A pervasive sense of fear gripped Orario, the Kaisers exercising dominion over the city. Hell Knights, their armored enforcers, maintained an oppressive presence, strategically positioned throughout the city, leaving no corner untouched by their watchful gaze. The citizens were bereft of freedom and privacy, as these relentless knights patrolled the streets day and night.
The populace cowered in fear, refraining from any opposition to the Hell Knights. The mere thought of resistance carried the ominous threat of invoking the wrath of the Kaisers or summoning the destructive force of a massive mechanical being. The city's inhabitants lived in perpetual dread, silenced by the fear of reprisal.
Above the city, the foreboding Underworld Castle hovered ominously, stationed near Babel and the entrance to the Dungeon. A platoon of Hell Knights encircled the area, reinforcing the aura of intimidation that permeated the city. The castle, an ever-present symbol of the Kaisers' authority, cast its imposing shadow over Orario, amplifying the palpable sense of unease that had settled upon the once-vibrant city.
At the Hearth Mansion, the Hestia Familia were gathered in the living room with Miach Familia and Takemikazuchi Familia who informed the group about the Hell Knights arresting Ouka and taking him away along with the news about the incident at the guild.
"they said that they were all dead and…." Takemikazuchi said before frowning a bit worried towards Chigusa whose eyes were puffy red, indicating that she has been crying.
"the Kaiser Familia has taken away many people were taken away too." Miach added in. "nearly half of Orario's populations to who knows where?"
"A-Aisha-san too?" Haruhime said with a shocked gasp.
"that's just…." Hestia said as she tried to think up the word appropriate for the Kaiser's actions. "I mean just… it's just!" the goddess scratches her head before she slaps both hands to her knees. "that's just damn tyranny! These Kaisers are taking things way too far! It was alright if they scared the children from time to time but taking them away from their friends and families?! That's way too far!"
"but…" Lili spoke out. "The fact remains that they are too powerful to be confronted." The pallum frowned while looking down. "It isn't strange that they could become the order of Orario with their fearsome power"
"to know that the Kaisers fought the One Eyed Black Dragon and lived against it…" Mikoto whispered while having an uncomfortable face. "truly monsters."
"and their Bell's relatives too." Welf added in while crossing his arms. "man….how the heck did Orario go through the days with the Kaisers around back then?"
"it was because of the fact that the Kaisers still had morals." A voice spoke as everyone turns towards the living room's entrance and sees Hephaestus who is accompanied by Tsubaki, came walking in. "if you think what the Kaisers are doing now is terrifying, you should've seen what they did 50 years ago."
"Hephaestus-sama? Tsubaki? Why are you guys here?" Welf said in seeing the two.
"we came to check on ya guys, that's why." Tsubaki replied while placing her hands on her waist. "want to see how you guys holding up since your rabbit captain been away for a while."
Mentioning Bell got the Hestia Familia to instantly be in a sad mood as they remembered how guilty they are for betraying their most precious captain.
"looks like the damage is still there…" Tsubaki said with a sigh.
"it's to be expected." Hephaestus stated before she looks at Miach and Takemikazuchi. "I suppose you two are here to share the recent events outside to Hestia and the others?"
"yes." Miach nodded. "Takemikazuchi's captain was taken by the Kaisers just a few days back." He then looks at the Familia with a sympathy face. "they haven't seen him since."
"I see…" Hephaestus said with a small frown on her face before she looks down while cupping her chin. "by the looks of it, they took Ouka because of the Pass Parade he once did to Hestia's children."
"w-wait, because of that?" said Mikoto as she looks at Hephaestus with a bewildered face after hearing what she had spoken. "O-Ouka-dono was taken away because of that past incident? But why?!"
"If it goes by anyone's guess, it probably got to do with the fact that Zag-san told everyone in Orario that their sins would be judged and punished." Tsubaki stated while shrugging her shoulders. "guess the guy got taken because of it."
"but..that doesn't justify their actions for doing such a thing." Haruhime said as she looks nervous and worried. "I mean, all is forgiven in the past incident, right?"
"it seems so for you guys, but not for the Kaisers." Hephaestus said while shaking her head once. 'The Kaisers don't treat things like we would. They do things in a way to ensure that something bad won't ever happen twice.' She then raises a hand while looking down with her eye closed and her other hand is on her waist. "with how things been going on for over the past 15 years… I doubt the Kaisers will be sitting still until everything is all cleared up."
"how come you two are so calm when everyone in this city is literally cowering in their pants?" Welf said as he looks at the two before him. "I mean, the Kaisers are literally the incarnation of fear that men and gods are scared to hell, but you two? You guys are calm like crazy? Why?"
"it's because we've seen things worse than this." Hephaestus said in reply. "there was an incident in the past where the Kaisers were truly terrorizing Orario. You guys have no idea how terrifying they were back then."
"h-how terrifying?" Hestia said.
"Terrifying to the point that Orario nearly became a deserted city." Hephaestus said while crossing her arms and opening her one eye. "comparing the situation now with the one in the past. This is basically child's play."
Soon, thunder roared loudly as everyone looks outside and sees that the once clear sky is becoming dark with black clouds filled with surge of electricity flowing out everywhere.
"Looks like Zag-san and the others are making another round to catch the rotten bad guys." Tsubaki said as she spots the Underworld Castle moving. "they're on the move."
"I advise you all to stay here." Hephaestus said while pointing down. 'right now, the Kaisers aren't so friendly to people they are estranged with.' She then looks at her Familia's captain. "come on, Tsubaki."
"where are you guys going?" Welf asked as Hephaestus and Tsubaki stood by the door to the room.
"We're going to meet the Kaisers." The goddess of smith replied before she nods and left with Tsubaki.
Everyone stays in the living room and then looks at each other as if they thought that they were mishearing things.
"Wait what?!" the group soon exclaimed to the door that is now shut as Hephaestus and Tsubaki had already left.
At the western district of Orario, the Underworld Castle came floating above houses before it went to a stop. The castle floats above the Hermes Familia's Home; the Travelers' Inn that gets surrounded by a huge number of Hell Knights that came marching in just seconds.
In a minute, Zagreus and the other Kaisers came jumping down from their Home as they crash landed upon the street while causing a tremor.
Zagreus stands upon his feet as his eyes glows menacingly under the helmet of his visor.
"get every single maggots of his out and find him." Zagreus said before he snaps his fingers and the Hell Knights instantly breaks into the Traveler's inn. He then turns his head to the side to look at Makaria "just ten minutes, understand?"
"make it quick." Makaria replied while cracking her knuckles multiple times. "I'm planning to make sure that worthless rodent learns his lesson."
Zagreus looks at her for a moment before he turns to look at the Home because the sounds of panicked screaming and confused shouting came echoing out.
A minute later, the Hell Knights came out while dragging members of the Hermes Familia who look a bit beaten up while their hands were cuffed.
The Kaisers watches before noticing that none of the Hell Knights have Hermes in their custody.
"That rat must've fled the moment we came to Orario." Polemos said while cracking his knuckles that has small static dancing around.
"no, if he had. We would've known before." Melinoe stated as her right eye glows red. "he's somewhere in Orario."
"down." Ploutos said as he has his head tilted down and is looking at the ground. "he's hiding underground. I can hear his voice in the sewers."
"he must've used the old sewer channel lines in his Home to escape when we came." Thalia said before she scoffs. "a rat is always a rat."
"flush him out." Zagreus told Makaria whose eyes glows under her blindfold.
In the underground sewer, Hermes can be found running as she holds a magic crystal flashlight that lights his path to allow him to run.
"got to run! Got to run! Got to run!" he repeatedly chanted as he is making a getaway from the Kaisers who had come to his Home. "can't get caught! Can't get caught!"
The god keeps on running before he hears a loud water flushing sound coming from behind.
"eh?" Hermes turns to look, and he screams in shock because a huge tidal wave is coming at him from the end of the sewers. "aaahhh!"
Hermes began to run faster but the wave of sewer water catches up to him and flushes the god away.
At an open sewer port in Orario, Hermes came washed up as he is dirtied by the sewer water.
The god coughs and spits out the water in his mouth before reaching for his hat that is off his head. He reaches for it, but someone took it and handed it back to him.
"oh, thank you." Hermes said as he takes the hat and puts it back on before looking up to the person who is before him, but his face instantly freezes and becomes white when he sees that it is Makaria who stands in front of him. he nervously smiled while waving a hand to the side. "H-Hi there… Makaria. L-lovely weather we're having today?"
"lovely, huh?" Makaria replied as her eyes glows red under her blindfold. "how about you go and check how lovely it is?"
"uh.." Hermes was soon grabbed by the back of his shirt before Makaria proceeds to swing him around then fires him into the air. "aaahh!"
Hermes screams as he flies into the air where Melinoe who dons her armor, is floating by.
The Blade Kaiser sees the god flying towards her as she raises her right leg straight up before bringing it down for an axe kick that landed on Hermes' head and sends the god flying downwards in a blink of an eye.
A big dust explosion occurred in Orario as Hermes is now lying in a crater of his own body with his legs just twitching.
Some citizens see the god and wonders what happened to him before they all ran back inside their homes when Melinoe came hovering down.
The Blade Kaiser looks down at Hermes whose head she grabs with her left hand in a tight vice grip before pulling him up.
"Zagreus, I have him." Melinoe said while holding up her right hand near her face as her helmet's face plate slides open. The Blade Kaiser talking to her Halo Ring. "want me to send him to you?"
"do it." Zagreus' voice spoke from Melinoe's Halo Ring that soon deactivate.
Melinoe nods before her face plate closes and the Blade Kaiser tightens her grip on Hermes even more before she proceeds to fling him away.
Hermes flew in the sky like a rocket before he came down with a harsh landing to the marbled road that now has a long dirt drag mark upon his crash.
"u-ugh…" Hermes grunted in pain as he started to become conscious. He tried to get up but soon realizes that someone is standing before him.
Hermes slowly lifts his head up as he had a very scared expression because he felt like he knows who is standing before him from sensing the incredible bloodlust that is just pulsing out.
His eyes look up and widens before shaking in fright because Zagreus stands before the god while glaring down at him with his multi colored glowing eyes.
"h-hi there….Z-Z-Z-Zagreus…" Hermes stuttered out with a very awkward smile. "f-fancy seeing you here."
Zagreus didn't respond to his words, the Kaiser merely glared down at the god.
"i-it's great to see you! You l-look great!" Hermes keeps on stuttering while his face gets covered in cold sweat that just pours down. "d-did you get a new style? It looks great!"
The Bloody Kaiser looks down at the god before he raises his right hand and formed a hard fist that ignites in blueish black flames.
"I've just met Melinoe and Makaria! They both look great and!" Hermes keeps on blabbering before his face was grabbed in a tight vice gripping hold by Zagreus' left hand that pulls the god right up. "ugh!?"
"Hades-sama was right." Zagreus spoke out in a dark voice as his glowing eyes flared menacingly from under his helmet's visor that let out vapor. "you're by far more annoying than that old geezer."
"w-wait! I!" Hermes grunted in pain as his face feels like it is getting crushed under Zagreus' vice grip. "p-please!"
"do you think begging will grant you my mercy, trash?" Zagreus asked as his flaming right fist started to grow stronger. His blazing yet glowing eyes looks at Hermes while a dark aura grows around the Kaiser and forms a black demonic silhouette of a monster with a single glowing red reptilian eye. 'you've got this coming the moment you inflicted harm to my son's life.' He tightens his grip hold on the god's face as his fingers were digging right into the skin. "but I guess… the geezer didn't tell you, did he?"
Hermes squeaks in fear and pain as his eyes sees Zagreus pulling back his right flaming fist that rages uncontrollably.
"w-wait… please…" Hermes cried out before he sees Zagreus swing his right fist forward.
BOOM!
A blue flaming explosion exploded upon the district as it was large, powerful, and devastating to the point that it made the city rumbles with a powerful tremor.
Meanwhile at the Loki Familia's Home area. Riveria is found sitting within her tent as she looks to be deep in thought about something.
"how could he just decide to do so much damage?" Riveria whispers as she reaches a hand and grasped her chest. "no….this is our punishment for betraying the Kaisers and their trust." A frown soon grows upon the high elf's expression. "this is…..their anger upon us."
The high elf sat in silence as she solemnly gazed down at her lap before she felt the ground rumbling.
"t-this is?!" Riveria stands up while looking tense and alarmed. "what is?!"
Before the high elf could think, her tent suddenly gets its hinges pulled off the ground as it flew off into the air.
"what the!?" Riveria exclaimed in shock before she shields her eyes as a heavy gust of wind came flowing in from the side. "wha?!"
As Riveria held her ground, Hermes came flying pass her. The god looking charred and beaten up brutally before he came crashing to the large remaining rubble of the Loki Familia's Home that gets more destroyed in the process.
"t-that was…" Riveria and the many other Loki Familia members checks and sees what had happened and were surprised to see the brutally beaten up god. "God Hermes!? What in the world?"
As the Familia checks on Hermes, a blue flaming ball came flying in the air before it crashes upon the ground nearby.
"w-what was that!?" Raul exclaimed in surprise as everyone turns to see blue flames burning in the area where Zagreus can be seen down on one knee, the Kaiser's armor is burning in blueish black flames that are coming from the gaps of his armor.
"Z-Zagreus…?" Riveria whispered with wide eyes as she sees Zagreus slowly rising to his feet and the Bloody Kaiser gave a menacing and burning gaze to the Loki Familia's members.
Zagreus stands and looks at the Loki Familia for a moment before he began to walk towards them.
The adventurers began to back away from the burning man who just walks pass them all without batting an eye.
As the Kaiser walk, Aiz and her comrades came into the scene. The group looking shocked but for the Sword Princess; she has a desperate and anxious look in seeing Zagreus.
"he's here…" Aiz muttered as she was about to take a step forward when Finn suddenly appears before her. the pallum having a disagreeing face while shaking his head which made the Sword Princess look surprised for a moment but soon dejected.
As if sensing her gaze, The Bloody Kaiser stops and slowly turns his gaze towards the blonde swordswoman.
Zagreus and Aiz look at each other in silence for a moment before the Bloody Kaiser turns and walks towards Hermes who he soon grabs by the head then proceeds to punch the god straight to the gut which cause him to cough and gasp in pain while awakening him.
The Loki Familia gasps in horror to see what Zagreus had done, the Kaiser just continues his brutal actions by punching Hermes to the ground with no mercy.
Zagreus held Hermes up by the collar of his nearly torn outfit before he proceeds to give powerful blue flaming right hook to the god's gut that made him vomit blood that splattered upon the Kaiser's armor.
The Kaiser didn't seem fazed from the blood splattered upon his helmet as he lifted Hermes up higher before he slammed him down to the ground that breaks and shatters.
"s-so cruel!" Lefiya gasped as she couldn't believe that anyone would dare harm a god so brutally.
"just what did Hermes-sama do to make the Kaiser; especially Zagreus Kaiser angry.." Alicia whispered as she looks completely in disgust to how much blood that has been shed.
The group watches Zagreus who raise his right hand and points a finger at Hermes whose whole body started to sparkle in a white aura. A few seconds later, the god's wounds were healed, and his torn clothes restored like brand new.
"he healed him?" Elfy spoke out in confusion. "why?"
"he must've felt that he had taught him a lesson…" Aki mumbled before she and the other girls in the group gasped loudly because Zagreus had raised his right leg and heavily stomps it down upon Hermes' stomach that caused the god to let out a loud pained scream that is followed with a vomit of blood.
Zagreus looks at Hermes who is coughing blood uncontrollably while writhing in pain with his hands on his stomach.
"p-please… n-no more.." Hermes begged as he looks at Zagreus with tears pouring down his eyes. "i-I've learned my lesson..i-I won't… just… just please no more…"
Zagreus gaze at the god for a moment in silence before his eyes flared under his helmet's visor and the Kaiser proceeds to kick Hermes right under the chin which cause a loud bone cracking noise while making his hat fly off.
Hermes started to cry in pain as he holds a hand to his mouth that has blood dripping out.
"Since when have I ever listen to the begging of a pathetic god like yourself?" Zagreus spoke out in his dark voice as he takes small steps in approaching Hermes. 'Since when should I ever give mercy to a god who is useless, pathetic, and overall annoying?' the Kaiser soon crouches down and reaches out his left hand to grab Hermes' head by the hair then makes the pained god look at him. "tell me, how many times have you caused nothing but trouble and pain to my family? How many times do I have to tell Makaria to let you be for your foolishness? How many times do you need to be educated?"
Hermes cries in tears of fear as Zagreus' glowing eyes just went ablaze while glaring straight into his soul.
"Someone with a personality like yourself doesn't deserve to be called a god." Zagreus said as he raised his blue flame burning right hand that forms a hard fist that cause the fire to ignite and rage even more 'You know the name that is perfect for you?' the flames burns and rages upon the Kaiser's fist as it grew and spread up to the right side of his helmet that has a glowing red dot appearing within the black fire. "Trash."
Zagreus stands up straight while raising Hermes by his hair, the Kaiser glares at the god before he proceeds to pull back his black flaming right hand and then swing it straight forward.
ZWORSH!
Lefiya and many other girls gasps and screams in horror while Riveria looks in terrible shock.
Zagreus plunged his burning right fist into Hermes' chest which caused the god to gasp, and his blood came pouring out of his mouth. The Kaiser plunges his burning hand deeper into Hermes' body before he harshly pulled it out to reveal that he now holds a rainbow-colored glowing energy sphere that is being contained in the black flames.
"Live your life like the worthless maggot you are." Zagreus said as he grips his fingers before he crushed the energy sphere in his hand into nothing but sparkles.
Hermes gasp in pure pain as he looks down to his chest that has a burning hole that closed up.
"y-you…" Hermes stuttered out with a horrified look at Zagreus. "n-no… I was… I was doing it for…"
"You were only doing it for your own entertainment." Zagreus said in a darker and harsh voice while giving the god an even more menacing glare. "you didn't do it for anyone else, you only did it for yourself."
Zagreus raises Hermes even higher before he proceeds to fling the god away as Hermes crashed to a nearby city wall that cracks and shatters while creating a hole in the shape of the god's body.
"He's all yours, Makaria." Zagreus said as his glowing eyes slowly dimmed. 'do whatever you want with him.' he then turns to the side while swinging his right hand to the side to dissipate any remaining flames upon him. "I could care less."
"I know." Makaria's voice echoed and in a bright flash of lighting, the Mage Kaiser along with the other Kaisers appeared by Zagreus' side. "I was getting impatient."
"K-Kaisers!" Aki gasps in surprise as she and the other Loki Familia members just look in shock to their sudden appearance.
Makaria walks towards Hermes as she flexes her fingers while cold air gathers around her body.
"take this elsewhere." Zagreus said while his armor went ablaze for a second and Hermes' blood that splattered all over his armor was burned away. "that useless maggot has an annoying yet very pathetic scream which is a disturbance to my ears."
"like you need to remind us?" Makaria said as she grabbed and then pulls Hermes off the wall by the face. Her vice grip making the man scream in pain. "well, I do intend to make this pig squeal like the bitch he is."
"Ploutos, has everything of the Hermes Familia been confiscated?" Zagreus said while turning his head towards the Iron God Kaiser.
"Every single thing down to a piece of paper." Ploutos replied while pocketing his hands into his pants. "the Hell Knights are taking them all to the Underworld Castle as we speak."
"good." Zagreus said before he looks at Polemos. "destroy it, leave no trace of it behind. Ensure that no maggot or cockroaches ever comes back."
"got it." Polemos replied while his eyes glows yellow once and a bright lightning flash occurred south west of the Twilight Manor which is followed by a loud roar of thunder and an explosion that shook the ground a bit. "done."
"are we done here?" Makaria said as she keeps on gripping Hermes' face, ignoring his screams and plea for mercy. "I need to ensure this maggot here learns a lesson till he rots to death."
"speaking of maggots." Melinoe said as she turns and sends a glowing red glare at the Loki Familia members around them who are watching and hearing the Kaiser's conversation from their position. "what should we do to the maggots here who have been eavesdropping on us?"
The other Kaisers look to where the group are as their eyes glows menacingly which caused the Loki Familia members to tense up and back away in fear.
"Leave them be." Zagreus spoke out loud. 'We have no time to deal with them.' He crosses his arms while turning around. "there are more important matters for us to deal with."
Melinoe and the other Kaisers look at Zagreus for a moment before each one disappears from the area in a flash.
One by one, the Kaisers began walking away from the area.
Zagreus remains in his place for a moment as the Bloody Kaiser has his attention upon the Loki Familia's members but mostly on Riveria.
The Kaiser looks at the high elf as his glowing eyes stares into her jade eyes before he turns his head to the side and begins to walk away.
Riveria watch as the Kaisers leave, she grasps her chest and looks with a sad frowning expression on her face.
"wait!" Aiz suddenly cried out loud as she surprised everyone around her. "I! I still!"
"Aiz! Stop!" Finn exclaimed as he knew what the Sword Princess planned to do.
"wait! I need your!" Aiz exclaimed but stopped midsentence when Zagreus stops walking and turns to wave a hand towards the Sword Princess and unleashed a powerful gusting force that made her stagger back. "ugh!?"
Aiz staggers a few steps back before she fell with a dumbfounded face.
"if you cannot withstand a little gust of wind.." Zagreus said as his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet's visor. "you have little to no chance of getting stronger." He then turns around and began walking away. "face reality, brat. You are weak."
Zagreus walks away as the Kaiser soon disappears in a flash of lightning.
The Loki Familia are now left in their place as everyone just look at Aiz who slowly stands up, but she has an extremely dejected and frustrated expression on her face.
The Kaisers continue to bring tyrannical and destructive order to Orario.
They break into Familia's Homes and take away their members who they beat up brutally in order to get them to comply to their demands. Even some gods were tortured and harmed while cowering in fear against Zagreus who glares down at them with glowing menacing eyes.
Right now, Zagreus along with Ploutos and Polemos are watching the Hell Knights breaking into another Familia's Home whose members were arrested and taken away one by one.
The Patron god of the Familia is on his knees and is constantly begging for mercy to the Kaisers.
"please~! please~~!" the god cried in tears. "please grant me mercy!"
"it's so sad for an almighty god to be on his knees and begging to people who don't give a damn." Ploutos said while having his arms crossed, the Iron God Kaiser sighs while closing his eyes for a moment. "Orario sure become a bowl for maggots like them to gather."
"what is this maggot's fate, Zagreus?" Polemos said as he looks at Zagreus who is looking down at the crying god while his eyes glows under his helmet's visor.
"take him away, I'll deal with him later." Zagreus stated while snapping his fingers once to call two Hell Knights to come and arrest the god who continues to scream in plea to the Kaisers.
"what you plan to do to him?" Ploutos said while turning towards Zagreus who raise his head.
"I'll think of it, but right now.." Zagreus spoke as he turns around to face a street behind the group. "we need to greet our guests."
Ploutos and Polemos turns and soon realizes that Hephaestus along with Tsubaki came walking towards them.
"yo~!" Tsubaki came hollering first. "long time no see, you guys!"
"still carefree and energetic as always." Ploutos said with a small grin before he gave a two finger salute them. "long time no see, Tsubaki, Hephaestus-san. doing well?"
"we're doing well like you guys are." Hephaestus replied with a smile while placing her hands on her waist. "you guys haven't changed so much, huh? Makaria was kind enough to greet and everything, but you guys along with Melinoe and Thalia just had to do explosions and stuff to let yourself be known in the city." She then sighs with a tired look to the Kaisers. "The headaches just keep on coming because of you guys."
"we're Kaisers, what do you expect?" Polemos said as he smirks amusingly while shrugging his shoulders. "it comes as a full set."
"I shouldn't have bothered saying it…." Hephaestus sighs while shaking her head before she chuckles with a smile. "but I guess that's what I get with you Kaisers around."
"you bet it is." Ploutos said with a grin before he grabs Tsubaki and rustles her hair. "so, Tsubaki? Heard you became the Familia's captain while I was away! How's that doing to you?!"
"it was damn hectic." Tsubaki replied grinning. "I had to do a lot of paperwork when you left, Ploutos-sensei. I didn't have time to be at the forge cooking up some metal! You can have it back now that you and the other Kaisers are back in Orario!"
"hahaha, I guess I should, but I let you keep it for now." Ploutos replied while letting go of Tsubaki before pointing at his chest with his thumb. "got to work on being a Kaiser before being a blacksmith of the Familia."
"you're just trying to push the paperwork to Tsubaki like you always do." Polemos said with a glance at Ploutos who shushes him.
"so?" Zagreus spoke out after being so silent in the friendly conversation. "why have you and Tsubaki come to us, Hephaestus? I don't find it a coincidence that we would meet the both of you here."
Ploutos and Polemos glance at Zagreus before to Hephaestus and Tsubaki.
"I guess you're a bit moody if you speak like that, Zagreus?" The goddess of smith sighs with a small smile before she sighs with a nod. "Yes, me and Tsubaki did come to have a chat with you guys for something."
Zagreus looks at Hephaestus for a moment as his eyes glows under his visor once before dimming.
"Polemos, continue with our plan." Zagreus spoke while turning to look at the Arc Kaiser. "don't kill anyone until I say so." He then looks at Ploutos. "You watch him and make sure that he doesn't do anything against my orders, Ploutos."
"hey, am I a babysitter now?" Ploutos said while raising his hands.
"What do you plan to do?" Polemos stated to Zagreus who raise his right hand and did a loud finger snap that called the Underworld Castle to come hovering above their heads.
"they wish to converse." Zagreus said. "it is better to converse somewhere more private."
The Underworld Castle descends a floating platform as Zagreus gets on it with Hephaestus and Tsubaki before it ascends to the castle once again.
Polemos and Ploutos watches the platform fly up to the Underworld Castle that soon moves away from the area.
"You think they're planning to negotiate with Zagreus to free some maggots and worms?" Polemos asked while crossing his arms.
"if there's anyone besides Meteria who could get Zagreus to do something, it's Hephaestus-san." Ploutos replied while shrugging his shoulders. 'but that is if she plans to negotiate in the first place.' He then turns while glancing at Polemos. "she might just be asking permission to come and visit him, right?"
Polemos glances back at Ploutos before he closed his eyes and both turns around to face the Familia Home that has its entire property being confiscated by the Hell Knights that had already taken away all the Familia members to who knows where.
In the Underworld Castle, a gate opens as Zagreus along with Hephaestus and Tsubaki came walking into the hallway.
"Good to see that the place is still clean and spotless." Hephaestus said as she sees the many luxurious and grand decorations that are hanged upon the walls. "Makaria's Skeletal Servant sure are some handy Familiars."
"we've offered to provide you with a few in the past." Zagreus stated as he walks ahead of the two. "But you rejected the idea, right?"
"can't wonder why." Tsubaki said while raising her arms and having an easy going smile. "can you imagine a bunch of skeletons like monsters walking around the Home? it would scare the crap out of some greenhorn, don't you think?" she then glanced at a Skeletal Servant that passes by while carrying a crate and then looks at Zagreus while pointing a thumb over her shoulders. "and those things were and are still now creepy as heck." The Cyclops commented with a whisper.
"is that so?" Zagreus said while turning his head slightly to the side before back to the front.
The group continues to walk in the hallway before they reached a large doorway that opens and reveals the Kaiser's Lounging Room which they soon entered.
"have a seat." Zagreus said as he motions a hand to the center table while going to one chair that he pulled and sat down.
Hephaestus and Tsubaki sat themselves to their seats before a Skeletal Servant came to give them cups of tea and a tray filled with assorted biscuits.
"Thank you." Hephaestus said in thanking the Skeletal Servant that bowed before going away while Tsubaki helped herself to some of the biscuits in the background.
"So then?" Zagreus spoke while his helmet expanded and detach its pieces one by one then reveals his face. "What is it that you wish to converse to us Kaisers about?"
"long story short…" Hephaestus spoke as she holds her cup of tea before taking a quick sip then sighs for a second, she then looks at Zagreus with a firm face. "Could you find it in your heart to give Hestia and her Familia a second chance?"
Her words made Zagreus' eyes glows menacingly in a second while his arms crossed tight upon his chest.
"huh?" Zagreus looks at Hephaestus with a menacing and death threatening gaze while glowing in a dark aura as this caused Tsubaki to look nervous and tense because of the power that is radiating from the Kaiser's death gaze.
"I know that you're mad at them, Zagreus. But I'm not trying to defend them for what they did in hurting your son's feelings and everything," Hephaestus stated calmly as she placed her cup down while waving a hand to the side. "I'm just asking you to see if there is a chance that things could be patched up in between the two."
Zagreus looks at Hephaestus for a moment before he closed his eyes and tilts his head downwards while making his dark aura disappear.
"Betrayal is like a poison that seeps deep into someone's body and lingers to inflict insufferable pain." Zagreus spoke as he slowly opens his eyes and looks at Hephaestus. 'what the members of Hestia Familia did to my son caused an even deeper wound that allowed the poison to seep in deeper.' He then hardens his gaze. "have you forgotten how much we Kaisers hate any type of betrayal, Hephaestus?"
"I know." Hephaestus said while looking down and placing a hand to her chest. 'I know that very well.' She then looks up towards the Kaiser. "But I know Hestia just as well. She can learn her lesson. Her entire Familia can. I know very well that they won't betray Bell twice."
"Can you really vouch for that?" Zagreus said while hardening his gaze even more as vein marks started to appear upon his neck and up to his cheeks. 'I've seen their memories and I'm very much unpleased to know that my son has such backstabbing traitors as friends and comrades of the same Familia.' his eyes began to glow once again, but their color turned black. "I've promised Meteria to not allow any harm to come to our son. That Familia betrayed and caused my son's kind heart to be broken. They're lucky that I didn't execute them on the spot."
"Z-Zag-san is still as scary as ever…." Tsubaki whispered to Hephaestus who merely nodded with a calm look.
"I can't fully vouch that Hestia and the others will learn and amend from their mistakes, but I can vouch that they will do their best to regain the trust that they had lost with Bell who they won't ever betray once again." Hephaestus said with a firm voice. "you have my word on that."
Zagreus looks at the goddess for a moment as his black eyes glows before dimming and reverting to their normal color. The Kaiser then closes his eyes while uncrossing his arms and then leans his head to the side to his right fist with the elbow leaned against his seat's arm rest.
"if my son has a change of heart and wishes to return to the Hestia Familia." Zagreus said before peeking open his right eye that is glowing blue. "It all depends on his decision. Only when he decides what to do will I rethink my position on the Hestia Familia. if he doesn't wish to return to them, I will not force him. is that adequate?"
"Yes." Hephaestus said with a nod. "That is alright."
"very well." Zagreus replied before closing his right eye. "anything else you wish to convey in our conversation, Hephaestus?"
"there is." Hephaestus said. "it's about Takemikazuchi's captain that you guys have arrested and taken away."
"What about him?" Zagreus asked as his eyes slightly open. 'I learned of his actions in causing a Pass Parade upon my son in the past.' The Kaiser changes arm as he leans to his left fist. "Even if it was to save the lives of his party, do you really think I am lenient enough to let this slide?" his eyes began to glow. "I assume that you can already imagine what would have happened if the possibility that my Familia return to Orario and learn that my son has accidently been killed by another Familia? don't you, Hephaestus?"
"yes…" Hephaestus spoke with a slow nod as in the back of her mind, she imagined Orario being destroyed by the enraged Kaiser Familia. "yes, I can."
"Why should I allow him to return to his Familia after what he had done to my son?" Zagreus said as he leans off his left fist and looks at Hephaestus with his eyes closed and then partly open. 'you plan to negotiate in freeing him? you should know better that anyone who dare lay harm to a Kaiser or someone closely related to one won't get off unscathed and unpunished, right?' he then waves a hand to the side. "so tell me, Hephaestus. Why bother helping the Takemikazuchi Familia when you know that this is their fate once we Kaisers have returned? Why should I forgive someone who nearly got my own son killed in the Dungeon?"
"it's because…." Hephaestus spoke with a hand to her chest while showing a soft yet sincere smile to the Kaiser. "it's because it's what Helios would've told you to do, right?"
Zagreus' eyes slightly widened to hear Hephaestus's words before they slowly soften and closes.
"You play an unfair game, Hephaestus." Zagreus spoke after sighing. "a very unfair game."
"it may sound unfair." Hephaestus said while raising a hand to the side 'but I know for certain that if Helios is still with us; he would tell you to give mercy and forgiveness for those whose lives are innocent and are worthy to be given a second chance.' She then smiles even more. "right, Zagreus?"
Zagreus peeks an eye open to look at Hephaestus before he closes it and then sighs while rubbing his forehead with two fingers from his right hand.
"very well, I shall see to it if there are those who deserve mercy from us Kaisers." Zagreus said as he sits up straight on his seat while opening his eyes that glows menacingly. "but for those who don't….you know what happens to them, right?"
"yes…" Hephaestus nodded. "That is fine."
Zagreus nods back before he glanced to the side and stands up from his seat.
"I'll be excusing myself from this conversation." Zagreus said while glancing back at Hephaestus. 'there is much work that we Kaisers must do in order to bring back order and peace in Orario.' He then turns and began to walk away. "take your time in our Home before leaving."
"yes, thanks." Hephaestus said with a nod while getting off her seat. "and Zagreus."
Zagreus stops as he turns his head to look at Hephaestus.
"i… um…" Hephaestus spoke before she sees a golden coin flying in the air and she quickly caught it. she looks at the coin and sees its skeletal marking design then looks at Zagreus who has his left hand raised to his side.
"you are one of the few goddesses that we Kaisers befriended in the past." Zagreus said as he lowers his hand. 'you're still family even with everything that has happened.' His lips then formed a small smile. "also… I'm sure Helios is waiting for you to visit him."
Hephaestus looks at Zagreus before she smiled softly and nods to the Kaiser.
"Thank you, Zagreus." Hephaestus said as Zagreus nodded before he looks to the front and his helmet reform upon his head.
"if you wish to exit our Home; a Skeletal Servant will provide transportation." Zagreus said as he snaps his fingers, and he walks to a gate that is slowly opening. "Take your time with him."
Hephaestus nodded again as Zagreus walks through the gate that slowly closed shut.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye