The grand Temple of Athena stood tall in the heart of Athens, its towering marble pillars casting long shadows under the glow of the setting sun. The golden statue of the goddess loomed over the worshippers, her spear pointed skyward as if to pierce the heavens. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense, and the murmurs of prayer mixed with the flickering of candlelight.
Among the gathered mortals stood Perseus, son of Zeus, hero of Greece. He had faced monsters, slain the dreaded Gorgon Medusa, and braved the fury of the gods themselves. But today, he sought something else. Something new.
He stepped into the temple, his boots clicking against the polished stone floor. The hall was filled with people—warriors, merchants, scholars, and commoners alike—each waiting for their turn before the altar. The gods had given mortals the ability to witness their own strengths and weaknesses. The ability to see the limits of their own souls.
Perseus had heard rumors of this "Status", a gift said to reveal one's potential. A gift that only the gods could bestow.
At the front of the hall, an elderly priest in white robes embroidered with silver raised his hands, his voice echoing across the temple.
"The gods have seen fit to grant us their wisdom," the priest declared. "Through prayer, we may glimpse the truth of our souls."
A young soldier stepped forward, trembling with anticipation. The priest placed a hand on his shoulder and led him to a large circular basin filled with water that shimmered unnaturally, as though infused with divine power.
The soldier knelt, closing his eyes in prayer. The moment his hands touched the water, a soft golden glow surrounded him, and suddenly, letters and numbers appeared in the air—his Status.
Gasps filled the hall. Some whispered in awe, others in fear.
Perseus watched, his sharp eyes taking in every detail.
"So it's true," he murmured.
He stepped forward. "I wish to see my own."
The priest turned, his aged eyes widening slightly at the sight of the hero. "Perseus, son of Zeus… you, of all people, have no need for this. You have already achieved great feats."
"I need to see it for myself," Perseus said firmly.
The priest hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Very well. Approach the basin."
Perseus knelt before the shimmering water, placing his hands on the surface. It was warm—warmer than it should have been.
Then, suddenly, a strange sensation washed over him. A feeling like invisible hands grasping at his very soul.
A soft chime rang through the air.
—Status Recognized. Connection Established.—
When Perseus opened his eyes, a golden panel hovered in front of him.
[Name: Perseus]
[Race: Human (Demigod)]
[Title: Slayer of the Gorgon]
[Strength: 87]
[Agility: 92]
[Endurance: 85]
[Skills: Swordsmanship (Advanced), Divine Resistance, Gorgon Slayer]
The crowd gasped at the sheer power displayed.
Perseus studied the glowing words. His entire existence was summarized before him. His battles, his victories, his very essence—laid bare for the gods to see.
He clenched his fists.
Something about this… felt off.
It wasn't just a gift.
It was a system. A system controlled by the gods.
Only the temples allowed access to it. Only through prayer could one glimpse their status.
Perseus realized the truth.
This was not just knowledge.
This was a chain.
A silent leash upon every mortal, tied to the heavens themselves.