Chapter 10: Bonding

While Hades relished on his newfound power, his brothers were indulging on the company of nymphs as they drank liquor and danced with the music.

Once they are satisfied, they immediately gathered around thr cyclops.

"Greetings, friends. I am Zeus, the god of sky." Zeus introduced himself, puffing his chest with pride.

"I am Poseidon, the god of the seas." Poseidon gave them a polite nod, crossing his arms, acting all indifferent and proud.

"Arges."

"Brontes."

"Steropes."

The three cyclops introduced themselves.

Zeus leaned forward, flashing his most charming grin. "Truly, it is an honor to have such mighty beings on our side. Your strength is legendary, and with you by our side, our victory against the Titans is all but assured."

Poseidon nodded, arms still crossed, though his voice held less enthusiasm. "Indeed. Your reputation precedes you. It is no surprise that Cronus locked you away—he feared you."

The three Cyclops exchanged polite glances. Arges, the eldest, spoke first. "While we appreciate your words, we are not warriors. Our true strength lies in our craft."

Brontes nodded in agreement. "We are blacksmiths before we are fighters. We can aid you best by forging weapons of divine power, tools befitting gods who wish to stand against the Titans."

Steropes smiled slightly. "If you are to challenge Cronus and his brethren, you will need more than what you were born with. We shall forge weapons worthy of the battle ahead."

Zeus and Poseidon's expressions shifted, the gleam of ambition flashing in their eyes.

"Weapons?" Zeus asked, intrigued. "What kind of weapons?"

"Each of you shall receive a weapon tailored to your essence, your very domain," Arges explained. "A weapon that will not only enhance your power but make you a force to be reckoned with."

Poseidon's lips curled into a smirk. "I see. With such weapons, even Cronus will fall before us."

Zeus, however, hesitated, a thought crossing his mind. "You say 'each of us.' That includes all of us?"

Steropes nodded. "Indeed. We shall craft a weapon for each of the Olympian siblings."

Zeus and Poseidon's expressions darkened slightly. Zeus was the first to voice his displeasure. "Forging weapons for Hades makes sense, but do we really need to waste resources crafting divine weapons for our sisters?"

Poseidon scoffed. "They will not even be on the frontlines. What need have they for such weapons?"

Brontes let out a deep chuckle. "Resources are no concern. While we were in Underworld, we have gathered an abundance of materials as we leave. We can forge without worry."

Arges' voice was firm. "Furthermore, weapons are not only for war, but also for protection. Do you believe your sisters should be left defenseless? The Titans will not discriminate when the battle reaches its peak."

Zeus exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, fine. If it is no burden, then do as you will."

Poseidon sighed, clearly reluctant but unwilling to argue further. "Very well. Just make sure ours are the finest of the lot."

Brontes chuckled again. "Worry not, young gods. By the time we are finished, your weapons will be legendary."

And so, the deal was struck. The forge of the Cyclops would soon blaze to life, crafting the tools that would change the tide of war.

****

The next day.

The sun had begun its ascent, casting an amber glow over the Island of Crete as the six gods stood before the master craftsmen of their kind.

The three Cyclopes—Arges, Brontes, and Steropes—stood tall, their single eyes gleaming with determination. In their hands, they carried a dark golden ingot, the material found withing the depths of Underworld itself, gleaming with an eerie luster as if it contained the power of the realm of the dead.

"Now," Arges spoke, his voice deep and steady, "each of you must infuse your divinity into this ingot. This will allow us to forge weapons that are perfectly attuned to your essence."

Hades, ever the most composed, stepped forward first. Shadows coiled around his hand before he placed it upon the ingot.

His power surged into the metal, causing its surface to darken further, flickering with an abyssal glow, as if the night itself had been melted and condensed into physical form.

Poseidon followed, raising his hand as torrents of water and the salty scent of the sea enveloped the ingot.

His power surged forth, mixing with Hades' darkness, creating intricate swirling patterns across its surface, reminiscent of ocean waves beneath a moonless sky.

Zeus stepped up next, electricity crackling between his fingertips. As he pressed his hand against the metal, divine lightning shot into the ingot, making it spark and tremble with raw power.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, as if the sky itself had acknowledged his presence.

Hestia, Demeter, and Hera exchanged glances before stepping forward together.

Hestia's warmth seeped into the metal, stabilizing the chaos with a gentle, enduring heat.

Demeter's essence caused the ingot to pulse with an earthy, nurturing energy, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.

Hera's power, regal and authoritative, shimmered over the metal, binding the conflicting forces together, ensuring that the weapons would be as magnificent as they were deadly.

Brontes observed the ingot with an approving nod before lifting it with one hand. "The divinities within this ingot are powerful. It will take time to forge weapons worthy of gods."

"How long?" Zeus asked impatiently, eager to wield his destined weapon.

"Seven weeks," Brontes answered. "To forge divinity into metal is no simple task. You must wait."

Zeus and Poseidon exchanged glances, clearly dissatisfied. Seven weeks felt like an eternity amidst a war where every second counted.

However, even they could not argue against the master artisans of the divine.

Brontes, Arges, and Steropes turned and disappeared into a cavern at the base of the mountain.

The forge within roared to life, the echoes of their hammers already resonating through the stone.

The gods could only wait, knowing that when the Cyclopes emerged, they would bear weapons that would shape the fate of the cosmos itself.

Hades turned around, intending to return to his cave to train his new powers.

However...

"Hades, wait!" Hestia called out, grabbing his hand, stopping him.

Hades turned to Hestia, his brows furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

Hestia smiled, though her grip on his hand remained firm.

"It's rare for all of us to be together like this," she said gently. "Why not stay for a little while longer? We should have a family breakfast—just once."

Hades hesitated. He had never been one for these sentimental moments, nor did he see the point of indulging in such gatherings when war loomed on the horizon.

But Hestia's gaze held a quiet insistence, one that made it difficult to refuse.

"...Fine," he relented, sighing.

Hestia's smile brightened, and she quickly turned to the others. "Let's prepare the meal together!"

Under a large tree that Demeter had planted long ago, the gods gathered. Their mother, Rhea, sat at the base of the tree, watching them with a gentle smile, her presence radiating a quiet warmth.

Hestia, Hera, and Rhea took charge of preparing the food, their movements fluid and natural.

Demeter supplied fresh ingredients with a mere gesture, the ground beneath them shifting as fruits and grains sprang forth at her command.

As they worked, Demeter sighed dramatically, turning her gaze towards her brothers.

"Honestly, you three should help as well," she said, glancing at Hades, Zeus and Poseidon, who were leaning against the tree, doing nothing.

Zeus smirked, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Come now, dear sister, would you really want me in the kitchen? A god of the sky should not be confined to such mundane tasks."

Demeter rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, because lifting a loaf of bread is truly beneath you."

Poseidon chuckled. "If you really need help, I can summon a wave to wash the fruits for you."

Demeter shot him a look. "Don't you dare. I don't need my ingredients drenched in seawater."

Hestia shook her head with an amused smile. "Just let them be. They'd only get in the way."

Zeus placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "I am deeply wounded, sister. Do you truly think so little of my culinary skills?"

Poseidon, seated at the side, let out a quiet chuckle. "You don't even know how to hold a knife properly."

Zeus turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "And you do?"

Poseidon shrugged. "More than you, at least."

Hades couldn't help but snort in amusement, "...Children."

Poseidon blinked, even Zeus raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Hades frowned, noticing their looks.

"So you can speak," Poseidon smirked, "This is the first time you actually joined in on our conversation... I was so surprised I can't even get mad with you calling us children."

"Indeed." Zeus nodded.

Hestia looked towards them, "That's a good thing, right? It means he's starting to warm up to us."

Hades clicked his tongue, grumbling.

Rhea, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "Hestia is right. There may come a time when we will not have the luxury of sharing a meal together."

Her words cast a brief shadow over the gathering, a reminder of the war looming over them.

Hera was the first to break the silence, her tone lighter but carrying an undeniable weight. "Then we should make this meal memorable."

Finally, after an hour, the meal was ready. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted fruits filled the air, the result of Demeter's harvest and Rhea's skilled hands.

Hestia, standing at the center, waved her hand over the bonfire, invoking her authority over the hearth. A warm, gentle flame flickered to life, casting a soft glow over the gathering.

The moment she did, an undeniable sense of home settled over them, as if, for just a brief moment, they weren't warriors preparing for war but simply a family sharing a meal.

Zeus took a large bite of bread and hummed in approval. "I suppose even a god like me can admit that this is good."

Poseidon smirked. "Don't get used to it. We'll be back to eating whatever we can find once the war picks up again."

Demeter arched an eyebrow. "Maybe if you helped more, you'd have better meals more often."

Poseidon simply grinned, unbothered. "That's what I have sisters for, isn't it?"

Hera scoffed. "Unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Hades remained silent for most of the meal, though he occasionally responded when spoken to.

At one point, Poseidon turned to him. "Brother, how was your journey to Tartarus?"

Hades hesitated before answering. "It is... quite the experience. The Underworld, or rather, Tartarus is unlike any place we've known. Those without a strong will might find themselves go insane, and that's only if you stay there for a short while."

Zeus smiled lecherously. "How about that dragon girl? Where is she? Where did you find her?"

Hades shot him a look. "I suggest you don't try anything funny. She'd rip your balls off like Cronus did to Uranus."

Zeus grinned. "Oh, feisty. I think I like her even more."

Hera narrowed her eyes at him. "I told you this so many times, do not tarnish the sacred marriage I blessed you and Metis."

Demeter chuckled, "Hah! As if he can keep it in his pants!"

Despite the lighthearted bickering, there was an undeniable warmth in the air—something unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome.

For a brief moment, there was peace.

When the meal finally ended, the gods stood, the air between them feeling slightly lighter than before.

They all knew that soon, they would return to war. But for this one moment, they were simply a family—however fractured they may be.