The weeks passed quickly.
While Metis researched the preparation of the substance they would one day use against Cronus, Zeus dedicated his time to training and exploring the wild territories dominated by monsters and primordial beasts.
Those creatures were dangerous for most of the young gods.
For Zeus, they were an opportunity.
That day, he stood before an enormous serpentine beast that dwelled in a nearby cavern.
The monster roared and lunged at him.
The battle was brief.
A bolt of lightning pierced the creature’s body, and it fell lifeless.
Zeus observed the corpse.
Something caught his attention.
A small amount of divine energy was slowly leaving the monster’s body.
It was weak.
Almost imperceptible.
But it was there.
“How strange.”
Instinctively, he reached out a hand.
The energy changed direction.
And entered his body.
Zeus opened his eyes.
He felt a slight increase in his divinity.
It wasn’t much.
But it was real.
For several seconds he remained motionless.
“Did I absorb its divinity?” That didn’t make sense.
He had never heard of such a thing.
However, during the following days he continued experimenting.
Each time he defeated a beast with divine power, a small part of that energy ended up inside him.
Upon returning, he found Metis working on several scrolls.
“I need to ask you something.” She looked up.
“Is it possible to absorb the divinity of another creature?” Metis blinked.
“What?”
“Divinity.”
“I heard the question.” The titan set the scroll aside.
“Why do you ask that?”
“Answer first.” Metis remained thoughtful.
“In theory, it should be impossible.”
“Impossible?”
“Divinity belongs to whoever possesses it.”
“Then no one can take it.” “As far as I know, no.” Zeus frowned.
“No one?”
“No one.”
“Never?”
“There are ancient stories.”
“Stories?”
“Rumors of beings who tried.”
“And?”
“They all failed.” Metis crossed her arms.
“For some reason no one understands, divinity rejects those who try to appropriate it.” Zeus was silent.
That was a problem.
Because he could do it.
“Interesting.” Metis’s eyes narrowed.
“Zeus.”
“Yes?”
“Why do you ask that?” For a few seconds he hesitated.
Then he made a decision.
“Because I think I can.” Silence filled the room.
“What?”
“I can absorb a small part of the divinity of the creatures I defeat.” Metis stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
“I just told you it’s impossible.”
“And yet it happens.” Metis remained motionless.
She tried to find an explanation.
She found none.
“Why are you telling me this?” The question came out almost in a whisper.
Zeus smiled.
“Because I trust you.” Metis blinked.
“That’s a bad idea.”
“I don’t think so.”
“We haven’t known each other for very long.”
“Long enough.”
“Not to share a secret capable of changing the world.” Zeus looked directly at her.
“You are my ally.” Metis felt her heart race slightly.
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
“You will also be my wife someday.” Metis closed her eyes for a few seconds.
“You keep saying that too easily.”
“Because it’s true.”
“You are impossible.”
“I’ve been told that too.” A small smile appeared on the Titaness’s face.
“If you can really do something like that…”
“I know.”
“Your potential is terrifying.” Zeus turned his gaze to the sky.
“It’s still not enough.” Metis followed his gaze.
For the first time, she understood something.
Zeus wasn’t seeking power out of ambition.
He was seeking it because he was convinced he would need it.
And that worried her more than anything else.
Because it meant that the enemies she expected to face in the future were far more dangerous than she had imagined.