Reborn As Hades In Olympus

"Hades," he said, the name dripping with disdain. "At last, you've come."

"I have," I said evenly, stepping forward. "You've been tearing at the fabric of my realm, spreading chaos among its people. Who are you, and what do you want?"

The figure's shifting stopped, solidifying into a humanoid form cloaked in darkness. "I am Erethon, born of the void that existed before your precious Olympians carved their throne from the chaos. My purpose is simple: to unmake the order you cling to so desperately."

"Unmake?" I asked, my voice hardening. "Do you think this is justice? The souls you've corrupted, the lives you've destroyed—they deserved peace, not chaos."

Erethon's laughter was hollow, echoing across the chamber. "Peace? What peace? The Underworld is a lie, Hades. You do not rule over justice; you preside over torment. The souls in your care are chained to their regrets, their dreams lost to your order. I offer them freedom."

"Freedom?" I repeated, anger sparking within me. "What you've given them is madness. You've twisted their minds, turned them into puppets for your own designs."

"Because madness is truth," Erethon hissed, stepping closer. His form loomed, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the light. "I existed before time and will endure long after your reign crumbles. Your order is a cage. I am here to break it."

The weight of his words struck something deep within me, a shadow of doubt I hadn't realized I carried. For centuries, I had believed in the necessity of my role—the balance I maintained. Yet, Erethon's accusations touched on fears I rarely allowed myself to confront.

"You speak of freedom," I said, my voice low, "but you offer destruction. You claim to care for the souls of the dead, yet you use them to fuel your ambition. You are not their savior, Erethon. You are their tormentor."

Erethon paused, his shifting form flickering like a dying flame. "And what are you, Hades? Their protector? Their jailer? Do you ever wonder if they curse your name in the darkness?"

The question struck like a dagger. For a moment, I faltered, the faces of countless souls flashing before my eyes—some grateful, others resentful. Erethon saw my hesitation and pressed on.

"You've bound yourself to this role, convinced it gives you purpose. But you are just as much a prisoner as they are. Do you not feel it, Hades? The weight of the chains you've forged for yourself?"

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I feel it," I admitted, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. "But I choose to bear it, because without order, there is only chaos. Without balance, there is only suffering."

Erethon's form darkened, his eyes burning with fury. "Then you are a fool, blind to the truth. But no matter. Your time is over, Hades. Your Underworld will crumble, and from its ashes, I will rise."

With a roar, Erethon unleashed a wave of energy that surged toward me, dark tendrils twisting through the air. I raised my hand, summoning the full force of my power. The ground trembled as the two forces collided, sending shockwaves rippling through Tartarus.

The battle was unlike anything I had faced before, a clash of wills that shook the foundations of the Underworld. Erethon fought with a fury that seemed endless, his attacks relentless and unpredictable. But as the fight raged on, I began to see the cracks in his armor—the moments of hesitation, the flashes of uncertainty.

"You speak of freedom," I said, dodging a strike and countering with a burst of energy. "But you are bound by your own hatred. You are no different from the gods you despise."

Erethon snarled, his form flickering. "Do not compare me to them!"

"Why not?" I pressed, stepping closer. "You claim to reject their order, yet you mimic their tyranny. You destroy without thought, without care for those you claim to free. You are not a savior, Erethon. You are a shadow of the chaos you were born from."

His roar echoed through the chamber, but I saw the truth in his reaction—a crack in the facade he had built around himself. With one final surge of power, I struck, the force of my attack driving him to his knees.

Erethon's form flickered violently, his voice a broken whisper. "You think you've won, Hades. But you've only delayed the inevitable. The cracks will spread, and your order will fall."

I stood over him, my chest heaving. "Perhaps," I said quietly. "But it won't be today."

With a final burst of energy, Erethon dissolved into the shadows, his form dissipating like smoke. The chamber fell silent, the oppressive energy lifting as the cracks in the walls began to mend themselves.

When I returned to the others, their relief was palpable. Talos stepped forward, her gaze searching mine. "Is it done?"

"For now," I said, the weight of the encounter settling over me.

Hecate's eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. "He's not gone, is he?"

I shook my head. "No. But his power is weakened. It will take time for him to recover."

Arman let out a low whistle. "So, what now? Do we just wait for him to come back?"

"No," I said firmly. "We prepare. The Underworld has faced many threats, but this... This was different. Erethon's words were twisted, but there was truth in them. The cracks in Tartarus weren't just physical. They were cracks in the foundation of what we've built."

Hecate stepped forward, her voice steady. "And how do you plan to fix that?"

I met her gaze, the weight of my decision heavy in my chest. "By stepping aside."

The silence that followed was deafening. Talos looked at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You can't be serious."

"I am," I said quietly. "Hecate, the Underworld needs someone who can adapt, someone who can see beyond the structures I've spent centuries building. You've proven time and again that you understand this realm in ways I cannot."

Hecate's expression softened, though her surprise was evident. "Hades..."

"This is not defeat," I said, cutting her off. "This is evolution. The Underworld will endure because of the bonds we've forged, the lessons we've learned. And I trust you, Hecate, to lead it into a future where those bonds only grow stronger."

Her silence spoke volumes, but the faint nod that followed was all the answer I needed.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself a moment of peace. Erethon's shadow still loomed, but I knew we would face it together, stronger than before.