CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 112: I’M GONNA HIT BOTH OF YOU!

A fierce battle raged above the Underworld for what felt like days.

Though there were no sun or moon to measure time, Eros had silently counted in his heart, it had indeed been several days.

The gathered goddesses still lingered, watching the drama unfold, unwilling to disperse.

Perhaps it was because they couldn’t leave. The entire Underworld had been influenced by Hades’s will. Leaving wouldn’t bring peace, so they might as well stay here, in the best seats, enjoying the spectacle.

And after all this time, the battle in the sky was finally coming to an end.

So, what was the outcome?

When Hades, still in her flowing black gown, her face brimming with joy and satisfaction, smashed Demeter down from the skies, the result was obvious.

Hades had won! Completely!

The Queen of the Underworld had single-handedly defeated four of the greatest goddesses of Olympus.

Among them were the revered goddess of agriculture, the famously wise goddess of wisdom, the most powerful goddess of the hunt, Zeus’s personal favorite, and even a great triple-aspect goddess from the ancient East who once held dominion over heaven, earth, and the underworld.

But so what?

Hades, the god of the Underworld, defeated them without even breaking a sweat. After days of fighting, she didn’t show the slightest sign of fatigue.

Because she was, without a doubt, the rightful ruler of this realm of death, the undisputed queen of all souls.

"Big sister, you lost again," Hades sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. This was exactly the result she had expected.

And this time, she had sealed off the surrounding space, there would be no last-minute escape like before. Hecate wouldn’t be whisking anyone away.

"No matter how hard you try, no matter how many divine authorities or relics you borrow, no matter how many allies you gather..."

"You still can’t change the fact that you will never beat me."

Demeter’s face was pale, her dress stained with blood, and her eyes still burned with defiance.

"I never imagined that a childish brat like you could become this powerful after inheriting the Underworld’s mantle."

"If I’d known, I should’ve had Zeus pass that divine role to someone else."

Hades’s smirk deepened.

"Someone else? Who exactly?"

"Who else could she give it to? Who else is willing to take it? Or are you saying, sister, that you’d volunteer to be the Queen of the Underworld? To stay here forever, buried in this dark realm?"

Her voice revealed layers of long-suppressed bitterness.

"Yes, you wanted to be with Zeus. You had a child with him. You couldn’t do it, and neither could Hera."

"Only I could. Only I did. But did any of you ever ask me how I felt? Did any of you consider what it’s like to be condemned to eternal solitude in this darkness?"

"If you had even thought about it, if you’d cared at all, you would’ve at least said goodbye before leaving."

Hades’s voice rose as her expression twisted with emotion, and the flames of the Phlegethon surged violently in response to her fury.

She was accusing Demeter, accusing her of never caring.

Even at the moment they parted, perhaps not to meet again for ages, Demeter hadn’t spared a single word for her.

Not just Demeter, but Hera too. Even Hestia, who hadn’t appeared since the victory of the Titanomachy.

"This is the duty of a child of Kronos!"

Demeter snapped back, cutting off Hades’s accusations, her own anger boiling over.

"We’re not children anymore. We have to move past our immaturity and accept our responsibilities."

"Which is why you are still a naive, dependent little brat!"

The past was the past. This was now.

They had outgrown childhood. Each of them had their own duties, their own lives to live.

A mature deity had to break free from their parents and elders, to shoulder their responsibilities alone.

The greater the divine role, the greater the burden it carried.

Like Helios, who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day. Like Aether, god of the atmosphere, whose body became the air.

Since Hades now held dominion over the Underworld, she had to bear the weight of its operation.

That was the price of power and authority. Demeter couldn’t understand what there was to resent.

With the power of the Underworld, Hades had gained immense strength. She could now build her own life down here.

"This is growth. After all these years, have you still not understood that?"

"...You’re right. I do need to accept this kind of growth."

To Demeter’s surprise, Hades nodded.

"So now, sister, it’s your turn to grow up."

Hades descended slowly, glancing behind her and beckoning Persephone.

"Your daughter, my dear little Persephone, she’s wonderful. So talented."

"I believe she’s ready to be Queen of the Underworld. She’s grown enough to leave your side and stand on her own."

"No! Hades, she’s not ready!"

Demeter’s voice trembled, her emotions spiraling as her eyes locked on her beloved daughter.

Athena, still weakened, closed her eyes and chose to stay out of the sibling drama.

Artemis fumed in frustration, torn between giving up and burning her last few trump cards to settle the score.

As for Hecate, she only felt a tinge of sorrow as her gaze fell on Eros, standing quietly behind Hades.

Was she really going to watch someone else steal the one person who had touched her heart?

Hades scoffed at Demeter’s objections.

"Sister, don’t you find your words ridiculous?"

"Persephone is the same age as Athena and Artemis, who are both widely renowned and fully independent goddesses."

"Hermes, the messenger, has seen and done more than most. Even Hebe has her own divine role and responsibilities."

"And yet your daughter, your precious Persephone, is still hidden behind your skirts, unable to step out and become a goddess in her own right."

Persephone had no official domain. To those unfamiliar, she might as well be Demeter’s attendant or handmaid.

In fact, many gods didn’t even know Demeter had a daughter. They didn’t know Persephone’s name, appearance, role, or deeds.

"Sister, since you want to talk about growth, then now is the time for all of us, me, you, and little Persephone, to grow together."

"I’ve already performed the Underworld’s secret rites on her. Even if you defeat me, you won’t be able to take her back."

"She now and forever belongs to me. To the Underworld."

Demeter’s face fell even further. She had nothing more to say, only muttering to herself:

"She’s not ready... She’s still too young. She can’t do it."

"My daughter... she should be protected in the palm of my hand. Not thrown into all of this..."

Even Eros now had to side with Hades.

Demeter’s attitude was clearly hypocritical. Though her intentions came from love, she had never once asked Persephone what she wanted.

Eros understood. Demeter truly believed Persephone was just a helpless child, that she alone should make every decision for her.

Both sisters were deeply flawed in their own ways.

One had a pathological need for control and smothering affection, the other an unhealthy dependence and obsession with emotions.

No wonder Eros often thought, how did these two end up like this?

They were a perfect match, like a lock and key made for each other.

It was all Zeus’s fault!

If she hadn’t given Demeter a child, maybe all that obsessive love could’ve been shared with Hades instead.

Then this whole mess wouldn’t have happened.

"Sister, nothing you say now will change anything."

Hades slowly walked toward Demeter.

"You can’t resist me. You’ve already fallen into my hands."

"You, Athena, and Artemis, all of you will stay here in the Underworld. I want to see if Zeus will just sit still and let that happen."

Oh gods, stop mentioning Zeus!

Eros grimaced. He couldn’t very well tell them the truth, Zeus had already dumped this entire mess on him and wouldn’t be intervening.

"How about we meet halfway?"

Eros finally stepped forward, trying to play mediator.

If Demeter didn’t restore the land soon, his investment would keep losing value by the day.

"Why don’t we ask Persephone what she wants? Maybe she can spend some time in the Underworld, and some time on Olympus?"

"How does that sound?"

Persephone’s eyes lit up. That sounded perfect, no more torn decisions.

She could be with her mother on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and party in the Underworld on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

But before she could speak, both Hades and Demeter shouted in unison:

"No!"

Then they immediately resumed glaring daggers at each other.

"She’s my daughter! You don’t get to decide!"

Demeter snapped.

"Hmph! Why should I compromise? What gives her the right?"

Hades sneered.

"Eros, this has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it."

She barked at him coldly.

...Nothing to do with him? If it involved a beautiful woman, it always had something to do with Eros.

He was the one who just suggested the myth’s canonical compromise ending, and yet they rejected it without even thinking.

So it did matter who made the suggestion, huh?

If Zeus had said it, they’d take it seriously.

But because it came from him, Eros? They didn’t even consider it?

...Looked down on that hard, huh?

Eros raised an eyebrow. He had had enough.

"I’m gonna hit you both! Both of you!"

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