Chapter 9: Pontus and Poseidon (2)
While gazing at the palace the Cyclopes were building for him, Poseidon was lost in thought.
In Greek and Roman mythology, Poseidon's role wasn't particularly prominent, and he only gained full dominion over the seas after marrying Amphitrite. But he wasn't sure if a war of this scale had ever occurred in the myths.
Moreover, the Thetis he knew from the myths didn't match the Thetis before him now, which troubled him.
"This is really strange. Thetis wasn't supposed to have this much presence…"
Poseidon knew that becoming Poseidon had altered the myths slightly, but this change felt too drastic.
As he pondered this, a great wave surged beside him, and Styx, his partner from the Titanomachy, appeared smoothly.
"You're looking awfully relaxed, Poseidon," she said.
"Oh? Styx, what brings you here?"
"News of the sea's unrest has reached even the underworld."
"Haha, word travels to the underworld? Guess the gods have too much time on their hands now that the war's over."
Styx smirked at Poseidon's carefree demeanor, touching her cheek as she spoke.
"My, my. The news that Poseidon is stirring things up is quite a shock to the gods. Would you believe me if I said Hades sent me here?"
"Tch, that Hades still can't let go of his grudge over Zeus' position? Why's he so restless?"
"It's not really my concern. I was just asked to check on your situation."
"Same difference," Poseidon grumbled, frowning as he took a big bite of a sea apple.
He gestured for Styx to sit on a mushroom-shaped coral, and together they gazed at the breathtaking underwater scenery illuminated by sunlight.
"Styx, look at this beautiful sea. What place is there for war or domination here? I just let things flow naturally. This whole affair is merely untangling a messy thread—and a necessary pain for the sea to grow stronger."
Styx sat on the coral, taking in the stunning view of the sea, a marvel crafted by Chaos, the father of all, and Oceanus, the primordial sea.
She looked at Poseidon, his blue hair shimmering like the waves, still exuding the carefree air of a seaside youth, just as he had during the war.
But Styx had seen it before—the ferocity of a raging storm hidden beneath his refreshing demeanor.
"Poseidon, what will you do about my sisters and nieces? And my father will probably stay silent, as usual—he doesn't care for these matters."
"And you suspect there's someone behind all this, don't you?"
Poseidon took another bite of his apple, gazing at the sprawling coral forest before turning to Styx.
"Well… I think some of them need to be put to rest deep in the primordial sea. A god to strengthen this Oceanus."
In Poseidon's eyes, as Styx looked into them, wild waves surged.
***
The seas of the world churned.
Waves rose high, storms raged, and underwater earthquakes and volcanoes erupted, causing natural disasters everywhere.
Humans, caught in the chaos, were dying and vanishing in droves.
Olympus, as planned, did nothing to protect them—a sign of the true end of Kronos' era.
"Poseidon, on behalf of Olympus, I thank you," Metis said.
"Tch, the Golden Race was fated to end like this, wasn't it? Just like the old sea goddess Eurynome standing beside you now."
Metis flinched at Poseidon's words.
No one had followed her when she secretly left Olympus for the sea.
At that moment, a wave rippled, and the goddess Eurynome appeared beside Metis.
"As expected, you recognized me right away, Poseidon," Eurynome said.
"How could I not? The scent of an old sea goddess is unmistakable. Since Pontus is out there on the battlefield, you've come too, haven't you? For revenge from ages past. Do you think fate will favor you this time?"
"Don't ask what you already know. It's not gentlemanly to make a goddess confess her shame."
Metis was shocked that someone had approached her unnoticed—and even more so that it was Eurynome, one of the Protogenoi who had once vied with Pontus for control of the seas.
"I, Metis, child of the sea and daughter of Oceanus, greet you," she said, bowing respectfully.
Eurynome, though defeated by Pontus, was one of the oldest gods of the sea.
"So, you're Oceanus' daughter, now serving that boy Zeus, ruler of the sky?"
"Yes, I assist Zeus, the lord of the heavens."
"No need to be tense—I bear you no ill will. Though you're Oceanus' child, I have no grudge against him. That poor boy was always swayed by his father and his brother, Pontus."
"My hatred is reserved solely for that despicable Pontus."
Eurynome's voice burned with intense loathing for Pontus.
In the Pelasgian myths, she and Ophion had been cast into the abyss of Oceanus by Kronos and Rhea.
But in this world, she had been defeated by Gaia's son, Pontus, leaving Ophion as good as dead, while Eurynome barely escaped.
It was said that another Oceanid named Eurynome, and even a lowly nymph of the same name, existed here—names deliberately given by Pontus to mock her.
Rumors of Pontus' cruelty were widespread, making it easy to imagine what he'd done in his battle with Eurynome.
"Poseidon, I ask you to grant this goddess' request. I cannot live in the same sea as that hateful Pontus."
Poseidon understood her hatred. This war, after all, had a contrived air to it.
"Very well, I accept your request. If you distinguish yourself in this war, Pontus will become just another current in these waters."
"Good. I won't forget your kindness," Eurynome said, satisfied, before vanishing into the sea.
Rather than prolong the conversation, she was eager to head to the battlefield and tear Pontus apart.
With Eurynome gone, only the serene underwater silence remained, shared by Metis and Poseidon.
"This is more intense than Olympus expected…" Metis murmured.
"Of course. The sea is being stirred by that senile Protogenos, Pontus," Poseidon replied.
"I heard it was Thetis leading this," Metis said.
"We'll see soon enough whether that goddess and nymph is truly in charge—or if it's just some decrepit god pulling dirty tricks."
Metis fell silent at Poseidon's declaration. If he was right, her niece Thetis was pitiable.
"Poseidon, I'll join the fight too. There might be some poor soul caught up in this. Plus, Zeus told me to make sure you owe Olympus a favor."
Poseidon winked at Metis, waving his hand dismissively as if to say, 'Do as you like.'
As Oceanus' powerful daughter and the goddess of wisdom, Metis would be a great asset in this war.
"Fine, I'll owe Olympus one," Poseidon said.
Metis nodded, transformed into a blue shark, and darted off with a splash.
In the now-quiet sea, Poseidon's gaze fell on Pontus, observing the battlefield from afar.
Pontus' body shimmered with a sinister dark green light, connecting to all his followers like a corrupt network. To Poseidon, it resembled a fallen god from a game he'd played in his past life.
"Man, life as a god is way too turbulent,"
Poseidon muttered, unsure if it was a complaint or a thrill.
He drew his trident and mounted his self-named sea steed, Sleipnir.
"Let's go, Sleipnir. It's not that Sleipnir, but run like it."
Hiiii!
With Sleipnir's cry, Poseidon charged toward the battlefield.
***
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
In the heart of the raging battlefield, the fiercest clash was between Poseidon and Pontus.
Poseidon, riding a white hippocampus with eight bronze legs, wielded clear blue waves, while Pontus, atop a deep-sea monster with eight tentacles and rows of jagged teeth, glowed with murky dark green light. Their confrontation was a stark contrast, like a hero battling a demon king from Poseidon's past life.
Their armies reflected their masters' natures. Poseidon's forces fought with free-spirited vigor, while Pontus' troops moved in eerie, synchronized precision, as if enthralled.
"For Lord Poseidon!"
Blue-waved nymphs charged on hippocampi, while Pontus' nymphs, seemingly robbed of reason, writhed and attacked with twisted limbs.
Clang! Stab! Slash!
Even when pierced or slashed by the hippocampus riders' weapons, Pontus' army felt no pain, fighting with increasing frenzy.
Poseidon's forces countered by fluidly shapeshifting, adapting their forms to the moment.
It was like a battle between fearless berserkers and amorphous slimes.
Poseidon frowned at Pontus' cruelty.
"What a madman, turning his own nymphs, monsters, and gods into that."
"Young fool, this is the wisdom of ages. Look—your followers are turning to serve me again," Pontus sneered.
True to his words, nymphs wounded by Pontus' soldiers were infected by the dark green waves, losing their minds and attacking their former allies.
Berserk and contagious, they were a terrifying force.
"You call yourself a god?" Poseidon spat.
"That's why you young ones will never understand. When necessary, you must be ruthless. Do you know who stands before you? My power, as the oldest ruler of the seas, is woven into every wave. A young god like you can't hope to challenge me."
Poseidon didn't respond to Pontus' taunts, instead swinging his trident. Each swing unleashed raging waves that crashed against Pontus, who countered with two massive clubs, shattering the waves.
Their battle was evenly matched, but as time dragged on, the tide turned against Poseidon.
The problem was that the high-ranking gods' battlefield was also deadlocked.
Poseidon's elite gods, immune to Pontus' corrupting power, fought fiercely, pushing back his creeping influence.
But the number of infected lesser beings kept growing, straining their limits.
On Pontus' side, Amphitrite, Nereus, and Doris fought to protect their corrupted children, siblings, and kin.
As a result, their priority was shielding their allies from harm, not fully engaging in the battle.
This gave Pontus' side, with its maddened, fearless soldiers, the upper hand.
"Doris, I never thought you'd get dragged into this war," Styx said.
"I'm sorry, Sister Styx. I couldn't let my children die, get hurt, or be locked in Tartarus," Doris replied.
"Tch, I get it, but it's hardly a good choice."
Clang, clang, clang!
Styx and Doris clashed with ferocious strikes, their blades and spears moving so fast they were nearly invisible, each aiming for the other's life.
Elsewhere, Nereus faced Keto, one of Pontus' children.
"I didn't expect you to side with Father, Nereus," Keto said.
"Father? That monster's no god."
"You're fighting pretty hard for someone who says that."
"I have to save my daughters."
"You're a fool."
"I know."