Greek Myth: Zeus Wants Me to Be His/Her (XXXX)?????

"At least I still have you here, don't I?"

Faced with Hera's bleak vision of the future, Eros remained surprisingly calm. The way he looked at her, though, almost gave off the vibe that he was sizing her up as emergency rations.

"Me?"

Hera glanced at Eros. Since he wasn't exposing her true identity, she let the matter slide.

After all, this was just an avatar. Besides, a god trapped in Tartarus could still be rescued, though, because it was only an avatar, that might take some time.

"I can't stay long. In the end, it'll still just be you, alone down here."

"That's fine. There are plenty of other gods imprisoned here too, aren't there?"

"Like Cronus and the other Titans. It's not like I'm the only one locked up in this place."

Their conversation flowed surprisingly naturally. Hera gradually set aside her earlier awkwardness.

As long as her true identity remained unspoken, they could still get along.

And of course, Eros had no intention of calling her out.

Why ruin a perfectly good chat and make things needlessly uncomfortable for them both?

They spoke casually for a while, piecing together the events that had led them here.

Hera couldn't help but marvel at Eros's recklessness, no immortality like the gods, yet bolder and wilder than any of them.

It was madness enough that he dared take on Poseidon. But to stand fearless before a monster like Typhon? That was beyond belief.

But now the thought of Zeus seeing her at Eros's side made Hera anxious all over again.

Trapped in Tartarus, she couldn't sense what was happening atop Olympus.

That creature that had appeared so suddenly, it bore traits of both Titan and Gaia, and now it was linked to Tartarus too.

Its origins were extraordinary, impossible to ignore.

"By the way, you said you knew what that monster was. Tell me about it."

Even as Queen of Heaven, trapped deep in the abyss, she still felt the need to do her part.

Meanwhile, back on Olympus, the air was thick with tension unlike anything seen before.

The recent chaos upon the sea, and Zeus's thunderbolts, had shaken the world to its core.

The gods whispered endlessly about what could have happened.

Some claimed Cronus had escaped Tartarus, only to be struck down and banished again by Zeus's lightning.

Others said Poseidon had conspired with Gaia, raising rebellion against Zeus, only to be crushed before their plans could bear fruit.

That rumor had gained the most traction.

After all, why else would Oceanus's daughter now rule half the seas, with Zeus doing nothing to stop it?

And ever since that day, Olympus had been cloaked in an oppressive, stifling air.

The once wise and open king of gods, Zeus, now wore only a stormy scowl.

It was hard not to suspect that his fury stemmed from his own sister's betrayal.

"That's all for today. Go and see to your duties."

From her throne on high, the silver-haired girl spoke coldly. With those words, she dissolved into lightning and was gone.

The gathered gods let out a collective breath. The weight of Zeus's presence had been overwhelming.

Many of them were children born after the Titanomachy, who had never witnessed Zeus's might with their own eyes.

That world-shattering lightning bolt had shown them why Zeus alone was king of the gods.

"Lately, the All-Father's mood has been... grim."

Prometheus, as always, looked half-asleep but her vision was clearer than anyone's.

After all, her very name meant forethought; she bore the divine office of prophecy.

Only those blessed with prophecy could truly grasp Zeus's burdens.

"The last time she was like this was"

Prometheus stopped herself, one eye cracking open to glance at Athena standing beside her.

Athena's face remained serene as ever. Perhaps she hadn't caught Prometheus's meaning, or simply chose not to react.

The last time Zeus had been like this was when she ascended to the throne of the gods, and Ouranos and Gaia brought forth their fateful prophecy.

The time of Metis's death, the first Queen of Heaven.

"This doesn't concern us. We need only focus on our task of creating mankind."

Athena's flawless features showed no ripple of emotion.

She had witnessed it herself, the terrifying might of Typhon, shattered by Zeus's thunderbolts.

As for Eros? If even mighty Zeus was powerless, then no wisdom of hers could help.

Zeus saw farther, knew more, and even wisdom itself bowed before him.

So Athena wasted no thought on what even Zeus despaired over. Better to focus on the work at hand.

From the devastated battlefield, she had gathered a few drops of Eros's blood.

Though lifeless, those drops still pulsed with strange energy.

So faint, yet undeniably potent. Athena was fascinated.

[Your bond with Amphitrite has reached friendship or higher. You may now use the Firebearer skill.]

[You have acquired the Potion Crafting skill from Amphitrite.]

"So you really mean to use his blood to forge mankind?"

Prometheus's eyes opened a little wider, her face creased with worry.

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

The original plan had been simple: shape mankind from clay, mix in the virtues and flaws of nature's creatures, and breathe into them a divine soul.

But mixing Eros's blood into the clay? Prometheus feared they'd end up with a new race of golden men.

"It's fine. Just a few drops, diluted enough that there'll be no anomaly."

Athena understood her concerns and spoke gently.

"As for why I insist, let's say I want to give humanity a chance. A possibility."

Yes, Eros had flaws aplenty, lustful, boastful, manipulative, self-absorbed.

But knowing all he'd done, his courage before Python, his wild challenge to Poseidon for Amphitrite's sake, his defiance before Typhon...

Athena couldn't help but admire him.

No, not in that way. She had no such feelings.

It was admiration, pure and simple. His deeds outweighed every fault.

It was enough that Athena granted him blessing and protection, and watched over him always.

Even before humanity was born, the seeds of her fondness for heroes had already been sown.

But…

Athena sighed quietly, so no one would notice.

The hero she admired, his story seemed at an end.

Time to snag something valuable from Tartarus, then use Hera for training. Sunrise, and out of the underworld we go.

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