After bidding farewell to Metis, I began my journey to Olympus, transformed into a falcon.
It wasn’t a peaceful flight; every time a sea monster tried to hunt me, I returned the favor, absorbing its divine energy.
After all, mosquito flesh is still flesh, and I needed every drop of power for what lay ahead.
Days later, Mount Olympus rose before me, taller than the clouds.
It was a colossal mass.
For a moment, my mind played tricks on me, and I began to ponder the strange anatomy of the Earth and the shape-shifting abilities of the gods… but I decided to keep my theories to myself, out of sheer boredom.
Upon reaching the slopes, I saw the procession of mortals ascending to deliver their offerings.
I blended in with them and began the trek.
Eight hours of steep ascent.
More than one slipped and perished along the way; If I weren’t a god, I’d think they did it for purification, but honestly, it seemed more like a sadistic sport to see who would make it out alive.
Getting to the gate was another ordeal.
Two hours of waiting under the blazing sun.
I felt like blasting the entrance with lightning; now I understood perfectly why in myths the gods ate everything: what a waste of time being immortal is!
When the gates finally opened, we were greeted by nymphs of breathtaking beauty.
An easy 8 or 9.
Someday, when all this was over, they would be mine.
Calm down, Zeus, focus, I told myself.
I don’t know if this body comes with a fully activated sex drive or if I’m just like this, but I’ll have to investigate it thoroughly when I’m king.
Upon entering the royal hall, there they were. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Helios, Atlas, Cronus, and my mother, Rhea, exactly as I remembered her.
Beside him stood the supposed father of the year, Cronus, brandishing a scythe ablaze.
How on earth did the god of time have a flaming scythe?
I had no idea, but there it was.
The mortals handed out their trinkets, and it was my turn.
I distributed a few small gifts to the others and slipped a discreet envelope to Rhea.
Finally, I approached Cronus.
“Last but not least,” I said with a practiced smile.
“I’ve invented this thing called ‘wine,’ a drink made from grapes from the deep forest for my King and God.”
The guy was suspicious.
He sniffed it, tasted a drop with his finger, and finally, downed the whole bottle in one gulp.
An hour passed, then two…
I began to fear the potion was a dud.
But at the fourth hour, his face began to change color, he started belching like a madman, and at the sixth hour, he staggered.
The other Titans tried to approach, but he, in his arrogance, pushed them all away.
Then, the purge began.
First came Hestia, the tips of her hair ablaze.
They were all naked and bewildered, like newborn babies.
My eyes went straight to them; they were so beautiful that, for a second, I understood why the Zeus of myth marries them all: only a fool wouldn’t.
“Come with me if you don’t want me to devour you again!” I shouted at them.
I don’t know if it was the shock, but the Titans froze as we ran toward the exit.
Before we crossed the threshold, Cronus raised his head and looked me in the eye.
I removed my disguise.
“I am Zeus,” I said, feeling authority vibrate in my voice.
“Your son, and your future God King.” The stunned titan turned to look where Rhea had been, but thanks to my note, she had already vanished without anyone noticing her absence.
Before disappearing, I gave him one last warning:
“Prepare yourself, because I will soon return and defeat you.”
Their screams of hatred and fear chased us through the corridors until we emerged into the open air.
We reached the edge of an abyss, and I looked at them.
“Do you know how to transform?” they asked, shaking their heads.
“It’s easy: think of an animal and let it happen.”
I transformed into an eagle instantly, and they, little by little, began to follow my example.
With the sky as ours and destiny marking the path, we began our flight toward our new lair: the cave of Mount Ida.
The real war was about to begin.