#880 An Array that Surpasses God

Yep, it’s me.

I witnessed a pretty brutal thrashing scene.

Guided by Gaia, Mother Goddess of All, herself, I ended up attending the post-shift gathering of the ancient god Cronus and his buddies, sealed deep underground...

Sure enough, it turned into a battle.  

Gaia said it would, after all.

To be fair, the other party had every reason to hold a grudge after losing in a war eons ago and sealed for millions of years.

If anything, it would be weird if they didn’t.

So, the moment they got their freedom, revenge was obviously on their minds.  

‘Hatred breeds nothing good! No one wishes for revenge!’  

That’s something only people uninvolved would say.

Understanding that Cronus and his gang had a strong desire for payback, it was crucial to take preemptive measures.  

And that’s where we come in.

Me and the strongest forces on my farm.

When Gaia called on us, I wasn’t sure what to do. But it seemed like Cronus’ release was going to happen regardless, so we had no choice but to cooperate.

The whole world was like a hostage in this situation. 

So, we had to get on with it.

I gathered a select team and headed toward the so-called ‘13th District of Hell, ' where Cronus and company were sealed.

We reached the entrance to Tartarus, deep underground.

It was almost like another world. 

Despite being transported to another world myself, I never imagined stepping into such a surreal dimension. 

It was quite an experience, really.

When Gaia mumbled her spell, the massive gates started opening with a loud rumbling sound. 

It felt like Hell itself was rumbling.

Here we were, at the entrance to Tartarus, the prison of Cronus and co.

Once this gate was opened, there was no turning back.

The gate had the saying engraved on it: “Those who pass through this gate embrace great ambition.” 

A mix of proverbs?

Anyway, as we waited in front of the now-open gate, a horde responded from within, rushing towards us.

I was somewhat familiar with gods like Hades and Poseidon, but the god who emerged had an aura and dignity far surpassing them.

It was clear at first glance that this was Cronus, the former king of the gods.

I thought, ‘If this person (god?) seriously goes berserk, even Hades and Poseidon teaming up would get thrashed.’ He was that imposing.

So, as expected, the great god Cronus, intent on revenge, charged at us. But we were prepared to intercept. 

Let’s go, team! This is a legitimate defense attack!!!

First, the dragon Veil, then Sensei the Lifeless King, followed by the angel Horkosfon’s Natto Hell Custom Attack.  Finally, my wife Platy, with solmization magic she inherited from her mother, mowed them down.

Strong.

My farm allies are seriously strong.

Are they like the Golden Saints from the Seiy*verse, or what?

Watching them scatter the gods like twigs, I felt my body quiver.

The finishing blow was Letasreit grabbing Cronus’ face in a decisive move.

“Killing Blow! Nutcracker Iron Claw!!!”

“Owowowowowowowowowowowowowowow! I’m dying, dying! Mine own face is splitting! The face of the king of godsssssssss! I yield, I yield, I yield, I yielddddddddddd!!!”

The anguished cries of the once-declared king of gods are heard. 

His spirit is clearly broken.

Watching this scene are two other gods trembling in fear.

“Father Cronus is utterly defeated so one-sidedly...! The dignity of the gods is completely crushed...!”

“The farm residents art alarming...! I thought just keeping an eye on Alexander and the mermaid songstress would be sufficient, but humanity these days... they care not...!”

It was the divine brothers, Hades of the Underworld and Poseidon of the Seas.

What are the reigning gods doing in the ancient gods’ prison?

“Well, upon hearing of Father Cronus’ release, concern and unrest befall us naturally! Is not the springtime of our world short-lived?!”

“And here I thought with Zeus in penance, a more livable world would dawn! Yet with Zeus gone and Father returned, it is but a return to suffocation!!!”

The chief gods of land and sea are desperate to maintain their regimes.

However, the old power they truly feared is now being physically crushed by a princess.

“Heat End!”

“Guoaahhh! The contents art bursting outttttttttt!!!”

The sight before us has lost all semblance of divine dignity.

Letasreit has grown stronger than expected. That girl sure has no limits to her growth.

“The farm folks art terrifying…!”

“Never again shall I defy them, for all eternity...!”

On the sidelines, the reigning deities shudder in fear.

What kind of scene is this?

It seems we’ve just ended up with a plan to torment an elderly god in captivity...!

“That will do, little Letasreit. Here. Thine reward of roasted beans.”

“Yayyyy!”

Gaia knows Letasreit’s soft spot?

Is this the capability of the Mother Goddess of All?

“Hast thou learned, Cronus? During thy seclusion in Tartarus, a formidable evolution occurred upon the surface. Humanity hath achieved an unprecedented power-up, surpassing even the gods...!”

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...! My face still aches...!”

Even against Gaia’s cool introduction, Cronus struggles to respond, still reeling in pain and surprise.

“...Humans surpassing gods in power... What were Zeus and his ilk thinking? The status of gods might be threatened at any moment now!!!”

You’re right about that.

“No longer is this world one where only gods may rule supreme. Gods, spirits, and all supernatural beings included must aid one another, for thus should the world proceed.”

“Ngh...! If Gaia, creator of all, says so, perhaps it is true. Alas...!”

Cronus stands up.

Looks like he’s finally recovering from the damage.

“...Art thou saying we should all emerge and live in harmony? Yet! How can I forgive? The triad of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades - to challenge their father and confine him thus, art we to reconcile now?!”

The side that inflicted the pain may forget, but those on the receiving end remember it well.

It’s not easy for Cronus, imprisoned for thousands of years after losing the war, to simply come out and reconcile.

“Father, Father.”

“We truly apologize for what happened.”

Two of the main offenders approach Cronus, trying to console him.

“Whoa! Hades and Poseidon?!”

“We art ever grateful for thy care.” “We appreciate thy diligent service.”

Even these usually haughty gods are humbled before Cronus, their elder deity.

“Rascals! How dare thee present yourselves before the great god Cronus with such audacity?! Surely thou art not suggesting we let bygones be bygones?!”

“Please, Father, be calm.”

“How can I be calm?! And why is it just the two of you? Where is Zeus, thy bosom buddy?! Venturing forth without that gent signifies nothing but scorn!!!” 

“…”

“Whack!”

Uooooh?!

Hades slapped his own father, Cronus, out of nowhere!

Isn’t this supposed to be a moment of reconciliation?!

“...Father, please refrain from jesting about us being friendly with Zeus. It ticks me off.”

“A-Apologies...!”

Even the usually calm Hades had his buttons pushed.

It seems mentioning their troublesome brother was a trigger.

“B-But if true reconciliation is what thee seek, should not Zeus too have been summoned to join thy ranks? It is likely that scoundrel presumes it only natural for me to bow first, hence his absence from the realm of this isle, is it not?” 

“Verily, Father, thou grasp the nature of thy most wayward son. Alas, thy guess errs this time.”

“What?”

“Zeus himself is now confined, just as thee.”

“Wh-What?!”

Cronus is stunned.

“Due to certain misdeeds as of late, he was sealed away as a form of retribution. Thus, meeting face to face with thee, even with thy return to the surface, is an impossibility.”

“His son Hephaestus was quite dedicated to constructing a palace for his confinement. Chains of the Temple, was it?”

“Just recently, it underwent its 176th renovation, upgrading to the 8,408th Model of Chained Seats and Temple, the Infinite Screaming Hell of 37 Heavy Multidimensional Tidal Curse Dual Realm Curved Palace.”

“The gent has nil intention of letting him out.”

Cronus, hearing these shocking revelations, stands dumbfounded.

He couldn’t have imagined how much the world had changed during his confinement.

But it soon sank in.

“So it is, fuhahahahaha! Zeus was also destined to be overthrown by his own son! Such is the cycle of cause and effect!!!”

“A most deplorable cycle, indeed.”

“Hearing this lightens mine own heart! I no longer care; proceed with reconciliation, peace, whatever thou wish!”

Thus, with a sense of schadenfreude towards Zeus’s predicament, reconciliation with Cronus smoothly progressed.

In the end, Zeus unwittingly became the bridge to peace. How wonderful.

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"heat end" is a gundam move reference. transliterally, it's hiito endo, and for the 'to' part, the author replaced it with the kanji for bean (豆) and the ruby text 'to' above it.