.oOo.
Hera raised her hand, and from her palm, a chain made of radiant blue energy shot out, wrapping tightly around the giant, sleeping beast that lay deep beneath the waves. This beast, Charybdis, was a creature of immense power, the very personification of a whirlpool. As the chains coiled around its massive body, Charybdis stirred, feeling the Aether's touch and the threat it carried.
Charybdis, a colossal sea serpent-like monster resembling an eel, began to awaken fully. Its enormous white maw opened wide, and it started to draw in water, intending to create a whirlpool of devastating proportions. Hera, however, was prepared for this. She knew that if Charybdis fully awakened, capturing it would become nearly impossible. Without hesitation, she unleashed her greatest strike—the beast subjugation ability that came with her newly acquired authority. The chains tightened, glowing with a fierce intensity as they bound the massive creature.
"Submit!" Hera commanded, her voice echoing through the dark depths of the ocean as she pulled on the chains, her power forcing the beast to bend to her will. But fate was not on her side. Charybdis roared, a deep, guttural sound filled with fury and resistance. The roar echoed across the ocean floor, not just as an expression of anger but as a distress call—a call that could summon other ancient sea creatures or alert powerful beings of its plight.
Recognizing the urgency, Hera redoubled her efforts, tugging the chains tighter around the writhing sea monster. Charybdis responded with a series of terrifying cries, sending shockwaves through the water that caused massive tsunamis, threatening to flood distant shores and islands.
"Just bow, you insufferable creature!" Hera shouted, frustration edging her voice. She poured a wave of oppressive energy into the chains, using her will to crush the beast's resistance. The oppressive force broke down the last of Charybdis's defiance, and the chains finally encased the creature completely, binding it to Hera's will. The monster, once a wild force of nature, was now subdued, its massive head lowering in submission.
"Ha, to think I subjugated Charybdis," Hera muttered to herself, a hint of triumph in her voice. She looked at the now-docile creature, its once-ferocious eyes now dull and compliant. The hairs on her neck still stood on end, the adrenaline of the battle slowly fading.
But Hera's victory was not just personal; it was strategic. With Charybdis under her control, she now had a weapon of unimaginable power at her disposal. She turned her gaze toward the distant city of Atlantis, a gleam of determination in her eyes.
"Attack," she commanded, her voice cold and resolute.
The beast roared once more, but this time, it was a roar of obedience. Charybdis began to manipulate the waters around it, creating a massive, spiraling vortex. The undersea whirlpool of death and destruction began to take form, growing in size and ferocity as it moved forward. The sheer force of the vortex pulled in everything in its path—fish, coral, and even entire sections of the seabed were sucked into the churning maw, crushed and obliterated by the force of Charybdis's spinning jaws.
Not satisfied with just the raw destructive power of the vortex, Hera decided to amplify its lethality. She raised Marmyadose, her sword-staff, and with a flourish, unleashed a dark, poisonous mist that wrapped around the whirling mass of water. This was the poisonous power of the Hydra, a deadly force that could corrode and poison anything it touched.
The dark mist merged seamlessly with the spiraling water, creating a vortex of death that not only tore apart everything in its path but also poisoned the waters with a lethal venom. The whirlpool, now a deadly amalgamation of Charybdis's power and Hera's dark magic, raged toward Atlantis, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Hera moved into the eye of the storm, using the chaos she had created as a shield, a cover to mask her movements as she prepared for the next stage of her plan.
.oOo. OLYMPUS .oOo.
Back on Olympus, the aftermath of Hera's departure was still being felt. The Behemoth, having fulfilled its purpose, had retreated, leaving behind a devastated city. Buildings were toppled, statues shattered, and entire sections of the divine city lay in ruins. The gods gathered in the main hall, their expressions grim as they surveyed the damage.
"Well, that was some exit," Ares remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. He had reveled in the battle with the Behemoth, feeling the familiar thrill of war and bloodshed. Ares could sense the looming conflicts—both the one with the invaders and the brewing war with Hera.
"That was dangerous," Demeter said, her voice tinged with concern as she looked around at the destruction that had befallen their once-pristine home.
"Apollo, you're one of the fastest among us. Go after her," Artemis commanded, her tone urgent.
"Where?" Apollo asked, frustration evident in his voice. "She must have gone somewhere we can't track her. We have no choice but to wait."
"He's right," Athena interjected, her voice calm but serious. "Now, Apollo, tell us about this invasion you foresaw."
"Invasion?" Zeus's voice boomed through the hall, his anger barely contained. "Who's going to invade?"
"I'm not sure," Apollo admitted, his usually confident demeanor faltering.
"What do you mean, you're not sure?" Zeus demanded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the sun god.
"What I saw was more like a poem—a prophecy of sorts, but one that glorifies Hera more than anything," Apollo explained, his tone uneasy.
The tension in the room grew thicker, the air charged with the undercurrent of Zeus's rising temper. Thunder rumbled ominously outside, a reflection of the storm brewing within the king of the gods.
"Speak," Zeus ordered, his voice hard, every word carrying the weight of his authority.
Apollo sighed, then began to recite the prophecy:
In ages yet to come, behold,
When sun in the west begins to hold,
And shadows dance on mountains high,
The former Queen ascends, the higher one replies.
Crowned as King, in radiant light,
With courage of steel, and soul bright,
She rallies the new, a pantheon bold,
To challenge the Old, in glory old.
As Ocean roars and lightning strikes,
The tides of fate shift, as nature likes,
Her reign shall spark a tempest fierce,
The heavens tremble, the earth shall pierce.
In epic clash, where powers collide,
Only purest hearts shall abide,
Forging a new era, strong and free,
Where whispers of old gods cease to be.
The balance shifts, forever changed,
In the winds of time, their legacy estranged,
Hera, the fierce, the queen of the bold,
In ages yet to unfold, her story told.
When Apollo finished, a heavy silence fell over the hall. The prophecy hung in the air like a dark cloud, its implications too profound to ignore.
"Well, since no one's talking, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my days," Aphrodite said, breaking the silence as she stood up, attempting to lighten the oppressive mood.
"Sit down," Athena commanded sternly. The goddess of love sighed, her light-hearted attempt falling flat as she reluctantly returned to her seat.
"So, 'mommy dearest' is destined to become the new king of a new pantheon?" Ares asked, his tone half-mocking but with an undercurrent of genuine concern.
"I get that, but who are these 'old ones'?" the war god continued, seeking clarification.
"It could refer to the Giants, the Titans, or even the Primordials," Artemis suggested, her voice thoughtful.
"It seems like we don't fit into this new story," Ares noted, a touch of unease creeping into his voice.
"It could mean that we are to be wiped out as well," Athena said, her words carrying the weight of the possible doom that lay ahead.
Zeus took a deep breath, trying to control the storm of emotions raging within him. The thought of being overthrown, of Hera rising to power and leaving him behind, gnawed at his pride and fear. "Find Hera and bring her to me," he ordered, his voice brooking no argument. Without another word, he turned and left the hall.
"Zeus!" Poseidon called out, his voice echoing after his brother as he followed him out of the hall.
Silence once again settled over the remaining gods, each lost in their own thoughts, unsure of what to do next. The future had suddenly become a place of uncertainty and dread, and for the first time in eons, the gods felt a shadow of fear looming over them.
.oOo.
In a more private chamber, Zeus and Poseidon spoke in hushed tones, the weight of the prophecy hanging between them. The words from Apollo had shaken them both. The fall of Zeus's era and the potential rise of Hera was now a possibility they could not ignore. However, they knew that prophecies from Apollo were different from those of the Fates.
"You should visit the Fates and ask," Poseidon urged, his face stern, his eyes fixed on Zeus.
Zeus took a deep breath, the air heavy with the tension that had built between him and Poseidon. The thought of visiting the Fates sent a chill down his spine. While Apollo's prophecies were possibilities—futures that could be changed—the Fates dealt in certainties, weaving the very threads of destiny. If he sought them out and they confirmed Hera's rise, there would be no escaping it.
"No," Zeus said finally, his voice firm but betraying a hint of uncertainty. "I won't go to the Fates."
Poseidon narrowed his eyes, anger and disbelief flashing across his face. "Zeus, this isn't the time for pride. We need information! We need to know what we're dealing with!"
"I'll ask Athena to devise strategies," Zeus replied, trying to assert control over the situation. "And I'll have Apollo and Artemis hunt her down. We can deal with this without involving the Fates."
"Don't be a fool!" Poseidon's voice boomed, his frustration boiling over. Green-blue lightning crackled around him, the power of the ocean manifesting in his fury. "My marriage is on the brink of collapse, and now I find out that my entire existence could be snuffed out because of your stubbornness!"
"Calm yourself, brother," Zeus said, raising a hand in a placating gesture.
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM MYSELF!" Poseidon roared, his power surging like a tidal wave. "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM MYSELF!"
The tension between the two brothers was palpable, the very air around them crackling with energy. Poseidon's power radiated from him in waves, the sea's raw, untamed force mingling with the power of life itself—power that made him one of the most formidable beings in the cosmos. Yet, Zeus stood his ground, his own lightning sparking around him, the power of destruction and storms coursing through his veins.
"Hera is weak, brother," Zeus insisted, his voice cold and calculating. "Even with her newfound authority, she lacks combat-related power. She will fall."
But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Poseidon struck, his fist crashing into Zeus's face with the force of a tidal wave. The blow sent Zeus hurtling through the wall of the temple, crashing into the still-being-repaired city of Olympus. The impact left a crater in the ground, debris scattering around the smoking pit where Zeus lay.
Zeus was not one to take such an attack lightly. He rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury, lightning crackling around his form as he summoned the full might of his power. The ground beneath him trembled as he prepared to unleash his wrath.
Poseidon appeared above him, his own power rolling off him in waves, manifesting as a tempest of green lightning and ocean winds. The power of life, the force that had given birth to all creatures in the sea, surged within him. Though he didn't have Gaia's level of control over life, it made him a threat to even the mightiest of gods.
"Zeus, your actions have put Olympus in danger. Now, you must swallow your pride and fear and seek the knowledge we need. This is for our survival!" Poseidon shouted, his voice echoing across the city.
"I am your king!" Zeus bellowed in return, his voice booming like thunder. "I will not be bullied by someone lesser than I!"
The world around them began to distort, reality itself warping under the immense power of the two gods. Lightning flashed across the sky, and the earth trembled as the brothers prepared to clash.
With a roar, they charged at each other, their powers colliding in a cataclysmic explosion of energy. Lightning met ocean, destruction met life, and the very fabric of Olympus seemed to shudder under the force of their battle.
.oOo.
It was over a day later that a cry rang out, cutting through the sounds of battle.
"Poseidon! Hera is attacking Atlantis!" Apollo's voice echoed from the top of a still-standing tower.
Both Zeus and Poseidon froze, the words breaking through their rage. They stared at each other, realization dawning on them.
"WHAT?!" they shouted in unison, their voices filled with shock and anger.
Poseidon glared at Zeus, his eyes burning with fury and desperation. Without another word, he disappeared, teleporting to defend his domain.
"Damn that woman," Zeus growled, his frustration and rage boiling over. He didn't hesitate, vanishing in a flash of lightning as he followed Poseidon to Atlantis.
.oOo. The Depths of Atlantis .oOo.
In the heart of Atlantis, the ocean was in turmoil. Charybdis, now fully under Hera's control, had turned the waters into a deadly whirlpool, a maelstrom of destruction aimed directly at the city. The mighty city of Atlantis, a marvel of ancient engineering and magic, was now under siege by one of the most fearsome creatures in the sea, driven by the will of a goddess scorned.
Hera stood at the center of the chaos, the eye of the storm, her presence commanding the swirling waters and the massive beast that obeyed her every command. The once-proud city was beginning to buckle under the relentless assault. Buildings crumbled, streets flooded, and the screams of the Atlanteans filled the water as they were sucked into the vortex, their lives ending in the jaws of Charybdis.
.oOo. End of chapter .oOo.