17 Status

The Sun shined brilliantly, its light fell upon the world providing the energy necessary for the growth of the species that inhabited it.

The once desolate and destroyed topography which suffered the aftermath of the Titanomachy had returned to its beauty. The Pangea had virtually morphed into its current state soon to resemble how it would look at its final state.

New life burst forth on these lands as new creatures both mythical and ordinary ruled the Lands, Waters and Skys.

Humans had started to show signs of sophistication since they got hold of Fire. Prometheus had given humans the gift of fire in an act of defiance. As far as the Olympians were concerned Prometheus lucky obtained a piece of the fire of Hestia and stole it.

But the truth wasn't something as simple as luck, it was Hades who whispered in his ears. Telling him of the injustices and the callousness with which the Gods of Olympus treated his most beloved creation, Humans, that he had crafted by his own two hands.

This was the first act of sabotaging against the Gods, the more self-reliant humans became the less they would pray to them and the less power they could draw from belief. This could have backfired easily if Zeus handled the situation with wisdom and benevolence. But he possessed neither of these traits.

As Hades predicted, Zeus lashed out in anger at this "betrayal". A problem that could simply be solved by spinning the story in their favour by being charitable was whacked in a moment of impulsiveness.

Prometheus became a hero in the hearts of the people. Though the situation was solved forcefully it planted a seed of discontentment, it was like a volcano being fed more pressure and shutting down the lid. Gradually it would erupt.

Hades knew the answer to the question " How do you destroy an Idea, a Faith?"

By burning it to the ground.

Zeus' actions slow but surely eroded the place the Gods had in the hearts of Humans and pushed them into the arms of Hades.

While Hades did not utilise the power of belief he still formed a religion, The Cult of Divine Oblivion. He passed his teachings of accepting the inevitability of Death head-on and living despite this cruel truth and performing meritorious deeds of helping the poor and weak.

But it wasn't popular because mortals feared their mortality. While other Gods promised power, wealth, long life and a possibility of immortality Hades was the opposite. He promised them no such things and preached to give up material things and accept death as an old friend. The only reward he promised was that based on their deeds they might earn their way into Elysium. The other reward was that whoever believed in Hades and followed his faith can see their loved ones on the Winter Solstice.

One could say that the main reason the religion gained any traction was this last reward. It was something no other God could provide.

Now, however, the acts of the Gods combined with the love and reverence mortals had for Hades slowly but surely pushed them to his side.

Though the followers of the Cult of Divine Oblivion were still marginalised no one dared take violent actions against them. The Cult was once under the threat of extermination by followers of Zeus and other gods who called them heretics. But at the last moment Keres, the sisters of disease and slaughter, ravaged them.

This became known as the plague of providence. Such an incident would normally be capitalised on by other religions in the cult's place as a time of converting more followers. But the cult did no such thing, there were express instructions in their holy text that prevented such methods of conversion.

This was also a machination of Hades. The more you try to force your opinions and beliefs on others the more the public is put off by it. He let them come to his fold of their violation. His teachings were not much different from the ones of Shiva's, and the yet to appear Christ's and Buddha's.

These developments guaranteed Hades' influence over the world. Hades is constantly busy with the management of souls and scheming for the future, due to these reasons Hades rarely makes appearances whereas Zeus fucks anything that moves.

The Gods followed his lead into degeneracy and loads of DemiGods started popping and started building empires of their own and the progress of humans marched on step by step.

On Mt. Olympus sat Zeus on his throne receiving the sacrifices of supplicating men. Besides him sat Hera, who was peacefully enjoying her ambrosia.

"Hera, how has Ares been doing?", Zeus opened his eyes. Lightning flashed in his pupils as drank his ambrosia.

" What else but causing slaughter. Though he knows his limits.", Hera replied whilst running her hand through her hair. "But there is something else I wished to ask you, dear husband. I sense another demigod with a similar divinity as you, I wonder how that could happen? Curious wouldn't you say?", with an impassive smile, Hera raised an eyebrow, questioning Zeus.

"*ack*cough* What are you talking about my darling it must be a mistake. Maybe I must be Ares' kid, you know how much time he spends with Aphrodite.", Zeus nearly coughed out his ambrosia. Of course, it was his seed that caught Hera's scrutiny. He started praying for the well-being of his offspring, he had seen first-hand Hera's wrath upon them.

" Anyways, the Winter Solstice is upon us. Hades will scale Mt.Olympus. I plan on introducing Persephone to the Olympians and making Ares and Athena part council.", Zeus quickly changed the topic as the sharp glint in Hera's eyes made him feel quite uncomfortable.

"*sigh* So it's that time again. We must prevent Ares from antagonising Hades. After such a long wait we gained an Aberration of our own, with Ares we finally have the power to oppose Hades. Primordials can't intervene in our matters, we outnumber his forces but it was the Quality of his forces that matched and dare I say superseded ours. Thanatos, Keres, the Furies and the rest of the spawns of Nyx, Hecate and the weaker Titans that were allowed to live and that Daemon Eurynomos and his legions. Such destructive power can no longer overwhelm us as long as Ares reaches his potential.", Hera's recollected the information they contained on Hades and the Underworld.

" You forgot to mention the most crucial aspect of Hades' army — the Cyclops and the Hecatonchries and the Moirai. With the Cyclopses and the Hecatonchries, he has more divine smiths and Hades himself is called the God of riches for a reason. Even if we have Hephaestus who is objectively a much better smith he is still only a single God.", Zeus grew serious and vented his frustration over the logistical disadvantages he had.

"I understand the Divine Smiths but how do the Sisters of Fate pose a problem? Even though they are the spawns of Nyx they still have vowed neutrality.", Hera was perplexed by Zeus' words.

" It's true that they have vowed neutrality and I can trust Lahkesis and Atropos but not Clotho. One of her aspects is a part of the Keres who by a loophole not as restrained by the Vow. Even though she shan't be able to assist too much it's still a hidden danger.", Zeus replied as he wiped his lips off of the ambrosia.

"The Underworld is a separate domain. Not even Primordials can force their way in the same can be said of Skyland. How is it that you can gather such intelligence of the inhabitants of the Underworld?", Hera was shocked at such information. Well from an outside perspective it might be such information that would elicit such a reaction, and that is true. But it was the fact that Zeus had hold of such information and maybe some more secretive information that surprised Hera.

As she mentioned Underworld was a separate, isolated dimension that could not be breached by even Powerhouses like Chaos and Gaia, the same as Skyland. But there was one difference between the two dimensions. The ruler of the Underworld could freely access the entrance to the Underworld whereas Skyland required a stable opening that would allow it to be connected to Earth, which was Mt. Othyris but after Zeus tore it down the opening was shifted to Mt. Olympus.

The only reason the Olympians did not go to war against Hades was that when Zeus tore down Mt. Othyris he also rattled the connection between Skyland and Earth. Although Mt. Olympus now stood in its place it wasn't enough, Altas now held the heaven on his shoulders so that Skyland doesn't come crashing down.

Zeus has done his best to correct this flaw and given more it will be solved and then he would have no reservations about going to all-out war.

" Hades has always been a threat to my rule and I know he also plans to annihilate us but overestimates his defences. I have planted a hidden piece among his forces. But it's not time to activate it other than just information gathering.", a cruel smile surfaced as he looked in the distance.

While Zeus plotted his schemes, the member of the Trinity was currently competing against Athena over the name of the capital of Greece which was a rapidly growing civilisation.

"Lord Poseidon, why must you complete with me on such matters? You already have the city of Atlantis.", Athena the Goddess of war and Wisdom opposed Poseidon's desire.

" Athena we're just having a bit of a gamble nothing more. If you win I'll allow you to do as you wish.", Poseidon stood opposite to her with a sly smile on his face as he stroked his beard.

"Forgive me for asking such questions but doesn't a God of your status not have much more important matters than to just bet with a minor God.", although Athena was extremely respectful in her demeanour, her words though dripped with sarcasm and pride.

" This is an important matter. I do not have any strong influence over the lands, I had to make an island by my powers so that Atlantians had any presence in the mortal world.", dramatically Poseidon cried his woes in front of Athena, " and what do you mean a 'Minor God'. Isn't Zeus about to induct you into the council and provide a seat on Mount Olympus?", with a sly look in his eyes and a sarcastic voice Poseidon mocked Athena.

Athena showed no outwards sign but she was surprised with the knowledge Poseidon possessed, " Oh, does Lord Poseidon disagree with such an arrangement?"

"No, not at all. Just that there is a suspiciously large number of seats being filled by the children of Zeus.", the implications were obvious in the statement. Poseidon has been noticing the change in the trends of the Olympians ever since Hades left Mt. Olympus. Initially, everything ran smoothly but soon they became rampant and that happened exactly after Athena was born. Poseidon loved his brothers and thus never questioned them so all that Zeus had done so far was nothing much in his eyes but he grew suspicious of Athena.

" If it's a gamble you wish for a gamble it is.", the politeness in Athena's voice went away.

The rest that follows is history. Athena won and Poseidon made a fool of himself and the capital of Greece was called Athens.

"You got riled up, it's unusual seeing you get riled up.", as Athena stood alone watching her city being built a man walked out of the shadows. Every step he took made it seem like a river of blood raged on. His long red hair flowed in the air.

" Brother Ares. How many times must I tell you not to try and sneak up on me?", Athena though seemed completely calm in the presence of this God of War.

" It's not sneaking if you knew I was here. You didn't answer my question.", Ares did not mind her words and stood by her side and looked at Athens with interest.

" Poseidon has always been opposing me at every opportunity. It's irritating.", Athena replied ever so gracefully.

" These senile fools still think they can stand above us. Tell me Athena should I just kill him.", there was no arrogance in Ares' voice it was as though he was just stating the inevitable result.

"No. It will cause too much commotion and you have yet to reach the complete potential of an Aberration.", shaking her head Athena expressed her disapproval of Ares' suggestion.

" It's only because of what you have told me about the Aberrations that I've refrained from becoming one yet.", Ares recalled Athena's warning that the Aberrations while possessing unlimited potential were only relegated to becoming the horse to the King. Since Ares actively slowed his advancement to an Aberration he still possesses his free will.

"It would be wise to follow my advice. I'm privy to a lot of knowledge that other Gods lack, after all, I was born from the thoughts of Zeus.", Athena replied with a tone as cold as the winds of the tundra.

" Yet, you still haven't told me how to break the curse of slavery. It would be a lie if I said I wasn't growing impatient. You can't fathom the temptation I feel, that power, that raw unlimited power being served to me on a plater. It takes all my willpower to refuse this power.", a look of greed came into the eyes of Ares which quickly vanished as though it never happened.

" Theoretically speaking it should be impossible. Yet there exists a God who did the impossible, Eidenai, the God of the Underworld. I still can't figure out how he did it. It doesn't matter if a wasn't born with the Aberration factor, even if it was forcefully taken he should still be inflicted with the curse. So how did he do it?", Athena possessed all the memories of Zeus till she left his brain and she had gone through them repeatedly but she still couldn't figure Hades out.

"Let's not mull over things that can't be solved immediately and let's focus on the Winter Solstice. We'll finally meet Eidenai, I want to see them with my own eyes what an Aberration looks like", Ares turned around with an impassive expression but before he left he heard a voice that made senses scream 'danger'.

" Ares should you ever look at Athens with bloodlust again, you'll die", Athena did not turn to look at but Ares felt her eyes bearing on him.

"... Hahaha, of course ...", Ares simply laughed the threat off.

'He's grown, not only in strength but in mindset as well. It's getting difficult to keep him in check, he's already strong enough to kill Poseidon and go toe to toe with Zeus if he doesn't use the Blade of Olympus. All of this without becoming a complete Aberration.', Athena thought as Ares' actions went against his usual behaviour, " Let's see how much you can grow before serving your purpose."

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Note:- You will see that other than people who are stronger or equal "status" as Hades will call him by his name. Rest won't either out of respect or fear or they don't want to draw Hades' attention.

Alight imma goin pass out.