THE SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGN : RISE OF THE DIVINE

As the Sun God's divine power surged and rippled across the sacred mountain, the previously lively atmosphere inside and outside the ancient halls grew oppressively solemn.

The gods, who had initially stepped forward in curiosity, now hesitated. Although the 'Fog Snake' had been eliminated moments prior, none were eager to involve themselves in the brewing confrontation.

Hyperion, the Sun God, was known for his fiery temper and unrelenting ambition—qualities that alienated most of his peers. Even his children, save for rare exceptions, feared him far more than they respected him. The only one capable of tempering his volatile nature was his wife, Theia, but even she was nowhere to be seen.

Soulis, by contrast, was an enigma. To many of the gathered gods, he was a figure of intrigue and unease. Suspected to be older than the original gods themselves, he carried an aura of fate-bound inevitability that unnerved even the boldest of them. For all his mysterious presence, Soulis had never openly displayed his strength. This, combined with his calm, calculating demeanor, made him an unknown force that the gods feared and resented in equal measure.

The tension was palpable, with even the ancient mountain god Uriah remaining on the sidelines, eager to see how this spectacle would unfold.

"Is there a problem?"

Under the watchful gaze of countless gods, Soulis spoke at last. His tone was calm, his demeanor unfazed, as if the oppressive divine pressure emanating from Hyperion did not exist.

It wasn't a question—it was a statement.

Hyperion narrowed his burning eyes, his expression darkening. Soulis's nonchalant attitude was an insult, one the Sun God refused to tolerate.

"You know why I am here, Soulis," Hyperion growled, his voice carrying the weight of his divine authority. "I sought you out in Hades, yet you did not even dare to face me."

As his words rang out, waves of heat and light radiated from Hyperion, the raw essence of the sun spilling forth in an attempt to suffocate Soulis. Yet, the Sun God quickly noticed something strange.

His power... stopped.

The searing light and heat that should have consumed Soulis never made contact. It wasn't blocked or deflected—it was simply... stretched. The distance of a finger's breadth between Hyperion's divine energy and Soulis's form had been warped into an infinite chasm, impossible to cross.

The realization struck Hyperion like a hammer. This manipulation of space bore similarities to the authority of time and space—domains belonging to Cronus, the God King. Yet, this was not Cronus's doing.

It didn't matter.

Hyperion's resolve hardened. Soulis's divine power, though unusual, was only of medium strength. It posed a threat, but not an insurmountable one.

"Soulis, you should know my purpose well enough," Hyperion continued, his voice rising with each word. "Thousands of years ago, you twisted the God King's will, demanding three conditions and stealing the concept of the Moon. Today, I am here to correct that mistake."

The gathered gods stirred uneasily. The hypocrisy in Hyperion's words was evident—those old enough to remember knew he had supported Soulis's request at the time. The Sun God's tune had changed only after his daughter, Selene, was born, and the Moon became a symbol of her dominion.

Soulis, unfazed by the accusations, turned his gaze toward the God King.

"Is this your decree?" he asked, his tone devoid of emotion.

Cronus, caught off guard, quickly raised his hand in denial.

"No. This has nothing to do with me," Cronus said firmly, his voice steady. "The God King's promises are absolute."

Despite his words, Cronus watched intently, unwilling to intervene just yet. If Hyperion's strength proved sufficient, Cronus might reconsider his neutrality. For now, it was better to let the Sun God act as his unwitting pawn.

"Soulis!" Hyperion snapped, his temper flaring.

He hadn't expected Soulis to be so dismissive. He'd anticipated defiance or protests, not complete indifference. Anger boiled within him, but reason tempered his actions. His earlier failure to breach Soulis's defenses forced him to exercise caution.

Glancing at Cleos, the God of Weather, Hyperion sought silent confirmation of his strength. Cleos, who harbored his own grievances against Soulis, gave a subtle nod of support.

Emboldened, Hyperion turned to Themis, the Goddess of Justice, hoping to sway her as well.

"Sister Themis, this treacherous god has stolen what is rightfully ours! First, he took Mnemosyne's Memory, and then he stole the Moon, which belongs to my daughter. You, of all gods, should demand justice!"

But Themis remained unmoved. Her serene expression did not falter as she addressed Hyperion.

"The God of Spirituality existed before us. The ownership of Memory was decreed by Chaos, and the Moon was granted through an agreement witnessed by the Mother Goddess. Justice has already been served."

Her words struck Hyperion like a blow.

"Promise? He threatened us with a prophecy!" Hyperion spat, his tone laced with bitterness.

Shaking her head, Themis turned to Soulis. Though her divine power was weaker than Hyperion's, she was prepared to stand by Soulis's side if necessary.

But Soulis simply waved her off.

"Do not interfere," he said softly, his gaze fixed on Hyperion.

"You arrogant—!"

Before Hyperion could finish, his divine power surged again, this time with murderous intent.

"The time for words is over, Soulis. I will show you that power speaks louder than prophecies!"

The sky above the sacred mountain ignited as Hyperion unleashed his full strength. The heavens trembled under the sheer weight of his power.

But Soulis remained still.

As the brilliant light surged toward him, he raised a single hand. The air around him warped once more, and the light faltered, trapped in an infinite loop of time and space.

The gods watched in stunned silence as Hyperion's attack failed to touch Soulis.

For the first time in millennia, fear flickered in the Sun God's eyes.

---

As the Sun God's divine power surged and rippled across the sacred mountain, the previously lively atmosphere inside and outside the ancient halls grew oppressively solemn.

The gods, who had initially stepped forward in curiosity, now hesitated. Although the 'Fog Snake' had been eliminated moments prior, none were eager to involve themselves in the brewing confrontation.

Hyperion, the Sun God, was known for his fiery temper and unrelenting ambition—qualities that alienated most of his peers. Even his children, save for rare exceptions, feared him far more than they respected him. The only one capable of tempering his volatile nature was his wife, Theia, but even she was nowhere to be seen.

Soulis, by contrast, was an enigma. To many of the gathered gods, he was a figure of intrigue and unease. Suspected to be older than the original gods themselves, he carried an aura of fate-bound inevitability that unnerved even the boldest of them. For all his mysterious presence, Soulis had never openly displayed his strength. This, combined with his calm, calculating demeanor, made him an unknown force that the gods feared and resented in equal measure.

The tension was palpable, with even the ancient mountain god Uriah remaining on the sidelines, eager to see how this spectacle would unfold.

"Is there a problem?"

Under the watchful gaze of countless gods, Soulis spoke at last. His tone was calm, his demeanor unfazed, as if the oppressive divine pressure emanating from Hyperion did not exist.

It wasn't a question—it was a statement.

Hyperion narrowed his burning eyes, his expression darkening. Soulis's nonchalant attitude was an insult, one the Sun God refused to tolerate.

"You know why I am here, Soulis," Hyperion growled, his voice carrying the weight of his divine authority. "I sought you out in Hades, yet you did not even dare to face me."

As his words rang out, waves of heat and light radiated from Hyperion, the raw essence of the sun spilling forth in an attempt to suffocate Soulis. Yet, the Sun God quickly noticed something strange.

His power... stopped.

The searing light and heat that should have consumed Soulis never made contact. It wasn't blocked or deflected—it was simply... stretched. The distance of a finger's breadth between Hyperion's divine energy and Soulis's form had been warped into an infinite chasm, impossible to cross.

The realization struck Hyperion like a hammer. This manipulation of space bore similarities to the authority of time and space—domains belonging to Cronus, the God King. Yet, this was not Cronus's doing.

It didn't matter.

Hyperion's resolve hardened. Soulis's divine power, though unusual, was only of medium strength. It posed a threat, but not an insurmountable one.

"Soulis, you should know my purpose well enough," Hyperion continued, his voice rising with each word. "Thousands of years ago, you twisted the God King's will, demanding three conditions and stealing the concept of the Moon. Today, I am here to correct that mistake."

The gathered gods stirred uneasily. The hypocrisy in Hyperion's words was evident—those old enough to remember knew he had supported Soulis's request at the time. The Sun God's tune had changed only after his daughter, Selene, was born, and the Moon became a symbol of her dominion.

Soulis, unfazed by the accusations, turned his gaze toward the God King.

"Is this your decree?" he asked, his tone devoid of emotion.

Cronus, caught off guard, quickly raised his hand in denial.

"No. This has nothing to do with me," Cronus said firmly, his voice steady. "The God King's promises are absolute."

Despite his words, Cronus watched intently, unwilling to intervene just yet. If Hyperion's strength proved sufficient, Cronus might reconsider his neutrality. For now, it was better to let the Sun God act as his unwitting pawn.

"Soulis!" Hyperion snapped, his temper flaring.

He hadn't expected Soulis to be so dismissive. He'd anticipated defiance or protests, not complete indifference. Anger boiled within him, but reason tempered his actions. His earlier failure to breach Soulis's defenses forced him to exercise caution.

Glancing at Cleos, the God of Weather, Hyperion sought silent confirmation of his strength. Cleos, who harbored his own grievances against Soulis, gave a subtle nod of support.

Emboldened, Hyperion turned to Themis, the Goddess of Justice, hoping to sway her as well.

"Sister Themis, this treacherous god has stolen what is rightfully ours! First, he took Mnemosyne's Memory, and then he stole the Moon, which belongs to my daughter. You, of all gods, should demand justice!"

But Themis remained unmoved. Her serene expression did not falter as she addressed Hyperion.

"The God of Spirituality existed before us. The ownership of Memory was decreed by Chaos, and the Moon was granted through an agreement witnessed by the Mother Goddess. Justice has already been served."

Her words struck Hyperion like a blow.

"Promise? He threatened us with a prophecy!" Hyperion spat, his tone laced with bitterness.

Shaking her head, Themis turned to Soulis. Though her divine power was weaker than Hyperion's, she was prepared to stand by Soulis's side if necessary.

But Soulis simply waved her off.

"Do not interfere," he said softly, his gaze fixed on Hyperion.

"You arrogant—!"

Before Hyperion could finish, his divine power surged again, this time with murderous intent.

"The time for words is over, Soulis. I will show you that power speaks louder than prophecies!"

The sky above the sacred mountain ignited as Hyperion unleashed his full strength. The heavens trembled under the sheer weight of his power.

But Soulis remained still.

As the brilliant light surged toward him, he raised a single hand. The air around him warped once more, and the light faltered, trapped in an infinite loop of time and space.

The gods watched in stunned silence as Hyperion's attack failed to touch Soulis.

For the first time in millennia, fear flickered in the Sun God's eyes.

---