Two familiar presences had long been waiting here, as if merged with this eternal darkness.
Thanatos and Hypnos—the twins of death and sleep.
They still maintained their former forms, but at this moment, their attitude towards Hades was completely different from their previous encounters.
There was no subtle restraint born of power gaps or divine depth, nor the solemn detachment of fulfilling the Mother Goddess's mission.
Instead, there arose an almost natural reverence and... submission, stemming from the origin of divinity itself.
Thanatos, the god with a calm face and an almost stagnant demeanor, took the initiative to step forward.
Instead of merely nodding slightly as usual, he knelt on one knee, and the great scythe, symbolizing the inevitable end, was presented before Hades in his hands.
He lowered his head, his black robe like falling night, his voice still cold and calm, yet carrying unprecedented solemnity:
"Thanatos, god of death, by the will of the Mother Goddess Nyx and the Father God Erebus, acknowledges you as the sole lord of the Underworld. From this moment, the authority over death is defined by you, and the extradition of the deceased conforms to your law. Our lord Hades, Thanatos pledges loyalty to you and worships you as his sovereign god."
Immediately after, Hypnos, who was always lazy and hazy, also suppressed all drowsiness.
He also knelt on one knee, his silver hair falling downwards, hiding his now extremely sober and serious gaze at this moment.
He held no weapon in his hand, but pressed his right hand to the position of his heart, symbolizing the beginning of sleep and dreams, and his voice was ethereal and clear:
"Hypnos, god of sleep, has witnessed the birth of the new order in Hades by the will of his parents. From now on, the rest of the Underworld and its dreams are enveloped by your radiant light. Our lord Hades, Hypnos pledges loyalty to you and serves you as his sovereign god."
Two ancient and powerful descendants of the primordial gods, representing the most basic and irreplaceable gods of the Underworld, at this moment unconditionally swore allegiance to Hades.
This was not only the embodiment of the will of Nyx and Erebus, but also the natural attachment to Hades's own divinity and authority after being baptized by primordial divine power and becoming the King of Hades.
As they took their oath, Hades clearly felt that his somewhat illusory authority of [Hades] became more distinct.
The concepts related to [Death] and [Sleep] seemed to have found their source, becoming clearer and more orderly.
He did not need to seize them; with a single thought, he could precisely invoke and regulate all laws related to death and sleep through Thanatos and Hypnos.
This was the Sovereign God's control over his subordinate gods.
As if echoing the oath of the twin gods, divine lights flickered one after another under the dim sky of the Underworld.
A goddess in black robes, her face hidden beneath the shadow of a hood, quietly appeared—this was Hecate, goddess of ghosts and magic, keeper of roads and crossroads, holding a torch and key, slightly bowing to Hades, expressing recognition and obedience to the new lord of the Underworld.
There were also other figures, some bright, some dark, such as the goddesses of resentment, the three goddesses of vengeance, etc... The children of Nyx inherent to the Underworld more or less appeared at this moment, expressing recognition of Hades, the new King of Hades.
The divine system of the Underworld, upon Hades's arrival, had initially returned to its place.
Hades accepted the attention and loyalty of the gods, his face calm, his eyes gliding over this land that belonged to him. Desolation, deathly silence, wandering souls, loose laws... All kinds of decay awaited his rebirth. But he felt no fear of difficulties in his heart, only a sense of substance that he had finally stepped onto the starting point and could let go.
Having accepted the initial loyalty and recognition of the core divine system of the Underworld, Hades set his sights on this vast and primeval land. His perception spread with the authority of [Hades], like an invisible net, covering every corner of the Underworld.
He 'saw' the four great rivers flowing through the Underworld, containing the power of various laws, which were like arteries in the Underworld, supporting the functioning of this realm of the dead.
The first was Acheron, the river of pain, its water black as ink, carrying the infinite sorrow and regret of souls, the first barrier most souls faced upon entering the Underworld.
The second was the river of flame, Phlegethon, its water like flowing magma, exuding a scorching breath, dividing different regions of the Underworld.
The third was Cocytus, the river of wailing, its water cold and biting, its whimpering sound like the eternal cry of the dead, wandering near the gathering places of souls lost in pain.
The fourth was Lethe, the river of oaths and forgetfulness, whose water could make the drinker forget the past, and also contained the power of oaths that was effective even for gods.
These four rivers, the Styx (used here generically for underworld rivers), were the natural foundation of order in the Underworld, and also the key nodes that needed to be controlled first.
Hades's mind stirred, and the laws of the Underworld responded. He raised his hand, and an invisible force was like a master's carving knife, beginning to subtly adjust and regulate the courses, flow directions, and even the laws contained within the four rivers.
The course of Acheron was widened and strengthened, making its flow smoother and reducing the risk of the dead being swallowed by whirlpools of pain, making it more like a solemn river of extradition.
The flame of Phlegethon was confined to the center of its course, with both sides lined with heat-resistant dark stone embankments, serving as clear boundaries for dividing territory.
The wailing of Cocytus was confined to a specific valley area, preventing its mournful fluctuations from excessively disturbing the peace of the entire Underworld.
The power of forgetfulness of Lethe was directed to a special quiet lake, where neither ghosts nor gods could approach without permission.
This regulation did not forcibly change the nature of the Styx rivers, but integrated their chaotic powers into an orderly and controllable system.
With the regulation of the Styx rivers, the initially chaotic aura was purified. Although still dead and dark, a nascent and orderly sense of structure had emerged.
After all this, Hades turned to Metis, who had been silently observing, her eyes shining with wisdom and understanding.
He took her hand and led her towards the four rivers of the Styx that had just been ordered.
"Metis," Hades's voice was low and trusting, "water flows invisibly, yet permeates everything; wisdom is silent, yet can grasp the origin of order. These four life-thread rivers of the Underworld contain the joys, sorrows, delights, and forgotten rebirth of the realm of death. I entrust them to your hands. With your wisdom, guide their flow, balance their power, so that they may become the most reliable cornerstone of the Underworld's order."
This was the first and crucial authority and responsibility for Metis as Queen of the Underworld.
Taking control of the Styx rivers, she would directly participate in and influence the journey of all revenants in the Underworld, and her wisdom would permeate all key aspects of the Underworld's operation.
Metis felt the majestic power in Hades's hand, connected to the origin of the Underworld, and his unconditional trust. Her blue eyes were full of emotion—the excitement of facing a challenge and the cherishing of this trust.
She nodded solemnly, her voice clear and firm: "I will live up to your trust, my king."
She extended her other hand and gently touched the apex of the Stygian law.
Her [Wisdom] divinity operated simultaneously with the power of [Dark Water] touched by her new birth, and began to establish a deeper connection with the origin of the four Styx rivers.
She did not control them forcibly, but began to understand, guide, and optimize the 'character' and 'duty' of these rivers, like a helmsman who knew the waters best.
As Metis first established contact with the Styx rivers, and the divine power combining the brilliance of wisdom and the deep breath of the Underworld began to flow around her, a new figure quietly appeared at the entrance to the Hall of Hades.
The visitor was a goddess in a dark grey dress, her appearance somewhat similar to Metis's, but more mature and cold, her eyes like eternal ice, and her whole being radiated an unbreakable oath and the solemnity of the end.
She was Styx, the goddess of oaths, eldest daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, embodiment of the river on the boundary between the Underworld and the mortal world, revered by the gods.
Styx's eyes first fell upon Metis, who was resonating with the Styx rivers, and an imperceptible fluctuation flickered in her cold eyes. Then she turned to Hades and offered her allegiance.
Her attitude was not enthusiastic, but held the fundamental respect for the new lord of the underworld and obedience to Nyx's will.
Then her gaze returned to Metis. She looked at her sister, renowned for her wisdom and the pride of the ocean, now surrounded by the majesty of the Queen of Hades and the profound power of her origin, belonging to the waters of the Underworld.