The battle at sea also concluded with Athena's victory. Facing sea spawn ten times their number, the heavily wounded Phorcys and Ceto were powerless to turn the tide. Under the guidance of the benevolent sea god Nereus, they retreated further into the open sea.
Tyche's appearance was met with cheers. Without Pontus, the concept sea gods could no longer contend with Tyche, and their dominion over the ocean began to transfer to her, moving towards unification.
As the divine office of the sea fell into Tyche's hands, the earth and sky were drawn to it, forming a more magnificent divine personality.
Tyche closed her eyes but felt everything happening in the world unfold before her. The migratory birds flying in the sky, the herds galloping across the land, the fish swimming in the water – all appeared with perfect clarity.
Chiron, the centaur who taught humans martial arts and knowledge, seemed to sense Tyche's gaze. He turned his head to look around. Prometheus's will possessed this avatar named Chiron, and he bowed his head to express his respect to Tyche.
Immersed in this feeling of omniscience and omnipotence, Tyche suddenly felt a resistance. An irresistible tether pulled her out of this state, and the divine personality formed by the convergence of the three divine offices dissolved powerlessly, re-differentiating into divine offices.
Tyche looked at herself. An undeniable thread of karma was entwined with her divine fire, flashing with a dense red light. The oath sworn in the name of the Styx could no longer dictate the life and death of the primordial gods, but to advance further, this oath had to be fulfilled no matter what.
The agreement with Mystra, the goddess of magic, felt like a matter of ages past. Perhaps it was time to begin unraveling this pact.
On the Invisible Island, Tyche's figure quietly appeared. What needed to be done now was to wait. The more fruits of the World Tree were stored, the better. With no worries to hold her back, Tyche could afford to wait.
The natural changes caused by the gods' battle were exceptionally violent. Perseus, protected by Pegasus and Medusa, fled far away. Looking back at the turbulent battlefield, Perseus couldn't help but urge Pegasus to run faster.
The raging lightning and fierce winds in the sky prevented Pegasus from spreading its wings. The horse trotted on the waves and water, galloping towards the distance.
After an unknown duration of flight, Medusa's voice sounded in Perseus's ear.
"The war of the gods has ended, Perseus. Your future will be accompanied by my blessings." Medusa's figure disappeared into the sea.
Pegasus carried Perseus to a city-state. The residents here were amazed that Perseus was accompanied by Pegasus and enthusiastically invited him to a banquet.
As they drank heartily, the wine relaxed Perseus's taut nerves. He let down his guard and vigilance, fully enjoying the merriment. The banquet lasted until midnight. Perseus walked unsteadily through the silent intersection. Moonlight gathered in the center of the crossroads, and in the hazy light, the figure of a goddess appeared.
This goddess had three heads and six arms. Her three faces each faced a different path, and in her hands, she held a key, a viper, a dagger, and a torch emitting a faint blue fire. Wandering souls were drawn to the blue flame, moving towards their final resting place.
Perseus's reason returned to his mind. He hurriedly tried to evade this majestic goddess but was swept up by a force, involuntarily brought to the intersection.
Hecate, the goddess of prayer and witchcraft, looked at Perseus. Her faces were obscured as if by a hazy mist, making it impossible for Perseus to discern any emotional fluctuations.
The goddess's three faces spoke in unison, "Perseus, human favored by the gods! It is fickle fate that has led you here, and we shall entrust the dice of destiny to you."
Hecate said calmly, "No god can manipulate fate. The power of destiny has been placed under the control of the Moirai, and the goddess of fortune merely intervenes in destiny."
"Fate governs everything for all living beings, but fate also arises randomly, giving rise to variables that contrast with the fixed decrees. The ultimate outcome of fate also becomes different due to the choices of each life."
After listening to the goddess's words, Perseus asked, "I do not wish to be a coward who breaks his oath! Goddess, please tell this lost soul, where will my destiny lead?"
The goddess threw a die and looked at Perseus, saying, "This is the will of the goddess of fate. Destiny can only be chosen by oneself, and I merely guide the way. Lost soul, follow the stirrings of your heart."
With that, Hecate's figure vanished in the blue firelight.
Picking up the ever-changing die, his inner cowardice was expelled by courage. Divinity guided him, and Perseus, immensely resolute, took the first step he had chosen.
The prophecy of Perseus killing his maternal grandfather thus turned to smoke, and his future now belonged to himself.
Human destiny was no longer a plaything in the hands of the gods. The goddess of destiny removed the shackles from their necks, leaving everything to their own choices.
Bidding farewell to the hospitable city-state, Perseus rode Pegasus across the sea. He was eager to return to his mother and share his adventures with her. Suddenly, he noticed a beautiful figure appear on the coastal rocks. On a solemn altar, a maiden was bound and weeping.
By the shore, a group of priests and a sorrowful old woman were arguing heatedly. The die in his hand became scorching hot, and the guidance of fate stirred Perseus's heart. He immediately had Pegasus take him to the maiden.
Pegasus's shadow swept past the arguing crowd, and the clamoring people were filled with dread, thinking a deity had descended.
The old woman, wearing a crown, stopped her hysterical cries and trembled as she stepped forward to beg Perseus for help.
"Stranger, please save my daughter Andromeda."
Saying this, the weeping old woman told Perseus the entire story.
"This is all my fault, please forgive my daughter."
The queen, due to a moment of indiscreet speech, had praised her daughter's beauty, comparing it to the Nereids, the fifty sea nymphs. These praises reached the ears of Nereus's daughters. The sea nymphs were enraged and begged their father to punish these arrogant humans.
The benevolent sea god Nereus could not refuse his daughters' request and sent sea monsters to plague the country.
Andromeda's father, King Cepheus, sought the oracle of the priests and finally received a warning that only by sacrificing his daughter to the goddess Ceto could this disaster be appeased.
The king and queen argued over this. King Cepheus could not bear to see his people living in fear and danger, while the queen wished to flee with their daughter.
The beautiful princess ultimately chose to sacrifice herself between her own safety and the survival of her people. Andromeda, disregarding her mother's obstruction, resolutely offered herself as a sacrifice to appease the sea god's wrath.
Perseus was deeply impressed by the princess's courage. He drew the sharp sword gifted by the goddess and stepped forward, severing the chains on the princess's hands.