Verethragna — POV
The three of us spent most of our time training.
It had only been a few days since our birth on the island of Delos, yet my siblings were already experimenting with their powers.
My older siblings—technically twins—were… loud about it.
"Face it," Apollo said with a grin. "I was born after you, which means you're the older one. That makes me the younger sibling."
Artemis crossed her arms.
"You're still the most childish one," she replied coldly.
Apollo laughed.
"Oh please, Artemis. You're the one acting like a strict elder sister."
The two continued arguing while standing on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea.
I watched them for a moment before returning to my own training.
I didn't really understand the point of their argument.
Who was older?
Who was younger?
Did it matter?
Power would speak for itself eventually.
And when we were fully grown gods, that would be the only thing that truly mattered.
Still, observing them was… interesting.
Artemis was calm, disciplined, and serious. Even when annoyed with Apollo, her focus returned quickly to training. There was a quiet determination in her that reminded me of a warrior preparing for a long hunt.
Apollo, on the other hand…
He was chaos wrapped in sunlight.
Loud. Energetic. Teasing everyone around him—especially Artemis.
But beneath that playful personality, I could already sense enormous talent. His control over divine light was growing rapidly.
Then there was me.
I had inherited much of the personality of Verethragna.
Calm.
Analytical.
Strategic.
But there was also arrogance inside me.
A quiet certainty that I would eventually stand above almost everyone else.
After all, when I sensed the divine energy within my siblings…
The difference was obvious.
Even now, as newborn gods, my divine power dwarfed theirs.
Of course, I didn't say that out loud.
There was no point.
Not yet.
Instead, I sat cross-legged near the shore, focusing inward.
Divine energy flowed through every part of my body.
It was like a blazing star contained within my soul.
Raw.
Unrefined.
Incredibly powerful.
But power without control was meaningless.
Which was why I wasn't rushing to use my Avatars yet.
The abilities of the god of victory were extraordinary—wind, lightning, resurrection, destruction.
But if I activated them before mastering my divine energy…
I would only waste their potential.
So I practiced something far more fundamental.
Control.
I slowly gathered the divine energy within my body.
Compressed it.
Refined it.
Moved it through my limbs like flowing currents of power.
Every second, I became more familiar with it.
Every minute, my control improved.
The goal was simple.
Perfect mastery over every last drop.
Because if I could control my divine energy flawlessly…
Then every attack I used in the future would become infinitely more efficient.
I opened my eyes.
Across the island, Apollo and Artemis were still arguing.
"…you're definitely the younger one!"
"Am not."
"Are too."
I stared at them for a moment.
Then I closed my eyes again.
Honestly…
They were both strange.
But they were also my siblings.
And whether they liked it or not…
I would become strong enough to protect them.
Not because they needed it.
But because that was simply what I had decided.
After all…
Victory belonged to those who prepared the most.
And I intended to win every battle this world would throw at me.