"Oh, really?"
Ares replied with a smile,
"I, on the other hand, think that if someone makes a resurrection potion with their own skill, why shouldn't they be allowed to use it?"
"This resurrection potion should not appear in this world, at least, not in this era."
Hades looked at Ares seriously and replied,
"Nowadays, on Earth, those with power can act wantonly, and those favored by the gods can run rampant. For them, Death is the only thing to fear, because after Death, their lives will be taken over by the Underworld, and the sins they committed will be settled in the Underworld. It is precisely because of this that they will revere Death and life, so as not to do whatever they want. Therefore, as Hades, I must ensure the absoluteness of Death for all lives. Ares, you are so smart, I think you must know what I mean."
"Uncle, you flatter me too much."
Ares replied with a chuckle,
"Those gods on Olympus secretly say I'm a fool, an arrogant idiot. If you're looking for someone smart, you should go find my sister."
"Athena is certainly smart, but she is too self-righteous."
Hades said,
"She was the one who provided Asclepius with materials and inspiration for this resurrection elixir behind the scenes. Because of this, this resurrection elixir, strictly speaking, was not something Asclepius developed himself. It is not yet time for it to be mastered by humans."
"Hmm, you have a point."
Ares finally spoke seriously at this moment,
"On this point, I agree with you."
"Don't flatter me either. This is just a small contribution I can make to the world as the King of the Underworld."
Hades shook his head,
"It's time to talk about why I came to see you, Ares. Someone will come to you next. Don't agree to his request… Look, he's coming."
Ares looked up and saw a handsome young man, refined and gentle, carrying a seven-string lyre, carefully bypassing his military camp and walking towards the Hell Gate.
Ares knew this person. He was once a musician on the Argo, the son of Apollo and Calliope, one of the nine Muses, the light of male Greece, Orpheus, son of Apollo.
Noticing his expression and actions, Ares had already guessed what he was coming to do. At this moment, Orpheus also discovered Ares and Hades standing in front of the Hell Gate. Seeing the two gods quietly looking at him, Orpheus, as son of a god, knew that he had been exposed, so he could only bite the bullet and come to the Hell Gate, bowing to the two gods.
"Great Ares, Hades, it is an honor to meet you both."
"Orpheus." Ares looked at him and asked, "Why did you come to the Underworld for no reason? Is it to seek refuge?"
"This…" Orpheus looked at Hades beside Ares. The aura of Death surrounding Hades clearly made him feel very uncomfortable. He took a step back, then cleared his throat and actually began to play his seven-string lyre.
As his mournful music slowly began to play, Orpheus began to sing before Ares and Hades in the tone of a bard:
"Oh, great ruler of the Underworld, please grant my plea, please grace me by listening to my wish! I have come to you for my beloved. She brought me joy and laughter for only a few days before being bitten by a poisonous snake, and her youthful years returned to the netherworld. Behold, I must endure this immeasurable pain! As a man, I have struggled for years, but love has torn my heart, I cannot live without Eurydice. I implore you, Hades, fearsome sacred god of the Underworld. In this place of terror, in this silent wilderness of your domain: please return her, my beloved, to me! Grant her freedom, let her prematurely withered life regain its youth!"
Although the lyrics were improvised, Orpheus, as the son of two music gods, indeed possessed astonishing mastery in music. Unlike his brother Asclepius, because he was born to Apollo and a Muse, he was considered a pure deity, and thus his musical influence was immense. Many souls who had died on Earth and came here, preparing to pass through the Hell Gate, stood still and began to weep upon hearing Orpheus's performance.
Ares, the Ares without blood or tears, felt fine. Although Orpheus sang very movingly and sadly, due to differing perspectives, he didn't feel that Orpheus was particularly miserable. He merely frowned and glanced in the direction of his garrison, somewhat worried that his army would be affected by Orpheus's song.
Orpheus saw Ares looking at him expressionlessly, knowing that his music had failed to move this rock-like Ares. He took a breath, preparing to play another song, but at that moment, Ares raised his hand to stop him.
"My army is stationed here, stop singing!"
The Ares reprimanded him,
"If you affect my army's morale, I'll throw you into the River Styx!"
Orpheus immediately shut up, but at this moment, Ares suddenly heard Hades sigh behind him. He turned his head in surprise and found Hades had turned his back, lowering his head, doing something unknown. Ares also heard Hades make a few strange sounds, sounding like he was sniffing.
After a while, Hades raised his head with a normal expression, turned back, and then pointed at Orpheus, speaking to Ares:
"Ares, help me refuse him."
Ares looked at his serious uncle somewhat speechlessly. Although Hades concealed it well, as a professional actor, Ares still noticed some clues.
Hades's eyes were slightly red, clearly showing that he had just shed tears.
Ares sighed, never expecting that Hades, who was rumored to be heartless and ruthless, had such a soft spot deep down.
He also knew why Hades had come to him. Clearly, Hades knew he couldn't cope with Orpheus's pleas and was afraid of breaking the iron rule between life and Death due to his softheartedness. That's why he came to his heartless and tearless grand-nephew, hoping he would play the villain and make Orpheus retreat in the face of difficulty.
Ares thought for a moment, then also put on a stern face and looked at Orpheus, summarizing for him:
"So, your wife was bitten to Death by a poisonous snake, you've had no nightlife these past few years, lived an empty, lonely, and cold existence, and you're unwilling to find other women, so you came to beg Hades, hoping he'll return your deceased wife to you?"
Although Orpheus felt that Ares's words were a bit strange, he still nodded.
"Then I advise you to give up."
Ares shook his head,
"There are only two ways for you to see your wife. The first is for you to die and go to the Underworld to be with her."
"And the second?" Orpheus asked.
"The second is for you to beat me and Hades here."
Ares pointed to the ground,
"If you win, we'll let your wife go back."