(Greek Mythology) The Abyss of the Underworld
Chapter Fourteen
Having left the Underworld, Gaia didn't return to the King of Gods' Palace but instead went back to the Earth God's Temple, which she hadn't lived in for a long time. She didn't want to see Uranus now.
The temple was still the same as when she left, reminding her of many past events.
Perhaps it was regret. Gaia gazed absently at the sky outside the window, lost in thought. Uranus was not only her husband but also her child. However, because giving birth to the gods of the sky, the sea, and the mountains was merely her duty as the Earth Mother Goddess, and because Uranus was born as an adult, she felt no real connection to this son.
Because she didn't care, she overlooked the fact that Uranus was different from the first generation of gods created by their father. Even though he shared inherited memories, there were things Uranus didn't understand. He didn't understand tolerance; all his actions were imbued with a tyrannical possessiveness. No amount of disguise could change his plundering nature.
It was because she hadn't taught Uranus properly that he had become like this. No, there was actually still a chance, because Uranus loved her. If she had been patient and guided him slowly, one day he would have understood; time can change everything. But after she couldn't bear Uranus's behavior and, in a fit of pique, had an affair with Pentheus and fathered several children, her former love turned into resentment, and there was no turning back.
The differences between them grew larger with time, and Uranus became increasingly cruel.
However, a strong resentment welled up in Gaia's heart, and her hands unconsciously clenched, her sharp nails piercing her palms without her noticing.
He actually put her newborn children back into her womb! How dare he?!
Gods are born proud and value appearances. She didn't like these children either, but that didn't mean she could tolerate Uranus's behavior.
Even after all this time, she still vividly remembered the disbelief, followed by deep anger and resentment. From birth until now, she had never suffered such humiliation.
She wasn't a god-king, lacking the blessing of a god-king's divine status, and her abilities leaned more towards creation. Therefore, she couldn't defeat Uranus and could only swallow her anger.
But she was, after all, a Gaitan god, and Uranus dared not truly attack her, lest he provoke the other Gaitan gods. That was enough; she had ample time to plot her revenge.
However, she hadn't expected that before she could even carry out her revenge, she would learn that the laws could no longer tolerate Uranus.
Even if it was only a vague feeling, she trusted her intuition—a premonition born from a god's innate understanding of the laws. Although this feeling was uncontrollable, once it arose, it was absolutely infallible.
After a moment's thought, she understood the reason. Uranus,
though cruel, was nonetheless an outstanding king. His exceptional talent prevented the laws from allowing him to exist.
She hated Uranus, but refused to see him meet his demise.
With a sliver of hope, she went to the abyss.
"Brother, is there a way?" Gaia's question seemed abrupt, but Tartarus understood what she wanted to ask.
After pondering for a while, Tartarus answered Gaia's question in his usual cold voice, "The first God-King must die, but the Sky God Uranus can live."
The implication was that Uranus should relinquish his divine status and the throne; without the title of God-King, he would be spared the laws' scrutiny and manipulation.
This method wasn't difficult to conceive, but few gods would think of it this way. Even disregarding the exalted status of the God-King, in terms of power alone, gods are born arrogant, and what sustains their arrogance is their innate immense power. Avoiding damage to this power is instinctive for them, even if the price might be their lives.
However, the God-King's divine essence had been fused with Uranus for a long time. Forcibly separating it would cripple him by half, and a decline in power was inevitable.
For Uranus, who had always stood high above, at the pinnacle of power, and tasted the sweetness of wielding great authority, losing either power or status was unbearable. How could he willingly give up everything and fall into such a wretched state?
"Is there really no other way?"
"What the laws dictate, no one can change, not even the gods. Gaia, you should know this very well."
The expected negative answer wasn't too difficult to accept, but there was still a sense of disappointment.
After a moment of silence, Gaia suddenly laughed. She had misunderstood; wasn't this actually better for her? She had almost forgotten that she still wanted revenge on Uranus. And in terms of revenge, this outcome alone wasn't enough.
Her eyes were devoid of hesitation, only unwavering resolve. Gaia heard her own voice, unusually clear, "I want to take the scythe I used to use during our sparring sessions."
"Are you sure? That was just something I made on the spot. It would be difficult to harm the God-King."
For gods, with sufficient divine power, wounds can heal quickly unless they were inflicted by a divine artifact.
"So, please, brother, cast a curse." Gaia's smile grew even brighter, only a hint of hatred in her eyes revealing her true emotions.
Snapping out of her reverie, Gaia held the cursed scythe in her hand. A chilling light flickered across its dark blade, beautiful yet dangerous.
She didn't want Uranus to die, but she wouldn't let him get away with it. Even if it's a divine artifact, no matter how severe the injuries, a body formed from the laws of nature can only recover in time. But if it were a curse set with the power of the abyss gods, closest to chaos, Uranus's life afterward would surely be very "wonderful."
Losing the throne of the God-King, suffering damage from the stripping of his divine status, coupled with a curse that suppresses the recovery of injuries and divine power—this is true revenge.
She herself couldn't defeat Uranus, but the children of the earth were growing up day by day. Although she didn't yet know who the laws had chosen for the next God-King, the struggle for that supreme position meant the conflict would never be abated.
Now that she had such an opportunity, she would naturally seize it; it was just a matter of time. She wasn't lacking in even that much patience.