"And me…"
Ana frowned and thought for a moment, then stepped forward and slowly raised her hand.
Samael's eyelid twitched. He looked around, his pupils contracting sharply as the chaotic thoughts and tangled clues in his mind gradually linked together into an invisible web.
Kukulkan and Jaguar Warrior from Maya were supreme gods of two Sun Ages in the Americas.
Skadi, the Bride of the Gods, and Holo, the giant wolf who had come from the Norse side as reinforcements, were keys to guiding the Norse Ragnarok.
Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows, and Cernunnos, the Horned God, represented the Irish and Celtic epics and gods.
Tamamo-no-Mae, who had committed crimes all the way from China to Japan, was tied to the transition of royal and divine authority in China, and was also Amaterasu Omikami of Japan.
Mithra, the Main God who had appeared from Persia, and Vritra, the Asura King, were both essential figures within the Persian pantheon.
Ramesses II of Egypt and the female pharaoh Nitocris respectively represented the powers of the sun god Ra and the sky god Horus.
The three who had drifted here from India, Karna, Rama, and Ganesha, were respectively a grandson of Brahma who inherited Brahma's power, an incarnation of Vishnu, and a daughter of Shiva. In other words, all three were deeply connected to India's Trimurti.
Romulus, the founder of Rome, Altera, King of the Huns, and the God hidden behind the Jews naturally needed no further explanation.
The Greek pantheon had him and Medusa. As the First Cause, Chronos, he could undoubtedly represent the Greek gods.
Finally, in the Mesopotamian pantheon, the Mother Goddess Tiamat, the sky goddess Ishtar, and the Netherworld goddess Ereshkigal were all in the Inner Sea of the Planet…
Counting it out like this, the pantheons connected to the birth of civilization across the entire planet were all being drawn into this Battle of Thermopylae, whether actively or passively.
Clearly, judging from the "guidance" Quetzalcoatl had mentioned, this was absolutely no coincidence. Some unseen force seemed to be urging the gods of all major lineages to gather here.
At that thought, the Ancient Serpent's expression grew grave, and a terrifying idea instantly took shape.
Could it be… Ragnarok?
Is that thing really descending? And not simply against the Norse gods. Will this catastrophe cleanse every Divine Spirit on the surface?
As that earth-shaking answer surfaced in Samael's mind, the joy he had felt from imminent victory froze on his face and turned into deep gloom.
After hesitating repeatedly, the Ancient Serpent finally told everyone present what he had discovered.
"So what must come will still come after all…"
Kukulkan's brows drew together, and she sighed softly. Then she opened her palm. The miniature Solar Calendar Stone gathered Ether, its light flickering.
"Earlier, based on the Solar Calendar Stone's calculations, I faintly sensed that you had broken through the shackles of fate from the Fourth Sun Age and successfully dispelled the apocalyptic impact from the stars and Atlantis. But I still felt uneasy, so Jaguar and I made a special trip to this place of origin to take a look.
"Now it seems the disaster may not have been resolved. Only delayed…"
Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned even uglier.
The Norse Ragnarok, the annihilating plague of Athens, the Jewish Final Judgment, the destruction and rebirth of the Mayan world within the Sun Ages, the end of the thirty-million-year war between light and darkness spoken of by the Persians…
If one prophecy was coincidence or alarmism, what about all of them together?
For some reason, Samael felt a vague unease, an inexplicable palpitation lingering in his heart.
Just as the Ancient Serpent's mood sank, a fair and powerful hand struck his shoulder with decisive ease. Scáthach spun her magic spear, a proud smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
"Calamity or strong enemy, let them come. If it's a fight, then fight! The stronger the enemy, the more I look forward to it. What is there to worry about? So put away that face like you're about to cry. It doesn't suit you!"
"Hmph. My husband, the King of Jotunheim, when did you become this cowardly? Until the moment you tremble, freeze, and shatter to pieces, I will remain at your side. I will never allow you to give up!"
Skadi's tone was still proud, but her gaze was completely serious.
"Haha, exactly. Whatever they want, let them come take it if they have the ability!"
Leonidas lightly struck his shield, wrapped an arm around Samael's neck, and laughed openly.
"While fate gives suffering, it also gives interesting gifts. Come to think of it, I'm actually quite grateful for this disaster. Otherwise, who knows how long big sister here would have had to wait before seeing all of you again?"
"Hey! Don't ignore Jaguar! I helped cross the Sea of Chaos too!"
"You still have the nerve to say that? You even got the direction wrong and made us drift at sea for an extra half a year!"
"Wasn't the direction the one your calendar stone pointed to, Kuku…"
Bang!
Beside them, Quetzalcoatl and Jaguar Warrior, that pair of bickering enemies, had barely exchanged a few lines before the unlucky Jaguar was punched flying again.
At the same time, Medea's gaze filled with love and admiration, Nero's lively cheering for her Teacher, and Tamamo-no-Mae's shy yet eager mention of eloping and hot spring travel all expressed silent support for Samael in their own ways.
At that moment, a soft little hand also held Samael's fingers. The warmth she passed to him gradually smoothed away the anxiety that had risen in his heart.
"Samael, this isn't your responsibility alone. You don't have to carry it by yourself. No matter when, we are with you!"
Ana lifted her little face, stood on tiptoe, and pulled Samael into her arms, whispering comfort into his ear.
Samael came back to himself. His eyes swept over one face after another, some smiling, some scolding, yet all filled with concern. The heaviness lingering in his heart gradually faded, and a smile bloomed on his face as his fighting spirit rose.
When he first entered this world, he had been alone. But after that long road, when he suddenly looked back, thousands and tens of thousands now walked behind him.
The hour of the apocalypse. Ragnarok.
The desire to continue was not his war alone, but the will of many.
However, because he had been recognized by so many and saved by so many, he would also stand here for so many and take the first step forward.
The Ancient Serpent thought for a moment, then looked seriously at Ana.
"Ana, can you remember what Mother Goddess and the others are doing in the Inner Sea of the Planet?"
Ana had been the first to mention the signs of Ragnarok. And now Kukulkan, Jaguar Warrior, Scáthach, and Tamamo-no-Mae had all been called by this land.
Clearly, some secret was hidden below.
At that moment, the young goddess frowned and searched her memories for a long while before murmuring.
"My memories are very hazy. I only vaguely remember that the reason Mother Goddess and the others entered the Inner Sea of the Planet seems to have been to prepare something for you, for the coming Ragnarok…"
"For me?"
"Mm. In any case, it's very important. But just in case, the related information in my mind was filtered out. Perhaps only when Mother Goddess and the others return will all the answers be revealed."
Ana nodded seriously, though she also seemed somewhat helpless.
Something prepared for me? What could it be? Could it be…
Seeing Ana speak so confidently, curiosity rose in Samael's heart. He kept comparing the relevant pieces of information, thinking deeply, and his once-heavy mood became steadier.
"By the way, where's Altera? Why didn't you bring her here?"
After thinking for a moment, Samael turned to Nero and Tamamo-no-Mae, asking as if casually.
"Oh, ever since she arrived at Thermopylae, she seems to have been very interested in the Sea of Oceanus. Lately, she keeps running up the mountain. She just squats up there and sits for the whole day…"
Nero blinked and answered without thinking.
Watching the sea…
Samael's eyes flickered quietly as he murmured. After entrusting the battle preparations to everyone, he turned and walked out of the hall.
The coiling shadow soon merged into the darkness of the falling dusk.
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