King of Underworld

Chapter 155: Gigantomachia – (3)

I was crossing the Plains of Phlesra, killing every Gigas I could see.

How long had it been since I wielded my power like this?

Excluding the long war with the Titans, the last time must have been during my fight with Typhon.

The omnipotent divine energy enveloping my entire body.

All living creatures trembled in fear, yet this underworldly aura was so familiar to me.

**Boom—**

“Argh!”

“Damn it, stop the God of the Underworld!”

“What is King Eurymedon even doing…?”

I wasn’t one to enjoy battle like Ares, the God of War.

But in such an important battlefield, massacring enemies inevitably caused an exhilarating heat to rise in my chest.

Especially when those enemies were the Gigantes, who had been a persistent thorn in our side for so long.

“Guh… Argh!”

Another Gigas let out a death cry as my bident pierced through its neck.

The chariot I was riding, my bident, and the ghostly horses pulling the chariot were all drenched in the blood and fluids of monsters.

However…

The countless Gigas corpses that had fallen disappeared into the earth as if absorbed.

It was so subtle and gradual that I hadn’t noticed right away.

Perhaps the heat of the battlefield had also dulled everyone’s awareness.

Like moths flying into a flame, the enemies continued to rush at me, and I continued to kill them…

**Whoosh— Thwack!**

A staff flew through the air, piercing another Gigas’s stomach.

The staff, adorned with two serpents coiling upward, was unmistakable.

It was the Caduceus, the symbol of Hermes, the messenger god of Olympus.

“Something strange is happening!”

Hermes, his entire body drenched in blood and leaking golden ichor, came rushing toward me.

Looking like he had just survived a fierce battle, his tattered appearance emphasized his urgency.

“Hermes, calm down.”

“There’s something ominous emanating from the ground where the corpses are being absorbed! This must be…”

The strange energy I had felt in the Plains of Phlesra.

I had assumed it was merely because this was the base of the Gigantes.

But considering what was now happening, I had a suspicion.

“A ritual array, a trap, or perhaps sorcery or magic. I’m aware of it.”

“In that case…”

“Earlier, I saw Demeter touch the earth and shake her head in dismay.”

“…!”

“It must be the work of the Earth Mother Goddess. Using the corpses and lingering resentment of the countless Gigantes as materials…”

Everything that fell to the ground was being absorbed beneath it.

Probably thousands of Gigas corpses, their blood, resentment, and even the ichor of the gods.

Like an offering at the Olympic Games for Zeus.

If this entire battle was being treated as a ritual and dedicated to someone, then…?

**Boom!**

While trying to figure out how to break the situation, I saw a massive pillar of water rise—summoned by Poseidon.

The ruler of the sea laughed, twirling his trident after annihilating the Gigantes surrounding him.

“Hahaha! You wretches who dared not even approach the sea!”

His trident held the power to create earthquakes.

If he overturned the ground entirely, could this presumed trap be stopped?

By combining forces with Demeter and covering it with Hephaestus’s flames, it might work.

As I was considering solutions, I noticed numerous divine beasts.

**Growl! Moo—!!! Rumble…**

Apart from the eagle Zeus had summoned, there were bulls, leopards, and divine beasts incapable of flight.

Some were from the underworld, while others were lower-ranked deities unable to freely fly.

No, an earthquake wouldn’t work.

It would sweep up our allies as well.

To prevent such a catastrophe, mortal heroes and lesser gods hadn’t been sent to this battlefield in the first place.

Overturning the plain would also cause significant damage to our side.

The only idea I could think of at the moment was one.

If I invaded the living world with the power of the underworld…

In other words, turning this plain into part of the underworld might be possible.

Even if it’s crucial not to invade the domain of the living.

In a situation where we might lose to the Gigantes…

**Whooo—**

It might already be too late.

—

From the earth, red energy surged up and converged at the center of the plain.

Its target was King Eurymedon of the Gigantes, who was fighting Zeus.

“What! What’s happening over there…?”

“That’s where Lord Zeus is fighting! No, don’t tell me…”

“Lady Hecate! What in the world is this…”

“Zeus!”

**Flash— Boom!**

Sensing the ominous energy, Zeus struck down lightning, but it couldn’t stop what was happening.

At times like this, one truly feels the weight of being in a war, needing to be mindful of allies nearby.

None of us—Zeus, Poseidon, or I—could unleash our full destructive power because of the other Olympian gods’ presence.

That’s likely why Zeus had brought his scythe.

King Eurymedon, who had been fighting Zeus, was in a pitiful state.

Despite the battle having just begun, he looked like he was on the verge of death.

The Gigas king, with a hole in his stomach and half his head gone, let out a ghastly laugh as the red energy converged on him.

“Ha… Hahaha… Zeus! I may have lost, but my mother hasn’t!”

“What?”

**Stab.**

At that moment, he thrust the torch he was holding into his chest and shouted.

From the spot where King Eurymedon fell, a massive array spread across the entire plain.

It felt similar to when Cronus descended near Thebes, but the quality was entirely different.

This wasn’t just a method to summon an essence.

What was drawn beneath our feet was a summoning array.

The technique Hecate often used to summon divine beasts.

But this array was so enormous it covered the entire plain, requiring immense divine power and sacrifices.

It would take significant effort to destroy and halt its progress.

And whoever was being summoned would gain considerable power from it.

Just who…

.

..

…

This sensation… Could it be?

The one I fought to the death during the Titanomachy.

Excluding Cronus, the strongest and most powerful of the Titans.

**Flash— Whoosh!**

As the blinding pillar of light enveloping King Eurymedon dissipated,

a Titan god stood in his place.

“You!”

“Hello, Zeus. It’s been a while.”

The one stretching his neck and shoulders and walking out slowly.

Despite his casual tone and demeanor, not even the king of the gods underestimated him.

Because he was…

“The celestial sphere was quite heavy, you see.”

The Titan punished to bear the celestial sphere after his defeat in the Titanomachy.

The one even Cronus couldn’t face without his full power.

The last Titan to resist Zeus.

“Atlas! Prepare to enter Tartarus this time!”

“Well, you might be the one going there instead.”

It was the mighty Titan god, **Atlas**.

—

Atlas’s sudden appearance, despite being condemned to hold the celestial sphere.

Quietly, I approached Zeus, standing beside him, and spoke to the Titan.

Poseidon was also making his way toward us.

“Atlas.”

“Hades. It’s been a while. How are my brothers in Tartarus?”

“If you’re curious about their well-being, you can check for yourself soon enough.”

Atlas smirked leisurely.

No matter how powerful Atlas was, he had no chance against Zeus, Poseidon, and me together.

But that was assuming both sides were at full strength.

The ichor flowing down Zeus’s arm was noticeable.

Poseidon looked slightly weary after crushing hundreds of Gigantes.

Even I had expended considerable strength after consecutive battles.

Meanwhile, Atlas…

“Ah, the Earth Mother’s power is excellent. I feel like I could handle you all on my own.”

“So, consuming countless Gigantes as sacrifices felt that good?”

“Of course. I can’t even feel the weight of the celestial sphere you forced on me anymore.”

I looked into the Titan’s eyes and spoke.

“It reminds me of when you accepted our offer.”

“Ah, yes. But things are a bit different now. The Earth Mother’s proposal seemed better.”

A bitter feeling stirred within me.

Having killed most of the Gigantes, only for Atlas to appear now…

Or perhaps my nerves were frayed from the impending danger.

“Atlas, it’s not too late. If you return to bearing the celestial sphere…”

Long ago, near the end of the Titan War.

We had defeated Cronus and the other Titans, but Atlas had resisted to the very end.

Both sides were exhausted. A compromise had been proposed.

Even Zeus couldn’t completely subdue Atlas, so we offered him a deal.

If he refrained from rebellion and bore the celestial sphere, we promised to protect his sons, daughters, and descendants.

Unlike the other Titans imprisoned in Tartarus,

he alone was punished on earth, carrying the celestial sphere.

“We swear not to harm the Hesperides who guard the golden apples, Calypso, and the rest of your kin.

But if you persist in opposing us, they will all be dragged into Tartarus and suffer eternal torment.”

“Hah! Hades, you’re as merciful as the rumors claim!”

“Well, I am merciful enough to offer even a rebel a way out.”

Atlas met my gaze with a composed expression as he spoke.

Within his eyes churned vengeance, defiance, anger, and greed, cultivated while bearing the celestial sphere.

“Sorry, but that won’t do.”

“…”

“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t dare to rebel, but now, you’re all weakened while I have grown stronger.”

“Your kin will…”

“If I side with the Earth Mother and win here, your kin will fall into Tartarus instead.

And Zeus, since you married my daughters, I’ll let you take my place holding the celestial sphere.”

He grinned as he slowly raised his fist.

No extraordinary power. No remarkable weapon.

Yet the reason Atlas could resist us to the very end…

His body, tougher than Typhon’s or even Cronus’s, reminiscent of the primordial Protogenoi.

Before us stood an enemy that even Zeus couldn’t entirely overpower.

We, who were somewhat depleted, versus Atlas, who had just been empowered.

To make matters worse, ominous energy continued to gather beneath the earth.

I sent a message to all nearby gods, shouting.

“If you don’t want to get caught up in this, withdraw immediately!

The Plains of Phlesra will be obliterated in an instant.”

At this point, I had no choice but to throw away any consideration for what came after.