Ostara quickly got up, "Eurona is hiding in a cave in the forest park!"
Lin Xiang and Lorelei immediately put down their teacups and set off for the forest park.
The abundant rainfall had caused the fir trees in the forest to grow tall, and the clearings beneath them were covered with ferns. A gentle breeze carried moist air, condensing into thick fog on the mountaintop.
The higher they walked, the more profound the silence became. This forest park was rarely visited, with only the park rangers on their fixed patrols and some hiking enthusiasts who came to camp on the mountain.
Lin Xiang stepped on the thick, damp moss, extending her fingers to trace through the fog. The power of destiny, permeating the mist, concealed the arrival of the three goddesses, shielding Eurona from their presence.
As the three goddesses approached, the anomalies in the forest could no longer be hidden from their eyes. Lin Xiang had smelled the fishy odor from afar. A large area around the cave ahead was devoid of any life; birds and beasts avoided it, and even the chirping of insects was absent.
The spring water flowing from the rock crevices, under the Sea God's command, silently flowed backward. Threads of causality wove through the trees, forming an invisible net.
Lorelei was the first to advance. The Rhine Nymph, with her brilliant golden hair, slowly parted her lips and sang a sorrowful ballad.
From within the cave, hurried footsteps soon echoed. Over a dozen children, their eyes vacant, walked towards Lorelei. Humans were powerless against the Rhine Nymph's song, and the unsuspecting Eurona was momentarily stunned by it.
Ostara swiftly moved to protect the children who had left the cave, her body radiating a dazzling light that blocked Eurona, who was attempting to reclaim her sacrifices.
The goddesses' objective was to capture the weeping woman alive. Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, Eurona turned to flee, but Lin Xiang emerged from the fog, blocking her path.
Although the dense threads of causality were obscured by the mist, Eurona instinctively sensed danger and cautiously retreated a few steps.
Behind her was the approaching Lorelei, before her was Lin Xiang of unknown depth, and beside her, Ostara watched with predatory intent. Cornered by the three goddesses, Eurona had little chance of escape.
Eurona remained silent, then suddenly accelerated towards Lin Xiang, as if certain that the unknown goddess before her was the breakthrough!
Eurona's action was within the three goddesses' expectations. If their sole aim was to kill Eurona, Lorelei alone could have accomplished it.
However, capturing Eurona alive was a different matter, and the balance was difficult to maintain. If Eurona was intent on dying during the fight, it would be easy for her to do so. If they used too much force, Eurona might find an opportunity to escape, as she could resurrect through faith.
But if they were too restrained during the fight, it would undoubtedly give Eurona a chance to slip away.
Lin Xiang, prepared for this, abruptly raised her hand. A water pillar, charged for a long time, struck Eurona, sending her flying back into the encirclement.
The three goddesses cautiously narrowed their circle, Lorelei's song never ceasing, constantly interfering with Eurona's thoughts.
Eurona attempted to break out of the encirclement several times but was stopped by Lin Xiang and Ostara. As time passed, Eurona's consciousness gradually blurred, and finally, she could no longer hold on, collapsing onto the ground.
Lin Xiang acted swiftly, binding Eurona tightly with invisible threads of causality.
Looking at the unconscious Eurona, Lin Xiang unceremoniously divided her already weak divinity. The authority of drowning was not something Lin Xiang valued, and she casually handed it over to Lorelei, who also possessed the power of drowning.
Following the causal link she had established with Eurona, Lin Xiang traced her past memories and saw Giselle.
Unexpectedly, the mastermind behind Giselle's disappearance was not the feathered serpent god Kukulkan, as Lin Xiang had initially believed, but a goddess in a pink evening gown.
This unknown goddess seemed to have spotlights focused on her, and her every move was like an actress in a film.
The Media Goddess!
This goddess, who controlled news and media, held the lifeline of deities born from stories. Her power could alter any written record, and Eurona had likely obeyed her to gain more dissemination resources for the story of the weeping woman.
Lin Xiang immediately thought of this prominent figure among the new gods. Since this involved a conflict between the new and old gods, it was crucial not to act rashly.
Ostara, who had reached the same conclusion, had a grim expression but could say nothing due to her awkward position.
Lorelei crushed the golden comb in her hand, filled with indignation, "No matter what, I will save Giselle!"
"Then she is yours," Lin Xiang said, pointing to the cocoon-bound Eurona, and turned to leave without hesitation.
Ostara hesitated, wanting to say something to detain Lin Xiang, but ultimately sighed and stepped aside, allowing Lin Xiang to take away the abducted children.
Behind these children stood the deities of their respective civilizations. The continuous disappearances during this period had already caught the attention of the gods. Lin Xiang was curious about their reactions when they saw, from their followers' memories, that Eurona was the one who had abducted them. The helpless Lorelei would undoubtedly seek Odin's assistance this time. The king of the Norse gods, whose legends were preserved in Germanic and Celtic mythology, with his vast network, would not miss this opportunity to strike at the new gods. This series of chain reactions would inevitably escalate the conflict between the two factions.
Furthermore, returning these children would earn them a considerable favor. Lin Xiang naturally accepted Ostara's goodwill with a smile.
Upon returning to the Empress Temple, Mazu's expression grew more severe upon hearing of the Media Goddess's involvement.
"This is already a very dangerous signal," Mazu said with a solemn expression. "They are beginning to shake the very foundation of our existence!"
After speaking, she picked up her phone and handed it to Lin Xiang. Seeing the amber alert on the phone, Lin Xiang instantly understood the Media Goddess's motives.
Posters, billboards, television, and various media outlets were broadcasting news of missing children. Residents in the vicinity of the children's last known locations had received related text messages, including photos, names, and contact information.
What a classic case of the thief crying "Stop thief!"
Lin Xiang's brow furrowed into a knot, "Some of the faith placed in us will inevitably be lost."
"Truly, the ignorant are fearless!" Lin Xiang's eyes were filled with ferocity. "They are, after all, newly born and lack a foundation, daring to use such tricks that can only fool believers."
Regardless of how the children were found, their parents and relatives would instinctively believe that the internet and media played a role, and their faith in the gods would naturally shift to the media.
The new gods greedily absorbed faith, disregarding the causality intertwined with it. This was a path to destruction!
"Good and evil will eventually be rewarded; it's only a matter of time." Mazu sighed, "Her time is short. She will soon be consumed by causality!"