Rebirth: The God of the Underworld

The opening to Tartarus snapped shut behind us with a deafening crash, the force of it propelling me higher into the skies. Brontes, Briareus, and Cottereus clung to my back, their screams a mixture of terror and exhilaration. I couldn't help but chuckle; their reactions added a touch of humor to what had been a grueling venture. The air whipped past my wings as I soared toward Mount Ida, the landscape below becoming more defined as we neared our destination.

"Hang on tight!" I called over my shoulder, though their grip on my feathers suggested they were taking no chances.

As Mount Ida came into view, I angled downward, the familiar outline of the mountain's peaks rising like sentinels to greet us. "Jump when I say," I shouted. Brontes muttered something that was lost to the wind, but I caught the exasperation in his tone.

When we were close enough, I tilted my body, leveling out just above the ground. "Now!" I commanded.

Briareus and Cottereus leapt first, landing with the grace of warriors despite their immense size. Brontes hesitated, muttering curses under his breath, before finally jumping off. I let the momentum carry me forward, shifting back into my normal form as I landed with a controlled crash beside him.

Stretching, I grinned. "That was fun."

Brontes shot me a glare as he dusted himself off. "Let's never do that again."

I smirked, patting him on the shoulder. "We'll see."

We made our way to the cave, the sound of chatter reaching us long before we arrived. Inside, my siblings and the Cyclopes were gathered. Zeus was in the middle of gesturing wildly as he spoke to one of the Cyclopes, his voice animated.

"I want a weapon I can throw," Zeus was saying, his eyes alight with excitement. "And when it lands, I want it to explode. No, no—not just explode. I want it to unleash pure destruction!"

The Cyclops he was talking to, a stout figure with soot-streaked skin, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Might be possible, but we'll need materials. Something strong. Something… durable."

I stepped forward, reaching into the shadows that clung to me like a second skin. My fingers closed around a familiar weight, and I pulled out a chunk of the Adamantine chain I had taken from Tartarus. With a casual flick of my wrist, I tossed it toward the Cyclops. "Will this work?"

The Cyclops's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face as he caught the chain. "Oh, this will more than work!" he exclaimed, examining the material with practiced hands.

I turned to Brontes, who was still shaking his head from the flight. "By the way, who are the other two?" I gestured toward the Cyclopes.

Brontes nodded toward them. "That's Arges," he said, pointing to the one Zeus was talking to. "And that's Steropes." He indicated another Cyclops, who was a head taller than Brontes and built like a mountain.

"Pleasure to meet you both," I said, inclining my head slightly. "Have they been filled in on the plan?"

Demeter, standing off to the side, muttered something under her breath. "Not exactly. Zeus started demanding weapons before we could explain anything."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Of course he did." Turning to the Cyclopes, I said, "Here's the deal: We're planning to take down Kronos. To do that, we'll need weapons—the finest weapons you can forge. Are you in?"

Arges and Steropes exchanged a glance before nodding. "We're in," Arges said. "But we'll need time. And the rest of those chains."

I reached into the shadows again, pulling out the remaining links and tossing them to the trio. Brontes caught them, and the three Cyclopes immediately began muttering to each other, their excitement palpable. Brontes turned to us. "Give us a few minutes. We'll craft weapons worthy of gods."

With that, the three of them grabbed the chains and vanished deeper into the cave. Moments later, the sound of booming laughter and ringing metal filled the air, accompanied by a surprisingly harmonious song. I chuckled, shaking my head as I found a chair and sank into it. Briareus and Cottereus stood on either side of me, their massive forms casting long shadows across the room.

Kicking my feet up on the table, I allowed myself a moment of rest. It didn't last long.

Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up to see my siblings staring at me expectantly.

Zeus crossed his arms. "What happened in Tartarus? And what happened to Kampe?"

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "Oh, Kampe? She's… gone."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "Gone? Care to elaborate?"

I reached into the shadows, pulling out Kampe's cleaver and tossing it onto the table with a loud clang. The blade gleamed menacingly, its jagged edge still stained with the faint remnants of ichor. "She put up a fight, but I got a lot more than just her cleaver stored in my shadows."

My siblings stared at the weapon, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe.

Zeus cleared his throat again, his gaze shifting to Briareus and Cottereus. "And who are they?"

Before I could answer, Briareus stepped forward, his deep voice reverberating through the cave. "We are servants of Lord Hades."

Cottereus nodded, his tone equally resolute. "He freed us from Tartarus. We owe him our loyalty."

I shrugged, a faint smirk playing on my lips. "There you have it. Rescued them in Tartarus, and they swore loyalty to me. Or something like that."

Poseidon snorted. "Leave it to you to come back with an entourage."

Zeus, on the other hand, didn't look pleased. His jaw tightened as he regarded the two Hecatoncheires, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned his attention back to the cleaver. "You're sure she's gone?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Zeus, if she weren't, do you really think I'd be sitting here with her cleaver and not a scratch on me?"

That seemed to mollify him, though his expression remained wary.

The sounds of laughter and metalwork grew louder, a welcome distraction from the tension. I allowed myself a small smile as I leaned back again, closing my eyes and savoring the moment of relative peace. The battle was far from over, but for now, we were one step closer to victory.

The air grew still as we all sat in the silence left by Brontes and his brothers' retreat. No one spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, but I could feel the weight of my siblings' stares. They weren't questioning me anymore, at least not openly, but I could sense their unease. I didn't blame them; even I was questioning the implications of the power I'd started to uncover.

Brontes' return was heralded by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing from deeper within the cave. He and his brothers carried several containers, their arms laden with the fruits of their labor. The tension in the room shifted as they approached, an undercurrent of excitement crackling through the air.

Brontes set the first wooden container down with a dramatic flourish, clearing his throat as he opened the lid. Inside lay a stunning silver trident, its surface glinting with a metallic sheen that seemed almost alive.

"For Lord Poseidon," Brontes announced, lifting the weapon with both hands. "Crafted from Adamantine and Polymythril Steel, this trident channels the seas themselves. It's unbreakable, conducts energy, and—when wielded properly—can summon storms."

Poseidon stepped forward, his eyes wide with awe as he accepted the weapon. He twirled it experimentally, and the trident seemed to hum with power.

"This… is magnificent," he said, a giant grin crossing his face. "Thank you, Brontes."

Brontes nodded and moved to the second container. He opened it with the same reverence, revealing a golden lightning bolt streaked with veins of silver and bronze.

"For Lord Zeus," he said, presenting the weapon. "This lightning bolt is forged from Adamantine, Polymythril Gold, and Bronze. It channels lightning and allows you to summon storms on a scale that no mortal could comprehend. It will always return to your hand when called."

Zeus's face lit up like a child on Solstice morning. He practically snatched the weapon from Brontes, holding it aloft as if he were already imagining his triumph.

"Perfect," he said, grinning ear to ear. "This is exactly what I needed."

Finally, Brontes turned to me. His smile was different this time—a little uncertain, a little mischievous.

"And for Lord Hades," he began as Arges stepped forward, carrying a chained box.

Hera frowned. "Why is it chained?" she asked, her suspicion plain.

Brontes hesitated, glancing at his brothers. "When crafting a divine weapon, we use the ichor of the god to fuse with the weapon," he explained.

Demeter blinked in confusion. "But none of us gave you our ichor."

Brontes' grin widened. "Cyclops secret," he said, winking. "But Lord Hades, your weapon… it didn't come out as we expected. We intended to craft a Helm of Darkness, but…"

He trailed off as he unlatched the chains. The moment the final clasp fell, the box exploded open. A black and silver longsword shot out, its blade gleaming wickedly as it flew straight for me.

I barely had time to react, vanishing from my seat and reappearing behind the weapon. My hand shot out, and I caught the hilt just before the blade could pierce the wall. The weight of it was perfect, the balance flawless.

Brontes' voice was reverent as he spoke. "Crafted from Adamantine, Polymythril Silver, and Necro-Steel, this sword is unlike anything we've ever made. It… has a mind of its own. We don't know why."

I swung the sword experimentally, and a slash appeared on the cave wall several feet away. My brows shot up; I hadn't even been close to hitting the wall. A strange noise hummed in my ears, faint but unmistakable.

MURDER. KILL. DESTROY.

The words were clear as day, and I realized they weren't just noises—the sword was speaking to me.

"Well," I muttered, sheathing the blade with the scabbard Brontes handed me. The voice in my head went silent the moment the sword was secured. "That… is one evil weapon."

Brontes gave a sheepish smile. "We'll… leave teaching it manners to you, Lord Hades."

The cave fell silent again, this time with a distinct edge of discomfort. I broke it with a chuckle. "Thanks, Brontes. This will do nicely."

The excitement of the moment began to settle, but Zeus, as always, couldn't help himself. He clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention.

"Alright ever-" He didn't even get to finish what he was going to say.

"Before we break, what about the weapons for the rest of us?" Hera interjected, her tone sharp. "Surely you didn't forget us, Zeus."

Zeus hesitated, looking sheepish. "Well… it seems the Cyclopes only crafted three weapons."

Arges coughed, stepping forward. "Actually, Lord Hades was quite insistent that the ladies also receive weapons," he said with a grin, motioning to the remaining three containers.

The women perked up at this revelation, their earlier annoyance with Zeus quickly forgotten. Steropes stepped forward to the first container, opening it with a dramatic flourish. Inside lay a golden torch, its design sleek yet elegant.

"For Lady Hestia," Steropes announced. He lifted the torch, turning it in his hands. Hera scoffed.

"A torch? That's hardly a weapon."

Steropes smiled knowingly. With a quick twist of his wrist, the torch extended into a long, polished metal staff. He slammed the end against the ground, and the other end flared open, erupting into a magnificent plume of fire.

"It's crafted from Adamantine and Polymythril Gold and Silver," Steropes explained. "It can shift forms at will, and its flames are fueled by your divine essence, Lady Hestia."

He twisted the staff again, and it reverted to its original torch form. He handed it to Hestia, who accepted it with wide-eyed wonder.

"It's… beautiful," she murmured.

Next, Steropes moved to the second container. He opened it to reveal a gleaming scythe, its blade curved and wickedly sharp.

"For Lady Demeter," he said, presenting the weapon. "Forged from Adamantine, Polymythril Steel, and Silver. It channels life and death, perfectly suited to the goddess of the harvest."

Demeter accepted the scythe with reverence, her fingers brushing along the intricate designs etched into the handle.

Finally, Steropes approached the last container. With a flourish, he opened it to reveal a spear, its shaft a blend of gold and bronze, its tip a razor-sharp point of polished steel.

"And for Lady Hera," he said, his voice proud. "This spear is forged from Adamantine, Polymythril Steel, and Bronze. It symbolizes leadership and authority, as befits the queen of the gods."

Hera took the spear with a regal nod, twirling it experimentally. "Impressive," she said. "Thank you, Steropes."

Zeus groaned, clearly eager to move on. "Are we done now?" he muttered, earning glares from all three women.

Ignoring him, I turned to Brontes. "Your work has been exceptional," I said. "Thank you for going above and beyond."

Brontes gave a humble nod. "It was our honor, Lord Hades."

Zeus, ever impatient, called for everyone's attention. "Now that everyone has their weapons, it's time to decide our realms. As this was my idea, I go first, I claim the sky!"

Poseidon snorted. "I'll take the seas."

I folded my arms, amused. "That leaves the Underworld for me."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "You really want that monster-infested pit?"

I smirked. "I'm not talking about Tartarus. I mean the realm above it—the land of the dead."

Zeus laughed. "Well, looks like you got the worse end of things, didn't you brother?"

I shrugged. "With dedicated care and nurturing, even the smallest seed can grow into something magnificent."

Zeus waved me off. "Suit yourself. Now, everyone, prepare for war. Train, gain allies, and figure out your domains. We'll regroup here when the time comes."

With that, Zeus stormed out, Poseidon following close behind as he muttered something about checking out the seas. The women left soon after, each preoccupied with their new weapons.

I remained behind, turning to Brontes and his brothers, as well as the Hecatoncheires.

"How interested are you in completely rebuilding an entire realm?" I asked, my tone conspiratorial.

Brontes cracked his neck, his brothers drawing their hammers with matching grins. "Just say the word, Lord Hades."

Briareus and Cottereus exchanged looks, their four hands flexing in anticipation. "We can help as well," Briareus said.

I smiled. "Good. We're heading to the Underworld. Let's get to work."