Gathering

Unlike Weak Divine Power and Intermediate Divine Power, once a deity reached Intermediate Divine Power, they could begin to make contact with the Source Sea of the world.

A Divine Office was the outward manifestation of source power. Apart from the world itself and Great Divine Power, no intelligent being could casually touch source power directly, because this force, which formed the essence of the world, would only gradually assimilate their minds into itself.

In Ryan's previous life's words, this was "Becoming the Dao." That was why Khaos created Divine Offices, while Ryan created Multifaceted Crystals condensed from source power. Only with that layer between them could the gods freely exercise their authorities.

But it was like a needle falling into seawater. Although the water could not impede it, the needle would also find it difficult to harm the water itself. Once their divine power entered the Intermediate Divine Power level, the gods no longer feared source power like tigers. Instead, they could sense its rhythm to a certain extent and even use it to deepen their understanding of their corresponding sources.

It was precisely this ability to sense it that allowed them to vaguely perceive that, at that moment, the laws of the mortal world were converging atop Mount Othrys, with a deity influencing the arrangement of the rules.

Themis had walked the earth for over a thousand years, and more than one deity had witnessed her figure. The gods had long known what this Goddess had been doing. In their eyes, however, it was completely impossible for an existence with Intermediate Divine Power to actually attempt to alter the laws. Yet the tremors transmitted from the Source Sea now forced them to change their minds.

Perhaps this obscure Titan Ancient God was not arrogantly overestimating herself, but truly had some special method. Regardless of the means Themis used, the gods all understood that as the First Mover and executor, her Divine Office of Law would inevitably rise as the laws of the mortal world became complete.

Great Divine Power. There was no doubt about it. Whether they were willing to admit it or not, the gods could only accept that another deity capable of influencing the direction of the mortal world was about to be born.

"It's Themis. She said last time that she wanted to establish laws for the mortal world. I thought she was joking. I never expected it to be true."

On the sea, the Goddess of Primordial Water stood beside her husband and spoke with certainty.

"If she can establish laws for the mortal world, her elevated Divine Office of Law will be enough to support her in touching the peak of Great Divine Power."

"It seems that another powerhouse is about to emerge among our generation of Titans."

Hearing this, Okeanos nodded. The Lord of the Outer Sea was glad to see his sister advance. Themis's Divine Office meant that she was destined not to interfere in his war with Pontus. After all, as sea gods, their conflict was only natural.

"Let's set out. We'll go congratulate her together."

After watching for a while, Okeanos withdrew his gaze. Establishing laws for the mortal world was not something that could be done in a day or two. Before it was completed, he had more than enough time to reach Mount Othrys.

"I haven't been back in a very long time. I wonder how much Divine Mountain has changed from before."

······

In the Underworld Soil, the younger brothers and sisters of Aether, God of Heavenly Light, gathered around him.

Unlike the gods on the earth, the deities of the Underworld were few and weak. Apart from the powerful Divine Office of the Goddess of Day, only the God of Destruction and the God of Doom had any chance of entering the Intermediate Divine Power level in the future.

In outsiders' eyes, although they were not powerful, they had the backing of two Primordial Gods, so the gods tacitly acknowledged their special status. But only they knew that the two Primordial Gods had never regarded them as important.

Even Eternal Night Land and Lightless Zone kept their distance from them.

It was not that they could not enter, but, like the other gods, they did not even know whether they could come back out after entering.

"Kier, I warned you long ago not to cause trouble everywhere."

"The last time you went to Divine Mountain, Cronus let you off out of consideration for Mother. But that is no reason for you to act recklessly. No secret can remain hidden forever. Sooner or later, they will learn the truth."

"When that happens, no one knows whether he will use us to establish the God King's authority. After all, compared with his Titan brothers, no one will stand up for us."

Looking at his younger brother, Aether was furious at his lack of ambition, even though he knew that Kier had been influenced to some extent by his Divine Office.

"Is that so? If that day really comes, let him come find me. I imagine you'll be fine, since aren't you about to go pledge your loyalty to him?"

Kier sneered and showed no gratitude.

As a descendant of the Ancient Gods of Creation, even though his nominal parents refused to acknowledge his existence, he still considered himself an existence equal to the Titan Ancient Gods.

In fact, there were quite a few gods like him in Khaos. Gods were immortal, but that did not mean they were particularly intelligent.

"You—"

Nearby, Aether pointed at his younger brother, but ultimately said nothing. He now fully understood why Hemera did not want to stay with them. As she had said, the two sides were different.

Heavenly Light and Day—their Divine Offices alone determined that the two of them were out of place among the other six deities.

"I will go to Divine Mountain to congratulate the Lord of Law. As for you, if you don't want to go, stay here."

Aether shook his head and left with a sweep of his sleeve.

He really ought to consider his sister's thoughts. Perhaps, compared with the Underworld Soil, the starry sky was where they should be.

······

"Are we going too, Father?"

In the sky Aether had just been thinking about, Selene, the Moon Goddess, looked toward Hyperion. Although she had been born for several hundred years, she was still only Weak Divine Power.

Like all gods, she possessed beauty that later mortals could scarcely hope to attain. Moreover, the gods of this era were unlike those of later ages. A weak but beautiful deity like her did not need to worry about her circumstances.

On the contrary, many gods had expressed their feelings to Selene, but she had accepted none of them.

"Of course, Selene. Ryan shamelessly stole the concept of the moon, leaving you so weak. Yet when I tried to create a Shadow Sun in the Underworld, I never succeeded even once."

"I don't know how he managed it, but as the Goddess of Justice and Law, your aunt will see justice done for you."

Selene fell silent. She had heard her father mention that deity, who had long lived in the Underworld Soil, many times.

His seizure of the concept of the moon had originated from an agreement with the Earth Mother and the Titans. She did not believe her aunt would violate her own Divine Office for her father. Yet when she thought of her own strength, she could only let things take their course.

The Sun God's family was different now from the original timeline. The Firstborn and Firstborn were both Weak Divine Power, while the originally disadvantaged Goddess of Dawn was somewhat stronger than her elder siblings.

Helios was weak, at least because he had not had the chance to operate the sun and increase his divine power. But his Divine Office remained powerful. As for Selene, she did not want to remain weak forever.

Perhaps I can seek the protection of a powerful figure. If Father did not have a conflict with the God King, perhaps he would be a good choice.

Thinking silently, Selene flew toward the center of the earth alongside her father.

······

At the same time, similar scenes were unfolding in many places.

The higher a deity's Divine Power Level, the greater the gap between each level. A deity with Great Divine Power who had a chance of reaching Level 18 or 19 would be an existence of immense importance in Khaos, even in later ages.

Regardless of their motives or whether their relationships were friendly, the gods all left their divine palaces and flew toward Mount Othrys.

Thus, on this day—the fifteen-hundredth year of the God King Calendar established by Cronus himself—the gods gathered together.