329 Gummer 1 (1/2)

It wasn't very difficult for Zero to understand how the game of chess worked. In fact, he had some practice playing it with his mindscape assistants. Mii and Wii proved to be tough competition combined. The sisters were able to calculate in advance the moves Zero would make and create strategies to counter Zero's moves. It frustrated the teen a lot how they were always steps ahead of him.

While Zero physically slept, he was kept busy in the mindscape playing chess and several other strategy games with his assistants. For some odd reason, Zero thought it was a brilliant idea to play with both Mii and Wii at the same time. The sisters thought that Zero had lost his mind in a high-speed game with Wii based on accumulated experiences and a careful approach with Mii who was constantly baiting Zero. The stress Zero felt was incomparable to the kind of training Merlin and Hua Tuo subjected him to.

Poseidon was pleasantly surprised to see that Zero was able to cope with his advanced methods the next morning and decided to change his tactics. If Zero was able to understand the fundamentals of chess and could utilise each piece to their maximum potential, he was ready for the next stage.

Needless to say, the first twenty games with Poseidon resulted in a landslide victory to the blind titan who had to stop for the day because Zero looked like a possessed person starving of victory. The competitive spirit reminded Poseidon very much of Athena in her youth before she debuted as a war goddess.

Zero was reluctant but he knew that he still had his part of the deal to uphold. \”I will be taking the afternoon off. If there is a sudden drop in seawater levels, please do not be alarmed. I'm only going to take what I need to create a small piece of land for testing. If it is to your satisfaction, we can always expand it.\”

Poseidon didn't say much and nodded, sending a few of his servants to follow Zero just in case but the young doctor dismissed them.

\”It's dangerous so I will be going alone. You can send some servants to watch from afar if you are curious but please have them evacuate immediately should there be any signs of danger.\”

Nobody argued with Zero and they let the strange human swim away. Poseidon decided to contact a long time acquaintance for the first time in many years. Zero had better be thankful that he was willing to pull strings for his sake.

In the ancient library, Swift was still translating the text when she felt her mark flare. Someone was calling for her and the harpie raised a brow.

\”Sorry Isis, I think I will have to continue this another time. Business calls,\” she informed apologetically and accepted the summon, teleporting in a flash.

The Goddess of Time sighed. It doesn't matter anymore. What is done is done and even if she rewound back time, nothing would change. Both Athena and Poseidon were too stubborn. They were more alike than they thought and for that very reason, that love of theirs couldn't bear fruit. Isis looked at the hourglass in the library and sighed. At the very least, now that Zero was there, they could find closure and move on.

Poseidon sent all his servants away when he felt the harpie arriving. Carlsen protested a little but when his master sent them out of the room forcefully and erected a barrier to get rid of all the water in the room, the turtle understood the importance of this new guest. The loyal servant was slightly worried even though a part of him was happy to see his master acting more like himself back when he was still a powerful Great God. The arrival of that strange human-like child might be a good thing after all.

Swift appeared from a vortex and sneezed. It had been so long since she was invited to a water planet and the humidity made her feathers feel sticky. Poseidon must have cleared out the room especially for her and the universal librarian bowed before the titan.

\”Greetings, God of Oceans. It's been a while since we last saw each other. How have you been?\”

Poseidon wasn't one to indulge in pleasantries and grunted in response. \”Save it, harpie. I see that you haven't lost your glib tongue. I've summoned you for a job, this may be my last job request for you.\”

Swift was surprised. \”Oh? Are you finally going to retire? Why so sudden? Even if you didn't do anything, you would still be able to enjoy the next thousand years in recluse on Hyacinth.\”

The blind titan made a face. \”I don't have the next thousand years to enjoy. Think of it like a dying man's last charge. I'm putting all my hopes on this strange individual that crash-landed on my planet a few days back. You can say that I've taken a liking to him in the same way that my brothers had.\”

Swift paused and thought for a while. Her eyes widened and a wide grin broke out on her face. \”You've met Zero!\”

Poseidon neither confirmed nor denied it which made Swift very excited. Who would have thought that her messaging buddy would be causing literal waves the moment he left Heaven? Everyone knew that Poseidon was like a hibernating bear. You wouldn't go near him unless you were seeking death. If Zero could move this immovable mountain enough for him to make the first contact, Swift was certain that Poseidon would return to Heaven once more.

\”Do I need to send someone to clean up your old temple in Heaven? It might not have been very well maintained but I can assure you that the remaining Great Gods have taken very good care of it. Zero has recently restored Mount Olympia and Eros is reforesting it so you'll be able to enjoy watching life return to your former home. What do you say?\”

Poseidon sighed. \”As it is, I won't be able to leave Hyacinth, much less travel to Heaven. It's vexing to admit it but I'm no longer the powerful Great God I used to be. I feel bad for pushing all the responsibilities to Sedna but even if I feel like sharing her burden, I simply cannot. The old Earth was destroyed and all the people who worshipped me are gone. My divine powers are dwindling, I can only ask for a favour from you to retrieve all the books I wrote in my prime. I want to pass on what I know to this promising young man while I can still walk.\”

Swift was speechless. \”Is it really that bad?\”

Poseidon said nothing and the harpie held back tears. \”I-I understand. Is there anything else I can do for you not as a librarian but as a friend of the old times?\”