Unlike Thea's ascension at the Source Wall, Diana could be considered the first "homegrown" New God of Earth.
Watching Diana's aura rapidly climb, Thea pursed her lips. The world's favored protagonist versus an impostor like herself—completely different.
If she hadn't obtained the Soul and Arts Divine Positions, relying solely on Trade and Wealth, she absolutely couldn't have beaten post-ascension Diana!
Because Diana didn't just have the Protection Divine Position—she'd also gained the Perseverance Divine Position. A completely random Source had simply appeared within her.
Protection served as an outward combat Position; Perseverance served as an inward support Position. Diana's attributes remained consistent—balanced, comprehensive, and powerful.
A stark contrast to Thea's late-game support Positions...
After mentally comparing a favored child to a self-made one, Diana's ascension entered its final phase. The overflowing divine power returned to her body, elevating her life's very essence.
The Greek gods' blessings transformed into glittering motes of light and were pushed out from her body. She no longer needed any blessings—she'd reached heights the Greek pantheon had never achieved.
Sensing the power leaving her, Diana felt no excessive sorrow. Unlike the sluggishness of foreign divine power, the abilities granted by New God Positions fit her perfectly—they were the Sources most suited to her.
With all excess stripped away, it felt like shedding a thousand-pound burden. Even with Diana's strength of will, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
These divine powers had seemingly helped her reach her peak, but in truth, they'd limited her far more. Like massive shackles, they'd locked away the Valkyrie's potential for advancement.
Thea even maliciously speculated that Diana might have been the designated enforcer Zeus had prepared for his pantheon.
The story about all the gods seeing Diana's birth, finding her adorable, and collectively bestowing blessings sounded like complete nonsense.
Those deities couldn't tolerate their own parents, siblings, and children, constantly sabotaging each other in internal struggles, beating each other senseless. Such harmonious, loving Greek gods having that much goodwill? All twelve Olympians bestowing blessings together?
Thea didn't believe it for one second!
The fact that she'd spent one month developing her Source while Diana, even with the world's favor, had struggled for over a year said it all.
The Valkyrie had essentially ground her way through with perseverance and patience, wearing it down bit by bit.
Still, watching the divine powers about to drift away, Thea thought for a moment and intercepted them. Even if we don't want them, we're not giving them back to those Greek bastards.
"So this is what being a god feels like? It's so comfortable!" The Valkyrie completed the final step. Her body felt so light she might float away. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked her beloved.
Thea knew this was the comfort of shedding shackles—it had almost nothing to do with ascending to godhood. But considering Diana had grown up hearing tales of the Greek gods' great deeds, better not to shatter the beautiful image in her heart.
She glossed over it vaguely. Just as she was about to ask about Diana's specific experience, an explosion sounded in the air.
A Boom Tube? Thea's expression turned strange as she watched Orion emerge from the portal.
The second-generation god hadn't expected to encounter Thea here. They stared at each other for a long moment.
"Oh, your universe is quite impressive, Legion Commander Thea. Is this new god your friend?"
"She's my lover. You're here on the Highfather's orders to recruit? We'll come shortly. Return and report first." Strength commanded respect—this truth became more apparent the higher you climbed.
In three sentences, Thea dismissed the gossip-hungry second-generation god. She still needed to handle the scene here.
Diana's ascension had caused celestial phenomena on too grand a scale. Hoping satellites hadn't noticed was pure fantasy.
After briefly explaining things to her mother-in-law and offering a suggestion—have someone swim around the nearby waters, write a report, and spin it as an auspicious omen—Thea then coordinated their stories before taking Diana to New Genesis.
Another goddess born in such a short time! The Highfather was overjoyed, seeing it as a sign that justice would triumph and evil would fail.
Unlike Thea's Trade and Wealth, her Positions had obvious neutral characteristics. At the time of crisis, either Darkseid or the Highfather could have recruited her. But Diana's Protection and Perseverance were very positive Positions—Darkseid wouldn't want them. This matched the Highfather's recruitment standards perfectly.
After the standard welcome speech came the trial-by-combat test.
Originally, Thea hoped Diana would establish a legion too and coordinate with her. But although the Valkyrie had shed her constraints, her sense of belonging to Greece remained strong. Asking her to switch allegiances and fight for another deity was difficult.
Thea reconsidered and agreed. If Diana also commanded a legion, given their intimate relationship, it would be quite disadvantageous to the Highfather's rule.
Strength commanded respect, but politics permeated everything. Negotiations happened when necessary. God was powerful enough, right? Yet to avoid destroying the multiverse, He still had to compromise with the Great Evil Beast. What chance did small-fry gods like them have?
Diana selected the combative Orion. They exchanged blows for several dozen rounds.
Having just ascended, unfamiliar with many of her divine power's characteristics, with all her previous Greek powers gone, and suppressing part of her strength, Diana ultimately lost.
The Highfather felt somewhat disappointed but mostly relieved that this newcomer wasn't too powerful.
If she'd been very strong and was family with the even stronger Thea, it would have been bad for the Highfather's consistent rule. This was much better.
Diana's position was quickly confirmed: Orion's deputy, jointly commanding the Highfather's Guard.
Setting other matters aside, Diana's brilliant golden protective divine power looked far more righteous and glorious than the black-aura-emitting Violence God Orion.
The Highfather trusted his adopted son greatly, but Orion's appearance was simply not good. Standing magnificently in the center with a figure wreathed in black aura beside him... it just looked wrong. Diana was perfect for the role.
Thea then took Diana to see Himon for a set of equipment. The Valkyrie, who also loved forging, got along well with Himon. This being Thea thought resembled a robot had rarely found a kindred spirit and, in a rare gesture, crafted a luck charm for Diana.
This wasn't some five-dollar street-vendor fake. Like the Lasso of Truth before, the charm was a top-tier divine artifact containing a trace of mysterious fortune—turning misfortune to fortune wasn't just talk.
Guaranteed critical hits, one hundred percent evasion—of course, luck wasn't absolute. If the Great Evil Beast decided to end the world, no amount of luck would help.
Diana's armor had already been modified by Himon. No changes needed now. Himon, rarely encountering a fellow craftsman, promised she could help herself to any materials from his workshop whenever needed.
The two women didn't stay long before returning to Earth.
Diana needed to master her new powers. Thea had even more to do.
She didn't know why the original timeline's Darkseid had come to Earth, but in this timeline, it was one hundred percent to mess with her!
Even with Earth crawling with overpowered beings, actively invading Apokolips was pushing it. Defensive counterattack was the way forward.