Haemon fell to the marble floor with a crash, and then Mara landed in his arms. The girl hugged her master cheerfully and then smiled merrily as she stood up. "I begin to hate portals!" Haemon hissed, looking around. It was something they had never seen before, planets with stars swirling around like clouds, and he was sitting in the middle of it all on snow-white marble. They were floating above the stars themselves across the night sky. Then an impossibly huge stone throne caught his eye. Compared to it, even the titans could seem like minnows. "Will you show yourself old man, or should I call you Kronos?" Haemon smirked with his arms crossed over his chest. "Kids these days are so impatient, eh always jump to conclusions," The old man said good-naturedly, stroking warrior's head.
As with death, the warrior's instincts told him not to attack. His eyes stared at the old man beside him in shock; this creature was clearly more than just an Olympian. "Swallowed your tongue grandson? Ha-ha sorry for my sudden appearance, I forgot you don't like it when someone appears out of nowhere. By the way, why don't you tell me what you have there with Mistress Death" The old man smiled broadly and patted his grandson on the shoulder? He was a little taller than Haemon, about nine feet plus or minus. He also resembled Zeus in some way, but only externally; he did not have the arrogance of a thunderer, but rather a certain humility. Even so, the aura of a king who was born to rule oozed from him.
"You saw me with her?" Haemon asked with a raised eyebrow, meanwhile, his voice was full of curiosity. "Of course, I saw you! It is, after all, my duty as a grandfather to look after my grandson. Before you ask where I was when you were thrown into the abyss, my answer is simple I was around but tried not to interfere" The old man answered honestly with a shrug. "You like to watch but not interfere?" Haemon rolled his eyes and stepped closer to his grandfather. "Eh, I'm sorry, but I can't, since you are after all my sister's son. And I don't want to hurt her again" The old man sat down cross-legged on the floor and motioned for his grandson to sit beside him as well.
With a silent nod, olympian sat down beside his grandfather and then quietly asked: "What exactly have you done to my mother?" Scratching his graying beard, old man smiled sadly. "I killed your own brother thereby turning him into a fallen guardian" Haemon coldly looked at the old man with a slight tilt of his head. "Now I understand why Charon is Charon. He's somehow been wounded by the universe itself, I don't know whether to be mad at you Uranus, or glad you're honest. Considering what I'm about to do to Zagreus" Uranus was still smiling looking at his grandson then pulled out a piece of bread from a hole in space and handed it to grandson. "I know you and your brother on your father's side have some misunderstandings, but that's okay. Zagreus took not only your mother from you, but your father as well. You have as much right to be angry as any other child whose mother abandoned him in the name of her ideals"
Haemon took the bread from his grandfather's hands and began to chew it slowly, trying to enjoy all the flavor. "So why did you kill Charon anyway?" Haemon asked as he continued to chew the bread, his gaze falling on Mara, who was playing with the black cat behind them. "As you probably know in the beginning we were born the primordial generation, and in our veins flows the purest blood of chaos. And so my father decided to divide each brother and sister by giving them places where they would live as well as rule. As a result, Gaia and I, along with a few other firstborns, were given power over the outside world as well as the surface. And your family was given power over the realm of darkness and shadow. As you can guess from the name itself, this place was not a resort. Before man was born, the two realms were very different. So one day a young boy wondered why his family had to drag out such an existence while others enjoyed eternity. This question slowly gave birth to an idea, and ideas are by nature parasites that are very difficult to get rid of! Driven by a sense of grief and duty to his family, he was able to unite his brothers and sisters. Thus began an unrecorded war.
"They lost," the Olympian added with a chuckle, drinking the offered wine. "Yes, the other part of your family lost. Chaos brought your brother back to life, but no longer the same, my father wanted him to serve as an example to others. My sister's heart was broken and all because I listened to my mother!" Uranus made the space around him tremble with his words alone as if the universe itself were about to collapse. "I don't care, they lost because they're weak, it's a law of nature that the strong kill weak!" The barbarian hissed as he continued to drink wine. "Ha-ha grandson I hope you won't say that to Death's mistress when you decide to have children" With a wild laugh Uranus hugged his grandson tightly, ruffling his hair. "She might be offended. And offending death is not fun" The old man was clearly amused by his grandson's temper, especially the way he looked at him every time he mentioned death.
"We've only crossed paths with her once, and that was months ago if not more," Haemon replied coldly, freeing himself from his grandfather's grip. "Oh don't worry she's watching you I can see that. You'll meet her again soon, you can be sure of that" Pulling meat out of nowhere, the former ruler of the universe held it out to his grandson. "So why did you drag me out of the abyss and bring here?" Devouring the meat and bones, the Olympian raised an eyebrow looking at Uranus. "I offer you my help in your little vendetta! You see, I've given a lot of thought over a couple of eons and decided to go altruistic path in life" The old man smiled slyly as he approached his throne. "You? A former ruler of the cosmos, a tyrant who locked his own children in this sick purgatory, decided to become an altruist, and why should I believe that?" replied Haemon with his arms crossed over chest.
"My heart bleeds when you say that. Have I trapped my children in an abyss? Yes, and no one denies that, but for some reason, everyone forgets that these children are not little babies, but mad giants, thirsty for blood in addition to their brothers who like to forge something that can burn the world. It was a necessity for balance. And unlike the others, I didn't give up my children just because they were weak, or Cronus would have died in womb. Even when that little idiot decided to betray me, I let him do it. It's all the old witch Gaia's fault! Mama was always whining that I wouldn't let our kids wreck everything left and right. She didn't like that I was always keeping order, so she encouraged that idiot to kill his own father. She was only interested in who she could sleep with to have more children" Uranus was disgusted by his ex-wife like nothing else.
"So you didn't interfere all this time because you just didn't care?" Sitting next to an old man with a fishing rod in hands, Haemon turned with curiosity in voice. "Yes. By the way, fish" The old man calmly replied, pointing at the rod in grandson's hands twitching. Uranus got bored so he decides snapped his fingers to create a huge pond with a fish. "Then why did you decide to help me?" Pulling out a fish, the olympian asked. "Well first of all you are a son of Hades my most beloved grandson and hated you know by who. Secondly, you're my way of redeeming myself to the other half of family. Yes, Nyx doesn't understand it now, but you're the only one who can strike a balance between worlds. Yes, world truly needs someone who will create, but world also needs someone who will destroy" Calmly Uranus explained again casting his fishing line. "I thought you don't like destruction?"
"Ha-ha, no I just don't like to do things mindlessly. You killed and ate for survival, and that's okay because you can't be a sheep when all around you are wolves, it's just suicide to be a sheep. Also, you can change the world, and I believe in that!" With a clap of his hand's old man cleaned up the lake and then headed back to throne. "And what do you suggest?" Mara sat on Haemon's shoulder as he approached old man. "You need a better weapon first, and I just know a blacksmith capable of forging one!" Uranus opened a portal near Haemon thereby allowing him to say goodbye before he left.
As he waved goodbye, Haemon entered the portal. "Can he be trusted?" Mara while sitting on her lover's back answered softly, "He's insane but in his own way, so who can better understand than him" Haemon nodded at her words as he prepared for a hard landing. Luckily this time was uneventful, they appeared just outside the entrance to a cave. Some muffled moans were coming from the depths as if someone was torturing the stone itself.
Upon entering the cave, olympian had to kneel down, for his full height did not allow him to physically squeeze through the corridors. Crawling his way to the very depths, warrior found a hole from which light was oozing out. As he approached he saw a bearded giant working on a huge anvil below. It was one of the older Cyclops, one who might have worked on Zeus' lightning bolts or even his father's helmet. The master was so skillful with the hammer that mind of the beholder was plunged into a kind of trance. Sparks flew from everywhere when the giant struck the anvil, his strong hand holding the red-hot metal without fear during the forging. After watching the mesmerizing art, Haemon jumped down, thus making a very effective statement.
"Oh, so you finally come after all!" Said Cyclops in a cold-blooded voice without even turning his head toward Olympian. "I suppose old man told to have you why I am here?" Bloodshot eyes stared at the giant in anticipation. "Yes! You need a weapon while I need inspiration, Since that, I think you and I will find common ground" The Cyclops smiled and tossed sword to others in a pile as if it were garbage. Even someone who didn't work in the forge could realize the quality of weapons lying around. That made it a little creepy because as it turned out, there are creatures capable of forging perfect instruments of death just out of boredom. What, then, could they do if inspired? Dual blades are capable of absorbing the heat of battle and making the wearer stronger. Helmets that make you completely invisible and no one and nothing can see you. Lightning tearing reality itself. Hooks that suck the life force of enemy. Weapons have changed the outcome of many battles, weapons that create widows.
The older Cyclops are truly those who change reality to suit themselves, wizards of another level. And one of these monsters decided to help Haemon. A mad smile graced on olympian's face as he realized how lucky he was to have a such a sibling. "Will you craft anything I want?" Asked barbarian, looking greedily at the scarlet sword in corner of room. "Ha-ha no that's not how it works brother. The hammer and your gut decide what gift you deserve! I only shape your soul to make it more tangible, so to speak" The giant replied, laughing loudly at the barbarian's question. "Why don't you just give me one of the ready ones?" Haemon logically remarked, pointing a finger at sword. "These? You can't even cut a Kronos fingernail with those. For you, Prince, I will forge something truly terrifying. Frankly, I'd like to know how full of darkness your soul is," Cyclop smiled at his kinsman with a predatory smile.
"Let me guess you need raw materials," Haemon grinned realizing he'd have to go to a lot of trouble to get the materials. "Not really. I'm just short of flesh a powerful creature like titan or primordial. Since you're forbidden to touch any metal, the curse of your birth father ha-ha. Touch a weapon stronger than yourself, its own powers will destroy you. So I'll have to forge with flesh even though it disgusts me," Cyclops spat on ground at the sight of spear in Olympian's hands. Haemon decided to give his old son and daughter to the blacksmith for inspection. After examining the weapons, Cyclops nodded satisfactorily. "Not bad for a madman! As I understand it, they always come back to you, and also become stronger gradually with their owner. Hmm well bring the flesh of some titan or other and I will can make your true dream come true" With a powerful hammer blow he destroyed the spear along with the whip, turning them into a kind of red slurry.
Haemon walked silently away from cave; he was morally tired of everything that was happening to him. Near the exit stood a shadow leaning against a rock, a demonic smile on his face apparently serpent clearly knew where they needed to go. "Let's go"
His body was veined, mouth bleeding, and one of eyes pitch black. Back muscles bulged, ready to burst and then with a painful scream, Haemon clawed at his own back, tearing the skin apart. Two huge demonic wings burst out, allowing the Olympian to breathe a sigh of relief. "Lead on!" The barbarian hissed with clenched teeth. His body was still trembling from the incredibly painful experience of growing wings. Continuing to smile, shadow of a stiff clawed hand invited warrior to share the night sky with him. Both soared high into the sky, tearing clouds with their monstrous wings. For Haemon it was something entirely new, a feeling eclipsed by the pain and anxiety of tasting the evil poison of freedom. Of course, olympian's flying skills left a lot to be desired and were not even close to those of his older brother.
"Master try to move them less, let the little ones enjoy a taste of wind. Wings are like oars, pushing you through the water column, and there's no sense in trying to paddle every second. Breathe in, breathe out, ha-ha you're getting good at it," Shadow explained, hovering beside the warrior. "Shadow you and Mara are one?" Haemon turned to his friend as he continued adapt to aerial conditions, gradually improving his skills in this craft more and more. "So do you like my sister? Ha-ha, Mara and I are spawned from the same shadow but not from the same desire. So she and I are very different creatures, even though we are brother and sister" Taking an apple out of nowhere, the shadow narrated. "You'll both drive me insane someday," the Olympian said with a hint of sarcasm, smiling at his friend. "Ha-ha drive me insane! Ha-ha, I can't!" Clutching his stomach, shadow began laughing hysterically.
After a while, they flew to the volcano, shadow-dived into it and olympian followed suit. As it turned out, inside volcano itself, there is a stone staircase along mouth of volcano. As he descended the steps, Haemon turned again to his brother, "What dwells here?" Shadow turned his head as he continued his descent. "Tartarus" Touching the glowing walls, barbarian nodded thoughtfully. Once inside this place, you forget that it has an owner in the form of an ancient monster. This demon must be as strong as Nyx, if not stronger. Hmm, a family full of mad lords eager to tear each other apart.
"By the way, remember I told you that we can't reach our true potential because we lack a personal dimension!" Asked shadow-scratched walls with claws, those slowly began to be covered in darkness. Haemon merely nodded silently, grabbing the glowing pebble released by the vortex with his hand. "The problem is that Mother does not recognize us and thus doesn't want to give up a piece of her world. Since creatures like her have the power to change and create worlds, we are constantly pressed by her power, as if trying to erase us so that we are not Olympians at all. Her desire for us to be ordinary humans chains us together. Takes the feathers out of our wings, so to speak, I don't know if she doesn't realize it on a subconscious level. But the fact is, she chose Zagreus over us, and it gave this puppy a source of strength in the form of a blood fountain!" Shadow's voice became demonic for a moment, and horns grew on his head.
"This fountain is something like his personal dimension, a world that exists at the expense of ours. Near this fountain, he acquires his true power and also gradually acquires his true form. So far he has not been able to master this power completely, but it will not last long the boy will eventually reach his climax!" The shadow hissed showing an image of this fountain. "Unless terror befalls him!" Calmly whispered barbarian dispelling image. "And also you should probably know that because of the lack of our own dimension, our bodies have learned adapt to others. We slowly absorb power of this world, turning it into our own, and because of that we are not too much affected by the limitations of other worlds" When he reached the end of stairs, shadow pressed a certain stone in wall, thus opening door.
There behind a door was a bloody throne made of flesh, and on it sat a man with a crown on head. His eyelids were closed and there were tentacle-like sprouts growing all over his body. The room looked something like a heart, with red vines dangling from everywhere as if they were nerve knots. As he approached throne, Haemon began to carefully cut off the tentacles on Tartarus' body with his claw. "Don't worry you won't wake him up with that! He's been asleep since the titans war, ha-ha old man doesn't care what happens upstairs or down here. Sleep is the only thing he cares about, hey don't eat that!" Shadow cried out, grabbing Olympian's hand. He in turn raised one eyebrow questioningly. "Why?"
"You don't want to go completely insane by becoming a vegetable, do you? Tartarus is a prison where many creatures capable of tearing the world apart are imprisoned. Now imagine the power of someone who suppresses all those creatures! We're not epic heroes and we need to know our measure. Just not now, maybe later but not now" The shadow shook his head sternly letting go of his master's hand. "I don't have time to wait," Haemon opened his mouth and placed the firstborn's severed finger there, then swallowed. "Tsk, oh it's bad, it's really bad!" With pity shadow hissed, covering his eyes with hands unable to look at it. The warrior's body trembled, his muscles bulged, and blood flowed from his eyes. He fell to his knees, gripping head with hands, then darkness enveloped him.
Sound of hammer on the anvil awakened him, as he grabbed his head and looked around he realized to surprise that he was in Cyclops' smithy as if had never left. Not fully understanding what had happened here, Haemon was about to turn to the blacksmith, but he beat him to it. "Oh you're awake after all, ha-ha never seen anyone sleep for twenty years!" With shock in eyes, Olympian repeated what blacksmith had said. "I've been asleep for twenty years! How did I even get here?" Scratching back of his head with, Cyclops replied, "You came on your own two feet. Gave me everything I needed and said you'd stay here until I finished with weapon"
"Now I remembered, thank you, so you're done?" Rubbing his hand over his eyes, Haemon nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, just finishing up!" With those words, blacksmith struck the anvil with all his might, creating a red flash of light. "What the hell is that?" With fear in voice, blacksmith recoiled from the anvil. Haemon stepped closer to look at the creation. In the same instant, Cyclops tried to stop him, but weapon was faster. Black Slime with its tentacles clawed at Haemon. The creature, as if alive, began to cover warrior's entire body, creating a kind of armor on it. Many ugly monstrous faces appeared on it, armor screaming with all its appearance that it was the sickly embodiment of Haemon's mind. The armor was not unwieldy, oh no, on the contrary, it was like a second skin that clung tightly to barbarian's body.
Creating a symbiosis with its owner. "What have I done!?" With horror in voice, Cyclops watched as Olympian was completely enveloped by black slime, becoming gradually grayish-colored armor. "Bring life to my children!" Haemon whispered, creating a red sword in his hand. "Please destroy this creature! Weapons must not have a consciousness of their own! This creature is the worst embodiment of darkness, it will seek to consume others to fill the void within itself!" The blacksmith pleaded, holding out his hammer to crush the creature. "Ha-ha, I won't let anyone touch my son!" Smiling madly, Haemon swung his sword cutting off the smith's head. Black tentacles pounced on corpses with a hammer to make them part of a family.