Chapter 291: God King Arrives!
If it were not for their extraordinary origins as First Generation Humans, with physiques far surpassing the ordinary mortals of later generations.
Otherwise, such a project, even if all these million people died out, would absolutely impossible to complete within a mere half year.
Although, such a project is utterly trivial for Great Deities; such a scene still appears too meager.
But for humans today, this is already the grandest project they could create by exhausting all their power.
Even, for humans now, in their eyes, the Divine Palace and Altar before them already qualify as a true miracle.
To the point that humans themselves could not imagine that they could create such a magnificent project relying solely on human power!
Before truly achieving it, this was something they did not even dare to think about.
If not for the gods’ personal guidance and constant encouragement, let alone doing it, they probably would not even have the courage to attempt it.
However, to accomplish all this, the cost was also utterly tragic.
For today’s everything, there were those crushed to death by giant stones in the quarries; those who fell off cliffs to their death during transport; those who were worked to death; those who died from untreated injuries; and even more, who starved to death in order to scrape together a mouthful of food to supply these laborers…
As for those injured and maimed by this, there were even… countless.
But Prometheus knew that all the cruel sacrifices before him were worth it.
If humans were unwilling to bear this solemn Sacrifice with their own flesh and blood and sweat, they would forever be unable to claim before the Gods to be objects worthy of shelter.
Many people had to pay with their lives for this, but if it could thereby exchange for eternal shelter, for the continuation and prosperity of the race, then this was a cost that must be borne.
Prometheus believed that humans’ all-out efforts this time would surely move the Gods, would surely move His Majesty the God King of mercy.
Everything paid now was for a brighter future, for the entire clan to survive better.
But He still could not help feeling heartache for this.
To only watch helplessly as beloved children die, there is probably no more painful thing in this world.
Especially starvation, the most painful way to die, the suffering endured before death is unimaginable.
He looked toward those full one hundred adult bulls with pure white coats and sturdy builds.
Just to gather these one hundred pure-colored bulls meeting Sacrifice standards, who knows how many people died, and how much of humans’ countless mind and resources were consumed.
How many people’s lives were cut short because of this? How many hands cracked and bled from gathering fodder? How many people, already skin and bones, still wholeheartedly fed them?
They were carefully tended, and next, they would soon serve as Offerings.
Behind the Sacrifice, who knows how many people were still enduring hunger.
Yet these bulls, condensed from humans’ countless blood and sweat, were about to be slaughtered, dismembered, and thrown into the roaring sacrificial flames.
The Altar’s firelight would redden the sky, all their warmth and blood vitality devoured by the flames.
If these one hundred bulls could be distributed to those on the verge of starving to death…
At least, it could still save over a thousand fresh lives.
Prometheus quietly watched all this, his face showing no expression, his body making no movement.
Only in the deepest depths of those profound eyes, the heaviest pain, like netherworld undercurrents, silently surged.
Suddenly, the wind rose.
Prometheus slowly raised his head, gazing toward the horizon.
What He saw was the omen of the God King descending to the Mortal World.
Clouds were surging, Heaven and Earth’s breath vibrating for it.
Those four prominent Four Winds were stirring the airflows of Heaven and Earth, clearing the Mortal World’s dust with gales to pave the way for that Supreme God King’s arrival.
After the gales howled, soon, the boundless, symbolizing sacred descent, auspicious phenomena entered the eyes of all living beings below the Altar.
Those human representatives resting and preparing to participate in this destiny-deciding Sacrificial Ceremony immediately fell into panic.
In their hearts, there was both the surprise and honor of soon beholding the Supreme Deity, and the uncontrollable tension and fear stemming from life’s instinct.
Even humans knew who the true master of this universe was.
It was the Father God of the nine bright Muses who know all, the king of the gods of infinite might, foresight and hindsight.
It was the great father of the most terrifying God of Death Thanatos.
All of that, the sole and eternal absolute supreme master!
God Above Gods—God King Zeus!
The humans able to personally participate in this Sacrificial Ceremony all clearly knew the importance of today.
They even more knew how heavy the responsibility on their small shoulders.
It concerned not only individual life and death, but also the race’s destiny, the hope of the future.
Facing this universe’s supreme master, who wields all and decides all their destinies and survival—God Above Gods—no matter how brave and resilient they were usually, no matter how wise and insightful, at this moment, they could not remain the slightest bit unmoved.
Before the God King, any courage seems insignificant, any composure crumbles at a touch.
In indescribable alarm, too many people turned their seeking gazes toward the one standing alone at the forefront of the Divine Palace, their Creator and guardian—Prometheus.
Prometheus merely gently waved his hand to them.
A simple and steady action seemed to possess infinite power.
The originally panicked humans immediately found their backbone.
They swiftly, according to everything Prometheus had already taught them, silently began action.
They uniformly gathered in neat ranks behind Prometheus.
This was the most sacred, most important day.
Yet it was also shrouded in the heaviest, most oppressive atmosphere.
The God King’s grand arrival had not yet truly descended, but the gales stirred by the Four Winds had already howled in, nearly blowing people off their feet.
At the horizon, endless, inconceivable, extraordinarily beautiful auspicious colored clouds, accompanying this majestic gale, surged toward here like tides.
Dazzling brilliant myriad radiance drew ever closer.
Before seeing any deity’s sacred form, the heavenly music, hymns and odes, truly celestial sounds, captivating enough to immerse all living beings, had already reached human ears first.
Those were the God King’s beloved nine daughters, the forever bright and joyful Muses; and the three most beautiful and good, representing all “Truth, Goodness, Beauty” of the universe—Goddesses of Grace.
They together sang sacred hymns resounding through the world, praising the supreme glory and majesty of the Ruler of the Universe!
In the human ranks, quiet, suppressed sobs softly arose.
Amid this celestial sound, they recognized the voices of the Muses.
This familiar divine sound made too many feel kindness, finally somewhat steadying their minds on the verge of collapse from tension and alarm.
Following close behind the celestial music, the pure heavenly rain that eliminates all filth and fatigue fell like the gentlest gauze.
And the various sacred petals that strengthen the body, heal wounds and dispel diseases, also danced and scattered through the sky with the one thousand two hundred flower Nymphs.
Whether humans at the Sacrifice site or those scattered elsewhere, all equally received the most generous blessing from His Majesty the God King.
All their pains instantly recovered; all poisons touching them were dispelled; the illnesses hidden in their bodies were thoroughly cured.
All fatigue was eliminated, all hunger sensations completely erased.
Their life vitality was greatly enhanced, soul resilience deeply supplemented, even their lifespan limits greatly increased thereby.
On this day, even the God of Death just beginning duties would not open His embrace.
Because, when the God King arrives, the boundary of life and death is obscured by the God King’s sacred radiance.
Finally, soothing moonlight quietly sprinkled down, finally soothing the complex and turbulent heart tides in human souls.
Allowing these most outstanding humans to barely compose themselves, not to lose decorum before the God King.
Finally, the Gods above the clouds arrived above the Altar.
They stood high, following the God King in the Highest Heaven.
That overly dazzling sacred radiance already made all humans deeply bow their heads, not daring in the slightest to look up.
Because their fragile mortal eyelids simply could not resist this overly piercing divine radiance.
Accompanied by Zelus, representing the God King’s “courage and glory,” a voice resounding through Heaven and Earth declared:
“Supreme God Above Gods, Lord of the Highest Heaven, Merciful Heavenly Father, Ruler of the Universe, Incarnation of Thunder, Father of All Spirits, Lord of Storms, Lord of Order, Wielder of Destiny Great Father, Great Father of Ultimate Goodness and Beauty, Source of Wisdom, Source of Power, the eternal supreme master of all! King of the Gods—His Majesty the God King Zeus arrives!”
“Rumble—”
A low and majestic thunderclap, like the universe’s heartbeat, boomed down from the ninth heaven, echoing and vibrating between Heaven and Earth, with this thunder declaring the God King’s formal arrival!
Prometheus deeply inhaled, without the slightest hesitation, immediately prostrating in grand salute.
Behind Him, over three thousand human representatives also knelt uniformly, performing the great prostration.
Their foreheads pressed tight to the ground, dust and sweat mingled as one, in the most respectful, most devout posture they could manage, paying homage to the Supreme God King!
Gods and humans together cried out in unison, voices converging into a torrent mighty enough to shake Heaven and Earth:
“Homage to the supreme, most exalted, most honored God Above Gods, eternal master, King of the Gods, eternal master of all existence! Your Majesty reigns eternal!”
“Rise.”
A flat voice, yet containing endless majesty, fell heavily like substance upon all prostrated living beings.
