Many years had passed since my ascension as an Olympian.
During that time, I had fully mastered my divine form. Every last drop of my power flowed perfectly, honed to absolute precision. My Avatars—each a manifestation of a different facet of victory and war—were fully under my control.
I had become something more than a god. I had become the essence of War and Victory, a living standard against which all others could be measured.
The world was… predictable.
Most of Olympus could be managed through observation, strategy, and sheer power. That included my siblings.
I was currently leaning casually against a marble pillar outside Apollo's temple, the breeze teasing my cloak. I was enjoying the quiet—an unusual rarity on Olympus.
Except for the yelling.
"HOW COULD YOU CORRUPT A MAIDEN?!"
"APOLLO, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!"
Artemis's voice rang out like thunder. Her fury was clear, and she didn't hold back a single word.
I suppressed the small smirk that threatened to appear on my face.
Apollo, for his part, had shrunk into a tiny ball on the ground. Arms wrapped around his knees, eyes wide, trying to make himself as small as possible.
It was… honestly amusing.
Not that I showed it. My face remained calm, unreadable. But the scene was rather entertaining in its own way.
"How… did he manage this?" I muttered quietly to myself, noting the sheer chaos he'd caused. Apollo was already a fully grown god, but somehow he had managed to… corrupt a mortal maiden? And already had a demigod to show for it?
The absurdity of it almost made me laugh. Almost.
Artemis stormed past me, her voice still cutting through the courtyard.
"I'm going to make sure you never live this down!"
Apollo whimpered again, curled up like a small child.
I didn't intervene. There was no need. Artemis was more than capable of scolding him into submission, and frankly, I enjoyed watching him squirm a little.
The nymphs and minor deities nearby avoided the scene entirely. No one dared get in the way of Artemis's righteous fury—or Apollo's… questionable exploits.
I took another sip of nectar. Warm energy flowed through me, unbothered by any distraction.
In the distance, I could hear the soft flutter of Artemis's steps as she continued her verbal assault. Apollo groaned again, but I didn't move.
It was… amusing, in its own way.
Even for a god who had mastered every Avatar, every facet of divine power… there was still entertainment in observing the chaos of others.
Especially when that chaos involved your own sibling.
And as I leaned back against the pillar, I allowed myself a thought I rarely admitted aloud:
Some things, even in Olympus, were worth watching unfold.
Even if it was just your older brother crumpled into a ball like a frightened mortal.