Theron took the initiative to leave the Sacred Mountain.
Although Uranus made a token effort to persuade him to stay, he was secretly pleased when Theron insisted on departing.
Even though the divine banquet had only just begun, Uranus readily allowed Gaia to escort him away.
Unlike the cordial atmosphere when they had arrived, the journey back was heavy with silence.
The reason was obvious.
Theron’s prophecy.
Uranus remained unexpectedly magnanimous, confident that his overwhelming strength made the prophecy impossible to fulfill.
Gaia, however, felt no such confidence.
She loved both her husband and her children dearly.
The prophecy had planted the seeds of conflict between father and child—something she could never accept.
The gentle Earth Mother, renowned for her boundless compassion, now wore an icy expression.
The overwhelming aura of a Primordial Goddess radiated from her without restraint.
For a god as weak as Theron, the pressure was immense.
When they had first met, Gaia had deliberately concealed her divine presence to avoid overwhelming him.
Now, she made no attempt to hide her dissatisfaction.
“Lord Theron.”
“Do you understand what your prophecy will do to the bond between a father and his children?”
“They were meant to live in harmony.”
Theron sighed helplessly.
“Honored Earth Mother…”
“I never wished to make such a prophecy.”
“But I could not refuse the request of His Majesty, the King of the Gods.”
“I merely spoke truthfully about what I witnessed.”
“The authority of the King of the Gods is not something I can oppose.”
Although Gaia remained unhappy, she knew he was telling the truth.
She had personally watched him refuse several times within the divine hall.
It was Uranus who had insisted.
How could she expect a weak god like Theron to defy the King of the Gods?
Nor could she expect him to fabricate comforting lies.
Either choice would likely have earned him Uranus’s wrath.
She understood.
But understanding did little to ease the heaviness in her heart.
After taking a slow breath to calm herself, she asked,
“Then tell me this, Lord Theron.”
“Will this prophecy truly come to pass?”
“Is there any way to prevent it?”
Theron lowered his head apologetically.
“Honored Earth Mother…”
“Great Queen of the Gods…”
“I wish I could answer.”
“But I am simply too weak.”
“I have only spoken what I was able to see.”
“I cannot interpret fate itself.”
“So…”
“I do not know whether it can be changed.”
“I see…”
Disappointment filled Gaia’s eyes.
She said nothing more.
Instead, she silently pondered how she might resolve the crisis foretold by the prophecy.
In the end, she did not direct her anger toward Theron.
There was no point.
Besides…
Such behavior was contrary to the benevolent nature of the Earth Mother.
She escorted him back to the endless void.
Just as she was about to depart, Theron’s voice stopped her.
“Lady Gaia.”
“If, one day…”
“You find yourself burdened by other concerns…”
“You may come to me again.”
“Perhaps…”
“At that time, I will be able to ease your worries.”
Gaia’s lips twitched slightly, as though she wished to smile.
But the smile never came.
She still believed Theron was far too weak to be of any real help.
Even so, she politely nodded.
“Very well.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Theron.”
Without another word, she turned and hurried back to the Sacred Mountain.
The moment she arrived…
She sensed an atmosphere so oppressive that it seemed almost solidified.
The Twelve Titans stood with their heads lowered.
Every one of them remained perfectly still, not daring to make the slightest movement.
Before them stood Uranus.
His calm gaze swept across each of his children.
As the embodiment of Patriarchy, Uranus possessed absolute authority over them.
That authority was not limited to divine power.
It extended to status itself.
Before such a father, the Twelve Titans felt instinctive fear and reverence.
Like mice standing before a cat.
Seeing their timid submission only deepened Uranus’s contempt.
He found it impossible to believe these children could ever overthrow him.
As for the prophecy’s mention of assistance from their relatives…
His gaze drifted toward the distant sea.
There dwelled Pontus, the God of the Sea, another child Gaia had conceived on her own.
Before Uranus had become King of the Gods, Pontus had possessed divine authority equal to his own.
Now…
After Uranus’s ascension…
Pontus no longer posed any threat.
Compared to the authority of the King of the Gods, his power had become insignificant.
The more Uranus considered the matter, the more convinced he became that Theron’s prophecy was absurd.
Still…
None of these thoughts showed upon his face.
His gaze toward his children remained cold and imposing.
The moment Gaia returned and witnessed this scene, worry filled her heart once again.
After a brief moment of thought, she walked to Uranus’s side and spoke softly.
“My beloved Uranus…”
“Perhaps the truth is not what we fear.”
“Lord Theron’s abilities are limited.”
“It is possible his prophecy was inaccurate.”
“Perhaps…”
“We should seek guidance from someone even more qualified.”
Despite everything, Gaia still hoped that Theron’s weakness had caused him to misread fate.
Uranus raised an interested eyebrow.
“My Queen…”
“And who do you believe we should consult?”
“Not long ago, Lady Nyx, the Goddess of Night, gave birth to the Three Fates.”
“They are the observers of fate itself.”
“Perhaps…”
“They can tell us more.”
“The Three Fates…”
A thoughtful look appeared in Uranus’s eyes.
When the sisters had been born, even the world itself had undergone a remarkable transformation.
That alone proved how extraordinary their divine authority was.
Although they merely observed fate…
Anything connected to fate was inherently powerful.
No deity could truly control destiny.
Even as its observers, the Three Fates possessed authority infinitely greater than that of simple Prophecy.
The difference between the two was immeasurable.
After all…
Prophecy was merely a branch of Fate.
Not to mention…
Theron was so weak that he had not even fully mastered the authority he possessed.
He had needed Uranus, as King of the Gods, to acknowledge his divine office before it could even stabilize.
Looking back…
Perhaps consulting Theron in the first place had been a mistake.
They should have sought out the Three Fates from the very beginning.
No…
That wasn’t quite right.
Had they simply ignored the words of such a weak god…
None of these concerns would have arisen in the first place.
Uranus sighed inwardly.
Still, he nodded.
After seeing the worry in Gaia’s eyes, he answered gently,
“Very well.”
“Once the divine banquet concludes…”
“We shall visit the Three Fates.”
Only then did relief finally appear on Gaia’s face.
But in the very next moment…
Uranus gently moved her leaning figure aside.
His voice remained gentle.
Yet it allowed no room for argument.
“For now…”
“I believe it is necessary to teach our children proper conduct…”
“And how to fulfill the responsibilities of their divine authorities.”
The smile on Gaia’s face instantly froze.