The young Persephone began to follow Hades. During this time, Demeter noticed the situation developing and paid a visit.

Shall we conduct a public debate regarding what youve done? Im fine with being thrown back into Tartarusbutyou wont be able to show your face in public again, right? At Hades cold words, Demeter could no longer protest, so she had stepped aside.

The young Persephone had received a great shock from this exchange. It was the first time she had seen her mother so powerless, and she felt as though her world were collapsing around her since Demeter had been everything to her up to that point.

During her first visit to Tartarus, young Persephone learned for the first time in her life what freedom truly was. She no longer had to be confined in her narrow room. Instead of sleeping in a glass chamber, she had a soft bed. It was also the first time she could freely talk to others and enjoy their company. Previously, she had always taken care of everything, but here, many people took care of her. The meals were delicious. The sky was beautiful, and the sunsets were picturesque. The air was cool, and the feeling of the ground was pleasant.

Everything in the world was mysterious and interesting. However, at some point, she realized that there was a larger world outside the confines of Tartarus. Was it because of that? At some point, Persephone became bored with everything in Tartarus. Once upon a time, these things had been so beautiful and mysteriousnow they were dull and gloomy. She felt that she had returned to the prison that she had been locked away in as a young child. Nothing seemed to have changed. In fact, Tartarus was an actual prison, one that held many prisoners.

The people whom she had thought so kind were just subordinates loyal to Hades. Persephone started yearning to escape from the stuffy Tartarus. The sky, the sea, the grasslands, the desert, the forest, the stars, the moonthe things that existed in the outside world that the Lam had told her aboutPersephone wanted to see these places with her own eyes. However, Tartarus restrictions did not allow her to step outside.

At some point, Persephone started wondering, Maybe Is Hades imprisoning me with lies, just like Mother did? She fell in a downward spiral of suspicion that she didnt even know was growing inside her until it was firmly entrenched in her chest.

Oh this poor child stuck in a place like this. Youre like a young bluebird trapped in a birdcage being fed lies and deceptions by Olympus. Just as Persephones suspicions were laying down roots, Mother Earth entered the picture. It was Gaias Curse.

***

[Your trait, Cold-blooded, has helped you maintain composure.]

[The spring of death is furiously accelerating and enhancing its attributes.]

[The spring of death has been wound past its limit and is starting to overheat. At this rate, the spring may become worn out.]

Son, how are you? Have you regained consciousness?

Yeon-woo clung to awareness as Kronos questions rang in his ears. However, the most Yeon-woo could do was force himself to stay awake and assess his current situation. He couldnt even speak or move. He couldnt even have a conversation with Kronos, which was little more than thinking. Kronos himself was having a difficult time suppressing Gaias Curse and keeping it at bay.

Yeon-woo squinted, his vision blurry and shaking. Mother Earth was smiling.

Youre going to die now.

Yeon-woo didnt know how much time had passed, but he could see that Mother Earth was still wrapped up in chains. Although Mother Earth seemed to be in a precarious situation, and her Soulstone could be ripped out of her body at any moment, she was smiling coldly. Her mouth, which was torn at the corners all the way up to her ears, seemed as though it would swallow Yeon-woo at any moment.

Oho! Yes. I may be imprisoned within the emptiness at any moment. Ive escaped many hairy situations before, but I probably wont be able to escape the emptiness. However Her twisted lips became even more crooked. You will surely die. Why? Because Ill make sure of it. Like Uranus! Like Kronos! Madness oozed from Mother Earths eyes. She was determined that she wouldnt suffer alone, and even if Yeon-woo ripped the Soulstone out of her and imprisoned her forever, she was determined to take him down with her.

Gulp! Yeon-woo felt something rushing up from inside him. He swallowed it down, but he could taste a fishy flavor that flowed past his tongue and lips.

[Typhons legend has risen. He exhibits strong hostility towards player ###, who harmed him.]

[Syceus legend has arisen. He exhibits strong ill-will towards player ###, who devoured him.]

[Helios legend has arisen. He is protesting that player ### should return Kronos to him.]

[Several legends respond to Gaias Curse and are attempting to disrupt your legend.]

[Their strong grudges are strengthening the curse!]

Gaias Curse was very simple: it disrupted the equilibrium of its target. It wasnt very effective against ordinary players who had nothing to lose, but there was no deadlier curse for godly beings who had achieved transcendence. Gaias Curse scattered the legends that they had built up. While it could not destroy the legends, the curse caused cracks to form. Since legends couldnt be repaired in a short amount of time, as time passed, the cracks would grow and cause imbalance. And if this persistedthe cracks would cover the entire legend and shatter it.

It was a way to force a divine being to fall from grace. The higher ones power, the greater the danger. Even if ones legend did not collapse, ones Consciousness would be severely damaged, just as what happened to Uranus. Divine beings who struggled through Gaias Curse lived with terrible, debilitating pain for the rest of their lives like Kronos. The leaders of Olympus that followed them suffered as well since the unstable foundation was passed down from generation to generation. Of course, Mother Earth would also have to contend with the consequences. Since she was using all her will and power to enact Gaias Curse, she would fall into a deep slumber until she fully regained her energy. It was a form of suicide attack.

It was for this reason that the gods, whose legends Yeon-woo had devoured through killing them, were now awake. At Mother Earths call, the godsmost of the Gigantes who were her childrenregained awareness and began to ravage Yeon-woo. Yeon-woos legend began to fluctuate.

[Persephones legend has risen.]

Persephone, Mother Earths previous Apostle, also joined in. She was the most outstanding of Mother Earths followers and the queen of the Underworld, which made her the perfect choice to shake Yeon-woos legend.

Yeon-woo could barely suppress Gaias Curse, which slowly expanded as it tried to invade the world of Yeon-woos consciousness.

[Typhons legend welcomes Persephones legend.]

[Syceus legend requests cooperation with Persephones legend to exact revenge.]

My children! Swallow him whole! Take control away from him and free me from these chains! Mother Earth woke many legends as she tried to turn the tables on Yeon-woo. Although she wouldnt be able to avoid a long period of hibernation even if she won, at least she could start anew. Moreover, Yeon-woo possessed the Sin Stone, which was two combined Soulstones. If she could take away his Sin Stone, Mother Earth felt that she could shorten her hibernation period.

However, unexpectedly

[Persephones legend remains silent.]

[Persephones legend borrows player ###s vision to look at Mother Earth.]

Oddly, Persephones legend did not immediately obey Mother Earths request. Even though the legends of the Gigantes like Typhon and Syceus urged her, Persephones legend did not budge.

Daughter, what is wrong? Hurry and kill those wicked beings and free your mother! Mother Earth soon realized that something was off with Persephone. She frowned and screamed.

[After tracing her history, Persephones legend wishes to ask Mother Earth something.]

[Persephones legend asks Mother Earth if she ever loved her.]

Wh-what are you trying to get at?

[Typhons legend is indignant about the nonsensical question.]

[Syceus legend declares that the queen has lost her mind and should be overthrown.]

[Persephones legend has succeeded in suppressing the other legends!]

[Persephones legend had an opportunity to revisit her past while she was in the process of being devoured.]

[Persephones legend declares that she was rescued by Mother Earth as a child, became Mother Earths daughter, and was set free.]

[Persephones legend states that she has one question after reviewing her past. I always heard that I was free, but have I ever been free as the daughter of Mother Earth?]

[Persephones legend continues this line of questioning. Isnt it possible that I lived as a puppet rather than a free individual? Maybe it was a mistake to think that Hades made me into a puppet?]

[Persephones legend continues her line of questioning. All I wanted was to see was the sky, the earth, the forest, and the river, but Ive never seen any of them, have I?]

[Persephones legend continues to ask question after question]

[Persephones legend]

Stop! Stop! Mother Earth screamed as she watched the messages pop up one after the other. Didnt I already tell you everything you wanted to know?

[Persephones legend is holding back all her questions and asks Mother Earth one thing: Mother, did you ever love me?]

Of course! Who could love you more than this mother of yours! Your birth mother used you as a puppet and your husband imprisoned you like a bird in a cage. Who opened the door of that birdcage?

Mother Earth tried to smile, but she found it difficult to maintain a kind expression with her anger. When Persephone had first met Mother Earth, Mother Earths expression had been benevolent.

[Persephones legend is silent for a moment.]

[Persephones legend poses a different question to Mother Earth. Do you know what my favorite drink is?]

Wh-what does that? Mother Earth was having trouble maintaining her benevolent expression.

[Persephones legend asks Mother Earth a question: Whats my favorite color?]

[Persephones legend asks Mother Earth another question: What constellation do I like to gaze at?]

Ah, dear. Mother Earth was at a loss but tried not to show it. As she glared at Persephone, Mother Earth said in a sullen tone, Dear. Do you have something against your mother? Are you saddened that I couldnt respond to your call for help when this evil child devoured you?

It was the same tone that Mother Earth used when she had first visited Persephone. It matched the fantasies of a perfect mother that Persephone had always imagined. Just seeing and hearing Mother Earths voice warmed Persephones heart. However, Mother Earth was burning up inside as she tried to keep up the act.

All the other Gigantes legends were tied to Persephones legend, and they couldnt move. This unexpected situation had stopped Gaias Curse, and Mother Earth would not be able to defeat Yeon-woo if this continued. Mother Earth had to convince Persephone. However, no matter what Mother Earth said or what expression she put on, Persephones legend did not budge.

That! When Mother Earth was about to say something

[Hades legend slowly raises his head.]

A legend that had been quiet the entire time now rose.

[Persephones legend is startled to see Hades legend.]

[Hades legend answers that her favorite drink is flower tea.]

[Hades legend says that Persephones favorite color is yellow because it made her think of spring. He says that Persephone gazed at the Orion constellation because she yearned for freedom and passionate love, which the constellation signified.]

[Persephones legend is silent.]

[Hades legend looks at Persephones legend and states, I know everything about you.]

[Persephones legend remains silent.]

[Persephones legend speaks while looking at Hades legend. Youre such a foolish person]

[Persephones legend quietly crumbles to the ground, bringing down all the legends she is connected to.]

[Persephones legend and the legends associated with her have shattered and scattered.]

[Gaias Curse has failed!]

Ack! Yeon-woo could feel the force pressing down on his neck suddenly release, and his breath returned. As the overflowing, chaotic magic power slowly subsided, his blurred vision grew clear. He saw that Mother Earth was in shock.

No, thats absurd!

Yeon-woo quickly took advantage and pulled the chain that he held in his left hand. Clatter! Mother Earth hurriedly turned her head to counter Yeon-woo, but the chains around her tightened, accompanied by the sound of a pulley turning.

Bam! The chains ruthlessly ripped her back and pulled out her Soulstone.Yeon-woo reached out with his left hand to Soulstone. Although he didnt know why things had ended up that way, he was aware that Hades, whom he could consider his older brother, had given him an opportunity. Yeon-woo would not lose it.

[Hades Spirit Eating Sword is attempting to devour the Soulstone (Luxuria)!]

[Your Sin Stone (SuperbiaGula) is trying to merge with the Soulstone (Luxuria).]