The god of knowledge asked carefully, "What else do you know about this strange weapon you called the GodSlayer?"
He isn't admitting to having knowledge of it. He just wants to know how much the Celestial Supreme knows about it.
Zernon glared at him. "Why are you still being stubborn? I know everything about it, I even know how it started and who started it. Was it not that bastard Kerons that came up with the idea?"
Oddly enough, it wasn't the current gods that started this project. A long time ago before there was any Celestial, there was a god, the god of justice Kerons who had it out for the god of order. This god started the project GodSlayer specially designed to kill the god of order.
The two of them were competing to become the first Celestial and subsequently the Celestial Supreme. All the grand gods of that era were competing for it but these two had it in for each other because a grand god needs to absorb a compatible domain to evolve and the two of them had compatible domains.
Obviously, the god of order won to become the Celestial god of order and justice while his opponent died before the project could be completed. The grand gods found it later and have been working on it for generations. Stelios being one of the oldest gods and also the best runemaster in the plane is the largest contributor to the project. The several generations of the god of knowledge are the second highest contributors.
The god of knowledge sighed and said dejectedly. "So what if you found it? It doesn't work."
But even with several years of effort, the project hasn't worked out yet. Its creator started the project to kill the then-grand god of order because the god of justice couldn't get past the defense of his armor. But now the god of order is a Celestial. His armor has experienced a big boost and his defensive measures are stronger than ever. The GodSlayer's purpose has become obsolete and it doesn't match up to the new challenge.
The grand gods didn't hope to kill the Celestial Supreme with it. They would have been satisfied if it will act as a deterrent. They plan to threaten the Celestial Supreme with it. They will only fire it if he refuses to capitulate. He might not die from the damage but he will be weakened. They can then ascend en mass and gang up on him. Several Celestials can surely match a weakened Celestial Supreme or so they hoped.
They haven't used the weapon because there's no going back once they unveil it. The Celestial Supreme being the control freak that he is would never allow such a thing to exist if he knows about it. They have to be ready to use it as soon as its existence becomes public knowledge. Who would have thought that he already knew about it?
'Thankfully it never came to it.' Stelios thought to himself.
There have been close shaves in the past when the gods were about to use the GodSlayer. It has not been easy living under a nosy and controlling superior. Sometimes, someone just gets irritated to the level that they want to unleash the GodSlayer.
There have been other good reasons to use the GodSlayer too. Back when Stelios was spooked because the Celestial Supreme came to see Helios being born, he had wanted to use the GodSlayer to make the Celestial Supreme back off if he sensed something off about Helios.
Helios was his lifeline and he wasn't above bringing in their secret weapon to ensure that nothing will stop him. It is obvious now that things would not have turned out the way he wanted since the Celestial Supreme knows about the GodSlayer.
Zernon smirked. "Of course, I know it won't work on me. I inspected it thoroughly and I left it alone when I didn't consider it a threat. It wouldn't have worked no matter how much you tinkered with it. But I know how to fix it."
He was very angry at first when he found the Godslayer. It is bad enough that the creator of the project also left a lot of his secrets with the project. The fact that the gods were smiling to his face while scheming to kill him infuriated him. He wanted to destroy the weapon there and then but he inspected it first.
He left it alone when he realized it could never work on him. It is best that the grand gods have a false belief that they have something that can threaten him than for him to burst their hope and make them search for alternatives. They will start another project if this one is believed to be compromised. He knows about this one and it is good enough. He might not discover the next one that they start so he left the GodSlayer alone. He also knows how to make the GodSlayer stronger.
The eyes of the god of Knowledge lit up in excitement. "What's the solution?"
He had been dejected that the secret project that he had hoped for wasn't so secret and the target had let it exist because he thought it was a joke. But his mood changed with the prospect of a solution.
Zernon raised his chin arrogantly. He spoke with pride. "Your GodSlayer is well crafted. The energy conversion process is almost perfect."
"I thought so too." The god of knowledge nodded and agreed.
Zernon kept quiet because of the interruption.
"I'm sorry, please continue."
He continued after the apology. "But no matter how perfect it is, it lacks Celestial Authority."
The god of knowledge began to rant. "What kind of solution is that? Do you think we're idiots? Of course, we know that it needs Celestial Authority but we didn't have one. Trying to get one will lead to you trying to kill the new Celestial. Your solution is obvious and not inspired."
The god of knowledge continued to rant while the gods sitting beside him shifted away from him. They have a slight suspicion that being so close to him might be very bad for their health. Surely, that frown on the Celestial Supreme's face cannot be a sign of approval.