I was jolted from sleep by a sharp knock on the door. A part of me considered ignoring it, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave me to my well-earned rest. My body still ached from last week—taking on a primordial domain isn't exactly a painless process. It turns out that there are several different types of domains going from the thousands of basic manipulation abilities to the only two Creator-level domains. Primordial was a level below that as they involved domains that needed someone to embody it, like Gaea and the Earth, Uranus and the Sky, Tartarus and the Abyss and Erebus and Darkness.
Oizys stepped inside, her movements graceful and controlled. She had changed so much in the past week. When I first met her, she had been a physical embodiment of misery, her form gaunt and pale, eyes sunken and haunted. Now, though… She was cleaner, was looking more happy, dressed in this black chiton that Arges made for her. Maybe all she needed was a change of scenery.
"You have a message, my lord," she said, her voice calm yet authoritative.
I groan and sit up, running a hand through my hair. "Can't it wait?"
"It's from your brother," she replies, holding out a sealed letter.
That gets my attention. Zeus rarely communicates unless he wants something. I take the goblet of Nectar she offers, chugging it down as its warmth clears the cobwebs from my mind. "What does he want?"
"He requests your presence at Mount Ida," she says. "It's been ten years since your last meeting."
"A meeting?" I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Knowing Zeus, it'll be less 'gathering' and more 'thinly veiled power play.' He probably wants to gloat."
"Do you intend to refuse?" Oizys asked, tilting her head slightly.
I let out a bitter laugh. "No. Refusing Zeus is like trying to reason with a storm. It's loud, destructive, and utterly pointless. Besides, if I don't show, he'll end up doing something stupid."
Oizys smirked faintly. "Wise choice."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "A decade already?" The thought of dealing with Zeus so early in the morning feels akin to having a hangover. Nevertheless, I rise, pulling on my robes. "Watch the Underworld while I'm gone. Ensure no one—and I mean no one—disturbs my realm."
She inclines her head. "As you command, my lord."
As I stepped into the shadow, I glanced back at Oizys. "Don't burn the place down while I'm gone."
Her lips twitched into what could almost be called a smile. "I'll try my best."
Traveling through shadows has its advantages. Within moments, I step out of the void and onto Mount Ida, the cool mountain air biting against my skin. The sight of my younger brother, Poseidon, waiting impatiently makes me smirk. I let the shadows swirl around me for a moment longer than necessary, relishing the way his shoulders stiffen.
"By the seas, Hades!" Poseidon yelps, spinning around to face me. "Could you not make an entrance like a normal god? You're starting to become… unsettling."
"Unsettling?" I echo, raising a brow. "Coming from you, that's a compliment."
He mutters something under his breath, but before he can retort, Zeus arrives, his eagle circling overhead.
"Finally," Zeus says, his booming voice cutting through the tension. "Let's get started."
We gather around a makeshift table, the map of the cosmos spread before us. Zeus, ever the dramatist, begins outlining his grand plans for the war against the Titans.
"We've managed to rally nature spirits and satyrs to our cause," Zeus says, puffing out his chest as if he's already won. "They'll bolster our forces."
Poseidon nods. "I've convinced a number of river gods and sea nymphs to join as well. They're not warriors, but their power will be invaluable."
All eyes turn to me. I lean back, folding my arms. "I've spoken with Nyx and Erebus. While the ancient laws forbid Primordials from participating directly, they've agreed to let their children join the fight."
Zeus's eyes widened. "The children of Night and Darkness?"
I nod. "In addition, I've secured the aid of the Cyclopes brothers and the Hekatonkheires, Briareus and Cottereus. As we speak, they are gathering an army of the dead to join in the war, so far we have about 10,000 soldiers ready for war."
The room falls silent. Poseidon lets out a low whistle, and even Zeus, ever the egotist, looks impressed—though he quickly masks it with a scowl.
"You just got lucky," Zeus mutters.
"Luck had nothing to do with it," I replied coolly. "Now, what's the next step in your grand plan?"
Zeus clears his throat. "We should storm Father's kingdom immediately. Overwhelm him with our combined might."
"That's a suicide mission," I cut in, my tone sharp enough to make him flinch. "Cronos is no fool. Charging in blindly will only ensure our deaths."
"Then what do you suggest?" Zeus snaps, his temper flaring.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. "We offer him a choice. The three of us will meet with him directly. We give him two options: stand down and live in exile, or fight and die. If he chooses war, we will be prepared, but diplomacy should always be the first step."
Zeus opens his mouth to argue, but Poseidon speaks first. "Hades has a point. Rushing into battle without a plan is reckless."
"Reckless or not, we need to act," Zeus grumbles, though his tone is less certain now.
"Acting and acting wisely are not the same thing," I counter. "Trust me, this will work."
My words seem to strike a chord. After a long moment, Zeus nods begrudgingly. "Fine. Draft the letter."
I retrieve parchment and quill, penning a missive to our father. The words flow easily: an invitation to parley, a warning of the consequences should he refuse. Once finished, I seal the letter and hand it to Zeus.
"Call your eagle," I say. "Let's see how our father responds."
Zeus whistles, and his eagle swoops down, its talons gripping the letter tightly. As it takes flight, a heavy silence falls over the room. The weight of what we've set into motion is palpable.
"Let's hope this works," Poseidon murmurs, his gaze distant.
"It will," I say firmly, though a part of me can't help but wonder what fate awaits us.
Days pass, the anticipation building like a storm on the horizon. Finally, the eagle returns, a crude message tied to its leg. Zeus unties it and reads aloud, his voice tinged with both anger and intrigue:
"To my insolent sons,
You wish to parley? How bold, how naive. I accept your invitation. We shall meet at the base of Mount Othrys. Bring your courage, for you will need it.
Cronos"
The room falls silent once more as the weight of the message sinks in. Poseidon breaks the tension with a nervous laugh. "Well, at least he didn't outright refuse."
"Or kill the eagle," I mutter. "That's progress."
<-------------------->
As we stood at the base of Mount Olympus, the air was thick with tension. My brothers and I walked side by side, our footsteps crunching against the rocky terrain as we approached the looming shadow of Mount Othrys. It was an unspoken agreement that we would meet Cronos first—no surprises, no ambushes, just a meeting before the war.
Zeus, predictably, couldn't keep his mouth shut. "We should have come with our armies. Confronting him now is pointless without—"
"Please, just shut up" I snapped, that migraine was still bugging me and I really needed to punch something. Poseidon said nothing, his trident glinting faintly in the sun as he adjusted it across his back. He, at least, understood the gravity of the moment.
The rocky incline of Mount Othrys loomed before us as we arrived at the meeting point. And there waiting was our father, Cronos and his closest lieutenants. Atlas stood at Cronos's right, standing taller than the others. Behind him were the four Titans of the cardinal directions: Iapetus of the North, Hyperion of the East, Koios of the South, and Krios of the West. Their gazes bore into us as we approached.
Zeus opened his mouth, but I didn't give him the chance to embarrass us. "Not another word, Zeus," I growled, stepping forward. I couldn't let him mess it up knowing his antics. He could bluster and throw lightning later if it pleased him, but not now.
I strode toward them as I headed toward my father. Atlas shifted, moving to block my path before I could approach Cronos directly. His sheer size would have made most think twice about provoking him.
I didn't stop walking. Instead, I reached back before swinging hard as I felt darkness swirl around me as the shadows condensed into a fist and sucker punched Atlas so hard that he was hurled into the side of Mount Othrys. The mountain shook with the impact, boulders tumbling down as Atlas groaned, embedded halfway into the rock. I turned back to Father feeling so much better and lighter.
"Now that he is out the way, can we talk?" I said, wiping my hands on my robes as though cleaning myself of filth.
Cronos chuckled, a deep, malevolent sound that echoed across the mountainside. "And which son are you?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. "The impudent one? Or perhaps the self-righteous one?"
I stopped a few feet from him, fixing him with a cold stare. "My name is Hades," I said simply, letting the weight of my name settle over the gathering. "Lord of the Underworld. And your first born, the one that you were so eager to eat."
His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "So bold. I can see some of your mother in you, boy. But tell me, the little speech you've prepared."
"I prepared no speech, and instead I offer you mercy," I said, my voice steady and unyielding. "Step down, surrender the throne, and I will ensure your punishment is less severe. You and the rest of the Titans may live out the rest of your lives in peace and luxury. Decide to go against us, and you will all be either killed, imprisoned, or tortured for eternity."
Cronos's expression hardened, and a cruel smile spread across his lips. "You are offering me mercy? You speak of mercy to me, boy? I carved this world from the bones of my father. You think you three—petty children playing at war—stand a chance against me?"
"You'll lose," I said simply. "You know it. I know it. Even your so-called lieutenants know it."
The Titan of the West, Krios, snarled, but before he could speak, Poseidon laughed—a booming, taunting sound. "You should have taken his offer, Cronos. It's the only kindness you'll ever see again."
Cronos raised a hand, silencing Krios and the others. His golden eyes narrowed, his amusement giving way to cold fury. "Mark my words, Hades. You and your siblings will die the most painful deaths imaginable. I will see to it myself."
"War shall begin at noon in a week's time," Cronos continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Be ready."
With that, he turned to Hyperion. "Take Atlas. Let the others prepare."
Hyperion obeyed, hauling Atlas from the mountainside with little effort. The group vanished in a flash of golden light, leaving us alone with the uneasy silence of the mountains.
I turned sharply and began walking back toward Mount Olympus. Zeus grumbled behind me, muttering something under his breath about my methods or my audacity—who could tell with him? I ignored him entirely.
"Poseidon," I said, halting as he stopped and looked at me.
"Go to the seas. Find Oceanus. And kill him and destroy his kingdom. Leave no loose ends."
"What are you talking about, Oceanus declared that he will stay out of the war." Poseidon asked, confused. I raised a hand as a shadow butterfly appeared out of the shadows as it landed on my finger.
"I may have bugged our dear father. It turns out that he had convinced Oceanus and his wife to join the war last minute. So I think it will be best if you go and deal with him for us."
Originally Oceanus stayed out of the fight in Greek Myths but then again although I am now living those myths a lot are already different. Things are bound to be different than the original myth. Oceanus has decided to join the fight against us, and in doing so he will be a force that would actually help the Titans to win, so I need to get rid of the problem.
Poseidon nodded once, his trident sparking faintly as he vanished into mist without a word.
I turned to Zeus, fixing him with a glance. "Don't do anything stupid," I warned.
Zeus opened his mouth, but whatever argument he was about to raise died under my gaze. He looked away, fuming silently as I began walking again.