Hephaestus, armed with the Titan-Forged Blade and Zeus's charge, prepared to investigate the "Seeds of Discord." The Forging System showed him the initial locations of the conflicts:
Location 1: The city of Thebes, where a civil war had erupted.
Location 2: The Peloponnesian Peninsula, where tensions between Sparta and Argos were escalating.
Location 3: The island of Crete, where a monstrous creature had appeared, terrorizing the populace.
He decided to start with Thebes. He activated the Flying Chariot and set course for the city. He checked his "Status" screen:
Status: Hephaestus, God of the Forge
Level: 5 (Seasoned)
Experience: 325/500
Attributes:
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 28
Wisdom: 21
Charisma: 12
Luck: 8
Health: 160/160
Mana: 95/95
Skills:
Basic Forging (Level 5)
Material Identification (Level 5)
Divine Resistance (Level 3)
Chariot Piloting (Level 1)
Combat (Level 3)
Inventory: Iron Hammer (Soul-Eater), Titan-Forged Blade, Amulet of Aphrodite, Healing Potions, Mana Potions, Protective Amulet,
Equipment: None
Quest Log:
The Seeds of Discord (Active)
Investigate the conflict in Thebes.
Investigate the tensions between Sparta and Argos.
Investigate the monstrous creature on Crete.
Shop: (Supplies purchased)
As he approached Thebes, he could see the city in chaos. Smoke billowed from the streets, and the sounds of fighting echoed through the air. He landed the chariot outside the city walls and entered on foot.
He consulted the "Encyclopedia" for information on Thebes. He learned about its history, its heroes, and its conflicts. He remembered the story of Oedipus and the curse that had plagued the city.
He moved through the streets, observing the fighting. He saw soldiers clashing, buildings burning, and civilians fleeing for their lives. He used his divine senses to detect the source of the conflict.
He discovered that the fighting was being fueled by a mysterious force, a dark energy that seemed to be corrupting the minds of the soldiers. He identified it as a form of Titan magic, similar to the energy he had encountered in Tartarus.
He found a group of soldiers under the influence of the dark energy, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. They attacked him, their movements erratic and their attacks brutal.
He fought back, using the Titan-Forged Blade. The blade sliced through the soldiers, its shadow energy dealing devastating blows. He felt a surge of power as he fought, a sense of control over the dark energy.
He managed to defeat the soldiers, but he knew that he had only scratched the surface of the problem. He needed to find the source of the dark energy, the one who was fueling the conflict.
He consulted the "Bestiary" and learned about the possible sources of the dark energy. He suspected that it was being controlled by a Titan or a creature influenced by the Titans.
He followed the trail of dark energy, leading him to the palace of Thebes. He entered the palace, and he found himself in a grand hall. He saw a figure standing before him: a woman with a regal bearing and a cruel smile.
"Welcome, Hephaestus," the woman said, her voice laced with venom. "I am Jocasta, queen of Thebes. And I am the one who is fueling this conflict."
Hephaestus was shocked. Jocasta was a mortal, but she was also a key figure in the tragic story of Oedipus. He remembered the prophecy, the curse, and the events that had led to the downfall of the city.
"Why?" he asked. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I seek to rewrite history," Jocasta said. "I seek to change the fate of Thebes, to prevent the tragedies that have befallen this city."
She revealed that she had made a pact with a Titan, who had granted her the power to manipulate the dark energy. She was using this power to create chaos and to destabilize the city, hoping to change the events of the past.
Jocasta summoned her guards, who attacked Hephaestus. He fought back, using his skills and the Titan-Forged Blade. The battle was fierce, the hall shaking with the force of their blows.
Hephaestus defeated the guards, but Jocasta had already escaped. He knew that he had to stop her, that he had to prevent her from changing the past.
He pursued Jocasta, following her through the palace. He found her in a hidden chamber, where she was performing a ritual. The ritual was designed to amplify the dark energy and to unleash it upon the city.
Hephaestus attacked, interrupting the ritual. He and Jocasta clashed. The Titan-Forged Blade met her dark magic.
"You cannot stop me!" Jocasta cried. "I will change the fate of Thebes!"
"You are wrong," Hephaestus said. "You cannot change the past. You can only create more suffering."
He unleashed a wave of shadow energy, disrupting the ritual and weakening Jocasta. He fought with renewed vigor, his hammer striking, his blade slicing.
He defeated Jocasta, but the ritual had already taken effect. The dark energy had been unleashed, corrupting the city and turning its inhabitants into monstrous creatures.
Hephaestus realized that he had failed. He had not been able to stop Jocasta, and the city of Thebes was now in ruins.
He checked his "Quest Log":
Quest Log:
The Seeds of Discord (Active)
Investigate the conflict in Thebes. (Failed)
Investigate the tensions between Sparta and Argos.
Investigate the monstrous creature on Crete.
He knew that he had to learn from his mistakes. He had to find a way to stop the other conflicts, to prevent the same tragedy from happening again.
He decided to travel to the Peloponnesian Peninsula, to investigate the tensions between Sparta and Argos. He knew that he would need allies, that he couldn't face these challenges alone.
He activated the "Multi-Mythology" tab in the "Forge" section. He considered crafting weapons from other mythologies. He was particularly drawn to the weapons of the heroes of the Trojan War.
He decided to craft the "Sword of Gryffindor" from Arthurian Legend.
Sword of Gryffindor (Arthurian Legend): A sword with magical properties, including the ability to absorb the power of defeated enemies.
The system displayed the required materials:
True Adamantine: A rare form of Adamantine with exceptional properties.
Phoenix Tears: Tears from a Phoenix, known for their healing and regenerative abilities.
Other rare materials.
He knew that he would need to seek out these materials, that he would need to travel to different realms.
He decided to seek the help of the heroes of Greece. He remembered the stories of Heracles, Achilles, and Theseus. He knew that they would be powerful allies.
He activated the "Chariot" and set off for Sparta, hoping to find the legendary hero Achilles. He knew that he had a long journey ahead of him, but he was determined to succeed. He was Hephaestus, the god of the forge, and he would not fail.