Those warships and heavy cannons that appeared in neat rows high in the sky were undoubtedly weapons and equipment Hermes had carefully prepared for a long time.
That enormous steel airship, along with that terrifying laser that had torn apart the earth at the end.
Its power was immense, enough to destroy an entire country.
If the Calencia Empire had not possessed Emperor Aubrey, known as the strongest warrior in the world, Hermes's plan would probably have succeeded.
The empire would also have faced the fate of destruction.
And now, everyone could not help but wonder.
Why did Hermes insist on infiltrating the empire at any cost?
What exactly was there about this empire that could attract him?
Just as everyone was filled with doubts, Hermes faced the spear pressed against his chin without showing the slightest trace of fear.
Instead, as if he had noticed the doubts of these humans, a gloomy look appeared between his brows, and the corner of his mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"A bunch of ignorant humans. You clearly live in this Land of the Birth of the Gods, yet you have not the slightest faith in the gods."
:The Land of the Birth of the Gods?'
Everyone in the square was bewildered after hearing this. They looked at one another, confused by Hermes's words.
Amid their confusion, Cocotte in midair showed a thoughtful expression and began explaining to everyone, "It is said that the predecessor of the Calencia Empire was once the birthplace of the gods."
"At the same time, it was also a forbidden land they could never set foot in again."
As the only natural elf present who had lived for several hundred years, as well as a senior member of the Mage Council, Cocotte was extremely knowledgeable.
Everyone knew that the Mage Council had been established after the expulsion of the gods, and its research into the gods had almost surpassed that of every organization in the world.
Moreover, the Mage Council had already existed before the Calencia Empire was established.
These two sentences had been personally passed down by the Great Mage who founded the Mage Council.
However, the specific meaning behind these two facts left many people puzzled.
The first sentence seemed to mean that those gods had all been born on this land and eventually transformed into gods.
But after becoming gods, they left this land, and no one knew the reason behind it.
The gods established their own forces throughout the world, gathered believers, and established divine kingdoms that worshiped them.
Yet not a single god was willing to return and fight for the land where they had originally been born.
Thus, over the long years, the people of the entire world came to regard this land as sacred.
The soil where the empire stood was called the "Land of the Birth of the Gods," also known as the "God-Abandoned Land."
But it was precisely because the second sentence was so vague that it was difficult for people to understand.
This land was a forbidden place that the gods could never set foot in again.
No one could understand why these noble and omnipotent gods were unable to set foot on this land again.
Amid this long-standing question, the Calencia Empire was established here.
As time passed, the original name of this land was gradually forgotten, slowly disappearing into the river of history.
However, Cocotte had never expected that she would actually learn this long-lost name from Hermes.
Cocotte was extremely surprised.
Her usual interest in gossip and watching the drama instantly flared up.
After all, the past affairs of these gods were much more interesting than human gossip.
After Cocotte finished speaking, Hermes slowly raised his eyes and glanced at her.
"Heh, elven mage."
He withdrew his gaze, raised his head, and looked at the utterly indifferent Aubrey as he said calmly,
"You should understand all this as well, Aubrey."
"It is precisely because you are on the side opposed to the gods that your bloodline is so powerful."
In Hermes's eyes, Aubrey's figure gradually overlapped with the image of himself in his youth.
It was as if two figures from intersecting points in time and space had merged into one.
"Unfortunately, you are nothing more than a human."
"Generation after generation of inheritance can never compare to the immortal gods."
Hearing Hermes's words, countless residents around them became filled with doubt and displeasure.
The god before them had clearly already lost to mortals in both wisdom and power, and had even knelt before humanity.
Having already suffered such a defeat, why could he still act so arrogantly?
What if he was immortal?
Even if he was immortal, hadn't he still been brought down by humans in the end?
Wasn't an immortal god still forced to submit before mortals, with even his life in human hands?
At this moment, the residents surrounding the central square began muttering unhappily.
If the emperor had not been right in front of them, requiring them to maintain the empire's dignity and show respect for the imperial family, they probably would have already vented their dissatisfaction.
Hermes, kneeling on the ground, seemed to sense the humans' displeasure. He closed those lifeless eyes again.
In the heavy and solemn atmosphere, Hermes let out a deep breath.
He slowly raised his head, opened his eyes, and let his gaze pierce through the clear, transparent sky.
As he faced the dazzling, piercing sunlight, the stagnant golden sand in Hermes's eyes began flowing again.
The next second, he suddenly spoke and asked, "Do you know what Hermes means?"
These words caused the surrounding crowd to fall into thought for an instant. They looked at one another, confused.
'What does it mean?'
'Hermes... wasn't he simply a god in charge of commerce and theft?'
Suddenly, Cocotte in midair froze slightly.
She seemed to have thought of something.
People generally knew Hermes's identity as the god of commerce and theft.
Because in many legends, he was always associated with opportunities for merchants and the protection of thieves.
Precisely because of these traits, these two images of Hermes had been passed down to the present day.
But precisely because of that.
People had almost overlooked his other identity.
"Why am I the only one who can become the messenger of the gods? Perhaps you have never considered this."
Hermes's cold voice suddenly rang out.
Along with it, his eyes suddenly filled with feverish fanaticism.
"Because only I can continue to exist among humans."
Greed and evil thoughts.
They were shadows that humans could never escape.
Commerce and trade.
They were indispensable parts of humanity.
These two points made Hermes irreplaceable by any god.
And this was what had earned him the position of guiding the "gods."
"So, Aubrey."
"I admit that I lost to you, and lost to Viktor."
"But..."
He lowered his head again, narrowed his eyes, and revealed a proud smile.
"Gods..."
"Will never lose."
BOOM!!
As his words fell, the golden and white wings behind Hermes suddenly spread open.
The sky seemed to respond to some mysterious summons. Hazy holy light poured down, enveloping Hermes.
His white wings were gradually covered in gold, healing and standing tall once more.
The light released by the descending holy radiance was almost more dazzling than anything that had come before.
The next moment, a magnificent gate suddenly burst out of space.
Complex glowing patterns surrounded it, while golden steel gears continuously twisted and turned.
The edges of the door frame twisted rapidly, constantly releasing waves of powerful, scorching light.
The intense radiance almost pierced through the sky, enveloping the sky and the deathly silent earth of the entire royal capital in strange holy light.
At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded. They widened their eyes and raised their heads.
They stared at the enormous and sacred mechanical gate of light emerging beneath the clear sky, too shocked to speak.
As Hermes spread his arms, the gate suddenly opened with a thunderous roar.
A heavy yet crisp mechanical sound rang across the entire land, revealing countless dense, shining golden steel steps that continuously connected toward the distant highest heavens.
Aubrey, standing before Hermes, raised his head and narrowed his eyes as he looked toward the gate, complex emotions flashing in his eyes.
Amid the golden light, Cocotte likewise stared deep into the gate.
That intense sacred aura gave her an indescribable sense of gravity.
Looking beyond the golden gate, she seemed able to sense countless chaotic and noisy souls circling and twisting within that empty golden space.
It was as if...
Countless millions of souls were about to pour out from behind that enormous Gate of the Highest Heaven.
Feeling the gate behind him constantly turning, Hermes smiled and looked back at Aubrey.
"I've finished explaining everything you wanted to know."
"As for Viktor, I'm sorry."
"I told you, he can never come back..."
BOOM!!
A burst of flames suddenly erupted, instantly wrapping around the enormous golden gate behind Hermes.
The golden steps that had originally extended toward the highest heavens were swallowed by the flames, churning in midair and transforming into condensed platforms of blazing fire.
The flames flowed along the gate and the steps toward the sky, spreading across the entire sky enveloped in golden light.
In an instant, the golden sky was covered by raging flames, transforming into a sea of crimson that surged violently.
Even behind the gate, the souls bathing in the golden light seemed to be burned by the raging flames, letting out agonized screams that pierced across thousands of miles.
The Gate of the Highest Heaven, now enveloped in flames, instantly became a merciless gate to hell.
Sensing the change in the light, as well as this familiar elemental power, Hermes could not help but turn his head in shock.
At that moment, he saw the figure of a girl.
She seemed to be wrapped in layers of blazing flames, floating in the sky and standing before the Gate of the Highest Heaven.
And behind her was Viktor's familiar windbreaker.
Six colors flowed across the windbreaker, eventually being completely covered by red stripes.
Through the flames, Hermes finally saw the girl's face clearly.
She was the duke's daughter, the girl he had sealed inside ice, causing the arrival of the calamity.
Erica.
Hermes looked at her, and his heart shook.
For a moment of daze, it was as though he saw a supreme god.
"Nature...?"
Sensing the gaze of the god behind her, she turned around and looked coldly at Hermes, who was half-kneeling on the ground.
Her voice was calm and firm, "Apologize to my father."
"Then..."
Her words abruptly stopped, and the flames surrounding Erica's entire body suddenly erupted.
Like violent nine-headed dragons, they filled the entire space.
The flaming dragons rolled through the dry crimson sky, and terrifying waves of heat surged toward Hermes, as if they were going to burn everything to ashes.
Beneath those overwhelming flames, only Erica's eyes, burning with fury, remained fixed directly on Hermes's heart, "Give Viktor back to me."