Chapter 31: Receive the authority

The entire full-course meal was devoured within seconds.

Odir, Olium, and Moleius had completely abandoned any sense of composure, eating to their fullest as they sampled every dish Liam had created. Plates that had been overflowing only moments ago were rapidly emptied, while the three pantheons continued eating as though they had been starved for centuries.

Liam, however, was not actually sitting at the table.

As an omnipotent being, he could accomplish virtually anything within his domain, but allowing his pantheons to watch him eat like an ordinary person would ruin the image he had carefully established. Instead, he had left behind a perfectly convincing dummy upon the throne while transferring his consciousness elsewhere.

His awareness appeared within the Achievement Hall.

The moment he arrived, Liam visualized another complete meal before himself. Unlike the food in the council chamber, this one was solely for him. He immediately began eating, savoring every bite with an expression of genuine satisfaction.

"That was so delicious. Oh my god!"

Liam leaned back, completely satisfied.

"I have to go back before they’re finished."

He quickly withdrew his consciousness from the Achievement Hall and returned to the council chamber. His dummy vanished seamlessly as his consciousness settled back into his true body, and when he opened his eyes, he found his pantheons already finishing their desserts.

Liam silently observed them for a moment before speaking to the system within his mind.

System, can I possibly share my powers with them?

[Affirmative.]

[You can share your powers with them.]

[As the omnipotent creator of this world, you possess absolute authority over everything within your domain. Any action you deliberately permit is recognized as possible. Denying your ability to share your own power would contradict the fundamental nature of your omnipotence.]

Liam’s posture straightened. The relaxed expression he had worn during the meal disappeared entirely.

He looked down upon the three individuals before him, his eyes carrying an authority that made the atmosphere of the chamber grow heavy.

"Pantheons." His voice echoed throughout the hall.

"Now that you have finished your meal, let us proceed with the matter for which you were summoned."

The three immediately stopped what they were doing.

Liam slowly raised one hand, his palm open toward them.

For several seconds, nothing happened. Then the space above his palm began to distort.

Three points of brilliant white light emerged from the emptiness, slowly condensing into three perfectly spherical orbs. They were not ordinary objects. Even without knowing what they contained, the three pantheons could instinctively feel an overwhelming presence radiating from them.

Liam examined the spheres before speaking within his mind.

System, attach portions of my powers to these orbs. Grant them Atmosphere Manipulation, Instant Language Learning, Consciousness Override, and Short-Term Physical Manipulation.

[Affirmative.]

[Abilities successfully attached.]

The moment the system finished speaking, the entire chamber began to tremble.

The three pantheons instinctively looked toward the floating spheres. None of them could comprehend what Liam had just done.

They could not measure the power contained within those objects, nor could they determine whether accepting them would bring blessing or destruction. Yet one fact was impossible to deny.

Their creator had decided to give them a portion of his authority. There was nothing they could do but accept it.

Liam’s gaze settled upon Odir.

"Odir, the Lizardman Pantheon, the First Pantheon, God of Bravery."

One of the three white spheres immediately responded.

It rose from Liam’s palm and slowly floated across the chamber toward Odir.

The lizardman swallowed hard as the sphere approached his chest. Despite his immense courage, something deep within his instincts warned him that what was approaching contained a power far beyond anything he had ever encountered.

Then Liam turned toward Olium. "Olium Rootil, the Elven Pantheon, God of Sacrifice, the Dragon Slayer."

The second sphere began moving.

It drifted through the air toward Olium, its brilliant radiance illuminating his face as he stared at it with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

Finally, Liam’s attention settled upon the old druid.

"The Wise Druid, Moleius. The Druid Pantheon, God of Wisdom."

The third sphere remained floating before Liam for another moment before slowly moving toward Moleius.

Strangely, the old druid remained completely stoic. His eyes had been closed from the beginning.

He neither flinched nor attempted to retreat as the sphere approached him, seemingly accepting whatever fate awaited him.

Liam raised his hand slightly.

"You shall be the ones who carry the will of my pantheon." His finger flicked.

The three spheres accelerated.

They struck the bodies of Odir, Olium, and Moleius simultaneously.

"ARGHHHH!"

"GRAHHHH!"

A blinding flash erupted throughout the chamber.

The three bodies immediately convulsed.

Their muscles tightened violently as an unimaginable force surged through their bodies, traveling through every organ, every nerve, every fragment of their physical existence. It was as though their entire bodies were being dismantled and reconstructed simultaneously.

Odir’s claws dug into the floor as his body trembled uncontrollably.

Olium’s teeth clenched together as a violent cry escaped his throat.

Even Moleius, who had maintained his composure throughout everything, finally tightened his expression as his body shook beneath the overwhelming transformation.

Liam’s eyes widened. System... Is this supposed to happen?

[Affirmative.]

[The process is functioning as intended.]

[You have granted them portions of your authority. Their existing bodies were not designed to contain such power. Therefore, their physical structures are being reconstructed at the cellular level.]

[Every cell is being modified to withstand the abilities being implanted within them.]

Liam stared at the three suffering figures. And the pain?

[Expected.]

[Their consciousness may interpret the reconstruction as experiencing death repeatedly. Their bodies are being tested through countless possible configurations until a suitable form capable of containing the granted abilities is established.]

Liam’s expression became increasingly complicated.

[However, their abilities have been automatically restricted to prevent them from overwhelming their vessels.]

[Their powers will therefore possess limitations such as duration, range, cooldowns, and other restrictions appropriate to their individual bodies.]

The trembling continued. The brilliant light surrounding the three pantheons intensified before gradually beginning to stabilize.

The three dead individuals who had been summoned into the council were being rebuilt into something entirely new.

They were becoming the first true vessels of Liam’s divine authority.