Hades stood silently, deep in thought, contemplating how to control the Seven-Headed Ten-Horned Red Dragon. This dragon was an exceptionally unique and powerful entity. If Hades could tame and nurture it, it could grow to rival the Ancient Gods. Perhaps, with proper guidance, it could even reach the level of an Absolute God. For a god, the presence of even a small hope is more compelling than the fear of failure. That hope represents a potential pathway to success.
Gods, with their endless lifespans, can afford to invest time and effort into exploring possibilities, even those with a slim chance of success. It's the 1% chance that matters, not the 0% despair.
Hades saw an opportunity before him. No matter how challenging it might be, he wouldn't squander the chance to harness the power of the Apocalyptic Red Dragon. He needed to devise a strategy for success.
As for Mephistopheles?
Well, he wisely chose to stay silent. He had quickly learned that following Hades' lead without question was the safest course of action. Hades' thoughts and methods often left him bewildered and struggling to keep up. So, for now, he remained observant and compliant.
Hades examined the dragon, now thoroughly sealed by the power of the Demon Stars, and murmured, "The Crown of the Seven Deadly Sins…"
The Crown of the Seven Deadly Sins
Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.
These seven deadly sins are fundamental to the essence of the Seven-Headed Ten-Horned Red Dragon. Each of its seven heads carries a crown, each representing one of the deadly sins. These sins are the source of the dragon's immense power, as it absorbs all the dark and negative energy from the mythological world to fuel its destructive nature.
Hades began to formulate a plan. All ideas, however bold, need to be tested. For Hades, action was always more telling than endless calculations. The most crucial thing was to try. If it worked, great; if not, he would adapt and try again.
Without hesitation, Hades initiated his plan. Other laws might be challenging to manipulate, but the seven deadly sins fell well within his domain of control.
"Roar!"
The Apocalyptic Red Dragon bellowed fiercely as Hades' divine power started to infiltrate its being. As his power permeated the dragon's body, he began to gain control over the seven fundamental laws embodied by the dragon.
The entire Abyss roiled with activity. The dragon's immense body twisted and writhed, as if attempting to overturn the Abyss itself. The force it exerted was so tremendous that the Demon Stars struggled to maintain their grip.
"Cackle…"
The skulls formed from the Demon Stars emitted eerie laughter, amplifying their power to contain the dragon. Chains, now twice as thick, tightened around the beast, subduing its wild thrashing and rendering it immobile.
"…"
Mephistopheles watched quietly, following Hades closely and maintaining a respectful silence.
Harnessing the Power of the Sins
Soon enough, calm returned. Floating beside Hades were seven sigils, each radiating the essence of one of the seven deadly sins. These sigils were connected by chains, binding the Apocalyptic Red Dragon.
"Lord Hades…" Mephistopheles hesitated before speaking, "Have you succeeded?"
"I have," Hades replied calmly. "By using the power of the seven deadly sins, I can control the Apocalyptic Red Dragon. However, perfecting this control will take some time."
Hades continued to channel his divine power, nurturing and solidifying the influence of the sin sigils. These seven sigils represented the core principles of the dragon's power derived from the seven deadly sins. By extracting and solidifying these core laws into the sigils, Hades could exert control over the dragon.
To ensure no one could disrupt this control, Hades implemented a failsafe. Should anyone try to sever his connection to the dragon, the Crown of the Seven Deadly Sins would shatter instantly. Without this crown, the dragon would perish.
With the dragon subdued, Hades turned his attention to another task. In his other hand, nine different sigils revolved, each exuding a distinct but dark energy—different from the sin sigils.
The Dark Crest
These were the Dark Crests, artifacts nurtured within the Abyss and inherently tied to Hades. Although not as powerful as the Demon Stars, the Dark Crests were formidable and essential for Hades. They were born from the principles of darkness and contained immense power, serving as potent tools to enhance Hades' abilities.
The Dark Crests were his rightful possessions, and reclaiming them was crucial for his plans. Additionally, they were instrumental for what he intended to do next.
The nine laws embodied by the Dark Crests were:
- Cowardice
- Hatred
- Apathy
- Cunning
- Deceit
- Ignorance
- Despair
- Darkness
- Savagery
These laws represented the deepest and darkest facets of human nature. When combined with Hades, the Dark Crests could temporarily elevate him, boosting his power from a Major God to the level of a Titan Chief God.
Notably, the Dark Crests were unique to Hades. No other god could wield them, emphasizing their special connection to him.
In the original story, to better suppress Hades, Zeus had taken the Dark Crests, knowing that they held no value for him but would significantly weaken Hades if he possessed them. Moreover, Zeus had secured the Light Crests for himself, ensuring his own further advancement.
The Light Crests
The Light Crests, opposite to the Dark Crests, were:
- Courage
- Friendship
- Love
- Innocence
- Honesty
- Knowledge
- Hope
- Light
- Kindness
With the Light Crests, Zeus could enhance his own power, tipping the balance even more in his favor. In the interplay of these crests, the suppression of one and the augmentation of the other dictated the dynamics of power.
For Hades, reclaiming the Dark Crests was a pivotal step. Holding them not only restored a part of his strength but also aligned perfectly with his nature as the Lord of the Underworld.
Having secured control over the Apocalyptic Red Dragon and retrieved the Dark Crests, Hades was well on his way to executing his grand designs, ready to confront the challenges and possibilities that lay ahead.
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