OP Sister Chapter 543: Kronos Heart

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Kronos.

Just as Zeus had slain him, Kronos had slain his own father, the sky itself, Ouranos.

Taking the Throne of the Sky from him, Kronos’s tyrannical rule as the Titan God King began.

With absolute authority and power, he extended his dominion over the earthly planes and realms.

Yet a prophecy shattered his mind…

His children would one day overthrow him.

Desperate, he sought to devour them all!

But, tricked by his wife, he missed one, swallowing a stone instead.

Thus began Zeus’s tale, one that Anna could not see but already knew.

After eons, Zeus returned, now grown, to challenge his father.

Kronos fought with all his might. Although he didn’t perish immediately as in the myths, Zeus opened his stomach, freed his siblings, and escaped with them to form Olympus.

From there, Zeus and his siblings had many children, creating a vast and powerful Nebula within the Cosmos.

Meanwhile, Kronos, bitter and distrustful, withdrew to his own Realm, accompanied only by a few loyal Titans.

Then the Titanomachy erupted, and the great war between Titans and Gods of Olympus began in earnest.

Kronos led his Titans and thousands of Gigantes, Hecatoncheires, Krakens, and other giant beasts, clashing against Zeus and his Gods of Olympus.

The war initially favored Kronos, and the Titan rejoiced, as his almighty power far surpassed Zeus’s Thunder.

However, a golden light suddenly pierced his stomach, as gods not from his Domain emerged—alien gods invited by Zeus.

Anna could sense Kronos’s resentment as he watched in disbelief how his detestable son had enlisted forces of gods uninvolved in their family disputes!

Gilgamesh and Enkidu, among others, rushed into the battlefield, turning the tide in Zeus’s favor.

Together with Zeus, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slew Kronos, the Titan consumed by resentment, as even his grasp over the concept of Time could not save him.

The last thing he recalled in his eternal bitterness was Gilgamesh’s laughter and Enkidu’s calm, peaceful expression as his long green hair waved in the wind.

“Ah!”

Anna’s eyes opened wide, awakening from a dream-like state where she had partially lived through Kronos’s history.

It felt both bizarre and enlightening.

Then she sensed it and saw it.

Deep within her Dao Root, inside her Dao Aperture, within the Natal Root, tied to her soul, lay half of Kronos’s Heart, a glowing cosmic crystal brimming with immense power.

Most of it remained sealed for her safety, however.

“Now I’ve made enough space. Let’s merge your System Seed into Kronos’s Heart,” Gilgamesh said. “Once that’s done, you’ll finally be free! Haha, I haven’t had this much fun in a long while. This king is pleased.”

“Inside?” Anna asked.

“Yes!” Gilgamesh said, nodding. “I have tapped into the treasure you possessed, expanded its circuits, and comprehended some of it, but most of its components remain mysterious. A powerful Constellation created this…”

“How strong?” Anna asked.

“Such a level of intricate art and power could only have been crafted by someone in the Realm of Transcendent Mythos or beyond,” Gilgamesh replied.

“…!”

Anna recalled who had given her this seed.

The Jester, who worked for [], whom Anna assumed might be the “Author.”

However, she wasn’t certain, so she refrained from telling Gilgamesh these details, as even she wasn’t sure if what she believed was truly the truth.

“This shouldn’t hurt… However, grit your teeth.”

Gilgamesh used his formation to place the slightly repaired and upgraded System Seed into Kronos’s Heart, infusing it with his power.

FLUOSH!

Kronos’s Heart reacted wildly, attempting to reject the System Seed, but it gradually calmed as the seed spread its roots inside, reconnecting with Anna.

BBZZZTTT!

Yet Anna could only see glitching messages and incomprehensible numbers and letters.

It appeared only slightly more comprehensible than before…

Her System still struggled.

“It’s back online, but… it’s still glitched,” Anna sighed.

“Yes, I am no Heavenly Father, so I can’t fully repair it. I merely addressed issues like energy leakage,” Gilgamesh said. “However, as you grow and develop Kronos’s Heart, it should repair the System Seed as both assimilate.”

“Is that truly possible?” Anna asked, surprised.

“Tch, of course it is! When will you stop doubting this king?” Gilgamesh sighed. “I am a master at creating Dao Treasures! Anyway, it’s done! How do you feel?”

Gilgamesh glanced at Anna as she sat slowly, feeling dizzy, sensing a strange silver spark gleaming from her hands.

It was a small spark, but it was the power of Kronos’s Heart!

“The power of time, huh?” Anna gazed at the spark glowing in her hands. “With this… returning home might be possible!”

“Indeed,” Gilgamesh nodded. “Moreover, if you create a specific technique, cosmic art, skill, or magic that harnesses Time, you could further develop and evolve Kronos’s Heart’s powers.”

“Really?!” Anna exclaimed. “Then…”

Anna recalled the “Unique Swordsmanship” she had been trying to master as a Sword Master when Gram merged with her.

Then she remembered Sepa and Bastet.

Her Familiars, including Fang Shuan, resided in her Purgatory Realm, inaccessible for now.

However, those within her body should be accessible.

Yet they had remained in a deep slumber since Anna arrived here, for reasons unknown.

Perhaps they, too, had taken significant damage to protect her during her fall, and, like Fenrir, their power had diminished greatly.

For a moment, Anna feared the worst possible outcome.

“Your Majesty, may this foolish Apostle ask one final favor?” Anna pleaded.

“What? Another favor? This one will cost you. You’ll owe me something,” Gilgamesh said, smiling. “Ask.”

“Well…”

Anna explained the situation regarding Gram, Sepa, and Bastet.

Gilgamesh was genuinely shocked to learn that two Constellations resided within her Cosmic Heart.

And that she was a Sword Master!

“You’re a Sword Master?! I had no idea! Hahaha! You should’ve told me earlier! Being a Sword Master is a big deal even here, you know?” Gilgamesh laughed. “Anyway, about the two Constellations… I couldn’t sense them myself but let me check.”

Gilgamesh transformed his hand into ethereal golden light and pierced Anna’s chest.

There, he reached her Cosmic Heart, and then…

Having reached Rank 3, her heart glowed with a golden radiance.

Deep within, he sensed two small entities in deep slumber.

“I see what happened. Indeed, like this dog here, they expended considerable power to protect you,” he said. “As for the slumbering sword, you need to hunt, spar, and exercise to restore your vitality to a certain level, and he should awaken.”

“I see… I’m relieved about Gram, but what about Sepa and Bastet?! Are they Stardust Fragments too?!” Anna asked.

“Well, in my eyes, they technically were already… However, their Consciousness seems untouched. I also sense a deep connection between them and your Unique Radiance,” Gilgamesh said. “Hmm! This King knows a way to awaken them. It should not be too difficult!”

“What?” Anna asked.

“Ascend to a Radiant Giant!” Gilgamesh declared. “Once you do, your Influence will grow tremendously, and your Tale will expand in Scale and Emotion, stirring them to awaken, as they’re deeply connected to your Cosmic Heart.”

“You’re suggesting I reach Rank 4?!” Anna gasped. “It’s not that easy, Your Majesty!”

“Hm? What’s difficult about something so simple?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re already Rank 3! With Kronos’s Heart, any tale you forge now will gain a bonus to its Emotional Gravity and Mythological Depth. Didn’t this great king tell you it would strengthen your foundation?”

“I had no idea Dao Treasures could do that…!” Anna exclaimed. “So they can provide bonuses when I develop my Fables, allowing me to cultivate faster?”

“Yes!” Gilgamesh nodded. “Now, let’s go outside. I love gazing at my glorious treasure, but this place suffocates even me. Bring your dog. We’re visiting Buddha. I’ll give him a piece of my mind for not introducing you to me sooner.”

“Wait! Your Majesty, don’t get mad…!” Anna followed as they stepped through Gilgamesh’s golden portal.

Fenrir ran behind Anna, carrying a small red necklace he had found, glowing with a mysterious light…

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.

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“Hm.”

Ares gazed at the dark night sky, sensing the faint presence of a dangerous Constellation lurking nearby.

However, noticing how Siddhartha handled her, he relaxed and walked toward his destination on the city’s outskirts—a small building constructed from wood, stone, glass, and whatever materials they could find.

Surrounded by a vast garden of flowers, forests, and other plants, with a large farm behind it where the building’s residents could grow food, it stood apart.

Ares approached the place, an orphanage, the only one in this world.

As he drew near, several children ran out, spotting his return.

“It’s Uncle Ares!”

“Uncle Ares is back!”

Many of the children were Stardust Fragments, small remnants left when great Constellations perish, most with barely any memories of their past lives due to losing their Story in the process.

The other half were young Constellations, barely at Rank 3 or 4, born from couples who perished in the great catastrophe that left this realm in ruins.

The Constellation children, of all shapes and sizes, greeted Ares with adorable, innocent smiles.

Starlight shone brightly in their eyes.

“Hello, kids,” Ares said, smiling gently as several hugged him.

He was deeply beloved at the orphanage, having built it with his own hands.

Initially, he created it to provide a place where the Stardust Fragments of his family could grow safely.

Among them was a girl with short white hair and golden eyes, beaming at Ares with a cheerful smile.

“Uncle, uncle! Look what I can do!”

The girl released a burst of electric energy from her tiny hands, startling Ares.

“Oh?! Well done! You’re already grasping the power of thunder, aren’t you, Zeia?”

Zeia was clearly the Stardust Fragment of Zeus after his death.

Ares couldn’t believe it when everything was devastated.

Amid the chaos, a child’s cry had rung out.

His father had crumbled to dust, but from that dust, a baby emerged, crying.

Born from the last of Zeus’s energy, instead of reincarnating, he chose to create a daughter to leave in this world, passing his spark to her.

Why had he made this choice?

Why hadn’t he simply reincarnated with his memories?

Ares always pondered this, tormented by his father’s strange decision.

“She’s not as good as me!”

A boy with long blue hair stepped forward, his large blue eyes glowing as he conjured a small sphere of water that split into tiny bubbles.

“There!”

“Hahaha! Well done, Triton!”

The boy was Poseidon’s Stardust Fragment.

Then another girl approached, with long pink hair and charming golden eyes.

“Uncle~! Did you bring yummy food today? I want something sweet!”

She was a spoiled little brat whom Ares always indulged, as she knew how to charm him with her cuteness.

That cunning personality persisted even in her Stardust Fragment…

“Hahaha, I brought some sweets, Harmonia. But promise to share with everyone, alright?”

Harmonia was Aphrodite’s Stardust Fragment, inheriting her charm, cuteness, and slightly manipulative nature.

“Hmph! Do I? But I’m the cutest!” Harmonia pouted adorably, trying to melt Ares’s heart, but it didn’t work. “I deserve all the candy, right? Right, Uncle?”

“Hahaha! Don’t be selfish,” Ares laughed heartily, carrying the children on his shoulders as he walked back to the orphanage. “I’m back!”

Inside, more children greeted him, along with a tall woman wearing a pristine kimono of white, red, and purple, paired with tall red wooden sandals.

She had long black hair and gentle red eyes, smiling at Ares with motherly warmth.

“Ah, Ares! Welcome back.”

“Kishimojin… Ah, yes, I’m back.”

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