The Story of Persephone - Part 3
As I hurriedly drove the chariot northward, I soon discovered the Gigantes slaughtering nymphs. Amid the screams and the dying cries of the nymphs, a lone golden-haired goddess was struggling to resist.
Crack!
"Kyaaaah!"
"Save us! Deter, please!"
"I don't want to die...!"
The goddess, who had a golden mane and an aura suggesting she was less than 200 years old, was clearly inexperienced in battle. Her power was significant, indicating that she had strong parents, likely one of the Olympian gods, but her combat experience was lacking.
Thud, thud, thud
Even though I was still a distance away, the ghost horses galloped quickly, and I arrived soon. What I saw was the sadistic grin of a Gigante as he lifted the goddess by her neck.
"Seems like a young god... Curse your fate."
The strength I sensed from the creature indicated that he was almost on par with Apollo or Ares—an Olympian god. And there were three more just like him.
The Gigantes clawing at Mount Etna, trying to unearth Typhon's body, were of lower rank, about the level of minor gods. Their numbers appeared to be in the hundreds, perhaps thousands.
What a swarm of vermin.
Bang!
I summoned my bident and threw it forcefully. The Gigante's head exploded instantly, scattering blood across the ground.
I maneuvered the ghost horses to safely lift the exhausted goddess into the chariot, placing her behind . After all, the safest place on the battlefield was on this very chariot of Hades.
"Are you alright?"
She didn't answer, but I didn't mind. Judging by the ichor—godly blood—flowing from her body, she had sustained significant injuries.
"Who the hell is this!"
"It doesn't matter if you're an Olympian! There's only one of you!"
"Do you think you can stop us alone...?"
A swarm of vermin noticed the death of their comrade and surged toward .
Mount Etna isn't just any mountain. A god of significant power could easily obliterate it—especially with Typhon's body buried beneath it.
Yet, the seals had held, thanks to the imnse size of Mount Etna, the divine power of Zeus, and the intricate seals placed by the gods.
As I surveyed the state of Mount Etna...
"Take this—"
"What can you do alone!"
Boom!
Where was I? Ah, yes, assessing the state of Mount Etna. The Gigantes were certainly capable of digging up the mountain given enough ti.
But since I was here disrupting their plans, their leaders would focus on trying to stop , leaving the lower-ranking Gigantes to attempt to unearth Typhon's body.
"Eurytos! Let's attack together!"
"You create an opening, Thoas!"
Three Gigantes who were much stronger than the rest surrounded my chariot. Even if Dionysus and Ares were here, it wouldn't make much difference.
But since I had arrived, the situation was already under control. There's no rush now; I can kill them slowly.
I thrust my bident into the ground and used my divine power to create a pathway to the Underworld.
Crack
This might cause so damage to Deter's domain, but she'll understand given the circumstances.
The Underworld is not rely an underground world. It is a completely separate realm from the mortal world. Digging deep enough won't get you there.
"Curse it! It's Hades, the god of the Underworld!"
"Aaah! Die!"
"Even if you're one of the Three Great Gods, you're still alone!"
"The dead won't save you now!"
But when I connect the two worlds with my power, that's a different story.
Waves of translucent souls crawled up from the earth, clinging to the Gigantes. They were an army that couldn't die, continuously resurrecting unless the entire Underworld was destroyed.
Even though the Gigantes had failed to execute their plan to seize Typhon's body without alerting Olympus, the three who faced seed to cling to so last hope.
"Take—this!"
A giant wooden club swung down at . Oh, this one's got so strength. I drew the Stygian Blade from my waist, preparing to counter.
Boom!
Despite the Gigante putting all his strength into the attack, it was pointless. It wasn't Zeus or Poseidon wielding the weapon...
One of the Gigantes noticed the grin on my face and, in a rage, rushed at . His abilities included gigantism, super strength, rapid regeneration, and the blessing of the earth.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate us, Hades!"
"Wait...! Eurytos! Don't rush in like that..."
Oops, I guess laughing on the battlefield isn't very polite. He must be really angry now, but...
Slash! Bang!
"Argh!"
It's amusing how you all cling to the false hope of victory. You should be running for your lives, not trying to defeat .
You thought I'd be easy prey without my Helm of Darkness, the Kynee?
In a full-scale war, I might lose. But this is just a skirmish, and the prophecy has yet to take effect.
As the wraiths finished off the remnants of the Gigantes, I sensed a god approaching rapidly. From the sky, I saw Hers descending.
Holding the Caduceus, Hers quickly surveyed the area before eting my gaze. He seed relieved as he approached.
"Uncle Hades! Was this an attack by the Gigantes?"
"Yes, I believe this was the blow that Protheus warned us about."
"They must have been trying to steal Typhon's body. If you hadn't been here, it would have been disastrous."
As Hers glanced at the peak of Mount Etna, he seed shocked.
I did knock a bit of it off during the fight...
"Whoa...! Did you blow off the entire mountaintop?"
"...It was an accident."
"...Typhon's body almost got loose."
I tried to minimize the impact on the seal, but those Gigantes were strong enough that I couldn't help it.
"But I doubt Protheus's prophecy ends here."
"I summoned the forces of the Underworld earlier. I suspect that was a reference to rging the mortal world with the Underworld for victory."
"Hmm... You could be right, but sothing still bothers ."
Hers frowned, clearly troubled by sothing. Could it be that this wasn't the full extent of the attack?
"Go to the Underworld and report the situation at Mount Etna. Let them know that all the enemies have been defeated and that no further support is necessary."
"Are you going to inspect Typhon's seal?"
"I'll stay here and reinforce the seal. Tell Olympus not to worry and to prepare for any other potential threats."
There might be another attack from Gaia or hidden forces lying in wait. It's better if I personally reinforce the seal.
This is a critical location. I'll strengthen it with my divine power to make it more secure.
"And also, stop by Deter and ask if she has any information about the Gigantes' base."
"Yes, I'll..."
"I'll ask her myself! She's my mother, after all!"
Interrupting my conversation with Hers, the golden-haired goddess suddenly chid in. She looked at with sparkling eyes...
"You're Deter's daughter?"
"Yes! And my father is Zeus!"
Deter and Zeus's daughter?
After Hers left, I faced the golden-haired goddess. She smiled at , as if inviting to ask her anything.
"There's no need for you to ask Deter yourself; Hers can handle it."
"But, Hades, I think it would be better if I spoke to my mother..."
"Enough. If you're Zeus and Deter's daughter, you can just call Uncle."
"Yes, Uncle Hades!"
The golden-haired goddess bead at , her smile reminiscent of a warm spring day.
...Why is she so happy about that?
Well, I suppose I do have a certain status...
"So, what should I call you, niece?"
"Call Kore! That's what everyone close to calls !"
A nickna? Why are you asking to call you by a nickna?
We've only just t today.
"What's your real na?"
"Just call Kore!"
"...I ant your actual na."
She pouted slightly but then smiled brightly again.
"My na is Persephone, Uncle Hades!"
"What... did you say?"
For a mont, it felt like I had been struck by a heavy blow. mories I had forgotten along with the mint—a long-forgotten past life—flooded back.
Knowledge surged forth like a river overflowing its banks.
If my mories serve correctly... wasn't Persephone supposed to be Hades' wife?
The story goes that Eros, the god of love, accidentally shot Hades with one of his love-inducing arrows during target practice, just as Hades laid eyes on Persephone. Overco with love, Hades then abducted her to the Underworld...
"Uncle Hades? What are you thinking about? Is there anything I can help with..."
Could it be... Is Eros practicing his archery nearby?
Realizing this, I quickly scanned the area with my divine power...
Whoosh
I sensed an arrow approaching from a nearby distance. The hot, passionate emotion of love strikes suddenly and unexpectedly. Eros's arrows are fast and stealthy.
But if you're on guard, they're avoidable. I swiftly turned to dodge the arrow coming from behind.
Whoosh
Wait, if I dodge the arrow... in this direction...!
Thud
"Huh?"
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