Chapter 13- Greetings, Father

As we stood at the base of Mount Olympus, the air was thick with tension. My brothers and I walked side by side, our footsteps crunching against the rocky terrain as we approached the looming shadow of Mount Othrys. It was an unspoken agreement that we would meet Kronos first—no surprises, no ambushes, just a declaration of war.

Zeus, predictably, couldn't keep his mouth shut. "We should have come with our armies. Confronting him now is pointless without—"

"Silence," I snapped, not bothering to glance his way. My words carried enough weight to halt whatever arrogance he had bubbling up. Poseidon said nothing, his trident glinting faintly in the sun as he adjusted it across his back. He, at least, understood the gravity of the moment.

The rocky incline of Mount Othrys loomed before us as we arrived at the meeting point. There, waiting like statues of malevolence, stood Kronos and his closest lieutenants. Atlas stood at Kronos's side, his broad frame intimidating even from this distance. Surrounding him were the four Titans of the cardinal directions: Iapetus of the North, Hyperion of the East, Koios of the South, and Krios of the West. Their gazes bore into us as we approached.

Zeus opened his mouth, but I didn't give him the chance to embarrass us. "Not another word, Zeus," I growled, stepping forward. This was my war to lead. He could bluster and throw lightning later if it pleased him, but not now.

I strode ahead, my armor clinking faintly with each step. Atlas shifted, moving to block my path before I could approach Kronos directly. His sheer size would have made most think twice about provoking him.

I didn't stop walking. Instead, I reached up, grabbed his arm mid-swing, and with a surge of power, hurled him bodily into the side of Mount Othrys. The mountain shook with the impact, boulders tumbling down as Atlas groaned, embedded halfway into the rock. I turned back to the Titans with a smirk.

"Stupid dog," I said, brushing my hands off as though ridding myself of filth.

Kronos chuckled, a deep, malevolent sound that echoed across the mountainside. "And which son are you?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. "The impudent one? Or perhaps the self-righteous one?"

I stopped a few feet from him, fixing him with a cold glare. "Hades," I said simply, letting the weight of my name settle over the gathering. "Lord of the Underworld. And the one who will ensure your downfall."

His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "So bold. I see some of your mother in you after all. But tell me, what is this little speech you've prepared?"

"I offer you mercy," I said, my voice steady and unyielding. "Step down, surrender the throne, and I will ensure your punishment is less severe. You may live out the rest of your life in peace. Defy us, and you'll face ruin."

Kronos's expression hardened, and a cruel smile spread across his lips. "Peace? You speak of peace to me, boy? I carved this world from the bones of my father. You think you three—petty children playing at war—stand a chance against me?"

"You'll lose," I said simply. "You know it. I know it. Even your so-called lieutenants know it."

The Titan of the West, Krios, snarled, but before he could speak, Poseidon laughed—a booming, taunting sound. "You should have taken his offer, Kronos. It's the only kindness you'll ever see again."

Kronos raised a hand, silencing Krios and the others. His golden eyes narrowed, his amusement giving way to cold fury. "Mark my words, Hades. You and your siblings will die the most painful deaths imaginable. I will see to it myself."

"War begins at noon," Kronos continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Be ready."

With that, he turned to Hyperion. "Take Atlas. Let the others prepare."

Hyperion obeyed, hauling Atlas from the mountainside with little effort. The group vanished in a flash of golden light, leaving us alone with the uneasy silence of the mountains.

I turned sharply and began walking back toward Mount Olympus. Zeus grumbled behind me, muttering something under his breath about my methods or my audacity—who could tell with him? I ignored him entirely.

"Poseidon," I said, halting.

He stopped beside me, awaiting my orders without question.

"Go to the seas. Find Oceanus. Kill him. Leave no loose ends."

Originally Oceanus stayed out of the fight in Greek Myths but then again although I am now living those myths alot are already different. Things are bound to be different than the original myth. Oceanus had decided to join the fight against us, and in doing so he will be a force that would actually help the Titans to win, so I need to get rid of the problem.

Poseidon nodded once, his trident sparking faintly as he vanished into mist without a word.

I turned to Zeus, fixing him with a cold stare. "Don't do anything stupid," I warned.

Zeus opened his mouth, but whatever argument he was about to raise died under my gaze. He looked away, fuming silently as I began walking again.

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The battlefield stretched vast and barren, an empty expanse between Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys, where the first war of gods and Titans would commence. A tense silence filled the air as the armies faced each other, the faint hum of power and anticipation buzzing like static in the atmosphere.

The Titan army stood in disciplined ranks, their numbers dwarfing the ragtag alliance of gods, mortals, and creatures that had joined us. Among the Titans were hordes of monstrous creatures—Cyclopes, giants, and grotesque beasts summoned from the depths of the Pit.

I sat atop Cerberus, the massive three-headed Hellhound growling low as it shifted restlessly beneath me. I leaned forward, resting a hand on its armored neck, I drew my sword, its dark blade catching the sunlight. The Helm of Darkness materialized over my head, its shadowy tendrils spreading across my armor. 

To my right, Abel and Cain sat astride armored Hellhounds, their expressions focused and determined. Abel's twin daggers glinted as shadows coiled around his hands, responding to his will. Cain, meanwhile, held a spear, his body taut with nervous energy. He closed his eyes briefly before slamming his free hand into the earth.

A deep, resonating rumble echoed across the battlefield as the ground split open. Skeletal hands clawed their way from the dirt, and soon an army of the dead stood at attention, silent and awaiting their master's command. The undead, clad in broken armor from ancient eras, carried rusted swords, shields, and spears, their empty eyes locked onto the Titans ahead.

Finally, I raised my sword, its blade shimmering with dark power. "Draw your weapons!" I bellowed, my voice carrying over the field. The clatter of swords, shields, and spears followed as my command rippled through the ranks.

The Titans did not wait. Hyperion roared, his voice shaking the heavens as he raised his flaming spear. He charged forward, and his army surged after him, a tide of malice and fury.

"Hold the line!" I shouted, gripping Cerberus's reins tightly. "Let them come!"