However, from the current situation, it seems that this ephemeral memory has experienced a small accident. Under the influence of the power of the world—perhaps also affected by some subjective will—it has changed. It is no longer a mere existence for people to observe, but has transformed into a 'cage' for outsiders.
Yes, a cage. If one excludes his own subtle yet real higher nature, Laine could almost be certain that even he would be trapped in this memory, struggling to escape for a considerable length of time.
And this, is likely the very purpose of this fantasy world's existence.
"Is it Zeus, doesn't quite seem like it, but can't completely rule out the possibility... "
"However, no matter what, this is indeed quite a 'surprise.'
Shaking his head slightly, it must be said, this was the second time Laine had found himself surprised by Zeus and his ritual.
But this isn't too strange after all, since Zeus himself may not be considered very strong, but as long as he remains the recognized Divine King of the present world, it's normal for some things to happen.
Of course, in the end, the reason why Laine is indifferent is because whoever is responsible, their plans have obviously fallen through.
If this is a cage, then since he is in fact not restrained, he already holds the absolute initiative in this unexpected game.
Moreover... Laine is curious to know, since that meager world force constitutes this false interface, if he were to destroy this world, where would that force go?
It certainly wouldn't return to the world itself... after all, as mentioned before, since it exists as 'information' within this memory, it should naturally change along with the ownership of the memory.
If Chaos had consciousness, it wouldn't be so simple. But as with every past occurrence, It has no logic or thought.
"Attack, take down this foreigner!"
A fierce shout suddenly erupted, pulling Laine's thoughts back to reality. Perhaps having confirmed that they do not recognize this outsider, the soldiers of the city have already begun to advance with swords drawn.
Their captain charged at Laine first, determination and intent to kill in his eyes, while the rest sought to encircle from either side. As soldiers, their tactics were indeed proper.
However, these were clearly methods meant only to deal with fellow mortals. Even those whose Divine Blood had diluted over time could crush this small squad of mere dozens with absolute power.
Of course, these soldiers were more intent on buying time since this was, after all, their city. However, as their target, Laine had no intention of playing along with them, so—
As his words fell, an invisible wave spread out, and in the next moment, the surrounding soldiers became rigid on the spot. As if time had been stilled, they could not move even a fraction of their bodies.
In their midst, there was only one exception, and that was the leading captain. However, it wasn't that he had the power to resist Laine, but that he was the only one spared.
"Tell me, soldier, where is this place?"
His voice was calm as Laine asked indifferently.
Demonstrating an irresistible power and then inquiring for the information he desired should yield a swift response. But before Laine, the soldier was not afraid.
"Evil outsider, do you think you can make me submit? No matter which deity you are, you have no right to intervene in this battle!"
"Even feigning ignorance is futile, your actions are under the gaze of the gods... you will surely be punished, an inescapable outcome—for such is the will of the great Zeus!"
After a moment of silence, Laine nodded in recognition of the soldier's conviction, then reached out and gently touched his brow.
The next moment, the soul of the soldier was extracted.
Mortals aren't like deities; they can't truly protect their secrets before Laine. His choice to ask was merely a habit. But when he dropped this habit, a memory—neither clearly true nor false—soon emerged in his mind.
Having learned the truth, Laine scrutinized the unfamiliar surroundings once more and finally understood the source of his initial familiarity.
The walls beneath his feet contained sacred power, capable of repelling and weakening the destruction wrought by demigods and deities—a creation beyond the work of mortals. And outside the city, uncountable tents and armies gathered.
There, divine power manifested itself within the camps, with similar auras also rising within the city, the owners of these auras possessing extraordinary strength, able to defeat deities that had come to the Mortal Realm to some extent.
As for the city, it was famously known in later ages. It represented the end of Chaos's mythology, the end of the era of gods and demigods, one side of the ten-year war, the legendary city of Troy. Only now, the war might have just begun.
Because, as the soldier had just said, Zeus had just resolved on Mount Olympus to forbid the gods from meddling in the conflicts of the Mortal Realm. From this, one could infer that the true climax of the war has yet to come.