Chapter 152: Chapter 152: New Underlings
The place where the Greek pantheon's god dwelled was known as Mount Olympus, and that was precisely where Sam was headed right now.
The reason? The god of messengers, trade, thieves, travelers, communication, and boundaries wanted to speak with him.
Earlier, when Sam hosted the meeting of all the gods in Asgard, he had promised that he himself would visit Mount Olympus.
Currently, Sam was seated on the throne in the throne room. In front of him were all the major gods of the Greek pantheon: the god king Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Ares, Hermes, and others.
Sam glanced at one of the gods who was standing far away from the others, seemingly trying to hide.
It was the god of Fire and Artisans, Hephaestus.
Then Sam remembered his story; Hephaestus was the outcast of the Greek gods, looked down upon and even ridiculed by many. He was the black sheep of the herd.
Turning his face back to the god of messengers, Sam asked, "Tell Hermes, what is it that you wanted to tell me so badly?"
"My king," Hermes began slowly, "I have been sensing the presence of strangers with divine power, that of gods, in extraordinary quantity."
It had happened some time ago, but for gods, it was unknown how long it had been, as they didn't really care about matters related to time, being literal gods.
"Were you able to locate them?" Sam asked, not at all concerned about the matter.
"No, my king," Hermes shook his head sideways. "Before I could pinpoint their exact location, they disappeared. But I do believe they came from the cultivation world, Prime."
Sam closed his eyes for a few seconds, pondering, before sighing as if he knew exactly what had happened and who those divine presences Hermes had sensed were.
The gods were curious too, wondering what the strongest man in the universe was thinking so deeply about.
"It's nothing. I know who those divine presences belonged to. You guys have nothing to worry about; I will make sure it's taken care of," Sam said, turning his eyes to look at the gods as a whole.
"Anyway, what do you think of their presence? Were they strong?"
"My lord, I have never seen a god whose presence gave off such intensity. The density of their divine power alone was so strong it scared even us, the gods of Olympus. It was actually the reason why we wanted to speak to you as soon as possible," Zeus slowly explained.
"Good," Sam smiled with a proud expression that made the gods even more confounded than before.
"Is it just me, or does the emperor seem a little too proud about this?" the gods of Olympus thought simultaneously, but they had no boldness to voice it aloud.
After emerging from his reverie, Sam gazed at the gods and dispersed them before approaching the God of Blacksmiths, Hephaestus. "How are you doing, Hephaestus? It's been a while, isn't it?"
"It has indeed been a while, my lord," Hephaestus replied, bowing respectfully.
Unlike the gods who showed respect out of fear, Hephaestus exhibited reverence purely out of admiration and honor.
"Are the other gods treating you well? If not, you can always come with me to the cultivation world," Sam suggested, his tone measured, as he disregarded the other gods he had mentioned.
"I will consider that, my lord," Hephaestus answered.
"Very well, I won't press the matter," Sam nodded in understanding. "Anyway, here is the blessing you bestowed upon Karo, the sacred mortal artisan."
Sam extended his hand, which held a globe of glowing golden energy containing the blessing he had obtained from his codex, originally bestowed upon the sacred mortal artisan.
"You may bestow it upon someone worthy," Sam offered, returning the blessing to its original bestower.
"In all my existence, I have never encountered someone more worthy of my blessing than Karo. I hope he has reincarnated safely, and may his new life bring him happiness," Hephaestus sighed, reclaiming his blessing from the emperor's hand.
"Master, Lady Lorraine has sent you a message," the system notified.
"Show me," Sam commanded.
[Lorraine: Darling, where are you?]
"I'm at Mount Olympus, in a meeting with the gods regarding a simple matter," Sam responded.
[Lorraine (with a flabbergasted expression): Um, I don't know how to respond to that... Anyway, there are some people here claiming to be here to meet the system administrator, and they've been led here.]
"Oh, they've arrived already? Keep them accompanied; I'll be back in a few hours," Sam instructed.
[Lorraine: Okay, bye.]
...
After handling affairs with the gods of Olympus, Sam returned to the prime cultivation world, to Drakulon City, the capital of Dragons, where it was said the dragon progenitor resided.
In the grand halls of Balaur Castle, Sam sat alongside Helena, Lorraine, and Ava. Before them stood seven individuals, each devoid of even a hint of potential for cultivation.
There was a purpose behind Sam's desire to meet these people.
Consider this: Sam was destined to traverse numerous worlds, spending considerable time away.
He couldn't always be present to protect those he held dear.
Thus, he sought individuals who could stand in his stead, safeguarding his loved ones. His intention was to empower them, offering support in his absence.
These seven were outcasts in the realm of cultivation, where nearly everyone possessed some modicum of potential.
Some hailed from noble families and prestigious clans, yet they lacked the innate abilities to meet expectations.
They had endured scorn, ridicule, and countless trials, all due to their lack of potential.
Sam intended to leverage their hardships, transforming them into his loyal soldiers by bestowing upon them power.
Some might accuse him of manipulation, and perhaps there was truth to it.
But who cared? Not Sam, and certainly not the individuals who stood before him.
He was offering them power, Only men with broken head would refuse that kind of offer.
"I'll get straight to the point," Sam declared, eyeing the seven figures standing before him. They appeared devoid of potential for cultivation, lacking the power to awaken any sort of bloodline abilities.
They were akin to mere humans, possessing nothing but frail bodies.
"You all lack potential, respect, power, and frankly, a meaningful existence. But I can change all that. In return, all I ask is for your fealty. You may refuse, but this opportunity is once in a lifetime and will never come again."
The seven men exchanged hesitant glances, but one among them stood out—a man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, clearly of noble lineage.
Yet, his demeanor betrayed no hint of nobility; life seemed to have dealt him a cruel hand, burdening him with pain and despair.
Despite his noble appearance, his emotions suggested he had contemplated ending his own life numerous times, lacking the courage to follow through.
"He would make a fine soldier," Sam thought to himself, though he kept his thoughts concealed.
This blond man approached Sam with a determined expression, his fists clenched, disregarding the pain ravaging his body from years of abuse suffered at the hands of those closest to him.
"I want to grow stronger. I refuse to let this world inflict any more pain upon me. I refuse to endure the discrimination I've faced all my life simply because I couldn't cultivate," the man declared shakily.
"More than anything, I seek revenge. I yearn to crush those who ridiculed, laughed, and mocked me. I desire power to enact my vengeance."
Exhausted, he sank to his knees, as if the weight of his suffering had finally become unbearable. "If dedicating my life to your cause is what it takes, then I willingly offer it. I will be your soldier."
"This may sting a bit, but for someone who has endured such physical and mental torment, it should be nothing," Sam remarked, pointing his right index finger at the man kneeling before him.
A single drop of blood, imbued with mysterious energy, leapt from his finger and landed on the man's forehead, merging with his bloodstream.
Without hesitation, Sam swiftly thrust his hand into the man's heart, ending his life in an instant.
"I did warn you it would sting a bit, didn't I?" Sam gazed into the man's fading eyes. Slowly, the light within them dimmed until it vanished entirely, and his lifeless body slumped to the ground.
The remaining six men watched in horror, too stunned to utter a word.
Right then, flames burst out from the man who had just fallen by his hands.
His figure slowly elevated from the ground, hovering for a moment as the intense flames grew more fervent, enveloping his entire being in a fiery substance.
The wound on his chest began to burn away along with the flames, healing completely. When the flames disappeared entirely, the man appeared entirely different.
His once blonde hair had transformed into a rich brown hue with a reddish accent, while his eyes blazed with a fiery orange intensity.
His complexion had undergone a remarkable improvement, beyond recognition.
Even his height had increased by a few inches, and he appeared bulkier, akin to a werewolf, yet his aura resonated with the fiery essence of a phoenix.
Smoke wisped from his body as if it were constantly being consumed by flames, yet he remained unharmed. His skin radiated with newfound vitality, appearing healthier than ever before.
Lorraine, Helena, and Ava exchanged shocked expressions as they observed this extraordinary transformation.
It was evident to them that this man was unlike any supernatural being they had encountered before, indicating that Sam had just birthed a new breed of supernatural entity.
...
[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]