(Greek Mythology) The Abyss of the Underworld
Chapter 116
The divine status of the rulers of the three realms is incompatible. Zeus, having become the King of the Gods, could no longer be the King of the Underworld and the God of the Sea. He also dared not overly offend Tartarus and Pentheus, the true masters of the two realms. Therefore, his only aim was to install his own forces to undermine the power of the King of the Underworld and the God of the Sea.
Zeus had previously infiltrated both realms for many years without any real effect. In the Sea Realm, the King and Queen each held half the power. Zeus wanted to sow discord between the couple, but Amphitrite didn't care about Poseidon's lovers; she only cared about the Sea Realm where she had grown up. While Poseidon was a womanizer, he still respected his wife. The King and Queen of the Sea remained loyal, and Oceanus and his wife, who resented Zeus for the death of their daughter Metis, also interfered. Zeus couldn't find a way to exploit the situation.
Zeus also attempted to infiltrate the Underworld, succeeding only in placing his own people there. However, these were all the three judges of the Underworld—just and virtuous individuals devoted to their duty of judging good and evil, completely ignoring Zeus, their father god. Their presence was utterly ineffective.
After much agonizing reflection, Zeus realized that the equal power of the three realms made it so difficult to infiltrate the other two.
This is understandable. Leaking trivial information was harmless, as the three realms maintained a facade of harmony. But to truly side with the gods was unthinkable. Aside from the potential benefits, who would commit acts tantamount to betrayal if they weren't certain Zeus could protect them? With equal power, no one would believe one could truly save themselves from the other. Perhaps a significant price could be paid, but would Zeus be willing to pay it? Nobody believed it.
So what Zeus wants to do now is simply to suppress the two realms, proving that the celestial realm is stronger than the underworld and the sea. His painstaking efforts to gain control of the earth are also to leverage Gaia's influence. After all, Gaia is the first god, the mother of all gods, and the source of all celestial and sea gods; her name is an invisible deterrent to all deities except the first gods.
The best way to prove the celestial realm's strength is through victory in war. If the gods wage war, it will cause a huge uproar; no god would agree to it without a reason. But supporting humanity in fighting is fine. Zeus only wants victory; he doesn't care about the process.
As for why he's having Athena fight, it's partly to isolate Athena, and partly to give himself some leeway—a win-win situation.
Of course, Zeus knows he's militarily incompetent; he doesn't need to spread it around.
So, without his wife, the goddess of wisdom Metis, giving him advice, Zeus, you really are hopeless! ╮(╯▽╰)╭
After news spread throughout the underworld that Zeus had instructed Athena to wage a holy war against the underworld, and incidentally, to further tarnish the underworld's reputation (mainly Hades), the gods of the underworld weren't angry at all.
Being a god, the most important thing is to be happy; everything else can wait. After all, the underworld has been tarnished countless times over the years, so adding a little more bad reputation doesn't matter.
And Hades, once again innocently caught in the crossfire, remained calm.
"It's all debt; it's better to pay it off sooner." —by Hades
The ever-restless divine realm has always been the greatest entertainment for the gods of the underworld. While watching is good, being able to participate firsthand is even better. The holy war is fought on earth, and while they don't particularly like the environment of the divine realm, the earth is perfectly fine.
Although… in the end, very few gods of the underworld were actually allowed to participate. ╮(￣▽￣")╭
Hades: Wait, Your Majesty, you can't do this! What happened to the promise of entertainment for all? [Erkang hand gesture]
Hades: Who promised you that? [Indifferent.jpg]
"I want to go too, just for fun, it won't affect anything..." Looking resentfully at her two younger brothers, Hemera muttered to herself, her resentment almost tangible.
Why can Hypnos and Thanatos participate openly? She wants to go too!
"This is His Majesty the King of the Underworld's order." Hypnos decided to sympathize with Hemera for thirty seconds.
"Why can't we go? Wouldn't it be better to have more helpers?" Hemera pouted unhappily.
"In fact, the Underworld has plenty of fighting power," Hypnos paused, then added, "Besides, Athena's Saints are, after all, human." "
Dealing with humans requires the gods to participate; the Underworld can't afford to lose face like that.
The difference in power among Greek gods is largely determined at birth. Even if a high-ranking god neglects training, their strength can still overwhelm a lower-ranking god who works tirelessly. There are exceptions, though. Perhaps a difference of one rank can be compensated for through various means, or perhaps a god unskilled in martial arts might be suppressed in direct combat by a slightly lower-ranking martial god. But for the vast majority of gods, these are merely rumors irrelevant to them.
No matter how much effort one puts in, a single sentence about birth can erase it. Without truly experiencing it, one cannot know how despairing this gap can be.
This is one of the reasons Zeus insisted on sending humans; the gods of the Underworld..." While fewer in number than the other two realms, the main force of the God of the Underworld consists of second-generation gods, and due to their attributes, they are almost all martial gods. After all, few dark gods possess laws with low attack power. If gods were to actually fight, given the predominantly fourth and fifth-generation gods of the Celestial Realm, they would have little advantage. Accidentally injuring one might even provoke the first-generation god, and Nyx, the Goddess of Night, is not known for her good temper.
Face is paramount, and gods lack nothing. In their endless lives, they only strive for face. Anyone who dares to disrespect Nyx will be killed by her. Conversely, if only humans were involved in the war, the God of the Underworld would never join for the sake of face.
"Heh, as if you're not a god," Hermera coldly retorted, extremely dissatisfied.
"I am an employee of the Underworld," Hypnos stated, indicating that assisting the King of the Underworld was his job.
"I can also work in the Underworld." "Hemella said this was no problem.
"But you're not the God of the Underworld," Hypnos retorted instinctively.
Hemella's face darkened instantly at Hypnos's unintentional jab.
"Mother Goddess, just admit it, you really aren't the God of the Underworld," Tarasa added, showing no mercy.
"Do you believe I'll go see His Majesty Tartarus right now?" Once Tartarus acknowledged her as the God of the Underworld, no god could deny it anymore. The devastated Hemerella didn't care whether seeking outside help for such a trivial matter was necessary.
"His Majesty Tartarus wouldn't say something against his conscience." "Tarasa said with certainty.
"..." Hemera (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
#So annoying, I don't want to keep smiling at all#
#Finishing blow, finishing blow, finishing blow, all she does is finish blow, what's the use of such an unfilial daughter?# Chapter 116