Chapter 20

There have been three known governors of the Netherworld: Meng Po, Ereshkigal, and Hades. The changing of the guard, as it were, has never come peacefully. Meng Po's rule began some six thousand years ago when she claimed the Realm of the Dead as her own. Of note, she did not create the Realm of the Dead, nor do we know who ruled before she did or what function it had prior to her takeover. Meng Po reigned for one thousand years before she was deposed by Ereshkigal. Wise and strong Ereshkigal maintained control of the Netherworld for almost five thousand years, her governorship ending when Hades overthrew her. Some believe the Realm of the Dead has a certain level of consciousness and actively supports challengers to the throne that it favors. These claims have yet to be substantiated, but, if true, I wonder what else the Netherworld opines about, and for what end it formed a consciousness.

-Excerpt from The Curious Case of Our Strange World by Ajuka Beelzebub

The black spire was made of metal, not obsidian.

Standing beneath its shadow, Percy felt very small. Not exactly a new feeling for him, but he gawked at the metal monstrosity regardless. It gave him the same sense of wrongness that the rest of Crag did. Something that big couldn't be natural. Then again, why would the spire be natural when nothing else in Crag was? With twisted grace, it rose, smooth and adamantine. It curled around itself as it rose, thicker at its base and tapering to a point a couple hundred yards up.

Who had made this, and why? Rat-people? Something older? Something bigger? Percy wasn't so sure he wanted to know. Or maybe the spire was natural. That was a possibility in a place as strange and dangerous as Crag.

Jann looked around. "So… what now?" he asked haltingly. His eyes trailed up to the black spire's peak. "This is how we're going to reach the Netherworld?"

Athena put her hand on the spire's metallic surface. "Yes, this is our point of entry into the Netherworld. Certain avenues are beyond Hades to close. While he may be able to deny an individual's method of personal teleportation, these natural pathways are not his to control. This place is one. The others that I know of are Abyssal Tartarus and Heaven. There may be more, but if there are, Hades has kept them a secret. These three avenues to the Netherworld have been known since Meng Po ruled there, before Ereshkigal and Hades. When and why these formed, I cannot say. Let's just be grateful that we can reach our goal, shall we?"

Percy tapped the spire with his sword. The dull clang-clang proved that the spire was solid through and through. From her position, Athena shot him a disbelieving look. He shrugged at her. "What? Just wanted to know how sturdy this thing was."

"I would appreciate it if you kept your foolish ideas firmly in your own head."

"Sure," Percy rolled his eyes at her. "How does this thing work, though?"

"I'm opening the path for us. Now please, be quiet. Go keep watch over the slough. Best we stay aware of our surroundings to avoid a surprise attack from whatever else lives here."

"Fine." Percy turned away from her and the spire. He moved closer to the edge of a nearby bluff that overlooked the south side of the promontory. The slough was eerily quiet. No mosquitoes, frogs, flies, birds, or alligators; death's silence had fallen upon the bog. The nose-numbing stench of iron had mostly taken over Percy's sense of smell, but the wind would carry the scent of rotting vegetation every now and then.

Jann stepped next to him. The boy's brown eyes were trained on the horizon, scanning for threats, but they seemed unfocused. Eventually, he turned to Percy. "You killed Pluto."

Percy nodded slowly. "Not that I wanted to. The guy was probably just doing his job. Ultimately, I chose the best out of a bunch of bad options. Hades will have to answer for hiding behind his subordinates in the end."

"So it's about justice for you?"

"Sure, let's go with that."

"It's not?"

"It is. That said, not everybody will see it that way, and I wouldn't blame them for thinking otherwise."

His last conversation with Tiamat came to mind. "You think justice is something concrete, undeniable. You believe that you are entitled to seek justice because you were wronged. Allow me to disabuse you of the notion that justice is anything but arbitrary. Justice is not the result of your actions; it is the action itself. Using your strength is justice. Power is justice. Justice is selfish by nature. Whether you turn the other cheek or take their eye for yours, so long as you choose and act how you desire, that is justice."

Outdated worldview aside, Percy didn't think she was entirely wrong. If he took Tiamat's words to heart, revenge and justice would be considered the same thing. In this case, that worked for him just fine.

Jann whistled lowly. "Still, I wish I could have seen your battle with Pluto. I mean, look at you—not even a scratch. That's pretty crazy."

"I managed to catch him by surprise. Busted out the big guns this time around. Not all that crazy."

"Seriously, you're not hurt? The lightning… How'd you get back up so fast after something like that?"

Percy wasn't so sure himself. Maybe it was the ward on Tiamat's necklace, maybe it was the curse, maybe a combination of the two, or maybe something else entirely. "I'm not sure. In times like these, I just shrug and blame my luck. For better or worse, I've got plenty to spare."

If the look on Jann's face was any indication, he wasn't too pleased with the non-committal answer.

Sorry man, it is what it is. Percy didn't know what else to say.

"All right you two, it's ready. Come here," Athena, thankfully, called to them, essentially ending their conversation. Percy let Jann go first, taking a few seconds to scan the horizon before he turned and joined them at the base of the spire. The goddess rapped against the smooth surface with her knuckles. Once, twice, but before the third, a ripple spread from where her hand made contact with the spire, almost as if the black metal had become water. She looked over her shoulder to regard Jann and Percy. "I hope you're both ready. Remember your roles, do as I say, and we'll succeed."

Percy nodded. There was a good chance doing this would kill him, but oh well. As long as he got some good hits in—bruised Hades' ego more than a little—that'd be enough.

The three of them stepped into the rippling metal.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hades watched the intruders approach his temple from the top of its steps. He readily recognized two of them: Zeus' favorite, Athena, the thoughtform that had taken all the characteristics of a god due to her unique genesis, and the outsider, Percy Jackson, who belonged not in the Netherworld, nor on Earth, nor in Heaven. Together, they made a dangerous pair. Athena had likely already run a dozen mental simulations where her path to victory was assured and then made contingencies for every other possible outcome that would loop back to her success. Her unique ability, Controlled Engagement, would also prove to be troublesome. And Percy Jackson now felt different from before. That was no surprise, given that the Great Sage had become Jackson's mentor. Hades could only imagine what powers Jackson now had at his disposal.

The last of their group was a boy carrying a bow and wearing bronze armor over top of modern clothing. Hades scanned the boy's face. Fear. As to be expected. Hades pitied the child. He was little more than another of Athena's pawns. Yes, the boy had a Sacred Gear, but no matter. This battle would be decided within the first few moments. Against the likes of Athena, Hades would have to take risks he usually would not. The same could be said for her, though. The application of his power, not the total amount, was what mattered now.

A shame it had come to this. That the Olympians could not see the righteousness of his actions was indicative of the rot that had taken hold of their mighty selves. No. It showed that the corruption had always been there. They cared not for humanity. They cared not for the world. Their attention and love and desires were focused solely inward. They were a self-serving lot; them and the rest of the gods. Hades also supposed that included him, but he was a necessary evil. Humanity still needed him for a while longer, which was why he would fight the intruders this day. Had they only waited a decade, he would have gladly gone with them and accepted his punishment.

Because, oh yes, he certainly deserved what was coming to him. Hades was beyond forgiveness. However, while that was true, the gods did not deserve justice for his actions. They were not the ones he had wronged. They deserved no satisfaction from his downfall.

The intruders stopped at the first step leading up to his temple. Hades cocked his head. One of Athena's eyes was hidden behind a black patch. Interesting. What had managed to harm her? And why would she not choose to heal herself properly before undertaking this monumental task? The assumption, of course, was that Athena was at all debilitated when in truth, she could well be in no dire strait. A ploy? She was not above such tactics, especially if they brought her victory. Athena would commit untold atrocities without batting an eye. Her pride was established firmly in the belief that she always had control. Such a thing was not easy to exploit. Hades could do his best, but Athena likely had an unshakeable faith in her plans by now. If he could somehow derail those, she would come undone at the seams, making her desperate, which was the ideal time to deal a death blow against her.

Jackson, on the other hand, seemed like the opposite of Athena. The boy's prior actions suggested he was prone to succumbing to impulse. He was likely easier to ensnare in a trap or make plans concerning, though only to a certain extent. Complicated plans had many variables, any of which might stir Jackson's impulsiveness and cause deviation. Moreover, Hades was plagued by an itch in his brain that warned of Jackson's uncanny nature. The Netherworld simultaneously yearned to obtain him and firmly denied the idea that he might ever belong. Would the boy die if Hades killed him? He'd apparently cheated death countless times in another place Hades could not fathom. His shadow was stuck between two opposite states of existence, and where he walked, the curious gravity of his unnaturalness affected everything around him in peculiar ways. And now that dunce of a sage had made him all the more powerful.

"Hello, Hades," Athena spoke for them. As he had expected. This would be the first test. Did Hades speak to her, or did he attack; the options presented to him now would likely inform how this battle would end. "Pluto is dead."

So they had come from Crag. That did make the most sense. Abyssal Tartarus had been taken off the table, leaving Heaven, Crag, and the center of the Chicxulub crater as their only viable routes. Heaven had been unlikely for many reasons, chief among them being Zeus' general distrust of Yahweh's angels, and the Chicxulub crater entrance was likely guarded by the Lords of Xibalba.

For a few long seconds, Hades said nothing. Athena's next move would prove invaluable. If she kept talking, that meant her plan involved keeping Hades occupied for a time, likely so she could recover her strength. If she moved to begin the battle, her plan either did not hinge on a delay or worked best with immediate action. If Hades did the opposite of what she did, he might be afforded the advantage. Though he had to consider that Athena planned for such a thing.

Damn her! By virtue of her reputation alone, she had already managed to make him second-guess himself. Few could claim such a feat. What power! The mind games she could play simply by presenting herself as the enemy were astounding. Every step he took might have been a step in the wrong direction, leading him ever closer to falling fully into Athena's web. What had she already foreseen? What had she not? Were his actions his own, or was he dancing in the palm of her hand? If she'd already attached strings to him, how could he shake them? In the end, did his struggles matter, or was the outcome decided?

Athena smirked. It was a subtle thing, too subtle to be noticeable, but Hades had been nothing if not attentive. To anybody else, it would have been little more than a twitch of her lips. "I know why you did it, Hades. Humanity's eyes have been opened once more, and once more, it will take up the sword to fight for its own survival. You gave them the final shake to jolt them awake. The cost was high, but the rewards will hopefully be plentiful. I only wonder what you have seen that would bring about this drastic change in your personal policy. Will you at least tell me that?"

So, she wanted to talk, did she? In that case…

Hades prepared himself, liberally drawing upon his power so that it leaked from his form. He would destroy them with one attack. It would be dangerous to unleash such an attack in the Netherworld, but they left him little choice.

"Oh, but maybe I already know. You foresaw a challenger appearing and ousting you from this place, didn't you?" Athena merrily continued speaking while Hades gathered his energy. "As it has rejected others in the past, so too will the Netherworld reject you. On your watch, under your governance, the Netherworld lost one of its oldest psychopomps, and just now, it has lost another. You are unfit to rule here, Hades. Your time has come to an end. Even now, you cannot defeat us."

What arrogance! She had not seen what he had seen. The gods of this universe would not suffice. Hades' patience frayed, and he lifted his hands to unleash a wave of energy to eradicate those before him.

Athena blinked lazily. "Even your altruism is fumbling and misguided. Did it never occur to you that there were better ways to realize your goals? For all your bluster about helping humanity, for all your power and supposed wisdom, was the mass murder of nearly three million people your only idea? Is that any way for someone of your caliber to act? Surely the Netherworld is displeased. Surely you're hanging on by a thread. One push is all it will take. I am that push."

The air around Hades twisted and writhed as his power swelled—

A blade leaped from the shadows. Hades' arms fell, separated at the elbows, and black chains shot forth from inky puddles around him, circling his body and squeezing tight. His bones creaked and cracked under the pressure. He grunted as they pulled even more, suddenly aware of two figures cloaked in darkness stepping out from Athena's shadow.

"Nyx. Erebus. So you have betrayed me."

"Yes, we have," Nyx said. The pitch coat surrounding her slowly melted into a dress dotted with stars. "Athena made us an offer we could not refuse."

"More than that, you seem unfit for this job, Hades," Erebus chided as the darkness surrounding him sank into his skin. His dark eyes lit up with purple fire. "It's been over two thousand years since you took it, after all. Now is your chance to finally take a well-deserved break. Aren't you tired of it?"

"Irresponsibility does not suit me," Hades said.

"No, it never has," Erebus conceded. "But haven't you done enough at this point? I can't remember a governor who has done more to keep the balance stable than you. The gods have their squabbles, the humans fight their wars, and here you still stand, diligent to the end. For better or worse, I would argue. A change is coming, Hades. You may not have started it, but you helped speed the collapse. The chips will likely fall where you wanted them to at this point. You've done your part."

"They still need me."

"They do not," Athena said. "You only believe they do because you fail to understand one thing about them: a human's hatred can burn a hundred times hotter than yours or mine. They are short-lived and, so, they are also shortsighted. We can carry our grudges for centuries. It is only natural that we feel less of an urgency to make our emotions known. Humans do not have that luxury. Their fleeting lives demand they act fast. They have no time to wait for rivers to dry, so they build bridges to cross; they cannot allow caves to form naturally, so they raise free-standing homes for shelter; they do not trust nature to provide them with food wherever they wander, so they cultivate the land to sustain themselves. This is simply part of who they are. It is this deep-seated understanding of their limitations that has led them to find ingenious solutions that seem fantastical to us who share the planet with them."

"Do you think they can always be trusted to make the right choices?" Hades asked.

"Of course not," Athena said. "But, as the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Hades, you want humans to self-determine so long as what they choose reflects what you want them to do." She pointed at him. "Hypocrite."

Hades summoned all his strength and broke free from his bindings. The black chains disappeared into wisps of smoke upon hitting the ground. "Coming from you, Athena, those accusations ring hollow."

"Then what about if they came from me?" The human who had been silent until then suddenly stepped forward.

"I'll throw my two cents in, too," Jackson said.

"And the both of you supposedly represent all of humanity? All seven billion humans have entrusted you to speak for them? Don't make me laugh."

"Do you think there is a single person out there who would defend you?" the human said. "If they found out you were the reason behind Samael's attacks, do you think they would condemn us for what we're doing?"

Jackson stabbed his sword into the ground. The whole realm trembled. "Once they learn, they'll all hate you as much as we do. They wouldn't be wrong to, either. What you did was unforgivable. We're doing what anybody else would do if they had the chance. Besides, isn't this what you wanted in the end?"

Hades chuckled. "Had you come without Athena, perhaps that argument would persuade me to view you in a different light. As it stands, you are allowing her to use you as she pleases. That's exactly what I want to end. If you act with her, you are my enemy."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe we're using her?" the armored human said.

"Oh?"

"Now that I know—for sure—that you're the one responsible for what happened to my home, I'm glad I'm down here," Jackson agreed. His body was tense. "If I'd found out later, I still would've come to give you a piece of my mind. One way or another, this was bound to happen. Athena just so happened to give me a chance for it to happen sooner." He pulled the sword out of the ground. Water began to burble up from the gash like the Netherworld was bleeding from a wound. Despite their inevitable clash, despite Jackson being nothing more than an otherworldly demigod, the look in his eyes betrayed only fury. "If anything, you should be thanking Athena. She's the only reason you're getting through this alive. If it were up to me, well… nothing I could do to you would compare to the amount of suffering you've caused."

A thrill shot through Hades. No mortal had ever spoken to him so brazenly. How many other humans would say the exact same thing were they in Jackson's place? Had their fear turned entirely into anger and hate? If that was the case, then perhaps his work indeed had been done. Even so, would it be enough? There was only one way to learn the answer to that question.

"Come then. Hold nothing back here and now, boy. Let me test this newfound conviction of yours."

Jackson did not waste time, acquiescing by charging up the steps at Hades. On the second step, he suddenly—no, there!—he reappeared on the twelfth step—again!—on the thirtieth—again?!—the hundredth, and then he moved through Hades.

This—!

Hades hadn't even managed to defend himself. He'd hardly been able to understand what was happening. What power! Even as his body came apart at the seams, split into a dozen pieces by a dozen slashes, Hades had to marvel. The boy hadn't been at this level when he fought Thanatos. Or had he? Perhaps he'd been this strong all along and had battled Thanatos less ferociously for some reason. No matter. Hades' body reconstituted itself only a moment later, bones growing from the clean stumps left behind with the whisper of a crunch, robes fluttering as magic stitched them back into place over his form.

"Impressive, if ultimately futile. How could you possibly expect to defeat me here with something so pedestrian?" Hades asked.

Water sloughed off of Jackson's sword, steadily spilling gallons and gallons with no apparent end in sight. Hades took the moment of calm to study the boy even more closely. He'd thought so when they had first met, but the boy bore a striking resemblance to Poseidon. If one put them side by side and turned back the clock on Poseidon's appearance three thousand years, this serious-faced demigod looked eerily similar to his brother. In that case, he must have been Poseidon's son. And from a separate universe altogether, at that.

Was there another Hades that he had already confronted, then? Could that be where his confidence came from? This may not have been unusual ground for him. What a frightening thought. He entertained it for a moment, then began his counterattack, teleporting behind Jackson and spewing a torrent of purple dreadfire from his mouth. The flames washed over a strong barrier, easily eating through the magical protection. But Jackson took advantage of the time he'd been given and dashed forward. Hades felt the blade's bite as it split him in two. His top half floated away from his bottom. Again, though, his body reformed whole soon after, and the two were left staring at each other as the dreadfire greedily melted the stone around them.

"Strike me down a hundred times," Hades said, "and I will rise as strong as before. So long as I have the Netherworld's strength, I will not fall. You are welcome to continue this pointless struggle, but once my blows begin to land, you must realize it spells death." He teleported above the temple, far up enough to see his gathered enemies. He stayed aloft and spread his arms, collecting energy in the palm of his hand. "And don't think me incapable of doing battle with all of you at once. Invading my home and bringing conflict into this sacred place are unforgivable sins."

Despite the distance between them, he knew they would hear him clearly. His word could not be ignored in the Netherworld. No matter how far they went or what rock they hid beneath, his voice would reach them.

"Controlled Engagement: No Fly Zone."

What?

Hades felt an invisible force hurl him toward the ground. He tried to fight against the intangible power pushing him down, but no matter how much he struggled against it, he couldn't stop himself. He hit the stone steps of his temple, bones cracking from the impact. Gravity lifted itself from his body as soon as he made contact with the ground. Hades stood and glared at Athena. The psychomorph had a distinctly predatory grin on her face, the type she so rarely allowed to slip. To think she would use her ability for something so banal…

No, that was not fair to her. Now that she had essentially negated flight, Jackson and the other human were better able to engage Hades. Though, Nyx, Erebus, and Athena herself would also be affected by Controlled Engagement. Apparently, she thought the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. Interesting. Would she truly place so much faith in those two humans?

Impossible. Athena relied on cold logic for her plans, not faith. But then that meant Hades would have to be more mindful of them. If she was willing to handicap herself for their sake, surely they were a force to be reckoned with. In fact, Jackson was already proving that theory correct. Hades had no inclination toward fighting, which was why the boy could so efficiently dispatch him. Gods with innate combat abilities would be able to hold their own, but there were plenty of gods who, like Hades, would not, and unlike Hades, some of those gods would be well and truly killed if they fought Jackson. The other human was still an unknown variable, but if he were even half as dangerous as Jackson, that would be a problem.

One thing at a time, for now. Hades fired off the energy he'd been gathering in the palm of his hand. Not at his enemies, though. He fired it down into the steps of his own temple. Already, he had teleported to the far end of his domain, at the very precipice of where it touched the sea of gray fog that separated his realm from Purgatory.

The incredible explosion that he'd created could be felt even from there. A stroke of heat and a rolling shockwave dispersed all the mist that usually clung to his Netherworld, giving him a clear view of the plume of smoke and dust rising from the remains of his temple.

"Aegis Mineralization."

Hades turned around. The group of invaders melted out from his shadow. Erebus and Nyx must have attached them when Hades had been distracted fighting Jackson. That would be irksome to deal with.

The other human stepped forward, dropping the bow. In his hands was now a sword and shield. Aegis Mineralization, one of Jehovah's Sacred Gears, was a mockery of the original Aegis that Hephaestus had created. It took the grandiose inspiration of the original and added nothing of value. He had seen them compared side by side once, and while they looked nearly identical, Jehovah's model did not inspire awe as Hephaestus' did.

"Controlled Engagement: No Retreat."

Various sorcerous threads were instantly erased.

Hades narrowed his eyes at Athena. On top of flying, teleportation was no longer available to anybody in this battle. That was two out of her five uses of Controlled Engagement now. This one, Hades thought, was a wise expenditure. Teleportation was an ability that only some could utilize to the same effect as Hades. His teleportation magic was versatile enough to use in the thick of battle. And as teleportation was instant, it was considered superior to simply moving faster.

Well, as the humans say, what use is there in crying over spilled milk? Perhaps the situation had turned not necessarily in his favor, but if they thought theirs was the stronger hand, he would have to open their eyes to the reality of the situation.

Again, Athena spoke. "Controlled Engagement: Grave Redress."

Hades pondered that. She had burned three of her five fiats already. Controlled Engagement was, from the little Hades understood about it, a way for Athena to enact her preferences on any battle she partook in. Nobody except her knew the intricacies of her ability. She had never trusted anybody enough to tell them, not even Zeus, not even after thousands of years. However, that was no surprise. Athena undoubtedly had contingency plans for every significant power in the world. Revealing her enigmatic ability would only stand to weaken her position. She saw everybody and everything as a potential threat to the only thing she cared about: the status quo concerning a human-centric Earth. Why she fixated on that particular thing so much, Hades did not know, nor did he think it mattered.

The psychomorph held out her hand. Hades snapped his fingers. He would not allow her more of the advantage. A crescent of pure energy scythed out from in front of him.

Athena merely smiled. The space around her hand became muddled. Something took shape—

No!

The crescent bit deep into Persephone's belly, spilling his wife's ichor across the ground in ribbons. Persephone gasped in pain as she looked bemusedly between her grievous wound and Hades. Her eyes betrayed confusion and fear.

"H-Hades?" She seemed to want to move toward him, but Athena's fingers were wrapped tightly around her throat. Persephone could hardly move her head to look around. "What…? Why did you…?"

"Hush now, Persephone. Hades doesn't have the answer any more than you do. Isn't that right?" Athena's lone eye glimmered as she spoke.

Unfortunately, she was right. Hades didn't understand how Persephone had simply appeared in Athena's grasp. His wife had not been in the Netherworld. She should have been on Olympus. So why was she here now? Had Athena somehow summoned her? Summoning a god against their will was impossible. At least, that's what Hades always believed. How had Athena done it, then? Was Controlled Engagement such a force to be reckoned with? Could it really do the impossible? Or had Athena tricked his wife into allowing herself to be summoned?

Did it really matter? Somehow, Persephone was here, and Hades needed to protect her. He locked eyes with her, and a connection formed between their minds.

Stay calm, Hades said.

What's happening, Hades? Has Olympus...? Persephone winced in pain.

So it seems. I will find a way to free you. I'm sorry for what happened.

It was not your intention, I know. By the old ones, though, is this wound deep! Please hurry.

Surprisingly, it was Jackson who spoke first. The anger in his eyes had been replaced with suspicion and uncertainty. "What's going on, Athena? This wasn't part of the plan."

"Oh, it was. Persephone has always been a major component. A keystone, you might call her." Persephone struggled vainly to break free of Athena's hold, but the wound she'd suffered and Athena's own strength proved insurmountable. Of the two goddesses, Athena was simply more physically capable. Moreover, she had high levels of combat competency. Persephone could not win against her. "I wouldn't move so much if I were you. My hand may slip." As she spoke, her fingers dug deeper into Persephone's neck. "It would be a shame to lose you so unceremoniously. Zeus and Demeter would never let me hear the end of it."

"Release her," Hades rumbled. "She is not part of this."

"She is." Athena did not listen.

"Athena, seriously?" Jackson frowned. "Is this really necessary?"

"It is."

So Nyx and Erebus have betrayed you. Fools. But who are the other two? Persephone asked.

One is a human who wields Aegis Mineralization. The other is—

"No more of that, you two," Athena said, jerking Persephone back and causing her to yelp as ichor seeped between her fingers.

Hades didn't dare move. If he attacked, Persephone might be hurt again. For now, he would have to think of a way to free her safely. She was their bargaining chip. He knew they couldn't kill her. If they did, their lives were as good as forfeited. He would not allow them to live, no matter the cost. Athena, Erebus, and Nyx knew that too. They wouldn't kill her. In that case, what were they planning? Would they torture her in front of him? The very thought sickened Hades—sickened him because he knew it would work. He would likely succumb to such a tactic and allow them to win.

"You see, Persephone is very much complicit in Hades' crimes," Athena said. "She knew what he was going to do. She knew and did nothing to stop it. Mind you, this wasn't the case because she was powerless to do so. When it comes to Hades, she has a great deal of power. She could have convinced him to let go of his ideas. She could have told Olympus about the impending crime against humanity. She did neither of these things. She allowed Samael to massacre millions."

"What?" Jackson lost his uncertainty.

"Lies," Hades said. "She knew nothing of what I intended to do. My actions do not reflect upon her."

"Her actions speak for themselves," Athena said.

"Did you know?" Jackson asked Persephone.

"She did not."

"She did."

"Did you?"

His wife's gaze flickered wildly between Jackson, Athena, and Hades.

"Of course she did."

"How could she know when she has not been in the Netherworld for months?"

"Did you know?"

Hades met Persephone's eyes. Deny it. Deny it. Deny it. Please, deny it.

She did not betray him. He knew she would not. "Yes, I knew."

The admission made Hades go rigid.

Jackson's face had fallen. He looked weary and miserable. "You knew… and you didn't do anything to stop it? Almost three million people. That didn't mean anything to you, huh?"

Athena's expression was intensely curious.

"Now, Jackson, listen here…" Hades swallowed his growing dread.

The boy's eyes closed, and he breathed out a shallow sigh. Shaking his head, he gestured with his sword. Water continued to precipitate from the metal blade, forming a large puddle beneath his feet. "Let her go."

"What?"

Hades silently agreed with Athena's reaction. He couldn't have been more relieved, though. The demigod may be more reasonable than Hades had first assumed.

"I know what you're trying to do," Jackson said, "but I'm not interested. You don't get to decide who I have grudges against."

"So you've seen through me," Athena said. There remained no trace of her initial giddiness.

"You weren't being subtle. I'm not going to kill her."

Athena hummed. Her eye slid to Hades, and she smiled wryly. "So it ends up being a shame, doesn't it?"

Hades prepared to race to his wife's side, but his body suddenly felt locked in place. Minerals had begun to crystalize through his bones. He recognized the phenomenon as the work of Aegis Mineralization. In another minute, he would be entirely turned into a basalt statue. His eyes narrowed on the wielder. This human did not have the strength to do such a thing. Hades burned away the Sacred Gear's effects with a flare of his power. He was free to move once again, and he considered incinerating the human for daring to test him. Persephone was still in danger, though. He turned back and prepared to engage Athena.

It was already too late, though. The boy's distraction proved enough time for Athena to steal away his world.

Persephone pitched forward, her throat torn out, a hole through her heart. Then, before she even touched the ground and before Hades could reach her, Athena drove her spear through the back of Persephone's head.

That was it. Hades did nothing but watch as Persephone's body dissolved into the Netherworld's dry dirt. He did nothing because he could do nothing.

A warm breeze graced his cheek—her last breath. Where she'd fallen, a bed of flowers pushed up through the supposedly dead soil, blooming into every color he could possibly imagine.

The image of her freshly spilled ichor lingered in his mind. She was gone. She had died in his realm, under his watchful eye, where nothing should have ever harmed her.

And now he truly stood alone.

"Zeus will not forgive you for this," Hades spoke quietly. He felt cold for the first time in three thousand years. "Demeter will not forgive you for this." His dread and horror soon turned to anger. Why should he control himself now? Visible waves of power rolled off of his body. The air crackled with energy. "And I will not forgive you for this. You are all going to die today."

Athena stepped on a sweet pea flower, grinding it into the ground with her heel. A nearly feral grin, ugly and twisted, split her face in two. "Halfway done. Brace yourselves. The real battle begins here!"

Author Note: Given what we know from Vol. 25, gods bleed blood rather than ichor. I'm thinking about Issei fighting against Vidar here. That said, I'm taking the liberty of changing that for the sake of this story. This will be an important distinction.

The Alliance of Hell falls apart before it can even get started. Too bad about that. On the bright side, ExE has been thrown off of DxD's scent, thanks to a totally unrelated series of timeline collapses. On the not-bright side, what Hades started might become as existentially threatening as ExE is to this universe. Yikes.

Thanks for reading.