In Oceanus's palace, the Titan of the world-sea sits deep in thought. Orcanon kneels before him, delivering his report.
"The Underworld realm has been reborn as a completely independent dimension, my lord. The reincarnation cycle is established, and all wandering souls are being drawn into it."
Oceanus strokes his beard, his mind racing. A complete, independent Underworld was a variable he had not fully accounted for. 'This is problematic. Underworld realm has become complete new variable. If things are not going as I speculate then I fear my dream is in danger.'
"Hmm. Anything else?" he asks, his voice a low rumble.
"None, my lord."
Oceanus's gaze sharpens. "Orcanon, you will accompany Poseidon. Do not join the war directly. Your task is to spread false and damaging rumors about the Underworld and Hades. I want them hated by the entire world."
"As you wish, my lord." Orcanon bows and departs.
Alone, Oceanus allows a calculating smile. 'With this, the Underworld will have no allies in the upper realms. Isolating them now will make them easier to manipulate—or crush—later. Now, I can only wait and see if events unfold as I have foreseen.'
---
A tropical island, once a paradise of turquoise waters and white sand, is now a armed camp. The sunny sky darkens in an instant, turning stormy and thunderous. Great ships descend from the clouds, their hulls scraping onto the shore as giant eagles and griffins circle overhead.
Zeus, clad in silver armor and holding a long spear, stands at the prow of the lead ship. His army disembarks: humans led by their emperors, Titans of the sky realm, divine beasts, and nature spirits, all clad in bronze and steel.
Suddenly, the sea itself roars in response. The tides rise violently, and from the depths, Poseidon's army emerges. A colossal leviathan, followed by whales and megalodons, rides the raging waves. Poseidon, in golden armor and holding his trident, rides the leviathan. Behind him, legions of merfolk and sea beasts mount their aquatic steeds.
The two armies flow onto the island like opposing tides—Zeus's forces a storm of bronze and wings, Poseidon's a surge of scales and primal power. They establish two distinct, bustling camps.
Zeus and Poseidon meet in the center, their handshake anything but friendly. "Long time no see, Zeus," Poseidon says, his voice dripping with competitive charm.
"Likewise, Poseidon," Zeus replies, his smile not reaching his eyes.
This is not a simple greeting between siblings, but a competition between two who covet the same throne. The very air between them crackles. Invisible waves of oceanic pressure from Poseidon meet the electrified, stormy aura of Zeus, creating a shimmering, turbulent barrier.
Metis watches from a distance and sighs. 'By the primordials, they're like children. If I don't stop them, they'll exhaust themselves before the battle even begins.'
She strides forward, interrupting the silent contest. "Zeus, Poseidon. Your eldest brother has not yet arrived."
Both brothers pull back their auras, the tension momentarily broken. "You are right. Hades is still missing," Zeus says, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. 'Where is that coward hiding?'
Poseidon remains silent, but his own thoughts race. 'Strange. Hades vanished after escaping Cronus. And now these vile rumors about him and his realm spread like a plague...'
As if on cue, a wide portal tears open in the air. From it marches a legion of 3000 soldiers, riding spectral horses clad in ethereal barding. The soldiers wear sleek black armor trimmed with gold, with sharp edges, spiked pauldrons, and intricate designs. Black capes flow from their shoulders, bearing a sigil of a rising phoenix and crescent moon. Some have wings or tails, markers of their demonic or angelic heritage.
Julie rides at the front, Mia at her side. Julie removes her helmet, her gaze cool and assessing as it sweeps over Zeus and Poseidon. "Well met, Lord Zeus, Lord Poseidon. I am Julie, general of the Obsidian Legion."
Zeus's lip curls. Three thousand? Against the legions of Othrys? It was a paltry offering, an insult. His aura flares, a wave of divine pressure meant to force a kneel. "Where is Hades?"
Julie's hand, which had been resting on her thigh, closes around a hidden obsidian stone. A gift from Lord Hades for this exact situation. In response, a different kind of pressure erupts from her—not divine, but the iron-cold aura of a thousand battlefields, of endings and finality. It doesn't clash with his aura; it simply refuses to be dominated.
"Forgive me, Lord Zeus," she says, her voice unwavering. "But Lord Hades is occupied with stabilizing the new Underworld realm."
"What!?" Zeus barks, his eyes narrowing. "Does he consider his realm more important than this war?"
Julie offers no further explanation, her face an impassive mask.
"Hmph. Go guard the western perimeter," Zeus commands, annoyed by her defiance. 'Let's see how high her nose is when she faces the full might of Othrys head-on.'
"Forgive me, Lord Zeus. We are not obliged to follow your orders." Julie's reply is flat, final. "We will take our leave and establish our camp." With that, she leads her legion to the southern part of the island.
Once they are away, Aniya rides up beside Julie, her voice a worried whisper. "Julie, wasn't that too much? He is Lord Zeus, the same level as Lord Hades and Lady Hecate."
Julie secures her helmet. "His hands are tied. To secure his throne, he needs consensus. He's playing the part of a benevolent leader now; attacking an ally would shatter that image and make an enemy of the entire Underworld." She turns in her saddle to address her officers. "Listen! From this moment, this war is not just against enemy, but also between allies. They will try to insult you, your lord, and your family. Let their words wash over you. They will try to dominate us by power or authority. Do not be fazed. Remember who your superior is, and where your loyalty lies. Is that understood?!"
"YES, GENERAL!" the legion roars in unison.
---
That night, in a command tent, Zeus, Poseidon, Metis, and Prometheus gather around a map spread on a table. One chair remains conspicuously empty.
Prometheus leans over the parchment, using a stylus to tap four key points. "Mount Othrys is a fortress, guarded by the four pillars of Cronus: Atlas to the north, Iapetus to the south, Koios to the west, and Krios to the east." He places pillar models on each point. "But they are not our only obstacles. Here," he says, placing two small statues in the center, "we have Hyperion, the third strongest Titan, and Pallas, Cronus's brilliant military advisor. A full-frontal assault would be a slaughter. I advise we begin with probing attacks to draw out their forces and lock the cardinal Titans into separate battles, preventing them from supporting each other."
"I agree with this plan," Poseidon states.
"As do I," Zeus adds, though his eyes keep drifting to the empty seat. He claps his hands, summoning a servant. "Send a messenger to the Underworld. Summon Hades. Now."
Once Zeus and Poseidon have left, Prometheus lets out a long, weary sigh. "How in the world are those two meant to be leaders? It makes me question my own decision to support them."
Metis fixes him with a displeased gaze. "Mind your tongue, Prometheus. You are speaking to Zeus's wife."
Prometheus offers a wry smile. "Really? You're saying that to me? The one who knows who truly pulls the strings? You can drop the act, Metis. There's no one here to perform for."
A slow smile spreads across Metis's face as she abandons her pretense. "You are right, as always. They are both woefully unprepared for kingship. They don't understand that a king's work happens not just on the battlefield, but in the minds of his followers."
Prometheus nods, his expression turning thoughtful. "And what is your assessment of the third brother? Hades, King of the Underworld. Is he capable of sitting on that throne?"
"I don't know," Metis admits. "I only saw him once. But today, when I saw his legion... I saw a difference. They are disciplined, confident, and carry a solid, unshakable pride. They may only be three thousand, but their quality surpasses a hundred thousand of what we have here."
"Hmm," Prometheus muses. "You are right."