Side Story – Rebellion of the Underworld (2)
Although I’ve decided to rebel against Zeus, the king of the gods, there are countless obstacles in my way.
First of all, Zeus is incredibly powerful. If Poseidon and I joined forces, we might be able to defeat him, but no one can face Zeus alone and win.
The armies of the underworld, though vast in number, are useless in battles among the three great gods. I need to find another way.
Should I negotiate with Gaia and seek her help instead?
…No, she would certainly demand the release of the Titans imprisoned in Tartarus.
Even if I use all my persuasion, I would at least have to concede to releasing the other Titans, excluding Cronos.
But if all the Titans are freed—not just one or two—it would be impossible for me to control them.
Moreover, I cannot seek the cooperation of Poseidon, who is always coveting Zeus's throne.
If I am to take the throne of the king of the gods and reform Olympus, I must subdue all three great gods, leaving no exceptions.
Even if I overthrow Zeus, conflicts over the sky's divine authority with Poseidon could lead to decades of warfare, causing endless suffering for mortals.
It might be more feasible to use him and then stab him in the back… but I doubt he would fall for it so easily.
The gods of the underworld would mostly side with me if I rebelled. After all, this domain is completely under my control, much like the seas are Poseidon's.
At least here, my authority surpasses even that of the king of the gods. That is a relief.
The only unpredictable element in the underworld is the Hecatoncheires, who guard the entrance to Tartarus.
Though they were cast into Tartarus by Uranus, they were later rescued by Zeus. If they learn of my rebellion, how would they react?
Even though they are isolated in Tartarus and detached from the world, they are still gods.
If they sense signs of war, or if an ally of Zeus informs them during the chaos of battle on Olympus, things could take a turn for the worse.
Even if I succeed in the rebellion, their immense power could cause significant problems.
I need to either persuade them or restrain them before attacking Olympus. Perhaps I should prepare a solid method to convince them.
For now, I must ensure my domain is fully secured.
“Who’s out there?”
“Yes! What do you need, Lord Hades?”
“Gather Thanatos, Charon, the goddess of discord Eris, the goddess of oblivion Lethe, and and all other gods of significant power.”
“Even Charon?”
“Yes. If you tell him I have an urgent matter to discuss, he will understand.”
After the messenger left, I closed my eyes and reviewing my plan.
Rebelling against Zeus will not be easy, but for the sake of the world, I must succeed.
* * *
Not long after, the gods of the underworld gathered in the audience hall.
Thanatos, Hypnos, Morpheus, Moros, Keres, Eris, Lethe, Styx, Charon, and the three Erinyes sisters.
As the gods assembled, an ethereal aura enveloped the audience hall.
“Dear gods, have you all gathered?”
“Hades, I’m swamped with guiding souls to the underworld. Why did you call me? Natural disasters have been occurring in the mortal world lately…”
“Exactly. Even now, the Acheron River must be overflowing with souls.”
Thanatos and Charon grumbled. They were, without a doubt, the busiest gods in the underworld.
But once they hear me out, their reactions may change.
I waved my hand lightly, signaling the attendants to distribute the materials I had prepared.
The documents, carried by the attendants, were handed to the gods.
“Please, take a look at these documents.”
“What’s this? [Statistics of Souls Entering the Underworld]? [List of Atrocities Committed by the Olympian Gods]?”
“Hmm… It’s true that the number of souls entering the underworld has been steadily increasing. Is this connected to Olympus?”
“[The Increase in Souls Retaining Memories After Crossing the River of Forgetfulness]… Ah.”
“I think I see what you’re getting at. The Olympian gods are increasing our workload.”
The materials I prepared detailed the misdeeds of the Olympian gods, focusing on how they had burdened the underworld.
I ensured it highlighted how every petty squabble on Olympus caused hardships for the underworld. This would make my argument persuasive.
Some gods showed irritation or anger, while others sighed heavily.
Sensing that the atmosphere was turning against Olympus, I delivered the final blow.
“Do you all know this? Recently, natural disasters in the mortal world have caused a sharp increase in the number of souls entering the underworld.”
“Indeed, the number of dead has multiplied. I suspected it might have something to do with Olympus…”
“Hephaestus and Ares fought over Aphrodite, and Zeus's infidelity was exposed, resulting in failed mediation. Because of the gods’ disputes, mortals have perished in droves.”
As soon as I said this, an outcry of indignation erupted, filled with frustration and anger.
As I finished speaking, Thanatos erupted with indignation.
"What?! Are you telling me that the reason I haven't been able to sleep lately is because of those youngsters' petty love quarrels?!"
Even Charon and the other gods expressed their incredulity.
The notion that their increased workload stemmed from the trivial squabbles of the Olympian gods was understandably absurd.
"Do they not care about the underworld at all?"
"What is Zeus even doing?"
"Hah! Every day, I go to the mortal realm to deliver sleep, and yet those above the clouds seem utterly blind to what's happening here."
"Sigh... To think that I was the first to take Olympus's side during the Titanomachy, only for things to turn out like this. Was it Hermes who delivered this news?"
The gods murmured amongst themselves, and the words of Styx pierced the air with weight. Have the gods changed so much since then? Or was the war merely a fight for survival from the beginning?
“That’s why I plan to overthrow Zeus and take his place as king of the gods.”
"Hmm-?!"
Their surprised gazes turned toward me as I spoke the words I had carefully prepared in advance. I monitored their reactions closely as I continued.
"How much longer must we of the underworld endure Olympus's whims? The immortal Olympians, including Zeus, must bear the responsibilities of godhood with greater gravity. Reckless actions such as indulging in lust and causing harm to mortals should naturally be condemned."
The gods nodded in agreement, seemingly supportive.
Not a single one appeared displeased or objected to my words.
"I will wage war against Olympus, dethrone Zeus, and become the king of the gods to bring their atrocities under control. I ask for your support."
"Indeed, you'd be a far better ruler than Zeus."
"I agree. That Zeus... ever since he became king of the gods, he hasn't shown a shred of respect to us old-timers."
"I'm on your side."
"Oh my, just look at this! Hoho... Do as you will, Lethe. I'll respect whatever choice you make."
Thanatos, Charon, Lethe, and her mother, the goddess Eris, all expressed their approval.
One by one, the other gods chimed in as well, voicing their support and willingness to join in overthrowing Zeus.
"Thank you, everyone. There's a high likelihood that we'll march on Olympus soon, so please prepare yourselves. And act as if nothing is out of the ordinary so they don't catch on..."
Good. The next step was already clear.
If Zeus cannot be defeated in a head-on confrontation, then I must employ schemes to create unpredictable variables.
To obtain such schemes and ensure their success, I will need audacity—no, I will need unprecedented boldness.
* * *
Mount Caucasus.
The place where the infamous rebel who defied the king of the gods and brought fire to mankind was imprisoned.
Here lay Prometheus, the Titan bound by Hephaestus's chains, enduring the excruciating torment of having his liver devoured daily.
"Grrr...!"
Clatter.
The chains forged by the god of the forge shattered with shocking ease- A single, invisible strike from someone whose presence even a Titan's senses could not detect.
The mind of the Titan of prophecy raced.
There was only one item capable of rendering its user invisible, even to a Titan's perception: the Helm of Darkness, Kynee, the sacred relic of the ruler of the underworld.
And to break the chains of Hephaestus in one blow required immense power.
In that case... Ha! Zeus! The time has come for you to face the consequences of your sins! Even your own brother, whom you should never have made your enemy, has turned his spear against you. Your doom is near!
"Heh... Heheheh. Count me in."
Prometheus, having quickly pieced everything together, stretched his body and spoke.
Then, from the empty air came a low voice.
"...Did you foresee this in a prophecy?"
"No. But if someone came to the mortal realm with the Helm of Darkness to break my chains, there's only one course of action they could possibly take."
Whoosh.
Silence fell as Zeus's sacred eagle descended from the sky, its sharp beak aiming for Prometheus's liver.
Ah, how much suffering had he endured at the hands of that wretched beast?
But Prometheus, now freed from the chains of Hephaestus, was a mighty Titan of prophecy.
A mere divine beast could no longer threaten him.
Snap.
Flap, flap.
The Titan gazed at the struggling eagle in his grasp with vengeful eyes. Then, with a crazed grin, he opened his mouth and began devouring the creature alive.
Crunch. Rip. Chew!
Blood and feathers smeared Prometheus's face as he chewed. His bloodshot eyes turned skyward, glimmering with madness and delight. The Titan of prophecy spoke with conviction, his voice filled with both malice and joy.
"Surely you’ve come to rebel against Zeus, haven’t you, Hades? Lord of the Underworld!"