The grand triumphal procession seed endless.
Bathed in the radiant glow of the Bifröst Bridge, the triumphant army marched through the city from south to north, receiving the cheers of the masses.
Except for the local garrisons, the army never paused—moving out of one city, disappearing into the shimring rainbow light, only to reappear at the next.
One city after another, they proclaid the glory of the Aesir pantheon and flaunted the unmatched might that had conquered entire world-level civilizations.
Eventually, the many triumphal contingents converged into a single column and arrived at the terminus of the Bifröst Bridge in due sequence.
As the Slavic gods erged from the bridge, their eyes fell imdiately upon a majestic golden palace standing at the very center of the divine realm.
Looking around, they saw the towering, magnificent wall encircling the divine city—on which the only signs of ti's passage were the skulls of gods mounted on its towers. From old to new, from giants to great gods to deity-sized skulls, they bore witness to the Aesir's unparalleled military exploits in the chaotic cosmos.
The gates of the imnse wall—taller even than giants—stood wide open, divine light of overwhelming sanctity radiating from within.
The divine warriors of the Aesir marched with steady, powerful strides through the gate, solemn and awe-inspiring.
The accompanying Slavic gods imdiately felt they had entered a realm of overwhelming power and sacredness.
Beyond the gate, in the central square, towering stone statues stood imposingly on either side.
These lifelike sculptures depicted the God-King Thalos Paulson leading the Aesir through their many glorious campaigns—slaying the primordial frost and fla giants, subjugating the Vanir gods, absorbing Aegir, and of course, the fad "Ragnarök"...
Scene after scene of the Aesir's battles across various realms was brought to life in three dinsions through sculpture. Around the statues, ever-burning torches flickered, their flas dancing as though celebrating the return of the gods in triumph.
After years of construction, the buildings surrounding the square were imposing and grand. Their intricate carvings and embellishnts embodied the craftsmanship and artistry of dwarves and gno artisans. The streets and markets were broad and orderly—on any other day, they would be teeming with life.
Today, however, tens of thousands of mortals—considering service to the gods the highest honor—knelt before the triumphant Aesir army, bowing reverently.
Most of them were divine attendants selected by the major churches of the mortal realm. The Aesir were a martial pantheon; any divine attendant who made it to Asgard was already a fad warrior in the lower realms. Annual combat trials and profession-based competitions ensured that only the best remained. Over the years, mortal offspring had occasionally been born of divine unions, and as their bloodlines spread, they gradually ford a new elite class centered on demi-god descendants.
They were the cornerstone of the Aesir's rule over mortals.
Now that the Aesir stood as an unparalleled hegemon, their triumphant return pushed their prestige to an all-new peak.
Their presence, in turn, affected the newly integrated gods.
In a certain sense, these Slavic gods—newly freed from their status as enslaved deities—stood even lower than the Aesir's half-mortal descendants.
Everything would have to be earned by their own rit.
Perun, the Slavic god of thunder—who also presided over war and blacksmithing—knew that his domains would not remain intact in Ginnungagap.
Yet the Aesir offered the entire Slavic pantheon a new hope and a brilliant future. As he watched the imposing figures of the Aesir gods ahead, his eyes—and those of his fellow Slavic deities—were filled with resolve.
"Siwa," Perun whispered.
The goddess of love, beauty, and fertility instantly understood. To truly change the Slavic gods' destiny, martial prowess alone would not be enough...
The golden palace drew nearer.
Built to accommodate beings three tis human height—or even towering giants—it made the Slavic gods, most of whom were human-sized, feel montarily disoriented upon entry.
Fortunately, the Celtic and Surian gods had preceded them.
Seeing thrones sized for mortal-statured gods helped the Slavic newcors feel less out of place.
The heads of the Mayan, Incan, and Aztec gods were now one by one presented before the assembly, each na called out by the valkyrie Brynhildr. With every na, the gods and giants roared in amazent and celebration.
When the tally of heads concluded, it was ti for rewards and honors.
Thalos' sharp gaze swept across the hall, eting countless heated, expectant stares.
His deep, magnetic voice echoed throughout the Golden Hall.
"Enki!"
"I am here," responded Enki, the forr Surian god of wisdom and water, who had never expected to be the first nad. He quickly stepped forward and dropped to his knees in formal salute.
"You supported my son Gilgash with your wisdom, claid vast lands in the Egyptian realm, and helped Ginnungagap avoid a prophecy of destruction. You shall be heavily rewarded."
"What?!" gasped the assembled gods and giants. Only now did they realize how much Enki had done. That enormous crystal skull, which had seed strange but not particularly dangerous—was actually that terrifying?
Why was Enki the one being honored?
Simple.
Gilgash, as the God-King's son, could not receive additional titles. Any reward would have to be sothing as grand as ruling an entire realm. His contributions hadn't reached that threshold yet—so Enki was the one receiving recognition.
Enki, ever tactful, bowed three more tis.
"I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty."
"I hereby na you the God of the Ocean—you shall oversee all oceans in the world of Ginnungagap."
"Hiss—" Countless deities could not help but sigh in envy.
Enki, originally the Surian god of wisdom and water, held a prestigious position. But it mustn't be forgotten—he was the brother of Enlil, the forr Surian God-King. In most pantheons, such a status would mark him forever as a remnant of the old regi, never again to rise.
But in the Aesir pantheon, Thalos had the courage and vision to reward true rit. Enki earned his honor, and Thalos recognized it.
At a glance, "God of the Ocean" might sound less prestigious than "God of Water." But that depended on scope. The total water elent in Enlil's old realm could not compare to the vastness of Ginnungagap.
Now, with the Maya, Inca, Aztec, and Akkadian worlds all within their grasp—possibly soon to include the Egyptian realm as well—the total reached sixteen minor worlds!
Sixteen worlds' worth of oceans certainly dwarfed the elental power of a single Surian realm. Though Thalos remained the true God of Water, and the Lady of the Lake (from the Celtic pantheon) held dominion over lakes, Enki's elevation marked a trendous leap.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! I shall devote all my wisdom and loyalty to your service."
After Enki, the next great contributor was Hel.
"Hel, step forward."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The beautiful Hel stepped forth, offering a graceful bow.
"I have yet to decide your reward. Speak—what would you ask for, Hel?"
Hel blinked and, with a touch of mischief in her eyes, said, "I hope Your Majesty will lend Skadi—to serve under my na as a 'Goddess of Death.'"
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