"That is merely a faint possibility."
After the words of the Goddess of Wisdom Athena fell, a moment of silent quiet followed before Jason spoke up, breaking the stillness.
Athena had already explained that no one could enter this region now, not even Hecate, the creator of the magical system.
Thus, Jason did not deny it. Moreover, he knew that any denial would be pointless in this situation. As the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena would not fabricate such a scenario or speak these words without reason.
"The miracles that Teacher Hecate has foreseen come in many forms. This is just one faint possibility among them."
"Yes, I know." Athena nodded, interrupting Jason's words. She said, "After all, in the futures seen by the three Goddesses of Fate, you appear as the hero who can save Olympus. But precisely because of that, none of the gods anticipated it. The scene of Olympus's destruction that Father God Zeus foresaw that day was not caused by Typhon, the Ancestor of All Monsters at all."
"It was because of you. Because of you, Jason, who is not even a hero."
This revelation did not come from Hecate or Hephaestus. It was Athena's own deduction based on her observations.
At first, she found it hard to believe. To be precise, she had never even considered this possibility.
After all, even as the Goddess of Wisdom, she had never imagined that a human could one day emerge with the power to slay gods!
"The aura of destruction on you is growing heavier now. Hecate and Hephaestus would not stand by idly, which means Typhon must have done something to create this situation, right?"
"And it must be related to me as well. Because those two clearly placed you with me on purpose."
Athena's golden eyes, symbols of absolute wisdom, gazed steadily at Jason, who stood before her clad in black robes embroidered with the pattern of the underworld butterfly.
Even though Jason's soul was guarded by the divine power of Hades, and his Sea of Fate was suppressed by the left eye of the prophetic god Prometheus, granting him foresight.
Under those golden eyes, Jason still felt as if everything about him had been completely seen through by the goddess before him!
"Let me guess. What did the Ancestor of All Monsters Typhon do to make your two teachers abandon you to me? It is related to me, and also tied to your future of slaying gods. I have it! It is my blood, is it not, Jason?!"
Before Jason, Athena pondered for a moment, then clapped her hands with a smile. She said, "I believe Typhon tampered with that demonic spear. After all, that spear was forged from his blood, so it would be easy for him to do so.
In your current state, he must be forcing you, compelling you to obtain my blood as quickly as possible from me. To acquire the blood cursed by the Second Generation God King and the gods of the Second Generation Titan lineage!
My cursed blood, combined with Typhon's blood of destruction, would create a sinful divine artifact capable of slaying the Father God. I see. That would indeed work."
Athena pieced together the general outline of Jason's predicament in just a few words, her expression one of sudden realization.
"I see, I see. With this, everything up to now makes perfect sense!
Why the Goddess Hecate, who shows no concern for the world's destruction, cares so deeply about you, even offending Queen Hera to claim you.
Why the Ancestor of All Monsters Typhon, Father God Zeus's greatest enemy in this life, has dealings with you, and a rather close relationship at that.
Why Hephaestus, who once had a good rapport with me, began to regard me with constant vigilance after taking you as his apprentice.
And why, even though I have opened my heart and body to you, you have never truly been able to accept me!
Now, I am even starting to feel a bit relieved."
Having sorted it all out, Athena sighed under Jason's slightly puzzled gaze. She said, "I am relieved that the first one you encountered was not me, but Hecate.
Because if you had met me first, your mind and body would eventually collapse. Until this matter is resolved, you could never open your true heart to me."
"But before that, there is one thing I need to clarify. Child, could you repeat to me what you said that day on the heavenly steed?"
The words from that day?
Jason looked at Athena, who was gazing intently at him. After a brief moment of silence, he understood what she meant.
"Goddess Athena, in my heart, I hold you in the utmost respect and love."
Jason met Athena's eyes candidly. He said, "If not for my encounter with Hecate, I believe you would be the goddess I revere and cherish the most!"
One cannot lie to a god.
Thus, these words were not Jason's fabrication.
Hearing this from Jason, Athena's golden eyes fixed intensely on him. After a long while, her gaze finally softened.
This sentence was evidently a very important one!
Then, Athena lightly clapped her hands.
In the next instant, the black robes on Jason, embroidered with the underworld butterfly signifying his status as Hecate's disciple, transformed into the white garments he usually wore.
The white robes personally woven for him by Athena.
His black hair also reverted to gold.
The hero in white robes, with golden hair and blue eyes, handsome as the God of Light Apollo, once again appeared in this world.
"This looks much better on you. Black clothes and black hair do not suit you at all!"
Jason heard Athena's words beside his ear.
In the next second, his vision blurred, and he found himself directly in front of Athena.
Athena reached out and pulled the unreacting Jason into her embrace.
She sat on the ground, resting her chin on his head, her arms wrapped around his neck.
Her soft body pressed tightly against Jason's.
"Um, Goddess Athena?"
"Do not speak. Do not move. Let me hold you for a while."
"Oh. Okay."
Jason responded obediently, sitting still and allowing Athena to hold him. In truth, he also realized he could not struggle free.
The moment he was embraced, he tried, but despite the goddess's arms being so fair and slender, Jason could not pry them apart!
That made sense, though. Even in direct combat, the God of War Ares was no match for this goddess, who was both the Goddess of Wisdom and the Goddess of War!
Since resistance was futile, he might as well enjoy it.
And so, after nearly an hour passed.
"Hm?"
Athena, who had been lost in thought, suddenly noticed Jason in her arms shifting slightly downward. Tilting her head to look.
"He fell asleep?"
Athena was stunned for a moment, then could not help but laugh.
She reached out and gently poked Jason's cheek, a helpless smile on her face.
Then, she gently placed Jason on her lap, stroking his head and gazing at his features, watching quietly.
After another long stretch of time.
"Continuing to think like this seems pointless."
Athena spoke softly, her gaze turning to the silver spatial pouch at her waist. She waved her hand lightly toward it.
In the next moment, a butterfly with fluttering wings emerged from the pouch and landed on Athena's shoulder.
"It seems you already know."
Then, the voice of Goddess Hecate emanated from it.
"Yes, more or less. Should I say your courage is truly remarkable?" Athena said with a light laugh. "Are you not afraid that I might keep him here forever? You are right; I would not harm him.
But I am one of the main gods of Olympus. Are you not afraid I might take him away and imprison him eternally?"
"You would not."
Hecate's simple three words shut down Athena's retort.
This caused Athena's brows to furrow involuntarily.
"Fine, you are correct. I indeed would not."
With that, Athena lowered her head and toyed with Jason's hair.
She did not explain why, and Hecate did not ask.
A moment later,
"Why did you call for me?"
"Yes, a small issue. In the future you saw, did he kill me? Did he pierce my heart with that sinful divine artifact?"
Hearing this, Hecate was momentarily stunned.
An image flashed in her mind: Athena dying.
The hands grasping that pitch-black god-slaying sword, collapsing into Jason's arms, holding Jason.
"Is that so? As expected."
In the face of Hecate's silence, Athena had evidently obtained the answer she sought.
"It seems this child truly can slay my Father God after all." Athena said, unable to suppress a laugh.
She gently pinched Jason's cheek as he lay on her lap, smiling. "He is actually such a timid fellow. Quite capable, aren't you!"
"You were right after all."
Hearing Athena's words, Hecate replied in this moment with utmost certainty. "You died by his hand of your own volition, did you not?"
The scene of Athena collapsing into his arms, her death without a drop of blood. These were the two most peculiar and concerning scenes Hecate had witnessed in the river of fate.
And now, the eerie nature of that scene involving Athena had been explained.
"Yes, probably."
Athena did not deny it.
Before Hecate could inquire further, Athena proactively provided the reason. "The cause is simple. You all actually guessed wrong.
My blood can indeed affect my Father God, but if it were only that, it would be utterly insufficient to truly influence him.
After all, Father God has nearly broken free from his own curse.
And in truth, Typhon's blood is not even necessary. Why do you think Father God spared me? Why did he spare me, bearer of the cursed blood?
The reason is quite straightforward. There exists in this world something that can truly threaten his life, and that is me. To be precise, it is the divine artifact that slays me and thereby bears the curse's power from the Second Generation God King and the Titan gods!
As for fusing Typhon's blood with that artifact and forging it with Hephaestus, it is not entirely ineffective. That would birth a true god-slaying divine artifact.
A weapon capable of slaying all gods of the world!"