Chapter 96: The Astonishing Appearance of Multiple Planes

Feng Zhe distinctly remembered that during the last pivotal moment, he had sealed the evil deity Eris within the Golden Apple. Why, then, did Eris’s microcosm still linger here? Not only within this mirrored node, but even in the timeline of 1743, he had sealed the goddess of discord, Eris. Could it be that these gods’ souls were scattered across different worlds?

If something was too perplexing to comprehend, there was no point in dwelling on it.

At this moment, the roots of the thorn vine seemed to breathe, alive, and within the transparent liquid, a form reminiscent of a nurturing pouch was visible—not holding a child, but a god. Athena’s blood flowed through the thorn vines and poured directly into this pouch-like liquid, nourishing the deity within.

Sacrifice! Sacred fire!

Feng Zhe ignited his microcosm. The holy flames blazed within him, the constellation altar’s star chart reappeared, and the most sacred flame of Olympus descended onto the earth again. These thorn vines were no ordinary matter; they feared neither blade nor fire, yet as the sacred fire arrived, they seemed to sense a threat and, unconsciously, retreated en masse.

“Alex, you cannot stop me!”

Eris, the evil goddess, roared from within. Her divine microcosm spread outward, and in front of her floated the artifact—the Golden Apple. The Golden Apple was both her prison and the dwelling place of her soul, rendering it a true artifact.

Yet, confronted with life itself, even the brilliance of the Golden Apple could not halt the burning of the thorn roots. The immense flames rendered the palace crimson, illuminating it as though daylight had burst forth.

Crack!

The nurturing pouch was scorched through, spilling its liquid instantly. Out tumbled something hideous, like a placenta.

[Ding! An important choice has appeared!]

[First option: spend 5,000 Faith Points to reseal Eris, the evil deity, within the Golden Apple.]

[Second option: spend 20,000 Faith Points to seal Eris within the altar space and refine her—outcome unknown!]

[Warning: If you refine Eris’s divinity, you will be pursued by Erises from all multiversal planes!]

“Multiversal planes?”

This term was new to Feng Zhe, yet, possessing memories from his previous life, he wondered: was it possible that a god’s existence was unique across all planes or timelines, and what appeared in this world was merely a manifestation?

With this thought, Feng Zhe hesitated, but soon resolved that, even if it meant offending every deity, he would see this through. Without hesitation, he made his choice.

“I choose the second option—seal Eris within the altar space!”

At once, the sacred fire transformed that grotesque thing, along with Eris’s spreading microcosm, into the purest flame.

“No! Alex! I will not let you go unpunished!”

Eris’s resentful howl echoed, vanishing completely from this world as the sacred fire consumed her. Yet, in the final moments of combustion, Feng Zhe seemed to glimpse something sparkling within the flames.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained the divinity of Eris, the evil deity. If you choose to refine it, you may provoke pursuit by Erises from across the multiverse!]

The prompt appeared once more, but Feng Zhe paid it no mind, turning instead toward his next purpose.

…

Meanwhile, Andromeda Shun was confronted by the Power Angel Eligor. It was as if they were natural antagonists. The chains of the Andromeda Cloth, famed for protecting their bearer from even the slightest hint of malice, were powerless before the Power Angel, whose attacks exuded no bloodlust whatsoever.

Even when Shun actively deployed the Nebula Spider Web, it was still shredded to nothing by Eligor’s forceful claws.

Seeing Shun forced to the brink, at the critical moment, his summoned companion, Phoenix Ikki, appeared.

Watching this unfold, Feng Zhe sighed, “There truly is every sort of person—those obsessed with protecting their sisters, those doting on their wives, and Ikki is the ultimate brotherly guardian. The best way to drive Ikki mad is to push Shun into peril. This Power Angel is truly unfortunate to encounter these brothers…”

Indeed, the battle concluded swiftly. After suffering the Phantom Demon Fist, the Power Angel’s mind was thrown into chaos, and he ended up clawing himself to death.

“As expected, those who rely on physical attacks are vulnerable to this kind of magical assault.”

Feng Zhe shook his head and stepped forward, while Phoenix Ikki glanced at him and then chose to depart.

“Ikki! Miss Saori’s safety depends on you!”

Ikki paused, looked at Feng Zhe, and replied, “That is Seiya’s responsibility. I must defeat Saga!”

With that, he left coolly. Feng Zhe slapped his forehead, growing ever more convinced that Ikki and Saga were, in truth, of the same ilk—one striving for godhood, the other determined to defeat the gods. Meanwhile, Shun had conveniently fallen unconscious…

Feng Zhe arrived at the thorn roots, and the same scene played out, though this time involving the Sea Emperor.

Feng Zhe could not fathom why the Sea Emperor was involved. He was sealed within Athena’s urn, and his reincarnation, Julian, continued to live peacefully somewhere in the world.

Why, then, did the Netherworld possess the soul of the Sea Emperor, and why did his powerful microcosm manifest there as well?

Once more, Feng Zhe dismissed such unanswerable questions and summoned the sacred fire against the thorn roots.

Yet, this time, the surface of the roots oozed a viscous fluid, a presence that rendered them impervious to the sacred fire.

“Let me help you!”

Just as Feng Zhe was at a loss, Shun suddenly appeared at his side. Even stranger, Feng Zhe hadn’t noticed his approach at all.

This startled Feng Zhe; turning around, he was speechless with shock.

Shun now radiated a bizarre and profound microcosm, his eyes filled with supreme arrogance, almost divine in bearing.

“Hades, Lord of the Underworld!”

Feng Zhe recognized the microcosm; it was identical to that of Hades, whom he had encountered before.

Shun smiled, raised a hand, and a surge of black energy emerged, devouring every trace of liquid from the thorn roots.

“Hades! You dare meddle in the Final Holy War?!”

The Sea Emperor’s furious voice echoed all around, but Shun merely smiled at Feng Zhe and said, “Let him disappear from this world for good.”

Was Hades truly willing to assist him?

At that moment, Shun collapsed to the ground, once again unconscious. Hades’s arrival was swift—and his departure swifter still.

Feng Zhe had no time to ponder further. He shouted, reignited the sacred fire, and under its blaze, the Sea Emperor and the thorn roots were reduced to ashes.

[First option: spend 5,000 Faith Points to reseal Poseidon, the Sea Emperor, within Athena’s urn.]

[Second option: spend 20,000 Faith Points to seal Poseidon within the altar space and refine him—outcome unknown!]

[Warning: If you refine Poseidon, you may provoke pursuit by Poseidons from across the multiverse!]

“I choose the second option—seal Poseidon, the Sea Emperor!”