King Hades

ARC ONE: BIRTH OF THE KING CHAPTER 1: BIRTH OF A KING --- Mount Othrys. The birthplace of the Titans. A land where fire and darkness coexisted in eternal harmony. Jagged black mountains pierced the crimson heavens like the fangs of an ancient beast. Rivers of molten lava carved glowing paths through the rocky landscape, bathing the towering cliffs in an ominous scarlet light. Twisted forests clung stubbornly to the mountainsides, their lifeless branches swaying beneath winds heavy with ash and sulfur. The mountain itself seemed alive. Every scar etched into its surface whispered tales of wars that had shaped creation itself. At the summit stood an enormous obsidian palace. The Palace of Time. Upon its highest balcony stood a lone figure. King Cronus. The King of the Titans. The King of Time. Tall, broad-shouldered, and draped in regal black armor trimmed with gold, Cronus stared silently into the endless heavens. His long dark hair flowed behind him while his thick beard framed the stern face of a king feared across countless realms. Yet his eyes held no pride. Only memories. "...So many years have passed," he murmured. Slowly, he closed his eyes. The world around him faded. And the past came rushing back. --- Years Ago... The sky screamed. Lightning split the heavens as two unimaginable beings clashed atop Mount Othrys. One ruled the heavens. The other sought to overthrow them. King Uranus... Against his youngest son... Cronus. Far below, Queen Gaia watched with anxious eyes. Unable to endure Uranus' cruelty any longer, she had given birth to Cronus and accelerated his growth using his innate authority over time, transforming him instantly into a grown warrior capable of challenging the tyrant king. The battle that followed shook creation itself. Each collision of fists shattered mountains. Every exchange sent shockwaves tearing across the land. The heavens trembled. The earth cracked. Uranus raised his hand. "The Sky Art..." An endless pressure descended from above. "...SKY FURY CRUSH!" The very weight of the heavens crashed down upon Cronus. BOOM!! The young Titan slammed into the ground as countless cracks spread across Mount Othrys. Dust swallowed the battlefield. Cronus struggled beneath the unbearable pressure. Uranus laughed. "You foolish child." His voice echoed across the mountain. "You dared challenge your own father?" He slowly stretched both arms toward the heavens. "Now witness true despair." The clouds spiraled violently. The sky itself began collapsing. "SKYFALL!" The heavens descended like a gigantic meteor. Gaia screamed. "Cronus!" The impact erased everything. BOOOOOOM!! Entire mountains disappeared beneath the explosion. Mount Othrys was nearly reduced to ruins. Silence followed. Smoke covered the battlefield. Pieces of the palace crumbled into molten rivers below. Gaia stared helplessly into the thick dust. Then... A silhouette emerged. She smiled. "Cronus..." But her expression froze. "No..." It wasn't Cronus lying on the ground. It was Uranus. His body was broken. Blood poured from countless wounds. Standing over him... Was Cronus. Completely unharmed. Gaia's eyes widened. "How...?" Cronus looked toward her with calm confidence. "Don't be surprised, Mother." He rested his massive time sickle across his shoulder. "I simply reminded Father..." "...that time obeys only me." Gaia remained speechless. Cronus continued. "When Skyfall descended..." "...I reversed time itself." "Kronic Reversal." "A technique that rewinds a single moment and exchanges the positions of two targets." "I merely switched our places." Understanding finally dawned on Gaia. The attack Uranus had unleashed... Had struck himself instead. Uranus coughed violently. Blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to crawl away. "You..." Cronus stepped forward. "You ruled through fear." "You imprisoned your own children." "You called yourself king." He raised his Time Sickle. "But today..." "...your reign ends." One swift motion. SCHHK!! The blade flashed. Uranus screamed in unbearable agony as Cronus severed the source of his tyranny. The King of the Sky collapsed. His breathing became weaker. Even so... Hatred still burned in his eyes. With the last of his strength, Uranus glared at his son. "Cronus..." "You may celebrate today..." "...but hear my final decree." "The fate you have given me..." "...shall become your own." "One day..." "...your own child..." "...will overthrow you." "He shall surpass your power." "He shall steal your throne." "And only then..." "...will you understand..." "...why I became the monster you despised." His voice faded. "You...will...suffer..." "You..." "...will..." "...suffer..." The words echoed across Mount Othrys long after Uranus drew his final breath. --- Cronus suddenly opened his eyes. He was back in the present. The memory still haunted him. "My lord." A servant knelt behind him. "Queen Rhea has given birth." Cronus remained silent for several moments before turning toward the palace. "Take me to her." --- Inside the royal chamber... Queen Rhea cradled a newborn child. The room was filled with kings from neighboring realms who had arrived to offer their congratulations. Among them stood Odin, Thor, Jupiter, Loki, Shiva, Seth, and many other mighty rulers. Rhea smiled warmly as Cronus approached. "You should hold him." Cronus carefully took the infant into his arms. The moment their skin touched... Everything changed. BOOM. A crushing wave of divine energy surged through his body. His pupils contracted. Never... In all his existence... Had he felt power like this. It was vast. Ancient. Endless. Even sleeping... The child radiated authority. Cronus instinctively tightened his grip. His heartbeat quickened. "...Impossible." His thoughts became turbulent. Could this be him? The child from Uranus' prophecy? The one destined to overthrow me...? For the first time since becoming King... Cronus felt fear. Loki broke the silence with his usual grin. "So..." "What shall the young prince be called?" Cronus slowly looked toward Rhea. She smiled lovingly. "Hades." The name lingered in the room. Cronus repeated it quietly. "...Hades." The gathered kings congratulated the royal family. Laughter filled the chamber. But Cronus heard none of it. His eyes never left the child sleeping peacefully in his arms. Because somewhere deep within his heart... The King of Time had already begun fearing his own son. --- End of Chapter 1