The Greece Antagonist

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After the Sicilian event, all clues uniformly pointed toward a certain target.

In light of the Greek gods' long-standing tradition of petty vengeance, the thoroughly infuriated group was not inclined to be lenient.

As a result, Apollo, God of Light, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, and Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, three Olympian deities of overwhelming power, led their retinues of lesser deities in a campaign across the open sea aboard their chariots, under the pretense of cleansing chaos and reopening their city-states' sea routes.

This formidable assembly, combined with the expanded scope of the attack, turned the Sea of Okeanos into complete pandemonium.

Sea Beasts dwelling in the ocean islands and various waters, as well as families of divine blood tied to the sea, suffered a dark fate.

— Some were slain on the spot with a shot to the head or disemboweled; others were skinned and dismembered, becoming trophies; yet others saw their homes destroyed and their families displaced...

After all, under such aggressive provocations, even a gentle seal passing by could get slapped, let alone the predominantly cruel and bloodthirsty Sea Beasts and divine creatures.

After seven consecutive days of this torment, not only was the population of beasts in the external seas severely reduced, but nearly all the notorious and ferocious divine creatures had been slaughtered.

It even seemed that, due to the excessive killing, even the tides pushing toward the shore turned faintly red.

The communities of Sea Beasts and divine creatures that had long dominated the sea were frightened for the first time in the face of this dimensionally-superior assault by the Olympian deities and fled en masse to the Inner Sea, seeking help from their overlord.

However, hundreds of miles into the Inner Sea, not only was the usual Atlantean Patrol Guard missing, but even the native families of divine descent were nowhere to be found.

With no other choice, the Sea Beasts continued their migration deeper into the Inner Sea or even set out for the Primordial Ocean.

The three chief deities pursued them relentlessly for several more days but ended up with nothing to show for it, except frustration at a group of uncivilized Sea Beasts, without catching so much as a glimpse of an Atlantean, let alone the Sea King in charge.

— Legend has it that the Atlantis Continent and its surrounding islands, hidden deep within the sea and among the stars, are a sacred marine domain not even Zeus, the Divine King, could easily find.

— If one intended to hide, it was nearly impossible for outsiders to find the portal of entry.

As the main targets remained elusive, the three chief deities couldn't help but scowl at the prospect of ravaging the Sea of Okeanos.

Finally, on the ninth night.

A visitor from the sea arrived on Sicily, but it was not Poseidon, the God of the Sea, but an old man in a sackcloth robe with a kindly expression.

Seemingly drawn to his straightforward and gentle temperament, a white seabird perched on his shoulder, gently preening its tail feathers.

Nereus, the Ancient One of the Sea.

He was the offspring of the Old Sea God Pontos (the Ocean) and Gaea (the Earth), born of their divine union. Hesiod's "Divine Chronicle" says, "Because he is trustworthy, amiable, never forgets justice, is fair and kind, he is called 'the Old Man.'"

That's why he is honored with the title "Ancient One of the Sea."

But a title, concerning only status and behavior, does not represent strength.

Even the Old Sea God Pontos, his father, had been overwhelmed, not to mention Nereus, his lowly son.

During Titan rule on Mount Othrys, he was oppressed by Okeanos, the River God Titan, and his spouse, Thetis (not the same as the later wife of Peleus), the Ocean Goddess;

Under Olympian rule, he was subservient to Poseidon, the new Sea God, living under the shadow of that dominant sea master;

Even in the era of heroes, Hercules had captured him using brute force, compelling him to use his prophetic power to help find the Garden of the Hesperides, thereby completing one of his labors.

So, this is someone who nearly never engages in conflict, always treating everyone with kindness.

Perhaps it is precisely this harmless and docile nature that has allowed him to survive the brutal struggles for divine power, making a decent living in the increasingly stable Sea of Okeanos.

Of course, it could also be because he's now the father-in-law of Poseidon, the Sea God.

— Deep under the sea, stood the magnificent palace of Zeus' great brother, Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker. Poseidon ruled over the sea, wielding a Trident that could command the waves with a mere flick of his hand. Living deep in the sea with Poseidon was his wife Amphitrite, known to foreshadow good and bad fortune. Amphitrite was the daughter of the Old Sea God Nereus, who had been taken away by the great Sea Lord Poseidon from her father's side...

Indeed, as the myths record, Amphitrite, the Queen of the Sea, was the daughter of Nereus, the Ancient One of the Sea.

In the flickering firelight, Luo En gazed at the kind-faced Ancient One of the Sea, clad in coarse linen, holding a vine staff, standing respectfully before the three chief Olympian gods, eyes slightly lowered, his gaze thoughtful.

The peacekeeper had come...

Meanwhile, by the fire.

"Grandfather Nereus, what brings you here?" Athena was the first to show a radiant smile, taking Nereus's hand proactively, displaying affection and familiarity, "I was just about to visit you, and to see how Aunt Thetis is doing as well. How is she? Doing well, I hope?"

With a suitable topic at hand, the dignified elder appeared relieved and sat down next to Athena by the fire, nodding and smiling in response.

"She's well, and she's always thinking of you."

The name Thetis holds significant space in Greek mythology, one of the fifty daughters of Nereus, the Ancient One of the Sea, sister to Amphitrite, the Sea God Poseidon's wife, and the future second wife of the Greek hero Peleus.