The Greece Antagonist

However, after a full half-hour, as the faint sense of being watched completely dissipated, Luo En couldn't help but lift the corners of his taut lips upward, revealing a playful smile on his previously unsettled face.

It seemed that the Triple Goddess Hecate was not the primordial Nyx herself, but rather a part that had split off from her; thus, she could also be considered a daughter of Nyx, and the same was likely true for The Three Fates.

As the embodiment of order, the birth of Hecate and The Three Fates couldn't have been a result of traditional sexual reproduction but a kind of "self-division" due to certain reasons.

For example, in Greek legend, when the Heavenly Father Uranus's genitals fell into the sea, the foam and dissipated divinity that were generated birthed the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite;

After the demigod hero Perseus killed Medusa, the giant Chrysaor was conceived from her divinity;

Stheno and Euryale, in their pursuit of the murderer, had their blood spilled on the earth, which turned into the desert serpents...

All these examples are enough to suggest that Nyx, revered as the supreme goddess in the Dionysian Sect, was likely an incarnation of the rules, akin to a "supercomputer" that manages the world.

However, because Zeus had surpassed his destiny, a logical "BUG" had appeared. Continue your story on empire

In the process of self-repair, the original system split into two parts.

The main body, The Three Fates, agreed to elect Zeus as king, resolute in maintaining the course of destiny.

Hecate, representing "possibility" and disagreeing with them, was deemed a "virus" and split off.

In this world governed by fate and destiny, the two represented "inevitability," the prevailing trend, and "chance," the extremely minute probability.

The outcome of their struggle was self-evident.

The Three Fates, as the victors, became the sovereigns of the land, sea, sky, and life, revered by Zeus.

In terms of traditional Eastern concepts, their relationship was more akin to that between "Heaven's Will" and the "Son of Heaven."

One behind the scenes and the other in the spotlight.

Hecate, however, was banished to the Netherworld, where, due to Zeus's reverence and fear, she retained an aloof status.

But this was no different from those prisoners confined in Tartarus Hell.

Hecate, rebellious by nature, certainly would not rest content with this fate.

Thus, she utilized Nyx's authority to first create three Lesser Deities—Charon, Sleep God Hypnos, and Death God Thanatos—tasking them to "assist" Hades, the God of the Underworld, in managing the Netherworld.

If all these covert maneuvers could not corroborate that woman's intent to sideline Hades,

then Luo En could present further irrefutable evidence.

Her protégée, the Goddess of Spring Persephone, became the Queen of the Underworld.

Her disciple, the Great Witch Circe, was not only the ruler of Aiaia but also the legendary guide who led the departed souls across the sea into the Netherworld.

Her disciple's disciple, the Great Witch Medea, reigned as the Queen of Elysium, another term symbolizing paradise, the "Elysian Fields."

...

All these incidents, one might have been a coincidence, but three put together were undoubtedly premeditated.

Moreover, her efforts with The Three Fates never ceased

—Porus, the legendary son of Metis, brother of Athena, who was never born, the God of Opportunity;

—Zagreus, the legendary reincarnation of Porus, son of the Queen of the Underworld, the God of Resurrection;

—Dionysus, the legendary reincarnation of Zagreus, son of Semele, the God who died and was reborn...

These three "possibilities" who were supposed to replace Zeus and become the Divine King were Hecate's three attempts to fight against fate.

But judging from the subsequent mythological stories, all three attempts failed.

Even Dionysus, the most promising God of Wine, was burnt to death along with his mother before even being born.

Based on Luo En's own experiences and his understanding of Zeus,

he speculated that Zeus's so-called act of rescuing Dionysus from the womb and later sewing him into his thigh out of "fatherly love" was probably also calculated with ulterior motives.

Devouring one's own offspring is an old tradition that was passed down from Titan King Cronus.

Athena and Porus, siblings who were consumed before birth, enjoyed such treatment, and in the end, only Athena, who could not inherit the throne, was permitted to be born.

Likewise, Zeus sewing Dionysus into his thigh was probably a similar method to remove the threat this infant posed to his own position as Divine King.

And obviously, he succeeded.

Otherwise, Hecate would not have chosen to abandon the doomed future of Dionysus in that resurrection contest and place her hopes on an extraneous soul like him.

Furthermore, Luo En suspected that his soul's descent into this world was due to Hecate's subtle manipulations.

—After all, she was the Goddess who controlled the dead and guided the way.

—A soul not accounted for in fate's calculations was precisely the pawn she needed.

Thus, chance was also inevitability, all within that woman's plans.

While his thoughts surged, a cold gleam flashed in Luo En's eyes.

Compared to his overt adversary Zeus, he was even more wary of Hecate.

This woman had been evasive from the get-go, first using the identity of the Queen of the Underworld Persephone (refer to Chapter 3), then with the threat of death and the lure of rewards, she gradually pushed him to the gambling table, in opposition to the gods of Olympus.

Although their goals and interests align for the moment.

But according to Greek family traditions, Luo En found it hard to ensure that, knowing such a secret, he wouldn't eventually be discarded after serving his purpose over time.

Nevertheless...

Luo En once again picked up the twelve-sided die, gently released it, letting "chance" roll and spin on the table, his lips curving into a pleased smile.

"You want to use me, this "variable," to topple Zeus and the Three Fates and reclaim Nyx's original authority.

Conveniently, I want that too!

Before showing our hands, it's impossible to tell who'll win or lose...

Let's see, between us, who will have the last laugh!

At that moment, the spinning die on the table stopped making its peculiar sound, and Luo En subconsciously looked down, his gaze falling on the petal patterns engraved on it.

—Aphrodite's number again?

—Could it be hinting that if I want to win, I need to seize the opportunity to turn her into a velvet ball?

A bizarre thought flashed through his mind, and Luo En couldn't help but think of the phrase "rider who scorns his ancestor."

But according to seniority, shouldn't Hecate be considered an "ancestor"?

As for "teacher"...

~~

"Achoo!"

Meanwhile, in the corridors of the palace in Colchis, a petite enchantress with pointy ears sneezed vigorously.

Strange, why do I have a bad feeling?

A curse?

Damn, who dares to stab me in the back! Wait until I curse them dead!

The enchantress Circe walked down the corridor, grinding her teeth furiously one moment, muttering darkly the next, and then breaking into a grin...

The maids and patrol guards passing by, seeing her erratic expressions and the unique eagle feathers on her back, instinctively felt uneasy and took a wide berth.

This was King Aeetes's distant sister from the island of Aiaia, an enchantress.

As Queen Idyia was close to giving birth, the king was somewhat worried about the safety of mother and child, so he specially summoned his sister—skilled in witchcraft and healing—to be prepared for any eventuality.

—The goddess she worshipped, Hecate, had authority over the birth of infants and the education of children, making her a guardian of babies in another sense.

And indeed, since Circe's arrival and the casting of her spells, the queen had a smooth experience from labor to delivery.

"Wah~~!"

A quarter of an hour later, with a baby's clear cry echoing from the birthing room, the busy maids and midwives inside and outside breathed a sigh of relief, handing the healthy princess in swaddling clothes to the king.

But before the handover could be completed, an excited Circe barged into the room and snatched the swaddling clothes away from the king, scrutinizing the newborn child over and over.

However, the newborn's neck was very short, with a relatively large head and wrinkly skin, and topped with sparse and disordered lanugo, far from being "cute" or "pretty."

Thus, after holding her for just a few seconds, Circe disdainfully tossed her back to her brother, the king.

"Just like a skinned little mouse, so ugly..."

Hearing the great witch's mutter, several midwives chuckled and explained.

"Her Highness the princess is still young; she will naturally become beautiful as she grows."

Circe, upon hearing this, nodded thoughtfully and then looked back at her king brother with renewed interest.

"Hey, Aeetes, have you decided on her name yet?"

Although the king of Colchis appeared burly and simple, and would sow dragon's teeth soldiers during festivals to fight and offer sacrifices to the War God Ares,

he completely lacked the temerity to stand up against his seemingly frail sister, due to the disparity in power, and he obediently stated the name he had long contemplated.

"Medea..."

"Hmm, it's a nice name."

Circe praised disinterestedly, then her eyes lit up, and she spoke leisurely.

"Her aptitude is good, very suitable for learning witchcraft. I'll stay here for a while, and after the nursing period is over, I'll take her back to Aiaia to formally receive the legacy of the Great Hecate."

Hearing his sister's suggestion, King Aeetes immediately agreed, even wishing he could hand over his daughter right away, not waiting for the end of the nursing period.

The people of Colchis had a martial and combative spirit in their blood and revered the War God Ares.

And since Hecate could intervene in the birth of infants and oversee the education of children and youths, having his daughter become a direct disciple of the Witchcraft Goddess was beyond the king's wildest desires.

Once the conversation was finished, Circe nodded in satisfaction and took back her newborn niece from her brother, giving her a serious once-over.

This time, seemingly persuaded by the feelings in her heart, the wrinkly little thing in her arms seemed slightly more pleasing to the eye.

After scrutinizing her, Circe poked the little baby's cheek and murmured softly.

"Still not as cute as him..."