The God of Underworld-Chapter 28:

The temple shook as Hades and Iapetus charged at each other.

There was no fanfare. No declarations of war. No grandiose displays of power.

Just pure combat.

Instinctively, the two recognized each other as a warrior and a fellow master of spear.

Naturally, their pride as spear master would like for them to prove who between them is superior.

The sound of their spears clashing against one another sent shockwaves through the massive chamber, the force alone splintering the stone pillars that held up the temple’s ceiling.

Iapetus, the Titan of Mortality, was a warrior of brute strength and overwhelming force.

His spear struck like a comet, each thrust meant to kill in one decisive blow. His movements were swift but heavy, each one carrying enough power to tear through mountains.

Hades, however, was a shadow in motion.

He danced around Iapetus’s relentless attacks with inhuman grace, his footwork impeccable, his spear an extension of his will.

Unlike Iapetus, who struck with the full force of a Titan’s wrath, Hades was precise, calculative, and deadly.

At their level, this is a fight where single misstep meant death.

And neither was willing to be the first to fall.

Their spears met again, the impact shattering the ground beneath them. The shockwave ripped through the temple, blasting apart ancient walls and sending debris flying in every direction.

Iapetus smirked.

"You fight well for a whelp," he growled, pushing against Hades’ spear with overwhelming strength. "Honestly, I have long since been interested in fighting you ever since I saw you three years ago."

Hades’ expression remained unreadable as he twisted his spear, deflecting Iapetus’s power to the side and immediately countering with a thrust aimed at his throat.

Iapetus barely managed to parry, but Hades was already moving.

A quick step forward. A low spin. A slash aimed at Iapetus’s ribs. A series of combinations thay would surely kill any less skillful gods.

But Iapetus dodged just in time, feeling the cold wind of the passing spear graze his skin.

For the first time in millennia, the Titan of Mortality felt something unusual.

Excitement.

Iapetus let out a booming laugh. "This is fun! We are both the same, truly! You understand the importance of skill than rely on your divinity!"

He lunged forward, his attacks becoming faster and sharper. Each strike was meant to kill in one hit, if one was even a millisecond late in dodging, the attack would surely kill them.

Yet Hades matched him blow for blow.

The temple crumbled around them, each clash of their spears sending cracks through the marble floors, collapsing statues, breaking through ancient ceilings.

The battlefield was becoming a ruin, and yet, neither warrior slowed down.

Their fight was an art of destruction. A symphony of chaos.

A fight of pure skills and mastery without having to rely on their own divinity.

Iapetus lunged again, thrusting his spear forward with terrifying speed.

Hades tilted his head to the side, narrowly avoiding it. In a blur of motion, he retaliated, his spear slicing through the air like a whisper of death. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

Iapetus blocked. Barely.

The force of Hades’ attack sent a powerful shockwave through his arms. The impact alone left deep cracks along the Titan’s spear, the divine metal groaning under the force.

It was at this moment when Iapetus realized something.

Hades wasn’t just defending.

He was testing him.

Iapetus narrowed his eyes. "You’re holding back."

Hades gave a small smirk. "So are you."

Iapetus smirked in return. "Indeed. But I’ve gotten curious, do you mind if I ask something?"

"Ask away." Hades shrugs, he doesn’t mind a small talk with an opponent worthy of respect.

Just Iapetus’ skill with spear is enough for Hades to respect him.

"Why do you participate in this war? Underworld is completely under Nyx’s watch, not even Cronus dared to step foot there. As its king, surely your authority would even be as great as Cronus. So why do you fight?"

Hades gazed at Iapetus, his expression unreadable. The battlefield around them was shrouded in mist and shadow, the remnants of their power already twisting the world in unnatural ways.

The question hung in the air, heavy and demanding, but Hades did not rush to answer.

He thought back to the beginning.

At first, he had fought simply to survive. He and his brothers were thrown into this war not by choice, but by necessity.

Cronus would never allow them to live freely. That much had been clear from the moment they were born.

So he sought strength.

But strength alone was not enough.

When Hades was recognized as the king of Underworld, a land of death and and darkness, a realm where none dared to step foot on, he had finally tasted what it feels to have power and authority.

For him, the underaorld was not a prison.

It was a throne.

A throne where he reigned absolutely.

Nyx, the Primordial Goddess of Night, ruled the deeper abyss, but she did not interfere in the affairs of the Underworld.

And so, within its boundaries, Hades held a power that rivaled even Cronus himself.

Yet, despite that power, despite the security of his domain, he still fought.

Why?

The answer was simple.

Hades exhaled slowly, gripping his spear as his gaze hardened.

"Because Cronus does not deserve to rule."

Iapetus raised a brow. "Is that all?"

"That is enough." Hades stepped forward, the ground beneath him cracking under his presence. "I have no grand ambitions to rule the cosmos. I have no desire to conquer. But I refuse to acknowledge an incompetent tyrant who fears his own children."

The sky above them rumbled, responding to the fury beneath his calm words.

"Cronus is weak."

Hades’ voice was cold, sharp as the edge of his spear.

"Not in strength, but in mind. He rules through fear, not through wisdom. He devours his own kin, not out of necessity, but out of cowardice. He does not lead—he hoards power like a child afraid of the dark. And that is why he must be cast down."

Iapetus studied him for a long moment. Then, he let out a low chuckle.

"Hah... interesting."

The mist around them stirred as Iapetus lifted his spear once more. His golden eyes gleamed with something between amusement and acknowledgment.

"Then show me, Hades." His grin widened. "Show me the strength to drag a king from his throne."

Hades’ eyes burned with abyssal fire.

"I intend to."

And with that, they clashed once more.

Iapetus feinted left, then instantly twisted his spear to strike from the right.

Hades dodged, stepping back, but Iapetus was already there—closing the distance, forcing Hades into a corner.

"You are fast, but not fast enough!" Iapetus roared.

His spear came down with the force of a meteor—

Hades caught it.

Iapetus’ eyes widened in shock as Hades grabbed his spear with one hand, stopping the attack completely.

For a moment, everything was still.

"You’re kidding..." Iapetus smiled wryly, "Even Atlas couldn’t resist that..."

Then...

Hades retaliated.

In one fluid motion, he twisted his body, bringing the blunt end of his spear up and smashing it against Iapetus’ jaw.

The impact sent the Titan crashing through the temple walls, breaking through stone, metal, and marble like paper.

Iapetus tumbled, rolling through the debris before coming to a stop. His vision swam, the taste of ichor filling his mouth.

Slowly, he wiped his lips and looked at his hand.

He was bleeding.

The realization made him pause. It had been a long, long time since anyone had managed to wound him without the use of divinity.

He looked up.

Hades was already standing before him.

His spear pointed directly at the Titan’s throat.

"Yield," Hades said simply.

Iapetus stared at him.

Then, he grinned.

"Not yet."

Iapetus rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders. The bones in his body cracked and reset, his injuries healing instantly.

Hades didn’t move.

He simply watched as Iapetus’ form began to change.

The air grew heavier.

The light in the sky dimmed, as if something dark and ancient was awakening.

Iapetus smirked as he lifted his spear.

"I’ll admit," he said, his voice gaining an unnatural weight. "You surprised me. You are strong, Hades. Stronger than I expected."

The wind howled around them as a dark aura began to rise from Iapetus’ body.

"But without our divine power, this battle will never end. So let us cast aside these mortal chains and fight as we were meant to."

His eyes glowed with golden fury.

Hades tilted his head slightly.

For a brief moment, he seemed to consider it.

Then, he closed his eyes.

When he opened them again—

They burned with the abyss.

Dark mist poured from his body, creeping across the ruined battlefield like a living entity.

The shadows twisted and danced unnaturally, forming shapes of writhing creatures, whispering voices in a language older than time itself.

Iapetus’ smirk widened. "Finally."

Hades raised his spear. "Then let us begin."

And then—

The world exploded.