As the Underworld made its preparations, so too did the Heaven and Sea realms. There was much to prepare for.
The First Holy War.
Everyone understood its significance. While the subsequent wars might become games of strategy and deception, the First Holy War was different. It represented the core essence of their struggle. If not handled correctly, the consequences could be catastrophic. Therefore, no one dared to take this lightly.
The stakes were immense—creation and destruction hung in the balance. The rewards for success were monumental, and no one could afford to be careless.
In the Heavens, Zeus quietly commanded, "Prometheus, you will be in charge of this Holy War. Do not disappoint me."
Zeus's eyes narrowed as he looked at Prometheus, and the crackling thunder in his gaze revealed just how terrifying his power was.
At that moment, Prometheus bowed slightly, his expression solemn. "Your Majesty! I will handle everything, and I will not let you down."
"I hope so," Zeus responded coldly. "You are responsible for this. Remember, I do not want to see any further problems."
Prometheus knew all too well what Zeus meant. From the beginning, ever since Mnemosyne's involvement, Prometheus had been aware that his suspicious ruler always harbored doubts about him.
Especially now. With Metis's child poised to inherit the title of the fourth God-King, Zeus's suspicions had only deepened.
The curse Uranus placed on Cronus had been passed down to Zeus, and this frustrated Zeus greatly.
The issue was complicated. While Metis might not act against Zeus, there was always the fear of betrayal. Zeus was violent and ambitious, but even he knew that Metis wasn't the type to scheme against him like his own mother, Rhea, had with Cronus. Rhea prioritized her husband first, then her children. Metis, on the other hand, placed her children first, and only then her husband. Zeus understood this, which is why he didn't push Metis too far.
If everything had followed the original mythological story, Zeus, as the uncontested third God-King, could do whatever he wanted. But now, any attempt to push Metis would only backfire. The Mythical World was bound to see the birth of a fourth God-King, and if Zeus pushed too hard, both Hades and Poseidon would likely enjoy watching his downfall.
Zeus had no doubt about that. Those two? They would revel in his misfortune.
"Prometheus," Zeus called out, breaking Prometheus's thoughts. "There is something I have in mind. Would you like to hear it?"
"Oh?" Zeus's lips curled into a smile. "Speak your mind, Prometheus. I'm curious to hear what you have to say."
A sharp, cold glint flashed in Prometheus's eyes. "Your Majesty, you've set up contingencies to protect the Heavens from any issues. However, that might not be enough."
"Many things cannot simply be suppressed," Prometheus continued, his voice growing colder. "If we approach it differently, we could consider Metis, Hera, and the children you are about to have. What do you think about handling them in another way?"
"The fate of the Mythical World cannot be stopped by any god—it can only be surpassed. But what if we shifted the concept?"
Prometheus's voice became as cold as ice, the wisdom god now resembling a chilling force from the depths of the Underworld.
"Prometheus," Zeus said, watching him intently. Far from being angry, Zeus's smile widened, becoming more sinister. "Continue. I'm curious to see what you'll say next."
"Yes!" Prometheus bowed again and began to explain his idea in detail. Zeus's smile grew darker and more malevolent as he listened.
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Meanwhile, in the Sea Realm, things were much calmer than in the Underworld or Heavens, but the preparations were no less significant.
"Your Majesty…" Nereus widened his eyes in disbelief, utterly shocked by the decision of his king.
Poseidon simply waved a hand, his expression calm. "Go and prepare."
"Yes!" Despite his disbelief, Nereus bowed respectfully and left.
Poseidon gently tapped the arm of his throne, and in an instant, terrifying and strange divine power surged forth. A shadowy figure appeared, screaming and howling.
"Poseidon! You damned bastard!" the figure shrieked. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
But despite the endless roars, it couldn't move an inch—just powerless fury.
Poseidon responded coldly, "Give it up. This is the end for you. You're just a stepping stone for me to reach a higher level. Hades, you've found your path. Zeus, you've fallen behind."
For once, Poseidon showed a rare hint of emotion as he quietly absorbed the vast, chaotic divine power.
Outside Atlantis, Nereus walked out, still somewhat dazed. The other four gods of the ocean—Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia—looked at him curiously, unsure of what had just transpired.
"What's going on, Nereus?" Thaumas asked, puzzled.
With a look of disbelief still lingering on his face, Nereus replied, "His Majesty says we don't need to compete for first place. We just need to maintain second place."
"What…?"
The four ocean gods were baffled. What was the meaning of this? Competing for second place?
Nereus, however, quickly regained his composure and said, "If His Majesty has made this decision, there must be a deeper reason behind it. All we need to do is follow his orders, conserve our strength, and secure second place."
"Understood!" The four gods bowed respectfully. They knew to trust in their king's wisdom.
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