Chapter 112: The Testament - 1

"So we all agree that we slept for some reason for hundreds of years, skipping most of the development below?" the wise lizardman, Wias, said as he looked around the council.

"As if... it was by design," one of the Pantheons replied, narrowing his eyes as he thought about everything that had happened. "The Entity would not simply make us sleep for centuries without a reason."

"So this must have been part of a plan, so that we would begin managing them at a farther point in their development," another Pantheon said.

"If my speculations are correct, the Entity skipped their primitive development so that we could establish our churches and religions when their civilizations were already capable of understanding them," a druid Pantheon said, stroking his chin. "It would be much easier to spread an idea among an organized civilization than among scattered tribes that barely understand language."

The council became quiet as everyone began thinking about it.

They had been given domains, authority, and power, yet none of them had been told exactly how they were supposed to guide the civilizations below.

They could descend themselves, speak to individuals, grant blessings, perform miracles, and perhaps even become worshipped, but without something that could carry their teachings beyond their own presence, their influence would remain limited to those who happened to encounter them.

"Then we should do our role," someone finally said.

"Before we do that, we must create something that can carry the Entity’s will," Moleius said, his eyes slowly moving across the gathered Pantheons. "A book. Something that can be passed from one generation to another, even after we are gone."

Trias gently placed a few fingers against her chin as she searched through her memories. After a moment, her eyes widened slightly.

"I remember something along the lines of that," she said. "The old chosen one, Retian, once created a book about the Entity and the teachings he believed came from him."

The words immediately caught everyone’s attention.

"A book written by a mortal..." Wias muttered.

"Then perhaps we should create something greater," Moleius replied.

The Pantheons began discussing what such a book should contain. At first, their ideas were scattered, with some speaking about protecting life while others argued that strength, sacrifice, knowledge, or freedom should be emphasized.

They soon realized that they could not simply write down whatever came to mind. These words would eventually reach millions of people, and perhaps even civilizations that had not yet been born. A single sentence could become a law, a tradition, or a belief that survived for thousands of years, so every word needed to carry meaning.

Trias spoke about the importance of protecting the weak. Odir believed that courage should be taught to those who feared the impossible. Olium spoke about sacrifice and the natural cycle of giving, while Coasta argued that those blessed with abundance should share it with those who had little.

Moleius listened to every argument without interrupting, occasionally correcting a contradiction or asking whether a particular teaching could be misunderstood. Wias began thinking beyond the present, wondering how the teachings could encourage future generations to discover, invent, and improve rather than simply accept the world as it was.

Something strange began happening as they continued.

The newer Pantheons, who had possessed little knowledge of these concepts before their ascension, suddenly found themselves capable of understanding ideas far beyond anything they had once considered. Their thoughts became deeper, their memories clearer, and connections that should have taken years to form appeared almost instantly.

It was as though becoming a Pantheon had not merely granted them power. It had rewritten their minds.

The knowledge they had gathered throughout their previous lives remained within them, but now it was accompanied by a strange comprehension that allowed them to see those experiences from entirely different perspectives.

A simple memory could become a lesson, a personal failure could become a principle, and a lifetime of experience could suddenly be condensed into a single sentence.

After hours of discussion, they finally reached an agreement.

The first book was established.

THE DIVINE TESTAMENT

First Testament, spoken by Trias, Goddess of Motherhood and Protection:

"Life is precious, even when it is weak. Protect those who cannot protect themselves, shelter those who have nowhere to go, and never abandon another simply because they cannot repay you. The strength to preserve another life is a blessing greater than the strength to take one."

Second Testament, spoken by Akuma, Goddess of Despair and the Forsaken:

As if his intellect had suddenly expanded, Akuma began speaking the second testament.

"Do not let the world decide what you must become. Even those abandoned by everyone possess the right to choose their own path. If the world refuses to give you a place within it, then carve a place for yourself and walk toward it without shame."

Third Testament, spoken by Odir, God of Bravery and War:

"Fear is not the enemy of strength. Remaining still because of fear is. Stand when your legs tremble, fight when victory seems impossible, and continue moving forward when everything within you demands retreat, for courage is born from those who refuse to surrender."

Fourth Testament, spoken by Olium, God of the Forest and Sacrifice:

"Nothing grows without giving something in return. The forest gives its fruit, the earth gives its soil, and the living give portions of themselves for those who come after them. When the time comes, sacrifice what you can so that something greater may continue to live."

Fifth Testament, spoken by Moleius, God of Wisdom:

"Question what you believe to be true. The world is far larger than what your eyes can see, and knowledge belongs to those willing to admit that they do not yet understand. Seek answers not to prove yourself right, but to discover what you have yet to learn."

Sixth Testament, spoken by Wias, God of Invention and Discovery:

"Never accept the world as complete. Every wall can be improved, every tool can be refined, and every mystery can be explored. What does not exist today may exist tomorrow if someone possesses the courage to imagine it first."