Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

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Just like with God-King Zeus, her mere existence made him feel nauseous.

"What’s the matter, worrying about the disturbances in the World Power again?"

"I think you’re just overthinking it. These are the kinds of things that the Divine King should be considering."

Trimming the excess branches neatly, Persephone nodded in satisfaction.

Encouraging the growth of more plants in the Underworld had always been one of her hobbies.

"When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up. If you aim to reach the sky, first you must become one of the tall ones."

"I’d like to, but it’s not something that can be achieved simply by wishing for it. I don’t want to think about these extra matters, but when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer."

Shaking his head, Hades saw the changing expressions on Persephone’s face and knew she understood what he meant.

Indeed, he was referring to the recently flattened Fields of Truth, a recent event for the deities.

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A Zeus alone could do that; if it were the changes in the world, who knew what cost such a small fish as himself would have to pay.

"I heard that you’re also bringing back Zeus’s intentions this trip. What did he say?"

Not wanting to bring up these issues, Hades also knew they were not urgent concerns.

However, it was said that Persephone brought back orders from Zeus to him upon her return from Olympus... a fact that Hades found genuinely strange.

Earthly affairs never had much to do with him. He barely interfered, so what could the other party possibly want this time?

"Strictly speaking, it’s not an order from Zeus, but rather Hera came to me privately. But after hearing her thoughts, to say Zeus is unaware would be a joke."

"She is planning to attack Athens, raze Athena’s mortal sanctuary, the Parthenon Temple, to the ground. Although she’s made many preparations, it’s still not enough, so she wants the deities of the Underworld to join in as well. That is her request." @@novelbin@@

Speaking indifferently, the Queen of the Underworld was devoid of any personal sentiment: "Will you agree?"

"Hera promises that after Athens’s conquest, a part of it will be given to you as a gift. But I think you probably don’t care about mortal territories, right?"

"I suppose so, but the gods of the Underworld?"

With a cold laugh, Hades remembered those so-called subordinates.

"Hera probably isn’t referring to me, so it must be Eris and the others... Heh, the Golden Apple was her gift; perhaps they’re now more enthusiastic about following Zeus’s orders."

"Let her communicate with them herself. As long as they are willing, I will not hinder them. After all... I can’t stop them."

Being able to stop them would mean he could, but that would imply that Hades was helping Athena.

Yet, between his niece and sister, he didn’t care to involve himself with either.

These days, there were few affairs in the mortal world that truly concerned Hades. Certainly, this war was not among them.

"Let them fight, let them fight until the rivers run red with blood."

"But as long as you can’t defeat Zeus, what will it matter if you win the battle?"

With Persephone by his side, Hades had some understanding of the matters on the surface. For example, for some unknown reason, he had heard that Zeus seemed to have taken a fancy to a prince named Ganymedes.

A god fancying a mortal was not unusual, especially when it came to Zeus — if it had been a princess rather than a prince.

"Hera... I wonder whether, after so many years, you have any regrets, or if you have always been regretful?"

No one knew the answer, not even Hades.

He still had to go check the entrance of the Abyss, this ancient entity that had suddenly become turbulent and even released considerable power.

...

Whoosh—

On the edge of the Underworld, in the Realm of Lightlessness.

Darkness took shape, and Erebus emerged from it.

But unlike his usual indifference, the mood of the Lord of Darkness seemed off today. Wrapped around his hand were remnants of the power from the Abyss.

It had been more than just a few seasons since the Feast of the Golden Apple, but Erebus’s progress was not smooth.

Since convincing the Sea God, his next target had been the Abyss. However, so much time had passed, yet he couldn’t personally enter it.

It was a hopeless case; after all, he was not Zeus. The Divine King and the Primordial Gods have their differences when Tartarus instinctively repels outsiders, and there was little Erebus could do.

Resigned, he had been considering putting the Abyss aside for now.

There was much more to prepare for, and he didn’t want to hang his hopes on a single tree — but just as Erebus was about to give up, Tartarus suddenly erupted in turmoil, catching him, who was probing, off guard and causing him a minor setback.

The Abyss was still the Abyss; even an internal parasite couldn’t weaken the strongest of the Primordial Gods.

"No, it’s not a rebellion."

"It’s sensing a threat... from beyond this world."

"Another Nine Realms, another Blood Mother Tree? Is the disturbance in the World Power coming from there..."

Erebus too had sensed it, albeit vaguely.

Recently, the once tumultuous surge of the World Power seemed to have briefly quieted.

For a moment, Erebus even thought his arrangements would come to nothing, but soon after, the flow of this worldly power began anew.

Yet accompanying it was a strange, fleeting look, as if being observed by an eye from the void beyond realms.

This force was distinct from the Chaotic Gods, but just as quickly, it vanished without a trace.

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