As the girls continued explaining the divine hierarchy to Catherine, Zumi went still.
His eyes sharpened. His posture straightened.
There was a spark—a subtle shift in the air, as if a new thought had ignited inside him.
And Serafina felt it instantly.
Her eyes narrowed, a slow, knowing smile forming.
"There it is…" she murmured softly. "That look."
Catherine blinked. "What look?"
Serafina pointed lightly with her chin toward Zumi.
"That face… the one he makes when he suddenly figures out a way to get even stronger." She smirked with sisterly pride. "Every time he gets that expression, it means he's about to talk to her."
Catherine tilted her head. "Her…?"
Serafina folded her arms, shadows curling under her feet.
"Celestia. The being who manages his system. A goddess so strong that even we can't see her true form."
Bia nodded rapidly, leaning in close to Catherine.
"She's like the supreme overseer. When Zumi meditates and talks to her—something always upgrades or evolves."
Leafa giggled softly.
"He never comes back the same. Always stronger. Always more dangerous."
Hina added in a whisper:
"It's basically cheat codes—but divine."
Catherine's eyes widened slightly.
"…He just decides to get stronger? Like that?"
All the girls nodded with absolute seriousness.
Bia pointed at Zumi dramatically.
"Our man is built different."
Zumi rose from the seat—only slightly—but enough for everyone to notice.
He turned his head just enough to see them all.
"I want to try something," he said quietly. "There's something I need to ask Celestia."
Serafina smirked knowingly.
"Of course. Another power-up."
Zumi didn't confirm or deny—he simply gave that calm, dangerous grin.
The girls felt a thrill run through them.
Then he spoke gently:
"Show Catherine around the house. I'm going to meditate."
They all nodded immediately.
Bia hopped to her feet first, kissing him on the cheek. Then Serafina leaned in, her lips brushing his jawline with dark affection. Leafa kissed him gently, like a blessing of nature. Hina placed a soft kiss on his temple. Gia kissed him with quiet devotion. Even Jasmine—stoic and reserved—kissed him gently on the lips.
Catherine blushed as each girl took their turn.
Then, a little shy but very eager, she stepped forward…
She kissed him too—soft, warm, reverent.
Her voice was breathless.
"We'll be waiting… Zumi."
He nodded once, calm and powerful.
Then he lowered himself onto the couch.
His legs folded into lotus position. His back straightened. His hands rested lightly atop his knees.
And as the girls led Catherine away to show her every corner of the mansion—
Zumi closed his eyes.
The room hummed faintly around him.
Air pressure shifted.
The spiritual energy in the mansion thickened like a rising tide.
Everyone could feel it.
Zumi's consciousness sank inward…
deeper…
deeper…
toward Celestia.
Just before fully falling into meditation, Zumi's eyes opened slightly.
His voice was low—but every goddess felt it vibrate through their divine cores.
"One more thing."
The girls paused, Catherine turning curiously.
"If what I ask Celestia works… Bia, Serafina, Leafa, and Hina…" he looked at each one with deep intensity, "…you may go through some changes. Something might happen concerning your divinity."
For a split second—they froze.
Then all four of them smirked.
Serafina tilted her head, amused. Bia grinned wide and bold. Leafa smiled warmly. Hina's eyes glowed with quiet confidence.
"Thank you for telling us," Serafina said. "But you know we fear nothing you do."
Bia crossed her arms proudly. "You love us too much to ever hurt us."
Leafa nodded sweetly. "And anything that strengthens you strengthens us."
Hina finished softly: "We trust you completely."
Zumi finally closed his eyes again, sinking into full meditation.
The girls smiled warmly… and then turned to Catherine.
"All right," Bia said brightly, looping an arm around her.
"Let's show you the mansion."
Catherine laughed softly, already feeling like part of the family.
And the girls led her away— leaving Zumi to dive into the depths of his divine system once more.
While Ana, Serafina, Bia, Gia, Sakura, Leafa, Kasumi, Kathy, Jasmine, Reina, Carmella, and Bethany guided Catherine through the mansion—
Zumi's consciousness drifted deeper into the core of the System's celestial pathways.
A golden silence.
A holy stillness.
Then—
Zumi's private message to Celestia echoed through the inner channels of the system, vibrating like a divine command spoken into eternity:
"I want to build a Pantheon… my own Olympus. But I'm not fully awakened yet. Can you create a System Pantheon—managed by you—until I fulfill the requirements?"
Celestia paused.
The entire spiritual realm stopped moving.
Breathless. Expectant.
For the first time in a very long while, Celestia said:
"Stand by… This request requires consultation with the Origin."
The world inside Zumi went quiet.
Not a sound. Not a ripple. Not even the whisper of divine wind.
Two full hours passed in that sacred silence— the silence of beings who existed before gods.
Then—
A ripple of golden-white system light returned, like the first breath of creation.
SYSTEM MESSAGE — FROM THE CREATOR OF THE SYSTEM
"The request is fascinating. Approved."
A warmth filled Zumi's core, radiant and holy— a binding between Zumi the human, Wukong the divine, and the System's primordial architecture.
Celestia reappeared, her voice carrying both awe and excitement— a tone even she rarely revealed.
"Zumi… to create your Heaven, your Pantheon, and your divine hierarchy… You must fulfill three requirements. Upon completion, I will construct the Pantheon using a piece of your spirit. When the four goddesses physically surrender to you, I will transfer full ownership. Until then, I will manage it while you act as Co-Owner."
REQUIREMENT 1 — SELECT FOUR GOD-STATUS BEINGS TO SIT UNDER YOU
Zumi did not hesitate.
Chosen Supreme Pillars:
Bia — Goddess of Force & Strength
Serafina — Goddess of Darkness
Thalassia (Leafa) — Goddess of Nature
Hina — (Your chosen 4th Goddess)
Each one already tied to him in divinity, loyalty, soul, destiny.
Celestia confirmed:
"The Four Pillars have been accepted. They will form the Roots of your Heaven."
REQUIREMENT 2 — NAME YOUR HEAVEN
Zumi spoke the name rising from his heart and from Wukong's ancient divine instinct:
"Elysium."
A realm hidden even from Olympus— invisible until Zumi ascends and claims full authority.
A heaven shaped by:
his nature, his dominance, his essence, his identity as the Alpha God of that realm.
Celestia locked it in:
"Elysium registered. Hidden until Ascension Completion."
REQUIREMENT 3 — DEFINE THE RULES & HIERARCHY OF YOUR HEAVEN
Zumi's voice shaped divine law.
Simple. Absolute. Unbreakable.
TWO TIERS OF DIVINITY IN ELYSIUM
1. Supreme Gods / Goddesses
Chosen directly by Zumi OR beings already holding supreme-level divinity.
They ARE the embodiment of their domain. Infinite. Primordial. Absolute.
2. Greater Gods / Goddesses
Masters of a domain with perfect comprehension. Branches of the Supreme above them. Complete in nature, but not primordial.
Celestia integrated the structure:
"Hierarchy confirmed. Supreme → Greater. No lesser tiers."
RULES OF ELYSIUM — AUTHORED BY ZUMI
Rule 1 — The Alpha God Is Absolute
Zumi's will overrides all. His essence shapes the Heaven itself.
Rule 2 — All Divine Power Must Flow Through His System
No god may act outside Zumi's spiritual architecture.
Rule 3 — Loyalty Is Power
The stronger one's loyalty to Zumi, the stronger their divinity grows.
Rule 4 — Olympus Has No Authority Here
Any being entering Elysium severs all previous ties to their Pantheon.
Rule 5 — Ascension Through Submission
A Goddess who fully surrenders to Zumi may rise to Supreme status. A God who submits may rise to Greater status.
Celestia accepted the laws:
"Rules accepted. Elysium's foundation has formed."
THE OLYMPUS CONVERSION RULES
If a Lesser Olympic God Joins Zumi
They become a Greater deity under him. All old ties severed forever.
If a Greater Olympic God Joins
They ascend to Supreme under Zumi.
If a Supreme Goddess Joins
She becomes Supreme in Elysium— but answers only to Zumi.
Celestia encoded it:
"Olympus Integration Protocol Complete."
Elysium will transfer from Celestia → Zumi when:
Athena arrives. And all four Goddesses — Bia, Serafina, Leafa, Hina — physically surrender themselves to him.
At that moment:
Zumi becomes Alpha God of Elysium. His Heaven unlocks. The Core Throne becomes his. The Pantheon becomes a living extension of his soul.
Moonlight warmed the mansion's kitchen.
Ana chopped vegetables. Kasumi stirred eggs in a bowl. Gia reviewed a list of the day's tasks. Leafa sat sipping herbal tea. Hina leaned against the counter, half awake. Serafina sipped black coffee like a queen of darkness. Bia devoured three biscuits at once. Sakura braided Jasmine's hair. Kathy rolled her eyes fondly. Reina, Carmella, and Bethany chatted at the island table.
It was a rare, peaceful moment.
Until—
Zumi sat casually on the couch just outside the kitchen doorway, legs stretched out, eyes half-closed…
and then—
WHUMMMMMMP—
A shockwave of divine pressure thudded through the entire mansion.
Plates rattled. Cups chimed. Sakura froze mid-braid. Hina almost dropped her cup. Kasumi's whisk hit the side of the bowl with a metallic tink. Jasmine blinked sharply, instincts on high alert. Kathy's hand immediately went to her concealed knife. Carmella's eyes flashed molten gold. Bethany stood up so quickly her chair slid back. Reina's warrior senses spiked. Serafina paused mid-sip, eyes narrowing. Bia's ears twitched like a wolf hearing prey.
Everyone turned toward Zumi.
Before they could speak—
Celestia's voice echoed through Zumi's skull, and though only he heard it, the air vibrated, and the girls felt the presence of something colossal.
Celestia's words:
"Zumi… the Pantheon Prototype is ready. Beginning Soul-Space Activation."
A blinding white-gold ring expanded beneath his body.
Kasumi gasped. Sakura whispered, "Whoa…" Carmella's eyes widened. Bia grinned. "OH, it's happening—already!?" Serafina smirked, "Of course it is." Hina clutched her chest, feeling the power spike. Leafa smiled knowingly. Gia whispered, "Zumi…"
He did not fall.
He shifted.
In an instant, Zumi vanished from the physical world.
The kitchen erupted in startled but somehow calm reactions.
"Okay WHAT—?" Ana whispered. "He said something might happen," Kathy reminded them. "Yes," Serafina said calmly, "this is exactly what he warned us about." "Still…" Sakura whispered, "he just… disappeared…" Bethany clapped excitedly. "I LOVE this man's drama." Carmella smiled softly. "My Sun Wukong never does anything small."
(Now functioning as the Prototype Realm of Elysium)
He appeared at the center of a vast cosmic expanse:
• Floating marble platforms • Golden rivers of Qi • Purple-black starlight • Vines of nature spiraling upward • Shadows twisting into constellations • Four divine pedestals forming • A half-formed throne pulsing behind him
This place reflected his essence — human, Monkey King, and God.
Celestia announced:
"Until the Four Surrenders are complete, this Soul Space shall act as Elysium's Foundation Realm."
SYSTEM MESSAGE — SENT TO BIA, SERAFINA, LEAFA, AND HINA
In the kitchen, all four women froze mid-motion.
Time paused around them.
Their eyes glazed with silver light.
A glowing system window opened before each goddess — invisible to everyone else.
✨ CELESTIA SYSTEM — PANTHEON ASCENSION REQUEST
Zumi Gold has initiated the creation of a new Divine Pantheon: ELYSIUM
You have been selected as foundational members.
If accepted, you will be transported into the Soul-Space Prototype of Elysium and ascend into your new divine rank:
BIA
➡ Greater Goddess of Force & Strength under the Alpha God (Your domain becomes absolute beneath his authority.)
Her fork clattered onto her plate. "OH— Actually, YES. DEFINITELY YES."
She slammed YES.
A golden explosion burst around her—
and she vanished.
SERAFINA
➡ SUPREME Goddess of Darkness under the Alpha God (Your divinity evolves to primordial status.)
She smiled like a devil seeing paradise.
"At last… my rightful throne."
She whispered YES.
Obsidian wings folded around her—
and she disappeared.
LEAFA / THALASSIA
➡ Already a SUPREME Goddess of Nature, now placed under the Alpha God's Throne.
She pressed her palms together, eyes soft.
"It blooms beautifully, Zumi…"
She touched YES.
A whirlwind of emerald blossoms consumed her—
and she vanished.
HINA
➡ Greater Goddess of Shadows & Sub-Darkness, under Serafina's dominion.
Her breath trembled.
"I accept my place… with honor."
She tapped YES.
Shadowlight swallowed her completely.
Jasmine nearly choked on air. Ana shouted, "HEY—HEY—HINA JUST—HINA JUST DISAPPEARED!" Sakura squeaked, "WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Gia placed a hand over her heart. "This is Zumi's… Pantheon activation." Kasumi whispered, "So beautiful…" Kathy muttered, "He told us something would happen… but—damn." Reina stared with awe. "This is some next-level power." Carmella smiled gently. "He is forming his Heaven." Bethany clasped her hands. "This is BETTER than any drama show."
They were shocked.
But not afraid.
Zumi had warned them.
And they trusted him.
In the expanding proto-Elysium, four divine pillars erupted around him:
Bia — gold forcefire Serafina — black-purple void Leafa — emerald nature blossoms Hina — indigo shadowflame
They descended like celestial beings returning to their rightful king.
Celestia's voice thundered across the realm:
🔱 CELESTIA SYSTEM — PANTHEON ASCENSION BEGINNING
"All four goddesses have accepted. Initiating Divine Transference Protocol."
🔥 BIA — Greater Goddess of Force & Strength
A massive sigil burned behind her.
Her muscles tightened. Her aura turned molten gold.
"I pledge my strength to you, Zumi!"
Her divine core exploded outward with power.
🌑 SERAFINA — SUPREME Goddess of Darkness
Her shadows deepened into primordial void.
A second pair of wings tore into existence. Black stars spiraled in her eyes.
"My darkness belongs to you… And now the universe will know it."
The entire Soul Space trembled.
🌿 LEAFA — SUPREME Goddess of Nature
Forests, oceans, storms manifested around her.
She smiled with radiant warmth.
"Let Elysium bloom under your rule."
Her aura formed a crown of nature.
🔥 HINA — Greater Goddess of Shadows (Under Serafina)
Serafina touched her chin gently.
"You are mine… and through me, his."
Hina bowed, trembling.
"I accept."
Violet-black fire rippled through her.
👑 ZUMI — ALPHA GOD OF ELYSIUM (Prototype)
Celestia declared:
"The Four Pillars have ascended. Elysium's Prototype is stable. Ownership pending final requirement: ATHENA + THE FOUR PHYSICAL SURRENDERS."
Behind him, the half-formed throne pulsed.
His essence deepened. His divinity sharpened. His destiny expanded.
Elysium—his Heaven—was awakening around him.