19 Gods
Now, they stood before Hades, as if waiting for something.
Hades watched quietly, silent.
Undeniably, the three god kings each had their own teams. Zeus would eventually form his own, comprising the twelve main gods of Olympus; his sons, daughters, and many of his wives. Poseidon's team included the 3,000 river gods and 3,000 sea gods.
As for Hades?
Well, he found himself in a rather unfortunate position. Typically, the children of Erebus and Nyx would be his team. However, according to the established mythology, aside from Hypnos and Thanatos, gods like Ker and others did not follow him at all.
And what was the result?
Now, these 19 gods stood before him. At that moment, Hades felt a strange sensation, as if his system had suddenly exploded with potential, offering him a super-sized beginner's gift package. It was a powerful feeling.
Erebus spoke calmly: "Hades, you are now qualified to be a true Pluto. It is most suitable for these children to follow you. As their parents, we must also choose the right path for them."
"Master Hades!"
The 19 gods knelt respectfully on one knee, each filled with reverence. As they did, strands of light emerged, forming 19 crystals that floated before Hades.
Soul crystals!
For a god, the handing over a soul crystal to another is akin to signing a master-servant contract, putting one's life and death entirely in the hands of the other god. It was strange for them to make such a choice, but there it was.
Hades didn't take the soul crystals immediately; he seemed deep in thought.
Nyx continued softly, "Hades, don't overthink it. Don't ask questions; that day will come soon. When you grow stronger, you will learn everything you wish to know."
Erebus added, "The most important thing for a god is divine power. When you have enough, you can learn everything. Otherwise, remaining ignorant may be for the best."
"I understand."
Hades took the 19 soul crystals and merged them into his own soul, effectively claiming these gods as his own.
With a wave of his hand, Hades opened the gate of the underworld and said quietly, "Go to the underworld and create your own realms."
"Yes!"
"Master Hades!"
All the gods stepped into the underworld, entering the Pure Land of Bliss as perceived by Hades. There, they began creating their own planets. After all, they were the second generation of Titan gods.
Even a relatively weaker god like Ker was at the level of a main god, while Hypnos, Thanatos, Aether, and Hemera were at the level of Titan Main God.
As for the other gods, while they were all at the main god level, the four goddesses of fate were notably the weakest. The other gods fell into three distinct tiers within the realm of the main gods.
The stars of Sleep, Death, Space, Day, Destiny, Misfortune, Ghosts, Taunt, Destruction, Sorrow, Retribution, Deceit, Friendship, Age, Evil, and Decay; 16 planets in total were created, encircling the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss like sentinels, slowly orbiting in a specific trajectory.
Suddenly, Hades felt an overwhelming sensation. He found himself at a loss for words. He had started with only one underworld servant, yet now he owned 19 gods, including four Titan Main Gods. It was a remarkable turn of events, leaving him speechless.
But without dwelling too long, Hades said, "Charon."
Though the words were few, their meaning was clear.
Charon, the god of the Styx, was also a child of Erebus and Nyx. However, he had completely lost his way, which was perplexing.
"..."
At the mention of Charon, both Primordial gods fell silent.
After a moment, Nyx spoke softly, tinged with sadness: "Since his birth, Charon has gradually been dying. His divine body has completely perished, and while his soul remains, if this continues, he will ultimately fade away."
Erebus remained silent. Unlike Zeus, who often acted thoughtlessly, the Primordial gods were deeply caring and serious about their children.
However, watching one's child slowly perish was a heartbreaking ordeal, even for the Primordial gods, and it left them feeling helpless.
Hades thought for a moment and said softly, "Let me try."
Both Erebus and Nyx looked momentarily bewildered. How could Hades, who was still emerging as a force, possibly handle something that had eluded them? Though they recognized his potential...
Erebus suddenly realized something: as the natural king of the underworld, Hades might indeed have a chance to help Charon, the god of the Styx.
"Try it."
"Hades."
Erebus raised his hand, revealing a corpse that resembled a stone statue. Looking at this lifeless form, the two Primordial gods couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness; this was their child.