Hades was the first to depart.
After he left, Zeus followed with Metis, leaving Poseidon alone in the Heart of the Ocean.
Poseidon chuckled softly, a thoughtful smile on his face. He had his own plans but chose to remain silent as he stood up and left the Heart of the Ocean. There were matters requiring his attention, especially regarding Atlantis. As someone who had just lifted a seal, he needed time to fully master its depths.
Meanwhile, after Zeus and Metis exited the Heart of the Ocean, they made their way to the heavens. On their journey, Zeus asked, "Metis, what do you think of Hades and Poseidon?"
Metis pondered for a moment before replying, "Hades is clearly making preparations. Even without the Lament of the Gods, he will reclaim his authority; after all, he has been free from his seal for years. However..." She hesitated before continuing, "It seems to me that Hades has other ambitions. He appears quite interested in the Lament of the Gods, but his ultimate intentions are hard to decipher."
Zeus nodded thoughtfully. "Regardless of his intentions, speculating is pointless. We must strengthen our own divine powers; only then can we take the initiative once the battle with the Titans commences."
"Agreed," Metis affirmed.
There was no denying it, the young Zeus was brimming with ambition. He firmly believed in the strength of his own power as the key to mastery, unlike his older self, who had become consumed by indulgence and excess.
Thus, the three brothers Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus; set out to reclaim their rightful powers as the battle of the Titans loomed.
Hades!
This realm was traditionally the domain of the dead, yet in this era, new souls rarely emerged, leaving the Underworld largely empty. The dark skies loomed over the barren landscape, unchanged and desolate.
Hades had arrived and surveyed his surroundings, contemplating his next steps. He understood that if he released the invisibility cloth, he would inevitably draw the attention of Cronus' Pluto clone. However, doing so would hinder other plans he had in mind.
Venturing deeper into the Underworld, Hades sensed something vital calling to him. Unlike the realms of heaven and sea, the Underworld possessed an essence tied to its owner. Born from the body of Tartarus, a primordial god, the Underworld was inherently owned, a reality that made Hades reluctant to fully embrace the title of its king.
To be the ruler of the Underworld meant forever being second to Cronus, the true master, which offered little satisfaction. Instead, Hades opted to absorb the power of the Underworld to strengthen himself.
As he continued deeper, he felt faint, familiar energies; almost imperceptible, like the breath of the invisibility cloth. Yet, he recognized them as inherently his. Hades pressed on, moving toward the heart of his domain, where Tartarus lay in deep slumber, disinterested in the world beyond.
Eventually, Hades arrived at the depths of the Underworld, where he discovered shimmering black crystals. Among them stood a striking piece of special steel, the centerpiece of which was the Underworld crystal.
"Underworld crystal," he murmured, his eyes drawn to its essence.
This crystal represented death and the darkness of the Underworld. Despite its significance, Tartarus was indifferent to its presence; wisps of power had gathered to form the Hades crystal, a source of immense underworld energy.
Though the Underworld crystal was potent, it was not suitable for ordinary gods; its deathly essence would erode them. Only Hades, Cronus, and Tartarus had the right to wield such power. Cronus, of course, cared little for it, while Tartarus; being a primordial deity, had far greater secrets to occupy his time.
Now, it was Hades' turn. He summoned all the Underworld crystals, merging them into his own 108 magic stars, enhancing his potential and abilities.
Finally, he turned his attention to the largest Underworld crystal and the special steel named Stygian Iron. Without hesitation, he carefully secured these treasures, the very core of his plans.