"Should we venture to some pantheons to collect some of their gods?" Aaric suggested after they had successfully secured a deity named Sotek.
"Which ones did you have in mind?" Eilistraee asked with a light hum, tilting her head to the side as she considered the suggestion.
"Perhaps more from the Egyptian pantheons so we can find another Apophis. Or we could look toward the Norse realms to track down a Níðhögg or Jörmungandr," Aaric answered with a thoughtful expression.
"Let us begin with a Norse realm then," Eilistraee murmured. She looked out across the shimmering sea, her eyes glowing with a sudden silver brilliance for a brief moment.
"Oh?" she whispered softly to herself.
A swirling portal manifested before them, and they stepped through it without hesitation.
They emerged on the other side to find themselves suspended within a gargantuan, floating sphere of water.
There was nothing else in sight but clear, pure liquid extending in every direction, enough to fill an entire ocean.
"Give it a moment," Eilistraee told him in a soft voice. They remained seated upon the back of the silver dragon, watching the tranquil ripples that disturbed the surface of the floating sea.
"When you subjugate a god with those eyes, do you gain total control over their realms in the waking world as well?" Eilistraee asked, hoping to pass the time with conversation.
Aaric tilted his head as he pondered the question, eventually giving a slow nod.
"In a way. I hold dominion over their universes through them. I can command them to enact a change, and they must obey," Aaric explained.
He suddenly squinted, looking toward the horizon where the air began to ripple and warp.
Eilistraee followed his gaze. She watched with curiosity as reality started to part like shards of broken glass.
"I should bring all these gods into our pantheon," Aaric said as he watched the phenomenon unfold. "That would grant you authority over their universes too."
"That would be a welcome addition," Eilistraee agreed.
Among the deities within their current pantheon, she stood as the strongest. She maintained the highest number of avatars throughout the waking realms, where she spent her time guiding and assisting the various peoples of the worlds.
Aaric and Eilistraee waited for several more minutes, allowing a comfortable silence to settle between them while the cracks in the air grew wider and more jagged.
Suddenly and with a violent surge of energy, space shattered entirely. A colossal entity materialized directly in front of them.
It was a white serpent of such immense size that its body could have easily encircled the entire world sized sphere of water they were currently visiting.
The snake plunged into the water as soon as it appeared. The resulting splash was so massive it could have drowned a world, though the force of the impact did not disturb Aaric or Eilistraee.
"He looks hurt." Aaric noted as he watched the serpent struggling in the depths.
A deep, scorching wound marred its forehead. Its body appeared to be failing, turning slowly to dust and dissolving into the surrounding water.
"Seize him. I can explain his history once he is secure," Eilistraee urged him.
Aaric shrugged and allowed his eyes to shift into their familiar, intricate flower pattern. The great serpent offered no resistance, as it was already on the brink of death.
In an instant, it was transported into Aaric's ocular dimension. Within that space, other gods began to utilize their powers to heal the creature's ravaged form.
"That was Jörmungandr," Eilistraee said after the subjugation was complete.
Aaric had gained knowledge of the serpent and its origins the moment he took control of it, yet he still nodded and gestured for her to continue.
"In the stories of Ragnarök, he is destined to fall in battle against Thor. He is killed by a single, decisive strike to the head from the hammer Mjolnir," Eilistraee explained in her melodic voice while Aaric visualized the battle.
"That strike sometimes generates enough force to hurl the serpent back through time. Its body then falls into the void, where its decomposition creates the foundations for the Norse realms to begin anew."
Eilistraee trailed off as the realization hit her. Her silver eyes widened as she understood the magnitude of their actions.
By taking the serpent, Aaric had prevented the decomposition that was supposed to seed that specific Norse pantheon.
The universes that were meant to be born from that event had been erased before they could ever exist.
That realization was followed by a bigger one.
"We have created a paradox," she whispered.
Because the formation of the pantheon had been halted, the serpent would never be born, and the Ragnarök that sent it back in time would never occur.
As soon as she grasped the situation, Eilistraee waved her hand and transported them away from the sphere of water.
Only a second later, the massive sphere collapsed into a single point. It shrunk until it was a pulsing, pea sized orb of concentrated divinity.
A new portal opened beside it. Eilistraee immediately wove her power around the tiny sphere to hide it, ensuring its potent energy would not attract the attention of other wandering gods.
"Is there any way to ensure that pantheon still forms?" Aaric asked after reaching the same conclusion.
Eilistraee pressed her lips together and reached out to take the glowing object.
"This might be of use," she said, gesturing to the small orb. "It is a seed of paradox."
She looked down in regret, uncertain of how to grow the seed or rectify the mistake they had made. Aaric noticed her distress and stepped closer.
He gently lifted her chin so she was forced to meet his gaze.
"I will find a way to fix it, I promise," Aaric whispered.
He took the seed from her and placed it within his own dimension, where his abilities could begin a deep analysis of its properties.
Eilistraee let out a long breath and rested her chin on his shoulder while Aaric placed his hands on her waist to offer her some measure of comfort.
"What is that portal?" he asked, trying to shift her focus.
"A new world," the goddess answered. "It formed in the space where an entire pantheon was meant to be. I expect the beings within it will be quite formidable."
She took Aaric's hand and they walked through the portal together. They no longer required a mount, so she sent the dragon back to Syntheia.
When they emerged on the other side, they witnessed a world in the midst of creation, as if a great veil were being pulled back.
Creatures and complex structures materialized alongside the landscape.
Even though the world was being born in that very moment, it appeared as though it had existed for millions of years, complete with a deep and ancient history already as they could see some ruins in front of them.
A/n: Now, my initial plan was to make this world based on the game 'palworld'.
Though, of you guys have any suggestions comment them here. I hae not played many games, but if I like your suggestion I will research it and make it based on that game.