The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 155: Gigantomachia – (3)

I was cutting down every Gigantes I saw as I traversed the Phlegraean plain.

How long has it been since I last wielded my power so freely?  

Excluding the long war against the Titans, the last time must have been my battle against Typhon.  

The omnipotent divine energy that envelops my entire body—while all living beings tremble and cower in fear, to me, it is the familiar aura of the Underworld.  

BOOOOM!

“Aaargh!”  

“Damn it, stop the God of the Underworld!”  

“Where is King Eurymedon…?”  

I am not one to enjoy battle like Ares, the God of War.  

Yet, as I massacre enemies on this critical battlefield, I cannot help but feel exhilaration and heat rising in my chest.  

Especially since these enemies are the Gigantes who have fought us gods relentlessly for so long.  

“Urgh… ugh!”  

Once again, the dying cries of a Gigantes echoed as its neck was impaled by my bident.  

The chariot I rode on, the bident I wielded, and the spectral horses pulling the chariot were all drenched in the fluids of these monsters.  

However…  

The countless corpses of the Gigantes I had slain vanished into the earth, as if seeping into it.  

So naturally, so slowly, that I was late to notice.  

The heat of battle must have contributed to the distraction.  

Like moths to a flame, the enemies continued to charge at me, and I continued to cut them down…  

WHOOSH—SPLAT!

A staff flew through the air, piercing another Gigantes in the stomach.  

A staff adorned with the figures of two entwined serpents—a symbol found only on one staff in the world.  

The Caduceus, the emblem of Hermes, the messenger of Olympus.  

“Something is wrong!”  

Covered in blood and oozing golden ichor, Hermes approached me in a frantic state, his appearance tattered and torn from fierce battles.  

“Hermes. Calm yourself.”  

“There’s a strange energy emanating from the earth where the corpses are sinking! This is undoubtedly…”  

The strange energy I had felt in the Phlegraean plain…  

I had dismissed it as merely the stronghold of the Gigantes, but considering the current situation, I had an idea.  

“It must be a ritual formation, a trap, a curse, or some form of magic. I am aware.”  

“In that case…”  

“I saw Demeter place her hands on the ground earlier, only to shake her head in dismay.”  

“…!”  

“Undoubtedly, it’s the work of Gaia, the Earth Mother. Using the countless corpses and resentments of the Gigantes as ingredients…”  

Everything that fell to the earth was absorbed beneath it.  

Perhaps the corpses and blood of thousands of Gigantes, their resentment, and even the divine ichor spilled by the gods…  

Like the offerings made by mortals during the Olympic Games dedicated to Zeus.  

If this entire battle was conceived as a ritual to offer something to someone?  

BOOOOOOOM!

As I tried to think of a way to counter the situation, a massive column of water summoned by Poseidon came into view.  

The ruler of the sea had obliterated the surrounding Gigantes, twirling his trident as he mocked them.  

“Hahaha! You who dared not even approach the sea!!”  

His trident wielded the power to cause earthquakes. If he overturned the earth entirely…  

Could we stop this phenomenon that appears to be a trap?  

If we coordinated with Demeter and engulfed the area in Hephaestus’ flames, it might work.  

As I pondered solutions, countless divine beasts came into view.  

Growl! Mooo! Snarl!

Aside from the eagle summoned by Zeus, there were bulls, leopards, and many divine beasts unable to take flight.  

Some of them were even spirits I had brought from the Underworld. Many gods also lacked the ability to fly freely.  

An earthquake... is out of the question. It would sweep up our allies as well.

We had deliberately refrained from involving mortal heroes or lesser gods in this battle, but if we overturned the plains entirely, the damage to our side would be immense.  

At the moment, I could only think of one method.  

If I used the power of the Underworld to invade the realm of the living… In other words, if I turned the plains into the Underworld itself, it might work.  

While it’s important not to violate the realms of the gods…  

If we were on the verge of defeat by the Gigantes…  

Rumbleeeee—

Perhaps I was already too late.  

* * * 

Red energy surged violently from the earth, converging toward the center of the plains.  

Its target was none other than Eurymedon, the king of the Gigantes, who was fighting Zeus.  

“What’s happening over there?”  

“Isn’t that where Lord Zeus is battling? No, don’t tell me…”  

“Lady Hecate! What in the world is this…”  

“Zeus!”  

CRACK—BOOOOOOM! 

Sensing the ominous energy, Zeus struck down lightning, but it couldn’t halt the phenomenon.  

At moments like this, I truly feel the weight of waging a war where one must constantly account for their surroundings.  

Because of the presence of other Olympian gods, unleashing attacks with overwhelming power wasn’t an option.  

Neither I, nor Poseidon, nor Zeus could do so. That’s why Zeus brought the Scythe.  

Eurymedon, the king of the Gigantes fighting Zeus, was in a pitiful state.  

Though the battle had barely begun, the Gigantes king looked as though he was on the verge of death.  

A gaping wound in his stomach and a half-destroyed head, the monster let out a chilling laugh as the red energy gathered around him.  

“Ha… ha… Zeus! Though I’ve lost, my mother has not yet been defeated!”  

“What?”  

THUD.

As he thrust the torch he held into his chest and cried out loudly,  

A massive formation emerged from the spot where Eurymedon fell, covering the entire plains.  

It felt similar to the descent of Cronos near Thebes, but it was entirely different in essence.  

Unlike last time, this isn’t just about summoning consciousness.  

What’s drawn beneath our feet is a summoning circle. It’s undoubtedly the method Goddess Hecate uses to summon divine beasts.  

But for it to be engraved across the entire plain, with such immense divine power and offerings… It’ll take considerable effort to destroy it and halt its progress.  

Whoever is being summoned is surely being granted immense power as well. Who in the world could it be…?

...

...

…

This feeling… Surely not.  

The one we fought to the death during the Titanomachy.  

The strongest and mightiest Titan, second only to Cronos.  

Flash—FWOOOM!  

When the intense pillar of light covering King Eurymedon faded,  

a single Titan stood in his place.  

“…You dare!”  

“Well, well. Zeus. It’s been a while.”  

The figure walked forward, rolling his neck and shoulders, speaking in a calm tone and attitude completely at odds with the battlefield.  

Even the King of the Gods did not take him lightly.  

Because he was…  

“The celestial sphere was getting a bit too heavy to bear.”  

The Titan punished to bear the weight of the heavens after the Titanomachy.  

Even our father, Cronus, could not stand against him without wielding his divine power.

The Titan who resisted Zeus until the very end.  

“Atlas! Prepare yourself to return to Tartarus this time!”  

“Who knows? Perhaps you’ll be the one to enter instead.”  

The mighty Titan Atlas.  

* * *

The sudden appearance of Atlas, who should be bearing the celestial sphere as punishment.  n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

I quietly approached Zeus, standing beside him, and addressed the Titan. Poseidon was also heading this way.  

“Atlas.”  

"Hades. It's been a long time for you too. Are my brothers in Tartarus doing well?"

“You’ll have the chance to check on them yourself.”  

Atlas grinned with a relaxed smile.  

No matter how mighty Atlas was, he stood no chance against Zeus, Poseidon, and me combined.  

But that’s only assuming both sides are in peak condition.  

The ichor flowing from Zeus’s arm was noticeable. Poseidon’s face showed signs of fatigue from having slaughtered hundreds of Gigantes.  

And as for me, my power was also somewhat drained after continuous battles.  

On the other hand, Atlas…  

“Well, well. The power of the Earth Mother truly is something. In your current state, I could easily take you on by myself.”  

“Enjoyed devouring the offerings of countless Gigantes, have you?”  

“Of course, Poseidon. It’s nice not to feel the weight of the celestial sphere for a change…”  

I locked eyes with the Titan and spoke.  

“This reminds me of the past, Atlas. When you accepted our proposal.”  

“Ah, yes. Back then, I did. But things are a bit different now. The Earth Mother’s offer seemed more appealing this time.”  

I felt my mood sour. Slaughtering almost all the Gigantes, only for Atlas to appear now.  

Or perhaps, I was simply on edge due to the looming sense of crisis.  

“Atlas. It’s not too late. If you return to your position and take up the celestial sphere once more…”  

Long ago, during the final stages of the Titanomachy.  

We had subdued all the Titans, including Cronos, but Atlas resisted until the bitter end.  

Both sides were exhausted. A compromise was suggested, even by Zeus, who couldn’t fully overpower him.  

The proposal was simple: if Atlas refrained from rebelling and bore the celestial sphere, we would protect his children.  

That’s why, unlike the other Titans imprisoned in Tartarus, Atlas alone bore the punishment of holding up the heavens.  

“We swore not to harm your descendants, including the Hesperides, who guard the tree of golden apples, and the goddess Calypso. But if you continue to defy us, they will all be cast into Tartarus to suffer eternally.”  

“Hah! Hades! You’re as merciful as they say, even here in the mortal realm!”  

“I’m merciful enough to offer even a rebel a chance at redemption.”  

As our gazes locked, Atlas spoke in a calm yet menacing tone.  

The grudge, rage, and defiance he’d harbored while holding up the heavens were now swirling in his eyes.  

“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.”  

“…”  

“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t even consider rebellion. But in your current weakened state, and with me empowered, don’t you think the odds are in my favor?”  

“Your descendants…”  

“If I side with the Earth Mother and win here, your descendants will be cast into Tartarus instead. Of course, Zeus, since you married my daughters, I might just let you off with bearing the heavens in my place.”  

Atlas grinned and slowly raised his fist.  

No grand powers. No remarkable weapons.  

But this was the being who resisted us to the very end.  

His body was as unyielding as the primordial gods, sturdier than Typhon or Cronos.  

The foe even Zeus could not completely subdue.  

With us worn down and Atlas strengthened by the Earth Mother,  

and with ominous energy rising again from the ground below…  

I sent a message to all the gods around us, shouting:  

“If you don’t want to be caught up in this, withdraw at once. The Phlegraean Plains are about to vanish.”  

At this point, there’s no room to think about what comes next.