Both of us were breathing heavily now skin scorched, robes torn, minor wounds etched into flesh and spirit.
Some of my Netherwater Spears had pierced her defences, grazing her arm and side. godly blood dripped slowly.
Still, Hecate smirked, her voice light but laced with weariness.
"Harming a beautiful lady… isn't very gentlemanly of you, Hades."
I smirked back.
"Is there such a thing as a gentleman among gods?, fine. I'll try to remember next time."
Without warning, she raised both hands. Roots exploded from the ground and formed a serpent of writhing trees, its wooden fangs snapping in silence.
I unleashed a barrage of Nether flame Blitz, black-blue fireballs howling through the air, exploding in flashes of heat and ash. The shockwaves cracked the earth around us.
I began forming a Dark spear, channelling every ounce of focus into its construction, but Hecate was relentless. She unleashed her spell again, this time with a sonic barrage, waves of compressed sound that vibrated into my bones, breaking my concentration. The pressure rose and rose until my ears rang, my vision pulsed.
I gritted my teeth and covered my body with divine energy.
But then came the flash.
A blast of blinding light, pure, silent, and all consuming.
I staggered, temporarily blinded, instincts screaming. I couldn't see. Could barely think. She was pushing hard now desperate to end this.
But I had my own tricks.
I released a Dark haze, flooding the battlefield with a thick, shadowy mist. It swallowed everything, light, sound, form. Even the stars above flickered and vanished from view.
Now, we were both temporarily blind and both hunting in silence.
But I sensed her soul, through secret divinity.
I spread my wings and darted through the air, closing in on her location.
Then I cast Dream void.
A quiet spell. Easy to miss. But deadly if it struck.
She flinched as it took hold, her body slowing, breath shortening. Her movements faltered, her eyes dimmed. Drowsiness overtook her mind like velvet chains. She resisted but barely. A few seconds were all I needed.
I conjured a Dark spear once more and swept toward her, positioning it at her neck.
Still breathing hard, I looked into her dazed eyes.
"I win, Hecate."
— Hectate POV —
A black spear stopped just an inch from my neck.
"I win, Hecate."
I stood dazed for a moment, unsure how he had managed it until I truly noticed the spear's tip trembling near my throat.
'I… lost?'
I, Witch of crossroad. The one who once battled Cronus to a stalemate. In the past, my range and spell combat were considered unbeatable.
And now, I had been defeated by a god who had only recently begun learning to control spells?
It felt like an illusion.
But no this was reality.
Hades had truly reached that level… a level where he might one day become not just the ruler of the Underworld in title, but in truth. Not a puppet king, not someone maneuvered by the old powers but a sovereign in every sense.
"As promised, I'll help you deal with the Dukes."
I said, keeping my voice calm.
Later, we returned to the castle. As usual, I meditated in a shadowed corner while Hades lounged on his throne, lazily snacking on ambrosia.
After sometime he bored left throne to kitchen. I ignore him as usual he do something strange.
...
Then I smelled something.
Something delicious.
My eyes opened. Entranced by the aroma, I followed it to the kitchen.
And there… stood Hades.
Wearing something unusual—a white garment with a brown bear stitched in the center. It covered his front but left his back entirely exposed.
He was humming as he stirred something with a ladle.
"It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life…
For me…
And I'm feeling good…"
As I entered, he stopped singing and turned to me with a smile.
"Oh! Hecate, perfect timing. The curry's ready."
Curry?
I blinked. "What is 'curry'? And what are you wearing?"
He froze, as if he had to reboot his thoughts.
"Ah… this? It's called an apron. I made it to protect myself while cooking. And this…is curry, a dish I just made."
I stared blankly. I had never heard these words in my entire immortal life.
"You're a god," I said slowly. "Your chiton is crafted from your own divine essence which strong enough to endure dragon breath so, why do you still need this… apron?"
Hades looked visibly annoyed and… evasive.
"Huh? You really ask too many questions. Just sit down and eat before it cools."
I didn't press further. Some Titans have strange rituals or odd fetishes. Maybe Hades had one too.
I sat down, and he served me a small plate with tiny white grains and thick brown sauce.
Still puzzled, I asked, "What is this again?"
"The white grains are rice, and the soup is curry," he explained patiently.
Then, he took some water in his hand, let a few drops fall around the plate, pressed his palms together, and said,
"Thanks for the food."
It seemed like some kind of ritual.
Out of courtesy or curiosity, I copied him.
"Thanks for the food."
We both began eating.
And then…
Spicy. Sweet. Aromatic. Divine.
In all my immortal life, in all the dimensions I've wandered, I had never tasted something like this.
It was, without exaggeration, the most delicious food I had ever eaten.