The Time to Begin Had Come

As the fire was rekindled across the land, light and warmth were restored in human settlements, and they were able to drink hot soup and eat cooked food again.

Every morning, Apollo, God of Light, would drive his Sun Chariot as usual, guiding the celestial bodies into their correct orbits. Mount Olympus would be quiet and solemn, as if the gods had no intention of taking back the fire.

Several Queen of Heaven, a public trial announced the fate of the fire thief.

"Prometheus, you have arrogantly insulted the gods and desecrated the Sacred Flame we lit together on Olympus!"

Since you insist on refusing to admit your mistake, then so be it. The Divine General will bind you to the Caucasus Mountains with the strongest chains. The scorching heat of the day, the bitter cold of the night, and the solitude of the summit will torment your stubborn body and mind until you finally bow your head!

Zeus, seated high on his throne, had a somber expression and spoke in a cold, sharp voice, pausing slightly as if waiting for a reply.

"Zeus, it's not the right time yet, it's not the right time yet."

I'll tell you the secret now, but it's useless to you.

The coming of opportunities and challenges will inevitably come when the time is right.

In the center of the assembly of gods, Prometheus, who was suppressed by the restrictive light band, knelt on the ground and responded faintly amidst the surrounding flames.

"Good! Very good! You despicable fire thief, it seems the gods have not punished you enough!"

In addition, I will send my divine eagle to tear your flesh and devour your liver, day after day!

As an ancient Titan, this wound won't kill you; rather, the pain will teach you the price of angering the gods!

Zeus was furious and eager to know which goddess had given birth to his nemesis.

He interrogated the bastard for several days, but the bastard refused to budge, making him restless and unable to eat or sleep.

Seeing that all the gods had arrived and were waiting for the trial, he had no choice but to bring the matter to the forefront to resolve it, but the result remained the same.

Enraged, Zeus had no choice but to intensify the punishment to vent his remaining anger.

At this moment, the gods' expressions changed slightly, they whispered among themselves, and their gazes toward Prometheus and Zeus flickered with a sinister light.

The Wise King of Gods immediately realized that the punishment had been too severe, causing a backlash and dissatisfaction.

The God of Foresight and Prophecy still had many good friends in Olympus, some who admired Prometheus's foresight, and others simply for the benefit of their faith. They had long been flirting with this fire-stealer.

However, this trial was justified, and the gods had few legitimate reasons to plead for leniency.

The fact that they dare not step forward now does not mean that they are not harboring personal grudges.

Zeus glanced around at the gods, their expressions varied, frowned, calmed himself slightly, and then coldly snorted at the crowd below.

"Since you are willing to suffer for the sake of the humans you love, then let humanity itself liberate you from your suffering!"

Upon hearing this, the gods exchanged glances, nodded in unison, and then raised their hands in approval.

This was probably the limit of Zeus's concession. Although it sounded ridiculous to ask insignificant humans to help a great god find liberation, it was still a thought in itself.

Looking at the gods before him, who had clearly been divided up, the Wise King of Gods wished for a moment that he could unleash his divine power and, regardless of the consequences, deal with all those who were getting in his way within the hall.

If he doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of Mount Othrys, he must exercise restraint.

To hell with wisdom! To hell with reason!

Zeus watched as Hephaestus the Craftsman God in chains, his face calm and serene like a hero. Prometheus had once been so proud of.

"Boom!"

As the gods dispersed and left, the Wise King of Gods, sitting alone in the great hall, raised his strong arm and slammed it on the table, roaring angrily.

"Prometheus! Prometheus! You will never make me bow down!"

In an instant, lightning crackled around Zeus, and silvery arcs of light darted about, tearing nearby tables, chairs, and utensils to shreds.

Soon, the contents and results of the judgment brought down by the theocratic council spread among mankind.

The ants on the ground looked up at the summit of the Caucasus Mountains, which was perpetually filled with fierce winds and divine might, and which humans could never approach. They felt a deep sorrow for their human mentor who had fallen to this state, and secretly prayed for him.

At that moment, Prometheus, his upper body scabbed and bound to the rock, looked at the crimson fruit before him and the giant eagle crouching not far away, preening its feathers, and his lips twitched.

"I said, can we not eat this stuff?"

"Puff!"

The giant eagle with black feathers and golden eyes raised its talons and slashed several bloody gashes across Prometheus's abdomen.

"Hiss!"

The prophet gasped, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

That really hurts!

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to accept my fate.

When the giant eagle, perched atop the rock and looking down, let out a sharp cry, Prometheus shook his head and sighed, picked up a seemingly brightly colored fruit from the ground, and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.

Instantly, a sour, astringent, and numb sensation spread from my mouth, quickly reaching every inch of my skin and every muscle.

Prometheus moved his limbs, feeling as if he were wearing a suit of flesh and blood armor, from which he could not get any obvious pain or sensory feedback.

Everything's ready, time to begin!

Immediately, the giant eagle, calculating the time, spread its wings angrily and fiercely swooped down on the punished fire-stealer. Its sharp talons tore through his skin, its beak snapped through his bones, and it probed into his abdominal cavity to find the location of his liver.

"Zeus! You won't get any answers out of me! I've accepted that great mission! No amount of coercion or bribery will work, give up!"

Prometheus struggled and roared, his muscles trembling in pain, his face contorted, yet he remained dignified and awe-inspiring.

Queen of Heaven, the Wise King of Gods, who had quietly arrived at the Caucasus Mountains, left the summit with a gloomy expression.

As night fell, Prometheus, his throat dry, slumped weakly to the ground, letting his terrible wounds and damaged liver gradually heal and regenerate.

Catching his breath, the prophet glanced at the giant eagle, which had a slight obsession with cleanliness and was disgustedly rubbing the blood off its claws, and asked in a low voice.

"So, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Fruit again? I don't know where Chiron found that thing. I feel like throwing up whenever I see something like it!"

"Meat! I want meat! Get some rabbits and roast them!"

"It can't be cooked; it has to be eaten raw?"

"Uh, how about a fish then? Your snake teacher seems to have mentioned a dish that's sashimi or something?"

Under the moonlight, the giant eagle opened its beak and rolled its eyes at the prisoner behind it who was making demands.

Wasn't it the executioner? When did it become a nanny?

The Caucasus Eagle asked itself in frustration, and then, urged on from behind, reluctantly flapped its wings and flew down to the river below.