.oOo.
Hera reappeared across the continent, her form materializing in the darkened sky, the moonlight casting a silver glow over her figure. She paused for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the shadows around her. She didn't want to engage in another battle just yet; her Ether was still settling after the last confrontation, and she needed to remain composed and focused.
Sighing softly, Hera glanced at the small calendar she held in her hand, the ancient artifact pulsing faintly with the power of time. A smile played on her lips as she raised it toward the moon. "Time to get my Christmas present," she murmured to herself, her voice carrying a note of determined anticipation. Without another word, she shot forward, a blur of movement as she raced through the night sky, heading toward the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
This object was a small piece of a much larger puzzle—one of three fragments that, when united, would lead her to the hidden location of Chronos, the Titan of Time. The first piece was in her possession; the others were guarded by Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. If she could claim the power of Chronos, one of the few Titans whose domain remained unclaimed, she could wield the almighty force of time itself. This would give her the strength to finally free herself from Zeus's grasp.
As she flew over the ocean, the waves crashing far below her, Hera's thoughts lingered on the Fates. "I'm sure they'll warn Zeus of my plans," she muttered, knowing that the Fates would not remain silent if she was close to achieving her goal. Still, she pushed forward, undeterred by the possibility of her plans being exposed.
Suddenly, she felt a powerful tug from the ocean below—a response to the sundial she was holding. The water below her seemed to come alive, and before she could react, a massive column of water shot up from the sea, striking her with tremendous force and sending her spiraling into the sky.
Twisting and spinning through the air, Hera fought to regain control. With a sharp twist of her body, she managed to stabilize herself, hovering above the churning waters. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down, spotting a figure forming from the water's surface.
Cursing in ancient Greek, Hera steadied herself, her grip tightening on Marmyadose as she watched the figure materialize fully—a woman, her form ethereal yet commanding, rising from the ocean depths.
"Hera, what you seek is dangerous," the woman spoke, her voice carrying a calm authority. She didn't need to ask what Hera was after; she already knew.
"I do not care. If the end result is my freedom from Zeus, then I will gladly die in pursuit of it," Hera replied, her voice firm, laced with an unwavering resolve.
The woman, now fully formed, was Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon. Her expression was stern, yet there was a softness in her eyes—a reflection of the years she had spent as the queen of the seas. "I will not allow this," Amphitrite stated, her tone carrying the weight of her position.
Hera raised an eyebrow, a hint of disdain in her expression. "You think you can stop me?"
"Yes. You have no authority over the ocean, Hera," Amphitrite's projection replied, her voice steady as she raised her trident. With a commanding gesture, she summoned a swirling mass of water, the twisters spiraling around her in a threatening display of power.
Hera sighed, a frown crossing her features as she realized who she was dealing with. This wasn't Amphitrite herself but a mere projection of the sea goddess. Still, it was a nuisance she couldn't ignore. Drawing Marmyadose, Hera channeled her energy into the weapon, deep purple flames flickering to life along its blade. Amphitrite's projection moved swiftly, spinning her trident and directing the water twisters toward Hera with a decisive swing.
But Hera was faster. She swung Marmyadose, and a wave of fire erupted outward, colliding with the twisters. The water evaporated instantly under the intense heat, and the projection was obliterated in an instant. The difference in their power was too great—Hera's victory was inevitable.
Without sparing a second glance, Hera shot downward, diving into the ocean's depths.
.oOo. Atlantis .oOo.
"Arg!" Amphitrite growled, her physical form trembling as she emerged from her lightly dazed state. She had been meditating in the heart of Atlantis when she projected herself to confront Hera. The feedback from the destruction of her projection had momentarily stunned her. Amphitrite was a striking figure, with light ocean-green hair that cascaded down her back like flowing waves, lightly tanned skin, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to reflect the very depths of the sea. Her blue gown, lined with intricate green floral patterns, flowed around her as she stood, steadying herself.
She turned her gaze toward the horizon, her heart filled with unease. Hera was coming, and she knew the danger that the goddess of marriage posed. "Send a message to Poseidon. Tell him that Hera is coming," Amphitrite ordered, her voice carrying the authority of a queen. A nearby guard, clad in the ornate armor of Atlantis, bowed deeply before rushing off to relay her message.
.oOo.
Meanwhile, Hera's focus sharpened as she continued her descent into the ocean's depths. She could feel it—something was reacting to her presence. "Found you," she muttered to herself, her voice filled with determination as she shot forward with renewed speed. She knew she had to move quickly—Amphitrite had likely already alerted Poseidon to her presence.
She crossed the ocean swiftly, her eyes scanning the underwater landscape as she searched for the next piece of the sundial. Her destination was the Pacific, as Gaia had instructed. Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, far from the reach of mortals, lay a prison that held creatures of immense power. Among them was Charybdis, a deep-sea terror whose destructive capabilities were legendary. While not the strongest of sea monsters, Charybdis was powerful enough to threaten Atlantis itself, making it the perfect tool for Hera's purposes.
As Hera neared the hidden prison, she felt a sudden shift in the water around her. The currents, once calm, became turbulent, and before she could react, a powerful force struck her from the side, sending her twirling through the water. She forced herself to a stop, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face the source of the attack.
There, standing before her in the depths of the ocean, was Amphitrite herself—not a projection this time, but the true goddess of the sea.
"Amphitrite," Hera muttered, her tone calm and measured.
"Hera, turn back and submit to Zeus. You are acting like a child," Amphitrite said, her voice firm but carrying a note of genuine concern.
Hera studied the sea goddess, taking in her glowing blue hair that moved like waves in the water, her golden eyes that glinted with both resolve and a touch of sorrow. Amphitrite was clad in armor fashioned from seashells, deep blue and gold, and she held a four-pronged trident, its tips gleaming with raw oceanic power.
"Yes, I am acting like a child. Whoever said I grew up?" Hera smirked, spinning Marmyadose with a flick of her wrist, sparks of energy gathering around the blade. "I'm sure you understand how I feel, Amphitrite—being forced to marry someone you did not love, having to learn to love instead of letting it happen naturally."
Amphitrite's expression softened slightly, but she did not lower her weapon. "Yes, but that was eons ago, Hera. Times have changed. I grew to love Poseidon, flaws and all. While his infidelity saddens me, I still desire to be by his side, because now and forever, Poseidon is my husband," she replied, her voice filled with quiet strength as she prepared to defend her realm.
Hera sighed, her smirk fading into a look of resignation. "Then you will be disappointed," she said, her voice tinged with a note of finality.
"Then you leave me no choice. Attack!" Amphitrite commanded, her voice ringing out through the water. Instantly, the sea around them came alive with movement. Mermaids, tritons, and other sea creatures, all clad in armor, surged toward Hera, their weapons gleaming as they prepared to strike.
Hera's eyes narrowed as she raised her sword-staff, her voice calm yet commanding. "Gravity Wrap," she intoned, and the water around her obeyed, twisting and bending under her will. An underwater vortex formed in an instant, its pull irresistible. The surrounding Atlanteans, unable to resist the force of the vortex, were sucked into its depths, their cries of alarm silenced as the vortex collapsed inward, crushing them into a dense, compact mass.
Amphitrite, who had managed to avoid the fate of her soldiers through her mastery over the ocean, watched in alarm as Hera demonstrated her newfound power. The sea goddess wanted to fight, but it was clear that Hera had ascended to a new level of strength, one that rivaled even the gods of Olympus.
"I don't want to kill you, Amphitrite. So, I'll let you live in your dream," Hera said, her voice carrying both a warning and a promise. She continued to weave her spell, a wave of purple light
.oOo.
"I don't want to kill you, Amphitrite. So, I'll let you live in your dream," Hera said, her voice carrying both a warning and a promise. She continued to weave her spell, her staff glowing with a menacing purple light that pulsed through the water. With a swift motion, Hera released a wave of energy from Marmyadose, the purple light shooting out like a spear toward the sea goddess.
Amphitrite's eyes widened in shock, but before she could react, the wave of energy struck her. The light enveloped Amphitrite, its ethereal glow wrapping around her form. For a moment, she stood motionless, her trident raised in defense, but the power of Hera's spell was too great. Amphitrite's grip on her weapon slackened, her eyes glazing over as she succumbed to the enchantment.
The sea goddess's form began to drift downward, sinking slowly toward the ocean floor as her mind was plunged into a deep, dreamlike state. Hera had woven the magic of dreams into the spell, a power that could trap even the strongest minds in a world of their own creation. Amphitrite would remain in this slumber, living out a dream of peace and happiness, far removed from the conflict that raged above.
With Amphitrite neutralized, Hera turned her attention to the massive underwater prison that lay ahead. The structure was ancient, its stone walls covered in layers of coral and seaweed, concealing the horrors that lay within. Charybdis, the monstrous whirlpool that could swallow entire fleets, was the prize she sought.
"It's time for you to wake up and listen to your queen," Hera murmured, raising her staff high above her head. The waters around her began to churn violently as she channeled her power, her voice resonating with authority.
The prison trembled as the chains and barriers that had held Charybdis in place for eons began to weaken under Hera's influence. Slowly, the great beast stirred, its slumber disturbed by the goddess's call. The ocean around them seemed to grow darker, more oppressive, as Charybdis began to awaken, the creature's vast, serpentine form shifting within the confines of its prison.
Hera's eyes gleamed with triumph as she felt the monster's consciousness fully awaken. The massive sea creature, resembling a colossal eel with a maw that could engulf entire ships, let out a deep, resonant roar that echoed through the ocean, sending ripples across the sea for miles. Its white, jagged teeth glistened in the dim light as it stretched its body, preparing to wreak havoc once more.
"Submit to me," Hera commanded, her voice carrying the full weight of her authority. She extended her hand, and chains of radiant blue energy shot out from her staff, wrapping around the beast's massive form. Charybdis thrashed wildly, its initial resistance strong, but Hera's control was absolute.
The chains tightened, glowing brighter as Hera infused them with more of her power. "You will serve me, Charybdis. Together, we will bring destruction to those who stand in our way," she declared, her voice resolute. Charybdis let out another roar, this time not of defiance but of acknowledgment. The monster, sensing the strength and resolve of its new master, finally bowed its head in submission.
Hera felt a surge of satisfaction as she secured her control over the creature. With Charybdis under her command, she now possessed a weapon of unparalleled destructive power—a force that could lay waste to cities and armies alike.
The sea around them began to calm as Hera solidified her bond with Charybdis. She looked down at the now-docile beast, its enormous body coiled around the ruins of its prison. "Rise," she commanded, and Charybdis obeyed, its form ascending through the water until it hovered beside her.
Hera smiled, a cold, calculating expression that spoke of the plans forming in her mind. "Now, we move against Atlantis," she said, her voice filled with dark anticipation.
With a wave of her hand, Hera set Charybdis in motion, the beast slithering through the water with terrifying speed. The ocean parted before them as they advanced, the currents swirling in response to the monster's power.
.oOo. END OF CHAPTER .oOo.