In Oceanus's palace, the Titan of the world-sea sat deep in thought. Oceanus knelt before him, delivering his report.
"The Underworld realm has been reborn as a completely independent dimension, my lord. The reincarnation cycle is established, and all wandering souls are being drawn into it."
Oceanus stroked his beard, his mind racing. A complete, independent Underworld was a variable he had not fully accounted for. This is problematic. The Underworld realm has become a completely new variable. If things do not go as I have speculated, then I fear my dream is in danger.
"Hmm. Anything else?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
"None, my lord."
Oceanus's gaze sharpened. "Oceanus, you will accompany Poseidon. Do not join the war directly. Your task is to spread damaging false rumors about the Underworld and Hades. I want them hated by the entire world."
"As you wish, my lord." Oceanus bowed and departed.
Alone, Oceanus allowed himself a calculating smile. With this, the Underworld will have no allies in the upper realms. Isolating them now will make them easier to manipulate—or crush—later. Now, I can only wait and see if events unfold as I have foreseen.
---
A tropical island, once a paradise of turquoise waters and white sand, was now an armed camp. The sunny sky darkened in an instant, turning stormy and thunderous. Great ships descended from the clouds, their hulls scraping onto the shore as giant eagles and gryphons circled overhead.
Zeus, clad in silver armor and holding a long spear, stood at the prow of the lead ship. His army disembarked: humans led by their emperors, Titans of the sky realm, divine beasts, and nature spirits, all clad in bronze and steel.
Suddenly, the sea itself roared in response. The tides rose violently, and from the depths, Poseidon's army emerged. A colossal leviathan, followed by whales and megalodons, rode the raging waves. Poseidon, in golden armor and holding his trident, rode the leviathan. Behind him, legions of merfolk and sea beasts mounted their aquatic steeds.
The two armies flowed onto the island like opposing tides—Zeus's forces a storm of bronze and wings, Poseidon's a surge of scales and primal power. They established two distinct, bustling camps.
Zeus and Poseidon met in the center, their handshake anything but friendly. "Long time no see, Zeus," Poseidon said, his voice dripping with competitive charm.
"Likewise, Poseidon," Zeus replied, his smile not reaching his eyes.
This was not a simple greeting between siblings, but a competition between two who coveted the same throne. The very air between them crackled. Invisible waves of oceanic pressure from Poseidon met the electrified, stormy aura of Zeus, creating a shimmering, turbulent barrier.
Metis watched from a distance and sighed. By the primordials, they're like children. If I don't stop them, they'll exhaust themselves before the battle even begins.
She strode forward, interrupting the silent contest. "Zeus, Poseidon. Your eldest brother has not yet arrived."
Both brothers pulled back their auras, the tension momentarily broken. "You are right. Hades is still missing," Zeus said, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. Where is that coward hiding?
Poseidon remained silent, but his own thoughts raced. Strange. Hades vanished after escaping Cronus. And now these vile rumors about him and his realm spread like a plague...
As if on cue, a wide portal tore open in the air. From it marched a legion of 3,000 soldiers, riding spectral horses clad in ethereal barding. The soldiers wore sleek black armor trimmed with gold, with sharp edges, spiked pauldrons, and intricate designs. Black capes flowed from their shoulders, bearing a sigil of a rising phoenix and crescent moon. Some had wings or tails, markers of their demonic or angelic heritage.
Julie rode at the front, Mia at her side. Julie removed her helmet, her gaze cool and assessing as it swept over Zeus and Poseidon. "Well met, Lord Zeus, Lord Poseidon. I am Julie, general of the Obsidian Legion."
Zeus's lip curled. Three thousand? Against the legions of Othrys? It was a paltry offering, an insult. His aura flared, a wave of divine pressure meant to force a kneel. "Where is Hades?"
Julie's hand, which had been resting on her thigh, closed around a hidden obsidian stone—a gift from Lord Hades for this exact situation. In response, a different kind of pressure erupted from her—not divine, but the iron-cold aura of a thousand battlefields, of endings and finality. It did not clash with his aura; it simply refused to be dominated.
"Forgive me, Lord Zeus," she said, her voice unwavering. "But Lord Hades is occupied with stabilizing the new Underworld realm."
"What!?" Zeus barked, his eyes narrowing. "Does he consider his realm more important than this war?"
Julie offered no further explanation, her face an impassive mask.
"Hmph. Go guard the western perimeter," Zeus commanded, annoyed by her defiance. Let's see how high her nose is when she faces the full might of Othrys head-on.
"Forgive me, Lord Zeus. We are not obliged to follow your orders." Julie's reply was flat, final. "We will take our leave and establish our camp." With that, she led her legion to the southern part of the island.
Once they were away, Aniya rode up beside Julie, her voice a worried whisper. "Julie, wasn't that too much? He is Lord Zeus, the same level as Lord Hades and Lady Hecate."
Julie secured her helmet. "His hands are tied. To secure his throne, he needs consensus. He's playing the part of a benevolent leader now; attacking an ally would shatter that image and make an enemy of the entire Underworld." She turned in her saddle to address her officers. "Listen! From this moment, this war is not just against the enemy, but also between allies. They will try to insult you, your lord, and your family. Let their words wash over you. They will try to dominate us by power or authority. Do not be fazed. Remember who your superior is, and where your loyalty lies. Is that understood?!"
"YES, GENERAL!" the legion roared in unison.
---
That night, in a command tent, Zeus, Poseidon, Metis, and Prometheus gathered around a map spread on a table. One chair remained conspicuously empty.
Prometheus leaned over the parchment, using a stylus to tap four key points. "Mount Othrys is a fortress, guarded by the four pillars of Cronus: Atlas to the north, Iapetus to the south, Koios to the west, and Krios to the east." He placed pillar models on each point. "But they are not our only obstacles. Here," he said, placing two small statues in the center, "we have Hyperion, the third strongest Titan, and Pallas, Cronus's brilliant military advisor. A full-frontal assault would be a slaughter. I advise we begin with probing attacks to draw out their forces and lock the cardinal Titans into separate battles, preventing them from supporting each other."
"I agree with this plan," Poseidon stated.
"As do I," Zeus added, though his eyes kept drifting to the empty seat. He clapped his hands, summoning a servant. "Send a messenger to the Underworld. Summon Hades. Now."
Once Zeus and Poseidon had left, Prometheus let out a long, weary sigh. "How in the world are those two meant to be leaders? It makes me question my own decision to support them."
Metis fixed him with a displeased gaze. "Mind your tongue, Prometheus. You are speaking to Zeus's wife."
Prometheus offered a wry smile. "Really? You're saying that to me? The one who knows who truly pulls the strings? You can drop the act, Metis. There's no one here to perform for."
A slow smile spread across Metis's face as she abandoned her pretense. "You are right, as always. They are both woefully unprepared for kingship. They don't understand that a king's work happens not just on the battlefield, but in the minds of his followers."
Prometheus nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "And what is your assessment of the third brother? Hades, King of the Underworld. Is he capable of sitting on that throne?"
"I don't know," Metis admitted. "I only saw him once. But today, when I saw his legion... I saw a difference. They are disciplined, confident, and carry a solid, unshakable pride. They may only be three thousand, but their quality surpasses a hundred thousand of what we have here."
"Hmm," Prometheus mused. "You are right."