Chapter 40: The Ultimate Goddess Card

After a brief hesitation, Eros made up his mind. He'd go check it out.

"When stuck, change. When you change, things start to flow."

The sea goddesses around the Abyssal Capital? He was already way too familiar with them. Staying cooped up here any longer wasn't going to help him find the right candidate. Better to head to the Silver Whirlpool. Who knows what surprises might be waiting there?

Granted, leaving the Abyssal Capital also meant leaving the protection of Oceanus.

But that didn't concern Eros in the slightest.

A true man, born between heaven and earth, should not stay hidden beneath others forever.

Lingering under Oceanus' wing any longer would only dull his drive and erode his ambition.

The sea goddesses were lovely, no doubt, but most of them were nameless, fleeting pleasures at best. If he wanted to ignite his cosmic spirit again, he needed new blood. New faces.

This wasn't about being fickle. This was the price of becoming stronger.

Once his mind was made up, Eros immediately began preparing for the trip to the Silver Whirlpool.

Naturally, Hebe would be coming with him. As his guide and, more importantly, his cover and charm against disaster, she was essential.

Not because of anything like "close proximity breeds opportunity" or because he planned to sneak in some romantic advances. Absolutely not.

The tricky part was Amphitrite. She clearly wanted to come along too.

But leaving the capital meant risking a run-in with Poseidon at sea.

Still, after a long stare from Amphitrite's pleading, ocean-blue eyes, Eros gave in and decided to bring her along.

Besides, staying here wasn't entirely safe either. Compared to the ever-watchful (yet never interfering) Oceanus, Eros trusted himself far more.

And if Poseidon really did show up? He'd just improvise when the time came.

As it turned out, the "peerless wisdom" of a magnetically blessed man like Eros often ended up being purely ornamental. After making the simplest of preparations, he set off with the two goddesses.

To avoid drawing attention, they slipped out like they were just going fishing. Eros even hitched a sea chariot and left quietly, without fanfare.

But on the throne atop the Abyssal Capital, a figure silently watched their departure the entire time.

Only once the sea chariot vanished into the aquatic horizon did the gaze finally withdraw.

"Whew! I've been holding back for so long. Finally, I'm free to stretch my legs and live a little!"

The vast open sea loosened something in Eros, shaking off the restlessness that had built up during his time in the capital.

Yes, the Abyssal Capital was grand and awe-inspiring, not exactly some pitch-black trench. But it was still surrounded on all sides by endless sea. The view felt like staring up from the bottom of a well.

"Held back?" Hera, still disguised in Hebe's appearance, glanced sideways at him, eyes full of disdain. "Funny, I seem to recall you living quite freely in there."

She had hidden her identity and endured weeks of staying close to Eros, hoping to discover what made him so special.

What she found was a man who spent nearly the entire time hosting parties for sea goddesses… and designing clothes.

Admittedly, the clothes were stunning, but that did little to improve his image in her eyes.

The so-called "prophet," the man Zeus believed could defy fate itself and change the world, was apparently a glorified silver-haired fashion designer.

If his clothes didn't have real power behind them, Hera would've dropped her disguise long ago.

Well, that and the fact that she was dying to see Poseidon get humiliated.

That gossipy curiosity was the only reason she'd held out this long without revealing herself.

Though, sometimes when Zeus asked what she'd been up to lately, she'd get a little nervous.

"What do you mean 'freely'?" Eros said, full of righteous indignation. "Everything I did was part of the plan, to spread this new wave of fashion across the seas!"

"I made sacrifices, alright? Where was the freedom in that?"

Eros refused to let his reputation be tarnished. He insisted every flirtation, every overnight stay, was part of his grand plan to become stronger. No selfish desires involved, none at all.

In fact, to win over the sea goddesses, he'd had to smile constantly, flatter endlessly… and occasionally share a bed.

"Pfft. Only Amphitrite would actually buy that story," Hera scoffed.

Amphitrite opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. Honestly, she didn't really buy Eros' excuse either.

It's just… Eros always had ways of making her believe, like promising thirty thousand extra push-ups as compensation.

But saying that out loud would only earn her cousin's ridicule, so she shut her mouth and kept quiet.

Being seen as naïve was still better than being seen as weak.

Eros, meanwhile, ignored Hera's scorn and rambled on excitedly.

"Silver Whirlpool… just hearing the name sounds thrilling."

By now, the Abyssal Capital had practically been remodeled into an aquamarine love lounge. His specialty outfits, originally meant for 'special use,' had even become more popular than his casual designs.

It was time to spread his aesthetic beyond the capital.

One day, he would see the mighty Athena in a white thigh-high garter dress.

He just hadn't decided yet, would Athena be a cool, purple-haired big sister type, or a sharp-eyed silver-haired prodigy with a deceptively calm look?

The thought made his imagination run wild.

But just as Eros was lost in his daydream, Hera's expression shifted sharply.

"Someone's coming. And their divine power… it's strong!"

She sensed two auras approaching fast, both of them strangely familiar.

"Poseidon?" Eros immediately tensed. "Already? Was she lying in wait nearby this whole time?"

"No, not her. It's someone else."

After narrowing her senses, Hera's expression darkened. With a shove, she pushed Eros toward the front of the sea chariot.

"They're looking for you. Go deal with them yourself."

Still a little dazed, Eros stumbled outside and spotted two figures walking calmly across the sea toward him.

From the looks of it, they didn't seem hostile.

He quietly dispersed the energy he'd gathered for his Phantom Emperor Fist, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Greetings, last of the silver humans. Prophet Eros."

Two goddesses stood before him, one slightly ahead of the other. The leading figure placed her hand on her chest and offered a graceful bow.

She had brilliant silver hair and wore an elegant, embroidered gown.

But more than her beauty, it was her eyes that stood out—clear, radiant, and piercing.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Pallas Athena. I've come seeking your help."

Holy crap, it's Athena!

Eros' eyes lit up instantly. Of all the words she just said, only one name registered: Athena.

The top-tier SSR card of Greek mythology. The absolute cream of the crop.

Sure, critics might call her a schemer, a cold manipulator who liked to play the untouchable goddess in the hearts of every hero.

But that didn't change the fact: Athena was the most beloved goddess in all of Greece.

"And… this one is?"

Eros struggled to stay composed and shifted his gaze to the figure behind her.

"I'm just a minor goddess, not worth mentioning," the petite, squinty-eyed girl replied softly.

She didn't look like any ordinary nymph, though.

************************

Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 350 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!

For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey!

p(a)treon.com/Lnee

*remove () to open it