Confident in the overwhelming power of his own divinity, Uranus did not believe Theron’s prophecy.
Nor did he believe that his children possessed the strength to overthrow him.
Even so, that did not stop him from using the prophecy as an excuse to vent his displeasure.
To Uranus, Theron’s words were an insult.
As the proud King of the Gods, how could he possibly be pleased after hearing such a prophecy?
Unfortunately, it was he who had demanded the prophecy in the first place.
And Theron was far too weak to be worth punishing.
For the King of the Gods to hold a grudge against such an insignificant deity would only bring ridicule upon himself.
So Uranus chose to appear magnanimous.
The Twelve Titans, however, were another matter.
They were his children.
They were also his subjects.
Whether as their father or as the King of the Gods, he had every right to “discipline” them.
Unlike Gaia, the benevolent Earth Mother, Uranus saw nothing wrong with taking out his anger on the innocent.
He was the King of the Gods.
The supreme ruler of the world.
Everything that existed should submit to his will.
Since he was displeased…
It was only natural for these gods to offer themselves as outlets for his anger.
To him, that was both their duty and their honor.
The authority of the King of the Gods erupted without restraint.
The Twelve Titans felt as though their souls were being torn apart.
The crushing divine pressure left them unable to breathe.
Both body and spirit were subjected to unbearable torment.
Having only recently been born, the young gods were overwhelmed with terror.
One after another, they fell to their knees.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably as they prostrated themselves before Uranus.
They desperately begged for forgiveness.
They pleaded for the King of the Gods to calm his anger.
Yet none of them even understood what crime they had committed.
Looking down at their pitiful appearance, Uranus’s eyes filled with contempt.
Even his voice carried unmistakable mockery.
“So…”
“This is how gods behave?”
“Groveling on the ground without the slightest dignity.”
“To think…”
“I fathered children like you.”
“You are a disgrace.”
The more he watched them, the more ridiculous Theron’s prophecy seemed.
These trembling cowards…
These pathetic creatures…
Were supposedly destined to overthrow him?
The very thought felt insulting.
Still dissatisfied, Uranus intensified the power of the King of the Gods.
As the Titans continued suffering beneath the crushing pressure, he leisurely lectured them.
He taught them how gods should conduct themselves.
How they should fulfill their divine authorities.
How they should contribute to the world’s growth.
Most importantly…
He instructed them that they must obey every command issued by their King.
Throughout the lecture, the twelve young gods remained kneeling.
Their bodies and souls endured relentless agony.
Not one of them dared cry out.
They feared that even the slightest sound would provoke even harsher punishment.
So they silently endured.
Watching them suffer, Uranus smiled in satisfaction.
His tone became increasingly relaxed.
He intended to crush any possibility of rebellion before it could ever take root.
Time passed.
No one knew how long.
Eventually, the Titans reached their limits.
Unable to bear the pain any longer, they began crying and pleading for mercy.
Only then did Gaia finally intervene.
Unable to watch any longer, the Earth Mother stepped forward.
“Your Majesty…”
“My beloved…”
“They are your children.”
“They are not your enemies.”
“Why must you treat them so cruelly?”
It was the first time since they had become husband and wife that gentle Gaia openly opposed Uranus.
It was also the first time she had condemned his actions.
Sensing the change in Gaia’s emotions, Uranus finally withdrew his divine authority.
Though he still appeared unsatisfied, the lengthy punishment came to an end.
He smiled gently, as though everything that had happened were utterly insignificant.
“My beloved Queen of the Gods…”
“It is time.”
“Let us visit the Three Fates.”
Gaia remained dissatisfied.
Yet as she looked at the man she loved, she ultimately swallowed her objections.
She simply nodded.
The Twelve young gods lay exhausted upon the ground.
Their faces were filled with relief at having survived.
Seeing that expression only amused Uranus even more.
Before departing, he looked down at them with open ridicule.
“My obedient children…”
“You truly put my mind at ease.”
“As a reward for such obedience…”
“I shall grant you a title.”
“From this day forward…”
“You shall be known as the Twelve Titans.”
In ancient speech, Titan meant the timid or the fearful.
The title itself was a mockery.
Uranus had branded his children as twelve cowards.
As the King of the Gods acknowledged by the world, his decree immediately became absolute.
The title could never be changed.
For proud deities…
It was an unbearable humiliation.
Yet as they gazed upon Uranus’s towering figure and felt his overwhelming divine authority…
Not one of them dared resist.
Even the thought of rebellion failed to arise.
Gaia disliked the title as well.
But there was nothing she could do.
She could only place her hopes upon the Three Fates.
Perhaps they would reveal a different future…
One that might soften Uranus’s attitude toward their children.
Passing through endless gray-black storms, they arrived at the sacred mountain where the Three Fates resided.
Within the magnificent palace…
The three beautiful goddesses carefully tended the countless threads of destiny.
Each thread embodied a living fate.
The divine aura surrounding the sisters was powerful and mysterious.
Although they could not rival Uranus or Gaia…
Their divine power already surpassed that of the Twelve Titans.
Considering that both sides had only recently been born…
The difference was astonishing.
To possess such strength from birth…
They truly deserved their status as daughters of Nyx, the Goddess of Night.
As expected…
This was what deities connected to Fate should be.
Powerful.
Mysterious.
Unlike a certain weak God of Prophecy who had once needed the King of the Gods simply to stabilize his own divine authority.
Gaia stepped forward politely.
“Honored Three Fates…”
“Please forgive our sudden visit.”
“We have come seeking guidance.”
“We wish to know the fate that awaits us.”
After glancing at Uranus beside her, she gathered her courage before asking,
“We also wish to know…”
“Whether my beloved Uranus will remain the eternal King of the Gods.”
The three sisters answered in perfect unison.
Their voices blended together like clear chimes echoing through the palace.
“Your Majesty, King of the Gods.”
“Your Majesty, Queen of the Gods.”
“Please forgive us…”
“But we cannot answer your question.”
Gaia looked puzzled.
“Why?”
“Have we offended you by coming here uninvited?”
The eldest sister, Clotho, gently shook her head.
“No.”
“We have only recently been born.”
“We are still too weak to glimpse the outline of fate.”
The second sister, Lachesis, continued,
“Perhaps…”
“After we have grown stronger…”
“We will be able to perceive a fragment of fate.”
Finally, the youngest sister, Atropos, concluded,
“If Your Majesties still wish to know at that time…”
“You may come to us again.”
Although disappointed, Uranus and Gaia had expected such an answer.
After all…
How could the destiny of the King of the Gods be so easily perceived?
Yet one thought lingered in Uranus’s mind.
If even the mighty Three Fates could not see his future…
How could a weak God of Prophecy like Theron possibly have done so?
It seemed…
Theron’s prophecy truly had been mistaken.
With that conclusion, Uranus finally put the matter completely out of his mind.