The Greece Antagonist

In the Paphos Sacred Pool, misty vapors swirled and enveloped the air.

The Goddess Aphrodite, clad in a sheer veil, her head crowned with an intricate diadem, her slender waist barely graspable and cinched with a golden belt, stood lightly at the edge of the pool. She was so divinely beautiful that it defied description, her presence seeming to fill the air with an intoxicating sweetness, clearly having brought her powers of love and beauty to their peak.

Below her feet, roses burst through the soft stone paths and steps, blooming unrestrained. Petals, as if dyed with divine blood, fell into the swirling waters, causing tiny ripples and haloes on the surface.

"Splash!"

As Aphrodite gently raised her hand, the divine liquid of the Sacred Pool receded, revealing the figure at its center who had undergone the complete baptism of the Goddess of Love's divinity.

The silver-haired youth's body was flawless, his form like a gem, his skeleton and muscles perfectly conformed to the golden ratio, without excess or deficiency. His very existence seemed to be an exposition on the meaning of "beauty" to mankind.

Merely by standing there and observing, the three graceful figures not far away couldn't help but become intoxicated and parched, their throats involuntarily working in the instinctive reaction of swallowing.

Up ahead, a slightly unsteady Aphrodite huffed with annoyance.

"What are you three little flirts doing, standing there in a daze? Continue!"

The Three Graces, standing aside, snapped out of their reverie, suddenly aware of their own lapse in decorum. Their cheeks flushing, they quickly stepped forward to take over the position from their chief deity, forming a triangular formation at the edge of the circular Sacred Pool. They sang the sacred verses in unison, each holding a rose garland as an offering.

"Our revered king,

may all honor your name as holy.

May your Graces be manifest,

may your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Our daily sustenance,

grant to us today (God of Stove).

Our joyous wine,

feast us today (God of Wine);

let us not fall into temptation,

but deliver us from malice (protective Divine Office).

May Splendor (Aglaea), Joy (Euphrosyne), Banquet (Thalia), walk with you;

Wisdom, Might, Love, be with you;

Kingdom, Authority, Glory, all belong to you.

——From time immemorial, to the present, and forevermore!"

The offered rose garlands rested on the baptized one's neck, and an intangible, indescribable essence, though everywhere and at all times, began to solidify on his figure. Roses also began to spread and grow beneath and around him in tandem.

As the entire Sacred Pool turned into a sea of flowers, the immaculate, gem-like deity slowly opened his eyes, sensing the rose which had grown from the eighth slot of the golden wheel, and couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.

It was done, the eighth incarnation "Rose"!

This "Symbol of Love" and "Creation of Beauty," nourished by the blood of Aphrodite, could bestow upon life powerful charisma, making it loved by all things.

Of course, at the repeated request of a certain "Warrior of Pure Love," this "love" was not about inciting the carnal desires of men and women, but rather, it could easily gain the closeness of humans, Magic Beasts, and even deities through words, actions, and the like, making those around instinctively trust and obey him.

To this extent, it was no longer mere admiration, but almost magic power or a curse.

Throughout history, only a few emperors, generals, and religious leaders, who could summon legions with a single call, have had such a viral-like leadership quality.

And Luo En, it seemed, could play different roles, receiving consistent bonuses.

For instance, when he walked among the city-states under the guise of a poet, everyone was willing to confide in him or patiently listen to his performances;

When he appeared on the battlefield as a commander, even without the talent for commanding large armies, simply by exerting the power of the "Rose," even in a situation of certain death, all soldiers would fearlessly grab their swords and fight fervently against the enemy.

When he appeared before believers as a religious leader, those followers would accumulate guilt and unease for harboring ulterior motives or wavering faith, until they could no longer bear the torment of their souls, weeping and confessing their sins before him...

The only pity was that this authority proved more effective on lower forms of life, and the more pronounced the effect.

Stronger deities and monsters were essentially unaffected by direct influence and could only gain trust and closeness through a longer process of subtle and gradual change.

Even so, shearing wool from Aphrodite left Luo En extremely satisfied.

For the Titan Gods born divine, they valued individual strength more, and such "charisma" might seem redundant to them.

But for Luo En, The God Among Men, it was an excellent tool for spreading doctrines and gathering faith.

~~

In front of the Sacred Pool.

As the baptism came to an end and the dust settled, Aphrodite, who had been on tenterhooks, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alright, I've done what I promised you. If there's nothing else, I should be leaving."

Zeus himself had stepped in to kill Asclepius with his thunderbolt, which showed his apprehension about the Elixir of Immortality.

Her beloved Adonis had consumed such forbidden fruit and, with the help of his close friend the Medicine God, wrenched his soul back from the Netherworld to truly transition from death to life.

After these developments, Aphrodite, feeling uneasy, only wanted to take her lover and leave Cyprus Island as quickly as possible to hide away elsewhere.

After all, Asclepius, who died at the hand of Zeus, didn't even have his spirit left.

"Why not visit Sicily? The scenery is beautiful, and it's free of disturbances, making for a decent vacation paradise."

Luo En stood up and walked out of the Sacred Pool, took out a sea chart, and sincerely suggested.

He remembered that Sicily, which he had passed by during the Sea of Okeanos hunting party held by Athena, Artemis, Apollo, and Hestia, had a relatively primitive ecology and had not yet developed sophisticated human civilization. It was mostly inhabited by Giants, making it suitable for a reclusive hunting lifestyle. This would be a good haven for Aphrodite and Adonis.

Aphrodite nodded her head, gratefully accepted the sea chart, and then turned her attention to The Three Graces nearby, entrusting them with great seriousness.

"Then after this, you'll have to take good care of them."

"Don't worry! As long as I am here, I will absolutely not let anyone lay a finger on them!"

Luo En earnestly responded, making a firm promise.

The Three Graces nearby, hearing those sincere words, couldn't help but feel an upswell of goodwill, and the anxiety about the replacement of the Chief God gradually washed away.
Continue reading stories on empire

However, they failed to notice the fleeting and subtle exchange of glances between Aphrodite and Luo En during their interaction.

To tell the truth, The Three Graces had already been too deeply involved in these consecutive PY transactions, knowing too much.

Whether it was the affair between Aphrodite and Adonis, the creation of the Elixir of Immortality and the death of the Medicine God, or Luo En's secret incursion into the Netherworld at the request of the God of Love...

Any of these matters, if leaked, would be enough to get "chief culprit" Aphrodite in serious trouble.

Thus, the God of Love was not only concerned about the welfare of the three Lesser Deities but also worried whether they might betray her.

To this, Luo En also gave his assurance in person—he would not let anyone harm The Three Graces.

Because, The Three Graces was not just the wool he had painstakingly sheared, they were also the evidence of his illicit dealings with Aphrodite.

If anything happened to these three, neither he nor Aphrodite could escape the blame.

However, there was a silver lining; from now on, he and the God of Love could be considered accomplices in a way.

In a time of need, this relationship might prove useful.

After a brief conversation that dispelled any lingering doubts, an unsettled Aphrodite did not linger too long and, determined, took Adonis, who had awakened, boarded the swan chariot, and headed for Sicily.

Watching the glimmering chariot disappear into the horizon, Luo En murmured to himself.

The God of Love and her young lover are heading for Sicily; who knows how long they'll hide out.

Come to think of it, they might even give rise to the ancestors of the Romans prematurely.