Scene: The Divine Council Hall, Two Days Later
The throne room of Olympus shimmered in its eternal grandeur, but something subtle had changed.
Hera sat on her throne, posture as regal as ever, but her silence bore more weight than Zeus's thunderous voice. Her emerald gaze moved from god to god as they debated inconsequential matters—border wars among lesser pantheons, temple renovations, and divine taxation over mortals.
But behind those calm eyes, her mind was a storm.
Jin's words haunted her.
"Only you can keep Olympus from collapsing."
"You know betrayal better than anyone."
And he was right. Her centuries of diplomacy, of keeping Olympus intact despite Zeus's arrogance and the brothers' endless squabbles, had never been appreciated. She was the glue that held the golden age of the gods together.
But no longer.
Hera spoke for the first time in the meeting, her voice slicing through the noise like a blade.
"We need to reconsider our power structure."
All eyes turned to her.
Zeus narrowed his eyes. "What are you implying, my queen?"
"I'm not implying," she said coolly. "I'm stating. Olympus has grown stagnant. Our hierarchy is based on pride, not capability. And that pride is what led us to fear Jin Shang… to test him."
Hades chuckled from his darkened corner. "You're suggesting we praise the pawn?"
"I'm suggesting," Hera said, eyes never leaving Zeus, "that the pawn played us all. And we let him."
Poseidon leaned forward. "What is your point, Hera?"
"My point is…" She stood, slowly descending the stairs of the thrones. "We allowed Jin Shang to become a god. And now, he's watching. Listening. Learning."
Zeus's voice thundered: "He is bound by oath!"
Hera met his fury without flinching. "And what oath binds us, Zeus? One forged in fear?"
The room fell silent.
Jin, watching from the shadows of a divine hallway, smirked.
Scene: Hera's Private Council – That Evening
Only a few were invited—select minor goddesses and demigod strategists, her loyal inner circle. For the first time in eons, Hera called upon them.
"This is no longer about dominance," Hera told them. "This is about survival. Olympus must adapt. I want surveillance on Hades. I want Poseidon's ocean priests watched. And I want every prophecy archive re-opened."
"My lady," one advisor asked cautiously, "does this mean you intend to... lead?"
Hera turned, her expression unreadable.
"I intend to rule."
Scene: Temple of Prophecy
Hera personally descended into the temple, an act that sent shockwaves across divine realms. She brushed her fingers along forgotten inscriptions, breathing in ancient dust and fate.
There, on one wall, an incomplete prophecy glowed faintly:
"The Mother's hand shall mold the end.
The Pawn shall rise with a crown unseen.
The Queen shall bleed for a throne undone."
She stared at it for a long time.
"Was this… always about him?" she whispered.
Jin's face flickered in her thoughts.
No. She wouldn't be outmaneuvered. If fate wanted her to bleed, she'd bleed—but not without carving her name into Olympus's foundation.
Scene: Jin's Sanctuary
Athena entered silently. Jin stood by the edge, gazing into the abyss below Olympus.
"She's shifting, isn't she?" he asked without turning.
"Yes," Athena said. "You've moved the queen."
"But will she remain loyal?"
Athena's answer was quiet. "She'll remain ambitious. That's all you need."
Jin turned, eyes glowing faintly. "Good. Because the war of minds has only just begun."