Kronos' defeat sent tremors not only through the ranks of the Titans but also across the entire cosmos. Two ancient beings, Astra, the goddess who governs the stars, and Iapetos, the master of time, were especially shaken by the ramifications of this cataclysmic event. Kronos' reckless attempt and his fall had unraveled the fabric of order, compelling both of them to act.
Astra, adjusting the orbit of the stars, fell into deep contemplation. She had always watched over the destinies of the stars, ensuring their paths flowed in harmony with the universal order. But now, even the stars were destabilized by Kronos' fall. Their orbits wavered—an ominous sign of a shifting balance.
"Kronos' failure has shaken the pillars of our order," Astra murmured to herself. She poured her power into the constellations, trying to restore stability. Yet amidst the chaos, a new star's path emerged—one that symbolized the destiny of Merslin.
Unlike the others, this star traced an erratic, defiant trajectory, as if rebelling against the laws that governed the heavens. Astra stared at it, troubled. She couldn't yet discern what this star meant or how it might shape the future of the cosmos.
"Merslin… your fate appears as a rogue star," she whispered. Intrigued and wary, Astra resolved to test him—to see whether he truly possessed the right to shape a new cosmic order.
Gathering her power, Astra sent trials upon Merslin's star, distorting its path and watching closely to see how it responded. She wished to know whether Merslin could govern his own fate, and how much reverence—or resistance—he held toward the order of the stars.
Meanwhile, Iapetos responded to Kronos' downfall in his own way. Manipulating the threads of time, he gazed into Merslin's past and future. He sought to understand why Kronos failed and how a human like Merslin could bring him down.
"Kronos was arrogant. He tried to reset everything... but Merslin pierced through that arrogance," Iapetos muttered. He tracked Merslin's life, from the earliest hardship to the choices that forged him into what he had become.
What he found was no mere warrior. Merslin's journey was complex and layered. Every decision he had made rippled through time, shifting the universe's balance.
"Could this human truly alter the flow of time itself?" Iapetos pondered. He decided to test whether Merslin could resist temporal manipulation. But every time he tried to alter Merslin's past, Merslin's will remained firm. He stood by his decisions with unwavering resolve.
"You refuse to submit to time's pull… then I must change tactics," Iapetos said with a nod. He devised a trap—one that would sever Merslin from the present, ensnaring him in the confusion between past and future. The plan was to bind him to memory, to keep him from moving forward.
Thus, Astra and Iapetos each conducted their trials. Astra tampered with the celestial order, and Iapetos with the temporal. But both began to realize something unsettling: Merslin was no ordinary being.
"He defies even the currents of the stars…" Astra gasped. Despite her interference, Merslin's star carved its own path—driven by sheer will.
"He breaks free of time's chains…" Iapetos was equally astonished. Merslin did not succumb to the weight of his past; he upheld every choice he had made. Iapetos saw now—there was no subduing him.
The two Titans had no choice but to acknowledge the truth: Merslin was beyond their usual measures of power. He rejected the guidance of stars and resisted the flow of time itself. What influence his presence might yet have on the universe, they could not predict.
"Does he truly have the right to forge a new order?" Astra and Iapetos shared their thoughts. They knew he had the power to destroy the old ways—but whether he could build something better remained to be seen.
No longer attempting to restrain him, they instead chose to observe. Astra gently reset the constellations, and Iapetos allowed time to return to its natural course.
"Merslin, we will no longer stand in your way. But the consequences of your choices—you alone must bear them," they declared in unison.
And so, they prepared to watch. If the universe was to change, it would be through Merslin's will—and if needed, they would be ready to intervene once more.
***
Episode: The Balance of Curiosity and Neutrality
As the news of Kronos' defeat rippled through the cosmos, each cosmic entity responded in its own way. Among them, Prometheus observed the event with marked interest. Unbound by the rigid order of the Titans, he was a being who governed the flame of knowledge and creation—ever open to new possibilities. To him, Kronos' downfall wasn't just a shock; it was the harbinger of a new era.
Meanwhile, Oceanus, the ruler of all cosmic waters and flows, accepted the event with a calm demeanor. He had always respected the natural order and its currents, never rushing to judgment. For him, the defeat of Kronos was less about the Titan's fall and more about how the universe's natural flow might now shift.
"Kronos has fallen," Prometheus murmured, nodding thoughtfully. A spark of intrigue danced in his eyes. "That a human named Merslin could bring down a Titan—this was unexpected."
From his Hall of Knowledge, Prometheus began gathering information on Merslin. He sought to understand how this human could defeat a Titan, and more importantly, what path he might take next. His curiosity extended beyond scholarly inquiry—it was a genuine anticipation of a new cosmic order Merslin might herald.
"There is something unusual about him," Prometheus mused, tracing Merslin's past and analyzing his growth and battle experience. What he found was that it wasn't brute strength alone that toppled Kronos—it was Merslin's belief and unshakable will.
"Then where did this conviction come from?" Prometheus wondered. He sought to understand how Merslin's knowledge and past experiences shaped his decisions. This wasn't mere curiosity anymore—it was a quiet consideration of potential alliance.
Prometheus prepared to contact Merslin. He intended to test him—offering a new challenge born of his own flame of creation. How Merslin would face this trial, and what choices he would make, became the core of Prometheus' attention.
"If he overcomes it, perhaps he truly deserves to lead a new order," Prometheus thought. He had always moved freely, unshackled by the Titans' rule—but now, Merslin stirred something in him. Curiosity was slowly evolving into possibility.
Oceanus, however, remained detached. His stance was one of careful neutrality. Through the infinite seas of the cosmos, he measured the true impact of Kronos' fall. He knew that it would not end with the Titan's defeat—it was only the beginning.
"All things flow and change," Oceanus murmured. His voice was deep and steady like the depths of the sea. "If the age of Kronos has ended, another will rise. But whether it flows naturally or is forced—this, I must observe."
Though Oceanus wielded tremendous power, he had always refrained from using it rashly. His goal was to let the cosmic order evolve of its own accord. Thus, rather than judge Merslin immediately, he chose to watch—quietly gauging the impact of this human's actions.
"Merslin, you now stand at the center of the universe," Oceanus spoke, watching Merslin's movements ripple through the cosmic tides. "But if your actions go against the natural current, I will have no choice but to intervene."
Oceanus did not regard Merslin with suspicion, but with a cautious respect. His neutral stance allowed Merslin the freedom to act—but if that freedom turned destructive, Oceanus was prepared to fulfill his duty.
"In the end, all returns to the flow of nature," Oceanus murmured calmly. He waited to see what challenge Prometheus would pose to Merslin, and how the human would respond—hoping his intervention wouldn't be necessary, yet ready for anything.
Both Prometheus and Oceanus watched Merslin, each in their own way. One sought to test his knowledge and potential; the other to assess how his choices might disrupt or harmonize with nature's order. Though their methods differed, both were focused on the same question—how would Merslin reshape the cosmos?
"Merslin, the path you choose is yours alone," Prometheus reflected, readying his trial.
"And I will watch how your choices shift the tides of the universe," Oceanus whispered, following the currents of the sea.