This isn't about fan theories! I'm genuinely confused about this month's storyline, as the event keeps changing between making the main antagonists god or purely insane.

Seriously! Hear me out:
During the storyline, we have Apollyon and Apedemak self-claiming as gods and whatnot. However, despite them chattering about their god-like dynasties and powers, we have yet to see that anywhere.

First and foremost: if their kingdoms are located outside Earth, either in the galaxy or somewhere else, then why are they fighting in Earth?
Their god status are contradicted by the fact that they settled down their fight right on Earth; during Exploration, Apedemak actively expresses some kind of 'disorder', as he mumbles to the stars and hits on random lionesses with claims that he's a god, and even in the novels he shows narcissistic and megalomaniac traits. When the player encounters both Apedemak and Apollyon fighting, they are battling with claws and teeth, with no god-like powers in use.

Next, we have the issue of the actual powers only being available during 3 endings of the story. I don't doubt that Lion Spirits exist and have an actual effect on lions, as tons of characters are seen communicating with spirits (such as in November's event, or even the character's in the July event as well). However, the spirits managing to ascend either Apedemak, Apollyon, or Menhit only happen when you complete the ritual, and completing the ritual not only isn't necessary, as you can eat Menhit's berries, but are also implied to be a figment of Apedemak's insanity, which is implied to be the act of the spirits who were killed by him, as they were also able to communicate and take control of Menhit in her ending.
Tefnut was constantly being overwhelmed by the spirits, whose intentions, revealed in Menhit's ending, to control Apedemak, and thus make him suffer for what he has done.
By this, I'm trying to say that the story implies that Apedemak thinks he's a god because the spirits made him rogue. They want to break free, basically, but they also want control and revenge, because in all of the successful ritual endings, they make the respective ending characters selfish and power hungry.

In addition to this, when you encounter Apollyon in explore, when you bow down, the dialogue box says that Apollyon might be doing tricks. I'm not going to assume anything about Apollyon, as this isn't a theory thread, BUT Apollyon (and the rest) actively participate in Apedemak's god delusion. I don't know if this is because we're partially going through Apedemak's lenses, or if it's because the story, for the most part, is a myth (which is my interpretation), but I digress. Everything starts to burn down at the few last episodes of the storyline, but the story doesn't explicitly say it was Apollyon's doing, and I doubt it is (or that the fire is even real).

Lastly, I wanted to say that there's an ending where *nothing* supernatural (in exception to the spirits) happens. When you go through the Apedemak route, but refuse to say the last line and eat the berries, nothing happens. He even *admits* it was his own delusion. Furthermore, the spirits are nowhere to be seen, unlike in the Apollyon version where the failed spirit ritual caused Apedemak to be physically exhausted.
(On a last note; gods, more specifically the old Egyptian Gods, are real in Lioden. Temples and etc. exist to honor them. However, we have nothing to honor neither Apedemak nor Apollyon, which makes me believe that the god endings are myths, because the only temple of the event is Tefnut's, which was undoubtedly killed by Apedemak's paws. We have tons of interpretations about *what could've happened if the ritual was successful, and for who*, which happens in a lot of myths, fueling my interpretation even more, because the most realistic ending, and what I truly believe is the real one, is Apedemak's failed ritual. BUT I DIGRESS )

This storyline had potential, if not for it trying to convince the player about Apedemak's delusions (which could've been intentional by the writer's part, and that's not a bad thing, it just wasn't executed in the best way).

So after all of this. Are Apedemak and Apollyon truly gods? Or is it all a delusion of Apedemak?
I appreciate all answers!!