Chapter Text
Out of hope after the wicked god had abandoned them and with nothing left but a desperate wish that someone might hear them and maybe just, just not turn away, those all over the world who prayed to the gathered deities felt heard.
They knew their prayers had been answered. Tears of relief streaked down people’s faces because they knew someone out there had heard the prayers of the hopeless and the burden which weighed them down would lessen.
They knew better than to believe that all their suffering was over, but it would be easier to manage, easier to handle, as someone with more power than they, lended a hand.
The deities, in turn, knew their resolve had been received. It only further cemented their intent.
The heart of the issue was thus: many of the big time gods had become complacent in their superiority, the acknowledgement they were given by society and no longer felt the need to answer prayers to keep their title and control over their domain. Rather, they were content to dwell in the power they amassed and allow their domains freedom over direction.
They no longer cared about the people below them, apathetic to their petty struggles.
Power was still fed to them, even if they took no action and allowed fate to play out. Because in the end, prayers would be answered regardless of whether or not action was taken and that was enough for those gods to remain in power.
In truth, it wouldn’t take much to topple the gods off their thrones, it was more of an issue in keeping them off their thrones.
However, even though all of them were “minor” gods, gods of little importance, without the ability to affect nature and the world itself, that did not by any means make them weak.
Past regrets could cripple someone or help them grow as a person, the mistakes and broken relationships that Rei represented could end a life or save it, the paths not walked could just have easily condemned the traveler as saved them.
Being triumphant was not the same as being victorious or winning. All it meant is one came out on top. Even when a fight was lost, the person who didn’t win might not be the actual loser.
This is what they intended to take advantage of. For it is in the very aspects which made others look down upon them, call them weak, call them minor gods, it is these aspects which give them strength, power, and the capability to topple those who underestimate them. After all, even when one has talent, their ability, their skill, can still fade without practice, without use. Every day they answered calls, summons, and used their powers for those who asked for their help. Their domains grew bigger, drawing in more power from which the gods ruling over them fed on, giving them strength.
The High Gods were not expecting an attack from deities they thought were useless, reigning over useless people and their struggles. To make things worse, they had no Hope to bolster them, for the small god (so powerful) was distracted by the representation of Strength it took for a person to keep Hoping no matter how desperate and impossible a situation might seem and how useless a person might feel.
Had, perhaps, the High Gods taken the threat seriously from the beginning, they might have stood a chance. However, they were Gods, very long-lived Gods, and such beings had many past regrets, made many mistakes, hurt and betrayed countless people… Even the amount of past regrets, mistakes, hurt and betrayal many humans made would be difficult for a God to bear, much less their own, an amount too high for any being to enumerate.
And so, Yagi Toshinori was reinstated as the God of Triumph, of Victory.
Mirai regained his position beside The Lady Nagant and continued guiding his closest friend.
Shouta, Rei, and Dabi all worked together with Nana to forgive past hurts or at least absolve them of the pain and guilt and anger they carried. With the Goddess’ help, Shouta added a new facet to his domain of Past Regrets, of starting anew and trying again and of Acceptance. Rei took on the role of a Protector for those who made a mistake in trusting ones who abused them, hurt them, took advantage of them. She broke unhealthy relationships and sent them onward to Shouta and Nana. Dabi shed the mantle his father had burdened him with and rose anew as the God of Healing and Righteousness and Faith despite doubt and uncertainty. He took the name Yadi, symbolizing who he used to be and a reminder of how the mistakes he made, the relationships he broke, could be reclaimed so long as you had the Strength to try.
Meanwhile, Shouto balanced out the unpredictable God of Hope and with the Strength he embodied, he made sure Hope didn’t abandon people who needed him. Shouto gave them Strength to hold onto Hope when it was just about to ditch them, desert them, leave them for others he could toy with before he too, left them with a wicked smile on his face, as he walked away.