This is a great setup! I'll continue the scene, focusing on the immediate reactions of the different groups and how Akira handles the initial wave of disbelief, anger, and calculation.
⚡️ The Pantheon's Verdict
The silence following Akira's confession was absolute, not even the ambient sounds of the Castle-Resort seemed to penetrate the room. It wasn't the silence of acceptance, but the pre-thunder calm before a torrential divine storm.
The Spontaneously Awakened: Anger and Accusation
Ristarte was the first to break the tension, her normally frantic energy now sharpened into a furious, palpable aura. Her fists were clenched, and her eyes, usually wide with comedy, blazed with betrayed divinity.
"A lie... a façade... an 'ark'?" she spat out, her voice dangerously low. "You stole us, forced our divine cores to reactivate without consent, and now you want to buy our silence with 'infinite resources'? You think you can treat us like tools, like items from your 'Gacha'?"
Hestia stepped forward, her smaller frame radiating an oppressive sense of loss and moral injury. "You used the hope of a world, the hope of a hero, as a tool for your own survival," she accused, her voice trembling. "That is not ambition; it is arrogance! You are trying to make a prison and call it a destiny!"
Palutena, ever the tactician, remained outwardly composed, but her emerald eyes narrowed on Akira. "The 'God-Tier Truth' is just the truth of a captor. You are demanding our cooperation by presenting a problem you caused us to solve. What assurance do we have that once this 'ark' is complete, you won't discard us just as ruthlessly as you discarded the military?"
The Fate Goddess-Servants: Calculated Disdain
The Goddess-Servants, who had been aware of a deeper purpose but not the extent of Akira's manipulation, were less shocked but far more formidable in their skepticism.
Ishtar scoffed, her arms crossed, the jewel of her authority flashing. "So, you admit we are but the strongest pieces on your little game board. I expected the core objective to be selfish, but even for a human, the sheer lack of pretense is... impressive."
Quetzalcoatl cracked her knuckles, a predatory smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. "You said you won't apologize for your vanity. Good. Apologies are worthless. But I was summoned to fight for the future of the world, not to be the engine of one man's escape. You want our cooperation? You'll have to earn it with more than just a vague threat."
The Strategists: Silent Observation
The 'observers' remained silent, their focus entirely on Akira. They were analyzing not just his words, but his sincerity, and the reaction of the assembled deities. Yukari gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod—a signal that he had, at least, passed the bar of complete honesty. Serafall maintained a serious, uncharacteristic silence, ready to step in only if the divine power became unstable.
🛑 Akira's Counter-Negotiation
Akira met the torrent of accusations not with defensiveness, but with unwavering resolve, letting their anger wash over him before he spoke again.
"You are correct," he stated plainly, his voice cutting through the residual tension. "I am arrogant. I am a captor. I stole your agency and forced you into this reality. I will not argue morality with beings whose very existence is woven into the tapestry of fate and belief."
He focused his gaze on Ristarte and Hestia.
"The lie I presented was not just for the military; it was for me, too. I needed a simple truth to function. Now that I have the power, I give you the real one: I did this because I am the last chance."
The Deal: Power for Purpose
"You ask for assurance that I won't discard you," Akira continued, addressing Palutena. "The assurance is simple: You are more powerful than me. I can summon you, but I cannot control your conceptual power. If I tried to discard or betray you, your collective divine wrath would wipe this entire Domain off the map."
He swept his hand across the room.
"This is not a prison; it is a blank canvas. I am the architect of the walls, but you will be the masters of what is built inside."
"I need your strategic cooperation, yes. But the deal is this: I will act as your resource proxy and external shield. I will provide unlimited energy, mana, and the reality-warping Gacha assets to fuel your desires—whether you want to recreate Mount Olympus, build an army of concept-breaking Servants, or develop a counter-measure to the Root that granted me this power."
"In exchange, I ask that your power be focused on securing the continuity of this Domain. I don't demand worship, obedience, or service. I demand purpose. We are here, and the world is ending. We can fight the inevitable from a place of absolute safety and power, or we can wait for our turn in the dying realities. The choice is now yours."
Akira had flipped the script. He wasn't demanding their service; he was offering his unique power and resources to serve their divine will, provided their ultimate goal aligned with the Domain's survival. The furious anger had been replaced by a grudging, complex consideration. He had given them back their agency, but only within the confines of his 'Ark.'