[Greek mythology] Becoming Narcissus

"...Nemesis... " Narcissus silently repeated the formidable name in his heart, as if trying to decipher some hidden secrets from it.

However, due to his inner apprehension, fearing that directly speaking a deity's name might alert the other party, he only dared to silently chant it in his mind.

His thoughts continued to wander through his memories, searching for the true appearance of Nemesis. He knew Nemesis was a powerful entity composed of three sisters, which implied that if he decided to seek revenge, he would have to face three formidable deities.

Although in the pantheon of Greece mythology, Nemesis only belonged to the third-class deities, for the current Narcissus, she was still a lofty and difficult-to-oppose existence. This reality made him fall into deep thought.

He began to sort out his emotions and consider his future path. To live peacefully in this divine realm full of competition and schemes, and to achieve revenge, he would at least need to improve his abilities and first find a way to become a true deity.

He knew his parents were just ordinary local deities, and compared to Nemesis, they were clearly no match for her.

His father was the river god Cephissus, and his mother was the Nymph Liriope; their abilities were not prominent in the divine realm. Therefore, he decided it was best not to involve his parents.

In Greece mythology, parent-child relationships were often not very strong, sometimes even full of complexity and contradictions. Perhaps it was because of this casual family relationship that the original owner, after becoming independent, bid farewell to his parents and left their dwelling place.

Narcissus, bare-footed, emerged from the shimmering, clear pond. His ankles were gently caressed by the new green grass, the cool sensation as fresh as the breath of spring. His steps seemed to carry the rhythm of life, each one echoing the harmony of nature.

"Chirp, chirp," a joyful birdsong drifted on the wind. Narcissus was drawn by this sudden change and couldn't help but look up, surprised to find that the moment he left the pond, his clothes had instantly dried, as if they had experienced nature's careful touch. This magical phenomenon both surprised and deeply intoxicated him.

Numerous colorful butterflies flew from all directions, beginning to dance around him, as if performing a grand welcoming ceremony. Small birds flew out of the woods, holding garlands woven from fresh flowers and vines in their mouths, gently alighting on Narcissus's head, as if nature was celebrating his new birth in its own way.

He was immersed in the tranquility of this moment, suddenly feeling as if he had merged with the surrounding nature. Every birdsong, every leaf, every flower seemed to be whispering the secrets of life to him. His connection with nature became so close, as if he had become a part of it.

Instantly, Narcissus realized that he seemed to have gained a divine identity, becoming the guardian of green meadows and fresh flowers. Although only a third-level deity, he was surrounded by the aura of divine office and divinity.

He secretly wondered if it was because he had transmigrated into this world, or because he had been reborn as a human from the Narcissus flower, that he had obtained divinity.

In the vast Greece pantheon, there are many levels, divided into Divine King, Main God, First-Level God, Second-Level God, Third-Level God, etc., followed by Demigods, Mountain and Forest Spirits, and Nymphs, and so on.

But for Narcissus at this moment, these were no longer important, because he had already passed the most difficult step of becoming a deity.

The descendants of deities are not necessarily deities when born; before they have divine office and divinity, they can at most be called demigods. Although their status is slightly higher than that of the Nymphs, their power is not prominent.

Narcissus, a name originally symbolizing narcissism, a demigod obsessed with his own reflection. His life was certainly long, but his power was not outstanding. But now he felt a new kind of change.

He gently waved his finger, and the flowers by the pond seemed to hear a summons, blooming one after another, competing to open, forming a flowing sea of flowers. They complemented each other, as if celebrating his new birth and welcoming him as a member of the natural world.

An unprecedented power surged within him, as if intimately connected with nature, with flora, and with all things. This power resonated with the earth, allowing him to feel the breath of every flower, the stillness of every leaf.

Narcissus stood in the sea of flowers, his eyes revealing an unspeakable joy. He carefully felt the new power within his body, his heart filled with anticipation for the future and confidence in himself.

Perhaps because he had become a deity and completely inherited the original owner's memories, he now fully accepted his new identity.

The wind gently blew, bringing the scent of flowers and freedom. Narcissus took a deep breath, feeling his close connection with this world.

"Eh?" Having been in this world for some time, Narcissus felt an unprecedented shock. Before his eyes was a scene he had never witnessed, everything seemed to have suddenly changed the world's colors.

In the distance, over the hills, thick clouds hung like ink, and thunder roared, shaking heaven and earth, like the roar between heaven and earth. Lightning, like starlight in broad daylight, tore through the dark clouds, and rolling lightning moved like white snakes through the darkness.

Narcissus gazed at those dark clouds in confusion, feeling the divine power within them, tangled and chaotic, as if many deities were engaged in a fierce battle.

The earth began to shake violently, cracks crisscrossing it, like endless abyssal fissures spreading beneath his feet. Thick black smoke spewed from the cracks, and magma, like an enraged fire dragon, furiously erupted towards the sky, illuminating the dark world.

Animals struggled and wailed in fear; whether it was the surging magma or the lightning in the sky, life on this land was plunged into chaos and panic. Narcissus also felt this fear and chaos, his heart enveloped by a sense of unease.

Narcissus stood on this desolate land, his eyes revealing a deep sense of incomprehension and pain. This land, once an earthly paradise, was now destroyed into a barren and desolate state. Trees burned, mountains collapsed, and the corpses of animals and plants lay scattered across this silent land.

Narcissus began to wonder, what exactly caused the deities to fight so fiercely? Why did divine power suddenly become so violent? He carefully dodged the cracks in the ground and the giant rocks falling from the sky.

One day, a monstrous roar echoed from the sky, a deafening sound that filled hearts with fear.

As the roar gradually faded, streaks of light fell from the sky, and the heavy clouds that had covered the entire sky began to be dispelled by an invisible force, as if swept away by a mysterious power.

When Sun God Helios's golden chariot once again traversed the sky, all things seemed to be reborn.

The sky regained its azure color, and sunlight once again bathed the land. The gentle light warmed every corner, bringing a sense of tranquil comfort. Every ray of sunlight seemed to tell people that even after disaster, new hope still existed.

Narcissus stood on the hill, feeling the warmth brought by the sun, silently gazing at the devastated land. Under the sunlight, a divine power surged within him; it was the voice of nature calling to him.

He gently extended his hands, palms facing the shattered rocks and parched earth, and divine power flowed from his fingertips, like an invisible spring, nourishing this barren land.

Slowly, some flowers and green grass began to emerge from the cracks in the rocks, initially just tiny sprouts, but under the nourishment of Narcissus's divine power, they grew rapidly, thriving.

Flowers bloomed in the sunlight, vibrant with many colors, and green grass swayed in the wind, full of vitality. All of this unfolded quickly before his eyes, like a beautiful dream.