OBS Chapter 956: The Dungeon is a Dangerous Place
Chapter 956: The Dungeon is a Dangerous Place
Hermes’ response seemed like an inevitable conclusion to Bell.This was a completely one-sided war—once exposed, it was over in an instant. There was no room for resistance. What kind of fool would seriously consider fighting back?
Only when one has sufficient resistance is there any need for resistance.
Given the near-total lack of resistance, lying low was the unavoidable result. If resistance were possible, who would willingly lie down?
Hermes suppressed his despondency and regained his composure.
Observing Bell’s current state, unlike his own gloom, Bell showed no emotional fluctuation at all. Hermes understood—this was likely the primary reason both worlds had chosen Bell.
"So, it’s because you have the ability to resolve the current situation that both worlds chose you?"
"Exactly. Though I suspect Mother and Miss Liangyi only saw an opportunity—they couldn’t yet confirm my situation."
"An opportunity alone is more than enough."
To Hermes, the mere mention of "an opportunity" from Bell felt deeply significant.
Even gods, when faced with the possibility of growth, would charge forward at the slightest hint of potential. How much more so for the "World," which saw the chance to prevent itself from becoming someone else’s pawn? Hermes felt that if he were in the "World’s" position, he too would likely be unable to resist.
"Then, I wish to ask: is everything about your growth merely a ’condition’ to alter this situation?"
"Yes."
Swish!
After receiving Bell’s precise answer, Hermes couldn’t help but gasp. The "World" had indeed gambled everything, staking all its hopes on the potential of a single individual—Bell.
This was truly a high-stakes gamble.
Cold sweat beaded on Hermes’ forehead.
This was nothing less than a lifeline stretched across a tightrope. The slightest deviation could mean the complete loss of all hope.
"So, Bell, you’re saying the authority we gods possess all originates from the ’World.’ Now that the ’World’ has stagnated, it’s preventing us from continuing to grow?"
"Yes, that’s exactly it. However, due to Mother’s influence, the entire divine population being unable to grow isn’t necessarily a bad thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Hermes-sama should recall what I mentioned before. In the ’Miniature World,’ there exist two beings who walk the same path as Mother and Miss Ryogi, right? So, Hermes-sama, do you truly believe the ’Miniature World’ lacks gods bearing identical names, Spiritual Rank, and authority to your own?"
"!?"
Hermes instantly grasped the implication. His eyes darted toward the other world’s Artemis, and his mind cleared instantly. He understood why Bell had invited another Artemis to this banquet.
Bell noticed the sudden awakening in Hermes’ eyes—the shock, fear, and realization—and knew the god had grasped the meaning behind his words.
Bell shifted to another topic.
"The composition of a god consists of the Divine Core, the Divine Soul, and Divine Powers. The Divine Core can also be called the Divine Essence—the very heart of a god. Yet equally, this Divine Essence is the embodiment of the legends surrounding that god. Corresponding to the Divine Essence are the powers that manifest the Age of Myths."
"In this regard, Mother hasn’t performed particularly well."
"The gods present here haven’t undergone the baptism of ’Human History’ and lack the so-called divine legends. You are not divine essences bestowed by ’Human History,’ but rather received directly from Mother, who utilized the world’s peculiarity to grant you her divine cores and authority."
"This is the second reason the gods cannot attain growth potential."
"Naturally, this also means that while the gods lose their growth potential, they won’t be targeted by the deities bearing identical names within the ’Miniature World.’ That’s likely the only silver lining."
Hermes’ facial muscles twitched involuntarily. Well, I suppose that counts as good news.
Yet Hermes understood all too well the brutal reality beyond this world. Especially the "Miniature World" Bell mentioned—its internal strife was likely countless times more brutal than their own.
That place might be a meat grinder for gods.
"This... is truly quite dangerous."
"Yes. Quite dangerous. For gods with only four-digit power levels yet bearing three-digit god names, it is indeed extremely dangerous."
"Moreover, the ’Miniature World’ harbors many madmen bent on world destruction—gods and organizations like Dionysus abound. Crucially, there’s the ’Final Trial of Humanity.’ Those beings can be called Demon Kings, and gods cannot inflict substantial harm upon them. Only humans can defeat such entities."
"Even two-digit deities cannot intervene against four-digit ’Ultimate Human Trials.’ Their intervention would be futile. Some ’Ultimate Human Trials’ cannot even be confronted by multiple gods acting in concert, lest their Spiritual Rank expand without limit due to inherent properties."
Bell only possessed a rough understanding of the "Miniature World," yet even this limited knowledge made it clear: the "Miniature World" was a perilous place.
It could be called a paradise for gods—but only for the powerful.
For Bell, however, it was a god-level meat grinder. Anyone lacking sufficient Cognition who entered would truly be ground into a pulp.
"Just hearing about it makes it clear it’s a dangerous place."
Even Hermes, who relished thrills, had no desire to seek death in the "Miniature World," especially knowing someone named "Hermes" might be waiting there.
"So, Bell, is this ’labor pains’ period you mentioned earlier a condition for resolving our current situation?"
"Yes. It’s the only solution I’ve devised. The method itself, however, is akin to labor pains for a god."
Bell has a way to resolve the current issues facing both the deities and Mother, but enduring these labor pains is something the gods must bear themselves.