Rebirth: The God of the Underworld

A couple days passed and we had gathered for a meeting to decide how we would be getting into Tartarus. The meeting had been dragging on for what felt like hours. The problem is that nobody knew how to enter into Tartarus and now everyone was in an argument over it.

I leaned back in my chair, letting my thoughts drift to more pressing matters. From what mother had taught us, a god needs to bind their divinity into a realm for their world to continue to exist. With Ouranus gone, our uncles, Coeus, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Crius took the role of holding up the world from the four corners of the world. 

Now before you riot, let me tell you that the world is actually not round, well for us gods who exist in more of the four dimensional plane of existence. The world to us is flat… in a way. The world is built up of several realms stacked on top of each other. The realms consist of the Sky, Earth, Sea, the Underworld, Tartarus and the Void where all gods go when they fade.

There needs to be someone tied to these realms or they would collapse over time, certain realms like the Earth, Sea and Tartarus had the Primordials like Gaia, Pontus, and Tartarus so they were more secure. Though with Uranus gone there needs to be someone to hold the sky up so our uncles were forced into the job. 

From what mother told us, certain realms like the underworld were actually a lot weaker than the others as they didn't have someone to rule it, so it was a realm that would likely crumble in the near millennium. 

The plan was that I was going to bind my divinity to the Underworld and make it better. I wasn't really into the gloomy and dark stuff so I would need to rebuild it into something more grand… maybe I could take inspiration from other cultures?

I was so caught up in my musings that I barely registered the irritated clearing of my throat. Looking up, I realized the others were staring at me. Zeus's annoyed expression was particularly grating. "What?" I asked.

Zeus rolled his eyes and repeated his question, his tone clipped. "What do you suggest we do next, Hades? As a part of our team we need to have your input. We are at an impasse about how to get into Tartarus, Father had closed off the only entrances that existed."

I gave the matter some thought. "Why not just ask Grandmother to lend a hand?" I said, keeping my voice steady.

That got everyone's attention. The room fell silent for a moment before Hera spoke, her voice skeptical. "Isn't Gaia asleep?"

I shrugged, leaning back against the cold stone wall. "She might be, but someone has to try. If anyone can open an entrance to Tartarus, it's her. Who else has that kind of authority?"

Zeus shot to his feet, brushing off the dirt from his tunic. "Fine. I'll go talk to her." His confidence, as usual, was unshakable. "She'll listen to me."

"Are you sure about that?" Poseidon muttered, smirking as he crossed his arms. "You have a knack for rubbing people the wrong way."

Zeus ignored him, heading for the cave's entrance. "I'll be back in no time. Don't get too comfortable." With that, he strode into the forest, his self-assured gait making it clear he expected no complications.

We waited in the tense silence he left behind, the minutes stretching into an hour. Then two. By the third, we started exchanging uneasy glances. Just as I opened my mouth to suggest going after him, a piercing scream shattered the stillness.

We scrambled to our feet, hearts racing, as Zeus bolted into the cave, his face red and flustered. A second later, a sizable rock sailed through the entrance and hit him square in the back of the head. He stumbled, cursing as he rubbed the sore spot.

"What happened?" Hestia asked, trying and failing to stifle a laugh.

Zeus scowled, his pride clearly more wounded than anything else. "She's not in the mood to listen. I barely got two words in before she threw me out—literally."

Poseidon burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Let me guess, you showed up, demanded she help, and forgot that maybe the Mother of All doesn't take kindly to your ego?"

Zeus glared at him but said nothing, muttering something about how she was unreasonable. As my siblings bickered, I slipped out of the cave unnoticed.

The forest was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. I wandered for a while, weaving between towering trees until I found a secluded spot where the sunlight barely pierced through the canopy. Kneeling on the soft earth, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I wasn't sure why I felt compelled to pray—was it instinct? Desperation? Or something else entirely? Regardless, it felt right.

"Grandmother," I began, my voice low but steady. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I hope you'll listen. We need your help. Please."

For a while, there was nothing but silence. Then, the faint rustling of leaves caught my attention. It wasn't the wind—it was deliberate, purposeful. I opened my eyes and froze.

Standing before me was a vision of power and grace. She was beautiful, her skin a deep, rich brown that seemed to glow with an inner light. Long dreadlocks, streaked with black and white and adorned with flowers and leaves, framed her regal face. Her chiton, crafted from layers of vibrant foliage, moved as if alive. Her piercing eyes, ancient and wise, bore into me with an intensity that made me feel small.

Gaia.

She crossed her arms, her presence radiating both authority and warmth. "The rude one from earlier already came to me," she said, her tone sharp. "And I sent him away. I'm not interested."

I bowed my head, choosing my words carefully. "I apologize for Zeus' behavior, Grandmother. I didn't come here to demand anything. I came to ask—humbly—for your guidance and aid."

Her eyes softened slightly, though her stance remained guarded. "Why do you seek my help? What purpose drives you to Tartarus?"

I rose from my bow, meeting her gaze. "We need to free the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires. Mother told us that they can craft us weapons that will help us in the war."

Gaia's expression darkened at the mention of her son. "My son, your father, Kronos promised to release his siblings, after their father had cast them into the abyss. only to cast them right back after they had built him his home. Why should I trust you won't do the same?"

"I swear on Lady Chaos," I said without hesitation. "I will release them, and will personally ensure they have homes, lives, and freedom to do as they want. They will always have a place in my home."

Her eyes narrowed, her gaze like a weight pressing down on me. "What did you just swear on?"

I blinked, confused. "On Lady Chaos," I repeated. "It's the only thing I could think of that holds enough weight."

Gaia sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly, though her expression was still troubled. "Do you understand what you've done, child? Swearing on Chaos is no small matter. If you fail to keep your promise, you will fade."

The gravity of her words hit me like a tidal wave, but I refused to back down. "Oh, well I stand by my oath."

She studied me for a long moment, her sharp eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt or deceit. Finally, she sighed, a mixture of exasperation and admiration flickering across her face. "Very well. I will open a path to Tartarus for you. You interest me, so I do hope that you survive the war."

Gaia turned, and started to leave before she stopped. "The entrance to Tartarus will be open for two weeks, so I suggest that you hurry."

Before I could thank her, she disappeared, leaving behind the faint scent of earth and flowers. I stood there for a moment, collecting my thoughts, before heading back to the cave.

My siblings looked up as I entered, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. Zeus frowned. "Where were you?"

I ignored him and addressed the group. "Grandmother has agreed to help. She's opening an entrance to Tartarus for two weeks so let's go."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "She listened to you? Just like that?"

"You just have to be respectful to your elders." I said as we headed out to the entrance to Tartarus. The entrance was where I had talked to Gaia, the hole seemed to go quite deep into the earth, getting quite dark farther down. 

We stood at the edge, staring down into the abyss. Hera peered over the edge, her expression a mix of fascination and unease.

"I think it is best that we transform into birds and simply fly down." Hestia muttered as we all nodded in agreement and yet nobody made the first move. 

"Well," Poseidon said, breaking the silence. "If no one else is going, I'll go first." He stepped forward, as his body glowed as his divinity covered his body. However, instead of picking any of the thousands of birds that can fly, Poseidon had chosen the form of a Dodo bird.

"Poseidon," Hera said flatly. "What the heck is that thing?"

"I think it is called a Dodo? I saw a flock of them a year ago in the forest."

"I don't think that it can fly." I tried.

He waved me off with his tiny wing. "Nonsense! It has wings so it can fly." He leaped into the chasm without another word, flapping his wings furiously. For a moment, he seemed to hover, a triumphant grin on his beak.

Then gravity asserted itself.

Poseidon plummeted like a stone, his panicked squawking echoing up from the depths. "I'M FLYING! I—OH NO, OH NO—"

The rest of us doubled over laughing, the sound of his increasingly distant screams fueling our mirth. Zeus wiped tears from his eyes. "Idiot."

Hera said, struggling to catch her breath. "Should someone go save him?"

"Yeah, I got it." I laughed as I spread my divinity out, focusing on my own transformation into a large raven. When the transformation was complete I sent a powerful beat from my wings as I flew into the air before diving into the chasm after Poseidon, accelerating toward the falling god.

He was still flapping uselessly, his eyes wide with terror. "HADES! HELP!"

I reached him just in time, snatching him out of the air with my claws. His flippers flailed as I carried him the rest of the way, gliding to the cavern floor with ease. I released him unceremoniously, and he tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.

Once I shifted back into my normal form, Poseidon transformed as well, collapsing onto his back. "That… was terrifying," he panted, pointing at me. "Lesson learned, Dodo's can't fly too well."

"Come on," I said, gesturing toward where everyone had landed and transformed back. "Everyone is waiting. You know why don't you become the god of Dodo birds?"

"Shut up, Hades." Poseidon laughed as he got up as we continued our little journey.

Tartarus was a living nightmare, a realm forged from fire and despair. The air was thick with ash and smoke, and lava falls cascaded from impossible heights, their molten streams crashing into bubbling seas below with a hiss of steam. The stench of sulfur was overwhelming, clinging to my lungs like a parasite. Twisted plants dotted the desolate landscape—grass sharp as blades that could slice through flesh, corpse trees with gnarled, skeletal branches reaching like claws, and fire sunflowers whose burning petals seemed to follow us, their malevolent gaze almost tangible.

"This place reeks," Poseidon grumbled, his nose wrinkled in disgust. He swatted at the ash floating around him as though it were an irritating insect. "Like someone boiled a fish in rotten eggs."

I shot him a glare. "Could you keep it down? Complaining won't make it smell like roses."

"No, but it might distract me from gagging," he retorted, stepping over a patch of grass that hissed and curled at the edges when his foot came near. "Seriously, how does anything even live here? This place is the definition of inhospitable."

"Yeah well our great Uncle lives here so try to be respectful so we aren't kicked out." I responded. 

"Uh… what uncle?" Zeus asked, confused. 

"Tartarus, he is the Primordial of the Abyss. Did you not pay attention to your mother's lessons?" I asked, looking at him and he shrugged.

"Not really, it was too boring."

A sudden screech pierced the air, cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade. We all froze as a massive shape moved in the distance, silhouetted against the blood-red sky. At first, I thought it was a mountain. But as the shape shifted, I realized the truth. It wasn't a mountain—it was a monstrous tortoise, the size of a small island. Its jagged shell shimmered with molten cracks, and its head, as large as a city gate, craned forward to snap at a winged beast foolish enough to wander too close. The beast's dying shriek was abruptly cut off as the tortoise's jaws slammed shut with a thunderous crack, the sound echoing through the fiery expanse.

"That," Poseidon whispered, his voice trembling slightly, "was horrifying. Here is a new plan, let us not go that way."

"No kidding," Demeter muttered, her eyes wide as she watched the colossal creature lumbar back into its resting position. It blended so seamlessly into the terrain that it seemed to disappear entirely.

"We're wasting time," Hera said, though her voice was quieter than usual. "Let's keep moving before something worse shows up."

We pressed on, the oppressive heat and choking air making every step feel like a trial. The sulfuric stench clung to my nostrils, and the jagged terrain seemed to tear at both body and spirit. After what felt like an eternity of navigating the treacherous terrain, we arrived at the base of a massive, jagged mountain.

Its dark surface shimmered faintly under the dim, hellish light, and it radiated an ominous energy that made my skin crawl. My steps faltered as my eyes adjusted to the sight before me. Chained to the side of the mountain were towering figures.

There were three of them, and they didn't look like anything I expected. They were unnervingly tall—nearly skeletal in appearance, with elongated limbs and sunken chests. Their singular eyes glowed faintly with a dull light that seemed dimmed by centuries of suffering. Their pale, translucent skin stretched taut over their bones, from what I could see black chains coiled around their bodies like living serpents, digging into their flesh as it kept them hanging in place.

I scanned the mountain, my eyes narrowing. "Only three Cyclopes?" I muttered under my breath. "Where are the Hecatoncheires?"

To the left of the Cyclopes, two more prisoners were shackled to the rock. Though they didn't have a hundred hands, so it was not them. I scanned the prison and my eyes landed on the jailer.

Kampe.

I had read about her so much and yet she looked like nothing that I had expected. Kampe had the upper body of a japanese woman, pale skin, long black hair that draped down her back and her nude front. Her red eyes darted around as she paced. Her lower body was that of a black dragon, her wings were folded against her side as her tail coiled around her as the scorpion stinger twitched menacingly. In one of her hands, she held a massive cleaver that she used to gut a passing bull monster that she gleefully grabbed with her dragon claws and to our shock, raised it to her stomach as it opened revealing rows of shark teeth as she devoured the monster. A long spiked tongue exited as it licked the blood off her stomach. 

"I think I'm going to be sick," Poseidon whispered, his usual bravado gone. 

We snuck behind this large boulder as we quickly lowered our divinity. I glanced at Kampe who had laid down while keeping an eye on the prisoners. 

"We need a plan." Hera hissed as she glanced over the rock. "How are we going to get past that monster?"

Looking at Kampe, I swore that not even a nuke would be able to kill that thing. She was way too quick with that cleaver and any wrong move would end our entire mission.