Chapter 153: The Same Father

At the moment Heracles was about to break his bow.

Apollo halted his action, his eyes glowing with a faint golden light meeting his, and he said in a deep voice:

"It's not to humiliate you, but..."

"You and I will go."

He released Heracles's hand, turned, and walked toward the depths of the temple.

Heracles stared at Apollo's retreating figure, his fingers slowly loosening on the bow. In the end, he slung the bow back onto his shoulder and followed in silence.

The two passed through the temple's deep corridor and entered an empty stone chamber.

Inside there were no torches, but the soft golden light radiating from Apollo dispelled the darkness, illuminating the murals on all four walls—

It depicted a towering Divine Mountain, from its base to its summit densely carved with human silhouettes.

At the foot, crowds surged; the higher one went, the fewer the people, until at the cloud‑capped summit only two vague, featureless figures remained.

But Heracles knew what kind of mountain this was, and he knew who those two were.

Apollo turned, his golden eyes fixed on him, and in a calm voice said, "We are brothers."

"Half‑brothers sharing the same father."

Heracles's pupils suddenly contracted, a look of incredulous astonishment flashing in his eyes.

"Is what you say true?" he asked, his tone full of doubt:

"My father Amphitryon... could he be so charismatic that a goddess united with him to bear you?"

Apollo: "..."

His mouth twitched slightly, and he shook his head, saying, "What I mean is—"

"Your true father is the Heavenly Father."

Heracles: "..."

The air seemed to freeze for an instant.

He stared at Apollo, his expression shifting from shock to complexity.

Because he recalled the words Yu Lin had previously said to him.

Hera knows his identity and would strangle him............... which means he is Zeus's illegitimate son!

"So..." his voice low:

"The Heavenly Mother hates me because I am Zeus's illegitimate son?"

Apollo's face showed surprise: "How do you know it's the Heavenly Mother? Do you know she drove you mad?"

"Who told you?"

"I will not betray those who helped me." Heracles shook his head, not revealing Yu Lin's identity, and retorted:

"Let me complete the Twelve Tasks assigned by Eurystheus....... is that also her will?"

"No." Apollo shook his head, his gaze deep:

"It is the father's intention."

"..... Why? I want to see him." Heracles's inner doubt grew stronger.

If possible, he truly wishes to meet Zeus, to get a clear answer!

Apollo shook his head again: "You cannot see him; in fact, I cannot see him either."

"He stepped out of the palace a few days ago, and no one knows where he went."

"Perhaps he found another... wanting to give you and me another brother or sister."

He sighed, appearing very helpless.

Heracles did not rebut; on the contrary, he thought the same.

You say Zeus goes out to do good deeds or bad deeds, and perhaps we should doubt what kind of deeds he is doing?

But saying he indulges in amorous affairs............ those who get it understand, and most believe it.

This is the good reputation Zeus has earned.

It is also why Heracles quickly accepted the fact that he is Zeus's illegitimate son.

Heracles spoke:

"Is there really no other Path of Atonement?"

"It's not just Atonement." Apollo raised his hand, pointing to the Twelve Main Gods on the Divine Mountain, including himself, and said slowly:

"I tend to think this is a test given by the father."

"Twelve trials; each one you pass activates some of your father's bloodline within you."

"When the twelve trials are completed, you can, by exception, ascend to Olympus in a demigod body."

"Of course, this is merely my speculation; perhaps the father merely seeks to please the Heavenly Mother, deliberately subjecting you to these hardships.......... the father's romantic ways are truly poor."

"After all, regarding the Heavenly Mother's rebellion, the father only gave a symbolic punishment, and eventually was willing to share divine authority with her; he also knew he was at fault."

As a bystander to this rebuttal, Apollo's speculation caused Heracles to fall into contemplation.

He mused, slowly digesting it, and finally let out a long sigh: "I understand now."

"Thank you for your answer."

"I apologize for my earlier offense."

Apollo waved his hand: "No need."

"I am not much better than you."

He stepped forward to stand before Heracles, placed his hand on his shoulder, and in a deep voice said, "Heracles, if you go to the Divine Mountain and meet the Heavenly Mother..."

"What would you do?"

"Revenge her for what she previously did to you?"

Heracles heard these words, and the image of his wife and children and the sound of their happy laughter appeared in his mind; he couldn't help clenching his fists and said heavily: "Of course."

"What grudge she has with her father has nothing to do with me? Even if it involves only me, I can forgive her!"

"But she shouldn't have dragged my wife and children into it!"

"........" Hearing his words full of anger, Apollo said nothing.

As Heracles' first marriage, the impression and feeling are naturally deep; later he experienced many things........ The rest will be talked about later.

Apollo just patted his arm:

"Do as you like, just take care of yourself."

"Goodbye."

Having said that, his figure turned into specks of light and vanished.

Heracles stood in place for a long time, until his breathing steadied, then he turned and walked out of here, coming before the Pythia Priest:

"Sorry about what just happened."

"I will go do it."

"But not for Eurystheus——"

"But for myself."

The Pythia Priest's expression remained gentle, and she said in a soft voice: "Don't take it to heart."

"For today, just stay here and rest for the night; tomorrow you can go attend to your affairs."

"Mm, thank you." Heracles accepted her kindness, then followed a temple attendant out of the temple and arrived at a building specially prepared for the believers who come here to reside.

Having the attendant settle the horses, Heracles put away his gear; after dinner, he lay on the bed gazing at the outside moonlight, his eyes deep, wondering what he was thinking.

Until the moon rose high in the sky, drowsiness welled up, and then he slowly fell asleep.

Until the morning of the next day.

After a simple breakfast, Heracles set out on the road back to Mycenae.

Go see that "brother" of his!

Heracles' eyes turned sharp.

His figure quickly disappeared into a small hill.