Author note:
Hey guys, I'm back and ready to start uploading again!
I just wanted to let you all know that I might be quite busy at the beginning of the new year, so I may not be able to upload sometimes during that time. But don't worry—I have no plans to drop the story!
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Now, enjoy the chapter!
——
As Aetherion walked through the trees, wearing his new hooded cloak and freshly repaired clothes—restored thanks to his divine energy—he moved unnoticed.
Looking around, he saw many different races:
dryads born from the very trees he had created on this island of his.
Aetherion found that confusing.
Weren't they, in a way, his children? And yet, they didn't see him as such.
They only regarded him as a deity, a creator, which puzzled him even more.
Still, he didn't dwell on it too deeply, nor did he question it aloud.
They insisted they were born from the trees—not from him directly—which made things even more confusing.
Regardless, he moved on.
He watched them chatting with various nymphs and naiads, speaking of trivial things, while satyrs and different deity's approached, trying (and failing) to flirt with them.
The nymphs only giggled in response.
Spirits of different kinds floated around too—some of water, some of fire, and even a few moon spirits, which raised more questions in his mind, but he let it go.
After all, he was no longer mortal, no longer a human.
He was something more now.:
an immortal being, walking through a supernatural world.
As he kept walking, he looked at the smiling faces around him and thought back to the time they had spent on this island—fifteen years in total.
In the beginning, it had just been ten years, which passed peacefully.
Life was simpler then.
They had stayed secluded on the island with his siblings, not venturing out, not seeking allies.
Those early years had been quiet, almost serene.
Which Aetherion didn't understand in the beginning.
He had wanted to start recruiting allies after a month or two—just enough time to let his siblings settle down, feel comfortable, and begin their training.
He had even discussed it with Metis back then.
But he remembered the strange look she gave him when he brought it up.
She simply told him they needed to wait longer—much longer.
They needed time to let dissent brew within Kronos' kingdom.
The people under his rule had to begin seeing him for what he truly was: a tyrant.
A cruel ruler who didn't allow his subjects to live as they pleased, who suppressed freedom and peace.
Aetherion had thought one or two months would be enough.
But then Metis explained, and finally, he understood.
Something he still hadn't gotten used too.
They were immortal.
Time passed differently for them—much faster.
Two mortal months would feel like only a few hours to a being that lives forever.
It wouldn't be nearly enough time for immortal creatures to recognize the signs of tyranny or even begin questioning their loyalty.
Ten years to them might feel like a couple of months—or even just weeks.
That realization had been shocking to him.
Time, to him as a former human, had always felt precious, fleeting, irreplaceable.
He had been conditioned to act fast, to make every moment count.
That urgency shaped how he thought, how he trained, how he acted.
But now, he had to accept that immortality brought with it a different perception of time.
For many deities, time was almost meaningless.
It flew by unnoticed, like wind.
And yet, Aetherion refused to let that change him entirely.
His human side gave him an edge.
It made him creative.
It gave him drive.
He still trained with the same urgency.
He still valued time.
He pushed himself to grow faster and further than others might even attempt.
That was his strength—one he didn't want to lose.
It was something the other gods lacked, and something that set him apart.
And that was exactly why he needed Metis and her insight.
Her immortal patience balanced his mortal urgency.
Together, they had made it work.
In the last five years—after the initial ten years of quiet preparation—they had gained many allies.
More and more beings had grown discontent with Kronos' rule.
His cruelty, his unreasonable demands, his punishments… all of it began to stir unrest.
It was unjust.
And Themis, especially, had been enraged by it.
For Aetherion and his siblings, it had been a peaceful time.
But for the rest of the world, it hadn't.
Those five years of preparation and alliance-building—combined with the ten years of waiting—had resulted in fifteen years of silent but effective groundwork.
They had built a formidable force and trained hard to become stronger.
That was why he had begun hunting Kronos' forces while gathering allies, though he had only started a year or two ago—he couldn't quite remember.
Only Poseidon was still something of a troublemaker—boastful, prideful, and often distracted. But Zeus…
Zeus was better than he was in the myths, in Aetherion's opinion—probably because of his beati— No, his teaching, of course.
In fact, thanks to him, Zeus had grown into a charming and charismatic person.
People genuinely liked him, especially the gods connected to the sky, winds, or storms.
He had even managed to help Zeus control his lustful nature.
Thanks to his 'lessons', Zeus had not raped anyone.
Instead, he had turned him into a respectful scumbag, at the very least.
A small smile appeared on Aetherion's face as he thought about that.
Thanks to Aetherion' influence (and a few beatings and lessons from Aetherion), the brothers had grown closer and more disciplined.
And then… Aetherion's eyes caught Poseidon.
There he was—locked in a passionate kiss with a forest nymph, hands wandering down her back, reaching toward her bottom.
The nymph seemed completely enchanted, and Poseidon was too absorbed to notice anything around him—not even Aetherion standing nearby.
Even if with his stealth cloak off, Poseidon wouldn't sense him.
Aetherion grinned.
Then, slowly, that grin twisted into something mischievous… even a little evil.
Aetherion had just promised himself—while spending time with Metis—that he wouldn't pursue his lust or desire for women until the war was over.
Yet, the very next moment, as he walked out of her workshop, he spotted Poseidon making out with a nymph.
He didn't know why, but a sudden flicker of jealousy and irritation crossed his face.
What was that saying from his former world again? When in Rome, do as the Romans do?
Well, now that Aetherion was a Greek—more specifically, a Greek Titan—he figured it made sense to follow Greek tradition too.
And what were the gods of Greece most known for?
Being petty.
So Aetherion, without hesitation and with a mischievous grin tugging at his lips, created a handful of tomatoes out of thin air.
Then he launched them—splat!—right at Poseidon, striking him square in the back of the head.
Startled, Poseidon and the nymph he was smooching on jolted apart.
"Who dares—!?"
Poseidon started to roar, but before he could finish, splat! another tomato smacked him in the face.
The nymphs gasped in shock but quickly stifled her giggles, not wanting Poseidon to see they found the situation hilarious.
Aetherion, meanwhile, took off running—with his hood up and stealth still active—but not before throwing a flurry of tomatoes at near light speed, pelting Poseidon from every direction.
Realizing who it must be, Poseidon's furious voice echoed through the majestic forest:
"I KNOW IT'S YOU, AETHERION, YOU BASTARD OF A BROTHER!"
Aetherion heard it.
And he smiled.
The shouting?
Music to his ears.
"Hahaha…"
As he walked away, an amused and satisfied smile spread across his lips, followed by a soft chuckle.
In that moment, Aetherion was truly content.
——
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