Olympus was unusually silent. No laughter, no music, no feasting. The council hall, once filled with pride and arrogance, now carried the weight of unease.
⸻
The Omen
Apollo stood before the throne room, golden light flickering uneasily from his skin. "Father… the sun feels heavy. Something is pushing against it, something I cannot name."
Artemis spoke next, her bow clenched tight. "The forests whisper in fear. Even the moon feels threatened. Whatever this presence is—it does not belong to our world."
The gods shifted uncomfortably. They had fought Titans, Primordials, even Megumi himself. Yet this was different.
⸻
Zeus's Unease
Zeus sat upon his throne, but his hand trembled slightly on the scepter. "I know what it is," he muttered. "Or rather… who."
Hera narrowed her eyes. "Speak plainly, husband."
Zeus stood, thunder growling in his voice. "The one we swore was destroyed. The one even I feared. The original Fallen King. His shadow is stirring."
The room fell into horrified silence.
⸻
Cronos Speaks
Cronos, who had remained quiet in the corner, finally spoke. His tone was grave, softer than the gods had ever heard from him.
"You all think you've faced war. You haven't. Not like this."
His golden eyes scanned the chamber. "The first Fallen King was not like Megumi Valentine. Megumi is still tethered by love, by grief, by the mortal heart he refuses to lose. The first… he had nothing left. Only hunger. He sought to unmake everything. Mortals, titans, gods—it did not matter. Only silence."
⸻
The Panic
Aphrodite's voice trembled. "If he returns… we cannot win."
Ares slammed his spear into the floor. "Then we fight until Olympus burns!"
"Fool!" Athena snapped. "War is useless against him. This is not a battle of spears and swords—it is annihilation itself."
The gods broke into shouting, panic rising like a storm.
⸻
Zeus's Command
"ENOUGH!" Zeus roared, lightning cracking the sky outside.
"We cannot allow this to spread among mortals. Fear will weaken them before a single strike falls. We prepare in silence." His gaze hardened, fierce yet unsettled. "Send Hermes. Watch Megumi Valentine closely. If he is the key to this awakening, we cannot allow him to act unchecked."
Cronos watched Zeus with a heavy heart. He whispered under his breath, unheard by all but Hestia at his side:
"Perhaps it is already too late…"