Chapter 293: Divine-mortal Covenant!
Humanity, with their own blood and sacrifice, indeed moved many of the gods present.
The price of all this was worth it.
Because Zeus was also very satisfied.
The God King still quite liked humanity as they were now.
They were simple and sincere, diligent and tenacious, full of uplifting vitality, and also knew tolerance and unity.
No matter how many little thoughts Prometheus had hidden in his heart or how many little actions he took.
But it truly had nothing to do with humanity now; the humanity at this moment was genuinely obedient and respectful.
The humanity now truly held the most sincere feelings of reverence toward the gods.
Like blank paper, people simply listened to the gods’ commands; this was not their fault.
Although the omniscient God King had already clearly seen that something more complex, darker, named “self-desire,” was quietly growing in the hearts of humanity.
But after all, those seeds had not yet truly blossomed and borne fruit.
So the God King was still very satisfied with the “purity” humanity displayed at this moment.
As for the future, if humanity became complex…
That would be a matter for later.
That was also an indispensable factor in the process of civilization, an inevitable change for all wise civilizations in their development.
“Good” and “bad,” “good” and “evil,” were inherently two sides of development, always entwining and spiraling forward.
As long as this “whole” remained uplifting, it was still worth guiding and sheltering.
Zeus gave an almost imperceptible nod, a gentle smile appearing on his face, and he said, “Prometheus, you have indeed put in the effort.”
“Humanity has also truly done their best. They proved their piety and respect with their actual actions. I am greatly comforted by this.”
With that, He slightly turned his head, looked at the great gods beside Him, and asked in a gentle voice, “Gods, what do you think? Does this newborn wise life deserve our gods’ shelter?”
The eternal sacred Goddess Queen Rhea Mother Goddess was the first to nod slightly, her dazzling colorful long hair dancing gently like streamers.
On her unparalleled beauty, a smile capable of making heaven and earth swoon curved up, and her voice flowed like a warm spring: “They are all very good children. I can see that their existence will make this world more prosperous and colorful.”
“With their service and companionship, we gods might no longer feel so lonely.”
“Prometheus and the others have indeed done very well.”
The Goddess of the Holy Justice Order, the flawless Themis, also nodded immediately, saying softly in her clear and majestic voice, “The venerable Goddess Queen is right.”
“They possess the extremely precious growth wisdom bestowed by the Goddess of Wisdom, making them true wise life. Although they are merely mortal spirits, they are essentially different from those other ignorant mortal spirits.”
“They are tenacious and stubborn, positive and upward, eager to learn and humble, possessing unlimited potential to develop a sufficiently brilliant future.”
“They can indeed bring different colors to this world and have earned the qualification to thrive under the Holy Justice Order. They deserve the gods’ shelter.”
The prominent and gentle Goddess Hera, this loving Great Mother Goddess of Reproduction, also chimed in with agreement at this moment: “These mortal spirits, though their lives are short, can accumulate deeper wisdom through generations of legacy.”
“Even more rare is that they are numerous and reproduce quickly, perhaps soon filling the entire world with the radiance of wisdom.”
“Especially rare is that they value emotions deeply, are kind and simple, and know unity and mutual love. Their attachment to kin and friends, their cherishing of companions, is the firmest soil for the continuation of reproduction.”
“Now, they are also full of respect and admiration for the gods. They are very good; this world will become more prosperous and lively because of their existence. Loneliness will no longer plague the gods. They deserve the gods’ loving care.”
Finally, the bright-eyed purple-haired Goddess of Wisdom Metis also spoke with a smile.
“Back then, carrying out His Majesty the Supreme God King’s original intent of ‘making the universe more prosperous and the gods no longer lonely,’ I bestowed upon them wisdom that could continuously accumulate and grow.”
“Though their individual lives are short and insignificant, the wisdom of ‘civilization’ can be accumulated and passed down generation after generation.”
“Under our gods’ correct guidance and education, I believe they can grow into a sufficiently splendid civilization. Even in a sufficiently distant splendid future, the wise achievements nurtured by humanity can benefit even us gods.”
Hearing these few highest-status and most doted on（revered） great goddesses give such high evaluations of humanity, it surprised quite a few great gods who had not cared before.
They too involuntarily began to look more seriously at the tiny humans on the ground, observing them carefully.
Many quick-witted gods had already secretly resolved: after today, they must thoroughly understand this newborn race called “humanity.”
If humanity could truly develop to the point of benefiting even the gods…
Then it would be worth Their early “investment,” worth a little extra care.
Zeus nodded with a smile, expressing recognition of the words of these beloved goddesses.
Seeing that His Majesty the God King had no objections, the few most core great goddesses also expressed approval one after another.
Naturally, the other gods would not foolishly raise any objections.
Zeus smiled slightly and then gave the final declaration: “It seems the gods have no objections. Humanity, this newborn wise race, truly deserves our gods’ loving care and shelter.”
Only at this moment could Prometheus finally set down the heaviest giant stone in his heart for the time being.
He felt a great sense of relief, and his heart was even more filled with indescribable comfort and joy.
He bowed again and said in a tone full of gratitude, “Humanity is fortunate to grow under the loving care and shelter of the gods; everything they have is bestowed by His Greatness and the great gods!”
“His Majesty treats all living beings with supreme mercy and compassion, equally and lovingly! This is the luck of the entire universe!”
“Under His Majesty’s merciful glory, what they learn must also be His Majesty’s noblest virtues!”
“Under His Majesty’s mercy and justice, humanity is filled with endless respect and reverence for the gods, their filial affection overflowing!”
“This, I believe, will never change!”
“His Majesty is the great father of loving care for all living beings! For humanity to be fortunate enough to receive His Majesty’s favor is their supreme glory and luck! This glory and luck will forever be firmly engraved in their souls!”
“They will also prove with their actions: they will forever have faith in and respect the great gods!”
Zeus smiled slightly and raised his hand to signal him not to say more: “All living beings who abide by my Holy Justice Order are my children.”
“I will love them impartially, and likewise, impartially shelter them to live under the radiance of my Holy Justice Order.”
At this point, Zeus’s tone suddenly became extremely majestic and solemn, His voice like rolling thunder resounding through heaven and earth, proclaiming loudly:
“From this day forward! I! Ruler of the Universe! God Above Gods! King of the Gods—Zeus! On behalf of all gods, establish the Divine-Mortal Covenant with mortal spirits!”
“From this moment! All mortal spirits may build divine palaces, set up altars, praise god names, offer offerings, obey god laws, perform god rituals! Take obedient piety as paramount! Take upholding true faithfulness as reverence! This is—’faith’!”
“If a god manifests and accepts faith through a statue, it is deemed the god’s loving grace bestowed on mortal spirits! Thus, the ‘Divine-Mortal Covenant’ is established!”
“All who have faith may pray to their worshipped gods for shelter and blessing!”
“Mortal spirits must faithfully and enduringly believe in their enshrined gods! Without the slightest slackness! Without the slightest blasphemy!”
“No matter which god mortal spirits believe in, they must not disrespect any venerable god!”
“Any mortal spirits who disrespect gods, the gods may bring punishment upon!”
“Wherever a god statue is set, the worshipped god also has the duty to shelter and protect their faithful believers!”
“Mortal spirits revere gods! Gods shall repay with love!”
“Any who violate this sacred covenant—whether god, person, or any other living being—shall suffer the absolute just sanction of my sacred thunder!”
The humans on the ground, hearing this sacred covenant, had surging and complex emotions in their hearts.
They all reacted differently, some shocked, some joyful, some delighted, some fearful.
All the blood, tears, and sacrifices made for this seemed to find their final home and meaning before this sacred agreement.
People prostrated themselves again, bowing deeply, pressing their foreheads into the dust, and in the most primitive and sincerest way, shouted praises to God King Zeus’s holy name.
The gods in heaven, hearing the God King’s declaration, also had no objections.
This “Divine-Mortal Covenant” was essentially a typical “overlord clause,” nothing but beneficial for the gods with no harm.
The only slight “constraint” was: if you “eat” or “take” people’s offerings and accept their faith and worship, then you must shelter them.
That was the only basic responsibility; beyond that, all choice rested firmly in the gods’ own hands.
If mortals built divine palaces and set up altars, and a god was unwilling to accept this faith or bear this responsibility, they simply needed not to send an oracle or permit a statue.
Even if accepting faith, the “shelter” duty required was merely to protect one’s own believers, ensuring they suffered no “destructive” strikes, which would fulfill the duty.
As for whether to bestow blessings or respond to prayers, that was purely up to the gods’ own moods.
