Story of Bellerophon - Part 4
Bellerophon, riding Pegasus, flew swiftly in search of the Chimera. The monster's trail was unmistakable.
"Damn that beast…"
It was heading straight toward the city of Lycia, the very place from which he had been tasked with slaying the monster. The ground bore deep scars from the Chimera's sharp claws, and the plants and trees along the way had withered, poisoned by the venom dripping from the snake's head.
Whinny!
He urged Pegasus onward toward the city of Lycia. As he neared the city, the sounds of screams and collapsing buildings grew louder. Despite pushing Pegasus to its limits, it seemed he might already be too late. Which direction should he take?
"Help! Help us! There's a monster! Athena, protect us!"
"Quick, this way, everyone!"
The temple of Athena, built on the outskirts of the city, was engulfed in flames. A beautiful statue of the goddess of wisdom had been shattered in two, lying in ruins on the ground. Soldiers and civilians ran in a panic, trying to flee the destruction.
Whoosh—
Another surge of fire erupted from the temple.
Bellerophon circled the temple on Pegasus, scanning for the beast, but the Chimera remained out of sight. The monster was clearly inside the burning temple, but to enter, he would have to dismount Pegasus. Without his divine steed, would he stand a chance against the Chimera?
Could he possibly land a blow, piercing the beast's throat with the lead-tipped spear without Pegasus?
As Bellerophon hovered in the air on Pegasus, deep in thought, the desperate citizens of Lycia noticed him. Exposed to the danger of the Chimera, they clung to the hope that this winged rider might be their savior.
"Are you sent by the gods? The monster hasn't left the temple since it arrived!"
"A winged horse… Could it be a messenger of the gods?"
"Please, whoever you are, save Lycia!"
The hero gritted his teeth as he looked down at the terrified, soot-covered people. Just then, the voice of King Iobates rang out from among the soldiers surrounding the temple.
"Bellerophon! You truly are favored by the gods!"
"Your Majesty?! How are you here…?"
"How could a king not act when the temple in his own kingdom is in danger?"
Though Iobates had initially sent Bellerophon to his death by ordering him to slay the Chimera, the sight of the hero riding a winged horse had made the king realize his mistake.
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"Bellerophon! Come here for a moment!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
As Bellerophon dismounted Pegasus and approached the king, Iobates handed him a letter, his expression filled with regret.
"This letter…!"
"Yes, it's true. The letter from my son-in-law claimed you tried to seduce his wife, and he asked me to have you killed."
"But the task to slay the Chimera… It's a misunderstanding! I would never…"
"How could a hero chosen by the gods be tempted by another man's wife? I now realize the error of my ways. I'm truly sorry…"
Iobates placed a hand on Bellerophon's shoulder, his tired eyes meeting those of the hero.
"I know I wronged you, but can I ask one last favor? Please, slay the Chimera."
"...!"
"Please, you are the only hero who can save us."
The sight of the king bowing in request before a commoner shocked the surrounding soldiers. Bellerophon, his lips bitten hard enough to draw blood, knelt on one knee and shouted to the king.
"Of course! I was sent by the gods to slay this beast, and I will fulfill my duty!"
Despite the initial mission being driven by ambition, Bellerophon was still a hero. Witnessing the destruction of the temple and the suffering of the people had stirred his heart. The king's humble plea solidified his resolve.
Without waiting for the king's response, Bellerophon picked up his lead-tipped spear and entered the burning temple.
Step by step.
Without the winged steed sent by the gods, carrying only the spear with its leaden tip, he was now facing the Chimera alone. Death seemed inevitable—he would likely be consumed by the flames, his body burning in agony.
But a hero…
"Bellerophon!"
"Please… be safe!"
"May Athena's blessing protect you!"
A hero is one who never retreats, even when faced with certain death.
As Bellerophon pushed deeper into the temple, his vision was consumed by fire. The heat was unbearable, and the lion's head of the Chimera seemed to be in a frenzy, belching flames that burned all around him.
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"Urgh…"
The smoke choked him, and the swirling ash clouded his vision. Where was that monster? Where was it hiding?
He moved farther into the temple, only to see the Chimera glaring at him with fiery red eyes. With a quick reflex, he dove behind a marble pillar just as another burst of flames shot toward him.
Whoosh—
Though he had avoided a direct hit, the environment itself was against him. The searing heat was relentless, the smoke thick and acrid with every breath. Pegasus, his ally, was outside, and there were no other reinforcements in the temple.
It was a desperate, life-or-death situation.
Whoosh—
"Argh!"
He dodged again, gritting his teeth. He couldn't keep evading the beast forever. The moment would come when his luck would run out. His breathing was already labored, and the heat scorched his back. Had the flames already licked at him? The Chimera's growls were terrifying.
Grrr—
The Chimera crept slowly toward him, its reactions far faster than his. Even if he managed to throw the spear at its mouth, would it be enough? Without being mounted on Pegasus, could he even survive long enough in this inferno to make the throw?
There was only one option: he had to shove the spear directly into the beast's mouth. But if he did, the enraged Chimera would certainly engulf him in flames.
Grrr—
Leaning against the hot marble pillar, hiding from the monster, Bellerophon squeezed his eyes shut. He had always dreamed of becoming a hero, and beyond that, even a god. That's why he had originally set out for Thebes, where he had heard that the gods themselves would train those who made it. But his dream had been derailed when he accidentally killed his brother, forcing him to seek refuge in another kingdom.
They said those who passed the trials in Thebes always became heroes, for the gods personally trained them. Was he destined never to be one because he hadn't made it to Thebes?
Thud.
The sound of the Chimera's footsteps grew closer. Soon, it would find him and unleash its deadly flames, and he would be done for.
Grinding his teeth, Bellerophon's mind flashed with images of the people who had burned alive in the fire, the king bowing his head to him, and the deep ambition he had carried in his heart since childhood—to achieve something great and become a god.
Thump.
Grrr!
Without waiting any longer, Bellerophon sprang to his feet and charged. The Chimera, seeing him, opened its mouth wide and unleashed a torrent of fire, but he didn't stop.
Whoosh—
"I'll prove that I can be a hero even without going to Thebes! I, Bellerophon, will show the world!!!"
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His body was engulfed in flames. It burned. It burned. It burned so much! His skin, his hands, his arms, his legs—his entire body was consumed by fire.
His muscles melted, and the strength in his hand, which gripped the spear, faded. His eyes, too, were melting, and his legs screamed in pain.
Yet the hero never released the spear from his hands.
Thunk.
Grrraaaaahhhh!!!
The spear struck its target—deep into the Chimera's mouth.
After a while, the Chimera's agonized roars subsided, and the fire began to die down. Soldiers surrounded the temple, bringing water to extinguish the remaining flames before entering.
Among the first soldiers inside, one found something.
"This is…!"
"Your Majesty! You must see this!"
King Iobates, now entering the temple, saw two figures lying in the center. The Chimera, with the spear lodged in its mouth, was expelling black smoke as it lay dead. Next to it stood a charred figure, presumably Bellerophon, who had died standing, the spear still clutched in his hands.
It was a tragic yet noble sight, and everyone in the temple was filled with reverence.
"He didn't let go of the spear until the very end…"
"Your Majesty, it appears the lead in the spearhead melted from the Chimera's flames and flowed into its stomach, killing it from within."
"Even a monster like the Chimera would succumb to molten lead… He was truly a hero."
Based on the evidence, it seemed the melted lead from the spear had entered the Chimera's body, killing it. The creature's death had come at a great cost, but it had been brought down.
"Take care of Bellerophon's remains."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Crackle—
As the soldiers tried to retrieve Bellerophon's remains, his charred body crumbled to ash at the slightest touch.
Whinny…
Pegasus, having entered the temple, let out a mournful cry, as if grieving the loss of his rider. The majestic creature, who had fought alongside the hero, now stood in sorrow over Bellerophon's sacrifice.
King Iobates, who had been watching the scene unfold, spoke in a heavy, solemn voice as he gazed at the fallen Chimera and the ash that was once the hero.
"...Erect a statue in honor of Bellerophon, the hero who saved Lycia."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"May Pluto bless the soul of this hero."
"Athena, please guide him..."
May he receive his due reward in the afterlife.Story of Bellerophon - Part 5
While the hero's task was underway, Gaia intervened with the Chimera, causing it to destroy Athena's temple and ultimately kill Bellerophon.
Though she couldn't change Bellerophon's fate of dying after slaying the Chimera, she managed to manipulate the events, much like when I advised Perseus long ago. Gaia employed a method that allowed the path to fate to be chosen, rather than directly altering the outcome.
"Did you see that, Lady Lethe?"
"Yes... Gaia has prophetic powers rivaling those of Prometheus."
"Even if we give birth to a hero and win the war against the Gigantes, it could still be a victory full of wounds."
Victory in the Gigantes' war could lead to unforeseen consequences, like the release of the Titans or further manipulations by Gaia. Perhaps Gaia could even give birth to new monsters to replace the Gigantes.
We must prepare more thoroughly... Gaia is one of the primordial gods, the Protogenoi. The only ones who can truly stand against the ancient Protogenoi are other beings of the same level. Under the all-powerful Chaos, only a few Protogenoi exist, including Gaia herself. There's Erebus, the god of darkness, and Nyx, the goddess of night. There's also Tartarus, the god of the abyss.
Tartarus, being the abyss itself, doesn't involve himself in these matters. Erebus and Nyx, however… Hmm. Both of them have long since withdrawn from the affairs of the world.
While lost in thought, Lady Lethe spoke to me.
"Hades."
"What is it?"
"Bellerophon should be arriving in the Underworld soon. Will you reward him for his efforts?"
Given that Thanatos's shade had already been sent to collect him, Bellerophon and the Chimera should be arriving soon. Though he killed his brother, making him ineligible for Elysium, heroes who accomplish great deeds still deserve a reward.
I called for a messenger.
"When the hero who slayed the Chimera arrives, bring him to me."
"Yes, Lord Hades."
Lady Lethe and I waited in the audience chamber, and soon, the hero arrived. With the help of Mnemosyne, Bellerophon regained his memories of the mortal world, but his face was twisted in pain, as if still feeling phantom pains from his death.
Kneeling before me, he appeared conflicted—disappointed yet accepting of his fate. He seemed to realize that he was dead, and the bitterness was clear in his expression.
"Lord of the Underworld, why have you summoned me?"
"You accomplished a great deed by slaying one of Typhon's offspring, but you did not receive proper reward in the mortal realm."
"…?!"
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"Is there anything you desire? I will see that you receive the reward worthy of your feat."
If a hero sacrifices himself to slay a monster yet receives no reward, what motivation would others have to follow in his footsteps? A fitting reward or widespread recognition of his name was necessary.
However, his response was beyond what I had anticipated.
"If… if it's not too much to ask, I wish to become a god like you, Lord Pluto!"
"Hmm?"
"I want to ascend to Olympus and live among the gods, enjoying eternal life!"
He looked up at me with bright, eager eyes, delivering his request with passion. But becoming a god? That was quite a bold request. He didn't even want to remain a lesser god in the Underworld—he sought to ascend to Olympus itself.
The issue was that I had no power to grant a place in Olympus. That would require the approval of Zeus and the other gods.
Still, considering the great feat he had achieved by slaying the Chimera, such a minor impertinence could be forgiven. I would try to explain things gently.
Raising a hand to interrupt him, I calmly spoke.
"…You have a very naive view of what it means to be a god."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you believe a god is? Why do you wish to become one?"
After a moment of thought, he replied.
"Aren't the gods perfect and immortal? I've always yearned to become a god!"
"Perfect…?"
"I've slain a powerful monster! Please give me the chance to become a god!"
It's not unheard of for a mortal to become a god. Medusa became a goddess because of the suffering she endured at the hands of the gods. Dionysus, too, eventually ascended to godhood after spreading the worship of wine and gathering followers.
But even great heroes like Cadmus and Perseus did not become gods, so making Bellerophon a god seemed excessive. Moreover, he hadn't gathered any mortal followers, nor was he asking for a place among the Underworld's deities—he sought a position on Olympus.
Additionally, he carried the flaw of having killed his own brother, which marred his record.
Still, considering his great sacrifice in slaying the Chimera…
"It seems you need to understand what it truly means to be a god and what kind of duties we carry."
"What do you mean?"
"Spend 100 days here in the Underworld, performing the duties of a lesser god. If, after that time, your thoughts haven't changed, I will speak to the gods of Olympus about your request."
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"…! Thank you! Thank you, Lord Pluto!"
Bellerophon, filled with gratitude, bowed deeply, repeatedly thanking me. But I wondered if his thanks were a bit premature.
"Thank you so much!"
"Well…"
The life of a god might be very different from what you imagine…
After Bellerophon left, brimming with joy, I turned to Lady Lethe. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she gazed at me.
"Hades…! Couldn't we assign him to the River of Forgetfulness? Lately, the dead have been resistant to letting go of their memories…"
"For now, I plan to assign him to help Eros with punishing the sinners. Afterward, we'll see…"
"Ah…"
Upon hearing that Bellerophon wouldn't be assigned to her domain, Lethe's expression fell, her excitement fading. I watched her for a moment, then reached out and gently stroked her soft hair. Her elegant silver strands slipped through my fingers like silk.
"Ah! Ha-Hades?!"
"I know you've helped me a great deal. I appreciate it."
Her surprise was evident. For all the times she had approached me, it seemed my gesture had genuinely startled her.
Perhaps this was the first time I had reached out to her myself. Seeing her flustered, I gently grasped her wrist to stop her from pulling away.
"Please continue to assist me. One day, I will make sure…"
"N-Ne… Okay, okay. I get it, so… let go of my hand…"
"Ah."
As soon as I released her, the silver-haired goddess darted out of the chamber, covering her face. Her flushed neck was clearly visible as she hurried off.
Thunk.
"Ouch! Ugh…"
In her haste, she collided with the doorframe. Of course, the door was left with a dent, just like when Styx had knocked into it recently. I would have to repair that as well.
After hastily leaving the audience chamber, Lady Lethe rushed off somewhere, making her way to an office in the Underworld.
"Styx! Styx! Styx!"
"What? What is it, Lethe?"
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"Lady Lethe…?"
Inside the room, Styx and Menthe were working, surrounded by piles of parchment. Seeing Lady Lethe bursting in with a red face, they both looked startled.
Unfazed by their reactions, Lethe confronted Styx directly.
"I've noticed Hades has been acting strange since a few days ago! What did you two do together?"
"What… What do you mean? Why suddenly…"
"Hades gently stroked my hair for the first time today! Now, tell me what happened with you! Something must've happened between you two recently!"
Indeed, it hadn't escaped the notice of the other deities that Styx had been acting differently since her encounter with Hades on Pegasus.
The Underworld's ruler, whom Lethe had known, was not the type to shy away from the goddesses approaching him. However, if they ever got too close, he would subtly distance himself, as if there was an unspoken boundary.
She had assumed that Styx was once again acting on her own and that Hades had maintained his usual coolness. But now… things were different.
"How far did you go the other day? Tell me!"
"W-What are you talking about?!"
But the more Styx thought about what had happened a few days ago, the more her ears reddened.
"Come to think of it, Hades has been looking… softer lately, hasn't he?"
"Yes, it feels like the barrier around his heart has slightly lowered."
Menthe, who had been observing silently, chimed in. If Persephone had been there, she might have rushed to Hades immediately upon noticing these changes, but she had been in the mortal realm for some time now.
"Did Eros happen to shoot an arrow recently?"
"Eros is still working in the Underworld, though…"
Meanwhile, Bellerophon, eager to become a god, was led to a place in the Underworld, where he would begin his duties. The heat there was even more intense than the Chimera's flames.
"Argh! Stop! Please, stop!"
"Aaah! Ugh!"
"Please, forgive me! I beg you!"
He arrived at a place where countless criminals, unworthy of Tartarus but unable to receive leniency, were suffering in agony. The ground was a blazing inferno, and souls writhed in torment, unable to escape the heat.
"Here, you'll deliver these arrows to Lord Eros."
"Ah…"
Whoosh—Thud!
"Aaaargh!"
Up in the air, a child-like figure with wings continued to shoot arrows at the suffering souls. Was this the god Eros? But…
"Hey, you there! Hurry up and bring me more arrows!"
"Y-Yes, right away!"
Was this the same god of love, Eros? And why was he here, relentlessly firing arrows without a moment's rest?!