The God of Underworld - Chapter 310
Chapter 310: Chapter 9
The silent, brilliant air of the Empyrean Realm seemed to crackle as Hades opened his eyes.
The light that spilled forth was no longer merely divine; it was dense, infinite, and utterly overwhelming.
His consciousness, which had been diffused across the unimaginable expanse of infinite alternate lives, snapped back into the singularity of his Prime body.
The return was not merely a recollection, but something more; an apotheosis.
His consciousness had fought, learned, and grew exponentially through the agony of an infinite timelines, achieving victory or suffering destruction across countless existential battles against Azathoth’s fragments.
That nurtured, distilled power—the combined conceptual growth of an infinite number of highly potent, parallel Hadeses—flooded back into his core, allowing his power to reach an even greater heights.
Hades rose slightly from the throne, and the entire Hyperverse shuddered in response, momentarily adjusting to the massive influx of power.
He was now many magnitudes stronger than when he began the timeline triage, reaching a state of power that placed him firmly on the very threshold of this reality’s power ceiling.
Though, he was still confined within the book’s narrative.
More profoundly, the integrated knowledge of his infinite lives had unlocked a terrifying new power beyond comprehension: the Power of Law.
This was not mere magic or divine command; this was the ability to take a certain “idea” or “belief” and elevate it to the level of an absolute concept through the boundless energy of the Hyperverse.
He could now conceptually rewrite the foundational rules of reality with a mere flick of his finger.
If he declared that “Fire can burn water,” that declaration would become an absolute, unchangeable law woven into the fabric of his cosmos, immune to mere magical or physical opposition.
It was an overpowered ability that fundamentally allowed him to interact with reality on a conceptual level, making him the ultimate, literal Lawmaker of his domain.
His eyes then turned towards the void, and instantly perceived the external events: the successful defense against the newborn Outer One, the exhaustion of the Primordials, and the crucial alliance formed with the Celtic Pantheon.
The instant his eyes turned towards the void, Nyx was already standing before him, her expression a mixture of profound relief and immediate concern.
Beside her stood Lugh, the Celtic King, his fierce pride warring visibly with his pragmatic need.
Before either of them could utter a word of greeting, thanks, or negotiation, Hades spoke, his voice resonating with the finality of ultimate authority.
“I know why you have come, King Lugh.”
Lugh’s strong face, etched with the scars of the recent battle, softened. Without hesitation, he immediately knelt before the Anchor, a profound act of humility from a proud sovereign.
“Supreme Deity, my people fought bravely for the Hyperverse’s survival, knowing that only in this union can our world be saved from the inevitable decay that follows the deletion forces,” Lugh stated, bowing his head. “I beg of you, complete the fusion and grant my cosmos life within the Hyperverse.”
Hades nodded, his gaze solemn. “I have witnessed the efforts of your people, King Lugh. Your courage, your strategic unity with the forces of Ra and the defense provided by your pantheon. I am not so heartless that I would act indifferent to the survival of the innocent, nor ungrateful for the defense of my wives.”
Hades rose fully from the throne. The Empyrean seemed to expand to accommodate the sheer presence of his augmented power.
“I will grant your request. And I will do more. I will personally go to the Celtic Universe and initiate the integration of your Heart myself.” He leveled his gaze at the kneeling king. “Go. Inform your legions. Prepare your cosmos for the transition. We will depart today.”
Lugh looked up, a radiant smile—the first true smile Hades had seen on the warrior-king—breaking through his severe expression.
He rose quickly, bowed deeply to Hades, his gratitude evident in every line of his body.
He hesitated only a moment longer before turning toward the being he had despised for so long, Nyx.
He executed a crisp, respectful bow toward Nyx, acknowledging her authority in the current reality, and then vanished from the Empyrean to relay the critical orders.
Nyx turned immediately toward Hades, her arms crossing, her expression stern.
“Is this the right decision, my Lord?” she asked, the worry clouding her transcendent eyes. “You are the Anchor. That Outer One might be gone, but there are countless more waiting to attack. We do not know when the next, perhaps more organized, attack is coming. Is it wise to leave the Hyperverse undefended by its core?”
Hades stepped down from the throne, closing the distance between them. He reached out and gently framed Nyx’s face with his hands, his luminous gaze holding hers.
“It is precisely why I must go myself, my Nyx,” Hades murmured, the resonance of his voice now a comforting vibration. “With the power I have now unlocked, combined with the power of Law, I can streamline the process. I will not send a proxy. I will absorb the Heart of the Celtic Universe into myself, fuse it with the four others, and return instantly—a temporal blink of an eye. The integration will be perfect, and the Hyperverse will gain a fifth pillar of stability.”
Nyx stared into his eyes, reading the absolute certainty and the vast, undeniable power contained within him.
She wanted to argue, to demand he stay safely anchored, but she recognized the strategic necessity.
She sighed, her tension momentarily relenting. “Very well. I trust your judgment, though I do not like the risk.”
Hades drew her close, wrapping an arm securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, feeling the cool shadow of her existence against his heated core.
“I can trust you to take care of all internal affairs while I’m gone, can’t I? You and the Primordials are the true shield.”
Nyx leaned into the strength of his embrace, resting her head against his shoulder. “You may leave with a peace of mind, my Lord. I will make certain that when you return, the Hyperverse remains exactly as you left it—stable, defended, and awaiting its King.”
Hades smiled at her, “Well, I’ll be relying on you, Nyx.”
Nyx took a step back, smiled at him softly, “You must want to see Hecate, right? I’ll leave you two alone.”
Hades watched as Nyx disappeared, and he immediately felt a familiar, urgent presence approach.
He turned to face Hecate, who had entered the Empyrean, her posture still carrying the slight stiffness of a body that had just been conceptually broken and rebuilt.
The exhaustion of the battle still clung to her, but her eyes, usually sharp with arcane calculation, were wide with palpable, lingering relief.
She strode toward him, her usual composure momentarily abandoned.
A genuine, luminous smile broke through her fatigue as she saw him fully awake, his divine light restored and amplified.
Hecate raised her hands, cupping his now impossibly powerful cheeks. Her touch was tender, reverent, and utterly focused on his well-being.
“Hades,” she whispered, her voice husky with emotion, as her thumb gently caressed his skin. “I was so worried. Seeing you motionless, fighting that silent war… it was agony. I feared that if that attack had continued, your focus would have shattered and it would harm you.”
Hades leaned into her touch, finding grounding in her familiar warmth amidst the endless, cold chaos he had just endured.
He covered her hands with his own, his new, immense power contained and gentle. He slid his other hand securely onto her hip, drawing her close.
“That is my line, Hecate,” he replied, his voice deep and warm, tinged with the memory of terror. “When I felt the chaos fragment pierce you, when i felt that spike of corruption through our link—I came within a hair’s breadth of abandoning the entire structure. If Nyx had been even a second late, I would have rushed to the battlefield myself. Consequences be damned.”
Hecate shook her head, her smile fading into a look of serious, loving determination.
She pulled back just enough to look him directly in the eye. “You cannot, Hades. You must not. I cannot allow you to endanger the entire Hyperverse for me alone. An individual lives, even mine, are acceptable losses if it means the stability of your creation and the survival of us all. That is the cost of your sovereignty.”
Hades shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “And I refuse to accept that law, Hecate. You, Hera, and Aphrodite, and our children—you are the only concepts more important to me than my own life, and certainly more important than this sprawling, chaotic reality. I could not abandon you to extinction.”
Hecate’s expression softened entirely, melting into profound happiness.
“I am happy to hear you say that,” she confessed softly. “Really, I am.”
Then, she adopted a firmer tone, channeling her strategic mind into their personal bond. “But you shouldn’t think of it as ‘abandoning’ us. Think of it as trusting us.”
She placed both hands on his chest, right over the nexus of his new power. “Because no matter what happens, we are not leaving you. Hera, Aphrodite, and I—we all swore to be with you for eternity. We are the core of your stability; we will never abandon the Anchor. Not even death, or the threat of oblivion, can do us part.”
She rose onto the tips of her toes, her expression filled with fierce devotion, and kissed him—a gentle, profound press of lips that was both a loving farewell and a spiritual renewal of their vows.
Pulling back, she looked deep into his eyes, her gaze clear and absolute. “Trust me, my love. I will return to your side, whole and victorious, no matter the price.”
Hades stared back, seeing not only the brilliance of the Goddess of Magic, but the unbreakable will of a loving partner.
He nodded slowly, accepting her decree of trust and love.
He bent his head and kissed her in return—a deep, final kiss imbued with the full, complicated weight of his love, his power, and the terrifying journey that lay ahead.