Gods Among Us

[A FEW HOURS EARLIER]

In the distance, Aphrodite heard a lightning strike on the hillside. The sound caused her to freeze momentarily before she sighed in resignation.

"Uuugh, Zeus, you spoiled brat."

Flying swiftly, she reached the massive Minotaur and hugged his broad shoulders, stealing a kiss from his lips while smiling at his flushed face.

"SEE YOU LATER, LOVE~"

And with that, she disappeared.

[OLYMPUS]

Aphrodite appeared at the entrance of Olympus, her expression sour. She wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

With a snap of her fingers, she shifted into her divine form, her skin glowing with a rich tan and her long pink hair flowing elegantly.

Minor gods and nymphs quickly moved aside as the furious Goddess of Love strode purposefully through the halls toward the meeting chamber.

With a push full of irritation, Aphrodite flung open the great doors, finding all the gods already seated. She was the last to arrive.

The thrones were arranged in a perfect circle, with the King and Queen of Olympus at the center.

To Aphrodite's left, leading to Zeus, were:

- Apollo (Shuumatsu no Valkyrie)

- Artemis (Fate)

- Dionysus (Hades Game)

- Hermes (Hades Game)

- Athena (Barghest, Fate).

To her right, leading to Hera, were:

- Hephaestus (Hades Game)

- Her throne

- Ares (Leonidas, Fate)

- Demeter (Fate)

- Poseidon (God of War).

"Finally here, Dite~" came Hermes's irritating voice as she approached her throne with an annoyed grunt, ignoring the mischievous grin on the Messenger God's face.

Hermes was a youthful deity, with short black hair and bronzed skin. His athletic build was lean and toned rather than overly muscular. He wore a pair of winged sandals and a cream-colored tunic fastened with various belts, adorned with his winged insignia. At 1.69 meters, he was among the shortest Olympians (Hermes, *Hades Game*).

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just start this meeting already!"

Quickly, Aphrodite sat on her throne, irritated at the waste of time keeping her from Asterius.

"You seem upset, Dite. Something wrong?"

Hephaestus's warm voice broke through her irritation. She turned to see him smiling faintly.

Hephaestus was a burly god who used a wheelchair. His only garment was a light blue robe draped over his lower half. Tattoos with traditional Greek patterns adorned his muscular arms. His dark hair was tied in a bun that blended into his beard, and he wore a golden headband. His most striking feature, besides his wheelchair, was his mechanical left leg. He always carried a forge hammer (*Hades Game*).

Despite their past, Aphrodite and Hephaestus had developed a friendship over time. She often visited his temple to see his nephews or his wife, Aglaia.

"Nothing, Hefy, just the usual stress," she replied, her tone light despite her irritation, knowing Hephaestus had often helped her craft gifts and pranks for Asterius.

"Tch. Stress? Let me guess—you caused more chaos among mortals, didn't you, Aphrodite?"

The disdainful voice of Athena cut through the air, making Aphrodite roll her eyes.

"Well, Athena, not all of us are prudish killjoys who don't know how to have fun! Know-it-all!"

She chuckled lightly as Athena's grip tightened on her blade. Athena was one of Aphrodite's fiercest rivals.

It made sense—the goddess of wisdom and war, a sworn virgin, clashing with the goddess of beauty and love.

Athena was a tall, imposing Amazonian figure with silvery blonde hair cascading to her waist. Her striking heterochromia—a red right eye and blue left eye—added to her commanding aura. At 1.90 meters, her robust frame was accentuated by her warrior-like bearing (*Barghest, Fate*).

Nearby, Dionysus laughed loudly, sipping his wine as he watched the argument unfold. The god of festivities was unabashedly indulgent, wearing a smoky purple tunic and adorning himself with golden jewelry and grapevine accents. His bronzed skin and 1.80-meter athletic frame made him a striking figure (*Hades Game*).

While Dionysus enjoyed the chaos, Artemis groaned in frustration. She hated these quarrels, knowing the cleanup often fell on her and her siblings.

Artemis appeared as a young woman with silver eyes and long white hair tied into a circular ornament. She wore a flowing white dress tinged with red and bore a silver necklace (*Fate*).

Her twin brother, Apollo, chuckled beside her. With pink hair, glowing rose-hued eyes, and bronzed skin, Apollo was as radiant as the sun he represented. He stood at 1.85 meters, his lean, muscular build highlighted by his elegant white robes (*Shuumatsu*).

"I love these little family gatherings, don't you, Ares?"

Apollo's teasing tone was met with a scowl from the God of War, who crossed his arms over his broad chest.

He wore only a tunic around his waist and legs, paired with Greek sandals. His chest was bare, revealing red tattoos shaped like a "V," and a red cape hung over his broad shoulders. His war helmet rested on the arm of his throne, exposing his handsome, chiseled face—a warrior's face, with a strong jawline, fiery red eyes, and spiky red hair resembling flames. The god of war stood 1.88 meters tall (Leonidas from Fate/Grand Order).

He was sulking because, in addition to Aphrodite ignoring him for years, Athena had just refused yet another one of his challenges.

"Such troublesome nieces... Thank the heavens my Persephone is an angel. Ugh, I miss my little flower..."

Beside him sat the goddess of agriculture, Demeter, who lamented as she held a basket of cereal, which she munched on with visible discontent. Demeter's body was fuller compared to her Olympian relatives—her figure was soft and voluptuous, with firm, plump curves that exuded warmth, though not exaggerated like Aphrodite's earthly form. She had long, creamy-blond hair styled in a crown of braids around her head, with the rest cascading in a single long braid down to her ankles. Her green eyes glimmered with sorrow as she wore a dress and apron reminiscent of a human's—similar to "Europa" attire but more modest, colored green and black, accompanied by matching gloves or gauntlets. Demeter stood at a height of 1.70 meters in total (Demeter from Fate/Grand Order).

She glanced sorrowfully at her basket, munching on her cereal with her hands, her thoughts visibly consumed by her daughter.

Noticing a lingering gaze upon her, Demeter immediately turned, growling and pulling her basket protectively against her soft chest.

The one staring at her was Poseidon. The god of the seas averted his eyes quickly, caught in the act.

Since the incident that resulted in Despoina's birth (Poseidon's assault on Demeter), the goddess had made the world and the gods suffer through famine, only relenting when Zeus convinced (or rather, forced) Poseidon to swear by the Styx that he would not lay a single finger on Demeter with romantic, sexual, or malicious intent.

Since then, Poseidon could only admire Demeter's voluptuous and sinful form from afar.

The god of the seas himself had the appearance of a man in his early thirties, with bronze skin, shoulder-length dreadlocks adorned with a diadem, and golden bracelets forged by Hephaestus on his wrists. He, like Ares, left his chest bare, revealing his toned, muscular physique. Poseidon stood at a height of 1.90 meters (Poseidon from God of War).

"ENOUGH!" The roar of the queen of Olympus echoed through the hall.

Hera exuded an aura of dominance, her voice commanding absolute respect. The goddess had the appearance of a tall, voluptuous woman, radiating authority and confidence.

Hera possessed an hourglass figure, with radiant amber eyes and flawless, fair skin. Her face was delicate yet sharp, exuding an air of regality.

Her long, dark hair flowed like a cascade, reaching her lower back, framing her form gracefully. Two golden adornments resembling horns crowned her head, adding a mystical and powerful aura.

Hera wore a flowing white gown with golden embellishments. The upper part partially covered her breasts, leaving a generous décolletage exposed, while the lower part was adorned with golden ornaments.

She was adorned with golden accessories—bracelets on her arms, anklets on her feet, and a crown-like headpiece that resembled horns or ears.

The goddess not only possessed beauty but also presence. This was Hera (Dark Sun Astaroth), queen of the gods.

Beside her, Zeus was uncharacteristically silent.

The god appeared as a man in his late thirties or early forties, with a thick beard and long white hair. He wore a traditional Olympian tunic, but his towering height of 1.95 meters and chiseled muscles made him anything but fragile. Golden bracelets adorned his wrists, and his glowing white eyes emanated power. His bronze skin only added to his imposing appearance (Zeus from God of War).

The god raised his eyes to the gathered deities, beginning to speak:

"A new prophecy has arisen."

Zeus's calm yet powerful voice immediately silenced the room.

The gods exchanged glances before focusing their attention on Zeus.

Prophecies were not uncommon; each had faced their share of them. But a prophecy dire enough for Zeus to summon them? That was alarming.

"So… what kind of prophecy are we talking about?"

Dionysus was the first to speak, his drunken demeanor temporarily forgotten in favor of giving the matter his full attention.

Zeus turned to Apollo.

"Apollo, recite the prophecy once more."

Nodding to his father, Apollo closed his eyes momentarily before opening them, revealing golden, glowing irises:

『A warrior with a white mane, capable of holding up the heavens and scaling Tartarus, shall rise! With berserker's blood-red eyes, he shall reign! And by his hands, the King of the Heavens shall FALL!』(obs:In my native language translated this prophecy actually rhymes, but in English it doesn't.)

After reciting, Apollo's eyes returned to normal, and the god sat back in his throne, his expression tense.

Almost immediately, his twin sister pressed him for answers, nearly growling:

"WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, APOLLO?"

Growing equally irritated, Apollo snapped back:

"AND HOW WOULD I KNOW, SISTER? IT'S A POETIC PROPHECY—THE WORST KIND! The most I can do is attempt to interpret it, but I can't just guess its meaning!"

Apollo rubbed his temples, sighing under the pressure.

Athena was the next to speak, addressing her father:

"What shall we do? Is this a threat? Will there be ANOTHER TYPHON?"

At the mention of the giant who had once defeated Zeus and expelled the Olympians, all present shuddered. Since Typhon, every god feared the emergence of another threat of his magnitude.

In a swift motion, Ares donned his helmet and summoned his spear and shield.

"Give the order, Father, and I shall hunt down this berserker!"

The god of war spoke with eager anticipation of a battle against such a foe.

However, a mocking voice quickly shattered that notion:

"And what are you going to do? Knock on doors asking about him? A being whose race you don't even know?"

Hermes teased Ares while tapping his foot at such high speed that his leg became a blur.

But it was Zeus's words that stunned everyone:

"We will do nothing."

The god spoke with a resigned yet serious tone.

This earned a collective "WHAT?!" from the Olympians.

Zeus stood and walked slowly to the center of the meeting, his gaze sweeping across each of the gods before he continued speaking, his voice heavy with authority:

"This berserker will come to me soon—I KNOW it. If this being of prophecy is destined to strike me down, he will not delay in seeking me out. And no matter his strength, just like Typhon, HE WILL FALL BY MY HANDS!"

With a thunderous clap, Zeus summoned his lightning bolt and struck the center of the throne room, silencing all present.

The gods exchanged looks of unease at the threat and confidence in Zeus. Despite everything, he was the strongest of them all, and if even Typhon had fallen to him, why would a mere berserker be any different?

In the midst of the assembly, no one noticed the look of panic on a certain goddess of love's face.

She was the only one who recalled someone she had often called a berserker—a name she now whispered unconsciously:

"Asterius…"

_____________________________________

『Island of Sarpedon』

In a remote and isolated place at the far western edge of the world, beyond the Ocean, in a deep cavern, a voice echoed through the darkness.

"Mother?" questioned a mature and smooth voice with a lingering echo.

The sound of something slithering reverberated against the cavern's walls.

The glow of the setting sun illuminated the somber cave, revealing the source of the voice.

It belonged to a creature that could inspire fear in the hearts of men and warriors but stir lust in monsters.

The voice came from a massive half-snake woman. Towering in height, she bore four black and purple twisted horns protruding from her head. Her skin was a shade of gray-purple, and her hair was a light blue with pink streaks, cascading down her back. Her lower torso extended into a long, pale snake's tail. Despite her monstrous features, she was still considered a strikingly beautiful woman.

Soon, another voice responded to hers.

"Nothing, Echidna... I only feel that the world might soon be shaken... And that, perhaps... the gods may no longer sit so omnipotently on their thrones..."

The responding voice came from another snake-woman, though this one appeared more human, yet no less monstrous. Her lower torso extended into a long and robust serpent's body, and the ends of her dark purple hair curled into giant, hissing snakes. She looked younger than her "daughter," yet carried an air of maturity and seriousness.

Parts of her torso were covered in reptilian scale-like plates, while her arms were encased in black and golden scales, ending in sharp claws. To complete her appearance, a pair of massive bronze-and-dark wings stretched across her back.

Who was she? MEDUSA!

The mother of monsters. The original. The one who came before her daughter, Echidna.

The mother whom the gods had failed to kill for good.

And soon, perhaps... a gathering of monsters would prove to be necessary.

__________________________________

『Author's Note』

In traditional and earlier mythology, the Gorgons (Medusa and her sisters) were actually older sisters of Echidna (the consort of Typhon). However, in a later and alternative version of the myth, Echidna became the daughter of Medusa and Chrysaor.

For narrative purposes and personal preference, I liked the mother-daughter version better.

Thus, in this story, they are mother and daughter instead of sisters as in the traditional mythology!