Chapter 649: Recruitment

"It seems our bond as lord and subject has come to an end, Prometheus!"

At the Destiny Township Magic Tower, now built to thirty-six stories, battle reports from Australia and the Old Continent were delivered to Li Mochen's presence without delay.

Li Mochen looked with deep emotion at the tall, thin man walking with him in this garden.

Prometheus's human form was that of a middle-aged or elderly man resembling a rustic farmer, and at this moment he raised an eyebrow: "So soon? I thought Your Majesty could have dragged it out a bit longer."

"There's no need to drag it out any longer. The longer I delay, the greater the risks I face, multiplied. That Lord of Radiance is almost cleansed of the corruption, Prometheus."

Li Mochen chuckled: "It's not as if they'll really gang up and beat me to death."

The key was that in the next two months, neither his personal cultivation and abilities nor his forces would see much improvement or progress. He had hit a bottleneck, temporarily reaching a limit.

"That may not be so!"

Prometheus shook his head: "In these three and a half years, you have repelled their combined attacks four times in this divine kingdom and fought them nearly ten times in the material world. Adding one more Lord of Radiance, I doubt they could do much to Your Majesty."

"You flatter me. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows the real situation. They are wary of each other and not going all out. Nyx and the Radiant Mother, for whatever reasons, are dragging their feet. But if they got serious, even Odin alone could leave me helpless."

Speaking of Odin, a strong wariness flashed in Li Mochen's eyes: "His power is growing stronger and stronger!"

As the war continued, Odin's combat strength increased daily. In the three subsequent battles, this ruler of the pantheon had put immense pressure on him each time, yet held back considerably.

Li Mochen suspected that Odin's combat power might already surpass that of the Lord of Radiance, who had deep roots in this world.

"He has always been the Mother Goddess's most dangerous enemy."

Prometheus nodded in agreement: "You are right, they have not gone all out. Though I personally believe that even at full strength, they might not breach your divine kingdom, I have no standing to persuade you to continue bearing risks for the Mother Goddess."

In the past three years, it wasn't just Odin whose power had surged rapidly; the Fate Dominator before him was the same.

Although the latter's rank was still only that of a major god, Prometheus had witnessed over these three and a half years the process of his deep foundation-building. The successive divine wars in these three years had proven this.

He had not only elevated 'Fate' and 'Time Sequence' to the level of pseudo-truths but also at least forty other divine powers had reached the ultimate level, leaving him without any weaknesses.

And with pseudo-truth-level 'Fate' and 'Time Sequence', breaking through to divine rank 19 was a natural progression. Yet for some reason, his lord had not been in a hurry to elevate his rank.

He also concealed a considerable portion of his strength in battle, such as the two mythical artifacts he carried, which had never been used in combat.

Even on the mortal and divine kingdom levels, the Fate Pantheon under Andre Li Wiltonstein had achieved great successes. With a stable base of about 4.7 billion believers, a church military might equivalent to half the Radiant Church, six sub-regiments of the Divine Wing Knights and up to 17,000 reserve knights, not to mention the Fate Dominator's influence in the armies of America, Australia, New Zealand, Teutonia, and Austria.

The Fate Dominator's war faith had spread widely in the armies of these countries. Perhaps with just one command from Li Mochen, nearly twenty percent of personnel in these armies would turn against their own nations.

This twenty percent might seem small, but they were all devout believers of the Fate Dominator. With this as a foundation, it was enough to control the entire military.

There were also seven 'Divine Will Legions' in the divine kingdom. Notably, the seventh 'Divine Will Legion' was formed solely by Li Mochen's Einherjar warriors.

"But this way, I may have to leave the divine kingdom within a few days. I feel a strong reluctance to part, Your Majesty."

"Is that so?"

Li Mochen was pleasantly surprised: "If you feel reluctant, could you stay, Lord Prometheus, and truly join my Fate Pantheon?"

Seeing a helpless expression on Prometheus's face, he added: "I mean, after this turmoil over the World Source Core. You should have noticed that aside from me, my pantheon has no deity related to prophecy."

Prometheus was a wise sage, and his help was significant. Limited by his own weak foundation, Li Mochen was still in a phase of eagerly seeking talent.

Even if one day he became a God above Gods, he would still need many capable assistants to expand into the myriad worlds and form his own 'galaxy' or 'constellation' in this starry sky.

"To be honest, I have always had such thoughts. Your mastery of Fate can greatly amplify my prophecy and foresight authority. And your values, your views on the world and humanity, are very much to my liking."

Prometheus still smiled bitterly: "But before that, let me first survive this ordeal."

Li Mochen's expression shifted. He thought this ancient god of prophecy and foresight must have foreseen something, and the outcome was likely not good.

"If so, please remember that the gates of my Fate Pantheon are always open to you! And when the time is right, I will provide you with necessary aid in an appropriate manner."

Prometheus's body trembled. He looked at Li Mochen in surprise, then bowed deeply to this god-king.

He knew this promise might change the future and save his life. But correspondingly, his lord, whom he had served for over three years, would also bear great risks.

※※※※

After leaving Li Mochen's Fate Divine Kingdom, Prometheus took a deep look back, then sailed a canoe through the interlayer between the material world and the starry domain.

About a minute later, a young woman in a moon-white robe appeared above the canoe.

"He is a benevolent monarch, isn't he?"

It was the Magic Goddess Diana, looking at Prometheus with a half-smile.

"I can see you regret leaving."

"As you say."

Prometheus sighed softly: "Serving under him feels comfortable, and there would be more opportunities in the future. But unfortunately—"

Diana frowned deeply: "Have you foreseen something again, Lord Prometheus? Will our end be very bad? I must say, the divine office you hold is truly annoying."

"I have seen some futures, but they are not fixed destinies, nor are they impossible to change."

Prometheus chuckled: "I have never yielded to the futures I have prophesied for myself, Lady Diana. Besides, don't you yourself hold the divine office of 'Opportunity,' which is related to fate?"

"That's true—"

Diana knew that this being had always struggled against his own fate.

"But I still feel very uneasy now. The reason I chose 'Opportunity' from among my mother's many fate-related offices is that I don't want to see so-called destiny, and I don't believe fate is immutable."

Prometheus shook his head slightly: "In fact, there is now a huge variable beside us. If he is willing, he can change anyone's fate. So, Lady Diana, I am not very pessimistic about my own fate. It's just that some things that may happen in the future weigh heavily on my heart."

"Is that so?"

Diana was momentarily stunned. Just as she was about to inquire further, another young female figure appeared on the canoe.

"What are you two discussing? The atmosphere seems rather heavy?"

Diana glanced at her and then fell silent. She and Athena had vied for the divine office of magic for centuries. Although Athena later gave up competing with her, their relationship had never improved.

In Diana's view, this goddess of victory in war and wisdom was a bitch.

Prometheus responded with a smile: "We were talking about my prophecies and also about the Fate Dominator."

"Prophecies? I see. It seems you have made a very bad prophecy, Lord Prometheus."

But Athena was not concerned about that: "As for the Fate Dominator, I heard you had a good time under his command?"

"Indeed, my impressions are very good."

Prometheus nodded: "It wasn't just me; Fenrir, Atlas, and Achilles all fared well. Can you imagine? Fenrir submitted under his rule for over three years without any attempt to challenge the Fate Dominator's authority. And the Supreme Dragon God Io has stayed in the Fate Dominator's divine kingdom for two years, finding it comfortable there. Unlike Zeus's capriciousness, Lord Wiltonstein is a monarch who values his promises. He imposes few restrictions on his subordinate gods and trusts his subjects more."

"Just as I thought."

Athena said thoughtfully: "Rather than a lack of restrictions and trust, it's more that he has greater confidence in himself."

The Magic Goddess Diana glanced sideways at Athena again. Prometheus nodded once more: "You're right, hitting the nail on the head. Lord Wiltonstein is indeed that kind of person."

As they spoke, the canoe had entered a dark, lightless region. Under Prometheus's guidance, it quietly navigated through a void gap shaped like a female genitalia (the Mysterious Female Gate), until they reached a space illuminated by a single lamp.

On a towering rock, they saw their primordial mother goddess 'Gaia,' and beside her stood three Cyclopes and three Hecatoncheires.

None of the three were surprised. In terms of overall strength, the Greek pantheon was undoubtedly the strongest among all pantheons.

Gaia's children alone included twelve Titans, three Cyclopes, and three Hecatoncheires.

Beyond that, there were the first-generation god-king Uranus, the sea god Pontus, the mountain god Ourea, and the father of all monsters, Typhon.

Although Pontus and Ourea had left this world before the Olympian rule over the Old Continent collapsed, the power Gaia could rely on was still equivalent to a pantheon.

Then they noticed a female figure standing beside Gaia.

Their pupils contracted simultaneously as they recognized the Earth Mother Goddess Rhea! Athena's grandmother, the mother of Zeus and his siblings, and the former queen of Cronus.

"It seems I am destined to be forced out of the source."

Gaia, the 'Primordial Mother Goddess,' smiled faintly: "Fortunately, thanks to the descendant of Hyperion, my dear daughter Rhea has returned from the outer realms."

※※※※

While Prometheus and the others were meeting Gaia, Li Mochen was also receiving an expected visitor on the twenty-eighth floor of the Destiny Township Magic Tower.

"There's no need to say more, Lord Lod. Go tell your brother Odin that I will no longer prevent you from spreading the roots of the Thorn."

The God of Temptation and Desire, Lod, was not surprised. All the Aesir had long guessed that the Fate Dominator would choose to retreat. The reason he had come was that their conflict in the mortal realm remained at a stalemate. Both sides had deployed numerous hidden moves, but the result had not changed the current deadlock. The limited military intervention of the Night Goddess Nyx had not completely turned the tide.

"I must say, Lord Wiltonstein, you are very good at reading the situation and knowing when to advance or retreat. But I also came to ask, when will you release Baldr? His mother misses him dearly, and Asgard awaits his radiance."

"Release Baldr? To create a new enemy for myself?"

Li Mochen sneered: "Your Aesir have been relentless in your attacks against me over these three years, and your brother doesn't seem willing to offer suitable terms for Baldr's soul. Go back, Lod! Unless you think I am foolish enough to be swayed by your sweet talk. Tell Odin: either show sincerity, or wait until he becomes a God above Gods and can take everything from me by force."

Lod frowned. Just as he was about to continue, the 'Angel of Might' Fenrir manifested his form in the hall beside the throne.

"How dare you offend my lord! Withdraw your divine power and get back! Before I tear you apart."

Lod's eyes narrowed. He exchanged a glance with Fenrir, then silently bowed to Li Mochen and slowly retreated from the hall.

He had not consciously activated his 'Temptation' divine power; it was just that he had long been accustomed to conversing with it on. Lod had done it unconsciously, but as Fenrir said, it was an offense and disrespect to a god-king.

The wolf had ample reason to attack him here, so Lod wisely gave up further persuasion.

In fact, he had thought from the start that the chances of convincing the other party to release Baldr were minimal.

After Lod left, Fenrir turned around curiously and asked: "Your Majesty, who do you think will win this time? It won't be Odin, will it?"

In his three-plus years in the Fate Pantheon, he had built considerable confidence in this god-king's judgment.

"I don't know, but Odin indeed has a fair chance. If Gaia is out of the picture, he and the Lord of Radiance should be the strongest among all god-kings."

Li Mochen had just finished saying this when he saw Fenrir frown. He added: "I won't let him succeed, Fenrir! No one will. But you need to prepare your brother Jörmungandr for battle. This time I must rely on his power."

"No problem! But he can only move for a limited time, five hours."

Fenrir's lips twitched: "Your Majesty, we devised a weight-loss plan for him, but it ended in shameful failure."

Li Mochen burst into laughter: "Still not bad, two hours more than three years ago, right? By the way, what about Loki, your father? Have you siblings convinced him? I can make him the God of Desire and Temptation in my pantheon."

"He says he is grateful for Your Majesty's favor, but he cannot extricate himself at present."

Speaking of Loki, Fenrir's expression was complex.

His father had fathered the three siblings after an affair with the giantess Angrboða.

After their birth, Loki rarely appeared in their lives. For a time, they even harbored deep hatred for this father who had betrayed their kin.

But when the Norns made prophecies through their priestesses and the Aesir began to move against them, Loki unhesitatingly betrayed his friendship with Odin and the Aesir, taking risks and running errands for them.

"But Loki says that although he cannot leave, he will do his best to help Your Majesty within the Aesir."

"Is that so? But I would rather he serve under my command than through such means."

Li Mochen sighed, his tone indeed carrying strong disappointment.

Although Loki was only a major god in the Aesir, he could see that it was only because he was unwilling to exert himself for Odin. If he were willing, his strength would not be inferior to that of his two illegitimate sons. That would be far more important than a spy, especially since Loki was not trusted in the Aesir.

"And you? Are you ready, Fenrir?"

"Of course!" Fenrir's brows lifted: "When battle comes, I will cut through thorns for you, Your Majesty!"

"Then go to America! I hope you will hold the fort for me there."

A strange light flickered in Li Mochen's eyes: "Angela and Anthony will both cooperate with you in battle."

Once Gaia was expelled from the Source, it would mean the Covenant of the Pantheon would also be void, and the Treaty of Separation between Gods and Men would lose its foundation.

The great power of the gods would once again descend fully upon the mortal world, and the Heavenly Mandate Pantheon would lose their greatest advantage.

Fortunately, during these three and a half years, Li Mochen had already prepared for this change. At least in terms of overall military strength, he would not lose to any pantheon.

"Anthony? The Matriarch I can understand—I know she is strong—but Anthony?"

Fenrir's face showed a strange expression: "He is still just a Greater God, isn't he? How much combat power can he have?"

"Don't underestimate him!"

Li Mochen shook his head: "Anthony is a favored son of heaven, a man blessed and protected by the World Will. His situation now is like yours and your sister's four thousand years ago. When the real battle begins, you will recognize his strength."

In America, there were actually several others in the same situation as Anthony, but unfortunately, only the former enemy of the Death God, now the 'God of Life, Self-Healing, Immortality, Regeneration, and Space' Thomson Beowulf, and another god, 'Wrath, Giant Strength, Infinity, and Troll' Todd, had officially joined his ranks.

The former's physical strength and abilities had also surged wildly during these three years, recently reaching Divine Rank 12. Although still unable to intervene in battles at the Overgod level, he was already very powerful.

Todd was a scientist who, through genetic mutation, awakened the genes of ancient giants and transformed into a giant troll. He had the talent of growing stronger with anger, and possessed inexhaustible strength. In terms of endurance, he could match his 'Eternal Angel' Atlas.

Neither of these two had many followers; they had achieved their current rank and power entirely through their own strength.

Compared to these two, the talents of Li Mochen and Angela were nothing.

It was worth mentioning that after Li Mochen incorporated these two into his pantheon, he gained up to 230 million strands of merit, plus a daily harvest of 700,000 strands.

"Is that so?"

Fenrir was skeptical: "Never mind, as long as the Matriarch helps, I can make your old nest as stable as the Alps."

Then his body turned to smoke and left the hall.

Li Mochen then flashed to the 36th floor of the Destiny Manor Magic Tower to make final preparations before the great upheaval.

In this battle aimed at expelling Gaia, he naturally planned to stay out of it. But staying out did not mean he would do nothing. While these Overgods were trapped in war and unable to extricate themselves, it was the best time for him to seize that 'Source Substance.'

Li Mochen had confirmed through various methods that the 'Source Substance' Isis spoke of did exist, but if he wanted to obtain it, it would indeed be troublesome.

Although he had been planning for three years and now happened to catch the Overgods too busy to attend to other matters, success was not guaranteed.