Just as undercurrents stirred beneath Mount Olympus, on Crete, within the hidden caves of Mount Ida, another destiny was unfolding.
Time flowed swiftly under the influence of divine power, and Zeus, meticulously raised by the nymphs, had long since shed the form of an infant babe, growing into a heroic young god.
The divine power coursing through his body grew ever more majestic, carrying an aura of thunder, utterly incomparable to his imprisoned brothers and sisters.
On this day, the young Zeus stood at the cave's entrance, gazing at the sky shrouded by Cronus's divine power. An indescribable restlessness and... a sense of mission surged within his heart.
He vaguely felt that he bore some important destiny, closely tied to the father-god who sat atop the sacred mountain.
As if sensing his growth and his call, a warm and majestic will descended quietly, as substantial as the earth itself—Gaia, his grandmother.
"Zeus, my child." Gaia's thoughts sounded directly in his heart. "It is time for you to know your origins and the meaning of your birth."
With Gaia's account, the hidden truth exploded in the young Zeus's heart like thunder.
The tyranny of the God-King, his devoured siblings, his own fortunate escape, and the prophecy of the world's future... All became clear.
He clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming like lightning: "So, I must overthrow him? Overthrow my father-god, Cronus?"
"This is your destiny, Zeus," Gaia's voice was undeniably powerful. "Not only for yourself, but for your sisters who still suffer in darkness, so that the world may no longer be ruled by fear and devouring."
"I need power! I need allies!" Zeus said without hesitation. Though his voice was still young, it was already beginning to acquire the resolve of a king.
"Your power will awaken as you grow. As for allies..." Gaia's will hesitated slightly.
After some deliberation, Gaia ultimately decided not to reveal Hades's existence. Out of... perhaps a grandmother's protection, Gaia only informed Zeus about Orphos.
"You are not alone. Upon the earth, there is a plant god born of me, Orphos. He possesses great power and wisdom, and may be your aid. But remember, Zeus, trust is built on shared interests and prudent judgment."
"Orphos..." Zeus committed the name to memory, his eyes shining with thought.
At the same time, deep in the Underworld, Hades, who was studying the [Soul] divinity and attempting to integrate it with the concept of [Reincarnation], sensed something.
He did not directly perceive the dialogue between Zeus and Gaia, but through the subtle perception of the world's life veins via the power of [Soul], he felt a new, powerful source of divinity, full of life force and a will to resist, emerging from the direction of Crete.
"He knows," Hades opened his eyes and said to Metis beside him.
Metis nodded slightly: "The gears of fate have advanced another step. Zeus has awakened. The next step is to gather strength and find allies."
"It seems Gaia only mentioned 'Orphos' to him, not revealing your true identity."
"It seems my grandmother still has some true love for me," Hades was slightly surprised, the corner of his mouth curving faintly.
"An interesting 'accidental encounter' should be on the agenda. It's time for this future brother God-King to meet his never-before-seen brother... from the other side."
He needed to carefully plan this meeting. The location could not be Olympus or the Underworld; it had to be a place that seemed neutral and could demonstrate the power and position of 'Orphos'.
He chose a remote mountain range he had purified many times and where he had secretly created small, rare ore veins. The intertwining of forces there best reflected his strength as the 'god of plants and lava'.
A few days later, guided by Hades's subtle influence through dreams affecting lesser nature spirits, the young Zeus arrived at this mountain range on an 'accidental' journey.
Zeus walked among the rugged mountains, his keen senses detecting the unusual nature of this land.
In the air hung a strange sense of harmony—both the fresh vitality of newly grown plants and trees, and the wildly beating heat and heaviness emanating from the depths of the earth.
This was completely different from the pure, ostentatious coercion of Olympus; it was more like a restrained and majestic inheritance.
At that moment, his gaze was drawn to a wonder before him.
In a relatively flat valley, on one side grew vigorous and, against all common sense, strange flowers and vines, blooming emerald green and radiating pure life;
On the other side, a dark red lava lake flowed slowly, exuding sulfur and scorching heat.
These two diametrically opposed forces did not conflict here, but formed a delicate balance, even nourishing each other—the rocks at the edge of the lava lake tenaciously grew heat-resistant moss and lichen.
In the center of this strange spectacle, a dark-haired young god in dark green robes stood with his back to him, seemingly guiding this balance.
He was surrounded by a gentle yet powerful plant divinity, but if one sensed carefully, one could see the deep connection between that divine power, the earth beneath his feet, and the lava lake.
Zeus stopped and felt that this god was the 'Orphos' his grandmother had spoken of.
As if sensing his approach, the god slowly turned around. His face was calm, his eyes deep, containing vicissitudes and wisdom beyond his years. When he saw Zeus, a just-right amount of surprise appeared on his face, then shifted into a gentle smile.
"A strange young god?" Orphos (Hades) spoke, his voice calm like the wind in the forest. "This mountain range has few visitors. I am Orphos, in charge of the plants here. Young traveler, are you... drawn here by the unique atmosphere?"
Zeus was wary inside, but not on his face. He stepped forward, having learned etiquette from the nymphs, and nodded slightly: "Honored Orphos, I am Zeus. Passing by this place, I was attracted by this strange scene and took the liberty of intruding."
"Zeus..." Orphos repeated the name thoughtfully, his gaze seeming to involuntarily glide across the sky, then settle back on Zeus, his eyes as if they could see through the thunderous power surging within his body.
"A name full of power."
Zeus's heart beat faster. Instead of directly answering, he looked around and exclaimed: "Your power is astonishing. To make life and destruction coexist here in such harmony... what delicate control that must require."
Orphos smiled slightly, invoking a wisp of divine power, causing a plant near the lava to accelerate its growth, blooming bright flowers like flames, then instantly withering, turning to ash and dissolving into the lava, while the lava's glow seemed even brighter.
"Destruction? No, young Zeus, to me, this is merely part of a cycle." His tone was calm, yet carried undeniable insight.
"Grass and trees wither, rocks melt—these are the world's laws. Forcibly suppressing one side or excessively inflating the other leads to imbalance. True power lies in understanding and guiding this cycle, maintaining its internal balance."
He gave Zeus a meaningful look. "Just like this sky, if it were forever shrouded in lead-gray clouds and mist, with neither thunder nor sun, then life force would wither."
These words were like thunder, exploding once more in Zeus's heart! This was an almost explicit reference to the current God-King's rule!
Zeus stared at Orphos, trying to see more in the other's calm eyes. The thunderous divine power within him seemed restless because of this, and a faint flash of electric light flickered in the air.
"It seems you... have some views on the current 'sky'?" Zeus asked cautiously, his voice carrying the unique sharpness and open inquiry of youth.
Orphos (Hades) faced Zeus's slightly restless thunder power and eyes full of inquiry and sharpness. The gentle smile on his face did not change, as if he had already anticipated the other's reaction.
Instead of directly answering Zeus's question about the 'sky', he directed his gaze towards the blurred and majestic silhouette of Mount Olympus in the distance, speaking with an insightful tone:
"Views? Perhaps. I am merely a god who governs the cycle of plants; I see that plants follow the four seasons, and the earth bears all things. But even the tiniest lichen knows that if the sun is long obscured, and rain and dew do not come, no matter how tenacious life is, it will eventually wither." He paused, withdrew his gaze, and looked back at Zeus, his eyes profound.
"It's not about having views, but about stating... a principle of nature."
He waved his hand lightly, and the surrounding flowers and plants that coexisted against all common sense, along with the shimmering lava, flashed simultaneously, clearly demonstrating the depth of his mighty divine power.
"As for allies..." Orphos shook his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of remonstrance befitting an 'elder', but he skillfully avoided direct promises.
"Trust is like a seedling; it needs the right soil and time to grow. Haste may bring not shade, but an unexpected storm. Young Zeus, you have extraordinary potential, but the blossoming of potential requires caution, and moreover... proof."
His words were like riddles, confirming Zeus's uniqueness and hinting at dissatisfaction with the current order, yet without giving clear promises, throwing the responsibility of 'proving himself' back to Zeus.
Zeus frowned. This plant god was deeper and more unfathomable than he had thought. His power was mighty and unique, and his stance seemed inclined towards 'change', yet his attitude was so cautious it could be called ambiguous.
"Proof? How do I prove it?" Zeus asked; he disliked this kind of roundabout talk.
"Time will tell," Orphos replied enigmatically.