King of Underworld

Chapter 68

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! Demeter, 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 me. 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 me.

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 immense 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 time.

But since I was here disrupting their plans, their leaders would focus on trying to stop me, 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 some damage to Demeter's domain, but she'll understand given the circumstances.

The Underworld is not merely 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!"

"And also, stop by Demeter 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 Hermes, the golden-haired goddess suddenly chimed in. She looked at me with sparkling eyes...

"You're Demeter's daughter?"

"Yes! And my father is Zeus!"

Demeter and Zeus's daughter?

After Hermes left, I faced the golden-haired goddess. She smiled at me, as if inviting me to ask her anything.

"There's no need for you to ask Demeter yourself; Hermes can handle it."

"But, Hades, I think it would be better if I spoke to my mother..."

"Enough. If you're Zeus and Demeter's daughter, you can just call me Uncle."

"Yes, Uncle Hades!"

The golden-haired goddess beamed at me, 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 me Kore! That's what everyone close to me calls me!"

A nickname? Why are you asking me to call you by a nickname?

We've only just met today.

"What's your real name?"

"Just call me Kore!"

"...I meant your actual name."

She pouted slightly but then smiled brightly again.

"My name is Persephone, Uncle Hades!"

"What... did you say?"

For a moment, it felt like I had been struck by a heavy blow. Memories 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 memories serve me 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. Overcome 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?"