Axis's voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable pressure befitting a Primordial God, like an invisible giant hand slamming down toward the sun chariot in the sky.
Apollo's expression shifted. The sun chariot beneath him erupted with hundreds of millions of golden rays, attempting to resist the pressure and push back against the terrifying Divine Cosmo.
However, Axis's Origin Cosmo contained the primeval force of cosmic creation and destruction. Its tier far surpassed that of a mere half-step Primordial God.
Boom!
Axis unleashed his Primordial God-level pressure without the slightest restraint.
The golden sun chariot shuddered violently.
The celestial horses drawing it let out terrified whinnies and, no longer under their master's control, plummeted downward, crashing heavily into the plaza of Sanctuary and sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.
Apollo staggered out of the chariot's cabin, his handsome face a mask of shock and fury.
He stared hard at Axis, then glanced at the Emperor beside him, whose pure golden Cosmo radiated a presence that made his heart clench. Finally, his gaze settled on Athena.
"Athena! You dare conspire with foreign heretic gods and attack the God King of Olympus? You allow others to steal the divine authority of the Sun! Do you want to start a new Holy War? Do you intend to wage war against Mount Olympus?" Apollo roared, trying to leverage his authority as God King.
He could feel it clearly. The Cosmo of both Axis and the Emperor dwarfed his own in sheer magnitude.
Even his sister Athena, the one who had always lingered behind him, who had never been his equal, had somehow reached the level of a Primordial God.
What kind of joke was this? Primordial Gods were supreme beings who could only emerge after the birth of an entire universe. Ordinary Primary gods could never hope to reach that level in their lifetimes without some extraordinary stroke of fortune.
The fact that he himself had managed to reach the half-step Primordial stage from a Primary god, with combat power rivaling an ordinary Primordial God, was already an exceptional feat.
"Brother, you misunderstand." Athena stepped forward, her Primordial God Cosmo radiating gently yet firmly, instantly neutralizing the pressure Apollo had been trying to project.
"This is His Majesty the Emperor Neos, a god of light and creation from another universe who shelters humanity. He is no heretic god.
"He has only just awakened his Cosmo here, and its nature happens to resemble that of the sun. He has not stolen your authority. There are countless stars in the universe. The dominion of the sun is not yours alone. Why be so anxious?"
"Then who is the other one? Won't you introduce me?" Apollo, the Sun God, asked.
"As for him," Athena glanced at Axis, a trace of barely perceptible warmth in her tone, "this is Axis, my... partner. He is also a Primordial God, and the most powerful among them. He has already touched the threshold of the Absolute God level."
Athena's final words carried enormous weight. She wanted her brother to understand: do not make futile attempts, and do not provoke this man.
"A Primordial God? A half-step Absolute God at that? Two of them?" Apollo's pupils contracted sharply, the shock reverberating through him.
One unfamiliar Primordial God whose power resembled the sun was alarming enough. But there was another Primordial God at Athena's side?
And Athena's own aura... she had actually broken through that shackle, reaching the same tier as their father Zeus!
Three Primordial Gods. The realization sent Apollo's heart plummeting.
He had assumed Athena had simply found some powerful outside help. He never imagined it would be two supreme beings capable of upending the entire power structure of Olympus.
Given the current situation, forget three Primordial Gods. Even one would be more than enough. All the gods of Olympus combined could not defeat a single one.
Unless his father returned, unless Abel could recover his full strength, Mount Olympus had no chance of winning.
The Emperor's gaze swept over Apollo. "The sun is the source of infinite light and heat in the universe, the cornerstone of life's growth. It is not a dominion for any single individual to monopolize. Your conception of power is narrow. Neither Axis nor I have any intention of making enemies of you. But your words were far too arrogant."
This Sun God called Apollo was identical to the ancient Greek sun deity dwelling in the Warp back in his own universe, though this version was even more arrogant and prideful.
This god called Apollo had likely never suffered a single setback from the moment of his birth. Everything had gone smoothly for him, which was precisely what had cultivated his contempt for all others.
When facing three gods stronger than yourself, you have no right to be arrogant. There is only one thing you should do: humble yourself.
Because any act of arrogance would invite annihilation.
"I am naturally delighted that my sister is to be wed. But Athena, you are a principal deity of Olympus. Why would you marry without consulting me, your brother?" Apollo said.
"God from another world, if you wish to marry my sister Athena, then you will also become a god of Olympus. You must obey the commands of the God-King. Of course, as a distinguished Primordial God, you need only hold a nominal title among the principal deities. I would never force you to do anything. But you must submit to the God-King's leadership," Apollo declared.
"Your brother does not seem particularly skilled at reading the room," Axis remarked, looking at Athena without the slightest attempt to mince words.
"He is accustomed to being the leader of Olympus. It is only natural that he struggles to accept this so quickly," Athena explained.
She had already made it perfectly clear. Axis and the Emperor were not gods native to this universe and would leave eventually. Why couldn't her brother understand that? They would have no lasting impact on Olympus whatsoever.
And yet this fool had the audacity to demand that a Primordial God obey his commands?
"You... what did you just say?"
"I said kneel when you speak to me." Axis's voice was cold and flat. A terrifying surge of God of destruction energy poured into his Divine Cosmo, and a purple aura erupted from his entire body.
Apollo's divine aura shattered in an instant. His body convulsed as though he had suffered a catastrophic blow, blood seeping from every part of him. He collapsed to his knees.
"That's better. Stay on your knees like a good boy. This is the respect owed to a Primordial God. This is the respect owed to the strong. Remember one thing: if I wished for it, I could annihilate you with trivial ease.
"I could annihilate your entire Mount Olympus. The only reason I haven't killed you, the only reason Olympus still stands, is that my wife is one of you. Or rather, was once one of you." Axis planted his foot on top of Apollo's head as he spoke.
No one was allowed to be arrogant in front of a Saiyan. Saiyans were the very embodiment of arrogance and pride.
Apollo's eyes were wide, his body trembling uncontrollably. He wanted to rise, wanted to struggle, but an invisible and overwhelming force held him pinned.
That force stripped away all of his pride, all the power he had taken such confidence in, all the divine might he had been so proud of. Every last trace of it vanished.
Before this Primordial God, he had not even survived a single exchange. Or rather, his opponent had not needed to make a single move at all.
"You... I... I understand." Despite the crushing humiliation, Apollo yielded.
It seemed that trying to cow a Primordial God with something as trivial as the title of God-King was nothing short of a fool's dream.
The Primordial Gods had once driven out the Absolute Gods who created the universe. One day, he vowed, he too would reach the Primordial God level.
The shame Apollo had suffered today would be repaid with interest.
Hearing this, Axis gave a satisfied nod and removed his foot from Apollo's head. He knew full well that this god called Apollo had not truly submitted. But he had more than enough ways to deal with him.
Apollo struggled to his feet, drew a deep breath, and forced down the humiliation and shock churning inside him. He cast a complicated look at the Emperor, then turned to Athena. "...I understand, Athena. It seems you have found powerful allies. I will report today's events faithfully to the other gods. If you intend to hold a wedding, do inform us in advance. Mount Olympus will arrange a grand ceremony for you. I shall take my leave."
Without sparing another glance at the Emperor or Axis, he waved to recall his damaged sun chariot, transformed into a streak of golden light, and departed Sanctuary in some haste.
The information he had received today was overwhelming. He needed to return immediately and reassess the entire strategic situation of Olympus. Three Primordial Gods. It was simply staggering.
Watching Apollo vanish beyond the horizon, Athena breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She had no desire to wage all-out war against Olympus at this juncture. The power Axis had displayed today was more than enough to bring the Sun God to heel. As things stood, Axis could destroy Apollo with negligible effort if he so chose.
"Axis, what are your plans from here? Shall we return to our own universe, or remain here a while longer?" The Emperor turned to Axis.
"Father-in-law, I intend to stay here a while longer. There are several important matters I need to attend to. You are welcome to take up residence in Sanctuary in the meantime," Axis replied, looking at the Emperor.
First, he needed to obtain the power of time. Second power of the Omega.
"Very well, Axis. As it happens, I would like to observe this universe for myself," the Emperor said with a nod.
He had accompanied Axis on this journey to broaden his horizons and study other universes. The previous universe they had crossed into had been extraordinarily dangerous. They had barely arrived before discovering someone in the process of annihilating the entire universe.
Axis had sent him away before there was time to assess the situation, and the Emperor had found himself deposited in this universe instead.
He still had no clear picture of what had transpired. Only now did things feel as though they were settling down. The group nodded in agreement and returned together to the Goddess's palace.
As for the other deity residing within the Goddess's palace, the Emperor paid her no mind whatsoever.
Axis then summoned Grail and Ultraman.
"Ultraman, I previously provided you with the Divine Fruit, restoring your energy, and granted you a layer of ki. But now I intend to bestow something far greater upon you." Axis turned his gaze to Ultraman first.
"You have already given me what I had always dreamed of, Lord Axis. I would not dare ask for anything more," Ultraman replied with a slight bow.
Under normal circumstances, his pride would never have allowed him to submit to Axis. But the sheer power this new master had demonstrated was genuinely impossible to refuse.
"I know you haven't truly accepted this in your heart. But I have always been fair in how I conduct my affairs. If the day comes when you believe your power has surpassed mine, you are welcome to challenge me. If I lose, then that proves I was nothing special, and I would have no objection to following you instead." Axis looked at Ultraman as he spoke.
Though the man belonged to what was arguably the most overpowered and unsolvable race in the DC universe, Axis felt no fear. If a Saiyan were afraid of being surpassed, that would be beneath their dignity.
On the contrary, Axis hoped Ultraman would grow even stronger in the future. But given Ultraman's personality, the man was all bark and no bite at the end of the day. If someone like that managed to surpass him, then Axis had no business being anyone's leader in the first place.
"You jest, my lord," Ultraman said at once.
In truth, Axis did not need to voice this. If Ultraman's power ever surpassed Axis's, or even merely equaled it, he would break away without hesitation.
Only the strong deserved his loyalty. The House of El, the Clan of Strength, submitted only to those mightier than themselves.
"I am entirely serious. Now, I am going to give you a gift. I possess the ability to consecrate ordinary living beings as gods, and you have the qualifications to become one." Axis regarded Ultraman steadily.
"Lord Axis, are you... are you serious? You would make me a god as well? What kind of god could I possibly become? I have no divine bloodline whatsoever." Ultraman's expression changed drastically, shock written across his face.
To say he did not want this would be a lie. Becoming a god meant eternal life and the ability to obtain everything one desired.
Though he had ruled an entire planet and even risen to lead the Crime Syndicate, in terms of lifespan, he was still fundamentally mortal.
"I always keep my word. Step forward. I will bestow this grace upon you." Axis rose from his seat and beckoned to Ultraman with a crook of his finger.
Seeing that Axis was completely serious, Ultraman drew a deep breath. His body trembling faintly, he approached Axis's throne and knelt on one knee.
Axis placed his palm on Ultraman's forehead and activated the power of the Supreme Kai. A surge of divine force flowed into Ultraman's body, successfully elevating his soul to godhood.
This time, Axis infused Ultraman with enough divine power to consecrate ten ordinary beings as Planetary Gods.
An ordinary Planetary God was roughly equivalent to a Tertiary god in the Saint Seiya universe, but the volume of divine power Axis channeled was sufficient to elevate Ultraman to the level of a Secondary god.
A pure and sacred stream of creation-type divine power, interwoven with a thread of the fundamental essence of his own Origin Cosmo, surged into Ultraman's body like a warm and overwhelming flood.
While strengthening him to the level of a Secondary god, Axis simultaneously ignited a Divine Cosmo within him.
"Ngh... AAAAAH!" Ultraman let out a deep roar. It was not a cry of pain but the primal scream of a being whose very nature was undergoing a cataclysmic metamorphosis.
Every cell in his body greedily absorbed the divine power. His already formidable Kryptonian physiology, scoured and reshaped by this energy, began ascending to an entirely new plane of existence.
His soul was forcibly wrenched free from the realm of the mortal. Under the supreme authority of the Supreme Kai, it was imbued with the radiance of divinity and the essence of immortality.
The process lasted only a few seconds, yet to Ultraman it felt as though an entire century had passed.
When Axis withdrew his palm, Ultraman remained kneeling on one knee, but the aura emanating from him was utterly transformed.
A ferocious, power-saturated, yet divinely majestic Cosmo was born within him.
His divine station was that of the God of Strength, befitting his nature as a member of the House of El, embodying absolute power.
Though he was only a Secondary god, his foundation was a Kryptonian's body of steel. Combined with the divine power of the Grand Supreme Kai, Ultraman's potential far exceeded that of any ordinary Secondary god.
His combat power was sufficient to contend with Primary gods. Against the likes of Hades, Lord of the Underworld, or Poseidon, Emperor of the Seas, he would hold the clear advantage.
Ultraman slowly rose, clenched his fist, and felt the torrential, seemingly inexhaustible power coursing through him, along with a profound new connection to the deeper layers of the universe.
He looked at Axis, his eyes brimming with incredulous elation and a deeper, more solemn reverence. This man had given him what he had always yearned for.
"So this... this is the power of a god..." Ultraman's voice shook with excitement. "I feel as though I could crush stars with ease! And the yellow sun... it can no longer weaken me!"
"Correct. You have undergone an evolution. The power of stars, whether red, yellow, or blue, can no longer harm you. But this is only the beginning," Axis said evenly.
"Your current divine station is equivalent to that of a Planetary God, but your foundation is strong. How far you go from here depends on your own effort."
"Yes, Boss! I shall try not to forget this grace you have bestowed upon me!" Ultraman dropped to one knee again, and this time his posture was far more devout.
Gaining eternal life and greater power while shedding his race's fatal weakness... At least in this moment, his submission to this power and this gift was as close to sincere as it could get.
Following Lord Axis, it seemed, was not such a bad choice after all.
Axis gave a satisfied nod, then turned his gaze to Grail. This woman was going to be more difficult to handle.
He began considering how to deal with Grail. If she was willing to pledge her loyalty, that would simplify matters considerably.
"So then, Lord Axis, what do you intend to do with me?" Grail asked.
"I can grant you a divine station as well and help you merge the Omega Effect with this universe's Cosmo system, allowing you to truly master that power. Are you willing?" Axis said.
Grail possessed the Omega Effect, which made her well worth cultivating.
But before Grail could answer, Ultraman spoke up from the side.
"Lord Axis, give this woman to me. Let her bear me a powerful heir."