chapter 70

Here runs a hell far more brutal than Hades. Tartarus, a place reserved for sealing irredeemable sinners such as the Giants, Titans, and even the ancient gods like Ronaux.

"You hesitate like any ordinary human would," Zeus grabbed Cyd's shoulder, his expression intense.

"What's wrong with that?" Cyd exhaled sharply.

"The chaos they've caused is likely reverberating throughout the world," Zeus rubbed his chin.

"Why not just eliminate them from the start? Their numbers pose a significant threat," Cyd tugged at his hair.

"Who knows? Because we underestimated their threat. They could have perished, or they've been biding their time, regaining strength to reclaim their place in the world," Zeus released Cyd's shoulder. "I'll create an opening for you. Once you're in, I'll seal it shut."

"How will I get out?" Cyd looked at Zeus, then shouldered [Reforged Pandora], "Never mind, I won't ask."

"Good luck," Zeus stepped back.

"Cyd, attack!" Cyd's lips curved downward as he leaped into the dark cave entrance.

"Did I make a mistake?" Zeus raised his hand, but the cave entrance swiftly shrank and vanished. "Brother?"

"Your decision as King of the Gods has never been wrong," Hades emerged from the darkness, his eyes burning with anger. "But I don't like your decision."

"And I'm sure you've never liked me," Zeus frowned.

"Leave from here," Hades slowly faded into the darkness. "I'll wait here."

Zeus looked deeply at where Hades had disappeared.

"Some people have no principles. I've grown used to... some kings not allowing others to challenge them, even if that person didn't intend to. But... Pure Son of Man, Zeus hopes you return safely."

"This is your final trial. You've saved many people, now save Hero Cyd."

Here in the dark, in the violent and bloodthirsty hell called Tartarus, it seemed worse than Hades. Inside, the desperate souls barely survived. Could anyone live here?

Perhaps only those who were hated enough to be imprisoned by the King of the Gods.

"——"

"The air here stinks," Cyd pinched his nose and kicked a skeleton forward.

"Human?" A giant rose from the skeleton.

"I thought the prisoner's cage was open, but the opening was too small." The giant bent down to confront Cyd. "Human, you've committed a grave mistake for Zeus to throw you in here."

The ozone emitted from the giant made Cyd instinctively frown.

"Don't worry, we'll help you exact revenge. Just hand over your flesh," the giant grinned, planning to swallow Cyd whole.

"Now I see why you're still alive." Cyd's left hand grasped [Reforged Pandora] and lifted it above his head. The blood-red crystal on his bracer emitted a dazzling light.

"I also see why you're sealed in here."

"——"

With a splash of crushed stones, blood spurted like a fountain on both sides as the giant's massive body fell to the ground with a roar.

"The blood's pumping," Cyd drew the giant's sword blade, bloodstained, from its shoulder. His black eyes gleamed with a red hue.

[Reforged Pandora] — Ares Mode

"I'll give the gods a victory!"

"You're just a lapdog for the gods!" The giant, though cut down, managed to shout as it lifted its head, its face starting to heal.

"Lapdog? Think again." Cyd shifted his left hand and slashed down with [Reforged Pandora], slicing through the giant's face as if it were tofu.

"Could you not resist, please? I'm in a hurry."

The blood-red glow in Cyd's eyes intensified. The sword blade of [Reforged Pandora] began to trace blood-red veins like blood vessels.

"There are so many like you!"

Cyd roared angrily as he stabbed the giant straight through the throat, the sword blade emerging from the cross incision at the giant's mouth.

"Huh? Are you really that weak? You're a Titan?"

"Are you not going to save your own companion?" Cyd lifted [Reforged Pandora] out, and the giant died.

"Companion? Many of your companions were eaten by him, and some by me," a bald giant stepped forward. "Only we Titans have the chance to survive here like this."

"Then you want revenge?" Cyd cocked his head.

"This is inevitable!" Without warning, the bald giant leaped toward Cyd.

"Alright, I get it," Cyd backhanded the giant to the ground. "I can focus on killing you."

The scorching magma surged under the sword hilt, igniting the ground as scales extended from [Reforged Pandora]'s cloak.

"Give it to me...!"

"——"

The ground turned into magma, and Cyd swung [Reforged Pandora] down, cutting through the bald giant's waist. The high temperature charred the giant's waist instantly, and the giant was engulfed in flames before it could react.

"A bit intense!" Cyd shouldered the magma great blade, having already injured several Titans earlier. "Feels good!"

"Human!!!"

Two more Titans were killed consecutively, and the other Titans finally realized that Cyd was not their food, but rather a lapdog of the gods sent to slaughter them!

The Titans roared and charged at the tiny Cyd.

"Ah, a little more," Cyd exhaled. "Truly worthy of the God of War and Violence's Blessing." The red hue in his eyes dimmed, the temperature dropped, and the magma great blade turned back into stone. "Let's..."

"——"

The blade turned to stone and shattered under the Titans' onslaught, dozens of giant fists pummeling Cyd.

Black rays burst from the cracks, and Cyd chuckled as he brandished [Reforged Pandora]. Darkness spread out like a campylodromous, freezing the Titans around him in their tracks.

"Quiet."

Time seemed to halt around Cyd, freezing the Titans in their tracks as though suspended.

"Though it's a bit challenging, I've already seen your deaths," Cyd declared, wrenching the sickle from the Titan. "Your journey's end."

[Reforged Pandora] — Hades Mode

"Compared to me, you're weaker than I thought, but it doesn't matter."

The scythe of death strikes.

"Welcome to hell."