Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Chapter 797: Chapter 293 Dionysus

“`

The autumn days gradually came to an end, and the weather turned cold.

In the northern regions of the Mortal Realm, snowflakes had begun to fall, and the beasts started to hide away.

However, the winds of the Mortal Realm clearly did not reach the palaces in the sky, nor did the earthly chill affect the beautiful scenery of the Home of the Gods.

On Mount Olympus, the Divine King drank a cup of fine wine and gazed down upon the Mortal Realm from the summit.

Not long ago, when the invisible West Wind blew in, Zeus learned of Zephyrus’s recent activities.

In a letter, the Divine King’s close minister described the results of his work during this period and highly praised the strength of the Zeus bloodline.

For thousands of years, demigods born in the Mortal Realm were not uncommon.

Although most of them arose due to their initial mixed blood of Divine Persons, their abilities were not particularly strong and often lacked notable achievements in battle.

But no matter what, a Divine Child is a Divine Child, and the talents displayed by Heracles were unique among them.

Moreover, compared to others, he still had much room for improvement. Even with the God of the West Wind’s eye power, it was far from seeing his limits.

So Zephyrus wrote extensively in the letter to the Divine King, expressing his respect for the Divine King and the Heavenly Empress.

This was the kind of talent that the first Son of God with the God-King Bloodline and who had been nurtured by the Heavenly Empress was supposed to have. In both heaven and earth, it was hard to find a second person.

“Not bad, they haven’t let me down.”

Zeus nodded slightly, feeling quite satisfied about this.

Just like every time before, he had to admit it.

Although he knew the flattery of the God of the West Wind was a reason, the Divine King was still pleased after reading the letter.

After all, flattery needed to hit the mark, and Zeus’s most well-known matters were none other than his legendary romances and his numerous offspring.

In this regard, Zephyrus undoubtedly grasped it well.

“The first task encountered a minor hiccup, but the fact that he could leave the Athenians unscathed without resorting to force was already commendable.”

“And now it seems, his process of slaying the demon didn’t encounter any issues… Since that’s the case, it’s time to give him some real responsibilities.”

The letter contained a lot more, and Zephyrus mentioned the third task.

Slaying the Nine-Headed Snake was a decent choice.

However, going further, Zeus had other thoughts.

“This is just the beginning… Unlike your brother Perseus, he didn’t need the help of a Divine Artifact to slay demons.”

“So, my child, hearing about your brother’s accomplishments, how do you feel?”

He casually burned the letter, watching it turn to ash.

The Divine King did not look back but instead looked toward the western seas of the earth.

Once, Mount Othrys supported the sky, but now the fulcrum of heaven and earth was divided.

To the east was Olympus and the western sky-supporting giant.

Standing on the mountain’s peak, with Zeus’s eye power, even from afar, he could still barely see the unyielding Deities from centuries past.

Still glaring angrily at the Mount of the Gods, still glaring at the so-called ‘traitors’… the remnants of an old era, it truly had been so long.

And Zeus’s patience was finally nearing its end.

No one was indispensable, not even Atlas.

Strong and suitable as he was, supporting the sky was not solely his task.

“For Heracles… Of course, I’m pleased with his achievements, father.”

“It’s just a pity that I can’t measure up to him, to serve you as he does.”

A voice, youthful and vibrant, interrupted the Divine King’s thoughts.

Behind Zeus, the handsome young black-haired man seemed somewhat regretful.

Yet despite that, his tone was quite relaxed, as if the world’s suffering was nothing to him.

“Hehe, Dionysus, my child, you have always been so joyful.”

Zeus shook his head with a smile, feeling a bit helpless.

He wasn’t sure if his situation had anything to do with himself… Perhaps this was also a part of the Divine King’s destiny?

But regardless, Zeus did not allow this news to leak.

“Haha, whether I’m happy or not, my dear father, the life of a God is short, so one must enjoy it while they can.”

“Hey, as you see, since I cannot change fate, I might as well enjoy it.”

Lifting a bottle of wine from the table, the young man behind Zeus took several large gulps.

Perhaps born with it, Dionysus had always had an immense interest in ‘nectar’ since he could remember.

He had once thought of wandering the earth, tasting the finest wines of the Mortal Realm; had also imagined attending feasts in various countries, bestowing them with joy and freedom.

After all, he was a god, and this was a right he ought to have, a right no one could take from him—until one day, Zeus told him that a true god not only possessed immortality but also authority as the source of Divine Power.

However, Dionysus was different; he did not possess his own Divine Authority.

Yes, Dionysus, he was the second one in the world without authority, not even like a territorial god having his own domain.

This being, once destined to be the God of Drama and Celebration, the embodiment of brewing and nectar, had no authority, just like Hecate once experienced this ‘blankness.’

This situation, only occurring twice in the history of the Divine Race, shocked Zeus when he found out.

Some called it a curse; others said it was an omen.

After all, objectively speaking, the birth of The Magic Web had a positive significance for the world.

“Tsk, if given a choice, I would quite like to be a ‘God of Wine.’ In that way, I could brew the most unique nectar in the world and bask in the clarity and intoxication.”

“But as it stands now—well, it’s still okay, huh—if only you didn’t stop me from going to the Mortal Realm, it would be even better.”

Seemingly long resigned to whether he was a true god, Dionysus appeared quite at ease.

In contrast, it was Zeus before him who seemed more conflicted.

To the Divine King, especially for Zeus now truly embodying the symbol of Sovereign Authority and continually spreading it, problems like Dionysus’s were not insurmountable.

He actually had many ways to provide him with a false godhood and then let Dionysus absorb Faith through it… but Zeus had never done so.

As for the reasons, there were two.

One was hard to articulate, the other long told to his son.

“Child, your condition is not unique. In the last epoch, there was someone like you, but now she is the renowned Goddess of the Magic Net.”

“Even the All Gods rely on her power to spread Faith and distribute Divine Arts—without her aid, they might exhaust themselves and still fail.”

“You, too, can be like her; you’ll have the chance.”

“Hehe, it’s said like that, as long as one lives long enough, opportunities will always come—so I will wait until that chance arrives.”

“Right now, I just wish to wander in the Mortal Realm, rather than stay on the Mount of the Gods, looking at this unchanging scenery.”

With a chuckle, the handsome deity sat directly on the table.

It wasn’t the first time he’d made such a request, but Zeus had never agreed to him, and this time seemed likely no exception.

Dionysus understood this, for as a god without Divine Power and Authority, he might not even be able to ensure his safety in the Mortal Realm.

Remaining on the Mount of the Gods was an inevitable choice… Yet unexpectedly, Zeus did not immediately refuse him this time.

“Hmm…”

After a moment of silence, not knowing what crossed his mind, the Divine King turned to look at his offspring.

No godhood, like Hecate… At that moment, Zeus seemed to make a decision.

“Dionysus, do you really wish to go to the Mortal Realm?”

“Of course, it’s much more interesting than the Mount of the Gods.”

Such a formal address made Dionysus instinctively a bit more serious. Not that it was much, for his innate freedom soon returned to grant him a carefree smile.

He didn’t understand why Zeus reacted differently, but since he asked, Dionysus nodded and agreed.

“Is that so… In that case, go then.”

“I won’t stop you anymore, and I’ll even give you more.”

Zeus turned, meeting the incredulous eyes of Dionysus with calm speech.

Was it strange?

If this is what you ask for, then I will grant you this opportunity.

Moreover, I will give you more.

Desiring freedom and enjoyment, there’s no problem with that.

As the son of the Divine King, it is your entitlement.

However, at the same time, as a child of Zeus, you should also bear your responsibilities like Perseus and Heracles.

If all goes well, we all benefit. I will become the sole Divine King governing the present world, while you will be the deity assisting me.

But if anything goes unexpectedly… though undesired, someone must pay the price.

Before considering victory, one must consider defeat.

Although the plan with Erebus seemed quite reasonable, and although the current war in the Mortal Realm was heading in the direction Zeus hoped for,

no one could guarantee he wouldn’t fail, not even the Divine King.

Furthermore, the ‘curse’ once left by “Cronus” had always been in the back of Zeus’s mind, ‘thought replaces ignorance’… his decision to allow the gods to act against Athens, even secretly fanning the flames, wasn’t without this reason.

“My child, did you know?”

“When Hecate obtained her godhood through weaving The Magic Web, she essentially recreated a concept. Maybe with the help of other existences… but she ultimately ascended as a god by it.”

“And you can do the same; in fact, I happen to have such an opportunity.”

“What?”

Dionysus was somewhat surprised, not understanding exactly what Zeus meant.

The Divine King no longer lingered on mysteries, merely grasping the void.

In the next moment, a tricolored scepter emerged from the void, held firmly in his grip. Alongside it appeared an aura that seemed to envelop the world.

This aura resonated closely with Zeus, even mirroring the Divine King’s breath.

“Dionysus, my child.”

“Since becoming the Divine King, I’ve always wanted to bring peace and stability to this world.”

“But the world is unstable; the gods are rebellious, and even ancient gods born at the dawn of creation opposed me.”

“So, to achieve this, I must bring my ‘order’ to the world.”

“Initially, I lacked this capability; it was only in the last thousand years that I’ve been able to slowly weave my ‘Sovereign Rules’ in the Mortal Realm.”

“It will undoubtedly bring eternal prosperity to this world… but it remains incomplete, missing something. While I could personally finish it, I feel that you, more than I, need an opportunity.”

“As my offspring, as my incarnation, you will complete what I have not. Ultimately, when you accomplish all this, you shall become my deputy, becoming my ‘Crown Prince.'”

A Divine King does not need a Crown Prince; everyone knows this.

After all, the immortal need not be succeeded, for ‘name and device cannot be entrusted to another.’

But Dionysus understood equally well that if things were as Zeus described, by assisting him with no godhood to perfect the Sovereign Order, managing it in his stead, he truly could become this ‘Crown Prince.’

What a Divine King can do, much of it he, too, could do.

When Zeus is absent, he could exercise authority in his stead.

Just as the gods’ authority originates from the world, his authority would come from Zeus.

Moreover, crucially, because everything about him originates from his father, distrust between the Divine King and his son would be non-existent.

With one thought, what he possesses could also be lost.

Therefore, no matter what powers he wields, Zeus would never doubt him.

It sounds perfect… if everything is as Zeus stated.

Like the God of the West Wind, despite the majority of his power and authority being vested in the Divine King, he only holds the authority of the West Wind himself, yet this doesn’t detract from his power and status.

“Sounds good; it seems I’m getting quite a big deal.”

Despite the still playful smile, Zeus noticed a hint of desire in Dionysus’s eyes.

Desire is appropriate for a god without authority; a lack thereof would seem odd, even with such a carefree personality.

Hence Zeus merely smiled, his voice turning gentle.

“Dionysus, you’re my offspring, so you should naturally be as noble as your brothers.”

“If the world doesn’t give it to you, I will…”

“This is my gift to you as a father. Naturally, you must work hard yourself.”

“What must I do?”

Eagerly asked, and in response to Dionysus’s inquiry, Zeus smiled and answered.

“Very simple, since you wish to go to the Mortal Realm, then go.”

“Find your brother, the one I just mentioned.”

“His name is Heracles, currently the finest demigod in the Mortal Realm. You can engage in some tasks together. As for what exactly, I’ll have Zephyrus inform you.”

“You will achieve great things together, leaving a name in this world.”

Without questioning, Dionysus readily agreed.

Even not counting potential benefits, merely the opportunity to visit the Mortal Realm was reason enough that he saw no reason for refusal.

Seeing Dionysus agree so swiftly, Zeus, though unsure whether he truly had no doubts, did not consider it a problem.

After all, this was insurance for the worst-case scenario, which would likely never be needed.

As long as nothing unexpected occurred, it indeed was merely an advantage.

He would, in the future, become the arch-deity of the Olympic divine court, his nominal heir.

Moreover, ultimately, Dionysus grew up beside him, and Zeus didn’t believe him to be scheming.

Besides, what waves could a god without godhood possibly stir?

“Very well.”

“Now, I have my fallback. Therefore, I can become even bolder.”

Nodding slightly, despite Zeus feeling that he could conquer destiny, making more preparations was never a bad thing.

Unfortunately, no one could appreciate the highlight of his life.

The whereabouts of Cronus remained unknown; no one knew where he had gone.

If one day when I unite the Mortal Realm, I could see him again, I’d truly want to ask him…

“You left comments for each of us…”

“When faced with the exam paper I’ve given you, what do you think of it?”

Setting aside strength, merely considering his accomplishments as the Divine King, Zeus believed no one could compare.

If Uranus hadn’t been born early, there would have been no chance for him to wield paternal authority.

His father merely followed a routine, failing miserably against destiny.

He alone was different; he established the divine court, perfected the world’s order, even gaining recognition from worldly laws for his deeds.

No matter how many critiqued his morality, none could deny his achievements.

“History is written by the victors.”

“Typhon proved it, and so shall I.”

With a calm expression, Zeus was uninterested in outsiders’ ‘misunderstandings’ of him.