The ashen plane beneath the Hanging Fortress of Pluto stretched endlessly, an ocean of darkness brushed with flickers of phantom light from drifting soul-wisps.
Here, at the heart of the Underworld, Hades stood, arms crossed, his piercing gaze scanning the emptiness as if already envisioning what would soon rise from it.
Beside him stood Hera, her hands clasped behind her back, regal and calm, and Hecate, cloaked in starlight and mist, her expression thoughtful.
"A city," Hera proposed, her voice carrying a quiet strength. "Right here. A place for souls to dwell, to gather. Sothing more than barren stone and silence. A sanctuary for the dead, a ho for the divines."
Hecate nodded. "Even the dead long for structure, for beauty. A city will bring harmony to this realm. It can give form to your rule, lord Hades."
But Hades remained silent for a mont, eyes narrowing.
"No," he said, voice calm but resolute. "Not just any city. This land will not be for every soul. Only the greatest among the dead—those who achieved feats beyond the reach of others—will reside here. And the gods of the Underworld. This will be our seat of power. The heart of judgnt, of council, of celebration and mourning."
He raised his hand. The earth trembled. A circle of black stone rose from the ground, unfurling like blooming obsidian petals.
A large table ford in the center, surrounded by chairs shaped from flowing darkness and veins of athyst.
Hades sat, pulling out a bundle of ancient papyrus, and laid them across the table.
"Let us begin," he said. "Design this place not rely as a city—but as a monunt to death and eternity."
Hera took a seat opposite him, the mist of her robe billowing like pale fire.
"If that is the case, then we must make it beautiful," she said. "An altar at its center where will relocate Hestia's eternal fla. She may not live among us, but her hearth should always burn here. It will bring warmth… even to the dead."
During the past three years that Hestia lived in the underworld, the souls of the dead has been living here in peace, and all of it is due to Hestia's fla.
Even the most restless and troubleso gods would calm down and enjoy the warmth brought by the hearth.
Hecate added. "And if this place is to host gods and spirits, it must entertain. I propose amphitheaters—arenas for gas, debates, displays of magic and might. The dead need not be silent. Let them laugh, weep, marvel. Let the gods above envy our revelry."
Hades nodded. "Agreed. We will build halls of performance and celebration. And a grand temple to Nyx… she must be honored here."
Hera arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Hecate leaned forward. "Libraries. Archives of both the living and the dead. A place where knowledge is preserved, where divine secrets are kept. Let the Underworld be the mory of the cosmos."
Hades thought for a mont and nodded, "We can ask Lethe to compile the mories of every souls that arrive in underworld into books."
"I also want a throne hall," Hera said. "Not just for you, Hades, but for all major Underworld gods. Let them feel their place in your reign."
Hecate added, "Then build a sanctuary for the Five Rivers as well—each river god honored with their own domain. And bridges of black crystal that cross their streams."
Hades tapped the papyrus, sketching runes and layouts as they spoke.
"We will need a place for judgnt," he said. "A grand tribunal where souls are weighed and destinies declared. And prisons—containnt cells for the wicked and the cursed. Tartarus shall remain beneath, but this city will oversee it."
"We should plant gardens," Hera mused. "Let the dead rember the beauty of life. Fields of asphodel, groves of nightbloom trees. Not just cold stone and shadow."
"I rember Minthe, daughter of Cocytus has been studying with Deter in the past three years to bring overworld's flora, but with little to no results. That one might be hard."
Hera humd, but said nothing.
Hecate added, "...let's put that aside for a mont. For now, I think towers for oracles is needed. Let ssages pass between worlds. Let the dead whisper to the living. Let dreams bloom here."
Hades glanced between them both. He did not speak, but in his eyes there was the quiet fire of inspiration—no longer just a king of shadows, but a creator shaping the future.
They talked for hours, ideas pouring like rivers of imagination.
A divine market, where gods could trade relics and knowledge. A do for stargazing, enchanted to reflect the skies of the living.
Monunts to great heroes, a mausoleum of the honored dead. Even hidden sanctuaries where weary gods could rest undisturbed.
Eventually, Hades rolled up the papyrus.
"This city… this monunt… will be called Nox. A place of silence and song, of judgnt and joy. The true heart of the Underworld."
"...why do I feel like it's a homage to lady Nyx?" Hecate whispered.
Hera narrowed her eyes, "...you seem to be a bit obsessed with the Primordial of the Night, brother."
Hades remained silent. He will not dignify that with a response.
Not wanting to continue this conversation, Hades imdiately chose to change the topic.
"I want to make a council." He turned towards them, "A council where we decide the future direction of the underworld and how to improve it."
Hera blinked. "Like the Olympian Council?"
Right, Hera rembered that she is actually part of that council. After all, even though she is to be the Queen of Underworld, it won't hurt to have authority in overworld as well.
"Yes, like that." Hades nodded, "Each one will manage a certain field and make sure everything is in order."
"...but why?" Asked Hecate. "The underworld is yours to command. Unlike the overworld with various domains; sky, sea, mountains, rivers. Underworld is underworld. Ruling the Underworld ans ruling all over underworld gods."
In overworld, although Zeus is hailed as the King of Gods, it doesn't an he can rule over every gods. He just has the largest domain, but that doesn't an he has an absolute authority.
Overworld still has Poseidon, who is the king of the seas and has authority that can contend with Zeus.
Not to ntion there are also various Titans and Primordials who can completely disregard Zeus' authority.
Although there are also various beings in Underworld that refuse to submit to Hades, but as the King of Underworld, if he wanted to, he can exert his authority to command them.
Even Tartarus is no exception.
"I want to separate the Underworld into different sections." Said Hades, "It will make it easier to manage if we have a council."
Hecate and Hera remained silent, waiting for him to finish.
"The Outer Section," Hades said, his tone darkening slightly, "will be a land of infinite barren sand. There, souls who committed great sins in life shall wander, tornted not by fla, but by emptiness. By the weight of their own actions."
Hecate revealed a small smile, "I think it would be better if they had consciousness, but can't control their bodies. They will also experience never ending hunger, forever wandering the endless sand looking for sothing."
"...I," Hades looked at her, "I... I think we don't need to do that. But I do want to create sothing that could convert their 'sins' into power source, which would be used for the nourishnt of Underworld. Once their sins are all gone, they can be reincarnated."
"Acheron, Cocytus and Phlegethon can do sothing similar to that," said Hecate, "They convert the pain and suffering of the souls that are trapped in their rivers into their own power. They will then turn those souls into warriors under their command."
"Then, I will have to ask them about this matter soon." Hades whispered to himself.
Then, he continued. "After that will be the Inner Section. It will be a place of peace. Here, ordinary souls will live out their afterlife. No judgnt. No punishnt. Just serenity. And if they desire reincarnation, they shall be given the chance."
Hera stepped forward, her eyes calm but bright. "It's a beautiful idea. Peace after death… too long has that been denied to mortals."
Hecate nodded. "We'll need soone to guide the souls here. Help them settle, process their mories, ease the transition."
"I've thought of that," Hades said. "Lethe will take charge of mory. And Hera can manage orientation and housing. I'll see to their elevation when the city is complete."
Hera smiled, "I will live up to your trust, brother."
Then, he turned toward the skies above, where his floating fortress lood like a black sun.
"And the Core Section…" he said slowly, "as I have said earlier, shall be a realm unlike any other. A divine city. A nexus of power, learning, and beauty. Only the greatest souls shall live here. Heroes. Saints. Philosophers. Poets. Warriors who fought for sothing greater than themselves.'
He turned his gaze back to the two goddesses, "This will also be ho to divine spirits and minor gods. Those who dwell in the Core may earn the right to ascend—to beco gods in their own right."
Hecate smiled, her eyes gleaming. "A forge of divinity."
"Yes," Hades said. "A place where greatness is nurtured. A place of endless potential."
Hera crossed her arms, "That sounds grand, but I still see no point for a council."
"..." Hades sighed, "Well, I want the inner section to be infinitely large, with various vios and locations. So that souls may enjoy going to places they've never been to when they are alive. I want the council to manage various parts of the inner section. I can't do all that."
"Well, that's understandable." Hera nodded. "So, you have any candidate for this council of yours, brother?"
Hades smiled, but said nothing.
Of course Hera and Hecate will have a seat, sa goes for the Five River Gods.
However, he also plans on recruiting those reclusive gods who didn't want to show themselves and bring them under his command.
'Erebus, Thanatos, Keres, the Moirais.'
Underworld is full of ancient and powerful beings beyond comprehension. Those overworld gods were lucky that the powerful beings in underworld doesn't want any trouble.
If not. One insult would surely bring the wrath of several Primordial Class beings and wreck havoc in the overworld.
"Well, before that, let's start building the city."
Hades stared at the vaat plains that will soon be his domain.
The war is over, now, it is ti to truly rule the land of the dead.
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