I closed my eyes, steadying my breath as I focused inward, channeling my divinity through every fiber of my being. The power flowed like a steady current, wrapping around my core and seeping into every limb, every cell. I envisioned the protective barrier forming around me, molding itself to my skin like a second layer of armor—imperceptible, but impenetrable. A shield against manipulation, a safeguard against attack.
A long exhale escaped my lips as I felt the energy settle into place, a satisfying hum beneath my skin. I opened my eyes, flexing my fingers experimentally. It was subtle, but I could feel it there, a constant presence, like an instinct I had yet to fully master.
The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Hecate leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing at her lips.
"Finally done?" she asked, cocking a brow.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling my bones crack satisfyingly. "I think so. It took longer than expected, but I wanted to make sure it was properly set."
She stepped into the room, her violet eyes gleaming with interest. "You told me about this a few days ago, but I wasn't sure how effective it would be. Only one way to find out."
I took a deep breath and straightened my posture, steeling myself. "Alright. Hit me with something strong."
The smirk on her lips widened. "Are you sure about that?"
I hesitated only for a moment before nodding. "Do it."
Hecate didn't waste a second. She flicked her wrist, sending a pulse of green energy straight at my head. The moment it made contact, I felt my thoughts blur, a fog creeping into the edges of my mind. But before it could take root, a sharp jolt ran through me. The barrier flared, shattering the spell before it could fully settle. My mind snapped back to clarity instantly.
Hecate's eyes widened slightly. "Huh. That was fast."
I exhaled slowly, shaking off the lingering sensation. "It's designed to clear my mind of interference before anything takes hold. Mental defenses first, then physical reinforcement."
She hummed in thought, tapping her chin. "Not bad. Actually, really impressive."
I started to relax, thinking that the test was over, but then she cracked her knuckles, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Good thing I have a few more spells to test on you."
I paled. "Wait, what—"
A blast of arcane energy slammed into me before I could protest.
Hours later, I trudged through the halls of my castle, my body aching in ways I hadn't experienced in a long time. My robes were in tatters, the fabric singed and torn, evidence of the relentless spellcasting I had endured. My arms bore bruises, my legs ached, and I was fairly certain I still had residual static coursing through my bones from one particularly nasty lightning spell.
Beside me, Hecate practically bounced with excitement, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke. "I mean, that last one was a total surprise! I wasn't sure if your barrier would hold up against transmutation, but seeing your body resist morphing into a toad? Fascinating! I've got so many ideas for new spells now."
I let out a groan, rubbing a hand down my face. "Glad one of us had fun."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, don't be such a baby. You held up better than I expected. Just think of how much stronger your defenses will be once you refine them."
I muttered something under my breath, too exhausted to argue. The only thing I wanted right now was a long soak in the bath and fresh clothes.
As if reading my mind, Hecate glanced at me and smirked. "Going to clean up?"
"Obviously."
She tilted her head slightly. "Gonna shave too?"
I reached up, running a hand over my jaw and feeling the rough stubble that had begun to grow in. I hadn't even noticed it until now. I shrugged. "Maybe. Haven't decided if I'll let it grow out."
She gave a thoughtful nod. "Might suit you."
I snorted. "We'll see."
Her expression shifted, suddenly more serious. "I've got a meeting with Azarok. We ran into some trouble with younger monsters."
That caught my attention. I straightened slightly. "What kind of trouble?"
She frowned, thinking. "A group of Empousa and some beast-like demons. Nothing catastrophic, but it's something we need to handle."
I sighed. "Tell me the details later."
"Sure thing." She gave me a quick wave before heading off.
I turned on my heel and made my way toward the bathhouse, my muscles protesting with every step. The water better be hot—I had earned this.'
<---------------------->
The boiling water lapped lazily against my skin, the heat seeping deep into my muscles, melting away the lingering aches from my training session with Hecate. I exhaled slowly, enjoying the silence of my private bathhouse, the soft echoes of water rippling through the grand chamber. This was peace, rare and fleeting. My eyes remained shut, my mind clear for the first time in what felt like ages.
Then came the laughter—loud, brash, and unmistakably Tartarus.
I groaned, cracking open an eye just in time to see him striding into the bathhouse, his usual massive presence filling the space. Behind him trailed a much smaller, leaner figure, moving with the kind of casual grace that suggested he belonged anywhere he pleased.
Tartarus clapped the young man on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward. "Ah, Nephew! Fancy seeing you here!"
I grumbled, sitting up slightly. "This is my bathhouse, Tartarus. Where else would I be?" My gaze shifted to the stranger. "And who did you drag along this time?"
The young man let out a small, knowing laugh, tilting his head slightly. "You don't recognize me?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, but there was something else beneath it—an expectation, as if he was waiting for me to figure it out.
I studied him more carefully this time. His skin was deep and rich, a stark contrast to the golden ornaments that adorned him—rows of shining bangles stacked along his wrists, golden hoop earrings that caught the dim lantern light, and delicate beads woven intricately into his long, obsidian-black hair. His eyes, black as the void itself, seemed endless, like staring into a starless sky.
There was something eerily familiar about him, though I couldn't quite place it. He was much shorter and leaner than either Tartarus or myself, but despite his slighter frame, there was a weight to his presence, an aura that spoke of something ancient and unfathomable. It nagged at me, the feeling that I should know who he was.
Still, I shook my head. "Nope. Should I?"
The young man let out an exaggerated sigh, placing a dramatic hand over his heart, as if I had struck him with a mortal wound. "Ouch," he muttered, shaking his head. "Truly, a tragedy."
Tartarus roared with laughter, his massive form shaking as he clapped the man hard on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward. "Oh, come now, Hades! Have you really forgotten your dear uncle already?"
I frowned. Uncle? My eyes narrowed as I studied him again, my mind racing. Golden jewelry… Long hair… an unsettling aura of darkness… Then it clicked.
I blinked in surprise. "Erebus?"
The young man smirked. "Ah, finally."
I sat up straighter. "The Erebus? Primordial of Darkness?"
Erebus huffed, crossing his arms as he looked away. "Yes, yes, that Erebus."
I stared at him, my mind still trying to reconcile the image before me with the old mafia figure I had met in the past. "You're… much younger than I expected."
That earned another booming laugh from Tartarus, who waded into the steaming bath with a grand splash, sending ripples across the surface. "Oh, that—hah! You should have seen it, Hades! His wife finally had enough of him lurking around in his old, withered form. Gave him an earful about 'looking like a relic from the dawn of time' and practically demanded he return to his younger self." He smirked, shaking his head. "Was quite the sight. Terrifying, honestly."
Erebus let out an irritated sigh, his fingers brushing through his now-youthful hair. "Nyx can be… persuasive."
I smirked. "I'm sure she can."
Erebus waved a dismissive hand. "It's not as if I wanted to stay in that ancient form—it's just… comfortable, you know? I wasn't exactly trying to impress anyone."
"Your wife disagreed," Tartarus teased, grinning.
Erebus shot him a withering glare. "Yes, well, she has many opinions."
I chuckled, finally leaning back into the water, letting the warmth ease my muscles again. It was still strange seeing Erebus like this. Still, I shook my head, offering a small smirk. "Apologies for not recognizing you sooner. I suppose I was expecting something… older. More ominous."
Erebus scoffed. "I am ominous."
Tartarus chuckled. "Not looking like that, you're not."
Erebus ignored him and turned his attention back to me. "I would've notified you of my visit, but someone—" he shot a pointed glare at Tartarus, "—would not stop raving about this bathhouse. Said I had to try it, and well…" He gestured around. "Here I am."
I gave a lazy wave of my hand. "It's fine. We're all family, after all."
Erebus regarded me for a moment before giving a small nod. "Yes. We are."
A silence settled between us—not awkward, but thoughtful. There was history here, between all of us, spanning eons. And despite everything, despite the tangled web of power and chaos that defined our existence, there was something strangely comforting about it.
Tartarus let out this deep sigh as his demeanor darkened. "Zeus was never supposed to wear the crown. That fool is going to destroy the entire world, hell all he seems to care about is power and how many many beauties that he can take advantage of."
I frowned, glancing between the two of them. "What are you talking about, it sounds as if you guys had a part in selecting the King."
Erebus leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "The Primordial Council held a vote during the Titanomachy, that is what we decided to call the war between the Titans and Gods. We knew the gods would need a leader, but we weren't about to let just anyone take that position. The decision was nearly unanimous." He paused, his black eyes gleaming. "The Fates were tasked with delivering the result, and the one we all chose… was you."
I froze, staring at him. "Me?"
"Hah!" Tartarus laughed. "Surprised? You shouldn't be, won 10 votes out of 20, hell Zeus had only gotten 4 votes. You were the obvious choice. But Zeus must have suspected something, because before the Fates could announce it, he… interfered."
I scowled. "How? Moirai should be beyond manipulation."
"They will be—eventually," Tartarus said with a shrug. "But at the time, they were young, inexperienced. We don't know exactly what Zeus did, but he got to them. And before we could stop it, the announcement had already been made in his favor."
I let out a slow breath, thinking back to that moment. Something had felt… off, like a ripple in reality. "So that's why I felt that strange shift. As if something had rewritten itself."
Erebus nodded. "It wasn't just a feeling. Chronos himself noticed and tried to turn back time to correct it, but by then, the damage was done. We had no choice but to let it play out."
I shook my head. "And now you're telling me this? After all these years?"
Tartarus smirked. "What can I say? It was more entertaining to see how you'd handle things on your own. And I must say, you haven't been disappointed." He gestured vaguely. "Look at what you've done with the Underworld. And now Tartarus itself is flourishing under your touch. The Realm of Monsters is more stable than it has ever been. You have already so many loyal to you, without you I bet all of them would be having a way worse life. Meanwhile, all that Zeus has done is kick both you and Hestia off the council and kick you from Olympus cause his ego couldn't stand having someone like you there, Zeus has charisma, but you seem to know how to weaponize it to get the best result for everyone."
Erebus folded his arms. "Like it or not, you need to become the new King."
I scoffed. "Oh, sure. I'll just waltz into Olympus and declare a fight for the throne. That'll go over well."
Tartarus grinned. "Actually, you can. The throne of the gods cannot be taken, nor stolen, but must be won through combat. This duel shall be judged by two beings of higher authority who must willingly agree to oversee the trial, ensuring its fairness and legitimacy."
I shot him a look, but he only chuckled.
Erebus, however, was more serious. "If you are to enforce that law, you will need to declare either two Primordials or a Primordial and Titan. The truth is, if you don't act, someone else will. And they won't be as merciful as you want to be."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There are powerful beings—gods, titans, even some Primordials—who are waiting for the moment that Zeus steps out of line for them to have good reason to declare a war against them. They're already making moves against him." Erebus met my gaze. "You might not have a choice in the matter soon."
A long silence stretched between us, the only sound the gentle ripple of water as Erebus sank deeper into the bath, his expression contemplative. Tartarus stretched, cracking his neck before standing. "Well, this was fun, but I think Erebus and I have other work to do." He stepped out of the water, wringing out his long black hair. Erebus followed, gathering his robes.
Erebus gave me one last look. "Think about it, Hades. The world needs a good leader for once."
With that, they left, their footsteps fading into the distance as I leaned my head back against the marble edge, if I was being honest.... Did I really need to show Zeus mercy?