Ochs. Chris.
The two siblings parted ways.
Hades turned to Keres, saying, "This is pure human affection, the bond of family."
As he spoke, Hades raised a hand, summoning two rays of light from the distance that coalesced in his palms. Two crystal-clear teardrops, called the Tears of Family Love, floated before him, glowing with an ethereal brilliance.
The blue light of the teardrops exuded an intoxicating beauty that could ensnare the soul, a beauty that often harbored danger within its depths.
"Tears of affection?" Keres was astonished, never expecting to encounter such a treasure.
These Tears of Family Love, the most mysterious and elusive artifacts of legend, represented the pinnacle of human emotion: family, friendship, and love. When all three teardrops gathered, they could trap any god in an eternal illusion, rendering them unable to escape. However, in the lore of the gods, no one believed these tears truly existed; they were dismissed as mere myth.
Hades explained, "The search for these tears has been misguided. They can only be born from humanity. Pure family affection, love, and friendship; these emotions can only originate from mortals. Gods cannot give birth to such pure sentiments."
"I see!" Keres nodded, the truth resonating within her.
"Let's go," Hades said.
"Yes!" Keres replied, following.
Their deal with Poseidon had proven fruitful. Before negotiations began, Hades had already secured one-tenth of the seeds of ultimate power and acquired the Tears of Family Love from the two Underworld fighters, marking a significant victory. Over time, Hades' warriors had grown to five, distinguished by their dark purple garments, the true hue of the Underworld.
Hades and Keres returned to the Underworld. Keres entered the Star of Destiny to contemplate fate, while Hades retreated to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to merge the seeds of ultimate power he possessed, preparing for the upcoming transaction in three thousand years.
For the gods, time was a trivial concern. Three thousand years passed swiftly. When Hades opened his eyes again, the agreed time had arrived, and he made his way to the heart of the ocean. This journey was expedited; Poseidon awaited him.
"Hades, you've arrived," Poseidon greeted him.
The two exchanged a brief yet meaningful glance.
"Come with me," Poseidon urged, leading Hades deeper into the ocean realm. "We must continue our business. I need your Magic Star to seal the gods one by one. They are my kin, yet they are plagued by chaos and madness. If this continues, they will perish."
Hades remained silent, choosing not to question Poseidon's claims. In the realm of the gods, even what was visible could be deceptive, making it wise to withhold judgment.
Soon, they reached the depths of the ocean, where darkness enveloped them. Amidst this void, a soft light illuminated a prison, a cell containing a chaotic energy.
"Roar!" "Aw!" "Ah!"
The sounds emanating from within were primal, resembling the cries of irrational beasts. Yet, Hades sensed a radiant divine power pulsating within the prison, an immense force reminiscent of the Titans. There were five distinct auras.
As Hades focused, he discerned the identities of these trapped deities. They were consumed by madness and chaos, and if this essence could not be extracted, their fates would be dire.
"This is it," Poseidon said, leading Hades deeper into the prison.
The sight that met them was both terrifying and sorrowful. Five figures emerged from the shadows, unleashing beast-like howls upon seeing Hades and Poseidon.
One figure had sea-blue hair, once serene but now embodying rage, the Friendliness of the Sea: Nessance. Another, with similar features but more mature, cowered in a corner, his red eyes glowing with fury, the Wonder of the Sea: Tao Masi.
The third, a shifting mass of forms, represented the Wrath of the Sea: Forcus. A half-snake, half-fish creature, menacing yet regal, was known as the Danger of the Sea: Keto. Lastly, a woman of elegance, with an aura of madness, Eurybia, Sea Power Empress.
These five were descendants of Pontos, the primordial god of the sea, and Gaia, the goddess of the earth, representing the quintessence of the sea. Ironically, these powers now tormented them, leaving them unable to wield their own strengths. Eurybia, in particular, was the mother of Perses, the God of Destruction, previously sealed by Hades.
The irony was palpable; the embodiments of sea power were now prisoners of their own might.