"Since you understand your crime, I shall pass judgement."

"Thank you your majesty for showing mercy on this sinful lowly self."

"Seeing as the only casualties were mortals and no permanent damage has been done. Your actions, although out of line is not a totally detrimental one."

'Is this some kind of joke?'

"For the sake of your past accomplishments, I can overlook your offence to my brother. But make no mistake, another one and I will end you."

'You're just going to let him walk?'

"But you must still face punishment. Leviathan, you have sinned against your betters. You shall be imprisoned within the underworld realm for the next ten thousand years. You shall have no reprieve in your isolation and you shall receive no aid in your cultivation."

'That's a fucking slap on the wrist, what about all the people that died?'

As Leviathan was being escorted away, he glanced towards Yahweh. A smirk emerged from the grotesque man's lips

'You, how dare you!'

Yahweh couldn't even keep a straight face. Not even as Baal passed judgement. His seething rage was evident to practically everyone.

"That is unacceptable!"

The young god's cry thundered the divine hall of the pantheon. Dozens of gazes drew towards Yahweh though their owners remained silent out of either bewilderment or amusement.

Yahweh took several deep breaths. His face was red with anger as he glared at Leviathan's back. He faced his elder brother and king with the same vitriol.

"You can't just let him walk away like this!"

Baal raised an eyebrow.

"Brother, he slaughtered millions. Millions of humans, my humans!"

Yahweh look around at his fellow deities. But all he got were low whispers, some of which he barely heard.

"Underworld is too good for this scum, he deserves…"

"Enough," Baal raised a palm. "That is enough out of you."

"Broth…"

"That is enough Yahweh. Judgement has already been passed. Under my father El's watchful gaze, Leviathan will be punished," Baal said rising from his throne. His gaze was chilling as it penetrated Yahweh's very soul like a lightning storm heralding the wrath of heaven.

For the first time, Yahweh felt small. The lord of the Elohim's gaze had never fallen on him like this. For the first time in hundreds of years, Yahweh felt inadequate. He didn't like it.

But he couldn't speak. Baal surpassed him in strength by an order of magnitude. The slayer of mighty YM demanded and could only be obeyed.

"What are you smirking at?"

PAH!

A sudden smack was heard as Leviathan was tossed onto the floor of Baal's throne room, cracking the ground with his face. Baal motioned of the guards to drag the sea god away.

Yahweh stood there silently and watched. Leviathan was bruised. His very image was one of humiliation for the god. But he was still alive. And within a few years, he'd be free to do as he wished.

He remained in the same position for a time. Just standing there watching Leviathan be dragged away. His fist gripped tightly as he silently seethed.

"Yahweh, your brother wants to see you."

He broke out of his thoughts when a feminine hand touched upon his shoulders. The corner of his eye caught sight of his sister and queen consort to their brother Baal, Anat.

"Come on, stop throwing a tantrum and follow me," she reminded him.

'Tantrum? Is that all they saw it as?'

Anat led him to a room he was intimately familiar with. Baal and he would spend time here as the king and queen and all his nephews would educate him about the world.

Before Sophia, they were his guides.

It was a room filled with paintings detailing the royal family's life. A dining table with many seats. He still remembered sitting here reciting mantras with Baal and Anat.

It was a warm room of happy memories.

So why did it feel so cold?

"Yahweh," Baal said amicably with a small smile. "You finally made it brother. Apologies for the harsh display, but a sign must do as he does."

"Big brother," Yahweh said with a certain unfamiliarity. He took a seat across from Baal while Anat placed herself beside her brother-husband.

His dark skinned elder brother had never seemed more terrifying then he did now. Though his bull crown headedress was set aside allowing his hair to free fall, and he had none of his standard jewellery on, there was still a strange air around him.

In ancient times, Baal was the one who defeated the terrifying beast named Ym. He later was able to fend off and even tussle with Mot, something not many can claim to have done.

Although Baal lost that confrontation, that was millions of years in the past. Who knew how things will turn out now?

Baal snapped his fingers manifesting dozens upon dozens of plates. Various fruits and meats were on display, a dinner worthy of a god.

"Come on, eat. It's been so long since you were home. I can't believe we left you down there for so long."

Yahweh stared at the display. His favourite assortments of beef were among them. Along with the vegetables he liked. He gazed up to stare at Baal's amicable smile.

"What's the matter?"

"You let that bastard walk."

Baal leaned back and sighed. He shrugged as if he found the talk amusing. Anat remained silent as she held her lips within her fingers.

"He broke no laws that would warrant a harsher punishment," Baal admitted. "I mean, I could extend it for a few more thousand years but it was already sufficient enough."

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'Was he serious?'

Yahweh couldn't help but wonder. He'd cared deeply for the plights of sects who'd come see him in the past. Why was he like this with mortals?

"A lot of people died," he began. "And for what? Leviathan had no reason to do what he did. It was just senseless murder."

His siblings both appeared irritated by his questions. Anat especially whispered something to Baal that he couldn't hear. The elder god gave his full attention to Yahweh.

"That discussion has already been resolved brother. I've personally seen to his punishment and you will be compensated. You can consult our law tomes later."

"Stop dodging the question."

"Brother," Baal's stern voice cut through the room. "Very well. Leviathan destroyed your property in a fit of anger. What he did is not right, he trampled over your rights as a high god and committed a sin before the Elohim. But you are not entirely blameless either."

'What?'

"As one of the highest ranking members of the Elohim, you are an overseer of vast territories. Countless lesser deities and cultivators look to you for guidance. Divine cultivation as I have explained to you time and again is one of sacrifice and study."

'What does that have to do with anything?'

"As overseer it is your duty to identify and nurture future talents from the crowd. But you have been neglectful of that."

'But I've been doing as a righteous god should. I've looked after my people as you've said. It's not my fault cultivators aren't that common.'

"For a cultivator to become a god and join the Elohim. Countless resources are required. The power of faith, natural herbs, spiritual waters, spiritual veins, and challenging adversity. All of which are very important."

Baal pointed a finger manifesting storm clouds. They generated images displaying all of which he'd described.

Among them showed a young boy losing everything to famine. He then managed to pick himself back up and embarked on a journey. He fought and killed countless and eventually met Heavenly Tribulation head on, overcoming it and becoming a True God realm deity.

"But Yahweh, Leviathan has informed me that you've done none of that. You've hogged all the faith power to yourself, you've distributed all spiritual resources to the common rabble, you didn't even bother finding more disciples."

"I understand you are young but clearly I've done something wrong in educating you," Baal concluded rubbing his forehead.

"But those were needed for my people," Yahweh argued. "Their lands are arid and the seas unbountiful. As their sovereign deity, it is my job to bring them salvation. You told me that yourself."

"That wasn't what we meant," Anat interrupted. "You've been doing nothing but coddling the rabble. You've only managed to raise sheep."

"Sister!" Yahweh cried in shock. "I can't just…"

"Among the major territories, yours have the lowest possible count of people embarking on cultivation. Lesser gods are not immortal and high gods like us are hard to come by. There's a system in place for the cosmos," she rebuked harshly.

"I can do it myself."

"And what about your own cultivation? You have vast talent, don't squander it on your lessers."

"There are things more important then fucking cultivation!"

Yahweh's scream echoed through the room. The structure shook and the table vibrated. Yahweh stared defiantly at his siblings with tight fists.

The two parties were at an impasse. A fundamental clash of thoughts that neither could truly understand.

"Clearly Sophia has failed in educating you," Anat spat.

"She was a zealous student with high potential. But it seems some things just aren't for everybody," Baal sighed.

"What're you gonna do with Sophia?" Yahweh inquired nervously.

"Nothing much, her resource allocation will be removed given her failures. But as a good seedling, she shall remain as. She'll just have to find her own opportunities," Baal explained.

"As for you brother, you'll have to stay here in heaven. Anat will take you through your proper role. You do not need to visit her again."

'What? No that can't be.'

"Sophia is my friend."

"She's just a mortal. A talented one but one nonetheless. There are countless of them among the endless territories," Anat dismissed. "Now eat, these ingredients are very beneficial to your cultivation, especially your physique."

The finality in her voice was evident. Anat left no room for him to argue. His sister had always been harsh, much more so than Baal.

What else could he do but obey? Things passed by in a blur with Yahweh merely performing the motions.

He felt so empty working with the other gods. Wondering around heaven, Yahweh would gaze down on the countless worlds of the cosmos.

When left to his own devices, he'll do nothing but watch. He'd observe the countless people under about, performing their own duties.

His people went back to the way they were. Many of them were already long dead. That boy he helped when Baal came to collect him years ago? He died when he bumped into the son of a local powerhouse.

The world moved on without him. His actions forgotten. Sophia continued her path as before she'd met him. Killing monsters, killing other humans, advancing her realm.

Through it all, Yahweh watched from the highest heavens. His rage, ever growing in contempt.

Yahweh gazed back at a courtyard full of deities going about their business. His gaze, one of disgust.

"This world," he whispered.

"It's so dark."