The changes in the Sea of Chaos.
For most deities, these changes are unknown. After all, any deity capable of sensing the shifts within the Sea of Chaos is, at a minimum, at the level of a God-King. And even then, deities like Keres, Karsus, and Moyle—powerful God-Kings themselves—only understand a tiny fraction of what is happening.
The deeper, more fundamental transformations within the Sea of Chaos remain shrouded in mystery. Even God-Kings only grasp fragments of these changes; after all, a God-King is still just that—a God-King. The late Lord of the Underworld himself was a God-King, yet his godhood was fundamentally different from that of the other God-Kings and cannot be compared.
In short, all God-Kings are aware that the Sea of Chaos is indeed undergoing change. But this awareness only leads to a temporary pause, or perhaps a begrudging acceptance. Understanding the situation doesn't grant them control; they can only watch and wait.
Thus, every God-King and every godly world within the Mythic Realms now confronts a situation they are powerless to change, one that seems predestined. The gods of the Underworld, however, have one advantage: they are backed by their supreme Lord of the Underworld. Following him, they often don't need to think for themselves; as long as they follow their lord, it's enough.
Right or wrong? In a way, it doesn't matter. Each deity has its own choices, and that freedom is what's most significant. The gods of the Underworld have the privilege of choice, but for many deities or God-Kings, this is not the case.
Admittedly, the number of God-Kings is not large. Even spread across the mythic worlds, their numbers are still relatively few. However, considering the vast expanse of the Sea of Chaos and the unknown number of mythic worlds within it, their numbers are also quite impressive.
The Sea of Chaos is endless, and no one, not even an Absolute God, knows exactly how many mythic worlds exist within it. Each Absolute God has created countless worlds, sometimes replicating versions of mythologies like those of the Greek pantheon, spanning across time and space in ways impossible to fully comprehend.
Thus, while God-Kings are mighty, when multiplied across infinite worlds, their numbers become surprisingly vast. Each God-King, Ancient God, and deity waits patiently, especially those with even a sliver of understanding of the unfolding events. For they know this is an unprecedented opportunity, a chance for transformative change.
This is not a miracle, but a genuine opportunity. It's a chance that could lead to upheaval among the gods—a pivotal moment. If seized, this could lead to monumental change, setting the stage for what's truly essential.
And so, the Underworld waits, alongside the other realms, for that opportunity.
In the Underworld, divine power roils, and the terrifying energy of God-Kings begins to spread. A primordial force resonates, akin to Gaia and Uranus, embodying both the sky and the earth's essence. Now, the Underworld itself is giving rise to similar sources of creation.
These two emerging God-Kings represent only the beginning; their journey is far from over. The future paths of these two entities will grow wider and brighter, promising perfection. For them, the title of God-King is merely a starting point; their true destination lies in the Ancient God's realm.
Hypnos, the God of Sleep, opens his eyes. Becoming a God-King feels as natural as breathing, an effortless achievement. With his ascension, he stands at the pinnacle of God-Kings, as Typhon once did. He's just a step—or perhaps a half-step—away from reaching the ultimate rank of Ancient God.
"Is this what it feels like to be a God-King?" Hypnos speaks quietly. The power he now wields cannot be described; it is a power beyond words, unimaginable in its intensity. But this is reality.
Hypnos, now a God-King, gathers his vast power, containing it within. Without a display of force, he silently fortifies his dominion, stabilizing his realm. Unlike other deities of the Underworld, Hypnos's essence has transformed upon becoming a God-King. He is now the God of the Sky and Sleep, with his former dominion over sleep becoming secondary.
Meanwhile, Thanatos, his brother and the God of Death, ascends alongside him.
Thanatos, in contrast to Hypnos's calm, erupts with exuberance. Though refined over millennia, Thanatos still cannot suppress his excitement, bursting into laughter. But after a moment, he too restrains his energy, understanding the need to contain his joy.
While the Lord of the Underworld allows his deities a high degree of freedom, Thanatos's parents would likely scold him for undue arrogance. Despite his strength, he's well aware that he stands no chance against the discipline they could impose.
Now, Hypnos and Thanatos have ascended to their places as God-Kings. With the embodiment of Sky and Earth established, the next to follow will be those who wield the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth.
Ba'al, Behemoth, Astaroth, and Asmodeus, deities wielding control over these elements, are on the verge of similar ascensions. They are close to fully mastering these primordial forces, needing only a little more time.
Ever since the Dark Realm was incorporated into the Underworld, Erebus and Nyx, the Ancient God couple, have lived reclusively, rarely leaving their domain. They spend their days observing the Underworld's growth and watching as their children and Hades himself grow stronger. Each advancement brings them genuine joy.
Erebus smiles, a trace of sentiment in his voice. "That rascal Thanatos has finally grown up. At least he knows not to overdo it, or he would have regretted it."
"Yes," Nyx adds with a soft smile. "The Underworld has ascended again. Hypnos and Thanatos have taken their places as God-Kings of Sky and Earth. Who knows what will come next?"
"No one knows," she continues with a gentle, joyful smile. "But one thing's for sure: the future will only grow more and more remarkable."
The couple's satisfaction is clear; they take pride in the Underworld's progress. Watching Hades grow stronger and the Underworld flourish brings them happiness.
Erebus chuckles softly. "Indeed. Now, we just need to wait for the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth to take their places."
As he speaks, a surge of power emerges, similar to the divine forces that accompanied Hypnos and Thanatos's ascensions. This is the energy of water, fire, wind, and earth, marking the ascension of these deities as they master their respective elements.
The Underworld trembles with excitement, reveling in this moment. In the beginning, the Underworld lacked something fundamental—the six pillars of Sky, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth. Now that these entities have ascended, the Underworld is set to ascend once more.
Though this rise may not match previous milestones, it's still significant, marking another essential step forward in the Underworld's growth.
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