Waves of divine power surged forth, and as time passed, dream-like bubbles began to shatter one by one. Gods emerged, floating momentarily in the air before gradually descending to the ground.
The number increased, and eventually, all 3,000 bubbles burst, replaced by beings—some men, some women, some old, some young. Among them were dream gods who bore no human resemblance at all, resembling upright beasts instead.
Men, women, the elderly, children, gods with lion heads, and figures with mouse heads—all of them together formed the 3,000 Oneiroi. Although diverse in appearance, they shared a singular essence: they represented dreams, encompassing every dream, anyone's dreams, everything.
"See Lord Hades!"
"See Father God!"
The 3,000 Oneiroi knelt on one knee, offering the most respectful salute, their eyes brimming with loyalty and reverence.
With the birth of these 3,000 underworld gods, the entire underworld was now fully operational. The return of these gods set everything in motion. The existence of the underworld was anchored in Hades, and each underworld god was responsible for its governance.
These deities formed the core foundation of the underworld.
Their responsibilities included sleep, death, dreams, and destiny—all integral aspects of the underworld's function.
Unlike the original story-line, where Hades had only the twin deities, the Fates and the Dream God, things had changed drastically. Now, each Oneiros belonged to Hades, loyal to him alone, free from Zeus's dominion.
Hades surveyed the 3,000 Oneiroi and a series of beams of light materialized before them, each holding a piece of Underworld attire. Three thousand pieces of radiant garments emerged, each radiating an intimidating aura.
"Thank you, Lord Hades!"
Once again, the 3,000 Oneiroi saluted respectfully, and with a mere thought, the garments were magically fitted onto each of them.
When Hades crafted these Underworld Clothes, he ensured they were tailored specifically for the Oneiroi, as well as the Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods. The result was perfect alignment, fitting seamlessly.
While the god stones in Hades's possession seemed insufficient, one must remember that he had acquired half of Cronus's Titan treasury. That meant countless god stones at his disposal—an astounding treasure trove!
Originally, Hades planned to allocate one god stone per Oneiroi, crafting them into 3,000 replica garments. However, now that he was rich and powerful, he directly fashioned 3,000 perfect pieces for the Oneiroi.
It's clear that wealth brings privilege. Having absorbed 50% of the Titan's accumulated treasures, Hades now stood as a figure of immense power.
"Master Hades..." Hypnos began, hesitating slightly. "Is this consumption too excessive?"
Hypnos sensed the magnitude of the expenditure. Three thousand god stones were not a trivial matter. While the clothes were indeed remarkable, there was concern over future needs. Hypnos felt the expenditure was potentially too great, especially with the impending arrival of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods and other underworld deities.
Hades responded softly, "For the God of the Underworld, there is no such thing as too much. As my gods, they deserve all that is necessary."
Hypnos fell silent, understanding that any further objection would be unwarranted. As the 3,000 Oneiroi donned their garments, a transformation began.
In that moment, the Oneiroi began to coalesce, akin to the four goddesses of Fate. At their core, they were a unified entity, and when merged, they became Moirai, the true goddess of Fate.
While the birth of gods could lead to complications—like splitting due to complex laws—this fusion promised immense potential. Each of the Four Goddesses of Fate was a mid-level main god; before the Oneiroi's emergence, they had merely been low-tier gods.
With the merging of the Fates, Moirai became a true Titan main god, second only to the four Titan main gods: Aether, Hemera, Hypnos, and Thanatos, surpassing the newly-promoted Titan Lords.
As one evaluates this development, it becomes evident that the underworld's strength had grown significantly without prior realization.
The Titan Main Gods had reached eight in number. Each of them, ignited by Hades, possessed ultimate power comparable to the Twelve Titans.
Though they lacked Chu Zhen, their Underworld Clothes empowered them greatly.
A figure began to materialize, adorned with the resplendent wings signifying their divine status. Small black wings rested upon their shoulders, and the being's form was ethereal—fluctuating between male and female, old and young, human and otherworldly.
"Oneiroi: Oniris!"
"See Lord Hades!"
"See Father God!"
Approaching Hades and Hypnos, the figure knelt gracefully on one knee, pledging loyalty with the decorum of medieval knights, acknowledging his Father God with profound respect.