Olympus Corridors, Western Sector
The echo of sandals resonated softly along the white marble corridors. The afternoon light filtered through the windows of the main temple, tinting the columns with golden reflections.
Hestia and Hecate walked in silence, their faces tense, the folds of their tunics swaying to the rhythm of the warm air drifting through the halls.
Hestia: —"I can still feel the disturbance… the one that caused the divine barrier to shatter." (It's been centuries since I've sensed such a drastic change in this Zone… It almost reminds me of the time when I met him.)
Hecate: —"Since we were assigned to this zone with Zeus as leader, everything has been more boring. I miss those days when we all spent our time in Mother's Garden." (From here I can feel the roots of Yggdrasil… But that energy I felt… it was as if he had returned.)
Silence wrapped around them again, until a figure emerged from the shadows of the corridor: Athena.
She walked with firm steps, though her eyes carried a dark gleam. Her white tunic was slightly stained, and the dark Stigma on her abdomen glowed faintly.
Hestia brought a hand to her chest, horrified.Hecate, her voice trembling, barely whispered:
Hecate: —"Sister Athena… what happened to you… w-why?"
Athena stopped, exhaled briefly.
Almost resigned, she fixed her gaze on both of them.
Athena: —"Do not judge me without knowing anything… I didn't do it when all the goddesses were chasing the Martial God like madwomen to become his lovers."
Her words hung like an invisible blade that cut the air between them. Hestia lowered her gaze, hurt, while Hecate frowned, powerless.
Hestia: —"Sister, it's not judgment… it's concern."
Athena: —"I know. But now I have other priorities." (Damn mortal… I'm going to kill him.)
She turned on her heel, looked into her divine mirror, spoke with Heimdall, and instantly the light of the Bifröst reflected briefly in her hair before she disappeared down the corridor without looking back.
The silence she left behind was almost unbearable.
The scent of incense and ancient stone filled the corridor. Hecate clasped her hands, searching for words, but was interrupted by the soft echo of footsteps.
Hera and Persephone appeared from the opposite end of the corridor.
Their expressions were grave, heavy with a tension they did not attempt to hide.
Hecate: —"Sisters, I came to visit you from the Desert Zone… but what is really happening?"
Hera exchanged a glance with Persephone before answering.
Hera: —"Sisters, do not be alarmed. It's not him… but another mortal has appeared, capable of defeating multiple gods. Neither Zeus nor Hades had the chance to defend themselves."
Hestia's eyes widened in disbelief, while Hecate stepped back, stunned.
Hecate: —"What are you saying? That's impossible. No mortal since the Martial God has been able to oppose us."
Persephone: —"But it's not as disturbing as it was with him. I remember he faced everyone without arms and while blind. Even so, no one could defeat him…"
Persephone looked up at the sky, as if hundreds of memories flooded her mind, and continued:
Persephone: —"Only… this one is different. Hera told me he might be a new Immortal from the Eastern Zones… or an incarnation."
Hestia: —"Have the ancients returned…? Wait, did he say whose incarnation he is?"
Hestia's question echoed in all their minds, like a reminder of a very ancient era. Hera intervened, rationalizing what had happened:
Hera: —"He was too rushed, demanding to know Poseidon's location… He said nothing. Perhaps he's a new avatar of someone we don't know."
She paused, analyzing everything that had happened in the Throne Room.
Hera: —"But his physical strength is incomparable… though his attitude was similar to his. Yet seeing him was like standing before the central root of Yggdrasil above Tartarus."
Persephone nodded slowly, looking toward the window where the lights of Olympus lit up like stars.
Persephone: —"I think it's necessary to discuss this in the General Council in Asgard. No one will be able to ignore what happened."
Hecate crossed her arms, her voice trembling between fear and fascination.
Hecate: —"Then… once again, the balance of the gods is about to break. And all because of… another mortal?"
Hera: —"Perhaps he's not just a mere mortal…" (I just hope he has nothing to do with the Moirai's final prophecy.)
The wind of Olympus blew, stirring the torches along the walls. The sacred fire flickered for a moment, as if the island itself breathed uneasily.
A cold gust swept through the corridors, extinguishing one torch.
Persephone, in a low voice, murmured what they all were thinking:
Persephone: —"It's official… after a thousand years without any incidents in the Zones, a new variable has reappeared in the world of mortals."
Silence returned. Only the shadows of the goddesses stretched across the golden columns, while in the distance, the wind announced the end of a quiet era… and the birth of something unpredictable.
An hour earlier
Floating Island of Olympus, Exterior
The air was dense, warm, filled with the intense brilliance of the sun at its peak. I was mentally exhausted, irritated, and sleepy…
I had received information from Nimue that intrigued me; then from Lilith and Aphrodite, which fried a few of my brain cells. And now I had just received even more from Hera, Athena, and Persephone.
And I thought, as my steps echoed over the marble surface:
"I can't take it anymore. I need sleep."
But even if I wanted to, I couldn't rest; the weight of problems I never asked for—but that the system imposed on me just because—crushed me, annoyed me, and pissed me off all at once.
I looked back. Lilith and Athena followed me in silence, their tunics swaying gently with the wind. Aphrodite, on the other hand, seemed annoyed… or jealous.
Honestly, I didn't care. But I had to organize everything before night fell—or at least before I could even think about having the afternoon free.
I needed to make sure I could sleep peacefully, to get my chaotic mind focused… before going to Atlantis for Poseidon's head.
I took a deep breath, letting the fresh sky air clear my mind a little. The first thing I did was address Athena:
—Alright… hateful goddess of wisdom. Since you're now under my care, go gather all your things so you can start moving.
Athena looked at me with disdain, though not with complete hostility.
There was something different in her gaze, a strange spark. And my instinct told me it might be the effect of the damn «Transcendental Attraction» achievement.
Athena: —"Fine. But where am I moving to?"
I was really tired—so tired that just the idea of explaining everything or taking her to Artia's base…
It gave me ontological laziness. Luckily, Lilith intervened, her tone calm but firm:
Lilith: —"Just gather your things. Use your divine mirror to locate your master, and tell Heimdall to take you there."
Athena blinked twice, incredulous at her sister's submissive attitude, but eventually turned and disappeared without another word.
I turned toward Aphrodite. Forced a smile and said:
—Hey, if you want to move too, go to your secret realm, prepare everything. Then I'll send ships to pick you up along with your subjects.
Aphrodite: —"Okay." (Damn, I completely forgot to report the breach of the divine barrier.)
In a flash of white light, the goddess of love was absorbed by the Bifröst, leaving behind a golden trail suspended in the air. And just like that, I was alone with Lilith.
The silence that followed was heavy, but calm. Only the wind brushing the edges of the island could be heard.
She walked beside me, and I noticed how her beautiful white hair shimmered under the sunlight.
We reached the edge of the island, where the horizon stretched into endless blue. From there, I could see the vast mountains, the city of Tontheón, and tiny villages beneath the clouds. The wind was cold and pure, tousling my hair as I tried to stay focused.
I took a deep breath. And without hesitation, I said in a low but firm voice:
—I'm going to free you.
Lilith's eyes trembled, her breathing faltered for a second.
Lilith: —"W-why?" (No… please don't push me away.)
—I don't want slaves. That's beneath my standards… did you forget I'm a slave myself?
Lilith lowered her gaze, her wings slowly folding.
Lilith: —"But it's not your fault. I chose this… sure, I got carried away in the moment. But I helped you enslave my sister Athena."
—I enslaved Athena because I didn't want to kill her. She's very smart… she reminds me of someone. Just… too arrogant to have the humility to admit she was wrong.
Lilith: —"I understand. Believe me, I do. But I chose to submit to you."
—I don't want you to submit. I don't want control over you, and I don't like the idea. You think differently, feel differently, have different opinions… and that's great. What I want is for you to be free.
Silence stretched. The wind lifted a strand of her hair and swayed it across her eyes. I saw her pupils moisten, saw her lower her head… and then she smiled.
But it wasn't mischievous, sensual, or broken.
It was genuine.
When she looked back at me, I felt something strange in my chest. As if a part of my soul had been taken away.
Lilith: —"I… don't want to be free."
—WHY!? (This is all that damn achievement's fault… someone take it away, damn it!)
Lilith: —"I have my reasons… you won't get rid of me that easily."
—Fine, do whatever you want… I won't take advantage anyway.
I was left speechless at what Lilith did next. Her wings vanished, her tail disappeared. Her hands traced her waist sensually, and in a seductive tone:
Lilith: —"Alright… let's see how capable you are of resisting my new charms."
—You don't know me. (Shit… why does this keep happening to me?)
Our gazes locked, and she smiled:
Lilith: —"That's what you think."
—Alright, you know what—
At that exact moment, I paused. I bit my finger hard until my blue blood emerged.
My instinct warned me: Lilith would be a damn headache for my patience. I had to act natural, so I looked at her and said:
—Now we're heading to the Base.
Lilith: —"You'll have to carry me. Can you handle it?"
—Meh. (Low libido. Always low!)
I was about to say the words Quincy had told me to cancel the slavery stigma. But then Lilith realized my intentions.
And she jumped off the damn floating island.
I grabbed my head, thinking:
"She's insane… did she just kill herself?"
But then I saw her start flying using her succubus wings. I knew she was about to say something.
But I was tired. I didn't want to hear another word.
I activated my basic skill «Infinite Speed» and jumped off Olympus' floating island—leaving Lilith talking to herself.
Time froze under my speed. And for my relief, everything was silent now.
I was sick of thinking. I was tired. Sleepy.
Aphrodite would bring the nymphs. Noelle, her people. And now, with the certainty that I had to go to Atlantis, my damn journey—which was supposed to be short—finally felt close to ending.
My mind was exhausted. I wanted a place to lean on and rest.
And I remembered Melissa… I'd definitely go see her before heading to Atlantis… I'm close to completing my goals.
Vacations in my city under construction. Free my family. Avenge Melissa. Find Karen.
"Oh shit… I haven't done any of that yet… and now it's worse with goddesses tagging along."
Realizing everything I still had left, I made myself a promise:
When all this is over, I will free Sam's family… from that filthy noble family.
Richard is a great man.
Ryan, a good brother. And Elisa… a loving mother. When I arrived here, they gave me warmth—real family warmth. That helped me.
If I had ended up in a more hostile place, like the Cartag Coliseum…
I would've died in seconds. I wouldn't have been able to adapt or survive.
And because of that… I owe them.
So much has happened in such a short time that I've already lost track of the days since the accident…
Since the world of [War of Kingdoms] became… my new reality.