So many meetings

In a dark dimension where the sky is never blue and the air never clean and healthy we find our last obstacle that stops Hades from going back home. 

The rocks form a platform on which we find a throne. On this throne sits a handsome middle-aged man with long red hair, a neatly trimmed red beard and glowing red eyes. He also wore silver-red armour with a high collar and a reddish-brown tailcoat.

This was the last of all the Monarchs. The Monarch of destruction, the king of Dragons. He was sitting on his throne in this dimension that they had fled to after Hades had attacked the last time. 

Even though Hades wanted to get it over with he did not rush. He took his time and crushed everything in his path. Because he knew, sooner or later he will have them all and they shall all serve him. 

A dragon approached the Monarch and told him news of the battlefield. 

"My liege, the Shadow Army has arrived. Shall we move to somewhere further than where they are...?"

"No ... I am tired of running away."

True. The dragon army had fled from the moment they realised that Hades started to take out other Monarchs. And while the Monarch of Destruction was the strongest Monarch, on par with the Shadow Monarch, he did not underestimate the sheer number of shadow soldiers that were a part of Hades' army. 

It was a disgrace for him to flee from a fight or battlefield. But when you are faced with death, things start to come into perspective and the Monarch of Destruction knew that he was not ready for that end just yet. But now it was time to end things. He would face the Shadow Monarch and that would settle the war once and for all. 

Either he wins and the war is won, or he loses and .... well then that is that. He will see what the other side has in store for him. 

Foolish man. He didn't know that none of the Monarchs had the privilege of laying to rest. They all had to work more as they had become generals in Hades' army. That was also why it was so easy to crush the armies of the other Monarchs. They essentially had to fight more Monarchs and no one had a chance. 

Hades had an easy time. He would normally not do anything except deal with the Monarch and turn him into a Shadow soldier. But it was now finally time. Time to end all this ridiculous cat-and-mouse game. 

.

Hades walked with his hand behind his back. He had found that his movements and behaviour turned more and more elegant. He was starting to truly see himself for what he was. Hades the Honoured one, the wealthy the END, the lord over boundaries. And it was affecting his mannerisms. 

He would not get angry as fast or even at all, anymore. There were still things that made him angry but it was not something he experienced in the world of Solo Leveling. He could not get angry at the humans for they did what was expected of their race. 

He understood them as he was once one of them. That would come to be an important fact in the future. But we'll see that later. 

His mind has started to grow again since he had taken over again. When he was in the Jujutsu Kaisen world he had sealed almost 100% of his powers and that was why they didn't grow. He transcended his power level when he became the Honoured One. In the Solo Leveling world, he created an avatar and didn't use his powers so he didn't progress.

But now that he had taken over again, he could feel his progress, no matter how small it was. 

Hades walked through the battlefield. He knew where he was going. The Monarch of Destruction's energy was unmistakable. 

He stood before the throne and looked up. No need to be uncivilized.

"So you've come."

"I have. No more running?"

"No more. We shall fight now and finish it. Fleeing serves no purpose."

"I'm glad you see it that way."

"What happened with Ashborn?"

"Gone."

"I see. Before we fight we shall exchange names. My name is Antares. That is the name the .."

"I go by Hades. Let us not dwell on the past and focus on the present."

"... I agree."

Looking at each other for a moment they felt the tension rise. For Antares that was. Hades had already seen the outcome of this battle and was ready for the attack he knew would come. 

This made Hades have a flashback to the day of the Job-Change quest when he fought Igris. He crushed his Commander then. And this fight, even though the opponent was far stronger, would be easier. 

Antares took out a long red sword from his ... palm and attacked Hades with it. 

Hades ducked the swing. Antares attacked again with a swing from the left trying to slice Hades in two. However, that didn't work as Hades retreated from the sword's reach. 

The Monarch gave chase and attacked Hades from all sides. The surroundings got cut and blown up by the intensity of their fight. Hades decided that it was enough disrespect now and took out his Katana. He had begun to like it. But it was a bit short for his tastes. He preferred an Odachi and he would try and find one in the future. 

Hm, now that he thought about it, there is a place he will go to in the future that specialises in making all sorts of swords and variations of them. And it would be perfect for him as it will be truly HIS.

Hades blocked a swing from the angry dragon. He was unhappy that Hades did not see him as a threat and was not even fully focused. Antares opened his mouth and fired a jet of flames that destroyed everything in its path.

Hades dodged the flames as his Katana would not hold against those. He swung his blade and created a slash that travelled towards Antares. The Monarch managed to dodge the slash but was caught off guard when Hades punched him in the face. 

Antares lost his balance and in the attempt to regain it, he did a flip. Hades increased the intensity of their fight until Antares was sweating from the pressure he was feeling. 

Hades still had his expressionless face. He was not impressed with this performance. 

"You are stronger than the other Monarchs."

"Not strong enough."

"Obviously."

"Let us finish it in one final attack."

"As you wish."

Hades put his Katana away and took out a spear. He wanted to try a new move. He pulled the spear back as far as he could. Antares was gathering a big ball of destruction and flames in his mouth. 

.

.

.

They both unleashed their attacks at the same time. A monstrous amount of flames was shot towards Hades. He simply looked at the flames and thrust his spear forward. 

The flames were extinguished from the inside and dissolved into the air. 

The Monarch of Destruction and King of Dragons looked down at his body and saw a basketball-sized hole in his thorax. He looked up at Hades and smiled. 

"I lose. I can move on and see what is on the other side."

He closed his eyes. Everything became black. 

.

In the darkness, Antares heard a voice. "Rise and Serve".

It was not a request but a command and he felt like it was coming from his king. He absolutely had to serve the person calling out to him. His eyes opened and he saw the situation he was in. 

He had become a shadow soldier and Hades was standing in front of him. 

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, no journey for you I'm afraid. You will serve me as a general of my armies and protector of my realm in the future."

"You managed to make a Monarch into a shadow soldier? How?"

"Well, it was not that hard honestly. I understood how you guys were made and then knew what to do to make you a shadow in my army. Rejoice for you have all your previous powers apart from being a shadow now."

"I feel so grateful that you made me a shadow. I want to serve you. How does that work?"

"I am your king now. It's only natural."

"So ... what now?"

"Now, we go back to my world. It has been far too long since I left."

"You have family there... my liege?"

"What? Who cares about my family? I'm talking about the Underworld. A dimension that belongs to me and that I will shape and form into something glorious and amazing. And now I can finally go back. It was fun travelling to other worlds and I will definitely do it again, but the next one will not be for a few years."

.

Hades called all his shadows back into his shadow. It was truly convenient to be able to do that. He sat down and left the dimension. He appeared on Earth and looked at what happened to it since he had left to deal with the Monarchs. 

It would seem that the Rulers had not yet realised that he had killed all the Monarchs. Maybe he should tell them? ... Nah. The longer the gates appear, the longer Jinwoo can level up and grow stronger. There are other threats in the Universe except the Monarchs. 

None of them are as powerful as they were but there are still more. 

Hades focused and looked for Jinwoo. He saw him with his family in their appartment. It seemed like he had reached level 100 and had unlocked his gift. Hades gifted Jinwoo a batch of 'Holy Water of Life' to wake up his mother from her eternal slumber. 

Their father had not yet returned and was probably still ... oh would you look at that.

"Still not going back?"

"You are the one that gave my son that power."

"Was that a question?"

"You made him strong."

"Was that another question?"

"Why?"

"... because I wanted to. "

"You are the Shadow Monarch. I have been tasked with stopping you from merging with a body, by the Rulers."

"And how's that going for you?"

"Not well it would seem."

"Do me a favour. Don't tell them just yet. Let them use all the gates they have. It will make Jinwoo stronger and he will be able to protect the earth in the future. And when all the gates have been cleared... tell Jinwoo to use the last part of my present to change it all back 10 years. 

I'll leave now. Take care of your family, Il-Hwan."

And with that said, Hades left the world of Solo Leveling for good. 

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And there you have it. Solo Leveling world: Complete. He is going back next chapter and I am exited for it.

Once again tell me what punishment Zeus will get. Metis will get punished by Zeus himself so no reason to bother with her.

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