Ares had already prepared a series of schemes for the War between Atlantis and Athens.
The main reason Ares instigated this conflict was to entangle Poseidon and Athena, preventing them from noticing his actions. Secondly, he also wanted to use this to weaken the power of both nations, so that his Sparta would have the opportunity to annex their forces in the future.
However, his reasons for instigating the War were not limited to these. Whether it was the "God-Making Plan" he and Hecate will use to fight against the Olympus Gods, or the Spartan warrior legions, or the fighters directly under him as the God of War, their equipment all required substantial material and financial support.
Atlantis had no shortage of silver and gold, and Athens also had olive oil bestowed by Athena, which was also a strategic material in Greece. Ares wanted to rely on a major War between these two city-states to allow Sparta to profit from the War.
With the help of the God of Fire, Sparta currently did not lack good blacksmiths, and its weapon and equipment production was unique in the Greek World. Furthermore, Sparta could dispatch Spartans as mercenaries to this battlefield, where they could also hone their combat skills.
Most importantly, Hecate had already manufactured the prototypes of four mechanical gods. Ares named these four machine gods "Terror," "Tremor," "Panic," and "Fear" respectively, intending to first test them by disguising them as his own subordinate gods.
However, whether these four machine gods could exert the same functions as the current gods, and whether they could maintain the Age of Gods for a period after the gods' demise, still required an experiment. Athens was Athena's exclusive domain, and the city-states on the land were also within the spheres of influence of the various main gods. These places could not be used to test the efficacy of the machine gods. But Atlantis was isolated overseas; Poseidon considered it his private reserve and usually neglected its management, and indeed, it was difficult for people from other countries to reach it. Therefore, the Olympus Gods' surveillance of Atlantis was the weakest among all city-states, making it an excellent testing ground for Ares.
However, things had to be done step by step. First, Ares had the Spartan Council of Elders send envoys to both Athens and Atlantis, offering Sparta's assistance in providing weapons, equipment, mercenary troops, and other scarce materials for the War.
Then, he manipulated his divine power avatar and directly found Hermes, the messenger god who currently managed commerce, on Olympus.
"What? Sparta wants to do business?"
Hermes's eyes widened in surprise after hearing Ares's intentions:
"My dear brother, I don't think this is your idea, is it?"
"Hmm, that's right. If you're willing to protect their commercial activities this time, they'll offer two-tenths of the profits to you," Ares said gruffly. "I have a priest who is currently managing Sparta. He proposed this, and there's no reason for me to refuse if it means getting Spartans onto the battlefield to fight."
"Hmm, interesting. I really want to meet this priest of yours."
After listening, Hermes lowered his head and thought for a moment, then readily agreed to Ares's request:
"Alright, there's no reason for me to refuse this kind of business either."
Out of respect for Ares, Hermes even immediately bestowed his blessing upon the Spartan merchant fleet. Thus, after confirming Hermes's blessing was in place, Ares had the Spartan merchant fleet set off grandly from the port by sea.
They split into two groups: one went to Athens, transporting a large number of well-equipped Spartans as mercenaries to prepare for Atlantis's fleet, while the other, laden with large quantities of food, weapons, and equipment, sailed towards Atlantis's port.
Ares also planned to accompany the fleet this time. On one hand, the testing site for the "God-Making Plan" required his personal reconnaissance. On the other hand, he was also very curious about this nation that only existed in later legends.
So, he transformed his divine power avatar into a Spartan and blended into the fleet. The seas of this era were fraught with danger; not only were there huge sea monsters driven by Poseidon, but the islands in the ocean were also mostly inhabited by terrifying monsters that preyed on people. Even if some had divine blood, they mostly held no goodwill towards humans.
Therefore, Ares being on the ship himself was an extra layer of insurance. If Hermes's blessing didn't work, he could step forward to support his fleet and deter any short-sighted ruffians.
...
While Sparta's fleet was sailing towards Atlantis, in a certain area near Athens, a group of tribes called the "Pelasgians" lived.
This tribe did not worship the Olympus Gods, but rather three goddesses not affiliated with Olympus. Currently, all members of their tribe and the three goddesses lived peacefully in this secluded area, leading a life free from worldly strife.
"Hmm, my skirt seems to have gotten shorter again."
The tallest of the three goddesses was sitting in the temple in the center of the island, looking troubled, frowning at the black and white lace dress placed before her.
"My sisters' appearances have never changed, but I keep growing taller..."
Although she had known from birth that she was different from her two sisters who were born as "goddesses," the girl still prayed that the three of them would always remain identical in appearance. That way, her two unscrupulous sisters wouldn't always bully her, dump all the housework on her, and even suck her blood.
"Maybe tomorrow I'll have the believers secretly help me lengthen the skirt..."
"Medusa—"
Just as the girl was thinking about how to get away with it, outside the temple, two other soft, yet teasing female voices suddenly rang out.
They called out:
"Medusa, your underwear was stolen by a bird!"
"To actually wear this style of underwear, what a shameless sister."
"It seems even the birds in the sky want to know what color Medusa's underwear is."
"What color is it? My other self?"
"It seems to be purple, right, my other self."
Upon hearing the voices of the two girls, Medusa first glanced down in a panic, then responded somewhat angrily:
"My underwear has always been properly worn, and it's not some shameless style. Sisters, you're trying to trick me again."
"Oh my, you're getting bold, daring to talk to your sisters like that."
"Exactly, have you finished washing today's clothes? You're just lying in bed in the temple."
Hearing Medusa's voice, the two girls outside the door asked with a giggle.
"Already washed!"
Medusa shouted loudly:
"I'm not going out today, Sister Stheno, Sister Euryale, you two go play by yourselves!"
"Tsk, why aren't you coming out? Are you sick?"
"I don't know, my other self, is she going through a growth spurt? After all, Medusa is different from us."
The voices outside began to whisper things that made Medusa embarrassed, but she had made up her mind not to go out today. She would wait until her two sisters were asleep at night, then take the skirt to the tribe and have their believers help her alter it.
After Medusa decided to bury her head in the sand, her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, indeed found it boring. They talked for a while, then left. According to their usual routine, Medusa guessed they had probably gone to the Pelasgian tribe to tease their believers.
Feeling her two sisters' presence leave, Medusa finally relaxed. She lay on her bed, slowly pondering the skirt alteration, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
"Medusa! Wake up!"
After an unknown amount of time, Medusa was suddenly woken by a loud shout.
Hearing her sister's voice, Medusa resolutely played the ostrich. She responded:
"Sister, I don't feel well today—"
But before she could finish, she heard her sister shout in a somewhat panicked voice:
"I'm not joking with you, Medusa, come out quickly, other humans are attacking our believers!"