Volume 5 Chapter 0081 I want to declare to the gods! - I, The Dragon Overlord

The gods do not permit anyone to become a sovereign because the gods cherish their own freedom. However, this freedom rests on the assumption that the gods are in a safe environment, maintaining their supreme status. Yet, when the gods find their very existence threatened, their version of freedom becomes questionable. The gods are wrought from beings similar to humans, even the eldest gods born of the world itself have been shaped by ancient human worship, adopting human "temperaments." Take, for instance, Selune and Shar. In primordial times, they certainly did not have their current dispositions. Their divine nature would have dominated them completely, yet as they absorbed faith, that faith reshaped them, instilling in them those human aspects. Therefore, human behavior, to some extent, can also be applied to the gods. When the Earth Goddess Chauntea put forth her proposal, the expressions of the gods varied. Some remained calm and indifferent, some hesitated as they calculated the proposal's repercussions, some found themselves intrigued, considering the proposal excellent, while others displayed slight dissatisfaction—human-like diversities were fully exhibited among the divine. Louie leaned against his throne, observing coldly. He could discern that those god nodding slightly in agreement or showing indifference were typically the weaker gods. These gods already occupied lower positions among the divine order, and in pursuit of their own safety, they might not mind the emergence of a godly sovereign, whereas those discontented were medium to powerful deities, who were freer and more independent by nature, thus generally opposed to a divine sovereign's rise. Interestingly, while these gods showed reluctance, none voiced opposition outright, as if an appeasement policy silently conveyed to all that if any god were truly inclined to proceed, they could try without facing opposition or support. A few particularly proud gods remained silent, truly opposing the proposal, such as the Goddess of Night, Shar. 'How fascinating, but speaking of which, among the gods, the one with the highest likelihood of attaining the supreme level is indeed the Earth Goddess.' Louie contemplated silently among the gods. Among them, the Goddess of Magic was the most unfortunate; her domain was fracturing. She likely remained unaware of where her other magical dominions lay; it's a perilous domain. Since the world of San Soliel's inception, several holders of this domain have fallen—a testament to the hazardous nature of magic, as wizards are notoriously troublesome. Aside from the Goddess of Magic, gods like the God of War and the Goddess of Dawn face challenges in completing their dominions, as what they lack rests in the hands of other strong deities. These positions are their primary domains, making them impossible to acquire. Only the Earth Mother Chauntea has fragments so scattered, needing domains akin to the seasons or the earth. These existences are spread across various gods but are generally held by only medium-powered ones, which gives her a fair chance. 'In the past, even weaker gods wouldn’t choose self-detriment, but under the threat of the Terran civilization, they now have a new choice.' When Louie devised this plan, he foresaw it might develop as it did now. By crafting sufficiently intimidating spacecraft on Earth and staging a mock attack in the world of San Soliel, they sparked a godly congregation. During this assembly, he guided the gods into making oaths to trick them out of their divine aspects, subsequently utilizing the "civilization meme" ability to analyze and grasp their faith. Throughout this, Louie relied on his consistently portrayed facade of a temperamental, prideful dragon. This was a series of manipulations and deceits that succeeded spectacularly. However, its shortcoming was reuniting the gods against a common threat—the Terran civilization—an exceedingly perilous move. Who knows which gods might choose self-sacrifice? Three millennia ago, it was indeed through the sacrifice of powerful deities that the Terran civilization was repelled. Today, if a god willingly forsook their dominion, plummeting from a powerful to a weak or even minuscule rank, allowing others to ascend to form a true sovereign, it is not an impossibility. Godly thought processes are indeed enigmatic, and any idea could arise and be enacted by them. 'I must refrain from unveiling any Terran civilization artifacts in this world. It could cement the resolve of some wavering deities, shattering all my plans.' Louie reflected, feeling an oncoming urgency. He understood that once the 'Pantheon' meeting concluded, the Earth Goddess Chauntea would undoubtedly seek allies pertinent to her ascent to supreme divinity, trading dominions through promises or rewards. Should she succeed, aligning the requisite dominions, reaching a level capable of wielding primordial force, Louie’s holding of her earth dominion segment would be rendered worthless, inevitably being torn away under the draw of her colossal aspect, aiding her restoration. Throughout ancient history, this occurred countless times—for instance, a god’s resurrection potentially spelling another’s downfall by shredding their dominion or a god mastering over ninety percent of a dominion forcibly amalgamating the remainder through primordial force. 'Should the Earth Goddess swiftly procure her needed dominions, given her nearly-million-year tenure and understanding of the Earth’s primal force, her chance of ascending to supreme divinity is alarmingly high. Upon achieving that state, whether or not she discovers my order’s divine aspect, she might still directly annihilate me.' Louie had never felt such a pressing anxiety before. The 'Destiny Tablet' controls divine faith but is powerless against an unaided supreme deity. Even if Chauntea overlooks his divine aspect, facing her as a supreme deity changes the game. Should Louie ascend, standing equally alongside would defy his aim for unparalleled sovereignty. 'Hence, I can no longer delay. I must invest entirely in the Abyssal campaign, journey to the Nine Hells of Baator to bind those cunning devils through benefits, create intertwined Dragon and Devil entities, and boldly wage war upon demons to completely seize the benevolent part of the Order’s Serpent! In a secluded inner thought, Louie clenched his fists. He decided not to conceal his efforts further, as continued secrecy risked peril. Initially, he planned to reveal the 'Destiny Tablet's' power only after ascending to supreme divinity. However, he found no reason to do so now. Once the artificial intelligence completed its analysis of the divine essences, he’d invoke the Tablet to sever the Earth Goddess Chauntea's dominion. Though it might reveal him before reaching supreme strength, he had determined it was time to lay his cards bare. 'Because the primordial force hints that I must act so. Achieving the Order Deity’s strength might demand the gods’ assistance. Convinced cooperation isn’t feasible—only coercion remains.' 'Hence, the crafting of the 'Destiny Tablet' must precede supreme ascension.' '...I shall declare to the gods: your sovereign has emerged!'