Chương 99: New God Of The Forge 7
Island of Delos
(Hephaestus POV)
The moment my feet touch the sandy shores of Delos, I sense it, the tension hanging heavy in the air, the way the island seems to shudder under the weight of something dark and deadly.
The faint scent of salt mingles with the acrid stench of venom, and I know immediately that I'm not alone. My heart pounds as I move swiftly, pushing through the overgrown brush and rocky terrain, every sense on high alert.
Ahead, I hear a cry, a raw, pained scream that slices through the air like a blade. I race toward the sound, and soon I see her: Leto, her figure hunched and trembling, clutching her swollen belly as another contraction rips through her.
She looks ethereal even in her distress, her dark hair clinging to her sweat-drenched skin, her eyes wide with fear and fierce determination.
"Leto!" I shout, making my presence known. Her head snaps up, and for a brief moment, I see a flicker of relief in her eyes. But there's no time for reassurances.
Python, the monstrous serpent sent by Hera, slithers into view. Its massive, scaled form coils menacingly as it locks its gaze on Leto. Poison drips from its fangs, sizzling against the earth, burning a path of destruction in its wake.
I step between Leto and the serpent, raising Miden, the Stygian Iron blade I forged specifically for this battle. Its dark surface gleams ominously in the faint sunlight, and I channel my divine strength into the weapon, feeling its deadly power hum beneath my grip.
"Stay behind me," I command, sparing Leto a quick glance. Her breaths come in ragged gasps, each contraction tearing through her as the twins within her press toward the light. I have to hold the line. I can't let Python reach her.
The serpent lunges, its massive jaws snapping inches from my face. I swing Miden upward, the blade cutting deep into Python's side. It shrieks in pain, recoiling as dark blood pours from the wound. But the monster is relentless, its eyes burning with rage as it strikes again, forcing me back.
I slash at its head with Riptide, the Celestial Bronze blade connecting with its scaly hide and searing through flesh. Python writhes but refuses to fall; its monstrous body coils and uncoils as it thrashes in a fury.
With each strike, I fight with everything I have, driving the serpent back. My weapons tear into its flesh, and black smoke billows from the wounds, the divine metals working their magic. Python screeches, its body convulsing in agony, but even in its weakened state, it lashes out, its tail catching me off guard and sending me sprawling across the ground.
I scramble to my feet, gripping my blades tightly. Python looms over me, and its fangs bared, poison dripping dangerously close. With a roar, I thrust Miden upward, piercing through the snake's jaw and out through its skull. The serpent lets out a loud screech, thrashing wildly as I twist the blade deeper, but before I can land a final blow, it jerks back violently, ripping itself free.
Python's body is a mangled, bleeding mess, deep gashes marring its scales, but it's still moving, driven by an unrelenting, primal instinct to survive. It hisses, eyes locking onto mine for one searing moment, a promise of vengeance flickering in its depths. Then, with a mighty heave, it retreats, slithering into the dense underbrush, its blood leaving a dark, viscous trail behind. thankfully, this python was younger and had not yet developed its intelligence just yet.
I want to chase it down, to end the threat once and for all, but Leto's pained cries pull me back to reality. I turn to her, my heart racing. She's on her back now, her face pale and slick with sweat, her breaths ragged and uneven. The twins are coming, and there's no stopping it.
I kneel beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Leto, hold on. I've got you." I open a portal with a quick chant, "Gate," leading directly to my forge on Lemnos. We don't have time for anything more elaborate. I help her through the shimmering portal, guiding her gently onto the warm stone slab of my workbench, quickly covering it with spare cloth.
"Just breathe," I say, though I know how futile the words are. She's a goddess in the throes of labor, and all I can do is offer what little comfort I can. She grips my hand tightly, her strength was surprising even in her weakened state.
"It's time," she gasps, her voice strained but resolute. I can feel the surge of divine energy as the first of the twins pushes through, the air around us thickening with the raw, potent power of creation.
A brilliant light fills the forge, and then, in a burst of radiant energy, the first twin is born—a boy, his golden aura bathing the room in warmth. Apollo. Even newborn, he radiates an unmistakably divine presence, his tiny body glowing with the light of the sun itself.
Leto barely has time to catch her breath before the second child follows: a girl, her hair the color of moonlight, her eyes already sharp and aware. Artemis. She's the very embodiment of the hunt, her gaze fierce even in her first moments of life.
Leto looks at me, her face etched with exhaustion and relief. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice faint but filled with gratitude. "You saved us."
I nod, but the truth is, I can't shake the feeling of incompleteness. Python is still out there, wounded but alive, a looming threat that will surely return. And Hera, busy with her vendetta against Leto and her unborn children, remains oblivious to what has unfolded here. But that won't last forever. Eventually, she'll turn her attention back to me, and when she does, I need to be ready.
I look down at Apollo and Artemis, feeling a strange mix of pride and protectiveness. They are more than just siblings: they are potential allies in an increasingly uncertain future. But I'm not ready to return to Olympus yet.
The halls of the gods are a viper's nest, filled with politics and power plays that I have no desire to navigate. Here, in the solitude of my forge, I can plan, build, and, most importantly, prepare.
The forge flares as if sensing my resolve, and I feel another surge of energy as a new perk is granted. It's a subtle shift, a small but crucial addition to my ever-growing arsenal. I don't know exactly what it is, but I can feel its potential humming beneath my skin. Every advantage counts, especially now.
For now, I focus on the present. I wrap the twins in soft cloth, their small forms glowing with quiet strength. Leto's breathing steadies, and she watches her children with a mix of awe and fierce determination. They will be safe here, at least for a while.
"I'm not going back," I murmur, more to myself than to her. "Not until I'm ready."
Leto nods as if she understands. "You'll know when the time comes," she says softly, her eyes closing as exhaustion finally overtakes her.
I stand, looking around the forge that has become my sanctuary. There's work to be done, metals to shape, and plans to forge. I won't hide forever, but for now, the path ahead is clear: protect, build, and prepare. And when the time is right, I'll face whatever comes, not as a discarded son of Hera, but as Hephaestus, the God of the Forge, with my own destiny to shape.
The twins sleep soundly, their soft breaths a comforting rhythm against the quiet hum of the forge. I watch over them, knowing that this is just the beginning. The road ahead is long and fraught with danger, but I have my tools, my allies, and the unyielding fire of creation at my back.
The twins sleep soundly, their soft breaths filling the forge with a calm that belies the turmoil of their entrance into the world.
The light from Apollo and the soft glow from Artemis cast gentle shadows on the walls, bathing the forge in an otherworldly light. Leto watches them, her eyes half-closed, a mix of exhaustion and relief evident on her face.
I stand nearby, giving her space but ready to help if needed. My hands still throb from gripping my blades so tightly, and I can feel the lingering heat of battle and poison coursing through my veins. Python's escape gnaws at me along with the venom, a reminder that the threat is not entirely defeated. But for now, the twins are safe, which matters.
A white-hot fire spreads throughout my being, but not one I am comfortable with. It's honestly the first time I've been in so much pain since I've arrived, other than my fall from Olympus, that is. This poison was different. It is meant to harm the gods. But unlike the other guys who would suffer under this poison, I have a little imagination.
I focus my domain on fire, creation, and magic. I spread it throughout each of my veins and miniature gate spells. I focus on each drop of venom and transport it out of my body into a small flask. I can feel my body cooling by the second and satisfied by my breath of control.
Leto's gaze shifts from her newborns to me, her expression guarded. "You saved us," she says, her voice steady but tinged with a note of caution. "And for that, I am grateful. But tell me, stranger, why were you there? And why help us?"
I meet her eyes, unflinching. It's not hard to sense the suspicion beneath her gratitude. She's a Titaness who has been hunted across the landscape of Greece, hounded by Hera's wrath. Trust doesn't come easy when betrayal lurks in every shadow. Her wariness is warranted.
She pushes herself upright, her posture revealing the strength that belies her weariness. She studies me with a keen eye, searching for answers hidden behind the grime and soot of the forge.
"Are you one of her agents?" she asks bluntly, her eyes narrowing. "Did Hera send you to find me?"
I let out a short, dry laugh. The very idea that I'd be an ally to Hera is almost amusing. But I understand her caution; Hera's influence reaches far and wide, and Leto has every reason to be distrustful. I wipe my hands on a nearby cloth, the tension in my muscles finally easing as I turn to face her fully.
"Hera?" I snort, shaking my head. "No, I'm not one of her lackeys. Far from it. Hera threw me off Olympus the day I was born, tossed me like a piece of garbage into the sea because she didn't like how I looked." I glance at Leto, making sure my words hit home. "I've got no love for the Queen of Olympus. If she knew I was here, she'd probably wish I'd stayed dead."
Leto's expression softens slightly, but her wariness doesn't completely fade. She holds her children closer, her grip protective, as if ready to defend them from yet another unseen threat. I can't blame her. Hera's wrath is relentless, and anyone associated with Olympus is a potential danger.
"I've been living on Lemnos," I continue, my tone honest and direct. "Forging, creating, keeping to myself. Hera's got her eyes set on Leto and your children, but she's too wrapped up in her own vendettas right now to notice me. You're safe here. For now, at least."
Leto studies me, her gaze piercing. "Then why intervene? Why risk yourself for us if you're not bound to Olympus?"
I take a moment to consider my answer. It's not an easy one, but I'm done with pretense and half-truths. I've been tossed aside, underestimated, and ignored all my life. But I've built something from those scraps. I've forged a purpose in the fires of rejection.
"Because," I say finally, "I know what it's like to be cast aside, to be hunted and left to fend for yourself. And I'm tired of watching Hera destroy lives because of her spite. You and your children don't deserve her wrath. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." I gesture around the forge, the warmth and light a stark contrast to the cold halls of Olympus. "This place is a sanctuary, and you needed one."
Leto nods slowly, her grip on the twins loosening just a bit as she takes in my words. Her shoulders relax, the tension in her posture easing as she allows herself to believe, if only a little, that I'm not her enemy. Her eyes drift back to Apollo and Artemis, the fierceness in her gaze softening to something more vulnerable.
"They're special," she murmurs, almost to herself. "They will do great things; I can feel it."
"They will," I agree, keeping my voice low. "But they'll need time to grow, to learn. And for that, they need to be safe, and you need to live as I'm not ready to be a single father just yet."
Leto looks up at me again, her eyes searching mine. She seems to weigh my words, her thoughts flickering behind her guarded expression. "You understand that Hera won't stop," she says quietly. "She will come for them and anyone who helps us."
I nod. "I know. That's why I'm not planning on returning to Olympus anytime soon. I've got my own plans, my own path to forge. And right now, it doesn't include bowing to Hera or any of the other gods who've made Olympus their battleground." I meet her gaze steadily, the fire of my resolve clear. "I'm not looking for a fight, but if one comes my way, I won't back down."
A silence falls between us, heavy but not uncomfortable. Leto seems to accept my words, her wariness shifting into a tentative trust. It's not total acceptance, not yet, but it's a start.
"You have a good heart, Hephaestus," she says finally, her voice softer and touched with a weary but genuine gratitude. And a strong spirit. I hope the Fates are kind to you."
"Same to you," I reply, offering a small, wry smile. "For now, rest. I'll keep watch."
Leto nods, her eyelids drooping as exhaustion finally takes its toll. She settles back against the makeshift bed, her arms wrapped protectively around her newborns.
I turn away, giving her the privacy she needs, and move to stoke the forge's fire. The rhythmic crackling of the flames fills the space, a comforting sound that drowns out the lingering echoes of battle.
As I work, I feel the weight of the Celestial Forge's newest gift settling into place: a quiet, powerful potential waiting to be unlocked.
The forge hums with energy, and I know that each creation, each step forward, brings me closer to the strength I'll need to face whatever lies ahead.
I'm not ready to return to Olympus. Not yet. The halls of the gods are filled with treachery and deceit, and I've no desire to walk among those who discarded me so easily.
But here, in the warmth of my forge, I have time. Time to build, plan, and carve out a place in the world that isn't defined by the whims of others.
Leto and her children are safe for now, and that's a victory worth savoring, however brief it might be. As I hammer away at the metal before me, shaping it with each strike, I can't help but feel a quiet satisfaction. This is my domain, my sanctuary; here, I will forge my destiny one strike at a time.
No matter what Hera or Olympus might throw my way, I am Hephaestus, the God of the Forge, and I will not be broken.
Perks Gained:
Smith (Generic Builder): You have a particular talent for creating anything a blacksmith/armorsmith/weaponsmith might create. Any such crafted object is half again as durable as it would otherwise be. Creation times are halved and your natural talent increases with each purchase of this knack.
Shaper (Age of Wonders II): Stone is a tough servant, resisting most ways to work it by unskilled hands. Under your touch, however, it molds itself eagerly, as if it were unable to wait to become the new shapes you wish for it. You are a gifted artisan with the natural materials of the world. You can build fortifications, buildings, and other creations out of wood, stone, sand, and any other such materials with great ease. Indeed, under your touch the materials you work with seem to become... greater, somehow - sand and clay toughen to match granite when building a wall, and a carved wooden blade seems to hold its edge like fine steel once you're finished with it.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực