Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 293 The Pact Between Gods and Mortals! (Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month~~~)

Humanity, through its own blood and sacrifice, truly moved many of the gods present.

All of this was worth the price.

Because Zeus was also very satisfied.

The God-King still has a good impression of humanity.

They are simple and honest, hardworking and resilient, full of vibrant energy, and also know how to be inclusive and united.

Regardless of how many ulterior motives Prometheus harbored or how many underhanded tricks he played.

But it has nothing to do with modern humans. At that time, humans were truly obedient and respectful.

Human beings today truly hold the most sincere reverence for deities.

People are like blank sheets of paper, simply listening to God's commands; this is not their fault.

Although the all-knowing God-King has clearly seen that something more complex and darker, called "selfish desire," is quietly growing in the hearts of mankind.

However, those seeds have not yet truly blossomed and borne fruit.

Therefore, the God-King was quite satisfied with the "purity" that humanity was displaying at this moment.

As for the future, if humanity becomes more complex...

That is also a matter for the future.

That is also an indispensable factor in the process of civilization, an inevitable change that all intelligent civilizations undergo in the course of development.

"Good" and "bad," "virtue" and "evil" are two sides of the same coin in development, always intertwined and spiraling forward.

As long as this "whole" remains positive and upward-looking, it is still worth guiding and protecting.

Zeus nodded almost imperceptibly, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Prometheus, you have indeed put your heart into it."

"Humanity has indeed done its best. They have demonstrated their piety and reverence through their actions. I am deeply gratified by this."

Having said that, He turned His head slightly to look at the great gods beside Him and asked in a gentle voice, "Gods, what do you think? Is this newborn intelligent life worthy of our protection?"

The eternal and sacred Queen Rhea nodded slightly first, her dazzling long hair dancing gently like flowing light.

A smile that could topple heaven and earth graced her peerless beauty, and her voice flowed like a warm spring: "They are all very good children. I can see that their existence will make this world more prosperous and colorful."

"With their service and companionship, we gods may no longer be so lonely."

“Prometheus and his men did a very good job.”

The flawless goddess Themis, the goddess of divine justice and order, nodded and said softly in her clear and majestic voice, "What the esteemed Queen of Gods says is true."

"They possess the invaluable wisdom of growth bestowed by the goddess of wisdom; they are truly wise beings. Although they are merely mortal spirits, they are fundamentally different from those other ignorant mortal spirits."

"They are resilient and tenacious, positive and ambitious, eager to learn and humble, and possess unlimited potential to develop a brilliant future."

"They can indeed bring a different kind of color to this world, and they have the right to thrive under the sacred and just order. They deserve the protection of the gods."

The illustrious yet gentle goddess Hera, the loving and fertile mother goddess, also agreed at this moment: "These mortals, though their lives are short, can accumulate deeper wisdom through the transmission of their knowledge from generation to generation."

"What's even more remarkable is that they are numerous and reproduce rapidly. Perhaps soon, they will fill the whole world with the light of wisdom."

"What is particularly valuable is that they are very sentimental, kind and simple, and know how to unite and love each other. Their affection for relatives and friends and their cherishing of their companions are the most solid soil for their reproduction to continue."

"Now, they are filled with respect and admiration for the gods. They are good, and this world will become more prosperous and lively because of their existence. Loneliness will no longer be associated with the gods. They deserve the gods' love."

Finally, Metis, the wise goddess with bright eyes and purple hair, also spoke with a smile.

“In the beginning, in accordance with His Majesty the Supreme God-King’s original intention of ‘making the universe more prosperous and the gods no longer lonely,’ I bestowed upon them the wisdom that can be continuously accumulated and grown.”

"Although their individual lives are short and insignificant, the wisdom of 'civilization' can be accumulated and passed down from generation to generation."

"Under the correct guidance and education of our gods, I believe they can grow into a truly magnificent civilization. In fact, in the far-off future, the wisdom that humanity cultivates will benefit even us gods."

Hearing that these most revered and beloved goddesses held humanity in such high regard surprised many gods who had previously paid little attention to them.

They couldn't help but look more intently at the tiny humans on the ground, observing them closely.

Many more cunning deities have secretly resolved that from this day forward, they will thoroughly investigate this new race called "humanity".

If humanity can truly develop to the point where even the gods can benefit from it... then it would be worthwhile for them to make some "investment" in advance and to take some care of it.

Zeus nodded and smiled, indicating his approval of the words of his beloved goddesses.

Seeing that His Majesty the God-King had no objections, the most core goddesses also expressed their approval.

The remaining gods, naturally, would not dare to voice any objections.

Zeus smiled slightly, and then gave his final declaration: "It seems that none of the gods have any objections. Humanity, this newly born intelligent race, truly deserves our care and protection."

Only then could Prometheus finally put down the heaviest boulder in his heart.

He felt relieved, and his heart was filled with indescribable joy and happiness.

He bowed again and said in a tone full of gratitude, "Human beings are fortunate to grow up under the love and protection of the gods. Everything they have is a gift from the great His Majesty and all the great gods!"

"His Majesty treats all living beings with supreme benevolence and compassion, with equal love and kindness! This is a blessing for the entire universe!"

"Under the benevolent and glorious light of Your Majesty, what they learn must also be Your Majesty's noblest virtues!"

"Under the influence of Your Majesty's benevolence and justice, humanity is filled with endless respect and reverence for the gods, and their affection for them is already evident in their words!"

"I believe this will never change!"

"Your Majesty is the benevolent father of all living beings! It is the greatest honor and fortune for mankind to have Your Majesty's favor! This honor and fortune will be forever engraved in their souls!"

"They will also prove through their actions that they will forever believe in and respect the great gods!"

Zeus smiled slightly and raised his hand to indicate that he did not need to say more: "All living beings that abide by my sacred and just order are my children."

“I will love them all equally, and I will also protect them all under the light of my sacred and just order.”

At this point, Zeus's tone suddenly became incredibly majestic and solemn. His voice, like rolling thunder, resounded throughout heaven and earth, and he proclaimed loudly:
"From this day forward! I, Zeus, the ruler of the universe, the supreme god, the king of all gods, hereby establish a covenant with all mortals and the divine!"

"From this moment forward! All mortal spirits may establish temples, erect altars, chant the names of gods, offer sacrifices, follow divine laws, and perform divine rituals! They shall revere with utmost respect and devotion! They shall honor with unwavering faith! This is—'faith'!"

“If God reveals himself, and people are willing to worship him through his image, then it is considered that God has bestowed his love upon mortals! That is, the ‘covenant between God and mortals’ is established!”

"Anyone with faith may pray to the deity they worship for protection and blessings!"

"Every spirit must have a devout and enduring faith in the god they worship! There must be no slackening! There must be no blasphemy!"

"No matter which god a mortal believes in, no one may show disrespect to any deity!"

"All mortal spirits that are disrespectful to the gods can be punished by the gods!"

"Wherever a statue of a deity stands, the deity worshipped there also has the responsibility to protect and safeguard the devout spirit of that deity!"

"All spirits revere God! God should repay them with love!"

"Anyone who violates this sacred covenant—whether god, man, or any other living being—will surely suffer the absolute and just punishment of my sacred thunder!"

Humans on earth, upon hearing this sacred covenant, felt their hearts surge with complex and turbulent emotions.

Their reactions varied, ranging from surprise to joy, happiness to fear.

All the blood, tears, and sacrifices shed for this seem to have found their final destination and meaning in the face of this sacred covenant.

People once again prostrated themselves in deep worship, burying their foreheads in the dust, and in the most primitive and sincere way, shouted praises to the holy name of Zeus, the king of the gods.

The gods in heaven had no objections when they heard the King of Gods make this announcement.

This "covenant between gods and mortals" is essentially a typical "tyrannical clause," which is entirely beneficial to the gods.

The only "restraint" is that if you "eat" or "take" someone's offerings, and accept their faith and worship, then you must protect them.

That's all the basic responsibility they have. Apart from that, all other choices are firmly in the hands of the gods themselves.

If mortals build temples and set up altars, and the gods are unwilling to accept this faith or assume this responsibility, they can simply refrain from issuing divine decrees and prohibiting the erection of statues.

Even if one accepts the faith, the responsibility of "protection" is merely to safeguard the believers and ensure they are not subjected to any "devastating" blows; that is considered fulfilling one's duty.

Whether or not to bestow blessings or respond to prayers depends entirely on the individual gods' moods.

(End of this chapter)