As the white stone, the false infant Cronus has swallowed, splashes into the acid pond, it disturbs the silence of the deep.
Hestia, Hera, Demeter, and Poseidon turn their heads in shock, eyes wide as they witness the unnatural ripple spreading through the corrosive abyss.
But only one among them remains calm: Hades, the God of Secrets, for he has known all along.
He has watched the deception unfold. He has seen Rhea's pain, Gaea's gift, and the false victory of Cronus.
And now, with fate's gears turning, the time has come.
From the depths of the acid pond, where divine energy has been both forged and tortured for years, a deep, inhuman roar erupts, a cry of rebirth, of dominion, of vengeance.
The surface splits apart as Hades emerges, his form like that of a mythic beast risen from slumber beneath the abyss.
His wings spread wide, towering and immense, each feather sharpened like obsidian blades forged in the flames of war.
His body is tall, athletic, no longer that of a child. His horns curve slightly, his eyes deep violet glowing in contrast to the void-black sclera. He is no longer simply a god.
Seeing this figure rise like a monster from a nightmare, Poseidon, still young but full of inherited strength, immediately steps into a battle stance.
Divine water circles around him, swirling like a coiled serpent. His instincts scream, this creature born from the deepest darkness, a primal danger he has never felt before.
But before tension can spark into a tragic clash,
Hestia steps forward, arms outstretched, her presence like the calming flame of a hearth in a winter storm.
"Stop! Calm yourself, Poseidon!" "This is no monster...this is your brother."
She turns to the others, her voice firm but warm.
"This is Hades, our eldest… brother."
Poseidon's stance eases, confusion flickering in his sea-green eyes.
Demeter and Hera stare in awe, barely recognising this form.
And Hades… his voice low, calm, and heavy with restrained power, speaks for the first time in years.
As Hades steps fully out of the burning acid pond, his obsidian-black wings still dripping and steaming, his gaze turns toward the presence that has readied to battle him just moments ago, his younger brother.
He pauses.
His eyes, sharp and cold from years of hardship, soften just slightly at what he sees.
Poseidon, once just a divine spark in Cronus's belly, has grown into a proud warrior.
His dark blue hair falls in gentle waves across his face, catching the faint glow of divine light. His sapphire eyes, calm yet fierce, stare back with the wildness of the seas and the pride of a god who has claimed his path. His features are strikingly handsome, carrying both the nobility of the Titans and the boldness of untamed waters.
But Hades is impressed by his power.
'He's already reached the strength of a High-Level God…' Hades thinks, eyes narrowing. 'But…he's still weaker than me.'
There is no arrogance in the thought, just the quiet recognition of how far Hades has pushed his body, mind, and soul into the abyss.
Then Hades turns his gaze to his sisters.
For a moment, even he who has long buried emotions under cold resolve feels a twinge of awe.
They have all grown.
Hestia, his eternal flame, now radiates maturity and calm power. Her once soft features have become refined, her eyes glowing like sacred embers. Her presence gives warmth even amidst the acid—a true Goddess of the Hearth, now standing proudly as a Mid-Level God.
Demeter, the blonde girl who once trembled and hid behind Hestia, now stands tall with golden hair flowing like ripe wheat fields, and green eyes that shimmer with life and command. Her aura pulses with fertility and growth, her strength honed and cultivated like her domain.
Hera, regal and composed, carries herself with authority. Her violet eyes gleam with judgment and resolve. Draped in divine fabrics, she already bears the air of a queen. The Goddess of Marriage and Order has also risen to the level of a Mid-Level God, her power sharp, focused, and unwavering.
Each of them has suffered, but none of them has broken.
They have endured imprisonment… And they have forged strength from pain.
Hades smiles brightly and, like a gentleman, bows slightly. "Nice to meet you, everyone. I am Hades, your eldest brother."
He is smiling and friendly, but the others see a devilish smile. His aura magnifies more and makes him appear as an evil god.
"Oh! I forgot, I have something important to tell." Hades tries to act more clumsily and friendlier so his siblings might come closer. But whatever he does, it only backfires.
Hades turns a little serious as he himself grows a little tired with the act; he says in his original cold tone, "Our youngest brother has been born; his name is Zeus, and he will become the key to our escape. As for how he will do it, just leave it to fate. For now, train your divinity and skills."
Then Hades looks at everyone's confused and dumb faces. Sigh. "I am the god of secrets; I have a nearly omniscient ability. Nothing can be hidden from my eyes."
Hera and Demeter place their hands on their chests. 'Nothing.' And they look at him with disgust, as if they are seeing a pervert who even announces his evil deeds publicly.
Hades, aware of his siblings' thoughts and emotions, does not try to clarify or provide evidence of his innocence. He just accepts it, as he knows whatever he tells and clarifies only fuels the flame.
After that, he walks to a corner and meditates, enclosing other secrets the world has hidden.
Hestia looks at the whole scene from the corner and places her hand on her face in trouble. 'What do I do about them? One side keeps fueling the fire while extinguishing it. On the other side, misunderstandings keep piling up. Both sides are difficult to pursue.'
Poseidon comes toward Hestia and asks, "Sister Hestia, why is my oldest brother stronger than I even when we are both at the same stage?"
Hestia looks at his raging eyes. "Hades masters 12 divinities—meaning all his divinities have reached high-level divinity, whereas you master 6 divinities. So, you are weak. But after high-level divinity, you need profound knowledge about each divinity. So, in that case, you will grow faster."
Poseidon's eyes widen, and he murmurs, '12 divinities.' With determination, he intensifies his training and goes to another corner of the cave, starts swinging his ice trident while hovering the water into different shapes.
Now, with the birth of Zeus, the time of waiting is ending. The seeds have sprouted, and soon, revolt will begin.