The God of Underworld
Chapter 136 - 35

Chapter 136: Chapter 35

The earth trembled, as if responding to Gaia’s corruption.

The entity relished the feeling of power. In this form, it won’t even be afraid of Hades or Nyx!

With the invulnerability that comes from being in her own domain, the entity was sure that even if Hades and Nyx were to join forces, they will only delay the inevitable.

The entity stared at the dying Porphyrion, its host for quite awhile.

It thought of the other giants. ’They will be useful.’

The entity did not corrupt them back then because it was too difficult, but now, with Gaia’s connection to her children, the entity can corrupt them instantly, all at once!

Just then, the entity raised its hands, and from the depths of the earth, the Giant heard a call.

They felt Gaia’s divinity connecting to them, calling out for them.

However, before they can wonder why their mother is calling them, the entity’s corruption spread like a wildfire and their bodies began to convulse and distort.

They screamed in pain, writhing on the ground. It lasted for quite some time, before eventually they stopped, and with it, their forms were no longer natural, they were grotesque parodies, corrupted reflections of their former selves.

Porphyrion, despite the grievous wounds he suffered during Erebus’ earlier intervention, rose again.

His body no longer bled red, but a deep violet ichor that sizzled as it dripped onto the ground.

Tentacles writhed from his back like mockeries of wings. Dozens of eyes opened across his chest, blinking in erratic patterns.

And just like him, all others trasnformed into such grotesque looking monster as well.

Enceladus once noble visage was now a melting, shifting skull, crowned with flickering tongues of screaming fire.

Mimas now has arms that are segmented limbs of obsidian and pulsating flesh. Eyes dotted the cracks of his granite skin like barnacles.

One by one, they awakened, no longer bound by Gaia’s will, but by the entity now wearing her body like a cloak.

They were no longer Children of Gaia, but Minions of the Entity.

They crawled and slithered, like the horrifying monsters that they are.

The entity has given them a mission.

To take Herion.

As the most advanced civilization, devouring its people and all life within it would surely satisfy the appetite of the entity.

Its strength would surely soar as well.

Incredibly cautious as it is, the Entity will not confront Hades or Nyx unless it can absolutely crush them.

*

*

*

Varn, mortal commander of the Sentinels, stood atop the city walls of Herion and watched as the sky darkened unnaturally.

The winds stopped.

The birds fell silent.

The clouds turned sickly purple and churned like a storm was fighting itself.

He didn’t speak, his eyes narrowed. Something primal in his bones knew that this was no ordinary scene. This was the end encroaching.

Beside him, the other Sentinels readied their spears, enchanted shields, and ancient weapons.

These were the warriors chosen by fate, tempered in battles against monsters and giants alike.

They knew fear, and have long since grown accustomed to it.

But this... this was different.

This was instincts screaming at them.

The primordial instincts of pitiful humans to flee from danger. Their primordial instincts to survive.

And even though the Sentinels can hide it well, the fact remains...

One cannot escape their instincts.

*

*

*

Far away, Hestia and Themis hovered in the sky, silent, as they looked at the creeping darkness blanketing the horizon.

"W-What is that?" Themis whispered, her voice shaking.

Hestia’s gentle aura dimmed slightly, the fire within her flickering.

"I...I have no idea."

They stared at each other, seeing the worry and anxiousness on another’s faces.

*

*

*

All across the world, the Olympians felt it.

A tremor, no, a shift, signifying the divine balance slowly shattering.

High on a tree branch in the deepest forest, Artemis clutched her bow tightly, her silver eyes narrowing.

In the sky, Apollo hovered on a sun chariot that flickered unnaturally. Even his light could not pierce this coming night.

Zeus, seated alone on his crumbled throne in the ruins of Olympus, let lightning dance across his knuckles, eyes glowing with grim determination.

Poseidon, standing on the crest of a tsunami, felt his sea whisper warnings.

Astraea, guardian of justice, raised her broken scale. The weight was now unbearable.

Ares crossed his arms, he stared at the darkness without any fear. To die standing, like a true warrior. That was his dream.

A beautiful death, just like Herios.

And Demeter, who had been laughing with a young Persephone in a field of wheat, stopped.

Her hands trembled as she pulled her daughter close, holding her tighter than ever before.

*

*

*

In the Underworld, within his floating fortress, Hades sat again on his throne of obsidian and bone.

Before him, Hecate appeared in a swirl of purple mist, kneeling with her head bowed.

"My lord, The Twelve Patrons have assembled their forces," she said. "They await only your word."

Hades nodded.

His fingers curled tightly on the armrest. "Then it’s time. The final battle is about to begin. Tell them to go into formation."

"Yes, my lord."

Hades hummed as he leaned forward, his cold eyes hard. "Also, Hecate, send my message to the Olympians. I want them to gather to Herion to discuss my plans."

Hecate nodded again and was about to reply, but Hades raised a hand to stop her and continue.

"One more thing. Tell them Gaia is compromised, but not how or by what. Not yet. We will tell them once they are in Herion."

Her eyes flickered, curious, but she didn’t ask.

Instead, she simply bowed and bid farewell to send the message as she vanished in a wave of violet mist.

As silence settled once more in the throne room, a familiar presence stirred beside Hades.

Nyx, goddess of night, materialized from the shadows.

She didn’t speak right away.

She simply hugged him from the back and leaned over his shoulders, smiling.

"You’ve sent Erebus?" Hades asked.

She nodded. "He’s already on the surface. At least there he’d be of some use. Maybe he can give us more time to prepare. Even for just a minute."

Hades looked up at the endless ceiling of the Underworld. "That’s all the time we’ll need."

He stood, his obsidian armor wrapping around him like a second skin, helm forming above his brow in a flash of black fire.

"Here in the Underworld," Nyx said, "is the only place we can fight her. Without her domain, she will be greatly weakened and become vulnerable."

Hades nodded grimly. "It will be difficult. But I have already asked Hecate to create a large gate using Herion as the source."

Nyx’s eyes narrowed. "I see. Herion is the city that worshipped the underworld the most. Their faith is more than enough to power a large gate and pull an unwilling primordial down to the depths."

Hades simply smiled.

Underworld is his domain. Here, he is invincible.

Here, even a Primordial like Gaia would have to bow her head and call him king.

And the entity, no matter how ancient, no matter how powerful, would soon learn what it meant to war against the realm of dead.

*

*

*

Above, in the mortal realm, the giants began their march.

Herion was their first destination.

But it would not be their last.

In Gaia’s mutated form, the entity stood on the highest peak in the world, eyes scanning the horizon.

Thousands of monsters writhed behind her. Some had once been animals. Others were corrupted demigods. A few were even twisted remnants of ancient civilizations that should have remained buried.

And in the skies above them, black suns formed, pulsing with endless curses.

The entity raised Gaia’s corrupted arms.

The clouds parted.

And the end of the world began.