Chapter 20: Return to the Underworld

Chapter 20: Return to the Underworld

Damon emerged from the dark passageway, feeling the oppressive weight of Tartarus lift from his shoulders. He stepped into the underworld, the dim glow of rivers of lava casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur, and the ground trembled underfoot, as if the very realm acknowledged his return.

In the distance, Hades' palace loomed, a monolithic fortress of dark stone and iron. The spires of the palace reached towards the cavernous ceiling of the underworld, their tips lost in the swirling mists above. Damon paused on a ledge, looking up at the imposing structure. His eyes narrowed with determination.

"This time," Damon muttered to himself, clenching his fists, "I won't be defeated."

He began his ascent towards the palace, navigating the treacherous paths that wound through the underworld. The journey was arduous, the terrain hostile and unforgiving. Demons and spirits of the damned roamed the area, their malevolent eyes tracking his every move. Damon dispatched any that dared approach, his hellfire blazing a path through the darkness.

As he climbed higher, the landscape grew even more perilous. Jagged rocks jutted out from the ground, and streams of molten lava crisscrossed his path. Damon moved with purpose, his mind focused on the palace ahead. Each step brought him closer to his goal, and each breath fueled his resolve.

Finally, he reached the base of a towering hill that led up to Hades' palace. The path was steep and narrow, flanked by sharp rocks and bubbling pools of lava. Damon began the climb, his muscles straining with each step. He could feel the weight of his mission pressing down on him, but he pushed forward, his determination unwavering.

Halfway up the hill, he paused to catch his breath. The climb was taking its toll, but the sight of the palace above spurred him on. He wiped the sweat from his brow and continued upward, his eyes fixed on the gates in the distance.

As he neared the top, the sound of growling reached his ears. Damon slowed his pace, peering ahead cautiously. At the gates of the palace stood Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Hades. Each head snarled and snapped, its eyes glowing with a fierce, otherworldly light.

Damon felt a surge of uncertainty. He remembered their last encounter, a fierce battle that left both of them wounded. Would Cerberus recognize him? And if so, would it attack?

Damon took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever might come. He approached the gate, his hellfire flickering around him like a protective shroud.

Cerberus immediately took notice, all three heads turning to face him. The hound's growls grew louder, and it advanced, its massive paws shaking the ground with each step.

Damon stopped a few paces away from Cerberus, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Easy, Cerberus," he said calmly. "It's me, Damon."

The middle head cocked to the side, while the other two continued to growl menacingly. Damon could see the intelligence in the creature's eyes, and he hoped it would recognize him.

"I'm not here to cause trouble," Damon continued. "I just need to see Hades."

For a tense moment, it seemed as though Cerberus would attack. But then, slowly, the hound's growls subsided. The middle head sniffed the air, as if assessing Damon's scent. Recognition flickered in the creature's eyes, and the middle head nudged the others. Gradually, the snarling ceased, replaced by a cautious curiosity.

Cerberus's demeanor shifted from aggressive to friendly. The middle head leaned down, sniffing Damon more closely, and then licked his hand. Damon let out a sigh of relief, patting the hound gently on its head.

"Good to see you too, buddy," Damon said with a smile.

Cerberus stepped aside, allowing Damon to approach the gate. The massive hound even wagged its tail slightly, a gesture of trust and familiarity.

"Thank you," Damon said, giving Cerberus a respectful nod. He pushed open the heavy gates and entered the courtyard of Hades' palace.

The palace itself was a marvel of dark architecture, with towering columns and intricate carvings depicting scenes from the underworld. The air inside was cooler, the oppressive heat of the lava rivers left behind at the gates.

Damon made his way through the grand hallways, his footsteps echoing off the marble floors. He could feel the eyes of Hades' minions upon him, but none dared to approach. They knew better than to interfere, instead whispering among themselves at his return.

Finally, Damon reached the doors of the throne room. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. This was it – the moment he had been preparing for. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside, making his entrance.

Hades sat upon his throne, his dark eyes gleaming with a mixture of surprise and amusement as he saw his son enter. "Damon?" he said, his voice cold and calculating. "You've returned..."

Damon met his father's gaze with unwavering resolve. "Yes, father," he replied, a stern look on his face.

The tension in the room was palpable as father and son faced each other. Damon knew that the true test was yet to come, and he was determined to prove himself in his rematch against his brother Zagreus.

As Damon entered the vast, shadowy expanse of the throne room, he could feel the cold gaze of several other figures standing beside Hades. The underworld gods had gathered, their presence filling the room with an almost tangible aura of power and darkness. Each one seemed to scrutinize Damon, their eyes piercing through him as they assessed the son of Hades.

To Hades' left stood Persephone, her beauty contrasting sharply with the grim surroundings. Her eyes were cold as they fixed upon Damon.

"You... How is this possible?" She asked not seeming impressed.

Beside Persephone was Nyx, the primordial goddess of night, her dark robes blending seamlessly with the shadows. Her presence was both comforting and intimidating, like the calm yet unyielding night sky. Unlike Persephone, Nyx wore a smile on her face, seeming proud that Damon had managed to return.

Thanatos, the god of death, stood stoically to Hades' right. His eyes were cold and calculating as if he were measuring Damon's worthiness. His black wings folded neatly behind him, casting dark shadows on the floor.

Melinoe materialized, next to Thanatos. Her form flickered between solid and spectral, split evenly down the middle - one-half radiant as moonlight, the other dark as the deepest shadow. Mismatched eyes, one silver-bright and one pitch-black gazed from a face of translucent pallor. Her hair flowed like living smoke, white and black strands intertwining. Clothed in garments that seemed woven from shadows and starlight, Melinoe's presence brought an aura of otherworldly sorrow, the very embodiment of ghostly melancholy.

And finally, Zagreus who stood next to his sister, wearing a somewhat surprised look on his face as he looked Damon up and down.

Damon took a deep breath, steadying himself. He could feel the weight of their expectations, the silent judgment of these powerful beings. But he also felt a surge of determination. He had faced incredible challenges to get here, and he would not falter now.

Hades leaned forward on his throne, his eyes never leaving Damon's. "You have returned from Tartarus," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You have faced its horrors and emerged alive... Very impressive..." Hades said, interlocking his fingers as he spoke.

Damon remained silent, not taking his eyes away from his fathers.

A faint smile played on Hades' lips, seeing that this was not the same boy who had stood before him before.

"I won't accept this. He is supposed to be trapped in the depths of Tartarus. And instead, he dares stand before us!" Persephone said.

"Yet here he is," Nyx said, causing Persephone to turn her head giving her a menacing glare before she turned back to her husband.

"Troublesome indeed." Hades said as he leaned back on his throne, stroking his beard with one of his hands.

"Allow us to continue our battle, father," Zagreus said, stepping forward.

Damon's eyes shifted to his brother, already knowing he had to defeat him.

Hades sighed, knowing he would have to allow it.

"Very well... Damon, you have returned for one thing and one thing only. I can sense the burning desire for revenge inside of you. A truly fitting quality as my son." The king of the underworld said, seeming impressed.

"You may have one more chance to prove yourself against Zagreus." He said, causing Persephone to attempt to interrupt him.

"This is outrageous!" She cried, only to be cut off by Hades.

 "However, if you lose again. I will see to it that this time you stay dead." Hades spoke, setting the tone.

Damon had suspected this all along. Escape from the Underworld was never a matter of chance - it always came down to Hades' will. Now, the final hurdle lay before him: a trial by combat that would push his newly acquired powers to their limit. This wasn't just a fight for freedom; it was a battle for his very essence. Damon knew that in the coming clash, he would either prove his worth or forfeit his soul to the depths of Tartarus forever.