Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 273 Darkness and Night, Death and Sleep (5K words, bonus chapter!)

In this situation, let alone Zeus, who was already prone to infatuation, even a goddess with exceptional self-control would probably be unable to resist the ultimate temptation that the "night" itself exudes, leading to a soul-stirring experience.

It was a subtle fragrance that could engulf even the gods, a cool and gentle night like a tide or a curtain, a captivating and alluring beauty gently pushed away by the starlight and receding into the depths of the sky.

So, the God-King, without any hesitation, embraced the Queen of the Night tightly once again.

Foreheads touching, breaths mingling, rising and falling between lips and teeth, divine essence merging and merging.

He murmured in a hoarse yet magnetic voice, “My Nyx, my beloved, you are always so cruel.”

“Every time, you start by hurting my heart deeply with the coldest words.”

"Then, when I was heartbroken and about to leave, you wrapped me up again with your unparalleled tenderness."

"My love, my love... tell me, how can you soothe this heart that you have repeatedly wounded?"

The goddess of the night tiptoed slightly, her pale neckline taut in the darkness, and her lips gently met.

A faint, ethereal fragrance, like musk and orchid, wafted slowly from between her dark lips, like moonlight falling on a spring, with the wind creating ripples.

That gentle voice, as soothing as a stream reflecting the moon, softly rang out from His lips: "My Father, my Lord... whatever you say, that is what it is."

"The night will always let you do as you please. As long as... as long as you can forgive the night's mistake, as long as... you can be happy because of it."

"The night...is willing to be completely devoured by you."

Her trembling words seemed to tumble and overflow from her slightly swaying chest, their fragrance lingering and her words echoing.

“My Father… how long has it been since you truly loved the Night? The Night… only wishes for Father's happiness…”

Faced with such darkness, the God-King, who was already beyond cure, could no longer bear it.

Moreover, even if there were a "remedy" to save him, Zeus would not be willing to do so.

He figured the time was about right.

It's time to give them something sweet.

After all, you can't keep demanding and suppressing something like a "CPU" without giving anything in return.

The God-King gently bit her thin, dark crimson lips and said in a muffled voice, "My love... I have come this time with endless longing and love. It is to... conceive our lovely son with you."

"You said... there should be two, okay?"

A dazzling fluorescence visibly shone in the eyes of the Goddess of the Night.

An indescribable, overwhelming surprise, like golden clouds covering the night sky, melted me to the bone.

This caused the goddess of the night, whose mind had been on a rollercoaster ride all day, to tremble slightly even with her delicate body.

Her jade-like arms wrapped around him, already tightly locking the nape of her beloved god-king's neck.

The initial sense of touch and separation instantly transformed into the most beautiful, sweetest, and most intimate closeness.

Without uttering a single word, she silently conveyed all her fervent feelings to her one and only lover through this most passionate and direct action.

And so, the night began to surge violently in the darkness with unprecedented depth and breadth.

Jin Yun, like lava thrown into a dark ocean, roamed and leaped.

Thunder roared wildly through the deep folds of the endless night.

From the deepest part of the night, a series of indescribable, melodious, and mysterious sounds, as if they were the beginning of the universe, emanated, a kind of illusory tide that was "like a sound but not a sound," pushing outwards in layers.

Hades, the ruler of the underworld, the embodiment of darkness, the Zeus of the underground.

His figure in the Hades Temple suddenly shifted between reality and illusion, and vanished without a trace in an instant.

Dark energy, one of the four fundamental sources of the universe, which symbolizes the law of darkness itself, returned to its supreme origin at this moment.

In this realm of the underworld, in this endless darkness, shrouded in pure night.

Zeus, the supreme god-king—the eternal ruler, the immortal and eternal sovereign, the omnipotent and omniscient god above all gods!
The embodiment of the highest sky, and also the manifestation of the deepest darkness.

He embraced the pure "night" in his bosom with the supreme laws of "sky" and "darkness".

At this moment, "darkness" and "night" merged into one.

"Absolute material existence" and its opposite, under the will of the God-King, achieved an unprecedented ultimate perfection.

The all-knowing and all-powerful God placed "darkness and night" on the opposite side of "sky".

With that great thunder that could traverse endless time and space and penetrate existence and nothingness, He connected the two poles, creating a positive and negative link and opening up their yin and yang.

Then, in this supreme union of "yin" and "yang", "light" and "darkness", "positive" and "negative", two fundamental laws that are indispensable and complementary to each other in the universe burst forth from their fusion!

The first one is called "death".

He is the eternal companion of the "value" and "meaning" of all "existence".

He defined an ultimate boundary for all life called “finitude”.

It is precisely this "finitude" that gives life itself true "meaning".

If life were infinite, then all choices would lose their urgency, and all value would vanish.

He made the "finitude" of life a most cruel, yet most precious, gift.

Because death is inevitable, love, family, ideals, every sunrise and sunset, and even every breath seem so precious.

Like fireworks in the night sky, it is precisely because of their fleeting nature that they appear so dazzling and spectacular.

Life, precisely because of the existence of "death" as its "end point," possesses that weighty, urgent, and precious quality that makes "every moment must be cherished."

He is the most cruel "ultimate judge".

No matter how turbulent an individual's life may be, in the final moment, all their choices, actions, and relationships will be marked with the imprint of "dust settling down."

Regardless of how one pursues wealth, emotions, or ideals in life, in the end, He will transform them into "complete existence," which can never be repeated.

He is also the most ruthless yet most merciful "equalizer" and "giver of liberation".

No matter what an individual possessed in life that was enviable or caused them great suffering, He will forcibly and permanently sever it.

No matter how much wealth one possessed, how much power one wielded, what beauty one indulged in, what great achievements one made, or how many relatives and friends one had during one's lifetime...

Or perhaps, they are enduring immense pain and torment.

He will bring all individuals the final, most thorough, and most equal end and liberation.

Everything, including things, must die.

He is also the most sacred "receiver of truth".

He brought the most solemn and irreplaceable "boundaries" to all spirits.

His existence itself silently prompts the living to contemplate the eternal question of "how to truly live".

He forever loves all who seek the truth, and forever exalts those souls who possess great courage, great wisdom, and all great virtues!

He tells the world that only the courage to face death is the ultimate commitment to "truth and virtue"!
The wise choices made in the face of death are the most serious choices in life!

Only by facing death can we escape the "degradation of daily life" and live out our true "authenticity"!
He will extend His icy yet firm embrace to those who seek the truth.

In the final moment, lead them onto a path beyond the mundane, lift them high, and send them into that eternal "world of truth"!
It is the existence of "death" that makes every moment of life worth living.

He told all living beings: the most precious thing is life itself.

Life is only given to us once.

He posed that most important question, like the eternal tolling of a bell, to every intelligent being:
How should you spend your life?

When he looks back on his life, he will not regret wasting his years, nor will he be ashamed of having accomplished nothing.

He can smile calmly as he embarks on that road from which there is no return.

How to achieve this is a question that all living beings and every individual need to ponder throughout their lives.

He also told all living beings that only death is an unchangeable end, but as long as one is alive, it is not too late for anything.

He is Thanatos, the embodiment of death—the divine terminator, the recipient of truth, the irreversible, the solemn judge, the cruel equalizer, the ultimate liberator, and the god of death!

The second type is called "sleep".

He is the most "mischievous" instigator of existential thought.

He blurred the boundary between "reality" and "illusion," juxtaposed "clear reason" with "illusory perception," and softened the boundary between clear reason and dream perception.

He allows individuals to temporarily relinquish control over the external world and accept a state of "unconscious flow".

This forces people to think: What is "existence"? And what is "the state of being"?
This in itself is a temporary release of "self-will".

He allows living beings to indirectly experience the state of "non-existence" without having to confront the ultimate cruelty of "death." This serves as a reminder to individuals that existence is not entirely controlled by conscious reason.

He told the living beings to rationally reflect: "How do we confirm reality?"

Our senses can reflect the real world.

But is "reality" really reliable?

My thoughts may not necessarily mean I am here.

"What is consciousness?" "What is the self?" "What is the meaning of existence?"...

He used a wickedly humorous way to force all beings to think: Could the world we live in when we are awake be just a more complex illusion?

If so, how should we define and affirm our "self" and "authenticity"?
He tells all living beings: Be humble, think, be prudent, be steadfast.

He is also the kindest "one who escapes from depravity".

He allows life to be temporarily relieved from the endless pain and exhaustion of reality, and to briefly detach from the real world filled with rational rules.

He allows people to temporarily escape the "degradation of reality," pressing the "pause button" on the cruel reality.

He allows people to temporarily shed all external constraints, so that they can accumulate strength to return to their "true existence".

Sleep is never a void.

Rather, it is a kind of repair for the self that has been "alienated" in daily life, and for the soul that has been constantly sinking under the pressure of survival.

It helps people refocus and recharge on the essential questions of life: "how to live" and "striving to live".

He is also the most gentle "Giver of Peace" and "Healer of Life".

As long as one remains conscious, it is inevitable that "life energy" will be consumed.

Sleep is the most effective, yet simplest and cheapest way to repair and replenish life energy.

It is the most natural rest to maintain rational activity when one is awake, and the most natural rhythm that follows the laws of biological balance.

Without sleep, people cannot maintain rational activity when they are awake, let alone pursue a better life.

Being awake can make you tired, both mentally and physically.

Sleep, on the other hand, will dispel fatigue and nourish both mind and body.

Even gods need rest.

He is also the most forgiving "Giver of Peace".

Although He could not grant eternal liberation like His brother.

However, it can help life, allowing people to temporarily escape the suffering of life while "continuing to live".

He alleviates the eternal suffering of all living beings caused by the "will to live".

He banishes all suffering, torment of desire, and anxiety of the mind that one encounters in moments of lucidity.

He grants people a brief but precious moment of peace in their rest.

At the same time, during sleep, one can temporarily escape all the distortions and constraints of reality on the self, allowing living beings to get closer to their "true self" in dreams.

Let your soul, in the gentle warmth of a night's rest, rediscover its true self.

Sleep is never a "waste" of life time, but rather an indispensable twin of "existence" and survival itself.

He divided life into clear cycles, and He told living beings that life is never an eternal linear movement.

In life, besides wakefulness and labor, there are also moments of daze and rest.

Life is an eternal cycle consisting of "sleep" and "wake-up".

This cyclical nature is the natural rhythm of life and the survival order of the universe.

No matter how powerful or wealthy an individual may be, sleep, with its irresistible rhythm and order, will descend equally upon every being.

Even God.

So when you feel pain and discomfort, whether mental or physical, go to sleep peacefully.

That is the haven bestowed upon all beings by the supremely benevolent and beautiful God-King, the most compassionate gift that allows one to temporarily escape all depravity and torment of suffering.

Similarly, it is also a refueling station for continuing life, replenishing rationality, and preparing for a new start; it is the necessary energy replenishment and repair for life to continue.

Every time I wake up from a good night's sleep, I am a renewed version of myself; a version full of strength, ready to bravely move forward.

Therefore, being lazy and sleepy is never despicable, much less sinful.

Because it is the gentlest haven in the face of cruel reality; it is also the warmest hot spring that washes away all fatigue.

Sleep, the brother of death, is the gentlest form of "death," freeing one from all mental anguish and torment without truly losing everything.

This deity is Hypnos, the knower of existence, the reflector of reason, the egoist, the antithesis of reality, the restorer of tranquility, the giver of peace, and the master of sleep!

Two great deities stand side by side, one bestowing true peace, the other granting good rest.

Death is actually the kindest god; He brings "true peace" to the end.

Sleep, the god of sleep, is also the gentlest of gods, bringing "rare rest" into daily life.

Thus, the laws of "death" and "rest" were perfected.

Thanatos, the god of death, and his sister Ceres, the goddess who represents "violent death," will together define the boundaries of "death."

In the world of the living, they will draw a clear and definitive conclusion for all living beings.

How does one die? When does one die? What, then, truly constitutes "death"?
All of this will become clear and transparent, no longer chaotic and confusing.

All living things that are destined to decay will no longer suffer the physical pain of decay due to the relentless passage of time.

Only when one is completely reduced to dust can one be freed.

The torment of all injuries and illnesses will not have to be endured indefinitely simply because one cannot die.

All creatures that die violent deaths will no longer be trapped in the state of "zombie" forever because they cannot completely decay.

Death has been clearly defined, and the soul has thus attained ultimate liberation.

In the realm of the underworld, He will also draw a definite period for the soul—the true and final "end".

When the soul reaches its end and completely vanishes, it will gently embrace that original, pure spirituality.

He will protect this spirituality from falling into complete and eternal annihilation in the underworld.

Waiting for that new, fresh, and brand-new beginning.

This, however, requires another crucial and great goddess to complete the final piece of the puzzle, but that's a story for another time.

The birth of the gentlest god of sleep signifies the complete perfection of the law of "rest".

Living beings will no longer suffer from continuous physical and mental depletion due to the lack of clear rules for "rest".

Before this, because the laws of "sleep" and "rest" were not perfected, the bodies and spirits of all living beings were actually operating in a "chronic failure" manner, which was a state of continuous depletion and torment.

The body will become weak, sore, dizzy, and have headaches. The aging process will accelerate, and the function of organs will decline prematurely.

Mental fatigue will persist, leading to a general decline in learning and cognitive abilities, loss of emotional control, and confusion of consciousness.

Only when on the verge of collapse will the life instinct forcefully pull the plug, plunging the individual into a period of dormancy that is neither controllable nor certain.

The recovery process may take a long time, but the results are not always stable.

For those non-social creatures, falling asleep may mean never waking up again.

This state of instinctive rest due to being on the verge of collapse leaves one utterly defenseless against harm.

In other words, the laws of death were not perfect before; otherwise, this one rule alone—the inability to rest properly—would have been enough to make it impossible for any living being to survive.

Even so, it is true that all living beings have suffered enough.

Now, the god of sleep has been born.

He will bring the soothing and resting peace to all mortal, fragile souls, and deliver "rest, soothing, and restoration".

Every good night's sleep makes you feel like you're in your best condition when you wake up.

Every proper rest allows you to wake up refreshed and ready to face a brand new future.

His importance and greatness need no further explanation.

(End of this chapter)