The halls of Olympus had never known silence like this.
Not after the Titanomachy.
Not after the fall of the giants.
Not even when the Fates foretold the return of the Fallen King.
But now… now they stared in stunned disbelief, watching the shimmering divine projection in the center of the throne chamber. Even the wind outside seemed to freeze, as if Olympus itself was too afraid to breathe.
Cronos, the devourer of gods, the tyrant king of the old world, was kneeling.
Before Megumi Valentine.
Not chained. Not defeated. But kneeling willingly.
Even Hera gasped, covering her mouth as the scene unfolded below on the ruins of Mount Oryx. "No… This can't be real."
Across the divine floor, the image of Cronos bowed with tear-streaked eyes echoed with Megumi's thunderous voice:
"They celebrated while my wife and unborn child were murdered…"
The gods flinched as the words rang in their bones.
"There is no mercy for them."
"When I'm done—Tartarus will be empty. No gods will be imprisoned…"
"They will be eradicated."
And then the image vanished.
A thick, oppressive silence hung over Olympus.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Not even Zeus.
Then Aphrodite broke the quiet, her voice trembling. "Did… did Cronos just beg for our lives?"
Hephaestus let out a slow breath, his molten eyes dimmed. "I never thought I'd see the day."
Apollo stood frozen in place, his hands clenched at his sides. "Cronos. The one who led the Titans against us. Who tried to kill us. He bowed."
Athena stepped forward, breaking from the circle.
"Then this isn't a rebellion anymore," she said. "This is… extinction."
Zeus stood.
The room stilled.
His expression, once thunderous with pride and fury, was now carved from stone.
"If my father," Zeus said slowly, "the one who ruled in terror for an eternity—if he sees no hope in defeating this Fallen King…"
His lightning eyes burned.
"Then we no longer have the luxury of hesitation."
He looked across the chamber, locking eyes with each god—Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Athena, Ares, Hephaestus, Demeter, Aphrodite.
"Megumi Valentine is no longer a prophecy to fear. He is a threat to reality."
Zeus raised his hand and summoned a stormcloud that cracked violently overhead, his divine authority radiating across Olympus.
"We must put aside pride. Put aside history. We destroy him. No matter the cost."
Ares stepped forward eagerly. "Give the word. I'll tear his heart out myself."
Zeus glanced toward the empty space where Cronos had once stood in the vision—then looked away.
"We act now," he said. "Or there will be no gods left to act at all."