I Am Hades, The supreme GOD of the Underworld!

A hum resounded as divine power radiated from the World Tree, with earth, water, fire, and wind manifesting gradually.

Initially, Hades's plan had been to preserve the essence of the four divine beasts, transforming them into four lords representing earth, water, fire, and wind within the Underworld. However, over time, he realized something profound: his true path lay in fully embracing his role as the King of the Underworld, rather than attempting to follow a different route. 

The path of a god has no precedent. The only way forward is to carve your own way.

While following the path of predecessors may seem easy, in truth, such imitation leads to limitations and hinders true progress. This is the immutable truth—following in others' footsteps may seem easier but would ultimately limit him. Realizing this, Hades shed all distractions, focusing solely on his path: the path of the Underworld.

"The time has come."

With Hades's quiet words, a profound transformation erupted across the Underworld.

As the powers of earth, water, fire, and wind returned to their rightful places, the World Tree reached full maturity, lacking nothing from its core. Now, boundless power began spreading throughout the Underworld, an unprecedented transformation that the gods could hardly fathom.

The primordial elements had fused into the World Tree, which rapidly began to grow, Hades watching with a rare, slight smile. Centuries of work had led to this moment.

"Finally, the next step has been taken."

As divine light poured from the World Tree, the Underworld underwent an extraordinary transformation. What had once been a colossal tree grew exponentially, beyond measure, to a size that defied comprehension. The gods could only glimpse the treetop, unable to gauge its true size.

Over tens of thousands, even millions of years, the Underworld maintained its balance, all while the World Tree grew. When its growth finally ceased, Hades could see clearly that the World Tree had reached two-thirds the size of an entire mythic world.

To complete the final third would take time, as Hades had grown the Underworld's World Tree from scratch, step by step, and it was integral to his godly domain. The World Tree was embedded in his godly realm rather than serving as a foundation for a mythic world created by an Absolute God, marking a fundamental distinction.

Nevertheless, this World Tree granted the Underworld newfound autonomy, elevating it to the level of the Greek Mythic World. Despite its unfinished growth, it was no longer a subordinate entity.

Having crafted the Underworld Tree through immense effort, Hades had truly broken free from his predestined fate of eventual destruction. Now, he could maintain an alliance with the mythic world while still preserving independence.

With this new foundation, Hades no longer feared exploration of other mythic worlds. His increased status and power now made such endeavors feasible, ensuring that his efforts would yield meaningful results.

Now that the World Tree had grown to its current limit, the immense power it generated spread throughout the Underworld, creating a massive shift in everything that lay within. 

The Underworld began to expand at an astonishing speed, with each realm undergoing rapid transformation: the Eight Hells, the Elysian Fields, and every region evolved in mere moments, becoming grander than ever.

In terms of size alone, the Underworld was now comparable to a true mythic world. Although the World Tree itself still lagged behind, Hades's influence ensured the Underworld's unparalleled growth.

The transformation of the Underworld would persist, affecting both resources and essence, and creating a self-sustaining cycle, fueled by an unending stream of divine power. These changes signaled the arrival of a new era for the Underworld.

Unlike a typical godly domain, which serves as a deity's base and a place to gather followers, the Underworld had reached a unique stage, where its essence generated endless resources. It now required no intervention from the World Tree, as its intrinsic origins would continue to grow, creating a stable, self-sustaining cycle.

Moreover, this transformation affected the entire celestial structure of the Underworld, forming a complete whole encompassing five realms: Earth, Heaven, Sea, Underworld, and Star.

In a mythic world, the Star Realm and Black Sea encircle the heavens and realms in a sphere-like shape. By contrast, the Underworld was now surrounded by the five realms, which would fuel its continuing growth. 

Each of the realms surged with divine power, evolving at an incredible rate. Although only the Star Lord and Earth Lord roles had been filled, the remaining three would soon be occupied, placing the Underworld on a fully stabilized trajectory.

"The Underworld…"

"The Five Realms…"

"All of this is gradually reaching completion, though it will take an estimated three to five million years for full integration and the World Tree's full bloom," Hades calculated.

The growth would require patience, as world-transcending powers needed time for true maturation. This final transformation was unlike previous enhancements. This time, the Underworld was undergoing a fundamental rebirth, marking the culmination of all essential elements. Any errors now could lead to catastrophic setbacks.

With these precautions in mind, Hades calmly observed the Underworld's metamorphosis. The realms of Hell attached to the Underworld began to elevate rapidly, each Hell undergoing a visible transformation, gaining in significance.

Each Hell was now critical to the Underworld's structure. And as each one grew, so too did the Underworld gods who governed them.

Mephistopheles, Ether, Karl, Keres, Moira, Eris, Europa, and Sparta—all eight gods—felt their power surging in tandem with the growth of Hell itself.

Furthermore, Ether and Europa, as the Star Lord and Earth Lord respectively, advanced to an impressive level: the pinnacle of godly power. Although not on par with Hades, they matched the strength of Typhon.

Meanwhile, Mephistopheles, Eris, and Sparta formed the next tier, followed by Karl, Keres, and Moira, marking three distinct levels among the Underworld gods:

First Tier: Ether and Europa.

Second Tier: Mephistopheles, Eris, and Sparta.

Third Tier: Karl, Keres, and Moira.

And yet, the Underworld's transformation was far from complete!

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