Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Chapter 623 - 203 Guidance_2

Because the Divine King did not want another god who "created humans" like Prometheus to emerge, he did not arrange for a deity to personally create the fourth generation of humans but instead used humans as intermediaries. Therefore, Odysseus’s argument may apply to the Bronze Age but not to their generation.

There was a somewhat sophistical inclination in this, but that’s just the nature of debates. They are not about truly clarifying the issues but about expressing one’s views and showcasing artistry in language and individual talent.

Once these words were uttered, the situation in the venue stabilized once again; however, nobody thought that Andrea would be stumped by this.

The player, who had risen to fame like a comet, had proven her capabilities, and everyone was anticipating her response.

And true to expectations, under the watchful eyes of the audience, Andrea remained as calm as before.

"As before, although I don’t agree that ’creating’ equals ’possessing’, especially when the creation possesses intelligence and the ability to think. Considering humans still cannot create life with intelligence, let’s follow your train of thought for now," she said.

"You say gods made humans, so it is natural for gods to wipe out the old humans, just like humans replace old tools, but a person with integrity only deals with their own tools and does not stretch beyond another’s arm to meddle with someone else’s tools; a cultivated person will not be shamelessly unapologetic for causing someone else’s property to be destroyed because of their actions," she continued.

"You believe that since God created All Spirits, God naturally has the right to replace them; but did the lives of the Bronze Age truly belong to Olympus?" she asked.

On the expansive stage, Andrea’s voice continued to carry.

This debate about justice, it seems, would not be easily settled any time soon.

...

The clouds grew thicker, and the air became moist.

In the grand venue, the speakers’ words, amplified by alchemy tools, reached every corner.

Besides Odysseus and Andrea, other participants also spoke up from time to time. Given the level of humanistic development in this era, this was undoubtedly a rarely seen debate extravaganza.

The audience gradually moved past the shock of Andrea’s views and began to enjoy the thrust and parry on stage.

In a corner of the stands, far from where Iapetus was seated but in a spot where one could vaguely see his position, a man and a woman were listening quietly to the statements on stage.

The taller man occasionally clapped softly, seemingly offering his admiration for the contestants’ brilliant performances.

"It seems that, all these years later, people still remember your story very well," he said.

At that moment, the contestant speaking in the center of the venue was the same one who had been in front of Andrea at the opening. He was elaborating on the proofs of the Bronze Age’s "inferiority", but his words seemed much hollower compared to Odysseus’s.

However, this wasn’t because his ability was truly inferior. In fact, anyone who managed to defeat various opponents to stand on the final stage had a decent level of skill.

But in a debate, if you’re not only thinking about the topic at hand but also influenced by external pressures, then it’s normal for your performance to suffer.

Clearly, this contestant had given up on winning. All he wanted now was to demonstrate his own "devotion".

"If he had been in the Bronze Age, he would probably have been one of the first priests to support deceiving the Deities and take delight in it—that is, if he really could be chosen."

With a faint comment, Epimetheus felt that the likelihood of the other being selected wasn’t small.

He knew Prometheus, even often better than he knew himself. As the God of Afterthought, having followed his older brother for so many years, Epimetheus had long understood what kind of person the other was.

If it had been the Prometheus of the past, he would definitely have favored the other’s intelligence above others and might even have taken him as a student... Yet the most ridiculous part was that his most valued student had neither been grateful for his grace nor remained loyal to him; not to mention that the wisdom had not been displayed at all.

If that human had truly achieved immortality through betrayal, Epimetheus might have regarded him highly. But from start to finish, that human was like a joke.

"...Just tell me, what are you planning to do now?"

With a languid expression and hair scattered over her shoulders and neck, Pandora leaned back in her seat like a mortal worn out from staying up all night.

Her voice was lifeless, as if disinterested in everything. Compared to before, her body hadn’t changed much, but her spirit seemed to have altered a great deal.

"The widespread tales of my ordeal are, in part, thanks to your efforts, aren’t they?"

"The absurd sect, the bewildering sacrifices... after so many attempts, you should give up. Whether it’s the methods of True Gods, Evil Gods, or those belonging to Outer Gods; Baptism, Holocaust, or the cruel torment of Human Sacrifice, they are all useless to me."

"I am not one of you, I cannot draw strength from them, nor can I become a Deity. Perhaps this Magic Jar is just a joke, a casual prank by the Lord of the Spirit Realm, holding no power to change fate or produce miracles. Despite my wishes to it for so long, what has been the result?"

Biting her lip slightly, it was unclear whether she harbored resentment towards the Goddess of the Nether Moon, who had given her this gift, the All Gods who had tempted her to open the Magic Jar, or was simply venting her frustration on her husband in name only.

In Pandora’s perception, compared to the jar, she might be the actual experiment of Epimetheus.

More than once she had wanted to give up, suggesting that he should experiment with someone else, another human, but each time he categorically refused.

"I don’t know if your initiative in handing over the Magic Jar to others would affect fate and thus make the jar no longer belong to you—or to me. We are both eternal; there’s no need to lose faith in it so soon."

That’s what he had said, and that’s what he had done. Yet besides more futile efforts, Pandora felt she had gained nothing.

"Don’t rush, I feel there’s still a chance this time."

Speaking with a smile, Epimetheus still enjoyed watching the debate.

"This time, we’ve been deciding our direction and distance by flipping a coin and tossing branches, and we just happened to arrive at the Acropolis of Athens, and just happened to come across this somewhat abnormal debate. Tell me, could this be guidance from fate?"

"Maybe before, I was just interfering too much, too randomly... so this time, I’ll do nothing."

"Everything follows your footsteps, let’s see who you’ll meet and what happens along the way."