Watching the struggling but still standing Sol, Invidia was shocked.

Envy was one of the most primordial emotions in humans. It was this feeling that allowed many to strive forward in order to reach a higher level.

Even someone at her level still felt envy.

How could someone— How could a mere mortal have a heart filled with nearly no envy?

Sol ignored all this, knowing that he could not last long,

“But— Even though I am grateful, this does not make me a slave. Nor a servitor. I have my own free will and I can act in my own way.”

“Free will?”

Invidia scoffed, getting back some of her composure, “You should know by now that there is no such thing as free will. Only predetermined outcome. What you call Freedom is nothing but a fallacy and an illusion.”

“Even if it’s so. It’s my freedom to act and fall under this fallacy and it’s my freedom to try and fight against it or subdue it. But in the end, our discussion is not a matter of Fate.”

He growled, “I have never shown anything but respect to the goddesses, and at my weakest, I had no hesitation to grovel and beg for the safety of my loved one. But even after growing stronger I have never hated nor wished to dethrone the goddesses.”

He wanted his own freedom and he wanted to stand equal to them. But only to grasp his own life in his hands rather than have his destiny be manipulated by them.

“In the end, the first one to start the hostility was none other than you and I still do not understand why so much hostility.”

“You represent a danger for us.”

“I have no intention of fighting with the goddesses.”

“You said so yourself — Who would leave their life to the whim of something they cannot control? As a King, would you let someone you cannot control live in your Kingdom?”

Sol shrugged, “I always lived with people I could not control in my kingdom.”

This was the story of his life. Even now, Ambrosia and Lilith as well as the other witches could potentially kill him.

“Those are your family and lover. But what about a stranger? What if a man who was stronger than everyone else came and stayed in your place? Would you be able to sleep with your two eyes closed, knowing that your lover could be defiled at any moment by him and that in the end there was absolutely nothing you could do?”

Invidia gave quite the brutal example but thanks to this, Sol was able to better understand her point of view. He also understood that whatever he said would not change Invidia’s mind.

She was not acting fully out of emotions, neither did she hate him and act out of malice.

She was acting in a rational way to a rational threat and there was nothing he could say about this.

But there was one mistake she made.

If she wished to antagonize him, she should have been half-assed about it. She should have killed him in one definitive blow without caring for all the protests of her sisters.

But she did not.

She was hesitating. She wished to still appear like the saint in this affair. Ruthless enough to decide to eliminate the future threats but not ruthless enough to discard all emotions or potential backlash she could encounter by following her road.

In the end — She was just half-assed.

‘How pitiful.’

If he had any respect left for the goddess, it immediately lowered by a greater amount.

He asked himself, what if the one he was facing now had been someone like Anubis or Tiamat?

The answer was more than evident. They would have exterminated him in no time without even trying to garner approval.

Those two were true powerhouse with Kingly dispositions, willing to do the dirty job with no hesitation.

One killed her children in cold blood at the slightest sign of trauison.

The others became demon kings feared in the entire universe.

The two were gods in all but name and position.

He sighed again, his eyes became cold as he lowered his head and took a few steps back, immediately feeling the pressure on his mind vanish.

Discussing further was useless.

He had no reason to remind her of her wishy-washy attitude as it was helpful to him.

Whatever she wished to do in the future was her own choice.

But he would remember it and once she stepped past the line, he would strike back with everything he had.

“I have nothing more to say.”

Invidia looked down at Sol. Her wariness increased tremendously. She had the feeling that she needed to strike him here and now. Even though this would not kill him, this would severely affect his soul and lower the chances of becoming a demigod to a great degree.

This was her place, not even her sisters could stop her in time.

If there was one thing that was stopping her — It was the rule.

A code of conduct that had stayed inviolable for thousands upon thousands of years.

Could she truly risk being the first one to break those rules?

Just for slowing down Sol’s progress?

Behind her veil, Invidia bit down her own lips as indecision filled her mind.

It was then that she felt it.

Two pairs of eyes gazing at her from beyond.

Luxuria and Castitas.

Soon other eyes opened and she knew that they were all observing her, waiting to see what actions she would take.

“This discussion is over. You simply need to know one thing, mortal— I will watch you.”

Sol simply smiled at her, “This will be my utmost honor to have the goddesses observe me.”

In the end, exasperated by everything, Invidia simply waved her hand, banishing the smiling Sol from her domain.

There was a long silence in the sanctuary before she growled.

“What? If you want to say something, do it. Otherwise, scream and leave me alone.”

No one answered and one by one, they left.

Leaving her alone in her grandiose throne room.

(Welp. This is the end of Vol 12. Wasn’t easy but it’s done. I wonder if I should add some special chapters. I will see.)