The Greece Antagonist

Even the direct descendant of the Soul and Wisdom Titan Iapetus, whose cousins of the same generation are all mongrels, what does that make them? Kin?

Olympus? A nest of mongrels?

Indeed, the disdain of the gods of Olympus for this fool is not without reason.

"Father God, the prosperity of Olympus is already predestined, there's no need to add to the slaughter over the provocations of these brutes," Apollo, the god of light and prophecy, smiled as he stood up to offer a different opinion. "Rather than enforce the usual punishment, casting Atlas into Tartarus Hell would better demonstrate Your leniency."

This was a deity who radiated the genteel dignity of a noble, with handsome and sunny features, and moved with the grace of a poet. His fragrant, slightly wafting long hair, falling over his shoulders and made even more majestic by a crown woven from cypress and water lily leaves, involuntarily prompted a fondness in others, and it was no wonder the Muse Goddesses admired him.

"Leniency towards an enemy is cruelty to oneself! Such a mild punishment will only make those half-blood mongrels out there think Olympus is weak and can be bullied!"

Ares, feeling his pride had been offended, huffed with annoyance, repeatedly calling out "half-blood mongrels," causing the gods in the great hall to frown.

Among the Twelve Olympians, however, it was Hermes, the normally tactful and amiable Messenger God, who reacted most strongly.

His mother was Maia, the daughter of the Atlas who holds the heavens.

Although, in Greece's intricate genealogies, blood relations don't necessarily equate to closeness.

But Ares' words were undoubtedly akin to a direct insult to his face.

And not just once...

Hermes lightly pressed down on the hat atop his head, speaking with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"I heard that on the battlefield, when two armies clash, only the final victor gets to decide the fate of the defeated. Have I remembered it wrong? Or has the world changed?"

All of a sudden, Ares, who was in the midst of his tirade, stiffened, his face turning an angry red. Then, the veins beneath his skin writhed like large, twisting earthworms, his expression both humiliated and frenzied.

"Hermes, shut your mouth!"

Seeing his own son so beside himself with anger, Zeus on his throne narrowed his eyes.

He had just realized that Ares's bronze armor was as pristine as new, without a single scratch, evidently not the look of someone who had just been through a fierce battle.

Even so, the shiny new armor couldn't conceal the bruise on one side of his cheek.

Combining Hermes's sarcastic remark, it seemed that in the confrontation with Atlas, his own son was clearly the less dignified party.

After all, the formidable Titan Atlas, a standout of the third generation, was not someone whom a green youth like Ares could manipulate as he wished.

An unexpected beginning, but a foreseeable outcome.

Zeus glanced at his son who was jumping with rage and wished he could throttle Hermes himself, and he inwardly shook his head, a hint of disappointment fleeting through his eyes.

As the War God, not only had he been defeated by his opponent, he didn't even have the courage to admit it. He was truly worthless.

However, Ares was completely oblivious to his father's disdain, preoccupied with the quarrel with his two brothers.

Seeing Ares getting worked up and even drawing his dagger as if to start a fight, Hermes, not skilled in battle, subconsciously moved his feet backward, avoiding the focus.

But Apollo stood unafraid, with a gold arrow in one hand and a silver bow in the other, in the face of the War God brother's fury.

His full-blood sister, Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, casually rested her long fingers on her quiver without any particular intention.

They were both the offspring of Leto, the childbirth goddess. When Leto was pregnant, Hera, the queen of heaven, was very jealous, and so she decreed the earth not to offer her a place to give birth.

Leto wandered everywhere, unable to find refuge, until finally Asteria, her sister and the "Star Maiden," transformed into an island, stepping forward to receive her, allowing the twins to be safely born.

Therefore, when it came to Ares, their half-brother and Hera's legitimate child, the siblings were always at odds.

"Enough! Get back to your places! I'm not dead yet!"

The sky thundered, the dull roar pervaded with an incomparable sense of oppression, and the feuding gods, seeing Zeus's livid face, shivered and obediently returned to their seats.

But as the gods promptly grew silent and the atmosphere fell into a dead hush, Zeus, the adjudicator, was still somewhat troubled by the two choices before him.

A thousand years had passed since the divine war between Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys, and those old relics had been cast into Tartarus by him long ago.

Yet the rebellious nature of the Titans meant that those who escaped the net would emerge every so often to provoke and disturb Olympus, leaving the gods with no peace.

Facing these ungrateful kin, Zeus had grown weary.

But to execute them directly would be too severe a punishment, and the recently appeased factions might have their own thoughts; to throw them into Tartarus again seemed too lenient, leaving him somewhat unsatisfied.

Just as Zeus was frowning over these two options, caught in a dilemma, a calm and pleasant voice echoed within the temple.

"Father God, why not exile him to The Far West."

The gods turned toward the source of the suggestion, which came from an imposing Goddess with silver hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a helmet and a white upper garment adorned with bronze snake armor.

Zeus thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"Athena, you mean..."

"Since Atlas himself claims to be 'The Titan Who Holds Up the Heavens', let him bear the corner of the sky, in the chaos of The Far West, expanding and securing the divine authority of the heavens for Olympus to serve for life."

Athena placed one hand over her chest and smiled in response.

Hearing her words, Zeus looked approvingly at his daughter and nodded in satisfaction.

As the Divine King who ruled the sky, the expansion of the heavenly realm signified the strengthening of his domain and authority.

The other gods in attendance also had a moment of realization and became somewhat excited.

As the Olympians share the same lineage, the expansion of the sky's domain would mean they could also share in the benefits to some extent.

Zeus glanced over the assembly, taking in all the expressions of the gods, and then made a final decision.

"In that case, we'll do as you suggest, Athena."

With such a method that offered only benefits and no harm, the gods naturally had no objections.

Relieved his grandfather wouldn't be made an example of, Hermes couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and with a smile, teasingly said.

"I had thought your valiant exploits in the forefront of battle were already praised enough, but compared to your wisdom, your might seems to pale in comparison. Is there still time for the Muse Goddesses to revise their songs and compositions?"

Seeing Hermes making faces, the gods couldn't help but chuckle.

Even Zeus's mood lightened considerably as he looked at his son, who livened up the atmosphere, and playfully scolded him.

"Hermes, stop your chattering, you're the fastest one here, don't just stand there, go and escort Atlas to carry out his sentence."

Hermes, though putting on a show of being aggrieved on the outside, secretly rejoiced inside.

After all, it was his own grandfather, and by personally overseeing him, he could spare him some hardship and he would also have an explanation for his mother, Maia.

As they watched Hermes cheerfully leave the temple, Zeus's gaze returned to Goddess Athena, the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

In terms of valor, she had defeated Atlas, saving the face of Olympus; in terms of wisdom, she had managed to resolve disputes and presented the best solution, truly a perfect daughter.

However...

Zeus, seated upon his throne, seemed to consider something, and a shadow of gloom spread in his eyes, then he gently waved his hand.

"Well then, since the matter is settled, you are all dismissed."

The gods obeyed and began to disperse, one by one leaving the scene.

Moments later, as the sacred flame flickered and danced, Zeus, sitting alone on his throne in the empty, dim temple, caressed the cold armrest, his eyes shimmering in the dark.

Was it really just a coincidence?

An inexplicable unease caused Zeus to furrow his brow as he stepped out of the temple, his figure soon disappearing into the dense night.