Jack paced, excitement coursing through him as his latest idea took shape. Ari observed from the background, sensing the shift in Jack's energy. Something big was brewing.
"Ari," Jack said, his voice brimming with purpose, "I've figured out how to unlock more power for the spirits. Faith energy isn't just for them to get a little stronger—this is going to be the foundation of their transformation."
"Transformation, Master Jack?" Ari asked curiously.
Jack stopped pacing and faced Ari with a smirk. "Yep. The spirits are going to evolve into gods. But not just any gods—new gods. The process will begin once they've reached their peak strength naturally. That way, their souls will be ready for what comes next."
"Naturally reached their peak?" Ari repeated, processing Jack's plan. "And what happens once they reach that level?"
"That's where things get interesting," Jack said, rubbing his hands together. "After they max out their natural potential, I'll step in and give them a bit of a nudge. Remember the God Wave from DC? The one that created gods?"
Ari paused briefly. "Yes, Master Jack. The God Wave was responsible for birthing powerful gods in that universe. Are you planning to use something similar?"
Jack nodded. "Sort of. But not the full force of the God Wave—it's way too intense for their souls. Only Lucifer and Amendiel could survive that. For the rest, I'm creating a weakened and edited version."
"And what will this edited version do?" Ari asked, intrigued.
"It'll be enough to push them to the next stage without burning them out. After the treatment, they'll be sent to a planet in one of the canvases where they'll establish themselves as gods. The faith energy they collect will help them develop their divinity, improving their soul and body as they evolve."
"And each spirit will unlock a divinity?" Ari asked for confirmation.
"Exactly. Just one per spirit," Jack confirmed. "That divinity will link them to the Source, allowing them to use both mana and divine energy. The Source will constantly replenish them. Their divine energy reserves will be liked to growth of their soul, body, and mind."
"Ari," he said, excitement buzzing in his voice, "we're not just creating gods here; we're going to make this a spectacle. It's time to spice things up!"
Ari tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "Spice things up? How do you mean?"
Jack stopped and faced him, his grin widening. "Competition. We'll send multiple candidates—both angels and demons—to the same planet. Let them battle it out and see who's really worthy to ascend. It's not just about strength; it's about who can outsmart the others and gather the most faith."
Ari raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… ambitious. How will you manage that?"
"Easy," Jack said, waving his hands animatedly. "We'll give them different eras to play in. First up is the Age of Gods. During this time, they can do whatever they want, flexing their divine powers and influencing the world directly. It'll be like their golden age."
"That sounds fun," Ari replied, his interest piqued. "And then?"
Jack's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Then we hit them with the Age of Heroes. In that phase, they'll be limited in what they can do. Instead of acting directly, they'll have to choose mortals as their champions—like their personal spokespeople. They'll need to get creative!"
"Interesting approach," Ari said, nodding. "And the final phase?"
Jack rubbed his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. "That would be the Age of Mortals. Their power will be heavily restricted then. They can only perform small miracles, just enough to get by without making too much noise. Mortals will rule the world while the gods have to find ways to influence things from the sidelines."
Ari considered this. "And once the Age of Mortals is over, what's next?"
Jack leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. "That's when we evaluate everything. Their progress will be judged on how they've worked and how much faith they've gathered. If they fail? Their power gets stripped and divided among future candidates. Their divinity? That gets stored away for those who can actually handle it."
Ari tilted his head, processing everything. "So, you're setting the stage for some serious competition. You really think they'll challenge each other?"
Jack chuckled. "Oh, I'm counting on it! Nothing brings out the best—and the worst—in people like a little competition. I want to see who rises to the top and who just crumbles under pressure."
Ari grinned, clearly impressed. "This is going to be entertaining."
"Absolutely!" Jack agreed, his excitement palpable. He turned to look at the vast canvases around him, contemplating what he wanted to do next. "And you know what? I think I'll use Planetos as my first form. Let's see how that world develops and how the new gods handle it."
With a satisfied nod, Jack was ready to set his plan in motion.