Under a starlit sky, the full moon glowed brightly, casting its silver reflection across the calm surface of the lake. Dark silhouettes of trees framed the horizon, while in the foreground, clusters of white blossoms bloomed, their petals glowing softly in the pale light.
Near the riverbank, Lethe, a woman draped in a gown the colour of moss with hair to match, stood before a taller, elegant figure. The woman, Styx, wore a flowing deep purple gown that enhanced her regal bearing. Her long, dark hair was bound by an intricate golden clip.
"Lady Styx. Please don't be so stubborn," Lethe pleaded, 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 insisted, her voice firm and resolute, her gaze fixed on the distant moonlit water.
Suddenly, the air rippled as a massive black phoenix descended from the sky, its powerful wings beating a gust of wind that forced both goddesses to shield their faces. In a flash, Styx summoned a wand that glowed with violent violet energy. The calm, elegant river beside them roiled, its water turning into a bubbling, acidic stew as shadows writhed and an acrid fog formed on its surface.
'Riv—' she began, her voice sharp with command.
"Stop! Lady Styx, he is Lord Hades, the king of the Underworld!" Lethe cried out, grabbing her arm.
Styx froze, her wand still raised. She looked at Lethe in surprise. "The King?"
The black phoenix dissolved into a swirl of shadows, and Hades landed gracefully before them in his humanoid form. "My apologies for the dramatic entrance," he said, his voice calm and deep. "I am Hades, King of the Underworld."
Styx lowered her wand, making it vanish with a flick of her wrist. The river slowly began to calm, the acid and shadows receding. She offered a formal, if slightly wary, nod. "I am Styx, river goddess of Oath."
"Likewise, I am Lethe, river goddess of forgetfulness," Lethe added, 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 glanced meaningfully at Styx.
Styx stepped forward, her expression pained but determined. "Please forgive my impertinence, Lord Hades. But I cannot come to the Underworld."
"Hmm…" Hades mused, 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 Lethe both stared, their eyes wide with shock. Styx stammered, her inner turmoil breaking through her elegant facade. "H-How do you know this?"
"How is a discussion for another time," Hades stated, 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 exclaimed, a burst of joy erasing her worry. She caught herself, coughing lightly as she straightened 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 snapped his fingers. Five dark wisps emerged from his shadow and shot 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 hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. Lethe looked at her in disbelief, horrified at this questioning of the Underworld King's power. But Hades didn't look angered; a small, understanding smile touched his lips.
Then, he raised 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."
Lethe and Styx both gasped. To take an oath in the name of Styx herself was the most binding and formidable pledge a god could make. The weight of his words hung in the air, undeniable.
Tears of relief welled in Styx's eyes. "Thank you, Lord Hades. I will be eternally in your debt." She knelt deeply before him.
Rising, she gestured with her hand, and a swirling portal of deep blues and purples tore open in the air, revealing a glimpse of the Underworld beyond. With a final, grateful nod to Hades, both river goddesses stepped through and disappeared.
"Ummph…"
Hades stretched his arms and settled 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 closed his eyes, a sad image of Styx's face superimposed 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 mused 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 caught a sweet and refreshing scent in the air. "What is that smell? It seems to suck all the stress right out of me." He stood up and followed the fragrance.
He found a small, humble plant with vibrant green leaves, their edges serrated and the texture slightly wrinkled. The leaves released a fresh, cool fragrance that invigorated him. Its bright, lively colour and distinct veining gave it a crisp, refreshing appearance.
Hades plucked a single leaf and brought it to his nose. "Hmm… what a pleasant and refreshing fragrance."
Crash! Ouch!
He turned to see a teen girl with dark green hair, who had just slipped on a damp rock and tumbled to the ground. Hades waved a hand, and a subtle psychic force helped her to her feet. "You are a young tree spirit," he observed. "Did you create this plant?"
The girl looked 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 continued to babble nonsense between sobs.
Her crying drew the attention of the forest's small creatures; squirrels and owls peeked from their holes, first looking at the crying girl, then turning pathetic gazes upon Hades.
Annoyed by the spectacle, Hades snapped his fingers. Her mouth silenced mid-sob, and he used a touch of his divinity to temporarily block her overwhelming emotions. The girl blinked, her face going blank. 'Aree… what happened now?' She tilted her head in confusion.
"You are… Minthe," Hades stated more than asked. Minthe nodded in agreement. "And you created this plant… mint." Again, she nodded.
"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 stated his purpose directly. Minthe waited a moment. 'He seems powerful. If he wants, then he can just take it. So, it doesn't matter whether I permit or not.' She nodded 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 presented the choices and snapped his fingers, restoring her emotions.
Minthe jolted but remained calm this time. She fell 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 imagined herself dying and reviving over and over, then violently shook her head. 'No! The last one… hmm… that's far better.' She then pictured herself as a boss, lazily slacking off and ordering servants around.
"Hehehehe," Minthe giggled mischievously. Hades smiled, having easily heard her thoughts. 'What a lively brat.'
Clap.
Hades clapped his hands, and Minthe snapped out of her imagination. "Cough… after deep thought, I have come to a decision. I choose the last wish."
"Very well," Hades said. He produced a black contract and a small, silver needle, handing them to her. Minthe stared blankly at the objects, then back at Hades.
"Sigh. This is a soul contract," he explained 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 didn't even bother to read it. She simply pricked her finger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the parchment. Hades took the contract and stored it within his dimensional pocket.
Then, in a movement too fast to follow, he suddenly appeared in front of her and drove his fist into a large boulder. The rock exploded into a cloud of dust and shards.
"Kyaa!!"
Minthe screamed and held Hades' waist tightly. As the dust began to settle, another massive boulder hurtled toward him.
'Dark Barrage!'
Hades hurled a sphere of black energy that blasted the second boulder apart. In the same instant, he scooped up the unconscious Minthe and wrapped his powerful, feathered wings around them both. A devastating punch pierced through the settling dust cloud and impacted his wings with a concussive boom.
The force of the blow sent Hades skidding backwards. As the dust cleared, the towering form of Atlas appeared, glaring at his own hand, where a few cuts dripped golden ichor. In his other hand, he held a single, black feather. "So," Atlas boomed, his voice full of rage. "You are the one who killed my son."
Hades unfurled his wings, looking up at the raging Titan. 'Well, I can't hide any longer. He seems to be at my level, but currently, I am with Minthe, and other Titans may join. Escape is a better option.' He raised a hand in a casual gesture. "Greetings, Atlas."
Atlas's aura flared like a sun. He charged, energy coalescing around his fist. He closed the distance in an instant and threw a world-shattering punch. Hades simply snapped his fingers and teleported into the sky above.
Booom!
The Titan's fist missed its target and struck the earth. The ground trembled violently, and a vast crater formed, surrounded by a web of deep fissures.
"Let me introduce myself properly," Hades called down. "I am Hades. King of the Underworld." Enraged, Atlas leapt into the air for another powerful strike.
"And the eldest son of Rhea and Cronus," Hades added, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The revelation made Atlas stumble mid-air. 'Eldest son?' The turmoil in his mind created the opening Hades needed.
'Dream Void.'
A small violet orb shot forth and struck Atlas's chest. The Titan's eyes glazed over as he was trapped in a waking nightmare, his body falling back to the earth with a thunderous impact, where he lay asleep. The hold would last for only a few seconds.
"Atlas, today is not the day for our battle. I take my leave."
A massive, ornate gate materialised in the air. Hades jumped onto its ledge, the unconscious Minthe secure in his arms, and vanished into the shadows just as the Titan began to stir.