C-31: The Convergence

The moment I entered the colossal hall, the weight of it all pressed in. My eyes scanned the vast expanse of thrones, each one a monument to its owner's power. Yet, as I stood in the center of the room, I couldn't help but look at the throne that was supposed to be mine. Instead of my sigil it bore the one of Zeus, a thunderbolt. He must have claimed it before his rebellion, the time would match up. Anyways I had no intention of sitting there. Not on a throne that bore his mark.

The gods around me were beginning to settle into their seats, murmuring amongst themselves. Whispers about my presence, my silence, filled the room. But one voice in particular cut through the noise.

I turned my head to see a man—draped in flowing white robes, gold jewelry sparkling in the dim light. He looked so familiar, and I realized that he looked like that god I killed. Though he also looked alot like someone else I knew.

Zeus.

There, sitting proudly in the throne that belonged to the Christian God, the throne of all creation, was my brother. The once-fierce and arrogant man was… different. His robes and veil were pure, angelic even, but the power radiating from him was unmistakably Zeus. It seemed that he had taken over Christianity, made it his own. I guess he got to be king after all, I just wonder how long the life of a Christian god will suit Zeus. This made things even more interesting.

I stayed rooted, watching as other gods began to take notice. They whispered among themselves, their gazes flicking toward me in curiosity. A few whispered questions floated through the air.

"Who is he?" one muttered. "Is he a new god?"

"I think? He kinda smells like a greek," another speculated. "Speaking of greek, where's Zeus? His throne is empty."

The tension was thick. The air buzzed with uncertainty. And just as the murmurs began to swell, a flash of light tore through the room.

The air seemed to crackle, and from it, she has finally appeared.

Chaos.

Her entrance was as theatrical as ever, and yet, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at the absurdity of it all. She danced into the center of the room, a whirlwind of energy. Her laughter echoed like a symphony of mad gods, but it didn't disguise the excitement in her eyes. She clapped her hands together.

"Welcome, welcome!" Her voice rang out, an unnatural cheer spilling from her lips. "The Kings and Queens of the Pantheons have finally gathered! The Convergence! How marvelous! I am so excited!"

I stood there, arms crossed, unimpressed. Chaos was chaotic by nature, yes, but this? It was more playful than I cared for.

I didn't wait for her to come to me. I marched forward, making my presence known. She spotted me and grinned. Her energy surged as if she couldn't help but be drawn to my dark, imposing presence.

"Hades!" she chimed, her voice full of excitement. She didn't wait for me to speak before continuing. "What are you doing standing there? Come on! The party's just started, go sit down on your throne!"

I sighed, my patience thinning. "I won't sit on a throne bearing my brother's mark," I said, my voice cold and sharp. "From what I see... no throne here belongs to me."

Chaos raised an eyebrow, her amusement palpable. "Oh, my dear Hades. Such stubbornness. What will you do, then?" She grinned again, that wicked gleam in her eyes. "Find another throne?"

"Exactly," I muttered.

But before I could continue, a voice broke through our conversation, cutting into the moment. I turned to see a god—broad-shouldered, a crown of jagged stone atop his head—sitting on his throne, his gaze unwavering.

"Who are you to speak of thrones, mortal?" he sneered, his voice deep, mocking. "Zeus is the King of the Gods. You…" He scowled. "You are nothing."

I raised an eyebrow at this guys audacity to call me a mortal. Seriously this was a council of gods how would a mortal even get in here? I raised my hand and flicked my finger lazily toward him.

There was a sickening crack, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. The god's neck snapped instantly, his form tumbling backward off his throne. His body crumpled onto the cold floor with a sickening thud.

The room went silent.

"Just shut up," I said quietly, my gaze cold as ice. "Someone get rid of that Idiot."

I watched as two gods stood as one grabbed the gods body and the other grabbed the head and simply threw it over the throneroom into the void before returning to their seats.

I was secretly amazed at how easily my Ruler's Authority crushed him. The power surged through me effortlessly, as natural as breathing. And in that moment, I realized just how much of my strength I havent even used yet.

As the silence continued, I turned back to the throne, my lip curling slightly in distaste. I flicked my finger again. This time, the throne shattered, crumbling into dust, no use for a throne if nobody will sit on it.

"Now," I said, turning my attention to Chaos, who had been watching with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going to give me a new throne or not?"

She sighed dramatically, her eyes rolling. "I knew you'd say that."

But my eyes had already drifted past her.

There, just behind her, was another throne.

It was carved from a white marble with running veins of gold through it. The throne looked like one of those sofa thrones with how wide the seat was. The back of the throne rose almost 15ft, all in all it looked comfy as hell.

So I didn't hesitate.

With one smooth motion, I walked past Chaos, ignoring her startled expression, and sat down on the throne, and man was it comfortable. A low murmur rippled through the gods.

Chaos blinked, blinking out of her surprise and crossing her arms. "Hey!" she called, her voice suddenly less exuberant. "That's my throne, get off!"

"Is it?" Without waiting for a response, I adjusted my posture, settling into the throne with a cocky attitude to mess with her more. "Than make me move,"

Chaos shrugged as she clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. Her energy was infectious, her grin wide and mischievous, though her words carried an unexpected gravity.

"Mortal creatures are multiplying rapidly," she began, her voice echoing through the colossal space. "There are thousands of them now, crawling across the earth, figuring out how to survive. And yet…" She leaned forward, her hands splayed wide. "They're just… so primitive. Like little ants scrambling in the dirt. No fire, no tools, no real direction. It's adorable, really."

There was a murmur of agreement from the gathered gods, though many looked unimpressed. I, however, stayed silent, watching the exchange with curiosity. My thoughts drifted to my own mortal followers in the Underworld—humans I had guided and taught, far more advanced than these cavemen Chaos described. I couldn't help but smirk inwardly.

"So!" Chaos clapped her hands again, her golden eyes glittering with excitement. "What do we do with them? They're multiplying like rabbits, and we have all this power. Surely we can shape their future, right? I want to hear your ideas."

Hands began to rise, and Chaos pointed to Odin, who stood tall and imposing, his single eye burning with intensity.

"The mortals will figure themselves out," Odin said, his voice deep and steady. "Let them struggle. It is through strife and hardship that strength is forged. We should leave them be and observe. If they are worthy, they'll find their own way."

A wave of nods rippled through a few gods, though not everyone agreed.

"Let them struggle?" Ra scoffed, rising from her throne. She was as regal as ever, her golden headdress glinting in the light. "What use are they if they're weak? We should enslave them, guide them with a firm hand. They're nothing but tools, after all. Why not make them serve us?"

There were murmurs of approval from some, notably Huitzilopochtli, who leaned forward on his jaguar-adorned throne.

"Enslave them? Why waste the effort?" the Aztec god growled, his voice like a low rumble of thunder. "Mortals are pests. They breed, they consume, they die. We should kill them all now before they become a problem. Wipe them out, start fresh."

A hush fell over the room as his words hung in the air, heavy with violence.

Zeus chuckled, breaking the tension. He was lounging in his throne, one leg draped lazily over the armrest. "Oh, come now," he drawled, his smirk infuriatingly smug. "Why kill them when we can enjoy them? Mortals have their uses. Some of them are even… entertaining. I say, let them grow, pick the interesting ones, and…" He winked, making a lewd gesture with his hand. "You get the idea."

I couldn't hide the disgust that flickered across my face, though I said nothing.

Shiva, the four-armed god of destruction, rose next, his demeanor calm yet commanding. "Mortals are fleeting," he said, his voice a melody of power and wisdom. "Let them be. Their existence is a blink of an eye compared to ours. If they worship us, so be it. If they don't, their end will come regardless."

Brahma nodded in agreement, but Vishnu interjected with a soft smile. "If they are to worship us, we must guide them, protect them. Killing or enslaving them will only breed fear and hatred. We should nurture them, show them the light of our divinity."

The Hawaiian god Kāne stood next, his voice booming with energy. "Mortals are like seeds. If you crush them too early, they won't grow. If you neglect them, they'll wither. Let's give them what they need to flourish—water, fire, knowledge. Watch what they can become."

The Dagda, the Irish All-Father, grinned and leaned forward on his throne. "Let's give 'em a bit of everything, eh? A little guidance, a little hardship. See what they're made of. Mortals love their stories and songs. Let's give them something worth singing about."

I listened carefully to every word, waiting for the right moment to speak. Finally, Chaos turned to me, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hades," she said, her tone almost teasing. "You've been awfully quiet. What's your take?"

I rose from my place, letting the weight of my presence settle over the room. Every eye turned to me, some curious, others wary.

"Mortals are small," I began, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Primitive, yes. Weak, yes. But they are also filled with potential. To destroy them is shortsighted. To enslave them is wasteful. To ignore them is to lose an opportunity."

Several gods shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"They are more than pests or tools. They are a blank canvas," I continued, my gaze sweeping the room. "What I propose is something new. Something called religion."

Whispers erupted, the word unfamiliar and intriguing.

"Through religion," I explained, "we guide them, not through fear or force, but through faith. We give them something to believe in. Something to aspire to. By worshiping us, they will grow stronger, and so will we. Mortals who revere us will dedicate their lives to building temples, creating art, spreading our names. Their prayers will feed our power, and their devotion will bind them to us."

Chaos tilted her head, her grin widening. "And how do you propose we earn their faith?"

"By helping them," I said simply. "Give them fire. Teach them to hunt, to farm, to build. Show them that we are their protectors and guides. If we want them to worship us, we must first give them reason to trust us."

A wave of murmurs swept through the chamber, some skeptical, others intrigued.

Chaos raised a hand, silencing the room. "Well, then," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "Let's put it to a vote. All in favor of Hades' plan?"

One by one, hands began to rise. Even those who had argued for other paths seemed swayed by the promise of power through faith.

The vote was unanimous.

Chaos clapped her hands together, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Well, there you have it! Religion it is. Now, go forth, dear gods, and get to work!"

With a snap of her fingers, the gods vanishing one by one. All except me.

"Still here, are we?" I said, attempting to sound calm, though my instincts screamed to remain on guard.

Before I could react, Chaos closed the distance between us, her movements fluid and deliberate. Then, without warning, she straddled me, her knees pressing against the sides of my legs as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"What are you—" My words caught in my throat as her face drew closer, her eyes gleaming with a strange intensity.

"Hades," she purred, her voice like silk laced with danger. "You've always been fascinating, but now?" Her fingers trailed lightly down my shoulder, sending an involuntary shiver through me. "Now, you're becoming something far greater than I ever expected."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening despite myself.

"I… I don't know what you mean," I managed, though my voice betrayed a rare hesitation.

"Oh, you do," she whispered, her lips curling into a sly smile. "The way you command this room, the way you make even gods tremble… it's intoxicating." Her arms tightened slightly around my neck, her proximity overwhelming.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "Chaos, I—"

"Relax," she interrupted, her grin widening. "You've earned my attention, Hades. And trust me, that's not something I give lightly."

Her gaze locked onto mine, and I could feel the weight of her power, her very essence pressing against me. My hands gripped the arms of the throne, unsure of whether to push her away or stay perfectly still.

"I have a wife," I said, my voice lower but firmer, though it took effort to sound convincing.

Chaos tilted her head, her expression a mix of amusement and challenge. "And you'll have many more wives in the future. But right now?" She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against my ear. "Right now, I want to see just how far you'll rise, my reborn king."

I gulped audibly, the sound embarrassingly loud in the silence of the chamber.