Hades' Condition...

Instinctively looking up, he saw four night-black horses pulling a chariot in the sky above the Underworld.

The chariot was initially going to cross the river Styx and return to the Underworld under Promise's gaze.

However, halfway across, as if noticing something, it suddenly turned around. Accompanied by a soft exclamation, the chariot ran back and stopped in front of the slightly stunned Promise.

From the chariot emerged an incredibly beautiful goddess.

Her appearance was stunning, with long black hair like the night cascading down her back, eyes as bright as stars, and wearing a divine garment woven from the night sky and stars.

She approached Promise.

Walking around him twice, she confirmed his identity and, clapping her hands in surprise and delight, said, "It really is you, Hera's follower. You're the child who used my body as a canvas that night, right?"

With just these words, Promise immediately realized who this goddess was.

The goddess of night, Nyx, the embodiment of night in Greek mythology, one of the primordial deities. In myth, she was even the foster mother of the current king of gods, Zeus!

"Child, why have you come to the Underworld... and holding little Hecate's lantern?"

Nyx looked at Promise and then at the lantern in his hand, curious.

Facing such a deity, Promise naturally told the truth, "I have come to the Underworld to see the great king Hades."

"You want to see Hades?" Nyx tilted her head. Before the nodding Promise could answer, she laughed, grabbed his hand, and pulled him into the night chariot, saying, "Alright then, I'll take you to see him."

As the night chariot once again sped through the skies of the Underworld, the ferryman Charon arrived at the riverbank. Seeing no one there and smelling the scent of a living being, he was momentarily puzzled.

Inside the night chariot, facing Nyx's questions, Promise honestly told her everything.

When Nyx learned that Promise came to the Underworld solely for his friend Orpheus, even she, who had lived longer than the world itself, was taken aback.

"Child, aren't you afraid that once you come down here, you might never return to the beautiful mortal world?" She couldn't help but ask.

There had been heroes who ventured into the Underworld, but none as fragile as Promise, who could be killed by a mere gust of Underworld wind!

There likely wouldn't be another like him in any sense from now on.

"The goddess of wisdom will help me," Promise replied.

"Have you considered that Hades might not agree to help you... Moreover, this isn't your problem; it's your friend's problem. You came to this place, where you could lose your life forever, just to seize a slim chance for your friend. Is it really worth it?"

"I never thought about whether it was worth it or not. I just think Orpheus shouldn't end up like that. It's very different from the him I remember, and besides..."

At this, Promise paused and smiled at Nyx,

"Noble goddess, isn't this very heroic? To die like a true hero on the path of a hero is my lifelong dream."

Nyx had heard such words before.

After the night she became a canvas, she had been curious and learned about Promise, thus knowing his oath with Athena and his past with Chiron.

But knowing and hearing it firsthand were two different things, especially here in the Underworld.

Promise had truly come to the Underworld without a shred of hesitation.

Could anything be more convincing than this moment?

"No wonder Hera and Athena are fighting over you. Even all the gods of Olympus know about it now," Nyx couldn't help but sigh.

Promise didn't respond, only recalling the night when the two goddesses faced off, with Artemis watching from the side, and felt a headache.

He wasn't unaware that Athena had genuine feelings for him.

After all, she had already revealed Clotho's second prophecy.

Athena had helped him a lot so far, and Promise acknowledged that.

'But...Goddess of wisdom, why are you a virgin goddess?'

'In fact, forget about being a virgin goddess, why are you also a god of fun!'

And you are so powerful...

If Artemis can run out and strangle

someone through a heroic spirit..

If it were you...

Thinking of this, Promise showed a look of utter resignation and even more determination in his eyes.

He was destined to be Hera's guardian in this life.

To fight for Hera's glory!

The Goddess of Night, Nyx blinked as she looked at the determined Promise.

Though she didn't know what he was thinking, Nyx wanted to say one thing.

That goddesses don't easily let go of what they like.

Especially not the possessive Hera and the proud Athena.

Defying them could lead to very terrible consequences.

Do you know about the Trojan War?

Paris gave the golden apple to the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite.

.

.

"I can."

The goddess of night Nyx brought him to the temple of Hades, the god of the underworld.

In the magnificent temple lit by the divine fire, Promise naturally saw the god sitting on the throne.

And when he explained his purpose to Hades, what Promise and even the goddess of night Nyx did not expect was that Hades agreed very readily.

Just as Promise was slightly stunned when he heard the words, he looked at the man sitting on the throne, dressed in black, looking a little gloomy and intimidating without even getting angry.

"But I have a condition." Hades said in a steady tone, staring quietly at the young man who dared to enter the underworld, "I need you to help me bring a goddess here, and her name is... Persephone!"

.....

---

Persephone,

She is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of agriculture, Demeter.

She is also the wife of Hades, the king of the Underworld.

Even among all goddesses, she is renowned for her beauty.

When she first appeared at the banquet of the gods, she amazed everyone.

Whether it was Zeus, Poseidon, or Apollo, they couldn't help but approach her, which naturally raised the vigilance of her mother, Demeter.

Since then, Demeter never allowed her to interact with the gods and even hid her away.

By the way, Demeter is not only one of the Twelve Olympians but also the sister of Hades, Zeus, and Hera.

Yes, the future queen of the Underworld, Persephone, despite being the daughter of Zeus, was still coveted by him for a long time. If it weren't for Demeter's quick reaction...

Oh, right, considering this, Persephone should probably call Hades uncle.

Well, that's typical of Greek mythology; no need to dwell on it.

Promise didn't refuse.

When he heard Hades' request, he was surprised that Persephone had not yet become the queen of the Underworld.

But he quickly recalled a slip of the tongue from Hera on the night of the Calydonian boar hunt.

Hera had mentioned she was preparing a wedding for Hades, a follow-up to the trial at the pure white courtroom.

So, Promise agreed.

What he didn't know was that almost at the moment he agreed, in the ancient temple of fate woven from threads of destiny,

A soft sigh was heard.

....