All along, Zeus believed that Metis's child would one day repeat the path of Cronus and himself—overthrow the father and become the King of the Gods.
That was why he had steeled himself to swallow Metis whole, preventing the child from being born.
When he later learned that the child had appeared on Mount Olympus through some unknown means and was being raised by Hera as her adoptive son, Zeus became even more fearful.
He thought the prophecy might already be unfolding, which was why he did not hesitate to try and kill the child in front of the gods.
But now, the Goddess of Justice, Themis, told him that in the future, other children of prophecy would appear. This was something Zeus had never considered.
He turned his gaze toward the Fates. "Is this true?"
The Fates nodded. "Yes. After the God of Opportunity and Creation, there will be the God of Wine. In fact, Apollo also carries a trace of that Destiny."
Everyone already knew that the God of Opportunity and Creation referred to the boy before them—Bolos.
As for the God of Wine, they weren't sure who that was.
But Apollo—they all knew him well. He was Zeus's eldest son, whom he had proudly shown off for years. No one had expected that even Apollo might carry the destiny of overthrowing Zeus.
"There is even a strange offshoot—a demigod born of you, Zeus, and a mortal woman—who nearly wipes out the entire Olympus Divine Beings."
Before the gods could even process Zeus's changing expression, this new revelation sent a wave of panic through them.
A demigod who could nearly kill all the Divine Beings of Olympus? Could such a thing even be called a demigod?
What kind of demigod could be so absurdly powerful?
"Don't worry. That is only a branch of destiny. Unless the King of the Gods and the gods keep making the wrong choices, it will never become the main path of fate."
Themis's words brought some relief to the gods.
But Bolos, who had once switched places with her, seemed lost in thought. "Zeus's son, a demigod, wiping out Olympus… That sounds awfully familiar. Doesn't that match the story of a certain bald man?"
"Branch of destiny… Interesting. I really hope to master the Grand Destiny Art soon, so I can see through and rewrite fate."
…
"So, Zeus, do you still intend to kill Bolos?"
Themis asked again, and all eyes turned to Zeus.
Zeus opened his mouth, looking around at the gods—familiar and unfamiliar, from Olympus and those attending the banquet. All of them seemed to be against him.
At last, the King of the Gods waved his hand. "Forget it. I won't kill him, nor will I strip him of his Divine Office."
"But, I have one condition."
"What condition?"
Before Bolos could speak, Hestia had already asked.
"He must swear a deadly oath never to ascend Mount Olympus again," Zeus said, glancing at Hestia. Thinking of her Authority and laws, he continued, "Otherwise, he shall be bound to a cross and burned alive in front of all beings."
"Bolos, agree to it."
"Child, just take the oath."
Queen of the Gods Hera and the Goddess of the Hearth Hestia both looked at Bolos with delight, hoping he would swear the oath.
Beyond them, the Divine Mother Rhea, the Goddess of Justice Themis, and many other Olympus gods, all for their own reasons, wished to see Bolos make the vow.
"Tied to a cross and burned alive? Sounds like a decent way to die."
Bolos chuckled inwardly. "I accept. I'll die like that once in the future."
He seemed to see a future where Bolos would die—only for a new Divine Being to be born three days later.
To walk the path of faith, it seemed a Divine Being had to pass through this step.
"Since he agrees, let the oath be sworn. Let the Goddess of the Styx bear witness."
The Goddess of the Styx, eldest among the three thousand Oceanids and the goddess of oaths, witnessed all vows made by the living.
Anyone who broke their oath would face punishment from her Authority.
"Very well."
The Goddess of the Styx approached Bolos, and a shadowy river seemed to rise behind her.
It was one of the Underworld's four rivers, representing hatred and wrath.
As the final river one must cross to enter the Underworld, Divine Beings who crossed it lost all divinity. That's why oaths were made before this river—also called the River of Oaths.
As the river's ruler, the Goddess of the Styx was usually just an ordinary Supreme God.
But before those who violated their vows, her power far surpassed that of most Supreme Gods, and all gods feared her.
Bolos knew this plump goddess with her waterfall of black hair and smooth face. Without keeping her waiting, he spoke his oath directly.
"I, Bolos, swear today never to return to Mount Olympus. Should I break this vow, I shall be bound to a cross and burned alive in front of all beings."
With the oath complete, Zeus finally relaxed.
He waved a hand. "Leave. I don't want to see you again. Don't ruin the banquet."
Bolos didn't look at him, but instead turned to Hera. "I'm leaving, Hera."
Hera descended in front of him and hugged him tightly. After letting go, she said, "Bolos, my child, I bless you in the name of the Queen of the Gods: you shall always be wealthy, you shall be the symbol of all things beautiful in the mortal world, and no matter the difficulty you face, you shall always find a way."
Hera's blessing could not grant Authority like Zeus's could.
But so long as she remained Queen of the Gods, Bolos could channel aspects of her will, gaining powers akin to those of a Divine Office.
Wealth, beauty, opportunity—for Zeus, these were not considered powerful Divine Offices, so he did not oppose Hera's blessing.
Whether he admitted it or not, Bolos was the child Hera had raised for five years.
Receiving her blessing, Bolos left the Olympus Divine Temple.
The gods all believed this would be both the first and last time Bolos ever set foot in that temple.
As long as the oath remained, as long as Zeus and the Goddess of the Styx lived, they would never allow Bolos to return to Mount Olympus.
"I will return."
As the gods resumed their banquet, Bolos departed Mount Olympus and looked back once more.
He knew that in the world of myth, oaths would eventually be broken.
"Since I've descended Mount Olympus, it's time to claim my Divine Artifact, the Magic Gold-Banded Cudgel, and then go to the mortal world and embark on the path of faith."
Bolos had long known how his future path would unfold.
Even if Zeus hadn't driven him from Olympus, he would have left on his own.
His destiny did not lie in the Divine Realm—it lay in the mortal world.
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