The God of Underworld
Chapter 137 - 36

Chapter 137: Chapter 36

Overworld.

Each Olympian, wherever they stood — on shattered mountaintops, storm-ridden seas, or blood-stained plains — paused as the mist brushed against them.

Although the younger gods became extremely wary, Zeus and Poseidon have already realized who this mist belong to.

During the Titanomachy, the two of them also received messages from someone who owned these mists.

But this time, there was no figure that stepped out to deliver message. Instead, from within the mist dropped a single letter, sealed with the sigil of the Underworld.

Astraea, standing alone amid the ruins of an ancient temple, picked up the letter with narrowed eyes.

She opened it.

The letter was short and concise. It was Hades ordering the Olympians to head straight to Herion at once. There is something going on with Gaia, and everything will be explained once there.

That was all it says, but the gravity in the words made her bones hum. She burned the parchment and took to the skies, her sword already glowing with the light of her divinity.

All across the world, Olympians and their champions followed.

*

*

*

In the ruins of Olympus, Zeus scoffed as he read the letter, static dancing on his shoulders.

"How dare he order me, the King of—" he began, then stopped.

He knew. Despite all his pride and arrogance, he knew how powerful his older brother was.

If he ordered them to gather, then surely things are far more troublesome than it seems.

With a growl, he took to the skies, thunder rumbling behind him.

Poseidon, holding the letter in one hand as waves crashed behind him, simply frowned.

"Hades, you piece of rotten corpse, how dare you order me..." he muttered. "You better have a good plan, or I will murder you."

With a sweep of his trident, he vanished into the stormy winds, flying toward Herion.

*

*

*

Above Herion, dark clouds churned.

Erebus, cloaked in living shadow, hovered silently. His presence made the sky dimmer, and even the sun itself seemed to falter behind his figure.

Around him, the first of the Olympians began to arrive, accompanied by their mortal champions and divine allies.

Hestia appeared in a gentle burst of flame, followed by Themis, clad in law and starlight.

Behind them came Astraea, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, and Ares, each bearing expressions of dread, curiosity, or scorn.

Then came Zeus and Poseidon, and both of them froze the moment their eyes landed on Erebus.

"Is that—" Poseidon began.

"A Primordial," Zeus finished grimly.

The raw power emanating from Erebus was undeniable. It was the kind of strength that predated Olympus itself.

The darkness of creation’s first breath.

From that sheer oppressive force and the cold, endless void behind his gaze, they needed no confirmation.

Only Erebus, the Primordial of Darkness, could wield such weight.

"I will be helping in this battle," Erebus said without ceremony. "Follow me."

They flew in silence, shadows and divine light streaking across the sky as they descended into Herion’s Temple of Accord — a grand, domed structure now fortified and surrounded by legions of mortal soldiers and Sentinels.

The City Lord had already given full authority to the gods. He knew better than to interfere when Olympians and Primordials convened.

And also since it was ordered by the God of the Dead that they worshipped.

*

*

*

Inside the main hall, a long stone table carved with ancient runes stood at the center.

Around it were chairs of various sizes — fitting for both gods and mortals alike. A magical fire crackled at the center of the chamber, casting a soft glow over the grim expressions of war.

Erebus took the seat at the far end and motioned for the rest to sit. None questioned him.

Even Zeus.

When they were settled, Erebus leaned forward.

"First of all," Erebus started, "I will tell you what we’re facing—"

Just like that, Erebus told them all about the entity.

How they are fragments of incomprehensible existence from the "outside" that eats and devours universe as nourishment.

He told them about how this entity has been hiding for years, trying to advance the world’s civilization faster than intended to ripen it up.

He told them how it hid within the soul of a giant and how it corrupted Gaia and the giants, and how it will now advance to Herion to devour it.

And how it’s basically impossible to defeat her, with the earth being her domain which makes her invincible.

"So you see, the world is no longer facing a giant or Gaia alone," he said, his voice like a thousand whispers echoing from the edge of existence. "But an entity that far surpasses our cognition."

A ripple of tension passed across the table.

"It will not stop. It will devour the entire cosmos; gods, mortals, stars, realms, everything that exists. By then, we will be nothing more than a piece of history."

Artemis clenched her fists. Apollo looked down at the table, silent.

"... but, how?" Asked Athena. "You said that Primordials are practically invulnerable in their domain. The entire world is Gaia’s domain, isn’t she basically invincible?"

"It is true that we cannot kill her directly while she is in her own domain," Erebus explained. "That’s why Hades planned on bringing her down to Underworld."

Ares leaned forward. "And how do you propose we force a Primordial to go anywhere she doesn’t want to?"

Erebus smirked faintly. "Hecate will construct a gate — a massive portal to the Underworld — using Herion’s faith as the source. All we need to do is beat Gaia down and throw her towards the gate."

"So we still have to fight her." Apollo shivered.

Ares raised an eyebrow. "She can do that? How?"

Erebus shrugged. "Magic."

A few gods snorted softly. It was the first moment of levity in the entire room.

"Besides, she’s not doing it alone," Erebus added, more serious now. "The Twelve Patrons will reinforce the spell, and the city’s leyline will serve as the core. The gate will open the moment Gaia steps into the trap."

Athena frowned. "So we must lure her here."

"Precisely," Erebus said. "That is your task — all of you. Distract her, guide her rage, stall her advances. Once she’s within range, we activate the gate."

Zeus leaned back in his seat. "And once she’s in the Underworld?"

Erebus’ eyes narrowed. "Then she’ll die."

Poseidon crossed his arms. "You’re awfully confident. Are you strong?"

"Yep. But I’m not talking about myself." Erebus replied flatly. "Hades and Nyx will be the one to end her."

The Olympians all collectively sighed in relief.

Poseidon, Zeus and Hestia all knew Hades’ power. And despite Zeus and Poseidon’s dislike of their older brother, they are confident in his strength.

In their minds, Hades has always been the strongest.

And although the younger gods don’t know the power of Hades, they have witnessed how the giants have retreated with just a mere presence of Nyx.

Along with tales of Hades’ power, they knew the two would surely be able to pull this off.

"So for now, prepare yourselves. This isn’t a battle to defend your pride or your throne, but a battle to protect all of existence." Said Erebus as he stood up.

With that, he left the place.

As the meeting concluded, a heavy silence lingered in the chambernot from the weight of what was to come.

One by one, the gods rose, their eyes reflecting firelight and grim resolve.

Outside, the sky above Herion churned with storm and shadow, as if the world itself braced for the war ahead.

In the distance, a low rumble echoed through the earth, it was footsteps echoing like thunder.

Gaia was coming.

And with her, the end.