Chapter 628: [Paradiso]
Apollo shook his head, “I’m not for certain. In any case, we don’t have time to make sure of it. What we need to do is find ‘it’!”
“But are you sure it is here? In fact, its existence is also doubtful enough… ‘That’ is just a legend, a myth that has not been verified.” Chang’e asked worriedly.
“It exists…” Apollo responded with great confidence. His pair of golden eyes gleaming in radiance. “The global mega-organism that had existed a very long time ago, even before the Gods, giving birth to the ancestors of all living things today—the life form that gave rise to all others. And the one that carried a world on its back—[Paradiso]…!”
“Paradiso… I have heard of this name before but always thought it was just a legend…”
“It was not a Legend, however only the Christian Clan knows of its existence…” Apollo muttered. “It’s one of the greatest secrets of the Christian Clan—they call it with another’s name, The Noah’s Ark…”
“The Noah’s Ark?!”
Apollo nodded his head. “Have you heard about this before? Due to the evilness of the world, the One True God was angered and destroyed an entire world and remakes it into another else. To save the good that he had created, he gave them the Ark and let them used it—a paradise where everything a man needed is present.”
“… …”
“However, there is more to that story that other people knows. The reason the world got destroyed was not the doing of the One True God but of that of the world, calling it [cleansing] it wanted to wash all filth and evil in the Thousand Worlds, and this is what they call, the [Apocalypse] or [Ragnarok]—everything in the world will reset into the beginning. The One True God couldn’t do anything and so, he gathered all of his people, the Noah’s and placed them all into the [Paradiso] to avoid the Calamity.”
“The [Paradiso] is a very unique creature that has the ability to swim and live within the dimension gap, a place where time and space collides. The Void World. The world’s law didn’t reach the realms of the Void and so they avoided annihilation. Because of this, countless eons, only the Christian Clan managed to survive—but they are not immortals. They gathered all of their knowledge and created the now known as the [Akashic Record] a library where all things and knowledge in the countless [Reset] was written and stored,” Apollo patiently explained.
Apollo look at the horizon, there the infamous outskirts of time—a place where no one has ever trodden. Nothing can survive within the Dimensional Gap. Here, time and space are in complete disorder—though it was also the birth of many worlds.
… …
Space and time flow in a similar fashion as to a river.
The river starts at a small source, and as the volume of water increased, flowing from heights to lows, it splits for one reason or another. At the same time, two split rivers might reunite once more. By repeating the cycle, the river spreads through the earth and moistens it.
Space and time are similar to that. At one point there was only one universe, but as time passed, it split into multiple universes. By flipping a coin, the universe could split simply by the outcome. That split would then create a parallel universe.
At the same time, it's possible for those split universes to rejoin. However, just as the Doppelganger theory, when these two river streams rejoin, it would become into one river and the two individual river streams would become one by then. And if that happens, each river would disappear and gradually turn two into one—and that is why they said that when two alike people existed in one world, they would have a stroke of bad luck and probably only one would be left alive.
Void World existed at the center of two parallel lines. This is called ‘Dimensional Gap’ however; it’s not a place where creatures, even a God could live for a long time. The outside of the universe wasn't a place where something like a living creature could survive. No, not even material could exist.
The laws of physics didn't even exist there, and to be precise, it couldn’t exactly be identified as a place.
Anyone dies within a matter of seconds after being exposed to the "nothingness" within the Gap.
You can even say that this was the beginning of the universe, where an unlimited amount of universes and unlimited possibilities were being compressed. But at the same time, [Time] was frozen. Although everything was possible, nothing could be done. Although it was the beginning, nothing was starting.
If anyone, even a God stayed here, they would have been compressed into something smaller than even an elementary particle and then merged with the unlimited possibilities. However, there was an exception—[Paradiso], or one calls it, the Noah’s Ark!
This creature has the ability to swim freely through the Dimensional Gap without repercussions…!
The One True God had used this power to save the Noah’s Family, the today’s known Christian Clan and move them into another parallel world that let them live safely and comfortably.
“The records and existence of [Paradiso] were stored within the [Akashic Records], but this is the greatest secret and treasure of the Christian Clan, that even the God Thoth drooled in desire. The God Mimir of the Norse Clan was said to have able to access a small part of it, giving him the knowledge that all beings couldn’t fathom. However, no one knows where it is, so looking for it to find a solution to the impending disaster is an impossible matter."
“But if the Christian Clan knows of this impending doom, why don’t we just seek them and ask them for it? It’s better than blindly searching for an answer…” Chang’e suggested but Apollo shook his head.
“That’s impossible,” he responded.
“The Christian Clan, the children of the One True God, is basically unable to do anything because of their relation to the One True God himself. Stopping the impending End-of-the-World is not something they are able to do even if they wanted it. Or else, they would suffer the wrath of the World itself—if not, the One True God would basically be able to interfere directly.”
“… …”
Apollo sigh, “Thus, the "good" and the "bad", to them do not matter as much as recording the truest history of every [Reset]. They consider their neutrality especially sacrosanct. Because, they believe that as long as they managed to record everything, then they would be able to find a loophole that could allow them to negate or stop the World’s Punishment…no matter how long they would take,”
“The Christian Clan must not interfere with the events of the [Cleansing] and act only as observers. In the event that they interfere directly, they would be seen as sinners by the world and also be subjected to punishment…”
Listening to Apollo’s words, Frey and the others turned silent.
This kind of information is something even didn’t know.
The Christian Clan has always been a detached and aloof existence that barely interact with the world. Besides, their popularity greatly diminished after Demons appeared, especially most demons come from their lineage—and so, many God Clans tried to distance themselves from it.
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But now…
Such a Clan actually has such importance…
“…is such a thing really existed? And how are you able to know that, Apollo?” Forseti asked in doubt. If this knowledge is only recorded in the [Akashic Records] and such records are nowhere to be found, then how is Apollo able to know of this…?
“… I had seen it.” But Apollo replied honestly.
“Seen it?!”
The other three Gods look at Apollo surprised.
Apollo sighs and looks at the sky, “When we are inaugurating the Rebirth plan, I had seen it that time. When we are messing with the time and space, I had a sudden vision, the image of that creature with an entire world on its back.”
“But that plan… You sure are courageous, with just a few of you, disturbing the flow of time and space is a huge taboo. You succeeding, is already a miracle enough…!”
“Because it’s not only us who did it…”
“What?”
Apollo’s eyes frowned. “Forseti, I felt an unfamiliar power during the process and I know you and Frey knows who it belongs to as well.”
“…?!”
“…daughter of Lucifer, the one cursed by the Heavens… Hel…”
“?!!”
“What?!”
Apollo looks at their shock expressions and shook his head, “I don’t know why she did that. But because of her, I and Frey were able to survive from the effects of what we had done, with barely any injuries. Even Big Sister Athena was left off with not so grave side effects.”
“But that is not possible! Hel has not appeared for so long! And she would surely not save any Gods even if they are dying in front of her!” Frey exclaimed in shock.
This was the first for him. Although he had indeed felt something at that time, but only barely and just felt that it was probably other Gods who had a sudden burst of power in their last breath.
However, to say it was Hel…
—it is something he couldn’t believe…
“I don’t know. But I had seen her in my vision for a moment—I thought it was an illusion at that time but us being able to survive without any grave repercussions, now that I think about it, is utterly impossible! We had tampered with the greatest taboo for a God. But aside from Big Sister Athena who was reduced to her youthful appearance and was cursed by it, we both are not. We had only suffered lesser setbacks…!”
“… …”
“And the power at that time, it didn’t come from other Gods…”
“But why would Hel suddenly make a move?”
“…that, I don’t know…” Apollo shook his head with a sigh. “But because of that as well, I had seen the Paradiso and know where it was. And I’m pretty sure Hel knows that as well!”
“?! You are saying, Hel wants you to find the [Paradiso]?”
“No, not me…”
“…??”
Apollo stared at the ocean and pondered for a while, “I think it was only a coincidence. When her power surge through me, I was able to glimpse a bit of her thoughts… that’s where I see the image of [Paradiso]. Other than that, I also see something vague… a picture of two people, embracing and talking…like a pair of lovers,”
And that man… I’m pretty sure he was…
A certain person’s appearance appeared on Apollo’s mind and his pair of golden eyes couldn’t help but narrowed. However, he didn’t say anything anymore, as he didn’t know if what he had seen was what happened in the past or what would happen in the future. And also, because he owes his life to Hel, telling anyone her secrets was quite an unforgivable thing…especially for a gentleman like him…!
“A picture of two people? What kind of picture?”
Apollo shook his head, “Hel’s matters I don’t know about it. And as a gentleman, I’m not fond of peeking into a lady’s secrets. However, all I know is that a great calamity will befall the Celestial Realm and to survive that, we needed [Paradiso]!”
“… …”
“And I’m pretty sure that the Christian Clan that had suddenly vanished in thin air is surely hiding within it!”
As he spoke, without waiting, Apollo himself was the first to dive into the water.
Wherever his body passed, the deep ocean water itself naturally split apart around him, creating a corridor.
“Let’s go…!” Forsetti looks at the two other Gods besides him and nodded. Chang’e shrugged and followed while Frey thought for a moment before following diving into the ocean.
*** ***
Rumble! Rumble—!!
The sea roiled, and then four pathways into the sea appeared, and Chang’e and the others all dove into the sea as well.
They didn’t hesitate at all, hurriedly entering the water.
“This southern deep sea is quite interesting.”
The pale bluish-white energy was swirling around Chang’e as she dove deeper and deeper. With her magic power, she was able to easily offset the outside water pressure. As for Chang’e herself, she curiously stared at the various scenes here, deep in the ocean. This was her first trip into the seas. As someone who always stayed within the Moon Palace, the scenery deep within the sea was novel and exciting.
In the deepest part of the ocean, it was silent and pitch-black. The only things that could be seen were a few creatures that naturally radiated light.
Following Apollo, she and the two Gods flew down together. Forseti glanced at the curious Chang’e, then his voice rang out in her mind.
“My Lady Chang’e, in this vast expanse of land here in the South Seas, there are actually a great many magical beasts, such as Aquatic Dragons, Dragon Turtles, Nine-Headed Serpents, Titanic Octopi…all of these are terrifying beasts that even us Gods doesn’t dare to fight. So please be careful,” Forseti naturally had the ability to engage in spirit-projecting communication.
Chang’e secretly nodded.
The South Seas were far larger than the other Seas, especially the Central Seas continent in size. It would be unnatural if they didn’t contain a large number of magical beasts and powerful monsters in them. In fact, even the Sea Gods don’t dare venture in the Southern and Eastern Seas due to the number of Monsters within it.
Among the five Directional Seas of the Celestial Realm, the Southern Sea is the largest unexplored region while the Eastern Seas is the most terrifying and deadly seas.
Eastern Seas is what they call the Sea of Monsters—it was once the home of the Great Monster King; Echidna.
The monsters residing there are extremely terrifying and powerful—causing it to be named by the Gods; The Devil’s Sea!
However, Echidna suddenly disappeared all of a sudden. And so, this area suddenly becomes a lawless area, where monsters roam around freely.
The group continued to fly deeper into the dark, silent depths of the sea, while at the same time, they enjoyed the sight of these rarely-viewed sceneries. Occasionally, an enormous beast would appear, but upon discovering that so many Gods were descending, it would invariably be so frightened that it wouldn’t even dare to move.
The farther down they went, the greater the pressure was.
Bearing down the pressure that seemed to have a mountain on their back, Chang’e couldn’t help but wonder—it is said that the Saurian Demon King meditated upon a Deep Sea Submarine Volcano within the Eastern Sea for a thousand years.
Having obtained the accomplishment in the inhabitable heat and highly viscous pillow lava fields in the sea, giving him the power on par with the Great Earth Goddess Gaia and a Sea God combined. However, to be able to such a thing in this kind of environment, how is he able to do that?
Even with her powers, she was having a very difficult time enduring it.
…Ah, Chang’e suddenly remembered someone who could probably endure, no, completely ignore this kind of pressure—the [Great Sage that Equals Heaven] Handsome Monkey King; Sun Wukong.
That person is basically a monster whose toughness and the physical body is off the charts—just where is that monkey brain now when the Celestial Realm is like this…?
Chang’e can’t help but feel annoyed. Judging from the Monkey King’s character, surely, she would have ignored what was going on and just enjoying her moments…
Though, to her that little naughty Monkey is someone even far greater than most gods she knows. She would have been quite a reliable comrade!
… …
Acchooo—!
A gust of wind suddenly appeared that blows an entire row of large trees and was accompanied by an adorable sneeze, as Sun Wukong scratch the tip of her nose, wondering as to who is it that was talking behind her back?
“Was it that boy…? Ho? I wonder when would I see that interesting boy again?”
Sun Wukong muttered as she continued to lie down, eating coconut-like fruit.
“Hey, it’s not good, go away! Next!”
Sun Wukong, annoyed, throws the fruit in her hand towards the group of monkeys that were dancing in front of her, trying to please her. Just like what Chang’e was thinking, indeed, the Monkey King didn’t care about anything at all…!
She was just trying to kill time as she watched the monkeys and apes danced around him, all while waiting for the great disaster to come.
…. …
In the end, the pressure was so great; it was as though a small mountain was weighing down upon them. Fortunately, all of these people were amongst the most powerful Gods in the world, and thus they could take it. They would either cast magic spells or use protective barriers of magical power.
The rainbow of colors surrounding them was quite resplendent to behold.
“We’re at the seafloor.”
Hearing Apollo’s voice, the three Gods all came to a halt at the seafloor.
There were some life forms such as corals down here, which radiated a bit of light. The bottom of the sea was covered with rows upon rows of coral reefs, while the ground was not level, sometimes convex while other times concave. It could rise up to a height of hundreds of meters, and sink down so deeply that the bottom couldn’t be seen.
“Almost there,” Apollo said mentally to the three Gods.
Everyone continued to follow Apollo at the bottom of the sea. After traveling for several kilometers, they arrived at an enormous, pitch-black mountain.
This pitch-black mountain stood by itself in the middle of a gorge, and at the center of the foot of this large mountain, there was a translucent ‘door’ which was emitting strange ripples.
“Here we are.”
The gravelly voice rang out in the Three God’s ears. They look at Apollo, not knowing what to do next. Although they look extremely calm but in fact, right now, the consumption of their magic power was enormous, more than they expected.
They need to hurry or they would be crushed by pressure if their magical power was depleted.