My great thanks to TodaBruh, who kindly chose to use some of his free time to be my beta reader!

Center of the Void, Throne Room of the Eldritch Pantheon.

With the seemingly endless stream of Eldritch gods coming to meet me finally over, it was now time to deal with the second endless stream of deities waiting to meet me: The Greater Pantheons and deities of the local multiverse, here as guests to witness my Ascension.

Of course, this whole affair was something that extended on several days, so most of them hadn't come yet since there would be little for them to do when I was focusing on the eldritch side of things… but now the floodgates were officially opened, and the non-eldritch Gods were free to finally meet me in person.

I had half expected to see Yahweh be the first to introduce himself… But I wasn't too surprised when a certain trio of goddesses stepped up first, instead.

Desna on the left, Sarenrae in the center, and Iomedae on the right, representing Elysium, Nirvana and Heaven respectively, walked forward towards me with smiles on their faces. I could see that some of them were genuinely happier than others, as Desna's smile was warmer than a star, while Iomedae was more secretly worried about what my rise to power would bring, with Sarenrae somewhere in the middle… fittingly enough.

"Ladies." I greeted them with a hint of amusement. "I see the Heavenly Realms made their choice in who to send first into the fray."

That earned me three smiles, more or less wry depending on the person.

"I dare hope that there will be no need to draw weapons today, King Aeon." remarked Iomedae with just a slight hint of seriousness underneath her amused answer.

"Come now, there's no need for that." gently chastised Sarenrae towards her friend, noticing the same. "Today is a day of celebrations, after all!"

"That it is." agreed Desna, still smiling warmly. "We can keep the weapons for the Abyss when we finally go and do what we should have done eons ago by putting an end to their horrors."

I chuckled. "In your defense, waiting turned out to be the right decision, since now you will have the full backing of the Eldritch Kingdom and its allies."

I glanced in the distance subtly, my smile turning sharper. "Though I dare say some of our more devilish guests today aren't quite so happy as the smiles on their faces would imply."

That made the three goddesses smirk wider, even Iomedae quite clearly taking some enjoyment from watching the Lords of Hell squirm… Especially Asmodeus, the King of Hell doing a wonderful job of appearing calm and in control when the reality was far more troubling for him.

"I must say, I don't think I've ever seen Asmodeus quite so angry and troubled as I have since your arrival, King Aeon." acknowledged Iomedae with amusement, before her expression turned grim. "But I fear that is a problem, too. The King of Hell is not an enemy to make lightly, and it is absolutely one that you have made by your actions."

"I am aware." I calmly replied. "But so be it. I do not fear him, or the Queen of the Abyss. And in time, they shall learn just how much truth my words possess. If anything…" my smile turned sharp again. "I'm looking forward to seeing how long it will take for him to learn to fear me."

The three goddesses sent me a long look at that.

"Asmodeus is not an easily intimidated god, King Aeon. Even you, with all your power, is by itself not enough to make him feel fear." warned Desna.

"I am aware." I repeated with a slight shrug, before smiling. "That is good. It means he's underestimating me. If he didn't, he'd have already bent the knee."

All three goddesses blinked at that statement, quite clearly taken aback by how I so boldly implied that the King of Hell himself would ever do such a thing as kneeling for anyone.

"... I do not believe that Asmodeus would ever willingly kneel for anyone, King Aeon." Sarenrae said hesitantly. "Not unless it was part of some scheme or another."

I hummed. "He will kneel, in the end." I foretold with an amused smile. "Though I dare say he won't see the circumstances coming until it is far too late. The King of Hell isn't the only one with a skill in deception… But I am not so blinded by pride to not consider possibilities that he would never dare to entertain. That will be his downfall, in the end."

The three goddesses hesitated, quite clearly torn between hope that my words would come true, and the wisdom to acknowledge that wishes did not equate to reality.

That was fine. I already had some good ideas on how the matter of Hell's future will be concluded. And I knew exactly what buttons to press in a man like Asmodeus in order for him to never see his end coming.

The god was cunning, extremely so, but as the mess with Lucifer has shown, even his cunning had limits. His greatest sin and weakness was his pride… And I knew so very, very well how to manipulate men with pride.

"But enough about the King of Hell. You have brought those I asked you to bring, may we go meet with them?" I asked them.

"Of course." agreed Iomedae, happy to move away from the matter of Hell and its king.

"I hope that they will accept your proposal." said Desna with anticipation. "I think it's a wonderful idea."

"And that has nothing to do with a certain redeemed succubus of yours?" teased Sarenrae with a grin.

"Oh, it has everything to do with her." shamelessly agreed Desna with a laugh.

"Well, I'll do my best to be convincing then." I told them with amusement, before we made our way to a gathering of rather eclectic individuals looking mostly stupified by their surroundings and their very presence in it.

And yet, there were some amongst them who were looking supremely unimpressed by the place, which made my lips twitch in amusement.

It figures that he would barely even blink at seeing the throne room of the Eldritch Pantheon.

"Commander of the Fifth Crusade and companions." announced Iomedae as we came closer, making everyone look towards us with a wide range of expressions on their faces. "May I present to you King Aeon Starlight, newly ascended King of the Eldritch Pantheon and Kingdom?"

She turned towards me. "Your Majesty, may I present the Commander of the Fifth Crusade and some of his companions, gathered here today at your request."

I smiled as I looked into the bright blue eyes of the angelic commander of the Fifth crusade, the man with blue eyes, golden hair and a sharp jaw to put Hollywood stars to shame smiling brightly at me while exuding charisma and holiness. A saint through and through, but also an excellent leader, strategist and ruler all rolled in one.

By his side was the redeemed Arueshalae, looking deeply uncomfortable amongst so many gods and outright squirming slightly every time she met Desna's gaze, though she clearly took strength by the presence of her Commander (and lover) by her side.

At the Commander's other side was Seelah, the paladin of Iomedae looking almost as overwhelmed as Arueshalae, though she was doing her best to not show it either.

Then there were the others who I requested to come here today: Lann, looking comically out of his depth as his eyes bounced around, gaping at every gods present.

Woljif, almost trembling in terror at being surrounded by deities everywhere, occasionally glancing at the commander like he was a pillar of strength to keep him from collapsing entirely.

And then, there were those companions completely unphased by the entire situation.

Sosiel, looking deeply awed by the sights of the Eldritch Throne Room and already muttering to himself excitedly about all the arts he was going to make after this.

Ember, looking at everyone around her with wide, curious eyes devoid of fear or awe, seemingly more interested in going to meet the gods to talk to them like it was the most natural thing in the world than anything else.

Daeren, the man once possessed by an Outsider entity (not eldritch, it's important to note) was looking around with the kind of natural disdain that only someone born as a noble can possess, though underneath that lied clear gleams of curiosity in his eyes… and no small amount of desire for mischief of all kinds.

Nenio, the Kitsune that had forgotten her true origin and even species once, was busy frantically taking notes in a very thick book, muttering rapidly to herself about how much of an incredible opportunity to study the secretive Eldritch pantheon this was. She also had seemingly completely forgotten that she was surrounded by gods, because right now she was half-grumbling about how all those people around made it hard to properly sketch down her surroundings.

And finally, last but certainly not least, stood a gnome in heavy black armor staring with a deeply unimpressed expression at everything surrounding him, looking almost ready to start pointing out each and every flaw in everything he was observing, up to and including the inexcusable lack of discipline in the many gods around him. Regill, proud member of the Hellknights, unflinchingly met my gaze with a stare so piercing that I couldn't help but be amused over the fact that I felt less like a God-King in his throne room, and more like a recruit being stared down by a superior officer wondering whether I was made for greatness or instead nothing more than a disappointment that was going to make an absolute mess of things.

A few companions were missing, but that was because they were either dead or retired, and thus not available for my purposes.

All of them were under the protection of my True Self, along with any other mortal servants present brought by the gods, since otherwise they most likely would have become utterly insane as a result of the sheer concentration of Eldritch power gathered here.

The Commander stepped forward, offering his hand which I quickly shook firmly, a smile on both our faces.

"God-King Aeon, it is an honor to be invited here today with my companions for this incredible event. I must admit, I'm rather curious as to what we can do for you, but I look forward to finding out." he told me warmly.

"The honor is mine, Commander. You and your companions have surmounted incredible odds to stand here today before me victorious, and such heroism and competence deserve to be acknowledged… Which is partly why I asked you here today, though admittedly I had also far more pragmatic reasons to request your presence." I told him.

"Would I be mistaken in believing that our presence here today has to do with your clear desire to address the problem that is the Abyss?" questioned Regill, his golden eyes looking at me with the barest hint of approval in them.

"You are correct." I nodded at him. "The matter of the Abyss is indeed why I have requested your presence here today, while using the act of rewarding you for all your hard work in safeguarding reality from ruin as an excuse to make you all a proposal."

"And what kind of proposal is that? Because from what I've heard of you Eldritch types, you love to turn mortals into various strange creatures." pointed out Count Daeren with a wry smirk. "And while there may be advantages to becoming a tentacled horror, I'd rather like to keep my human form, thank you very much."

"On this one, I must side with the Count, as rare as this is." said Seelah.

"I should celebrate the occasion with some good wine! And maybe an orgy or three!" exclaimed the Count with a wide grin.

"I meant no offense!" quickly continued Seelah, visibly afraid of having insulted me and utterly ignoring Count Daeren with the ease of experience, making him pout. "It's just-"

I raised a hand, stopping her and chuckling gently. "No tentacles involved, don't worry. My request was actually this."

I looked at everyone, and then declared "I would like to turn you all into the equivalent of Heavenly Demi-gods."

I took some amusement at the way their jaws dropped open in shock at my words, even Regill's eyes widening noticeably before narrowing in deep thought.

"Wait, you're serious?!" exclaimed Woljif. "But I'm… me! Woljif!"

"I wouldn't quite put it that way, but he isn't entirely wrong." said Seelah. "I understand why the Commander, he's… Well, the Commander, but all of us too?"

"Even me?" asked Arueshalae, looking stunned. "But… I'm a succubus, a redeemed one, yes, but…"

"Oh my…" muttered Count Daeren, a small smile on his lips while his eyes turned calculating as he stared at me warily. "What an offer to give us… I can't help but wonder what are the hidden clauses in that deal?"

"Daeren-" began the Commander, frowning at his friend… only to be interrupted by Nenio, who suddenly looked up from her book to stare at us all with confusion.

"I'm sorry, what are we talking about?" she asked.

We all stared at her, before Regill glanced at me with a flat expression. "I question the wisdom of this decision."

I chuckled. "I have my reasons to propose this to all of you, and yes, Nenio included."

I looked at the Kitsune and repeated my offer, making her blink several before-

"So I would become immortal and be able to perform countless previously impossible experiments? I accept. Feel free to perform the process at any time… Wait, actually not right now, we must carefully take notes on the process first!"

And then she devolved into frantic muttering about how to best record the entire process and its results in every way possible.

We all blinked, before Regill once again stared at me with a judgemental look.

I smiled and shook my head. "As unique as Nenio is, her intelligence and vast knowledge cannot be denied. When the war starts, I intend to put both of those things to good use against the Abyss. And as the Fifth Crusade proves, it is possible to do so."

Regill frowned at that, before very begrudgingly nodding.

"I suppose that I do see the logic behind your decision… I still question the long-term wisdom of it, but I will acknowledge that Nenio had occasionally proven her worth during the Fifth Crusade, despite her… utter and absolute lack of understanding of the concept of discipline. I merely hope that we will not come to regret that decision."

Having said that, he stared at Nenio with a thoughtful frown, as if wondering if Nenio could ever prove to be as much of a threat to Reality as the entirety of the Abyss.

… It said a great deal about both Nenio and Regill that he seemed to genuinely consider the question for an uncomfortably long moment.

Deciding to let those two to their respective issues, I looked at the other heroes of the Fifth Crusade, smiling warmly.

"As for the rest of you, yes, I do mean it. Lann, you are an excellent archer and a living proof that being touched by the Abyss does not equal being evil." I told the half human, half lizard man, who hesitantly nodded. "Count Daeren, while I fully suspect that giving you phenomenal cosmic powers is absolutely going to end up with you creating Celestial orgies-" The Count smirked in shameless pride at the very thought. "-I also believe that, after everything you have seen of the Abyss, you will be just as dedicated to ending its evils as everyone else here."

The Count raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a bold claim. What makes you think that I will do that?"

I looked at him straight in the eyes. "Because the Commander will be incredibly disappointed in you if you don't, and while you sneer at almost everyone in existence, he's one of the few people whose opinion you genuinely respect."

Seelah, Sosiel and Lann very badly tried to hide their sudden bouts of laughter, while Woljif and Arueshalae looked away, twitching smirks on their faces.

The Count himself actually gaped at me, looking uncharacteristically floored by my blunt assessment, while the Commander himself had a wide, delighted grin on his face, his sky blue eyes gleaming with laughter.

"Daeren-" he began, before the Count raised a hand to stop him, his face twisting with begrudging respect and annoyance as he looked at me while the Commander's amusement only grew.

"I must admit, even I underestimated the shameless cunning of deities like you. Though what if you're wrong-"

"Then I'll ask Ember and Arushalae to team up to convince you to help and keep pestering you until you break." I shot back with a wide smirk, to the growing laughter of the people surrounding us, and Daeren's growing look of horror at the very thought.

"Alright, alright! I know when I'm defeated." he declared, raising his hands to plead for mercy. "Goodness, and here I thought you were supposed to be a benevolent Eldritch god." he muttered.

"Good does not necessarily mean nice." I shot back with a triumphant grin.

"Shameless blackmail of my companion aside." the Commander interrupted with a grin that spoke perfectly well of how entertaining he found the entire situation. "What about the rest of us?"

"Well, Woljif would be just as good as Lann when it comes to being a symbol, though I suspect he'll be more focused on infiltration missions and more… unconventional strategies. Possibly involving stealing everything not nailed down in the enemy supply depots and then everything nailed down, too." I said with amusement.

Woljif crossed his arms with a frown. "Oh, I see. So just because I'm a tiefling I'm the thief, I see how it is."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, if you want I can let you 1v1 someone like Lamashtu-"

"I'm good with stealing, thank you very much!" he yelped, looking horrified at the very thought of fighting the Dark Goddess.

The Commander snorted, before patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm certain that you'll be of great help, Woljif, just as you were during the Fifth Crusade."

"That's…" he trailed off, looking away with a small smile. "Thanks."

"Seelah…" I looked at the paladin of Iomedae, before smiling wryly. "Well, I don't think I need to point out why a holy paladin during war times against demons is a good thing."

"No." she agreed with good humor. "You do not."

I nodded at Sosiel. "Same for you, of course. And I dare say your goddess could use all the help she can get when the fighting starts."

Sosiel nodded slowly, though he also looked deeply torn about something, and I knew what.

My expression softened. "I won't ask you to leave your brother. This is an open offer, feel free to stay by his side until his time comes to face the Goddess of Death. Of course, you can accept and stay by his side as a demi-god too while he still lives, if you want."

That made Iomedae speak up, the goddesses previously willing to stay silent suddenly reacting to those words.

"King Aeon, a heavenly being like a demi-god on the mortal plane would be-"

"Entirely acceptable to me." I bluntly interrupted her, making everyone blink. "The same would be true of the Commander and his companions if they choose to accept."

"But-" Iomedae tried to interject, but I shook my head firmly, my voice coming out stern but not harsh.

"The gods did not walk the mortal plane for a number of reasons, one of the greatest being that the Abyss and Hell might see this as a reason to do the same and start a Great War. But war is coming anyway, so I see no reason to hold them back if they want to stay on the mortal plane for a while."

"Hell might protest… Loudly." warned Sarenrae.

I stared at her blankly. "And?"

They blinked, and I chuckled darkly. "Let me whine all they want. What are they going to do, challenge me? At a time when doing so might start a civil war? When the Abyss is currently sealed, and Abaddon firmly under my control? Beside…" My smile turned cold. "Considering the announcement I will make by the end of this event, I can assure you that a few Heavenly beings running around on the mortal plane will be the least of their worries!" I declared with almost sadistic, gleeful anticipation at the face that Asmodeus will make when I reveal that, yeah, I had the power to allow any Eldritch God to cross into the material plane at will.

A lot of people are going to need a change of pants when I reveal that. Eldritch Gods needing incredibly complex rituals to enter the material plane from the Void is one of the primary reasons that the Eldritch Pantheon is still limited in some ways, without that however…

Well. As I said: a lot of very powerful people were suddenly going to need to change pants.

"And what announcement will that be?" asked Iomedae with well-hidden dread, though it shone like a beacon to my senses anyway.

I grinned mischievously at her and everyone present. "Oh, you will see. I look forward to seeing Asmodeus' face when I reveal it, though… His, amongst many others." I chuckled darkly.

Then I shook my head and looked back at the Commander and his companions. "Either way, my point remains: Any of you who wants to accept my offer and remain in the mortal plane for a while can do so, on my authority. The exact length can be negotiated as needed."

"That is… very generous." said Sosiel gratefully.

I shrugged. "Pragmatic, more like. Ensuring that there is no bad blood between me and newly arisen demi-gods is just good sense."

Sosiel snorted softly at my words. "I can't argue with that."

I turned towards Arueshalae. "As for you, I actually had a couple of reasons to make that request. Besides being something of a favor towards Desna-" the goddess in question smiled, while Arueshalae squirmed slightly at the fact that her patron goddess clearly wanted her by her side despite her history and original nature- "It is also out of a selfish desire from me for you to help my fist wife, Oedon, in her own plans."

Arueshalae blinked, confused, and I explained with a fond smile as I talked about Oedon's plans.

"My wife has decided that greater efforts should be made in order to facilitate the redemption of Infernal beings towards the Heavenly Realms. She wished to ensure that any and all infernal beings, cultists and more who wish for peace and the chance to live a good, quiet life actually get to do so. The full explanation of her plans would take a long time, but what is important right now… Is that I would like for you to be one of the leaders of the pro-redemption movement, along with others such as my wife, the Redeemer Queen, or even Ember."

"That's-!" Arueshalae gasped, tears gathering in her eyes at the thought of being able to truly redeem members of the Infernal Realms on a mass scale.

She turned to look at the Commander, the two lovers sharing an entire conversation through eye contact alone, before she let out a trembling breath and glanced at Desna, who smiled warmly back at her.

Visibly struggling to not break into tears at the sheer opportunity to repeat what she had gone through to countless others, the chance to save countless damned souls by her own efforts made Arueshalae tremble and smile with delighted joy and hope.

"I… I would love to help with that, King Aeon." she choked out, the Commander's right hand finding her own and warmly squeezing while he gave her his own proud smile.

My expression softened, and I smiled gently. "Then I shall make the necessary arrangements for it, whether you choose to accept my own offer or not. In the name of the countless souls that you will hopefully help save… Thank you."

Arueshalae didn't speak, not trusting her voice to not break, but she gave me a tearful nod that more than easily conveyed the full depths of her emotions.

"Such an undertaking comes with risks of infiltration and betrayal." grimly warned Regill, speaking up once more.

I nodded in agreement at his words. "I am aware. The full security details will need to be decided upon, but I can at least already confirm that one of the necessary screening processes will involve any potential hopeful to enter the redemption program to swear their good intentions while in an area consecrated in my name as God of Truth. It does not mean the people chosen will necessarily succeed, but it will mean that any would-be spies will be burnt to ashes on the spot."

Arueshalae opened her mouth at that, before closing it, a saddened but understanding look on her face.

Regill glanced at her for a moment, before looking back at me with some approval. "Perhaps not entirely fool-proof, but better than I'd feared as a start."

I shrugged slightly at him. "From an idealistic perspective, every lost soul finding redemption is a soul saved from literal damnation and an example of the validity of Good over Evil as a concept. From a pragmatic point of view? Every soul saved is one less soldier in the armies facing us, making our ultimate victory easier. As long as the number of damned souls converted is greater than the number of good souls lost by treachery and betrayal, then we ultimately gain from it."

Regill frowned, before nodding slowly. "I would point out the importance of quality over quantity if those good souls lost are of greater value to the war efforts than the souls converted, but I do see the military value in denying manpower from the enemy and offering a useful channel through which we might get valuable intelligence from the traitors. I do question the wisdom in trusting in people who already have shown their lack of discipline by turning traitors to begin with, however."

Those last words clearly caused issues in the more morally upright companions of the Commander, but I merely smiled back at Regill.

"Ah, but by not accepting such people we not only ensure that they would have no choice but to fight us to their last breath, but we also lose any potential actionable intelligence those people will be willing to share. Thus, as long as necessary precautions are put into place, the simple calculus becomes one of cost versus rewards where the potential benefits, I believe, outweigh the potential costs. Much like the Commander's decision to trust Arueshalae ultimately proved to be the right one."

Regill frowned harder, sending a long look at both the Commander and Arueshalae, but after a moment he relaxed.

"Very well. As long as all due precautions are taken, and in accordance with previous empirical evidence of the viability of the strategy, I can only hope that time will prove this decision wise and not foolish with the benefits of hindsight." he declared.

There was a collective blink from several people, while the Commander smiled warmly.

"Did… did Regill just approve of trying to redeem Demons and Cultists?" Seelah said, sounding utterly stunned. "Regill, who considers Gold Dragons as fools at best?"

"Someone pinch me, I think I might be dreaming…" muttered Woljif, before yelping in pain when Daeren did exactly that with a smirk.

"No, you aren't dreaming." The Count remarked, before looking with amusement at Regill. "Though I can understand your shock. I'm half wondering if we have just gone mad instead! If so, madness is far more entertaining that I ever thought it possible."

"No, I have not gone mad, Count Daeren." very dryly replied Regill. "Though it does not surprise me overly much that you aren't certain of the matter when it concerns yourself. To be clear, while I still have a great many concerns about the proposed plan, I am simply willing to acknowledge that my very reasonable concerns have already been accounted for, and that the arguments presented as to the cost/rewards ratio might, potentially, be in favor of following through on the proposed plan. Whether or not it does prove that theory when it comes to reality remains to be seen, but since King Aeon has, so far, proven himself to be competent enough to overcome even the Queen of the Abyss herself when in indirect conflict, I am willing to reserve final judgment until additional evidence for or against the proposed plan comes to light."

They stared, before Daeren smirked. "So what you are saying is that you trust him to not be an incompetent buffoon?"

Regill gave the Count a blank look that nonetheless carried with it the full, phenomenal force of his personal disdain towards those words.

"If you must put it into such crude terms, then yes." he said blankly. "I would indeed hope that the new ruler of the most powerful faction in existence is not, in fact, 'an incompetent buffoon'."

The worst part was, even I wasn't sure whether he was being incredibly sarcastic or entirely honest with those words…

"Either way, I hope that you will be willing to help in that endeavor, Miss Ember." I said, turning towards the last member of the group-

Before blinking in surprise when I saw her peer in confusion at me, her head tilted to the side as if looking at a confounding puzzle.

We all turned towards her, the Commander blinking before gently putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Ember? Are you alright?"

"It appears his majesty's divine presence was too much for the poor girl, as she finally broke. How tragic." sarcastically remarked Count Daren, though the genuinely concerned gleam in his eyes towards Ember showed his true feelings.

"You… Why can't I feel you?" Ember muttered, peering at me with confusion.

I blinked, before my eyes widened in understanding. "Ah, you're something of an empath, aren't you? Not a true one, but very close…" I mused, before giving her an apologetic smile. "My apologies, but I've been told that my emotions can get… overwhelming to look at, so I do my best to hide them from other empaths. Are you truly sure that you want to see?"

"You shouldn't have to hide your feelings from others." Ember said with a frown. "How can others know when you need help if they can't see your pain?"

My expression softened, even as those around us shifted uneasily at the way she basically hinted at me being anything but perfectly healthy and strong, which… wasn't the best thing to say to someone, much less a god-king on his coronation day.

I could see several people opening their mouths, but I raised a hand, stopping them while my focus remained on Ember.

"While I appreciate the offer… You don't have to try and shoulder everyone's pain, you know?" I said gently.

"That's silly." she replied without hesitation, making a few people flinch at the way she said those words to my face, but I merely smiled in amusement instead. "Too many people do bad things because they are in pain, and nobody cares to help. If everyone in pain had people around them willing to help them, then we'd all live much happier."

I laughed softly at that. "Well, you got me, there." I mused with amusement, before sighing. "Very well then."

I dropped my shields to allow Ember's empathy to work, and she instantly froze, tears falling from her eyes as she stared at me with wide eyes.

"Oh." she choked out. "Oh. I didn't think… So much pain, so much hatred…" she whispered, shivering violently, her words and ration making everyone eyes' widen, the Commander moving to hold Ember as she swayed on her feet, her tears-filled eyes staring at me with a kaleidoscope of emotions.

I could see her friends shift, gathering subtly around her as if to shield her from me-

Only for her next words to make them freeze.

"And so, so much love, empathy and kindness, as well…" she whispered, sniffling as she kept crying her eyes out. "How… How can you hold so much hatred and so much love too?" she asked, visibly confused.

I sent her a long, soft look at that. "When I first came face to face with Evil, I chose to rage against it. And I never stopped. But…" I turned, my eyes finding the distant form of Oedon, smiling happily while talking to a number of Heavenly beings. "Not soon after, I found love, too, and I knew that I had a choice to make: to choose between allowing hatred or love to rule my life."

I looked back into Ember's eyes, my expression infinitely gentle. "I chose the second path, rather than the first, and I never regretted it." I sighed. "Pain, hatred… They can motivate you, give you the strength to keep fighting, but they can all too easily control you, warp you until those things become all that you know. I… saw that more than enough, when I was still human."

I shook my head, before smiling gently at Ember… and looking straight into her eyes with my own divine ones.

"That is why despite everything, despite all the blood on my hands, present and future… I will never stop searching for paradise." I told her, and Ember's eyes widened in shock as she caught a bare glimpse of the center of my soul, and the metaphysical make-up of it.

She started crying harder, looking at me with both sorrow and infinite kindness. "The path you walk… It will torment you, perhaps for eternity."

I grinned at her. "What can I say? There are people in pain that I can help." I replied, essentially sending her own words back at her.

She sniffled, a sorrowful expression on her face as she spoke her next words.

"And who will help you, when you are in pain?"

I chuckled. "Isn't it that obvious?" I told her, glancing meaningfully towards Oedon, Azathoth, and all of my wives.

Ember blinked, before she finally smiled, though her eyes were still heavy with sorrow as she looked at me. "I always thought that gods were people too, both good and bad… I'm happy to have met a good god, today."

"A good god, mmmh?" I repeated, as if tasting the words. "I hope that one day… I'll be able to be a good man, too."

"You could be, you know." she whispered, almost pleading… As if she already knew and mourned my answer.

And as she expected, I looked at her in the eyes and declared softly, but firmly, "Not as long as Reality needs the Good Hunter."

She bowed her head. "I'll pray for you." she whispered. "Because someone should."

"... Thank you." I said gently, her words bringing flashback to memories of the long night of the Hunt, when Oedon would kneel within the Hunter's Dream and pray to the Gods for my sake.

I began to hide my emotions from Ember once more, but she jerked and quickly shouted "Don't!"

I paused, and she shook her head. "Don't hide. You should never have to hide like this."

I hesitated, but decided to let the empathic link open if she preferred it that way. I didn't mind, Ember was someone who, by her very nature, could be trusted. "Very well."

She smiled, still looking incredibly sad, but a little happier now.

"I'll help your wife with her work." she finally said. She turned her head, her expression turning sorrowful once more. "I can feel the deeply buried grief and sorrow in her own heart… She lost something very important to her once, didn't she?"

I nodded. "Yes. Though… I will help her with that, sooner rather than later if I have anything to say about it."

Ember turned back towards me, fearlessly looking into my cosmic eyes once more, before smiling warmly. "You truly do love her so very, very much… I'm glad."

I looked back at everyone else, mortals and goddesses alike staring at us both like they had no idea what had just happened, with the exception of Nenio (still frantically muttering to herself about how to best records her Ascension) and Regill, who looked as supremely unimpressed as ever.

My lips twitched in amusement at the sight. "Don't mind us. We just needed to have a quick heart to heart."

I looked back at Ember, hesitating, before smiling softly. "If you want, I can heal your wounds." I looked at the scarring on her body from where she had almost been burnt at the stake as a child out of suspicion of corruption. "It would only take a moment."

Ember tilted her head, before gently shaking it. "It's alright, it doesn't really hurt me. But thank you for asking, that's very kind of you."

I hid my own disappointment from showing on my face, though I knew that Ember could feel it anyway, before looking back at Regill.

"That aside, if you were wondering why I would also like to Ascend you, Regill, it's because you will bring some much needed pragmatism and military discipline to this rag-tag band of misfits." I told him with amusement. "And do the same for the rest of the Heavenly Realms, while you're at it. Who knows, maybe you can teach a thing or two about discipline to the Legions of Heavens?"

"Your reasoning is much as I expected, King Aeon, but it is good to have confirmation." Regill replied. "And as for the matter of discipline in Heaven's forces…" he frowned slightly. "I will have to investigate the matter, though I suspect that I will find myself disappointed in their standards."

"Somehow, that would not surprise me one bit." Daeren deadpanned. "I'd be willing to bet whatever bottles of wine from my family's cellars that I haven't drunk yet on it."

"That's a fool's bet if I ever heard one." snorted Seelah, with Lann nodding in agreement. "I'm pretty sure that he'd find Hell's army too undisciplined for him!"

"I would certainly hope that Hell's armies are of higher standards than those of mortal kingdoms." replied Regill, as straight-faced as ever, making it impossible to say if it was sarcasm or not. "Though, on the matter of Hell…" he looked at me. "I understand if you do not wish to answer, but from what I was able to learn you effectively refused to entertain an alliance with Hell against the Abyss, despite how much the armies of Hell have to offer. May I inquire as to your reasoning?"

"Regill… Are you seriously questioning the literal god-king of Reality?" asked Lann, sounding half dumbfounded, half-resigned to Regill being… Regill.

"It is a clear contradiction to an otherwise near-spotless show of competence since his arrival in our reality." The heavily-armored gnome replied stoically. "I can only assume that there are facts involved that we are not aware of. Either way, either King Aeon chose to answer, or he does not. I have no power to compel him to do so, thus I can only make a straightforward request and hope for his willingness to give an answer."

I chuckled. "It's alright, I understand that, as a Hellknight, you would naturally question why I would discard the idea of using Hell's armies in the war against the Abyss. And to answer your question in as much as I'm willing to…" I looked at Regill thoughtfully. "The annihilation of the Abyss is not the true end goal of my plans and vision for this multiverse. It is, if anything, only a step, large certainly, but still solely a single step towards the full realization of my vision, and for them to come to pass I require some specific changes to the established cosmic order. The effective Cold War I have started with Hell will, ultimately, play its part in that."

"And what are your long term plans truly about, King Aeon?" inquired Regill, to the clear interest of everyone, especially the watching goddesses.

I grinned at them all. "The establishment of a new, stronger, more stable and efficient cosmic order. No offense to the current one, but if the staggering number of cries for support and requests of all kinds I received when I first sent my Aeons to establish diplomatic ties were anything to go by, then there is a lot of room for improvements. The restructuring of the infernal realms and their relations with the rest of Reality is a big part of accomplishing that."

Refill tilted his head, clearly considering my words. "I am always in support of greater order, though I will reserve proper judgment until the full scope of your actions and their consequences can be determined."

Translated, that effectively meant 'I am willing to trust you enough to give you a chance to convince me, whether you succeed or fail will be based entirely on your own merits.'

Which was entirely fair.

"Well, I look forward to making a believer out of you, then." I told him with a smile, before looking at the Commander and his team as a group. "For the time being however, please keep my offer in mind, consider it carefully, and if you have more questions, well, just give me a prayer and I'll see to it that you have answers."

"And thank you for considering us worthy of such an honor in the first place." replied the Commander with a warm smile. "To be made into demi-gods is no small thing, and for you to just offer it to all of us means a lot."

"As I've said before, you've earned it." I replied earnestly. "Now, as much as it was a pleasure to meet all of you, I should go meet the other guests, before people accuse me of being a bad host." I joked, before doing my best to extract myself from the eclectic group and finally interact with others gods. As enjoyable as meeting these heroes was, I had more work to do, and the occasional deity to troll (looking at you, Asmodeus!)

The god that came to see me after my meeting with the Heroes of the Fifth crusade was something of a surprise: Gorum, God of battle, was someone most people would believe to be utterly gleeful at the thought of the upcoming war, considering his very nature.

And yet, a single look at him, combined with my foreknowledge of the future from different timelines, let me know that it was actually the opposite, though he didn't publicly reveal that fact.

"King Aeon." the Lord of Iron greeted respectfully, bowing his armored head towards me. "I was looking forward to meeting you."

I gave him a piercing look, before my expression softened, and a quick wave of my hand made sure that nobody could overhear our talk.

"I am aware of your growing conviction that you are an Evil upon mortal kind, Lord Gorum." I said gently, the god of battle visibly stiffening before relaxing with a sigh coming from the void within his helmeted head. "While I fully understand the reasons for your newfound convictions… I personally believe that there are better ways to react to it than what you are considering."

I put a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. "Suicide is rarely the answer, Lord Gorum, and I do not believe it to be necessary in this case."

I'd say that suicide is never the answer… But I came from Bloodborne, where a good, honest death was frankly a mercy compared to what other fates awaited people.

"... Then what do you suggest I do, King Aeon?" asked the god of battle with a weary voice that finally revealed his inner turmoil. "I have watched over countless atrocities and tragic loss of lives since I came to be. There was a time where I even enjoyed it, but… no longer. Now all I see is the waste of it all, the sheer bloody cost of battle and war. I, the god of battle, have come to despise war." He shook his helmeted head in disgust. "Tell me, do you even know what resides within my armor, King Aeon? The truth of my being?"

"I do." I replied truthfully. "The violent urges of mortal kind, given form and will. You're right, by itself, your nature makes you something more akin to a demon than a Good-aligned deity."

"Then-"

"But," I firmly interrupted, "the very fact that you can think and feel guilt and regret, the ability to want to be better proves that you can be more than a demon masquerading as a god, Gorum." I told him. "We always have a choice, even as gods. Perhaps especially so, considering the raw power we possess. If you are so troubled by your nature and existence, then you can change. Too many deities believe that they are unchanging, frozen in their current state by their very nature. That is a lie. You believe that you are only making mortal kind suffer, Gorum? Then change. Even after the war to come is won, there will always be evil praying upon the weak. There will always be danger that needs to be fought against. And there is more to battle than physical conflict, you know."

I smiled warmly at him. "Sometimes, the greatest battles are those of the heart, mind and soul… as you're discovering for yourself, right now. If battle for battle's own sake no longer satisfies you, then become a protector. If bloodshed no longer interests you, then learn about battles of ideals, of beliefs, of words and convictions. To be a god of battle doesn't have to be about raw, physical violence. It can be about surmounting our worst impulses and choosing to be good. It can be standing up for a cause you believe in with the right words to convince others of the cause's value. It can be about overcoming weakness, pursuing one's dreams in spite of obstacles, and much more besides."

I laughed softly. "To be alive is to change. To be a warrior is to overcome obstacles. So prove it, Lord Gorum. You are not satisfied with who you are? So are countless others. It does not trap you, it does not condemn you. If anything, that revelation is no different than freedom from chains you never even knew were there, before. Now… You know your enemy. You know who must be defeated."

I leaned forward. "Tell me, god of battle… do you have the strength for the greatest battle of your life… the one waged in your heart and soul, rather than against others?"

For a long moment, Gorum said nothing, simply staring at me in silence as he considered my words.

Then, his voice came up, soft and thoughtful.

"You… are speaking from experience, aren't you? I can hear it in your voice."

I laughed softly. "Yes, well… I used to be a simple mortal man, with nothing truly extraordinary about me. And look at me now! So, if I can do it…" I look straight into the darkness of his helmet. "Why not you, as well?"

Gorum mused over my words for a long moment, before asking, with a voice heavy with doubts and hope both. "Do you truly think I can earn my place in Elysium, even knowing my true nature?"

"I think," I said slowly, with a very kind voice. "That a truly evil and hopelessly damned soul would not question its evil, or regret the harm it has caused over the years. I think that, ultimately, one of the greatest strengths of all living things is the ability to change themselves, hopefully for the better like you desire to do. And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt-" an image of Saitama flashed through my mind, making me smile. "-that anything is possible if you have the willpower to never give up on your dreams, even if it means challenging all of reality itself."

We fell silent for a time, before Gorum nodded at me. "Then… I will do my best to try and change for the better."

My lips twitched. "Do or do not, there is no try." I said wisely, doing my best to not laugh over being able to quote Yoda to a god. Then my voice softened. "And, if I may give you one last piece of advice?"

"Of course." replied Gorum.

"Do not hesitate to seek out the help of those you trust, Gorum." I told him seriously. "Even the strongest warrior needs someone to lean on at times, and there is no shame in that. You have the chance to live in a realm full of kind, helpful people who will gladly do their absolute best to help you in any way they can if only you ask for their support. Do not hesitate to do so, as there will be times you will require help on your journey…"

My voice softened again with nostalgia. "As I did, too, in the past."

Gorum hesitated, then let out a deep sigh. "As you say, King Aeon. Relying on others is not in my nature, but… perhaps that, too, is something that should change."

"Nobody, in all of Creation, is perfect, Gorum. Not you, me, or even Azathoth herself." I said kindly. "We all have moments where we will stumble and fall. How we respond to those moments reveal a lot about who we are. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be strong and independent… but it shouldn't be at the cost of ignoring those who only wish to help and support us."

"I understand." Gorum said. "If you would excuse me, King Aeon, I… need to be alone to consider things, at least for now."

"Of course." I took down the privacy ward I created, then smiled warmly at him. "Go, Lord Gorum, and remember my words. You may yet be able to find your answer, as I have."

He bowed his head again in thanks, before departing, my eyes lingering on his armored back for a moment before finally looking away.

I had quite a few other deities to talk to, though hopefully not all of them were currently contemplating going through the equivalent of an elaborate form of suicide.

Still, I was glad to be in the right time and place to help him. As a Hunter from Yharnam, dealing with bloodlust and one's love for battle while trying to remain a good person was a matter I was all too personally familiar with, and I could only hope that he'd find his path towards becoming someone like Sir Ludwig in time.

The Omniverse could always use more protectors, after all.

After speaking to a few more gods, I decided to take a small break, creating a duplicate to take my place and hiding myself from the view of the gods present, finally taking the time to go and check the refreshments and rather delightful little cakes present for the guests.

There was one type filled with something remarkably similar to chocolate that I was happily hunting down and eating one after the other, taking notes on how to make them myself for my wives and children later on.

"You know, most god-kings don't go and hide by the punch bowls on the day of their coronation." came an amused, gentle voice behind me, filled with kindness and wisdom.

I turned, my eyes meeting the ones of the god gently smiling at me-

LIGHT

LOVE

MERCY

CREATION

-Before freezing, my eyes widening in shock as I stared at the man woman adult child short tall person before me, his eyes glimmering with the closest thing to omnipotent LIGHT I've ever seen in anyone except myself.

My ears became filled with heavenly Hymns, and the chorus of angelic voices. My veins were filled with warmth and a feeling of purity and Holiness, my nose smelt a thousand different flowers from the Garden of Eden, each more wondrous than the last. A sense of tranquility and serenity enveloped me, peace and acceptance flooding my heart like it was an empty vessel waiting to be filled.

For a second that felt like eternity, any fear, doubts or hate within me was blasted apart, replaced by absolute certainty, resolve and conviction, as the Seven Virtues enveloped me completely-

"Gah!"

We both staggered backwards, a hand going to our heads as we groaned in unisson, my True Self convulsing slightly at the REVELATION he was just smacked with, though by the look of it it was very much a mutual experience.

"Ow. That's new. I suppose that'll teach me about the danger of hubris, heh? I must admit, It's been a long time since I was surprised like that!" The Man said with a bright, cheerful laugh.

I squinted at him, the sudden headache rapidly vanishing along with the Heavenly choir echoing in my mind as I stared at…

Ah.

"Really?" I said with deep amusement, struggling not to laugh. "Morgan Freeman? Let me guess: You really liked Bruce Almighty, huh? Or is it just for the memes?"

God smiled at me. "Why not both?" he replied, and I snorted.

Figures that God knew memes.

"Or maybe, you just see me like this because it fits your expectations? Or all of the above… Or none of them." he said, a mischievous grin on his lips.

I shook my head with a smile. "Well, to answer your question, I had noticed those delicious little cakes and wanted to make sure that they would not go to waste." I told him, waving at the cakes in question for emphasis. "I must say, I was not disappointed."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "Really now? Well, after such glowing praises, how can I not try them too?"

He came closer, taking one and looking at it curiously, before putting it in his mouth.

"Hmm. Hmmm! Good!" He muttered with gleaming eyes and the corner of his lips curling upwards with delight. He swallowed, before looking at the remaining little cakes with interest. "I'll have to give my compliments to the chef after this, they did a wonderful job."

"Agreed." I nodded with approval. "I look forward to baking some myself for my wives… and children."

Yahweh smiled at that, before chuckling. "Well, I'm glad that fatherhood agrees with you, especially after how many of your children are now running around Creation. Though I must say, even I didn't foresee some of them becoming vtubers on Earth! Maybe I should encourage a few of my own children to do the same, bring some laughter and joy in the hearts of men directly…" he mused.

"You can't force them to do those things." I warned, before chuckling. "Though I do find the ideas of a group of Angels dealing with humans on the internet to be either hilarious or the set-up for a tragedy. It's Hell they're walking into."

Yahweh laughed softly at that. "You just had to make that reference, hmm? Not that I don't understand why you are saying that. But I'm sure that they'll do well. After all, I experienced the thoughts of Man on a wide scale much earlier than the creation of the Internet, and things didn't go too badly."

I smirked wryly. "The Flood begs to differ."

Yahweh paused, then shrugged ever so slightly. "Well, you can't win them all. Free Will, I'm sure that you're familiar."

I let out a sigh. "That I am. A more blessed and cursed concept, you'd be hard-pressed to find."

Yahweh grinned. "From what I can tell, you're a rather strong supporter of it yourself, despite everything."

I grinned back at him. "Freedom. The only worse thing than having it is not having it."

I shook my head. "And considering my personal history… I know rather well what I'm talking about."

Yahweh's expression softened. "I know. The Moon Presence, hmm? I've taken a look at your past… What your True Self allowed me to, at least."

He let out a long sigh, before giving me a smile almost radiant with pride.

"It was a horrifying situation that you were in, you know. Countless others would have failed… did, in fact, break before the challenges before them. But not you."

I shrugged slightly. "I was very lucky, and met the right people to guide me right as well."

My eyes shifted towards Oedon in the distance, my expression turning soft. "At times, Hell is found in other people… and at others, they are your guiding light in the darkest of night."

Yahweh's smile grew, while turning softer as well. "Ah, love. Few, if any greater forces exist in Creation. Indeed, it is that very force that gathers us all here today… In more ways than one."

"... It's a pity it's not the only force that holds power over Creation." I muttered, glancing in the direction of the King of Hell.

Yahweh said nothing for a moment, his gaze remaining fixed upon me, his smile fading to something sadder.

"You have chosen to bear the weight of bringing about change, even if the cost is incredibly high. Do you regret setting in motion the events that will lead to the greatest war in the history of Creation?" Yahweh asked me, his voice lacking any judgment.

"... No." I answered softly. "I mourn the cost of it. I feel guilty about the consequences upon countless innocent lives. But to regret it would be believing that it was a mistake, and I do not believe that."

"Evil had been kept in check for eons, a careful balance ensuring that peace would, for the vast majority of people across the multiverse, remain strong. Was it not good enough for you? This peace that would ensure countless lives would ultimately be free of the predations of Evil?" he questioned softly.

I glanced at him, my cosmic eyes meeting his own, unflinchingly staring into the barely hidden sea of Light within.

"No." I answered bluntly, truthfully and mercilessly. "To do that is to favor the forest for the trees. It is to write off all those lives lost in the act of keeping a nebulous 'balance' as acceptable sacrifices. Good thrives upon action. It shines through the will to stand against injustice. In short… Evil thrives while good men do nothing, and by doing so, proves themselves unworthy of being called good men to begin with."

Yahweh stared at me in silence for a time, the weight of my words echoing between us, along with the silent but clearly felt judgment of God's own inactions.

His expression turned gentle. "You know it is not so simple."

I let out a breath, my shoulders falling slightly. "I know." I admitted. "Fiery rhetoric can only get you so far. There are countless other important considerations that need to be accounted for, or else it would be all too easy to rush forward and only make things worse." My lips curled into a sardonic grin. "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions, after all."

I straightened, and once again met his gaze unflinchingly. "Free Will itself will ensure that Evil will always exist, and I refuse to ever sacrifice it on the altar of perfection. But, all the same, the balance present when I first appeared was unacceptable. Evil should not, ever, be the equal of Good. It should be kept in check, beneath the power of all that is Good, such that the Infernal Realms exist only as a place of punishment for the wicked, and never as kingdoms from which Evil can plot the complete conquest of Creation. The only balance I can ever accept between Good and Evil is one where Evil is, always and forever, inferior to all that is Good."

"There will be uncountable sacrifices required to bring that outcome to pass." Yahweh remarked, his voice heavy with the knowledge born from omniscience of the exact price to pay for it, or as close as he can foresee it.

"I know." I replied, my voice now firm and unyielding. "But it is a ruler's duty to fight not just for the lives of those in the present, but those yet to be born as well. Too many rulers are unwilling to acknowledge that the sacrifices made today will bring a better tomorrow."

A small smile crossed my lips. "There is a Greek saying that says A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in, and I intend to ensure that, one day, future old men will be free to plant trees without having to worry about bad herbs and parasites killing those trees off."

"To prioritize the future generations, even at the cost of the current ones…" Yahweh mused, his voice still heavy with sadness. "You truly believe that it is necessary?"

"I don't think it's necessary." I rebuked. "I think it's the right thing to do."

Yahweh stared at me for a long moment, expression forlorn, before gently asking "And what if it is only Hell that you find, at the end of your road paved with good intentions?"

I smiled wryly at that, considering that my plans involved me doing exactly that… but answered all the same.

"Then I will do my best to take responsibility, and fix what can be fixed, heal what has been wounded, and make whole what has been broken. After all…"

I looked away, a sad, nostalgic smile crossing my lips as a memory of Gerhman, standing tall with his scythe in hands in front of his wheelchair as he stared me down, came to mind.

"When we give our word, when we make mistakes, when others suffer because of us… all of these and more require us to take responsibility. And I know all too well the weight of that thing called duty." I whispered, memories flooding my mind, of a little blonde girl crying in my arms as we stood before two graves, of a beast with a holy sword choosing to die as a man, rather than a monster, of an old man finally free to rest in peace after watching after generations of students he taught in the desperate hope that one of them will be able to bring forth a miracle…

"You would take on the burden to change all of Reality for the better?" Questioned Yahweh. "Do you seek to become the saviour of all?"

I looked at him, before my lips quirked into a grin. "Eldritch Gods are sympathetic beings in spirit." I told him. "It's in our nature to be helpful, when called upon. I merely have my own vision of how to go about doing exactly that."

And Eldritch were helpful, despite their apathy. That was the one, absolute rule of the Eldritch: those who called for aid towards a sympathetic Eldritch being would always receive it. As long as it aligned with that specific Eldritch's concepts, they would always be helpful… though the form that this help can take can often be very dangerous.

An Eldritch god of knowledge will gladly share their knowledge to mortals, but risk overwhelming the mortals' minds and burning their souls out. A god of fire can grant extremely powerful fire powers, but at the risk of burning the mortal to death as well.

Even the "evil" eldritch gods would still gladly offer power and knowledge to those mortals willing to work with them, with only the occasional exception for those evil gods who hated mortal kind as a whole.

Much like back in Bloodborne, the end result could lead to an eldritch god granting power to two different factions that hated one another, even if both sides used those powers to kill each other, simply because they saw no reason not to help both when they could.

"And despite all of that… you still distrust yourself and look upon yourself with extreme suspicion." suddenly declared Yahweh, making me blink at him.

"I-" I began, but he interrupted me, his expression soft.

"I have seen you, much as you have seen much of me in return. You surround yourself with those whose opinions and morals you trust, because you fear ever becoming the same kind of 'helpful' deity as those of Yharnam. You constantly criticize yourself, doubt yourself, condemn yourself as not good enough because you fear what you would become if you ever stopped. For all your judgment of those you see as evil… you've never seen yourself as belonging amongst the righteous, either." he said softly, his eyes looking at me not with judgement or even disapproval, but instead a deep sadness and sorrow.

I stared back at him, taking in all that he was and is, before gently answering. "I have seen far too well the consequences of hubris. Of unchecked Eldritch convictions and sympathy. With the power I possess… I cannot afford to lose myself. Eldritch kindness can bring as many horrors into existence as its malevolence, Yahweh."

"King Aeon…" Yahweh shook his head gently, his expression one of utmost gentleness. "A kindness to yourself is a kindness still. Here you are, shouldering the weight of a decision that will bring unimaginable pain, suffering and death for the sake of bringing far greater peace, safety and prosperity, and all you can think about is how bad a person you must be to even make that decision."

He smiled. "You cannot argue that inaction is a form of evil in one breath, and then condemn yourself as evil for choosing to act in the next, King Aeon. Or else there is truly no such thing as Good in existence."

"And what do you think, then?" I argued. "That I'm right? That the Heavenly realms were in the wrong all along each and every time they decided to not go to war with the Infernal Realms? That this upcoming war should have been fought a long time ago, no matter its cost?"

"I think," he said slowly, unflinchingly meeting my gaze, "that to cast kindness as cruelty is wrong. That to see selflessness as selfishness is wrong. I think, King Aeon, that you are a far better man that you give yourself for, and one worthy to follow into battle by the side of against Evil incarnate, because I have no doubt whatsoever that you will not falter, you will not fall prey to evil yourself, and that whatever challenges stand in your way, you will overcome them, as you have ever since you willingly shouldered the burdens of the title the woman who fell in love with you gave you upon meeting you: That of the Good Hunter, protector of the innocents and slayers of the wicked."

I fell silent, and he smiled, warm and kind and utterly, absolutely free of any doubts or hesitation.

This god, who looked upon me with the eyes of one capable of seeing more of myself than most other beings in existence, stood now before me with nothing but the utmost love and joy, clear pride almost exuding from him like a physical force as he stared at the human being who achieved more than any other in existence.

"Remember my words, Good Hunter. And I hope that, one day, you will be as kind to yourself as you are to others, and see yourself as I see you in return." He finished.

Then he turned back to the table full of cakes, brought one to his mouth, and smiled as he chewed.

"Whether praise is given to a chef baking wonderful cakes that will delight those who eat them, or to a king who brought lasting peace and prosperity to his people, both are equally worthy of praise, are they not?" he argued with a pointed look my way, before finally walking away, humming happily to himself.

I watched him walk away, before shaking my head. I had a feeling that I was going to argue with him quite often…

I glanced at the cakes, and ate one more before walking back into the crowd of gods gathered before me.

He was right on one thing, though, the chef definitely earned some praise.

A.N: Alright! Here is the next chapter in which we continue the events of Love Azathoth!

A chapter absolutely focused on character interactions, starting with the heroes of Pathfinder: Wrath of the righteous. I admit, I had some fun writing Aeon interacting with some of the characters, especially when he actually synergizes really well with people like Regill or Ember. A rather strange duo to synergize well with, but Regill reminds him a lot of Yharnamite Hunters in all of their grim pragmatism and focus on results, and Ember reminds him of the part of himself which cling to pure idealism even when he has long since resigned himself to be a more bitter realist.

Those two are most likely going to show up again, partially because I enjoy writing them with Aeon, and partially because they definitely have their parts to play in the upcoming war.

As for the scene with Gorum, I originally didn't know he had come to see himself as evil, but… It actually makes a lot of sense? The first time I came across Gorum, my first thought was "How the hell is this guy living in the realm of the Enlightened, again?"

Turns out, he canonically agreed so hard with me that he set up the events of his own death to free reality from his "evil". Needless to say, in this story Aeon took one lok at him, went "Hey, suicide is not the answer", and gave him a pep talk. I doubt I'll write too much about him, but he'll definitely have a rather emotional scene with Sarenrae where he lets his true feelings out after this and he actually gets the help he needs to avoid his canonical fate. I mean, the guy is literally right there in the realm of the Enlightened, you can't ask for a better support network than this!

And finally, God of the Bible showed up! I hope that I did a good job writing him, he's not exactly easy to write, but I wanted to try and write him as a kind, rather humble person.

To give some explanations about the scene: It takes place out of the way of the center of attention, because neither gods are the prideful kind. They marveled at the cakes, because both gods are the kind to enjoy the little things in life, like some good food. They argue about the war… But really it's more like Yahweh wanted to try and understand Aeon better, and he got exactly what he wanted out of it, confirmation that Aeon started the war for good reasons rather than selfish ones. We also see the contrast between Aeon, Ember and Yahweh: all of them are people trying to save other people, to help them in whatever ways they can, thus they are all trying to "save" one another, with Ember wanting to try and help Aeon's old pain from Yharnam, and Aeon wanting to help her with her burns from when she was a child. Yahweh wanted to help Aeon be less harsh on himself, thus the "A kindness to yourself is a kindness still" part. You'll see how exactly Aeon will, in his own way, try to help Yahweh in the future.

The whole thing is basically "What happens when a Savior meets another Savior?" Well obviously they try to save one another in whatever ways they can.

And at the end, notice that Aeon fully agrees with Yahweh that the chef deserves praise for doing something that people will be happy about… But does not think of himself, highlighting the truth of Yahweh's words about him being too hard on himself.

And he hasn't even met Jesus yet…

Still, with all that being said, I hope you all enjoyed this update! Next time, more gods! And maybe it'll be time for a few characters to show up with the Elven Pantheon…