Chapter 8: Freeing Siblings
People read Ch 9 before Ch 8, webnovel messed up and miss order it
Cronus sat on his throne, feeling an unsettling rumble in his stomach. He looked around the empty hall, wondering where Rhea had gone. Just then, a water nymph approached him, carrying a drink.
"Thank you," Cronus said, eyeing her curiously. "What was your name again?"
The nymph smiled brightly, her presence almost soothing amidst the tension. "My name is Metis."
He took the drink from her and lifted it to his lips, feeling the odd concoction slide down his throat. Almost immediately, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. The strange taste turned his insides, and he retched violently, expelling a mix of divine essence and a rock.
"Hello, Father," came a voice from the shadows.
Startled, Cronus looked up to see Hades stepping forward. The young god had transformed significantly; his hair was longer, and his angular face now bore a striking resemblance to his mother. Hades smiled mischievously, examining the remains of what he had just expelled.
"I'm surprised this is what Mother used to fill you with, thinking you swallowed me," Hades said, glancing sideways at Anansi, who had crept up behind him.
Before Cronus could respond, Anansi unleashed his webbing, wrapping it around Hades' arms. The spider god chuckled, "Let's not have any family reunions just yet, shall we?"
Suddenly, the air shimmered as Odin appeared, holding each of Hades' siblings. With a swift motion, he smashed a crystal against the ground, causing a blinding flash of light to engulf the room.
"Let's get out of here!" Odin shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
As the blinding light faded, Cronus felt the bindings of his children weaken, his power slipping away as Hades, Metis, Anansi, and all five siblings were teleported away from his grasp. The emptiness in the throne room echoed with a heavy silence.
Cronus remained seated, his expression unreadable. "... I see my time has come after all," he murmured, the weight of inevitability settling upon him.
In the blink of an eye, Hades and his companions found themselves in a lush forest, the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead. The scent of earth and life surrounded them as they materialized.
"We're safe for now," Hades reassured, glancing at Odin and Anansi. "But we need to move quickly before Cronus realizes what's happened."
Metis, her eyes sparkling with excitement, piped up, "I can help. I know some hidden paths through the realms. They'll keep us away from Cronus and his minions."
Anansi nodded, his multiple arms twitching with eagerness. "And I can scout ahead. No one can catch a spider."
Odin's expression turned serious. "We should also find allies. We can't take on our father alone, and there are others out there who have suffered under his rule."
Hades felt a rush of determination swell within him. "Then we'll travel the realms, gather our allies, and free those who still suffer. Together, we can bring down Cronus."
"Where are we?" one of the younger gods asked, blinking against the brightness of the sun filtering through the trees.
Hades turned his attention to the first of his siblings to awaken. She had fiery red hair that cascaded down her shoulders and eyes that burned with intensity. Her face bore a striking resemblance to Rhea, marking her as one of his family.
"You're at Grandmother Gaea's domain, sister Hestia," Hades said, giving her a reassuring smile.
Hestia rubbed her eyes and sat up fully, her gaze shifting between Hades and the surrounding forest. "Brother… you are our brother?"
Before Hades could answer, a booming light erupted nearby, drawing his attention. Emerging from the radiance was a figure no older than himself. He had white hair that shone like the brightest stars, skin as pale as fresh snow, and crackling blue eyes that mirrored lightning in a storm.
The young man assessed Hades with curiosity and a hint of pride. "You are our brother… the youngest, yet I can sense a lot of power from you."
Hades already knew who this was but maintained a facade of ignorance. "Hello, older brother Zeus."
The atmosphere shifted as Hades' other siblings began to awaken. He noticed Poseidon first, a tall figure with dark skin and sea-blue eyes, his presence commanding yet warm. Next to him stood a stunning girl with blue hair and black eyes, adorned in a flowing blue dress with peacock features crowning her head. This was Hera, originally his twin, though things had clearly shifted in this timeline, placing her as Zeus's twin instead.
Hades' gaze fell upon another beautiful young woman with sun-kissed yellow hair and fair skin, a crown of green plants atop her head, her dress a harmonious blend of green and white. This was none other than Demeter, his older sister, and the future mother of his wife. Family trees in the Greek pantheon were often convoluted, and this was no exception.
"Brother… so there was another one of us," Poseidon remarked, a sense of wonder in his voice.
Hera, with her striking beauty and authority, stepped forward. "We all owe you… what is your name?"
Hades sighed, understanding the delicate situation he found himself in. They didn't know him yet, but he did not want to reveal everything.
Hades looked at all of them, his heart swelling with mixed emotions. "It is Hades. I am the god of death."
A brief silence fell over the group as they processed his words. The title weighed heavily on him; he knew he didn't need to mention his title of Chaos just yet—that was for Gaea and Rhea to reveal when the time was right.
Zeus broke the silence, crossing his arms with a confident grin. "So, you are the one who will preside over the realm of the dead. It must be quite a burden."
"Not as heavy as the throne of Olympus, I'm sure," Hades replied with a smirk, a hint of mischief in his tone.
Laughter erupted from the group, lightening the mood as Hades felt the weight of the past begin to lift. They had a long journey ahead, and while he couldn't share everything he knew, he could certainly enjoy this moment with his siblings.
As the group settled in the clearing, each sibling introduced themselves, sharing stories and laughter as they began to forge bonds that would strengthen them in the trials ahead. Hades felt a sense of belonging swell within him, one that had been absent for far too long.
"Now that we're all together, what's our next move?" Poseidon asked, glancing at Hades with curiosity.
"We need to find allies," Hades said, determination filling his voice. "We cannot face Cronus alone. There are others out there who share our struggles."
Demeter nodded thoughtfully. "We should travel to the other realms and seek those who have suffered under Cronus's rule."
"And perhaps some who may not be gods," Metis suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "There are powerful beings out there who could lend their strength."
Hades felt a surge of pride for his newfound family, each sibling bringing their unique strengths to the table. Together, they would forge a path to freedom, not only for themselves but for all who lived under the shadow of Cronus.
"Then it's settled," Hades declared, looking around at his siblings with resolve. "We will travel, gather allies, and change our destinies. For each of us, and for those who cannot fight for themselves."
With their hearts set on the journey ahead, the siblings clasped hands and stood united, ready to face whatever challenges lay before them in the realms beyond.
The adventure was only beginning, and Hades felt the thrill of the unknown igniting his spirit, propelling him forward into the vastness of destiny.
Lightning crackled around Zeus, illuminating the clearing as he prepared to unleash his fury. "Come on, let's overthrow Father!" he shouted, his excitement palpable.
Hades felt a surge of concern wash over him as he stepped forward, placing a hand on Zeus's shoulder. "No, not yet."
Zeus turned, anger flashing in his blue eyes. "And why is that?"
"None of you are strong enough," Hades replied, his voice steady but firm.
Poseidon, ever the calmer of the two, interjected, "What do you mean? We have the six of us and your friends. We can do this!" His gaze shifted to Anansi, Odin, and Metis, who stood ready to back them up.
Hades narrowed his eyes at the group. He remembered the events of the original timeline all too well. Zeus had rallied them against Cronus, and they had charged into battle with misguided confidence. The result had been disastrous. Many had fallen, and Rhea had sacrificed herself to save them. Hades had witnessed the pain in his mother's eyes as she held back Cronus, forcing him to escape while she faced Cronus alone. He would not allow that tragic day to repeat itself.
"Zeus," Hades said, his tone solemn, "you need to understand. You're not ready. Your ego could lead us to our doom."
Zeus's face hardened, a flash of irritation crossing his features. "What do you mean 'weak'? As the oldest, you will listen to me!"
Hades sighed, recognizing the familiar anger and arrogance of the younger Zeus. He knew he had to take a different approach to get through to his brother. "Fine," he said, holding up a hand to halt the impending argument. "I'll allow you to attack Father, but you must hit me just once."
The air crackled with anticipation as Zeus's hands surged with lightning. "Oh, this will be fun," he taunted, confidence radiating off him.
Hades stood firm, knowing the truth of his own power. He had spent centuries training with Tiamat, mastering control over the void, the sea, and Chaos itself. He had endured nearly a thousand years honing his skills in various disciplines. Zeus, for all his strength, was still a child in comparison.
As Zeus unleashed his lightning, Hades stood resolute, letting the crackling energy course around him. In an instant, he bent the lightning to his will, diverting it away from his body and letting it explode harmlessly into the trees behind him. The sound was deafening, a thunderous crack that sent birds scattering into the sky.
Hades watched as Zeus's eyes widened in disbelief. "What—how did you do that?" he stammered, his confidence faltering.
"I told you, brother," Hades replied coolly, "you're not as strong as you think. You need to train more, to truly understand your powers before challenging someone like Father—or me."
Zeus clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You think you're better than me because of some training?"
"It's not about being better, Zeus," Hades said, his tone softening slightly. "It's about understanding the stakes. If we confront Cronus unprepared, we could lose everything. I refuse to let our family suffer again."
Poseidon stepped forward, sensing the tension between his brothers. "Hades is right. We should work together, strengthen ourselves first. If we can unite our powers, we'll have a better chance against him."
Metis nodded, her expression serious. "We can't underestimate Cronus. He's been plotting for ages; we need to outsmart him, not just overpower him."
Hades felt a wave of relief wash over him as his siblings began to consider his perspective. They needed to be united, not just in strength but in purpose and strategy. He turned to Zeus, a flicker of understanding passing between them.
"I want to fight alongside you, brother," Hades said earnestly. "But I need you to understand that strength alone isn't enough. We need to be ready for anything."
Zeus took a deep breath, the storm within him beginning to calm. "Fine, then. What do you suggest we do?"
Hades smiled, knowing that they were on the right path. "We train. We gather knowledge. We seek out allies who can aid us in our quest. Together, we will become stronger—together, we will take down Cronus."
With a newfound sense of unity, the siblings looked at one another, determination shining in their eyes. They knew the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but together they would face whatever trials awaited them.
As they began to strategize, Hades felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. This time, they would not be victims of fate but masters of their destinies.
And as they planned, the winds of change began to swirl around them, heralding the dawn of a new era in the pantheon—a time when they would rise as a family, united against their father and the darkness that loomed over their lives.
To be continued
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