"You could now come out."
The Styx's ripples stilled, and the water rose, taking the form of a noble lady.
Styx bowed deeply. Her voice trembled.
"If not for you… the boundaries would have fallen."
She inhaled, steadying herself. "On behalf of—"
"No."
Hades raised a hand, stopping her without looking at her. His gaze rested on the unconscious Charon, Apate, and the soldiers.
Golden light poured from his palm, warm. It quietly healed their wounds.
"You all guarded the boundaries to your last breath and saved the Underworld from great loss," he said while bowing toward her. "The Underworld will always remember your efforts."
Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched. She quickly stopped him before he fully bowed. "Please do not do that! The Underworld is like home for us. It is also our responsibility to protect our ho—"
A strong space distortion and wave of energy interrupted her mid-sentence. Both Hades and Styx turned their heads toward the source: the Underworld.
"My lord, it seems some important business remains to be dealt with."
Hades nodded. Before he submerged into the shadows and left, he made a very bold decision. "From this moment onward," His words stirred the whole shore,
"no soul shall cross the River Styx without Lady Styx's consent.
To defy her will is to defy the Underworld itself."
Styx quickly bowed at the empty place, tears running from her eyes as emotion overwhelmed her.
She had received acknowledgement for all her efforts with grand respect and authority. But above all, it was the trust Hades had shown in her.
She composed herself and returned back to the river.
The shore fell silent once more.
---
Hades emerged from the shadows. When his eyes opened, they widened at the sight before him—the Underworld was in chaos.
Sound was gone.
Screams hung unfinished in the air—mouths open, wings spread, bodies frozen mid-fall.
Only then did Hades notice the fountain beside him, its water boiling into lava before snapping back into liquid again.
"Gravity has become zero. Time is frozen. Reality keeps changing. Just what is happening in the world?" He closed his eyes for a beat. His secret divinity quickly unraveled the mystery behind this chaos.
Then sent a telepathic message: 'Meet me at the castle.' Then he hurriedly rushed toward the castle.
Guards and servants were frozen. Statues had come alive. Gold and jewels embedded in the walls changed to other material each second.
Hades ignored it all and rushed to Hecate's room. As he opened the door, a strong wave of energy welcomed him.
"Such a strong wave of energy. But not at a level to stop me."
He forced his way into the room. Hestia, Rhea, and Astraeus were frozen just like the others, but they were facing a giant white orb floating in the air, as if they had been trying to deal with the situation before being frozen.
A violet haze formed in his hand. He gently thrust his hand forward and hurled the violet haze toward the white orb.
The violet haze slowly entered the orb. The light dimmed over time. The distorted space and time regained their state.
"—STOP!"
"Caught them!"
Hestia, Rhea, and Astraeus unfroze. They all rushed toward the white orb, completely unaware of the chaos and of Hades.
The light slowly faded and revealed three sleeping children. They slowly descended. Hestia, Rhea, and Astraeus quickly but gently caught them in their arms.
"Are they… my… babies?" Hades's shuddering voice came from behind them. They all slowly turned back and looked at him.
The god, known throughout the world for his coldness and ruthless nature, now trembled, tears collecting at the corners of his eyes in front of the children.
Rhea smiled warmly. She came near him and answered, "Yes." She gave him a girl with violet wings just like her father. "Here, take a look at your eldest daughter. Arya."
His hands hesitated to carry her, but his heart was desperate to. He gently held her with both hands. "Arya…"
Arya's lips curved slightly and she opened her violet, mystic eyes a little. Then she fell asleep in his hands.
Then, Astraeus came forward with a blue-winged boy in her arms. "Kael," Astraeus said softly. "The calmest one."
Hades tried to give Arya back to Rhea, but the child tightly held his hand. Astraeus then said softly, "It seems Hecate finally has her rival." Rhea and Astraeus giggled.
Hestia showed him a girl with red wings. "Here is the most chaotic one. Lyra. She definitely inherited all the bad traits from both of yo—" Lyra, while sleeping, grabbed Hestia's lips and pulled.
"Ouch!" Hestia gently freed her lips. "See?"
Hades smiled and gently touched their cheeks, then he asked, "Where is Hecate? And how is she?"
"She is fine and sleeping. She is exhausted from childbirth," Astraeus said while her eyes guided him toward the bed.
Hades gazed at the bed. Hecate was sleeping soundlessly, her skin still slightly wet with sweat.
Rhea glanced at the door and whispered, "Let me take care of them. You go; someone is waiting outside for you."
He nodded and kissed Arya's forehead. "Sleep, little one." Then he gently gave her back to Rhea.
With that, he stepped out of the room and closed the door.
"How do you feel?"
Cronus leaned against the wall, smoking a cigar.
Hades met his sharp gaze and answered, "To be honest, I don't know." He touched his beating heart. "I don't know what these emotions are, but deep inside I felt complete. As if I had won the whole world."
A warm smile touched Cronus's lips, and he murmured, "You really have."
"Can we talk outside?"
Hades nodded and snapped his fingers. In just a blink, they were in the garden, sitting on stone chairs.
Sebastian approached them. He prepared a pair of teacups for them and said, "My lord, Lord Hermes just now departed and sends his congratulations for the children."
Hades nodded and waved his hand.
Sebastian bowed and left the place.
Cronus took a sip of tea and asked, "So, why did you call me?"
"Typhon has occupied Olympus. Zeus has been captured and his tendons severed," Hades answered while sipping his tea.
Cronus stroked his white beard and murmured, "Hmm… That is possible. Typhon was born with the tremendous power of the primordials. He cannot be killed by normal means."
He looked at Hades and asked, "So, what are you planning?"
"Nothing. I will just leave this matter in the hands of Zeus. He will definitely find a way to regain his throne. If not, then I will have no choice." He raised his arm, and a silver flame flared up.
"The silver flame, the flame of extinction—"
Suddenly, Arya teleported into the lap of Hades and giggled, "Dadaada."
Hades quickly extinguished the flame and held her. "You naughty girl! Giving trouble to your aunt and grandma."
Cronus stared at the child, then laughed under his breath. "Reality bends around her… Time and space answer the others."
Hades nodded once. "God chiefs."
Cronus leaned back, his eyes lingering over them. "They are literally walking disasters. And as the children of a god king, their growth will be even more abnormal."
"That is why I thought of you as their mentor," Hades said, "Teach them responsibility and control over their divinities."
"I gladly accept."
Hades blinked. "That easily?"
Cronus chuckled softly, cradling her with unexpected care. "How could I refuse my own grandchildren?"
His eyes gleamed with interest. "And I would be lying if I said their divinities did not intrigue me."
---
Deep within the giant chasm, a red, menacing light glowed in the dark cave.
"Reality… Awaken… Drexnor."