Both of us are breathing heavily now—skin scorched, robes torn, minor wounds etched into flesh and spirit.
So of my Netherwater Spears have pierced her defences, grazing her arm and side. Godly blood drips slowly.
Still, Hecate smirks, her voice light but laced with weariness.
"Harming a beautiful lady… isn't very gentlemanly of you, Hades."
I smirk back.
"Is there such a thing as a gentleman among gods? Fine. I'll try to rember next ti."
Without warning, she raises both hands. Roots explode from the ground and form a serpent of writhing trees, its wooden fangs snapping in silence.
I unleash a barrage of Netherfla Blitz—black-blue fireballs howling through the air, exploding in flashes of heat and ash. The shockwaves crack the earth around us.
I begin forming a Dark Spear, channelling every ounce of focus into its construction, but Hecate is relentless. She unleashes her spell again, this ti with a sonic barrage—waves of compressed sound that vibrate into my bones, breaking my concentration. The pressure rises and rises until my ears ring, my vision pulses.
I grit my teeth and cover my body with divine energy.
But then cos the flash.
A blast of blinding light, pure, silent, and all-consuming.
I stagger, temporarily blinded, instincts screaming. I can't see. Can barely think. She is pushing hard and desperate to end this.
But I have my own tricks.
I release a Dark Haze, flooding the battlefield with a thick, shadowy mist. It swallows everything—light, sound, form. Even the stars above flicker and vanish from view.
Now, we are both temporarily blind and both hunting in silence.
But I sense her soul through secret divinity.
I spread my wings and dart through the air, closing in on her location.
Then I cast Dream Void.
A quiet spell. Easy to miss. But deadly if it strikes.
She flinches as it takes hold, her body slowing, breath shortening. Her movents falter, her eyes dim. Drowsiness overtakes her mind like velvet chains. She resists—but barely. A few seconds are all I need.
I conjure a Dark Spear once more and sweep toward her, positioning it at her neck.
Still breathing hard, I look into her dazed eyes.
"I win, Hecate."
— Hecate's POV —
A black spear stops just an inch from my neck.
"I win, Hecate."
I stand dazed for a mont, unsure how he has managed it until I truly notice the spear's tip trembling near my throat.
'I… lose?'
I, the Witch of the Crossroad. The one who once battled Cronus to a stalemate. In the past, my range and spell combat were considered unbeatable.
And now, I have been defeated by a god who has only recently begun learning to control spells?
It feels like an illusion.
But no, this is reality.
Hades has truly reached that level… a level where he might one day beco not just the ruler of the Underworld in title, but in truth. Not a puppet king, not soone manoeuvred by the old powers, but a sovereign in every sense.
"As promised, I'll help you deal with the Dukes, but I don't use my power fully" I say, keeping my voice calm.
"That's not my problem."
Later, we return to the castle. As usual, I ditate in a shadowed corner while Hades lounges on his throne, lazily snacking on ambrosia.
After so ti, he grows bored and leaves the throne for the kitchen. I ignore him, as he often does sothing strange.
…
Then I sll sothing.
Sothing delicious.
My eyes open. Entranced by the aroma, I follow it to the kitchen.
And there… stands Hades.
Wearing sothing unusual a white garnt with a brown bear stitched in the center. It covers his front but leaves his back entirely exposed.
He is humming as he stirs sothing with a ladle.
"It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life…
For …
And I'm feeling good…"
As I enter, he stops singing and turns to with a smile.
"Oh! Hecate, perfect timing. The curry's ready."
Curry?
I blink. "What is 'curry'? And what are you wearing?"
He freezes, as if he has to reboot his thoughts.
"Ah… this? It's called an apron. I made it to not ruin my clothes while cooking. And this… is curry, a dish I just made."
I stare blankly. I have never heard these words in my entire immortal life.
"You're a god," I say slowly. "Your chiton is crafted from your own divine essence—strong enough to endure dragon breath. So why do you still need this… apron?"
Hades looks visibly annoyed and… evasive.
"Huh? You really ask too many questions. Just sit down and eat before it cools."
I don't press further. So Titans have strange rituals or odd fetishes. Maybe Hades has one too.
I sit down, and he serves a small plate with tiny white grains and thick brown sauce.
Still puzzled, I ask, "What is this again?"
"The white grains are rice, and the soup is curry," he explains patiently.
Then, he takes so water in his hand, lets a few drops fall around the plate, presses his palms together, and says,
"Thanks for the food."
It seems like so kind of ritual.
Out of courtesy or curiosity, I copy him.
"Thanks for the food."
We both begin eating.
And then…
Spicy. Sweet. Aromatic. Divine.
In all my immortal life, in all the dinsions I've wandered, I have never tasted sothing like this.
It is, without exaggeration, the most delicious food I have ever eaten.
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