Prometheus

A sweet and melodious voice echoed from outside the door, filled with utmost respect. Is Iris here?

'Let her in, Aegsa."

'Yes, Your Highness!" Aegsa couldn't help but feel excited, her face turning red at the fact that His Highness remembered her name.

His Highness Hebe's reputation had long spread among the Nymphs! She was not only kind and gentle towards the Nymphs but also a legendary goddess who had risen to a first-tier deity through her own efforts. She often accompanied her brother in hunting magical beasts on Earth, purifying the living space for the creatures of the land, and many Nymphs were very grateful for this. The battle with His Highness Artemis had especially earned her the admiration of many Nymphs.

‘His Highness Hebe is truly a powerful and gentle goddess!'

Aegsa thought blissfully while cupping her face in her hands. Meanwhile, her wings behind her continued to flutter, guiding the divine messenger to the temple entrance.

'Thank you, beautiful Nymph," Hermes smiled as he thanked the Nymph who guided him.

As the god of eloquence and harmony, he knew how to interact with others. Even when facing a Nymph of lower status, he instinctively wanted to make her feel as if she were basking in a warm spring breeze.

'Your Highness Hermes is too kind," the youthful-looking deity said, his face still carrying a hint of boyishness. However, his handsome features, inherited from his parents, remained charming. Under the gaze of his deep blue eyes, Aegsa felt her heart racing uncontrollably; she hurriedly responded a few times and fled in a panic.

'Who are you?" came a voice as pleasant as a mountain spring.

Hermes turned to the source of the voice and saw the rising goddess for the first time. She was dressed in a snow-white gown adorned with golden patterns, and beneath her radiant golden hair was a stunningly beautiful face that seemed dreamlike. There was a strange, cold, and distant quality to her gentle demeanor that was captivating.

'I am Hermes, the son of the goddess Maia, the new divine messenger. It is an honor to meet Your Highness Hebe." Hermes lowered his head to conceal his astonishment.

'The great god-king Zeus has summoned the gods to the main temple regarding the oracle of the Earth Mother."

The oracle of the Earth Mother? That is something that cannot be missed, Hebe raised an eyebrow.

The two deities arrived at the main temple, and by the time they got there, many gods had already gathered. Hebe casually glanced around; aside from the gods of the main deity level, only first-tier gods were present. It seemed that deities below the first tier were not qualified to attend this meeting.

After waiting a moment longer, once all the attending deities had arrived, Zeus finally spoke.

'Gods, I have summoned you here because the great Mother of All Gods has recently delivered the Delphic oracle, and I wish for us to discuss it together."

'Prometheus!"

'Yes, esteemed King of the Gods." The wise-eyed male deity stepped forward, holding a seemingly unadorned stone tablet. Hebe could sense the vibrant power of the laws contained within this unassuming slab.

The Delphic Oracle! One of the powerful artifacts possessed by the Earth Mother Gaia, it bore the inscriptions of three maxims: 'Know thyself," 'Nothing in excess," and 'Promises bring pain," representing the guiding principles for all actions in the world. It had the power to record history and predict the future. Yet, this great artifact was usually used by Gaia merely as a tool for communication, showcasing just how extravagant this Mother of the Gods truly was.

Prometheus raised the Delphic Oracle in his hand, and the ancient stone tablet emitted a radiant glow. A voice, both benevolent and authoritative, resonated throughout the hall.

'Since the Titanomachy, the flames of war have consumed all life, and the world has fallen into silence. The glory of the gods must be remembered by someone. Go forth, create life, and let the world be filled once more with life and laughter, allowing the glory of the gods to shine again."

As one of the primordial deities, just hearing her voice invoked a tremendous divine presence that made one instinctively want to submit, without daring to harbor any disrespect—something even Zeus could not achieve.

‘Creation? Gaia has entrusted the Delphic Oracle to Prometheus, undoubtedly allowing him to lead this event.'

Prometheus was to create humanity!

Hebe's purple eyes sparkled with excitement as she recalled a legend from her past life in China about a great mother goddess who, through the merit of creating humanity, achieved a holy status, and thereafter, no one could compete with her under the way of heaven.

In Greek mythology, humanity had already existed; the first generation of golden humans was created by the Titan Cronus and had long since perished after the Titanomachy. Now, Prometheus was about to recreate humanity, and the merit gained from this endeavor, even if not as great as that of the first generation of golden humans, would certainly be significant.

Since it involved the matter of merit, it was impossible to ignore. Moreover, Hebe was also very interested in the laws contained within the Delphic Oracle. If she had the opportunity to comprehend them, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous help for her future path.

'Everyone has heard it: the great Mother of the Gods wishes for us to recreate humanity and let the glory of the gods shine once more in the world."

'This task of creating humanity will be entrusted to Prometheus, but he will need an assistant to help create the new humans. Among the gods, is there anyone willing to assist Prometheus?"

The main purpose of Zeus calling the gods together was actually to find an assistant for Prometheus. After all, this was no easy task, and one god alone could not manage it.

'…"

The gods fell silent. Creating humanity was no simple undertaking; there would be many complications involved. The pleasure-loving gods were reluctant to take on this task, each remaining silent, hoping that some unfortunate soul would be appointed by Zeus so they could enjoy their time on the divine mountain.

If the gods truly understood the benefits involved, their attitudes might have been entirely different. However, the number of deities who were genuinely wise or capable of grasping the concept of ‘merit' was exceedingly few.

What a great opportunity! If you don't want it, I certainly do!

'Great Father God, I am willing to assist Lord Prometheus in fulfilling the Earth Mother's oracle and restoring the glory of the gods."

'Great Father God, I am willing to help Prometheus."

At the same time, two voices echoed in the hall. The gods turned to see Athena, the renowned goddess of wisdom born on the divine mountain, and Hebe, the recently prominent first-tier goddess of ice, snow, and youth.

She wants this job too? Hebe and Athena exchanged glances, and it was as if sparks flew between the two goddesses. The other gods silently took a step back, still haunted by the last incident when they were accidentally injured by the arrows of Princess Artemis and Princess Hebe. Yet, there was a hint of excitement in their hearts—could they witness a divine battle again?

'This…" Zeus looked at his two daughters stepping forward, feeling a bit troubled.

Athena was born from him and was a very capable daughter, naturally favored by him.

But Hebe was his and Hera's youngest daughter, and her recent progress had made him quite pleased. Moreover, if he did not choose her, he could only imagine how his temperamental goddess wife would react.

Wait!

'Prometheus, since both goddesses wish to be your assistants, why don't you decide the final choice?" Zeus decided to pass the buck and handed the dilemma over to Prometheus.

The handsome male deity with dark green curly hair wore a slight bitter smile. Zeus was playing his cards well; no matter who he chose, he would inevitably offend the other.

'Esteemed princesses, creating humanity is no small matter. Why don't both goddesses first state their respective advantages, and then we can make a decision?"

'Sure." The goddess, clad in armor, spoke confidently, her bright eyes shining with assurance. 'I am the goddess of wisdom and craftsmanship, and I can lead the new humans toward the path of civilization, spreading the glory of the gods once more."

The radiance of wisdom and craftsmanship shone brightly around her, making the goddess appear even more intelligent and divine. The other gods nodded in agreement; Athena's words garnered the support of most of the deities.

'Then, what about Your Highness Hebe?" Prometheus turned his gaze to the side, where the golden-haired goddess who had recently shone brightly stood. His gaze flickered when he met her purple eyes.

'Humanity, reborn from destruction, needs new life. They require a deity who can lead them out of darkness and into the light."

As Hebe spoke, the gentle radiance of the goddess of childbirth sparkled around her, like the first buds of spring, filled with life and hope.

'The newly born humans need strong bodies to withstand the trials of the world. I will bless the first batch of new humans so that, before the Grim Reaper takes their souls, they will forever remain youthful and strong, free from all ailments of the world." The brilliance of youth, purification, and healing shone forth.