Metis was the Goddess of Wisdom from the previous era, whereas Athena, in the future, would be not only the Goddess of Wisdom but also the Goddess of War and Victory, and even hold Divine Offices over the arts, weaving, painting, gardening, craftsmanship, agriculture, animal husbandry, navigation, military affairs, law, and order.
In other words, whether Metis became one of his subordinate gods didn't really matter—but Athena was absolutely indispensable.
"You lied to me. Bolos could never have been resurrected."
At this moment, Metis—whom he had considered relatively unimportant—revealed a face of utter despair.
After being swallowed by Zeus, she should have perished long ago. But she was unwilling to accept that. Of the two children in her womb, Athena had already matured and been born within Zeus's belly. But the other child—the one from the prophecy—had never even been given a chance to come into the world.
Knowing she was doomed, she pinned all her hopes on the mysterious incantation. She wanted her youngest son to appear and, as the Fates had foretold, overthrow Zeus and become the new King of the Gods.
If that happened, she could die in peace.
But now, the appearance of the boy before her made it painfully clear: it had all been a lie.
The bizarre Divine Magic incantation had not brought her son Bolos to life—it had resurrected a foreign god instead.
"You're right. I did lie to you."
The youth looked down at the frail, prostrate Metis and said softly, "Your son Bolos—the prophesied God of Opportunity and Creation—was doomed the moment you ignored my warning and came to see Zeus."
"I gave you a chance. I told you to stay away from Zeus until after the birth. But you didn't listen."
The Goddess of Wisdom Metis had merely been one of his three candidates for resurrection.
In fact, becoming Bolos had been the worst option among them.
That was why he'd even advised her during pregnancy to avoid Zeus—hoping this candidate would be eliminated early.
Unfortunately, Metis didn't listen and ended up being swallowed whole by Zeus.
Now, he, along with Metis and Athena, was trapped inside Zeus's belly.
Getting out was still a problem.
…
"You're right," Metis murmured. "Once Zeus senses a threat to his throne, he'll care nothing for the help I once gave him."
Lying on the ground in grief, her graceful figure heaved—she looked more like a tragic, beautiful mortal than a goddess.
Bolos rubbed his chin, watching the elegant figure—or rather, the goddess—and hesitated: should he save her?
Now that the Celestial Tree had transformed into the Tree of Life, it had produced ten spheres—each one representing a fundamental sephira on the divine path he was meant to walk.
In every sphere, there was a green leaf of law. Any Divine Being who willingly consumed a leaf would become one of his ten foundational subordinate gods.
According to the Tree of Life, both he and the Divine Being who accepted a leaf would gain tremendous benefits.
What exactly the benefits were, Bolos didn't yet know.
However, once a green leaf was consumed, the choice could not be changed.
These ten beings would become the most vital cornerstones of the divine pantheon Bolos was destined to establish.
So now, Bolos was weighing whether to offer Metis this opportunity.
Among all the Divine Beings in Greek Myths, there were plenty he found suitable.
Even without looking far, Athena herself was a goddess he was determined to secure. And then there was Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt and fellow virgin goddess.
Add to that the hearth goddess Hestia, who enjoyed mingling with mortals—her presence would make the divine cultivation path far more pleasant. Without any one of these three, Bolos would feel a deep sense of incompletion.
And beyond them were others—Themis, goddess of justice; Hera, Queen of the Gods; Hecate, goddess of r and Magic; the Fates; the Horae—so many compatible goddesses to choose from.
Bolos hadn't even seriously considered any male Divine Beings yet.
Of course, that wasn't due to any prejudice. If a male deity were particularly suitable, he'd certainly consider including him.
But Metis—well, in the myths, she was mostly a plot device: helping Zeus seize the throne and giving birth to Athena. Her own character was scarcely developed.
Bolos wasn't even sure whether she was worth one of the leaves.
"Mother..."
Athena, seeing her mother on the verge of death, couldn't help but let her tears fall.
The mother and daughter had spent many years trapped in this dark, eternal void.
Now, her mother was at death's door—and she would soon be left all alone.
Metis beckoned her closer. Holding back her sorrow, she smiled gently.
"If you ever get the chance to leave this place… live well."
"The deaths of Bolos and me were all arranged by fate. Don't resent Zeus. He's your father. Once you're out, he will treat you as the daughter of the King of the Gods."
She was dying. Her daughter wasn't one of the fate-designated Divine Beings, and if she ever escaped, there was no need to go against Zeus.
Athena pursed her lips without replying. Her eyes held hatred and hesitation.
No matter what she would become in the future, for now, she was just a poor girl who had lost her brother and was about to lose her mother.
At that moment, the impostor "Bolos" smirked and said mockingly,
"What? You're not even going to ask her to avenge you?"
Metis looked weakly at "Bolos," resentment burning in her gaze—for both Zeus and "Bolos." She gritted her teeth.
"Zeus is already the King of the Gods. He'll only grow stronger."
"The only hope was Bolos—the child of prophecy. And now that you've destroyed him, what is left for revenge?"
"Bolos" smiled and stepped forward, crouching beside Metis's fallen form.
He cupped her face in his hand and murmured in a seductive tone,
"Have you never thought of taking revenge… yourself?"
He had made his decision.
After all, Metis was the one who had indirectly helped him enter this world.
As the "mother" of the body he now occupied, he could make a small sacrifice and give her this opportunity.
Metis, too weak to resist, let him hold her face. She sighed, "I'm already dying. Even if I escaped, what could I do with no power—I'm not even a Supreme God."
Bolos patted her pale cheek, flashing a mischievous grin.
"What if I told you I could let you walk out of here alive? Would you seek revenge then?"
"I would. Mother would," Athena answered before Metis could.
"I can really live?"
Hope sparked in Metis's fading eyes. After all, who truly wants to die?
Now, inside Zeus's body, she had fought a long and losing battle against his lightning powers. Her Divine Power was utterly drained.
The blood she used to form magical arrays had long since run dry. Her Divine Office had been stripped by Zeus, leaving her without a shred of Authority.
For a Divine Being, bloodline and Authority were the foundation of Divine Power—and Metis had lost them all.
Even without another strike of lightning, she was already on the verge of disappearing.
She couldn't imagine how she might survive.
Bolos shook his other hand.
The Tree of Life shimmered, and ten green leaves dropped before Metis.
"Choose one," he said.
"Then, speak this contract aloud to the Tree of Life, and you will live."
Athena glanced at the strange green leaves, then at the contract glowing in the air. Her expression darkened—she wanted to speak but remained silent.
The contract was terrifying.
Under normal circumstances, she would never agree to let her mother bind herself to such a contract.
But now, she waited quietly—for her mother to make her own decision.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]