Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Without waiting for a reply from Earth God Geb, he continued on his own: "Nothing will come of it."

"This isn't the outside world; this is the heart of Hemenu, as well as the source of all the powers in the world. Here, worlds collide with each other in their most essential forms, and everything but us deities will be assimilated and returned to nothingness by the world."

"Whether it's us or the Outer God, whichever side defeats the other, in reality, won't gain any spoils of war."

"The authority and power of the opponent will be devoured and digested by one's own world, becoming an aid to strike against another world. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that... if there were still any doubts about the outcome of this war, that would indeed be the best method to help our world achieve victory."

The calmness in his voice carried a hint of peculiarity. Unlike when he had once plundered a part of Apollo's origin outside the world, La was certain that if Hemenu's deities were killed here by the enemy, their origins and everything else would only be absorbed by the opposing world, and that Outer God would gain nothing

Even if he had underestimated the opponent's strength and the other actually could snatch strength from the jaws of the world, faced with such a competitor, how much spoils could they really secure?

The same logic applied to his own side. If time were reversed and that Alien Realm's God of Sun had been injured here by La, he too would not be able to gain anything, as everything would be claimed by the world itself, becoming part of it to resist invasion from the Alien Realm.

That didn't sound wrong, after all, the gods were born from the world, and their authority was the same. At such a critical juncture of life and death, it was only proper to fight for the world... but as La said, all of this was predicated on still being able to win this war.

And how much possibility of victory was left in this war between worlds... if it was a few years earlier, the gods would likely have believed in this outcome. But now, even La was starting to waver.

In the past, they had only witnessed the might of Hemenu, so they thought such power was invincible. But now, such a notion had quietly changed.

"So, this ceremony..."

Seeming to have understood something, Earth God Geb's eyes flickered, and he finally understood why La said it was both a danger and an opportunity.

And beside him, the other deities reacted differently. Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire

Some had already guessed it, only to have La's words now fully confirm it; others suddenly realized something as if they finally understood.

Regardless, the previously panicked atmosphere changed abruptly. Facing the tumult of the Sea of Origin, the attitude of the gods shifted significantly.

"Yes, Geb, the ceremony is indeed what you're thinking of."

With a slight nod, a surge of golden light began to flood from La's being.

"It's not a one-way ceremony, nor a tool for defeating us. It's bidirectional, requiring our collective completion."

"The essence of its existence is an exchange, an equivalent wager. While I don't know why the will of the opposing world would recognize such a strange rule, the rule itself does not lie."

"Every individual is a player, but their very being will also become pawns, becoming part of the gamble on the chessboard. If you lose, everything will be lost, but if you win, the opponent must also cede an equal amount of strength, and this strength will be absorbed by the victor."

Absorbing the power of other gods is extremely rare in Chaos World, but for the deities of Hemenu, it is all too common.

No one questioned this, nor did anyone think the other side would renege on their defeat. Because, at this moment, the 'chessboard' maintaining the operation of this rule is the power of both worlds.

This is a ceremony that cannot be stopped once started, until one side is completely defeated... However, at this juncture, Thoth, the deity symbolizing wisdom and writing, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, perhaps the ceremony is indeed as you say, but there are things I still don't understand."

"To forego the innate absorption of power by both worlds and to hold the 'spoils of war' in our own hands, thereby creating such a ceremony, everything is predicated on the world itself acknowledging this rule."

"For our world, being at a disadvantage, accepting a more fair gamble is quite normal. But the opposing world... holding an advantage, so why give us the chance to overcome our disadvantage, and why grant that Outer God the legitimate right to seize power?"

"Moreover, the most crucial thing is that the decision of victory or defeat... actually lies in the life and death of some humans. What is so special about them?"

Thoth didn't understand, and La didn't really understand either.

It wouldn't be that the opposing world actually also wanted to kill those mortals with Alien Realm bloodlines... But with such an explanation, everything seemed to make sense.

Nevertheless, whether it's the way it is or not, it's irrelevant to La, because what has been preventing the influence of the Alien Realm from reaching the Mortal World was the world's own instinct preventing an invasion into its body.

So whether those bearing Sin Blood are beings the Alien Realm wishes to protect or to kill, in any case, La intended to kill them, as that is the only way to win this wager.

"No matter what, they are all destined to perish. Now, those willing to rise, come with me."

Feeling the increasingly powerful attraction of that black and gold 'chessboard', La took a step forward, his figure magnifying a millionfold.

Size above the Sea of Origin wasn't just a visual aspect, power was the true measure of all things. The next moment, the Great Day seemed to ascend, and seated atop it was an immense deity of unimaginable size.

"You desire my power, and I likewise yearn for yours... We can lose many times, but you, you only have one."

...

Mortal Realm.

Just as La made the choice to accept that chess game, to sit across the chessboard, up in the heights unseen by mortals,

The Sea of Origin was the heart of the world, and everything that happened here would be reflected in the outer world... Thus, the next moment, nine figures appeared to pierce through the starry sky and the sea, manifesting above the world.

As their phantoms were born, they immediately reconnected with their corresponding authorities, growing and expanding ever more.

In the end, the supreme God La sat atop the Celestial Sphere Great Sun, while the other eight Pillar Gods arrayed on either side.

Shu, God of Air and Order, symbol of drought, dryness, and exhaustion.

Tefnut, Rain God and Goddess of Moisture, embodiment of chaos, and symbol of decay.

Nut, Sky God, Mother of Stars.

Geb, Earth God, echo of all things.

Osiris, God of Vegetation, fertility, agriculture, and also the Priest of Judgment and Death.

Set, God of War, deserts, and storms, and the most powerful among the gods.

Nephthys, protector of wraiths and guardian of fertility and home.

And finally, in place of Isis, Thoth, God of Wisdom, writing, and books, the mind most valued by La.

The Nine Pillars Spirits were like nine pillars that, in an instant, propped up the Sky and Earth of the Hemenu world. The colossal chessboard appeared in the sky and across from them, it seemed devoid of an opponent.

"Heh, indeed..."

Seated in the highest and most central place, La's face had at some point acquired a golden mask, the corners of his mouth beneath it curling slightly upward.

The opponent wasn't absent, it's just that in this realm where size is measured by power, the opponent's figure was far more immense than they had imagined.

Great sounds are often unheard, great forms are often unseen, thus it seemed as though they had no adversary... Following this logic, even if all nine of them defeated the opponent, they could never achieve true Victory.

But if La dared to agree, naturally there was a reason. Like he never told the All Gods, he too had a stake in this vast chessboard; he was compelled and yet a voluntary participant in its construction.

So, the question arose, what did he, the God of Sun, have to do with this ritual?

"Of course, it's because I am more than just 'La'."

"I am Amon-Ra-Atum."

The perspective continued to elevate, the Earth became insignificant, the stars like ornaments, and all of Hemenu's creation seemed like dust.

Within the four barriers of the world, in a place farther than the Primordial Waters, Laine's divine presence quietly observed what lay before him.

The Nine Pillars Spirits were smaller than his palm, the world at his feet. But opposite Him, another La stood there.

Amon-Ra-Atum was never just a name.