The Story of the Underworld - (1)
Thus, Dionysus quietly descended to the island of Naxos...
Zeus and I began to observe the situation below the clouds.
"Is this the island of Naxos?! Artemis~!"
"I can't see anything."
The island of Naxos is an uninhabited island where no humans live.
Perhaps the Gigantes have set traps here because of that.
The humans who offer us their faith can be considered our eyes.
"Gigantes, come out quickly!"
"I'll kill you all in one blow, ha ha ha!"
Crash.
Crack.
The two enormous giants, looking down at everything on the island, shouted as they smashed the trees.
They appeared confident, as if there were no monsters to challenge them.
However, the Gigantes are monsters created by our grandmother Gaia to bring down Olympus.
They must have enough wariness against us, who even defeated Typhon.
"I can't see Artemis?!"
"Monsters! Our Aloadae brothers have arrived!!!"
They surely wouldn't be caught off guard like those fools.
They must be lying in ambush somewhere or preparing to activate traps due to their powers...
At that moment, the island of Naxos shook.
Rumble rumble rumble—
"Is that the trap prepared by the Gigantes?"
"The power of the earth surpassing even Demeter... It seems like it was made directly by Lady Gaia."
A tremendous roar echoed throughout the island, and the ground split apart.
Just like when Poseidon's trident struck the earth, all the geographical features of the island were destroyed.
Boom! Crash!
"Ugh! What is this! Is it the work of those Gigantes?!"
"Uwaah! Those cowardly bastards!"
The giant brothers, who called themselves Aloadae, lost their balance and fell.
Ephialtes, who I had tripped, rolled on the ground, clutching his head.
No matter how powerful Lady Gaia's traps are, those strong giants shouldn't be helpless against them.
There must be something more.
"Ugh! What is this...?"
"A trap?! Could it be that Lord Zeus lied to us!"
From what I can see, there are deadly poisons, hallucinations, and powers of the earth directly rejecting them.
Lady Gaia must have set her traps with great determination.
"Oh ho... I feel relieved that I didn't send Hermes to search."
Zeus looked down at the island of Naxos with a serious expression.
The traps seemed to be aimed at the twelve Olympian gods, leaving the giant brothers in a daze.
As the island was devastated by the massive earthquake, the Gigantes began to emerge from below the ground like mushrooms after rain.
Through the wide cracks in the earth, hideous monsters combining snakes and humans rushed toward the giants.
But one particularly large Gigante shouted first.
Has a commanding entity emerged among the Gigantes?
"Ha ha ha! Just as Mother said, a big fish has taken the bait! I am Agrios, under King Eurymedon!"
"Die, dogs of Olympus!!!"
"Attack!!"
"... These bastards!"
"The cowardly monsters who took Artemis!!"
King Eurymedon, you say? Does that mean their power has grown strong enough to call themselves a king?
And that commander-like entity is a face I've never seen before.
Next to me, Zeus's expression hardened as soon as the word "king" was mentioned.
It would be wise to avoid an all-out war since the human hero mentioned in the prophecy has not yet been born...
Soon, I could see the island of Naxos being destroyed by the bloody battle between giants and monsters.
The Gigantes threw rocks and swung trees.
"What gods are you?! Ares? Apollo?!"
"Cough!"
"You insect-like monsters! Hand over Artemis!"
Boom! Crack!
In response, the muscular giant brothers swung their bodies wildly, sending the Gigantes flying.
The Gigantes caught in their rough hands burst apart, but the brothers were also getting wounded.
"Ugh!"
"Ephialtes! Let's escape from here first... Cough!"
"Otus!"
They first lost their balance due to the earthquake, then weakened by the deadly poisons and the powers of the earth.
And hundreds of Gigantes lying in ambush underground launched a surprise attack all at once.
No matter how strong they are among the twelve Olympian gods, they cannot defeat that many Gigantes alone.
The biggest problem is that Lady Gaia's power, the earth itself, is rejecting them.
The Gigante who introduced himself as Agrios under Eurymedon jumped onto Otus's back and choked him.
Otus struggled and eventually fell, while Ephialtes howled.
"Indeed, they can kill giants; the Gigantes are closer to monsters than divine beings."
Zeus briefly stood up and quietly took his Astrafe.
A strong power emanated from the blue lightning in his hand, and a destructive momentum spread out...
But this was on the weaker side among the lightning he possessed.
"Otus! Cough cough!"
"We just need to kill this one!"
"Crush him with your body!"
After a fierce battle, the number of Gigantes was reduced to dozens as they threw rocks at Ephialtes.
They pinned him down with their bodies and struck his ankles to bring him down.
"Don't...!"
"Ha ha ha!"
Thus, the Aloadae brothers, who challenged Olympus, met their demise.
Although they defeated hundreds of Gigantes, it was a futile end compared to their power.
As the battle on the island of Naxos came to an end, Zeus stood up with lightning in hand.
He intended to annihilate the exhausted Gigantes after the fight with the giant brothers.
"Now that it's over, shall we clean up?"
"Throw gently, so it doesn't affect the sea too much."
Crackle— Rumble!
Lightning crackled from Zeus's entire body, including his eyes.
The king of the gods raised his arm for a moment...
With a flash— Boom!!
A single bolt of lightning struck the island of Naxos.
However, with that one strike, the entire island sank, and the Gigantes were wiped out in droves.
The island was completely torn apart, so many lives must have perished.
Though I am not the god of prophecy, I can vividly imagine Thanatos complaining to me in the future.
"Zeus, then I shall return to the underworld."
"Come visit Olympus again next time, ha ha ha!"
"I hope it won't be for something like today."
I see Aphrodite, drinking nectar and chatting with the goddesses.
I must take her back to the underworld with me.
"Hades!"
As I entered the entrance of the underworld with Aphrodite, who was humming a tune, I caught the gaze of Thanatos's avatar.
Seeing him binding the souls of two giant spirits with ropes...
"To be defeated by mere monsters! Release me!"
"Ugh! H... Hades?!"
It seems that Otus and Ephialtes, who died earlier at the hands of the Gigantes, have come to the underworld.
I should tell Minos to put them to work as punishment.
They recognized me, who was with Aphrodite, and began to struggle.
"Release us, Lord Hades!"
"Send us back to the living world!"
But that is out of the question.
If they were alive and under the protection of prophecy, perhaps it would be different...
But now that they are dead and have become souls, do they think they can escape Thanatos's grasp?
Thanatos's avatar carelessly tossed the two giant souls, and they rolled on the ground.
Yet, they still shouted for Artemis and demanded to be sent back to the living world.
If this continues, it would interfere with Charon's duties.
"Aphrodite, can you distract them?"
"That much is easy~"
The goddess of beauty and love smiled sweetly.
Soon, her gaze, filled with desire, turned toward the giant souls.
"Quickly, let us out of here... Ah..."
"Cowardly Zeus! Surely you have... ugh..."
The souls dragged to the underworld have caused trouble more than once, but if the goddess of love and beauty controls the dead, everyone's duties will surely improve.
Where should I assign this goddess?
The cold Cocytus River, where souls hesitate?
Or the banks of the Acheron River, where many cause trouble like just now?
Or the Phlegethon River, where souls hesitate to cross due to memories from the living world?
As I looked at the goddess, who raised her hand to her side and tilted her nose, Charon spoke to me.
The ever-tired ferryman of the underworld grumbled.
"Ha. Do I have to ferry these without even a coin?"
"They are serious criminals, so they must face judgment. I'll pay the drachma instead."
"Tch... I understand. Hurry up and get on, you lot!"
The dazed souls of the two giants boarded Charon's ferry one after another.
First, Otus's soul climbed aboard...
Sway— Wobble.
Huh? Was Charon's ferry that weak?
It was clearly made to withstand however many souls boarded without issue.
"Umm? Why is it so heavy? Hey, you go over there!"
It seems Charon had the same thought as me,
He tried to balance the ferry by placing them at both ends.
Next, Ephialtes's soul climbed onto the ferry...
Splash— Crackle!