Under a starlit sky, the full moon glows brightly, casting its silver reflection across the calm surface of the lake. Dark silhouettes of trees frame the horizon, while in the foreground, clusters of white blossoms bloom, their petals glowing softly in the pale light.
Near the riverbank, Lithe, a woman draped in a gown the color of moss with hair to match, stands before a taller, elegant figure. The woman, Styx, wears a flowing deep purple gown that enhances her regal bearing. Her long, dark hair is bound by a intricate golden clip.
"Lady Styx. Please don't be so stubborn," Lithe pleads, her voice a soft counterpoint to the night's stillness. "Your obligations are in the Underworld, not here."
"No. Means no. I will not come to the Underworld," Styx insists, her voice firm and resolute, her gaze fixed on the distant moonlit water.
Suddenly, the air ripples as a massive black phoenix descends from the sky, its powerful wings beating a gust of wind that forces both goddesses to shield their faces. In a flash, Styx summons a wand that glows with violent violet energy. The calm, elegant river beside them roils, its water turning into a bubbling, acidic stew as shadows writhe and an acrid fog forms on its surface.
'Riv—' she begins, her voice sharp with command.
"Stop! Lady Styx, he is Lord Hades, the king of the Underworld!" Lithe cries out, grabbing her arm.
Styx freezes, her wand still raised. She looks at Lithe in surprise. "The King?"
The black phoenix dissolves into a swirl of shadows, and Hades lands gracefully before them in his humanoid form. "My apologies for the dramatic entrance," he says, his voice calm and deep. "I am Hades, King of the Underworld."
Styx lowers her wand, making it vanish with a flick of her wrist. The river slowly begins to calm, the acid and shadows receding. She offers a formal, if slightly wary, nod. "I am Styx, river goddess of Oath."
"Likewise, I am Lithe, river goddess of forgetfulness," Lithe adds, bowing her head. "Lord Hades, Brother Charon has already told me about the reincarnation cycle. I am grateful to be a part of it. But…" She glances meaningfully at Styx.
Styx steps forward, her expression pained but determined. "Please forgive my impertinence, Lord Hades. But I cannot come to the Underworld."
"Hmm…" Hades muses, his eyes knowing. "Is it because your children, Zelus, Nike, Kratos, and Bia, serve as generals under Zeus in this war? And your husband, Pallas, acts as a strategist for my father, Cronus."
Styx and Lithe both stare, their eyes wide with shock. Styx stammers, her inner turmoil breaking through her elegant facade. "H-How do you know this?"
"How is a discussion for another time," Hades states, his tone leaving no room for argument. "For now, just tell me: yes or no? Is that the reason?"
"...Yes."
"Then, what if I ensure their safety in this war? Their lives, protected from its ravages. Would you still refuse to come?"
"Really?!" Styx exclaims, a burst of joy erasing her worry. She catches herself, coughing lightly as she straightens back into the posture of a noblewoman. "I mean… if such a thing is possible, then I am ready to pledge myself to the reincarnation cycle."
*Click.
Hades snaps his fingers.Five dark wisps emerge from his shadow and shoot off into the night, heading in different directions. "These wisps are my shadow clones. They will be with your husband and children, watching over them every hour of every day."
"But…" Styx hesitates, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. Lithe looks at her in disbelief, horrified at this questioning of the Underworld King's power. But Hades doesn't look angered; a small, understanding smile touches his lips.
Then, he raises his hand. "To seal my promise, I swear this upon the one power that cannot be broken. In your name, Styx, Goddess of Oath, I vow to protect your husband and children in this war, at any cost."
Lithe and Styx both gasp. To take an oath in the name of Styx herself is the most binding and formidable pledge a god can make. The weight of his words hangs in the air, undeniable.
Tears of relief well in Styx's eyes. "Thank you, Lord Hades. I will be eternally in your debt." She kneels deeply before him.
Rising, she gestures with her hand, and a swirling portal of deep blues and purples tears open in the air, revealing a glimpse of the Underworld beyond. With a final, grateful nod to Hades, both river goddesses step through and disappear.
"Ummph…"
Hades stretches his arms and settles at the base of a large tree,leaning back against its trunk. "With that, all the parts for the reincarnation cycle are collected. Now, only the final work remains."
As he closes his eyes, a sad image of Styx's face superimposes itself in his mind, her maternal worry reminding him so much of his own mother, Rhea. "The world is truly cruel to place its highest burdens on mothers," he muses to the silent night. "No matter who wins or loses, it is always they who lose the most. Perhaps that is why the divinity of motherhood is said to be the most sacred of all."
*Sniff.
Suddenly,he catches a sweet and refreshing scent on the air. "What is that smell? It seems to suck all the stress right out of me." He stands up and follows the fragrance.
He finds a small, humble plant with vibrant green leaves, their edges serrated and texture slightly wrinkled. The leaves release a fresh, cool fragrance that invigorates him. Its bright, lively color and distinct veining give it a crisp, refreshing appearance.
Hades plucks a single leaf and brings it to his nose. "Hmm… what a pleasant and refreshing fragrance."
*Crash! Ouch!
He turns to see a teen girl with dark green hair, who has just slipped on a damp rock and tumbled to the ground. Hades waves a hand, and a subtle psychic force helps her to her feet. "You are a young tree spirit," he observes. "Did you create this plant?"
The girl looks utterly terrified, tears brimming in her eyes. "Please forgive me for creating such trash! I'm just a weak, young tree spirit! Please don't kill me! Please!!" She continues to babble nonsense between sobs.
Her crying draws the attention of the forest's small creatures; squirrels and owls peek from their holes, first looking at the crying girl, then turning pathetic gazes upon Hades.
Annoyed by the spectacle, Hades snaps his fingers. Her mouth silences mid-sob, and he uses a touch of his divinity to temporarily block her overwhelming emotions. The girl blinks, her face going blank. 'Aree… what happened now?' She tilts her head in confusion.
"You are… Minthe," Hades states more than asks. Minthe nods in agreement. "And you created this plant… mint." Again, she nods.
"Alright, then listen, Minthe. I like your creation, and I wish to make it my personal symbol and one of the featured plants in my realm. Do I have your permission?" Hades states his purpose directly. Minthe waits a moment 'He seems powerful, if he wants then he can just take it. So, it doesn't matter whether I permit or not.', then nods once more.
"Good. In exchange, I grant you one of the following choices:
"One,I can evolve you. You will become very strong.
"Second,I can give you unlimited wealth.
"Third,I can grant you ten lives.
"And last,you can come under my protection. With this, I will give you a role in my realm, and all three of the above wishes will be granted, with your safety as my personal guarantee." Hades presents the choices and snaps his fingers, restoring her emotions.
Minthe jolts but remains calm this time. She falls into deep thought. 'If I become strong, no one will dare bully me. But he said "very strong," not "the strongest." He didn't specify how much… Next is wealth. Nah, no use, just trash. Third, ten lives…' She imagines herself dying and reviving over and over, then violently shakes her head. 'No! The last one… hmm… that's far better.' She then pictures herself as a boss, lazily slacking off and ordering servants around.
"Hehehehe," Minthe giggles mischievously. Hades smiles, having easily heard her thoughts. 'What a lively brat.'
*Clap.
Hades claps his hands,and Minthe snaps out of her imagination. "Cough… after deep thought, I have come to a decision. I choose the last wish."
"Very well," Hades says. He produces a black contract and a small, silver needle, handing them to her. Minthe stares blankly at the objects, then back at Hades.
"Sigh. This is a soul contract," he explains patiently. "It states that I will adopt your mint as my symbol and grant your wish. It ensures neither of us can betray the other."
"Huh? That's all?" Minthe doesn't even bother to read it. She simply pricks her finger and lets a single drop of blood fall onto the parchment. Hades takes the contract and stores it within his dimensional pocket.
Then, in a movement too fast to follow, he suddenly appears in front of her and drives his fist into a large boulder. The rock explodes into a cloud of dust and shards.
"Kyaa!!"
Minthe screams and hold Hades waist tightly. As the dust begins to settle, another massive boulder hurtles toward him.
'Dark Barrage!'
Hades hurls a sphere of black energy that blasts the second boulder apart.In the same instant, he scoops up the unconscious Minthe and wraps his powerful, feathered wings around them both. A devastating punch pierces through the settling dust cloud and impacts his wings with a concussive boom.
The force of the blow sends Hades skidding backward. As the dust clears, the towering form of Atlas appears, glaring at his own hand, where a few cuts drip golden ichor. In his other hand, he holds a single, black feather. "So," Atlas booms, his voice full of rage. "You are the one who killed my son."
Hades unfurls his wings, looking up at the raging Titan. 'Well, I can't hide any longer. He seems at my level, but currently I am with Minthe and other titan may join. Escape is better option.' He raises a hand in a casual gesture. "Greetings, Atlas."
Atlas's aura flares like a sun. He charges, energy coalescing around his fist. He closes the distance in an instant and throws a world-shattering punch. Hades simply snaps his fingers and teleports into the sky above.
Booom!
The Titan's fist misses its target and strikes the earth. The ground trembles violently, and a vast crater forms, surrounded by a web of deep fissures.
"Let me introduce myself properly," Hades calls down. "I am Hades. King of the Underworld." Enraged, Atlas leaps into the air for another powerful strike.
"And the eldest son of Rhea and Cronus," Hades adds, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The revelation makes Atlas stumble mid-air. 'Eldest son?' The turmoil in his mind creates the opening Hades needs.
'Dream Void.'
A small violet orb shoots forth and strikes Atlas's chest.The Titan's eyes glaze over as he is trapped in a waking nightmare, his body falling back to the earth with a thunderous impact, where he lies asleep. The hold will last for only a few seconds.
"Atlas, today is not the day for our battle. I take my leave."
A massive, ornate gate materializes in the air. Hades jumps onto its ledge, the unconscious Minthe secure in his arms, and vanishes into the shadows just as the Titan begins to stir.