While Zeus was in full swing, uniting all forces and preparing for the final battle with Cronus, the young son of prophecy was not idle. His abundant energy and natural charm were like uncontrollable thunder, swinging across the entire earth.
Hades sat on the obsidian throne in the depths of Hades, the suspended mirror before him like dark water, clearly reflecting everything happening on Mount Olympus and even on the earth.
As the most patient observer, he calmly studied his brother Zeus's 'performance'.
In the mirror, the scene changed:
In a dense forest, Zeus took the form of a mighty stag, pursuing a frightened and curious nymph.
His eyes were full of wild passion, and finally by a stream, he returned to his divine form. With his handsome appearance and rhetoric, he easily conquered the nymph's heart, leaving another romance in the vibrant forest.
Scenes flickered in the mirror, and Zeus's figure appeared in mountains, valleys, and even the temples of some goddesses, his targets ranging from noble goddesses to pure nymphs.
His words of love were like honey, his promises like stars, and his enthusiasm like fire, quickly igniting one heart after another, leaving behind one sorrowful or complex aftermath after another.
Hades watched without expression, as if evaluating a drama unrelated to him.
Sometimes he frowned slightly at Zeus's overly crude or hasty methods, as if critiquing his acting skills.
"It seems our 'brother-god' has achieved no small 'accomplishments' in breeding offspring and expanding the divine system." Hades's tone was level, difficult to discern whether it was mockery or a pure statement.
"I just wonder how many reliable allies these dewy relationships can bring him in the future."
Metis, who stood quietly by his side, slightly pursed her lips at this moment.
She looked at Zeus's arrogant behavior in the mirror, then glanced at Hades, who always observed calmly, even with a hint of contemplative thought, and a barely perceptible haze flickered in her wise eyes.
She cautiously approached Hades, extended her slender jade-like hand, and seemingly casually touched the surface of the mirror.
In the mirror, the image of Zeus and the sea goddess instantly blurred, transforming into the churning shadows of the Styx.
"My king," Metis's voice was still soft, but carried a slight chill, like ripples rising from the depths of the Styx.
"These... it's better not to watch such vulgar scenes. Zeus's wandering form is nothing more than a catharsis of bestial instincts, with neither wisdom nor beauty. Watching too often, I fear it might soil your eyes, or even... affect your judgment of certain things."
Hades turned his head and looked at Metis. He sensed the unusual meaning in her words. On her face was still a wise smile, but deep in her eyes lurked a cold undercurrent.
"What are you worried about, Metis?" Hades asked, a note of inquiry in his voice.
Metis leaned slightly closer to Hades, her hair like flowing Styx water, gently touching his arm, sending a cool, tingling sensation.
Her voice lowered, as if in a dream, but carried an undeniable possessive note:
"I was just thinking, if my Lord Hades is so focused on observing these... tedious courtships, one day I might also feel that the Underworld is too empty and lonely, and want to experience similar... superficial enthusiasm?"
She raised her eyes and looked directly into Hades's deep violet eyes, the corners of her mouth curving into a strange, sweet yet dangerous arc: "You know, wisdom and loyalty are eternal charms. Those flowers that are only superficial, though delicate, can easily wither and rot... And I will ensure that any being who tries to approach you and defile the purity of the Underworld receives their final 'peace' in advance."
Her words were soft, but the air around them froze slightly.
Even Thanatos, standing nearby, seemed to stir slightly, and Hypnos yawned lazily, as if accustomed to this scene.
Hades looked at the distorted yet fierce possessiveness in Metis's eyes, and in his heart, there was no disgust, but a strange clarity arose.
Amidst absolute rationality and planning, this extreme paranoia caused by emotion could also be an interesting seasoning.
He reached out and gently held Metis's cool palm, his tone remaining calm but with a soothing power: "Don't worry, my queen. The order and secrecy of the Underworld are what I pursue. Zeus's actions are, for me, merely a window into the weaknesses of his character. As for the rest..."
His gaze glided over the image of Zeus, now clear again in the mirror, being courteous to the goddess of grain, and said coldly: "...These bright sounds are not as good as the eternal silence of Hades."
Metis felt the coolness of Hades's palm and, as always, saw the calm and firmness in his eyes, and her morbid anxiety seemed to ease slightly.
She gently laid her head on his arm and whispered: "It's best if you can think that way. After all, we are one, sharing this eternal darkness and power..."
However, the paranoia in the depths of her eyes did not completely disappear, but quietly lurked, like a shadow hiding in the depths of the Styx, ready to devour any existence that might threaten the 'eternal covenant' between her and Hades.
At the same time, Zeus in the mirror had just bid farewell to another goddess he had conquered, triumphantly looking at Olympus in the distance.
He knew nothing of his brother's surveillance in the Underworld, let alone that he had become a specimen for analyzing character weaknesses in another's eyes while having fun, and had even indirectly triggered a small bout of 'jealousy' in the Queen of the Underworld.
His thoughts had already flown to the impending final battle with his father-god. He stroked the thunderbolt in his hand, feeling its majestic power, confidently believing that with this artifact and his charismatic network, he could overthrow Cronus's authority and usher in his own era.
He did not know that deep within the weapon he relied on most, there lurked a cold imprint from his brother; he did not even know that one day in the future, when he was complacent and tried to reach into places he shouldn't touch, the cold reins of the Underworld would make him understand true 'despair' and 'powerlessness'.
In the Underworld, Hades averted his gaze, and the mirror once again sank into darkness.
"Summon Hecate," he commanded lightly, his voice echoing through the empty corridor.
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P.S.: Regarding Metis's character: In mythology, after being swallowed by Zeus, she still bestowed wisdom upon Zeus. When Athena was born, Zeus's head was split open, and she could have left but took no action. The author suspects that Metis was willingly swallowed by Zeus, hoping to remain with him forever. She herself is a bit twisted.