A Thundering Essence 6

(Gaea's POV)

I watched as Zeus stretched and prepared for our spar, his movements deceptively casual, yet I could sense an almost tangible tension beneath the surface. 

His nonchalance was a flimsy mask, one he wore well, but after countless years, I could see the concentration building within him. He knew what this spar meant. 

For a young god, an unspoken trial of strength was an honor and a summons, and for Zeus, a chance to test the limits of his abilities. And I, as the Earth incarnate, his primordial mother, would give him no reprieve.

"Are you ready, young god?" I asked, stepping into the large stone arena. The ground beneath us seemed to sense the challenge in the air, its stillness laden with anticipation.

He shrugged, a wry smile stretching across his face. "Ready as I'll ever be."

His relaxed posture didn't fool me for a moment. I knew, as did he, that this was not a fight he could afford to take lightly.

(Zeus's POV)

If Gaea noticed the slight tension in my shoulders or the subtle shift in my stance, she didn't let on. I kept my expression relaxed, grinning to mask the thoughts racing through my head.

Despite my attempts to look nonchalant, I was keenly aware of her strength, her wisdom, her centuries of experience with her divine domains. No amount of divine bravado would be enough to mask that she was my elder by eons. She was the very earth beneath my feet, and that meant she was infinitely more capable than I would ever admit.

And I loved it. There was something thrilling about knowing she would push me, press me to my very limits. I'd been waiting for this.

Gaea took a step, her footfall sending a subtle tremor through the ground. I braced myself as I saw her fingers brush against the earth, pulling forth tendrils of stone and root, twisting into jagged spires that shot up from beneath. In an instant, she sent them hurtling toward me like a wall of thorns.

I sidestepped the first attack, narrowly dodging the sharp rock, but I could feel her presence woven through every part of it, guiding it like an extension of herself. I leapt back, but the roots surged forward, stretching toward me with almost sentient precision.

"Too slow, little thunder god," she taunted, her voice resonant with the Earth's ancient hum.

Nonchalant as I could, I chuckled. "Just getting started."

I raised my hand, willing a crackling sphere of energy into existence. With a flick of my wrist, I hurled it toward her, letting the lightning carve through the root and stone. 

The energy surged, burning through the vines as a shockwave pulsed outward, scattering the debris. For a split second, I allowed myself a smile, thinking I'd gained the upper hand. But then I saw her eyes—the amused glint of an ancient predator. This was nothing to her.

(Gaea's POV)

In the span of a heartbeat, I brought my hand down, and the earth obeyed my call. The ground beneath Zeus buckled, sinking just enough to throw him off balance. He stumbled, and in that moment, I closed the distance, sweeping an arm forward to direct a column of rock up into his path.

To his credit, Zeus's reflexes were sharp. He dodged with a leap, lightning crackling around him as he landed gracefully on his feet. 

He looked back at me, that same grin plastered on his face, but I could see the strain beginning to show. He was focused, alert, a flame ignited by the challenge. I felt a surge of pride even as I continued pressing the attack.

He raised both arms, his fingers drawing trails of crackling lightning through the air, and then thrust them forward. 

A blinding flash of energy shot from his hands, colliding with the earth-shield I'd conjured to deflect it. The explosion sent shards of rock and sparks flying in every direction, lighting up the clearing with a fierce, electric glow.

But I had centuries of practice, and his reliance on raw power would be his undoing. With a subtle movement, I tapped into the flow of the earth itself, calling forth a tremor that shook the ground beneath us both. Zeus struggled to keep his footing, stumbling slightly as the ground shifted beneath him.

He looked up at me, his face determined, his eyes stormy. For a fleeting moment, I saw something beyond his bravado: pure, unbridled resolve.

(Zeus's POV)

This was no ordinary spar; every move I made, she countered effortlessly. Every trick I thought I'd mastered was met with an ancient, unyielding defense. 

And each time, her response was measured, effortless. I'd faced off against my siblings before, but nothing compared to the subtle, crushing power of the Earth itself. Every punch, every bolt, every ounce of power I threw at her felt like it only skimmed the surface of her strength.

I couldn't help but laugh. Maybe I was losing, but this…this was what I'd come here for.

I grounded myself, drawing on every ounce of power I had. I poured my focus into my next move, letting the lightning pulse through my veins, my muscles taut with the electric hum of raw energy. She watched, her gaze unbreaking, as I summoned the full extent of my power, each nerve in my body alight with anticipation.

And then, I moved.

Without hesitation, I lunged forward, lightning crackling along my fists. I struck at her with a flurry of blows, each one trailing sparks that lit up the air between us. 

She shifted with fluid ease, sidestepping my attacks as though my punches were nothing more than a breeze. I twisted, snapping a leg out in a powerful kick aimed straight at her side, but she ducked low, letting the force of my attack whoosh past her.

The ground shook, and in an instant, she threw a boulder from beneath her toward me. I met it with a bolt of raw energy, blasting it into a shower of stone fragments. 

Gaea was already moving, emerging from the haze, her hands raised as she summoned twisting roots from the ground beneath us. They lashed up toward me, thick and writhing like serpents.

I spun and leapt, avoiding the nearest roots, but they were relentless, closing in from all sides. With a fierce grin, I thrust my hands down, unleashing a shockwave that flattened the closest ones and gave me a clear path forward. 

I dashed toward her, weaving between the few remaining roots, my fists sparking as I channeled raw lightning into each hand.

But just as I closed the gap, Gaea's form shifted; the ground beneath her rippled like water, and she sank into it, reappearing a few paces away. She raised her hand, summoning a wall of earth in my path that surged up like a tidal wave. 

I braced myself, throwing out both arms and letting a surge of lightning arc outward, splitting the earth-wave in two as I charged through it, debris scattering around me.

Gaea was waiting. As I emerged, she was already mid-strike, her fist crashing into my side like a landslide. The impact sent me skidding backward, my heels carving ruts in the earth. 

I gasped, feeling the dull ache of her blow radiate through my ribs. Before I could fully recover, she was on me again, her movements a blur. She swept her leg low, catching mine and throwing me off balance.

I twisted, slamming my hand against the ground to catch myself and flipped back up to my feet, barely dodging the column of stone she drove down where I'd just been. 

With a growl, I unleashed a blast of energy that knocked her back a step, but she barely staggered, already readying her next move.

I surged forward, electricity sparking in my veins, and swung my fist straight at her. She blocked with an arm of hardened stone, the impact resounding like a small thunderclap. 

I drove another punch, this time feinting, and when she moved to counter, I slipped under her guard, slamming an uppercut into her midsection that sent a shockwave of energy rippling outward.

Gaea staggered but didn't falter. With a fierce grin, she spread her hands, and the very earth beneath us split open. I leapt back, narrowly avoiding the gaping chasm that yawned beneath my feet. I didn't even have time to catch my breath before she sent another barrage of stone shards my way, sharp as spearheads.

I raised a hand, summoning a shield of lightning to deflect them, each shard sizzling and sparking as it struck the barrier. But she was relentless, pushing me back with a relentless rhythm of blows and earth-forged weapons, her strength and speed matching every move I made.

I planted my feet, braced myself, and let out a roar as I drew in the storm. Bolts of lightning arced around me, my power building until I could feel it radiate outward in waves. 

With a powerful sweep of my arm, I unleashed the pent-up energy in a torrent, a crackling arc that shot across the clearing, directly toward her.

But Gaea met my attack head-on. She raised her arms, channeling her power into the earth, and the ground surged up to form a massive barrier. 

My lightning collided with the wall, the impact so powerful that the earth itself shuddered, cracks spiderwebbing outward. The shockwave whipped through the air, but as the dust settled, I could see her standing there, unyielding, her face a mask of fierce concentration.

I closed my eyes for a split second, drawing in a deep breath, letting the intensity of the fight fall away for just a moment. I could feel my heartbeat, every pulse steady, each nerve under my control as I began channeling the prana bindu training I'd learned. 

A wave of calm washed over me, a clarity of purpose sharpening each muscle fiber, each tendon, turning my body into a weapon of precise and calculated destruction.

As I reopened my eyes, Gaea must've sensed the shift. She narrowed her gaze, tilting her head in curiosity, maybe a hint of concern. But I was already moving.

I surged forward, feet soundless as I closed the gap between us in an instant, my body acting on pure instinct and perfected form. I twisted low, letting my momentum carry me forward as I snapped a fist toward her side, right where her armor of stone would be weakest. 

My fist connected with a deafening crack, sending tiny fissures spidering out from the impact point. Gaea flinched, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she staggered back a half-step.

I didn't let up. Before she could recover, I darted forward, weaving past her guard with blinding speed. 

My fist shot toward her throat, not with brute force but with a precise, needle-like strike that slipped through her defenses. She recoiled, gasping as the blow connected, the prana bindu focus allowing me to strike where her concentration had wavered for the briefest moment.

Her expression hardened, and in an instant, the ground beneath me buckled. Roots erupted from the earth, whipping toward me like a nest of vipers. But this time, I saw them coming, my mind and body working in perfect harmony. I twisted, dodging the first tendril by a hair's breadth, spinning to evade the next with an impossible grace that caught her off guard.

Another root lashed out, its bark as hard as iron, aiming for my legs. But I dropped low, sweeping under it, and as I rose, I drove an elbow into her side, lightning crackling from the impact, blasting her back a few feet. 

The shockwave tore through the air, the electric charge catching her by surprise. Her stance faltered again, and for a split second, I thought I might've gained the upper hand.

But Gaea was not so easily defeated.

With a snarl, she thrust her hands into the ground. Instantly, thick, gnarled vines erupted from the earth, and before I could react, they coiled around my wrists and ankles, locking me in place. 

I strained against them, lightning crackling around me as I tried to burn them away, but the vines only tightened, their strength increasing with every passing second.

"Impressive, young god," she said, her voice rough but laced with admiration. "But you're not quite there yet."

I growled, tugging against my binds, but she only smiled, a glint of challenge in her eyes. With a flick of her wrist, the earth below me shifted, and more roots surged upward, wrapping around my torso and pinning my arms to my sides. 

I struggled, pulling against the restraints with all my strength, but the vines held fast, digging into my skin, pressing tighter with each movement.

"You've learned much," Gaea continued, walking slowly toward me, her footsteps reverberating with the weight of mountains. "But raw power isn't everything. Control, patience, experience, these are what make a warrior."

I glared at her, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to keep my focus. I felt the prana bindu control slipping, the precise calm I'd maintained giving way to raw frustration. But I forced myself to breathe, pulling my energy inward, trying to regain my balance even as she drew closer.

With a final, subtle gesture, she tightened the vines until I could barely move, my body immobilized in a cocoon of earth and root. She stood before me, her expression unreadable, but I could sense the faintest trace of pride beneath the surface.

"Yield, Zeus," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "You've done well, but this is the end."

I struggled one last time, pouring every ounce of power into my limbs, lightning sparking along the vines in a desperate attempt to break free. But they held firm, refusing to yield. 

Slowly, the realization sank in, I was well and truly trapped. And I couldn't exert any more divinity lest Kronos sense it.

With a heavy sigh, I let the energy drain from my body, my muscles going slack. Gaea nodded, releasing her hold slightly as she stepped back, watching me with a satisfied smile.

"Good," she said quietly. "You're learning."

After the vines had retreated, I fell to the ground with multiple cuts along my upper body, arms, and legs, but soon enough, they began to heal as I poured some of my divinity into the wounds.

Standing up, I give myself a pat on the back for lasting more than a couple of minutes. As much as I would like to pull power out of my ass, it feels like it would cheapen the fight.

As I stood back up, I saw Gaea towering over me again, yet she seemed satisfied.

"You have made astounding progress, Zeus, but be aware it's going to take much more than this to bring down the Titans. You have power, but you lack precision. Whatever you were using at the end did help, however, as I felt a small bit of surprise. For now, continue your practice with the Centurions. I must return my avatar to the world above to avoid arousing suspicion. Be aware, Zeus, you are making progress. Farewell."

After saying that, she dissolved into the dirt. After taking a breath and hoping this was the end of the training for the day, I immediately groaned in annoyance as I saw the Centurions surround me in a circle.

Picking up the sword I had dropped before the spar with Gaea, I held it in my right hand, and as my eyes lit up with power, I rushed the nearest Centurion. I knew this was going to be a fun day of training.

(Gaea's POV)

Returning to the surface, I took in the warmth of the sun, feeling it spread across my body. It helps to have an avatar to focus my sensations.

Then, I sat there in silence, acting as a shroud for the young thunder god. His progress has definitely made me proud. He is truly his father's son.

However, it seemed that fate wished to sour my mood, as from the sea came the giant form of my son, Kronos. As he stepped onto the island, he stared down at me as I looked up at him.

I found this slightly annoying. I wonder if this is how Zeus feels when he has to look up at me.

"Greetings, Mother Gaea. I did not expect to find you here." His face seemed stuck in a façade of annoyance—or perhaps the children in his stomach were not faring very well for him.

"Kronos, is there something I can do for you?" My son subtly sneered.

"Am I not allowed to visit my own mother?" The question came out legitimate, but I could tell that his annoyance was growing.

"My time is precious. Is there something you require, Kronos?" My son then knelt and sat down.

"I simply wished to talk. It has been very long since our last discussion." If anyone else had heard that, they might have believed it to be the truth.

"You are right, it has been a long time. Speak, Kronos." Kronos shifted uncomfortably, causing minor quakes across the nearby landscape.

"I worry for the future. My sight has become clouded ever since the birth of my last son." My eyes narrowed at the subtle accusation.

"Is this not something you should speak of with your siblings? They would most likely help you with this issue." He snorted at the idea.

"They are loyal only to the fact that I am the strongest and I wield the scythe. Only Atlas, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Oceanus are truly loyal." As he lay down, I could almost see how uncomfortable he was.

"My wife has yet to speak with me. How can she not see that I am doing this for her? If my children had their way, they would send all Titans to the depths of Tartarus." You do not know how wrong you are, my son. In seeking to delay your father's prophecy, you have only dug yourself into your own fate.

"Rhea is a very emotional woman. Your angry actions have hurt her more times than I can count. You should consider yourself lucky that she's even speaking to you at all." Kronos sat up again, glaring angrily.

"What would you have me do, then?! The throne is mine. This world is mi—" He stopped himself as he felt me flexing my divinity.

"Do not finish that sentence, Kronos. I am beholden to no one. Now leave." Kronos reached for his weapon, but I simply grasped it with barbed vines, and after ripping it from his hands, I tossed it away.

I cannot destroy it, nor can I keep it away from him, so simply separating it from him shall have to do.

"Be gone from this place and do not ever consider yourself my master. I am the very earth upon which you walk. Do not forget that." I could see his divinity beginning to spread, as he rapidly aged the area around me, causing the plants and trees to wither, but soon enough, he pulled away, understanding that he would not win this fight.

He walked into the sea, but I could see the hatred in his eyes. He has lost himself.

A small tear fell from my eye as I remembered what he used to be.

I am sorry, my son, for what is coming.

(Zeus POV)

Slowly, walking back to my bed after the training session, I found myself satisfied with my current progress. I was actually able to defeat the Centurion, though mostly due to my godly endurance.

After washing myself off using Shaper and my own divinity, I sat down on my bed and pondered what to do next.

It has been a week since I spent any of my charges, so now I have a total of 21 charges for both Inspired Inventor and Power Manipulation.

I am hesitant to use them—specifically, the Manipulation charges—as I don't want to overload myself with too many powers. It's the whole "10,000 styles practiced once" versus "one style practiced 10,000 times."

And I do have the time to learn to use all of them, especially with Intuitive Aptitude helping me learn the intricacies of my powers. I am essentially going to have to go to war three separate times, all back to back.

Based on my grandmother's presence, I recalled a Netflix series with a radically different timeline from normal Greek myth.

After the war with the Titans, the Giants will come from the sea and the land, and upon the deaths of both the Giants and the Titans, the Father of Monsters will arrive.

A small part of me feels slightly excited at the prospect, and I worry that I am developing battle-maniac tendencies.

However, for now, I am going to need time on my side. After thinking for a few moments, I come to a decision.

Age Empowerment (5/10): The ability to become more powerful and gain an increase in strength as one gets older.

After placing five of the 21 charges into it, I feel invigorated, as if all of my cells have essentially been upgraded. After checking my physical composition with Shaper, I can definitely tell the difference, as even now, I can feel myself evolving, but slowly.

Not to mention the fact that I can feel my own divinity growing, albeit at a much slower pace, which I assume is due to divinity being derived mostly from belief.

Even with this slower progress, it is enough for me.

Soon after, I place a couple more charges into my Reality Anchor ability. As I feel my existence becoming more firmly planted within the metaphysical realm, it increases both my satisfaction and my confidence.

However, my smile soon fades as I see Gaea reform next to me. I could tell, just based on her gait, that she was distressed.

"I assume you have run into a problem, Grandmother." She then turned her entire body 180 degrees and gave me the most scathing look imaginable.

I simply returned it with that winning smile of mine. After a few moments of awkward silence, she sighed in almost disappointment.

"You're lucky that I require you for my plans, or else I would have you sunk into the earth and melted by lava for the next hundred years." I am very tempted to make an "I'm into that" joke, but I feel she would actually do it.

"It's nice to know you care, Grandmother." She proceeded to face-palm at my response, seemingly flabbergasted.

Instead of yelling or doing anything else, she just took a breath and sat down next to me, and though I was slightly miffed that she was getting dirt on the bed, I didn't say anything.

"What's wrong?" I asked in an unusually serious tone.

"I have just finished a conversation with Kronos. It truly pains me to see how low he has fallen. His paranoia and rage have gotten the better of him. I know it must be done, but that doesn't mean I don't feel saddened by the prospect." I saw tears on the sides of her face, and I wished I could comfort her, though it didn't feel right knowing what I would have to do to him.

I simply placed a hand on her back as I went in for a hug. She actually accepted it, and while I felt her slightly shaking, I didn't say anything as she began to sob.

Inspired Inventor: 21 Charges

(1/10) Metal Gear Cybernetics, (2/10) War Tactics, (3/10) Prana Bindu, (3/10) Forging (GOW),

Power Manipulation: 14 Charges

(2/10) Increased Daily Charges: Increase Charge Gains With One Additional Charge For Every Level.(Three Charges Per Day)

(1/10) Intuitive Aptitude: This kind of intuition can make the users well informed and knowledgeable by instinct, as they spontaneously learn anything that they may encounter, intuitively grasping the knowledge of how things work and how to use it to their advantages. 

(3/10) Matter Creation: The user can create any type of artificial, organic, or inorganic matter, as well as any object, either from nothing or by using existing sources of matter and energy. They can shape the created matter into any form they wish and specify the material's type, layers, or subatomic structure. With practice, advanced users can even manipulate the matter they've created.

(5/10) Rooted in Reality: There is a thing called a reality anchor. It nullifies most paranormal effects and abilities in some range around it. You are now one such reality anchor! Naturally, this won't affect any powers of your own. You are now impervious to any direct application of supernatural powers. No mind control, no twisting your organs like putty, no setting you on fire. A telekinetic can still launch an I-beam through your chest at Mach 5, but he won't turn your bones into sand. Small mercies. Additionally, with an effort of will, you can extend this nullification effect over an area, disabling any anomalous effects. You may pick and choose what gets disabled and what doesn't.