" Hurry up! I don't wanna be here any longer than we need to be! " Zeus says raggedly. He and his brother Hades were currently creeping around a most peculiar place.
It seemed like a giant cavern, with molten rocks and all kinds of tephra littering the ground. It was so expansive that the walls couldn't be seen at all, as if veiled by ash and smoke. Jagged stalagmites piercing through from below. Fire and lava seemed to erupt instantaneously at abrupt times. Massive blankets of night cover the ceiling, creating an eerie atmosphere. It was Tartarus, the dreaded pit that all manner of beings seemed to fear.
" I don't see what you're so distressed about. " Hades replies unconcerned. For the first time in his life, he had never felt so 'at home'. Granted, he felt the same way when he was with his mother and very caring elder sister. But this was different, it was like he was meant to be here, by fate or something.
Both continued walking for a long time. The occasional eruptions of magma and creaking from what seemed to be huge rock formations decorating their journey.
" Curses! Are we lost? Mother said it was around here right? " Zeus said in worry, growing more anxious by the second. They were wasting valuable time! Every moment they spend being lost was another moment Atlas could quell their revolt.
" We aren't. Calm yourself. " Hades confirmed emotionlessly.
" How would you know! " Zeus whined. As you can see, he was not as 'mature' and tempered as his future self. Having been hidden since birth, and only recently having fought an actual war.
" I can feel it. We are near, just keep walking. " Hades answered vaguely.
" Sigh... whatever. " Zeus just sighed out, having enough with his elder brother's cryptic words. They were divine, all of them were weird, and with it came abnormal abilities, which was why Zeus just left it like that.
Soon, they came upon a large metal gate. The metal was dark black, and it was thick. It was as if giant pillars of steel were forged into one terrifying mess of a gate. Arriving upon the imposing entrance, the brothers approached it when suddenly-
" Well well well! What do we have here? " A foul voice reverberated along the cavern walls, rumbling faintly. It seemed feminine, and would almost have sounded melodious if not for the malevolent pressure it bore.
" Campe! " Zeus exclaimed with widened eyes, he had only heard tale of the mysterious sentinel that guarded the prisons of Tartarus from his mother's stories.
Campe was a fierce she-dragon. She had dark red scales, demonic wings and a huge frame. But this dragon did not seem to have a regular draconic head, instead there was the upper body of a woman. She had rag-like hair, an evil grin and a mischievous glint in her eyes.
" Intruders? What you might be doing here? Well forget that, you won't leave here alive anyway! " The she-dragon said, unaware of the power the two Godlings wielded.
" Zeus! Go on, I will stall her! " Hades said confidently. It seemed being in Tartarus heightened his senses, and strengthened his domain to darkness and riches as well.
" I understand! " Zeus responds, not dallying any further and sprinting towards the gate. Quickly taking out a mysterious chest, he opens it and takes out a golden key. It had peculiar glowing characters on it.
Approaching the gate, he slammed the key into an inconspicuous keyhole. The mighty gates opened, and quickly head inside determined to achieve his objective, freeing the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires his father had imprisoned here.
--- Lots of fighting, finding and persuading later, ---
" Hades! We are leaving! " Zeus says bolting out the door, lightning coursing through his legs.
" Understood! " Hades said, disengaging from the exhausted she-dragon. He was successful in stalling and even overpowering her for some time.
And from deep within the gates, intense rumbling and shaking rung. The sound was getting closer and closer, until finally-
" BOOOOOOM! " With the combined might of the prisoners inside, the gate was crushed beneath their heels. From the remains of the gate, came 6 figures.
There were three enraged looking giants. These were the Cyclopes Brontes, Steropes and Arges. They had towering figures, clad in monster leather. They each had one glowing eye that radiated berserk madness.
And behind them, were three absolute abominations! With forms not even their father would love, which he didn't, that was why they were in here in the first place. They each had a hundred hands, each moving with inhuman and grotesque movements. These were the Hecatoncheires.
With their new entourage, the young Godlings led the way. After a few long hours, they had finally found the exit once more, a small opening situated within the endless nowhere of Tartarus.
" There! " Zeus pointed out. They were finally out! Now, with the assistance from the previous prisoners of Tartarus, they had a much bigger chance of succeeding! They could win the war!
--- To Be Continued ---
( This chapter is shorter because it was split into two after I decided the last draft was too long. About the MC being absent, hang on for a little longer, we almost there! Remember to support in any way you can, anything is appreciated. )