Chapter 1992 – 1992. God’S Atlantis
Hades accepted Zeus’s command to rule the underworld without a fuss. He knew it was his destiny.
The underworld was important.
Every living thing, except for the gods, eventually faced death, and they would descend to the underworld to settle their accumulated karma. The underworld was, in essence, one of the axes of the world.
Due to the nature of the underworld, it was not easy to ascend, and there was always a shortage of gods, making it constantly busy. Apart from these points, Hades had no complaints about the underworld.
Above all, he liked that while gods and humans on the surface had to be mindful of Zeus, there was no need for that in the underworld. In this underworld, Hades was king.
However, there was something that Hades found hard to bear.
It was loneliness.
The occasional loneliness was enough to draw a sigh from Hades. At such times, the solemn silence of the underworld was particularly displeasing. He felt a strong desire to have someone by his side.
That day was also one of those days when he felt lonely. Not only that, but he also felt bored.
‘It has been many years since I became the king of the underworld. Must I continue to exist in this world where no light enters?’
A moment of clarity came.
The wise Hades took a break at times like this. Forcing himself to work would only make him feel more resentful of his duties.
When Hades took a break, he would observe the surface world. The unfamiliar surface was more interesting than the familiar underworld.
While observing the surface, Hades’s eyes caught sight of a goddess. A goddess laughing with Demeter, who could be considered his sister. It was a goddess he had never seen before, but it wasn’t difficult to guess her identity. Just because he was in the underworld didn’t mean he didn’t hear news from the surface.
‘Is that Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and Zeus!’
He also knew that Zeus had violated Persephone on the night she was born. It was already a well-known story among the gods. It was wrong. But no one could punish Zeus. Zeus was the king of the gods.
‘…I understand Zeus’s feelings. I never thought I would, but… look at that beautiful goddess. She is as fresh and vibrant as spring. Who could dislike her? Demeter also cherishes her daughter.’
For the first time, he felt a desire.
If Persephone were by his side, wouldn’t this gloomy underworld become a little brighter?
Hades imagined Persephone sitting next to him. It was a perfect match.
‘This is not just for me, but also for the underworld.’
Having made up his mind, Hades kept watching Persephone.
He wanted to go up and formally propose to her.
‘No one in their right mind would come down to this underworld. She would absolutely refuse. Above all, Demeter and Zeus, who cherish Persephone, would not allow it.’
Without his invisible helmet, it would be difficult to secretly take her. But opportunities always arise. Hades continued to watch for his chance.
An opportunity arose.
As the harvest season came, Demeter became busy. Zeus was obsessed with women and couldn’t pay attention to Persephone. Hades went to the surface, kidnapped Persephone, and returned to the underworld.
He prepared a throne for her and offered her flowers that only bloomed in the underworld, proposing to her.
“Oh, Persephone. Goddess of spring. Become the mistress of the underworld and bring spring to this desolate realm.”
Persephone, who had been kidnapped, did not look pleased, to say the least.
“Lord Hades. Please send me back. My place is on the surface. Also, my mother, Demeter, and my father and husband, Zeus, will not allow this marriage. It’s not too late. Please send me back to the surface before they become enraged.”
“I cannot do that. You have already entered the underworld, so according to the laws of the underworld, you must become my wife.”
“Laws?”
“I am the king of the underworld. You must become my wife. That is the law I have just established.”
“…Do you know that I am Zeus’s daughter and wife? I love Zeus.”
“You are lying. Well, I understand. Zeus’s power is not ordinary, so you must be afraid. Even if you are not pure, it doesn’t matter. I love you. And this love is real. It is different from Zeus’s lust.”
Persephone shook her head. To her, Zeus and Hades were no different.
“If Zeus allows it, I will marry you.”
Zeus would never allow it. Zeus never gave his women to others.
Contrary to Persephone’s thoughts, Hades thought it was a simple matter. The source of his confidence was in this underworld.
‘Even Zeus cannot interfere with the underworld. It is not part of Olympus. If I were to slack off and the order of the underworld were not properly maintained… the chaos would be something the surface would have to bear.’
Of course, the underworld would also not be unscathed. But it wouldn’t be as bad as the surface.
Hades did not contact Olympus immediately. He stopped working in the underworld and waited for the right time.
‘The more chaos the surface experiences, the more advantageous this side will be.’
So, he waited for chaos to arise on the surface, for the dead to overflow and cause problems.
About three days passed.
A message came from Olympus. Hades calmly sat on his throne and received their message. The figures of the Olympian gods appeared in the air.
“…….”
The atmosphere of the twelve Olympian gods was different from what Hades had expected. A major event had occurred, so it should have been chaotic. But it was quiet. The atmosphere of Olympus seemed frozen.
The Olympian gods were watching Zeus’s reaction.
Hermes, who usually led the atmosphere, was quietly silent, and Aphrodite, who always had a seductive smile, stood expressionless. Even Hera, who usually paid no attention to Zeus, was silent and watched Zeus’s reaction. Even Demeter, who should have been the most agitated by Persephone’s kidnapping, was quiet.
Hades felt uneasy.
“Hades. I’ll give you one last chance. Bring Persephone safely back to the surface right now.”
Zeus’s voice was filled with murderous intent. A murderous intent that made even Hades, who was accustomed to death, flinch.
‘Calm down. Even if Zeus is angry, there is nothing he can do. This is the underworld.’
Hades spoke in a calm tone. He had to be as rational as possible.
“Zeus. I want to marry Persephone. She will enjoy many things as my partner.”
“Are you throwing away your last chance like this?”
“You should know that the laws of the underworld and the surface are different. Even if it is you, you cannot influence the underworld. Even if you want war, I will not back down. Also, until you acknowledge my marriage with Persephone, the order of the underworld will also stop. As time passes, the chaos on the surface will grow. To resolve that chaos, you will have to give me the answer I want.”
“Hades. Do you think that is right?”
Hera asked. Hades did not avoid her gaze and answered.
“I have decided to bet everything. Please understand.”
Zeus rose from his seat. Anger poured from his eyes.
“I have heard your declaration of war. From now on, it is war.”
With Zeus’s declaration, the connection was cut off.
Immediately after.
Kuuuuuung.
The ground shook.
‘An earthquake?’
It was something that happened occasionally, so he didn’t think much of it.
Kuuuuuung! Kuuuuuuuuuuung!
‘It’s not an earthquake.’
The direction of the impact was from the ceiling. Something from the surface was hitting the underworld.
If the impact was felt this much in the underworld…
‘The Olympian gods are attacking the underworld. They are reluctant to come directly to the underworld, so they are protesting in this way.’
Hades chuckled.
‘Those who don’t even have the courage to come directly to the underworld. I just need to hold out in the underworld. Then they will give in on their own.’
He had been anxious when he had done it, but now that he thought about it, it was a good thing. He could show the Olympian gods the greatness of the underworld.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
The explosion grew louder.
The entire underworld shook violently. Debris like dirt fell from the ceiling.
‘Where I am is not Tartarus, but one of the deepest parts of the underworld. If the vibrations are felt this much… what on earth are they using to hit the underworld?’
Kwaaang! Kwaaaaaaaaaang!
Impacts were felt constantly.
Just as he was starting to feel annoyed, the lower gods of the underworld urgently sought Hades.
“Lord Hades! It’s a disaster! Holes are being made in the underworld!”
“Thousands, tens of thousands of souls have already been annihilated! At this rate, we may even have to worry about the very existence of the underworld!”
“It was too reckless to antagonize the Olympian gods.”
Hades raised his hand to calm them. They closed their mouths, but their eyes trembled with anxiety.
“Holes have been made between the surface and the underworld? What on earth made those holes?”
“Lightning! Zeus’s lightning is piercing into the underworld and ravaging the souls!”
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!
Immediately after, lightning pierced through the ceiling and fell. The blue lightning discharged and spread in all directions, electrocuting Hades and the other gods.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
The gods screamed in pain and rolled on the floor. Hades gritted his teeth and endured the pain.
Kuurururung.
The sound of thunder was heard. Hades reached out his hand towards the ceiling and used his power. He blocked the lightning that was falling again. This was only the first or second time. Hades sensed that he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.
“This is insane. Was Zeus’s power this great!”
“Lord Hades! The underworld cannot withstand this! We must surrender now!”
“If we just hold out for a few days, the surface won’t be able to….”
Hades’s power that was blocking the ceiling was torn apart, and lightning fell to the floor. The lightning did not disappear but took the form of a person. The lightning soon became Zeus. Zeus grabbed Hades by the collar, who was in shock.
“Will you continue?”