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——
Hera's royal-purple eyes narrowed with fascination.
'What is he doing?'
Aetherion seemed completely absorbed in whatever he was attempting.
Then Hera heard him speak.
"[Life Domain: Evolution of Power]."
The moment those words left his lips—
BOOM!
Green divine energy erupted outward.
Not into Aetherion.
Into the animals.
The brilliant green aura enveloped every creature within the clearing.
Their life force surged.
Their muscles strengthened.
Their vitality intensified.
For several moments, every animal seemed to become something greater than it had been before.
Then—
The energy vanished.
Aetherion exhaled heavily.
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue.
"Damn it. I'm almost getting the hang of it."
Hera stared at the animals.
She understood what she had just witnessed.
Life energy.
Life force.
Aetherion was attempting to strengthen the very vitality contained within living beings.
No…
Not merely strengthen it.
Her eyes widened slightly in some understanding.
'Evolution…'
The word alone carried terrifying implications.
If Aetherion could evolve the life force of ordinary creatures…
Then what would happen if he used that ability upon an army?
Gods.
Titans.
Nymphs.
Spirits.
Every divine race fighting alongside them.
Could he strengthen thousands of soldiers simultaneously?
Could he temporarily push their bodies beyond their natural limits?
Could he make already powerful immortals even stronger?
The possibilities sent a faint shiver down Hera's spine.
'Just what kind of ability is he creating…?'
So absorbed was she in her thoughts that Hera failed to notice Aetherion had finally turned toward her.
Four-pointed golden star pupils stared directly at her.
Aetherion tilted his head.
"Um… Hera?"
She blinked.
"Why are you here?"
Hera's thoughts immediately came crashing back into reality.
She stared at him.
Her eyebrow twitched.
Then—
Her expression darkened.
"Why am I here?"
Aetherion blinked.
Hera's annoyance exploded.
"I'm here because of you, you damn idiot!"
She pointed directly at him.
"No—you brute!"
Aetherion stared at her, visibly confused.
"…What?"
His expression only irritated her further.
"Why are you yelling at me?"
"WHY?!"
Hera's voice echoed throughout the clearing.
Several birds immediately took flight.
"You've been gone for over a month!"
Aetherion blinked again.
"We have a strategy meeting today! We're still fighting a war against that bastard father of ours, and instead of actually helping lead everyone, you've been hiding in this forest doing nothing but training!"
Once Hera started…
She didn't stop.
Every irritation she had accumulated over the past month poured out at once.
His disappearance.
His obsession with training.
His responsibilities as a leader.
The war.
The strategy meeting.
And, buried beneath all of it…
The fact that she hadn't seen him.
Of course, Hera conveniently left that particular complaint unspoken.
Aetherion initially stared at her in complete bewilderment.
Then…
Understanding gradually appeared upon his face.
Followed immediately by defeat.
"Oh…"
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I see."
A nervous chuckle escaped him.
"I suppose I got so absorbed in my training that I… lost track of time."
Silence.
Hera stared at him.
Aetherion's nervous bashful smile still remain on his face.
A vein visibly throbbed against Hera's forehead.
"You…"
Aetherion swallowed.
"…forgot?"
"Now, Hera—"
She vanished.
Aetherion's eyes widened.
His body reacted instantly.
BOOM!
He leaped backward as Hera's fist tore through the spot where his head had been only a moment earlier.
"HERA?!"
"STAY STILL, YOU BASTARD!"
She immediately charged after him.
Aetherion turned and ran.
"If you forgot, then allow me to help you!"
Another punch flew past his head.
"I'LL MAKE YOUR BRAIN START WORKING AGAIN!"
"No!"
Aetherion accelerated.
"WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HIT ME, WOMAN?!"
"GET BACK HERE!"
The peaceful clearing descended into chaos.
Animals scattered in every direction as Aetherion fled through the forest with Hera directly behind him, determined to personally ensure that her idiot brother's head started functioning properly again.
***
Inside the grand meeting room, seated before a vast round table with a glowing holographic map projected above it, was a woman.
She was known as the wisest among the deities and one of the most intelligent beings alive.
She was also the one who had called this meeting, informing the leaders of the rebellion to gather so they could decide their next course of action.
Metis.
The Titaness of Knowledge and Wisdom.
Sitting quietly in her seat, Metis contemplated how they should proceed after their first victory.
Kronos would undoubtedly be more cautious now.
Or perhaps…
That had been the entire point.
Metis's eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the glowing map before her.
She believed their first battle had been a test.
No…
She was almost certain of it.
Kronos had allowed it to happen.
After all, the King of the Cosmos himself hadn't appeared on any of the battlefields.
He had most likely remained behind and observed.
Watching, learning and judging.
Their strength.
Their strategies.
Their capabilities.
And especially their weaknesses.
And now that he had witnessed what they were capable of—or at least gained a glimpse of it—there was no telling what his next move would be.
Perhaps he would continue observing.
Perhaps he would send stronger forces.
Or perhaps…
Kronos himself would finally act.
That possibility troubled her the most.
As Metis's thoughts continued to drift toward Kronos and whatever schemes the Titan King might be preparing, the doors to the grand meeting room slowly opened.
A man entered.
His steps were slow and composed.
His expression revealed almost nothing.
Slightly behind him walked another man, tall and steady, his head bowed slightly as he followed his brother inside.
Prometheus and Epimetheus.
Prometheus's messy brown hair swayed gently as he walked forward, his movements calm and measured.
His sharp eyes immediately settled upon Metis.
There was something about those eyes that made even Metis slightly uncomfortable.
They seemed to observe everything.
Analyze everything.
As though the entire world were merely a puzzle placed before him…
And one he had already figured out how to solve… Or at least seen in a prophecy.
Metis's expression tightened ever so slightly.
She pushed the uncomfortable feeling aside and greeted the two brothers.
"It is good to see you, Prometheus and Epimetheus."
Prometheus gave her a respectful nod.
"Likewise. It is good to see you, Metis."
Epimetheus simply nodded toward her as well, carrying an almost childish innocence in his expression.
The two brothers eventually took their seats at the round table.
Silence returned to the room.
Yet Metis's gaze remained fixed upon Prometheus.
She studied him.
Analyzed him.
Prometheus initially said nothing.
Several moments passed.
Then a minute.
Then another.
Eventually, Prometheus turned his head toward her.
"Metis."
"Yes?"
A faint hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Metis didn't look away.
"I'm simply surprised that you came."
Prometheus raised an eyebrow.
"And why is that?"
Metis slowly raised one hand and began tapping her finger against the surface of the round table.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her eyes remained fixed upon him.
"Because you haven't exactly shown much interest in participating in this war."
Prometheus remained silent.
Metis continued bluntly.
"In fact, from what I've observed, you've done little more than reside comfortably on this island."
She paused.
Her finger tapped against the table once more.
"Almost as though you're taking a break for everything."
Prometheus's eyes widened slightly.
Then—
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
Slowly, the corners of his mouth curled upward into a smile.