This had been about demonstrating personal value all along. Thea didn't even know who Makkari was before this. Hearing her new boss's command, she directly canceled the spell she'd been preparing to cast.
Makkari shared similar thoughts and simultaneously withdrew his lightning spear.
Only then did the gods look at the two combatants. Thea's golden hair had been electrified into tight curls, trending toward a frizzy halo. Her cape had two large holes blown through it.
Makkari's image wasn't as cool as before, either. His blue-black full-body armor was half flame, half frost. One horn of his bull helmet had been knocked off, and his left bracer and gauntlet showed severe damage—the result of directly blocking Thea's meteor spell.
"Young lady, you're quite impressive! Haha!" Orion, Highfather's favorite, slapped Thea's shoulder familiarly to show encouragement.
Facing this two-meter-tall guy who looked like an oversized dwarven warrior, Thea immediately said that Commander Makkari had held back, and she'd already given it everything she had.
Her saying this made everyone feel comfortable. First, the newcomer's strength was undeniably solid. Second, the newcomer wasn't quite up to veteran standards, which encouraged them even more. Even Makkari, who rarely chatted, spoke with her for a few sentences.
This harmonious and united atmosphere pleased Highfather, the big boss. As the leader, he still needed to say a few words.
"Makkari, your combat ability grows sharper. However, your response to ranged attacks remains inadequate—a point requiring further improvement."
"The Goddess of Trade and Wealth has excellent judgment. Your only shortcoming is weak close combat, causing many missed opportunities."
The big boss evaluated both of them, affirming their strengths while pointing out weaknesses.
Both expressed humble acceptance of their leader's guidance.
What Makkari thought, Thea didn't know. However, she'd deliberately suppressed her close combat abilities, giving the gods the impression she specialized in ranged combat.
Several years remained until Darkseid's descent to Earth. Joining New Genesis's camp meant inevitably fighting Apokolips. The choice between charging forward in melee or hanging back with ranged attacks wasn't difficult.
Originally, being an archer would've been a good choice, but that position was occupied by the tall and sturdy Bekka. She could only make her case with magic instead.
To avoid wasting this valuable combat resource, Highfather considered it and asked the gods, "Now that Goddess Thea joins our Council of Eight—to be renamed the Council of Nine henceforth—does anyone object?"
Apart from Orion muttering about wanting to fight Thea himself, the other deities had no objections to adding another person to share the burden.
Highfather surveyed the group. "Good. Goddess Thea excels at magic, so you shall organize a magic squad for New Genesis."
New Genesis's three great legions were the battlefield's main force. Makkari's legion was pure melee—what Thea understood as a spear unit, troops facing the enemy's first wave of assault directly. Orion, Highfather's favorite, commanded the cavalry legion. Bekka led the archer legion.
The three great legions barely held against the endless Parademons. Though the legions were all elite troops, wielding swords against enemies that could be described as a sea wasn't very efficient.
Highfather had long wanted to establish a magic legion. Dealing with enemies covering mountains and plains, magic was most convenient and effective. He'd simply never found the right person.
He couldn't personally lead and teach magic—he was Highfather! The remaining gods weren't exactly proficient. Selecting from the New Gods would easily provoke the legion commanders' dissatisfaction. Deities were incredibly proud—pulling an ordinary person to rank alongside them would definitely displease them.
Moreover, on the battlefield, strength was everything. If the selected New God member got cut down by the enemy, chaos would ensue. So this long-held idea had been shelved.
Thea's arrival made his eyes light up. First, her personal combat prowess was unquestionable—able to fight Vanguard Commander Makkari to a draw. Highfather truly didn't believe someone like Steppenwolf or Kalibak could take her out in one blow. Second, she'd just arrived—building a magic force from nothing would demonstrate her capability. This was why Highfather asked her to establish a squad rather than a legion.
Thea roughly understood her new boss's meaning. Establishing a magic legion was her goal too—it had authority without excessive danger. This was why she'd fought Makkari in the first place. Otherwise, why would she bother with this match?
"As you wish, Lord Highfather."
No appointment documents needed here, no leadership stamps required. The boss proposed an idea, she agreed—that was the final result. No one objected.
The council of gods adjourned. Everyone went their separate ways. Thea declined Prince Orion's challenge and followed the God of Forging, Himon, to collect her benefits package—what she considered her new work uniform and access pass.
This stocky, square-shaped fellow had absolutely no traditional concept of gender. Himon was more like a robot—after a few simple exchanges, she discovered he cared about nothing beyond forging.
Fortunately, Thea had hung around Diana long enough to pick up some forging basics through osmosis. She couldn't compare to Himon, of course, but could manage casual conversation.
Walking and chatting, they arrived at Himon's forge. The imagined hammers, anvils, and bellows were completely absent. This place called a forge was actually more like a high-tech laboratory. New God technology had reached an extremely high level in Thea's assessment.
"Light armor, medium armor, or heavy armor?" Himon's voice was muffled, somewhat electronic-sounding.
Given the choice, heavy armor was obviously better. However, she'd told the big boss three minutes ago that she specialized in magic. Immediately picking heavy armor afterward would seem fake.
Thea could only approach it from magical conductivity, choosing light armor.
He said nothing more, picking up something like a pneumatic hammer and beginning to forge. Various rare materials appeared on the conveyor belt, being incorporated into the armor.
In less than half an hour, a radiantly glowing robe was completed. Golden base, silver threading, patterns containing mysterious meanings—in Thea's eyes, this light armor looked more like a mage's robe.
This was completely different from her Goddess of Wealth dress. That outfit just looked good—defense still came from herself.
What Himon crafted, thanks to countless rare materials invested without regard for quantity, could provide considerable defensive power and magical enhancement. This kind of garment could be made occasionally, but producing them daily would bankrupt even New Genesis's vast resources.
"Mother Box tech product. What form do you want it in?" Himon handed her the robe. Before she could examine it closely, he asked again.
"Earring, please."
Ten minutes later, Himon handed her a water-blue earring and offered a brief explanation.
"Mother Box technology can open Boom Tube channels. With this, you can freely travel between the Third and Fourth Worlds." Himon's muffled voice explained to her.