In modern times, the gods still roam the Earth, disguised among mortals. In this reality, there was Orion, a young demigod known not only for his courage but also for his arrogance. The son of Ares and a mortal woman, he had inherited the strength and pride of the god of war, but his ambition far exceeded the limits even Olympus could tolerate.
Orion believed he was destined for something greater than the other demigods. He declared himself the most powerful of his generation and began gathering followers, both mortal and immortal, who also believed the gods of Olympus had ruled for too long. His goal? To dethrone Zeus.
One day, at dawn, in a grand square in Athens, Orion issued a public challenge. He raised his voice, attracting a crowd, and declared his intention to confront the king of the gods. "Zeus!" he shouted, clenching his fists toward the sky. "If you are truly the strongest, then face me! Let's see who deserves to rule!"
The clouds above stirred, and thunder echoed in the distance. For a moment, there was silence. Orion stood firm, confident in his superiority. He had prepared for months, training tirelessly, even with the most powerful creatures he could find. He was ready to face the father of the gods.
Then, from the sky, Zeus appeared. But instead of descending with lightning and thunder, he floated with a calmness that was almost unnerving, a glint of cunning in his eyes. His expression showed little interest in Orion’s challenge, as if this was just a trivial distraction.
"Do you really think you can challenge me, boy?" Zeus asked in a voice as potent as thunder but with a calmness that sent chills down the spine.
"Yes! I am the future. You no longer have control over this world!" Orion growled back.
Zeus merely sighed, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth. He wouldn’t need thunder or his most famous weapon, the lightning bolt. Instead, he decided to show Orion the true extent of his power—not just brute strength, but total control over the reality around him.
Without saying a word, Zeus extended his hand toward Orion. But instead of throwing a bolt, he closed his eyes and activated an ancient power, little known even among the gods: the telepathic manipulation of matter. He focused on the area of Orion’s stomach, controlling the substances within the demigod’s body with surreal precision.
Orion, who had initially prepared to feel an electric shock or a crushing wave of power, suddenly felt growing discomfort in his guts. His face twisted in confusion. Then, before he could do anything to control it, his stomach began to churn.
Orion’s eyes widened, and the crowd also began to notice the change in his posture. The demigod, who minutes ago appeared confident and unbeatable, was now hunched over, with a look of panic on his face.
"Zeus… what are you…?" Before he could finish his sentence, the inevitable happened. A shameful sound echoed through the square, and the proud hero found himself unable to stop the disaster. His legs trembled as he, quite literally, "soiled his pants," his armor stained, and an unbearable smell filled the air.
The crowd, perplexed for a second, burst into laughter. Orion's pride dissolved in that moment. He, who had dared to challenge the king of the gods, was now humiliated before everyone, his body betrayed by his own intestines under the control of the supreme god.
Zeus, floating in the air, looked at Orion with a mixture of disappointment and amusement. "You may be the son of Ares, but remember, boy… you are still only half a god. Perhaps one day you’ll understand that true strength lies not only in battle but in control."
With nothing more to say, Zeus disappeared into the clouds, leaving Orion alone, demoralized, and covered in shame. The demigod vowed never to challenge the gods so recklessly again, especially Zeus, whose power was beyond mortal—or even divine—understanding.
And thus, the legend of Orion did not spread because of his heroic deeds, but because of the day he dared to challenge Zeus and ended up paying the most humiliating price possible.
