The time had come to leave.
For years I had trained relentlessly.
I had strengthened my body.
I had strengthened my soul.
I had strengthened my divinity.
My control over lightning had reached levels I hadn’t even imagined possible when I arrived in this world.
But even so, it wasn’t enough.
Because there was a vast difference between being powerful and being invincible.
Cronus still ruled.
The Titans still ruled.
And although I was certain I could defeat many of them, facing them all at once would be foolish.
In my past life, I had seen too many men die because they believed they were invincible.
I wouldn’t make the same mistake.
I needed allies.
I needed information.
I needed to start moving the pieces on the board.
And the first piece was Metis.
The Titaness of Wisdom.
According to the myths I remembered, she was the one who helped the original Zeus defeat Cronus.
If anyone could become a valuable ally, it was her.
The morning of my departure, I found Amalthea watching the sunrise.
The mountains shimmered in the golden sunlight.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“You’re leaving.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
She smiled sadly.
“I knew this day would come.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Ever since you were little, you looked beyond the mountains.”
Her eyes met mine.
“You were never meant to stay here.”
I felt a strange sensation in my chest.
Throughout my past life, I had never had a true home.
And now that I had one, I had to leave it.
I approached her slowly.
“Thank you for everything.”
Amalthea seemed surprised.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Yes, I do.”
I smiled.
“You were my family.”
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.
Finally, she raised a hand and ruffled my hair.
Like she used to when I was little.
“Then come back alive.”
“I will.”
“Promise me.” I looked her straight in the eyes.
“I promise.” With those words, I turned around.
Then I jumped.
The ground cracked beneath my feet.
The air exploded around me.
And I became a golden bolt of lightning that pierced the sky.
For days I traveled the world.
Mountains.
Oceans.
Forests.
Deserts.
I explored regions no mortal could reach in a lifetime.
Following clues.
Traces of divine energy.
Almost invisible signs.
Until I finally found what I was looking for.
A vast forest hidden among mountains.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary.
But my senses could perceive the immense power hidden within.
Barriers.
Thousands of them.
Layers upon layers of divine protection.
I smiled.
“I’m definitely in the right place.”
I moved forward.
The barriers tried to stop me.
But after years of studying divine energy, passing through them wasn’t particularly difficult.
Upon crossing the last one, the landscape changed completely.
It was like entering another world.
Gigantic trees.
Crystal-clear rivers.
Flowers of impossible colors.
And a tranquility that seemed to envelop the entire place.
Then I saw her.
Sitting by a lake.
Reading a scroll.
A woman of extraordinary beauty.
Dark hair.
Flawless skin.
Intelligent eyes.
A calm, yet immensely powerful presence.
Metis.
The Titaness of Wisdom.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I understood why so many stories spoke of her beauty.
It was breathtaking.
However, what was most striking was the serenity she exuded.
As if nothing could disturb her.
I took a step forward.
A branch cracked beneath my foot.
Metis looked up.
And for the first time, her eyes met mine.
Her calm expression vanished.
Surprise appeared on her face.
I could feel her trying to analyze me.
Measure me.
Understand me.
But something confused her.
A lot.
Because the divine presence emanating from me was too great for someone who, according to the world, shouldn’t even exist.
“Who are you?” she asked slowly.
I smiled.
I had waited a long time for this moment.
“My name is Zeus.”
For the first time since I’d seen her, Metis’s eyes widened.
The Titaness of Wisdom was surprised.
And that told me everything I needed to know.
The game had just begun.