After a whole year of napping I was finally sitting at the table on Mount Ida, turns out that renaming an entire realm takes alot out of a god. I found myself more bored than I cared to admit. The meeting had been dragging on for what felt like hours. This war council felt more like an argument between children and it was starting to give me a headache.
I leaned back in my chair, letting my thoughts drift to more pressing matters. The Underworld was coming along nicely, but it still lacked any kind of plants. I should really ask Demeter's help. If I could convince her to visit and grow something in the barren lands of my domain, it would transform the Underworld into something truly remarkable. I need to also need to get some workers for the underworld. A ferryman to bring the souls from across the Styx. An Advisor, I need to have guards and soldiers and so on...
I was so caught up in my musings that I barely registered the irritated clearing of a throat. Looking up, I realized the others were staring at me. Zeus's annoyed expression was particularly grating. "What?" I asked.
Zeus rolled his eyes and repeated his question, his tone clipped. "What do you suggest we do next, Hades? As a part of our team we need to have your input. We are in an inpass about where to go next."
I gave the matter some thought, lets knock two birds with one stone. "We should travel to Tartarus and free the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires," I said, keeping my voice steady.
That got everyone's attention. The room fell silent for a moment before Hera spoke, her voice skeptical. "The Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires? Why?"
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "The Cyclopes are blacksmiths and can craft whatever they put their minds to. If we free them, they can forge us divine weapons that will give us a significant advantage in the war. And the Hecatoncheires? Their sheer strength and power will be a great advantage in the war. We need them."
The others exchanged glances, mulling over my suggestion. Eventually, Poseidon nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It makes sense. We need allies, and they would be powerful ones."
Zeus, crossed his arms. "And how exactly do you propose we get there? Tartarus isn't exactly easy to access, brother. There are no natural entrences you know."
I allowed myself a small, knowing smile. "I have a way."
What I didn't say was that after bonding with the Underworld, I had gained full control over its entrances and exits. I could open a portal to Tartarus anywhere, at any time—even directly beneath Zeus if I felt like it. The thought was tempting, but I held back. I wasn't quite ready to make that kind of statement yet.
Instead, I stood, brushing off my robes. "I can teleport us to the entrance of Tartarus."
Everyone except Zeus stood and moved toward me, trusting my abilities without question. Zeus, however, stayed rooted in his seat, glaring at me suspiciously. "How can you do that? How do we know you won't leave us stranded there?"
My eyebrow twitched, but I forced a calm expression. "Because unlike you, Zeus, I understand the importance of cooperation," I said dryly. "Now stop wasting time, Poseidon?."
Poseidon nodded and grinned, clapping a hand on Zeus's shoulder. "If you're so worried, little brother, I'll make sure you don't get left behind." Before Zeus could protest, Poseidon scooped him up and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Zeus's indignant sputtering was music to my ears as Poseidon grabbed my shoulder with his free hand.
"Let's go," I said, focusing my power.
The sensation of teleportation was immediate and disorienting for the others, though I was used to it by now. The air shifted around us, growing heavier and darker as the oppressive presence of Tartarus closed in. When we landed, I took a moment to steady myself before taking in the sight before us.
The entrance to Tartarus was a massive, jagged chasm that seemed to breathe with its own malevolence. Dark energy pulsed from its depths, and the air around it was thick with the whispers of ancient, restless spirits.
I turned to the others, dusting off my hands. "This is it. Let's get moving."
As I began to lead the way, I heard the sound of Zeus scrambling to his feet behind me. "Wait!" he called, rushing to the front. "I'll lead the way."
I stopped mid-step, staring at him with disbelief. "You don't even know where you're going."
Zeus ignored me, striding ahead with all the confidence of someone who didn't realize he was walking in the wrong direction. I rolled my eyes, exchanging a knowing glance with Poseidon. He smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle as much as I was.
"Fine," I muttered, stepping aside. "Lead on, oh wise leader."
As Zeus marched ahead, I couldn't help but smirk to myself. This journey was going to be far more entertaining than I had anticipated. Oh and was I right, Zeus had led us through Tartarus for days. Days. I wasn't sure how he managed to get us lost in a place I knew like the back of my hand, but leave it to my younger brother to find new ways to surprise me with his incompetence. The oppressive atmosphere of Tartarus didn't help.
We'd encountered monsters more than once, but dealing with them was simple enough for me. Each time a monster or another would appear, I would simply destroy it, I didn't have the patience for prolonged battles—not when Zeus was so intent on wasting time getting us lost.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reached the cells of the Elder Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires. Though of course due to our luck, standing guard was none other than, Kampe. We hid behind a large boulder, I having to cover us in darkness so she didn't notice Zeus spiking aura.
Now what exactly was Kampe? Well her body was that of a black dragon, with her tail ending in a scorpion's stinger. Where the dragon's neck should have been, the torso of an asian woman rose, she had long black hair that covered her nude body. I noticed she was holding a long cleaver, she seemed to be distracted cleaning it.
Zeus, predictably, froze. "What do we do?" he whispered, though his voice was loud enough to make me cringe. Subtlety was never his strong suit.
I rolled my eyes and stepped forward, lowering my voice. "I'll distract her. The rest of you will free the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires. Simple enough for even you to follow, Zeus?"
Zeus nodded quickly, relief flooding his expression. "Right. You distract her, and we'll handle the cells."
"Go. Now."
I waited for them to slink into the shadows before stepping out into the open. Kampe's blood-red eyes immediately locked onto me, narrowing in suspicion. Her scorpion tail twitched, the venom dripping onto the stone with a hiss.
"Hey, bitch!" I called, my voice echoing in the cavern. "Do those horns come with instructions, or are they just for show?"
Kampe's expression twisted into a snarl. She surged forward, her blades gleaming in the dim light. "Who dares insult me?" she hissed, her voice a chilling blend of human and beast.
"Oh, sorry, was that rude?" I asked, sidestepping her first strike. "I just assumed someone as hideous as you must be used to it. Let me introduce myself, I am Hades, simply a young god."
Her roar shook the cavern, but I held my ground, drawing her away from the cells. As she lunged again, I darted to the side, keeping her focused on me. My shadows swirled around me, deflecting her strikes as I kept an eye on my siblings in the distance. After a while I turned and looked fully at where the cells where at.
The Cyclopes were gone, their chains shattered. But the Hecatoncheires remained, their massive forms still bound in unbreakable restraints. And my siblings? Nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, for the love of—" I muttered, narrowly dodging Kampe's next strike. They had abandoned the Hecatoncheires. Worse, they had abandoned me. Well guess I can go all out. Kampe grinned in exitment at my distraction and yelled with glee as she rose her cleaver ready to sever my head.
"I got you now, bastard god!"
I clenched my fists, frustration boiling beneath the surface, I could feel flames flickering in my hair. "Kampe," I muttered under my breath, as I clutched the blade as it came down with all her strength. I let my destructive power flow as the blade shattered into tiny shards. "You should know your place you lowly beast."