At that moment, every being present received a mental message from Chrysaxis through the AI interface.
The great tree was requesting full access to every multiverse formed by the gods of the new pantheon.
The gods were happy to grant this request, as they understood that such a connection would be incredibly helpful for managing their various realms within the waking world.
Chrysaxis sent a pulse of gratitude through the connection after they accepted and began its work immediately.
Its massive roots extended through the flesh of Nyarlathotep, the outer god that Vasuki had butchered for Aaric when he had dared to threaten the boy.
Chrysaxis had taken that essence and stored it near its primary roots, studying its unique properties and ancient powers for a long time.
Now, the tree was using that harvested flesh to manifest its presence within the waking realm.
It extended infinite roots into every world connected to the pantheon, spreading its physical presence across a multitude of universes.
This flesh had also been integral in the remaking of Syntheia and the entirety of the new galaxy they had just formed in the dreamlands.
The gods now shared a deep connection with Syntheia and Chrysaxis, while the tree acted as a bridge that linked every one of their waking universes.
As they floated in space upon their thrones, they looked at one another in surprise. They could feel their connection to their respective universes strengthening significantly, and they could sense the state of their multiverses with far more clarity than before.
Hestia tilted her head in wonder before sending an avatar of herself into one of the universes she had created.
"It feels as if I am physically there," she whispered as she felt the sensations of her avatar. It did not feel like a mere projection into the waking realm anymore.
She could even sense that her avatar possessed much more power than any she had formed in the past. Following her lead, the other gods sent out their own projections and found the exact same results as Hestia.
Previously, the most coveted and valuable resource in the Dreamlands was the sand of Morpheus. It was the only substance that allowed a god to materialize in the waking world and interact with their universes on a deep level.
The members of The Lux Aeternum Court realized they no longer had any need for the sand. They could now interact with their multiverses as if they were physically present, which was a transition of immense value to them.
In the following moments, Eilistraee, the Olympians, and the Egyptian gods sent out an infinite number of avatars to the multiverses they governed so they could interact with their creations.
Luna had intended to give them some sand of Morpheus as a welcoming gift for the formation of the new pantheon, but she saw now that it was unnecessary.
She had previously sprinkled some of the sand on Chrysaxis, and that small amount seemed to be enough for everyone now that their realms were linked through the golden tree.
Aaric observed Apophis and noted that a large portion of the serpent's divinity had been drained. The chaos serpant was currently replenishing his strength at a steady pace, while Typhon was in a similar state of exhaustion.
The rest of the gods remained at full strength since they had only performed smaller tasks like forming stars or planets.
The bulk of the strain had come from forming the isolated dimension, a burden that Typhon and Apophis had carried as the divine batteries through the AI.
The gods, with the exception of Eilistraee, excused themselves so they could concentrate on their newly connected universes. Aaric and the rest of the family understood their need for solitude.
Luna, Daphne, and Fleur also felt a sudden surge in their divine energy. As they were now the chosen of the new and much larger collective pantheon, they were experiencing a massive power boost and a significant expansion of their authorities.
They also excused themselves to integrate these new powers and focus on the additions to their authority.
With Edwina, Simon, and Elder Huo off exploring the new world, only Aaric and Eilistraee were left behind in the silent void of space.
"Would you help me test something?" Eilistraee asked Aaric as she gestured toward the celestial gourd tied at her waist.
Aaric smiled and nodded, asking her to lead the way.
Eilistraee took his hand and they vanished from the hall, appearing instantly on the moon. They stood before a modest mansion that Eilistraee had formed to serve as her home upon the lunar surface.
The celestial gourd shimmered as it was surrounded by the natural moonlight of the realm, and it began condensing its essence into silver drops.
"Do you see that?" Eilistraee said as she showed the gourd to Aaric. "I can condense moonlight essence as well, but this is different. I want to study this particular essence." She spoke with a clear note of excitement on her face.
Aaric tilted his head as he looked at the gourd. "Well, I received it from someone very high up," he said with a shake of his head, admitting that he did not truly know the full extent of how the artifact functioned.
He then noticed a pool in the middle of the mansion and gestured for Eilistraee to follow him.
He waved his hand to empty the pool once they reached it. "You can pour the contents of the gourd into the pool," Aaric told her.
It had been a long time since Aaric had used the celestial gourd, and he had even left it on a moon in the dreamlands for an entire year.
That time had allowed a massive amount of moonlight essence to accumulate within the vessel.
He knew the gourd was bound to his soul and could not be used by others without his permission, so he had never worried about anyone taking it as he could just summon it with a thought.
He watched as Eilistraee poured the moonlight essence into the pool. It did not take long for the pool to be filled to the brim, even though the gourd still seemed to be more than half full.
"I have tried dripping this on myself before and there was no change. Let us see if it helps you in some way," Aaric said to the goddess.
"We shall see. Give me just a moment," Eilistraee muttered. She produced a divine seed and a silver scroll from her belongings. She began drawing intricate runes onto the scroll using a vibrant golden ink while Aaric stood beside her and watched the process.
"These runes look quite similar to the ones on the skill scrolls I possess," Aaric commented.
The goddess gave him a small nod. "I am making something similar, after all," she whispered softly.
She placed the divine seed onto the scroll once all the runes were completed. She was creating a skill scroll for an analysis type of power that was specifically catered to her own divinity.
The scroll shimmered with light before dissolving into motes of gold that entered Eilistraee. She stood still for a few moments as she acclimated to the new skill within her mind.
"Would you like me to make one for you?" she asked Aaric after she had sensed the incredible amount of control she now possessed over her divinity.
"I already have a skill like that," Aaric replied with a shake of his head.
Eilistraee nodded and turned her gaze toward the pool of silver liquid. "Now I can take a bath in that," she muttered. She leaned in toward Aaric and asked him to close his eyes for just a moment.
When Aaric opened his eyes, he saw that Eilistraee was already in the pool. Her beautiful silver hair and silver eyes shimmered in the light, and her obsidian skin glistened with the silvery glow of the moonlight essence.
The word beautiful was the only thought in his mind as he watched her bathing in the pool, with her shoulders and head visible above the surface of the liquid.
The silver liquid shimmered and began to be absorbed by Eilistraee, causing glowing patterns to form across her skin.
Aaric watched her, mesmerized by the sight.
Eventually, she walked out of the pool, only a silver cloak of moonlight formed behind her as her bare body
The cloak wrapped itself around her body to form a flowing silver dress as she came to a stop in front of him.
"Was it helpful?" Aaric asked after a long moment, referring to the dip she had just taken.
"Very helpful," she said with a firm nod. She leaned in with a mischievous glint in her silver eyes and whispered, "Thank you." She held his face gently and pressed a kiss against his cheek.
"That is good to hear," he whispered back to her, running a hand down the length of her shimmering silver hair.
The moonlight essence had provided Eilistraee with a massive advantage.
She had used the enhanced cognition from her new skill to deepen her understanding of her divinity, pushing her power toward the pinnacle of the gods.
She was now one of only a handful of deities who had been able to touch the power of the gods of the void, placing her at the very top of the hierarchy within the dreamlands.