Godlike. Domineering.
Cronus fixed his gaze on Hades. "Do you truly believe you can escape my grasp?"
Hades paused, then replied, "Truthfully, I know it's impossible to escape in the face of your power, Father, and the eleven Titan Lords, including Mother. But instinct tells me that if I break free from this seal, I will find a way to leave the Titan Temple."
Cronus smirked, "Let's see if your instinct holds true."
As soon as the words left his lips, darkness enveloped the entire Titan Temple.
With a cold snort, Cronus unleashed his infinite divine power, shattering the night, but Hades had vanished.
"Your Majesty?" Rhea gasped, shocked. Who could take Hades away right under Cronus's nose? It was clear to her that Hades lacked the strength to escape on his own.
Cronus responded indifferently, "Just a couple of old foes hiding in the shadows, Rhea. Tell Koios to hunt down Hades."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Rhea knelt, filled with admiration for Cronus and bitterness toward herself. She believed that if she had been stronger, if she had been more loyal, none of this would have happened. She blamed herself, even if fate or the curse of the Primordial God played a role.
"Erebus. Nyx. Interesting."
A smile formed on Cronus's lips as he closed his eyes, as if perceiving the entire universe.
In the depths of darkness, Hades found himself in a void devoid of light, where light felt like the rarest treasure. Yet, everything was clear to him. He could see through the darkness, not because of his divine power, but through an instinctual understanding that felt almost surreal.
"Thank you."
Hades spoke these words calmly, despite knowing his life was not entirely his own. As his divine power grew, his heart remained steady. Calmness enveloped him, impervious to external chaos.
"Hades."
A soft, elegant voice pierced the darkness, and a tall, perfect woman emerged. Her beauty transcended description, embodying the very essence of life and creation.
Hades remained silent for a moment before recognizing her. "Primordial Goddess."
The woman was Nyx, the Goddess of the Night.
"You should not thank me, Hades," she said coolly. "You should thank yourself. If your will had not endured, I would not have intervened. A being who loses their will can never rise to greatness."
"Indeed."
Then, a handsome man with long black hair stepped forward. Hades nodded, recognizing him. "Erebus, the God of Darkness."
Erebus and Nyx, the rare couple among the Primordial gods, were known for their reclusive nature. Despite being pivotal figures in mythology, they rarely emerged from their eternal shadows.
If anything, they were recognized as Hades' future allies Hypnos, the God of Sleep, and Thanatos, the God of Death, were their sons, yet little else was known about them.
Their intervention to help Hades escape the Titan Temple was unexpected. What could their motives be?
Erebus approached saying, "Just as Nyx mentioned, your will is what saved you. Without it, you would have lost your chance, and no one would have valued you again."
Hades remained silent, grappling with a confusion he couldn't yet articulate.
"Hades, strengthen your resolve" Nyx urged. "This era will be the most glorious chapter of mythology, and you are not weaker than Zeus."
Erebus added, "Your future transcends destiny."