Noticing Ana's stunned look, still lost in that fog, Samael decided to lay everything out, speaking slowly as he unraveled his thoughts.
"The strength of the gods isn't gained only by devouring each other. If you choose the finest individuals and unite them, with selective inheritance and special mutations in the bloodline, that can become a kind of evolution."
He then gave a well-known example from the Greek world.
Heracles, the mightiest hero of Greek myth, kept growing until he reached godlike combat power—strong enough to split continents and hold up the sky.
Even Zeus didn't dare test him in a contest of strength. He was immortal and wielded four divine artifacts: Athena's shield, Hermes's sword, Apollo's golden bow, and Hephaestus's golden quiver. He also wore the impenetrable Nemean Lion armor and fired Hydra's god-slaying poisoned arrows.
According to some accounts, in the battles against Gaia and the Giants, Heracles alone slew the giant king Alcyoneus; with Zeus he killed the giant king Porphyrion; with Apollo he slew Ephialtes; and with many other Giants defeated, he saved Mount Olympus and was hailed as an Olympian.
They say he shot Hera through the chest with one arrow, wounded Hades with another, seized Thanatos in a single round, subdued the river god Nereus in one exchange, defeated Apollo the sun god, overcame Ares the war god, and strangled Antaeus, the undying giant of earth and sky. The foes he faced were either divine beasts or Magical Beasts—an endless streak of victories that speaks for itself.
Even if the divinity and authority of the Greek myths were heavily fragmented and diminished—and even if human-written records aren't wholly reliable—such overwhelming combat ability tells you everything.
If Heracles ever truly became a god, he'd likely be another God King–level monster.
In Samael's eyes, Greece's Heracles was much like Mesopotamia's Gilgamesh—similar fortunes, and a demigod ceiling of power.
If both fought at their peak with full gear, the outcome would be anyone's guess.
Ana, carrying the Gorgon's memories, nodded; awe and wariness flickered in her eyes.
"Honestly, you and Athena aren't so different…"
Samael parted his lips, his gaze deep.
"Athena's parents—one commands the sky, the other embodies the sea. The purity of her bloodline is the most perfect among the three generations of gods."
"Your bloodline, meanwhile: one side led by Gaia to create the third-generation Earth Mother Goddess, the other led by Tartarus to create the king of abyss and terror."
"So if the two of you come together, it's equivalent to fusing the Greek world's most promising factors and its four greatest domains of authority into one."
"If Greece is ever to see a God King with absolute rule, it would likely be the two of you in the future."
A smile tugged at the ancient serpent's lips as he pictured Athena's future emblems.
"An owl flying across sea and sky, symbolizing authority and wisdom…"
"A serpent hidden in earth and abyss, symbolizing fertility and death…"
"Feather of Sea and Sky… Serpent of Earth and Abyss…"
"It seems her future emblem comes from the fusion of those two elements."
As the Gorgon's memories surged, Ana pressed her lips together, her face darkening.
"In the future, she wants to kill me to seize the serpent's authority and complete herself?"
Samael nodded, gently rubbing Ana's head as his eyes flickered, speaking softly.
"None of it has happened yet. Don't overthink it, and don't rush to a verdict."
"Besides, the deal between the Mother of Serpents and Metis, and the blood of wisdom saturating your body—maybe that's why you didn't end up a mindless beast like Little Nine. It's why you can let reason surpass instinct and inherit the powers of earth and abyss intact."
"Also, the one who persecutes Typhon's children in the future is Zeus. Athena merely goes with the tide. Her choice to give you up and reclaim the serpent's authority may have other reasons and aims."
"But the rest of the riddles—we'll have to work through them together, step by step."
Of course, that ending might also be tied to your temperaments. Ana's "non-confrontation" and "avoidance" are fatal flaws in the West.
As Ziusudra warned, only by facing the problem and charging in bravely can a turning point appear.
If the children of Typhon stick to their old path—keeping to a corner and acting on instinct—repeating the same tragedy is only a matter of time.
Cruel by nature? Please. Ladon, who guarded the golden apples, and Cerberus, who guarded the underworld's gate, didn't do anything outrageous, and they still got beaten half to death.
When humans and Divine Spirits decide to do evil, they can be a thousand times more vicious than those simple mythic beasts.
And there are plenty of cases where humans worship animal totems and mythical creatures protect city-states.
What matters is how they're guided in the future.
Conveniently, while helping raise the brood, Samael discovered he's surprisingly gifted at training Typhon's offspring.
Look at them—even that dumb dog Cerberus and the brooding Hydra are perfectly obedient now. When they meet their own kind, like nymphs, they're downright well-behaved.
Forging a new future…
Can I really do it?
Hearing Samael's analysis and his plans for Typhon's children, Ana suddenly felt a crushing pressure. She lowered her head, fingers curling tight into her palm until her knuckles turned pale.
Then a broad, warm hand lowered gently and wrapped around her delicate fingers, stroking with tender care.
The timid girl, lacking confidence, pressed her lips together and looked up. Her fearful, bewildered eyes met a gaze full of encouragement, and in that instant they locked together.
"Silly girl, this time you're not alone. You've got me—and Tina too."
"Taking in Athena was only to give you another option. If it really comes down to a fight, I'll stand with you first."
"After all, you're my very first family."
"But since you're being so sensible about this, don't go showing off what I just said to that brat Athena. I'd still like a few days of peace."
"We should make use of both your strengths to carve out another ending—not drive her to the opposite side and turn her into an enemy of this world."
As Samael spoke, he gave a playful wink.
"Mm!"
Those straightforward, heartfelt words scattered all of Ana's unease, confusion, and gloom like a warm tide. Her little face tensed as she nodded heavily to Samael, who always thought of her first.
"So, whatever happens—hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
"If trouble comes, Athena and Metis can take the front line. At worst, we'll just be accomplices."
The ancient serpent propped up an elbow and nudged Ana, who still wore that tragic, heavy expression as if carrying the weight of old grudges. His smile turned teasing.
Besides, Athena's got her shield and a thick hide to tank the blows. For a job like that, who else would you send but her?