The heavy guns of the ships that appeared in the air were undoubtedly the weapons and equipment that Hermes had carefully prepared for a long time.

The massive steel airship, and the terrifying laser that tore through the earth at the end.

It's powerful enough to destroy a nation.

If it weren't for the fact that the Calencian Empire had Oberly, the world's strongest warrior, I am afraid that Hermes's plan would have succeeded.

The empire will also face the doom of destruction.

And now, everyone can't help but wonder.

Why did Hermes have to infiltrate the empire at any cost?

What exactly is it about this empire that attracts him?

Just when everyone's hearts were full of doubts, Hermes faced the spear against his chin, but he did not show a trace of fear.

On the contrary, as if aware of the doubts of this group of humans, gloom was revealed between his eyebrows, and a sarcastic smile was hooked at the corner of his mouth.

"A group of ignorant human beings, who obviously live in this land where the gods were born, but they have no faith in the gods."

The land of the first birth of the gods?

Everyone in the square was at a loss, and they looked at each other, confused by Hermes's words.

In confusion, Kocot in mid-air showed a thoughtful expression and explained to everyone:

"Legend has it that the predecessor of the Carencian Empire was the birthplace of the gods."

"At the same time, it is also a forbidden place that they will never be able to set foot in again."

As the only nature elf present who has lived for hundreds of years, and is also a senior member of the Mage Council, Kokot is well-informed.

It is known that the Council of Mages was established after the expulsion of the gods, and the study of the gods transcends almost all organizations in the world.

What's more, the Council of Mages existed before the establishment of the Calencian Empire.

These two sentences were handed down by the Archmage who founded the Mage Council.

However, the specific meaning behind these two facts is puzzling to many.

The first sentence seems to imply that those gods were born from this land and eventually transformed into gods.

But after becoming gods, they left the land, and no one knows the reason behind it.

The gods have established their power around the world, gathering believers and establishing a kingdom of gods who believe in them.

None of the gods wanted to come back and fight for the land where they were first born.

As a result, for a long time, mankind all over the world regarded this land as a sacred place.

The land on which the empire is located is called the "Land of the First Birth of the Gods", also known as the "Land of the Divine Relics".

But it is precisely because of the ambiguity of the second sentence that it is difficult to understand.

This land is a forbidden place that the gods can no longer set foot in.

No one could understand why these noble and all-powerful gods could no longer set foot on this land.

In the midst of such long doubts, the Carencian Empire was established here.

With the passage of time, the original name of this land was gradually forgotten and gradually disappeared in the long river of history.

However, Cocott did not expect that she would be able to learn this long-lost name from Hermes's mouth.

Cocott was amazed.

She has always liked to listen to gossip and eat melons, and her interest in eating melons was instantly raised.

After all, the past of these gods is much more interesting than the gossip of humans.

And when Coot said this, Hermes slowly raised his eyes and glanced at Cocot.

"Heh, elven mage."

He retracted his gaze, raised his head to look at Oberly, who had an extremely cold expression, and said lightly;

"You should know all about it, Oberly."

"It is precisely because you are on the opposite side of the gods that your bloodline is so strong."

In Hermes's eyes, Auberly's figure gradually overlapped with the apparition of his youth.

It is as if two figures in the interlacing of time and space merge into one.

"Unfortunately, you're just human."

"The inheritance from generation to generation cannot be compared to the immortal gods after all."

Hearing Hermes's words, doubts and dissatisfaction swelled in the hearts of countless residents around him.

The god in front of him had clearly lost to mortals in wisdom and strength, and even knelt down in front of humans.

Why can he still be so arrogant when he is already such a defeat?

What about eternal life?

Even if it is immortal, has it not been defeated by humans in the end?

Isn't the immortal god only able to succumb in front of mortals, and even his life is in the hands of humans?

At this moment, the residents surrounding the central square began to mumble dissatisfied.

If it weren't for the emperor being in front of them, to maintain the majesty of the empire and respect the royal family, they would have vented their dissatisfaction long ago.

Hermes, who fell to his knees, seemed to feel the displeasure of humanity, and he closed his eyes again, which had lost their brilliance.

In a heavy and solemn atmosphere, Hermes exhaled deeply.

He slowly raised his head and opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the clear and transparent sky.

Greeted by the dazzling sun, the stagnant golden sand in Hermes's eyes flowed again.

The next second, he suddenly opened his mouth and asked:

"Do you know what Hermes means?"

This sentence made the surrounding crowd fall into deep thought for a moment, looking at each other, and puzzled for a while.

What does that mean?

Isn't Hermes a god in charge of commerce and theft?

Suddenly, Kocot in mid-air was slightly stunned.

She seemed to have something in mind.

Hermes is widely known as the god of commerce and theft.

Because, in numerous legends, he was always associated with the opportunity of the merchant and the protection of the thief.

It is precisely because of these qualities that these two images of Hermes have been celebrated to this day.

But that's exactly what it is.

One has all but ignored his other identity.

"Why am I the only one who can be the messenger of the gods, maybe you have never considered this."

Hermes's cold voice suddenly sounded.

Along with this, his eyes were suddenly filled with scorching fanaticism.

"Because, only I can always exist in the world."

Greed and evil thoughts.

It is a shadow that humanity cannot get rid of.

Business & Transactions.

is an indispensable part of humanity.

These two points make Hermes irreplaceable by any god.

And this also allowed him to get the position of leading the 'gods'.

"So, Oberly."

"I admit that I lost to you, to Victor."

"But ......"

He lowered his head again, narrowed his eyes, and smiled proudly.

"God—"

"You will never lose."

Boom ——!!!

As his words fell, the golden and white wings behind Hermes suddenly unfurled.

As if the sky had been summoned by a mysterious force, a hazy holy light poured down and enveloped Hermes.

His white wings were gradually covered in gold, and he healed and stood tall again.

The light that fell from it burst out with a light that surpassed almost everything that had been before.

The next moment, a magnificent gate burst out of the space abruptly.

Surrounded by intricate fluorescent patterns, steel gears made of gold twist and turn.

The edge of the door frame twisted rapidly, and bursts of powerful blazing light continued to bloom.

The intense light almost pierced the sky, enveloping the entire sky of the royal capital and the dead and silent earth in a strange light.

At this moment, everyone was stunned, their eyes widened and they raised their heads.

Looking at the huge and sacred mechanical light gate that emerged from under the clear sky, I was speechless.

As Hermes opened his arms, the door slammed open.

A heavy, crisp mechanical sound echoed across the land, revealing countless dense and shining golden steel steps that continued to link to the distant supreme sky.

Auberly, who was in front of Hermes, raised his head and squinted at the door, his eyes shining with a complicated light.

In the golden light, Kokot peered into the depths of the gate.

The strong divine aura made her feel an indescribable solemnity.

After she looked at the golden gate, she seemed to feel countless chaotic and noisy souls whirling and twisting in the void golden space.

It's like......

There are countless millions of souls about to pour out from behind the huge Supreme Heavenly Gate.

Feeling the door behind him turning, Hermes smiled and looked back at Auberly.

"Everything you want, I've already explained."

"As for Victor's matter, I'm sorry."

"As I said, he will never come back......"

Boom –

A burst of flame burst into flames, instantly entangled around the massive golden door behind Hermes.

The golden steps that originally stretched out to the supreme sky were engulfed in flames, and they all surged up in mid-air, turning into condensed platforms of flames.

Flames flowed down the gates and steps towards the sky, spreading across the entire sky shrouded in golden light.

In an instant, the golden sky was instantly covered with flames, transforming into a sea of red, surging fiercely.

Even behind the door, the souls bathed in golden light seemed to be burned by the flames, letting out a howl of pain that pierced through thousands of miles.

The Supreme Gate of Heaven, which was shrouded in flames, instantly turned into a merciless gate of hell.

Feeling the change in light, and the familiar elemental power, Hermes couldn't help but turn his head in amazement.

At that moment, he saw the figure of a young girl.

It was as if she was wrapped in flames, suspended in the sky, standing in front of the Gate of the Most High.

And behind her, draped in Victor's familiar trench coat.

The trench coat was covered in six colors, and eventually, it was covered by red stripes.

Through the flames, Hermes finally saw the girl's face clearly-

It was the Duke's daughter, who was sealed in ice by him and brought calamity to the maiden.

Elektra.

Hermes looked at her and was shocked.

It was as if in that trance, I saw a supreme god.

"Nature......?"

Sensing the gaze of the god behind her, she turned around and looked coldly at Hermes, who was half-kneeling on the ground.

The voice is calm and firm:

"Apologize to my father."

"And then ......"

The words came to an abrupt end, and the flame that enveloped Erica's whole body burst out in an instant.

It's like a violent nine-headed dragon filling the entire space.

The flaming dragons tossed in the dry red sky, and a terrifying heat wave approached Hermes as if it were about to burn everything up.

Under the monstrous fire, only Erica's eyes lit with the fire of anger shot straight into Hermes's heart:

"Give me back Victor."