Tike didn't know how to react, so she could only extinguish the divine power in her hand with a wry smile.
The first half of the matter unfolded as Tike had guessed. Kronos truly intended to devour Rhea and had taken action. What he didn't expect was that Rhea wouldn't be fooled by his gentle facade. Instead, she was secretly vigilant of his movements.
When Kronos suddenly attacked and subdued Rhea, the well-prepared Queen of the Gods confronted him without yielding. The two main deities fiercely tore at each other's origins, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand. As Rhea had anticipated, Tike discovered the anomaly from the endangered Hera and quietly went to the divine temple to investigate.
The subsequent events were also due to Tike's divine assist. The awakened Uranus left Kronos unable to cope, causing discontent among the gods. Gaia's arrival further thwarted the King of the Gods. In desperation, Kronos had to reach an agreement with Rhea. Their merged temporal origins would continue to be shared by the two deities, meaning Kronos was now Rhea, and Rhea was Kronos. Their fates were intertwined as their origins merged, inseparable.
Tike let out a long sigh. No matter how absurd the situation, it had a not-bad outcome, and she could finally relax. She decided to let the couple have their own way, hindering each other and not bothering others.
Feeling lighthearted, Tike couldn't help but laugh. She skipped back to the divine temple on the shore, thinking that Kronos had truly shot himself in the foot this time and had no one to blame. It was a pity about the sky divine power she had given away, Tike thought with a pang.
After all, a valuable gift like Uranus was rare. It was a shame to reluctantly give up the sky god, who still had potential, to help Rhea escape. Rhea would definitely have to compensate her!
As Tike was contemplating how to get benefits from Rhea, the protagonist emerged from the golden hourglass. Tike appraised Rhea with a half-smile, not forgetting to taunt, "Should I call you Your Highness the King of the Gods, or Your Highness the Queen of the Gods?"
The curtains in the divine temple fluttered as if moved by the wind, obscuring all possible sightlines. Rhea glanced at Tike. In the Queen of the Gods' bright eyes, only fatigue and numbness remained. It seemed Kronos's actions had completely disheartened her.
Seeing this, Tike could only pout listlessly and waved her hand, causing a chair to rise from the ground and gesturing for Rhea to sit. The sorrowful Rhea was like a decaying tree, her vitality gone, leaving only a lifeless silence.
"You should have expected this outcome long ago," Tike couldn't help but console her. "At least he can no longer harm you. Based on your merged origins, any harm done to you will also manifest in him."
After a moment of silence, Rhea slowly spoke, "I have already lost my child. I cannot afford to lose my remaining status and dignity."
Tike then realized something was amiss. Her fate divine power attempted to connect with the veil of concealment that had transformed into a dress, but the connection was interrupted. Knowing that something was terribly wrong, Tike immediately stood up and questioned, "Where is Hera?"
"In his belly," Rhea raised her head, her once radiant golden hair now dim. "I cannot fight him, and the pain in my heart cannot overcome his obsession and desire for power."
The Queen of the Gods smiled sadly, "I am now powerless."
Tike lowered her eyes, finding it incredible. Was Rhea's love for her child all fake? "Why didn't you step forward and tell Mother Earth about his evil deeds?"
"Perhaps because I couldn't bear it. I know that once his actions are revealed, all that awaits him is the abyss of Tartarus."
Rhea stared blankly ahead, then suddenly reached up to cover her face, murmuring with a mix of sadness and joy, "The moment our origins merged, I clearly felt his sorrow. He still loves me!..."
Tike no longer wanted to listen. The sympathy that arose in her heart instantly turned to disgust. Frowning, she interrupted Rhea, "I have no interest in these matters. Everyone must bear the consequences of their choices! Please state your purpose!"
Rhea lowered her hand, her slender fingers sinking deeply into the golden throne, clearly experiencing a storm of emotions. Taking a deep breath, Rhea looked directly into Tike's eyes and said with determination, "Tike, I implore you to keep this secret."
"I don't want to be involved in your disputes anymore," Tike turned her face away in annoyance. "Naturally, I won't mention it to others."
Looking at the struggling Queen of the Gods, Tike said coldly, "If you have come for this matter, then please leave."
Rhea hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and took out a white divine position. "This is the divine position of history that you need. Please accept it as compensation for your assistance."
Without politeness, Tike accepted the divine position of history and merged it with her divine fire, then issued a request for her to leave. "You don't expect me to swear upon the River Styx, do you?"
Rhea was embarrassed and wanted to explain something, but seeing Tike's cold gaze, she swallowed the words back.
Tike's warning echoed through the empty divine temple, "Pitiful goddess, you should not have to choose between love and family. One day, you will pay an equal price for everything you have forsaken!"
Rhea was speechless and disappeared into the sands of time in a sorry state.
"Love-struck minds are truly terrifying," Tike lamented the terrible power of love. "There are many things more important than love! Rhea, I only hope you will not regret today's choice!"
The matter came to a close. The leverage Tike held over Kronos seemed to have lost its meaning due to Rhea's defection. However, Tike was not without gains. Obtaining the divine position of history allowed Tike to see past events. Combined with the transcendent perspective of fate, all past events held no secrets for her.
Composing herself, Tike went to the beach to greet the returning wind god. The gentle breeze brought by Kannaos dispersed the mist. The Pegasus neighed and landed on the beach, its powerful hooves kicking up the sand as it slowed down. Before the Pegasus had completely stopped, the young boy leaped from its back.
Kannaos was as carefree as ever. The free wind god recounted to Tike how he had participated in the search for Uranus. Tike responded gently, occasionally praising Kannaos's reliability.
As they were talking, Kannaos suddenly changed the subject and mentioned Theia. "Princess Theia asked me to send her regards. She seems to have something she wants to discuss with you."
Tike was startled, almost forgetting about Theia. After a moment's thought, Tike said softly, "Tell Princess Theia that I will await her meeting on the Isle of the Unseen."
Kannaos nodded, took the Pegasus's reins, and went to the stream to groom its mane. Tike smiled at the young boy, who was about to become a man, as he diligently worked. The annoyance that had arisen in her heart due to Rhea vanished. Unexpectedly, Kannaos's sudden question next moment left her flustered.
"Is Prince Helios my father?" the boy looked at Tike earnestly. "He saved me from Uranus without hesitation, and my divinity resonates with him."
Kannaos had actually had the answer to this question long ago. The resonance of shared divinity was not deceiving. It was just that Tike hadn't expected this question to come so soon.
Tike cupped Kannaos's face and earnestly explained, "You were born from the divinity of Helios and me. It's just that I wasn't ready to welcome your birth at the time. I'm sorry, Kannaos. Your birth was not what I initially desired."
Looking at the boy's disappointed eyes, Tike embraced him. "But I am very fortunate that you were born now, my child."
The boy was silent for a moment, then cautiously extended his hands to embrace Tike, asking with some unease, "Can I call you Mother?"
Hearing the boy's muffled voice, Tike laughed with relief. "Of course, my son."