Hera's expression instantly shifted to one of terror.
When Apollo, the self-proclaimed King of the Gods, had stripped her of her divinity and cast her into mortality, she hadn't panicked. She was Hera, Queen of the Gods—her exalted station had shielded her from true fear. She had believed no mere mortal could harm her.
But Jack Kadere was different.
Even at the height of her reign, Hera had seen his wrath. She had witnessed how Jack killed Eris in an instant, how he crushed Ares without hesitation, and only moments earlier, she had seen him batter the seemingly unstoppable Firstborn into the ground.
If Jack wanted to kill her, Hera had no doubt he could. And that was what terrified her—he didn't revere the gods. He didn't fear them. He treated them like anyone else in his path.
"Didn't I promise you that I'd help the Amazons of Themyscira return to normal?" Jack asked lightly, his eyes sliding to Diana. "As long as you become Queen of the Gods, you'll wield what Hera once did—and more. You could restore Paradise Island, and maybe… just maybe, you'd have the strength to finally defeat the Firstborn."
He smirked faintly. "Apollo brought this on himself. He lured the Firstborn to Olympus, feeding him one god after another to make him stronger. If you kill Hera and take her throne, you'll be the only one with the chance to stop him."
"No!" Diana's refusal was sharp, unwavering.
Jack tilted his head. "Why not?"
"I can't sacrifice one life, even for many others," Diana answered firmly. Her tone softened but her eyes remained steady. "Besides, I can feel it—your reasons for urging me to take the throne aren't so pure."
Jack chuckled, amused that she saw through him so easily. She was right—he had his motives. If Diana ascended as Queen of the Gods, the value of what he collected from her would rise considerably.
"You understand me far too well now," Jack teased, flashing a grin. "Almost as much as my enemies do."
"Often, it's only your enemies who truly understand you," Diana retorted, before turning to Hera. "I'll make him release you. He'll return your power—but you must swear to restore Paradise Island."
"I… I promise!" Hera stammered, seizing the chance.
Jack gave a small, knowing smile. "Do you know why people dare to oppose you, Diana?" he asked quietly. "Because you're simple, pure. You don't scheme, you don't corrupt, you don't bend your values. And when someone like you is offended, there's no burden. They know you won't strike back like the rest of us would."
With that, Jack released Hera.
She collapsed to the ground, dazed, then gasped as divine power began to flow back into her. Energy that had been sealed within Diana now surged into Hera once more.
The air split with thunder. Bolts of lightning cracked across the sky, flooding the night with blinding light. In that storm, Hera rose to her feet, her mortal form burning away, replaced by her true divinity. A shimmering peacock-feathered cloak appeared across her shoulders, regal and imperious, though beneath it only green strips of cloth covered her body.
Jack clicked his tongue. "The gods of Olympus… always flaunting themselves like lechers or pretenders." He turned, ready to walk back to the Disciple.
"Where do you think you're going?" Hera demanded, thunder rolling at her call.
Jack stopped, turned his head, and slowly raised his fist. His tone was calm, almost conversational. "One punch from me… might kill you."
The thunder died away in an instant. Hera froze, visibly cowed by the sheer certainty in his voice.
"Pfft!" one of the women nearby stifled a laugh. "Some queen of the gods—cowers at a single threat."
"What did you say, you insolent little brat?!" Hera snapped, her pride stung.
"Enough!" Diana's commanding voice cut through their bickering. "Hera, focus. We go to Paradise Island first." She lifted her gaze to the skies, unease flickering in her eyes. If Jack's words about Apollo and the Firstborn were true, Olympus faced a crisis greater than any of them could ignore.
The group, originally settling down for rest, quickly gathered. One by one, they boarded the Disciple. The ship's engines roared to life, and it cut through the clouds toward Themyscira.
When they arrived, the Disciple descended slowly, hovering over the familiar island. As they disembarked, their eyes fell on the central square.
There, kneeling in the center, stood a stone statue—Hippolyta.
Around her writhed countless snakes, their movements restless, hissing in unison. But as Diana's eyes adjusted, horror gripped her.
These weren't ordinary snakes. They were Amazons, her sisters, twisted into serpentine forms.
"Hera…" Diana turned, her face set and voice heavy.
The goddess stood stiff, clearly reluctant, but she raised her hand anyway. With a flash of divine light, the spell unraveled. One after another, the serpents twisted and reshaped into their original Amazonian forms.
"Sisters!" Diana exclaimed, rushing to embrace them with joy.
But that joy quickly fractured.
"Queen! Why hasn't the Queen returned?" one Amazon cried.
Diana spun toward Hippolyta's statue. Though her sisters had been restored, her mother remained frozen, locked in stone.
"Hera?" Diana's eyes narrowed with sharp accusation.
Hera shook her head, visibly rattled. "It's not me. I used the same spell I've always used—she should have been restored. This… this isn't my doing."
"Are you certain?" Diana demanded, suspicion flaring.
Hera's eyes flickered briefly toward Jack Kadere before answering, "I've no reason to lie to you."
"Then what's happening?" Diana's voice trembled. She had believed Hera's divine power would be enough to restore her mother and sisters. Now even Hera seemed powerless, and doubt gnawed at her. Her gaze, almost instinctively, shifted to Jack.
"Master!" the Amazons suddenly cried in unison, dropping to their knees before him.
Hera smirked proudly at first, but the pride quickly faded from her face. The realization struck her with a cold weight—the Amazons were not kneeling to her. They belonged to Jack Kadere. Themyscira itself bent to his will now. Fear flickered in her eyes, mingling with anger.
"Rise," Jack said lazily.
The Amazons obeyed at once, standing in perfect silence. Hera clenched her fists, her unease plain, but said nothing.
"What do we do now?" Diana asked Jack, her voice betraying uncertainty.
Jack's gaze swept over the island. "Haven't you noticed someone's missing?"
Diana's heart lurched. "Donna!"
She had assumed her sister was among those transformed, but Donna had been absent since the chaos began. The realization filled her with dread.
"It seems Themyscira has more enemies than just Hera," Jack said calmly. "The First Born is very likely moving against the island. With Hippolyta still bound in stone, that leaves you, Diana—you are queen now. Strengthen Themyscira's defenses immediately. And…" His tone shifted as his attention turned skyward. "Tell me where I can find Hephaestus."
Diana blinked. "What for?"
"To upgrade the Disciple," Jack said flatly. "It's just a standard Time Master ship. That battle exposed its flaws. If anyone can forge it into something worthy of war against gods, it's Hephaestus. He's the master smith of Olympus. Every god's weapon worth wielding came from his forge."
Diana hesitated, then finally gave him the location. Her voice softened as she stepped closer, her eyes holding his. "Go quickly, Jack. But… return soon. Themyscira needs you."