Chapter 775: Underworld.
"Hmm, so this is The Underworld. It's quite different from the Hell I know," commented Morgana as she looked around. "It's darker and more depressing... It almost feels like I'm in the Hell of Suicide."
Unlike usual, she was wearing completely black armor, quite similar to the one she used when she was Lilith's General.
"If it's based on appearances, it's only when we get closer to Tartarus will this Underworld begin to resemble Biblical Hell," explained Nyx.
"Could we stop talking about the appearance of Hell and focus on the main objective? I don't want to stay in this place any longer than we have to," grumbled Aphrodite.
Morgana and Nyx looked at Aphrodite, raising their eyebrows when they saw that she was dressed more appropriately for a mountain excursion.
Dark blue jeans, wide black boots, and a long dark red shirt that emphasized her enormous breasts. Instead of looking like someone who had come to Hell, she seemed more like a foreign tourist.
"I have many questions about your choice of attire... But I've decided not to care about it and focus on a simple question... Where the Hell is your Divine Raiment?"
"I left it behind. I'm tired of wearing the same clothes when I go on official business, so I ordered new clothes. They may seem weaker, but they are quite durable. Not as much as my Divine attire, but they still do the job," Aphrodite replied as she tossed her pink hair back and looked around.
Morgana rolled her eyes at the vain words of the Goddess.
"...Strange," said Scathach with narrowed eyes.
"What's the problem, Scathach?" Morgana asked.
"It's quiet... Too quiet... Is Hell supposed to be like this?"
"Hmm... Now that you mention it, that's true," Nyx responded. She started looking around with her Divine Senses and noticed something.
"The Souls are gone..."
"What do you mean 'gone'?" Morgana narrowed her eyes.
"Exactly what I said. They've vanished, completely disappeared. It's very strange because we're near The River Styx. There should be many Souls around or at least a few Underworld Creatures, but even with my Divine Senses, I can't find anything."
Scathach twirled her Spear and froze part of the area around them with just one spin. She looked at her Ice for a few seconds and, seeing that her Powers were unaffected, spoke:
"Let's hurry and get these Herbs quickly. Where are they located?"
"Most of them are in Hecate's Domain," explained Nyx. Since they needed many Herbs, it was more efficient to go to a place with a high concentration of these items.
"Understood, and where is that?" asked Scathach.
Nyx pointed in a direction and said, "Over there."
"Perfect, I'll go ahead." Scathach looked at Morgana for a few seconds and made a hand gesture, similar to the signals used by Human soldiers to communicate. Basically, she was telling Morgana to keep an eye on her.
Morgana didn't show any reaction, but she understood Scathach's message. Therefore, she said, "I'll follow closely. Nyx and Aphrodite should go in the middle, and we'll maintain this formation until we reach our destination." Slowly, Morgana started floating in the air.
"Okay," agreed Aphrodite, also starting to float.
"Sounds good to me," accepted Nyx, following the other two and also starting to float.
"Remember, we have little time before Persephone interferes. By then, we need to reach Hecate's Territory," reminded Morgana.
The girls nodded in agreement.
"When we arrive in Hecate's Territory, who will speak to her?" asked Scathach.
"Leave it to me," said Aphrodite. "After all, that's why I'm here." If anyone was good at persuading someone with words, it was Aphrodite.
"Great, let's go," said Scathach. She bent her legs and, propelling herself, started running in the direction indicated by Nyx. While in the air, she created an Ice platform behind her and performed another, even faster launch, creating sonic booms around in her wake.
Despite her supernatural speed, the other three women easily kept up with her. After all, none of them were ordinary women either.
...
In the Castle of Persephone, in a sumptuous Throne Room, a woman with long black hair was seated with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, the Ruler and Queen of The Underworld opened her eyes and furrowed her brow heavily as she sensed the presence of three Beings invading her territory.
"Thanatos," she called.
A shadow appeared before her, and soon a Being materialized.
"Yes, My Queen?" he responded.
"My territory has been invaded," she declared.
"...Is it Nyx?" he questioned.
"Probably." Despite having banished Nyx when she tried to use her, Persephone knew that her Authority was not absolute, at least not in the presence of the Goddess for whom nothing could be hidden.
Nyx's very Concept was extremely complex to confront. As The Mother of The Night, Nyx existed in her own plane that only Beings of the same level or more powerful than her could perceive.
If Nyx wanted to hide and used all her Power to do so, only the Primordial Gods of Greek Mythology would be able to sense her.
Furthermore, as The Goddess of The Night, Nyx also had her own Territory in The Underworld, a territory that Persephone couldn't control, even with her Authority as Ruler. After all, Nyx's territory was not exactly a 'Hell' where Souls went, but rather the place where she resided.
However, there was one certainty: Nyx would never be able to approach where Persephone was at that moment since her influence was much stronger here. She believed that even Nyx wouldn't be able to hide if she came so close to her.
"There's a possibility that it could be another Primordial. As we know, your father can come to Hell just like Nyx," pondered Persephone.
As the Primordial God of Darkness, Erebus could hide with his Divine Power, becoming imperceptible. It was a different Power from Nyx's, who could be in front of someone without being noticed.
The Divinity of Erebus only deceived the senses, but it was still as annoying as Nyx's. After all, the Gods and all-
powerful creatures relied heavily on their keen senses.
Dealing with Primordial Gods like Erebus and Nyx was extremely complicated for Persephone because their very Divinity was perfect for hiding if they so desired.
"Regardless of whether it's your father or your mother, they have brought three troublesome individuals." Even from a distance, she could feel the Power of the three, especially one extremely irritating individual.
'Aphrodite...' the eyes of The Goddess of The Underworld narrowed dangerously. She still held some grudges from the past regarding Aphrodite, but she wouldn't let that blind her. Focusing on where they were going, she realized something.
'The direction they are heading is Hecate's Territory...'
Unlike Victor, who had many Demons and Demonic Creatures at his disposal to spy on virtually all important areas of his Hell, the same couldn't be said for Persephone. After all, Greek Hell wasn't just a 'Hell' like the Biblical one, where the Ruler of that place had more autonomy.
This was a place where several Gods resided. One could say it was a Hell and, at the same time, something similar to Mount Olympus. Just like Mount Olympus, the most important Gods of The Underworld had their own Territories, such as Hecate, Nyx, Erebus, Hypnos, Hades, and Persephone herself.
Although Persephone had taken control of Hades' Domain for herself, she did not do the same with the other Gods, especially Hecate and Hypnos, who had helped her immensely.
She also wouldn't dare to attack the abode of The Primordial Goddess of The Night and The Primordial God of Darkness. It would be suicide, for although they didn't physically meddle much in the affairs of The Underworld, the Power these two Primordial Gods possessed was undeniable. Moreover, if she were to attack Nyx, Erebus would undoubtedly come to his sister and wife's aid.
Fighting against two Primordial Gods was a big "no" for Persephone.
"Aphrodite is in the group, and if she's present, she's probably accompanied by the forces of The Second Progenitor or her allies from other Pantheons. Find out who they are and what they want with Hecate... If you have the opportunity, subdue them all if you deem it possible; otherwise, just retreat."
In short, Persephone was giving total autonomy to Thanatos.
"Permission to bring my sister, Nemesis, and my brother, Hypnos?"
"...Nemesis is very attached to Nyx. If she is the intruder, do you think she will turn against her mother?"
"Yes, she will... Because the love she had for Nyx turned into hatred due to my mother's constant absence."
"...Allowing The Personification of Revenge to become enraged is not exactly a good idea," commented Persephone casually while keeping her gaze fixed on Thanatos.
"And you, Thanatos? What is your stance on all of this?"
"Indifference. The same applies to my brother, Hypnos." They were too great to be bothered by mommy and daddy issues.
"Hmm..." Persephone's eyes carefully assessed Thanatos until, a few seconds later, she spoke, "Very well... I will leave this task to you. Keep me informed at all times."
"Yes, My Queen." Shadows enveloped Thanatos' body, and then he disappeared.
When Thanatos left, Persephone rose from the Throne and walked toward a room located behind it. Within the room, there was a full-length mirror created by Hecate herself.
"Connect me with Hecate." As soon as she spoke, the mirror turned completely dark until the disheveled image of the Goddess appeared.
"What is it? I'm busy now, Persephone."
"You're always busy, Hecate. Tell me, when was the last time you took a bath?"
"...I am a Goddess, and a Goddess doesn't need to worry about such inconveniences." Hecate huffed but didn't answer Persephone's question.
"Anyway, you will soon have some guests, and Aphrodite will be among them."
"Geh, Aphrodite?" Hecate made a disgusted face. "What does that woman want with me? I've told her that I won't engage in any sexual activities with her."
"...You really should get out more. Things have changed a lot. Aphrodite is not who she used to be. I've mentioned that before, right?"
"Yeah, whatever. I'll believe it when I see it with my own eyes." Hecate raised her hand, and several Magic Circles appeared in her palm. In the next second, her appearance was impeccable again.
"And I will transmit the conversation to you. After all, that's what you want, right?"
"Good to know you understand me so quickly, Hecate." Persephone smiled gently.
Hecate just huffed and grabbed a book from her table, throwing it toward the mirror. The book passed through the mirror and landed in Persephone's hands.
"This book contains a Magic that will allow you to hear our conversation."
"Why a book?"
"Because I always carry a book with me. For those who know me, it won't raise suspicion."
"I see... I'll be waiting."
...
As a possible confrontation between Goddesses and Vampires was about to take place in The Underworld,
In Samar, Victor observed a tall woman enveloped in an Aura of serenity and Power. Her slender and elegant body denoted an imposing presence, standing out among the others. Her hair, as green as the leaves of a lush forest, cascaded down her back, flowing like rivers of life and renewal.
The woman's intense green eyes were deep and captivating, reflecting The Essence of Nature in its purest form. Within them, one could see ancient wisdom and a connection with all living Beings that inhabited the planet. Her gaze conveyed serenity and compassion as if she were capable of understanding the deepest secrets of the planet.
She was dressed in an ethereal green dress that resembled the leaves of a tree in the middle of summer. The garment seamlessly merged with her body as if it were an extension of the Nature she represented. The flowing and elegant dress enveloped her in an aura of vitality and rebirth, reminding everyone that she was The Guardian of Life and Balance on this planet.
Volk appeared after resolving several inconveniences caused by the fight between Fenrir and Victor, and upon seeing the tall woman with long green hair and a green dress, he opened his eyes widely.
"M-My Lady, what are you doing here?" Volk asked.
"Preventing these two from causing further destruction to Nature," the woman replied neutrally, then turned her gaze to Fenrir. "Especially you, Fenrir. You know very well that your attacks are relentless, and all the damage you have caused cannot be restored, only overlaid."
Fenrir averted his gaze and ignored the woman as if none of what was happening was his concern.
The woman narrowed her eyes as she observed Fenrir but made no comment about the Legendary Wolf's behavior. Then, she returned her attention to the man in front of her, who never took his eyes off her as if assessing her.
The woman's eyes sharpened as she noticed a woman with long red hair floating behind the man, embracing him.
Understanding something, the woman opened her eyes in shock, as if she had witnessed something unbelievable.
What did she see? She noticed the difference between Victor and Fenrir. While she supported Fenrir, granting him Power when necessary, Victor possessed the Power himself. He was the Power.
The woman felt as if she were looking at a planet of Pure Negative Energy instead of an individual.
"Demon King, has anyone ever told you that your existence is an irrationality that should never have been allowed?"
Victor displayed a small smile. "Always."