~Hectate point of view ~ (continuation)
"Hecate, tell me something about yourself."
Hectate glanced at Hades coldly.
"Hmm... Why should I? You're neither my lord, nor my husband, nor anything close."
"Even if I don't tell you, you could just use your divinity of secrets and know everything I ever said or did."
He smirked slightly. "As cold as ever, aren't you? You're right…I could. I could uncover the deepest truths of the world. But I won't."
His words intrigued me. A power so close to omniscient… yet he refuses to use it fully?
"Why?"
he turned away slightly, the shadows shifting with her.
"Knowing too much is a sin. Some truths are taboo and hidden for the safety of the world. Besides, where's the fun in having everything handed to you without any effort?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You and your brothers were born with king-class domain. While, others struggle just to glimpse such power. And now you're preaching about 'earning it'?"
He nodded solemnly. "I agree with that, but this power bound us with great responsibility of world. As their saying 'with great power comes, great responsibility' "
That line… It sounded so cliché coming from him, like he stole it from some old play. But his expression was sincere.
"Still, you haven't answered my question why are you so interested in my past?"
His gaze sharpened. "Because you seem mysterious. Strong. But beneath that, I sense fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of trusting others."
His words hit something in me. Hard. His purple eyes felt like they were peeling back my layers, reading me like an open book.
In a flash of anger, I snapped, "What do you even know about me?"
He didn't flinch. "Maybe nothing. But I know this…your problem's solution... is me. Just trust me once. I swear, I'll never break it."
I took a deep breath, calming my stormed heart.
"I'm sorry... but I can't trust anyone even you."
And with that, I turned and walked away.
A week passed.
~Hades point of view~
"Welcome back, Your Majesty. So, what is your next objective?"
"I want to know about weakest Duke of the Underworld?"
"The weakest is Gharomund, a giant treant. Its body spreads far, across canyons and tunnels. It lures prey into its forested limbs, then devours them slowly. It is deceptive, patient… and cunning."
"Hmm… be prepared we will strike him first"
She nodded and bowed lightly.
After sometimes,
Preparations are complete. The first target is Gharomund, the weakest of all the Dukes of the Underworld, but still a danger, and more importantly, a test.
Hecate stood beside me as we reviewed the plan beneath the shadowed dome of the war chamber.
"Hades," she said, her tone sharp but measured, "we should kill him quietly as much as possible. If the others find out Gharomund was slain by us, they may unite. Paranoia leads to alliances and we can't afford that yet."
I nodded. "Agreed."
Before dawn, we left the temple.
I transformed into my black phoenix form. Hecate climbed onto my back, holding her lamp close to her body as we soared eastward.
We flew past broken wastelands and scorched mountains, into the southeastern region of the Underworld a vast expanse that looked like a swampy forest, humid and thick with mist.
The land itself was Gharomund.
The massive treant, ancient and decaying, had rooted his body across the entire region, his consciousness stretching through trees, vines, and poisoned waters. The air smelled unnaturally sweet, laced with spores meant to dull the senses and lure prey deeper.
I lowered myself just beyond his awareness.
Hecate dismounted and whispered, "I'll remain outside as backup… in case of variables."
I vanished from sight, invisible, cloaked in divinity of secret.
Then I rose silently into the air, wings barely stirring the mist. As I approached the center of the swamp, I covered my body with Black Haze, dulling not only scent and light but shielding me from Gharomund's poison spores and the hallucinations carried by his breath.
Below me, trees groaned, vines writhed not natural growth, but extensions of his body. His core was deep underground, hidden beneath layers of vines, rotting roots, and illusion. But my Death Divinity allowed me to see what others could not that is vital point of enemy.
I hovered silently, watching as the massive creature twitched.
He sensed something, the unease of creeping shadow.
But it was too late.
I descended fast and struck, driving my Dark Spear directly into his core. The death energy ripped through it, corrupting the life inside.
A shudder passed through the forest.
Then silence.
The forest stopped breathing.
Gharomund is dead.
I sent a mental signal to Hecate.
'One duke has fallen'.
She teleported to my position moments later, her lamp glowing as she arrived. Without a word, she raised her staff and began weaving arcane illusions.
Together, her magic and my Nether Energy cloaked the truth. We reshaped the surrounding forest, stitched broken roots, banished the death aura. From above, it looked untouched, as if Gharomund still live, watching and waiting.
Then she moved to the core, knelt beside it, and extracted the vital essence , a pulsing orb of ancient energy, still warm with divine potential.
"This will be useful, for making weapons… or artifacts."
We said nothing more.
The mission has been perfect.
Quick. Clean. Untraceable. No mistake happen.
And now… one Duke remained beneath us.
Nine still stood.