Why not go to the Underworld?
Why head out to sea instead?
Well, the reasons were complicated. On one hand, the Underworld was a dangerous place, and Eros wasn't exactly thrilled about playing in the loser's bracket of life.
On the other hand, the Underworld really didn't have many famous goddesses.
Aside from Nyx, goddess of the night, and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, it was mostly goddesses of vengeance, discord, and wickedness.
Just hearing those titles gave him the feeling that none of them were quite his type.
But the sea? The sea was a whole different story!
Forget sirens, sea witches, mermaids, or squid girls—just look at Oceanus. The man was famous for how many daughters he had.
There were the 3,000 Oceanids, and even if you lowballed it, at least 50 sea nymphs.
Future legends like Thetis, the mother of Achilles...
Amphitrite, who hadn't even become Poseidon's queen yet...
Perseis, wife of the sun god Helios...
Eurynome, goddess of freshwater pastures...
Even Zeus's first wife, Metis, was one of Oceanus's daughters.
Was this Oceanic realm or a live-action version of Azur Lane?!
A man as dazzlingly handsome as Eros wasn't made for gloomy caves and ghost queens.
Obviously, he needed to dive into the tender, flowing embrace of sea goddesses and take his rightful place as a Sea King!
After considering it from every angle, Eros was now firmly convinced: heading for the sea was his best path forward.
"Sailing out, huh?" Apollo murmured, thoughtful.
"Well… to be fair, if you go to Poseidon's domain, it might help shield you from Hera's gaze."
It seemed she had misunderstood his motive, but hey, that worked in his favor.
Eros nodded, going along with it without hesitation.
But then Apollo's expression turned conflicted, brows knitting together.
"Still, I think you really should tell Father about this in advance."
The hell?! What do I need to tell that overgrown stallion Zeus for? We're not even officially related!
Why did this feel like he was some pre-booked item in someone else's collection?
Apollo tried to explain more delicately, "It's just that… if you show up in Poseidon's territory without informing Father first, things could get messy."
The gods were known for being bold in love, direct and unrestrained.
But among all of them, only Poseidon could make even the gods flinch with how unfiltered he was.
If Zeus found out that Eros had wandered into Poseidon's turf, that dog of a sea god would probably pounce immediately and it wouldn't end well for Eros.
Hearing that, Eros immediately pictured Poseidon's big, dumb, horny face.
Sure, Apollo was pushy, and Zeus was a flirt, but compared to Poseidon, they looked downright saintly.
Poseidon was the kind of guy who, once interested, had to have it. Once he did, he'd zip up and disappear without a trace, not taking a shred of responsibility.
So yeah, maybe claiming to be Zeus's lover had some use, it could at least scare off that seaborne jackass.
With that thought, Eros decided to suck it up for now. He'd play along with the Zeus card until he could land a powerful sea goddess and really gain protection.
"You make a good point. But… how exactly do I contact Zeus?" he asked.
Eros figured Zeus was probably going through a rough patch right now. Otherwise, why else hadn't he made time to seduce him lately?
Let this be a lesson, never believe a woman's sweet talk before marriage.
Hera had used that gentle, generous persona to fool Zeus into naming her Queen of the Gods.
"I don't care about status, just let me stay by your side when this is all over."
"What? You made me Queen?"
"One woman is more than enough."
The sheer emotional whiplash. Even Zeus must regret that one deeply.
"Just offer a sacrifice," Apollo said simply. "Offer it to the King of the Gods. As the only human of this era, your offering will definitely reach him."
Back then, humans didn't worship the gods, not even the King himself.
So if Eros wanted to avoid Hera's attention and get Zeus's help, this really was the best plan.
"Alright then, let's do it!"
He sprang into action without hesitation, though he didn't notice the slight anticipation and anxiety laced in his own excitement.
The first time always leaves an impression, even if it ends with getting played.
Before long, Eros returned carrying a massive bull on his shoulders.
Electric currents crackled around him as the size difference between his lean human body and the huge beast created a dramatic contrast.
Even Apollo raised an eyebrow. Eros's physique already surpassed that of the average Silver Age human.
"Is that… Father's power? The way you use it is rather clever."
If someone only used Sky Authority to summon rain and lightning, it'd be a waste.
But Eros, combining that spark of divine power with a naturally fit body, had developed something uniquely efficient.
He used the electric current to stimulate his muscles, pushing cell movement and internal friction, which strengthened his body and created bioelectric energy.
He called this technique Current Drive.
And if he could one day obtain more sky-based powers or lightning-related authorities, he had even bolder ideas.
He imagined harnessing electricity to influence magnetism, then generating electricity from magnetism, an endless loop of energy, reaching the level of Magnetic Field Rotation.
Of course, that was the fantasy equivalent of launching himself skyward by stepping on his own foot. A fun thought, but totally absurd for now.
Still, this "Current Drive" was proving very effective.
Eros methodically butchered the bull, separating meat from bone. He placed the symbolic parts of strength, the thighs and horns at the top of a makeshift altar.
He built a simple sacrificial structure and left the rest to Apollo.
A faint glow lit the tip of the bull's horn, smoke drifting gently into the sky.
Normally, a proper sacrifice would require praise songs to Zeus.
But with Apollo here, a simple "dad" would do the trick.
As the smoke rose, a lightning bolt split the clear sky,
and a familiar figure materialized atop the altar.
Only, it wasn't the soft, affectionate image Eros remembered.
It was a white-haired girl radiating cold majesty and divine authority.
"Apollo, why have you summoned me?"
Even as a projection, her eyes flashed with lightning and fire, exuding an aura of absolute, sovereign will.
But the moment she saw Eros standing there, the austere expression on her face crumbled just a little.
"D-dearest Eros?"
"Was it you… calling for me?"
In front of others, Zeus had to maintain the King's dignity, even before her own children.
But in front of Eros, she genuinely didn't know what expression to use.
It was, after all, her first time getting involved with a human… she was still a bit awkward about it.
"My darling Eros," she said with surprising tenderness,
"Did you need something from me? Speak freely. You needn't fear me."
Greek mythology really is something.
Where else can you find a pantheon where moms and daughters are both on the table?
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!