CALM BEFORE THE STORM
1229 Words
UNDERWORLD ARC
Chapter 10: Calm Before the Storm
Six months passed.
The Underworld was no longer the realm Hades and Persephone had first stepped into.
The endless darkness had given way to warm rays of sunlight pouring through the broken Divine Wall. The once barren wasteland had transformed into fertile plains filled with golden crops, towering fruit trees, and flowing rivers carefully redirected from the molten lava streams that had once scarred the land.
Markets bustled with life.
Children laughed as they chased one another through streets lined with stone houses.
Merchants called out to eager customers while blacksmiths hammered away beneath open skies.
For the first time in countless ages...
The Underworld felt alive.
To ensure fairness among its people, Persephone proposed the creation of a proper monetary system.
Two official currencies were introduced.
The Persephonian Unit, the common currency used for everyday trade.
And the Hadean Ruby, a higher denomination reserved for larger transactions and commerce between cities.
Trade flourished.
Prosperity followed.
At Persephone's suggestion, representatives were elected from among the demonkins themselves to govern their own districts.
A written constitution was drafted to protect every citizen's rights regardless of status.
An enforcement corps was established to maintain peace and uphold the law.
When everyone insisted that Hades should become the supreme ruler of every institution...
He refused.
"This is your home."
He smiled as he addressed the council.
"You know your people better than I ever could."
"So you should be the ones responsible for protecting it."
From that day onward...
The Underworld no longer belonged to kings or tyrants.
It belonged to its people.
---
High above the capital...
Hades sat quietly atop a mountain overlooking the entire realm.
A gentle breeze brushed past him.
Below, the city glowed beneath the afternoon sun.
Children played beside flowing rivers.
Farmers harvested crops.
Merchants bargained cheerfully in crowded marketplaces.
For once...
Everything was peaceful.
"...Not bad."
A familiar voice spoke behind him.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Hades smiled without turning around.
"Perseph."
Persephone walked over and sat beside him.
The two simply admired the scenery in comfortable silence.
Finally...
Hades spoke.
"You know..."
He scratched the back of his head.
"This..."
He gestured toward the flourishing kingdom below.
"...is all thanks to you."
Persephone looked at him.
"If it weren't for your ideas..."
"I probably would've conquered this place with nothing but my fists."
He chuckled.
"I guess Sister Demeter was right after all."
A faint blush appeared on Persephone's cheeks.
She smiled gently.
"I may have suggested the ideas..."
"But you listened."
"You never let your pride get in the way."
"You genuinely wanted everyone to be happy."
"So..."
"It goes both ways."
Hades laughed.
"...Fair enough."
Persephone leaned back against the grass.
"I've been wondering..."
"How much time has passed outside?"
Hades looked toward the distant horizon.
"Time flows differently here."
"We've spent six months in the Underworld..."
"So..."
He did a quick calculation.
"...About thirty years should've passed in the outside world."
Persephone's eyes widened.
"...Wait."
She counted on her fingers.
"That means..."
"I'm forty-six?"
Hades nodded seriously.
"Technically."
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then burst into laughter.
"I refuse to accept that."
"You don't have much of a choice."
"And you?"
He grinned.
"Forty-eight."
She covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"You don't look forty-eight."
"I know."
"I've aged gracefully."
She rolled her eyes.
"Shameless."
---
The sound of footsteps approached.
Beelzebub landed beside them.
His armor gleamed beneath the sunlight.
He bowed respectfully.
"My Lord."
Hades immediately waved.
"Howdy, Commander Zebub."
Beelzebub sighed.
"...Must you call me that?"
"Absolutely."
He blew a raspberry.
Persephone burst into laughter.
Even Beelzebub couldn't hide a small smile.
"How goes your new position?" Persephone asked.
Beelzebub looked over the city below.
"...It's strange."
"But..."
"I enjoy it."
He smiled faintly.
"It reminds me of the days I spent beside Lady Lilith."
"Helping others..."
"Protecting them..."
"It feels..."
"...right."
Silence followed.
Then his expression darkened.
"However..."
"I've had an uneasy feeling recently."
"A premonition."
Hades looked toward him.
"You think Lucifer's planning something."
Beelzebub nodded.
"He hasn't surrendered."
"And that worries me."
Hades stood.
Stretching his arms above his head, he smiled confidently.
"If he crawls out of whatever hole he's hiding in..."
"I'll simply beat him back into it."
Beelzebub couldn't help smiling.
"...You really never worry."
"Someone has to stay relaxed."
---
Far beneath the earth...
Within the floating obsidian fortress...
The atmosphere was completely different.
Silence filled Lucifer's throne room.
Samael slowly approached the throne.
"My Lord..."
Lucifer looked up.
"What is it?"
Samael hesitated.
"...Why are we still doing this?"
Lucifer remained silent.
"I thought..."
"Our rebellion was to save our people."
"We wanted the Supreme Creator and the Heavenly Kingdom to hear our cries."
"We wanted the suffering of the Underworld to end."
He looked directly into Lucifer's eyes.
"Hades has done exactly that."
"Our people finally have hope."
"So..."
"Shouldn't we stop?"
Lucifer slowly stood.
He smiled warmly.
"...Samael."
"You no dey wrong."
He slowly walked toward him.
A gentle smile spread across his face.
"Maybe..."
"Me really forget why we begin all dis."
He opened his arms.
"Come."
"My brother."
Samael smiled with relief.
"I knew you'd understand."
The two embraced.
Then—
SHLK!
A blade pierced straight through Samael's chest.
His eyes widened.
"L...Lucifer...?"
Lucifer twisted the blade before violently pulling it free.
Blood splashed across the floor.
Samael collapsed.
Gasping.
Lucifer looked down at him with cold amusement.
"You really believe all dat liberation nonsense?"
He crouched beside him.
"Me no fight because of demonkins."
"Me no care about restoration."
His smile twisted into madness.
"Me only want spit for Supreme Creator face."
"Destroy everything He create."
"And wipe out every human He choose over me..."
"...and me papa Satan."
He leaned closer.
"Ye too soft."
"So..."
"Ye die."
Samael's body fell still.
His lifeless eyes stared blankly toward the ceiling.
Moments later...
Azazel entered the chamber.
Seeing Samael's corpse...
He spat on it.
"Pathetic."
"He was always weak."
Lucifer walked back toward his throne.
"You know why me wait six months?"
Azazel smiled.
"...Why?"
Lucifer looked toward the distant city of the Underworld.
"It sweeter..."
"...when people spend long time building something."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"And me destroy everything..."
"...in one day."
Azazel laughed wickedly.
"When do we begin?"
Lucifer sat upon his throne.
A terrifying smile spread across his face.
"...Now."
---
Back in the capital...
Hades, Persephone, and Beelzebub casually walked through the marketplace.
Citizens greeted them warmly.
Children waved excitedly.
Hades waved back.
Then...
His smile disappeared.
"..."
An overwhelming sense of dread washed over him.
"So..."
"You felt it too."
Beelzebub's face turned pale.
Before anyone could react—
KRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
The earth violently split apart.
The entire Underworld shook.
Buildings collapsed.
Bridges shattered.
The magnificent Persephone Bridge cracked down its center before collapsing into the abyss below.
People screamed.
Parents desperately searched for their children.
Massive fissures swallowed entire streets.
The capital was torn in half.
Then...
From the endless chasm...
An enormous black fortress slowly rose toward the sky.
Its colossal gates creaked open.
A deafening war horn echoed throughout the realm.
BWOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Thousands...
No...
Hundreds of thousands...
Of demons and undead poured from the fortress like an unstoppable tide.
Their battle cries shook the heavens.
Lucifer's invasion...
Had begun.
End of Chapter 10
- Writer
