Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 302 The Arrival of Epimetheus

And even more terrifying, they must be told that, having lost the protection of the flames, the evil lurking in the shadows will have the courage to come knocking.
Those ferocious beasts will no longer fear them.

Some cruel gods and monsters even feed on them.

He could not utter a single word of any of these words.

However, it cannot be left unsaid.

If humanity has to rely on itself to discover these terrible facts amidst bloodshed and death...

If humanity were to be left to face all of this alone in a state of panic and helplessness, completely unprepared...

Then, humanity will only suffer hundreds or thousands of times more casualties.

The terrible price was something He dared not even imagine.

He hoped that humanity would suffer less from hunger.

Ultimately, however, His "cleverness" brought humanity more hunger, cold, and even more terrible deaths.

This is the price of "deception".

Shortcut paths are always full of potholes.

Unfortunately, the bumpy, narrow paths of shortcuts are always crowded with "clever" people.

Those who fall into the pit and don't want to stay there any longer have no choice but to climb out by stepping on others.

Those about to climb out frantically clung to the people on the edge of the pit, hoping they could get up, even at the cost of pulling others down into the mud.

Even worse, some people, once they fall into a deep pit, cannot bear to see others doing well, and even if they cannot get out themselves, they will try to pull others down with them.

And the most common tactic used by these people is deception.

Deception is the starting point of all evil.

Just as Prometheus looked at the equally desperate humans before him with the same despairing gaze, he was about to be completely overwhelmed by guilt and pain.

A voice, seemingly joking but with an extremely heavy tone, slowly came from behind Him.

"My foolish brother, look what foolish thing you've done now!"

Why do I always feel that the consequences of your actions, which stem from your 'intelligence,' are greater, more devastating, and more terrible than the consequences of my actions, which stem from my 'stupidity'?

The voice came from Epimetheus, the god who was slow to realize things, the "foolish" god.

Almost all the Olympian gods participated in this grand sacrificial ceremony.

But He did not participate.

At this time, after all the gods had returned to Olympus, He came here instead.

A pure, flawless divine light descended from the heavens.

Epimetheus's figure slowly descended.

He is freely suspended in the air.

Upon hearing these words, Prometheus gave an extremely bitter smile.

He, the god standing disheveled in the dust, looked at his brother, who was suspended in the air, spotless.

One is "heaven", and the other is "earth".

What a powerful irony this is.

He replied in a hoarse voice, “Epimetheus, your feeling is not wrong.”

"Now it seems that I was the most foolish god. Congratulations, from today onwards, you are only the second most foolish god."

Epimetheus clicked his tongue: "This is truly something to be delighted about."

"It's not because I became second to last, but because my 'prophetic' brother, you, have finally admitted that you are even dumber than me."

"Although this has always been an indisputable fact, you yourself have never been willing to admit it."

Prometheus closed his eyes wearily and said no more.

Those seemingly casual words had exhausted all of His energy.

Epimetheus said no more.

He was afraid that if he continued, his foolish brother would be so ashamed that he would join Tartarus.

He turned around and looked at the humanity that was on the verge of collapse.

Every dirty face was filled with bewilderment, horror, fear, and even numbness born of despair.

Of course, there are still a few people who still hold onto a tiny bit of... wishful thinking.

And this tiny glimmer of hope was regained only after seeing Him.

Because He still retains the appearance of "God".

Pure and spotless, flawless, immaculate, radiating a faint, sacred glow.

More importantly, He is suspended in mid-air.

This forms the most striking and glaring contrast with Prometheus's disheveled state.

Epimetheus flew even higher, so that all the humans present could clearly see themselves amidst the chaos.

He sighed softly to himself, and then gently waved his hand.

Divine power swept through like a gentle breeze, softly settling the dust that filled the air; the collapsed stone pillars slowly rose again; and the minor damage to the temple and altar was completely restored. This once-chaotic sacred site was restored to its rightful tranquility and purity.

He gently exhaled another breath of fresh air.

This aura transformed into a gentle breeze, caressing the cheeks of every mortal, offering a precious comfort to their confused, chaotic, and nearly collapsing souls.

They were brought back to clarity from the depths of their despair.

Then, in a solemn and majestic tone, completely at odds with His reputation for "foolishness," He spoke loudly:
"Mortals! The sacred covenant between God and mortal spirits has been established!"

"You are no longer just ignorant and weak children who need the constant protection of the gods!"

"Therefore, God has taken back what never belonged to you!"

His voice was like a bell, resonating deep into people's hearts, yet without any aggressive force.

"But do not be afraid! Do not panic! And there is no need to be confused!"

"What you have lost now is only God's 'love' for you!"

"This pampering, though protective, is also a 'gentle cage'!"

"It has restricted your ability to grow independently!"

"From this day forward, you shall worship God with faith and serve Him with obedience! But above all, you shall make self-reliance your own mindset and strive for self-improvement without ceasing!"

"Believe in yourselves! Under the protection and love of the gods, and under their guidance and blessings, you will surely receive even more!"

"What you will receive is something that truly belongs to 'human beings'! It is something that humankind, relying on its own hands and its own wisdom, has created that truly belongs to you!"

"For God has given you the most precious wisdom that allows you to grow freely; the healthiest way to grow; and the most just and divine covenant!"

"You are ready to grow up! A brighter, more splendid, and more promising future awaits you!"

"Glory will surely belong to you who are independent and self-reliant!"

"Go, children! Tell your people all this!"

“You are not only God’s children! You can also grow into God’s believers! You can also become God’s helpers! You can become God’s arms!”

"Although this will require you to put in even more effort, God will also grant you a broader future because of this!"

"Never forget the teachings of your mentors! Never forget the divine will of His Majesty the God-King! Never forget the sacred and just order of His Majesty the God-King!"

"Always believe in His Majesty the God-King! The eternal and supreme Lord! The most loving and merciful Father! He will always love you, and all mortal spirits who obey His holy and just order!"

“Your people, your children, know nothing of this yet. Go! Tell them about this new ‘hope’!”

"There is no need to panic, no need to be sad, and no need to be confused! Because from this day forward, there will be more gods watching over you from the heavens!"

"Your actions, your efforts, and your piety will collectively determine how many gods will bestow their deepest blessings upon you!"

"Go! Go! Fight for yourselves! Strive for yourselves! You will gain so much more!"

Epimetheus, the god of "hindsight," once again bestowed upon humanity a ray of new dawn and a new hope of "self-reliance" at a time when everyone was plunged into despair.

His words are like a faint light, weak but enough to guide the way in the darkness.

Regardless of their true thoughts, the people present ultimately chose to trust.

Because they had no other choice.

They had no idea what was happening in the sky.

But at least they knew that God had not completely abandoned them; God did not intend to destroy them.

As long as you're alive, there's always a future.

They already possess the resilience of life and the tenacity of civilization.

Some people in the crowd were sobbing softly, others were whispering in despair, but everyone was slowly getting up, swaying as they went.

Epimetheus was their illusory hope, but they were the hope of all human tribes.

They have no right to despair.

Because behind them are many more people of their people who need their guidance and protection.

The responsibility they bear is too heavy.

Everyone began to help each other to their feet, tidying their messy and dirty faces, silently gathering up the scattered artifacts, and more devoutly and respectfully tidying up the temple and altar.

Even the slightest glimmer of hope is enough to give them a reason to keep living.

While humans were busy and praying quietly, Epimetheus had already taken away the distraught Prometheus.

They went to a secluded and quiet place, and strolled slowly on this all-encompassing earth.

The earth is tolerant, encompassing everything, whether it is guilt or repentance, or pain and hope buried in the soil.

Prometheus's divine body still retained the residual power of the king of gods' attack.

The aftershocks of His shattered divinity, like countless cold awls, pierced every inch of His consciousness.

His once divinely radiant face now clearly showed an unconcealable weariness and pain.

Epimetheus's words were both comforting and hopeful, giving Prometheus a rare sense of warmth.

However, this warmth was like a tiny spark ignited by a campfire in the eternal cold night, insignificant and quickly extinguished by the boundless cold.

(End of this chapter)