If the sun god had failed his ascension, his divine kingdom won't just stop dimming, it will come crashing down and break apart due to the death of the god. So the sun god is alive but he is hiding. He became a Celestial and decided to send himself into exile.
This dimming of the divine kingdom is not a small matter. It is something that gods do when they are desperate. It is a self-preservation mechanism that comes at a great cost. It is not something that is to be done lightly but it seems the sun god is highly motivated to avoid a fight with him.
The Celestial Supreme began to mock the cowardly sun god. He called the sun god stupid and then cowardly. His voice spread out throughout the divine plane to all that would hear. He wanted them to know what a Coward the sun god is being. He also wants them to witness the death of the sun god if the coward decides to fight.
But the coward remained stubborn about staying in the safety of his divine kingdom. If it were before the divine kingdom deactivated, reaching the sun god will need an army of angels and several gods to break through the barrier of the divine kingdom. Then war will be waged on the host of angels that Stelios has been amassing for the numerous years he has been the sun god.
The number of angels he has is sure to discourage anyone from attacking him in his divine kingdom. But Stelios has gone further than that. He has shut down his divine kingdom. This means that believers won't be able to come to the divine kingdom after their death and Stelios has stopped listening to prays. The sun god has stopped receiving faith just so that his divine kingdom will become more difficult to breach.
Stelios effectively chose increased safety over the risk of becoming obsolete by severing his connection with the world. That's why even the Celestial Supreme can only remain content with throwing sardonic jabs. He is already about to start a war in the mortal realm, another war in the divine plane will be too much to handle.
Besides, there is no rush. The sun god is going nowhere. Secluding himself away like that will make the sun god weaken and easier to defeat by the time he is done with destroying the hidden god and his machinations in the mortal realm.
The Celestial Supreme had to stop his little act of pleasure when he sensed something in the mortal realm. He was enjoying calling the sun god names but something more interesting happened. He sensed something out of place.
"What is it this time? Can I not have peace?"
He has been sensing a lot of things that are out of place recently. So he is expecting something worse to have happened. He discovered the anomaly easily and became surprised even though he was prepared not to be surprised. He can sense the aura of a celestial in the mortal realm. What's more, the aura is coming from the ant mound.
He muttered in confusion. "What the fuck could be going on there?"
To say he is flabbergasted is an understatement. He is deeply and utterly confused because he doesn't even know what it means. He can't suspect the hidden god because he is certain that there are only 3 celestial gods including Stelios the cowardly sun god. So what could be going on there?
How can there be an aura of a Celestial in the mortal realm? It can't belong to the god of fate or Stelios, which just leaves him. Or is there a Celestial god he doesn't know about?
He returned to his divine kingdom to wait. He will find out soon enough. His Colossus is about to reach the ant mound. Whatever is going on in that ant mound will be made known to him. His questions will be answered in full.
Meanwhile In The Ant Mould.
Stelios chose to ascend. Both Helios and the tree father said at the same time, "We expected that."
Then they both chuckled.
They knew about Stelios' two options. Either he chooses to fall or ascend. They knew about these two options and they planned for both. If Stelios had chosen to fall. He will definitely escape the Divine Engine they built for him. But he will have to leave his Godhood behind. He will become powerless.
That's if he succeeds in falling without dying. If he succeeds the fall, he will also appear within the ant mound, probably beside Helios where he will be killed quickly for his uselessness. He would only succeed in escaping the divine engine and not certain death if he chooses that option. The divine engine will have the divine power of a grand god regardless of his success with the fall.
The other option will make him a Celestial if he succeeds. He will also be able to escape the divine engine but not completely. The divine will contained within the Stigmata is on the level of a Celestial. Succeeding in his ascension will only give Stelios a fighting chance. Even if he escapes, he will have to pay the price by leaving the bulk of his power behind and escaping with his consciousness. It is the payment for his arrogance and stupidity.
The second option is tricky for Legion's plan. If Stelios fails the ascension, then Helios will get nothing. The divine position and domain of the sun god will be destroyed and needs to be recreated. The divine engine will be useless then. Fortunately for Legion, that didn't happen. Stelios succeeded, so the divine engine now has the divine power of a Celestial.
The tree father spoke after their shared moment of amusement. "Now you have to succeed or you're doomed."
"Don't worry. I've got this." Helios said confidently.
The other clones spoke to him. "You're not alone."
What he is about to do is crazy enough to get him killed. He will need all the help he can get.