Reborn As Hades In Olympus

Ch. 190: Riot

The tension in the Underworld was palpable as we emerged from Tartarus. The investigation of the cracks had yielded more questions than answers. Ancient sigils pulsed faintly along the fissures, humming with primal energy that defied all logic and magic we knew. The revelation that someone—or something—was attempting to use Tartarus as a gateway weighed heavily on us as we crossed the boundary back into the Underworld's cities.

Arman, his serpentine features etched with worry, had been uncharacteristically quiet. Talos walked ahead, her mechanical frame glinting in the dim light, every step deliberate as if each carried the weight of her thoughts. Hecate, ever the watchful guardian, stayed close by, her staff radiating a faint, protective glow. And Charon trailed behind, his skeletal form a silent reminder of the Underworld's timelessness.

The city we entered was not the one we had left.

The usually somber streets of Asphodel were alive with chaos. Citizens—spectral shades and physical denizens alike—thrashed and screamed as tendrils of the same primal energy we'd seen in Tartarus coiled through the air like smoke. Buildings that had stood for millennia now burned with unnatural flames, and shadows danced unnaturally in every corner.

Hecate's staff flared brighter. "This isn't just unrest," she said, her voice taut. "This is possession."

Arman hissed in agreement, his serpentine tongue flicking the air. "The energy has spread. Whatever it is, it's feeding off them."

"They've fallen under its influence," Talos added grimly. "We need to act fast."

Charon's raspy voice cut through the chaos. "They won't stop until the energy is extinguished."

I surveyed the destruction, fury bubbling beneath the surface. My realm, my responsibility, was being torn apart by a force I had failed to contain. The weight of failure threatened to crush me, but there was no time for self-pity.

"Arman," I barked, "help secure the outer gates. We can't risk this spreading beyond Asphodel."

He nodded, his coils already shifting as he sped toward the gates.

"Talos," I continued, "find the source of this energy. Hecate, you and I will contain the riot."

"And me?" Charon rasped, his skeletal face unreadable.

I turned to him, my voice steady despite the chaos. "Prepare the ferries. If we can't stop this, we may need to evacuate the unaffected."

Charon nodded solemnly, disappearing into the mist toward the River Styx.

Hecate and I plunged into the heart of the city, where the primal energy was thickest. The air crackled with a malevolent force that made it difficult to breathe. Shades lashed out wildly, their ethereal forms twisting unnaturally as the energy corrupted them. Mortals and immortals alike fell under its influence, their eyes glowing with an eerie light.

Hecate's voice was sharp and commanding as she raised her staff. "In the name of the crossroads, I command thee, BE STILL!"

A wave of light erupted from her staff, pushing back the tendrils of energy momentarily and stunning the crowd. But it wasn't enough. The primal force surged back stronger, twisting her spell and forcing us to retreat.

"Hecate!" I shouted, pulling her back as a tendril shot toward her. It grazed her arm, leaving a faint scorch mark that pulsed with dark energy.

"I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth, though the pain was evident in her eyes.

Talos's voice crackled through the communication orb she'd handed me earlier. "Hades, I've located the source. It's a nexus point in the central plaza. Whatever's fueling this is drawing power from the fissures in Tartarus."

"Hold your position," I ordered. "We're coming to you."

Talos next words caused my expression to darken, "I have a feeling that this might have been a tricky to divert out attention. The city was the main objective."

The central plaza was a scene from a nightmare. The nexus point Talos had identified was a swirling vortex of primal energy, tendrils radiating outward and lashing indiscriminately at everything in sight. Talos stood on the edge of the chaos, her bronze form battered but unyielding as she deflected the energy with her shield.

Hecate raised her staff again, her face pale but determined. "I can suppress it, but I'll need time."

I glanced at Talos, who nodded. "We'll buy you that time."

The two of us waded into the fray, cutting through the possessed with ruthless efficiency. Talos's mechanical precision was a marvel, every strike calculated to incapacitate without causing unnecessary harm. I relied on my raw power, summoning barriers of obsidian to shield us from the energy's attacks.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Hecate began to chant, her voice rising above the din. The light from her staff intensified, forming a dome around the nexus. The primal energy fought back viciously, lashing out and shattering part of the barrier.

"Keep going!" I shouted, summoning another wall to shield her.

Talos's voice was steady despite the chaos. "We can't hold this forever, Hades."

Hecate's chanting reached a crescendo, her entire body glowing with a radiant light that seemed to burn away the shadows. With a final, deafening cry, she plunged her staff into the ground. A shockwave of light erupted from the nexus, obliterating the primal energy and restoring calm to the city.

The silence that followed was almost deafening. The once-possessed citizens collapsed where they stood, dazed but alive. The city was in ruins, but the immediate threat had passed.

Hecate swayed on her feet, her face ashen. I caught her before she could fall, steadying her as she leaned heavily against me.

"You did it," I said quietly.

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, exhaustion etched into every line of her face. "We did it."

Talos approached, her armor scorched but her expression resolute. "The nexus is gone, but the damage will take time to repair."

Charon and Arman arrived shortly after, both looking worse for wear but unharmed. The group gathered in the plaza, the weight of the day pressing heavily on all of us.

"I underestimated the scope of this threat," I admitted, my voice heavy with regret. "And you've all borne the cost of my failure."

Hecate shook her head, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "This isn't your burden alone, Hades. We face this together."

Her words struck a chord in me, a realization I had been resisting for far too long. The Underworld was more than just a kingdom—it was a shared responsibility, one that required more than my solitary efforts.

"I can't do this alone anymore," I said, my voice steady but resolute. "The Underworld needs a ruler who can adapt to the challenges ahead. Someone who understands the balance between light and dark, order and chaos."

Hecate's eyes widened as she realized where I was going. "Hades—"

I held up a hand, silencing her protest. "You've proven time and again that you are the heart of this realm, Hecate. Its protector, its guide. It's time I relinquish my role as ruler to someone who can truly lead it into the future."

The group fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Talos's expression was unreadable, while Charon simply nodded, his acceptance implicit. Painful to admit he seemed to believe she could do a better job than I could.

Hecate stared at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and determination. "If this is what you truly believe, then I will honor your decision. But know this, Hades— I won't let you walk away from this completely. The Underworld is as much a part of you as you are of it."

A faint smile tugged at my lips. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Remember the only reason why I ever came to this place was because I admired you." She said in a low tone, no one aside from me could hear it.

As the group began to disperse, the enormity of what lay ahead settled over me. The cracks in Tartarus were just the beginning, and the primal energy's influence was far from eradicated.

With Hecate at the helm and the unwavering support of my allies, the Underworld would endure.

And as I stepped back into the shadows, I knew my role was far from over.

Experience tales at empire

The silence lingered as I walked through the wreckage of the central plaza, watching as the Underworld's citizens stirred from their stupor. Shades gathered in small clusters, dazed but alive, their eyes searching for hope amid the ruins. It was a reminder of why I had ruled for so long—not for power, but for them, the souls who depended on me to maintain balance.

Hecate stood at the edge of the plaza, her staff planted firmly in the ground as if anchoring her resolve. I approached her one last time. "The Underworld is in safe hands with you, Hecate. I trust you to rebuild it."

Her gaze softened, but her determination remained. "And you, Hades? What will you do?"

I glanced toward the horizon where the River Styx shimmered faintly. "There's still work to be done. The cracks in Tartarus are a threat I can't ignore, and I'll face it from the shadows."

She nodded, understanding the weight of my words. Together, we turned to face the Underworld, a kingdom poised for change and redemption.