'Divine Artifacts and the Calendar.'
Faced with Ryan's request, Earth Mother did not respond immediately, but she had already agreed in her heart.
Unlike an oracle, it was a Divine Artifact born from the world itself, and it could be transferred and handed over. But the Life Treasure Bottle was Earth Mother's companion artifact, and no one could truly take it from her.
As for using the moon's changes to guide plants and the climate, Earth Mother could accept that as well. After all, the earth was the foundation of her Divine Office, and the God of Meteorology would certainly be willing to make a contribution to this cause.
"Cronus." Gaia called out in her heart. She wanted to ask her brave child's opinion.
"I can agree to his request, but what about your Three Conditions?"
At that moment, Earth Mother's belly was far from peaceful. When Ryan declared that he was the "undisputed new king," Lord of the Ocean and the Sun God could no longer hold back.
If they had known this would be the outcome, they would have stepped forward sooner. But now, they knew the matter was settled. Cronus's power was no weaker than theirs, and without the constraints of an oath, he was the most suitable Knife Wielder. Earth Mother would not choose anyone else.
"I agree." Cronus spoke to Earth Mother, and his voice echoed outside her body at the same time. He had already gained an absolute advantage, but he had also provoked his brothers' resentment. All he wanted now was a more definite Prophecy and the throne—not to bicker with his brothers inside his mother's belly.
"I am willing to agree to your Three Conditions, Your Highness Ryan. As long as they do not affect my authority as king, I will do my best to fulfill them."
Ryan nodded. Cronus's answer did not surprise him. To Cronus, if he could become the God King, he could accept any price. If he could only remain trapped in the Mother Goddess's belly, then even the smallest price would be nothing more than an empty promise.
"Very good." He smiled as he stated his first demand. "First, I want the Essence of Space-Time."
The scene fell silent for a moment. Clearly, neither Earth Mother nor the Titans had expected Ryan to make such a demand.
It was not too harsh. It was simply strange.
After a brief pause, Cronus's voice came through. He was not angry, but he was somewhat puzzled.
"A god's essence can indeed be transferred, Your Highness, but the recipient can never truly possess it. If you do not intend to become my subordinate god, then no matter how much essence I give you, it will return to me with the passage of time."
Cronus was not lying. Unless the world stripped them away, the authority of the natural gods could not be transferred. Otherwise, the God King would have long since seized the Divine Offices of the Twelve Titans. Becoming a subordinate god was the only way to transfer them for a long time, but no one would think that the Seer intended to become someone else's subordinate.
"That is my concern. Just like the Life Treasure Bottle, I need it for now, at the very least."
Ryan did not answer directly. He merely reiterated his demand.
"Very well, I agree. As the God of Space-Time, the loss of my essence will not seriously affect my power. I will give you as much as possible," Cronus promised.
Ryan nodded in satisfaction and began stating his second condition.
"Very well. The next demand concerns the future of the land beneath our feet."
"In a Prophecy I happened to witness, I saw that one day in the future, a new moon would rise in the sky. It would be a physical celestial body like the sun, and it would be more suitable than the moon I created for hanging in the heavens. So I want to find a new home for my creation."
"So you chose the Netherworld?"
"Yes." Ryan nodded in acknowledgment.
"Cronus, future God King, I want you to make the following promise: celestial bodies above the earth have physical forms, while celestial bodies beneath the earth do not. Therefore, the sun and moon with physical forms shall be in the heavens, while the sun and moon without physical forms shall be in the Netherworld. The sun symbolizes masculinity, so the sun in the heavens shall be stronger than the sun in the Netherworld. The moon symbolizes femininity, so the moon in the Netherworld shall be stronger than the moon in the heavens. The sun with a physical form was born first, so the concept of all suns shall originate from it. The moon without a physical form was born first, so the concept of all moons shall originate from it. The heavens and the underworld shall correspond to each other. This shall also be your achievement as God King."
"I agree."
Cronus did not hesitate. After all, the sun and moon had nothing to do with him, and he could even use this to ease his elder brother's jealousy toward him.
"Please state your third demand. You are always so wise."
Cronus truly found it difficult to criticize Ryan's idea. Just as with the former Calendar, although no one had accepted the Divine Office of the "year, month, and quarter," all the gods acknowledged the respect it showed them. Now, the Seer was making demands for his own creation, but Hyperion would benefit from it as well.
"Earth Mother, and all of you who are listening here."
Ryan's smile grew more genuine. He was grateful for this still-ignorant age.
"I do not know whether you have noticed, but from long ago, between heaven and earth, among all the things in the world, there have existed various special particles. They both exist and do not exist. They can affect the material of reality, and they can also shape darkness and light. They are scattered chaotically throughout heaven and earth, even right beside us."
"Yes, I can sense them," Earth Mother said. "Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire; light and darkness, wind and thunder—they are special particles possessing different kinds of power."
"But before divine power, they are as fragile as paper. Other than following the rhythm when the gods exercise their authority, I do not know what other value they possess."
Ryan smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Gaia's belittlement. What she said was not without reason. Before divine power, the strength of the elements was indeed insignificant.
But he had never intended to use them to oppose divine power.
"They will have value," Ryan said. "At the very least, controlling them will allow me, despite lacking the Divine Office of Water, to stir the waves, and despite lacking the Divine Office of Meteorology, to create wind and rain."
Gaia smiled politely, while the gods inside her belly laughed more openly.
With Gaia's isolation separating them, they had no fear of being noticed by Ryan. Ryan had led them by the nose all day, and anger had long been building in their hearts. But now, his demand finally allowed them to regain some confidence.
Yes, the God of Prophecy might be able to see Fate, but his own power was a fatal weakness.
"Weak power," Okeanos commented. "From the Calendar and the moon to his ideas today, he has always been using other methods to obtain power."
"Yes, and now he even wants to influence the climate."
Crios sneered. He was very displeased by Ryan's attempt to use the "Calendar" to control the climate. "But Divine Offices are the foundation. Those laughable little toys are meaningless."
"You cannot put it that way. At least it is an attempt, is it not? Everyone knows that the destructive power of prophetic divine power is a joke."
Because of Ryan's plans for the sun and moon, Hyperion now felt slightly less hostility toward him—but only slightly.
After all, Ryan's Prophecy had brought him nothing but suffering, and the position of God King had slipped through his fingers.
"So what do you intend to do?" Unlike his brothers, Cronus was not as reckless as they were at this crucial moment for him.
His voice was gentle and earnest, as though he were sincerely thinking on Ryan's behalf. "If you are interested in them, once I ascend the throne, I will grant you the authority to control them in the name of the God King. As long as I remain God King, you will command them as easily as your own limbs."
Ryan smiled inwardly, seeing straight through the meaning behind Cronus's words. His expression did not change. He merely shook his head and refused.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I have other ideas."
"I intend to weave a net and bind these chaotic particles together. Whenever I need them, I will make the net's strings intersect and vibrate according to a structure arranged in advance. That way, I will be able to control them."
As he spoke, Ryan also invited the gods:
"When that time comes, if any of you present would like to use this net, you will be more than welcome."
Before you continue