Chapter 51: Argos—The Trace of Typhon (4)
The three goddesses stared at the inscription, thinking the same thing.
‘Typhon? Never heard of him.’
And how had Hera’s priests been corrupted?
“By context, an extremely powerful god.”
“Yes. A plan that risks making enemies of two chief gods.”
Athena and Hecate assessed coldly.
Hecate noticed the shamanism funneled power somewhere—perfectly hidden.
Just its existence screamed: another dagger aimed at the gods post-Titanomachy.
“We must report to Lady Hera. Someone’s definitely trying to drive a wedge between her and Lord Poseidon.”
Iris hurriedly recorded the runes and bottled ambient divinity in her Hera-crafted pouch—capable of holding anything, even foreign god-power.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Lady Iris, can you delay the report?”
Iris was baffled.
They needed to report now and assemble a proper team.
“It’s suspicious. A god this bold and confident—why leave such an obvious trail?”
“…”
Iris had felt it too.
But her urgency had cause: her rainbow goddess senses—pre-Hermes messenger—kept feeling eyes watching.
“But—”
BOOM.
The warded area shook.
Azure, freed by Hecate, floated—grotesque voice echoing.
“You noticed faster than expected, Olympus. …Or we were too blatant.”
The divinity was overwhelming, even through a puppet.
All three goddesses tensed.
“Don’t be so guarded. We’re not enemies… yet.”
“…”
“Tch. No interest in talk. Then tell Zeus: you…”
***
In the official report, the goddesses deliberately omitted key parts of Typhon’s words.
Thus, only a partial truth reached Olympus and Poseidon’s palace.
“So Typhon is involved.”
Poseidon understood instantly from Hecate’s direct report.
All mysteries resolved.
“Lord Poseidon, what he said to us…”
Poseidon shook his head.
Not yet cause for full panic.
“Don’t worry. Zeus likely anticipated this.”
“?”
“Prometheus prophesied Gaia sharpening a blade.”
Hecate finally grasped why Poseidon, Zeus, and Hera had only nodded in silence.
Still, one question: ‘Why target Poseidon?’
Gaia’s child hating Olympus/Zeus made sense—but Poseidon?
Poseidon couldn’t fully explain.
In myth, Typhon was Zeus’ arch-nemesis.
If Zeus was protagonist, Typhon was the final boss—the only being to defeat Zeus single-handedly and nearly rule the world.
He’d use any means.
“Probably not me. This was a probe. True target is Olympus, as he said.”
Hecate nodded.
All gods knew Gaia’s hatred for Zeus.
Her child would absorb it fully.
Poseidon gazed at the waves, projecting Hecate’s runes skyward.
‘Olympus’ move? Complacency means annihilation. Otherwise… different outcome.’
***
Meanwhile, Hera and Zeus convened the Twelve Olympians—now Eleven.
“The occupier of Argos is a new god: Typhon. Details unclear, but one thing is certain: he seeks to divide us from the sea gods.”
All nodded.
They’d heard Iris’ recording—Typhon’s ‘declaration of war’.
The enemy was unknown—location, method, power.
Only the leadership knew.
Ares—reborn from Hera’s womb—leapt up.
“Father! Give me a sword and 100 nymphs—I’ll drag this Typhon back!”
“No one knows where he is.”
“Hah! Apollo, prophecy god, can’t find him? Torture Argos until someone talks.”
“But Argos is Lord Poseidon’s land. Acting rashly is exactly what the enemy wants.”
“Hmph. The sea god will understand.”
Zeus silenced his still-idiotic son with a gesture.
“Mmph!”
“Athena, your opinion?”
“Lord Zeus, forget Typhon for now—focus on relations with the sea gods. The enemy exploited our ties with them.”
Athena stared at Ares—the biggest troublemaker.
Ares averted his eyes.
Zeus sighed.
“Right. Poseidon might not care, but other sea gods don’t view me—or Olympus—kindly…”
“Yes. Too many incidents. We must mend ties now—especially with a great enemy emerging. Ambiguity is dangerous.”
Athena unrolled a detailed map of Argos’ neighbors—pros, cons, connections marked.
“Yield a few Olympus-backed states to Poseidon. Enough to satisfy.”
Zeus’ head throbbed.
Argos’ neighbors: Mycenae, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Sparta—all powerhouses Olympus had nurtured.
“Wouldn’t that make Poseidon too influential on land?”
Athena acknowledged the concern but reminded him:
Even with Typhon, Olympus’ past actions bred resentment.
“Fortunately, Lord Poseidon has little interest in the surface—unlike Lord Hades’ endless expansion.”
Many gods nodded.
Poseidon was famously least interested in land.
Artemis countered:
“But his influence is massive. Every elf in my mountains and forests worships ‘Gaia and Poseidon’.”
Apollo agreed—shocked by Poseidon/Gaia statues in Artemis’ palace.
“Still, this is Olympus’ fault. A full divine domain incident.”
“True. Hera’s priests—former priests—hunted mermaids, sirens, sea serpents. Demolished Poseidon’s temple in Hera’s name.”
“…”
After hearing the Eleven, Zeus and Hera decided.
“We’ve heard you. To vote:
1. Yield land cities to Poseidon.
2. Which cities.”
“Typhon acted, yes—but Hera’s priests committed atrocities. Olympus must take responsibility.”
Final vote (excluding Zeus/Hera): 8:1
- Leave Argos’ fate to Poseidon.
- Allocate several surface cities to him.
“Ugh… as expected.”
“Zeus, no choice. My mistake. I’ll cede some of my cities.”
“No, Hera. An unforeseen calamity. Who knew Gaia’s blade would strike so suddenly?”
Hera shook her head—her responsibility.
“I’ll personally appease the other sea gods.”
“You?”
“Yes. Poseidon may forgive, but others won’t. We’d lose more. And… our children’s past actions…”
Hera turned, preparing for the sea.
Unthinkable for her to go—but she knew the sea gods’ pent-up grievances.
Athena had hinted: Ares’ incidents chief among them.
Typhon was an excuse—sea gods might retaliate regardless.
“Hope Amphitrite and Eurynome are persuadable…”