Beneath the nightmarish land known as Los Angeles, there exists another world cloaked in darkness and gray—a realm where vast rivers carve through desolate landscapes, fields brim with wandering souls, and a distant island radiates light, lush green forests, and a rare sense of hope. Yet, farther from everything, lies a foul abyss that emits a sickly green glow, echoing with the ceaseless wails and screams of pain beyond mortal comprehension.
On the highest hill overlooking the land, near the fields of souls, stands a palace as black as midnight. Blue flames light the path, guiding workers cloaked in deathly energy as they come and go from the immense structure, performing their eternal duties. At the very top, on a towering balcony, stands a man—6'2", with silky black hair, pale skin, and eyes that shift between icy blue and radiant violet.
He is the eldest of the Big Three. His power vastly surpasses most of his siblings—even those who claim to be his equal in authority. And in this moment, he has only one thought:
Hades' POV
Boredom.
That's all I feel right now as I look out across my Underworld. My servants are doing their jobs—judging souls, guiding them to their fates. Some souls wail in despair over their punishment. Others celebrate their ascension to Elysium. And then there are those who simply accept their fate with indifference—not evil, but not kind-hearted enough for paradise.
I find myself questioning the meaning of all this... this endless cycle beneath my mantle.
My gaze drifts to the farthest corner of the Underworld—Tartarus. The abyss pulses with green light that mortals and demigods alike find disturbing. I can't help but wonder: did my father, Kronos, feel the same after conquering the cosmos in his time? That bastard may have been a terrible father, but he was the ruler of the Titans during their era.
Asking him for advice would be the proper thing to do... if only I could find all the pieces of his body. His head, eyes, and most importantly—his mouth—are scattered across Tartarus, sealed in its deepest layers with ancient magic. It would take my most powerful siblings an entire day to break those seals. Me? Just under an hour. Still not worth the hassle.
And his soul? It's been spread thin across the world—fragmented to the four corners after Luke's rebellion.
"I wonder if I should take a vacation..."It's been a while since I've walked among mortals for fun—no battles, no wars, no cleaning up my children's messes.
Mortals don't exactly love me. Thanks to Disney, I'm seen as the bad guy. Those who understand our real history know I'm the reasonable one in our pantheon. But let's be honest—that's a very low bar to clear. And even then, I've still got that one kid who manages to embarrass me on the world stage.
"If only that damn art school had accepted him... I could've salvaged my reputation. But no, he had to get bitter and act like a brat. Honestly, if I hadn't checked, I would've sworn he was Zeus's kid."
I rub my temples, sighing at my divine life.
A vacation sounds ideal... but where could I even go?
Japan?No. My senses are screaming about nonsense and absurdity running wild over there. Two of the Satan Sisters are attending school there—no need for that political migraine. And with my power and reputation, the Japanese gods would either wet themselves in fear or try to rope me into some absurd marriage alliance. Not to mention Amaterasu has apparently gone full NEET and hasn't left her house except for official duties, according to my spies.
Italy?Absolutely not. The angels would have a collective heart attack. With Yahweh presumed dead, they'd throw every divine weapon they have at me just to buy time and try kick me out. At best, I'd get a few minutes of peace.
Maybe I should check in on the devils and the fallen angels...
I focus my divine vision and gaze across the Underworld—specifically, the land I allowed Lucifer to claim after an ancient pact. In return, I gained access to the power of dead devils, magic leakage, and ambient sin.
From what I see, the devils are still recovering from their civil war. Two of the Four Satans are buried in paperwork. One is asleep at a border outpost. And the last one—the one who created those ridiculous-yet-effective chess pieces—seems to be tinkering with another invention.
"I wonder how they'd react if they knew their 'creator' sold them out for a plot of land, some ancient dark tomes, and a non-aggression pact. The look on their faces would be priceless."
I shift my gaze again—this time toward the fallen angels.
Their numbers are still low. Most of them are focused on researching Sacred Gears, recruiting humans, or, frankly, trying to breed their way back to relevance. It's all sex and science with them these days.
"Where's Azazel? Not in the Underworld... probably causing mischief in the human world again. As long as he's not wrecking things down here, I don't care. Though, I should renegotiate that contract he signed with me…"
I smirk, remembering how he offered me 15% stock in all fallen angel companies, 5% of their revenue, and even promised to repair and upgrade parts of the Underworld if I helped him find Sacred Gear users.
So... the Yahweh faction is a no-go.India? No. I'd just get dragged into the eternal brawl between Shiva and Indra.Scandinavia? No thanks. Thor would challenge me to a fight, and Odin would ask perverted questions about Persephone or sexy reaper forms.America? Definitely not. My siblings would panic, and Camp Half-Blood would probably go into lockdown just from my aura.
Maybe... Florida? I hear the new god Florida Man does wild things for fun.Hmm... no. He's new and still figuring things out. Plus, I've seen enough animal... "fondness" in my lifetime thanks to Zeus and Poseidon.
Shivers.
As I shake off those horrifying memories, a thought comes to me—something I had forgotten due to being worked like a mule during that mortal pandemic.
I snap my fingers and summon my sleek black Android phone. One unread message.
It's from one of the few gods I actually like: Hecate.
"Hades, I recently discovered a whole new world of magic. I need your help. I don't trust many others—especially from our pantheon. This could relieve you of your duties for a time and help me understand this new magic better. Let me know when you're free—once the overwhelming flood of souls from Apollo's mess dies down."
I glance around. No major disasters. Nothing that can't wait a year... or two.
I type back:
"Hecate, I'm free now. I'll help you. What kind of magic are we talking about, and how long will it take?"
While waiting for her reply, I scroll through the DevilNet.
"Strongest Queen prefers being dominated, hence the maid outfit."
"Lucifer seen crying while hugging his sister before her departure."
"Serafall pushing a magical girl contest in the Underworld."
"Ajuka may or may not be building himself a robot lover that looks like Lucifer."
Gods... I love this trash.
Just as I'm chuckling, I get a reply from Hecate.
"It'll probably take a year or two. Bring a traveler's bag—something big enough to hold a modest house. I forgot to mention the magic I'm researching..."
I raise an eyebrow and reply:
"What kind of magic is it, exactly?"
Her answer makes me stop breathing for a second.
"World Traveler Magic."