Matthias still held onto a sliver of hope, but his mood soured instantly when he heard that Ezekiel had no intention to intervene.
What good was a sachet against Zeus?
They were facing one of the strongest beings in the world.
Zeus was also an ultimate grandmaster at the peak of his strength. He could crush a missile with his bare hands or cleave a destroyer in half with a single strike.
What chance did they have of reasoning with someone like that?
Cassius caught the doubt in Matthias’ eyes but didn’t comment. Instead, he smiled and said, “Whether it’s useful or not, you will know once you open it, Your Highness.
Matthias scowled. “Let’s see what makes this sachet so special.”
He quickly unwrapped it and found a red talisman inside. After pulling it out, his frown deepened.
It was a red talisman, but its runes were outlined in golden script. He could barely make out the word “Inferno” on the front.
“What is this?” Matthias asked, confused.
He’d never seen anything like it, but could sense the energy pulsing from within. There was no doubt that this talisman was anything but ordinary.
Cassius looked proud and even a little smug. “My father spent ten years creating this Divine talisman. It’s called the Celestial Inferno,” he said.
“Celestial Inferno?” Matthias frowned slightly. He prided himself on his knowledge, but that name didn’t ring a bell.
“Most people only know how powerful the talismans from Sacred Wrym Summit are. But the truth is, my father’s talisman mastery is just as good as the Ancient Sage’s,” Cassius said proudly.
He added, “I’m not overstating it. The Celestial Inferno’s power matches my father at full strength. It should be enough to deal with that so-called royal god, Zeus.
“This is incredible. As expected of a rare treasure.” Matthias couldn’t hide his excitement.
If the rumors were true, Ezekiel was already halfway to becoming a terrestrial immortal. He was just a level below Arion.
If the Celestial Inferno truly held the force behind Ezekiel’s full-strength attack, then it was nothing short of deadly. It could take down an ultimate grandmaster, and even a powerhouse like Zeus would be seriously injured.
Matthias had expected to leave empty-handed, so getting such a powerful talisman was an unexpected bonus.
“Your Highness, forgive me for adding a word of caution. This Celestial Inferno is no ordinary talisman, and it’s one of a kind. Use it wisely,” Cassius reminded him.
“Thank you for the reminder. I won’t use it unless there’s no other choice,” Matthias said with a nod.
Celestial Inferno packed immense power and was one of a kind. Once used, it was gone for good. Treasures like this were meant to be a last resort.
Matthias wasn’t reckless enough to waste something like this. And as for Zeus… he had other plans in mind.
“Your Highness, I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you any longer. Please give my regards to Sir Mosey and let him know that the favor has been returned,” Cassius said evenly.
“Of course,” Matthias replied with a faint smile before turning to leave.
That night, fully armed elite soldiers had surrounded the grounds outside Matthias’ estate in tense formation.
Neville stood at the gate, and his face was twisted in rage. Lying before him were more than a dozen mangled corpses.
This was Zeus’ doing.
Every half hour, he would execute someone from within the estate and hurl the body out as a provocation. Among the victims were Matthias’ close friends and family members.
No matter how furious he was, Neville couldn’t launch an attack without the order. All he could do was stand there and watch.
Just then, another body was thrown out from inside. It landed hard on the ground after sailing several hundred feet. The bones cracked on impact, and blood splattered across Neville’s uniform.
Judging by the lavish clothing, the victim had been someone close to Matthias. But their face was smashed beyond recognition.
“General Elrod, the Hall of Gods has gone too far. They’re spitting in our faces,” one soldier said.
“He’s right. A warrior can be killed, but not humiliated. Just give the word, and we’ll storm in and kill those bastards,” another chimed in.
“Give us the order, General Elrod! Let’s kill every last one of those Hall of Gods monsters!”
The sight of another corpse being tossed out pushed the soldiers outside the gate to their breaking point.
One by one, they stepped forward with fury in their eyes. They begged for the order to attack and were desperate to tear people from the Hall of Gods apart.
“Silence!” Neville roared. “No one moves without His Highness’ command. Anyone who disobeys dies where they stand.”
The men were instantly silenced.
Neville’s eyes were already bloodshot, glistening with unshed tears. His wife was among the victims. When he saw her lifeless form thrown out like garbage, every part of him screamed to charge. inside and butcher Zeus.
But as a soldier, he had to follow orders. No matter how deep the grief or how sharp the rage, he had to hold back.
He had to wait for Matthias to return and give the order to attack. Only then would he make Zeus pay with blood, even if it cost him his life.
