The morale of ancient soldiers was very fragile; a slight disturbance, a thunderstorm, or someone shouting that the gods were angry and heaven was sending down calamity, could instantly cause a unit's morale to collapse.
The soldiers of the Poseidonia Kingdom, as a force under a demigod, were not much stronger than ordinary soldiers, especially when they saw Amikos, covered in dust and seemingly lifeless, held in Perseus's hand. Many of them immediately gave up resistance.
If even the King, a demigod, had lost, then as mortals, there was no way they could be a match for these fierce Argo Heroes.
Soon, all the soldiers of the Poseidonia Kingdom collapsed. Some directly abandoned their units and fled the kingdom, becoming deserters, while most of the remaining soldiers were gathered by Perseus in Athena's name.
Perseus used the advanced work experience he learned from Athena, and after a series of threats and inducements, he immediately incited these soldiers to defect on the spot. He then led them to the city-states of the Poseidonia Kingdom to rendezvous with the rebelling slaves.
By night, the Poseidonia Kingdom was completely occupied by the people incited by Perseus. The statue of Poseidon was toppled, and Athena's emblem was erected, signifying that this kingdom, which once worshipped Poseidon, had now formally converted to another goddess.
The Gods standing in the clouds watched this exhilarating drama and expressed great satisfaction. In this conflict with Amikos, although Perseus from Athens and Medea, Hecate's disciple from Colchis, took the main spotlight, their children also shone brightly in the subsequent battles with the Poseidonia Kingdom's soldiers, undoubtedly adding another chapter to the legend of the Argo Heroes.
Zeus was also very pleased, especially when he saw Perseus set fire to the statue of Poseidon erected in the Poseidonia Kingdom. He couldn't help but rise from his seat to applaud and cheer for him.
Throughout the scene, only Athena, who seemingly gained all the benefits, and Ares, standing in the distance, seemed unhappy. Athena even frowned tightly, looking at Ares from time to time, appearing deeply troubled.
As expected, not long after the Gods rejoiced, Ares began to make trouble. He glanced at his colleagues beside him and then asked:
"What are you all happy about?"
"Huh?"
The Gods did not understand his meaning and looked at the suddenly speaking Ares with confusion, wondering why he said that.
They were happy, naturally, because they recalled happy things. It couldn't possibly be that because Poseidon was unlucky, Zeus was happy, and because Zeus was happy, they were happy, could it?
Although that was ultimately the truth, it couldn't be stated so directly.
Ares looked at their expressions, some bewildered, some confused, some repulsed by his gaze, and sighed deeply. Then, as if unwilling to reason with imbeciles, he directly skipped the topic and approached Zeus, requesting him:
"Zeus, I demand that you punish Athena and Perseus. Their actions have completely violated the rules of Olympus."
Zeus also looked at Ares and asked, feigning ignorance:
"Ares, what rules have Athena and Perseus broken? Why should I punish them?"
"Zeus, this Poseidonia Kingdom below, it is a kingdom that worships Poseidon, and Poseidon, no matter what, is one of the three great God Kings on Olympus."
Ares adopted the posture of a loyal minister giving unpleasant but truthful advice, earnestly persuading Zeus:
"I know you don't like Poseidon, and I don't either, but Athena's action has broken the iron rule among us Olympus Gods that we cannot compete for faith with each other. Everyone, think carefully: if Athena can use this method to change the faith of the Poseidonia Kingdom to her today, will she also use this method tomorrow to turn the kingdoms that worship you all into her territory? Zeus, this precedent cannot be set!"
Ares's words were harsh, but every sentence was the plain truth. After listening, Zeus frowned, pondering deeply.
Athena's actions were indeed very satisfying for him, but the rules among the Gods truly could not be broken. This not only concerned the future unity of the Olympus Gods but also his own authority, who had set this rule.
However, while Zeus was still weighing his thoughts, below the clouds, as the statue of Poseidon collapsed and Athena's mark was erected, the sea outside the Poseidonia Kingdom suddenly surged with towering waves.
The sky was obscured by black clouds, and a fierce wind swept across the sea. Wave after wave surged onto the island where the Poseidonia Kingdom was located, as if to shatter the island itself.
Immediately after, a figure as massive as a mountain appeared on the sea. He leaned on his trident, his long hair swaying in the wind, and looked up at the sky, then cursed:
"Athena, Zeus, you are truly going too far!"
Then, he turned his head and looked at the island where the Poseidonia Kingdom was located, his eyes flashing with anger:
"A despicable group of mortals, daring to desecrate my glory! Be destroyed!"
Poseidon's trident struck the waves heavily, and a massive tsunami suddenly emerged from the sea. This wave, capable of submerging the entire island, surged towards the Poseidonia Kingdom. But at this moment, Zeus in the sky also stood up, and a spear made of condensed lightning appeared in his hand.
The God King threw this spear into the clouds, and immediately, muffled thunder rumbled within the clouds. Lightning from all over the sky condensed into an unimaginably huge bolt of lightning, which, with a loud crack, shattered the giant wave unleashed by Poseidon.
"Zeus."
Poseidon looked up at the sky and asked in a deep voice:
"Are you trying to wage war against all of us, the sea deities?"
The God King's voice spread unhindered throughout the heavens and earth. Everyone in the entire Poseidonia Kingdom heard this voice, and they looked fearfully at the dark sea, including many Argo Heroes.
Just as Poseidon's question ended, lights suddenly burst forth from the sky, scattering across the heavens and earth, illuminating the entire world. The dark clouds in the sky were pulled back like a curtain, and then, dazzling, divine figures appeared before everyone.
It was the Gods of Olympus, appearing before the citizens of the Poseidonia Kingdom and the Argo Heroes!
"Poseidon, don't be hasty."
Zeus, the God King seated in the center of the Gods, lowered his head and looked at his brother standing on the sea:
"Regarding this matter, I am about to begin arbitration now."