Klaus had just been confirmed as the son of a first-generation God.

The rest of the demigods stared at him in shock, mirroring the surprise on Shade's face. This was the first time Shade was hearing of this, and he couldn't help but wonder how it was true. But unlike his brother, Klaus' typical expression remained unchanged.

"Of course Klaus Walker is special," Quinn exclaimed, not entirely surprised by the revelation.

The demigods continued to exchange looks of awe before Zeal resumed his disclosure.

"Following the existence of Sol and Abyss came the Gods representing all the natural elements in existence," Zeal continued. "The demigods who are offspring of some of these Gods are Riley Greene, Ash Brimstone, and Trent."

As before, the demigods reacted with amazement, though this revelation didn't shock them as much. Reflecting on it, they realized that Riley, Ash, and Trent all had abilities related to controlling natural elements, as Zeal had explained. Although the ranking information was new, it was less surprising than the first.

"Every other God that hasn't been mentioned, including myself, came after," Zeal went on. "We exist as the third generation of Gods, with the exception of Halo and Horns."

The demigods muttered among themselves. This was clearly news to them. Although some had suspected this, it was still a lot of new information.

"So as third-generation demigods, we're inferior to the others?" Mia asked, slightly disheartened by being ranked among the lowest.

"That is not the case at all," Zeal reassured, drawing their attention again. "Though these rankings are important to us, they do not dictate power or superiority in strength, even among you demigods. This is evident in the Divine Tournament, where performance and skill level varied widely."

The demigods acknowledged the truth in Zeal's statement. The finalists of the most recent tournament were both third-generation demigods, who outmatched many others. Klaus also recognized his own limitations compared to some of these demigods, including the absent Ash Brimstone, knowing he wasn't physically more skilled than them.

This understanding quelled any sudden feelings of inferiority or superiority among the demigods, making things feel more balanced. However, some still wondered if being ranked higher had any benefits. With these thoughts lingering, Zeal continued to address them.

"As some of you might still wonder what these ranks mean for you, let me clarify: while your power isn't affected by your generational nature, the main difference between all generations is the Dominion you have inherited."

"Dominion?" Quinn asked, seeking confirmation.

"Indeed," Zeal confirmed before continuing. "This brings me to my next revelation. By the laws of creation, we Gods possess the power to be supreme over everything we have created at all times. It is a guarantee that all creatures must obey their creator. This power is known as Dominion-over-Creation."

The demigods marveled at the mention of such power. As they took a moment to consider its implications, Zeal elaborated further.

"While the Gods are supreme over all creation, this is not entirely the same for demigods. However, you have inherited all creation from the Gods, and this ability instead grants you Dominion-over-Inheritance. By hierarchy, demigods have dominion over all they have inherited, not created, and this distinction is why mortals do not kneel to your presence."

The demigods absorbed Zeal's words until he concluded with a single, impactful word.

"Yet."

Klaus' eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on Zeal. He realized that this information was different from what he had initially assumed. The word "yet" made him consider that the demigods were still far from reaching the pinnacle of their potential. Before he could speak, Zeal continued.

"This isn't the only information we have decided to disclose to you all," Zeal explained. "I'm certain you are all very curious about the true role we Gods who reside in Higher World play."

This statement piqued even more interest among the demigods. While it wasn't a question that often crossed their minds, some had wondered about the significant roles of the Gods in Higher World, especially given the presence of Guardian Gods already assigned to each realm.

Klaus' curiosity sharpened as he focused on Zeal, eager for new insights. With all the demigods silently awaiting further disclosure, Zeal began his explanation.

"I'm sure you've all heard the phrase, 'Nothing is impossible.' While this might seem like a cliché for motivation, it is indeed true. However, as reassuring as this might sound, it can have both positive and negative effects on reality."

Stolen story; please report.

Zeal paused for a moment, sensing the need to elaborate further.

"Imagine a man making an honest living is on his way to work. As he takes a shortcut through an empty park, he suddenly bursts into flames without any logical explanation. While this scenario seems impossible, it is, in fact, just highly improbable."

The demigods exchanged glances, beginning to grasp where Zeal was heading with this.

"Even if the probability of a specific event is infinitesimally low, it is not impossible," Zeal continued. "This is the fundamental rule of Possibility and Probability in reality. As intricate and grand as reality is, it is also incredibly fragile and requires constant care. Every God residing in Higher World ensures that reality remains intact by minimizing the likelihood of negative possibilities- like the example I provided, or even more frightening ones- making them as close to impossible as possible."

Klaus was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated such profound news, even with his understanding of the Gods' divinity. Zeal's revelation implied that every millisecond, the Gods were collectively maintaining the stability of reality. It was likely that Zeal himself was ensuring this while speaking to the demigods.

"I know this is a complex topic to grasp immediately," Zeal resumed, "but I hope this clarifies the role of all Gods in Higher World."

The demigods nodded, absorbing the gravity of Zeal's words. Zeal smiled, adjusting his stance before continuing.

"If you desire any further information on these topics or more, do not hesitate to ask your instructors," Zeal said. "Additionally, the domain of the Gods is open for any of you who wish to meet with us."

The demigods expressed their appreciation for Zeal's remarks. Understanding that some of them might have had prior commitments, Zeal decided to conclude the session. He bid them farewell, unfurled his brilliant wings, and returned to the Gods' domain.

The demigods chatted among themselves, some departing immediately after Zeal's departure. A few lingered to discuss the situation further, but eventually, they all left the arena.

Klaus walked alongside Ace, Link, and Siren, engaging in conversation about the information they had just received.

CONVERSATION

Ace: It all makes sense why you're the main character now, Klaus.

Klaus: What?

Link: He's probably referring to how most of us kind of orbit around you and are curious about you.

Klaus: Oh. Thanks... I guess?

Ace: Honestly, what surprises me more is that Shade is supposed to have the same level of this "inheritance" thing as you do.

Link: Yeah, that's right. I didn't expect that, to be honest.

Siren: Same, but I mean, Shade's more outgoing than Klaus is and easier to befriend. That probably changes his aura to friendliness instead of the mysteriousness Klaus has.

Ace: Oh. That makes sense, dude.

Siren: Yeah... dude.

Link: Also, considering his return from training since the Divine Tournament, it makes a lot more sense to me now.

Siren: I agree. Shade's been way hotter ever since.

The other demigods turned to Siren, who quickly realized her statement had rightfully taken them by surprise.

Siren: I mean... I'm only assuming based on what Iris and the others usually say.

Link: Gotcha.

Ace: *smiling* It's fine, dude. We don't judge.

Siren: Ahaha, right... dude.

Ace: But wow. His training must have been intense to bring about such a significant change. Quinn was really fortunate to discover that she could forfeit during their fight in the tournament, huh?

The four demigods continued walking until Link abruptly halted in his tracks.

"I doubt that," Link stated, his usual playful tone replaced by a more serious one.

His pause caught the attention of the others, prompting them to focus on his next words.

"While Shade's power is undeniable, Zeal made it clear that rankings don't correlate directly with strength. And despite Quinn's cautious nature and disinterest in fighting, I can't say for certain how that match would have ended if she had fought to win. It would be unwise to underestimate the extent of her power."

Link's sincerity, evident both in his expression displayed by his mask and in his tone, made it clear to the other demigods that he wasn't making a casual remark. Ace couldn't help but smile, finding Link's statement somewhat amusing.

"You Atlas twins do love to boost each other up, huh?" Ace teased, recalling the final match of the Cosmic League when Quinn had done the same for Link.

"And have we ever been wrong?" Link retorted.

This caused Ace to remember the outcome of that match, causing him to acknowledge the validity of Quinn's words, especially after having lost to Link. Klaus, usually accustomed to Link's lighter banter, took his words seriously this time, understanding that Link seldom spoke so positively about his sister.

As the four demigods finally reached the Golden Gate, they headed towards the transportation podium before bidding each other farewell. However, just as Klaus was about to leave, his attention was suddenly captured by another demigod approaching from behind.

"Hey, Klaus," Rose called out as she approached him, drawing his attention. "Do you have a moment to spare?"

Klaus paused in his tracks before walking towards her. They conversed with one another as they made their way together, with Rose leading the path.

"You know," Rose began, "Since we last met, I've been doing a lot of training. So I was wondering if I could test my strength against you."

"You mean a sparring match?" Klaus asked, slightly taken aback.

"Yup," Rose confirmed. "If you're up for it."

"I guess," Klaus replied, surprised by Rose's request.

They continued walking until they reached the Training Facility, where the practice rooms were located. Following Rose's lead, Klaus entered her training room, its never-ending empty white expanse reminiscent of his own. The two demigods stood opposite each other, attempting to prepare for their brief spar.

"Make sure you don't hold back," Rose instructed Klaus.

"I'll try not to," Klaus responded, not wanting to make a false promise.

"Trust me," Rose added. "It's for your own good."

With that, Klaus assumed a relaxed stance, awaiting the start of their spar. Noticing this, Rose closed her eyes briefly, centering herself before taking a deep breath.

Upon opening her eyes once again, Rose revealed a flicker of rage reflected in her expression, the color of her eyes shifting from their usual blue to a deep crimson. Klaus recognized the transformation instantly, murmuring the name under his breath as he glanced at her with more caution than prior.

"Rage Charm."