Following the command of the King of Gods, Maia, the Goddess of Wind and Rain, unleashed her power. Dark clouds blanketed the firmament, and a steady, rhythmic rain began to fall upon the earth; for today, the Sun God would not be patrolling the heavens.
After several decades, Mount Olympus was once again bathed in a concentrated, blinding divine radiance. The gods had gathered in full force, for a monumental event was about to unfold—not just for Olympus, but for the entire world of Kaos.
Through her son Hypnos, the Goddess Nyx had delivered a divine decree: the stars she had nurtured within her form for years were ready to be born. The assembly was called to determine the distribution and mandates of these celestial bodies.
Nyx sat upon her Primordial Throne, her status transcending the hierarchy of the Olympians. The gods of the mountain were already in their places, while the deities of the Underworld had made a rare excursion from their sunless reaches to tread upon the heights of Olympus. The somber, heavy divine energy they radiated seemed to dim the golden light of the Great Temple itself.
The Olympians, who seldom ventured into the land of the dead, looked upon the newcomers with unshielded curiosity and whispered among themselves.
"Are those the gods of the Underworld? They look... gaunt. Look at that one—his skin is a bizarre shade of blue."
"Their temperaments seem equally dark. Look at the silver-haired one (Thanatos). He's handsome enough, but his expression suggests he's contemplating murder. It's quite chilling..."
"Tsk, I didn't realize the Underworld harbored such beauties. That must be Lady Hecate, daughter of the Starry Night. Compared to Lady Artemis, she is far more frigid and aloof—it almost makes one want to see her conquered!"
"Indeed. And who is the male deity beside her? He is breathtakingly handsome. If he's a god of the dead, I find I don't mind the darkness at all..."
"I still think Lord Hypnos is the finest. That platinum hair, those white wings... such a dreamlike deity belongs on the mountain, not in that gloom. What a waste."
While the Olympians gossiped, the Underworld deities were equally critical. Life in the realm of the dead was harsh; any god who could hold a position there was, by necessity, a "hard character." They looked upon the radiant, delicate Olympians with profound distaste.
These "heavenly" gods did nothing but create messes for the Underworld to clean up—a debt that had yet to be settled. Hearing the whispers and the unsolicited critiques, several of the more volatile Underworld spirits surreptitiously gripped their soul-hooks, imagining how pleasant it would be to drag those loose-tongued Olympians back to a miniature Hell for "re-education."
However, with King Hades and Mother Nyx present, they suppressed their irritation, though their minds were already spinning elaborate schemes for future retribution.
As for the Sea Gods, they were largely ignored. The Starry Essence and Space Essence used to forge the stars came from the Olympians, and the nurturing was handled by Nyx. Aside from Poseidon, who might receive a token share for his rank, the sea had no claim to this bounty.
"My sister, the eternally glorious Gaia, is currently in a deep slumber within the depths of the earth and cannot attend. Therefore, I shall preside over today's council," Nyx announced, her voice carrying a faint, melodic smile.
Following the world's ascension, Gaia's foundation was being replenished. As Kaos gained the ability to convert chaos gas into Primal Essence, Gaia, the bedrock of existence, benefited most. She had entered a restorative sleep to accelerate this process. Had it not been for this, she likely would have emerged long ago to thrash Zeus and Poseidon for the disasters and floods they had inflicted upon her terrestrial form.
Nyx raised her hand, and the power of Night surged. In her palm, a cluster of brilliant starlight erupted, manifesting a Seven-Colored Nebula before the assembly. The kaleidoscopic shimmering of the stars was intoxicating to behold.
Within that magnificent cluster, twelve stars stood out—larger and more radiant than the rest.
Twelve. A number that had always held a mystical significance in the world of Kaos.
The other countless stars in the nebula seemed to orbit these twelve unique bodies, revolving around them as if honoring their kings.
The Twelve Leader Stars.
"Gods," Nyx began, her gaze sweeping over the eager assembly. "These stars shall replace the old firmament, establishing a resolute barrier for the world created by our Great Father. However, these nascent stars are still immature. They require the catalyst of divine power and the protection of guardians. In exchange, the act of fostering a star will bring you benefits beyond your imagination."
Nyx gestured toward the void. The twelve Leader Stars leaped from the nebula, hovering in the center of the hall.
"We must first determine the mandates for these primary stars. They are the anchors of the Star-Network Magic Array. I expect your choices for their guardians to be made with gravity and care."
Before Nyx had even finished speaking, Zeus bolted upright from his throne. He raised the Scepter of the King and pointed toward the largest of the twelve spheres. His voice, resonant as a thunderclap, shook the temple walls.
"I am the King of Gods! This greatest star shall be mine to command. It pulses with the power of lightning—and I ask you: who among the gods but I holds the Mandate of Thunder?"
His piercing gaze swept the room. Under the crushing weight of his aura, no god dared to voice an objection. Furthermore, admitting to any claim over lightning in front of Zeus was a death wish.
Satisfied by the silence, Zeus channeled his power and struck the star with his divine mark.
The massive celestial body vibrated silently, recognizing the same-origin energy. Bolts of lightning began to arc across its surface. It leaped from the nebula, trailing a magnificent tail of light as it ascended through the temple ceiling to take its place in the dark sky above.
The King rejoiced. "Hahahaha! This star is the Thunder-Star! It is the King-Star!"
With Zeus having secured his prize, the gods turned their hunger toward the remaining eleven. Two stars in particular drew strange looks—expressions mixed with envy, resentment, and longing.
One was an orange-red sphere burning with an absolute, searing heat—the very image of Apollo's solar majesty.
The other was slightly smaller but radiated a hauntingly beautiful, cool silver luminescence—a holy, mysterious power that mirrored Artemis.
These two stars seemed preordained for the Twin Deities of Light. The assembly could think of no one better suited for them.
The envy was palpable. Apollo, as a Primary Deity, was one thing. But Artemis's situation was "awkward." Having reclaimed a portion of Selene's essence, she had technically entered the Primary rank, but she had not yet been formally granted a seat on the High Council. The final seat remained vacant.
For her to claim a Leader Star now suggested her ascension to the Council was already a foregone conclusion. What luck she has, many thought bitterly.
Hermes, wearing his winged helm and clutching his caduceus, stood among the lesser gods with a faint, polite smile. He appeared genuinely happy for his siblings, but in the depths of his eyes, an unreadable shadow flickered.
"Artemis and I are the masters of the Sun and Moon," Apollo declared, standing and calling his sister to his side. His expression was one of imperial arrogance. "These stars match our nature perfectly. No others are more qualified. We claim them by right!"
The gods remained silent. Though Apollo's arrogance grated, they could not argue with the logic of his claim.
Seeing no opposition, Apollo smiled. He and Artemis raised their hands to brand the two stars.
"Stay your hand!"
A discordant voice shattered Apollo's moment of triumph.
He frowned, looking toward the source. It was the deity with the obsidian-gold wings and strange, dark-gold eyes. He was undeniably handsome, but Apollo felt an instinctive, inexplicable revulsion toward him—bordering on fear and a sudden urge to kill.
I, Apollo, feel fear toward a stranger? It was absurd. Even his father, Zeus, had never made him feel such a primal trepidation.
"Who are you?" Apollo asked, his voice like ice.
"A pleasure, Lord Sun of the Mortal Realm," the winged deity replied with a thin smile. His blood-red lips held a lethal allure that made more than a few goddesses flush. "I am from the Underworld—the Representative of the Underworld's Radiance, Phagos, God of the Sun of the Dead."
A phantom image of a violet-red sun materialized behind him. Though his power was fundamentally different from Apollo's, no god could deny that he held a valid Mandate over the Sun.
"The Sun of the Dead brings light and salvation to the spirits of the deep. It is the embodiment of the Sun's Mercy. As a fellow holder of the Solar Mandate, I believe this star belongs to me as much as it does to you!"
He knew he couldn't seize the Sun-Star entirely, but taking a "slice of the pie" from Apollo was within his reach.
Phagos then turned to the cold, black-robed goddess at his side. "Lady Hecate holds the Mandate of the Moon of the Dead. I believe she has an equal right to the Moon-Star."
"Hecate?" Apollo looked at his cousin, the daughter of Asteria.
Hecate remained expressionless. A black-blue moon phantom flared behind her, answering Phagos's sun just as Artemis answered Apollo. They were the dark reflections of the heavens. In matters of Primal Essence, family ties took a backseat to divine growth. Hecate stood firmly with Phagos.
"Phagos is correct," the High Goddess of the Underworld said coolly. "We are the dark twins of the Sun and Moon. These stars belong to us as well."
"Phagos and Hecate are right!" the Underworld deities shouted in support. They had been looking for a reason to stick it to the "entitled" Olympians. "Why should the mountain gods have all the Leader Stars? If the attributes match, the Underworld deserves its share!"
"Always us doing the dirty work and you taking the glory! No more!"
"If you don't like it, come and fight for them!"
The hall erupted as the Underworld faction pressed their claim.
Apollo and Artemis looked grim. What they thought was a guaranteed victory had turned into a contested battleground.
"Zeus," Hades said, sitting upon his throne of bone with his emerald eyes half-closed. He delivered the final blow. "My subjects speak the truth. They are also masters of the Sun and Moon, and their light brings peace to the dead. Lest we forget, the vast majority of those souls died under your 'Solar Fire' and 'Floods.' It is only right they receive compensation."
Zeus's face contorted for a fleeting second. He calculated the risks. Hades was not like the "useless" Poseidon; he had real strength and the backing of the Primordials.
"Very well," Zeus announced, his voice heavy. "The Sun-Star shall be shared by Apollo and Phagos. The Moon-Star shall be shared by Artemis and Hecate."
"...Dammit," Apollo hissed, his teeth nearly grinding together. But the King had spoken.
The four deities marked the stars. The Sun and Moon bodies leaped from the nebula, ascending to the sky to join the King-Star in a display of blinding brilliance.
"That star appears to match my own nature. I shall take that one," Hades said, pointing to a deep grey Leader Star accompanied by five smaller satellites.
The King of the Dead struck the star with his power. Then, he beckoned to one of the smaller companion stars. "Charon, come here. Strike this one with your power. Consider it a bonus for those unpaid bridge tolls from the flood."
Charon was stunned. The blue-skinned deity grinned foolishly as he stepped forward to brand the small star. Hades waved his hand, and the grey planet, followed by its five "brothers," ascended into the heavens.
"That is Pluto, the Star of the Dead, and its guardian, Charon."
Hades leaned back, deciding he would determine the guardians of the remaining satellites later.
Zeus watched this display of autonomy with a darkening expression. It seemed the Underworld's ascension had given his elder brother a dangerous amount of confidence—Hades was now openly disregarding the King's lead.
Thunder crackled in Zeus's palm, but he suppressed it. He could not afford a civil war with Hades now.
Four of the twelve Leader Stars were gone. The gods turned their gazes to the remaining eight. The air in the hall grew thick with the scent of a brewing storm.
"Hmph. You all certainly aren't shy," Hera said from her throne. Her red gown flared like fire, and her purple eyes flashed with a lethal sharpness. "Lest you forget where the Starry and Space essences came from. Without my daughter, Hebe, there would be nothing to fight over. By right, she should have had the first pick!"