I’m Hades Straight Up 6

(Third Person POV)

The Underworld was not what Hades had expected. As he and his siblings ventured deeper into its depths, the air grew heavier, filled with the faint scent of sulfur and the oppressive weight of ancient power. 

The cavern's walls pulsed with a dim, ghostly light that flickered like dying embers, casting long, eerie shadows that danced across the jagged rocks. The ground beneath them was solid but strangely soft, like the earth was alive, breathing slowly in the darkness.

But there was more here, something raw, something potent that Hades could feel in his bones. This place was a cradle of forgotten power, a realm with untapped potential that hummed just beneath the surface. 

It was his realm, and though it was barren and lifeless now, Hades could see what it could become. He knew it was not just a place to hide but a kingdom waiting to be claimed, molded, and shaped by his will.

As they walked, Hades' thoughts turned inward, his mind racing with possibilities. The Underworld was vast, far more extensive than he had imagined. It was a labyrinth of interconnected caverns, some small and narrow, others so large they could house mountains. 

Rivers of black water snaked through the seemingly endless tunnels, their surfaces still and glassy, reflecting the flickering light from above. 

There were lakes that stretched on into the darkness, their depths unknowable, and cliffs that dropped into endless voids where the light could never reach. The lakes seem to have some type of creature as large as a leviathan, who seemed to watch them from the depths.

Yes, this was a place of death, but it could also be a place of life or at least a twisted reflection of it. Hades knew he had to seize control of this realm, bend it to his will, and make it a sanctuary for his siblings and a fortress against their enemies. But first, some things needed to be done, and plans had to be set into motion.

The thought of the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires, the Hundred-Handed Ones, burned at the back of his mind. They were imprisoned deep within Tartarus, trapped in endless torment by the very father who had once feared them. They were the key to his plans, the allies he needed to ensure victory over Kronos. 

But freeing them would not be simple. It would require cunning, strength, and an iron will to convince those who had known only betrayal and suffering for eons to fight once more.

As Hades walked, the cavern widened, opening into a vast chamber. Here, the walls were smoother, the ground more level, as if the cavern had been worn down by time. 

At the chamber's far end, a massive pillar of stone rose from the ground, its surface etched with symbols that pulsed with an ancient, unreadable script. Here, Hades stopped, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight before him.

"This place will be my throne room," Hades declared, his voice echoing off the walls, filling the chamber with a sense of finality. His siblings looked at him, some with skepticism, others with newfound respect. "From here, I will rule the Underworld. We will build our power from here until we are ready to face Kronos."

Poseidon frowned, glancing around the barren chamber. "And what, exactly, do you plan to do with this...throne room? It's not exactly welcoming."

Hades turned to his brother, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That will change soon enough. This place will be the heart of a new kingdom. But before I can claim it, I must make it mine. The Underworld is ancient and powerful but also wild and untamed. I must bind it to me to shape it according to my will."

Poseidon chuckles, "A dark, damp, and depressing place. It seems perfect for you, brother." Hades didn't react to the comment, but Hera soon gave her two cents.

Hera crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And how do you propose you do that? The Underworld has never been tamed, not even by the Titans."

"Not by the Titans, no," Hades agreed, his voice soft but firm. But I am not a Titan. We are not titans. We are gods born of both earth and sky. This place reflects our father's fears and our grandfather's failures. We will not repeat their mistakes."

He turned away from them, stepping closer to the pillar, feeling the power that radiated from it. The energy of the Underworld was like a living thing, flowing through the rock, the soil, and the air. It was dark, ancient, and full of potential. Hades knew that if he could harness it, he would have the power to challenge even Kronos.

"We will begin by freeing the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires," Hades said, his voice growing colder, more determined. "They were unjustly imprisoned, just as we were. But they have something we need: the strength and skill to forge weapons that can kill even slay gods and the fury to wield them against our enemies. With them by our side, we will be unstoppable."

Demeter shifted uneasily, her gaze flicking to the dark corners of the chamber. "Freeing them won't be easy. Tartarus is a prison of unimaginable depth and darkness. Even the Titans fear it."

Hades nodded, acknowledging her concern. "I know. But it is a risk we must take. They are our best hope of defeating Kronos. If we leave them in Tartarus, we may never be able to face him."

Poseidon's eyes gleamed with interest. "And if they turn on us? They were once allies of Kronos, after all. What makes you think they'll fight for us?"

Hades met his brother's gaze, his eyes darkening. "Because they hate Kronos more than they hate us. They have been left to rot in darkness for eons, betrayed by the Titan who swore to protect them. We offer them freedom, vengeance, and a chance to strike back at the one who condemned them. That will be enough."

Hera sighed, shaking her head. "And if they refuse? If they see us as nothing more than children playing at war?"

"Then we'll show them that we are more than that," Hades replied, his tone unyielding. "We've already escaped from the stomach of a Titan. If that does not prove our strength, then nothing will."

There was silence for a moment as the weight of Hades' words settled over them. His siblings exchanged glances, each considering the enormity of the task ahead. 

They had escaped one prison only to find themselves in another. But this time, they had a choice. They could fight, claim their power, and forge a new destiny, or they could succumb to despair and be crushed by their father's and his allies' might.

"Very well," Poseidon said finally, his voice low and resolute. "We free the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires. We claim the Underworld as our own. And when the time comes, we bring the fight to Kronos."

The others nodded in agreement, their resolve hardening. After all, they were gods and had been born for this very purpose. To overthrow the old order and usher in a new age.

Hades returned to the pillar, his hand resting on its cold surface. The ancient symbols glowed faintly under his touch, responding to the divine energy that pulsed through his veins. 

"There is one more thing," Hades said, his voice quieter now, almost contemplative. "This place is more than just a fortress. It is alive in its way. And it is connected to us, to me. To truly make it our own, we must understand its nature. I must learn to control it."

Hestia, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, her eyes thoughtful. "The Underworld is a realm of transition, a place where souls pass from life to death. It is both a beginning and an end. If you are to rule here, you must respect that balance."

Hades nodded, appreciating her insight. "Exactly. This realm is not just a prison or a tomb. It is a cycle, a part of the natural order. If we can master that, we will have a power that even the Titans cannot comprehend."

"And what of the ramifications?" Hera asked, her tone wary. "If we succeed in freeing the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires, if we establish our rule here, what will that mean for the rest of the world? For our sibling?"

Hades paused, considering her question. The ramifications were significant, he knew. If they freed the Cyclopes and the Hundred-Handed Ones now, it would change the course of fate. 

Zeus was destined to free them and wield the weapons they forged in the battle against Kronos. If they took that from him, it could alter the very fabric of the prophecy.

But Hades was not one to be bound by fate. He had already defied it once by freeing himself and his siblings from their father's grasp. He would do so again if it meant securing their victory. He would not sit in the darkness alone ever again.

"Our sibling is not our concern," Hades said, his voice firm. "Our goal is to defeat Kronos and ensure our survival. Whatever comes after that, we will face it together. We will shape our own destiny."

The others nodded, though some still looked uncertain. They were stepping into the unknown, defying their father and the prophecies that had guided them. But they had no choice. The world was changing, and they had to change with it—or be destroyed.

Hades turned back to the pillar, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the symbols. He could feel the ancient and immense power within them, waiting to be unlocked. He knew that this was just the beginning, that there were still many challenges ahead, but he was ready—he had always been ready.

He closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind, feeling the pulse of the Underworld beneath his feet. The ground rumbled in response, a deep, resonant sound that echoed through the cavern. Soon enough, the residence could nearly be indistinguishable from the heartbeat of Hades.

The others stepped back, watching as the light from the symbols grew brighter, filling the chamber with a pale, ghostly glow.

"This is my kingdom now," Hades whispered, his voice barely audible. And I will see it rise." At this declaration, it seemed as if the shadows were celebrating and dancing along the walls, and various shapes formed. They were almost unreadable and unrecognizable.

The power surged around him, flowing through the pillar, into the ground, and out into the endless caverns beyond. The Underworld responded to his call, its ancient energy awakening at last. And as it did, Hades knew that they had taken the first step toward their new future—a future free from the shadow of Kronos.

But even as he stood there, his mind was already turning to the next phase of his plan. Yes, the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires would be freed, but there was more to be done. He could feel the Underworld's potential, its latent power waiting to be unleashed. He would harness that power, bend it to his will, and reshape this realm into something new, something more than just a refuge or a stronghold.

Hades opened his eyes, his gaze hard and determined. "Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice carrying a quiet authority. "We have much work to do."

His siblings nodded, and together, they began the task of building their new kingdom. The Underworld was theirs now, and they would make it a place of power, a place where gods could rule and where the forces of life and death were balanced in perfect harmony.

But for now, Hades had another task in mind. As the others began to explore their new domain, he turned and walked deeper into the cavern, his mind focused on the path ahead. 

The Underworld was vast; somewhere within it, the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires awaited their freedom. He would find them, and together, they would forge the weapons to bring down the Titan of Time.

As Hades ventured into the darkness, he felt the Underworld shift around him as if recognizing its new master. He felt nearly every inch of the underworld, and with each passing second, his connection to it grew more profound. Initially, he only sensed its physical shape, but now it felt like something more.

But what confused even Hades was a new presence within him. He couldn't define its shape, but something was waiting for him to grasp, and he couldn't figure out how to do so.

But now Hades reached his arms against the walls and began to change the world around him, and even as he felt his father roaring and stomping from the world above, it didn't matter now

The time for hiding was over. The time for gods to rise had begun. 

Soon enough, Hades will finally be able to do some interior decorating. This place looks depressing as hell, and he will not be living like an edge lord for the rest of eternity.

However, due to Hades's internal vow, his eyes glowed brightly with resolve and power, which may or may not have started to freak his siblings out.

(So our resident Death God has taken his first steps into claiming the underworld as his own and now I have a question for you all. Given the fact that one of his essences allows him to gain an artifact. What should it be? A weapon or a piece of armor and what ability should it grant?)