Devil Slave (Satan system)

Chapter 1126: Ares Has A Plan

Ares nodded, his voice filled with conviction. "I agree, and that is why I have another suggestion—one we’ve always desired, but never acted upon. We should claim the Eighth Earth. Make it ours. No more sharing it with the lowly humans," he added, spitting the last words with clear disdain.

Odin’s one eye fixed a deep gaze on him. "You know what you’re asking, don’t you? The only way to make the Eighth Earth the home of the gods is if we..."

"Eliminate the Lenny family," Ares interjected smoothly. The murmurs grew louder among the gods, the air suddenly thick with tension.

Demeter, who had been silent until now, stood abruptly. Her voice cut through the murmurs like a blade. "We would be biting the hand that fed us!" she exclaimed. "The Lenny family saved us when we were dying."

Ares inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her protest. "I’m aware, Demeter. But consider this: if we don’t act, the Leviathan family will come for the Eighth Earth. When they do, the humans who now praise and worship us will be slaughtered. All our efforts, all our restoration, will vanish, lost in the blood of war. Everything we’ve built will be swept away like dust."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. His deep voice rumbled like distant thunder as he continued. "I suggest we act swiftly. We must do what is necessary to survive. Or have you forgotten the days we were reduced to living off the scraps of the Ninth Earth? I still have nightmares of those dark years. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I refuse to go back to that life."

This time, the murmurs were quieter, and many of the gods nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting the same memories of weakness and desperation. The air felt heavy, the scent of molten gold mingling with an almost tangible sense of dread.

Demeter frowned, her displeasure clear as she addressed the assembly again. "Assuming your plan succeeds, and we eliminate the Lenny family, we will still have to face the demon families. Shouldn’t we unite and fend them off first? A battle with the Lenny family will only weaken us further."

Ares grinned, his massive form casting a long shadow over the golden floor. "That’s a good point, Demeter, and one I’ve already considered. First of all, we don’t need to engage in open conflict with the Lenny family. Our influence has spread across the Eighth Earth, and their faith has grown weaker. We can have our priests work to sway the populace. As for the Lenny family, we hold two of their core members here, training on this very mountain. They can be... persuaded." He allowed the word to linger, his smile widening.

The gods were silent, hanging on his every word as he continued. "Secondly, although I do enjoy a good battle," he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, the metal gleaming under the golden light, "we don’t have to fight. We can use those family members to pressure the rest. Once they surrender, we take control of the plane’s core and inscribe the Runic Mark of our mountain upon it." He turned toward Odin, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "Then, we declare the *Odin Sleep.*"

The hall was quiet for a moment, save for the rustling of divine banners. Demeter’s frown deepened, her gaze sharp and calculating. "The *Odin Sleep* is a holy tool wielded only by the All-Father. You’re suggesting bathing an entire plane in it? Ridiculous!" She chuckled, but the echo of her laughter fell flat in the room. The gods were not laughing. Her eyes widened as she realized they were seriously considering Ares’ suggestion.

Odin stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "Hmmm. That is one way to approach the matter."

Demeter turned on him, incredulous. "But the *Odin Sleep* on an entire primary plane is... it’s madness!"

"Actually," Odin began, his voice calm but filled with authority, "it’s possible." He leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "The Odin Sleep is a unique, Holy tool. Once declared, it will place the entire plane in stasis for a thousand years. Not even an Eveningstar’s power could break it. This will isolate the Eighth Earth, allowing us time to grow, to strengthen ourselves. However..." He paused, surveying the gathered gods. "Once the Odin Sleep is cast, not even I can undo it. And," his voice grew solemn, "I do not have enough faith to extend its reach across an entire primary plane. I will need more."

Odin’s gaze swept across the assembly, his meaning clear. The gods would need to contribute their own faith to make the *Odin Sleep* possible.

"If it’s for our survival, I’ll contribute my faith!" one god suddenly declared. Then another, and another, their voices rising in agreement. Soon, nearly all the gods had pledged their support, their divine auras glowing brighter with determination.

Demeter turned toward Ares, her brow furrowed with suspicion. She knew him well—this god of war was not one for intricate schemes. He was a fighter, one who thrived in battle, not diplomacy. If Ares was proposing a solution that didn’t involve bloodshed, there had to be something more at play. Something deeper, and possibly darker.

After all, a god that had his faith and power grow with warfare proposing peace was like a pig rejecting the mud.

It just did not add up. But there was nothing she could do about the opinions of the gods. it would seem like what was going to happen next would be inevitable.

Ares stood there, his large form still, but his eyes glinted with a dangerous light, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Demeter sighed, her unease growing. Whatever Ares was planning, it was far from over.

.....

Meanwhile on the Eighth earth, many things were happening. Time had gone by, and years had passed since the reign of the demons over human life.

Demeter was actually prospering. After all, humans were filling up the earth and with the efforts of the Lenny family...