King of Underworld

Chapter 157 Gigantomachia – The End

“Gaia, isn’t this enough?”

“…Don’t interfere, Nyx.”

The earth responded to the words of the night.

The two Protogenoi gazed at each other for a moment, then dissolved their natural forms, taking on human shapes.

The towering colossus of earth and the all-encompassing night sky gradually subsided.

Rumble… Boom.

On one side stood Nyx, the goddess with her arms crossed and a relaxed smile, and on the other, Gaia, the green-haired goddess with a furrowed brow.

The goddess, embodying maternal love and nurturing care, was none other than Gaia, the Protogenoi and our grandmother.

With a cold expression, the Earth Mother surveyed me, Zeus, and Poseidon before turning her gaze to Nyx.

As expected, the **Kynee** was useless against a Protogenoi.

“You, who never cared about the world—why meddle in my affairs?”

“Meddle? I’m merely mediating an unnecessary quarrel at the request of your children.”

Gaia’s clenched fist trembled slightly.

If Nyx sided with us, overthrowing the Olympian gods would be impossible, Gaia must have realized.

With Erebus and Tartarus staying in seclusion, refusing any interaction, there were no more variables left.

“Do you have any idea how infuriated I was because of them, Nyx? After driving out that lunatic who imprisoned his children in Tartarus out of fear, his son left his siblings there to rot for power! And now, using his grandchildren to cast them out again, he has locked all the Titans away! Is this the outcome I wanted when I aided you, Zeus?!”

Gaia’s furious wrath was directed at Zeus, who stood toying with the **Scythe** nearby.

The king of the gods stroked his golden beard with one hand and replied calmly.

“Gaia, we are deeply grateful for the wisdom you shared with us in the past. Thanks to you, we were able to defeat Cronus.”

During the Titanomachy, the Olympians and Titans were equally matched.

Without Gaia’s guidance on how to enlist the help of the **Hecatoncheires** and the **Cyclopes**, the world’s rule might have been split in half.

“Then why did you imprison all the others?”

“It was unavoidable. While my overthrowing of Father Cronus stemmed from personal rage and vengeance, as king of the gods, it was my judgment to imprison the immortals who made the war so difficult.”

“King of the gods? Who said you could claim that title?”

Their escalating argument sent overwhelming energy rippling across the surroundings.

Other Olympian gods, who had been approaching, retreated nervously, and even I felt a tinge of suffocation.

Typhon, the Gigantes—after all the interferences, was her power truly still so immense? It seemed we underestimated her.

“Gaia.”

“What is it, Nyx?”

“Forget about Uranus and Cronus for a moment. Perhaps it’s time for us to step back as well. How long will you keep trying to replace the king of the gods whenever someone doesn’t suit your liking?”

Nyx’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

“Uranus, Cronus, and now Zeus. If the Titans regain dominion, will you simply replace them again the moment they displease you?”

“What? I raised them to those positions, and yet none of them show gratitude…”

“Zeus has already proven his worth by defeating Typhon and the Gigantes with his strength. Isn’t it time to acknowledge him?”

Despite the Protogenoi’s capricious nature, Nyx seemed to argue that Zeus had proven himself as a suitable ruler.

As their conversation continued, I sensed a presence above us.

It wasn’t a natural aura but a deliberate show of existence.

There was only one being whose celestial energy surpassed Zeus.

“Look above you. Am I the only one dissatisfied with you?”

“…Uranus.”

The goddess Uranus, whom I had encountered once before, now regarded us from above.

Whether it was silent intimidation or not, her intervention was a stroke of fortune for us.

“Hmph. Olympus doesn’t have the guts to directly oppose the Earth Mother. If you acknowledge us here, I swear to lay aside past grudges.”

Though often unreliable, my brother proved unexpectedly competent at moments like this.

With Zeus’ words added, Gaia abruptly turned her head to look elsewhere.

Toward the Olympian gods’ gathering place?

Wait. Could it be?

Crack. Rumble!

“Ahhhh!!!”

* * *

The sudden scream made me grip the **Bident** tightly.

However, recognizing the identity of the god being swallowed into the cracked earth, I released my grip.

It was Hephaestus, my nephew, who had once attempted to assault Athena and fathered Gaia’s child.

…Her anger was understandable.

“Hephaestus? Hmm…”

“This was bound to happen.”

“Tch. I knew it.”

The Olympian gods nearby clicked their tongues or sighed.

Zeus held his head in his hands, exasperated, but none seemed inclined to rescue Hephaestus.

Honestly, he brought it upon himself, didn’t he?

Even if the smith god returned battered from Gaia, it was inevitable.

“Hmph! Fine. I won’t say anything more. Handle things as you wish!”

“Thank you, Gaia.”

With those parting words, the Earth Mother’s form crumbled into dust, and her presence vanished.

She was likely beneath the ground, beating Hephaestus senseless.

“Hades.”

“Nyx, thank you. Gaia’s change of heart was entirely thanks to you…”

“No, no, that’s not it.”

“…! I will decree your greatness among humans before the day ends.”

“Ah, excellent. Well then, until next time.”

Whoosh—

Both Protogenoi faded, leaving the world.

Most of the Gigantes had been dealt with, and there was no longer anyone to threaten us.

Atlas was imprisoned in Poseidon’s watery jail, and Gaia had accepted Olympus.

We had won.

At last.

* * *

The long and grueling war with the Gigantes, the **Gigantomachia**, was finally over.

The Plains of Plesra were completely obliterated. Surrounding mountains and land were ravaged. Even humans likely suffered significant damage.

“Still, we won.”

“Yes. Let’s clean up quickly. Demeter is already working on restoring the land, so let’s fix the sky.”

“My **Trident** seems scratched. I’ll have to leave it with Hephaestus—ah, right, he’s underground now.”

“Father, are you alright?”

“Ares, well done. Where is Athena?”

“She’s chasing a Gigantes commander who escaped. Something like Adamastos… or something.”

The Olympian gods rushed over to assess the situation, while some scattered in different directions.

And then…

“Hades! Are you okay? No… your body…”

“After dealing with Atlas, I consider myself fortunate to look this good.”

“Hades, sob… hic…”

“Don’t cry like I’m dying, Persephone.”

Gods approached, worry etched on their faces.

Even in their own battered states, they fussed over me.

Styx’s radiant hair was disheveled, Lethe’s tattered clothes barely held together… Wait, why are they that torn?

Persephone was no different. I could tell without asking how fierce their battles had been.

As I held and comforted the goddesses, I felt stares from all around.

Shock. Confusion. Curiosity. Amusement?

“Look at that…”

“It’s about time Hades got married, don’t you think?”

“So, who will be his official bride…?”

“I’m betting my prized bull on Lethe.”

“Hah… That east wind favor really paid off—heheh.”

“…Eurus?”

What nonsense were they mumbling? As I glared, the Olympian gods averted their eyes.

Ah, Poseidon was among them. His advice had helped my proposal succeed.

“We’ve sent a messenger to the Underworld about our victory. But the Gigantes’ souls are pouring in…”

“…Hades, what did Zeus plan for Atlas?”

“Probably sending him to Tartarus.”

For now, I set aside the thought of kissing Persephone in public—plenty of time for that later.

Why was Demeter staring holes into me, though?

“Well done, you.”

“It was nothing, Hera.”

Zeus, Poseidon, and the others conversed with their respective consorts.

Thankfully, Maia, Atlas’ daughter and mother of Hermes, wasn’t here.

The goddess of victory, Nike, proclaimed our triumph.

The complete dominion of Olympus was finally confirmed.

“Olympus has won!”

“Haha! Hahahaha!”

“Even Phobos, the god of fear, would enjoy this victory.”

“Dionysus, is this your severed finger? We found it over there.”

“Ah, thank you, Hestia!”

But then Athena returned, her shield adorned with a Gigantes’ head.

Ares, not to be outdone, hung a Gigantes’ head from his waist. It was a little gruesome.

Speaking of which…

“Wait. What about the Gigantes remnants that fled to the mortal world?”

None of the escaped Gigantes were powerful.

Olympus’ high-ranking deities had taken care of them.

But mortals couldn’t handle lesser **Gigantes**, comparable to minor deities.

Even if most remnants were slain, some might have escaped.

When I asked, Styx smiled and answered.

“Humans are sacrificing Gigantes corpses as offerings.”

“…?”

What was that supposed to mean?