These demigod heroes not only exhibit capabilities surpassing pure-blooded gods but often achieve the godslaying feats, overthrowing those ancient gods who insist on the purity of lineage.
The gods favor inbreeding, essentially to maintain the purity of divinity and the stability of dominion, but this practice also leads to a lack of genetic diversity, gradually causing the divine race to lose the possibility of evolution.
The emergence of demigods precisely proves that "impure" bloodlines can instead breed stronger beings. In the mythical world, consanguineous marriage is both the cornerstone of divine power and a potential downfall—when the divine race indulges in purity of bloodline, perhaps they forget that true strength often comes from fusion and breakthroughs.
A closed system is destined for entropy and decay, whereas an open system can gain enduring life force. The binding of divine blood is both a guarantee of power and the ultimate shackle.
This is where science transcends theology. Of course, although many descendants of the divine spirits are not as potent as their ancestors, this does not include the true ruler of the Netherworld.
Pluton Osiris remains very strong.
Draped in the luxurious robes symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt, crowned with a white high crown representing royal authority, holding a scythe symbolizing agriculture and harvest, and a shepherd's staff representing royal authority and dominion. His visage is solemn and grave, like an eternal and unmovable rock, with eyes delving deep into the cycles of life and death. This time entering the mortal realm, he did not ride a great ship, but stepped upon the mist of the Nether River, walking step by step onto the land of reality.
"Da-da-da~"
With each step of this Elder God falling.
The creeping, fleshy earth beneath his feet began to freeze and petrify, turning into hardened black basalt, as if the domain of the Netherworld was expanding into reality.
Countless translucent departed souls surrounded him.
These souls were not the tormented and wailing captives within the Evil God. Instead, they were orderly, like the most devout pilgrims. They silently floated around Osiris, uttering a deep, magnificent requiem, akin to the harmonic chorus of the universe. This hymn was not a dirge but a requiem praising order, judgment, and eternal peace.
Myriads of departed souls wandered by his side, emitting ethereal chants. The melody of the hymn starkly contrasted with the painful shrieks of the billions of souls within the Evil God.
One side held the harmonious eternal repose, the other the chaotic and eternal torment.
"So you were born after all."
Osiris's gaze, like two swords of judgment, penetrated the space, stabbing straight at the floating Evil God in the firmament. The scythe and shepherd's staff in his hand lifted slightly, as the power of death and rebirth in a ghostly blue hue concentrated at the tip of his staff. The hymn of the departed souls around surged abruptly high, fiercely colliding with the chill of the Netherworld and the distortion force of reality.
"In the name of the Nether River, those who desecrate the order of life and death shall face eternal punishment." Osiris's voice echoed like a sound from the grave, as the Lord of the Underworld raised the shepherd's staff, pointing it towards Set-Apep. In an instant, innumerable departed souls formed an army, surging towards the Evil God. These departed souls differed from the living.
They were already past existences, stabilized in their essence by the power of the Lord of the Underworld, rendering the Evil God's devouring ability significantly less effective against them.
Ian's raven eyes slightly widened. He keenly noticed a detail: Osiris did not directly attack the Evil God but focused on rescuing the swallowed souls. Each swing of the Lord of the Underworld's shepherd's staff would hook several trapped souls from the Evil God's body, then guide them towards the Netherworld.
"I see..." Ian realized, "they're cooperating in division of labor!"
Isis is responsible for healing the living and reversing mutations; Osiris is responsible for rescuing the dead, depriving the Evil God of its power source. This cooperation is extremely tacit, clearly not the first time they face such a crisis.
"Damn!!!"
The Evil God roared in anger, attempting to resist the collaboration between the two gods. But this time, his adaptive abilities seemed to meet their match—the power of the gods derives from faith and concept, a completely different system from conventional magic. Set-Apep needs time to analyze and adapt to this new kind of power.
During this brief interval, Ian noticed a third anomaly: although Isis and Osiris had already manifested, the false sun in the sky still existed, only its light slightly suppressed.
This implies the battle isn't a one-sided assault.
In his Raven Form, Ian gently flapped his wings, flying to a higher vantage point. His gaze shifted towards the Eastern horizon, the direction where the sun rises. Through the unique vision of the raven eye, he could see the energy flows invisible to others—countless golden faith energies were still rising from the earth, converging towards a distant location.
Yet these energy flows appeared chaotic, as if they had lost guidance.
"What does this imply?"
As Ian pondered.
Pluton Osiris acted once more, with the shepherd's staff and scythe in his hands radiating a dim light, as the waters of the Nether River suddenly surged, transforming into countless chains winding towards Set-Apep.
These chains were engraved with ancient Netherworld runes, devouring light wherever they passed.
"Are you all against me?" The Evil God roared with rage, all sixteen light wings simultaneously erupted with a piercing brightness, attempting to vaporize these Nether River Chains. The Evil God's light wings began to wither and decay the moment they touched the chains, while the devoured souls seized the opportunity to struggle for escape.