Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

"Okay."

Pitha, who had long since lost her own opinion, nodded immediately and, together with Deucalion, knelt down and began to pray silently.

"Themis, goddess revered by all spirits, whose light shines upon all, your thoughts remain ever pure, your judgments never false."

"Please hear me out,"

"Life has left the earth, only we remain in the mortal realm. I have lost my way forward, please guide me."

Her voice was not loud, but being near the Oracle, a place marked by the gods, her plea carried. After what felt like an eternity, just when Pitha thought the goddess was not inclined to heed her, a voice whispered in her heart.

"I understand... Wait here, offspring of Iapetus, the guidance you seek will soon come."

Relieved, Pitha couldn't help but smile, while next to her, Deucalion's eyes flickered with the look of a survivor of a catastrophe.

The wisdom inherited from his father proved especially effective in adversity. During their prayers, Deucalion had an inkling of what was to come.

They had survived the disaster as if by a joke, while mightier beasts than them were consumed by sea monsters to the last, yet he and Pitha were not harmed. This was not an act of kindness from the gods, but because they were still of use.

But being of use now did not imply being of use forever. The existence of the Goddess of Justice may allow them to evade disaster when they become 'useless.'

After all, they were not deities, and just as beings as insignificant as them could be wiped out with a mere gesture from the gods for convenience, they could also be spared because of another god's whim.

As for their own opinions, none would care, just as no one had cared for the lives lost under the floods.

Humans, at least, had garnered attention, while the rest of life, the gods didn't even bother to glance at them.

...

Squeak———

——Bang

Atop Mount Olympus, the doors of the Divine Palace slowly closed. The gods took their seats one by one, the atmosphere growing even stranger.

The God of the Ocean and his consort had left. Though Zeus had politely invited them to the feast out of courtesy, neither Oceanus nor Thaesis seemed keen on staying for discomfort.

After today, the cordial relationship they once enjoyed was no more, but the oceanic couple did not care. Zeus's ruthlessness towards Metis had made clear to them the true nature of the new Divine King. For him, interests clearly outweighed so-called emotions.

If that was the case, they saw no need to maintain even the facade of a relationship.

Elsewhere, facing his formidable foster parents, replete with implicit threats, the Divine King eventually compromised.

He did not relinquish his claim to the oceans, even though he wasn't particularly keen on protecting Poseidon's interests. Regardless of his true feelings, Zeus was forced to allow the Oceanus lineage to meddle in matters of faith, even though this posed an immense threat to him.

The offspring of the Oceanus lineage filled the earth as river gods and lake gods. Despite the world having undergone several wars, leading most new-born rivers to lack corresponding territorial gods, their progeny remained numerous. Zeus could almost foresee his foster father spreading his influence through the new humans.

But he went ahead with it because if he chose to abandon Poseidon first, leaving aside how many deities on Mount Olympus would stand with him, Hades in the Underworld would completely sever ties with him. And this time, even Hestia would likely not stand by Zeus.

So even though he had disagreements with Poseidon, Zeus still rejected the original Goddess of the Ocean's other demand, swallowing the bitter pill alone.

"It's so unstable. Here I thought the Divine King's word was law,"

Aphrodite said from her own seat, resting her chin in her hand, as beautiful and seductive as ever, though her thoughts were quite the opposite of the smile she wore.

The Goddess of Beauty had thought the Divine King was so powerful, but now it seemed, not so much after all.

"That's normal, apart from the first Divine King, there has been no ruler who truly governed the world. Zeus might have discovered faith, but frankly, I'm not very optimistic about him,"

The God of Sun muttered agreement, momentarily distracted by the unintentional charm of the Goddess of Beauty. He quickly gathered his wits and looked up at the Divine King at the head of the hall.

Luckily, either he wasn't heard or Zeus didn't deign to look his way.

"Enough, the matter is settled. In any case, the old humans are gone."

Detecting a wavering of hearts, Zeus spoke gravely from his throne:

"Now, with all settling, it's time to begin a new era."

"Zephyrus."

"Sire, your command, please."

The Wind God stood from his place, ever obedient to the word.

"As the waters recede from the mortal realm, seek out the children of Prometheus and Epimetheus. Through their hands, let new humans come forth. But remember—"

Gazing at the God of West Wind, the Divine King said quietly:

"The new humans need no guidance. Let them discover the world for the first time on their own. The post-deluge earth won't be so dangerous for a while, and they won't suffer heavy casualties; but it will be tough enough for them to learn the hardships of survival."

"Then, Sire, what of Deucalion and Pitha?"

Zephyrus asked again, respectful in his tone.

"They... Humans don't need them. Humans only need the gods."

Hesitating briefly, Zeus ultimately gave a noncommittal answer. Yet, seeing the West Wind God's knowing nod, he believed the other understood what to do.

With a nod in response, Zephyrus disappeared like the wind, and the great hall fell silent once again. This time, however, Zeus could see their spirits being much more attentive.

To them, their own immediate interests seemed to weigh more than any humiliation faced by the Divine King before the Gods of the Ocean. Yet before that, there was still one more matter to attend to.

"Poseidon, my noble brother,"

With a smile finally gracing his face, Zeus felt some of the gloom lift from his heart:

"Do you remember the wager you once proposed?"