"Hephaestus." Zeus turned toward his and Hera's eldest son, his voice warm as he summoned the recently returned god.
Regardless of their past grievances, the practical benefits this Major God brought to Olympus were enough to grant him a modicum of favor.
"Father."
From among the assembly, a god holding a forge hammer stepped forward. His features were rugged and ancient. At Zeus's call, his expression flickered with a touch of nervousness, radiating an aura of simple, pure honesty. It was difficult to imagine that this was the very individual who had forced the King of Gods to bow.
In truth, it had not been Hephaestus's own idea. This god, whose mind was consumed only by smelting and forging, was a rare and sincere soul; he was merely following the command of his mother, Hera.
Hephaestus was not truly hideous, but against the backdrop of the universally stunning Olympian deities, his appearance seemed dull and lacking. Thus, he had earned the title of the "ugliest god" on the mountain. He limped toward the center of the hall to pay his respects, submissively awaiting Zeus's decree.
"Build a Temple of Love for Aphrodite at the center of Mount Olympus."
The gods gasped in unison.
The center of the mountain? Aside from Zeus's Great Hall and Hera's Temple of Marriage, the center was sacred ground. By placing the Temple of Love there, Zeus was essentially preparing a gilded cage for a secret mistress right under the heavens.
"..."
Zeus's words nearly caused Hera to crush the golden chalice in her hand. Fine. Excellent, Zeus. It isn't enough for you to be a profligate; you now intend to feast beneath my very nose?
The White-armed Goddess struggled to suppress the fire in her heart, refusing to show weakness before the pantheon. She looked at the smug Aphrodite, then lowered her head for a moment. When she looked up, a cold, predatory smile touched her lips.
"Entrusting this task to Hephaestus is indeed most fitting," Hera said, her voice smooth and gentle. She appeared entirely oblivious to Zeus's hidden agenda, her dignified and elegant composure making the gods doubt their own eyes.
"After all, they shall soon be husband and wife. A husband building a sanctuary for his bride... what a charming tale that will be. Don't you agree, Zeus?"
"What!?"
"Did I hear that correctly? Aphrodite is marrying Hephaestus? Since when?"
"Hera's jealousy is striking again."
"The most beautiful and the ugliest... what a waste of a masterpiece."
Aphrodite's triumphant expression vanished, her face turning deathly pale. She glanced at the limping, honest-looking god beside her, her eyes flashing with revulsion. As the embodiment of all earthly beauty, she held no interest in this scarred, crippled deity, regardless of his royal lineage.
"Hera, do you realize what you are saying?" Zeus narrowed his eyes, displeasure radiating from him. In his grand design, he had planned to take the Goddess of Love as a lover and sire divine children with her, thereby keeping the Temple of Love under his direct control.
"Zeus, perhaps you have been too busy to remember. When you summoned Hephaestus back to the mountain, you promised him the hand of the most beautiful goddess as his wife. Well... here she is."
Hera smiled brightly and produced the contract signed between Zeus and Hephaestus. The golden divine runes shimmered with light—it was a King's promise, a vow that no power could erase.
The gods suddenly recalled the terms of the agreement. A King's oath was immutable. It seemed Aphrodite's marriage to the blacksmith was now set in stone.
The assembly looked at Aphrodite with newfound pity. The goddess herself stared at the terms of the contract in disbelief. She did not love Hephaestus, and she certainly did not wish to be his wife! She turned her emerald eyes toward Zeus, her gaze pleading and helpless, hoping the King would rescind the order.
"..."
Zeus's gaze flickered, and he pointedly avoided her eyes.
"In the name of the Goddess of Marriage, I grant the Goddess of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite, and the God of Fire and Forge, Hephaestus, a grand wedding. Gods of Olympus, you are all welcome to the feast."
The White-armed Goddess stood, raising her scepter high. Her Marriage Godhood flared, and the world itself acknowledged her decree. The union between Aphrodite and Hephaestus was sealed.
Having finished her work, the regal Queen shot her husband a mocking glance and departed without looking back.
Hebe, however, remained entirely unaware of these dramas. She was still deep within her temple, meditating upon the laws of the Ice Godhood. By the time she emerged from her seclusion, the entire mountain was already buzzing with gossip regarding the wedding of the century.
While Hephaestus claimed his prize and a resentful Aphrodite began to manipulate Zeus's lust to make him even more unfaithful—driving Hera's "mistress-catching" record to new heights—time flowed like a galloping white horse. To the gods, a month was but a blink of an eye.
On the day of the duel, Mount Olympus was a sea of activity. The gods were eager to witness the confrontation between Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, and Artemis, the Goddess of the Forest and Hunt. In their long, immortal lives, they never missed an opportunity for a spectacle.
Even the Sun God, Helios, had paused his chariot, spreading dark clouds to veil the horizon so he could attend with his sisters: Selene, the Goddess of the Full Moon, and Eos, the Goddess of the Dawn.
Under the eternally joyful sun of Olympus, the gods sat around the Divine Arena, gold chalices in hand, awaiting the combatants.
Artemis was already waiting. She had traded her elegant gown for hunting leathers. Her silver-gray hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, her face as bright and cold as the moon. Her eyes burned with battle intent, and her spirited, martial aura left the assembly impressed.
"What a pity," one male god lamented. "Artemis and Athena are both Virgin Goddesses. Such beauties, and yet..."
His words drew a chorus of sighs from his companions. Not all goddesses craved love. Athena and Artemis were different; one was a sharp, calculating goddess who looked down on passion, and the other was a sacred huntress who loathed physical intimacy. Both had sworn an oath upon the River Styx to remain eternal maidens.
The Styx was no ordinary river; it was the arbiter of all cosmic vows. To break an oath sworn upon its waters was to be dragged into the depths for eternity. This oath shielded the two goddesses from the harassment of male gods—no matter how beautiful they were, they weren't worth the price of one's life.
"Speaking of which, where is Lady Hebe? Why isn't she here yet?"
With Artemis present, the gods began searching for the other protagonist.
"Perhaps she's hiding in fear, hahaha!" some laughed, still clinging to the image of Hebe as a cowardly third-tier deity.
"Shh! The Queen is sitting right there! Do you want to die?"
"Ahem... the wine is getting to my head." The god quickly lowered his cup, cursing his own loose tongue. Hera was notoriously protective of her children.
"Hmph."
Hera overheard the whispers, but she remained composed. In the past, she might have punished them. Now, she sat regally, knowing that Hebe was no longer the girl they remembered. A slight smile touched her red lips as she anticipated the shock that would soon grip these foolish deities.
"Athena, how do you see this duel?" Apollo, the peerless God of Light, asked his companion.
"Hard to say. Ari's power and experience exceed Hebe's, but don't forget... her mother is famously protective."
Apollo went silent. As illegitimate children, they knew all too well the weight of Hera's hand.
"Lady Hebe has arrived!"
The maiden-like goddess walked forth, her hair—shining like the finest silk—tied up high. Her face was still youthful and pale, but she wore functional combat leathers. In her hand was the Jade Bow. A faint, knowing smile played on her rose-petal lips, and her violet eyes flashed with an unstoppable edge.
Hebe had not revealed her mature form. The fact that she had reached the first tier was a secret known only to Hera and Ares. It was her trump card, a lethal blow to be dealt when least expected.
"You finally show yourself," Artemis said, wiping her Silver Bow—her birthright artifact. As a natural moon goddess, even without the Moon's sovereignty, her bow allowed her to channel moonlight. It was the twin to Apollo's Golden Sun Bow.
"Good day, Lady Artemis." Polite etiquette was a standard Hebe refused to drop.
Zeus, seated at the highest point, waved his hand, formally declaring the Godhood Duel begun.
At his command, both goddesses radiated a killing intent. Without a word, they blurred into motion like hunting leopards, instantly putting distance between one another. Both were masters of long-range weaponry.
Artemis drew her Silver Bow with a practiced motion, and an arrow of condensed moonlight streaked out. Light is fast. Hebe's expression turned grave as she flipped backward, landing atop a massive Roman pillar to evade the strike.
Artemis sneered. With a flick of her hand, the arrow that had missed suddenly hooked upward, changing direction to strike at Hebe on the pillar. Her control over moonlight was equal to Selene's.
Hebe drew the Jade Bow. In an instant, an arrow of Purification and Youth condensed. The shaft glowed with a shimmering silver-green light, imbued with both a magic that could break through anything and an unstoppable vitality. The two arrows collided mid-air, creating a massive explosion that filled the arena with dust and smoke.
This first exchange gave both goddesses a measure of the other's strength. Their expressions grew serious. She's stronger than I thought!
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
They no longer held back. Shifting positions constantly, they fired at a speed that left only afterimages. Had they been mortal, their arms would have been torn apart by the sheer force of the draw. A rain of light flooded the arena, each arrow packing staggering destructive power. Roman pillars around the stadium cracked and collapsed.
Locked in the heat of battle, they didn't care about collateral damage. Several stray arrows flew into the stands, striking a few unlucky spectators and causing a chorus of wails.
"Great King, if this continues, they'll dismantle the arena! Send them to the mortal realm!" the gods pleaded through the rain of arrows.
"Mm..." Zeus hadn't expected such a high-level fight. He knew Artemis's strength, but Hebe's performance had completely changed his perception of her.
He raised his hand. A vast, irresistible divine power enveloped the two goddesses and cast them into a forest on the Isle of Lesbos. The gods remained in the clouds, looking down to continue their watch.
Hebe and Artemis felt the scenery shift. Suddenly, they were surrounded by lush greenery and the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves.
"The forest is my domain," Artemis cheered inwardly. As the Goddess of the Forest and Hunt, this environment was a massive boon to her.
"..." Damn it! Hebe cursed silently. Of all the ways to坑 (screw over) your own daughter!
In the clouds, Hera shot Zeus a murderous look. She suspected he had done it on purpose. Zeus merely rubbed his nose. Truth be told, he had just picked a random spot.
Artemis spread her arms, her Forest Godhood glowing brilliantly as it siphoned the essence of the woods to replenish her stamina. She stowed her Silver Bow. Archery wouldn't end this quickly; she decided to switch to divine sorcery.
"Goddess of Youth, you aren't the only one with maternal protection," Artemis smiled. Her voice became ethereal, and a gray, misty veil draped over her, obscuring her figure.
She vanished.
Hebe's eyes widened. Night's Veil! The birthright artifact of Leto, the Goddess of the Dark Night!
Leto, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, ruled the starless night. her office carried the traits of "Oblivion," "Blurring," and "Concealment." Her veil allowed the wearer to vanish from sight and block all divine detection. Only Hades's Helm of Invisibility could rival it. Clearly, Leto had lent her daughter this treasure to ensure victory.
Hebe, even at the first tier, could not track Artemis.
"Lady Hebe, the Godhood of Purification is as good as mine," Artemis's voice echoed from all directions, her presence merged entirely with the forest.
"Then come and take it if you can!" Hebe stowed her bow. If it was a contest of sorcery, she would see it through to the end.
The moment Hebe spoke, the trees groaned. Countless green leaves swirled down like a rain of emeralds. It was beautiful, but Hebe felt the killing intent hidden within every leaf. The foliage surrounded her, each leaf an "Emerald Blade."
Escaping the vortex was impossible. Hebe summoned the Chalice of Youth, using its power to command a torrent of water that formed a protective screen. Blades met water in a stalemate of clashing energies.
Suddenly, the ground surged. Sensing a crisis, Hebe leaped away just as massive briars burst from the soil where she had been standing. She was forced to run, but everywhere she stepped, more thorns sprouted. Soon, she was encircled by a wall of briars. She had nowhere left to go.
The golden-haired goddess's eyes flashed cold. She summoned the Jade Bow, drew it to a full moon, and infused it with Purification power. Multiple arrows erupted, detonating upon impact and shredding the surrounding thorns.
"Impressive. But how many can you destroy?"
At Artemis's word, even more briars and leaf-blades attacked, their intensity doubling. Hebe's water screen shattered. In the desperate split second, she could only cross her arms to protect her eyes.
Artemis infused the vines with the power of the forest, binding Hebe's movements. Silver blades of leaves carved jagged wounds across the maiden-god's body. Divine blood splattered the ground. Hebe looked battered and broken—the picture of defeat.
To the gods watching from the clouds, it seemed over.
"It seems Lady Artemis has won."
"Artemis's offices are combat-oriented. Hebe may be a second-tier god now, but Youth and Healing aren't exactly offensive..."
Many gods stole glances at Hera, fearing her wrath. To their surprise, Hera was calm, as if the girl suffering below wasn't her beloved daughter. Apollo felt a sudden, nagging sense of dread.
"You've lost, Lady Hebe. Purification is mine."
Artemis, certain of her victory, removed Night's Veil and stepped before Hebe, her face glowing with triumph. She reached out, her hand glowing with power as she prepared to strip the Godhood of Purification from Hebe's brow.
But the moment her fingers were inches away, everything changed.
Hebe's closed eyes snapped open. The "Forest-strengthened" briars suddenly felt like paper as Hebe tore through them with ease. She grabbed Artemis's wrist, her violet eyes full of mockery as they reflected Artemis's sudden terror.
"Got you."
A tidal wave of divine power erupted from Hebe. Her aura skyrocketed—Second-tier upper... Second-tier peak... First-tier lower rank!
Her divine form shed its childish facade, revealing a woman of peerless beauty—vibrant and dangerous as a blooming rhododendron.
"You! First-tier power? How is this possible!?"
Hebe didn't bother to answer. If she had let her know, it wouldn't have been a trump card.
"Ice Domain!"
Wintry power surged. In an instant, a blizzard consumed the lush forest. The extreme cold derived from the Ice Godhood brought frost and snow—the ultimate antithesis to the forest. The blizzard caused the green leaves to wither and fall. Within the domain, the vitality of the forest was stripped away, forced into an eternal slumber.
Artemis felt her connection to the woods severed. She struggled frantically to break Hebe's grip.
"My Lady, since you've shown yourself, it won't be so easy to leave."
The mature Hebe stood half a head taller than Artemis. She looked down at her. She had known she couldn't force Artemis out of Night's Veil—a Major God's artifact that had once hidden Leto from Hera. To win, Hebe had to lure her out by feigning defeat.
The frigid power of Ice flooded into Artemis. Even a god could not withstand such extreme frost. Artemis felt her divine blood begin to freeze. She grew weak, frost creeping across her skin. Her eyelids became heavy with an infinite weariness. Moments later, the proud Goddess of the Forest fell into darkness.
Wintry Slumber—a divine art of the Ice Godhood.
Hebe laid Artemis gently on the ground. The duel was over; there was no need for further cruelty. To do more would invite the wrath of Apollo and Leto. She looked up at the King of Gods in the clouds, waiting for the verdict.
"Hahahaha! I declare the winner of this Godhood Duel to be Hebe, Goddess of Youth and Ice!" Zeus was in high spirits. Another powerful first-tier deity among his children was a great boon to his reign.
He waved his hand, bringing them back to the mountain. Apollo rushed forward, using his warm light to dispel the frost from his sister's body.
As the ice faded, Artemis woke up, her face pale with shame. She looked at Hebe standing in the hall, bit her lip, and reached for her brow. She ripped the Godhood of Midwifery from her essence. The agony of the separation left her ghastly white. She hurled the Godhood toward Hebe.
Hebe caught it with a steady hand.
"You have done well," Apollo said, his voice low and heavy as he picked up his sister. He gave Hebe one long, dark look before turning to leave.
Hebe arched an eyebrow. It seemed she had made enemies for life with those twins.
Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, had changed. This duel had shattered the gods' perception of her. Never again would a deity dare to call her a "vase" or think of her as frail and exploitable.