novelraw Chapter 197: Willing to Swear Loyalty
Chapter 197: Willing to Swear Loyalty
This was exactly the sentence Roya had been waiting for.
He had long since discerned that Mars and Athena revolved around Zeus as their center, while Thor obeyed Odin's instructions in all things.
Although Roya did not mind small circles forming within his legions, he could not tolerate the kind of factionalism Odin and Zeus displayed.
Such cliquishness, if left unchecked, could sabotage coordination between battle groups at critical moments, and that—more than anything—was the true danger.
By contrast, small circles that naturally formed after long periods of joint combat, arising from differences in combat style and temperament, carried no such risk.
That was why, as soon as Nuwa and Fuxi pledged themselves, Roya immediately elevated them with sufficient rank and authority: to break apart the budding factions of Odin and Zeus at the root.
Before Mars had even finished speaking, Athena followed quickly:
"Honored one, please accept my fealty!"
She had finally understood: when a transcendent being such as Roya appeared, towering above an entire civilization, the so-called alliance terms she shared with Zeus instantly became meaningless.
Were she in Roya's place—near-omnipotent, godlike—she would not care in the slightest what a mortal like Zeus thought!
To be granted favor was a divine boon; to be denied, one had no right even to dream of it.
Otherwise, one would swiftly learn the meaning of divine majesty that brooked no blasphemy.
In encountering a god willing to condescend to converse with his warriors, the only correct course was obedience and loyalty. Overthinking would only ruin oneself.
Before a god, all talk of alliances, partnerships, or common interests was empty. Only divine favor was eternal—the inexhaustible source of all benefit.
Even if she was now a step late and had lost her chance to compete with Nuwa and Fuxi for the highest posts, Athena was confident that her potential would let her surpass Nuwa in both strength and contribution, and seize the position of commander of the Psionic Battle Group.
For she was the youngest among the seven—twelve years younger than Nuwa. Youth itself was her greatest capital.
And so, Zeus's faction collapsed and disintegrated from within in an instant.
Thor's overall strength was on par with Mars and Athena. Watching both of his peers decisively cast their lot with Roya, Thor felt deeply conflicted.
Of course he, too, longed to join Roya, whose future was clearly far brighter. But unless Odin spoke first, he had no authority to decide.
By coincidence, just as in the old myths, he was in fact Odin's son.
His very life, everything he had, had been given by Odin. He could not betray that paternal bond.
At last, Odin spoke:
"I, Odin, together with my son Thor, pledge our loyalty to you, my lord!"
Thor exhaled in relief, struck his chest with his fist, and declared loudly:
"I, too, swear loyalty to you, my lord!"
Thus, Zeus was left isolated. As he hesitated over whether he should also pledge fealty—
Roya spoke first:
"Zeus, you shall remain behind on this planet. Oversee the integration of the various tribes, lead them in rest and recovery, continue to spread psionic catalysis, and prepare researchers, engineers, and reserve warriors for the fleet."
Zeus let out a hidden sigh of relief and answered:
"I shall obey your command, my lord."
But Athena only sneered inwardly. She knew Zeus had fallen irretrievably behind, never again to catch up with the six.
On the surface, Zeus had at last achieved his desire—becoming governor of the planet, the highest authority in Roya's absence.
But his ceiling was now set in stone.
He would never again glimpse the myriad worlds and civilizations of the boundless cosmos, nor temper himself in its endless battles.
The starting line of Nuwa and the others had already become the end of Zeus's path.
Once Nuwa and the six were incorporated, Oceanus entered a phase of full-scale relocation and recovery.
As the corpses of the bio-weapons were dismantled and transported into the Hades, the sea level—swollen by their sheer numbers and vast bodies—receded, revealing the planet's true form once more.
The drowned continents emerged again beneath the sun's embrace. Yet in the short span of a single year's submersion, all urban infrastructure had been corroded by seawater beyond repair.
The best living spaces remaining were, ironically, still the original Sanctuaries—except that now they had become towering mountain peaks.
The transport fleet made its final round trip, ferrying aboard the Hades the researchers and engineers slated for relocation.
Among them also went those Nuwa had selected: individuals already awakened to psionics.
Without exception, they were backup pilots for the Ancient God Colossi—the finest graduates of the consciousness-strengthening program.
Watching the pure blue of the ocean slowly vanish from sight, Zeus felt a sudden pang of uncertainty.
The planet's most elite talent had been drawn away by Roya. Though Roya had left behind the tangible gifts of Warp-powered mecha and psionic catalysis—two technologies of the Old Saints, more than enough for Oceanus to achieve revival—
Zeus knew he himself had lost the chance to ascend.
One hesitation, one wrong choice, and regret came too late.
Within the Hades, Im had already taken control of the ship's soul, opening a new compartment at the aft of the vessel.
There lay stored a semi-Warp-powered mecha.
The researchers and engineers from Oceanus were busy absorbing the core mecha technology Roya had imprinted into their minds, striving to resolve pressing challenges: replacing materials, miniaturizing mecha frames, and more.
Until these research goals were achieved, the Psionic Battle Group could not truly take shape.
Yet Nuwa and Fuxi did not sit idle. Each day, they conducted consciousness-strength tests on warriors from every battle group.
This work, born alongside the Ancient God Colossus project on Oceanus, was second nature to them even aboard the Hades.
And now, with Roya's decree, every battle group knew the Psionic Battle Group was destined to become his most powerful unit—without rival.
Thus, the warriors showed great zeal, regarding it as an honor to pass the tests and be chosen.
This, however, left many battle group commanders and senior officers deeply displeased.
Veterans such as Whitebeard, Kaido, Kizaru, Aokiji, Squard, and others had already accumulated enough potential to awaken their psionics—just a single step away. Upon awakening, they would be no weaker, perhaps even stronger, than Nuwa herself.
Their test results, naturally, far surpassed those of ordinary warriors.
Yet they could not simply abandon their posts in their own battle groups to defect to the Psionic Battle Group.
So—what were they to do?
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