Atop the East Sea, on a Nameless Isle, three months had passed since Zeus waited for the return of Metis.
It was clear that the young Zeus had not noticed that his every move was being observed by others. He would be even less aware that the main Titan Deity and her three daughters, who were supposed to be taken into his harem, had already distanced themselves from him.
Through hints and implications, Zeus easily learned about the Goddess of Wisdom from Eurynome. The result excited him, as Metis was indeed a rare sage, just as he had hoped.
In terms of skill, she could easily grasp what others found difficult to understand, always innovating; in problem-solving, she was also able to accurately judge right from wrong, resolving occasional conflicts among the sea deities.
However, Zeus found himself at a loss when it came to such a goddess. He did not know how to get her on his side, so ultimately, he chose the simplest and most straightforward method.
He no longer concealed his origins but laid out everything he knew about himself. In the face of wisdom, he chose 'sincerity' and 'vulnerability'. He told Eurynome about how formidable his opponents were, what kind of torment his brothers were undergoing, and how much he resented his father's brutality.
Eurynome felt a deep resonance with this. As one of the few True Gods among the Oceanides, she had seen the contest between the Divine King and the God of the Ocean couple hundreds of years before. Naturally, she had no fondness for an invader who had come knocking on her door.
Perhaps out of sympathy or due to other thoughts, after Metis returned, the goddess of the seagrass meadows met with her sister alongside Zeus.
After Zeus took out the pelt of Goat Amalthea, Eurynome told Metis of Zeus's bravery, fearlessness, justice, and noble character, and the Goddess of Wisdom was indeed moved.
But she did not jump to conclusions rashly and spent three months observing the character of Zeus. In this regard, the future Divine King was impeccable. He held himself to the standards of the Golden Humanity and, in the end, Metis decided to offer strategies and support to her cousin in his struggle against their father.
Supporting the new king to ascend to the throne was also a great challenge for the Goddess of Wisdom.
"I have heard that, in the distant past, Mother Earth once had three magical tablets, one of which bore the phrase 'know thyself'."
Sitting under the shade of a tree by the lake, Metis's intellectual face was adorned with a confident smile.
Having made a decision, a comprehensive action plan was needed. In this aspect, Zeus undoubtedly had little to offer. Thus, Metis looked at the young deity beside her and slowly asked:
"So, Zeus, facing your father, what chances do you think you have?"
"None," Zeus shook his head and spoke truthfully, "It will take thousands of years for my divine power to reach its peak, and even if it reached the limit allowed by my godhood, I'm still no match for the Divine King."
"Exactly," Metis nodded, "The power of the Divine King is too strong. To defeat him, you need to weaken his power as well as strengthen your own."
"To weaken the Divine King, I currently have no clues. But to enhance yourself, there's much you can do."
Looking at the goddess who spoke with such conviction, Zeus's heart stirred, but with serious matters at hand, he suppressed these thoughts and continued to inquire:
"To enhance myself, do you have some method to quickly increase divine power?"
"I do not, but you have an opportunity," she stated.
Pointing at Zeus, Metis said, "The legendary Golden Apple can significantly accelerate the accumulation of divine power for deities. If it were someone else, they might not obtain it, but you are different."
"As long as you can demonstrate enough capability and swear to Mother Earth that you will release the Titans from the Abyss, she will certainly not withhold her treasure."
Nodding, Zeus understood her meaning. Gaia's rivalry with her youngest children was widely known; she might not support him against the Divine King, but she would surely be willing to give something for the Titans in the Abyss. Yet, he was still puzzled about what counted as 'demonstrating enough capability'.
That's what he thought, and that's what he asked, and Metis did not disappoint him.
"Defeating your father once, no matter in what domain, is the best way to prove your capability," she said.
"But I don't have the strength to do that."
Feeling somewhat disappointed, if he had such ability, why would he be here pondering painstakingly?
"Of course, you can't do it by yourself, but you should use your advantages, Zeus," Metis said slowly: "Your mother, the Queen of Gods Rhea, will surely stand by your side."
"The Divine King is powerful, but he may not be able to withstand the betrayal of those close to him. With the help of the Queen of Gods, you might be able to do it."
Standing up, Metis walked a few steps along the lakeshore. She turned to Zeus and suddenly asked an unrelated question.
"You mentioned earlier that you met a deity named Hecate on your way here?"
"Yes," Zeus nodded and said, "Is there a problem with her?"
"No, I've had dealings with her."
"A deity who walks on the ocean, who calls herself 'Wizard', skilled in astrology, potions, and illusions. Having her help would make things much easier."
"However, she doesn't like me very much. Probably because of some past experiences, seeing me teach skills to humans seemed to remind her of some unpleasant memories."
"But that doesn't matter," Metis looked towards the distant ocean, then asked the deity beside her again:
"Zeus, do you know what our greatest advantage as the ocean god clan is?"
"...Numerical superiority?"
After hesitating, Zeus still spoke his mind.
"Correct, it is numerical superiority, and even the legends say that when the Titan Deity Clan overthrew the Heavenly Father, they also relied on this aspect."
Nodding, Metis's words grew more confident.
"This is also the greatest weakness of the Divine King. He nearly has no trustworthy helpers by his side. He is very strong, but it's just the strength of one person."
"So you need to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, Zeus. Distract your father and rescue your siblings who have been swallowed by the Divine King. Compared to others, they are your natural allies."
"And all of this relies on your Mother Goddess, as well as every potential ally you've encountered along the way."
"I believe that you will succeed."
Metis's words enlightened Zeus, making him feel as though he'd found the direction for his efforts. But compared to these, looking at the goddess before him, Zeus felt that she herself was far more valuable than any of the advice.
"Yes, Metis," so, meeting the gaze of the dark-haired goddess, Zeus said resolutely, "We will definitely succeed."
He swore that such a goddess full of wisdom should always be there to contrive strategies for him.