“Alright, let’s go over this one more time.”
“So, Gaia, this is the eighth time already. The coronation ceremony isn’t all that long, so why do we keep going over it?”
Baal grumbling as usual. I lightly tapped his head and spoke.
“This ceremony is far more important than you think. That’s why we need to be thorough.”
“Can’t we just wrap it up with Gaia putting the crown on my head?”
I pressed down firmly on Baal’s head again at his absurd suggestion.
This is an important occasion where authority must be acknowledged before countless gods—certainly not something to rush through.
“Remember, this is your chance to gain recognition from all the gods.”
A god is born from the collective thoughts, aspirations, and faith of countless humans. Ah, except for me and the children.
The egos of such gods, buoyed by these immense forces, are predictably towering.
Arrogant beings who place everything but themselves beneath their feet—would they willingly stand by while another entity ascends above them?
Absolutely not.
That’s precisely why the importance of this coronation has skyrocketed.
To subdue the other gods and assert dominion as king, you must engrave an overwhelming display of power into every one of them.
So…
“Even if the other gods kneel the moment you ascend the divine throne, don’t show it outwardly.”
Because I’ll crush them until kneeling feels like the only option.
“I’ve heard this a hundred times! You know: Gaia comes forward and places the crown on my head, then the others step up in turn to offer their blessings acknowledging my authority.”
“That’s right. The order goes…”
“Shamash and Ifrit, Sylphid and Thetis, Yggdrasil and Sagarmatha—I’ve got it memorized by now!”
“And after that, you’ll declare yourself king of the gods and express your intentions to rule the world accordingly.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve prepared that part. Trust me.”
Him boasting so confidently… somehow makes me nervous.
But I can handle most situations, so we should be fine.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
At the center of the Divine Hall stands the massive Temple of Baal, God of the Sky.
Before it lies the expansive Square, filled with countless gods.
Gods born from natural elements like mountains, rivers, lakes, and deserts.
Gods born from phenomena like snow, rain, storms, and wildfires.
And… hmm. Nearly all of them seem to stem from nature. I wondered if non-natural gods would begin appearing by now, but apparently not yet.
Seems humanity’s yearning hasn’t reached that point yet.
Anyway, many gods gathered here, seemingly unclear why they were summoned. Through GodTalk, I called them, but didn’t expect all of them to show up—including even the land-bound gods.
Actually, this works out well. Deities from across the world will bear witness to this coronation.
Their observations will spread throughout the realms, strengthening faith in Baal.
Shall we begin?
“As the goddess overseeing all life, I hereby proclaim: countless gods have been born through the belief of numerous lives.”
At my words, murmurs ripple through the square. The gods react as though hearing their origins for the first time.
Of course, it’s new information to them. Gods were created by humans—not the other way around. They won’t accept this easily.
Though I’m an exception. All life stems from my creation.
“With so many gods filling the world, there is concern about potential chaos. Therefore, the Goddess of Life proposes…”
I spoke softly.
“To establish a King of the Gods.”
Murmurs grow louder across the square.
“King of the gods…?”
“Who decides this king nonsense?”
“I oppose this!”
“We don’t need a king!”
An expected level of dissent. After all, gods brimming with ego wouldn’t stay silent.
“Silence.”
My quiet voice carries weight across the square, silencing the noise.
“Consider this both an announcement and a warning. In exchange for allowing your existence to continue without annihilation, we will control you through the King of the Gods.”
I took a small breath before continuing.
“If you refuse, be prepared for consequences.”
While gods haven’t caused chaos yet, unleashing them unchecked would surely lead to disorder. Imagine letting powerful children run rampant, turning the world into their playground. Cleaning up after that would be my responsibility—and I don’t want that.
Thus…
“Recognize and follow the authority of the King of the Gods. This is your best path forward.”
It’s oppressive, yes, but necessary to prevent recklessness.
As the square falls silent, I announce the start.
“Let the coronation ceremony begin. Baal, God of the Sky, enter.”
Simultaneously, Baal steps forward and ascends the Divine Throne.
Despite his youthful appearance, the massive throne suits him as soon as he sits.
All gods in the square immediately kneel.
Ah, seems I applied the right pressure. Each deity varies, but their reactions feel similar to dragons’ resilience.
For now, consider them dragon-level in strength. Mountain gods might endure slightly better. But regardless, once seated, my children approach Baal one by one to deliver their blessings.
First, Shamash.
“Shamash, God of Light, Justice, and Law, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. May you always pursue righteousness.”
Next, Ifrit.
“Ifrit, God of Flames and Eternal Fire, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. May you never abandon the fire within your heart.”
Then Sylphid.
“Sylphid, God of Wind and Freedom, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. Respect freedom and remain ever free.”
Following Tethys.
“Tethys, God of the Sea and Water, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. Remain pure in heart and avoid corruption.”
Next, Yggdrasil.
“Yggdrasil, God of Forests, Trees, and Tranquility, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. Strive for peace across the world.”
Finally, Sagarmatha.
“Sagarmatha, God of Rocks and the Highest Mountain, recognizes the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. May you remain steadfast forever.”
Good, the children’s blessings are done. Now it’s my turn.
“As the Goddess of Life and co-creator of this world, I recognize the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and future King of the Gods. Protect all life.”
With that, I revealed the pre-prepared Crown of Lightning.
A treasure wielding lightning’s immense power as a weapon, symbolizing the King of the Gods’ authority. The gods watch silently, captivated.
Come to think of it, wasn’t there already a God of Lightning? The Giant race’s deity had aspects of lightning, if I recall correctly.
But since giants are such a rare race, it’s no big deal. Not even present in this crowded square.
“Baal, God of the Sky, do you swear to guide all gods towards the righteous path as King of the Gods?”
“I swear.”
“May you never break this oath. I hereby grant you the divine status of lightning.”
I slowly placed the crackling Crown of Lightning onto Baal’s head. Rising from the throne, Baal stood tall amidst the prostrated gods.
Only Baal remained standing—of course excluding myself and my children, who silently watched.
“I, Baal, God of the Sky, hereby declare as King of the Gods.”
Baal declared boldly:
“All things in this world shall belong to me. Those who disturb this world in any way will face my wrath!”
Uh… what did he just say…?
