Poseidon slowly opened his eyes. The world around him was a blur of light and shifting blue. He blinked several times, and the haze cleared into the vision of a young woman — her sapphire eyes soft yet radiant, her golden hair flowing freely in the water, bound only by a small coral clasp. She wore a light-blue peplos that shimmered like sunlight breaking through waves.
For a moment, Poseidon forgot to breathe. His heart thundered in his chest, heat flooding his faceas he stared, utterly captivated by the vision before him. 'Who… who is she?'
The girl tilted her head, a faint crease forming on her brow with genuine concern. "Are you all right?" she asked, her voice gentle, carrying like a song through the water.
Poseidon just stared, his mind emptied of everything except her. And his tongue tied. When she drifted closer, extending her hand toward his forehead, he froze.
"Your face is red. Did you catch a fever?" she asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.
The warmth of her touch snapped him out of his daze. He grabbed her soft hand without thinking and blurted, far too loudly, "No! I'm fine! It's just— it's you! I… I like you. Marry me!"
Her sapphire eyes widened. Her cheeks turned crimson, and she pulled her hand away, startled. Without a word, she darted between the reefs and vanished into the glimmering coral forest.
Poseidon stood frozen for a heartbeat, then grinned and shot after her. "Wait! I'm serious!"
He summoned his oceanic divinity, the currents bending to his will, propelling him forward like a living tide. But before he could reach her, several armed mermen appeared, their tridents glinting in the dim light."Halt! Intruder"
"State your name, intruder!" one shouted. "Why are you chasing Lady Amphitrite?"
Poseidon froze mid-motion. 'Amphitrite…' Her name echoed sweetly in his mind. His lips curved upward, but he said nothing.
"Answer us, fool!" another guard barked, pressing his trident close enough that its tip nearly grazed Poseidon's skin.
Poseidon's eyes slid toward the speaker. "I am Poseidon," he said calmly. "And I am here to marry Amphitrite."
The guards exchanged incredulous looks — then one lunged forward. In a heartbeat, Poseidon twisted his trident, and a swirling whirlpool erupted around him. The guards were caught in its pull, their cries muffled by the churning sea. Poseidon shot past them without a glance, following the trail Amphitrite had taken.
The chase carried him through forests of kelp and glowing plankton until the scenery opened into a breathtaking visual. A massive golden palace rising from the sea floor. Its walls gleamed with pearls and gems, guarded by mermen clad in golden armor and riding sharks and crabs.
Poseidon didn't hesitate. He darted toward the grand gate where Amphitrite had disappeared.
"Stop him!" shouted a guard.
A surge of tridents and armored riders encircled him. Poseidon summoned another whirlpool, his whirlpool technique, so effective against the first guards, now failed against their experience. Before he could react, heavy chains of abyssal iron wrapped around him, their ancient magic suppressing his divinity like weights dragging him downward. He struggled, but the chains held firm.
-----
Moments later,
Guards knelt before a vast coral throne. Upon it sat Oceanus, the king of the sea, his deep-blue eyes calm yet filled with the weight of eons.
"Speak," his voice rolled like a tidal wave through the hall.
"My lord," said one of the guards, bowing low, "a god named Poseidon was found chasing Lady Amphitrite. He wields control over the sea itself" his eye flickering over old man seated beside Oceanus "…and boldly declared his wish to marry her."
Oceanus's expression remained unreadable, though a faint glint of curiosity flickered in his gaze. "A god of the sea, you say? Poseidon…" he murmured thoughtfully. His eyes shifted toward the old man seated beside him. Nereus, the wise sage of the ocean, his hair dark green and his beard flowing like seaweed.
"What do you think, Nereus?"
Nereus smiled knowingly, his voice smooth but edged with amusement. "Let's see how much fire this young god carries in his heart."
Oceanus nodded, lifting his hand slightly in permission. "Bring him in."
Guard bow and left.
"He is Cronus's son," Oceanus revealed quietly. "One of the prophecy children."
Nereus jolted upright, his calm demeanor shattered. "What? Truly?"
The heavy doors opened, and Poseidon was dragged forward in chains. Yet, despite his bindings, his eyes wandered curiously across the palace, the glowing shells, the shimmering coral pillars, the ever-moving light. There was no fear in his face, only fascination.
Nereus's sharp gaze locked onto him. "You dare propose to my daughter, boy?" His voice carried a weight that made the very water tremble.
Poseidon met his glare, unflinching. "Yes. I like her. So I proposed. Do you have a problem, old man?"
The entire hall fell silent. Even Oceanus raised an eyebrow.
Nereus blinked, stunned then burst into booming laughter. "Hahaha!!! Old man! You called me old man? Me, the Sage of the Sea? Hah!"
The water become murky and heavy, the pressure crushing. Soldiers trembled, struggling to breathe.
Then, just as suddenly, Nereus clutched his stomach, still laughing. "You've got spirit, boy! I like that." His smile faded, voice deepening into a warning rumble. "But remember — between bravery and foolishness lies only a thin current. Don't throw your life away over a whim."
Poseidon raised his chin. "I only know one truth, do what your heart desires. Don't cage yourself in fear."
"Y–You—" Nereus began, anger rising again, but Oceanus's thunderous voice cut through the hall.
"Silence!"
The very waves halted in obedience. The guards froze.
Oceanus raised his hand, and the soldiers unbound Poseidon before retreating from the chamber. "Young man," Oceanus said, his voice calm again, "introduce yourself properly."
Poseidon bowed respectfully. "I am Poseidon, god of the sea, son of Rhea and Cronus."
Oceanus nodded. "Brave and bold. But boy before you say something check that to whom, what and where you are saying." Poseidon gulpdown in his pressure, then Oceanus continue "And before you stand Nereus, the Sage of the Ocean, father to Amphitrite. Offer him an apology."
Poseidon lowered his head. "Forgive me, Lord Nereus. I spoke without respect."
Nereus relaxed, stroking his beard. "And I lost my temper. Let us call it even." His tone softened, though his eyes still gleamed with mischief. "But, young god, if you truly desire my daughter, you must prove yourself. Attain the rank of God King, and I will acknowledge you as worthy."
Poseidon's eyes widened. "God King!? Bu—"
"Love may move mountains, boy," Nereus interrupted, his voice carrying the weight of centuries, "but can it calm the primordial deep? Make the impossible possible, then return."
With that, Nereus turned and departed in a swirl of robes and dignity
Poseidon stood silent for a long moment. 'To become God King… I must gain the ocean's acknowledgment itself. But how?'
Slowly, his gaze lifted toward Oceanus. His eyes gleamed with new resolve. Poseidon straightened with sudden determination, the chains seeming lighter with purpose. "Lord Oceanus," he said firmly, "will you train me?"
Oceanus blinked, momentarily taken aback. Then his ancient mind began to stir with calculation. 'Metis has trapped Zeus. If this one grows under my hand, he could become a weapon or… a loyal successor that could either be harnessed or destroy everything in my path. Better to shape it himself than leave it to chance.'
He stroked his beard, his face unreadable. "Very well. From this day, I shall be your master."
Poseidon bowed deeply, a fierce smile on his face. "Thank you, Master." Inwardly, his heart roared with determination. 'Just wait for me, Amphitrite. I will return for you, not as wander but as the ruler of the sea.'
----
Ten Months Later
Time flowed differently beneath the waves. Ten months in the mortal world felt like centuries in the deep. Under Oceanus's relentless tutelage, Poseidon trained until his muscles screamed and his divinity ran thin. He mastered the art of the trident, the control of water, and the deeper secrets of oceanic divinity.
The once reckless youth had become a force of nature — the sea itself bending to his will. Every movement of his trident stirred the tides; every breath carried divine pressure.
Oceanus sat cross-legged near the training grounds, watching intently. 'Remarkable… it took me centuries to reach the peak of a Chief God. Yet this boy stands at its edge in less than a year.'
As Poseidon's trident cut through the water in perfect rhythm "Ha! Ha! Ha!" a messenger knelt before Oceanus.
"My lord," said Orcanon, one of his generals, "a newly matured Leviathan and a mutant Megalodon are battling near the merman tribes. Their clash has destroyed several villages."
Oceanus lifted a hand to silence him. His gaze turned toward Poseidon. "Poseidon," he commanded, "Handle this, Poseidon. Consider it your final test before god kingship."
Poseidon lowered his trident, bowed slightly, and answered, "Yes, Master."