Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode
Chapter 373: Talking After Long Time

Chapter 373: Talking After Long Time

Hermes had initially held onto a sliver of hope despite everything he had seen. Yes, all of this seemed strange and terrifying. But he was not the strongest of the higher beings in this universe. So if there was something he didn’t understand or feared, it was only natural.

He could still count on Zeus, Poseidon, or even Hades if the situation became dire. If necessary, he could even seek an alliance with the Archangels or Demon Kings if the threat was greater than they could handle.

But then Zeus had just said that this was something ancient—something that not even he, the Angels, or the Demons were prepared to face.

If that was the case, what could they possibly do about it?

"What are you saying, Zeus?" Hermes asked, a growing unease spreading through his chest.

Zeus stared at him in silence for a few moments. Hermes could see something in the king’s eyes—something unlike his usual demeanor. It wasn’t the arrogant gaze of a ruler filled with absolute power. It was—just as Hermes had feared—pure fear.

"I don’t know what it is," Zeus admitted. "But I can feel it. I ignored this feeling before because I thought it was insignificant. But now I am certain—that thing is truly awakening."

"The Black Wall. That is the source of all of this."

Hermes’ eyes widened. "The... the Black Wall?"

Of course. He had only been to that place once, and it was not somewhere he ever wanted to return to. That was precisely why he had avoided being stationed there.

"Yes. That Black Wall, or whatever lies behind it, is beginning to awaken," Zeus confirmed.

"Then... what do we do now?" Hermes asked, his face growing pale.

Zeus let out a long sigh. "This is not something we can face alone."

Hermes blinked. Even Zeus himself was admitting his weakness—he had never done that before.

"All of us... must unite," Zeus said grimly.

Hermes had expected it to be difficult to convince Zeus to agree to an alliance with the other realms. But Zeus had accepted it immediately—he had even proposed it first.

"I will deliver your message at once," Hermes said, already lifting into the air.

"I will take care of things here. You go to the other realms immediately."

Hermes nodded. Then, without hesitation, he shot into the sky at full speed.

Zeus stood in place watching as Hermes disappeared into the sky, his expression hard and tense, yet unmistakably laced with fear.

It was an expression that had never once marred his proud and arrogant face. But now, it was so vivid that if anyone had seen it, they might have thought they were imagining things.

But Zeus was not imagining anything. What he felt was real.

He had no time to worry about appearances and no time to maintain the illusion of invincibility. Not when the true threat — the one that lurked beyond the Black Wall — was stirring from its slumber.

If it fully awakened, it would consume everything in darkness.

He exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists. There was no room for hesitation. Action had to be taken now.

His thoughts turned to Hades. His brother had always been an enigma, content to remain in the Underworld, detached from the affairs of Olympus and the mortal world.

But this was not something he could afford to ignore. If Hades remained unaware of the situation they would all suffer for it. He needs everyone’s power for this.

Zeus straightened his posture, summoning his divine power. Lightning crackled in his veins as he raised a hand and tore open a shimmering portal in the air.

The swirling rift pulsed with energy, revealing the dark and foreboding expanse of the Underworld beyond. He grimaced seeing the sight, he never liked visiting that grim place.

Without hesitation, he stepped through.

The oppressive air of the Underworld wrapped around him instantly, heavy with the scent of earth, ash, and something something ancient.

He stood atop Hades’ grand obsidian castle, the massive fortress looming beneath him like a sleeping beast.

Zeus let out a breath, his eyes narrowing and sweeping across the Underworld.

The bleak, desolate landscape stretched out before him, an endless expanse of gray and black, where rivers of the dead sluggishly wove through the land like veins of a decayed corpse.

Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere, he noticed something. This realm was not as ravaged as the other domain in Olympus.

Corruption was present. He could see the blackened scars of it tainting the distant fields of Asphodel, the shadows creeping along the edges of the Styx. But it was different here.

Unlike the other domains, where the corrupted gained power and became true threats, the dead souls that had succumbed to this influence had remained... powerless.

They did not rise as monstrous beings or wield new strength like the corrupted followers of gods and goddesses above. They simply lingered, aimless and mindless, as if even the darkness had no true use for them.

Zeus frowned.

For centuries, he had criticized Hades’ choice to remain here and detached from the affairs of Olympus, refusing to amass armies as Poseidon and he had.

But now, for the first time, Zeus saw the wisdom in it. A realm without too many warriors and believers meant fewer living beings to be corrupted.

Perhaps, this was the one realm that had unknowingly shielded itself from the worst of what was coming.

Shaking off the thought, Zeus turned his attention to the castle entrance beneath him.

He strode toward the heavy rooftop door and gave it a firm push, only to find it locked tight.

His expression darkened. Typical.

Instead of wasting time forcing his way inside, Zeus straightened his posture, inhaled deeply, and then let his voice boom across the fortress.

"HADES!"

His thunderous call echoed through the Underworld, shaking the very walls of the castle.

The skies above roiled in response, distant streaks of violet lightning crackling in the dark horizon.

Zeus folded his arms and waited.

He waited.

A full minute passed, longer than he ever expected to wait. His frown deepened in annoyance.

He was not used to waiting for someone else. It was always the others who should be waiting for him. That was the natural order.

Yet, here he was, standing outside like some uninvited guest, while his brother took his time.

Hades had always been like this. Detached. Unbothered. The one god who never bent to Olympus’ ways, which was precisely why Zeus had never truly gotten along with him. He was infuriating.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the heavy doors of the castle creaked open.

Hades stepped out with the same languid posture he always carried, his black robes draped over his tall frame, his pale skin visible.

His dark eyes settled on Zeus with a look of utter disinterest, as if he had been rudely awakened from an afternoon nap.

"What?" Hades asked curtly.

Zeus narrowed his eyes. "What? You don’t know what’s happening?"

Hades let out a slow, measured sigh. "I know." He gestured vaguely to the land around them, the creeping darkness festering in the distance. "So what?"

Zeus blinked. He had expected some resistance from his brother, but this? This was outright indifference.

"You don’t think we need to do something about this?" Zeus asked, his voice rising in frustration. "This corruption will spread if we don’t act. If we sit here doing nothing, we’ll all be dead."

Hades arched an eyebrow. "Dead?" He snorted. "I see the dead every day, brother. It’s not so bad."

Zeus clenched his jaw. "Listen to me. This is not just death. It is something worse. You, as a part of Olympus, must fight alongside us."

Hades let out a dry chuckle. "Oh? Now I’m part of Olympus?"

Zeus stiffened. He had no immediate response.

Hades’ lips curled in something between amusement and disdain.

"Strange, isn’t it? For centuries, I have been excluded. Ignored in meetings, dismissed as nothing more than a caretaker of the dead, unworthy of Olympus’ ’real matters.’ But now, when the world teeters, suddenly I am part of it?" He almost laughed. "How convenient."

Zeus exhaled sharply, his patience running thin. He knew Hades had always resented how the other gods treated him, but this was no time for old grudges.

"Hades, I am not here to debate the past," Zeus said. "I am here because something is coming, and I cannot fight it alone. None of us can. If you refuse to act, you may as well surrender your kingdom to the darkness now."

Hades studied him for a long moment. Zeus had never been this quick on asking for help.

Then, slowly, he crossed his arms.

"Fine," he said at last. "Tell me what you know."

Zeus let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"Something from the Black Wall is waking up."

For the first time, Hades’ expression shifted. The amusement faded, replaced by something colder.

"...The Black Wall," Hades repeated. His gaze flickered toward the distant horizon. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides.

Zeus didn’t miss it.

So. Even Hades wasn’t immune to fear.

---