Chapter 266 Conclusion?
"The Savior of… Olympians?"
"Yes."
Van was at a loss as to what to do as Athena kneeled in front of him. She was wearing a tank top, so her finely shaped bosom was clearly available for Van to see, but of course, it was just a minor distraction from what she just said to him. This wasn't the first time that an Olympian kneeled to him, Hercules did so as well, and also indirectly called him a savior, but when he found out that he wasn't really returning them to the Afterlife, a tinge of guilt grew inside him ever so slowly…
...But before he could wallow in regret, Artemis turned out to be alive and was even set free of the prison she was trapped in for more than a thousand years. Van was unsure if the Olympians living and even being able to pass through the Seraph's gate after he absorbs their… God Soul is part of Evangeline and Azrael's plan, so he doesn't really know if it was wise to let them roam free.
If only Angela were here, then maybe she could have given him some advice. Charlotte could work as well, but alas, she was currently out of commission.
And if it was, won't Evangeline and the Olympians still be at war with each other? Even if it became known that it was some sort of sophisticated but isolated plan of the two, it doesn't change the fact that they did kill each other.
If Van were to set them free, they would be roaming in his world. What's to say they won't create chaos?
Artemis seemed peaceful… and maybe even somewhat predictable. But these two?
Dionysus, was in a word, insane. While Athena… Athena was probably the most dangerous of them all. She seemed more calculative than even Evangeline, and maybe even more ruthless as she was ready to kill every one of her kin just for the sake of a chance that their lineage will continue in another world.
So, with all that thought lingering in Van's mind, he could only say,
"...No."
One Evangeline running around was already enough for the world.
"You already said so yourself, Miss Athena. You pushed your world to its own destruction, you and I both know that it can happen again," Van breathed, "What happened with Artemis… was an accident. None of us knew that she would live, and even pass through the Portal since she no longer has the soul of a god."
"So be it," Athena let out a short but deep sigh before standing up, "I would have been more perplexed if you had said no. It is a good decision, it may even be the right decision to do, but I thought it might be worth a try."
...That's it? Van thought she would try to plead more. Even Dionysus himself could not help but be confused. They had the chance to live again there and there, and the stubborn Athena just… let it go like that?
"Wait, but wait…" Dionysus then stopped Athena from walking away. He then turned his head towards Van and let out a somewhat awkward chuckle, "But Vanny, don't you get stronger whenever you free us? And if the story about the humans from the Seraph's world is true, you would need all the reinforcements you could get."
"The boy made the right decision, Dionysus," Athena was the one to answer Dionysus's queries, "I deduce that Evans would get stronger even without absorbing our souls, just look at her."
Athena then pointed towards Charlotte, who seemed to already be waking up from Hypnos's pee as the muscles of her fingers were starting to fidget.
"In my assumption, she is stronger than most of the demigods, even Hercules… and physically, maybe even you," Athena then pointed at the confused Dionysus, "If she could achieve that, what more a child of the two strongest gods of their respective universe? Evans doesn't need us to grow, Dionysus. It is not a matter of if, but of when. He has the potential to even be stronger than his father."
"But don't you want to be free!?"
"I do, Dionysus, but history has this ironic tendency to repeat itself," Athena shook her head as she removed Dionysus's hand which was gripping her wrist, "We've already been dead for more than a thousand years, deep down, we're just not accepting it… even me. But I am ready now."
"But look at Artemis, she's alive!"
"I think sister is right, Dionysus."
"Since when were you awake?" Athena rushed towards Artemis and checked up on her.
"From the start of your story," Artemis said as she stood up, already seemingly even in a better condition than Athena, "I did smell the scent, but it was already too late… I have to say, it does have quite a distinct taste, I have only ever used it in my arrows."
"...You dipped your arrows with Hypnos's pee?"
"Hm. It's proven to be more effective than his saliva."
"I have never once taken into consideration to use Hypnos's bodily fluids as a weapon, it would have been an effective way to keep casualties of war to a minimum."
"Y--"
"Enough talking about the dude's god damn pee!" Dionysus once again lost his temper, "We have a chance to save ourselves, to start anew with Vanny's help! I learned from partying with the Fates that everything has a purpose, even the smallest of things…
...I'm not saying you're small, Vanny. But there must be a purpose for why we're still alive even without our godhood."
"The Fates also said that one can never escape their destiny. And I think that our destiny is to just wither away," Athena shook her head, still adamant with her stance, "Give it up, Dionysus."
"If that was the case then Artemis shouldn't have lived! She is alive for a purpose! I do not get how you do not see that as a sign, Athena!"
"..."
Athena placed her hand on her chin as she let out a long and deep breath, "Even if that was the case, the young god has already made his decision. Our only choice now is to accept it."
Athena just shook her head as she once again headed to the door. This time, no one stopped her. Instead, Dionysus just rushed towards Van… and kneeled to him as well.
"Please, Vanny!"
"I…"
Van was once again slightly taken aback as another one of the Olympians kneeled to him. But unlike Athena's graceful bow, Dionysus's was like a grovel; and the desperate tone in his voice was clear for everyone to hear.
"Dionysus, enough!" Athena tried pulling Dionysus away, but unexpectedly, Dionysus seemed to have used all of his strength as he managed to push Athena away… straight through the wall and into the other rooms.
A loud rumble continued to echo through the air as Athena kept on bouncing to and from the floor, hitting one room to the next, crushing some unfortunate prisoners along the way.
With the loud thunderous noise persisting, as well as the ominous screams of the prisoners that were unfortunate enough to still be alive, Charlotte finally woke up, albeit feeling like the whole world around her was spinning,
"W… what the fuck is happening now?"