"Lord Hades!"
Aether knelt respectfully on one knee.
Hades opened his eyes. "Aether."
Aether rose and reported, "It seems something has happened with Zeus. He has fallen out with Metis and Prometheus, leading to Prometheus's expulsion from Olympus. Metis has also been sidelined by Zeus since she became pregnant, and he now has the support of Hera, Hestia, and Demeter."
"All because of the prophecy."
"Yes!"
Hades shook his head slightly, calm as ever. "It's not important. Just wait quietly for the God King ceremony in 100,000 years. I'm curious to see what kind of ceremony Zeus will orchestrate. It's a pity, though; he's no longer a qualified opponent."
"Understood."
Aether stepped back, aware that Zeus's choices had rendered him vulnerable. He had sacrificed his allies and was now driven solely by prophecy, neglecting those who had supported him.
After Aether departed, Hades sighed, "Zeus... You truly are tedious. This is turning into quite the farce. Let's see how the future unfolds for this so-called Olympus pantheon."
Closing his eyes once more, Hades focused on tempering the law, condensing divine power, and cultivating faith within his realm. For a god, cultivation was akin to sailing upstream: without progress, one would inevitably drift backward. If others grew stronger while one stood still, then weakness was the only outcome.
In a quiet and idyllic village, there lived two brothers, Prometheus and Menoetius. The elder brother was clever, while the younger was obedient and simple-hearted, which endeared him to the villagers.
"Brother!"
"Brother!"
The two tall, striking figures entered their home, their expressions grave as they looked at Prometheus, who sat with an air of indifference despite his recent fall from grace.
"Atlas. Epimetheus. You're here."
Prometheus wore a calm smile, even though he had been cast out from Olympus and stripped of his divine robes.
"Brother!" Atlas said, his voice laced with anger. "That damned fool! After all the help you gave him, he repays you with exile? I want to confront him!"
"Hold on!" Prometheus interjected, still smiling. "There's no need for anger. Though I made a mistake, perhaps it's for the best. Discovering the issue early allows us to address it before it worsens."
"Brother…" Atlas slumped down, exasperated. "What do we do now? There are still 100,000 years until the God King banquet. Once it's over, Zeus won't hesitate to come after us."
Zeus would not be lenient. Metis and Prometheus both faced peril. Zeus understood the need to act decisively; his earlier ties to Prometheus and Metis made it clear they were threats if allowed to grow too powerful.
"Calm down," Prometheus said, placing a reassuring hand on Atlas's shoulder. He turned to Epimetheus. "What are your thoughts, Epimetheus?"
"Brother," Epimetheus replied, his demeanor steady. "Zeus hasn't fully embraced his role as God King, but he's begun to act recklessly. He's in a state of denial, attempting to sever ties with those around him. This is merely a facade; he's gathering strength while hiding his true intentions."
"Exactly," Prometheus said, nodding. "What a pity! Zeus is meant to be the King of the Gods, yet he is making such poor choices."
He gazed out the window, reflecting on Zeus's missteps. A true God King should not fear their subordinates; they wield the supreme power to control everything. Yet, Zeus was letting a mere prophecy dictate his actions. He feared Metis and Prometheus as potential rivals, but the result of his paranoia might lead to his downfall.
"Listen carefully," Prometheus continued. "After you return, Atlas and Epimetheus, ensure that Perses protects Metis. Her child is our greatest hope—the next generation of God King."
"Understood!" Atlas and Epimetheus replied solemnly. They recognized the weight of their elder brother's words; whenever he spoke like this, it signaled the utmost importance.
As powerful gods in their own right, Atlas and Epimetheus understood that even Zeus would think twice before antagonizing them. He could exile Prometheus and alienate Metis, but if the Titan masters turned against him, Olympus itself could crumble, and Zeus would not risk such chaos.