Reading settings
Chapter 236: God King Diana?
2023-10-23 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
“They found me.”
Diana stared at the coffee cup before her, somewhat lost in thought.
It wasn't until Clark called out to her that she snapped out of it.
“Who? Diana?”
“Who found you?”
Diana finally came to her senses and looked up.
“Olympus. The Divine Race, Clark,” she said. “All the gods.”
A few days ago.
When it happened, Diana was restoring an ancient Greek-style work of art. A blue glow suddenly appeared in her workshop, and a figure abruptly materialized.
“Hermes?”
Diana turned her head, surprised to find the figure appearing in her room was Hermes—the messenger for the Twelve Chief Gods, responsible for running errands and delivering messages.
“Do you need something from me?”
“I’m afraid so, Wonder Woman,” Hermes said. “But it’s not me; it’s the gods. Olympus is convening a council, and it has been a very long time since the last one of this scale.”
“They are about to discuss something very important—”
“What does that have to do with me?” Diana frowned. “I’m not a god. And if you’re going to bring up me being a child of Zeus? Forget it. If you brought every child of Zeus on this planet to the council, Mount Olympus couldn't hold them all.”
“True, but this is the decision of the gods. They’ve decided that you are different from those other children. We should go. We can talk when we get there.”
Without giving Diana a chance to refuse, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. In the next moment, a light flashed, the world spun, and when she came to, she had already arrived on Olympus, amidst the gods.
The chief gods were gathered on a floating platform, with a vast, starry sky above their heads. A magnificent throne stood at the highest point at the end of a set of steps, but the throne was empty.
It represented the seat of the God King.
Diana glanced around and saw many familiar faces. Her old friend Hephaestus was here, as were Hera and Apollo. However, Apollo’s gaze was evasive, as if he didn't want to meet her eyes. Hera’s eyes still held hostility, but it was no longer as intense.
Diana found it strange.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing, Princess.”
The one who spoke was Poseidon. His appearance was that of a corpulent aquatic creature, his blue skin covered in scales, with tentacles on his shoulders and a trident in his hand.
No one could even be certain if this was the real Poseidon.
“We just had a debate about, well, you know, the only issue anyone on Olympus cares about right now.”
Wonder Woman followed everyone’s gaze and looked up, her sight falling upon the throne at the highest point.
“No.” Diana’s pupils contracted. “This is impossible, you can’t be—”
“If you ask me? I certainly think it’s absurd,” Poseidon snorted. “In fact, my brother Hades thinks so too. The position of God King can only belong to one of us two, but clearly, the other gods don’t think so.”
“Especially Ares. He was the one who brought up your name. I have to say, we were all surprised, considering the history between you two.”
Beside him, a hunched-over old man chuckled. That was also one of the gods Diana was most familiar with, Ares, the God of War, though their conflicts had outnumbered their friendly encounters.
“You nominated me? Why?” Diana asked.
“Personally, I have no interest in being the God King. I’ve told you my reasons before, and my thoughts haven’t changed. Only war is eternal,” Ares said calmly. “And likewise, I don’t believe having one of Zeus’s two ambitious brothers take the throne would be a good thing for Olympus. I believe the other gods think so as well.”
The other gods remained silent, but their expressions said it all.
“Just before you arrived, we held a vote,” Poseidon said coldly. “I still don’t accept this result, but there were indeed more gods who chose you.”
“Why?” Diana was astonished. “But I’m not even a…”
“God? It doesn’t matter. Anyone with his bloodline is qualified to inherit Zeus’s position,” Ares said. “I understand you, little one. Even though you’ve stopped me time and again, even though you may have misunderstood war and think I stand in opposition to you…”
“But honestly, I like you, little one. We don’t need an ambitious God King who always wants more, nor someone who might change the divine ranks and authorities of others, or disrupt the existing order.”
“And neither Poseidon, nor Hades, nor even Apollo can guarantee that.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Apollo beside him. The latter had been trying his best to reduce his presence the entire time, and upon hearing his name, he immediately shook his head repeatedly. “I’m not, I have nothing to do with it, and I’m not interested in that position. Don’t be ridiculous.”
No one knew what had happened to him during this time, but he was like a completely different person from the ambitious sun god of before.
Perhaps he had suffered a harsh lesson from reality…
“So you all chose me?” Diana said. “This is too ridiculous.”
“In any case, that position is already yours,” Ares said. “Go on, take your seat.”
Diana shook her head. “No. Whatever your reasons for making this choice, thank you. But I don’t believe that is my place.”
“Fine, if you don’t want to sit, then stand. It’s the same,” Ares smiled. “Regardless, that position is already yours.”
“Whoa.”
Kara expressed her surprise.
“So… that’s it? You’re the Queen of the Gods now? It feels weird to say it… but it also sounds really cool.”
“It’s not that simple.” Diana shook her head. “A divine rank isn’t just about power; it also comes with responsibility. It doesn’t just bring strength; the authority will in turn change the person who takes that seat.”
“You’re worried you’ll be changed by the position,” Clark understood. “But you refused them, didn’t you?”
“That’s the problem, Clark. I’m not sure if refusal is an option in this matter,” Diana said. “Just as Ares said, that position is already mine, even though I haven’t sat on it. But who knows?”
“It’s only been a few days, and I’m already starting to feel strange. Sometimes I feel agitated, and other times I find my thoughts changing.”
“I’m starting to become indifferent, my emotions no longer fluctuate, as if nothing can pique my interest, or even stir the slightest ripple in my heart…”
Orin Vale handed her a “Song of Ice and Fire.” “Want one?”
“Yes.” Diana’s eyes lit up in a conditioned reflex.
Orin Vale smiled.
“See? There’s still something you want.”
Diana was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she felt he might have a point.
Perhaps only ice cream was special to her?
“You’re just anxious about the change, because you don’t know what will happen once you accept it. That’s perfectly normal. Maybe the divine rank does bring change, but ultimately, the person in the seat is the one who decides.”
Orin Vale patted her on the shoulder.
“And everyone here knows what kind of person you are. So, just be Diana Prince. Who knows, this might be a good thing. You might be able to turn Olympus into a respectable and valuable place for the first time in millennia.”
He had a basis for saying this. Diana was Diana, after all, one of the Justice League’s Trinity. In the original work, she had once killed Ares and taken his place as the God of War. Although she was influenced by the divine rank at first, she ultimately held true to her original self.
If even she couldn’t do it, then no one else could.
“Thank you. In fact, I’ve been thinking the same thing these past two days. Maybe you’re right,” Diana smiled.
“But before that, there’s another problem,” Orin Vale mused. “That bunch of gods on Olympus, especially Apollo, Poseidon, and Hades… would they so willingly hand this position over to you?”
The position of God King wasn't just a fancy title; it was the seat of the true ruler of the gods. In the comics, Apollo, who briefly ascended to this throne, even had the authority to strip Hera of her divine rank and cast her down to the mortal realm.
This position not only came with corresponding divine authority and power like other divine ranks, but it also held the authority to freely take away the divine power of other deities.
In other words, if other gods wanted to defeat the God King and overthrow them, they couldn't use the power of their own divine ranks and could only fight with the innate power of their bloodline.
Of course, this wasn't to say there was no chance of victory. After all, in the comics, the Apollo who held the authority of the God King was pummeled to death by a certain child of Zeus using brute force.
“I do feel that there are still some doubts,” Diana frowned. “Although they explained their reasons to me, I still feel like something isn’t right…”
Just then, the door opened, and a strange man with an ugly face, who was tall yet had the proportions of a dwarf, walked in.
“Excuse me, is Miss Diana Prince here?”
“Hephaestus?” Diana stood up. “I’m here. Is something wrong?”
“I knew you’d be here.”
Hephaestus walked forward, glanced around mysteriously, as if confirming no one was watching.
Then he lowered his voice and whispered.
“You have to be careful, Diana. The matter of the God King… there’s more to it than meets the eye!”
(end of chapter)
2023-10-23 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
“They found me.”
Diana stared at the coffee cup before her, somewhat lost in thought.
It wasn't until Clark called out to her that she snapped out of it.
“Who? Diana?”
“Who found you?”
Diana finally came to her senses and looked up.
“Olympus. The Divine Race, Clark,” she said. “All the gods.”
A few days ago.
When it happened, Diana was restoring an ancient Greek-style work of art. A blue glow suddenly appeared in her workshop, and a figure abruptly materialized.
“Hermes?”
Diana turned her head, surprised to find the figure appearing in her room was Hermes—the messenger for the Twelve Chief Gods, responsible for running errands and delivering messages.
“Do you need something from me?”
“I’m afraid so, Wonder Woman,” Hermes said. “But it’s not me; it’s the gods. Olympus is convening a council, and it has been a very long time since the last one of this scale.”
“They are about to discuss something very important—”
“What does that have to do with me?” Diana frowned. “I’m not a god. And if you’re going to bring up me being a child of Zeus? Forget it. If you brought every child of Zeus on this planet to the council, Mount Olympus couldn't hold them all.”
“True, but this is the decision of the gods. They’ve decided that you are different from those other children. We should go. We can talk when we get there.”
Without giving Diana a chance to refuse, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. In the next moment, a light flashed, the world spun, and when she came to, she had already arrived on Olympus, amidst the gods.
The chief gods were gathered on a floating platform, with a vast, starry sky above their heads. A magnificent throne stood at the highest point at the end of a set of steps, but the throne was empty.
It represented the seat of the God King.
Diana glanced around and saw many familiar faces. Her old friend Hephaestus was here, as were Hera and Apollo. However, Apollo’s gaze was evasive, as if he didn't want to meet her eyes. Hera’s eyes still held hostility, but it was no longer as intense.
Diana found it strange.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing, Princess.”
The one who spoke was Poseidon. His appearance was that of a corpulent aquatic creature, his blue skin covered in scales, with tentacles on his shoulders and a trident in his hand.
No one could even be certain if this was the real Poseidon.
“We just had a debate about, well, you know, the only issue anyone on Olympus cares about right now.”
Wonder Woman followed everyone’s gaze and looked up, her sight falling upon the throne at the highest point.
“No.” Diana’s pupils contracted. “This is impossible, you can’t be—”
“If you ask me? I certainly think it’s absurd,” Poseidon snorted. “In fact, my brother Hades thinks so too. The position of God King can only belong to one of us two, but clearly, the other gods don’t think so.”
“Especially Ares. He was the one who brought up your name. I have to say, we were all surprised, considering the history between you two.”
Beside him, a hunched-over old man chuckled. That was also one of the gods Diana was most familiar with, Ares, the God of War, though their conflicts had outnumbered their friendly encounters.
“You nominated me? Why?” Diana asked.
“Personally, I have no interest in being the God King. I’ve told you my reasons before, and my thoughts haven’t changed. Only war is eternal,” Ares said calmly. “And likewise, I don’t believe having one of Zeus’s two ambitious brothers take the throne would be a good thing for Olympus. I believe the other gods think so as well.”
The other gods remained silent, but their expressions said it all.
“Just before you arrived, we held a vote,” Poseidon said coldly. “I still don’t accept this result, but there were indeed more gods who chose you.”
“Why?” Diana was astonished. “But I’m not even a…”
“God? It doesn’t matter. Anyone with his bloodline is qualified to inherit Zeus’s position,” Ares said. “I understand you, little one. Even though you’ve stopped me time and again, even though you may have misunderstood war and think I stand in opposition to you…”
“But honestly, I like you, little one. We don’t need an ambitious God King who always wants more, nor someone who might change the divine ranks and authorities of others, or disrupt the existing order.”
“And neither Poseidon, nor Hades, nor even Apollo can guarantee that.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Apollo beside him. The latter had been trying his best to reduce his presence the entire time, and upon hearing his name, he immediately shook his head repeatedly. “I’m not, I have nothing to do with it, and I’m not interested in that position. Don’t be ridiculous.”
No one knew what had happened to him during this time, but he was like a completely different person from the ambitious sun god of before.
Perhaps he had suffered a harsh lesson from reality…
“So you all chose me?” Diana said. “This is too ridiculous.”
“In any case, that position is already yours,” Ares said. “Go on, take your seat.”
Diana shook her head. “No. Whatever your reasons for making this choice, thank you. But I don’t believe that is my place.”
“Fine, if you don’t want to sit, then stand. It’s the same,” Ares smiled. “Regardless, that position is already yours.”
“Whoa.”
Kara expressed her surprise.
“So… that’s it? You’re the Queen of the Gods now? It feels weird to say it… but it also sounds really cool.”
“It’s not that simple.” Diana shook her head. “A divine rank isn’t just about power; it also comes with responsibility. It doesn’t just bring strength; the authority will in turn change the person who takes that seat.”
“You’re worried you’ll be changed by the position,” Clark understood. “But you refused them, didn’t you?”
“That’s the problem, Clark. I’m not sure if refusal is an option in this matter,” Diana said. “Just as Ares said, that position is already mine, even though I haven’t sat on it. But who knows?”
“It’s only been a few days, and I’m already starting to feel strange. Sometimes I feel agitated, and other times I find my thoughts changing.”
“I’m starting to become indifferent, my emotions no longer fluctuate, as if nothing can pique my interest, or even stir the slightest ripple in my heart…”
Orin Vale handed her a “Song of Ice and Fire.” “Want one?”
“Yes.” Diana’s eyes lit up in a conditioned reflex.
Orin Vale smiled.
“See? There’s still something you want.”
Diana was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she felt he might have a point.
Perhaps only ice cream was special to her?
“You’re just anxious about the change, because you don’t know what will happen once you accept it. That’s perfectly normal. Maybe the divine rank does bring change, but ultimately, the person in the seat is the one who decides.”
Orin Vale patted her on the shoulder.
“And everyone here knows what kind of person you are. So, just be Diana Prince. Who knows, this might be a good thing. You might be able to turn Olympus into a respectable and valuable place for the first time in millennia.”
He had a basis for saying this. Diana was Diana, after all, one of the Justice League’s Trinity. In the original work, she had once killed Ares and taken his place as the God of War. Although she was influenced by the divine rank at first, she ultimately held true to her original self.
If even she couldn’t do it, then no one else could.
“Thank you. In fact, I’ve been thinking the same thing these past two days. Maybe you’re right,” Diana smiled.
“But before that, there’s another problem,” Orin Vale mused. “That bunch of gods on Olympus, especially Apollo, Poseidon, and Hades… would they so willingly hand this position over to you?”
The position of God King wasn't just a fancy title; it was the seat of the true ruler of the gods. In the comics, Apollo, who briefly ascended to this throne, even had the authority to strip Hera of her divine rank and cast her down to the mortal realm.
This position not only came with corresponding divine authority and power like other divine ranks, but it also held the authority to freely take away the divine power of other deities.
In other words, if other gods wanted to defeat the God King and overthrow them, they couldn't use the power of their own divine ranks and could only fight with the innate power of their bloodline.
Of course, this wasn't to say there was no chance of victory. After all, in the comics, the Apollo who held the authority of the God King was pummeled to death by a certain child of Zeus using brute force.
“I do feel that there are still some doubts,” Diana frowned. “Although they explained their reasons to me, I still feel like something isn’t right…”
Just then, the door opened, and a strange man with an ugly face, who was tall yet had the proportions of a dwarf, walked in.
“Excuse me, is Miss Diana Prince here?”
“Hephaestus?” Diana stood up. “I’m here. Is something wrong?”
“I knew you’d be here.”
Hephaestus walked forward, glanced around mysteriously, as if confirming no one was watching.
Then he lowered his voice and whispered.
“You have to be careful, Diana. The matter of the God King… there’s more to it than meets the eye!”
(end of chapter)
