With the Goddess's final words, Reincarnation was officially established within the world of Kaos.
The Will of the World swept through the entire realm. From the heights of Mount Olympus to the vast reaches of the earth and sea, and down into the profound depths of the Underworld, every existence was touched by this Will. An irrepressible, boundless joy took root in the hearts of all living things.
The world of Kaos had changed. The first to perceive this transformation was Gaia, the Mother of All. As the foundation of the world, she could feel that the establishment of the Cycle had injected a surge of vitality into the realm, making Kaos feel truly alive. The world began to actively draw power from the primordial chaos gas surrounding it, converting it into Primal Essence to replenish itself.
Draped in her crown of all creations, the Mother of All emitted a soft, radiant glow. Her majestic and solemn expression turned peaceful. Her face, which had appeared somewhat aged and weary compared to her siblings, suddenly developed a keratinous layer similar to snake skin.
In a matter of moments, that scale-like layer sloughed off, revealing a far younger and more exquisite countenance.
Gaia, the Mother of All, had been rejuvenated by the replenishment of her essence. Most of the lines on her face vanished. If the previous Gaia had looked like a mature woman of lingering grace, she now appeared as a stunning, regal beauty in her late twenties, exuding a mature and elegant charm. Despite her status as a Primordial Goddess, many male deities present found themselves stealing glances and swallowing hard.
...Even a few goddesses were no exception.
Gaia touched her face, her heart overflowing with an uncontrollable ecstasy. Synchronized with the Will of the Mother of All, the Primal Essence of the earth began to surge violently.
The creatures upon the earth felt their bodies become exceptionally light and pure in an instant. The air seemed filled with an inexplicable fragrance. Under the catalyst of this essence, the sacred trees and flowers favored by the gods—oaks, poplars, olives, narcissi, and pomegranates—began to birth Tree Nymphs and Flower Spirits.
Following Gaia, the next to sense the change in Kaos was the ancient Oceanus. One of Gaia's twelve Titan children, he was the personification of the World-River that encircled the realm high above the stars, tasked with guarding the world against the intrusion of chaos gas.
The world's shift startled the ancient Oceanus from his slumber. He opened his deep eyes to gaze upon the earth, seeing its newfound radiance. Sensing that the long-dormant world had gained the ability to actively absorb chaos gas and convert it into Primal Essence, Oceanus was struck with profound shock.
He was not alone. The ancient sea god, Pontus—a primordial deity born of Gaia alone, representing the depressions of the earth that became the oceans—also saw the change.
Light flared in the eyes of these two ancient deities. they realized that the birth of Reincarnation, as declared by the World Will, was significant enough to trigger an ascension the world had not seen in eons.
Simultaneously, their long-quiet ambitions began to stir. They were among the few ancient gods who knew that the world's Primal Essence had previously been insufficient to support a fifth Primordial. Now that the world had ascended and gained the ability to replenish itself, it was likely that within a century or so, there would be enough essence to sustain one more.
Could they—the ancient personifications of the World-River and the Great Sea—have a chance to seize that seat?
Hebe, the Sovereign of the Cycle, did not yet realize that the establishment of the Cycle had brought her more than just benefits; it had also created two ancient, potential threats in the shadows.
On Mount Olympus, Zeus sat upon the throne of the King of Gods. His wise and far-seeing eyes naturally perceived the changes upon the earth. He was well aware that Reincarnation had been officially established. It was clear his grandmother had gained immense benefits from it; no wonder she had protected Hebe so fiercely. The ultimate beneficiary of this affair was Gaia herself.
Zeus's sky-blue eyes swirled with a gathering storm. His expression shifted unpredictably. He, too, felt the Primal Essence of the world becoming more robust. His own divine power seemed to be growing slightly; that ultimate barrier he had never been able to cross actually showed signs of loosening.
Though the shift was nearly imperceptible, it brought him a surge of hope.
Zeus stood excitedly from his throne, his eyes shining with an unprecedented ambition.
"So that is how it is! It was never a lack of potential that stopped me from taking that step, but the finite Primal Essence of the world! The world could not support my advancement. Now that the world has ascended and the concentration of essence is increasing, does it mean... I finally have the chance to take that step?"
If he truly succeeded in reaching the Primordial rank, he would no longer need to fear the curse of being overthrown. Who would have the majesty to cast a curse upon a Primordial?
However, ascending to the Primordial rank would not be easy.
Zeus stroked his chin, lost in thought. To ascend, the support of the existing Primordials was indispensable. Yet, because of the struggle for the mandate of Reincarnation, he and his "dear daughter" Hebe had nearly reached a total breaking point, maintaining only the thinnest veneer of decorum.
Given the benefits Reincarnation brought Gaia, Hebe clearly held immense weight in the Mother of All's eyes. If Zeus continued this confrontation, the Mother of Gods would likely not give him any favor, making her support impossible to obtain.
It seemed... he needed to find an opportunity to repair his relationship with his daughter.
If she acted as a bridge, he could not only secure Gaia's support but perhaps even win over the Goddess Nyx. For anything that aided his ascension to the Primordial rank, Zeus was perfectly willing to be pragmatic and flexible regarding his pride as King.
The arrogant King of Gods did not yet realize that his daughter might also know the secrets of the Primordial seat and was herself a formidable competitor for it.
"Hermes!" Zeus called out to his son, the Messenger of the Gods.
"Great King, what are your orders?" The youth-like deity holding the caduceus appeared before Zeus, a respectful and humble smile on his face. His eyes were full of filial piety and adoration, always satisfying Zeus's vanity and making him feel like the most peerless, omnipotent god in existence.
"Hermes, my dear son, your sister—the Mistress of the High Mystery of Life, the Goddess Hebe—has been in the Underworld for far too long. Both I and her mother, Hera, miss her terribly. It so happens that a banquet will soon be held on the mountain to celebrate Artemis's acquisition of the Moon mandate. Now that Reincarnation is established, Hebe, as one of the twelve Primary Deities, should be present."
Zeus spoke slowly, sounding every bit like a loving father whose heart ached for his daughter.
"Hermes, take my own Thunderbolt Chariot. Bring pearls, gems, and a ceremonial gown woven of gold thread to welcome my glorious daughter back to Olympus."
Zeus's words left Hermes in a state of shock. He had never expected the King to be so gracious and offer such a high honor to the daughter who had publicly defied him and damaged his prestige.
Hosting a grand reception to bring Hebe back for Artemis's banquet? This was a blatant gesture of reconciliation. The wily young god immediately sensed that something was amiss.
But who was he? He was merely a deity of secondary power, a divine messenger who relied on his father's favor to survive on the mountain. Hermes allowed a look of perfect surprise to cross his face, then set off to execute Zeus's command without a single question.
Zeus was highly satisfied with Hermes's performance. This was why he favored Hermes; among his many children, this son was the most obedient and least rebellious because his weak power forced him to remain a dependent. Zeus felt entirely at ease with him.
Soon, Hermes flew out of Olympus in the King's Thunderbolt Chariot. Guided by his office as the Psychopomp, he arrived at Mount Pargos. Since he did not have the special privileges Hebe received from Hades, and because of Zeus's instructions, he had to take the most formal route.
Elsewhere, in the Temple of Love and Beauty—decorated in hues of pink and gold and filled with blooming white roses—Aphrodite lay upon her couch. Accompanied by her three attendants, the Graces, she was listlessly eating divine fruits sent by her husband, Hephaestus.
The usual flirtatious charm was gone from Aphrodite's face, replaced by a pale, weary sorrow. She finally understood why she had been feeling so fatigued and drowsy of late.
She was pregnant. A divine child was growing within her—the first she had ever carried. This goddess, who had always lived only for pleasure and the thrill of romance, felt utterly lost and panicked.
A strange maternal instinct was budding within her, filling her with a protective tenderness and expectation for the tiny life. She had even gone to consult Hera—the goddess she usually clashed with, the one who had trapped her into marrying the mountain's ugliest god. Because Hera was the Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, she was the ultimate authority on such matters.
Though Hera despised Aphrodite's usual scandalous behavior, she could not ignore her duty as the Goddess of Childbirth. After Aphrodite sought help at the Temple of Marriage, Hera used her divine power to inspect the child.
The results left Hera looking grave. she told Aphrodite that the child within her possessed a truly colossal potential.
For a goddess, a child of such potential was both a blessing and a curse.
On the bright side, such a child would bring immense glory and status to the mother upon birth. Much like Hera herself, who now had three Primary Deities as children—who on the mountain would dare speak a word of disrespect to her?
On the dark side, such potential required a staggering amount of divine power and essence to nurture. If Aphrodite's own power could not sustain the child's growth, the unborn god would unconsciously strip away her essence to facilitate its own birth. The Goddess of Love and Beauty risked falling from her rank as a Primary Deity.
Aphrodite's terror was beyond words. Fall from her rank? She already had little combat power; if her rank fell, even if she kept her seat, she would be unable to withstand the humiliations of other gods.
A terrifying thought took root in the heart of this usually fragile "flowerpot" goddess.
Destroy him! Destroy him before he can be born! That is the only way to save myself.
Yet, every time that thought surfaced, Aphrodite was seized by an unnameable terror. It felt as though some indescribable horror had its eyes fixed on her. She felt that if she dared take any action against the child, she would be crushed by an invisible majesty, her essence stripped away until the Goddess of Love and Beauty ceased to exist.
Ultimately, Aphrodite decided to bear the child.
Hera, unaware of the hidden reasons, was genuinely surprised. She hadn't expected this irresponsible, fickle goddess to possess such resolve—to be willing to risk her own essence for the sake of her child. Hera's opinion of her changed significantly.
A natural maternal instinct made Hera admire Aphrodite's perceived selflessness. She offered kind counsel and ordered divine fruits that replenished power to be gathered from the earth for Aphrodite, helping her as much as possible to bring the child into the world.
Hephaestus also knew of his wife's pregnancy. He placed the highest importance on his first "flesh and blood." Hearing that the child required vast amounts of power, he went into the sea to beg his foster mother, Thetis—the virtuous Oceanid and daughter of Nereus—for some oceanic essence. Since Aphrodite was born from the sea foam, the ocean's essence could replenish her during the pregnancy.
Ares also knew of his secret lover's pregnancy. He was convinced the child was of his blood. The God of War hunted many monsters with divine lineages upon the earth, extracting their divine essence to send secretly to the Temple of Love and Beauty.
And so, under the watch of many parties, the reincarnation of the Primordial Eros—the little god of love coming to collect the debts of the King—grew steadily within the vessel the Laws had chosen for him.
The ascension of the world had brewed a storm for Kaos, one destined to unleash a gale of blood and fire in the near future.