Volume 5 Chapter 0120 The new order will replace the old order - I, The Dragon Overlord

With the submission of Shar, the Dark Goddess, the divine pantheon could find no one else who dared to confront Louie Galakrond. Even the two War Gods, who had been competing with Louie, fell into silence. Though mighty and invincible, the Gods of War were no fools. As deities of battle, they understood that strategy was paramount in warfare, rather than blindly charging in like mere brutes. Both Marzlis and Gorrush were acutely aware that without the support of other gods, even if they were to set aside their previous grudges and join forces, they would be no match for Louie. The most probable outcome would see them killed by this ruler, who wielded the primal power of order. Should he offer their war divinity as a reward, many might stand against them. Such is the reason the pantheon dreaded the ascension of a singular sovereign. It would disrupt the fragile balance among them. If one god could easily slay another, divinity and godhood would turn into mere prizes. As ambition and self-interest infiltrate divine circles, the ages-old order would shatter. Louie, now the God of Order, seemed poised to replace the old order with his newly envisioned one. Marzlis and Gorrush instinctively glanced at the Earth Goddess, Chauntea. Should any other god join their cause, it might be her. Yet, Chauntea seemed utterly bewildered, unable to believe the current turn of events. Once a deity with a divine rank of 20, she found herself so easily dismantled, plummeting from her zenith, with no hope of reclaiming her divine seat. In stark contrast, her greatest rival ascended to the pinnacle of godhood, poised to become the king of gods. Such a reversal drained her of ambition and fighting spirit, rendering life devoid of meaning. Chauntea, appearing like a spirited youth in her late teens, underwent a radical transformation. Her visage matured rapidly, now resembling a woman in her thirties, though this was not as severe as her past transformation into an elderly figure. A god's external change mirrors their internal state. Once, Chauntea had embodied aged wisdom, ready to abandon her godhood for eternal slumber. Now, under Louie’s crushing influence, her ambition and fervor waned, her heart leaning once more toward decay. It was the Cataclysmic Era that had revived Chauntea’s youthful spirit. Who knows when she might regain it again, if ever. Seeing this, Louie knew Chauntea posed no further threat. As the Earth Goddess, she was innately gentle in temperament. With her spirit aged, she would vanish like the wind into the world of San Soliel, appearing before mortals or gods only if necessary. Gorrush and Marzlis remained silent; any notion of allying with Chauntea vanished. Even the most proud War Gods bowed their heads before Louie. Elsewhere, the Silver Moon Goddess Selune wore a cold expression. Shuni, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, exchanged glances with her, their eyes questioning what was truly happening. The two goddesses dared not communicate by any other means, fearing their words might be overheard by Louie or others. Selune shook her head gently, indicating her ignorance. As one of the oldest goddesses, she felt the unexpected twists keenly, more so than even her minimal human emotions would typically allow. She felt at a loss. To others, Louie and Selune’s relationship appeared matrimonial. If Louie ascended to become the sovereign ruler, she would nominally become the queen of gods. Yet, Selune harbored no such aspirations, feeling no joy. As a goddess, she placed her divine essence above her union with Louie. As gods, ambition and the drive to progress were imperative. Without them, they risked becoming like Chauntea — devoid of will to live. Selune's goal was to reclaim her dominion over the Sun and Light, to return to being the Goddess of Light, or at least maintain the balance among the pantheon, resisting any change. Louie's self-coronation as a supreme ruler defied what the gods desired most. But now, no deity could resist him. In the grand pantheon, the gods raised their heads to the one seated upon the "Throne of Gods," bowing in deference, whether they liked it or not, they addressed him: "Your Majesty!" No god would kneel like mortals, clinging to the last vestige of their dignity. Louie made no such demands either, knowing he wasn’t yet worthy. Louie was still but rank 20 in divinity, compelling the gods through the "Divine Fate Tablet." Only when he ascends to a higher godhood, under double pressures, will the gods submit completely. From his vantage on the highest throne, Louie looked down upon the gods, all too afraid to meet his gaze, relishing the power this brought. Maintaining his authoritative silence, Louie finally spoke, "Fellow deities, I do not wish to disrupt the system formed over millennia among the gods, nor impose actions upon you." Like any usurper aware of potential strife, Louie knew his role was not to exacerbate tension but to assuage it. Change should not be too rapid; instead, he would let them grow accustomed to a supreme ruler, slowly cementing his place. Even if they saw through his intentions, it was an open strategy, driven by the tide of fate, unstoppable. "But despite this, I require your cooperation in one thing." Curiosity piqued, the gods wondered what Louie desired of them. A flicker of menace crossed Louie's vertical dragon eyes as he surveyed them all, present yet composed. "I demand all of you join forces to kill Asmodeus, the Lord of the Hells!" Since he, as a symbol of order, could not directly contend with Asmodeus, then he would incite the gods to eliminate the devil king. Surely Asmodeus never anticipated, before ascending to higher godhood, Louie would use his newly claimed authority to command the pantheon! While Asmodeus boasted a divine rank of 20 within his realm of Nessus, his crippling flaw was in only holding a semblance of divinity, bereft of divine power or alternate forms. Hundreds of gods together would spell certain doom for the archdevil, offering no chance for survival or escape!