful.

Such righteousness even AO couldn’t cultivate.