Crash—Crack!
The sound of Charon's ferry splitting in half under the weight. No, it was the sound of it breaking.
Unlike humans, our gods are transcendent beings with quick reflexes. They moved with unimaginable speed and agility.
Charon urgently pushed Otus and Ephialtes' souls aside and threw himself towards the riverbank. The Acheron River is in the domain of the underworld, and I manipulated the river water to raise the sinking shipwreck.
Thud. Thud.
"Gasp... This is insane!" "The ferry that hasn't broken for thousands of years…" "…?!"
This was why Otus and Ephialtes' souls did not fall into the water.
Charon, looking despondent, opened his mouth wide. Even Aphrodite, who had only heard about Charon's ferry breaking, was shocked to see it with her own eyes.
"Wasn't that a divine artifact...?" "No, I never thought it would shatter like this…" "Do you have any idea why? Did you perhaps make a mistake recently...?"
No matter how heavy those two souls were, Charon's ferry was a divine artifact. It had various functions such as reducing the weight and assisting movement in the river through Charon's power.
Ordinarily, no matter how many souls boarded, there should be no reason for it to break...
"It started creaking a bit since the last great flood, and now it's ended up like this." "Since the great flood? If you had told me in advance, I could have taken measures…" "…? How could I go all the way to the fortress to tell you when I'm so busy?"
Well, it was a miracle that the ferry, which had been in operation for so long, was still intact until now. No matter how much divine power it had, it might have been overused for too long.
"After all, since the creation of the underworld, countless souls have boarded the ferry. It's bound to break eventually..." "Tsk... It's because mortals keep dying over trivial things."
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Charon spoke while looking at the remains of the completely shattered ferry and his oar. His face showed a sense of emptiness.
"Damn it! What is this! Hades!" "As you can see, Charon's ferry is in this state. Thanatos."
Thanatos, who had been controlling numerous avatars in the living world, appeared. He probably came to protest because of the situation with many souls stuck at the Acheron River.
Souls unable to cross the Acheron River gradually increased in number and collectively complained about the chaos. The dead who saw us began to murmur more intensely.
"What on earth is going on..?" "Huh.. P-Pluto God?!" "No way.. It looks exactly like the statue in the temple.. Aphrodite?" "Why is Charon's ferry...?"
Upon dying and being guided to the underworld by Thanatos, the ferry we were supposed to ride was broken, Charon was standing dazed with his oar, and encountering Thanatos and Aphrodite left the souls looking bewildered.
"Oh, my Zeus…"
We need to quickly take control of the situation. If this continues, the cycle of the world will be disrupted again like last time.
"Aphrodite, enchant all the incoming dead to line up orderly." "Yes..? Ah, yes.." "Thanatos! There should be a small boat near the Styx River to retrieve the souls, bring it here." "Damn it! Understood!"
"Charon, when Thanatos brings the boat, you can transport the souls across the Acheron River, right?" "I can, but the speed and durability of the boat are not like my ferry…" "Please do so for now. We'll quickly make a new boat and send it here!"
Damn, this underworld keeps having incidents every day.
"Hades! Why did the souls suddenly stop coming?" "Goddess Styx! Charon's ferry is broken!"
The Goddess Styx, rushing over, confused by the sudden stoppage of souls. Upon explaining the situation to her, she showed a similar expression to Thanatos.
"That's impossible! That ferry didn't have a single scratch for so many years..." "It's been many years, so it's bound to break eventually!" "…?!"
Soon, the attendants of the Goddess Styx and the avatars of Thanatos were busy moving to transport the boat, while I hurried back to the underworld's office to handle the situation.
"Hades! Perhaps like last time, Thanatos..." "It's not that, this time it's because Charon's ferry broke, so get back to your work." "Yes…?! Ah.. understood!" "And contact Olympus to tell them I urgently need Hephaestus!"
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I need to have Charon's ferry rebuilt. It must be bigger and sturdier so that this situation never happens again.
If Hephaestus, the greatest blacksmith far surpassing Cyclops, crafts it himself, this won't happen again. Though, there are others who could assist the god of blacksmithing...
If we're going to build it, might as well do it right?
"Summon Daedalus and Pygmalion as well. Visit the Goddess Mnemosyne to restore their memories." "Understood!"
Everyone who lived tumultuous lives in the mortal world eventually comes to the underworld. Daedalus was the greatest architect and inventor who lived in the same era as King Minos, the judge of the underworld. Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he created. Surprisingly, he even married the statue because Aphrodite made it into a real person.
"So, Aphrodite turned the statue you made into a person?" "Yes, she answered my prayers and offerings!" "No wonder the statue appeared on the underworld's register..."
I was quite surprised when the statue, turned into a person, came to the underworld as one of its inhabitants.
Thus, the greatest architect, sculptor, and blacksmith of Greece all gathered in the underworld's stronghold. The reason was to make a new boat for Charon.
"Gasp... It's such an honor to work with Hephaestus!" "Daedalus, I've heard a lot about you too." "I'm a sculptor... Are you making a figurehead?"
Pygmalion was right. Since the ferry is already broken, we plan to make a proper boat for Charon. Of course, it should have a figurehead resembling Charon.
"Uncle Hades, what do you think about making the boat out of metal?" "Metal? Is that possible?" "Yes, it's feasible because the movement can be aided by divine powers to ensure durability..." "The internal design..."
Even though I might have surpassed the limits of technology in my past lives, even the god of blacksmithing has limitations, and a metal boat might not move well...
But in the mythological era, we can supplement shortcomings with supernatural powers. Also, in the underworld, there are plenty of metals but no trees, so it might be feasible?
"Alright, let's give it a try. I'll provide any materials you need." "Then, trust in the world's greatest blacksmith, Hephaestus!"
The blacksmith god laughed heartily and pounded his muscular chest. Daedalus, next to him, was also thinking about something with a determined expression.
Thus began an unexpected shipbuilding project in the underworld.
Clang! Clang!
"Is this the metal that only comes from deep underground?" "Will this be floating on the Acheron River now?" "Move it a bit to the side." "A metal boat in the underworld, who would have thought..."
Numerous technicians, blacksmiths, and laborers from the underworld were moving materials according to instructions. Some were carrying heavy metals as part of their penance, while Hephaestus and Daedalus were busy giving orders.
"Hmm. How can I majestically depict Charon's baldness… maybe just make it full…"
Pygmalion, the greatest sculptor of Greece, was also seen creating a figurehead resembling Charon. Once Pygmalion carved Charon's likeness, I planned to imbue it with divine power and place it on the bow.
The work on Charon's boat was completed swiftly. Thanks to the blacksmith god's leadership, Daedalus's design, and the tireless souls' efforts.
"This should satisfy Charon, right?" "As requested, we installed various devices at the bottom to push away the water current..."
I looked at the massive boat that seemed capable of carrying dozens of souls without any issues. It was made of all sorts of metals and equipped with devices to naturally repel water currents as I had requested from Hephaestus, plus it had divine power and a figurehead resembling Charon.
"Even Poseidon would be envious."
It was incomparable to Charon's shabby ferry.
Near the entrance to the underworld, at the Acheron River.
Charon, who was urgently ferrying souls, and Aphrodite, who was controlling the unruly souls, greeted us.
"What… Am I supposed to transport souls with this from now on?!" "Hades, how long do I have to keep doing this?"
I didn't know about Aphrodite, but Charon's face lit up when he saw the grand boat. He climbed aboard and admired it, touching here and there.
"Oh! It has the power to cut through the water, with this, I won't need to row anymore…" "Ah, because of the rules of the Acheron River, you still have to perform the 'rowing action'."
Charon's face, which had momentarily brightened, darkened again.
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The next chapter will be updated on July 28 at 8 PM.Old man Charon, at least you'll have to row less than before..." "Ugh. What do you know! Even before, I didn't have to row much due to my powers. The important thing is that I still have to ferry these mortal souls across the Acheron River! Even though the boat can move on its own, why do I still have to row..."
It must have been really hard for him to ferry the souls all the time. This job at the bottom of the underworld is tough indeed.
"But isn't it better than what Thanatos has to endure? Cheer up." "That's not comforting at all..."
Charon, the ferryman—or rather, the captain—of the Acheron River, began to row on his newly acquired boat. His oar had also been lengthened to match the size of the giant boat.
"I'll try to increase the number of coins placed in the mouths of the dead in the living world." "...I don't need money, just let me rest."
Still, I should inform the priests at my temple to say something. Even if the dead's families are poor, the visitors at the funeral can contribute a bit, and Charon's pockets will be filled. Eventually, this might be known as condolence money.
"Get on board, you lot! I'll take you across the Acheron River!"
The boat carrying the souls moved away again, propelled by Charon's rowing. Although an automatic motor was installed at the bottom of the boat, the rules of the underworld dictated that Charon still had to row.
"Hades. Can't you hear me..? I'd like to spend some passionate time together now..."
Aphrodite, who was controlling the souls on one side, approached and placed her hand on my chest. The goddess of love smiled sweetly, trying to seduce me.
Hm, step back.
"There's a soul who came here upon hearing that you're in the underworld." "Huh? A soul that wants to see me?"
Aphrodite made a puzzled expression and waited for a moment. From the boat that had just returned after dropping souls on the other side of the Acheron River, a man emerged. As soon as he saw Aphrodite, he ran over and knelt down.
"Ah.. you're the human I remember." "Goddess Aphrodite... I, Pygmalion, who received your grace, offer my heartfelt thanks."
His name was Pygmalion. He was the world's greatest sculptor, who could marry the statue he created thanks to Aphrodite's grace.
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Pygmalion, with a more serious expression than when he was sculpting, bowed in front of the goddess Aphrodite. The goddess of beauty and love adjusted her posture at the mortal's sincerity.
Aphrodite placed her hand on the shoulder of her devotee. Pygmalion lowered himself even more, overwhelmed with emotion.
"The sculptor from Cyprus who prayed to me while making a statue." "Yes! Thanks to your blessing, I lived a fulfilling life with my beloved wife!" "I saw that sincere love till the end, with the woman I breathed life into."
The sculptor shivered at her reference to his creation as a woman rather than a mere statue.
"All this is your grace. I wanted to thank you for helping me fulfill my love." "Consider it a reward for your earnest yearning for love."
I stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Aphrodite, with a kind smile befitting the goddess of love, spoke gently.
Pygmalion, who expressed his gratitude with tears, left. Come to think of it, there was something I was curious about...
"What were you thinking when you breathed life into that statue?" "Oh, that?"
Aphrodite pondered for a moment. Her beautiful contemplation reflected on the Acheron River.
Soon, she smiled mischievously and spoke.
"Isn't it the essence of a god to grant mortals' impossible desires and answer their earnest prayers?"
Impossible desires and earnest prayers. Though we gods live eternally, we don't become desensitized or repetitive like machines. We maintain formed personalities, or perhaps we should say we are deities with human traits.
That's why incidents like Zeus's assaults, the tragedy of Phaethon and Helios, the gods' rebellions, or Thanatos's strikes happen...
"Well, to be honest, it was just a whim. I never thought a human could move my heart..."
Sometimes such heartwarming stories occur.
As I nodded in understanding, Aphrodite glared at me sharply.
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"By the way, I've been asking since earlier. When will we have some... fun time together?" "Oh, if you like hot times, I can assign you to the Phlegethon River." "No! Why would I work in the underworld?" "...? Didn't you want to come to the underworld?"
The goddess of beauty's expression crumpled in frustration.
"That's not what I meant! I wanted to spend joyful time with you...!" "You met Pygmalion, and it's quite enjoyable working here..." "Argh! I just want to go back!"
What. Go back? Not a chance. I already got permission from Zeus to bring any god I wanted. You need to work here a bit longer.
"For your information, Zeus approved of me bringing you here." "What...?!" "I protested about the Thanatos issue, so we decided to deploy some gods from Olympus."
Aphrodite's face went blank upon hearing that Zeus sold her out. She looked like she couldn't accept the reality.
"Since it's decided, please take care of the souls at the Acheron River." "H.. Hades!"
Aphrodite diligently working at the Acheron River. Thanks to her, I can feel a lot of changes in the underworld.
With Charon quickly handling souls, Thanatos's work efficiency improved, and more souls reached the River of Lament, Cocytus, quickly, giving all the gods of the underworld more time. Even those who couldn't accept their deaths and caused trouble decreased...
"Hades! This is not what I expected!"
After encouraging Aphrodite, who was working hard at the Acheron River, I returned to the underworld's stronghold, leaned on the throne, and closed my eyes.
Recently, there have been too many incidents... But with Aphrodite helping in the underworld, I should have some time...
Hug.
A subtle presence behind the throne approached and embraced me. Soft silver hair, gentle touch.
"Goddess Lethe, how are things going with managing the souls at the Lethe River..." "I left it to my followers." "What about the selection of new attendants..." "Don't think about such things."
The small goddess's touch covered my sight gently, so I just closed my eyes. The feeling of my head resting comfortably on something soft... hmm.
I tried to get up from the embrace of the Goddess Lethe behind the throne, but I failed. She's tightening her grip...
"Zeus or Poseidon don't seem to have as much work as you, Hades." "...It's unavoidable due to the nature of the underworld."
Zeus, ruling the sky and the world, might be the busiest, but he has distributed the work to many gods.
Sun, wind, nature, earth, arts, madness... Other Olympian gods handle things unless it's a major incident like the Gigantomachy or war.
Poseidon, ruling the vast sea and waters, also entrusts most of the work to numerous sea nymphs, Nereids, and divine beasts. He doesn't need to worry unless an event affects the entire marine ecosystem.
But the underworld is different. It's responsible for ensuring the cycle operates correctly.
If there's an issue with the souls entering the underworld, it becomes difficult to assign souls to new lives. If space in the underworld runs out or becomes overpopulated, it's hard to receive more dead. If judgments on sins in the underworld aren't properly executed, the laws of the world falter.
And the most critical issue is...
"All the gods are very busy. Look at Charon or Thanatos..." "True..."
Unlike Olympus, where the division of labor is effective... There aren't many idle gods here to share the work. And asking the dreaded goddesses of vengeance for help isn't an option either.
"Shall I use my power to clear your mind?" "...Please do."
The Goddess Lethe whispered in a worried voice. With her power of forgetfulness, she could probably relieve my fatigue for a while. It's like temporarily shedding unnecessary memories from my mind...
Kiss.
...?!
A soft touch on my forehead, followed by a clearing of my mind, melting away mental fatigue.
Wait, did she just kiss my forehead...
"Shh. Just rest without saying anything."
Opening my eyes, I saw the bright red face of the goddess, contrasting her silver hair. Looking at her flushed face, I closed my eyes again.
"...Alright."
My face likely mirrored hers.Today, the underworld is as turbulent as ever.
Aphrodite, the goddess who decided to help with the underworld's affairs for a while, was hard at work again today.
Until humans reached the River Lethe, they retained all their memories from the living world. Therefore, there were always those who couldn't accept their deaths and caused disturbances.
"Argh! I'm not dead yet!" "Please, just let me see my mother one last time! I'll come back on my own!" "Damn it, let me go!"
People in denial, those with lingering attachments to the living world, those raging at their murderers... Even souls wandering the Acheron River without a coin to pay Charon.
Tired of trying to maintain her dignity as a goddess, Aphrodite resorted to enchanting the souls with just a look. Charon, who had just returned after ferrying souls across the river, delivered a message from Hades.
"Hades says he's hosting a feast in the underworld for an entire day." "A day... a whole day?!" "Indeed. I was quite surprised myself. It seems the matter with Thanatos is weighing on his mind..."
Though the message was the same, their reactions were different. Charon was delighted to have a whole day off, while the goddess of beauty and love was shocked that it was only a day.
It made sense. What work would the goddess of beauty and love have had on Olympus? Love is a naturally occurring emotion, and as for beauty, there wasn't much for her to intervene in.
And Olympus was full of other leisurely gods like her. They frequently held feasts and lived a relaxed life.
"Now that I think about it, you lived comfortably on Olympus, so this work must be unfamiliar." "...I think I understand why Athena avoids the underworld after the great flood."
A delicate flower from a greenhouse suddenly thrust into a work hell... Such a reaction was only natural.
"I'm... I'm so wronged... Lord Zeus forced himself on me... why does Lady Hera only..." "...Alright. Rest for a bit and then we'll talk."
A human soul, raped by Zeus and killed by Hera in revenge, had come to the underworld. The Goddess Lethe quietly approached her from behind and made her forget her memories of the living world.
When delivering judgments in the underworld, you often see souls retaining their memories from the living world. Naturally, the River Lethe's forgetfulness doesn't work on those with deep grudges.
"Why are there so many victims of rape in the living world..."
The gods are capricious. It's not just Zeus, who thinks with his lower half; most of them are like that. The higher their rank, the more likely they are to commit such acts, but even lower gods often assault humans.
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Today alone, three rape victims arrived in the underworld. All of them begged me with memories from the living world.
As I held my head, the Goddess Lethe, who had just erased a soul's memory, approached quietly.
"But Hades, you don't do such things. Even though you're quite popular..." "Of course not, I'm one of the three major gods after all."
Marrying me would make someone the queen of the underworld, granting them immense power and authority.
Honestly, I think I look quite handsome, even if my face might seem a bit gloomy. Not as promiscuous as Poseidon, whose wife Amphitrite is constantly angry, or Zeus, who has relationships with most visible women, but quite a few goddesses subtly express their feelings for me.
But...
"Seeing souls like this all the time makes me feel that way."
The underworld receives victims of rape, infidelity, and crimes of passion. After seeing those killed due to curses or jealousy from goddesses, the desire for marriage tends to fade...
And choosing a queen of the underworld requires careful consideration. Like Hera, the queen of the gods, who kills rape victims, or Poseidon's wife Amphitrite, who could overturn the sea in her rage...
Just then, an attendant approached to inform that the feast was ready.
"Looks like the preparations for the feast are almost done. Shall we go to the banquet hall?" "Sigh... Alright."
Everyone would be happy to have a rare day off. I left the office with the Goddess Lethe quietly following and headed to the banquet hall.
I instructed to share Dionysus's wine with the souls in the underworld as well. Although they don't need to eat or drink, they might enjoy the festive atmosphere.
"Has the Muse arrived?" "Yes! The goddesses have already arrived and are in the banquet hall."
The nine Muses, daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, oversee the arts. Hearing about the feast, Mnemosyne contacted Olympus to invite her daughters.
As we entered the banquet hall, the sound of music greeted us. Euterpe was playing the flute, and Terpsichore was dancing to the tune. The other Muses were also contributing to the festive atmosphere.
Taking a seat, I noticed everyone enjoying their rare break. But something seemed off.
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"Oh my..." "He must have been so exhausted..."
In a corner at the back of the banquet hall, gods were murmuring about something. As I approached, I found an old god lying down and sleeping.
"Snore... Snore..."
Why is Hypnos sleeping on the floor of the banquet hall? He must have been really tired. Since the feast was meant for rest, I decided not to disturb him.
I had an attendant move the sleeping Hypnos to a quiet room and returned.
"Another one died from disease? Mortals are so weak, tsk tsk..."
In another corner, Thanatos sipped nectar, surrounded by the aura of death. Even during the feast, he couldn't rest because he had to control his avatars to harvest souls.
"Lord Hades!"
Someone called out to me. The voice was familiar, ah!
"Oh my~! Lord Hades! It's been so long!" "Erato. It's been a while."
A goddess with long blue hair and a tunic approached, smiling. Erato, one of the nine Muses, responsible for love poetry and solo singing.
"You're always working hard in the underworld, and I've been so busy I couldn't visit..."
Erato linked her arm with mine. Don't get too close, niece.
Her coquettish manner is cute, but isn't the distance too close?
"Lord Hades~ Seeing you after so long fills me with inspiration~" "...?!"
I felt eyes on us, it's time to wrap this up...
Contrary to my thoughts, Erato cleared her throat and began reciting poetry. The sweet voice of the goddess of love poetry and solo singing echoed through the banquet hall.
Humans say~ With a smile as bright as the sun, Phoebus, with a chest as vast as the sea, Poseidon. The enchanting Dionysus, the witty Hermes.
Erato paused, took a sip of nectar, placed her hand on my chest, and continued.
But we know~ It's Pluto of the underworld, feared by all...
"Gasp... I'm sorry! I'll take my leave...!" "Huh...?!"
Erato suddenly stopped, looked behind me, and hastily stepped back, bowing her head.
Turning around, I saw the smiling Goddess Styx looking at me. But she didn't seem pleased.
"Hades... you're flirting with another strange goddess..." "Pardon?" "Sigh... never mind. Why are you holding a feast? Do you know how much damage a day off can cause..."
Yes, yes... I know.
"I thought everyone needed a break..." "But what if the work piles up again like last time?" "Don't worry about that. Look over there..."
We turned to see Thanatos, mumbling darkly while controlling his avatars. The busiest god in the underworld still seemed preoccupied with harvesting souls.
"Was it this way next, oh dear... an entire family starved to death..."
His black wings brushed against the nectar cup, splashing it, but he continued harvesting souls. No god dared to approach the intimidating presence of death.
"Thanatos is working hard, and the three judges are taking turns resting." "So, I can go back now, right? Hades?!"
An angry Aphrodite interrupted our conversation. Compared to before, the goddess of beauty had taken on an even more decadent appearance.
I'd worked her hard enough. The workload in the underworld had noticeably decreased thanks to her.
"Thank you for your hard work. If you ever want to return..." "Really?! I can really go, right?"
Aphrodite quickly left the room. The Goddess Styx looked at her in disbelief, shaking her head.
"How could she complain after a bit of work at the Acheron River."
Maybe it's because she was used to a leisurely life on Olympus, but she quickly escaped the underworld...
...?! Someone is praying to me.
A devotee from Thebes, or perhaps a priest? But the desperate plea, filled with fear and earnestness...
"Lord Hades! Please help! A monster, part snake, part human...!"Lord Hades! Please help! A monster that is part snake, part human...!"
This is... a prayer from one of my followers. And not just any follower, but a devout priest.
I focus on the devotee's vision as I follow the plea, and I see something.
A fleeting glimpse of a creature with a snake's lower body and a human's upper body... a Gigantes! Have we finally caught their trail?
"Goddess Styx, it seems a Gigantes has appeared in the mortal world. I must descend into a human body for a moment..." "...! I'll notify Olympus immediately!"
The goddess Styx quickly put down her nectar and moved with urgency. I, too, swiftly left the banquet hall.
"What on earth...!" "A Gigantes?!"
The distance from the underworld to Thebes is too great.
Since my follower has enough faith to receive me... the quickest way to assess the situation is to descend into that human's body.
"Ha ha... If I eat just one human, it won't even be noticeable..." "Hold on, we need to use them as sacrifices for the descent."
A dark cave near the mountains, not far from Thebes. Muscle-bound creatures with the lower body of snakes and the upper body of humans were licking their lips at the humans dragged into the cave.
The ten or so gigantic creatures, each with a build like several grown men combined, were, as Hades suspected, the Gigantes, adversaries of the gods.
"Mommy..." "The god Apollo will help us from the heavens..." "Artemis, please answer our prayers."
Dozens of people were trembling in a corner of the cave. They were ordinary civilians kidnapped by the Gigantes near Thebes.
Among them was Penedeeia, a female priest from the temple of Hades. She had ventured outside Thebes, believing no one would dare harm the priests of the underworld.
"There was a reason why people went missing near Thebes..."
She never imagined that creatures far surpassing humans would capture her.
"Ha ha ha! Do you think the gods on Olympus can see inside this cave?!" "Wait quietly, and I'll kill you painlessly!"
The Gigantes mocked the people as they cried in despair. The gods did not answer their desperate prayers.
This is because not all prayers reach the gods.
Prayers not made at the shrine of the god, those not accompanied by many offerings, and prayers from nymphs, demigods, or official priests are not easily heard by the gods.
"Is that ritual over there the reason we were kidnapped?"
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While the other creatures had the faces of men, the monster in the center of the cave was different.
A beautiful female figure was chanting spells while standing on a magic circle made of blood.
"This should be enough sacrifices to summon him..." "Encelados, the preparations are complete." "Good. Push the humans in!"
One of the half-man, half-snake monsters called over another creature carrying a massive club. He was likely the leader of these creatures.
"You, come here." "Aaah!"
With a brutish hand, he grabbed a woman by the hair and threw her. The female monster reached out, grabbed the woman's heart, and tore it out, splattering it on the ground.
"Aah! No, I don't want to die!"
Thud.
"Stop screaming."
Trying to escape is useless. Resisting is futile.
All the humans brought here will become sacrifices in this grotesque ritual.
The next chosen sacrifice shouted.
"Do you think the gods will stand by? I'll see your end in the underworld!" "How frightening. Ha ha ha! I'd love for Athena to come down!"
The leader of the Gigantes laughed, and the cave echoed with laughter. These beings, who did not fear even the gods, filled the humans with terror.
"Heh. Once we defeat the Olympian gods, Athena will be my wife." "Of course, Encelados, you'll achieve it. But first, we must call him..." "Silence! Do you dare command me, trusting your defeated husband?"
When the female monster hastened the ritual, the leader monster rebuked her. Hades's priest, Penedeeia, closed her eyes and prayed more earnestly than ever.
"Lord Hades! Please help! A monster that is part snake, part human...!"
"Hey, bring that woman in black." "Yes!"
Her turn was next. The Gigantes grabbed the priest by her long hair. As Penedeeia bit her lip until it bled, she clasped her hands and murmured.
"Please... I pray earnestly. These terrible monsters..."
Her endless prayers continued, and in the moment that felt like an eternity,
"Do not worry any longer, for I have arrived."
Salvation had come to the mortal.
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The woman praying with her head down suddenly looked up and met the gaze of the Gigantes in front of her.
In her eyes, where there should have been pupils, only a deep darkness swirled.
"What? What's with this creature's eyes... Ugh!"
A black shadow rose from the ground, piercing the Gigantes's wrist and neck. An ignominious death, unfit for a creature that could challenge the gods.
"Powers? Even for an Olympian god, possessing a human body is...!" "To come here without divine artifacts or weapons!"
As he lightly swung his hand, a black line appeared, connecting the Gigantes that had been rushing towards him. The pitch-black divine power tore through the space, and the flesh of the monsters, tougher than steel.
Slash! Crash!
Now only remained... Encelados, blocking his path with a massive club, and the female monster behind him, frowning.
"Who are you, one of the twelve Olympian gods?" "The god of wealth, Pluto... no, Hades. Surely you've heard my name?"
"The Big Three!"
The bident only answers the call of Hades himself, not his incarnations. The Styx sword rests on the waist of my true form in the underworld. The divine artifact Kunee, made by the Cyclopes, is in the underworld's treasure vault.
The human body through which the prayer was channeled was a simple female priest, not a hero or demigod.
But the god who descended at this moment is Hades, the lord of the underworld.
"Damn vermin..."
The careless Gigantes stood no chance against him.
I managed to descend just in time.
Had I been a bit later, my priest's head would have been crushed by the Gigantes.
"Pluto... Lord Hades!" "Lord of the Underworld..." "The richest of all, the lord of souls has come to the mortal world to save us..."
The humans murmured around me. Yet they seemed more relieved than afraid at the mention of Hades's name.
Of course, as they were about to be sacrificed in a horrid ritual...
I glanced at the humans kneeling, clasping their hands, and weeping, then turned my gaze back to the Gigantes holding the club.
The creature flinched when our eyes met, then ordered the female monster behind him.
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"You're no problem. Once he arrives, it's over!"
But I had already assessed the situation when I descended here. I knew what this ritual was.
"The strange circle on the ground is similar to the trap you laid on Naxos Island." "...!" "The thick power of the earth, a prayer for descent, resembling the magic the goddess Hecate showed during the Titanomachy..."
With a wave of my hand, I sent the humans away.
From now on, the cave and mountain might collapse entirely.
"Hurry and proceed with the ritual!" "I won't stop you, take your time. I need to see with my own eyes who sides with you."
The two monsters warily watched me, but I had no intention of stopping the ritual.
The magic circle on the ground, crafted with numerous humans and infused with the power of the earth, was for summoning a god.
I must confirm here who sides with the Gigantes.
When the descent ritual succeeds, the aura it emits will alert the gods. Before long, the gods' attacks will overturn this mountain.
There's no way Gaia wouldn't know this.
Yet, the reason she attempts to summon someone is...
"A declaration of war from Gaia. A provocation and warning for the failed trap on Naxos Island." "What nonsense is this!" "By the way, who are you, the one behind him? Gigantes are all male. You're not a Gigantes."
The female monster flinched when I struck a nerve. She was a creature with a snake's lower body like the Gigantes, but she didn't feel like one. She was another monster with a similar appearance.
"I am Echidna, the wife of Typhon! I will kill all you hateful gods!"
Typhon's wife, so that was it.
The motive is clear. Gaia must have told her about the bizarre ritual circle.
"Come to me! Great Titan, who exists everywhere and never disappears!"
Splat!
Echidna raised a dagger high and stabbed herself in the chest. Though she fell, a mighty divine power spread from her wound, shaking the cave.
Rumble—
A body growing stiff.
Time gradually slowing down.
Soon, Echidna, who had stabbed herself in the chest, stood up and looked at me.
This was a strategy even Gaia wouldn't be pleased with, using poison to control poison...
The Mother Earth Goddess must truly want to drive us out.
"It's been a while, my eldest son, Hades. Did you miss your father?"
To think they would bring the consciousness of Kronos, imprisoned in Tartarus, to the mortal world.