Chapter 7- Mercy

The air around me sizzled with an intensity I didn't entirely understand. My anger was raw, wild, and completely unrestrained. It wasn't just at Kampe or the situation—I was furious at him. I just could not understand him, when we first met he really didn't show any hatred to me, but now he is acting alittle closed off and seemed to not like me at all. I wonder what had happened while I was gone for his feeling to change so soon. It seems that his hatred for me is some sort of canon event. I could get rid of him but I sadly I had use for him.

Kampe, for her part, looked terrified. Her clever, once a symbol of her fearsome authority, lay shattered at her feet. She stared at me with wide, blood-red eyes, her entire body trembling. It was a strange sight to see a creature of her magnitude reduced to pleading for her life.

"Please, young lord," she said, her voice quivering, entirely devoid of the malice it had carried earlier. "Spare me."

Her desperation was palpable, but I didn't let my expression soften. I took a slow, deliberate step forward, and she flinched, her massive tail curling protectively around her body. I wasn't interested in killing her—not now, anyway—but I didn't see any harm in letting her stew in her terror for a few moments longer.

Finally, I exhaled and gestured dismissively. "Get out of my sight." I said coldly. 

Kampe bowed low, shaking like a leaf. Without another word, she launched herself into the air, her massive wings beating frantically as she fled as far and fast as her monstrous form would allow. I watched her go, my anger simmering but beginning to cool.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair removing the flames, already feeling the exhaustion creep in. "Okay fine, fine I'm cool, I'm fine." I muttered, thinking of Zeus and his tendency to make everything worse. "What am I going to do with that idiot?" 

Before I could dwell too much on my irritation, a gruff voice called out from behind me, startling me from my thoughts. "Young lord! Are you all right?"

I turned, my brow furrowing, to see one of the Cyclopes running toward me. He was at least 8 or 9ft tall, was built like a body builder. his singular brown eye gleaming with concern and awe as he approached. His presence was a welcome sight after the chaos of the past few hours.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The Cyclops straightened, puffing out his chest with a mixture of pride and relief. "Brontes, at your service. One of the Elder Cyclopes. And let me just say, young lord, it's a relief to see you're unharmed."

I raised an eyebrow. "Brontes, is it? Care to explain how you got here? I thought Zeus dragged you all with him out of Tartarus."

Brontes grimaced and scratched the back of his head. "Ah, well, about that... Lord Zeus managed to teleport us out of Tartarus and into the Underworld, but—" He paused, his expression darkening. "That place is... unsettling."

"The Underworld?" I asked, suppressing a chuckle. "What exactly unsettled you?"

Brontes shuddered vigorously. "Tartarus is no picnic, but that vast and endless desert is a nightmare. I'll tell you, that place is horror, its a land filled with these undead creatures and I would rather live in that cell the rest of my life than go back in there."

That did it—I couldn't help but laugh. The thought of my carefully crafted dome around the underworld to make it more frightening than Tartarus itself was oddly gratifying. I worked so hard to make the Underworld perfect, I was taking no chance that Zeus sees it and decides that he wants it for himself or Poseidon take it. "I take it you didn't enjoy the scenery?"

Brontes cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the laughter. "It wasn't exactly welcoming, young lord. But I came back anyway."

My amusement faded, replaced with curiosity. "You came back? Why?"

Brontes shifted on his feet, looking sheepish. "When Lord Zeus and the others unchained us, we wanted to come help you but Zeus said to leave you and forcefully teleported us out of Tartarus. I told them I would return for you and Zeus was not happy saying he only needed a single cyclopes anyway so he didn't care if one died going back to save his worthless brother."

I raised an eyebrow. "You abandoned Zeus to come back and help me?"

"He's annoying," Brontes said with a shrug, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And besides, you're the one who took down Kampe!"

I smirked, unable to resist a bit of flair. "That? That was nothing. I was merely toying with her."

Brontes let out a low whistle, his admiration obvious. "You must be stronger than you look, young lord. Not many would dare toy with Kampe, let alone leave her running scared."

"It's a talent," I said dryly. "Now, let's get back to the Hecatoncheires. We're not done here yet."

I strode toward the cells of the Hecatoncheires, the heavy thud of Brontes' footsteps behind me a grounding presence in this chaotic pit. My mind was already racing with plans to free them when I caught sight of the two figures inside. They were hulking, towering at around 12 feet tall, their broad shoulders hunched slightly due to the cramped cell. Their piercing gazes locked onto me as I approached, a mix of weariness and faint hope flickering in their eyes.

But something was wrong.

"Wait a moment," I said, stopping just outside the cell. My eyes scanned them, confusion knotting my brow. "I thought there were three of you."

Brontes sighed heavily behind me, his shoulders sagging. His usual gruffness softened as he looked down. "There were," he said, his voice thick with grief. "Gyges... he didn't make it."

I turned sharply to face him. "What do you mean?"

Brontes hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The fumes of Tartarus are harsh, even for beings like us. Gyges was already weakened from the injuries he sustained when he fought Kampe for our freedom. He held on as long as he could, but... eventually, he succumbed." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Kampe didn't stop there. She... she ate him, as a show of her power and dominance."

A surge of anger flared within me, hot and sharp. My hands clenched into fists as I pictured Kampe gloating over her sickening display. "The next time I see her," I said, my voice low and laced with venom, "she's dead."

The two remaining Hecatoncheires watched me closely, their expressions grim but unreadable. I forced myself to take a calming breath and refocused my attention on them.

"But why do you look like this?" I gestured toward their current forms. "I thought you were supposed to be giants—fifty, maybe eighty feet tall—with a hundred hands and fifty heads."

One of the Hecatoncheires stepped closer, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "This is our natural form, young lord. The tales of us as towering giants are true, but only partially. Transforming to that size, with all those limbs and heads, takes an immense amount of energy." He spread his arms slightly, as if to emphasize his current shape. "In Tartarus, where strength is sapped from you at every turn, this form is more practical."

Brontes nodded in agreement. "They've been conserving their energy. Tartarus isn't kind to anyone, no matter how strong."

I studied the two carefully, noting the strain etched into their faces. It made sense now, and I couldn't fault them for adapting to survive. Still, it was another reminder of just how much this place had taken from them—and from all of us. My frustration with Zeus and the others bubbled up again, but I pushed it aside. Right now, I needed to focus on getting these two out of here.

"Let's get you out of this pit," I said firmly as I destroyed the cell bars. "And once you're free, you'll have a place in my domain, if you so choose. Trust me that there is alot more than just the Dunes."

The Hecatoncheires exchanged a glance, their expressions softening ever so slightly. "We are in your debt, young lord," one of them said, bowing his head. "And we will not forget this."

I turned to Brontes. "Let's get them out of here before something else decides to pick a fight. I'm not in the mood for more interruptions."

Brontes smirked faintly. "You've got it, young lord. Lead the way."