I sat at my desk in the Underworld, surrounded by piles of scrolls and tablets. The flickering green flames of the lanterns cast eerie shadows across the obsidian walls, and the quiet was broken only by the scratching of my quill. It has been a couple monthes since the wedding and things were doing nicely. Though I couldn't keep Hecates words out of my head, was it finally time to get married to her?
Speaking of that vixen, the door creaked open, and I glanced up. Hecate stepped in, her silver hair glowing faintly in the dim light, her staff tapping lightly on the floor.
"Hecate," I greeted, setting the quill down. "What brings you here?"
She smiled, a rare warmth in her otherwise reserved demeanor. "Checking on you, of course. You've been locked in here for days, haven't you?"
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Perhaps. There's always more to do. The Underworld doesn't govern itself."
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And how are you, Hades? Truly?"
I hesitated. Hecate was one of the few I trusted, but even so, I rarely spoke of my feelings. But this time, I relented. "I'm tired, Hecate. I feel... numb. The rebellion, the years of tension with my siblings, Zeus's betrayal—it all weighs on me. And now, there's silence. As if I'm waiting for the next storm to come."
She approached the desk, resting a hand on its edge. "You've been carrying the weight of Olympus and the Underworld on your shoulders for too long. You need a break, Hades. Time to breathe, to step away from this eternal paperwork."
I chuckled, though it felt hollow. "And where would I go, Hecate? What would I do? I wouldn't even know how to take a break."
Her expression softened. "I have an idea. Cain and Abel have been raving about the Garden of Eden. They say it's unlike anything we've ever seen—an untouched paradise. Why not visit it? It's said to hold wonders even gods would envy."
"The Garden of Eden," I mused. "What would I even do there?"
She smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "You could bring me something. Seeds, perhaps, from the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life"
The idea sparked a flicker of excitement within me, a feeling I hadn't felt in years. "Seeds, you say? No, I'll bring you the trees themselves."
She laughed, the sound light and musical. "Of course you will."
<------------>
I stood on some nearby land. I don't know what it was named but it was just a vast desert with mountains, not alot of life anywhere. This would one day be the birthplace of Christianity, right now it does not exist. Seeing as Adam had not only left the garden but also the country so he didn't pass any teachings down to any decendants. Infact I could not sense any mortals at all.
Walking through I desert I soon found what I was looking for and came to find two towering cliffs with a narrow path between them, a subtle shift in the atmosphere confirmed what I suspected. A veil of divine energy surrounded the land beyond it hiding it from the mortals that didn't exist. I stepped forward, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword, and before I could take another step, a booming voice rang out.
"HALT!"
A figure materialized before me, towering ten feet tall. Its form was monstrous yet awe-inspiring. Eyes covered its entire body, blinking in eerie unison. Four wings, each adorned with more eyes, spread wide, creating a gust of wind. Its three heads—a man, a lion, and a bull—moved independently, scanning me with intense scrutiny. In its hands was a sword of pure flame, its heat searing even from a distance.
The human head was the first to speak, its voice deep and commanding. "Mortal, you shall go no farther. None of your kind may enter the Garden of Eden."
I smiled faintly, keeping my posture relaxed. "Mortal? That's amusing. Do I look like a mortal to you?"
The lion head growled, its voice guttural and feral. "You are no Angel or Demon so you are a mortal. Mortals are forbidden here by decree of the Almighty."
"I'm not here to debate decrees," I said, stepping closer. "Now, if you'll kindly move aside."
The bull head snorted, its voice rumbling like thunder. "Who dares challenge the will of the Almighty? Speak your name, trespasser, before I smite you where you stand!"
I paused, tilting my head. "Who am I speaking to?"
The human head answered, its tone imperious. "We are Cherubim, guardians of the Garden. We serve the Almighty and bar entry to the Garden of Eden."
"Cherubim," I repeated, my hand tightening around the hilt of my blade. "Then you should know that I've come for the trees within your garden. The Trees of Life, Knowledge, and Immortality. They'll make fine gifts for someone dear to me."
All three heads reacted at once. The human head gasped, the lion roared, and the bull let out an enraged bellow.
"Blasphemy!" the lion head snarled. "You dare to defile the sacred garden?"
"You shall not take even a leaf!" the bull head added.
The flaming sword was raised high, the fire roaring as the Cherubim advanced. "By the decree of the Almighty, your sacrilege ends here!"
I sighed, drawing my own blade. Its obsidian edge gleamed faintly in the dim light. "I don't think you understand who you're dealing with."
The human head sneered. "You are nothing but a worm beneath the gaze of the Almighty."
As the Cherubim brought its flaming sword down in a powerful arc, I raised my blade to meet it. The clash of steel sent sparks flying, the ground trembling beneath us.
"You might want to reconsider," I said, forcing the flaming sword back with ease.
The lion head growled. "Only the Almighty wields true power. You are but an insect before His might!"
I chuckled, stepping forward and forcing the Cherubim to retreat. "There's more than one god in this world, beast."
The human head snapped to attention, its eyes narrowing. "What trickery is this? There is only one God, the Almighty, the Creator!"
Growing tired of the game, I released a fraction of my aura. The effect was immediate. The Cherubim faltered, its wings quivering.
The lion head roared in fury, but there was a tremor of uncertainty in its voice. "Lucifer! You dare return here?"
"Lucifer?" I echoed, my aura flaring further. "You dare compare me to that man?"
The bull head bellowed in rage. "You foul serpent! You who defied the Almighty, you shall not pass and tarnish this sacred land!"
I stepped closer, my presence pressing down like a storm. "I am not Lucifer."
The Cherubim froze as realization dawned in its countless eyes. Its rage twisted into fear as I allowed more of my divine energy to flow freely, the weight of it crushing the land around us.
The human head stammered, its voice trembling. "W-what... What are you?"
I stopped just short of the guardian, lowering my sword slightly. "My name is Hades, King of the Underworld, God of the Dead. And you're in my way."
The lion head whimpered, its ferocity replaced by terror. "A... god? But there is only the Almighty!"
I sighed, lifting my blade once more. "Oh please, there are hundreds of gods across this world. Do not tell me that your so called god thought that he was the one true god?"
Before the Cherubim could respond, I surged forward. My blade sliced through its flaming sword as if it were paper. A second swing severed one of its wings, golden blood spraying across the ground.
The bull head roared in pain. "No! This cannot—!"
My next strike silenced it, and the Cherubim collapsed, its massive form crumpling to the dirt. Golden blood pooled beneath it as its remaining eyes stared up at me in disbelief.
I stepped over its body, sheathing my blade. "Your antics are a distraction, now if you excuse me I have some gifts to get."
As I stepped through the shimmering veil, the Garden of Eden unfolded before me, and for a moment, even I had to stop and take it all in. It was a masterpiece, unparalleled in beauty. Lush, vibrant greenery stretched endlessly, adorned with flowers of every imaginable color and some I could barely comprehend. Trees older than time itself reached skyward, their golden leaves shimmering with divine light. Rivers of crystalline water carved pathways through the land, their surfaces glinting like liquid silver. The air hummed with a peaceful melody, as though the garden itself were alive and welcoming me.
A small smile tugged at my lips. Magnificent. But then, an idea crossed my mind, one so audacious I couldn't help but grin. Why should I simply take the Trees? The Almighty no longer needed this place. Surely it would serve me—and Hecate—better. I raised a hand, shadows beginning to ripple and gather around my fingers like living creatures.
"Why not take the entire thing?" I mused aloud, snapping my fingers.
The shadows erupted from me in an inky tide, spreading across the garden like a veil of night. They consumed the land swiftly, yet gently, swallowing trees, rivers, and flowers in their embrace. Within moments, the entire garden shimmered out of existence, vanishing into the ether.
I could feel it now, nestled within the Underworld, seamlessly connected to the Garden of Styx. It would flourish there, a gift for Hecate—a paradise unlike any other. I hummed in satisfaction. The work was done.
But peace was fleeting.
A sudden shift in the atmosphere drew my attention. The air became heavy, crackling with divine energy. I turned, and the skies above me split open in blinding light. From the tear, hundreds of beings descended, their celestial forms radiating brilliance. Angels, clad in shining armor, their swords and spears gleaming with holy fire, surrounded me in an instant.
At their forefront stood seven figures, their radiance eclipsing that of the others. Their armor was adorned with intricate designs of gold and silver, and each bore a unique weapon—swords, spears, hammers, and shields. Their wings, larger and more resplendent than the others, shimmered with colors beyond mortal comprehension. These were the Archangels, the pinnacle of Heaven's might.
One stepped forward, his golden armor glinting even in the dim light. His sword, long and impossibly bright, pointed directly at me. His face was stern, his gaze piercing.
"I am Michael, Leader of the Archangels," he declared, his voice booming like a thunderclap. "You stand accused of desecrating the sacred Garden of the Almighty, a crime punishable by annihilation."
I sighed, shaking my head. "Desecration?" I repeated, feigning interest. "I merely repurposed something your Almighty no longer seemed to care for. You should be thanking me for giving it new life."
Michael's gaze hardened, and another Archangel stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. His hair burned like fire, and the great hammer in his hands crackled with divine energy.
"You dare mock the judgment of Heaven?" he snarled. "You dare insult the Almighty's will?!"
"I dare," I said simply, meeting his anger with a bored look.
His fury boiled over. With a roar, he raised his hammer high, but before he could act, I snapped my fingers.
The air around him ignited in blue, otherworldly flames—Primordial fire, the oldest and most destructive force in existence. The fire engulfed him in an instant, his scream echoing as his form was consumed. The brilliance of his armor faded as his celestial body turned to ash, and then, nothing.
Silence fell over the gathering. The other angels stared in shock, their weapons trembling in their hands. Even Michael's composure cracked as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Raphael," one of the remaining Archangels murmured, his voice hollow.
I raised a hand, examining my nails as though nothing had happened. "I take it that wasn't one of your weaker ones?" I asked, my tone light.
Michael's jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his sword. The remaining Archangels shifted uneasily, their resolve shaken.
"You," Michael growled, his voice low and dangerous, "will pay for this."
I shrugged, taking a step forward. "Perhaps," I said, my voice calm but carrying a weight that silenced the murmurs of the angels. "But I suggest you think carefully before making this worse for yourselves. One of you has already fallen today. Shall we see how many more will follow?"
The air grew heavier as I began to release my aura. The ground beneath me darkened, shadows pooling like ink as the very light around us seemed to wither. Angels flinched, their celestial forms dimming as they felt the crushing weight of my power.
"Your Almighty isn't here," I continued, my voice cold. "You have no advantage. No divine protection. All you have... is me."
Michael hesitated, his sword faltering for the briefest moment. He glanced at the others, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
"Now," I said, my tone sharp, "will you continue this foolishness? Or will you leave while I'm still feeling merciful?"