With a deliberate grace, Hades reemerged in the Underworld, each step echoing with authority. Shrouded in the divine power of his Helmet, he revealed no trace of his presence. Tartaros, consumed by his arrogance and oblivious to Hades's approach, remained unaware of the impending confrontation.
"Tartaros," Hades spoke softly, his voice laced with an ominous undertone. "Your arrogance, combined with your weakness, will become your greatest downfall."
With a swift motion, Hades raised one hand, a ray of divine energy coalescing into a small vial. This was the Lament for the Gods, a potion originally prepared for his father but never utilized. Now, it found its purpose, transformed by the essence of two Primordial gods.
"Everything begins now," Hades declared, releasing the vial onto the ground of the Underworld.
The moment the potion touched the soil, a chilling scream resonated throughout the realm. It was Tartarus's voice, filled with terror and disbelief.
As chains rattled ominously, one hundred and eight magic stars materialized, morphing into dark purple chains that ensnared the entire Underworld. Tartaros found himself yanked from the depths of the realm, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Hades! You dare—" he roared, but Hades paid no heed. Instead, he intensified his connection to the magic stars, drawing upon their terrifying power, siphoning Tartarus's divine essence.
A shriek of agony escaped Tartarus's lips as he felt his divine power dissipate. In that moment, the once-feared Primordial god was at Hades's mercy. Tartaros had never anticipated such a turn of events, especially following the birth of Typhon, which had left him vulnerable.
With every passing second, Tartarus's strength waned. Hades's strategic brilliance had caught him off guard, exploiting Tartarus's moment of weakness. The Lament for the Gods, unleashed upon Tartaros, began to drain his power, reducing him to a mere shadow of his former self.
"Damn you, Hades!" Tartaros cried, his voice growing weaker, disbelief etched across his features. "You…you cunning bastard!"
Hades remained impassive, merely observing Tartarus's descent into despair. The Underworld, once a vast and formidable domain, began to shrink, its size collapsing to a mere hundred meters, reflecting Tartarus's diminishing power.
Eventually, Tartaros could only cough weakly, his once-mighty presence reduced to a feeble form. "Hades…you've won. I never imagined you would outsmart me," he admitted, a bitter smile emerging despite his condition.
Hades's expression remained calm, his silence speaking volumes as he watched Tartarus's fall from grace. Time continued to pass, and Tartarus's power ebbed away until he was but a whisper of his former self.
Finally, with Tartaros nearly spent, Hades unleashed a brilliant flash of light, enveloping the weakened Primordial god. The radiant energy consumed Tartaros, sealing him within the depths of the Underworld, transforming his power into magic circles that fortified Hades's realm.
Hades had no desire to annihilate Tartaros; destruction would only disrupt the delicate balance of their world. Instead, he chose to confine him, recognizing that a total obliteration would create chaos, a burden too great for his Underworld to bear.
With Tartaros sealed, Hades turned and walked away without a glance back. The matter was resolved, each move executed with precision. Every step taken had been deliberate, with no room for error.
In the shadows of the Underworld, Hades had emerged victorious, a master of strategy in a game that would forever alter the landscape of divine power.