Two thousand years.
In the Silver Age, where things changed and people changed, Bell stood in the golden age residence where Prometheus once lived, looking at the barren land before him.
This barren land was not formed naturally; rather, it was the result of Zeus's actions. He sought to erase all traces of Prometheus so that no one could perceive his existence. The fact was, Zeus had cleaned everything up, and very few people still knew of Prometheus. Although Prometheus had once taught humanity, the final outcome was disheartening—perhaps the most hopeless reality, but entirely helpless.
"It's here."
Bell squatted down calmly, peeling away the soil bit by bit. As he dug, a book that was not heavy emerged, exuding a beautiful shimmer. This was the divine book left by Prometheus. As he flipped through its pages, Bell felt as though he had entered a beautiful, vibrant space, immersed in study as countless phantoms of Prometheus appeared, teaching him profound knowledge with earnest dedication.
In this serene moment, Bell fell into a dream, where all returned to silence.
As the inheritance left for her elder brother by Prometheus gradually unfolded, Athena was in the sanctuary, realizing all the differences and being perfectly recognized by Gaia. Athena was now the lord of the Earth, and the true fourth ruler of the world.
In the Temple of the Goddess within the Sanctuary, Athena exhaled softly and whispered, "This feeling is truly remarkable. Is this the essence of the Earth? It really feels different!"
Athena mused, inheriting the responsibilities of Gaia's domain. She had undergone a transformative change. Athena was no longer merely the goddess of wisdom, war, and victory.
Quite the opposite!
Now, Athena was akin to Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, with all laws integrated into a unified whole: the Earth. Hades' Pluto, Poseidon's Sea Emperor, Zeus' Emperor of Heaven, and Athena's Earth—these formed a complete entity.
However!
Unlike others who had to obtain, master, and comprehend their powers on their own, Athena had fully received all the inheritance bestowed by Gaia. The implications of this were profoundly different, reflecting an emotion within Athena that produced a wholly distinct outcome.
"And..."
"I am now..."
Athena whispered softly, "Should I be called the Mother of the Earth?"
Mother Earth!
This concept was part of a special system. In many long-passed mythological versions, the Earth Mother truly existed. Whether it was Gaia, Tiamat, or other deities, these primordial gods were all Earth Mothers, including Nuwa, who had a human head and a snake body.
These were the deities of the Earth Mother. As Earth Mother deities, they symbolized the world's beginnings.
However!!!
That was merely a fairy tale, and in real myths, there existed an Earth Goddess. Yet, the birth of the Earth Goddess was incredibly harsh, to the point where even Gaia was not the true Earth Goddess. It was after an unknown transformation and the complete inheritance from Gaia that Athena became the real Earth Mother Goddess.
"Hmm"
With her thoughts in mind, Athena left the sanctuary.
Gaia welcomed the returned Athena with a smile, "Athena, how do you feel about everything?"
"Great-grandmother!"
Athena bowed slightly, then asked with curiosity, "Where's my brother?"
Gaia smiled and replied, "Bell has something he must do—something he is destined for. He needs to handle it himself; we need not intervene."
"Understood!"
Athena nodded, and she began to describe her situation, explaining what had transpired. As she spoke, Gaia became lost in thought, a smile gradually forming on her lips.
"Hehehe"
Gaia chuckled and said, "Athena, for you, this is not a bad thing! Goddess of Earth! Ruler of the Earth! Even a concubine cannot become a true Earth Goddess. You can become the Mother Goddess, representing absolute mastery over the Earth."
Gaia pondered for a moment before adding, "Perhaps, compared to Bell, you are the one who can truly be compared to Hades."
"..."
Athena considered the name Hades. She knew of Pluto, but her understanding was limited; she was not well-informed about him, nor had she much insight into the dynamics involving her brother and herself. She and Bell knew more about Zeus, driven by their desire for revenge, while their understanding of Hades and Poseidon remained vague.
"Yes!"
Gaia nodded approvingly, "Athena, you possess incredible talent. You have just inherited the power of the Earth and become the king of gods. You have integrated everything and naturally evolved into the goddess of the Earth. This is significant—a remarkable achievement, but in comparison to Bell, your journey is just beginning. Seek growth gradually! That's your future."
"Yes!"
"Do not harbor any doubts; follow your heart."
"Yes!"
After Bell, Athena left the Temple of the Earth, eager to find her own path. Remaining in the temple forever felt meaningless. Only through stepping out and facing challenges could she truly grow, just as every child must.
"Hmm"
"Bell!"
"Athena!"
"Very well!"
Gaia sighed softly and murmured, "Compared to Uranus, Cronus, and Zeus, Bell is a born fourth-generation god king—perhaps the most perfect new-generation god king. He will become the most outstanding ruler, while Athena is the newly formed goddess of the Earth. Coupled with a genius like Hades, Poseidon is embarking on the path of the Evil God..."
Some thoughts remained unspoken. These individuals were truly her descendants! Yet, as time passed, they all seemed to desire each other's destruction. Even Gaia felt a twinge of sadness.