Kronos's Challenge

"Welcome to my humble abode," greeted Kronos. His expression was impossible to discern, since his entire body was encased in light.

He seemed happy, though. I wasn't sure, but he wasn't radiating negative emotions. His tone was also quite lighthearted.

It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the unusual scenery. Prometheus only watched in amusement, finding my troubles a matter to laugh about.

Once I'd adjusted, I bowed before greeting Kronos. "Greetings again, your majesty."

"Don't," replied Kronos sternly. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze locked onto me. "The reason I find you amusing is because of your boldness. Do not lose that."

I furrowed my brows before glancing at Prometheus, who shrugged. I then turned towards Kronos. "I'll do that."

Then, I sat on the couch beside Prometheus. Kronos sat on the couch opposite from us.

"Prometheus and I were talking about old times," explained Kronos. A playful grin formed over his face.

Prometheus paled, viewing Kronos's grin. The two looked like children. The latter seemed to be revealing a secret about the former.

It was… amusing, to say the least.

"Did you know Prometheus used to be a real baby in the past?" asked Kronos. "He threw a temper tantrum when I said I would win the Titan War by myself. He moved over to Olympus's side and helped Zeus defeat me, and then he switched over to my side when I cursed Zeus."

"Basically, a two-faced bitch?" I asked, to which Kronos burst out laughing.

Prometheus's face turned beet red in what seemed like anger or embarrassment. By the vein bulging from his forehead along with the slight blush on his cheeks, I suspected it was both.

"Wait, if Zeus defeated you, how did Othrys survive?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Othrys was supposed to have transformed into Olympus after the Titanomachy. However, both Olympus and Othrys now stood tall.

Kronos's laughs died down, and he switched to a solemn expression. "I cursed Zeus, after which Prometheus returned to my side. The curse forced him to release me, and I took over Othrys, forcing Olympus to relocate."

"I've never heard of such a tale on Earth."

"Earth… that's the planet you come from, right?" asked Kronos rhetorically. "It's another name for Gaia, too. Anyway, not all stories can be accurate. This happened trillions of years ago."

"I see," nodding thoughtfully. "I can't imagine Zeus getting scared of your curse."

"Oh, he didn't get scared," replied Kronos, letting out a laugh. "He got annoyed by all the misfortunes it caused."

I chuckled, imagining Zeus, the proud and arrogant God of Lightning and the Skies, releasing the titans because he got bad luck because of it.

I wasn't sure how much of this was true, but I took Kronos's word for it.

Anyhow, it didn't concern me. It was amusing, though.

We continued conversing for a few minutes before Kronos's expression reverted to that of solemnity.

"I have something to tell you," announced Kronos. His eyes shone a deeper shade of emerald, and he leaned forward, rounding his back.

I reciprocated.

"You have talent," said Kronos. I was flattered, but I had a feeling that wasn't the only thing he meant to say. After a few seconds of silence, he continued. "But you're simply one of many prodigies."

I took a deep breath.

"The only reason you are valued is because you are fated to be the Prophetic Child," said Kronos. "It is only because of your lineage, not your talent. If you do not meet the expectations of the public, the title you have right now won't matter."

Kronos continued. "The Prophetic Child is valued because they can rescue the Divine Realm. If the Prophetic Child isn't above regular prodigies, isn't the title useless? How can they rescue the Divine Realm? Moreover, your status as a half-breed is even worse."

"That's why I offer you a deal," announced Kronos. He waited for a change in my expression, but he was left disappointed. "Become an Ascender God within a hundred thousand years. It's an incredibly short amount of time, but that is how you can prove you're a step above regular prodigies."

A hundred thousand years…

Did Kronos realize the gravity of the words he just spoke? A hundred thousand years… that was enough for the birth of thousands of generations of humans.

It was an exponentially long time.

However, for Gods, it was equivalent to the blink of an eye. It was nothing.

"An Ascender God…"

"You would be the youngest Ascender God in history if you manage to accomplish such a feat," explained Kronos. "The previous was Hercules, who managed to become an Ascender God in a mere seven-hundred thousand years."

My eyes widened. The youngest took seven-hundred thousand years? It only took me six months to reach the latter part of the demigod realm. However, would becoming a full-fledged God take that long?

It was crazy!

Prophetic Child my ass. These Gods were unbeknownst to the value of time. They treated it like nothing.

If the most talented demigod took that long, how long would I take?

Kronos was saying I should accomplish it in a hundred thousand years? That was utterly ridiculous when comparing previous records.

However, to become stronger, I had to do it.

I couldn't fall in a situation akin to that with Astaroth anymore. That was disgraceful, and simply a one-time event.

I would never let myself be so powerless again.

Memnon was simply the first stepping stone. There would be thousands of foes in the future, and I had to step over them all to reach the apex.

I had no interest in saving the world. I only wanted to reach the top… and meet my mother.

"What's the contents of the deal?" I asked. "You told me the prerequisite, but what do I get?"

"You will become a scythe at Othrys," explained Kronos. "Scythes are the most talented prodigies who are nurtured with all the resources they need. They are treated like young masters."

I didn't realize I was practically drooling. I glanced at Prometheus, who stared at me with his eyebrow raised, waiting for my answer.

To becoming stronger…

"I agree," I said instantly. "Don't get scared when I come for your throne, though."

Kronos chuckled. I didn't understand why he was so fond of my arrogant and pretentious behavior.

Others would become angry in an instant.

If I was in such a position, and a person who I couldn't even consider an ant talked so pretentiously to me, he would be squashed in an instant.

"I have a question," I announced.

"Speak."

I paused for a second, then spoke hesitantly. "What was my mother like?"

Although I was confused about my mother's identity, and whether my mother on Earth or Chaos was real, I still wanted to know about my supposed mother.

Chaos… the Goddess of Chaos and Void.

She was the reason I received the divinities of Chaos and Void. She was the reason for why talent.

A Universe-Rank God at the apex of the universe itself. She was like a true deity in a realm filled with deities.

Everyone said she was my mother… but was she truly?

Then who did Magnus Numen marry? Was she fake? I remembered my early days, in which she raised me.

But then she disappeared.

"Chaos…" muttered Kronos. "She was like a mother to me and everyone who lived back then. She was charming, tough, delicate, and violent."

"Violent… strong word."

"Indeed," Kronos laughed. "But she was like that. A tomboyish woman in her youth, and the proud leader of her empire. She was strong… extremely strong. She was the center of the universe, yet arrogance never overtook her."

I listened intently. Kronos had nothing but praises for her.

"She often got into scuffles with Eros, then went over and kicked her ass inside her palace," Kronos recalled. "Imagine going to your enemy's palace and beating the shit out of them, and then acting like nothing happened."

I chuckled, imagining the scene.

"When the Primordials ruled their own empires, she was equivalent to the others in terms of strength," Kronos said. "The Divine Realm was bustling, and everyone lived happily. I was one of the Elder Gods of Ouranos, my father's empire. But I liked Chaos better than my father, who was an arrogant, prickly old fart."

No wonder he deposed him.

"Anyway, yeah," Kronos let out a nostalgic smile before sighing. "But then… it's better you don't know about it yet."

I wanted to protest that I needed to know everything about my mother… but that would have been immature of me.

The fact that he'd revealed so much to me was a blessing, and I wasn't one to ask for more.

Staring at me intently, Kronos flicked his wrist, as if to motion me to leave. I stood up, and so did Prometheus.

"Let's go, gramps," I said.

Prometheus furrowed his brows before bowing to Kronos. "We'll be taking our leave, your majesty."

Kronos waved lightly, and we were suddenly teleported outside the palace.

That's when our trip to Kronos's palace abruptly ended.