A new notification flashed in Hades's mind.
[Time: 48min SSA]
[10000 soul shards to set up your domain here Yes/No]
[You killed Korios, previous owner of this domain; price halved by 90%]
[Spend 1,000 soul shards to set up your domain here? Yes/No]
"Ten thousand?" Hades exclaimed. "This domain must cost a fortune. The cave, a rural area, only cost 2,000. But Baros Chasm is surrounded by other domains." A stream of joy ran through him at the discount.
"Yes," Hades selected.
Immediately, a deep rumble echoed through the chasm as the sky above Baros Chasm began to crackle with thunder. Dark clouds swirled, growing darker and darker until the atmosphere was swallowed by a suffocating pitch blackness. It wasn't just night in Baros Chasm; darkness itself was the light.
[Transformation Started...]
[Transformation Completed]
[Congratulations! Your domain is ready.]
[You are inside your domain. All amplifications are activated.]
[Name: Domain]
[Type: Territory]
[Effects: Amplifications]
[Attributes: None]
[Attack: None]
[Defence: Repel]
[Shield: 100]
[Remark: Congratulations! Now you have your own home]
[Repel: Automatically Repel other energies (subject to Spirit and Divinity Authentication]
Hades felt a sense of home he had never known. The runes on his staff flickered with golden light. He could feel the mountains of Baros Chasm being slowly consumed by the darkness, knowing that in time, they would be gone.
Another notification appeared, reminding him of the stakes.
[You will be given missions with significant rewards.]
[Failing missions is punishable by death as the highest consequence.]
[Refusal to accept new missions for a long time is punishable by death.]
"I better start now then," Hades decided.
[Congratulations! You can now start your first mission. Accept mission? Yes/No]
"Yes," he selected.
[Selecting First Mission...]
[First Mission Selected]
[Background: You have shown the Titans you are worthy of the name Hades the Conqueror, but in the process, you killed Korios, a descendant of the Grandtitan Themista. The Titans have sworn to take their revenge.]
[Main Mission: Survive 30 days under Themista's wrath.]
[Note: This is your first mission. You can fail the main mission, but you must pay 1,000 soul shards as a penalty. If you don't have enough soul shards, the system will deduct from your inventory. If your inventory is insufficient, you will die.]
The harshness of the system hit Hades. It was here to help him dominate, but it wouldn't just give; he had to prove he was worthy.
"Themista's wrath," Hades pondered. Themista was a Grandtitan under the Great Titaness Themis. He had countless Titans under his control, most of them older than Hades. Korios was one of the weakest, yet still a direct descendant. Hades sighed, understanding the revenge.
"Shit," Hades cursed. He realized that Baros Chasm was located under Themista's territory, surrounded by Titans and domains under his control. This was a great disadvantage. If he was unable to defend his new domain, he might lose it and everything he had gained.
"I have to increase my domain's defense," he concluded. He opened the market, hoping to buy an upgrade.
[Market is empty. Complete missions to spawn items in the market.]
A loud BOOM! interrupted his thoughts. Messages flooded his vision.
[Your Domain is being attacked.]
[Rock Missile attack received; Average Damage Dealt; Attack Mitigated; 0 damage received.]
[Shield HP: 100.]
[Rock Missile attack received; Average Damage Dealt; Attack Mitigated; 0 damage received.]
The messages spammed him until one finally changed.
[Rock Missile attack received; Average Damage Dealt; Attack Mitigated; 1 damage received.]
[Shield HP: 99.]
Hades knew he had to intervene or his shield would be gone in no time. With a thought, he sent Cerberus out of the domain, releasing one of his tail snakes to track and poison the attackers. Hades grabbed his staff and walked out of the domain's boundary.
[You are outside your domain. Amplification paused.]
"HADES!" a masculine voice screamed. The man, a Titan, was standing on a mountain in the next domain, forming rock out of thin air and launching it into Hades's domain. "Is it not enough that you took Korios's life? You want his domain, too?"
Hades remained silent, sizing the man up.
"This whole place belongs to Themista the Grandtitan," the man said. "You sons of Cronus should set your domain somewhere else."
"If you want Baros Chasm, you'll have to fight me for it," Hades said, a cold smile on his lips.
The man's veins bulged in his head. He took a step off the mountain cliff, but a rock materialized in the air, holding him back. The man stopped at the border of his domain and formed another rock in his hand. This one was different—bigger, stronger, and glowing red like fire.
"Aaargh!" he screamed, throwing the rock at Hades.
The missile was fast, but with his SSS agility, Hades simply moved aside. The rock flew past him and slammed into his domain's shield.
[Rock Missile attack received; Powerful Damage Dealt; 2 damage received.]
[Shield HP: 95.]
"Is that all you've got?" Hades taunted. Having lived in fear his whole life, provoking his attackers until Zeus came to his aid was something he was good at. "You think your petty attacks can hurt me? Cerberus's teeth are enough to crush your brother's head... INTO PIECES!" Hades emphasized.
The man's eyes glowed even deeper. He raised his hand, and two rocks in his domain burst into flames. The fiery lava then flew to his hands, forming a glowing sword. "If you dare, come here and fight me!" the man dared.
Hades was silent for a moment before a smile curled up his face. "Challenge accepted."