SWNOVELXO Chapter 17: THE BEGINNING
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Nearly three hundred years had passed since Soulis's last encounter with the Earth Mother. Time in Hades moved differently, yet Soulis's power had steadily ascended. He now stood at divine power level 9, brushing the peak of weak divinity.
Among his myriad priesthoods, [Time Sequence] had transformed the most. It evolved into a mighty authority capable of pushing him to divine power level 12. Even Iapetus, one of the Twelve Titans, paled in comparison. His simple [Speech] priesthood was far too insignificant.
But Soulis wasn't concerned with comparisons. His eyes were set on something greater—a foothold in the world of Khaos. Today, the prophecy whispered of a momentous event, and Soulis could feel its pull.
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Mount Odiles
Three centuries had passed since the God-King Ouranos imprisoned his children. At first, paranoia plagued him. The prophecy spoke of betrayal and rebellion, and he feared its fulfillment. To ensure his dominion, Ouranos kept a watchful eye on the Titans and even reopened Gaia's wound to confirm his success.
The results had reassured him. His children remained bound, powerless in their prison. The natural order persisted without disruption. Only Gaia weakened with each passing day, but that mattered little to him.
With time, Ouranos dismissed the prophecy as a hollow threat. Even his search for Soulis—the elusive prophet—proved futile.
"Perhaps he hides in the eternal night," Ouranos mused, brushing off his failure.
Comforted by his supposed triumph, the God-King indulged in decadence, seeking solace in his queen's embrace. He was oblivious to the shifting currents of fate.
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"It is time."
The soft voice belonged to Themis, the goddess of justice and law. Blindfolded by choice, she turned her gaze inward, refusing to witness the disorder of Khaos. Today, however, her silence broke.
"Yes," Rhea echoed, her tone resolute. Among the siblings, she shared a special bond with her youngest brother. "The time has come."
Cronus stood, his hand trembling as it grasped the prophesied sickle. Forged from Gaia's suffering, the crude weapon shimmered with a raw, unyielding power. As he raised the blade, fear mingled with exhilaration.
"I will succeed," he whispered to himself, his voice a fragile blend of doubt and determination.
Heaven and earth met in a cataclysmic union as Cronus swung the sickle, bringing an era to its end.
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Hades
Suspended in the ethereal expanse of the underworld, Soulis observed the unfolding chaos. Through layers of rock and reality, he glimpsed the fateful clash between the Titans and the God-King.
But Soulis had no interest in mere battles. His focus lay on a task far greater.
"It begins now," he murmured, his voice steady with purpose.
Draped in his silver-white robe, Soulis exuded an air of solemnity. In one hand, he held the Oracle Tablet, while the Vase of Life hung at his waist. He ascended toward the [Moon], now hovering above the underworld, radiating an otherworldly glow.
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Within the Moon
Inside the [Moon], the chaos of unbound time sequences swirled like a primordial storm. Past and future clashed, and reality frayed at its edges. Yet Soulis stood undeterred.
Unleashing the intertwined Origin of Time and Space, he scattered it into the void. The chaotic sequences merged with the Origin, accelerating their dissolution. Soulis knew the risk; within months, Cronus would instinctively reclaim the fragments, nullifying his work.
But Soulis wasn't finished.
Releasing the spiritual essence he had concealed for an era, he bound it to the [Moon], forging a convergence of powers: prophecy, dark moonlight, celestial motion, and even the deathly aura of the underworld. The resulting force defied comprehension—a chaotic symphony of light, shadow, and raw power.
The world itself rebelled against this defiance. Chaos, the primal will of Khaos, raged against Soulis's audacity. Its silent decree echoed across creation, summoning gods to stop the rogue deity. Rewards awaited those who opposed him; punishment loomed for his allies.
Yet, as minutes turned to hours, no challengers emerged.
Within the [Moon], Soulis's divine form dissolved into pure essence, merging with the chaotic void. Here, he wielded power as the sole sovereign of this nascent realm.
In the suffocating darkness, his voice rang out—a command that transcended time and space:
"Let there be light."
Light pierced the void, banishing the darkness. Soulis observed its brilliance, separating the light from the shadows.
He named the light "day" and the darkness "night." Evening faded into morning, and so ended the first day of his creation.
Soulis smiled, his work just beginning. "I've waited a long time for this."
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