Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Zeus
Zeus' eyes snapped open. His body tensed instinctively, his breath coming in sharp gasps as he took in his surroundings.
An old temple.
The air was thick with the scent of incense, the stone walls lined with carvings depicting constellations and celestial bodies. Dim torchlight flickered, casting long shadows across the chamber.
And then, memories flooded back.
The war. The clash against Atlas. The sheer, overwhelming strength of the Titan that had crushed him despite the lightning bolt forged for him.
He had fought with everything he had—yet, in the end, he had been defeated.
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His fists clenched, frustration boiling in his chest. Damn it!
Before he could dwell on it further, a presence filled the temple.
Zeus stiffened.
A figure emerged from the darkness—a middle-aged man with a towering frame. His long, dark hair cascaded past his shoulders, and his eyes gleamed with the brilliance of distant stars.
His presence was overwhelming, vast, as if his very existence stretched beyond the temple, beyond the world itself.
A Titan.
Zeus immediately pushed himself up, his body screaming in protest. His divine energy flared instinctively, crackling with barely contained lightning.
The man smiled at the sight. "You're awake."
Zeus narrowed his eyes. "Where am I?"
"My temple," the man answered simply. His voice was calm, almost amused, yet carried a weight that made Zeus wary.
Zeus' fingers twitched, ready to summon his lightning at a moment's notice. "And who are you?"
The man stepped forward, his aura shimmering like the night sky itself. "I am Astraeus," he said. "Titan god of stars and astrology."
Zeus' eyes widened slightly. He had heard of Astraeus—a Titan of the celestial realm, one who had largely remained neutral during the war.
His mind raced. Why would a Titan rescue me?
"What do you want?" Zeus demanded, his voice edged with suspicion.
Astraeus chuckled. "So guarded. As expected of someone who has lost a battle."
Zeus' jaw tightened.
The Titan turned away, gazing up at the carved constellations adorning the temple's ceiling. "I did not bring you here to harm you, if that's what you're wondering. My children just found you unconscious in front of their temple and I helped you."
Zeus remained tense. "Why did you help me?"
Astraeus finally looked back at him, his expression unreadable.
"Because, young god, I have seen the stars shift," he said. "And they whisper of change."
Zeus scowled. "What does that even mean?"
Astraeus merely smiled, offering no further explanation. His eyes, however, gleamed with something unreadable—knowledge of something yet to come.
"I can't say. But what I will say," Astraeus continued, "is that you and the others owe your survival to your brother, Hades. If not for his quick thinking, Cronus would have erased all of you from history."
Zeus' fists clenched at the reminder. He had been too weak. Too slow. Hades had saved them all while he had fallen in battle.
"Where are my siblings?" Zeus demanded, shaking off the self-loathing that clawed at him.
"They are safe," Astraeus said simply.
Relief flooded Zeus, but he didn't let it show. He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the dull ache in his muscles. "Then I have no reason to stay."
Astraeus arched an eyebrow as Zeus turned toward the exit. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to fight," Zeus said without hesitation.
Astraeus sighed. "You truly are reckless."
Zeus shot him a glare. "And what would you have me do? Sit here while my siblings fight and die?"
"I'm saying that in your current condition, you won't be fighting anyone—not Coeus, not Iapetus, and certainly not Atlas," Astraeus said, his tone firm but calm. "Atlas alone is second only to Cronus himself. If you couldn't defeat him before, what makes you think you can now?"
Zeus gritted his teeth. He hated hearing it, but he couldn't deny it.
Still, his pride burned too fiercely to acknowledge weakness.
Astraeus studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "Stay here for a while. Recover. Train. When you are truly ready, then return to the battlefield."
Zeus hesitated, his hands curling into fists. He wanted to go back. Every part of him screamed to return, to prove himself, to strike down the ones who humiliated him.
But Astraeus was right.
If he went back now, he would only be throwing his life away.
Finally, he exhaled sharply. "Fine. But not for long."
Astraeus smiled knowingly. "Of course."
He then went towards the exit, turning his gaze towards Zeus. "You must be hungry. Come, follow me."
Zeus followed Astraeus out of the temple, expecting to step into barren ruins or some remote sanctuary. What he saw instead made him freeze in his tracks.
A lush farmland stretched before him, its golden fields swaying in the breeze. Trees bore ripe fruits, flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, and the scent of fresh earth and grain filled the air. It was a place brimming with life, almost as if Demeter herself resided here.
"You look surprised," Astraeus chuckled.
Zeus tore his gaze away from the scenery and scowled. "I didn't expect... this."
Astraeus only smiled. "Not many does. Come."
He led Zeus across the fields, past a wooden fence where a group of people were preparing a meal.
Four men stood near a large table, their muscular forms radiating divine power, while a beautiful, mature woman with striking orange hair stirred a pot over an open flame.
As they approached, Astraeus gestured toward the group. "Allow me to introduce my family. These are my sons—Boreas, Notus, Zephyrus, and Eosphorus."
Boreas is a man with fierce and violent look, with a muscular frame and shaggy black hair and blue eyes.
Notus is a slender looking man with calm look, having a messy blond hair and black eyes.
Zephyrus is a short and slender man with soft and feminine features, having a shoulder length orange hair and brown eyes.
Eosphorus is a man with a pair of wings, with a bright golden hair and blue eyes, having a slender yet muscular physique.
Zeus narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed them. He had expected them to be minor deities at best, but as he focused on their presence, his heart skipped a beat.
Each of them... was his equal.
Perhaps, without the lightning bolt, a fight against any one of them would end in a stalemate.
Astraeus then gestured toward the woman. "And this is my wife, Eos, Goddess of the Dawn."
Zeus felt himself exhale sharply as his gaze settled on her. Eos was breathtaking. Her radiant beauty was almost hypnotic, her warm smile as dazzling as the morning sun.
Long, orange hair that falls perfectly on her back, gentle and motherly features, a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes, and a well endowed body.
"You're back," she said to Astraeus, before shifting her gaze toward Zeus. "And you must be Zeus. I'm glad to see you awake. You were in terrible shape when my daughter brought you back."
Zeus blinked. "Daughter?"
Before anyone could answer, a golden light descended from the sky.
A figure landed gracefully in front of them, her blonde hair shimmering like sunlight. Cold, calculating golden eyes, with a figure that would invoke the lust of any gods.
Zeus nearly swallowed his tongue.
She was—without question—one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on.
But before he could even think about speaking, the sheer pressure radiating from her stopped him in his tracks.
It was overwhelming.
Cold. Emotionless. Absolute.
Unlike Eos, who radiated warmth, this woman carried the presence of an unyielding force—like the inevitable break of dawn.
Zeus could only stand there, stunned, as the woman's icy gaze met his.
"And this is my daughter, Astrea." Astraeus smiled, a proud smile. "She is the Goddess of Justice, Innocence, and Purity. Don't let her cold look fool you, she's the kindest goddess you'll ever know."
Zeus wasn't listening, his eyes glued at Astrea.
Yeah, he'd be in that state for awhile.