The valiant Sun God approached the throne and paid his respects to the Mother Goddess. Thea lovingly introduced Tike to him, "This is my eldest son, the Sun God Helios."
Helios's golden-red eyes fixed on Tike, and a wave of heat washed over her. Tike was forced to manifest her ice and snow divine power to counter it. The origins of cold and heat, upon contact, attracted each other, stirring up a great wind within the temple.
The two outstanding figures among the middle-tier gods were evenly matched in this confrontation. Helios voluntarily withdrew his divine power, and Tike also ceased her offensive. The divine natures of both stirred restlessly, constantly conveying their desire for contact to their masters.
Thea spoke slowly, "Tike, the revelation of the prophecy lies before you."
Tike gazed at Helios, who was staring intently at her, and felt a severe headache. She reached out and drew an aurora curtain between them, blocking Helios's fiery gaze. She said in a deep voice, "Your Highness Helios, I wish to obtain your divine office of heat. What must I exchange for it?"
Before Helios could speak, Thea said with a smile, "If you can become Helios's wife, the divine office of heat will naturally be placed in your hands."
Tike immediately refused and asked the radiant ancestress sternly, "Your Highness Thea, I have never had any contact with His Highness the Sun God. I will not make such a hasty conclusion."
After a pause, Tike added, "My sisters have already formed marriage alliances with many deities. Such a vast network of relationships has already drawn the attention of the gods. The lineage of the Ocean God only wishes for a peaceful life and does not seek excessive desires!"
Thea smiled and shook her head, "Cunning Tike, you know that the lineage of Radiance also has no intention of vying for the position of the third Divine King. Your excuse is meaningless."
"Guess if your brother will believe your words?" Tike also smiled. "My father resides by the River of the World and cannot leave easily. My mother is also in the ocean caring for her delicate sisters and rarely comes to land."
"Among the second-generation Titans, the Sun God is the most powerful. All the gods acknowledge that he will be the first deity to break through to powerful divine strength, unlike my brothers who are all weak river gods."
"Once His Highness Helios breaks through, the lineage of Radiance will become the target of public criticism. No one dares to underestimate the power of three powerful divine strengths. The Prophetess and the God of Celestial Bodies are known to be on good terms with the lineage of Radiance. If my parents are also drawn into the chariot, seven powerful divine strengths!"
"His Highness Crius, the God of Growth, has three children with my sister Eurynome. My sister, the Goddess of Fame Clymeni, has the prophet Prometheus with Iapetus, the God of Souls. Both Highnesses, out of consideration for the lineage of the Ocean God, will not find it difficult to remain neutral. Furthermore, if promises are made to Her Highness Themis, the Goddess of Justice, and Her Highness Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory, not to desecrate their glory, these two unmarried goddesses will have no interest in getting into trouble. The Queen of Heaven, due to her children, will certainly not support Cronus."
Tike clapped her hands as if feigning shock and exclaimed, "The lineage of Radiance with three powerful divine strengths against the Divine King alone, isn't the outcome obvious!"
Tike's voice echoed through the vast temple. Thea's face had turned ashen. Forgetting to maintain her divine dignity, she stood up in disarray and shouted, "The lineage of Radiance has never intended to contend for the position of Divine King!"
"That is the fact. Why would His Highness the Divine King not feel fear?" Tike smiled charmingly. "Being overthrown by his children has always been the Divine King's taboo. Fear has clouded his mind. He probably hasn't considered the possibility of being overthrown by his brother."
"As long as the lineage of Radiance swears an oath to the River Styx to forever be loyal to His Highness Cronus, it will surely dispel the Divine King's suspicion," Tike said with feigned worry. "For the sake of your husband and children, it is best to make a choice soon, Your Highness Thea."
Looking at Tike, who appeared to be genuinely concerned, Thea's gloomy expression suddenly turned from dark to bright, and a kind smile reappeared on her lips. "Tike, Tike, I truly did not misjudge you. You, like Metis, have inherited the wisdom of your elder brother and sisters."
Adjusting her dishevelled robes, Thea smiled even more happily. "Let us make a deal!"
Tike did not flinch and also smiled, "Your Highness Thea, I am very happy to hear your terms of the deal."
Helios, standing between the two goddesses, watched them exchange words. For the first time, a look of uncharacteristic shock appeared on his face. He gazed even more intently at Tike, who was obscured by the aurora curtain, his eyes brimming with curiosity and inquiry.
Thea sat up straight and said seriously, "I will persuade Helios to relinquish the origin of heat. My sister Phoebe told me a prophecy that the lineage of Radiance will lose all its glory in the struggle for the Divine King! I want you to lend a hand when the lineage of Radiance faces disaster!"
Tike said without thinking, "I refuse! Your price is not enough!"
"I am willing to hand over the divine office of heat," Helios, who had been silent, suddenly interjected. "My power primarily comes from the divine office of the sun. The divine office of heat is a product of my driving the sun chariot across the heavens, and it is not particularly important to me."
The gazes of the two goddesses met, and finally settled on Helios.
Thea spoke slowly, "In exchange, Tike! You must give up a portion of your origin of climate!"