Chapter 8: The Return and Cronus

Hecate was observing the entrance to Tartarus, her mind still occupied by that power that leaked out of the gate earlier.

Although it couldn't compare to the current ruler of Underworld, the Primordial of Night, Nyx—but its power is still something that an average god could stand against.

But Hades isn't an average god.

The darkness of underworld bowed to his will. The shadows knelt in his presence.

He is the rightful king of the realm of the dead.

She is confident that he can come out unscathed.

And just like what she had thought, the portal to Tartarus shook, and a massive creature that dwarfed mountains flew out.

A dragon.

It's dark crimson scales gleamed eerily. It's massive wings shook the air as it flapped. And its destructive aura causes the surroundings to tremble.

Even so, Hecate remained calm.

Not only because she is confident on her own strength, but also because she had long felt Hades' presence on top of the dragon.

Then, the dragon landed, the very land trembling from its weight.

It lowered its head, and Hecate immediately saw Hades sitting on top of it.

Moments later, Hades jumped down from the dragon's head. And almost immediately, the dragon shrunk down, its form changing into a more humanoid shape.

A beautiful, but savage looking woman with long crimson hair. A curvaceous and well endowed body that she proudly shows off, with her being completely naked.

Her wings and tail flicked fiercely, and her horns shone with metallic glint.

Hecate observed her for a moment, but soon lost interest and turned her gaze back to Hades. "I believe you've succeeded, son of Cronus?"

"Yeah." Hades nodded, before looking over his shoulders.

There. A massive hand extended from the cliff where the portal to Tartarus is. Soon, its whole body was seen, a massive figure with one eye crawled out of the abyss.

A cyclops.

It was soon followed by two other cyclops who also crawled out from the depths of underworld.

Then, three more massive figured crawled up. This time, it was a creature with a fifty heads and a hundred arms.

The hecatoncheires.

All of them were children of Uranus whom he had thrown in the Tartarus because he feared them.

"Congratulations." Hecate smiled, "Victory is now in your hands."

Hades smirked.

Indeed. Indeed it is.

****

Back in Mount Dikte, months had passed since Hades had departed for Tartarus, and the unease among his family only grew with time.

Rhea and Hestia paced anxiously, their eyes flicking toward Gaia, who remained indifferent, her cold expression betraying no emotion.

Demeter had busied herself among the forest nymphs, planting trees and crops, showing no concern with whatever is happening around her.

Hera, seated upon a throne of her own making, exuded an air of regality, her sharp eyes flickered with absolute certainty. Hades will return.

Meanwhile, Poseidon and Zeus were nowhere to be seen, having chosen to spend their time indulging in the pleasures of the nymphs, seemingly unconcerned with their missing brother.

Then, without warning, Gaia's expression shifted.

Rhea, ever attuned to the moods of those around her, noticed first. After all, her mother wasn't one to have a change in expression without any reason.

"Mother?" she called hesitantly. "Did something happen?"

Hestia, too, straightened, her noble features tightening. Her eyes looking concerned and worried.

"Is it Hades?" she questioned.

Gaia opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, the air itself shuddered.

A deafening tearing sound echoed through the mountain, as if reality itself was being torn asunder.

The space before them warped, splitting open like a gaping wound, and from it emerged colossal figures—six in total.

The first three were Cyclopes, their singular eyes glowing with the light of boundless power.

The next three were the Hecatoncheires, their fifty heads shifting and their hundred arms twitching, radiating immense strength that sent tremors through the land with every step they took.

They were led by another figure—one that exuded a presence unlike any other.

Hades.

He stepped forward, his dark robes billowing around him, his expression unreadable. Power radiated from his form, a tangible force that made the air thick with the weight of his authority.

And behind him, walking with a predatory grace, was Campe.

Though now in a humanoid form, her savage beauty remained untouched. Her crimson hair fell in waves down her back, her eyes glowed with untamed ferocity, and her wings flicked as she surveyed those before her with a smirk.

Silence fell over Mount Dikte.

Hestia, relief washing over her features, was the first to step forward. "Hades!"

Rhea let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, though her gaze flickered warily to the monstrous beings that had followed him.

Hera, after composing herself, spoke with her usual regal poise. "You return triumphant, brother. I take it your mission was a success?"

Hades simply nodded before turning his gaze toward Zeus and Poseidon, who had just arrived, drawn by the disturbance.

They both stood frozen, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of the monstrous beings beside him.

Gaia couldn't help but smiled seeing her children that were imprisoned by Cronus.

"The war against Cronus is about to begin," Gaia announced, her voice carrying across the mountain. "And with them by our side—"

The earth trembled from her power. As if her words can moved the world.

"—we will win."

****

Mount Othrys loomed over the world like an indomitable fortress, its peaks cutting through the heavens like jagged blades.

At its heart, deep within the grand hall of Titans, sat Cronus—the King of the Cosmos. His throne was carved from primordial stone, its surface engraved with ancient symbols of dominion and fate.

In his grip rested his legendary scythe, its silver edge gleaming ominously as it distorted the air around it, bending time itself.

Just then, the heavy footsteps of another titan echoed through the chamber as he entered, his massive frame casting long shadows against the towering columns of the hall.

Atlas. The Titan god of Strength and Endurance. He was the one who instructed mortals in the concept of astronomy, which helped sailors in navigating the seas and farmers for measuring seasons.

He knelt before Cronus, his expression grim.

"My king, Campe has been defeated, the Cyclops and the Hecatoncheires have been freed from Tartarus."

Cronus raised a brow. He knew of Campe's strength. After all, he was the one who ordered that dragon to guard the cyclops and hecatoncheires.

"Who freed them?" He asked.

Atlas shook his head, "Forgive me. Hecate has reinforced her magic that guards the realm of the dead, we can't get much information."

Cronus exhaled sharply through his nose, his fingers tightening around the scythe. That damn witch. If she wasn't so strong and tricky to deal with, he would've already annihilated her for going against him.

"I see. And what of my children?"

Atlas hesitated before answering, his voice laced with frustration. "We have yet to locate them. Rhea and our mother continues to hide them well."

Cronus scoffed, his golden eyes narrowing. "Rhea has always been sentimental. She thinks her defiance will save them. It will not."

Atlas shifted slightly, his expression darkening. "There is something else, my king. Prometheus... he has been acting strangely. He speaks in riddles and acts mysteriously. I suspect that he has turned against us."

Cronus leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "I have noticed it as well. He has always been the most cunning among us. His mind moves like the tides, unpredictable and relentless. I should have cast him into Tartarus long ago."

Atlas nodded. "If he has truly turned traitor, it would be wise to deal with him before he undermines us further."

Cronus tapped his scythe against the stone floor, the sound reverberating through the hall like a death knell. "Not yet. Let him play his games. If he really did betray me, I will not grant him the mercy of death."

He leaned back on his throne before continuing. "And what of Oceanus? Have you gained his support?"

Atlas exhaled, hesitating for a moment before answering. "No, my king. Oceanus remains neutral, as he always has. He watches, waiting for the tides to shift in his favor. He is no ally of ours, but he is no threat either."

Cronus clenched his jaw. Those damn siblings of his! They enjoyed his protection when he overthrew Uranus, but now, they can't even offer any help!?

Ungrateful swines! The lot of them!

Noticing his anger, Atlas quickly added. "But I have brought you another ally, my king. Hyperion has agreed to stand with us. He will bring the power of the sun against our enemies."

Cronus calmed down as a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Hyperion... a welcome ally. He is proud, but he understands power. With him at our side, we gain an overwhelming force of destruction."

The two Titans remained silent for a moment, the weight of the war pressing upon them like the weight of the sky.

Atlas shifted uneasily before speaking once more. "Do you truly believe they will challenge you, my king? That your children—mere infants compared to our might—will rise against the Titans?"

Cronus chuckled, but there was no mirth in his voice. "The Fates whisper of a prophecy, one that speaks of my downfall at their hands. But I am the King of the Cosmos, and I will not allow my own offspring to become my undoing."

Atlas nodded. "Then we will crush them before they ever rise."

Cronus remained silent, his mind calculating, his grip on the scythe unyielding.

"Leave me," he finally ordered. "There is much to consider."

Atlas bowed his head before turning and departing, his heavy steps fading into the distance.

Alone in the grand hall, Cronus stared into the void beyond the mountain's peak. He was the King of the Cosmos, the slayer of Uranus, the ruler of all that existed.

And yet, for the first time in an age, he felt something unfamiliar creep into his bones—something he had not known since his father had fallen before him.

Doubt.

Although he doesn't know who freed the Cyclops and the Hundred-Ones, Cronus was sure it was one of his children.

With Cyclops on their side, they must've already gotten their hands on Divine Weapons.

And with Gaia's influence, it is not too farfetched that they'd have an army capable of matching his.

With all this, can he really win?

No. He must win!

His eyes gleamed in power and anger. How dare mere infants think of overthrowing him!?

He stood up, power bursting out of his body.

He will let them know that nothing can escape time.