Chapter 191: Side Story – The Underworld’s Rebellion (5)
Athena and Iris bowed their heads respectfully and then glanced at Prometheus, who was bound in chains.
Athena, clad in full armor, took a step forward and spoke first.
“You’ve captured Prometheus.”
“Yes. I couldn’t find Epimetheus, but I discovered Prometheus fleeing and caught him.”
“I see.”
“Hehehe…”
As Prometheus let out a chuckling laugh, Iris glanced around nervously before speaking.
“With Atlas missing, Zeus’s divine beast dead, and Prometheus’s whereabouts unknown, Olympus convened a meeting. Among the gods who govern the world, only Poseidon and Hades were absent, so we came here personally…”
The fact that Poseidon wasn’t in Olympus was a major advantage.
It made sense, given that he frequently traveled between Olympus and the seas.
But given the current timing… perhaps he had quarreled with Zeus, or maybe he too was preparing a rebellion like me.
Poseidon had always coveted the throne of the king of the gods. He wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this when Zeus’s authority was faltering.
It seemed the Fates, the Moirai, were smiling upon my rebellion.
“So Poseidon is only in the sea? Hah. He once tried to overthrow Olympus, so he’s certainly suspicious. What do you think, Athena?”
“…Dionysus has gone to the sea.”
I probed Athena, and it yielded some information.
Though her intentions were unclear, it was evident that Zeus was wary of Poseidon.
Why would Dionysus, the weakest among the Twelve Olympians, be sent to the sea instead of Hermes?
It seemed likely that if Poseidon rebelled and Dionysus didn’t return, Hermes would relay the news to Olympus.
Athena had mentioned a meeting was held, so the gods remaining in Olympus must be Hephaestus, Apollo, Ares, and the like.
The powerful gods were all still there. Athena must have come armed because she harbored some suspicion of me, even if slight.
If I tolerated her impudence, it would look strange. Perhaps it was time to press her a little.
“Athena, why have you come to the Underworld in armor? You send only Dionysus to Poseidon, yet send the fully armed goddess of war to me. So this is what Zeus thinks of me.”
“…I volunteered to come here.”
“Trying to take on extra tasks, are you? My, my, you’ve grown since I last saw you. I still vividly recall how helpless you were during the Great Flood.”
Athena remained silent despite my probing.
Perhaps she didn’t see the need to respond, or perhaps…
“Well, never mind. For now, Iris, open a rainbow path to return Prometheus to Zeus.”
Iris, bowing slightly to me, glanced at Athena.
“Iris, wait,” Athena interjected, stopping her. She then took another step forward and spoke.
“Do you intend to rebel against Father?”
Oh-ho.
* * *
When Athena directed her words at me, I first turned to Iris.
The rainbow goddess showed no visible agitation upon hearing Athena’s words. Had they spoken beforehand, before coming to the Underworld?
If the goddess of wisdom truly considered me a rebel and intended to guard against me, she wouldn’t have come to the Underworld at all, let alone raised the question.
Even Zeus himself couldn’t defeat me here in the Underworld. Athena wouldn’t have imagined she could escape me either.
Was Athena’s decision to come armed possibly because…
“And why would you think that?”
“Not long after the collapse of Mount Caucasus, a messenger arrived at Olympus. It was as though the message was sent immediately after the mountain fell.”
“Interesting.”
“Moreover, Prometheus, who is an unrivaled prophet—far superior to Apollo—would not have been captured this quickly if he were truly fleeing from you.”
“Is that all?”
“Not entirely. Hermes recently mentioned that the Lord of the Underworld was greatly angered. Lastly…”
Athena turned her gaze to the bound Prometheus.
Her voice carried a tone of certainty.
“Father suspects the one who freed you is the Lord of the Seas, but Poseidon lacks the ability to persuade you.”
“Hehehe! Poor Poseidon! To think his niece would critique him so harshly!”
“It’s not criticism; it’s an objective evaluation of his capabilities.”
Poseidon’s temper was notoriously volatile. Besides, Prometheus and Poseidon had never gotten along.
Athena had clearly put considerable thought into this on her way to the Underworld.
As expected of the goddess of wisdom.
At this point, Prometheus nonchalantly shrugged off his chains and stepped forward.
“And if that’s true? If I plan to depose Zeus and become the king of the gods, what will you do?”
“If you launch an assault on Olympus now, you will certainly succeed. Father is preoccupied with Poseidon, and Astraphe was left behind in the meeting chamber. Even Hera has been sulking in her chambers after a big fight with Father a few days ago.”
“I thought you would side with Zeus. Why are you doing this?”
From her actions and words so far…
It was clear Athena had discussed this with Iris before descending to the Underworld.
Perhaps she suspected I might rebel, and if her suspicions were correct, she intended to direct my anger toward Olympus.
I could understand Iris siding with me, given Zeus’s constant advances on her.
But why Athena? Wasn’t she Zeus’s most trusted daughter?
In response to my question, Athena lowered her head slightly and replied.
“Olympus, in its current state, cannot withstand an invasion by the Gigantes. I’m merely considering the gods’ future.”
Fair enough. It made sense for the goddess of wisdom to think this way.
With Gaia’s wrath looming over Olympus, unity was essential.
Even Poseidon and Hera, who had previously rebelled, were evidence of their fractured state.
Now, with Titans like Epimetheus, Prometheus, and Atlas siding with me, it was reasonable for her to conclude that my side had a better chance of victory.
If Zeus remained king, Olympus would never survive the wrath of the Protogenoi.
“Did you come armed to the Underworld because you intend to fight alongside us?”
“Yes. If you permit me, I’ll assist you.”
“No. You will remain in the Underworld. Iris, create the path to Olympus.”
There was still a chance Athena might betray me if we reached Olympus.
While unlikely, I couldn’t afford to take risks before the rebellion succeeded.
“Understood, Lord Hades.”
The rainbow goddess used her power to connect spaces.
“If this rebellion succeeds, I won’t lay a hand on Hera, whom you serve.”
“Thank you… truly.”
“Consider it a reward for aiding the Underworld.”
Had Zeus shown even a little less interest in Iris, perhaps she would have been more loyal to him.
* * *
Ssshhhh…
At that moment, the rainbow path connecting Olympus and the Underworld materialized.
As Iris had informed us beforehand, the path led directly in front of the Olympus meeting chamber.
Whoosh.
I donned the invisible Kynee and summoned my Bident.
The divine weapon fit snugly in my hand, as always—my spear to strike Zeus.
“I’ll go in first and deliver a blow to Zeus. Follow immediately and subdue the other gods! Epimetheus, if Poseidon appears, block him first. Atlas, assist me in defeating Zeus. Prometheus, Goddess Styx, Goddess Lethe, Thanatos, and Hypnos, handle the Twelve Olympians…”
If we stuck to the plan, there was no way we could lose.
May the Moirai’s blessing guide us in our mission to dethrone the king of the gods.
Thud.
As I crossed the rainbow path Iris created, Olympus came into view.
The palace above the clouds, a radiant structure symbolizing the immortals’ power and pride.
“Haha. No Hera… Come here, just for a moment.”
“Lord Zeus, I have sworn chastity…”
“I said come here.”
With the Kynee concealing me, I saw Zeus lounging in the grand meeting chamber, flirting with a beautiful nymph by his side.
Apollo, Hephaestus, Ares, and Demeter were present, but Hera was nowhere to be seen.
Fixing my target, I crouched and leaped high, the clouds beneath me parting as I revealed my presence.
By the time they realized someone was there, it was already too late!
Ssshhh- Thwack!
“Gua-aaaahhh!!!”
The Bident struck Zeus’s groin with full force, emitting a gruesome, echoing burst.