Human Pasture 1/2
Within the Wall of Sighs Elysium.
The area is filled with Aether Factor, and the gently flowing water meanders around it. A handful of water tastes clear and sweet, and the air is filled with a rich, almost misty, magical energy. The plants on the land are exceptionally lush.
Along the roadside and in the woods, shrubs laden with fruit and heavy with grains are everywhere, accompanied by the sounds of birds and insects. Wildflowers and grasses grow freely, their fragrance delightful, and bees and butterflies dance among them.
Compared to the sinking of the World Bubble and the decline of the Age of Gods, the Greek land was like a magnificent garden with abundant resources, where food was provided by the gods everywhere.
Water of Life! Earth of Origin!
No wonder these Greek Heroes, after living here for a long time, could become flesh-and-blood Heroic Spirit with physical forms.
The ancient serpent sensed the special water source and soil here, its eyes narrowed slightly, and it gradually realized what was happening, becoming utterly astonished by Zeus's work.
Such pure manna fills every space. The inhabitants can breathe in the air, drink the water, and eat the fruits and grains. These can be directly digested and absorbed by humans, gods, and even spirits in the flesh to maintain their daily needs and even improve themselves.
Besides being free from the ravages of heat and cold, natural disasters, and wars, and far removed from worldly troubles, the faces of the inhabitants are filled with peaceful and contented expressions. It is no exaggeration to call it the "Elysium".
However, this is on the premise that Zeus did not disperse into this land to suppress human desires and emotional fluctuations.
At this moment, these flesh-bearing Heroic Spirit before us wander aimlessly, some scattering about, others stopping to rest. None of them showed any wariness or surprise at the arrival of these outsiders. The welcoming smiles on their faces, though clearly moving their muscles, were like the Issei painted expressions on a puppet's face.
Looking at it for too long makes one feel a sense of unease and unease.
Furthermore, a careful observation of the residents' eyes reveals that they are clearly unfocused, making the Heroic Spirit appear as if they are lost in a beautiful dream.
Samael looked down at the lush, green ground, his eyes flashing with a cross-shaped light pattern that pierced through the soil, revealing several surging spiritual veins flowing from the boundless Taiga outside the Wall of Sighs, nourishing this small piece of pure land.
It's clear!
It turns out that the endless stream of consciousness dissipating in the underworld, turning into pure energy and being recycled, are the fertilizer that nourishes the Elysium Bliss.
Harvesting the souls of mortals to provide a vast amount of ether, thereby supplying these heroes with massive resources to enable them to undergo physical transformation and power enhancement.
You're something else, Zeus!
We humans accelerated the decline of the divine age, and you, through the cycle of aging, sickness, and death, turn around and harvest the humans on earth like crops, taking back the ether they absorbed from the world.
Samael frowned and snorted coldly, withdrawing his gaze from the outer boundary and looking back at the underground spiritual vein.
Upon closer inspection, countless wisps of purplish-black negative mist can be seen mixed within.
They were extracted from the bodies of these fleshly Heroic Spirit spirits and transported through the spiritual veins to the bottomless Abyssal Layers underground.
Is there another Pandora's Box -like tactic?
This intense sense of familiarity caused the ancient snake to mutter unconsciously, as unpleasant memories of the past surfaced in its mind, and its expression darkened.
Zeus used this very trick to manipulate humanity's good and evil, emotions and sensibilities, and caught him in the crossfire, forcing him to flee to the Sea of Okeanos for a while.
According to Samael's understanding of the Wise King of Gods over millions of years, Zeus's good intentions were likely concealed by far more sinister motives.
In short, the Elysium is definitely not a good place!
Samael's mind raced, his expression shifting between light and shadow as he secretly considered countermeasures.
At this very moment, the people who had entered the Elysium dispersed one after another, each with their own purpose.
The first to react was Orion the teddy bear, who, like a large mouse in a field, excitedly darted into the nursery, following the familiar scent, and made a winding, rapid advance.
As the grass and trees rustled, Orion stopped in front of a strong body standing in the grass, staring intently at it.
The longbow on his back, the wristbands wrapped around his arms, his muscular physique, the hunter's attire, the iconic baby face, the honest features, and the subtle resonance of his inner soul made Orion mutter to himself unconsciously.
"My body... I'm...?!"
As Orion trembled as he raised his hand to touch the body's skin, a trembling, humming sound emanated from between them, radiating a golden-blue aura.
A moment later, the teddy bear, which had been as excited as if it had been injected with chicken blood, suddenly lost its spirit and slumped limply onto the grass.
Immediately, the honest, baby-faced hunter who had been "on standby" just now, his eyes flickered, suddenly bursting with surprise. He lowered his head and repeatedly checked his limbs, kneaded his muscles, and caressed his facial features.
After a thorough inspection, the hunter seemed to have thought of something. He furtively reached for his waist, then, hidden among the grass and flowers, he pulled down his trousers and squinted to peek inside.
Wow, this young man is quite something!
Orion's smile was lewd and frivolous, making one want to punch him in the face.
"My dear, you're finally back!"
Artemis, Moon Goddess, who followed closely behind, immediately rushed into Orion's arms upon seeing this, weeping with joy. Her fair arms wrapped around the hunter's neck, tightening excitedly, expressing her reluctance to part and her happiness.
Despite being a powerful and terrifyingly strong man, Orion, the famous three-star hunter, is also the Goddess of Hunting, Artemis. She can draw a powerful bow, chase a golden deer at lightning speed, and subdue a serpent with her bare hands. Her divine physical abilities are truly remarkable.
Therefore, the Moon Goddess's almost frenzied love was so heavy that Orion, this muscular and strong man, almost suffocated. His shinbone kept cracking as it was locked, and there were even signs that it was about to break.
"Wait... stop! Don't choke me—! Ugh... I'm... I'm going to die, Artemis..."
When Orion began to beg for mercy intermittently, Artemis, somewhat overly excited, realized that she had just obtained the body and her soul had returned to her old lover, and she had almost been killed by him again.
The goddess stuck out her tongue with a girlish air, hurriedly letting go of his arms while gently patting Orion's chest to help him catch his breath.
After a brief moment of tenderness between the two, Orion composed himself, sighed, and pulled Artemis along to look around.
After walking a few steps, the hunter parted the grass and saw a man with green eyes and purple hair standing in front of a flower bed. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Boss Perseus! You're really here! Haha, it's so good to see you!"
Orion stepped forward and gave him a hug, his powerful arms squeezing so tightly that the young, handsome man's spine cracked.
Even so, Perseus's expression remained unchanged; he simply looked at his old friend indifferently, like an empty shell without a soul.
Meanwhile, Heracles, who was roaming in the forest, stared blankly at three boys practicing with wooden swords and blades in the clearing. Their faces and outlines had appeared in his dreams time and time again, making the Hercules almost go mad with regret.