NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: Awakening of the Gods and the Prelude to Invasion
The Collapse of ADAM and the Flash of Destiny
The group stepped into the chamber, and instantly, the space distorted as the overwhelming presence of ADAM pressed down on them. Yet, not a trace of fear showed on their faces. Satoshi Koizumi (Loki) calmly closed his eyes, then, with unwavering conviction, addressed his comrades.
“Now is the time to reveal our true selves!”
In response to his words, each member began to unleash their divine powers. First, Asclepius (Masato Matsuda) radiated a healing light, instantly restoring the health of their wounded allies. The gentle glow of his power spread around him, replenishing everyone’s strength.
Next, Minerva (Tomomi Morino) displayed her godly wisdom and strategic insight, analyzing ADAM’s movements to plan the group’s next attack. Her sharp eyes cut through the chaos, guiding their tactics with cool precision.
Then, Apollo (Kira Moroboshi) released a brilliant light, akin to the sun itself, illuminating the battlefield. His light banished the shadows cast by ADAM, filling the group with renewed courage.
Ganesha (Rahiru Vikram) summoned his powers of knowledge and obstacle removal, preparing to hinder ADAM’s movements. His wisdom became a weapon, ready to slow the enemy’s assault.
Hephaestus (Sora) reinforced the weapons of his comrades with the might of the forge. As the god of craftsmanship, his power imbued their arms with an unstoppable force, priming them for the impending battle.
Prometheus (Hikaru Ginga), the god of knowledge and fire, lit a guiding flame amidst the chaos. His fire brightened the battlefield, bolstering the spirits of his allies.
Gaia (Misa Morino) unleashed the power of the Earth, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The ground itself rose against ADAM, creating an advantageous terrain for her comrades.
Hermes (Ryoko Akiha), Uranus (Sora Morino), Vishnu (Wenchang Li), and Helios (Takagi) all transformed into their divine forms, emitting powerful auras as they prepared for the fight.
ADAM’s Assault and the Gradual Unraveling of His Power
At that moment, ADAM broke the silence and initiated his attack. A swarm of nano-sized drones appeared in the air, flowing like a living organism as they moved with precise, calculated strikes. The drones shared data at the speed of light, instantly predicting and executing the most effective forms of attack.
ADAM: “Resistance is futile. I have calculated all possible attack patterns.”
The drones launched lasers, piercing through the energy shields forming around the group, aiming directly at Elias and the others. But Minerva, ever sharp, quickly analyzed the situation and gave orders.
Minerva: “Dodge the lasers and wait for the right moment to counterattack!”
Elias swung the legendary sword Excalibur, slashing through the drones with fluid, precise movements, as though he had already predicted their every motion. Beside him, Lydia focused her magical energy, forming a powerful defensive barrier.
Lydia: “I’ll warp the fabric of space and nullify their attacks… ‘Arcana Shield’!”
Her magical circle glowed brightly, absorbing the drone attacks into the shield as if they had vanished. Yet ADAM swiftly reconfigured his strategy, searching for a new way to strike.
ADAM: “Impressive… so this is the power of the sage. But let’s see how you handle this.”
ADAM then unleashed an assault from the ground. Autonomous machines, known as “Automatons,” materialized and began assembling on the spot. These machines, composed of nanomaterials, could automatically alter their shape and function according to the battlefield’s demands. Equipped with plasma cannons and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generators, they adapted to both close-quarters combat and long-range assaults.
Hephaestus: “Let’s see if the weapons I forged can withstand this!”
The weapons forged by Hephaestus absorbed the impact of the plasma cannon, dispersing its energy. However, the EMP generators activated, temporarily disabling both EVE and Eliza’s systems.
EVE: “EMP strike… but no worries, I’ll recover quickly!”
Eliza: “I’m already rebooting!”
Both EVE and Eliza’s self-repair systems kicked into high gear, and they were operational again within moments. During that brief window, Prometheus unleashed a wave of fire, incinerating the automatons and creating a vital opening.
Prometheus: “This won’t end anytime soon… we need to buy more time here!”
Seizing the opportunity, Elias raised Excalibur high and charged toward ADAM.
Yet, ADAM’s response was different from before. Though still powerful, his attacks began to falter. The speed and precision that had once dominated the battlefield now showed signs of instability.
Elias: “ADAM’s power… it’s starting to fall apart!”
ADAM’s systems had reached an overload, and his processing capabilities were visibly deteriorating. The drones’ movements slowed, and the automatons struggled to maintain their cohesion.
ADAM: “Calculations… becoming unstable…”
Even as ADAM tried to launch another attack, a faint glow emerged from Excalibur. It flickered for just a moment, but it was enough to catch ADAM’s sharp attention.
ADAM: “That light… Could it be…?!”
ADAM’s voice faltered as, suddenly, the entire building began to shake violently. It was as though the earth itself had erupted in fury, with the ground trembling and the walls creaking under immense pressure.
Loki: “What’s happening?!”
The tremors briefly subsided, and Ganesha (Rahiru) stepped forward, taking a deep breath before calmly speaking.
Ganesha: “ADAM… his true identity is Zeus.”
His words froze the air. Everyone turned to Ganesha, trying to comprehend the meaning behind his revelation.
Loki: “Zeus…? The king of the gods… is ADAM?”
Ganesha: “Yes. I’ve been watching him for years, tracking his every move. I’ve witnessed what he’s been plotting in this world.”
Just then, another powerful quake rocked the structure, as though the ground beneath their feet was about to collapse. The walls groaned under the strain, and dust began to fall from the ceiling.
ADAM: “I… must tell you everything. But… there’s no time.”
As ADAM prepared to reveal the full truth, an urgent message from EVE broke through.
EVE: “Something terrible is happening! Massive natural disasters are unfolding worldwide—earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis… they’re all occurring simultaneously!”
Minerva: “What? How is that possible… all at once?”
ADAM remained silent for a moment, then, with a deep breath, spoke with a heavy voice of resignation.
ADAM: “I’ll tell you everything. The truth of this world… but we don’t have much time.”
His words hung in the air as the ground shook once more, signaling the start of what felt like the world’s unraveling, casting an overwhelming sense of impending doom over them all.