(Greek Mythology) The Abyss of the Underworld
Chapter 61
The speed at which news travels in the Underworld is comparable to the speed of light. Tartarus hadn't hidden anything, so it wasn't long before the gods of the underworld were all prepared (tea, fruit, snacks…), eagerly awaiting the show.
At this moment, everyone's spirits were high. They had initially been disappointed that the expected infighting within the royal family of the gods hadn't materialized, but now they had another unfortunate drama unfolding in the divine realm—this one was far more exciting.
"Your Majesty Tartarus, good job."
Under the expectant gazes of his subordinates, Hades twitched his lips, a slight black line appearing on his face, but he still approved their request for a temporary leave.
After all… having watched the show with Tartarus, he really didn't have the standing to criticize them.
So, the gods of the underworld are essentially a bunch of goofballs in disguise. No matter how serious they appear, their infectious cheerfulness is undeniable, and now even Hades has been corrupted.
There are also those who aren't satisfied with just watching the live stream and plan to go and witness it in person, like the ever-mischievous Amy and Eris, the ever-curious Hemera, and Tarasa, who's always with his mother.
A serious explanation: I'm only here to prevent my mother from getting lost and to clean up her messes, so please stop calling me a mother-crazy person, okay? —by Tarasa, troubled by rumors.
During the Typhon incident, the behavior of the Olympian gods, led by Zeus, provided the gods of the underworld with countless points to ridicule. If there were live chat, it would probably be flooded with comments by now. After all, after so many years of practice, every god of the underworld is a comedian.
The lack of comments didn't dampen the enthusiasm. They had already arranged to gather in small groups with their familiar gods to watch the show, sharing their opinions and critiques – all experience, after all. (What kind of experience is that?)
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By this time, a considerable amount of time had passed since the Titan War. They had enjoyed a long period of peace and tranquility, and the gods' fighting spirit and will were no longer what they once were. So, when Typhon prepared to launch an attack, even approaching the Holy Mountain, they remained completely unaware. The banquet continued with its revelry and decadent atmosphere.
"I think they need to train in the illusion," Tartarus commented after witnessing the gods' performance.
"No one wants to go to your illusion," Hades replied, though he also felt they did need training.
There was a training illusion in Hell, set up by Tartarus. It was very effective, but the process was brutal.
There's an unwritten rule in the Underworld: every thousand years, all the gods must undergo training in the Illusionary Realm. This rule originated with Tartarus, officially stated to ensure the gods' combat strength and prevent them from becoming weaklings due to prolonged seclusion. But in reality… well, considering Tartarus's twisted sense of humor, you know what I mean.
Later, Tartarus added a knowledge test to the original framework. It covered a wide range of subjects, from astronomy, geography, and mathematics to talents like music and painting, and even practical skills like weaving and sewing—a comprehensive, enhanced encyclopedic knowledge test that thoroughly tormented all the gods.
I think at this point, they and students who have been tortured by countless exams for years must have a lot in common.
Even after collective protests led to a reduction in difficulty and the removal of many obscure test items, it couldn't stop the Illusionary Realm from becoming, in the gods' minds, a place even more terrifying than the Upper Hell that Tartarus had modified.
#Calculate the psychological trauma the illusion left on the gods of the underworld#
"But it was very effective, wasn't it?" Tartarus said noncommittally.
As the two gods spoke, Typhon, hurling massive rocks and spewing raging flames, attacked Mount Olympus. The unprepared gods were terrified. They finally noticed Typhon's arrival and then... began to flee.
Yes, you read that right, flee.
Faced with the enemy, the supposedly wise and mighty king of the gods, Zeus, was said to have first fled... oh, no, it should be described as a strategic retreat.
The other gods, seeing this, regardless of whether they truly wanted to fight or flee, well, now everyone no longer needed to hesitate, they all ran along.
And to avoid suspicion, they transformed into various birds and beasts, hastily fleeing to Egypt.
Zeus became the lead ram, Apollo a raven, Dionysus a goat, Artemis a cat, Hera a cow… It was a chaotic zoo scene, quite unbearable to watch.
Tartarus: …
Hades: …
#With such an embarrassing brother, imagine the psychological trauma His Majesty Hades is right now#
"Is that really your brother?" Tartarus asked, his tone quite subtle, after a moment of surprise.
As the king of the gods, leading the retreat—Tartarus didn't know how to react.
Where was the dignity of a god-king? Where was the face of a leader? It had all been devoured, hadn't it?
"Although he's my brother, we're not close," Hades replied after a few seconds of silence.
He had been imprisoned inside Cronus's belly, and upon emerging, immediately joined the war. Not long after the war ended, he arrived in the Underworld, therefore he was indeed unfamiliar with Zeus.
So what Zeus looked like really had nothing to do with him. —by Hades, who didn't want to acknowledge having such an embarrassing brother.
Tartarus, understandingly, remained silent.
Fortunately, Zeus wasn't his brother. —by Tartarus, relieved.
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Typhon not only had a hundred heads and a hundred wings, but also a hundred enormous arms. His limbs were incredibly strong. From the shoulders to the thighs, he was humanoid; below the thighs, he was like a giant python. Each head resembled a lion, a leopard, a bull, or a wild boar—a multitude of beasts, each with its own unique form. Only the central head was humanoid. Around each head were thousands of venomous snakes coiled. When these snakes' hair sprang out in fury, combined with the hundred pairs of python-like arms, they could blot out the entire sky. Where the lower half of the serpent's body passed, the ground caved in, venomous saliva dripping down, splattering the mountains with filth. It roared, one voice uttering a human, followed by howls of wolves, roars of lions, bellows of cattle, hissing of snakes, and roars of leopards—a cacophony of sounds, like thunder, echoing to the ends of the earth.
Amidst this cataclysmic scene, only a small area remained completely unaffected. Inside a transparent light barrier, where one could see out but not in, several goddesses chatted and ate melon seeds.
"Speaking of which, Typhon is really big, and so ugly. How did Hera give birth to him?" Hermella asked, amazed.
"Actually, Typhon was fairly normal at birth, in every sense of the word, but after a few days he turned into this," Eris interrupted Hermella's wandering thoughts.
"A real-life version of growing in the wind?" Hermella felt she had grasped the truth.
"...I guess so," Eris paused.
" Something about this understanding seems off, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Oh well, whatever makes you happy.
"Huh? Where's Tarasa?" Just as Hemera was about to share her rant with her daughter, she suddenly realized her daughter was gone, and was momentarily bewildered.
"If Tarasa's not here, what if I get lost again and can't find my way home?" —by a troubled Hemera
"My mom, this is definitely my mom. Only a real mom would say something like this."
"Oh, she just left. She probably went to find Artemis. But don't worry, I'll bring you back." Aimira patted Hemera's shoulder reassuringly.
"Yeah, sister, I'll help you too," Eris added.
Hemera hesitated for a moment at the two gods' comforting words, then nodded with a look of resignation.
Although her aunt and Eris both had rather awful personalities, in this kind of situation... they probably wouldn't play tricks on her, right...? Uh... maybe, Hemera tried to convince herself.
Chapter 61