CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104: YOU MUST HAVE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES

Snakes, after eating, typically enter a long digestive phase.

During this stage, their temperament becomes more stable, some might even say lazy.

Having absorbed massive amounts of nourishment from Eros, Echidna was now completely limp, collapsed atop a massive boulder.

Her already plump serpentine body had become bloated, as if she had just swallowed prey several times larger than herself.

The experience, like a storm, like being ravaged by a beast, left her both savoring and slightly terrified.

No matter how one looked at it, with that kind of size difference, only a primordial earth goddess like her could have survived such a thing. Any other creature would’ve been torn apart.

She glanced at Eros with a complex expression, unconsciously filled with reverence.

"May I now know your name?"

With a trace of hope and longing, Echidna asked.

After a moment of thought, Eros answered,

"My name is Abaddon, Child of the Abyss."

When in doubt, use a disguise. Eros had learned that from both Zeus and Hades.

When venturing out, always carry a few extra identities. Can’t go wrong with that.

Though the name struck her as somewhat strange, Echidna’s strength was completely drained, and she had no energy left to question anything.

"Very well. Since you’ve proven yourself worthy of my trust..."

Now that it was over, Eros was ready to "put on his pants and leave."

"You shall lead your children and quietly await my signal."

"When the time is right, I’ll send word for you to bring them forth and take control of the many border gates of the Underworld."

These words left Echidna slightly puzzled.

She hadn’t even felt herself get pregnant. Why was he so confident? Shouldn’t this kind of thing require several days and nights to be truly settled?

But maybe it was for the best. Echidna sighed in relief.

If that terrifying red dragon kept going for days and nights, she really might not survive it.

"My Lord Abaddon... are you leaving now?"

Seeing that Eros was preparing to spread his wings and fly off, Echidna felt an odd twinge of regret and reluctance.

Though terrifying, Eros’s brutal dominance had left a deep impression, on both her body and her heart.

Not entirely unbearable, either.

"Of course. There’s still much to prepare back in the Underworld."

His encounter with Echidna had been nothing more than a whim.

Eros had no intention of developing any deeper feelings with her.

To him, aside from her serpent-body bonus, the only other perk was the title: Wife of Typhon.

One day, when he could truly beat down Typhon, he planned to drag Echidna in front of him and turn her into a worn-out, exhausted servant, ravaged before Typhon’s very eyes.

As for now?

Eros just wanted to leave. He had already unleashed his most violent and unrestrained side on Echidna, and she somehow still held together. Any other goddess would’ve broken.

Leaving behind this final line, Eros flapped his wings and flew off in the direction he came from.

Echidna could only lie there, dazed, watching him vanish into the distance.

At the border of the Underworld, Hades had been waiting in the darkness for several days.

Ever since Eros dived into the depths of the earth, there’d been no word.

Fortunately, their magical mark confirmed he was safe.

Still, it was hard not to worry when so many days passed without a sign.

Until today, when Cerberus suddenly grew excited, Hades instantly knew Eros had returned.

A red dragon burst from the shadows, its flame-like crimson scales unscathed, appearing before Hades in perfect condition.

Before landing, Eros shifted mid-air, reverting to his original human form.

Taking beast form now and then for fun was fine, but long-term? Still a bit uncomfortable. He preferred his true self.

"You’re finally back. I was starting to worry some terrifying monster had taken you away."

Seeing Eros unscathed, Hades teased, though a slight smile tugged at her lips.

"So? Did you find nothing down there after all?"

Eros’s aura was calm, not a drop of blood on him, Hades assumed he must’ve come back empty-handed.

"No. On the contrary, it was a massive success."

Eros’s smile gleamed with satisfaction. He had just pulled a prank on Typhon, after all, of course he was pleased.

"You don’t have to worry about monsters invading the Underworld anymore. I’ve dealt with the source, at least for now."

Skipping some details, Eros briefly explained his encounter with Echidna to Hades.

"Hm, that’s quite the effective result."

Hades gave a nod of approval.

"As long as they behave for a while, I’ll have time to handle the rest, and then fully fortify the Underworld’s defenses."

No matter how long Echidna waited, she would never see Eros again.

By the time she grew suspicious and sent monsters to investigate, Hades would’ve already built bronze walls to shut them all out.

So even though Eros hadn’t killed a single monster, he had still perfectly accomplished the mission.

"Who would’ve thought you could fool Echidna so easily? Makes me wonder... have I been fooled by you too?"

Hades smirked slyly.

"Ahem... nonsense. I’ve always believed in exchanging sincerity for sincerity, I never lie."

Caught off guard by her question, Eros quickly deflected.

"But let’s not change the subject. I did what I said I would. You better not go back on your word."

"Of course. Once my palace is built, I’ll be inviting many guests."

Hades didn’t forget her promise.

"And the first guest who presents a gift, no matter how precious, I’ll give it directly to you."

Once the Underworld palace was complete, it would mark the official moment Hades declared control over all of the Underworld... and crowned Persephone as her queen.

Not just Underworld creatures and reclusive goddesses, but the entire Night lineage and even the goddesses of Olympus would be invited.

Naturally, that would be the time Demeter and the others made their move.

That day would be a spectacular mess in every sense.

And for Eros, it would be the best opportunity to deal with Hades.

On that day, he’d have the most external support, but it would also be when Hades was best prepared.

"Well then. Since the hard part’s done, let’s head back."

Hades snapped Eros out of his thoughts.

"Thanks to your help, I can finally enjoy a bit of peace, no more running around."

With the biggest threat resolved, the rest would be much easier.

Now Hades could focus on organizing the entire Underworld.

On the way back, she and Eros chatted about their visions for the Underworld.

Currently, its territory was chaotic, the rivers of the dead flowing in different directions, often clashing over territory.

Even native Underworld creatures were constantly at odds, preserving only the most basic order.

The Night lineage bore divine authority over the Underworld but only cared about its core rules, everything else they ignored.

That, perhaps, was the detached style passed down by Nyx.

The King of Gods had already seen three generations. The Ocean had passed through several rulers. But the Underworld?

Still on its first.

Even Hades herself wasn’t sure what kind of Underworld she wanted to build, or how to begin.

But every time she shared her confusion, Eros gave perfect answers, saying exactly what she had in mind.

Honestly, it was like taking an open-book exam, he was just copying straight from future mythology.

In the end, the Underworld and Hell were meant to reward good and punish evil.

But this was still early in Zeus’s reign. Humanity was still developing. Concepts of morality were just beginning to sprout.

For example, Hades "kidnapping" Persephone, using force to take her was perfectly normal in Greek standards. It followed procedure.

No one would call her evil for it. Demeter had every right to fight back.

It was simple, direct, raw, and wild. Morality didn’t even exist yet.

Even laws were still in their infancy, Themis had only just begun drafting them, and they followed the brutal principle of retributive justice:

An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.

In that context, establishing the Underworld was a bold move toward civilizing such barbaric traditions.

The goal was to influence the new humans, not the gods, who were too set in their ways.

Still, for stability’s sake, the Underworld had to be built.

With access to Zeus’s and Hades’s plans, plus so many answers from future myths, Eros not only offered the best approach, but even earned Hades’s full approval.

She even began to feel... "He really understands me."

"No wonder you and my little sister are so close."

After learning so much from Eros, and gaining clarity about her future path, Hades remarked with a hint of emotion.

"You two think far beyond most gods... you see futures the rest of us can’t."

"And your personalities and tastes are oddly similar."

"...You could’ve stopped at the first half."

Eros rolled his eyes. Hades just chuckled softly and looked at him.

"How about staying and becoming my secretary? Help me build a brand-new Underworld?"

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