After the Titanomachy - (3)

Above the clouds revered by humans, the banquet of the Olympian gods isn't much different from theirs.

"Humans wished for wind this time, so I bestowed a little mercy..." "Lady Artemis, you are beautiful as ever!" "I'll have something to tell the nymphs after the feast." "Was Typhon really that powerful?"

As they conversed, drinking ambrosia and nectar, the food of the gods...

"Hmm... Shall we go somewhere quiet and continue our conversation?" "Whenever you wish."

Men and women, catching each other's eyes, would leave for secluded spots...

"I heard one of your nymphs offered quite a useful weapon..." "Really? You mean my sword?" "How about a pankration match with it at stake? I'll wager a buffalo I've been raising." "Are you two going to fight? Then I'll bet on this side..."

They placed amusing bets on pankration, a combat sport...

"Hahaha! Terpsichore! You're amazing as always." "You flatter me, Lord Poseidon." "Your dance was worthy of one who governs the Muses of learning and the arts!"

Or enjoyed the arts, listening to Apollo's music or dancing.

In such a banquet of the gods, I, Hades...

"Hmm... Won't you play with me, really?" "Also, please loosen that belt, it's giving me a headache." "But without it, you wouldn't even look at me, would you?"

...was resisting the temptations of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, admired by all. She even wore the Cestus, the magical girdle of seduction.

The girdle made my head throb; I wished she would leave. However, I knew she was only half-serious in her allure.

"Geez... You're no fun. Are you always like this?" "Go to your husband, Hephaestus."

Though it seemed she was half-serious. Why was she acting like this when she had a husband?

"Stay as far from me as the Underworld is from Olympus..." "Huh? Does the goddess of beauty really have to go this far?"

Aphrodite crossed her arms, emphasizing her sensual posture. Nearby male gods couldn't take their eyes off her...

"Someday, this will cause real trouble." "Rather than worry, I'd like some affection... I'll take my leave for now."

From her perspective, as the goddess of strong emotions like love, seeing a god like me unaffected was unsettling. Feeling slighted by the fact that her beauty and love hadn't touched me, Aphrodite left with a frown.

"Wow... What did I just witness? Uncle Hades, did you just reject the goddess of beauty?"

Hermes, carrying the caduceus, approached me, awestruck. Even the snakes on his staff turned their heads toward the direction Aphrodite left.

"If it were me, I wouldn't have rejected her. Wouldn't it be fun to spend a night with her?" "Sigh..."

Hermes whispered slyly, but I had no interest.

Why would I have an affair with a goddess who had a husband and children? Especially since Hephaestus had done me no wrong.

"So, why are you here?" "Hephaestus was working in his forge and said he wanted to see you. I'm his messenger, after all."

Zeus had ordered Hephaestus to make my weapon. It seemed he needed my help with the process.

"I guess I should go."

I put down the golden goblet filled with nectar and walked out. Hephaestus's dedicated forge on Olympus, right?

I passed by a makeshift Milky Way, probably created by Iris's efforts to draw water... Walked through densely packed white clouds for a while...

"Kya-ha-ha-ha!" "Ha-ha-ha! Please slow down a bit!"

Lower gods, seemingly in love, passed by me as I approached Hephaestus's forge.

Bang! Bang!

The sound of metal being struck, heat intense enough for gods to feel, and flames reaching high into the sky.

If these divine weapons fell into human hands, it would incite wars. The walls of the forge were filled with all kinds of godly weapons. A sword that emitted flames with every swing, blue-metal armor that hardened with every blow...

"You're here, Uncle." "Hmm."

Hephaestus greeted me while I admired the weapons he had touched. Holding a hammer, his muscular, burly figure despite his lameness looked sturdy.

"All these are failures, it's embarrassing to show them to you..."

They looked like they'd cause chaos if any fell to the mortal realm. Yet, for the god who made Aphrodite's magical girdle and Hermes' winged sandals, it was expected.

When I asked why he called me, Hephaestus scratched his cheek, looking humble.

"I was making a bident for you, Uncle, but I need you to imbue it with divine power..." "Bident...?"

I did use a spear often during the Titanomachy. Did Zeus order him to make a spear for me?

"Are you going to make my weapon like Poseidon's trident?" "No, this is a two-pronged bident." "But I already have this Stygian sword, so I don't really need another weapon..."

I untied the scabbard from my waist and handed the Stygian sword to him. After examining the blade, Hephaestus smiled and said,

"This sword is quite good, but it doesn't compare to the trident or Zeus's thunderbolt. But the bident I'm about to show you will match them." "Oh..."

Hephaestus confidently spoke and brought out the bident, still glowing hot, from the forge. I reached out to the bident, its heat still intense.

Sizzle...

The dark, ominous divine power flowed from me to the bident, slightly shaving its surface. But soon, the bident absorbed the power, turning black.

Even at a glance, it was extraordinary, but it wasn't finished yet.

"Please wait a moment, the finishing touches are left."

Carefully taking the bident, Hephaestus went back into the forge. Soon, the sound of metal striking and different energies clashing echoed.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Only the Cyclopes, who made my helm, could rival Hephaestus's craftsmanship. I waited patiently for the work to be completed.

When Helios's sun chariot reached the world's end and it was Selene's turn with the moon, Hephaestus called me.

"It's done! Try wielding it!"

The black surface of the spear gleamed. Emitting a chilling aura familiar to me, akin to the Underworld.

As if enchanted, I grasped the bident with my right hand. The spear resonated, recognizing its master.

Feeling the grip, I imbued it with a bit of power, emanating a force several times stronger.

Dark, ominous divine power enveloped the bident. I looked at it for a moment before thrusting it skyward.

Boom!

A huge hole was pierced through the clouds above Olympus, the spear strike soaring beyond.

Truly, it's the best. I'm not envious of Poseidon's trident at all.

"Do you like it?" "More than just liking it..." "And now that it has been imbued with divine power, you can summon it from afar anytime!"

It even has that feature? I'll never lose it.

It's truly on par with Poseidon's trident...

I should reward Hephaestus for this. I asked him if there was anything he wanted.

"I'm glad you like it. I do have one request..." "Tell me, if it's within my power, I'll grant it." "Please use the bident often and let everyone know I made it!"

Isn't that natural?

"I want it known that the bident, comparable to the Cyclopes' three divine treasures, was made by the greatest blacksmith, Hephaestus!"

I assured the blacksmith god, who spoke with sparkling eyes, that I would fulfill his wish. Wanting the honor of creating such a remarkable weapon, it wasn't a difficult request.

But aren't the Cyclopes trio a bit higher up in terms of skill?

Ah! I'll know if I compare it to the helm Arges made!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Back in the Underworld, I held an old, worn-looking helm in one hand and clashed it with the bident. The two equally matched divine artifacts sparked as they collided.

"Ahhh! Hades! Stop testing that precious helm with a weapon!"

The goddess Styx, passing by, was horrified and tried to stop me. Just a few more tests...

"Even the sword I made for you... Who tests weapons with such precious artifacts!" "By the way, this bident was made by Hephaestus, the greatest blacksmith of Olympus..."

The goddess Styx scolded me harshly. Her hands flailed, and her feet stamped so much that there might be a hole in the Underworld floor... never mind.

"This bident and the helm should be stored carefully in a treasure vault, not worn out like this! I told you before..."

I tried to change the subject naturally, but it didn't work.