--- 8 years later, late stages of Titanomachy ---
" Crackle!~~ BOOOOM! "
A large golden thunderbolt flew through the air, decimating hundreds of Atlas' troops with heavenly rage. The Olympians had grown exponentially during the war. They were forged anew from the trials and tribulations war had forced them through.
And they were winning now as well, with the new divine weapons that the Cyclopes had forged for them. For Zeus, he was given the illustrious Master Bolt. It sped through the battlefield at the speed of light. It could chain through enemies, piercing and killing multiple at a time. It had special properties that enhanced his connection to his divinity.
" Fwooosh!! " A raging tidal wave ran manic along the Earth, it's height easily dwarfing some of the Titans present in combat. It drowned many, and provided the Olympians the environmental upper hand.
For Poseidon, he was given his signature Trident. It was ocean blue, and was as tall as the sea God. The Trident heightened his powers to even greater heights, allowing him to control tsunamis and storms at will.
" AAAAAHHH! " A scream rang out, the voice filled with pain and anger. It was a Titan, Koios to be exact. He was commanding Kronos' army, leading from behind. He gave masterful instructions, and had been stalling the Olympians for hours on end.
A bident had impaled him through his back. The two-pronged trident was sticking out from his chest, radiating a power that darkened the area around them. The holder of the weapon was Hades, who was stalking the battlefield, aiming to cripple the command.
For Hades, he was crafted not a weapon, but the Helm of Invisibility. A regal helmet that resembled a regular Greek helm, but it was matte black and much more decorated. The color itself seemed as if it was eating the light around it.
" AHHH! BRAT! " Koios yelled, turning into a wisp of frosty mist. Suddenly transforming into a blizzard, he engaged into battle with Hades, who had disappeared once more, waiting for a chance to force Koios into leaving now untouchable blizzard form.
And just like that, the Olympians had gained even more of an upper hand. Poseidon, who was fighting Oceanus, while Hestia and Hera held back Hyperion, Titan of Heavenly light. Demeter was fighting Iapetus, Titan of Mortality, and the Olympian allied Themis and her son Prometheus were holding back Crius, Titan of Constellations. All the while the hundred handed Hecatoncheires and Cyclopes hurled volleys of giant boulders at all of the Titans.
Normally, even with 9 years of experience, they wouldn't have been able to contend at all. But in the last week, Hades had managed to infiltrate one of the Titan's camps. He destroyed all of their weapons, armors and armaments. Bridging the gap just barely enough from them to push them back.
Strangely though, ever since Hades infiltration, Atlas had not once graced the battlefield. Instead, Koios had replaced him as temporary command. Atlas was the one the Olympians had always feared. Among the Titans, he was the strongest they had ever seen, he was ruthless too. Effortlessly breaking through their divine magics and constructs, and mercilessly destroying their attempts time after time.
Unlike the other Titans, Atlas always took the war seriously, always opting to end skirmishes as fast and efficiently as possible. Using brutal and often cheap tactics and methods to curb them into corners, before they inevitable retreated once more. It was as if he was looking out for something, like there was a lurking threat that he was always guarding against. It was overkill, and he knew it.
By now, most of the battlefield had been reduced to craters, rivers of blood and pits of fire. Smoke and ash rose into the sky, tainting it enough that the day looked like night. All of the lesser troops had died by now, on both sides there were only a handful left. Tsunamis rose and fell, meteors of flame and giant sprouts of monstrous plants went and gone, it was absolute Chaos.
When suddenly, a monstrous pressure bore down on everyone. It was forceful and relentless, bearing a physical crushing effect on every Olympian.
As the Olympians looked on in trepidation, and the Titans in mad grins, Atlas appeared. Jumping off from an enchanted golden flagship, Atlas entered the fray. With maddened steps that shook the Earth to its core, and a powerful countenance that did not give them a moment to breathe, Atlas approached everyone.
This time, he was clad in armor and terrifying gauntlets. Something the General of the Titans never did, as he always believed in his own muscles and personal strength, believing armor and weapons to be crutches that the weak wore.
And so, Atlas learned to forge himself. Cashing in a few favors, he was able to get some education and assistance on the matter. Through this, he was able to strengthen himself without violating his ideals. The armor consisted of a silver breastplate, decorated helmet, pauldrons and shin guards attached to sabatons.
It shone in the sunlight that pierced through the clouds of smoke and ash. It was decorated beautifully, the metalwork a work of art itself. The breastplate bore the insignia of Kronos' pantheon and the helmet had a regal horizontal plume of flaming red.
The pauldron's were connected to the menacing weapons he had decided to wield, gauntlets. They were of relatively simple design, having the same engravings and metalwork done on them. It also had reinforced knuckles, which guaranteed his enemies' a gruesome death. But the real clincher was the power it exuded, it was completely dominating! His power seemed to have almost doubled!
He looked on, as the Olympians notice his new armored form. He had essentially become an immovable bastion, an unstoppable bulwark. He had been preparing this armor for the last 10 years, ever since his defeat at the hands of the Chaos-born beast.
His pride was destroyed that day, crushed and spit on by those five malevolent heads. He can only grimace as he remembered the suffering he went through. But no more! This time, he had prepared everything! He would never lose again!
--- To Be Continued ---
( Looks like this was what Gaea meant by changes in fate. Again, this chapter is shorter because it was split into two after I decided the last draft was too long. Remember to support in any way you can, anything is appreciated. )