Persephone stood at the edge of a beautiful garden, her white dress dancing in the gentle breeze. The sun's rays bathed her delicate face in a warm glow as she plucked a flower from the ground, her eyes sparkling with wonder and innocence. Even here, in this fabricated world, her ethereal beauty captivated me.
Thanatos and I approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. She turned to us with a curious smile on her lips. "Hades," she greeted warmly, her voice a melodic whisper. "What brings you here?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. My mouth felt parched as I summoned the courage to share our plan. "Persephone," I began, my words filled with hesitation, "Would you mind accompanying me to the Underworld?" Persephone's smile faded, her brows furrowing in confusion. "The Underworld? Why would you want me to go there?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
I took a deep breath, my heart heavy with the weight of my request. "It's... complicated," I replied, struggling to find the right words. "There's something I need to accomplish in the Underworld, and I believe your presence would be... beneficial."
Persephone's eyes narrowed in suspicion, her grip tightening on the flower in her hand. "And what exactly do you need me for?" she pressed, her voice laced with caution.
I glanced at Thanatos, searching for any hints of support or guidance. He let out a sigh before taking a step towards me. "Persephone, try to see this as a temporary escape, and remember that you can always come back. We could use your assistance."
Persephone's gaze shifted between the two of us, her expression a mix of confusion and wariness. "What kind of assistance are you offering? And why should I trust either of you?" She demanded, her voice wavering with vulnerability. I took a cautious step towards
"Persephone, my heart racing in my chest. "I understand your hesitation," I reassured her, my tone gentle but resolute. "Is there anything you desire in return? A quest you seek to complete or an item you long for?" We all have our objectives in this game, so we must each have something crucial to gain by working together.
Persephone's eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and caution. She mulled over my words, her fingers absentmindedly twirling the flower in her hand. After a moment, she sighed softly and glanced up at me, her gaze filled with determination.
"I do have a quest that I've been meaning to embark on," she admitted, her voice laced with a hint of vulnerability. "But I can't trust you blindly without knowing the details of your plan. What exactly do you need from me in the Underworld?"
I release a deep breath, there's no use hiding it. "You are my mission, my top priority is to take you with me to the underworld. Why? I cannot say for certain."
"Okay, I'll go with you to the Underworld. I've been stuck in this garden ever since I entered this game. I thought if I just waited long enough, someone would beat it and I could return to my normal life. But it seems like I need to participate too. I have to conquer a dungeon in the Underworld. Maybe you can help me defeat it." She runs her fingers through her hair and lets out a weary sigh.
"Thank you, Persephone," I murmured gratefully. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."
Persephone's lips curved into a small smile, her eyes shimmering with a newfound determination. "I believe you, Hades," she whispered.
Thanatos opens a portal, and without hesitation, we step through. We find ourselves back at my castle, and right on cue, a message appears in front of me. "Congratulations on completing one of the main quests. Here are your rewards." I receive upgrades for my armor, along with some miscellaneous items. But the most important thing is that I can level up in several areas. Curious about my current level, I check my stats and my eyes widen in disbelief. I've already reached level 100. I turn to Thanatos and ask him, "What level is Zeus at?" He knows everything about the other players.
"I checked his stats earlier; he's at level 1000." He shakes his head in disappointment.
Well, I still have a long way to go if I want to catch up to Zeus at level 1000. It looks like there's still a lot more challenges and leveling up ahead of me.