Chapter 6: The Birth of Demeter

With unwavering determination they continued their training, Phanes and Hestia immersed themselves in rigorous training, pushing their limits each day. Phanes dedicated himself to refining his physical strength, honing his abilities, and perfecting his martial arts techniques. Drawing from the vast knowledge of various combat styles he had retained from his past life—Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing, Judo, and more—he seamlessly integrated them into a unique and fluid fighting style.

His exceptional comprehension, amplified by his godly physiology, allowed him to grasp the essence of each discipline and merge them into a singular, adaptive martial art. He called it the Nameless Martial Art, a technique that defied conventional categorization and instead embodied efficiency, power, and unpredictability.

Meanwhile, Hestia focused on mastering her divine abilities, deepening her control over her three major divinities—Home, Family, and Fire. Under Phanes' guidance, she also trained in martial arts, absorbing his teachings with surprising aptitude. Though her progress in physical combat was not as rapid as Phanes', she gradually developed formidable skills, allowing her to hold her own in a fight. More importantly, her divinity flourished, reaching the limits of what was possible within their current confinement.

Her control over her divine flames became so precise that she could manipulate them to incinerate enemies or provide warmth and comfort to those she cherished. The power of her Family divinity grew stronger as well, enabling her to sense and connect deeply with those she considered family, creating an unbreakable bond that could transcend space and time.

Time passed in an endless cycle of training and companionship. Their relationship deepened as they spent countless hours together, supporting each other through every trial. Phanes, once merely a warrior honing his strength, now found himself growing into a protector and mentor for Hestia. In turn, Hestia, who had once been a fragile goddess uncertain of her potential, now stood with a newfound confidence, her divine presence shining brighter with each passing day.

Phanes had reached a level of mastery in his combat techniques that he had never imagined possible. His movements became instinctive, his strikes precise, and his awareness sharpened to the point where he could predict an opponent's actions before they even made a move.

His physical strength had increased exponentially, though he could not measure the full extent of his power within their current confines. However, he was certain—he was far stronger than when he had first awakened.

Hestia's improvements were equally astonishing. While she was not as physically dominant as Phanes, her refined control over her divinities made her an overwhelming force in her own right. The fusion of her Home and Family divinities created an aura of unity and unwavering hope, capable of strengthening allies and shattering despair.

Combined with her divine flames, which could now burn away even spiritual corruption, she had become a formidable goddess whose potential rivaled the most powerful deities of the pantheon.

Despite the limits imposed on them by their confinement, Phanes and Hestia had grown immensely. They were no longer just children of the Titans—soon, they would be forces to be reckoned with. And when the time came for them to break free from this prison, the world would witness the rise of two deities who would forever change the course of fate.

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Phanes, 3rd Person POV

Phanes stood at the edge of the cave, his gaze fixed downward into the seemingly endless abyss of Kronos' esophagus. The dim, eerie glow of divine energy flickered faintly around him, casting long shadows against the cave walls. His arms were crossed as he let out a deep sigh, his thoughts drifting into the vast uncertainty of their predicament.

'How much longer must we remain trapped in this wretched place, waiting for Zeus to act?' he pondered, frustration evident in his golden eyes.

Time within Kronos' body was chaotic, unpredictable. Days, months—perhaps even centuries—could have passed, yet it all felt like an unchanging eternity. The concept of time had lost its meaning here. The only thing that kept Phanes sane was his divine physiology, which granted him an almost absolute resistance to the mental toll of this confinement. Had he been mortal, he was certain he would have long since lost his mind.

The cycle had become monotonous—training, resting, contemplating, and waiting. An endless loop.

'Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon have yet to be born, yet Hestia and I have already spent an eternity here.'

The thought made him clench his fists slightly. Though he understood the flow of events, there was no way of knowing exactly how long they had been here. Greek mythology stated that Kronos had swallowed his children shortly after birth, yet how they had survived inside him for so long was never explained. The only logical reason Phanes could deduce was Hestia's divinity.

'The divinity of home…'

It made sense. Hestia's power must have been the key to their survival, allowing her to create a safe sanctuary within their father's very body. Without her presence, the deadly acids and chaotic energies within Kronos' stomach would have long since dissolved anything unfortunate enough to be trapped within him.

He exhaled sharply.

Just as he was about to turn away, a familiar voice broke his thoughts.

"Big brother, what are you doing?"

Hestia's soft, melodic voice called out as she approached. Her warm presence brought him back from his musings. Without hesitation, she slipped her arms around his, pressing herself gently against his side. Her fiery-red hair cascaded over her shoulders, contrasting against her porcelain-like skin.

Phanes glanced at her, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Nothing important," he said, shaking his head.

Hestia tilted her head slightly, studying his face. A mischievous glint flickered in her crimson eyes, and a playful smile tugged at her lips.

"Then come inside, big brother," she said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Phanes immediately understood her meaning. The bond between them had only deepened over time, and Hestia had grown bolder with her affections.

He was about to respond when— A sound.

A distant, almost imperceptible noise resonated from beyond the cave's entrance.

Phanes' expression sharpened instantly. His entire body tensed, instincts kicking in as his divine senses honed in on the disturbance.

"Big brother?" Hestia looked at him, her playful expression shifting into one of curiosity. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer immediately, his focus entirely on the faint noises. Then, his golden eyes flickered toward her.

"Hestia," he said, his voice serious. "Use your divine sense. Listen to the voices outside."

Hestia's eyes widened slightly at his tone but quickly nodded. Closing her eyes, she reached out with her divine perception, extending her senses beyond their confined sanctuary.

Silence filled the cave for a moment.

Then—

Her eyes snapped open, filled with both shock and anticipation.

Something—or someone—was coming.

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Outside POV

The heavy silence in the chamber was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps—each one reverberating through the grand hall like the ticking of an ominous clock.

A towering figure entered the dimly lit room, his presence alone enough to drain the warmth from the air. His massive form loomed over everything, exuding an aura of undeniable dominance and authority. Kronos, the Primordial Titan of Time, had arrived.

His piercing, golden eyes swept across the chamber until they settled upon the woman sitting on the grand stone bed, her arms wrapped protectively around a small, delicate bundle.

"Rhea," he spoke, his voice deep and unwavering. "Let me see the child."

His words were not a request. They were an order.

The woman holding the infant trembled at the sound of his voice, her grip tightening around her newborn as though she could shield her from fate itself. Rhea, the Titaness of Motherhood and Fertility, sat with disheveled hair, her complexion pale and exhausted from the trials of childbirth. Yet, despite her fatigue, her anxious eyes burned with defiance.

In her arms, a baby girl, barely minutes old, rested peacefully, oblivious to the cruel world she had just entered. The infant's delicate features were angelic—smooth, soft brown hair framed her round face, and her sky-blue eyes, though barely open, sparkled with innocence.

Rhea already knew what was coming. She had seen it happen before—twice.

Her first child, Phanes, had been torn from her arms and swallowed whole. Her second child, Hestia, had suffered the same fate.

Now, her thirdborn…

Another child who was not a Titan.

A choked sob escaped her lips as she looked down at her baby girl. Her heart ached with unbearable sorrow. No matter how much she prepared herself, no matter how much she braced for this moment, it still felt like her soul was being ripped apart.

Kronos took a step closer, his presence an unmovable force.

"I'm sorry, my child… sob… sob…" Rhea whispered, her tears falling onto the baby's tiny forehead.

With trembling hands, she extended her arms, presenting the infant to her husband—offering her daughter to the beast she called her mate.

Kronos peered down at the child, and his expression immediately twisted into one of pure rage.

"Another damned child!" he snarled, his voice echoing with fury. His fists clenched at his sides, his body radiating frustration. "Father truly curses me! Another wretched offspring who is not a Titan!"

Rhea flinched at his outburst, her heart shattering further. She already knew this would be his reaction.

Yet, hearing him say it aloud—to curse his own child simply for existing—made the pain all the more unbearable.

She was the Goddess of Motherhood, and she loved her children unconditionally. Regardless of their form, regardless of their nature, they were still her precious children. And yet, she could do nothing to protect them from the very man who had helped bring them into this world.

With slow, deliberate movements, Kronos reached forward, his massive hand easily dwarfing the fragile infant as he plucked her from Rhea's grasp.

The baby stirred slightly in his grip, her tiny fingers curling in response to the movement. Her sky-blue eyes blinked sleepily, unaware of the monster holding her.

Rhea's breath hitched.

Kronos narrowed his eyes at the child before glancing back at his wife.

"What is her name?" he demanded.

Rhea could barely speak past the lump in her throat. She didn't want to answer. She wanted to scream, to beg, to fight—to do anything to stop this.

But she knew it was hopeless.

"...Demeter," she whispered, her voice cracking with grief. "Her name is Demeter… sob… sob…"

Kronos gave a small nod, as if her answer was nothing more than a formality.

Then, without hesitation—he opened his mouth.

Rhea's breath caught in her throat as she watched, horror-stricken, as her husband swallowed her daughter whole.

Her wail of despair echoed through the chamber.

She knew this would happen. She expected it.

And yet—knowing did not lessen the agony of witnessing it.

Her baby… gone.

Her hands clenched into fists as she sobbed uncontrollably, her body trembling from anguish and exhaustion.

Kronos merely cast her a passing glance, his expression indifferent—as if he had simply completed an unpleasant chore.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his heavy footsteps echoing in the silence.

Rhea remained where she was, broken and alone—mourning yet another child stolen from her arms.

POV ENDS

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Inside Kronos' Stomach

Phanes and Hestia stood near the edge of their cave, their expressions dark as they listened to the conversation outside. The muffled cries of Rhea, their mother, echoed through the air, filled with sorrow and helplessness.

Then came the voice of Kronos—cold, unforgiving.

"Another cursed child! Not a Titan, just like the others!"

Phanes gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists as he fought to contain his anger. Then came the final sound—the deep, guttural gulp of Kronos swallowing yet another of his children.

Silence followed.

Hestia trembled beside him, her fiery red eyes shimmering with tears. "Big Brother… we have to save her," she whispered, voice shaking. Though she resented their father's cruelty, she still held onto a fragile hope that one day, he might change.

Phanes, however, felt no such hope. His hatred for Kronos burned like an unquenchable flame.

"We will," he said firmly. "And not just Demeter. Hades, Hera, Poseidon… all of them. We won't let them be trapped here forever."

Hestia wiped her tears and nodded, determination hardening her features. "But how do we save her?"

Phanes took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts. "I don't know how long it will take for Demeter to reach this level, but when she does—I'll feel it. Our divine connection won't break just because we're apart."

Hestia's expression brightened with hope. "Then we can find her!"

Phanes placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yes. But until then, we must prepare. We need to become stronger if we're going to defy our father."

Hestia nodded, her resolve strengthening. Together, they turned back toward the cave, resuming their training—for Demeter, for their siblings, and for the day they would escape this prison and challenge the tyrant who called himself their father.

(To Be Continued)