Chapter 4
This is the Underworld, ruled by Hades, God of the Dead.
It's a cold, dark place where departed souls come to find rest. Due to the gloomy image of the Underworld, most gods avoid this place, making it extremely quiet.
I've grown quite fond of this Underworld. The silence I feel when I close my eyes brings me peace rather than loneliness.
However, there were some nasty, wicked intruders who dared to violate Hades' sanctuary...
"Just as Mother Gaia said, the Underworld is here!"
"Let's attack! Kill Hades, the king of the Underworld, and liberate Tartarus!"
"Gigantes brothers! Let's free the Titan gods!"
They were hideous monsters with snake-like lower bodies and human-like upper bodies. These beings, calling themselves Gigas, were undoubtedly sent by someone to attack us.
Listening carefully to their chatter...
It seems Grandmother Gaia is quite displeased with our imprisonment of the Titans in Tartarus.
The Earth Mother, who married Uranus the Sky God and gave birth to our father Cronus, is not someone to be taken lightly. Given her status, she probably wouldn't confront us directly to expel us, but...
[Huff... I'm sorry, Hades. I couldn't stop them with my power alone!]
The urgent voice of Goddess Styx echoes in my mind. These creatures now rampaging through the Underworld are all divine beings born from Mother Gaia's power.
With dozens of these hostile beings swarming in, it's no wonder Styx couldn't handle them alone. I sent her my thoughts, telling her to retreat to a safe place for now.
[I'll run to Zeus and request reinforcements! If all your siblings gather, even they...]
I appreciate Styx's concern, but asking for help would be pointless.
This race calling themselves Gigas, the Gigantes, invaded the Underworld on Grandmother Gaia's orders. If so, they've surely attacked Poseidon's sea and Zeus's Mount Olympus as well.
[Then... aren't the other gods in danger too?]
"That depends on how many of them there are."
But Goddess Styx, you needn't worry. The Underworld won't fall to such creatures.
The entrance to the Underworld is narrow, and they probably sent only a few dozen, thinking I'd be easy prey without a powerful weapon like Poseidon or Zeus...
I couldn't help but laugh at their foolishness. Although they're divine beings, I sensed no immortal power from them.
Fighting me in my own domain, how is this any different from challenging Poseidon in the depths of the sea?
I thoroughly mocked these gutsy vermin.
Workers to manage the Underworld have walked right in,
I'll kill them all and enslave their souls. Perfect.
Rising from my throne, I donned the invisible helmet, Kynee, which completely concealed me from this world. I drew my sword, forged from the River Styx—the very river by which even gods must keep their oaths.
Dark shadows naturally clung to my body, forming armor as I climbed the fortress walls to survey the intruders. Dozens of divine powerhouses, the Gigantes, were frantically pounding at the gates.
Boom! Thoom!
I quietly leapt down from the fortress, eyeing the half-god, half-serpent giants hammering at the gates. It would be nice to just sweep them away with divine power or authority, but they're as strong as the Titan gods.
Not knowing how many more enemies might be outside the Underworld, it would be more efficient to slice their necks one by one with the Styx sword.
Just like this.
Slash-
"Argh!"
"W-What? It came out of nowhere!"
"I didn't sense anything!"
I moved to another position and severed another Gigas below the waist. Averting my gaze from the falling giant's bewildered expression, I turned to the next target.
"Aaaagh!"
"We can't sense anything! Where are you, Hades!"
The Gigantes stood back-to-back, alert in all directions, but it was useless. These monsters, seemingly newborn, didn't know how to use their great strength effectively.
"Throw the rocks on the ground, brothers!"
"Splash blood to find his location!"
Experience from long survival on the battlefield might have helped, but right now they were mere puppies. With my years of war experience against the Titan gods, killing them was too easy.
"How? I'm sure I checked this direction!"
"Argh! My waist... my waist!"
Did they think my helmet, rivaling Astrape and the Trident, would reveal my position so easily? I whispered into a terrified Gigas's ear while piercing its heart with the Styx sword.
Now that I have enough corpses, shall I start creating some minions?
[Rise]
"Ugh... uuugh..."
"...Uugh"
"The souls of our dead brothers are rising! It's the power of the G스d of the Underworld!"
"We should have brought more brothers!"
The dead Gigantes were enveloped in black smoke, and only white forms rose to attack the other Gigantes. All souls that come to the Underworld belong to me, Hades. There are no exceptions, even for divine beings.
"Aaaah! S-Spare me!"
"Our mother is Gaia! We're your kin!"
So what? You came here to kill me, and now you're saying this?
As translucent souls surrounded the last remaining Gigas, I quietly removed my Kynee.
Wearing a helmet is more stuffy than I thought. Especially this Kynee, with its intangible energy enveloping me, feels like I'm wrapped in something from head to toe.
The last intruder, finally spotting me, trembles and begs for his life. Did you not consider this possibility when you boldly invaded the Underworld?
"W-Wait! If you spare me, I promise never to return to the Underworld..."
Slash. Thud!
The passage of time can turn even the weak souls of 21st-century humans into cold gods of the Underworld.
The Gigantes who dared to set foot in the Underworld without fear have all been reduced to mere wisps of souls.
[Hades. You've killed all the intruders who came to the Underworld.]
[You can come out now.]
[What on earth was all this commotion about...]
I ordered the now-obedient Gigantes souls to clean up the defiled Underworld and called for Goddess Styx. Soon, a stream of water shot up from the River Styx, and Goddess Styx appeared before me, bleeding from one arm.
"Phew... It really seems like Lady Gaia wants war."
"Perhaps the Earth Mother has been quiet all this time because she's been pouring her energy into creating those Gigantes."
This era predates the establishment of the Twelve Olympian Gods. In fact, there aren't even humans yet.
My future knowledge and understanding of mythology are gradually fading from my mind, but one thing I remember is that Zeus, like Odin in Norse mythology preparing for Ragnarök, will raise human heroes to aid us.
However, the Olympian gods are few in number now, and there are no human heroes to take our side. This is the perfect opportunity for Gaia and the Titan gods to attempt rebellion.
I ordered the spirits who foolishly dreamed of sweeping away the Underworld to fortify this place well, and prepared to go to Olympus. With the Gigantes' invasion happening now, the most urgent place isn't the sea where Poseidon flaunts his invincible power, but the divine palace of Olympus.
"Are you going to Olympus now? Then I should come with..."
I told her to stay and guard the Underworld, as more might come. Someone needs to remain here, as our defeat would be certain if Tartarus is breached.
"Then how about I go, and you guard the Underworld?"
The Gigantes gathered in the Underworld are powerful divine beings, but there are only a few dozen of them. Grandmother Gaia must have realized this wouldn't be enough to defeat us. Surely, hundreds or more Gigantes must be swarming and causing havoc in Olympus.
To provide meaningful reinforcements that could affect the tide of battle, I have to go myself. Well, that Zeus probably isn't even expecting help.
"Ugh... be careful."
I consoled the teary-eyed Goddess Styx and headed towards the surface, crossing the five rivers surrounding the Underworld.
The warm sunlight and vibrant plants of the surface world greet me after a long time, but the air is very heavy. It's evidence that the massive war of the gods is affecting the world.
I must hurry to Mount Olympus.