Hades contemplated for a moment and summoned all ten members of the family into the Underworld.
For him, it didn't matter which world he was in; he could open the Underworld anytime and anywhere, as it was his divine domain, unlike the typical Underworld.
Similarly, Tartarus could also be accessed at will, as it was his world as a god.
"Tartarus," he stated, "you only get one chance."
As Hades stored away the family, he fell into deep thought. He remembered the God's Lament in his hand that he had yet to use. After its transformation, its effect was specifically tailored for primordial gods, particularly for Tartarus.
He was waiting for the most opportune moment, and that moment was approaching.
Withdrawing his thoughts, Hades focused on Yamata no Orochi, which was now charging toward him.
"Roar!"
A roar filled with decay emanated from the enormous Yamata no Orochi as it galloped closer, its eyes gleaming with insatiable greed. The beast saw the sisters as a delicious feast, planning to consume one each year to maximize its benefits.
"Here it comes."
"Hmm"
After a moment's thought, Hades opened his hand, summoning countless nine-pointed star magic circles.
As the master of ultimate power, manipulating other forms of power was effortless for him. This vast magic circle was conjured at will and contained the laws of death and sleep.
At his current strength, Hades was akin to a powerhouse wielding forces at his fingertips. His abilities were unparalleled, complemented by his perfect skills—skills that encompassed more than just martial prowess.
In Hades' hands, this was taken to an extreme.
In a matter of moments, countless laws converged into overlapping magic circles, perfectly aligned. A single misstep could lead to detonation, yet he executed it flawlessly.
"Roar!"
Countless magic circles descended upon Yamata no Orochi, and in an instant, the creature emitted a bone-chilling roar.
Its eight massive heads howled and thrashed wildly.
In that moment, Yamata no Orochi realized its predicament. The serpent's eight mouths opened wide, unleashing a wave of monstrous, decaying energy toward Hades.
It's worth noting that while Yamata no Orochi resembled a dragon, it was fundamentally a beast, far from being a true dragon.
Though they all existed in the same realm as god-kings, they were hardly comparable.
Poseidon and Zeus maintained a perfect triangle of balance with Hades. The underlying reason for this equilibrium was that Poseidon wielded the power of the Evil God, while Zeus commanded god-killing thunder.
These two types of power had the capacity to eliminate gods, allowing for this balance.
Hades didn't desire to disrupt this balance, as it served no purpose for him. Why would he want to eliminate the other two gods? What would he gain? Forcing himself to become the king of gods over the entire mythical world would offer almost negligible benefits.
In Hades' view, possessing more didn't equate to better power unless it involved the law of chaos—because chaos is the origin of all things. However, Hades governed the law of the Underworld, a novel law formed after creation, not a natural one.
As the ruler of the Underworld, the Emperor of Heaven, and the Lord of the Seas, he held the authority of four celestial masters.
Thus, the path Hades walked was unprecedented, requiring him to progress step by step. Without a predecessor to follow, everything belonged to him. Hades possessed absolute confidence in his abilities.
Regarding the differences in god-king strength, the disparity was immense, divided into tiers. Hades could defeat Poseidon and Zeus on his own. Even with their god-slaying powers, they could at most inflict significant damage on him or emerge from their battles with minor injuries. However, the repercussions of such a conflict would be substantial.
Until he had the capability to alter the world, it was best to refrain from taking such actions.
While Yamata no Orochi was also a God King, it was remarkably weaker than its counterparts. Compared to Hades, who had once challenged Hyperion upon entering the realm of god-kings, Yamata no Orochi was several tiers below. With such a god-king, Hades could easily suppress it at will.
"Roar!"
The erratic Yamata no Orochi writhed in chaos, but its struggles were utterly futile. No matter how frantically it thrashed, it changed nothing.
"So weak."
Hades uttered this phrase softly; it was painfully obvious. Despite being a god-king, Yamata no Orochi was laughably weak. It felt almost trivial, like an embarrassing shadow of its supposed power.
This sensation sparked a strange thought in Hades: Could Yamata no Orochi really be considered strong in the realm of god-kings? Absolutely! There was no doubt about its essence, but it was simply too weak. In Hades' eyes, it was almost a disgrace.
Even the former Hyperion could have easily dispatched Yamata no Orochi with a flick of his skill. This glaring weakness was shocking, leaving Hades with an unusual impression.
"Strange."
"Indeed..."
Hades recognized the peculiarity emanating from Yamata no Orochi, but now was not the time for such contemplation. He opened his hand, and one hundred and eight magic stars materialized, transforming into dark purple chains that swiftly ensnared Yamata no Orochi.
"Roar!"
Yamata no Orochi let out a frenzied roar, but it found itself unable to move. The ground morphed into a dark abyss, gradually pulling Yamata no Orochi into its depths. Just like that, this formidable god-king was effortlessly subdued.
This sensation was truly exhilarating.
After a brief moment of reflection, Hades departed. As he did, the three gods rushed over, radiating terrifying divine power. Their expressions were filled with rage; all their plans had been thwarted by an unknown god.