Silence reigned for an unknown length of time before Erebos spoke, "Hades, consider this our investment in you. In the future, if you prove your worth, we will continue to support you. But if you fail or die, then this investment ends here."
"Investment..." Hades murmured, the word echoing in his mind as he pondered its implications.
Investment.
The concept of investment was unheard of in the original tales of Greek mythology. In those stories, Hades was freed from his father's seal through Zeus's intervention. But now, by a twist of fate, he had awakened consciousness, escaped his father's seal through the guidance and aid of the Magi Star, and was assisted by these ancient deities.
This divergence was the sole point of departure from the original myth. Given these circumstances, Nyx and Erebos's intervention could indeed be viewed as an initial investment.
"Hades," Nyx smiled gently, "You don't need to overthink it. For the next five hundred thousand years, you will have peace. Kronos has given his word, and during this time, no Titan will trouble you. Before you gain the strength to understand what this investment truly means, knowing too much might not be beneficial for you."
Nyx's words made Hades realize that their investment was based on his potential. The reasons behind it were beyond his current understanding. Knowing more than necessary could only bring trouble.
This situation was akin to the Titan deity Coeus, known as the God of Black Lightning and also titled 'The Sage'. His unparalleled wisdom enabled him to see through everything. This led him to create the 'God-Slaying Force', a power capable of destroying gods. Fearing its implications, Coeus sealed this force deep within his memories.
Before one attains sufficient strength, knowing too much can be perilous. In simpler terms: Knowledge can be toxic.
"I understand." Hades accepted their explanation.
Erebos continued, "Hades, we look forward to your journey ahead. There," he pointed, "is the path to leave. Once you exit this realm of darkness, you will return to the earthly world. Remember, you have only five hundred thousand years. After that, you will face the relentless pursuit of the Titans and the twelve Olympian gods."
"I understand," Hades repeated, turning to follow the path illuminated by tiny specks of light. He gradually walked away, eventually vanishing from the dark realm created by the ancient couple.
Erebos and Nyx watched him leave in silence.
After a long pause, Nyx softly asked, "Erebos, do you think Hades can succeed?"
"I don't know," Erebos shook his head. "Even as ancient gods, we cannot predict the fate of a god-king. Moreover, Hades has already begun to break free from his destined path. It is precisely why we chose to invest in him."
Nyx nodded in agreement, "Indeed. Now, we wait. If, over the next five hundred thousand years..."
She trailed off, choosing not to complete her sentence. Together, they gazed into the distance, their hope rekindled as Hades took his first steps in defying fate.
---
Hades followed the illuminated path for an indeterminate length of time. As he progressed, a brilliant light began to shine, guiding him out of the realm of darkness. Finally, he emerged into a breathtaking scene.
The sky.
The earth.
Mountains.
Rivers.
"Life..."
Hades stood still, absorbing the vitality of the world. For the Lord of the Underworld, everything seemed to take on a new significance. He had finally set foot on solid ground after countless eons. Even though this freedom was fleeting—limited to five hundred thousand years—what awaited him afterward was an abyss of danger.
This reality was clear from the greedy eyes of the Titans around him. They longed to kill him, for delivering his head to the Titan Palace would earn them great rewards from Kronos.
It's worth noting that the number of Titans is staggering. In the Japanese pantheon, there are supposedly eight million gods. In contrast, during this era, the number of Titans rivals or even surpasses this figure.
Mountains, rivers, plants, and stones.
In this Golden Age, anything that absorbed enough divine power permeating the world could transform into a god. The same applied to humans of this era.
Humans born in the Golden Age inherently possessed the Seventh Sense, a small cosmos. Being naturally immortal, they could easily attain the Eighth Sense with a bit of effort. Becoming a god was almost effortless for them.
The crucial element was that the air in this Golden Age was not mere air but divine power!
Consequently, in terms of sheer numbers, the Titans were extraordinarily numerous. All these myriad Titans fell under the dominion of Kronos.
"I must become stronger," Hades mused, ignoring the Titans' lurking presence. He contemplated his next steps. None would dare act against him during the promised five hundred thousand years. This was his father's, Kronos's, vow—a sacred promise no Titan would dare to break.
Of course, if Hades sought trouble during this period and ended up getting himself killed, that would be a different story altogether.
"Given my current divine power, I am roughly equivalent to a second-tier god. After all, absorbing divine power while sealed by my father was exceedingly difficult."
Reflecting on this, Hades recognized that since breaking free from the seal, his growth in divine power and understanding of the laws had surged exponentially. This rapid growth would only halt once he reached his limit.
According to the classification of gods:
1. Third-tier gods
2. Second-tier gods
3. First-tier gods
4. True gods
5. Major gods
6. Chief gods
7. God-kings
8. Ancient gods
9. Creator gods
10. Absolute gods
These ten levels delineate the hierarchy. Hades currently stood at the penultimate tier, just above the lowest rank. Naturally, with his innate potential and the free flow of divine power, he could easily rise to the pinnacle of a Major God within these five hundred thousand years.
Initially, there were no such detailed classifications. However, with the emergence of the twelve Olympian gods, these tiers were established. Over time, as more Titans were born, the system of godly ranks became increasingly refined.
Hades resolved to use his time wisely. He had five hundred thousand years—a brief respite in the lifespan of a god—to ascend through the ranks, gather strength, and prepare for the trials that lay ahead.
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