Chapter 34 Radiance of the Underworld

'Not every deity is qualified to know the location of Tartarus; only those who have ascended to the rank of a major god will have this pathway revealed to them. Otherwise, the Cyclopes guarding Tartarus are not known for their good temper." Below the major god rank, the Cyclopes could easily swat a god into a daze with a single hand. Given the already limited number of underworld gods, it was crucial to ensure their safety. 'I see! Your Excellency, the God of Death, truly lives up to being the second-in-command of the Underworld. Your extensive knowledge is truly impressive!" Paikos began to shower compliments. 'Alright, alright, I'm not that petty," Dandatus replied, rolling his eyes and waving his hand dismissively. However, the slight flutter of his wings revealed his good mood. The two gods stepped to the left, and as they walked, the majestic Underworld City appeared before them. Dandatus led Paikos to the Hall of Hades, the ruler of the Underworld and one of the three kings of heaven, earth, and sea—an ultimate wielder of power. Inside the Hall of Hades, dozens of underworld gods were already seated on either side. The only ones Paikos recognized were Hypnos, who radiated a dreamy glow, and Hecate, the Mistress of the Underworld Moon, whom he had caught a glimpse of not long ago. Amidst the gathering of gods, there was a skeletal throne, and the king of the Underworld, with his long black hair, sat there with a cold expression. His green eyes, reminiscent of a deep pool, fixed on the newly born underworld god, revealing a hint of scrutiny. 'Your Majesty, the King of the Underworld, I present to you the new underworld god, Paikos," Dandatus said solemnly, bowing to Hades. He then lightly flapped his wings and took a seat beside Hypnos. 'Respectful greetings to Your Majesty, the King of the Underworld, God of Frost, Death, and Plague, Master of the Underworld Sun, God of Vengeance, Curse, and Suffering, Comforter of Souls. I, Paikos, offer you my loyalty." The god with crow-black wings, his handsome yet slightly sinister features, presented a solemn salute to Hades. Paikos was not a fool like Helios, who, having control over the sun, believed himself to be invulnerable. In reality, even a ruler like Zeus, who had yet to fully grasp his power, had many ways to deal with one. Moreover, Hades, who appeared taciturn yet had long since grasped the authority of the Underworld, needed to maintain a soft demeanor until he had absolute power. 'Paikos? Son of Gaia and Tartarus?" Hades, as the King of the Underworld, could naturally sense the aura surrounding Paikos. Tartarus was of little concern; the primordial god had only one passion since his birth—sleeping. However, Gaia, amidst the turbulent currents between the divine mountains, the sea, and the Underworld, clearly leaned more toward Zeus, which made Hades feel a twinge of wariness toward Paikos. After all, the influence of a mother goddess on her offspring could not be underestimated. Paikos felt a tightening in his chest but kept his expression calm. 'I am an underworld god born from the calamity of the heavenly fire, conceived from the hatred of the underworld and humanity, not born of the goddess Gaia." 'Oh?" Hades's expression shifted slightly. It wasn't unheard of for a god to be naturally born from the underworld. If Paikos was not a child of Gaia, that might actually make him more useful. The appearance of the Sun and Moon of the Underworld caused a disturbance in the elemental energy of the Underworld, hinting at a possible ascension. This event even caught the attention of Nyx, the goddess of night, highlighting its significance to the Underworld. 'Paikos, you have ascended to the rank of a major god and are now the master of the Underworld Sun. There should be a seat for you in the Hall of Hades." As Hades spoke, a dark golden throne rose from the ground, intricately carved with images of the Underworld Sun, ice and snow, and wings, shimmering with a dim divine light that exuded understated luxury. The underworld gods in the hall couldn't help but gasp. The reason was simple: the seat Hades had arranged for Paikos was right next to Hecate, the master of the Underworld Moon, who had also recently ascended to the rank of major god and was one of the senior figures in the Underworld. It seemed that His Majesty the King of the Underworld held this new god in high regard. Being close to a ruler was akin to being close to a tiger, and the other underworld gods couldn't help but speculate on the implications of Hades's actions. 'Hecate, the Sun and Moon are of great importance to the Underworld. During this time, you two should cooperate and finalize the cycle of the Sun and Moon's operation. Use the power of the Sun and Moon to help the Underworld ascend." 'Yes, Your Majesty," both Paikos and Hecate replied in unison as they sat upon their thrones. 'Finally, we meet, Prince Paikos." The coldly beautiful goddess smiled slightly, her demeanor friendly and her expression gentle, clearly in a good mood. Indeed, Hecate had been at the peak of the first rank for countless years. She often felt she was on the verge of breaking through her bottleneck but always seemed to lack something. Paikos's mastery of the Underworld Sun provided her with a spark of inspiration. Seizing this opportunity, she broke through her bottleneck and ascended to the rank of major god, which made her feel quite fond of the deity who had brought her this chance. 'I look forward to your guidance, Lady Hecate." The natural connection between the Sun and Moon made Paikos feel a sense of kinship with this goddess. With one party showing goodwill and the other responding in kind, the two deities of the Underworld found themselves enjoying a pleasant conversation. On Olympus, forever shrouded in divine light, the goddess of life, Hebe, was being pampered by the nymphs. Since Hebe ascended to the peak of the first rank, the nymphs in the Temple of Life had been living quite happily under her protection. It could be said that among the nymphs, there was an unspoken understanding: those who served in the Temple of Life were undoubtedly favored by fate. This goddess was renowned among the nymphs for her kindness and was also a very powerful deity. As the attendants of a goddess, they commanded respect even from lower-ranked third-tier gods. Moreover, they did not have to worry about being objectified or humiliated like those nymphs serving in the temples of male gods. Many nymphs vied to be assigned to serve in the Temple of Life, but unfortunately, this goddess seemed to prefer tranquility over bustling crowds. If it weren't for Queen Hera's concern that she would have no one to serve her, forcing a group of nymphs into her service, the number of attendants in the Temple of Life would probably be no more than a handful. As Hebe enjoyed the fine wine and tender roasted lamb brought by the nymphs, she couldn't help but sigh again, realizing how easy it was to slip from frugality to extravagance; she was almost being spoiled by these nymphs. Suddenly, the elemental energy of the world trembled, and the will of the universe descended. The gods felt a stirring in their hearts, sensing that a new major god had been born in the Underworld, bringing with it the possibility of ascension for that realm. From the Hall of the King of Gods came the rumble of thunder, indicating that Zeus was not in the best of moods. A smile crept across Hebe's exquisite face. With Hades's threat looming, Zeus would likely tone down his flirtations and focus on his duties for a while. After all, his constant dalliances had displeased the mother goddess. If it weren't for her own lack of power, Hebe would have thought about following in Cronus's footsteps to show her filial piety. However, she hadn't anticipated that her other half, Paikos, would progress so smoothly in the Underworld. Once the trajectories of the Sun and Moon were officially established, Paikos's position in the Underworld would become unshakeable. Hebe sensed her own divine essence within her—at the peak of the first rank—while her other half, Paikos, had already reached the rank of major god. Although they were one entity and she didn't have to worry about betrayal, it was somewhat embarrassing for a devoted practitioner like Hebe to be surpassed by her other half. But it was fine; the newly born winter god essence held limitless potential. Hebe hadn't yet had the chance to comprehend this new divine essence, and the divine offices and quantities derived from it were quite considerable. At that point, stepping into the rank of major god would be a natural progression for her. 'The beautiful and benevolent Hebe, the noble Queen Hera is calling for you." Just as Hebe was lost in thought, a nymph came to inform her that Hera was looking for her. Though Hebe felt puzzled, she naturally went to answer her mother goddess's summons with eagerness. At that moment, Hera was not in the Hall of the King of Gods; Zeus was sulking due to the news of the Underworld's impending ascension, and Hera preferred to avoid his foul mood, opting instead to retreat to her marriage temple for some peace. 'Mother, did you call for me for something?" The golden-haired Hebe slowly entered the marriage temple, looking at the brown-haired goddess seated on the throne. Hera's violet eyes sparkled with amusement as she asked. 'Is it not permissible to call my little daughter to keep me company if there's nothing else going on? After all, a young eagle must eventually leave the nest," Hera said, feigning a teasing tone as she expressed her happiness at seeing Hebe. 'What are you saying, Mother? No matter what position I hold, you will always be my most beloved mother. This is as indelible as the laws of nature," Hebe replied with a playful laugh, revealing a rare side of her as a daughter in front of Hera. She nestled into her mother's warm embrace, speaking sweetly and affectionately.