Amid the sky-shaking cheers of the Atlanteans, the assault of storm and raging waves grew even more ferocious.
At this moment, on the flooded island of Crete, a bronze giant hand reached from beneath the water.
With its final strength, it lifted its master, King Minos, to the great temple atop the mountain peak.
Only there, protected by the light of wisdom—had miraculously become the last pure land amid this catastrophe.
Then, the bronze giant Talos beneath the waves, as if its mission complete, ceased resistance and was dragged into the depths by swarming sea beasts.
In the biting storm and surging fury, the gaunt old man leaned on his golden scepter and ascended the mountain peak's great temple, step by step..for his final pilgrimage to the great mother goddess he served.
In the end, like an ancient pine, he stood erect before the gates, guarding the sacred flame within that symbolized the continuation of Minoan civilization.
Under the water, divine-blooded guards who could have surfaced merely gazed distantly at their king and then charged the swarming sea beasts and giant monsters without any hesitation.
They honored their vow, for this land, for their lord, fighting to the last breath, spilling the last drop of blood, conveying civilization's lingering echo with their lives.
—In one sentence: We did our best; we did not succeed.
But this does not mean the seeds we sowed will follow our path.
—We wish you to stride over where we fell, to reach farther places.
—We wish our civilization boundless and eternal!
Meanwhile, the orchestrator who schemed and calculated everything beneath Santorini Island gazed at this shocking scene, then slowly raised his right hand, thumped his chest, and slightly bowed his head.
—Then, salute to all who march to death!
Without hesitation, Lorne raised his other hand, unreservedly pouring his ocean divinity into the massive magic array etched at Santorini volcano's base, fully activating it.
To complete such precise and vast ritual was not his merit alone, it was all thanks to Athena, goddess of magic.
So, let us together send them on their final journey!
"Boom!"
In an instant, Santorini volcano erupted in a new violent phase.
Powerful earthquakes wrapped hundred-meter waves, layering southward, crashing fiercely into the faint light enveloping the mountain peak temple.
"Crack!"
In a flash, the fragile protection tore as surging seawater engulfed the aged figure, pouring into the majestic temple, extinguishing the sacred flame on the altar.
At this moment, the last evacuated Minoans awoke in warship cabins, sended something and stepped onto the deck.
Gazing at the sky over Crete, where the final wisp of wisdom's light gradually faded, they lowered heads in sorrowful weeping.
But more silently took up weapons, assuming soldier or crew posts, escorting the Minoan warships beneath their feet.
~~
Meanwhile, inner Oceanus sea...battle raged fiercely.
As goddess wielding war and victory, fully unleashed Athena showed what unstoppable meant.
Facing Poseidon, who lost half paternal authority, she dominated from the start and in a quarter-hour, she forced her uncle into dire straits, compelling him to urgently summon masses of maritime gods to aid.
Yet even against overwhelming numbers and absolute disadvantage, Athena feared nothing.
Her spear of victory flashed like meteors, sweeping, piercing, smashing with ever-greater power.
Assisting ocean gods touching it were wounded or maimed.
Severed limbs and flesh scattered; sprayed golden ichor instantly dyed vast seas, drawing blood-scented sea beasts in frenzied convergence, greedily devouring scattered divinity.
Her defending Aegis shield was indestructible.
Countless magics, divine words, curses struck it, but crumbled automatically.
Any sharp weapon lost glory before it; rebounding blades even accidentally wounded allies and self.
Staggering back, Poseidon gripped his trembling trident, his deep blue eyes fixed on the impenetrable golden defense, brimming with intense jealousy and hatred.
Aegis—the supreme defensive treasure of Olympus.
Legend has it that it was crafted from the hide of nanny goat Amalthea, also called goatskin shield.
Though goat hide, it banished all evil and calamity, and even Zeus's thunder was powerless against it.
Quit ironic that it was Amalthea who nursed Zeus.
Mother Rhea hid infant Zeus in a cave from Titan king Cronus; Amalthea cared for him, divinities blending in nursing.
Later, Zeus repaid her kindness by having the Cyclopes skin and horn Amalthea, crafting the indestructible shield and the abundant horn of fertility.
If recalled correctly, Amalthea's death stemmed from her thunder-resistant hide.
—One of Zeus's few weaknesses, so he naturally wanted to control such instability.
—Even against his wer nurse.
This vital item reached Athena because Zeus, to please primal wisdom goddess Metis, split original Aegis, giving half to his first god-queen, showing absolute trust.
After all, in this deceit-filled divine era, what trust surpassed handing one's weakness to a bedmate?
As expected, primal wisdom goddess fell, fully disarming defenses.
With wisdom, she gained victory goddess Nike's submission, wholeheartedly aiding her husband win Titanomachy, establishing Olympus glory.
But this beautiful love story ended more ironically.
—Like skinned, de-horned nurse goat Amalthea, peerless Metis became her husband's stepping stone.
Yet primal wisdom goddess left a contingency—
—Inscribing curse-words, binding Aegis and Nike's subordination to her bloodline.
Thus, Athena emerged from Zeus's head fully armed.
To curb his ocean authority, God-King tossed his innately powerful daughter to Crete, firmly pinning Atlantean expansion.
—Simply detestable, hateful!
Watching the ever-fiercer goddess of wisdom, Poseidon inwardly raged and cursed.
Initially, he didn't plan to have direct enmity with this niece.
Instead, revealing primal wisdom goddess's full story, he wanted to propose marriage, thus imitating Metis-Zeus alliance, joining her to topple the ruthless god-king.
Yet his sincere heart met ruthless rejection and considerable humiliation.
In fury, he targeted Minoan faith, tricking King Minos's sacrifice to drive Athena from Crete.
But unexpectedly, he met a meddlesome old fool stubbornly clinging to that girl's feet, dead set against him!
Why does no one follow my will?
Why could Zeus sail smoothly to throne?
Just because mother's favor sent him from Othrys first, maturing earliest?
We were born before him, we're elder siblings, why does he monopolize everything?
Unfair! Unfair!
Poseidon fumed more, unparalleled rage nearly clouding reason, his bloodshot eyes glaring viciously at his niece.
I refuse to believe...can't beat Zeus, but can't beat you?
Next moment, enraged sea king swung trident, rejoining battle as a mighty strike slammed Athena's Aegis.
In a flash, gold and blue divinities collided.
Surging aether tides instantly blasted surrounding hundred-plus ocean gods away.
Yet after intense melee, this innately powerful wisdom goddess showed no fatigue, her Aegis blocking trident rising inch by inch.
Even madly pulsing divinity and authority, Poseidon couldn't suppress his niece.
Of course, that wasn't because Poseidon was weaker than Athena..after all, even though he was no match for Zeus, the God of Sea was still one of the top three gods of Olympus.
However, after losing his authority...hard to say.
But as sea king was about to disgrace himself again, Athena reeled as if thunderstruck, Aegis flickering in her hands.
Instantly, wave-wrapped trident overpowered shield, heavily striking the wisdom goddess.
"Pu!"
Athena immediately vomited a mouthful of golden blood, and her body, like a kite with a broken string, plummeted into the distant deep sea.
Moments later, the goddess of wisdom emerged from the water, pale-faced, clutching her chest, then turned and glared angrily at Poseidon, accusing in grief-stricken outrage.
"Despicable!"
"?"
Poseidon, bewildered by sudden advantage, was left stunned, then noticing Athena's rapidly waning divinity, seemed to realize as he looked toward Crete.
There, cloud-storm shrouded sky held no light.
Hiss~!
Poseidon gasped coldly, face changing dramatically.
Any officially established temple has some connection to the main god; its destruction affects the worshipped deity.
The closer the relationship, the more severe the impact.
Destroying foundational grand temple could backlash worshipped god with massive short-term power loss.
This was why Athena had suddenly been overpowered!
But he never intended destroying all Crete this way, forging such deep enmity with his powerful niece.
Who did it? Who?!
Poseidon burned with rage, teeth grinding.
However, before he could even understand the reason, Athena, her bright eyes blazing with fury, brandished her Spear of Victory and the Aegis of Aegis, charging relentlessly towards the Sea King.
"Poseidon, I will make you pay with your life!"
(End of Chapter)