"As you can see, Perse, in the past hundred years, I have been getting to know you. But now, I feel you might truly be able to be my Queen of the Underworld,"


    "So just as Zeus and Hera do, I am willing to share my authority with you—provided that you are willing to bear the cost,"


    "Cost?"


    Staring at the fruit in Hades'' palm, Persephone raised an eyebrow.


    It had been a casual inquiry, she didn''t pay much attention after all, because to her, no cost could be worse than returning to Olympus powerless. Compared to that, even the unnamed fruit in front of her seemed more enticing.


    She had never seen such a nt before; it seemed it wasn''t naturally urring but rather a manifestation of some kind of authority... But no matter, as the goddess of seeds, just by consuming one, these new nts would spread throughout the Underworld from this day on.


    "Yes, a cost. The Divine King is the convergence of thews of the present world, so Hera can share Zeus''s authority because, including myself, we are all part of the present world. The Underworld is different,"


    With a slight nod, Hades continued his exnation:


    "Your origin is not naturally one with the Underworld, which makes it impossible for me to directly make you the Queen of the Underworld. So Perse, if you wish to share my authority, you must first actively make yourself a part of the Underworld."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "By that time, your power will be like mine, closely linked to the strengths and weaknesses of the Underworld. Of course, you are not like me. The symbol of my godhood is naturally a part of the Underworld''sposition, just as I myself reside here. Hence, I can freely wander to every corner of this world. But if you make the same choice, you will henceforth be bound by the world''sws,"


    "And at that time, no one trying to stop you will be able to prevent your return to the embrace of the Underworld at the destined times—not even yourself."


    "I understand,"


    Reflective, Persephone briefly pondered before grasping the meaning of Hades'' words.


    "And then your purpose is achieved too. When my authority bes a part of the Underworld, wherever I am, the world itself will change ordingly, right?"


    To that, Hades said nothing, but his demeanor said it all.


    "Well then, how many can I eat?"


    Looking once again at the fruit in the hand of the King of the Underworld, Persephone repeated her question.


    "At most half, that is the limit you can bear—but I hope you understand that before you eat it, you are still free to decide whether you stay above ground or below. After all, I won''t restrain your actions. But—"


    "No buts,"


    Interrupting Hades'' speech, Persephone took six seeds from his hand and swallowed them all at once.


    "Seeds also need a ce to germinate, and I think this ce is quite nice,"


    There was no sensation at first after the fruit entered her belly. However, soon the goddess felt herself touching something majestic. She was being enveloped, swallowed, merged, and during this process, she also felt a mighty power flowing into her body, graduallying under hermand.


    This influence was mutual, only because of their different magnitudes, the Underworld changed a little, and Persephone changed more. However, this was just right, the Underworld after all is not the surface world; a small change is beneficial, but too much would not necessarily be so.


    The transformation continued, the interaction ofws never ceased. As time passed, at a certain moment, the entire Underworld trembled lightly.


    Something had been fundamentally altered, yet it seemed as though nothing had happened. Only Hades, as the King of the Underworld, could clearly feel that under the Fields of Truth, a weak new life had been borne.


    It was like an ungerminated seed, tiny but hardy and pure. And the moment it emerged, the cycle of the Underworld instantly elevated by more than a notch, and even after a surge, it was still slowly strengthening. At the same time, thews of the present world seemed also to rejoice at this, and their power also tipped some of it down.


    Gaia noticed this change, but now she had no leisure to attend to it. The other Primordial Deities also noticed this scene, but upon sensing the familiar atmosphere of the present world, they each turned their gaze away again.


    Thews responding so directly was essentially confirmation that it was a destined step. Perhaps its process could be changed, but the oue was always beyond alteration. It was like the birth of the Moon and the session of the Divine King, a node of the world''s self-improvement, a destined event.


    Meanwhile, on Mount Olympus, the Divine King seemed to sense something as well. However, his active incarnation was unable to identify the source of the problem, and after searching to no avail, he temporarily set aside the strange sensation and called for the Wind Gods.


    The matter with Demeter had been dragging on too long. As the Divine King, it would not be proper for him to get involved. So he must rely on his loyal servants to make contact.


    He believed that for such matters, he didn''t need to state explicitly; by maintaining an attitude of indifference, they would understand his intentions.


    ...


    "This is the authority of the Underworld..."


    In the Divine Pce of the Underworld, Persephone, having eaten six seeds, opened her eyes.


    Somehow, her golden hair had turned ashen, her pupils pure ck. A faint mist swirled about her, greeting the rebirth of the goddess.