As I stood before the final orb, its presence radiated unlike any other. It did not pulse with chaos, nor burn with intensity. It simply existed, absolutely and silently.
Its hue was a deep purple, streaked with shadows and ancient symbols that danced like echoes of forgotten oaths.
This was the Underworld—not just death, but rule over death, judgment, and dominion.
The moment I began the awakening, I felt something extraordinary.
All my previous auras, all ten divine domains, began to resonate, swirl, and converge.
Sleep, Death, Soul, Darkness… even Sin and Secrets—
They merged into a newborn aura, regal and whole, suffused with the weight of inevitability, appearing like a purple flame edged with black ash.
This wasn't the aura of a scattered godhood. This was the aura of a ruler—the King of the Underworld.
Suddenly, my vision blurred. I was pulled into an illusion, not of confusion, but of revelation.
Before me stretched an endless realm of twilight. The ground was made of dark, damp soil, and the sky above was not a sky at all, but the rocky, looming underside of the earth itself. A dim, greyish light barely illuminated the place, just enough to see through the thick mist that clung to everything. The air was cold and carried a heavy smell of wet dirt and something long since decayed.
Every so often, faint sounds drifted through the silence—echoes of laughter that twisted into sobs, or whispers that faded before I could understand them.
Something in the mist ahead called to me. I felt a deep pull, a certainty that whatever waited there belonged to me, and no one else could claim it.
I walked forward, slow and steady, each step echoing like fate's own footsteps.
As I moved, the fog slowly thinned, melting away to reveal a massive throne carved from black obsidian and dark, cold-forged iron. It stood solemn and imposing, as if it had been waiting for centuries.
Without hesitation, I sat upon it. The stone was cold against me, but it felt right. This was mine.
The moment my body touched the throne, an eruption of divine power surged through me like a tidal wave.
My godhood ascended.
I was now a Mid-Level God—a true divine lord.
Suddenly, a soft feminine voice rang out, elegant and proud.
"Congratulations, Your Highness… on your ascension."
I turned, startled but composed.
There, kneeling gracefully before me, was a stunning woman—her long black hair flowing like ink, and her violet eyes glowing with mystery and warmth.
She wore flowing robes laced with runes, her presence refined and dignified.
Yet… there was something familiar. Something that connected us beyond logic.
I asked gently, "Thank you. May I know who you are?"
She looked up with a warm smile and bowed her head once more.
"I am Hecate, Goddess of Arcane Magic and your assistant, my King.
I was sent by Lady Nyx to deliver her words."
She stepped forward, opened a parchment, and spoke softly,
"Hades, you are born of Darkness, so to me, you are also like my child.
Do not rush. Do not try to escape now.
Soon, your third brother will trick your father, and when the time comes, you must act.
Use your domain of Invisibility and Secrets to envelop your siblings.
And when the moment is right…
Escape the belly of Cronus."
Her voice faded gently, replaced by the quiet hum of fate moving forward.
I nodded slowly, every word of hers carving itself into my soul.
"Until that day… grow stronger. Shape your throne. The Underworld waits for its King."
And as the illusion began to fade, I looked down at the throne beneath me, now no longer just a vision.
It had become real.
I returned to that fleshy cave, which was lit by the warm light of sacred fire. Then I saw my older sister, Hestia, sleeping in the corner.
I stretched my arms and legs as if awakening from a long and peaceful sleep. My eyes fell on my blackened arms and legs; my fingers had become like the black claws of a beast.
I stared at these changes in my body. I began checking myself and found that my wings had become more glossy and wider, each black feather sharpened. The black haze that drifted from my skin grew denser and more ethereal.
I suddenly felt a little heavy in my head. I touched my head and felt something solid. I freaked out. I quickly created a mirror. In the mirror, I saw that just above my ears, a pair of obsidian, sleek horns had emerged. My canine teeth had grown a little longer.
I now looked more like a demon lord or monster than a god.
I smacked my head in regret, but nothing could be undone.
"Huh… whatever."
Due to the noise, Hestia awoke. She rubbed her eyes. Her eyes widened.
She stood up and stepped forward, her divine flame flickering faintly around her, and said with warmth in her voice,
"Congratulations, little brother… you've truly ascended."
Her tone was cheerful, sincere—but I could feel it.
Behind the praise… lay a flicker of fear.
Not of me as her brother, but of the power I now held. The weight of eleven domains, the throne of the Underworld, and the shadow of primordial darkness that pulsed faintly around me—it was no longer something that could be ignored.
I was no longer the previous weak Hades. I was now a bearer of Darkness, Death, and other divinities. And the king of the underworld realm.
And also, my current appearance was more like a scary monster from a horror movie. She would be scared of me.
Despite all of this, she still treated me as her brother from the heart. Even though she was scared of me, she never showed it on her face. She tried every possible means to ensure I did not feel lonely or isolated.
Seeing that… that quiet courage beneath her calm gaze…
I lowered my head slightly and made a silent vow within my heart:
No matter how far I rise… no matter what darkness surrounds me…
I will always be a shield for her, even if I have to fight primordials or fate.
"Sister, today I am indebted to your kindness. In the future, I will definitely repay it with interest."
Hestia tilted her head. 'What debt? What interest? What is he saying? Did something happen while I slept?'