So long as this wasn't some twisted scheme cooked up by Hera, Eros had to admit, this so-called Goddess of Youth, Hebe, really wasn't bad-looking at all.
After teasing the future wife of the mighty Heracles just a little, Eros found himself in high spirits. Even his small universe, his cosmos, was humming with energy.
As expected, only by playing around with beautiful women could he continue to grow stronger.
And not just any women. Goddesses destined to go down in legends gave him stimulation and buffs at ten times the normal rate, maybe even ninefold at minimum.
The only downside?
She was Hera's daughter.
Without Hera's permission, that "buff" was locked behind a boss-level challenge.
Still, who cared? A good time was a good time. Why overthink it?
Even if he did sleep with her, all it would do is piss Hera off even more. Not that it would change anything. She was already furious.
If Hera had the guts, she could come bite him herself.
Unbothered as always, Eros sauntered casually into the audience chamber.
The towering, majestic Oceanus had been waiting for a while.
"Oh great and mighty Oceanus, to stand before you is truly an honor beyond words," Eros said with a completely shameless grin, his tone brimming with fake reverence.
Honestly, this line could be copy-pasted for any god he met, so long as they didn't want to bend him over.
And Oceanus definitely didn't seem like the type. Judging from that water-slime-like humanoid form, Eros was pretty sure he didn't even use a human body for those kinds of needs.
"No need for flattery, mortal. I already know everything about you."
A neutral voice, impossible to tell if it was male or female, echoed through the room. Eros blinked. Oceanus wasn't nearly as awe-inspiring as he had imagined.
He had expected either a sky-piercing Titan brimming with masculine fury or a white-bearded elder radiating gravitas like a certain sea emperor.
Instead, Oceanus felt kind of soft. Delicate, even?
Still, a minor detail. Eros didn't dwell on it.
"Well then, great Oceanus, could you perhaps help explain things to the Queen of the Gods?"
Just help him prove to Hera that he really, truly, had zero interest in seducing her husband.
Zeus' inability to keep it in his pants had nothing to do with him, okay?
Eros figured if someone like Oceanus, who had status and wasn't on bad terms with Hera, spoke up for him, maybe, just maybe, she'd ease up.
Slim chance, sure. But not impossible.
"Apologies. That's not something I can do. The Queen has her own views."
Was it just him, or did Oceanus' gaze shift awkwardly when he said that?
"Really? Sigh… Is there no one in this world who can keep her in check?"
Eros heaved a dramatic sigh.
Hera's mother, Rhea, was nowhere to be found. Gaia didn't get along with her. No matter how he looked at it, Hera was basically untouchable in Greek society.
Zeus could keep her in check… but only when it wasn't about his romantic escapades.
Fine, whatever. When Typhon breaks free in the future, Eros was definitely going to fan the flames. If Typhon could kidnap Hera, well, he'd at least sip a bit of the soup and enjoy a taste of revenge.
"After all, she is the goddess of marriage and childbirth. When it comes to matters of marital fidelity, no one can challenge her authority."
Oceanus explained patiently.
It was the nature of gods to act within their divine domains.
So long as it didn't destabilize the world, a god could do as they pleased with their power. A war god like Ares could start battles. A sea god like Poseidon could summon waves.
Likewise, the goddess of marriage could take drastic measures to preserve it, and no one had the right to question her.
Of course, that was the theory. In reality, whether a god could act freely still depended on one thing: the size of their fists.
Unfortunately, Hera was the Queen of the Gods. Zeus had very big fists.
Oceanus had no desire to get involved in this mess, especially since someone else had visited him earlier.
When it came to the King's family affairs, even Oceanus knew better than to meddle.
And his daughters? They hadn't even realized it—this mortal, Eros, had already been "pre-ordered" by Zeus.
Getting involved with him was asking for trouble.
"But still," Oceanus said mildly, "you are the first human to step into my domain. As the god of the great ocean, I must at least show you some measure of hospitality."
With that, he reached out a watery hand.
Streams of water curled around Eros' forearm, leaving behind a faint blue circular mark.
It was Oceanus' divine sigil, bestowing blessings such as walking on water, breathing beneath the sea, resistance to pressure, and affinity with sea creatures.
Of course, Eros already had those abilities through his cosmos and magnetic field-based powers.
What mattered wasn't the utility—it was the symbol.
The mark of Oceanus, the primordial sea god and ruler of the deep, signified divine endorsement. With it, most marine beings and even sea gods would treat Eros with respect, just like the Oceanids did.
But as Eros lifted his arm and stared at the mark, his expression turned slightly odd.
The sigil itself wasn't the problem. He was just imagining…
If every powerful god he met left their personal mark on his body one by one, wouldn't his whole arm end up looking like a tattoo sleeve?
That was way too edgy.
Quietly, he pulled his sleeve down over the mark and murmured his thanks.
Oceanus truly did live up to his reputation as an easygoing deity. Before coming in, Eros had wondered if the god would take offense.
After all, he had made a move on several of his daughters.
Yet Oceanus didn't seem to care at all. How magnanimous.
"Thank you, great Oceanus. I'll take my leave now, then?"
Eros' casual demeanor made Oceanus feel… half-respected.
There was a formality to his words, yes, but it felt halfway done. Most wouldn't dream of speaking so lightly to the Sea God, especially not mere mortals.
"Not so fast. There's still something I want to ask you."
Oceanus stopped him just before he turned away.
His fluid form churned and twisted… and slowly began to change.
Water was the source of life. In just a few seconds, the towering aquatic humanoid condensed into a tall, perfect woman—flesh and blood fully formed.
She stood at least two or three meters tall, yet her figure was so exquisitely proportioned that her height didn't make her look muscular—just divine.
Eros stared, dumbstruck.
"...Is something wrong? Is this form inappropriate?"
Oceanus looked down at herself with a puzzled expression.
The vague, watery silhouette from earlier was gone. Now, before him stood a breathtaking goddess worthy of the title ruler of the sea.
The kind of woman who'd send "tall lady" lovers into absolute frenzy. Standing before her, every man was reduced to a humble little pony.
"It's not that," Eros muttered weakly, "I just don't get it. Why do all of you like transforming into this kind of thing?"
A beautiful woman towering over him again. This was becoming a trend.
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