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[Crossover] Ch 259: Revealing Little Garden’s Existence
🕑 Added 2025-09-18 18:48:49 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
The ones up there have been sitting pretty for too long? Too many gods?
The king's target was the Gods. And not just one or two—he was aiming straight for all of them.
Liliana froze as the realization hit her, hand flying to her mouth to stop a scream.
Now she understood why Ryo had been willing to hand those Heretic Gods over to Marquis Voban back in Rome.
From the very start, his goal had been the entire pantheon. What were one or two gods compared to that?
It was reckless, almost insane—but somehow it felt perfectly in line with Ryo's character.
Of course. For someone as powerful as him, a single god—or even two—wasn't a challenge anymore. Only all the gods together could stand as true opponents.
In that instant, Liliana felt as though she finally understood the deeper meaning behind Ryo's strange actions.
At the same time, Luo Hao—who had guessed at least part of Ryo's plan—turned in surprise to look at Athena.
"You knew what he was planning, and you still chose to help him?"
"Yeah~" Athena's tone carried a hint of amusement, though her smile was edged with cruelty.
"What I love is the glory of the Mother Earth, not the tyranny of steel."
At those words, Luo Hao slapped her thigh and let out a hearty laugh. "So that's how it is. I underestimated you."
"I thought you were just some minor goddess, but you've got real courage. No wonder you can walk at his side."
Ryo calmly sipped his tea, while Athena arched an eyebrow, her gaze sharp as she studied Luo Hao.
"And what about you?"
There was a dangerous edge to Athena's words.
Luo Hao only laughed. "So this is how you force me, huh?"
Knowing a secret like this meant she was already standing on a knife's edge.
Even if Athena said nothing, Ryo would no doubt think the same—if she wasn't a friend, she would have to be an enemy.
One wrong answer here, and she'd have both Ryo and Athena coming at her together.
This was no mere choice—it was a death trap.
If she refused, she might very well die here on the spot.
But why refuse?
She had always been an enemy of the gods, a god-slayer who had painted the sky red. Whether she killed one god or a thousand—what difference did it make?
That thought made her laugh loudly.
"I've been idle for nearly a century. Finally, something worthy of my time."
"I, Luo Hao, will join you."
Ryo's lips curved into a smile. "Bold as ever."
He hadn't explained exactly which Pantheon he was targeting, but he didn't need to.
He knew Luo Hao well enough to be sure her answer wouldn't change.
"Since you're one of us now, there are things I need to show you." Ryo raised his index finger, its tip glowing with a golden light.
With Luo Hao's silent permission, he lightly tapped her forehead.
In an instant, knowledge poured into her mind—about Little Garden, about the Gods, about the myths and humanity's history—and Ryo's own plans.
When he finally withdrew his hand, he poured himself another cup of tea and asked calmly, "So, what do you think?"
Luo Hao opened her eyes, which now shone like blades. "I see now. I underestimated the world itself."
She picked up her teacup again and said evenly, "So Susanoo and the Monkey King are still your targets? But mainly the legends behind them, you are targeting all pantheons."
"That's right." Ryo nodded.
"The more we have, the better."
The more gods he used as "offerings" to link mythology to the Circle of Usurpation, the faster he could seize control of myth itself.
In the end, the planet would enter an age where the divine era was over, and using the high-grade energy he left, it would step into a new, stronger era.
Luo Hao frowned slightly. "With your plan, some of the Mother Earth goddesses might not end up as enemies."
She glanced meaningfully at Athena and added, a hint of doubt in her voice, "And besides, Little Garden may not even recognize her as qualified to enter the realm of omnipotence, a 3-digit being."
"I know."
Ryo sighed softly. "Even with the full divinity of a planet's entire pantheon, it's impossible to reach that level in one leap."
Then he smiled. "But she is the one who's been worshiped as Athena, after all."
"??!"
Luo Hao's eyes lit up, and she let out a low whistle. "So that's your play—fighting over the very name of Athena."
Across countless worlds, faith in the goddess called Athena existed in countless forms.
Until now, all that faith had flowed to a single goddess—but why couldn't it be split between two?
Sure, it would weaken the original slightly, but from what Luo Hao had just learned, that goddess had probably done similar things before.
Her Authority of Victory alone held power far beyond her own—a force that was clearly of the omnipotent realm.
Her divine body and spirit rank were already higher than a "four-digit" god, yet she deliberately split her authorities and anchored herself in the lower floors of Little Garden for some reason.
That was the secret of why the Greek gods still lingered below. In that state, worship and faith didn't hold the same importance as before. Losing a portion of it might hurt, but it wouldn't be enough to make her risk everything.
In other words—Ryo's plan was viable.
Luo Hao looked at Ryo and laughed, gesturing toward Athena. "Let's say she can truly compete with the Athena of Little Garden, even just to split her power—"
"But are you sure that goddess will allow it? You are threatening her foundation."
Ryo took another sip of tea, completely unruffled. "Don't worry. I already have her permission."
Would Ryo take a risk like this without being sure?
First, he wouldn't be found so easily. Second, Athena herself told him to make as big a mess as possible. Third, the Athena here was still just Metis for now. There were other reasons but he kept it to himself.
Luo Hao blinked, her expression turning slightly strange.
Little Garden's Athena actually agreed to this? Has she lived so long that she's grown careless?
But seeing the utter confidence in Ryo's expression, Luo Hao didn't press the issue.
This was between Ryo and Athena, and unless she was his wife, it wasn't her place to ask.
Besides—plotting against all the gods? That was exactly what a true king, a true Campione, should be doing.
Luo Hao drained her teacup, then laughed heartily. "In that case, let's do it."
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