The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 157: Gigantomachia – End

“Gaia. Isn’t this enough?”

“...Stay out of this, Nyx.”

The earth answered the night’s words.

The two Protogenoi exchanged a brief glance before shedding their natural forms and taking human shapes.

The colossal figure made of earth and the night sky draped across the heavens gradually faded.

Rumble... BOOM!

The goddess Nyx stood with her arms crossed and a relaxed smile, while the green-haired goddess on the other side furrowed her brows.

The very embodiment of maternal care and acceptance, Gaia—the grandmother of us all and a Protogenos.

Gaia’s cold gaze swept over me, Zeus, and Poseidon before fixing on Lady Nyx.

It seems that even the Kynee offers no protection against the gaze of the Protogenoi.

“So, why is someone like you, who has little interest in the world, interfering in my affairs?”

“Interfering? I’m simply mediating this pointless conflict at the request of your children.”

I could see Gaia’s clenched fist tremble slightly.

Perhaps she realized that as long as Lady Nyx stood with us, overthrowing the Olympians was impossible.

With Erebus and Tartarus in isolation and refusing contact with anyone, leaving no further variables.

“Hmph! Do you have any idea how much I’ve suffered because of them, Nyx? First, a lunatic who locked his own children in Tartarus out of fear. Then, his son, who didn’t release his brothers but left them confined for his own gain! Now, his grandchildren are imprisoning the Titans again? Is this the reason I helped you, Zeus?”

Gaia’s furious outburst was directed at Zeus, who had been fiddling with his scythe nearby.

The king of the gods stroked his golden beard with one hand before slowly responding.

“Gaia, I deeply appreciate the wisdom you shared with us long ago. It enabled us to triumph over Cronos.”

During the Titanomachy, the battle between us and the Titan gods was evenly matched.

Without Gaia’s advice on how to gain the aid of the Hecatoncheires and Cyclopes, the balance of power might have been split in two.

“Then why did you imprison all the others?”

“We had no choice. Overthrowing my father Cronos was partly out of personal anger and vengeance, but as king of the gods, it was my duty to confine the immortal beings who gave us such a hard time during the war.”

“King of the gods? Who decided you could be king?”

As their argument intensified, an overwhelming aura spread across the surroundings.

The other Olympian gods, who had been approaching, retreated in fear. Even I felt a bit suffocated.

Had we underestimated Gaia? After dealing with Typhon, the Gigantes, and countless other matters, I thought her strength had waned.

“Gaia.”

“What is it, Nyx?”

“Uranus and Cronus aside, don’t you think it’s time for us to step back as well? How long do you plan to overthrow the King of the Gods just because you’re dissatisfied?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lady Nyx’s tone was slightly annoyed.

“Uranus, Cronos, and now Zeus. If the Titans were to regain power, wouldn’t you just replace them again when they don’t suit your liking?”

“What? I raised them to their positions, and yet none of them showed gratitude…”

“They’ve already defeated the likes of Typhon and the Gigantes on their own. Isn’t it time to acknowledge them?”

Despite the capricious nature of the primordial gods, the king of the gods could not easily be replaced.

Was Nyx declaring that Zeus had proven himself worthy of his throne?

As their conversation continued, a presence made itself known in the sky above.

This was no ordinary presence but a deliberate revelation of someone’s existence.

A force more powerful than Zeus’s dominion over the heavens could only belong to one being.

“Look above. Do you think I’m the only one who has grievances with you?”

“…Uranus.”

It was the goddess Uranus, whom we had encountered once before, staring down at us.

Was this a silent warning? For us, it was a welcome development.

“Hm. Olympus dares not outright oppose the Earth Mother. If you were to recognize us now, I swear to lay aside any past grievances.”

As unreliable as my brother can be, he somehow becomes competent at times like these…

Zeus’s words seemed to tip the scale as Gaia sharply turned her head to look somewhere.

That direction—wasn’t it where the Olympian gods were gathered?

Hmm. Don’t tell me…

Crack. Rumble!

“Aaaaahhhhh!!!”

* * *

Hearing a sudden scream, I instinctively gripped my bident tightly.

But after recognizing the identity of the god who had fallen between the cracked earth, I released my grip once more.

My nephew, Hephaestus, who tried to assault Athena and ended up impregnating Gaia.

…No wonder she’d be angry.

“Hephaestus? Hmm…”

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“Tsk. I knew this would happen.”

The Olympian gods on the other side clicked their tongues or smacked their lips.

Zeus clutched his head, looking troubled, but that was all. No one had any intention of saving him.

Well, wasn’t it all his own doing to begin with? Even if the blacksmith god came back after being beaten by Gaia, it couldn’t be helped.

“Hmph! Fine. I won’t say anything more. Handle it yourselves!”

With those final words, the Earth Mother’s form crumbled and returned to soil, her presence vanishing as well. She was probably somewhere underground beating Hephaestus senseless.

“Hades.”

“Lady Nyx. Thank you. Gaia’s change of heart is entirely thanks to you…”

“No, no. Not that.”

“…! I will issue a decree to humans within the day, spreading word of your majesty far and wide.”

“Hmm-hmm-hmm. Very well. Let’s meet again sometime.”

Whoosh—

And so, the two Protogenoi who had asserted their presence to the world disappeared.

Most of the Gigantes had been dealt with… there were no more threats to us.

Atlas was imprisoned in a watery prison by Poseidon, and the Protogenos Gaia acknowledged Olympus.

We had won.

At last.

* * *

The long and arduous war with the Gigantes, the Gigantomachia, had finally come to an end.

The Plain of Phlegra had been completely obliterated. The surrounding mountains and land were utterly destroyed as well... Humans must have suffered considerable damage too.

“But still, we’ve won.”

“Hmm. Let’s deal with the aftermath quickly. Demeter is already working on restoring the earth, so someone needs to take care of that rift in the sky…”

“I think my trident has been damaged. I’ll have to leave it to Hephaestus to repair… oh, right, he’s still underground.”

“Father, are you all right?”

“Ares. Well done. Where is Athena?”

“She went off to chase one of the fleeing Gigantes commanders. His name was… Adamas… something.”

The Olympian gods ran over to assess the situation, with some scattering in different directions.

And then…

“Hades! Are you okay? No, your body—”

“Considering I faced Atlas, I’d say I got off lucky.”

“Hades… sniff… hic…”

“…Don’t cry as if I’ve died, Persephone.”

A few figures rushed toward me as I sat on the ground.

Even though their own bodies were far from unscathed, they seemed more concerned about me.

Styx’s beautiful hair had come completely undone, Lethe’s gown was… ahem, why is it so torn? 

And Persephone is no different. Even without asking, it is clear what kinds of battles they had faced.

As I embraced the goddesses and patted their backs to console them, I began to feel various gazes from all around.

Surprise. Bewilderment. Shock. Curiosity. Amusement?

“Hey, look at that…”

“Lord Hades really is at the age to get married, isn’t he?”

“So, who’s going to be his official wife…?”

“I’ll bet one of my prized bulls on the goddess Lethe.”

“Pfft… Good thing I brought in the east wind last time… haha…”

“…Eurus?”

What nonsense were they muttering? When I shot them a sharp glare, the Olympian gods quickly averted their eyes.

Oh, Poseidon was here too. I have to admit, your advice helped me succeed in my proposal.

“We’ve sent a messenger to the Underworld to announce our victory. But a flood of Gigantes’ souls is pouring in…”

“…Hades, what did Zeus say he’d do with Atlas?”

“Most likely send him to Tartarus.”

I spent a moment sharing the joy of victory with the goddesses.

Kissing them here, in plain sight of everyone, felt a bit inappropriate—better save it for later. 

But why is Demeter staring at me so intently?

“Well done, dear.”

“It was nothing, Hera.”

Zeus and Poseidon were also busy talking with their wives.

Thankfully, Maia, Atlas’s daughter and Hermes’ mother by Zeus, wasn’t here.

The goddess of victory, Nike, officially declared our triumph.

It was now certain: full dominion over the world would belong to the Olympian gods.

“Olympus has triumphed!”

“Ha. Hahaha!”

“Well, even Phobos, the god of defeat, would enjoy a victory like this.”

“Dionysus, is this your severed finger? It was found over there.”

“Ah, thank you, Hestia!”

Meanwhile, Athena returned, carrying a Gigantes’ head attached to her shield.

Not to be outdone, Ares had tied a Gigantes’ head to his belt… though it was a rather gruesome display.

And now that I think about it…

“Wait. What happened to the remnants of the Gigantes that escaped into the mortal realm?”

Not a single strong Gigantes had escaped. The Olympian deities of higher rank had dealt with them all.

However, it seemed unlikely that humanity could handle even low-tier Gigantes, who were nearly on par with minor deities.

Although the gods had moved swiftly and killed most of the remnants, a few Gigantes might have managed to flee.

When I posed the question, Styx smiled as she answered.

“The humans are currently offering Gigantes’ corpses as sacrifices.”

“…What?”

What is that supposed to mean?