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After a couple of days, beneath a beautiful evening sky where the sun was slowly setting, the world began to quiet.
Lions in the garden curled up to sleep, birds returned to their nests, and countless other animals—both natural and supernatural—found solace within their homes.
But today… today was different.
Today was the day of the attack.
Behind Aetherion's castle—his home—lay an enormous open field used for training.
Now, it was filled with the various units chosen to strike, their movements carefully timed for the moment the sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon.
Aetherion stood with his group, discussing the final plans and their roles in what was to come.
His gaze first fell upon Nike.
She was a tall woman, standing at 6'4", broad-shouldered and striking, with brilliant ruby-red eyes.
Her light golden hair framed a face both beautiful and fierce.
Her body was curvy and wide in waist, yet clearly toned—every line of her physique revealing that she was, without question, a warrior.
Beside her stood her brother, Kratos.
His head was clean-shaven, his frame bulky and muscular.
His presence radiated raw masculinity, paired with a rugged handsomeness visible in his sharp features, brown eyes, and thick black beard.
One glance was enough to tell anyone that he lived for battle.
Next to him stood Hera, his younger sister.
"So," Aetherion said, looking at the three of them, "are you ready?"
Each of them nodded.
"Of course,"
Nike replied without hesitation.
Kratos merely huffed in agreement, determination clear in his expression.
Hera lifted her chin slightly.
"Of course. Do I look nervous to you?"
she asked, her tone edged with confidence.
Aetherion smiled.
"Good. We'll go over the plan one last time."
They nodded again.
They had heard it many times already.
"Once the others begin their attacks," Aetherion continued, "we'll move in quietly and strike Pallas."
At that, Nike and Kratos shifted slightly.
The tension was there—but so was resolve.
Aetherion noticed it and accepted it with a nod.
"When we arrive," he went on, "I'll create my clones to act as an additional force. Combined with the hundred minor gods and a thousand lesser gods accompanying us, our numbers will exceed two thousand."
He paused briefly.
"Then I will open a parallel expansion and remove us from Kronos's and the other enemies forces senses entirely."
They already knew this part.
Still, they nodded.
Aetherion turned to Hera, his expression growing serious.
"You'll take command while I engage Pallas."
Hera straightened instantly.
"Understood,"
she replied without delay—and Aetherion hoped she truly did.
"Nike. Kratos." He looked to them next. "You'll support Hera. The three of you will handle the battlefield."
He continued firmly, "If any major gods are present—and we believe there will be, especially under Pallas's command—you will deal with them."
The gravity of his words wasn't lost on them.
Major gods were rare.
In the entire world, there were only around two hundred of them maybe three hundred—a minuscule number compared to the millions of deities of lower rank.
Minor gods numbered in the tens, maybe hundreds thousands, lesser gods in the millions, but major gods were something else entirely.
They were individuals powerful enough to rule territories of their own.
Aetherion didn't know if every major gods had chosen to participate in the war.
Some may have refused—like
Oceanus— who dwell as the ruler of the world's water, who once stood as one of the twelve great titan and had been cast out of Kronos's council for refusing to take part.
Still, he believed Pallas would not be without them.
Turning away from his companions, Aetherion faced the assembled army behind them.
"Are you ready?!!"
he shouted.
Every soldier snapped to attention, conversations cutting off instantly.
"Yes, sir!!"
"Yes, Lord Aetherion!!"
Their voices rang out across the field.
"Good," Aetherion said. "We move in a few hours. Be ready."
"Understood!"
they roared in unison.
Hera stepped forward then, her presence commanding.
"When the battle begins," she declared, "follow my orders without hesitation. Aetherion will be occupied with one of the Twelve Great Titans."
Every soldier straightened even further.
"Yes, Lady Hera!"
they shouted.
Aetherion noticed how her chin lifted just a little higher at that—and he shook his head faintly, suppressing a smile.
As time passed and the sky grew darker and darker, the unit of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Helios, and their sisters was finally ready to move out.
They had their own force with them—not a large one, only around a hundred minor gods—meant to act as their first decoy and avoid drawing too much suspicion.
Aetherion watched them prepare.
When the moment came, he simply waved.
"Good luck," he said. "You'd better not lose—and give it your all."
"Of course," Poseidon replied confidently. "I am Poseidon, after all. No worries, brother!"
Zeus laughed loudly, his voice booming like thunder across the field.
"Bahaha! I can finally show my might. Don't worry—we'll crush them."
"We shall defeat our enemies,"
Hades declared, his voice confident like a judge declaring the simple truth.
Aetherion half-rolled his shoulders and looked at them one last time.
"Yeah. Show them what you've got," he said, then turned his gaze toward Helios, Selene, and Eos. "You three as well. Don't lose to any major gods—or even one of the twelve Great Titans."
"You got it," Helios replied, fiery light flaring in his eyes. "I won't lose to anyone… not even if it's you."
Aetherion smiled in surprise.
"And don't worry," Selene added with a smirk. "We'll take care of this idiot brother of ours."
"Hm hm. No worries," Eos said cheerfully, flashing a bright smile that seemed to glow in the dimming light. "We'll handle it!"
Seeing them all together, Aetherion smiled.
"Good."
But Selene paused, turning back toward him with a teasing look.
"If we do well," she asked in a seductive tone, licking her lips slightly, "is there a reward?"
Aetherion felt momentarily flustered—but he recovered quickly, offering a small, composed smile.
"Maybe," he replied. "You'll find out in the future… if you win."
Selene smiled knowingly and turned away.
"I hope so," she said as she walked off, her hips swaying.
Helios followed closely behind her with a sulking expression, still brooding over what his two sisters had said.
He paid no attention to what Selene and Aetherion were talking about, nor did he care, as he walked behind her in silence.
Aetherion shook his head lightly as he watched them leave, then waved once more.
Eos followed after them, waving brightly towards him.
"Goodbye!"
Aetherion shook his head again and turned back toward his own unit.
Nearby, his mother stood with her handmaidens following closely behind.
Hestia was there as well, along with a few major gods and a sizable force—over a thousand, perhaps even two thousand strong.
It wasn't massive, but it was more than enough to serve as a powerful distraction for the enemy.
The same was true on another front, where Themis stood with Asteria and a few other major gods and an army similar in size to Rhea's.
Thanatos, ever the fanatic, stood off to the side with his brother Hypnos, chatting casually.
Then he heard it.
"Bahaha! Everyone, stand tall. The sky is with us—and for this battle, victory is already assured!"
Zeus words boomed across the entire field, carried by an abysmally thunderous voice.
"Of course we'll win, you idiot,"
a voice echoed behind him.
Poseidon.
In an instant, the unit vanished in a flash of teleportation, the entire army disappearing from the field.
Aetherion watched until they were gone, then turned and walked back toward his own forces.
'Yes,' he thought quietly. 'I pray nothing goes wrong.'
Because the war was about to begin.
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