The Oracle of Delphi, Transaction

On this day, in the palace of Helios, the sun god, magnificent columns adorned with shining gold and dazzling gems surrounded him. The flying eaves were embedded with pure white ivory, and the two large silver doors were intricately carved with beautiful patterns and human figures, depicting countless wonderful and ancient legends of the mortal world. As Phaethon stepped into the palace, he saw his father, the great sun god Helios, surrounded by a scorching heat and radiance, dressed in bronze-colored garments, seated majestically on a throne embellished with brilliant emeralds. Surrounding him were three goddesses of exquisite grace: Eos, Dike, and Eris, who governed the seasons of spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. The three goddesses gazed at Helios with adoring eyes. 'Phaethon, my dear child, what brings you here?" Helios, the sun god, softened his expression upon seeing his beloved son. Phaethon looked gloomy, his beautiful features inherited from his mother, the ocean goddess Clymene, shadowed by a hint of sorrow, making one want to smooth the furrowed brow. 'Respected father," Phaethon began, 'the gods mock me and insult my mother Clymene, saying that my father is not you but an unknown wild man." Clymene was a well-known figure among the Greek deities, partly because one of her children was the currently prominent wisdom god Prometheus. On the other hand, this goddess was quite flirtatious, with many male gods as her intimate guests. Besides the four divine sons she had with her husband, the soul god Iapetus, she also had countless illegitimate children. Phaethon was the illegitimate son born to Clymene and Helios during a brief encounter, but whether due to the incompatibility of water and fire or some other reason, despite having a divine body, Phaethon had not inherited any divine powers. Coupled with his striking resemblance to his mother, it made it difficult for others to associate him with the majestic and masculine Helios. 'Bold!" Helios was enraged to hear that his son was being insulted. The brilliance of the sun around him intensified, nearly scorching the surroundings, but fearing that his divine light might harm Phaethon, he quickly reined in his overwhelming radiance. He embraced his son and softly said, 'My child, there is no doubt that you are the son of me, the sun god Helios. I will never deny you as my son, no matter where you are. To dispel your doubts, ask me for a gift. I swear by the river Styx that I will fulfill your wish!" 'Really! Great Father God?" Phaethon widened his eyes, eagerly grasping Helios's strong arm, and immediately said, 'Then please first grant me the wish I have longed for, to drive your winged golden chariot for one day all by myself!" Phaethon's eyes shone with infinite expectation and longing. He had watched his father drive the golden chariot across the sky countless times, and that majestic sight had been his lifelong aspiration. He also wanted to drive the golden chariot so that those who insulted him could see that he was indeed the son of the sun god! Helios's expression shifted from surprise to fear, and regret flashed across his face. 'Phaethon, this wish…" A strong sense of unease surged within Helios, causing him to shake his head three or four times in succession. He wanted to refuse Phaethon, but having spoken hastily, his promise was already recorded by the River Styx, and a vow made to Styx could not be changed. 'Phaethon, you must understand that driving the golden chariot of the sun is not a simple task. The horses are wild and unruly, and you must navigate steep paths. Even I can feel dizzy at such great heights; how can you possibly control it?" 'Make another wish, my dear son, while there is still time. Whatever you want, I will fulfill it," Helios said, feeling helpless and wanting to persuade Phaethon to change his mind. But Helios underestimated the intensity of Phaethon's obsession. His desire grew like a wild fire within him, making him somewhat mad and fanatical. 'No, Father! I must drive the golden chariot! I want to soar to the highest point in the sky and show them that I, Phaethon, am truly the son of the sun god!" Once he proved this, no god would ever mock him as an incompetent bastard again! '…" Helios realized his son's stubbornness and obsession, and a hint of displeasure rose in his heart. Very well, if he wants to drive, let him drive. He will learn his lesson when he suffers the consequences; after all, it wouldn't lead to anything too serious. Setting aside his lingering unease, Helios instructed the three goddesses of time to bring out the golden chariot. The goddesses busily harnessed the fiery steeds from the luxurious stable, adorning them with beautiful harnesses. Since Phaethon did not possess divine powers, Helios applied a sacred balm to protect him from the blazing flames. He handed the reins to Phaethon, and with a sigh, Helios said, 'Phaethon, remember, you must maintain your balance. Do not use the whip; let the horses run freely, and do not fly too high, or you will burn the heavens." Overcome with excitement and joy, Phaethon had no mind to listen to Helios's warnings. He eagerly grasped the reins, nodded to his anxious father, and set off in the golden chariot. The fiery steeds neighed, their hot breath sparking flames in the air. As their hooves struck the ground, Phaethon urged them forward, ready to embark on the journey. The horses seemed to sense that today's driver was not their true master. They snorted hot air and flames, their eyes flashing with a wild spirit. As steeds that pulled the sun, they proudly refused to acknowledge anyone but the sun god. They began to run uncontrollably, and the chariot jolted in the sky, like an empty cart, recklessly charging ahead. Phaethon felt the wild ride toss him up and down, trembling as he lost his grip on the reins, not knowing which way to pull, unable to find the original path, and completely unable to control the rampaging horses. When he occasionally glanced down, he saw the vast earth spread out before him, and his face turned pale with anxiety; his knees trembled in fear. He wanted to shout to the horses but did not know their names. In a panic, he looked up at the starry night sky, where the strange and terrifying shapes resembled demons. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and his excitement began to cool. He couldn't help but gasp in shock and instinctively loosened his grip on the reins. It was a disaster! The golden chariot of the sun was completely out of control. The wild steeds neighed excitedly as they strayed from their original path, running aimlessly through the unfamiliar sky, soaring high and low, sometimes nearly touching the stars above, and at other times almost plummeting into the abyss below. They swept through the clouds, which were scorched and billowing with white smoke. The intense heat baked the earth, cracking it open and evaporating all moisture. Sparks seemed to erupt from the fields, the grasslands became parched, and forests caught fire. The flames spread across the vast plains. Crops were destroyed, farmland turned into desert, countless cities billowed thick smoke, and rural areas were reduced to ashes, leaving farmers scorched and desperate. Hills and forests blazed fiercely. Rivers boiled with scalding water, terrifyingly flowing upstream until they ran dry at their sources. The sea rapidly shrank, and places that were once lakes turned into barren wastelands. Even more terrifying, as the golden chariot touched the heavens, the stars were burned by its flames, falling from the sky, trailing long fiery tails as they crashed to the earth. Phaethon felt as if the entire world was engulfed in waves of heat. The roaring flames surrounded him, and the sacred balm on his body gradually evaporated, as the tongues of fire began to lick at his hair… 'No! Stop! Please stop!!" The son of the god, who wanted to prove himself to the world, finally faced the consequences of his recklessness. 'Phaethon!" A thunderous roar echoed from the heavens, dark clouds gathered, and a brilliant white lightning bolt split the sky, striking Phaethon. He was thrown from the luxurious sun chariot, tumbling down like a burning fireball, spiraling through the air. In the temple of life, the golden-haired goddess, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, suddenly opened her magnificent purple eyes. In an instant, she vanished from the temple… Countless massive meteors, engulfed in fierce flames, fell from the sky, crashing into the earth, destroying countless forests and city-states, creating a sea of fire on the ground, while countless animals fled in terror. Under the scorching of the heavenly fire, they lost the homes they depended on for survival. Many who did not manage to escape were directly consumed by the sea of flames, their flesh burned away, leaving behind nothing but charred skeletons.