King of Underworld-Chapter 191

However, considering the timing… it raised the possibility that he might have quarreled with Zeus or was plotting a rebellion of his own.

A power-hungry god like him wouldn’t miss such a prime opportunity, especially when Zeus’s authority was faltering.

It felt as if the Moirai—the Fates themselves—were smiling upon my rebellion.

“So Poseidon is staying in the seas? Hmph. That’s suspicious, considering he once tried to overthrow Olympus. What do you think, Athena?”

“…Dionysus has been sent to the seas.”

Athena’s response yielded some valuable information.

Though her intentions remained unclear, it was evident that Zeus was wary of Poseidon.

Instead of sending Hermes, his swiftest messenger, he dispatched Dionysus—considered the weakest of the Twelve Gods—to the seas.

Perhaps Zeus was using Dionysus as bait, expecting Hermes to report back if Poseidon rebelled and prevented Dionysus’s return.

Olympus was guarded by formidable gods like Hephaestus, Apollo, and Ares.

Athena’s armed arrival likely meant she harbored suspicions about me, however faint.

Allowing her rudeness to go unchecked would only draw more suspicion. I had to probe further.

“Athena. Why are you armed while visiting the Underworld? You sent only Dionysus to Poseidon, yet you come to me, the captor of Prometheus, fully prepared for war? Zeus must think quite highly of me.”

“…I volunteered to come.”

“You volunteered to take on more work? Impressive. You’ve matured since the Great Flood when you struggled so much.”

Athena remained silent, refusing to justify herself.

Whether it was because no explanation was necessary—or because there was none to give—I couldn’t tell.

“Fine. Let’s put that aside for now. Iris, open the rainbow passage and take Prometheus to Zeus.”

Iris glanced at Athena, lowering her head slightly as if seeking permission.

“Iris. Wait.”

Athena stopped her, stepping forward and speaking in a calm but piercing voice.

“Do you intend to rebel against Father?”

Oh?

*****

When Athena asked me that, I turned my gaze not to her but to Iris first.

Yet the goddess of the rainbow showed no signs of alarm. Had they already discussed this before coming here?

If Athena truly believed I was a traitor, she wouldn’t have entered the Underworld—or posed the question so directly.

Even Zeus himself wouldn’t dare challenge me here. Surely Athena didn’t think she could escape if I decided to act.

Which meant her armor and weapons might have served a different purpose…

“Why do you think that?”

“Not long after the collapse of Mount Caucasus, a messenger reached Olympus. As if the message had been sent immediately after the mountain fell.”

“Oh?”

“Prometheus is a seer greater than Apollo, and if he were truly trying to escape your grasp, there’s no way he would have been caught so quickly.”

“That’s it?”

“Also, Hermes reported that the Lord of the Underworld was furious recently. And lastly…”

Athena turned her sharp gaze toward the bound Prometheus.

Her next words came with certainty.

“Father suspects that it was the Lord of the Seas who freed you. But Poseidon lacks the ability to persuade you.”

“Heh, heh, heh! Poor Poseidon. To be so harshly judged by his own niece!”

“I’m merely assessing his abilities objectively, not criticizing him.”

It was true—Poseidon’s temper made him ill-suited for delicate persuasion.

And considering Prometheus’s strained relationship with him, the suspicion seemed misplaced.

Athena had pieced this together quickly during her descent to the Underworld.

As expected of the goddess of wisdom.

At that moment, Prometheus shed his chains with a sly smile.

“So what if it’s true? What if I plan to overthrow Zeus and claim the throne of the gods? What will you do?”

“If you strike Olympus now, you’ll succeed. Father is focused solely on Poseidon, and he left the Astrapé (Thunderbolt) behind during the council. Hera has also been secluded in her chambers after a major argument with him.”

“I expected you to stand by Zeus. Why this change of heart?”

Given her words and actions, it was clear that Athena had already spoken to Iris before arriving.

They likely suspected my betrayal and, if proven correct, decided to turn against Zeus.

I could understand Iris’s motives—Zeus’s relentless advances toward her likely soured her loyalty.

But Athena? She had always been Zeus’s most trusted daughter.

I asked her directly, and Athena bowed her head slightly before answering.

“Olympus, in its current state, could never withstand an attack by the Gigantes. I only wish to secure the gods’ future.”

Of course.

For the goddess of wisdom, this was a pragmatic decision.

With Gaia’s lingering resentment and Olympus already divided, the gods needed to unite—but under whose leadership?

Poseidon and Hera had both rebelled before.

Now, with me leading a coalition of Titans—Epimetheus, Prometheus, and Atlas—Athena likely calculated that my rebellion had a better chance of success.

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Her support wasn’t about loyalty but survival.

If Zeus remained king, Olympus would fall to the primordial deities. Betting on me was simply the wiser move.

“You came to the Underworld armed. Does that mean you plan to fight alongside me?”

“Yes. If you’ll allow it, I’ll lend you my strength.”

“No. Stay in the Underworld. Iris, open the passage to Olympus.”

I couldn’t fully trust Athena yet.

Even if her words were sincere, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down until victory was certain.

“…Understood, Lord Hades.”

Iris began to summon her powers, readying the rainbow bridge that connected realms.

“If we succeed, I won’t touch Hera.”

“Thank you… Lord Hades.”

“Consider it payment for your cooperation.”

If Zeus had only treated Iris with a little more respect, perhaps her loyalty wouldn’t have wavered so easily.

*****

Ssssshhhh.

At that moment, the rainbow passage linking Olympus and the Underworld came into existence.

As Iris had previously specified, the portal’s exit point on Olympus led directly to the entrance of the council chamber.

Swish.

I donned the Helm of Invisibility, Kynee, and summoned my Bident.

The divine weapon, as always, fit perfectly into my hand—today, it would pierce Zeus’s flesh.

“I’ll go in first and strike Zeus, then the rest of you will cross over and subdue the gods immediately!

Epimetheus! If Poseidon appears, your priority is to stop him.

Atlas! Assist me in taking down Zeus.

Prometheus, along with Lady Styx, Lady Lethe, Thanatos, and Hypnos—your focus is on the Twelve Olympians…”

If we stick to the plan, there’s no chance of failure.

May the Fates themselves, the Moirai, bless this rebellion against the King of the Gods.

Thud.

I stepped through the passage Iris had created, and Olympus came into view.

The palace of the gods, resting atop the clouds—a radiant symbol of their immortality and grandeur.

“Hahaha! Hera’s not here, so come closer.”

“B-But, Lord Zeus… I have sworn chastity…”

“I said, come closer.”

Through the invisibility of the Kynee, I saw it all.

Inside the massive council chamber, surrounded by the Olympian gods, sat Zeus, laughing and flirting with a beautiful nymph who was nervously trying to avoid his advances.

Apollo, Hephaestus, Ares, and Demeter were also present, but Hera was nowhere to be seen.

I locked onto my target, planted my feet firmly, and leapt high into the air.

The clouds beneath me compressed and scattered, revealing the sudden disturbance—too late for them to react.

By the time anyone realized an unseen force had entered the room—

Swish—THWACK!

“HUUURGH!!!!”

The Bident, wielded with all my strength, tore into Zeus’s groin.

A sickening rupture echoed through the chamber as the King of the Gods howled in agony.