The Kingdom of Corinth, the land of Sisyphus punished by the gods.
The pegasus burst through the white clouds, carrying Jason, Atalanta, and Cerberus to the steep mountainside.
Jason, in his snow-white robes, arrived at the cliff and looked down. Below, he saw a dense crowd of people gathered.
Everything was just as Atalanta had told him on the way here.
This place had gradually gathered into a lively town.
A town formed around the suffering Sisyphus and the "glorious" act of pushing the boulder.
Such a scene was destined to be recorded in history.
Perhaps in the future, this act of pushing the boulder up the mountain would, with the passage of time, become an Olympic event.
"Half a year ago, you gave me an answer here..."
And at this moment, from the sunlight, the former second-generation Queen of the Heavens, Goddess Rhea, walked over. She came to Jason's side and stood with him, gazing at the scene below.
"With a simple stroke, you reignited the fighting spirit in the man below, breaking the punishment given to him by the gods.
Then, with just a few gold coins, you gathered the crowd, turning the punishment we gave this sinner into a glory that will endure for a thousand years...
Even if that child Athena were to do it, it might not be any more outstanding than what you did."
Hearing Rhea's high praise for Jason, and hearing her even compare Jason to the Goddess of Wisdom Athena, Atalanta could not help but look toward the man beside her, whose white robes fluttered in the wind.
"Great Goddess Rhea, you flatter me."
Jason withdrew his gaze and looked at Rhea. He said, "How can an unremarkable person like me compare to the great Goddess of Wisdom Athena?"
"As for all this now... I think if it were the Goddess of Wisdom Athena, she would definitely come up with a better solution than mine."
To Jason's words, Rhea just smiled lightly and did not continue.
Because back then, Athena had actually been nearby. And to protect Jason, she had even fought with the God of War Ares here.
This led to the matter of offering tribute to the God of War Ares and battling the Hundred-Headed Dragon Ladon guarding the golden apples.
At that time, although Rhea had not asked Athena's evaluation of what Jason did, she had seen with her own eyes the shock in the Goddess of Wisdom's eyes.
This was an inevitable result as the number of people increased.
Where there are people, competition will inevitably arise. And competition will inevitably bring disparities.
Leaving one's name on this mountaintop, with many lesser beings below it.
And for those eager to establish achievements and become heroes, how many could refuse?
Recalling the answer Jason gave her back then, and looking at the crowd gathering below.
And at the names of heroes carved into that cliff.
"Child, if you become a king of a country in the future, you will surely become a sage king passed down through the ages in this world."
Rhea said this and paused slightly. Then she could not help but laugh. She said, "No, such an evaluation is too low for you.
A king passed down through the ages probably cannot even compare to you.
You are destined to stand with us, gazing at the same scenery.
Themis chose you. And the divine seat that is revered by the gods, capable of judging the gods, might really suit you."
Atalanta listened on the side, stunned again and again.
She even wondered for a moment if her ears were malfunctioning, causing hallucinations.
What was all this about!
Cerberus, although she pouted at this, unexpectedly did not refute it. Probably in her heart, she agreed with Rhea's words to some extent.
Although she knew the real Jason, knew his many flaws, and had seen the side Jason showed in front of Hecate and recently Atalanta.
But even so, she knew Rhea's words were not false.
"No, no, no, great Goddess Rhea. This position really does not suit me at all!" Facing Rhea's excessive praise, Jason smiled wryly. He said, "Although I want to become immortal, my greatest wish in life is simply to become immortal and then guard the door for my teacher Hecate, to be a little attendant god watching the gate."
"You, go be an attendant god?"
Rhea could not help but laugh. She said, "If you really become an attendant, even if it is Hecate's attendant, do you believe that children like Hephaestus, Artemis, and Athena would run to Hecate's house every day?
Oh, right, and Hera too.
Hee hee, I am actually quite looking forward to it now. Looking forward to the day when my poor daughter discovers your true identity."
After saying that, Rhea could not hide her amusement. Under everyone's gazes, she let out a light, joyful laugh.
At this, Atalanta's face was full of confusion and bewilderment.
Clearly, she did not know the current situation.
Although she was the human who understood Jason the most, this already involved the secrets of the gods. Moreover, it was the secrets of the Queen of the Gods.
Of course, Atalanta would not know.
Hearing this, the smile on Jason's face stiffened. He looked quite depressed at the Goddess Rhea before him.
This reaction, so similar to Athena's, made Jason involuntarily recall the scene when he went to Hera's temple back then. Athena and Rhea, wearing Hades' helm, had been peeking from the side.
Making fun of her own daughter... Hmm, as expected, they are blood-related.
For this, Jason had no choice but to feel a headache.
"Great Goddess Rhea, may I ask what you brought me here for?"
Jason chose to change the topic. But this only made Rhea laugh even harder.
Atalanta looked puzzled at this scene. Then she turned her gaze to Cerberus.
Cerberus sensed Atalanta's desire for knowledge but shook her head decisively, indicating she could not say... If this got out and Queen Hera pursued it in the future, it would really mean death for the dog!
Cerberus had three heads after all. She could be silly at times, but when it came to her own safety, Cerberus was still very smart.
Rhea laughed for a while. After putting away her smile, she did not continue mentioning Hera... Anyway, she had already handed it over to Athena to handle. And Athena's favoritism toward Jason was now known to all the gods.
Hermes had even secretly bet with the gods on when Athena would explode and have a direct showdown with Hecate over snatching the child...
Thus, Rhea really was not worried.
"Child, do you still remember the words you left when you departed back then?... You said that one day, a hero would appear and help Sisyphus push the boulder to the mountaintop, leaving a legend for the ages."
Jason nodded lightly. He had indeed left those words back then.
And he had even considered having Heracles come here and get it done...
"Yes, Goddess Rhea, do you want me to...?"
Jason sensed Rhea's intention and could not help but look up at her.
Rhea nodded lightly and smiled. She said, "This matter is already known to the gods, and they have acknowledged this act. So actually, many gods are complaining that Sisyphus is too much of a nuisance. If not for the fact that their own child could definitely push the stone up..."
As Rhea spoke, she turned her head to glance at Atalanta, who had been obediently standing by without saying a word from beginning to end.
Rhea felt very satisfied with such a well-behaved Atalanta.
"So, Goddess Rhea, you want me to go push this stone up?"
Jason understood and finished. Seeing Rhea nod, he felt a bit surprised in his heart but quickly accepted it.
Although he did not want to claim such honor, the name of the white-robed Heracles had already resounded throughout Greece anyway.
One more honor or one less, the difference was not great.
However, at this moment, as if seeing through the thoughts in Jason's heart, Rhea smiled and continued, "Child, besides having you push the boulder up and completely end the game I once played with you, I actually have another condition... Leave your name on this mountaintop."
"My name?"
Jason was slightly stunned. After reacting to Rhea's meaning, his eyes could not help but widen a bit.
"Yes, not the name of the white-robed Heracles..." Rhea gazed at Jason. She said, "But your real name... The name Jason."
The white-robed Heracles was precisely Jason... Although this was an obvious fact.
But when these words came from Rhea's mouth and received acknowledgment from a god, Atalanta still could not help but turn her gaze to Jason.
She turned to the Jason who, in her eyes lately, had become more and more exasperating to her...
Was this guy really that white-robed hero whose great deeds spread throughout the world?
Sometimes, Atalanta had even doubted this.
After all, Jason's attitude toward the name of the white-robed Heracles was one of complete denial. He would not admit it even to death.
But now, such doubts... Would obviously never arise again.
"Goddess Rhea, this..."
"Do not worry." Rhea interrupted Jason's words. She said to him, "This sky has already been shielded by me. And I also had Hestia go to Hera. You can complete this matter with peace of mind..."
At this point, she paused slightly. Then Rhea continued smiling at Jason. "After all, I do not know any child named Heracles... The child I know is named Jason."
Meeting Rhea's amethyst-like eyes, after a moment, Jason sighed resignedly and nodded to her.
"I understand, Goddess Rhea... I will do it."
Leaving his name would inevitably bring many troubles.
And it could fool Hera for a while, but not forever. When she learned that the one who saved Sisyphus was Jason, she would naturally understand that Jason had left the Underworld and was active in the human world.
And at that time, she would definitely find the white-robed Heracles and make him fulfill the agreement with her.
Have the white-robed Heracles insert that dagger, possessing the great power of the second-generation God King, capable of reversing time and instantly aging a person, into the heart of Hecate's child, Jason.
But things had come to this. Clearly, there was no other choice.
Jason was always extremely decisive when handling matters.
After agreeing to Hera, no, to Rhea, Jason turned around and headed toward the foot of the mountain.
Atalanta watched Jason's departing back, hesitated for a moment, respectfully saluted and bid farewell to Rhea, then chased after him.
And the moment after Jason and Atalanta had just left...
"...Come out. They are gone."
Rhea turned around and said to the side.
Thus, from behind the rock, in a white long dress, with silver hair cascading down her back, and those golden eyes representing absolute wisdom... The Goddess of Wisdom Athena walked out.
Her eyes were now fixed deadly on Atalanta's departing back...
The way Athena looked at Atalanta now was no different from looking at a little fish from her own pond stolen by a wild cat.
"She is just a child... And Artemis's child at that."
Seeing Athena like this, Rhea could not help but say to her, "Do not make things too difficult for her."
"I would not be that petty... And if Artemis knew, she would care even more than me." Athena stated the fact flatly. To this, Rhea... Really could not refute.
"Leaving that aside, that child has already agreed... Athena, why did you make that child leave his real name?"
Rhea looked curiously at the culprit before her.
Athena was silent for a while.
"Who told him that even now, he is still thinking of how to hide from me... And our game has progressed to this point. It is time to take it a step further."
As Athena spoke, she took two steps forward.
Those golden eyes pierced through the heavy barriers and finally gazed remotely at Jason's body.
Those eyes representing absolute wisdom seemed, at this moment, to want to see through Jason completely, to probe everything about him.
But just as her line of sight reached the river of fate in Jason, the left eye left by the prophet Prometheus blocked Athena's prying.
Tch.
Athena let out a displeased hum.
It was time to begin... Jason.
Quickly adjusting her mood, without letting Rhea notice, Athena gently raised her hand. The silver lyre she had obtained from Jason appeared in her hand.
What kind of surprise will you bring me next? Exactly... How far can you go?
You, who has the potential to slay gods... Can you really slay a god?
Various thoughts flashed through her mind.
Finally, Athena plucked the strings of the silver lyre in her hand.
The distant sound of the lyre transmitted downward, soon reaching the ears of Jason and Atalanta.
Hearing this familiar lyre music, Jason could not help but stop in his tracks. He turned his head toward the mountaintop, his eyes gradually widening...
"What is it?"
Atalanta looked at the surprised Jason and asked questioningly.
"...Nothing."
Jason gradually withdrew his gaze. He shook his head lightly at Atalanta, revealing a faint smile. He said, "It is just that the rest time... Seems to have completely ended."
After saying that, Jason withdrew his gaze and continued walking toward the foot of the cliff.
He knew that the lyre Athena was playing was for him.
She was telling Jason that she was waiting for him.