The God of Underworld-Chapter 39: Sky and Underworld, Time and Magic

The temple of Cronus loomed before Hades, its mere presence warping reality itself.

Hades strode forward, the weight of the underworld following in his wake. The air around the temple of Cronus was thick with distortion, rippling as if time itself was rejecting his presence.

The temple was a realm outside of time—a place where moments stretched into eternity or vanished in an instant.

For any lesser god, simply existing here would be a death sentence.

But Hades was unmoved.

The swirling vortex of chaotic time parted before him, unable to touch him. His footsteps echoed in defiance, each step dragging reality back into order.

He continued forward until he arrived at a massive hall.

At the far end, seated upon a towering throne carved from the bones of forgotten ages, was Cronus.

The Titan King sat in unmoving silence, his gaze like an abyss. His scythe rested at his side, its blade pulsing with the power to sever existence itself.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They merely locked eyes, observing the powerful being in front of them.

Then, Cronus smiled.

"Welcome, my son."

Hades didn’t return the greeting.

Instead, he raised his gaze slightly, staring at Cronus seated above him. His expression darkened.

"Come down," he said, his voice carrying an edge of command. "I don’t like it when people stand above me."

Cronus chuckled.

"As arrogant as I expected." he mused, but he did as requested.

The Titan King stood, descending from his throne, each step slow and deliberate. The hall trembled.

The moment Cronus reached the final step, standing level with Hades, the god of the underworld spoke again.

"Now speak, Titan."

Cronus tilted his head, an amused glint in his ageless eyes. "I have always found you different from your brothers, Hades. Not only because of your strength, but your motivation."

He gestured vaguely to the temple around them. "You already have your own domain, your own kingdom. The underworld belongs to you. You do not need to fight for more. So why are you here?"

His gaze narrowed.

"Do you seek to be the king of the cosmos?"

Hades let the question hang in the air for a moment before answering. "I seek only one thing. It’s nothing grand, really."

His aura darkened, shadows stretching unnaturally from his form.

"I simply want to destroy anyone who believes they can stand above me."

Cronus observed him carefully. "A simple motivation. But unnecessary. If that is all you desire, then why not leave? I will not interfere with your underworld."

Hades shook his head. "I do not find you worthy to sit on that throne, so I will pull you down, even if you refuse to interfere with my domain."

Cronus’ expression remained calm, but a faint flicker of amusement touched his lips.

"How arrogant." His voice was smooth, like a blade against silk. "You speak as if the ruler of the cosmos must first receive your approval."

Hades’ eyes burned with cold authority.

"It is only natural." His tone was absolute. "Because I am the most superior."

For the first time, Cronus’ smile faded.

Silence fell between them—a silence heavier than the weight of time itself.

Then, Cronus tightened his grip on his scythe.

"Then come, Hades."

A pulse of time energy erupted from Cronus’ body, distorting reality.

"Let us see if you can prove your superiority."

"There is nothing to prove," Hades took a step forward, "I do not seek nor require your approval. But come, I will let you have a taste of my power."

"...very well."

The moment Cronus moved, the temple of time shook.

He swung his scythe, its blade humming with the power to sever existence itself.

Hades raised his hand, and the underworld answered.

A great black barrier erupted before him, formed from the very fabric of the afterlife. Cronus’ scythe struck it, and the barrier cracked, splitting apart like glass, but it had done its job—Hades had already moved.

In an instant, he appeared behind Cronus, his hand wreathed in divine power.

"I expected more."

He swung his fist, but Cronus twisted just in time.

The Titan vanished in a blur of movement, appearing above Hades, his scythe slashing downward.

A tear in space formed, stretching from the heavens to the depths of Tartarus.

Hades, however, did not move. He raised his hands, and the shadows surged.

Dark tendrils shot from the abyss, wrapping around Cronus’ scythe and dragging it off-course.

In the same breath, Hades raised his palm, and a black spear of concentrated death formed.

He hurled it.

Cronus barely twisted in time, but the spear still grazed his shoulder—and time itself warped where it passed.

"You are really strong, Hades." Cronus said, brushing his hand over the wound. "Stronger than I anticipated."

He met Hades’ eyes, and for the first time, a shadow of uncertainty passed over the Titan’s face.

Can he really beat him?

Hades hummed. "Have you only realized it now?"

"Tch," Cronus clicked his tongue, "Guess I have no choice. I will end you here, even if I have to swallow my pride."

The Titan King slammed his scythe to the ground, and a terrible tremor shook the world.

The temple of time, already distorted, began to crack apart.

And then...

A figure emerged.

Chains—countless and ancient—wrapped around his colossal body, pinning him to the fabric of reality itself. His presence was so vast that it felt like the sky itself had gained form.

The very air froze, heavy with overwhelming power.

Hades narrowed his eyes. His domain over Primordial Sky stirred, reacting to the figure’s presence.

’Uranus?’ Only that being can cause such reaction to his domain.

Cronus turned to face him, his looking annoyed and angry.

"Father." Cronus’ voice contained seething hatred, as if the very act of calling him was incredibly painful. "As we have agreed, I will do as I have sworn to you if you defeat an enemy for me."

He pointed his scythe at Hades, "That enemy is there. Kill him. And I will grant you what we have agreed."

The bound figure, Uranus, said nothing at first.

Then, he turned his gaze toward Hades. His eyes were like the endless cosmos. He studied the god of the underworld, his expression unreadable.

Then, he spoke. "I can feel my domain within you."

His voice was like the wind that had existed before time.

"Did Gaia give it to you?"

Hades, ever composed, gave a single nod. "She did."

Uranus hummed.

The chains binding him groaned—and then, they loosened.

Piece by piece, they unraveled—until he stood, free.

Cronus stepped forward, triumphant. "Now, Father—"

"I know." Uranus cut him off, his eyes not leaving Hades. "Then, I would like to see if you are worthy of it."

Hades grinned. "Why do you people like to say things like that as if I needed your approval? You’re the one who needs to prove yourself to me. Let me see if you are worthy of me using that domain."

"Hmm," Uranus smiled, "Then, observe if I’m worthy or not."

The moment Uranus moved, the very air screamed.

A hand, vast and cosmic, surged toward Hades—it was not merely flesh but the manifestation of the boundless sky itself.

Hades’ eyes narrowed.

With a flick of his wrist, the world beneath them shattered.

The earth itself split open, revealing an endless abyss—the domain of the dead.

From that abyss, countless skeletal arms, forged from divine essence, erupted forward, grasping for Uranus’ outstretched hand.

But, the sky could not be bound.

The arms of the underworld barely slowed Uranus as he tore through them, his movements faster than thought.

Hades side-stepped as the force of Uranus’ fist obliterated the space where he stood.

A massive rupture split through existence.

Everything distorted, as though reality itself had been peeled open like torn cloth.

Hades did not hesitate.

The void behind him churned—and then, in a burst of godly might, he stepped through it.

He emerged above Uranus, his palm outstretched.

The sky darkened.

And a massive black storm of darkness and destruction, forged from the Underworld itself, rained down upon Uranus.

But the Primordial Sky only smiled.

"You seek to drag me down?"

With a single exhale, Uranus dispersed the storm, the entire sky bending to his will.

Hades, however, had already anticipated this. He appeared behind Uranus in an instant.

His voice was low as he said. "No. I’m merely testing how much you can withstand."

Then, he struck.

A punch laced with the power of the Underworld crashed into Uranus’ back.

And for the first time...

The Sky staggered.

****

Meanwhile, as Uranus and Hades battled, Cronus wanted to interfere, intending to end Hades at this moment.

However...

A shadow twisted into existence before him, stopping him on his tracks.

Hecate stood there, her form wrapped in shifting purple mist.

"I believe you were going somewhere," she mused, her voice eerily calm.

Cronus’ eyes flashed. "You intend to stop me?"

Hecate tilted her head. "No. I intend to erase you."

With a wave of her hand, the space around Cronus distorted.

Countless purple chains, laced with forbidden magic, erupted from the ground.

They lunged for Cronus, attempting to bind him, but the Titan King reacted instantly.

His scythe lashed out, slashing through them with absolute precision.

A single swing, and the entire spell was undone.

Hecate, however, did not seem concerned.

She lifted her hand—and suddenly, the chains that had been severed reformed behind Cronus.

And then, they struck.

They coiled around his arms, his legs, his torso—binding him mid-air.

Cronus let out a small scoff. "Is this all?"

Then...

Time reversed.

In the blink of an eye, the chains unraveled, undoing themselves as if they had never existed.

Hecate furrowed her brows.

Cronus grinned.

"You forget who I am, witch."

With that, he attacked.

His scythe swung—faster than the concept of speed itself.

But, Hecate was gone.

No, she had never been there in the first place.

Her form flickered, revealing that she had only been an illusion.

Cronus’ eyes widened.

And then, from the shadows behind him, Hecate whispered into his ear.

"You forget who I am, Titan."

With that, she struck.

A blast of pure chaotic magic erupted, sending Cronus crashing through the walls of his own temple.

However...

As if the world itself rejected such outcome, everything reverted back.

From the shadows behind him, Hecate whispered into his ear.

"You forgot who I—what?" Hecate’s eyes widened slightly.

Cronus smirked, as he turned around and brought his scythe down, intending to cut her in half.

Hecate however, reacted quickly and retreated. But it was too late, a deep and long wound run from her right shoulder to her stomach, golden ichor gushing out like a waterfall.

Cronus rested his scythe over his shoulder, "Come on, witch. Make this more interesting for me."

Hecate narrowed her eyes.

This fight is really going to be troublesome.