"Father."
Hades' eyes met Kael's. He could barely speak. "Why are you here?"
"I came to take you back," Kael responded.
Hades smiled.
Kael slowly walked toward him. The closer he got, the heavier his body felt. It was like he was holding up the sky. The air was thick. The ground was dry—like a body without a soul, an empty shell. As he got closer, he was able to see how terrifying the doors of Tartarus were. On both sides, two towering statues loomed above him, their massive wings and curved horns glaring at him as he approached the gate.
The closer he got to the massive doors, the thicker the air became. It was like a powerful gust of wind trying to push him back, preventing him from getting near. Hades saw Kael struggling.
"Don't…" Hades could barely speak.
"I can't. I promised Mother I would take you back," Kael said, trying to catch his breath.
The shadows saw his struggle and reacted. Then, they wrapped around his body.
He felt lighter, more flexible.
He walked toward Hades.
Kael looked up, now seeing how massive the Gate of Taurus was up close. The two doors were enormous. Ancient. Forged from iron. Up close, Kael could see the engravings—bodies twisted in pain, tortured souls reaching out, as if their punishment was to be trapped within the door itself, a painting of eternal suffering. A chill ran through Kael's body.
And in front of it all—stood Hades.
He was in front of the massive gate, his hands wrapped around the chains binding it. His head hung low, the shadows around him flickering like a dying lightbulb.
Every second he held onto those chains, they were eating him alive.
He was fading away.
This wasn't the ruler of the Underworld Kael had heard stories about. The man who could summon legions with a whisper, whose sheer presence brought fear to gods and mortals alike—he was gone.
All that remained was a broken king.
As Kael got closer, their eyes met.
His face—
Kael's stomach twisted.
He was pale. Hollow. The sharp, calculating eyes that once saw through everything were dull, surrounded by exhaustion so deep it made Kael feel sick.
For the first time in his life, Hades looked old and fragile.
For a moment, the state Hades was in reminded him of the man he had seen in his dream. They looked so much alike.
Kael got closer, kneeling to meet his gaze.
"Where are the others? Where are the other gods? Why aren't they helping?"
Hades let out a dry, humorless chuckle. The sound was bitter. Empty.
"They were never going to help," he said. Each word was strained, like speaking took effort. "From the beginning of time, they cast me down here. They didn't care. They had no concern. They left all of this to me—the souls, the burdens, the things they didn't want to deal with."
His gaze lifted, unreadable.
"The other gods don't care what happens in the Underworld, Kael. They only care about what happens above."
"But you're their brother," Kael whispered.
Hades exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"No. I'm their shadow."
He tightened his grip on the gate, his hands turning white.
"This is the Curse of Hades, son. We are abandoned. We are forgotten. And in the end—" He let out a shaky breath. "We are the ones who are swallowed."
Kael swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on him.
"Then why carry this burden? Just leave it all behind!" Kael shouted.
Something changed in Hades' expression—something almost soft, like Kael's words had reached a part of him buried beneath the exhaustion.
"If I do that, then you, your mother, the people above, even the gods—would be destroyed," he murmured.
"But it's not fair." Tears flowed uncontrollably. "Everyone deserves to be happy, even you."
"Listen, Kael… if I choose my own happiness over my people, what kind of king would I be?" His voice was now a whisper.
"Let someone else do it," Kael stopped for a second. "Let me do it."
"No, Kael." Hades' voice hardened. "It was always mine."
Kael protested. "They need someone to keep the Underworld balanced. I'm a nobody! I was living on the streets—my life has no value! So let me do it."
Silence filled the air.
Then—
BOOM.
The gate shook violently. Cracks spread across the stone. Golden light ripped through the gaps.
And then—
The gate shattered.
A force so strong, so fully primordial, shot outward, destroying the stone doors behind them, sending a pulse of darkness through the entire realm.
The blast sent Kael flying back. A godly presence poured through the opening.
And then—
He stepped through.
Kronos.
He rose from the darkness. The Lord of Time walked through like a shadow stepping into the light. His golden eyes glowed with ancient power, his body wreathed in the very essence of time itself—changing, warping, bending reality as he moved.
His gaze landed on Hades.
For the first time in eternity—
Father and son finally met after centuries.
"It has been a long time since I last saw you, my son."
He wore a dark, tattered robe. His hands were like claws. His voice was deep and echoed—like a thousand voices speaking at once, his body glowing with golden light.
Hades didn't flinch. Didn't tremble.
But Kael saw his fists clench. He saw the weight pressing down on him.
Kael got back up, preparing to fight.
"Kael, he doesn't have his full power yet, but I won't be able to beat him alone. I need your help. But promise me—you will do as I say. Or else we both die."
Kael thought about it.
"…Okay, Father. Let's send him back."
Then—
Kronos lifted his scythe.
Hades drew his sword and lunged.
But Kronos blocked it with the hilt of his scythe.
Then he kicked Hades, pushing him back.
But Hades' body vanished and reappeared on the right side, bringing his sword down.
Kronos swung his weapon in that direction—
Cling!
They clashed. Sparks flew.
Kael took the chance to appear behind Kronos, swinging his sword at his neck—
A clean hit.
But—
Nothing.
Not a single scratch.
Kronos turned and glared at Kael.
Kael instinctively leaped backward, terrified.
For a moment—he saw himself cut in half. It was like he glimpsed into the future.
"Nicely done, child. You have good reflexes."
"Shut up," Kael said, breathing heavily.
He let the shadows cover him fully, his shadowy coat returning. "What the hell was that?"
Kronos didn't answer. He just smiled.
The fight continued. Hades matched Kronos' strikes while Kael searched for an opening.
But no matter where Kael attacked—
Kronos already knew.
Kael finally realized—
"You can see the future."
Kronos laughed. "Right now, not too far… but soon, I will see everything."
The battle was spiraling out of control.
Their swords clashed. Sparks flew.
Then—
One of Kronos' attacks grazed Hades' arm.
The cut wasn't deep. It shouldn't have done any damage.
But—
Hades froze.
Time itself had stopped him.