The First Anniversary, and the Shattered Stone

The world is composed of three vast lands. The Heavenly Palace, where the 12 Olympians reside, sits atop the massive Mount Olympus, seemingly gazing down upon the entire continent. The western continent, home to numerous developed city-states like the great Athens, Mycenae, and the warrior-tribe stronghold of Sparta, is known as Greece. Facing it, the eastern continent is dominated by the great Trojan Empire. To the south lies the island of Crete. While countless islands dot the Mediterranean, these three regions are the most prominent. The 12 Olympian gods rule over all civilization. However, in the north of Olympus, in the untamed wilderness untouched by human hands, something else was breathing.

"I, Thanatos, daughter of Nyx, the goddess of the cold night, and the reaper who heralds the end, offer my greetings to the great Mother of Earth."

Storms raged, and lightning struck from the dark clouds. It was truly the end of the world. As Thanatos bowed gracefully on the cliff's edge, a deep rumble shook the earth. The ground rose, as if a giant mountain were shifting. The massive mountain, which vaguely resembled a woman lying on her side, opened its mouth.

―It has been three hundred years, my lovely niece Thanatos. Have you been well?

"Have you also been at peace, Aunt?"

As she nodded, the heavens and earth trembled. The figure Thanatos had sought was none other than Gaia, the Mother of Earth and the first of the primordial gods.

―Looking at your face, it seems you are not at peace.

Thanatos bit her lip. Emotions surged at the thought of Hades' atrocities, but she had to restrain herself in the presence of the Mother of Earth.

―What is it you wish to request?

Gaia asked generously, as if she understood Thanatos' heart immediately.

"The atrocities of the 12 Olympian gods have crossed the line. Their arrogance pierces the sky, and humans are dying in such pain and absurdity that I can no longer collect all their souls."

―Zeus.

With a rustle, the trees on the mountain range shook, shedding their leaves. ―It has been a long time since Zeus and his siblings seized the Heavenly Palace. Nature was meant to flow according to its own reason.

As Gaia sighed, a gale-force wind blew.

―In the beginning, there was Chaos, and from it, I and my siblings created the world. You, the daughter of Nyx, know this well, Thanatos.

"A god is a manager who oversees the providence and ensures that the principles flow correctly."

―It is fortunate that you are still righteous. However, that does not seem to be the only reason. I feel the same anger within you. What is the true reason you have come to me?

Gaia, as a primordial god, possessed deep insight. Thanatos slowly opened her mouth.

"They have committed an injustice against a friend of mine. They have framed him for their own faults."

―You, who pronounce the end of all things, have come to me, the Mother of Earth, for the sake of another? Who is this friend?

"His name is Sisyphus."

―A human?

"...Yes."

At the unexpected answer, Gaia let out a light ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠laugh.

―I understand. I, too, have a personal grudge against Zeus.

"Are you speaking of the Titans?"

The Olympian gods had waged war against the Titans, the giant ancestors, to seize their current throne. They were all Gaia's sons and daughters.

―Zeus not only beheaded my son Cronus but also tore his soul into shreds and imprisoned it in Tartarus. That is not all. He imprisoned or banished all the Titans.

Rumble, the earth vibrated.

―Olympus has forsaken its duty. I must issue a prophecy.

Rumble! A storm raged. Gaia declared solemnly.

―The Titans ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shall rise again. The fires of destruction shall bloom in the palace of Olympus.

The prophecy of the Mother of Earth is absolute. Watching the scene of the world being recreated, Thanatos thought of the one human who had treated her with kindness.

'Wait just a little longer, Sisyphus.'

Breaking through the 6th floor to the 7th. I'm getting better at this nonsense. My confidence is growing, too. Watching the rising sun, I downed a refreshing glass of water. It tasted like honey.

"Wilson, you know what?"

: ) ?

"Today marks exactly one year since we met."

: ) !

"Congratulations, buddy."

I'm not sure if it's something to celebrate, but I high-fived Wilson with a good feeling. A cold sensation traveled through my hand. The surface of the rock, which had been perfectly smooth at first, was now covered in scratches from all the rolling. It was the history we had built together.

"If we reach the summit, will we be able to get out?"

Honestly, given the malicious structure of this prison, the probability is low. Even in the original myth of Sisyphus, the boulder rolled back down to the other side once it reached the top. But once we arrive, there must be a crack to break through. If it doesn't work the first time, try twice; if it doesn't work twice, try ten times. Surely there's at least a special achievement for it.

: ) Wilson was cheering me on. I felt like I could do anything with him. For some reason, I felt that kind of baseless confidence.

"Let's go, Wilson."

: )

Rumble, rumble.... Everything was pitch-black granite. Is this a volcano? It was a rugged, rocky mountain, so I had to move slowly. It was a structure where you'd easily tumble if you let your guard down.

―Krr-boom!

"Ouch, hot!"

Lava suddenly erupted from an unexpected spot. The soles of my feet burned.

I thought about making shoes and trying again, but since the vines would just burn up anyway, I decided to give it up. The chilling warning, [Beware of Magic Beasts], was still there. Still, having faced them once on the 6th floor, I had a bit of confidence.

I avoided the heavily curved terrain and climbed. "Is this a 1st-anniversary gift? For some reason, it feels like I'm climbing smoothly, Wilson."

: )

One year. For some, it might be just a year that passes in the blink of an eye. I don't even remember how my first year as a lord went. But the year I spent here felt like ten years. All I had to do was the mindless task of pushing a heavy rock up a mountain. Whether I was exercising or building something, I had to do it all alone. Anything I didn't touch would remain in its place no matter how much time passed. It was a truly strange sensation. The stifling feeling of hard breath reaching my throat. I finally understood why the Chinese character for 'person' () looked like two people leaning on each other, or why the character for 'between' () was used. Humans are not creatures that can live alone.

( : If it weren't for Wilson, I might have gone mad long ago. Perhaps because I was unconsciously anxious, I put even more strength into the arms supporting Wilson. Had it been twelve hours since I entered the 7th floor? I had adapted quite well to this area and was climbing smoothly, increasing my speed.

Thud.

"Whoa."

Wilson was blocked, perhaps by a large stone protrusion, and wouldn't budge. It was just when I was trying to change direction to move forward.

―Rumble, rumble!!

"Uh, oh?"

Surprised by the sudden earthquake, I curled my legs. I stretched my arms wide to catch Wilson in case he fell. "What's going on?"

Rumble, rumble. The vibration grew worse. Encountering unexpected traps was something that could happen. I should have retreated even a few meters downward with Wilson at that moment. Was it because my anxiety bubbled up from my subconscious, thinking that today being the 1st anniversary meant I had to hurry? Or was it because I was overly dependent on Wilson? My judgment was delayed by about 5 seconds. And that hesitation led to a significant result.

―Goooaaaaa!

The reason for the vibration was nothing else. The stone ledge I had bumped into rose in an instant, casting a massive shadow. Was it 10 meters tall? A monster pouring out red light from its eyes, dripping lethal lava from its limbs. It descended upon me like a disaster. Only then did I realize that despite the [Beware of Magic Beasts] warning, I hadn't encountered any throughout the 7th floor, but it was already too late.

"Damn it!"

I turned my body and ran down the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slope. I knew what that was. Pente had once explained the types of dangerous magic beasts. A Golem. A magic beast born from a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠corrupted rock spirit. And a Lava Golem at that, made even more dangerous by the volcanic zone. 'It's disaster-class...!' It was on the same level as that Bicorn that had turned our territory into a mess. It was the level that Pente and other heroes had barely managed to subdue by joining forces. 'How does it make sense for a disaster-class to pop out suddenly after just a few snakes!'

Even if it was unreasonable, the situation had already occurred, so I had no choice but to run. But after a few steps, I stopped, feeling a sense of unease. It was because there was no sign of the Golem chasing me. What was even stranger was that I couldn't hear the sound of rocks rolling down.

"Wilson?"

I looked up at the slope. The Golem's massive, solid hand. It was already picking up Wilson and bringing him toward its chest.

"Wilson."

I had a bad feeling. I felt that something had gone wrong. For what purpose was this hidden Golem trap installed? The role of an obstacle is to prevent the rock from reaching the summit. If so, the Golem's action was simple.

"Wilson!"

I ran back up the slope I had just descended. Toward the Golem. But before I could even try anything.

―Crr-ack.

The Golem applied force to its hand without hesitation.

―Krr-boom!!

"WILSON!!!"

An unbelievable thing happened. Clatter. Wilson. The fragments that were Wilson fell to the ground. Just a moment ago. We were talking so happily. We had promised to reach the summit together.

"You—"

My vision turned blood-red. My head felt hot. It felt like my brain was cooking from my own heat. I didn't even know what I was doing.

"You son of a...!!!"

When I came to my senses, I was clenching my fist.

―Whoosh!

I had kicked off the ground, and I had thrust it toward the Golem.

―Krr-boom!!!

―Gooo...?!

Fragments of stone swirled. A hole was punched into the Golem's calf, and it staggered.