Underworld

Hades, having resumed his duties, scowled at the commotion caused by the souls in the Underworld. He irritably kneaded his forehead, unwilling to tolerate any disturbance.

"What is it now?" He shouted, rising from his seat to assert authority over his subjects. The Underworld became quiet upon sensing their king's irritation. Hades sat again on his throne to resume his duty.

However, before he could properly return to his work, the souls started a commotion once again. They started screaming, and some started to run around, making the whole underworld completely a mess.

'A new Death has arrived!'

A soul cried.

'I don't want to die again! Help! Help!'

'Die again? Ugh, I just wanted to reincarnate again and be a rich woman in my next life'

The other one lamented.

'HAHAHAHA, after Hades, will Zeus die next?'

Hades frowned even deeper upon hearing the disturbance from the souls. Once again, he stood up from his seat, his voice booming with authority. The commotion sounded serious, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"What is this commotion?!" His voice echoed throughout the Underworld.

He had halted his work just to investigate the Nymph's record, and now the souls were causing chaos in the Underworld. Hades would not tolerate this behavior and would take immediate action to restore order.

'There's an intruder, My Lord.'

A soul finally gave him the answer.

'One that can kill gods'

"That's impossible..." Hades mumbled in a low tone.

Hades was about to leave his throne to investigate the situation, but he stopped when he saw Cerberus, his three-headed dog running towards him. In differ from its usual intimidating self, the three-headed dog ran as if it was running for its life.

"Cerberus!" Hades called his dog.

Cerberus quickly ran towards its master. As soon as he reached Jades, it let out a whimper. Hades sighed and patted its head.

"Guard the throne, I'll take care of this commotion," Hades mumbled as he walked down from his throne. There was a hint of anger in his serious face.

The Underworld felt the anger of its lord when Hades shook the Underworld with his power. A vast suffocating aura surrounded his territory, pinning down the souls who were panicking.

They knew that something ominous was about to happen.

Despite Hades' warning, the cause of this commotion didn't halt to announce their arrival in the Underworld.

"Hephaestus," Hades mumbled when he saw the silhouette of Hera's son. His eyes darted at the ominous weapon in Hephaestus' hand.

No wonder Cerberus ran away...

No wonder the souls were panicking...

A mysterious smile appeared on Hades' lips.

The God of craftsmanship was carrying a weapon that could kill gods.

"You must be brave to cause all of this commotion."

••••••••••••••••

"First Time?" Dionysus asked Thanatos who was now tied up with him.

Death ignored him as if he was accepting his situation. After all, the ropes that they used to tie him were created by the godly hands of Hephaestus. He won't be able to escape from it.

To simply explain what happened, after Thanatos returned Asche to her own body, Hephaestus along with Dionysus and a young woman suddenly came to attack him.

As if they were holding a grudge against him...

They didn't give him a chance to speak. After tying him up, Hephaestus left them with a Young Goddess.

But what made him uneasy was the deadly weapon in Hephaestus' hand.

Thanatos comfortably sat despite being tied up, in fact, He wasn't even bothered by this. Thanatos had a bored look on his face as he glanced at the young Goddess who was watching their every move. He looked at her from head to toe.

"Aphrodite," Thanatos mumbled which caught the attention of the Wine God.

"What are you talking about? That's the daughter of Hephaestus and the Nymph that you took the to underworld," Dionysus corrected him with a frown. "There's no way that the little devil was the most beautiful Goddess in Olympus, I heard she's missing."

Thanatos stared at Dionysus with dead eyes.

How stupid.

Not only an alcoholic but also a gossiper.

He then returned his gaze to Aphrodite who had a frown on her face. Her deadly gaze was directed at him and Dionysus.

"Young Deity, the Forest Nymph was no longer here," Thanatos told her.

Aphrodite who was silently observing the two stared at Thanatos with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"We have sent her back to her body," Thanatos replied, his bored expression was still there but he knew the urgency of this information. "She's alive."

Dionysus also stared at him with wide eyes.

"Hey, what kind of stupidity is this? I was pushed all the way to the Underworld just to bring back nothing?" Dionysus complained against death. "And you didn't say anything a while ago, for what? For Drama?"

Spoken by a Gossiper.

"Did they let me speak?" Thanatos asked in a bored tone, yet you could hear the hint of his sarcasm. "Being threatened by that weapon, would you dare to speak?"

Dionysus shuts his mouth.

He's so done with his life, first, he was abused by the abusive father and daughter. Now, Thanatos was treating him like a stupid god.

"Are you telling the truth?" Aphrodite asked Thanatos. Her eyes were full of expectations. "My mother is alive? Are you telling the truth?"

"I am telling the truth, so stop Hephaestus from causing problems in the Underworld," Thanatos replied. "His efforts to challenge my lord will be pointless. He may have that weapon, but Hades wouldn't be defeated easily."

Dionysus nodded his head.

Aphrodite crossed her arms and took q deep sigh.

"Hephaestus wasn't planning to fight Hades tho," Aphrodite mumbled.

"???"

"Huh?"

Impossible! Then why did they come to the Underworld as if they were planning to wage a war?!

They even scared Cerberus!

••••••••••••••••

"I am telling you, challenging me will be pointless," Hades told him with a calm yet deadly tone. "And if you ever defeat me with that weapon, not only the Underworld will be your enemy, but also Olympus."

Hephaestus remained silent, his gaze fell to the souls who were being pinned down by Hades' power. The whole Underworld was a mess.

It seems like the mere presence of the weapon that he created was enough to create such disturbance in the Underworld.

"I am not here with the intention to defeat you, nor bring chaos to the Underworld," Hephaestus replied with a serious tone. "But I won't have a choice if you don't heed my request."

Hephaestus threatened Hades.

Hades stared at the Deity.

He heard from Demeter that Apollo had a prophecy about this Deity. He will challenge the Underworld to bring back the Nymph that Thanatos took for investigation.

A complete mess...

Hades had already asked Thanatos to bring the Nymph back to her body, but it seemed like it was too late for the Deity had arrived in the Underworld before he could see his beloved Nymph wake up.

"Coming here was pointless," Hades replied. "And after causing such disorder in my territory, do you think I will let it go?"

Hephaestus fell silent.

He suddenly placed the deadly weapon on the ground as he silently kneeled in front of the Underworld God.

"I don't care if you punish me, but if you let me take back the Nymph that your Death took, then I will offer this weapon to the Underworld," Hephaestus told him which surprised Hades. The Deity raised his gaze and stared at Hades' eyes. "Give me back my Nymph, and I will let you utilize my skills for the Underworld."

That statement shook the Underworld.

The deadly weapon was enough to prove the value of Hephaestus as a Deity, and if the Underworld managed to get him to its side.

Even Olympus would no longer dare to belittle the Underworld

Hades' laughter echoed throughout the Underworld. He can't believe he was hearing all of this.

Perhaps Apollo's prophecy was wrong this time?

No.

Hephaestus might challenge the underworld.

The prophecy wasn't completely saying that he will challenge the Underworld.

Although Hephaestus was ready to challenge the Underworld. He was smart enough to strike a deal and trade his skills for his beloved Nymph.

He is not dumb to cause chaos for both sides when his real aim was simple from the very beginning.

His aim was to take back Asche.

•••••••••••

Who told you I'm lazy? I'm not~

Here, eat more popcorn🍿

(This is my only way to stop myself from creating a fanfiction about Milkman 😆)