Poseidon, meanwhile, was looking off into the distance at the palace the Cyclopes were building for him, and was struggling with a dilemma.
Even in Greek and Roman mythology, Poseidon didn’t hold much narrative weight, and he knew that he only obtained complete sovereignty over the sea after marrying Amphitrite, but he doubted whether such a massive war had ever occurred.
On top of that, the Thetis he knew and the Thetis of the present didn’t match at all, which bothered him.
“This is really strange. I’m sure Thetis never had this much presence….”
Poseidon knew that the myth was changing because he had become Poseidon, but he couldn’t help thinking that things were changing far too much.
As he was blankly mulling over these thoughts, the waters beside him surged in a great wave, and Styx, his partner during the Titanomachy, slid into view.
“You seem a little too relaxed, Poseidon.”
“Oh? Styx. What brings you here?”
“News of turbulence in the sea has reached even the Underworld.”
“Hahaha. How did that kind of gossip get all the way to the Underworld? I guess the gods have too much free time since the war ended.”
Styx gave a small, amused laugh at Poseidon’s completely carefree attitude, then placed a hand against her cheek and spoke.
“My, do you have any idea how shocking it is to the gods to hear that Poseidon is being shaken? Would you believe it if I told you that Hades sent me here?”
“Click. That bastard Hades is still hung up on Zeus’ throne? Why is he making such a fuss?”
“That has nothing to do with me. He simply asked me to assess your situation.”
“Same difference.”
Poseidon frowned at Styx’s words and took a great bite of his sea-apple.
Then he created a seat for Styx on a round, mushroom-shaped coral formation and, while looking out at the sunlit underwater landscape, spoke.
“Styx, look at that beautiful sea. What war or conquest could possibly belong in a place like this? Everything just flows as it will. This is nothing but untangling a knotted thread. And it’s simply the growing pains needed for the sea to become healthier.”
Styx sat on the mushroom-shaped coral and took in the beautiful ocean scenery, illuminated by the sunlight filtering down.
It was a mystery crafted by the Primordial Sea, Oceanus, together with the Father of All, Chaos.
Within that beauty, she looked at Poseidon—his youthful appearance, the blue hair like waves of the sea.
Even in war, he had always seemed like an easygoing boy by the shore.
But Styx had seen the truth before. That behind that refreshing smile lay the savageness of a violent wave.
“Poseidon, what will you do about my sisters and nieces? And no doubt Father will remain silent this time as well. He doesn’t like matters such as these.”
“And this situation… you already expect that there’s something pulling the strings behind it, don’t you?”
Poseidon looked out toward the vast coral forest, took another bite of his apple, and looked back at Styx as he answered.
“Well, who knows. But as I see it, someone among them needs to become one who sleeps deep in the Primordial Sea. A god who will make this Oceanus even stronger.”
In Poseidon’s eyes, as Styx watched him, rough waves were surging.
* * *
Every sea in the world trembled.
The waves rose high, storms raged, underwater earthquakes and volcanoes erupted, and natural disasters broke out everywhere.
Humans were swept away by the aftermath, and the vast majority died and vanished.
Olympus did not protect them, exactly as they had intended.
This marked the true end of the age of Kronos.
“Poseidon, on behalf of Olympus, I offer our gratitude.”
“Tsk. The Golden Race was bound to end up like this. Just like the ancient sea goddess Eurynome standing there beside you.”
Metis flinched at Poseidon’s words.
No one had noticed her coming from Olympus, and there were no signs that anyone had followed her.
At that moment, the water rippled and the goddess Eurynome appeared beside Metis.
“You really recognize me instantly, Poseidon.”
“How could I not, when you smell of the ancient sea? Since Pontos is over there in the battlefield, I suppose you came as well? For your old revenge. Do you think fate is on your side this time?”
“Don’t ask what you already know. It’s not proper manners for a god to force a goddess to speak her shame.”
Metis was shocked, first because someone had approached her without detection, and again because that someone was the goddess Eurynome.
She was one of the protogenoi who had once fought Pontos for dominion over the Primordial Sea.
“I am Metis, child of the sea and daughter of Oceanus. I offer my greetings.”
Once she knew who Eurynome was, Metis bowed with perfect courtesy. Eurynome had lost to Pontos, yes—but she was still one of the oldest gods of the sea.
“Yes, so you are Oceanus’ daughter. I hear you serve beside that child Zeus now?”
“Yes. I assist Zeus, ruler of the sky.”
“I bear no ill will toward you, so do not tense up. Even though you’re Oceanus’ child, I don’t resent Oceanus. That poor boy was pushed around by his father and by his father’s brother, Pontos.”
“The only one I hate is that detestable Pontos.”
The goddess Eurynome displayed fierce hatred toward Pontos.
In the myths of Pelasgus, she and Ophion were cast into the depths of Oceanus by Kronos and Rhea.
But in this world, she had been crushed by Gaea’s son Pontos instead—Ophion was effectively killed, and Eurynome barely escaped with her life.
Here, another figure with the same name, Eurynome daughter of Oceanus, existed. And there was even a lower-ranking nymph with the same name. Rumor said Pontos himself had chosen that name deliberately to mock the goddess Eurynome.
And the stories of Pontos’ cruelty were numerous enough that anyone could imagine what horrors he committed in that ancient battle.
“Poseidon, please listen to this goddess’ request. I cannot live in the same sea as that hateful Pontos.”
Poseidon understood her hatred. And he knew that this war had an artificial nature to it.
“Very well. I accept the request. If you distinguish yourself in this war, Pontos will become nothing more than one of the streams of this sea.”
“Good. I will not forget your generosity.”
Satisfied with his guarantee, Eurynome slipped away into the depths.
Rather than talk long, she clearly wanted to reach the battlefield and slit Pontos’ throat as quickly as possible.
After Eurynome left, only the silent ocean, Metis, and Poseidon remained.
“…It’s far more intense than Olympus predicted….”
“It has to be. That senile protogenoi Pontos is orchestrating everything here.”
“I heard Thetis was the one leading it.”
“You’ll see soon enough. Whether it’s truly that goddess-nymph leading everything… or whether a senile old god is doing something foul behind the scenes.”
Metis fell silent at Poseidon’s declaration.
If he was right, then her niece was far too pitiful.
“Poseidon, I’ll join the fight. There may be a poor child involved. And besides, Zeus told me to make sure you owe Olympus a favor.”
Poseidon squinted at her and waved a hand as if saying, “Do whatever you want.”
Metis, being a powerful daughter of Oceanus and a goddess of wisdom, would be a great help in this war.
“Fine. Consider it one debt I owe to Olympus.”
Metis nodded at his response, transformed into a blue shark, and surged away in a whirl of foam.
In the now quiet sea, Poseidon looked off into the distance—and saw Pontos, who was likewise surveying the battlefield.
Wrapped in a sinister black-green glow, his entire body emanating it and spreading that light to every god following him, Pontos looked no different from some corrupted god boss from a video game he used to enjoy in his previous life.
“Damn… life’s been a little too intense since becoming a god.”
Whether it was a sigh or amusement, Poseidon muttered and drew his spear.
Then he mounted the majestic sea steed he had named at his own whim: Sleipnir.
“Let’s go, Sleipnir. This isn’t the same place, but run just like your name.”
Hiiiiing.
With Sleipnir’s cry, Poseidon charged into the battlefield.
* * *
Boom boom boom boom
In the violent battlefield, the fiercest combat was between Poseidon and Pontos.
Poseidon, riding a white sea-horse with clear blue waves and eight bronze legs, and Pontos, riding a deep-sea beast with eight tentacles, jagged teeth, and a murky black-green glow, clashed with a contrast as clear as night and day.
If someone from Poseidon’s previous life had seen it, they would have called it a fight between a Demon King and a Hero.
Likewise, Poseidon’s army, wild and free, contrasted sharply with Pontos’ army, which moved in eerie, entranced unison—exact reflections of their respective masters’ natures.
“Strike! For Lord Poseidon!!!”
As the blue-wave nymphs charged on their sea-horses, the nymphs on the opposite side twisted their limbs unnaturally and rushed forward as if robbed of reason.
Clang
Puk—shhk
Even when the limbs of Pontos’ soldiers were stabbed or slashed by the sea-horse riders’ spears and blades, they felt no pain and rampaged even more wildly.
In response, Poseidon’s forces transformed freely, shifting their forms in ways best suited for each moment.
It was like watching berserkers who felt no pain fight a horde of slimes.
Watching all of this, Poseidon frowned at Pontos’ depravity.
“Maniac. So you did this to the nymphs, monsters, and gods who follow you.”
“Young fool. This is wisdom born of long ages. Look. See how your followers return to my side.”
Just as he said, the nymphs wounded by Pontos’ soldiers were soon infected by the black-green waves, losing their senses and turning on their own allies.
Berserkers who also spread contamination—there was nothing more horrifying.
“A so-called god…”
“You youngsters never understand. One must be ruthless when needed. Do you know who stands before you? My power as the oldest ruler of the sea has already dissolved into every ocean. A child like you cannot hope to oppose me.”
Poseidon didn’t answer Pontos’ taunt and simply swung his spear.
Each time Poseidon swung the trident, rough waves crashed down on Pontos.
Pontos swung two great clubs in response, shattering the surging waves.
Their battle was evenly matched, and as time passed, the situation began turning against Poseidon.
The problem was that the battles among the high gods were also deadlocked.
The high gods on Poseidon’s side, immune to Pontos’ corruption, attacked fiercely and pushed back the creeping power.
But the number of those succumbing to Pontos’ contamination increased endlessly, so their limits were inevitable.
Meanwhile, on Pontos’ side—
Amphitrite, Nereus, his wife Doris, and others were the core, fighting to protect their children, siblings, and sisters who had been overtaken by Pontos’ power.
Because of that, they focused on protecting their own rather than fighting with full force.
Since both sides’ strongest supporters were unable to fight seriously, the battlefield naturally tilted toward Pontos’ side, whose forces almost drove their soldiers mad.
“I didn’t expect you to join this war, Doris.”
“Sorry, Sister Styx. I couldn’t let my children die, be wounded, or be thrown into Tartarus.”
“Tsk, I don’t blame you, but I can’t call that a good choice either.”
Clang clang clang clang
Styx and Doris clashed fiercely, their weapons slicing so fast they were almost invisible, aiming for one another’s lives with the precision of powerful goddesses.
Elsewhere, Ceto and Nereus—Pontos’ own children—were fighting.
“I didn’t think you’d take Father’s side.”
“Father? Please. That thing’s a monster. Can it even be called a god?”
“Yet here you are fighting with all your might?”
“I have to save my daughters.”
“How foolish.”
“I know.”