THE SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGN : RISE OF THE DIVINE

"What should I call you, Goddess of the Underworld?"

As Themis followed the black-robed girl through the portal, her focus wasn't on the strange new surroundings but on her curiosity about the enigmatic god before her.

In the narrow and insular 'Circle of Gods' within Chaos, encountering a deity she had never seen before was a rare occurrence. It naturally piqued her interest.

"The Lord named me Lyanna," the girl replied softly. Her voice, though gentle, carried an innate majesty that resonated deeply. Themis recognized this as the influence of the [Pluto Moon] priesthood—a commanding presence tied to the very nature of her power.

In the current hierarchy of the underworld, aside from the recently born Styx, Goddess of Oaths, few figures held significant authority. The children of the twin gods of Night, tasked with domains such as misfortune, destruction, decay, sorrow, deception, and lust, were still far from fully realized powers. Thus, invisibly, Lyanna reigned as a prominent figure within Hades.

Even in future eras, Lyanna and another goddess of the Moon, Cha Lu, would ascend to become second only to Hades himself in the underworld's hierarchy. This cemented the stature of the [Pluto Moon] priesthood as an extraordinary power within the realm.

Themis, acknowledging this, nodded. But as they walked further, she abruptly halted. Noticing the absence of movement behind her, Lyanna turned and gazed at the Goddess of Justice, her eyes questioning the pause.

"Forgive me, Your Highness Lyanna," Themis said, glancing around, "but… what is this?"

Though she had initially been preoccupied with Lyanna's identity, Themis now noticed their surroundings. It resembled Hades—yet, everything was cloaked in black and white. If not for the stark change in the color palette, she might have believed they hadn't moved at all.

As she surveyed her surroundings, she spotted strange, translucent creatures floating in the air. They resembled umbrellas with numerous tentacles trailing beneath them, gently swaying as if feeding on their environment. Themis instinctively felt they were absorbing a force Lyanna referred to as "spirituality."

Though she had never encountered such beings before, Themis was certain of one thing: these creatures were alive. They lacked divinity, and time left visible marks on them, erasing them eventually. Yet, despite their fragile existence, these strange beings displayed an inkling of thought—primitive, but undeniable.

This bewildered Themis. At this stage of Chaos's history, no intelligent life existed apart from gods. The idea of a non-divine entity possessing even rudimentary thought was unprecedented.

"These are a type of 'ghost jellyfish,'" Lyanna explained, a faint smile gracing her lips. "They're the weakest of their kind."

She gestured at one of the creatures nearby. "In the [Phantom World], the first level of the spiritual realm, they occupy the very bottom of the food chain. Yet, they reproduce quickly. Observe."

Themis followed Lyanna's gaze to a larger jellyfish-like being nearby. As she watched, the creature began splitting down the middle. The process was gradual, lasting several minutes. Finally, the last thread of connection broke, and the being divided into two smaller entities. Each half then emitted silken threads, regenerating the missing portions of their bodies until they became two complete, albeit smaller, creatures.

"This process," Lyanna continued, "is called 'mitosis.' It is a primitive yet efficient method of reproduction. If the concentration of spirituality is sufficient, they can double their numbers in just half a day."

"Mitosis…" Themis murmured, the term foreign yet intriguing. As the Goddess of Justice and Law, she rarely displayed emotion. Yet, what she had just witnessed was enough to leave her genuinely astonished.

Lyanna corrected her gently. "Yes, mitosis. Didn't you notice the spiritual threads as they regenerated their bodies?"

Themis was silent, unsure how to respond. She hadn't expected to encounter life forms so fundamentally different from gods.

"Shall we continue?" Lyanna asked, summoning another portal of light with a wave of her hand.

Beyond the portal, Themis sensed an even stronger concentration of "spirituality"—at least tenfold that of the [Phantom World].

"This gateway leads to the second level of the spiritual world," Lyanna explained. "It is called the [Psychic World], or the [True Spiritual World]. Normally, the barriers between the first three levels are difficult to traverse, but as my guest, you will have direct access."

Without hesitation, Themis followed Lyanna through the portal. What greeted her on the other side was a sight unlike anything she had ever seen.

Two silvery quarter-moons hung in the sky, casting an ethereal glow. Winged creatures darted through the air, their forms varying wildly in size and shape. The ground was covered in vibrant, otherworldly plants that radiated spirituality. Among them roamed furred and phosphorescent creatures, their movements deliberate and curious. A small lake shimmered in the distance, teeming with scaled life forms. At its bottom lay a strange, pulsating organism, its center adorned with a glowing pearl.

"Are all these creations of His Highness Ryan?" Themis asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Lyanna nodded. "The Lord created this realm in just seven days. These beings were formed within the fifth and sixth days."

Themis fell silent, overwhelmed by the vibrancy and complexity of the scene before her. Compared to the barren desolation of Khaos, this realm felt alive in ways she had never imagined.

"May I approach them?" she finally asked.

"Of course," Lyanna replied, opening another portal. "Take your time. I'll wait here. When you're ready, we will ascend directly to the seventh level of the spiritual world, where the Lord resides."

As Themis ventured closer to the spiritual beings, she marveled at their variety and behavior. Some fed on plants, others on smaller creatures, and some on abstract concepts. Each life form displayed a unique survival strategy, and their battles for sustenance were as fierce as they were primitive.

Half a day passed before Themis returned, her mind brimming with newfound insights.

"How was your exploration?" Lyanna inquired.

"Eye-opening," Themis admitted. Inwardly, she resolved to discuss the possibility of creating life on Khaos with Cronus. If such vibrant creations were possible here, why not on their own barren lands?

Lyanna smiled knowingly. "Then let us continue. The Lord awaits."

Through the next portal, they ascended to the sacred mountain of [Sinaia], where the palace of Ryan, the Creator, awaited them. The sight of the seven quarter-moons above and the magnificent architecture filled Themis with awe. For the first time, she truly understood the magnitude of the Creator's power.