GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

The strength of the ban on his name is more powerful than his order for space to freeze in the mortal realm because it has a localized effect. Instead of all his power spreading throughout the mortal realm, it focuses on whoever is trying to utter, write, or communicate his name through any means. Only a Celestial god can bypass that ban. So he was surprised that a god knows it when that god should be a new god. It made him worry about how powerful the hidden god really is. He was also chilled when he saw how that god descended onto that transcendent to utter his name.

A god can use others as their avatars only if they are an accommodating vessel for that god. The best accommodating vessels are ones that have been bestowed divinity. But mana entities are too weak to be useful as vessels while transcendents absorb divinity very well and wouldn't become a vessel for a god.

So a vessel is rare and precious. They are protected as valuable assets by their gods. Imagine his surprise to find out that the dragon he was talking to is a vessel. A vessel's identity should be kept a secret, not like Harkam and his troublesome Celestial. He expected better from the hidden god. What's worse is that the hidden god gave him that knowledge freely by taunting him with another knowledge that it knows his real name.

The knowledge of his name means the hidden god might be privy to some sensitive information about his past. He decided there and there that the hidden god and its machinations must be eradicated. The fact that the hidden god can descend with a transcendent as a vessel rang warning bells in Zernon's mind. He couldn't allow the god to continue its rampage in the mortal realm.

"Bore worms. What an insult." He said with bitterness.

He can still remember the disgusting wiggling worms. More than his fear of the hidden god and his anger at the exposure of his name is the unsightly situation he saw when he met that transcendent. Instead of respect and cowering since he caught them red-handed, he got disrespect and embarrassment. His dignity was tarnished and he was exposed to the shame of his race.

It is a disgrace to him and his race to find out that one of the mana entities to be transformed into a demigod is a bore worm. Of all the things to have a chance at becoming a demigod, a parasite is the most disgraceful option. Something that used to rely on them for its continued existence in the most abominable way should not be granted divinity.

The revelation is an insult and will bring down the honor of the divine if such a thing becomes a god. How can he live with himself as the Celestial Supreme when a parasite of the giants of order joins the ranks of the divine? It has to be stopped immediately and the possibility uprooted at the roots. All this anger and humiliation fueled his rage and his determination to start a war. He doesn't mind the expenditure of the immense undertaking because of his anger.

"We will see what is going on in that ant hill soon." He said as he turned his sight to where it all began.

A seemingly normal occurrence and opportunity for a heroic quest turned into a scheme to destroy the order of the world. He can't wait to see what is going on within the tunnels of the ant tunnel and he will get his wish soon enough. The Colossus he sent is about to get there.

Back to Helios.

He was bonded, gagged, blinded, and traded over to the enemy by the gods he believed in and has been assisting faithfully. It was a betrayal of the highest order. It is true that demigods are tools for entertainment, but this time, the gods went too far. They turned a demigod into a commodity for their benefit.

The royal guards took him into the ant mound where the gods are sure he would be suffering immensely. The gaunt features of the demigods that had spent 120 years within the ant mound are enough to clue one in about the "special treatment" that Helios will receive.

They expect his flesh will be removed from his body painfully and with enough care to keep him alive. They expect that his mind will be broken by the pain just like the others. They expect that the story of Helios the son of the sun will end with his capture. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong. All their expectations wet subverted.

Helios did receive special treatment. He was carried with care through the tunnels down into the central room. He laid back leisurely on the back of one of the royal guards as if he is not in enemy territory. He was treated like an honored guest who hasn't killed any one of them.

"Hurry it up. A colossus is coming for your queen. We don't have time to dilly dally." He said from his position on the back of a royal guard.

It is not a comfortable position to be in. Diamond carapace doesn't make for comfortable resting material. Unfortunately, it is the only one he can get on such short notice and in this dilapidated condition. Ants aren't exactly known for luxury. His current living condition is worse than his restricted, yet luxurious accommodation in the sun city. So maybe the gods are right about him being tortured.

But is enough for him. Certainly, enough for him to forget his betrayal and mistreatment. That is old news. He played his part and the gods played theirs. Of course, they will pay for their transgression but it is nothing personal. It's just business.

The royal guards hurried up and brought him to the central room where he was dropped in front of the plant spirit like the most precious of cargo.