The Grand Hall of Zeno's palace was more somber than usual. The playful demeanor of the Omni-King was absent, replaced by an air of quiet gravitas. A grand assembly had been called—the gods of destruction, supreme kais, and angels from all universes stood gathered, their fates uncertain. At the head of the hall stood Zeno, flanked by the Grand Priest, with Caelix standing slightly to the side, his piercing gaze sweeping over the assembly.
It had been over half a million years since the first meeting of the gods, and the differences between universes had grown stark. The 7th Universe, under the leadership of Caelix, Vados, and Elyssia, thrived with unparalleled balance and harmony. Meanwhile, the other universes languished in chaos and disorder. Their mortal levels had plummeted due to reckless destruction and selfish governance, their worlds reduced to little more than ash and ruin.
The meeting had been called as a trial, and each universe's gods were to stand and defend themselves.
The Grand Priest, acting as arbiter, stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate silence.
"Today, we gather to address the grave failings of the universes under your stewardship," Daishinkan began, his tone devoid of emotion. "Each universe's gods will be given an opportunity to explain their actions—or lack thereof—and defend their positions. Should they fail, judgment will be rendered."
The trial proceeded systematically, with each universe's representatives stepping forward.
The gods of Universe 3 were first. The Supreme Kai, Thalios, attempted to defend their neglect by citing their focus on gathering knowledge rather than managing mortal affairs.
"Our efforts were devoted to understanding the universe's deepest mysteries, not petty mortal squabbles!" Thalios argued, his voice laced with indignation.
Caelix frowned. "Knowledge without purpose is a void. Did you use your understanding to uplift your mortals, to better their lives?"
The gods of Universe 3 had no answer, their silence condemning them.
The gods of Universe 5 were next. They had turned their universe into a haven of aesthetics, but at the cost of rampant inequality and suffering.
"Beauty is the highest form of worship," said their Supreme Kai, Serene.
Caelix's voice cut through her rhetoric. "True beauty is balance. Your vanity destroyed your mortals' spirits. Your failures are evident in the wastelands you left behind."
One by one, each universe's gods were called, and each failed to justify their actions. Their defenses ranged from arrogance to desperation, but none could match the unity and wisdom of the 7th Universe.
When all had spoken, Zeno raised his hand, the room falling silent. For the first time, his voice carried an authority that silenced even the angels.
"Caelix," Zeno said, turning to the god of the 7th Universe. "Do you believe they deserve a second chance?"
Caelix looked at the gathered gods, his expression cold yet contemplative. "They have failed, Zeno-sama. Their actions have led to the suffering of countless mortals. I propose a trial by combat. Let them prove their worth as gods."
The Grand Priest nodded. "A fair proposition. Those who wish to defend their positions may face Caelix in combat. The rest will face judgment."
Few gods stepped forward. Most, knowing the gap in strength between them and Caelix, remained silent.
The first challenger, a god named Ral'than of Universe 4, stepped into the arena.
Ral'than, a towering god of brute strength, unleashed a storm of attacks. His fists carried the weight of mountains, his roars shook the palace itself. Yet, Caelix moved with calculated precision, each step a masterclass in efficiency.
Ral'than struck first, a colossal blow aimed at Caelix's chest. Caelix sidestepped, his counter a sharp burst of destruction energy that sent Ral'than reeling.
"You mistake strength for power," Caelix said calmly.
Ral'than roared in defiance, launching a barrage of strikes. Caelix weaved through them effortlessly, his own attacks precise and devastating. Within moments, Ral'than lay defeated.
The next challengers came as a group—five gods, their powers combined in a desperate attempt to overpower Caelix.
The battle was fierce, with explosions of ki and energy illuminating the grand hall. Yet, despite their combined might, they failed to land a single decisive blow. Caelix, drawing upon his mastery of True Ultra Instinct, dismantled their coordination with surgical precision.
As the last of the gods fell, the hall grew silent. Only Caelix stood, his form unmarred by the battle.
Zeno rose from his seat. "The verdict is clear. The gods of these universes have failed. Their angels will return to the Grand Priest for retraining, and their Supreme Kais' fates are sealed."
The Supreme Kais, bound by their connection to the gods of destruction, vanished alongside them. Caelix bowed his head, a rare hint of remorse in his eyes. "I regret the loss of life, but it was necessary for balance." Zeno got mad during the trial as it went on for a little too long and erased a few Universes, leaving us with just 12 left.
Zeno, still holding the room's attention, gestured, and a staff appeared before Caelix. It was a magnificent artifact, inscribed with the symbols of all the universes.
"This staff will allow you to oversee the remaining universes until suitable successors are found," Zeno explained. "Each light represents a universe with a god of destruction. Those without light will require your governance."
Caelix took the staff, feeling the weight of its significance. "I will do what is required, Zeno-sama."
The Grand Priest stepped forward. "To ensure balance, each universe will follow a theme—a guiding principle to foster its growth and identity. The groundwork will take time, but it is necessary for the second generation of gods."
Caelix, alongside Vados and Elyssia, began the monumental task of restructuring the universes. Each universe's theme was carefully chosen to reflect its potential, and the foundation for new governance was laid.
Universe 1: Wisdom and Knowledge
Universe 2: Love and Compassion
Universe 3: Intelligence and Invention
Universe 4: Strength and Valor
Universe 5: Beauty and Aesthetics
Universe 6: Cunning and Strategy
Universe 8: Peace and Harmony
Universe 9: Joy and Celebration
Universe 10: Dreams and Imagination
Universe 11: Emotion and Passion
Universe 12: Order and Perfection
As the first generation of gods came to an end, Caelix stood as the last survivor, a symbol of strength and balance. Yet, he knew the road ahead would be long and arduous. The foundations he laid would guide the universes for millennia, but it would be up to the future generations to uphold his vision.
And so, Caelix embarked on his greatest challenge yet—shaping a multiverse of unity and purpose.
Caelix stepped through the shimmering portal into Universe 1, the staff of governance in his hand. It hummed faintly, resonating with the dormant energies of the empty realm. He stood on a planet closest to the universe's celestial core—a barren and broken world that once boasted untold wisdom and technological marvels. Now, it was nothing but ash and rubble.
The Destroyer of Universe7, a towering figure clad in his Destroyer robes with the staff in one hand, surveyed the landscape. His face, a picture of stoic composure, betrayed only a flicker of frustration as his silver eyes glimmered with faint energy. This universe, heralded as the "Universe of Wisdom," was a farce.
"This is wisdom?" he muttered, his voice echoing across the desolation.
The planet had no signs of life, only decaying towers of blackened metal and shattered glass. Caelix strode through the ruins, his boots crunching against fragments of what once might have been magnificent architecture. His angelic energy thrummed faintly, forming a protective barrier against the toxic winds that swept through the atmosphere.
With every step, his annoyance grew. The so-called "Universe of Wisdom" had no functioning infrastructure. He extended his senses, probing the universe itself. Planets devoid of care, their civilizations stagnating before collapsing into entropy. Systems unaligned, with no guiding hand to bring balance.
"They didn't even try," Caelix muttered.
Vados and Elyssia appeared behind him, summoned through his command. Elyssia, her calm demeanor steady, looked around with furrowed brows. Vados, ever the poised companion, kept her hands clasped in front of her.
"This isn't just neglect," Elyssia said softly, stepping forward. "It's... deliberate abandonment. No systems in place, no preservation efforts. Even the mortals left here were set up to fail."
"Wisdom," Caelix scoffed. He turned to Vados. "If this is wisdom, I would hate to see what folly looks like."
The three of them spread out, each exploring different sections of the ruined planet. Caelix moved toward what seemed to have once been a central hub—a place that likely served as the seat of governance. He pushed open the massive, rusted doors with a wave of his hand, stepping into a dark and cavernous hall.
His sharp eyes immediately spotted fragments of data banks and records strewn across the floor. Hovering his staff, he released a pulse of energy that reactivated the machinery. Flickering projections illuminated the room, showing flashes of the universe's history.
What he saw made his fists clench.
Scenes of mortals pleading for guidance, their cries ignored by the absent gods. Civilizations on the brink of collapse, their technologies failing without divine intervention. Knowledge hoarded in vaults rather than shared, left to decay as the mortal populations dwindled.
Vados appeared at his side. "The gods of this universe focused solely on themselves. They amassed knowledge but didn't disseminate it. When their mortals faltered, they simply moved on to the next planet, repeating the same mistakes."
"That's not wisdom," Caelix growled. "That's selfishness wrapped in a thin veneer of intelligence."
Elyssia returned, her expression grim. "It's the same story everywhere," she reported. "Planets with resources left untapped. Civilizations crushed under their own weight because the gods didn't care to intervene. The last Supreme Kai here apparently devoted themselves to personal projects, ignoring their responsibilities entirely."
Caelix closed his eyes, breathing deeply to contain his mounting frustration. His destruction energy simmered beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.
"So the gods were nothing more than glorified scavengers," he said coldly. "They wanted the title without the burden. Power without purpose."
Elyssia placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "That's why we're here, Caelix. To fix this. To bring balance where there was none."
Caelix summoned the staff once more, tapping its end on the ground. A ripple of energy expanded outward, stabilizing the ruined planet's atmosphere and clearing the toxic winds.
"This universe doesn't need gods like them," he said firmly. "It needs structure. Order. A foundation that ensures wisdom is not just hoarded but shared. Vados, Elyssia—compile a list of the most stable planets in this universe. We'll start there."
"Yes, my Lord," Vados said with a graceful bow.
"And the civilizations that are still struggling," Caelix continued, "we'll give them the tools they need to rebuild. This will be a universe of wisdom—not just in name, but in practice."
As the two departed to begin their tasks, Caelix remained in the ruined hall. He looked out across the broken landscape, his mind racing.
Power was not enough. That much he had learned long ago. Even the most powerful gods were useless if they lacked the wisdom to wield their strength responsibly. A god who failed to care for their realm was worse than no god at all.
"They called us gods," he murmured, "but even gods can be fools."
He clenched his staff tightly, his resolve hardening. This universe—and every other universe under his care—would not suffer the same fate.
"This isn't just about rebuilding," he said to himself. "It's about proving that divinity is a responsibility, not a privilege. And if that means I have to do it all myself... so be it."
With a final glance at the desolation, Caelix turned and strode forward, his staff glowing with the light of creation. A new chapter for Universe 1 was about to begin.