Just as Metis quietly returned to the depths of Hades with the 'guarantee' she had obtained from Nyx, a silent shift was occurring in another goddess within Zeus's camp.
Hera, the goddess of marriage and family—once swallowed, her divine power weakened, her priesthood nearly forgotten—had been reborn after the wedding ceremony of Hades and the Queen of Hades.
She returned to her originally somewhat desolate temple and discovered a pale golden, warm, and solemn radiance suddenly lingering around it.
This was the embodiment of the marriage covenant after being profoundly recognized by the world's laws, symbolizing an unprecedented strengthening of the concepts of 'bond,' 'fidelity,' and 'family.'
Low-ranking priests, some nymphs yearning for stability and order, and even a few low-level gods weary of the current chaotic situation began to be drawn to this radiance and spontaneously gathered around Hera's temple, seeking refuge and guidance.
They offered her their own meager power, and she clearly felt these thread-like abilities from various domains resonating with her growing priesthood, allowing her power to increase, like trickles merging into a river, growing continuously and steadily.
Power, like the softest divine wine, not only nourished the divine body but also intoxicated the mind.
Hera stood on the temple terrace, observing the small settlement gradually forming below, feeling the divine power surging within her body, far surpassing the past, and with it came confidence and... a longing she had never seen before. A desire was born in her heart.
Her gaze involuntarily turned in two directions: one towards the place where Zeus and his followers often gathered, full of noise and thunderous restlessness;
the other towards the direction of the Underworld, dark and unfathomable, yet radiating the power of order and silence.
Recalling Zeus, her nominal brother and the son of prophecy, Hera's golden eyes could not help but flash with undisguised contempt.
He possessed powerful thunderous might, and his potential, stemming from his bloodline, was not to be underestimated.
But his conduct? Frivolous, impulsive, driven by instinctual desires, like a beast in heat, leaving romantic debts scattered across the earth.
What kind of leader was this? Even if he could overthrow Cronus, what kind of new order would he establish? I fear it would be just another form of chaos and self-indulgence.
Entrusting her future to such a god, Hera felt an instinctive unease and disgust.
And Hades... the mysterious return of the King of Hades was an entirely different matter.
His power was unfathomable, and upon his debut, he could withstand Cronus's fierce attacks and save them from danger.
The Underworld he ruled, though filled with death and silence, possessed a chilling, iron-like order.
Its laws were strict, everyone fulfilled their duties, and even the erosion of Tartarus was effectively resisted.
More importantly, he had shown her respect, recognized her priesthood, and through the wedding, granted her unprecedented power and status.
A thought, like lightning in the darkness, instantly illuminated Hera's heart and made her involuntarily hold her breath:
Why must the child of prophecy be Zeus?
Was it only because he was the last to be 'swallowed'? This seemed more like a coincidence than a necessity!
The prophecy only said that Cronus would be overthrown by his son, but it never specified which son!
Hades—older, stronger, calmer, and already in actual control of a vast divine realm—was he not a more suitable candidate?
He had the power to challenge Cronus, and he had demonstrated the ability and skill to establish and maintain a strong order!
This thought instantly shattered Hera's innate perception of the identity of the 'child of prophecy'.
A mixture of excitement, ambition, and cold calculation surged within her chest.
If... if Hades became the new God-King, with his character and abilities, he would establish a strong, stable, and orderly pantheon.
And what would her status be—as an investor (the one who presided over the wedding) and a sister sharing his bloodline—in the new pantheon?
The goddess of marriage... if she could become the Queen-Goddess of the new pantheon, then the authority of 'marriage' and 'family' would no longer be an empty concept, but the core law supporting the entire pantheon and defining relationships between gods!
What power and glory would that be? Incomparable! Far better than being tied to Zeus, who might be unfaithful and lacked loyalty!
Once ambition was kindled, it burned like sacred flame, difficult to extinguish.
Hera quickly calmed herself, understanding that this was only a preliminary idea and would be difficult to realize.
Zeus possessed the aura of prophecy and the support of some Titans, and most importantly, Hades himself seemed to have no explicit interest in the power of Olympus, preferring to rule his own Underworld.
However, this did not mean there was no opportunity to exploit.
Hera began to consciously leverage her newly strengthened identity as the 'goddess of marriage'.
She no longer confined herself to her small temple. She went out herself, wandering among the gods dissatisfied with Cronus's rule and those doubting Zeus's leadership or character, under the guise of 'mediating disputes' and 'blessing bonds'.
She visited Demeter and Hestia, who had also been freed and whose divine power had not yet fully recovered.
Instead of directly disparaging Zeus, she expressed with concern the current dispersal of the resistance forces and the lack of unified and effective command.
"If we had someone like Hades, who could not only fight the Father God but also create a stable order to coordinate the overall situation, perhaps we could escape this worrying state as soon as possible."
She spoke these words, which fell like seeds, quietly planting themselves in her sisters' hearts.
She spoke with nature gods and river gods who were already wary of Koios's ambitions or dissatisfied with Zeus's frivolous style.
While blessing their unions or families, she 'inadvertently' mentioned Hades's astonishing power and sense of responsibility at the critical moment, as well as the impressive, iron-like order of the Underworld.
"By the way, if Hades hadn't appeared in time, I'm afraid Zeus and the others... Ah, what a blessing. Having such a powerful brother always makes one feel a bit more confident."
Her words were full of concern for 'family power,' but subtly shaped Hades's image as a more reliable guarantee.
Even in her limited contact with Koios, she used the posture of an 'observer' to hint that Zeus might not be the only option.
"Uncle Koios, you have worked hard to overthrow the tyranny, and it is truly admirable. However, Zeus is young and vigorous, and sometimes it is inevitable... Is there a calmer force to complement him, or even... Hehe, I am just the goddess of marriage, I don't understand these great matters, I just hope everything will be safe."
Her words left room for new waves in Koios's already ambitious heart—was Hades someone to cooperate with or even use?
Hera's actions were cautious and effective. She did not openly oppose Zeus or spread direct statements of betrayal.
She simply used her new influence and divine identity to continuously emphasize Hades's strength, reliability, and order in the right places and before the right people, while euphemistically expressing concern about the fragility of the current leadership structure.
She sowed seeds, created an atmosphere of 'comparison,' and planted the seed named 'Hades might be more suitable' in the hearts of all gods dissatisfied with the status quo or worried about the future.
Her temple, the place shrouded in the light of the pale golden oath, gradually transformed into an invisible meeting place for information and a political salon.
Many gods became willing to come here to speak with the goddess of marriage, who seemed to have regained her power and direction, and to listen to her advice, full of 'wisdom' and 'concern.'
Hera felt the subtle expansion of her influence, and the flame of ambition in her heart burned even brighter.
She knew she was walking a dangerous tightrope; if Zeus or his core supporters ever learned her true intentions, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But she also knew that in the realm of power, risk and reward always coexisted.
"Zeus... my brother," she would occasionally gaze towards the direction of thunder, the corner of her mouth curving into a cold, almost imperceptible arc.
"Your radiance is indeed dazzling, but if you cannot gather strength, you will burn your potential allies... Then, perhaps the name of the 'child of prophecy' should be replaced by a more suitable owner."
"And Hades... you need a 'voice' on Olympus, a 'representative' who can gather for you the forces disillusioned with Zeus and desiring stable order. And I, Hera, the guardian of marriage and family, might just be... that most important chess piece you need."
She gently stroked the golden ribbon in her temple, symbolizing the marriage oath, and her eyes flashed with a sharp and perceptive gleam—no longer just a divine radiance.
The undercurrents of Olympus grew more turbulent and unpredictable due to her activities.