"Goldilocks over there mentioned that others received the same prophecy. So, we just ask them to cooperate. With thousands of universes working toward the same goal, it'll be a lot easier to pull off."
"A surprisingly smart idea coming from you, Ares. Also, I have a name. It's Apollo!"
"Whatever you say, goldilocks."
Ares replied with a yawn, waving Apollo off dismissively. Before Apollo could even think of a retort, Hera, the Queen of the gods, posed a question that had been lingering in many minds.
"We've discussed how to find the mother of this child. What about the father? What actions are we taking regarding him?"
Her question was met with nods of agreement, particularly from the goddesses. Zeus cleared his throat and answered, feeling Hera's gaze drilling into the side of his head.
"The prophecy gave no clues about his identity, almost as if it wasn't meant for us to find him. Even the assumption that he's a high-ranking god is just our assumption."
"So your plan is to do nothing?"
Hera gave him a skeptical look as she asked, and Demeter and Persephone mirrored her expression, making Zeus visibly uncomfortable.
"If he's discovered in the future, then perhaps. But for now, we have no leads. We can't act without direction."
Before Hera could speak again, Zeus added,
"Ares' suggestion will be followed. Cooperation with other god pantheons is essential if we want to find this being more quickly. In doing so, we might even discover the father's identity along the way."
As soon as Zeus finished speaking, Athena posed a question.
"The 'Day of Black Sun' mentioned in the prophecy, I suspect it's referring to an eclipse. Wouldn't you agree, Apollo?"
"Yes, there are a few galaxies with the same temporal flow that have a partial eclipse scheduled in the coming weeks. However, I doubt that's what the prophecy means.
It doesn't match the description of a 'Black Sun.'"
"But the sun would still be black, wouldn't it?"
"Only partially. And beyond that, I have a feeling that this eclipse, if it even is one, wouldn't be natural."
At that, Artemis shot her twin a sharp look, the kind usually reserved for someone who had just said something foolish, before reprimanding him.
"Watch your mouth, Apollo. You're the god of Oracles, your words might just end up coming to pass."
Apollo began to respond, but Zeus immediately cut in.
"Save the sibling bickering for later."
Artemis rolled her eyes in annoyance, tempted to bring up Zeus' earlier actions with Hades. But Zeus ignored her completely and carried on speaking as if he had no guilt whatsoever.
"Hermes, contact as many of the nearby god pantheons as you can, and find out what measures they intend to take concerning the prophecy.
If their objectives align with ours, we will offer them every possible support."
"No problem," Hermes, the messenger god, replied before vanishing from his seat.
"This meeting is adjourned, then."
"Since you're done, there's no reason for me to remain."
The moment Zeus called the meeting to a close, Hades spoke through his avatar before it dissolved back into the shadows.
"Huh? Uncle, wait a—!"
Athena made to speak, but he ignored her and withdrew his avatar. She clicked her tongue, already imagining how irritated Hades would be if she decided to go to the underworld in person.
"Is something the matter, Athena?" Poseidon asked, noticing her reaction, but she simply shook her head in response and teleported away, likely returning to her home in Athens.
The remaining gods took that as their signal to disperse, resuming their prior affairs as they began leaving one after another through various means. Before long, only Apollo and Zeus remained.
After scanning the hall and confirming that no one else was within earshot, Zeus turned to Apollo and asked,
"Is there anything else I need to know besides the prophecy?"
"No, there i—"
"Don't lie to me, boy. I can see your divinity has been halved. And more than that, you reek of causality."
Apollo was abruptly cut off by Zeus, who finally revealed the true reason he had asked him to stay behind. Upon hearing this, Apollo let out a hearty laugh before replying.
"You're right. I've temporarily lost the ability to recover more than half of my maximum divinity.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I attempted to peer into the identity of the prophesied 'child of destruction' using my Authority.
The law of causality didn't take kindly to that. Not only did it block me from learning anything noteworthy about the child through the law of fate, but it also hit me with the backlash of halving my divinity.
However..."
"However?"
"I did manage to glimpse a feature of the child's mother, which is why I didn't object to Athena's suggestion that the child's father might be a god.
What I saw made me believe she's either a demon, a devil, or a fallen angel."
Zeus placed a hand on his chin, his expression thoughtful as he mulled over Apollo's words.
"I doubt it's the demons. Those bastards despise half-bloods too much to allow something like this.
Exactly what did you see that made you suspect those three races?"
Apollo frowned before responding.
"Jet-black wings. Five pairs of them. The child's mother has them. Of that, I'm absolutely certain.
Once you narrow it down to that detail, there aren't many possibilities left."
"Very well then. I'll inform Hermes. He can use this information during negotiations to secure cooperation in locating the prophesied child. The other masters won't overlook something like this. They're likely already taking action as we speak."
A wry smile formed on Zeus's face as he considered a few other god-kings who had probably already begun to move.
◇ ◇ ◇
Just as Zeus had said, the masters and Main Entities of other god pantheons were already issuing various orders in response to the prophecy.
Within the Great Hall of Valhalla in Asgard, an old man with one eye, his appearance no different from that of a common passerby, was currently giving instructions to a younger man clad in dull silver armour.
"Hermod, cooperate with the messengers from the other pantheons in locating the prophesied child's birth parents. But refrain from any hostile action."
The old man tapped his other eye that was covered by an eyepatch before continuing.
"Attempting to kill the mother or child before the child is born will only backfire. The law of causality appears to be shielding them."
Upon receiving his orders, Hermod, the messenger god of Asgard, gave a silent nod and swiftly departed from the hall, leaving the old man alone.
Once Hermod was gone, the old man slowly rose from the ground and muttered,
"Times are changing. I just hope this prophesied child isn't the one destined to bring about Ragnarok. I already have my hands full dealing with those fiery bastards."
That old man was none other than the head of the Asgardian Pantheon and leader of the Aesir god tribe, Odin.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, in Muspelheim, the king of the 'fiery bastards' Odin had mentioned, Fire Giant King Surtr, was currently considering whether the prophesied 'child of destruction' was worth his attention.
"Send personnel to investigate the child's mother. If those arrogant gods make any hostile moves toward her, protect her.
The child might become a valuable ally in the future, so we should begin earning his goodwill now."
After issuing his commands to the fire giants kneeling before him, he rose from his throne and turned toward the direction of a neighbouring universe.
"I need to meet with Harmarti. It seems the balance might shift soon."
He laughed, then burst into a pillar of flame, vanishing as he teleported to Jotunheim to speak with the Frost Giant Warrior King.
◇ ◇ ◇
Similar scenes were unfolding across other universes, as their various masters gave orders to search for the parents of the prophesied child. Some acted with hostile intent, others sought to protect, while a few chose to remain neutral.
◇ ◇ ◇
Apex World Aeturn.
Burning Realms Galaxy Cluster.
Hell Universe
March ??
Year 700 of the 50th General Calendar
A figure descended from the skies onto a planet located within the capital galaxy cluster of a certain universe, landing in the courtyard of an archaic castle so imposing it could strike fear into the hearts of the weak-minded.
Two men waiting in the courtyard immediately lowered their heads in respect toward the descending figure. The moment she landed, one of them spoke.
"Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."
The one addressed as 'Princess' brushed aside a few silver strands of hair that had fallen over her face and looked at the speaker.
"Mammon, raise your head. How long ago did he say this?"
"A few hours ago, Your Highness."
The princess rested a hand on her chin, a pensive expression briefly settling on her face. After a moment, she clicked her tongue and spoke.
"Tsk... He's probably figured it out already. I wasn't ready for him to know, but those fools made so much noise about my kid, and now he's found out.
Stupid prophecies."
Mammon's brow twitched at her words. Doubt filled his heart as he asked, cautiously,
"Your Highness... you couldn't possibly be the one—"
"Oh yes, I'm the one."
She cut him off before he could even finish, as though she had already anticipated the question.
Ignoring the shocked expressions on both men's faces, the princess folded her five pairs of jet-black wings and made her way into the castle, humming softly to herself.
She was the daughter of the Master of the Hell Universe and King of its Devildom, Devil Princess Cattleya Vaughn. Known as the 'Arch Devil of Destruction,' she had just confirmed what left the two men reeling in disbelief, that she was the mother of the prophesied 'Child of Destruction.'
◇ ◇ ◇
"Whoa, Mum, weren't you a bit too casual about that?"
Arthur asked as he took a bite from the fried turkey on his plate. Layla nodded in agreement while pouring herself a drink.
"What's so bad about it? They were going to find out either way."
"Yeah, but you could've at least told them in a way that didn't leave them slack-jawed for minutes."
Arthur replied, glancing at Cattleya, who simply shrugged.
"Well, can't change it now. So, can I go on with my story?"
The two nodded, and Cattleya resumed narrating the events that had followed her reveal to Mammon that she was the mother of the prophesied child of destruction.