Saori and Kyoko were in the middle of a discussion. After a moment, Saori continued her inquiry. "Kyoko, how is Olivia's condition?"
"Mother..." Kyoko paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Mother has already recovered. However, it will still take time for her to perfectly master the Authority of Discord and Misfortune. Even for a perfect human vessel, mastering the authority of a god while in a human body is simply too difficult."
Eris, the Goddess of Discord and Misfortune! She had been awakened.
Similarly, Eris was much like Poseidon. Her divine body had been destroyed back in the Mythological Age. The difference was that Poseidon's soul had spent eons cycling through slumber, being sealed in the "Urn," and awakening, over and over again. His soul had become incredibly weak. Yet, he was still one of the former three God Kings; even in a weakened state, he remained a top-tier powerhouse.
Eris, however, was completely different. Without a divine body, she was truly frail, standing on the brink of death. She did not even dare to awaken; one wrong move and it would truly be "Game Over" for her.
That was, until a perfect human vessel like Olivia was born.
Their [100%] synchronization proved that Olivia was the most suitable vessel for Eris, capable of eventually evolving into a new divine body.
However, the reverse was also true. Olivia could use this opportunity to devour Eris... or rather, seize Eris's authority and become the new Goddess of Discord and Misfortune.
Therefore, over the years, Saori had been considering this. After investigating certain matters, she had made preparations. Eris was one part of those plans.
Seized and refined in an instant!
And so, Eris had completely served as a stepping stone for Olivia.
Now, the mother and daughters under Saori's command were as follows:
Olivia: Goddess of Discord and Misfortune.
Kyoko: Night Owl God, wielder of the Power of Protection.
Shoko: The second individual capable of containing the God-Slaying Power.
This was the current lineup under Saori's banner.
Well... not entirely. Saeko Busujima, Rika Minami, and Rei Miyamoto also belonged to Saori. Since they had already become Saints, and Saori had joined the Longhuang Universe, they were naturally family and her direct subordinates.
"Kyoko, take this." Saori raised her hand, and a [Cosmic Core] drifted down to land in front of Kyoko.
"Understood!" Without hesitation, Kyoko took the [Cosmic Core] and absorbed it completely.
Feeling the gradual changes within her, Kyoko spoke softly, "Miss Saori, besides my mother and Shoko, are there any other suitable candidates?"
"Mii, Xing Xiaoling, Katya, and Erda."
"Aside from those four..."
Saori raised a slender finger, lightly tapping the armrest of her throne as her brow furrowed slightly. To be perfectly honest, she did not have many suitable candidates.
Among the Saints in the Sanctuary, aside from the Saintia she had personally trained, did the others truly hold any loyalty to her?
No. To be more precise, after the chaos of Saga's Rebellion... No, let us put it another way: even if Saga's Rebellion had never happened, they were not actually loyal to Saori herself.
The Sanctuary functioned through iterations, through generation after generation of Saint selection. Their true loyalty was to the protection of the Earth, and to love and peace... not to Saori.
Because of this, Saori knew very well that aside from those few girls, there was no one else she could truly trust.
"Sigh!" Saori let out a long, weary sigh. "It cannot be helped. Kyoko, wait a moment, then call those girls here. Let them make their own choice."
"If..." Kyoko hesitated. Aside from her mother and sister, she could not guarantee the loyalty of the others either.
A person's loyalty was always the hardest thing to guarantee.
It was just like Rhinedottir. In the universes of Ranch No. 2 and Ranch No. 3, she chose girls who were "prodigies" specifically to prevent betrayal, and ultimately used the [Cosmic Core] as the linchpin. That was the core of the core... quality over quantity.
Now, Saori faced the same problem. One can never truly know what is in another's heart, and no one could guarantee perfect control over the human mind.
"Let us try," Saori said softly. "Those willing to stay may stay. Those who are unwilling..."
"I will wipe their memories, make arrangements for them, and let them live out their lives well as ordinary people."
Saori was a ruthless person, without a doubt. A deity who had emerged from the blood and steel of the Mythological Age was by no means soft-hearted. Yet, she also possessed her own "tenderness." Otherwise, no one would have followed her. Any god possessed their own unique personal charisma.
"Yes!" Kyoko nodded. She then asked seriously, "Miss Saori, how do you intend to handle what comes next? Will the Holy War end?"
"No."
"That would be too late," Saori said calmly. "Moreover, those children are currently fighting to protect the Earth. There is no need to stop them. They are willing to give their lives for the Earth, and I cannot simply cast that aside."
"In a few days, once the Sanctuary has stabilized, we can begin the process."
"Before then..."
"I will abandon my divine body that sleeps in Olympus, leaving the Authority of War, Victory, and Wisdom there."
"That way, I won't be discovered, and no problems will arise."
Saori saw the situation clearly. Everything had to be done quickly. Moving slowly was fine in some cases, but she could not afford to take her time here. Otherwise, once Zeus's plan succeeded, she would have no choice but to leave empty-handed, taking only the 88 Constellations while being forced to leave the 108 Heavenly and Earthly Demon Stars behind.
Similarly, she would be unable to obtain the Sun and Moon, the most important among the stars.
"Understood!" Kyoko placed a hand over her chest, bowed, and departed. She knew exactly what to do next.
As Saori's will was set into motion, the massive machine that was the Sanctuary began to operate once more. Every gear began to turn.
---End Of Chapter---
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