The cavernous expanse of the Underworld was dimly lit by rivers of molten fire and the faint glow of restless souls. The jagged walls echoed with the whispers of the dead, but Hades paid them no mind as he entered his throne room. His dark robes swept across the obsidian floor as he strode forward with purpose. Waiting for him were his two minions, Pain and Panic, who scrambled to attention the moment he appeared.

"Oh great Lord Hades, Keeper of Mortal Souls, One with Dominion over the Underworld!" they chorused, bowing low in exaggerated reverence.

Hades stopped in his tracks and arched an eyebrow. "Hmm. Very good. You've been practicing. Now…" He leaned down, his sharp smile making them tremble. "The Fates—have they arrived for my War Council?"

Pain nodded frantically. "Yes, oh dark and gloomy one! They're waiting!"

Panic wrung his hands nervously. "They're very patient, as you know… seeing as they are fate itself!"

Hades rolled his eyes. "Of course they are. But tell me first—what news of the mortal woman? Has she been born yet?"

Pain grinned. "Yes, the maiden who is key to our plans."

Panic giggled. "The one destined to hold Deku's heart. Lady Kristál, Priestess of Skye."

Hades's smile widened, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. "Excellent. Let's see what our dear Fates have to say about this."

The War Council chamber was a grim, shadowy space filled with the threads of mortal lives, each glowing faintly in the hands of the Fates. The three ancient sisters, wrinkled and weathered, busied themselves cutting and weaving the strands of destiny. Their milky eyes glanced up as Hades entered.

"Ah, darling ladies," Hades greeted, spreading his arms. "Your favorite god has arrived. I could use a little prophecy… regarding the little zapper, Zeus's son. Will he stop me from taking Olympus? After all, I've gone to so much trouble…" His voice dipped menacingly. "…and I now have his heart in my hands."

The Fates exchanged knowing glances, their grins eerily synchronized.

"So you think you have it all figured out, God of the Dead?" one rasped.

"But you should have learned by now…" another began.

"…that pride comes before a fall." the third finished with a wicked grin.

Hades's smile thinned, but he kept his composure. "Very well. One prophecy. Make it good."

The three sisters leaned closer, their voices weaving together in an eerie chorus.

"In eighteen years precisely,

The planets will align, ever so nicely.

The time to act will be at hand.

Unleash the Titans, your monstrous band.

Then the once-proud Zeus will finally fall,

And you, Hades, will rule all.

But beware, God of the Dead,

Should Deku fight, you will fail instead.

Though his heart you now hold,

A selfless act will unleash the true hero."

Hades's expression darkened as the words sank in. He clenched his fists, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "So," he growled, "Deku will be my undoing, will he? Fine. I won't just destroy the boy…" He leaned forward, his voice a hiss. "…I'll break his heart."

Turning sharply, he pointed at Pain and Panic. "You two! You know what to do. Get me that baby."

Xxx

Pain and Panic crept through the golden halls of Mount Olympus under cover of darkness. The air was heavy with silence as they approached the gilded crib where baby Izuku slept peacefully. His golden glow illuminated the room, a testament to his divine lineage.

Pain snickered. "This is too easy!"

Panic shushed him. "Quiet! You want Zeus to fry us?"

Carefully, they lifted the baby from the crib and carried him down to a Grecian city below. In the shadow of a ruined temple, they prepared to feed him the potion Hades had given them—a liquid designed to strip away his immortality and turn him mortal.

As Izuku drank, the golden glow surrounding him began to fade. His divine aura dimmed, and he transformed into a mortal baby. But before he could drink the last drop, a noise startled the two demons.

Around the corner, a couple appeared. Hisashi and his wife Inku approached cautiously, their eyes wide with concern.

"Inku, over here," Hisashi whispered. "There's a baby!"

"Oh, you poor thing," Inku murmured, lifting Izuku into her arms. "Don't cry, little one. Oh, he's beautiful!" She looked around. "Is anybody there?"

"He must have been abandoned," Hisashi said, his voice heavy with pity. "Inku, for years we've prayed to the gods for a child. Perhaps… perhaps this is their answer."

Inku smiled, her eyes filling with tears. "Then we'll call him Izuku."

As she held the baby close, Pain and Panic transformed into serpents and lunged toward them, but Izuku, even as a mortal, displayed extraordinary strength. With an innocent giggle, he grabbed the snakes and tied them into a knot, flinging them into the nearby river.

"Help, help, help!" the demons cried as they disappeared under the water. "He didn't drink the last drop! He still has his godlike strength! Oh no!"

Xxx

Far below, in a small, impoverished village, Hades stepped into the humble home of Chara and Aris. The couple froze in terror as the god of the dead loomed before them, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Chara was tucking her infant daughter, Kristál, into her crib. The baby stirred, her dark hair framing her delicate face.

"Such a terrible tragedy…" Hades began, his tone almost sympathetic. "That your child will die at age six from hunger."

Chara gasped, stepping protectively in front of the crib. "What do you want, oh great Lord of the Underworld? We pay homage to you!"

Hades smiled, a dangerous curve of his lips. "It's not what I want, my dear. It's what your husband has prayed for. Isn't that right, Aris?"

Aris lowered his head, trembling. "I… I prayed for wealth. For my family. I can't bear to see them suffer!"

Chara's voice shook with anger. "Aris! We have each other; we have love! That is enough!"

Hades's chuckle sent a chill through the room. "Ah, but love doesn't feed empty stomachs, does it?" His gaze fell on Kristál. "I've taken a special interest in your daughter. She could become something truly extraordinary… my Priestess. Do this, and your family will never want for anything again."

Chara opened her mouth to refuse, but Aris, desperate, reached out and clasped Hades's hand. "Deal."

Hades's grin widened. "A wise choice. Kristál will become my Priestess of the Damned. One day, she will perform a service so great it will bring Olympus to its knees."