Chapter 671: The Moon God
The Meaning of Home
Dom's words weren't a victor's declaration; they sounded like deep contemplation—a reflection on the relationship between the Underworld and the mortal world, and the origin, meaning, and outcome of the war.
That war had no victor. Humanity ended the Age of Gods, and the Underworld suffered an unprecedented divine authority crisis.
Hanyue had considered similar questions over the years, but it no longer mattered.
"We just want to go home."
"Home?" Dom shook his head. "You are already dead. For the dead, the Underworld is your true home."
"If you want to return home, you should stay here, not head for Earth."
"Bullshit!" another Human God rebuked fiercely. "We are not dead! As long as we return to Earth, we can repair our bodies and be fully resurrected!"
Dom immediately laughed.
"You are too ignorant. Resurrection?" He sighed. "That is a domain of life that even Gods cannot truly touch. It begins with the body and ends with the soul. If the flesh were perfectly preserved, there might be a chance for resurrection. Unfortunately, your bodies were long ago reduced to scraps in that battle, and your souls turned to ash. What you possess now are merely consciousness entities formed by resentment and unwillingness—what are called Vengeful Spirits."
"I don't know what magic your creator used, but I can tell you plainly: apart from existences that transcend reality, such as Lucifer the Lord of Hell, Michael the King of Angels, and the 13-Winged Supreme Angel, no one can resurrect you."
"The one who said you could be resurrected was merely deceiving you."
"You lie!"
One Human God exploded in rage, charging forward with a roar. A black light flashed, and his body was severed in two, then split into countless particles.
Hanyue hissed, "What do you want? If you want to fight, then fight! Stop with the pointless chatter!"
"I am merely stating facts. The former Moon God would certainly understand what resurrection means. She would never cling to life and survive in this state. Alas, you are not her. Though you possess the same appearance and memories, you have lost your true self."
"The Moon God is dead."
Hanyue's mind reeled. In a daze, she was unable to form a rebuttal.
The Moon God!
What was the Moon God like before?
Hanyue muttered to herself, lost in thought. Hanyue was the daughter of the former Lord of the Celestial Court, with noble blood and extraordinary talent. All the world's beauty seemed to gather on this little princess—unrivaled beauty, unmatched temperament, and despite her extraordinary birth, she possessed an immensely strong self-will and self-control. She was a true princess, praised by all.
Her pride was deeply hidden in her heart, never overtly displayed.
Would such a person tolerate becoming a tentacle?
Hanyue questioned herself, plunging into endless confusion.
Seeing her state, Dom immediately lost the desire to attack.
The Moon God, Princess Hanyue!
Her beauty transcended the concept of race. The first time he saw her on the battlefield, even he, the God of the Underworld, was captivated by her song, unconsciously sinking into it. When he regained consciousness, he was lying on the ground with the Lord of the Celestial Court's long sword plunged into his chest.
From that moment on, Dom had never forgotten this Goddess from Earth.
Artemis's Arrival and Hanyue's Choice
The fight ended here, and the other battle had concluded as well.
The Human Gods, led by Artemis, launched a siege. After paying the price of a dozen lives, they finally won the victory. Only two of the eight Death Gods' souls managed to escape; the rest were either sealed or devoured.
Having finished their battle, Artemis immediately turned around, carrying the momentum of victory toward Dom.
Artemis was not surprised by the situation around her. Others might not know of Dom's strength, but she had experienced it firsthand. He was one of the few opponents that even her Father God (Zeus) greatly feared.
Pluto Dom—there is only one in the world.
A Human God spoke up, "Be careful of his blade! His power is terrifying!"
"I don't need your warning. I know his strength," Artemis countered. She looked around, frowning. "Where is the magic array? Why can't I feel it?"
Hanyue shook her head. "The magic array failed. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been defeated so quickly."
Artemis fell silent, a powerful sense of unease rising within her. Without the magic array as a backup, how could they possibly be a match for Dom in their current physical state?
The tentacles were too massive. For a powerhouse of Dom's level, they were living targets.
The atmosphere grew tense.
The Human Gods dared not attack, and Dom was lost in a brief state of contemplation.
Diana and her two companions, who had followed Artemis, searched the battlefield for Luke's figure. After searching for a long time, they only found the Soul-Devouring Bow lying on the ground.
"Where is Luke? I don't see him."
"Could he have..."
Diana became incredibly anxious, her entire body trembling. Ignoring everything else, she quickly flew up to Hanyue and, using slightly clumsy Ancient Chinese, asked nervously,
"Luke—where is he?"
Hanyue quietly shook her head. "I don't know where he is. Perhaps he's hiding, waiting for an opportunity."
Diana immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but looking at the bow in her hand, she felt something was wrong. Hiding was understandable, but why would he leave the bow behind?
"You should leave!" Hanyue suddenly urged. "Leave the God-Demon Battlefield. The farther, the better. Never return."
"Why?"
"This battle is a grudge between the Gods. It has nothing to do with you. Don't force yourselves into it."
"But..."
Hanyue didn't let her finish. "If we win, we will naturally notify you and take you back to Earth. If we lose, go find Dom. He is the God of Death, overseeing the life-death cycle of a civilization. He will have a way to let you leave the Underworld and travel to another mortal world. As for how you proceed, that will be up to you."
With that, she suddenly raised her hand. A giant wind blade condensed from a white vortex appeared at her fingertip. With a slash, her tentacle was severed in two. She immediately used a secret art to forcibly extract its life force. Her massive body rapidly withered, turning into bone ash that scattered onto the ground. She herself grew back a pair of legs and feet, becoming a living, breathing person.
Light flowed over her skin, manifesting a celestial gown made of pure energy. The woman floated in mid-air, like a fairy descended from the highest heaven.
The Moon God, Princess Hanyue.
She looked exactly as she had in her prime, astonishing the world. Even Diana, a fellow woman, felt her heart flutter.
"Are you insane?" Artemis frowned. "Without the tentacle, you won't live for long! Do you want to die?"
Hanyue shook her head coldly.
"I am the Moon God, the unique princess of the Celestial Court. I am not a monster."
Hanyue lifted her voice in song. A clear moon materialized behind her. Moonlight flowed like water, and the crescent moon became a blade. As the song began, time seemed to freeze. In heaven and earth, only a fleeting moon-light remained.
Pfft!
A two-meter-long bloody gash appeared on Dom's body. The wound ran from top to bottom, nearly bisecting him.
"You..."
Dom coughed up blood, letting out a painful roar.
The crescent moon faded behind Hanyue, a faint silhouette within the arc, dissolving with the wind.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!