The Gods Retreat

Hestia looked at Hermes just like that. The calmness and peace she showed when dealing with people had vanished without a trace, replaced by the scrutiny and doubt of a god.

"What are you planning?" Hestia frowned as she stared at Hermes.

"I'm not planning anything. I'm merely testing a possibility." Hermes smiled. "Want to join me?"

Hestia fell silent for a while before finally shaking her head.

"I won't take part in something like this. But..."

Hestia floated into the air, her gaze upon Hermes somewhat complicated.

"Do you know the consequences of conducting this kind of test in secret, behind the Great God's back?"

"Would you tell?" Hermes wore a rather confident smile.

"When did you become so cunning, Hermes?" Hestia sighed. "I truly won't say anything. I'll pretend I never heard what you just said. I still have a task from the Great God, so I'll be leaving first."

"Take care." Hermes waved.

He looked toward the cabin. "You lot, Poseidon and Hestia have both left now. You can come out. I'm one of you."

The moment Hermes finished speaking, Ruslan darted out and threw himself onto Oushen. The other three hurried out right after him, gathering around Oushen.

Looking at the youths, Hermes let out a soft sigh. "Oushen is no longer in danger, but... as you just saw, his half-formed Divine Core has been shackled."

"Mine isn't important, merely a time-limited shackle. But the one his father Poseidon placed on that Divine Core is probably the eternal kind." Hermes rubbed his temples irritably, his expression tinged with distress.

He had known that the Divine Core Oushen was forming would most likely bear some resemblance to Poseidon's Divine Core. But he had never expected them to be so similar that, before it had even been born,