Chapter 19

Ocean Song's eyes fluttered open after an indescribable amount of time. 

That is to say, he had no idea how long he was sleeping. Only that a weird jabbing feeling in his cheek seemed to have aroused him from his wake.

He awoke to find Death quite literally poking him.

He didn't know what to make of that.

Surely it must be a good omen that Death was so close to him, right?!

However, seeing Ocean Song wake up, The Primordial of Death seemed to have lost interest and wandered off, disappearing from view.

Ocean Song watched for several moments to make sure he was truly gone then got up, brushing himself off. 

He realized he was still next to the River Styx, quickly catching his bearings.

"I have never seen Death treat someone like that before." The Goddess reappeared from her waters. "It's almost as if he's fond of you."

Ocean Song was silent. Technically, he had met Death more than any other mortal, right? And not in the benign way. 

Death was interested in the living person who had experienced true death once.

Of course, Ocean Song didn't voice this out loud.

"Thank you for your assistance, Great Goddess." Ocean Song clasped his hands and bowed towards her. Despite it being a transaction, he was genuinely grateful for the opportunity he received.

"Just don't forget your promise. You won't like the consequences if you go back on your oath." She warned, seeking back into the waters.

Truthfully, she had a great many questions to demand from him. Like how in Hades did he forcibly calm her waters without her consent?!

However, she feared hearing the answer.

She decided it was best to distance herself and keep that promise in her back pocket for an emergency.

She originally didn't think anything of it, but now, seeing what he did and the fact that he somehow became more powerful at an alarming rate, she valued the oath quite a bit more.

Ocean Song was just happy that everything settled down without any incidents.

He put some distance between him and the River Styx as to not disturb her as he found a secluded spot to meditate.

First, he needed to figure out if there was any hidden damage inside of himself. He passed out almost immediately, and after a quick cursory glance, he realized that it was just the rebound. Suddenly healing fully, then pushing his cultivation of both his Demonic Core and his Golden Core to perfection had sent a shockwave through him, both physically and spiritually.

Not to mention the fact that the Styx was bombarding his body during the entire time.

Essentially, he overexerted himself and his body collapsed.

Now that he made sure he was okay, he focused on his gains.

First, His Golden Core and Demonic Core reached perfection. He could feel it, they were straining, as if they wanted to break free and push towards the next Realm.

With a thought, he knew he could do it, to attempt to break through, but he pushed those thoughts down.

Patience is important to a proper Cultivator.

As pleased as he was to reach this point in his cultivation, the most important gain was not in fact the increases in his cultivation base.

He touched on the Dao.

No, it was more correct to say he found his own Dao.

That is what he discovered during his time in the River Styx.

Yin and Yang.

The two opposing forces that are the basis of creation.

When Pangu split the Chaos, it gave birth to both Yin and Yang before all else.

Ocean Song had a sudden thought when he was mediation about his attainments in Yin and Yang.

Pangu the Great Giant God, who used his mighty axe to split Chaos...was that the same Chaos from the Greek side?

Was Chaos just sleeping, then someone came over and poked him with their sharp axe and he bled out Yin and Yang?

Perhaps such thoughts are still too unfathomable for his lowly Cultivation.

Regardless, he had found his own Dao much earlier than expected. He wasn't even in the Dao Seeking Realm yet he touched on it. Of course, it was the most minimalistic understanding.

He felt that it was such a vast concept that he barely even managed to grasp a few grains of an entire desert.

However, he still did not feel downcast.

He had new Daoist Magic because of this.

He needed to think of a name for it. He unconsciously used it to settle the rampaging River Styx, and he couldn't even call out a sufficiently profound and heroic name for it.

That wouldn't do, as a proper cultivator, he needed to be able to shout out the names of his attacks.

Frankly, it wasn't really Daoist Magic it was….something more intrinsic. He felt like he could alter things around him based on his Dao.

He remembered certain sacred texts from his past.

And, well, he already stole various things already, what was one more?

And it sounded cool.

A proper Cultivator must not only be strong, but they must look dashing while doing so.

As he felt it stir, he understood a great many more things. The way he used it unconsciously last time was not correct. It was like….a bastardized activation of the true ability. 

Equalization.

Balance.

Harmony

In one hand, Yang Formed. In the other hand, Yin formed.

Together, they merged. And this time, the full breadth of his Dao was released. 

"Domain Expansion: All things in the Universe are Equal." He declared, a massive Tai Chi formation emerged from underneath him and the world shifted.

And once more, like a proper Cultivator who used an ability far above his level, he threw up a mouthful of blood and fell face first into the ground again.

@***@

Hades was currently sitting on his throne, performing his duties as normal. Perhaps if someone were to see him, he might have a slight smile on his face.

He was reading various documents and he sensed something…strange.

Then his eyes widened and he shot to his feet. 

His godly might surged out furiously.

"WHO!?" His voice carried throughout the entirety of the Underworld.

Monsters that were trying to sneak out of Tartarus and back to the surface stilled and slithered back into their holes temporarily.

The workers under his command all immediately found a good place to hide.

Even the other Gods that existed within the Underworld could feel his anger and wisely decided to hide away like turtles in their shells.

Rare was it for the God of the Underworld to be this angry.

It only took a brief moment before Persephone was already there, trying to calm him down. "Husband, what is it?"

"Someone…..someone just tried to usurp a part of my domain!" He grit his teeth, his eyes shined outwards, overturning every stock and grain of sand within the realm. He searched over everything, every God felt his gaze and dared not to resist it. Every worker, every dead spirit. Even Hecate didn't stop his probing into her workshop, even if it was a bit more…gentle with her.

Likewise, his gaze landed on Ocean Song, hunched over, eyes rolled back and blood dripping from his mouth and he pulled away.

Hades sat back down on his throne due to his wife's ushering, but his anger didn't abate.

Continuously, he gaze swept out across the Underworld, and yet, he couldn't find the source.

He was certain that someone – even temporarily – usurped a piece of the Underworld. Was someone probing him? Was it an intentional attack? A distraction? An…..accident?

He shook his head at the last one, what kind of idiot would accidently usurp a part of the Underworld?

No, he wouldn't even be pissed off if that were the case. But that was a ridiculous notion and he pushed it away.

It was too convenient, he just had his Helmet stolen and now this. 

Someone was scheming against him.

His brother as well, Zeus's Masterbolt was stolen. 

The most obvious suspect would be Poseidon, but now, the obviousness of it makes it highly suspect as well.

Whoever, or whatever had just caused a disturbance was clearly long gone, so Hades calmed down and sunk into silence.

"Dear." He spoke.

"Yes, my husband?" Persephone asked.

"I want to bring my children home." Hades said solemnly. "I no longer trust their safety to be outside my grasp." He would decide if he wanted to send them to that camp after he secured their release and brought them home.

Persephone let out a sigh, happy that no one was around at the moment. "I know how much it hurt you when your mortal lover passed, so I won't keep holding onto this grudge. I won't promise that I'll treat them as my own, but I won't make it difficult for them."

Hades clenched his jaw as she spoke of it. It was her that his newfound anger was directed at. He could still remember as Zeus struck down on his children and their mother all those years ago. Luckily, his children survived, but he has yet to forgive Zeus.

"Will you go yourself?" She asked.

Hades tapped his finger against his throne. "No." He finally settled on. "I'll send someone in my stead." The fact that he's been 'probed' just now….he felt like he was being watched.

Undoubtedly, there was someone maneuvering the board and he didn't know who. Clearly, they were someone he couldn't take lightly, so he couldn't risk going himself.

He would have to send someone he trusted, but also someone that no one would expect.

It was then that he had the idea.

Oddly enough, there was someone who currently matched that description.

His gaze landed on his twitching…..and still naked nephew.

He had known his nephew for all of a few hours, and against all logic, he strangely felt a certain amount of trust with him.

Maybe it was because his nephew had no hidden depths? The fact that he was an idiot helped significantly in that department.

With a gesture, he summoned his Nephew infront of him.

".....what's wrong with him?" Persephone asked.

"He's Poseidon's brat."

"I meant what's wrong with him in this particular circumstance." She clarified.

"I still think that's a valid answer." But with a sigh, Hades pointed his finger at Ocean Song and gave him a little jolt on the tushy.

Ocean Song snapped awake, realizing where he was and adjusted himself properly. "Honored Uncle!"

Another strange feeling Hades was experiencing, he felt that his Nephew was also being genuine when referring to him like that.

He didn't say it out loud, but he appreciated the sentiment.

Usually, his extended family are polite out of necessity or proper etiquette.

"I have need of your –"

"Okay." Ocean Song agreed immediately.

"....." Persephone was silent.

Likewise, Hades blinked in confusion. "You didn't hear what I was going to ask."

"Well, I already owe you a debt, and I don't think you would ask me to do something I wasn't comfortable with. Even if it's dangerous, I will do my best!" Ocean Song explained. "Besides, we're family. This lowly cyclops is happy to help, Uncle!"

Hades once more was silent because he couldn't sense any falsehoods in his words.

He wasn't used to this kind of attitude.

"We need your help with something important." Persephone took over, noticing her Husband's odd reaction. "Are you familiar with the Lotus Eaters from the stories?"

"Uh…something about a story moral about not doing drugs?" Ocean Song scratched his head.

"....that isn't wrong." Persephone squeezed out, as technically, that was sort of the moral of the story that mortals refer to. "But I speak of the true Lotus Eaters. They lured people to their island, trapped them through means of addictive pleasure."

"I see." Ocean Song listened.

"There is a casino in Las Vegas called the Lotus Casino."

"I will go burn it to the ground." Ocean Song said heroically.

"...no." Persephone looked at Hades. "You take over."

Hades was now questioning if this was the correct choice. But he would acknowledge his nephews initiate atleast, even if it were wrong. "I have two children in the casino." Hades let out a sigh. "Not even Zeus or Poseidon know about them. And I expect them not to find out."

"Your secret is safe with me uncle. Even if my father demand answers, I will swear on my Dao Heart that I will not divulge this secret against your wishes." Ocean Song promised. "If you want, I can also swear an oath on the Styx."

Hades waved his hand as it wasn't necessary as he was recruiting the Cyclops and the secrecy only mattered until they were safe. "Inside the casino, time moves differently. For them, days have passed, for us, it has been decades."

"....how long have they been inside?" Ocean Song realized the implications.

"Are you familiar with the Second World War that was fought by the mortals?"

Right, Ocean Song vaguely recalled that from the stories before. It was only a vague memory at this point, so he couldn't quite remember all the details.

"Technically, they're safe within the casino." Hades continued onwards. "The Casino is a….neutral location. Due to some matters I won't go into from the past, they received a promise of neutrality from all gods of Olympus and the Underworld. Not even my brothers would break this…promise lightly. However, I wish to bring them home. I believe that I'm being watched, so I cannot dispatch my normal servants."

Ocean Song nodded. "Alright, I'll head out immediately."

Hades frowned. "I have reason to believe they're watching the exits to the Underworld as well." Well, he had suspicion. If the roles were reversed, he would certainly have people watching the exits. And whoever his enemy is, they already showed they can sneak into his Underworld and cause chaos at a whim, so he needed to be careful.

"How will I leave then?"

Hades….hadn't gotten that far yet. "That is the question."

"I could hide and take him with me when I leave in a couple months at the changing of the seasons?" Persephone offered.

"That's too long." Hades frowned, wanting this settled as soon as possible. 

"What about Hecate?" Persephone asked. "She could sneak him out."

Perhaps Hades was acting upon his paranoia, but Hecate seemed like an obvious choice to keep an eye on.

A simple grunt from Hades dismissed that idea.

"Uncle, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's feasible." Ocean Song raised his hand.

"You?" Hades's eyebrow quirked. "Speak."

"Though, it is based on the answer to a question. This lowly cyclops knows not how the Underworld operates, thus I beg your forgiveness if I make a rude assumption. However, is the Underworld connected to other afterlives?"

"....other afterlives?" Hades repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

"From other pantheons."

Both Hades and Persephone were silent.

"How do you know about that?" The God's eyes narrowed.

"I went to Valhalla and met the Norse Gods! I met the All-Father and even sparred with Thor!" Ocean Song explained excitedly. "I even have a token that lets me come and go to Asgard if I want!"

Hades just looked at him with his mouth slightly ajar. "It's expressively forbidden to mingle with other Pantheons." He said sternly, glaring at his nephew. 

Despite it being one of Zeus's commands, it was one he vehemently agreed with. Nothing good came about intermingling among various Pantheons.

"Uncle." Ocean Song said rather expressionlessly. "I'm a monster."

".....right." Hades almost forgot. 

His nephew was a monster, since when do the 'rules' of Olympus apply to them? Monsters come and go as they please, heck they've even had 'foreign' monsters pop up every now and then over here too.

"In a manner of speaking, you're not wrong in your assumption." Hades finally answered him. "I understand your thought now. If you are familiar enough with them, you want to be sent over to Hel then leave from there." 

Just because he doesn't interact with them unless necessary, it didn't mean he was unfamiliar with the other 'Underworlds' of the world.

Funnily enough, the various death-based deities were actually rather cordial with each other when matters had them crossing paths.

Hades silently admitted to himself that it wasn't a bad plan.

"And where is this token now?" Hades asked.

"....I don't know."

Hades resisted the urge to kick his nephew out of his throne room.

In a more literal sense.

"It was in my storage pouch before Lord Zeus smote…..smitten…smited? Before he threw lightning at me." Ocean Song replied. "Actually….I don't know where any of my stuff is. Hecate might have it."

Hades grumbled and looked to the side, he grabbed at the space and as if pulling a curtain open, the Goddess of Magic was revealed.

Hecate, for all her stoicness had a surprisingly look of embarrassment adorning her cheeks at this moment.

Persephone couldn't help but stifle a giggle as she looked at the Goddess of Magic.

Truthfully, both Hades and her noticed she was there the moment Hades had brought Ocean Song back over.

"Care to elaborate, Hecate?" Hades asked with a rather bored tone.

The Goddess of Magic huffed a little and held out her hand as several objects flew out, landing next to Ocean Song. "I was planning on doing this later."

Infront of him, Ocean Song smiled.

He picked up the clothes that looked exactly like the ones that were eviscerated before, swiftly dressing back up.

He grabbed the gourd, tying it to his waist.

He grabbed the storage pouch, patting it to see that the token was inside and also tied it to his waist.

Lastly, he grabbed his sword, giving it a little swing, before smiling happily.

Ocean Song was back!

"Fear not, Uncle. I will bring back your children no matter what!"

"Good." He noddes, pleased. 

"Meet Buddha, slay Buddha. Meet god, slay god! Nothing will stand in my way from completely my objective!

".....okay."

"If you tell me to go west, I dare not go east!"

"..." Hades was starting to question his decision even more. "I advise you to remain stealthy. I have reason to believe I am being schemed against. Move with caution."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"

A moment of silent passed and Hades flicked his hand, Ocean Song went flying out of the room while Hecate raised a hand to her face, letting out a sigh.

"Dear."

"Yes, husband?" Persephone asked.

"Please contact Hel."

"Right away."

@***@

A/N

Ocean Song gets stronger, and Hades is stunned into silence with Ocean Song's eloquence.

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