The large golden doors opened onto a vast hall of white marble, so shiny that you could see your reflection in it. Statues of Uranus, Gaia, and their children surrounded the great hall, which was lit by large torches whose glow was blinding. Every time Kronos entered that place, his hatred and admiration for his father increased in equal measure.
This was not just any palace, it was the palace of Uranus and Gaia, parents of the Titans and grandparents of the future gods. The palace was glorious, it was the palace of the blood of the Cosmos. It was the palace of Order.
"Uranus, where are you?" Kronos shouted, but received no answer other than silence as he gazed at his father's great throne of rock, burning like the magma of a volcano.
"Where are you, King of the Cosmos?" he shouted again, growing angrier at the thought that his brother Oceanus might be dying at that very moment. "Damn you, show yourself." Suddenly, two large stone doors as black as the heart of Chaos itself opened.
Uranus appeared walking calmly as he finished putting on his battle armor. The breastplate, shoulder pads, and bracers were deep blue like the universe, with gold and golden details representing the firmament. His hard face and gray beard and hair created an aura of omnipotence, impenetrability, and lethality.
"Well, I see you've finally gathered the courage to come and kill me, Kronos," he said, his gaze fixed on his son as he sat on his throne. "The Oracle of Ether had told me." Kronos was confused; he didn't know what his father was referring to. "We will win the war and our legacy will last for millennia, but in return a sacrifice must be made, and soon the Void will devour me." Uranus' gaze was now on the high ceilings of solid rock that covered the palace and the paintings of stars and elements that adorned the ceilings. "Of course, all this is an interpretation. The Oracle also predicted that Chaos and his children would rule the Cosmos, and look how he and his damned children of the night bowed down to him like dogs, and now they are my hunting dogs. So, have you come to kill me? Have you finally gathered the courage to face your Father?"
Kronos took a step forward, but when he saw his mother appearing through the same door Uranus had used before, he stopped. Uranus turned his gaze to the newcomer, Gaia.
"Perfect, The bitch of your mother is here too, so she can hear what I have to say to you as well. That filthy serpent Keto is dead, her head is now a new trophy in my chambers. On the contrary, those disgusting beasts sank Oceanus' fleet, and your brother may not survive. So I need a new general for a new campaign in the south, and that's going to be you. Led by the abominations you have for brothers, you will form an army with the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires. At least those things will die with honor, something your mother does not have."
Kronos could not believe his father's words, and his anger grew more and more. Gaia watched as her son's expression became increasingly stern and the muscles in his body prepared for a physical confrontation. Her voice whispered in Kronos's ears.
"Calm down, son, be patient, it's not time yet, not yet." Kronos' expression changed, he glanced quickly at his mother and nodded. His father was already standing up and motioning for Kronos to follow him into an adjoining room.
Kronos stood his ground and looked defiantly at his king. "I will not be a murderer like you!. I will not be your servant!. If you ever mistreat my mother or any of my brothers and sisters again, it will be the last thing you ever do."
Then Uranus approached his son and punched him in the face with his clenched fist, knocking his son to the ground with a single blow."Never threaten anyone you cannot defeat. You are weak, you are pathetic. Tomorrow you will leave for Laconia." Kronos stood up and lunged at Uranus, trying to punch him, but Uranus paralyzed him with a single glance, leaving him as rigid and hard as the marble that formed the walls of that glorious royal hall. "I have underestimated you. You are more foolish than I thought. You are not worthy of being called a Titan. You are not worthy of me. Your youth weighs you down. You are not ready to lead any army. You will join the infantry under the command of Nemesis and Thanatos, and there is nothing more to discuss." Uranus looked at his disappointed son and, without further ado, turned his back on him as he lay paralyzed. "Hypnos, take him away from here. Make sure he leaves tomorrow with Nemesis and Thanatos." Suddenly, a gray shadow appeared behind the almighty king.
"Yes, my King, I will make sure your will is done.." The shadow surrounded Kronos to pull him out of his state of paralysis, and before he regained control of his body, he fell into a deep sleep while he was levitating above the ground.