Chapter 194: Realizing Too Late
The two young goddesses were even more overjoyed, instantly beaming with smiles.
Even Alke, who appeared somewhat gloomy, now revealed a shallow yet captivating smile.
They gently prostrated themselves, thanking the God King for His supreme bounty.
Pontus and Thaumas also bowed deeply once more, loudly expressing their thanks to show their loyalty.
Entrusting the goddess of the Inner Sea with such a heavy responsibility and taking her as His personal divine messenger—there could be no attitude more indicative of support than this!
Sea and Ocean remained silent, quietly accepting all of this.
At that moment, Zeus turned His gaze to Thaumas’s wife, the goddess from the Ocean—Electra.
He said warmly: “Electra, your husband and children are all well. And you are well too, a very good goddess.”
“From this day forward, you shall be the Mother of All Ocean Miracles, the Mother of Miraculous Vitality.”
“In the future, assist your husband well. If there’s anything, seek guidance from your sister Metis often.”
In the end, Zeus showed a bit of tolerance to the Ocean God, softening His attitude somewhat—this was also for His beloved Goddess of Wisdom.
Oceanus, who had been silently bowing his head, suddenly looked up at Zeus on the divine throne upon hearing this, his eyes filled with boundless gratitude.
The Goddess of Wisdom also gazed at Zeus with full tenderness, deeply moved in her heart.
Her beloved male god still had the Ocean in His heart after all. He was still thinking of her after all.
Zeus surveyed the gods inside the hall, His expression returning to gentleness.
Upon His majestic and stern face, a faint smile once again appeared.
The extremely oppressive and stagnant atmosphere within the entire divine palace was restored to flow once more by the God King’s smile.
All the gods secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zeus looked at those few who had accompanied Him since childhood, His most important playmates: Melisseus, who gathered and brewed the dew honey for Him; the two beautiful and gentle Ash Tree Nymphs who carefully accompanied and cared for Him—Adrasteia and Ida; and His most beloved playmate and wet nurse—Amalthea.
He said with a smile: “Melisseus, Adrasteia, Ida, Amalthea. In my childhood, on that small island of Crete, it was thanks to your meticulous care and constant companionship. The emotion between us is the most precious treasure I will cherish eternally.”
“Here, under the joint witness of the gods of the universe, I grant you the honors you have long deserved.”
Hearing this, the four gods hurriedly stepped forward, came to the center of the divine palace, and respectfully knelt on one knee, quietly awaiting the God King’s bounty.
Zeus looked at Melisseus and slowly said: “Melisseus, from this day forward, all birds, insects, bees, and butterflies in the universe, whether divine or mortal, shall revere you and be under your command.”
“Additionally, from today onward, the divine wine of the divine realm shall be coordinated by you among the gods for brewing.”
Zeus then turned to the two Ash Tree Nymphs, His gaze becoming even gentler: “Adrasteia, Ida, you are noble Ash Tree Nymphs, gentle and loving goddesses. From this day forward, all flowers, grasses, trees, and woods in the universe, whether divine or mortal, shall revere you two gods and be under your command.”
“Additionally, Adrasteia is specially conferred the title ‘Goddess of Loving-kindness Protection,’ and Ida ‘Goddess of Loving-kindness Nourishment.’”
“From now on, all myriad living beings of the universe, in their youth, shall be sheltered by you to grow robustly—you shall be the godmothers of all spirits.”
Finally, Zeus looked at that still somewhat simple and pure Goat Nymph.
No, now she should be called a Daughter of the Ocean.
The corners of His lips curved into a doting smile, and with an extremely gentle voice, He said: “Amalthea, from this day forward, you shall be the goddess of ‘Nourishment,’ ‘Recovery,’ and ‘Purification.’”
“All living beings shall grow robust through your nourishment, all wounds shall heal to health through your recovery, all filth and sin shall be cleansed pure through your purification.”
“All sentient beings of the world, upon birth, shall achieve new life through your baptism, arriving pure into the world; and after death, through your sacred washing, they shall shed their past impurities, entering the netherworld without dust.”
“And upon My supreme divine throne, you shall be the brightest star, named ‘Polaris’!（The four directions around Zeus’s divine throne—left, right, front, back—are east, west, south, north）”
“You shall eternally be with Me! Bringing to all living beings of the world the eternal, unchanging, most correct direction! Guiding them toward sanctity and transcendence!”
The four gods were all both shocked and delighted, even stunned on the spot by this sudden, immense surprise and glory.
Especially Amalthea, this naive new Daughter of the Ocean, who had never imagined that despite doing nothing at all, she suddenly possessed everything.
Though she was innocent and a bit simple, she was not foolish!
She naturally knew how much favor Zeus showed her—this grace could truly be called extreme doting!
She gently pursed her delicate thin lips, secretly glancing up at Zeus high on the supreme divine seat, but dared only look for a moment before quickly lowering her head again.
‘Zeus. The best!’
Melisseus, recovering first, immediately knelt on both knees, using all his strength, in a tone of utmost piety from the depths of his divinity, and shouted loudly: “Great Zeus! Illustrious Zeus! Supreme, generous, and merciful God King! Humble Melisseus thanks You for Your supreme bounty!”
“Your will is Melisseus’s eternal and unchanging will!”
The three goddesses, still somewhat absent-minded, were startled by Melisseus’s resounding shout, but thus fully came back to their senses.
They too hurriedly offered their most sincere, gratitude-filled thanks to the God King on the throne.
Zeus smiled and gently waved His hand at them, signaling them to rise and return to their positions.
After conferring titles upon these gods who should be conferred, this long-lasting Council of Gods finally reached its conclusion.
Zeus cast His gaze down over the gods and solemnly concluded: “The new Heavenly Dao Order and Divine Network Order are now in effect. From today, this universe has entered a new era. I hope the gods will take the Divine Twelve Laws as the highest guideline, join hands with Me, and together make the universe more prosperous!”
“Under the new Holy Justice Order, all shall be in perfect order. From today, the gods shall actively integrate into the Divine Network System and actively create life! Let the pulse of life spread to every corner of the universe! Let the radiance of spirituality fully illuminate all void!”
“As You command, Your Majesty the Supreme Eternal God King!” The gods responded in unison, their voices shaking the sky dome.
Zeus looked at Prometheus, who was silently bowing his head, and slowly said: “Prometheus, my dear friend. This world is still too empty; the gods are still too lonely.”
“Compared to this vast and boundless universe, we gods are but a single drop in the endless ocean.”
“Only the growth of life can bring true prosperity to the universe; only the radiance of sentient beings can make the universe eternally shine.”
“Prometheus, you are the renowned sage among the gods, the Weaver of Death, the Cyclical Recycler—son of Iapetus. No god understands the boundary between ‘life’ and ‘death’ better than you.”
“Please travel the world, taking your younger brother Epimetheus with you. The heavy responsibility of creating more life, especially ‘sentient beings,’ I entrust to you two brothers.”
“Do it earnestly. If you need anything, you may seek help from Me and the gods at any time.”
Prometheus, who had been silent and filled with anxiety since his brother committed the great wrongdoing, finally let his suspended heart fully settle after hearing the God King’s words.
He felt deeply moved for a moment.
The God King truly lived up to being the tolerant God King!
Despite his brother’s foolish deed, His Majesty not only did not take it out on him but even entrusted him with such a heavy responsibility!
Truly too great!
And this was precisely the image Zeus wished to show to all the gods.
Today’s God King was the most just God King!
Judging matters on their merits, never implicating others!
The supreme master possessed both the supreme majesty of thunder and the compassionate blessings of dew!
Under the God King’s new order, any god could strive for it with peace of mind!
As long as one committed no wrongdoing, there was nothing to fear!
He hurriedly came before the hall, respectfully knelt on one knee, and said in an utterly sincere tone: “Illustrious Zeus! Great and tolerant God King Your Majesty! Thank You for Your regard and favor!”
“Prometheus will obey Your sacred will! I shall not fail this heavy responsibility! I will surely create the best life to offer to Your sacred justice, supreme and most righteous great order!”
At that moment, from among the gods, a somewhat honest and slow-witted god slowly walked out.
He came to Prometheus’s side and knelt with him.
Clearly, his reaction was a beat slow.
Word by word, solemnly, in a tone with little fluctuation, he replied: “Epimetheus pays respects to His Majesty the majestic God King.”
This most low-key “afterthought” one, Prometheus’s “twin” younger brother, who usually didn’t even leave home.
Only today, at this Council of Gods to pay homage to the God King, did he reveal his true appearance before the gods for the first time.
He and Prometheus shared about fifty percent similarity in build and appearance, likewise a burly handsome god.
But the feeling he gave the gods, especially in temperament and expression, was utterly opposite to Prometheus.
