It was used to replace the descendants of gods who were not born of Gaia.

Athena was not able to tell him where these gods came from.

Earlier, when Victor asked Zeus about deeper matters concerning Chaos...

Judging from Zeus's expression, he couldn't say anything more.

However, Zeus, now nearing death, used a word that was extremely unusual in this world.

He called this world a 'game'.

For Viktor, isn't this just a game?

But what about the others?

Whether it's Leah, Henney, or Gwen, in their eyes, this is a real world.

Even the Archmage and Chaos never considered this world as a 'game'.

Victor wanted to ask Zeus how he knew all this.

However, when he looked up at the sky,

But the untraceable lightning grew even more intense, the flashing arcs and light even obscuring the pouring sunlight.

In the past, such a thunderous performance would have astonished countless viewers.

But this time, no one in the audience gasped in surprise.

Not only the audience's cheers, but everything around seemed to fall silent; even the air seemed to freeze.

The lush green grass that was originally swaying in the wind was frozen in place, and the wildflowers that were blooming in disarray were also still.

Only the lightning in the sky continued to gather in this stillness, as if it would strike down on Zeus's head at any moment.

Time seemed to have been paused.

Everyone was unable to move, including Vulcan behind Victor.

At this moment and in this place, only he and Zeus were still able to maintain their movements.

But why is it that even he can act?

Viktor recalled that when he questioned Zeus earlier, he had also experienced a momentary pause in time.

At that moment, he saw a sudden flash of gibberish on Zeus's face.

But apart from him, no one around noticed Zeus's unusual behavior.

At this moment, Viktor seemed to have thought of something.

He looked down, followed the watch chain around his neck, and pulled out a silver pocket watch from his pocket.

Victor opened the silver pocket watch cover with a single finger, revealing that the two hands inside had stopped.

As if confirming something, Victor noticed that a pocket watch icon had mysteriously appeared below his status bar.

[Imperial Weapons: Together We Ride the Long River]

[Skill: Freeze - This imperial artifact can stop time. The user must select a target and remain in a time-stopped state with them for up to ten seconds.]

Users are prohibited from launching any attacks or using any skills against creatures; they are only allowed to move on foot.

[This effect has been activated - Current remaining time: 7 seconds]

The Imperial Artifact has been activated?

But the thunder from the sky was not stopped. How can this be explained?

Or is it because time was forcibly paused?

The Imperial Artifact was activated automatically to ensure that he could act during the time freeze.

And why did they choose to let him enter the time-stopping phase along with Zeus?

This also allowed Zeus to reveal more information to him during this pause.

Viktor narrowed his eyes, various guesses flashing through his mind.

But these thoughts lasted for less than a second in Viktor's mind.

Time, too, passed by a second.

6 seconds.

The lightning in the sky grew stronger and stronger, and Zeus raised his head again, his gaze fixed on Viktor, and spoke once more:

"You and I must come from the same world."

5 seconds.

"But you became a 'player'."

4 seconds.

"And I became the 'boss'."

3 seconds.

"Is it because I followed the rules?"

2 seconds.

"Or rather,"

1 second.

"You are the one who was implanted..."

0 seconds.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning suddenly appeared high in the sky and hurtled down at an imperceptible speed, striking heavily toward Zeus's head.

Zeus, too, didn't have time to utter the last two words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

Time resumes its flow.

The surrounding audience also started moving again, their faces showing a chaotic change.

Countless people were thrown into a state of emotional turmoil, with some expressing fear, doubt, and astonishment.

The cacophony of voices from the crowd was like drizzle stirred up by a gentle breeze, one after another, indistinct and intertwined, making it difficult to catch.

But everyone's eyes were on Viktor.

Watching him hold the knife in one hand, drops of blood continuously dripped from the blade.

Zeus's head fell to the ground along the sharp blade, rolled for a while, breaking several blades of grass, and finally came to a stop.

Zeus ultimately died at the hands of Viktor.

But no one noticed,

Viktor's expression was like the dark clouds gathering before a storm.

It was terribly gloomy.