So... been a while. Anyways enjoy the 2fer.
"So choose. Once you have decided I have a mission for you." I said with mystery. Having them not know what to think would be funny but more importantly it would teach them to always be ready.
The 3 of them look in silence but eventually decide to take a closer look at the weapons splayed out onto the table before them. The woman going straight toward the far end, where all the long and exotic weapons are such as chain blades and spears. Both the men however went toward the middle where the more 'normal' weapons were. The biggest of the two almost immediately figuring out which one suited him best as his hand nearly gravitated to it. A large, nearly comically so claymore sword. Nevertheless he seemed happy about his choice as he started to tentatively give it a few practice swings.
"The Claymore. A sword of massive proportions the make it quite unwieldy. It more than compensates with its added defensive abilities and overwhelming force. The claymore will allow you to cleave mountains and be unstoppable by any force as its momentum will keep you moving. Its name is ChaosEater." I smiled. This was going exactly as planned.
Moving to the next man he seemed to be more indecisive. Looking at every single option. He continued until finally he saw something that caught his eye. A large almost comically so scythe looking like the wing of some type of bird, or dragon, depending on who you ask.
"Ah- The Harvester. Quite the formidable weapon that requires an even greater will. With it you'll become nearly invulnerable to all types of damage, along with added strength, will be given a fraction of my power. The power of death. The ability to bend, end, and shape life.. in the palm of your hand. But be warned it will take its toll should you not be strong enough." Hades said in a grave voice, inciting fear in the hearts if the three humans. The way he spoke made them afraid of what such weapons could do in the hands of a stronger being, such as a fey or giant.
With the two of them having decided on a weapon the only one remaining was the red headed woman. She seemed to have narrowed her choices down to two weapons. One, a pair of fiery gauntlets, looking to be made out of some type of animal with the head where the fist would connect, jutting out with small bumps. But her eyes were quickly drawn away to something else.
An ornate handle, looking straight out of hell looking to be made of black iron and rubies. Near the end it jutted out into four small, spiked sider like legs angled up and in the middle was the tip of a blade buried within the handle. Scorn.
Her eyes locked on it and as if compelled suddenly reached for it. Her hand slowly creeping around the handle until firmly grasped, she gasped as if shocked. Her eyes igniting with fire for just a split-second Hades wouldn't have noticed had he not been paying close attention, and he couldn't help but let out an inquisitive hum.
"She seems quite attuned Lord." Kara quietly says to Hades just out of earshot of the three getting acclimated with their new weapons.
"That she does. Though the other two aren't far off, and with what I'm going to put them through they'll more than make up for it. Speaking of..." They only had less than a week before Odin would arrive, and Hades planned to make his welcoming something special. So he needed these 3 ready, fast. Which brings up his mission.
"Now. Your names?" He asks, It's rude to simply refer to them by how they look.
"I am Mirin, he is Killian and she i-" He is interrupted by the woman stepping forward.
"I am Xenia." Hades smirks hearing the names. It honestly couldn't be better.(I don't remember in what language but the names translate to Death, War and Fury though I won't be using those until the apocalypse happens)
"Good to know you, and I'm sure if we end up beating back Odin we will get to know each other much more intimately, but for now, I am Hades, the God of the Dead, king of the underworld, guider of souls and Judge of all." He says his shadow casting a fearful picture behind him as he pronounces his titles.
"Now, onto more important matters. As I mentioned earlier, I have a task for you. Recently there have been reports of another pantheon gaining influence. It comes from across the sea and has become more hostile as of late, their worshipers starting to attack traders and disrupt supply lines that I need for the upcoming war. Your task is to go secure and ensure their safety for the foreseeable future." Whether it involves mass genocide is up to them. Hades stands up straight, his eyes glowing in the faint lighting. He was sending them into enemy territory with not a crumb of information, if they come out alive it'll be a miracle.
"We won't let you down Lord Hades" Mirin says with conviction in his voice. All three of their heads bowed, weapons in hand they look like good soldiers going to war.
"I hope not, you will find everything I want you to do at their most holy place." And with the raise of his hand a portal appears behind them, its black swirling mists eerie. They step through slowly anxious on what awaits on the other side. Now just Hades and his assistant, she couldn't help but ask.
"Was it wise to send them so suddenly? They've only just gained their weapons not even 10 minutes ago?" She asked looking at Hades who was now putting the leftover weapons back in his inventory looking like another portal to her. Hades only glanced at her briefly before continuing.
"If you're worried for their safety just say that I'll bring them back, just say the word. And although they have just gotten their weapons there's no better place to hone iron than in fire. Let me put it this way. They either bend and sharpen or snap and succumb, in the end I don't care, it's just an experiment after all." He said absentmindedly while he motions for some of the idle minions, weak skeletons, to move the table out of the room.
"Of course, lord Hades." Kara said with much unneeded sass returning to her work with the Necromechs. Hades squinted his eyes toward her back and a singular thought ran through his head.
'This bitch is already gaining a personality.' It was a concerning thought, if he didn't have precautions. One of which was to treat her right not abusing his power or doing things which she might find concerning. He knew it would happen, just had hoped it wouldn't be so soon.
Letting out a small sigh he leaves the workroom heading to the atrium. As he walks through his tall and ornate hallways his feet make a rhythmic pitter and he opens up his system.
His heart felt a light after looking at his souls, after buying Kara's 1.5 million soul chip he also had to buy the blueprints to the Necromechs from Warframe which cost close to 2 million, and they aren't even the good ones, plus after that he had to buy the machines to make said Necromechs or it would all be worthless which ran him another million and some change bringing him down to a total barely over one hundred thousand.
[Souls- 103,862]
The most he could buy now, this late into his preparations was maybe buy a few guns or a set of advanced armor but that would most likely be useless once magic is involved. In the end it wouldn't matter. He either has the power and army necessary to fend off Odin or him and his entire pantheon will have to submit, there really is nothing he can do now.
His thoughts come to a close as he reaches the entrance to his Atrium.
The scent of fresh flowers suffuses his nose and nearly instantly he feels much more calm. His thoughts drifting away from the upcoming war seeing the people chatting and laughing in the Atrium.
"He fought with Bronte the other day and almost won! And he's really taken a liking to Chiron, when Athena recommended those lessons I thought he'd get bored, but oh my it's all he's been talking about for the past month." Amaltheia chatted. She was sat in a comfy looking lawn chair her legs crossed wearing a simple robe. Across from her was Hestia also sitting taking a sip out of a simple cup.
It was a nice and happy atmosphere as they both gossiped having not noticed Hades presence just yet. A small smile crept up on the thought. Maybe he should go and assassinate Odin, avoid the war entirely he thought. The thought was lost however as a small body collided with his leg. Looking down he sees his son Meliodas sprawled on the ground and a smile graces his lips.
"Who dares impede this young lords path!" He says in a silly voice making an exaggerated angry face where his eyebrows were almost at his nose.
"Oh! Great Meliodas! Please forgive me for I am but an ignorant passerby!" Hades holds his arm to his forehead and plays along. Off to the side the two women, now noticing Hades watch the both of them Hestia trying to hold in a giggle at the scene. In the next moment they both tumble to the ground a mass of fists and kicks as they wrestle around. They both laugh as Hades separates them and gets into some type of kung foo stance.
"This one must teach you manners, it seems you cannot see mt tai." He says as Meliodas takes a similar stance.
"You stand no chance against my almighty power! Bring it on old man!" Hades zips in and they start brawling intentionally letting Meliodas gain the upper hand. Off to the side the women resume their chatting.
"So, how's Hades been? Now that he's back I'm sure it must be a relief. Meliodas really has changed him, I'm not sure you remember but he used to be such a brood." Hestia says to Amaltheia. The goat woman taking a long glance at Hades tall back and responds.
"I'm glad he and Meliodas are getting along; I was getting worried he'd grow up before Hades returned. But now all I have to worry about is this upcoming invasion, but even that is in the back of my mind since I know Hades will do whatever it takes to protect us." She says, since he's taken his role as a father her life has been much smoother and all of her doubts and worries about the future have been blown away like sand. The same could be said for Hestia. During His Century of sleep she was never able to visit, all of her time consumed trying to reign in and hold her family together.
Already she had failed with Zeus and Hera becoming more separate by the day, with Ares becoming more and more hostile as his ego continues to grow, really the only time she hasn't failed is with Amaltheia. After Hades impregnated her Amaltheia had asked her for help, knowing that a demi-god born of Hades would most likely be exploited, especially when said god was absent. So being the good sister she was she hid them both away on Crete, none of the other Gods go there anymore anyways.
In the end only Hera and Demeter found out with both of them knowing that nothing good would come from stoking Hades wrath. Now with him back Athena has also been informed as Hades and her become closer.
Which is also why he will grow up in the Underworld, it's safer, his father is here and for reasons they can only assume being related to his origins he is most definitely stronger here.
A boom pulls them out of their thoughts, Hades body crashing into one of the walls. Meliodas standing back a demonic picture as his face was changed.
Instead of his dark green eyes they are now voids, empty of all light. On his forehead a strange symbol manifests, imprinted as if a part of his skin, scaly and rough. It was a large ring with a dot in the middle almost like an eye with a jagged line like a scar running across his eye. The atmosphere suddenly got tense as Hades sped toward him like a bullet his fist launching toward Meliodas's face yet just as it would collide, he dodged almost effortlessly elbowing hades in the gut. Grabbing his wrist Hades gets a good long look at his sons face and a grimace grows on his.
So seeing his son lose control like this he makes a decision and with a grunt at speed no one could comprehend he knocked him out cold.
His body collapsing to the floor as Amaltheia and Hestia rush toward the both of them.
'What the fuck is this bullshit.' Meliodas had something of a transformation though one completely different to the one Hades has. Instead of his body undergoing a change only his mental and magical properties changed completely as his power most closely related to shadow and darkness rising exponentially. Though with the insane drawback of snuffing out all of his emotions, and at his early age of development, reducing him to fight or flight instincts.
'Though this does prove to be a great start to his demi-god army.'