Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Hades, who had long harbored resentment towards Zeus, acted decisively and switched sides with the help of Mount Ares. Upon arriving at the scene, she immediately pressured her husband Hades to rejoin the opposing side.

Even if she couldn't directly turn Hades against her, Persephone would still try to bring her husband back to the throne and keep him out of the fray, so that he wouldn't take sides.

"My love, he is still your father. If you betray him like this, no one will be able to bear the wrath of his might afterwards..."

Hades, with a touch of pathos, offered his bitter advice.

Of course, there was another reason why Hades was so humble: he was able to marry Persephone largely thanks to the help of his good brother.

Hades felt a little guilty about letting Zeus fall into crisis.

"Are you scared? You coward! If you don't agree, I'll go back to Mount War God with him right now!"

Having finally gotten her chance for revenge, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, was resolute. A cold smile appeared on her lips as she casually pointed at a handsome black-haired man with snake eyes who was at the head of the group.

Samael's lips twitched, his amused expression freezing, while he inwardly grumbled.

Why are you dragging me into your argument?

Chapter 245 Growing Up and Legality

Several dozen breaths later, under the strange gazes of the crowd, Hades, dejected and completely devoid of his previous fierce and imposing manner, swore an oath to the goddess of oaths with his blood, promising to remain neutral in this coup and not to interfere in the conflicts of Olympus.

After making his promise, Hades looked around and surprisingly felt a sense of relief.

Previously, the ancient goddess of the underworld Hecate, the three brothers of Death, and the three judges of the underworld betrayed him; now even his own wife has turned against him.

Yes, and we also have to add that dead dog that devoured its master!

With his own affairs in such a state that he was preoccupied with his own problems, he simply didn't have the energy to deal with Zeus's mess.

Moreover, according to the account of the powerful enemy opposite him, Hades was immediately speechless when he heard that the three instigators of this coup were Poseidon, the sea god who wanted to help his brother, Hera, the queen of the gods who punished her husband for his infidelity, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom who rescued her mother. He chose to lie down completely and gave up the urge to continue to get involved in this mess.

Seeing her husband back down, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, snorted with satisfaction. Her resentment softened considerably because of Hades' attitude, and she took the initiative to help the injured Hades to his feet.

Sensing that his wife's lukewarm attitude towards him had softened, Hades completely abandoned the trace of guilt in his heart, and all the bitterness and resentment he had just felt vanished.

Sure enough, brothers are just for selling; they're nowhere near as important as wives.

Seeing this, Samael glanced at Hades, who showed signs of being henpecked, and a mocking smile quietly appeared on his face.

However, while taking an unconventional approach might seem plausible, he wouldn't place all his hopes on Hades' promise; the necessary procedures still needed to be followed.

Realizing that the situation was hopeless, Hades readily handed over the sword of Hades, obediently accepted several suppression spells from Hecate, and, under the questioning of the ancient serpent, bluntly revealed everything he knew about Zeus, his trump card.

In reality, the suspicious and wise god-king only separated a portion of the authority to manipulate the divine seal, allowing Hades to temporarily mobilize Tartarus's "forbidden powers of the gods," just in case.

The true key to the core still lies in Zeus's hands; to be precise, it is the thunder scepter that represents the power of the sky.

If hostility is revealed prematurely and this god-king is pushed too far, he might directly summon the [Forbidden Gods] to quell the rebellion, resulting in a fight to the death.

Therefore, try to prevent him from getting his hands on the Thunder Scepter before taking action.

Samael pondered to himself, and after drawing his conclusions, he kept them firmly in mind.

While the ancient serpent was plotting its next move, its companions were not idle either.

The witches Atalanta, Circe, and Medea freed themselves and entered the groups of human heroes who were collapsing and panting.

Due to the intensity of the battle just now, there were quite a few casualties, some serious and some minor.

The huntress was responsible for resetting the bones and applying simple bandages to external wounds, while Circe and Medea activated their spiritual veins to cast healing magic and accelerate their recovery.

In addition, Samael discovered that the divine mark Zeus inscribed in the bodies of human heroes was not entirely useless.

Dozens of human spirits, whose bodies had been destroyed, were able to reunite their soul fires under the guidance of divine seals and slowly regenerate their flesh under the nourishment of the vast ether.

Being marked with divine seals and having a record left on the Pure Land of Bliss and the Spinning Wheel of Destiny is equivalent to having an archive in disguise. The divine seal puppets can be reused repeatedly and sent to the battlefield.

The ancient serpent, having grasped the underlying mechanism, was astonished and secretly felt fortunate.

If they hadn't unearthed this trump card beforehand, their attempt to dethrone Zeus would likely have been a Pyrrhic victory, leaving them battered and bruised.

As the chaos in Elysium came to an end, the three judges of the underworld returned to their duties. Charon continued rowing his boat, while Thanatos, the god of death, and Hecate, the goddess of the moon, escorted Hades and his wife to Hades' palace.

Friendship is friendship, but caution is still necessary.

At least until the dust settled on the Olympian rebellion, Hecate and Thanatos would stay with Hades and his wife for a few days to prevent Hades from changing his mind and informing Zeus.

As for Samael himself, considering the unique function of the divine seal, it would be too wasteful to simply erase it. Moreover, if too many people are released from the Pure Land of Bliss, it is easy for all sorts of people to mix out and for news to leak out.

Therefore, he spent two days pretending to be very tired, but he only identified dozens of trustworthy heroic spirits, such as Perseus, Orion, Sisyphus, and the three sons of Heracles, and helped them remove their divine seals and keep them by his side.

As for the others, the ancient serpent promised to rescue them from Elysium in batches once he had the time, thus quelling their desires.

Two days later, everything was ready.

Dozens of the most outstanding Greek heroes of the Golden Age gathered on the banks of the River Styx and boarded Charon's small, dilapidated boat to ferry the god of the Styx.

At the port, not only Hecate, Thanatos, and the three judges of the underworld, but even Hades, who was under de facto house arrest, came with his wife to see them off, ready to witness the largest resurrection of the dead in the underworld.

As the figures at the back of the procession gradually thinned out, Samael frowned as he looked at Circe and Medea beside Hecate, a pang of reluctance rising in his heart.

"You really don't plan to come back with me?"

“Teacher Hecate said that this is a war of gods, and we are too weak to get involved. Staying here to help her appease those human heroes, to be responsible for communication, and to learn more advanced witchcraft is the only way to truly help you.”

This once boisterous and silly bird has become serious for once, frankly revealing its plans.

"Yes, although I'm very reluctant to leave, I will work hard for Lord Theseus!"

Little Medea waved her pink fists, her small face solemn and thoughtful, her purple eyes gleaming in the gray mist, and a sense of lofty mission emanating from her.

Seeing that his two companions had made up their minds, Samael, though reluctant, nodded with satisfaction at their willingness to share his burden. He raised his hand and gently stroked the two little girls' heads, his eyes filled with tender smiles.

Under such an intimate head pat, Medea's pretty face flushed slightly. She gripped the Moon Staff tightly and mustered her courage to speak.

"Lord Theseus...what about my previous request? What's your opinion on it?"

Snapped!

Samael tapped little Medea's head with his finger and gave a light, annoyed snort.

"Children are forbidden from dating!"

Upon hearing this, Medea's expectant face immediately fell, and she squatted on the ground like a wilted eggplant, causing her to sniffle and feel a strong sour feeling in her chest.

"So, grow up quickly..."

However, just as Medea's mood plummeted, a gentle lingering sound echoed in her ears, startling the little witch and causing her to freeze in shock.

Only when the fully loaded ferry sailed into the dead fog of the River Styx and disappeared completely did little Medea wake up from her dream. She raised her hand to touch her burning cheeks, her face flushed, and giggled foolishly.

Chapter 246 Love So Deep It Means Kicking (3/4)

Night falls in the Alima Cave.

The Hydra lay in the shade, dozing with its eyes half-closed, its posture languid, and it seemed to be lost in thought.

Because the dragon Colchis broke into Ladon's treasury and ran away with the money; the Nemean Lion, the Chimera, and the Sphinx were unable to leave because they had to guard Mount Ares; Ladon and the Caucasian Eagle were also very busy, one dozing around the golden apple in the Garden of Eden and the other watching over Prometheus; the Harpy was said to be hiding on the island of Ayu, with other important matters to attend to; and the three Gorgons were very curious about the human world and spent their days strolling around, so they naturally couldn't stay in this poor, remote place with little entertainment.

The increasingly detached Snake Mother, also a lawless entity, has nearly emptied the entire Alima Crypt, with the Hydra Hydra now clearly becoming the dominant force in the region.

Aside from killing a few unruly monsters for the nearby human settlements that worship her, Hydra spends most of her time sleeping in comfortably.

When she got hungry, she only needed to look up to see the smoked bacon and dried fish hanging above the cave—offerings from humankind, each with its own unique flavor.

When she was thirsty, she only had to turn her head slightly to see a pool of crystal dew collected by the nymphs, not to mention that there was also a lot of aged wine in the cellar.

This life couldn't be more pleasant.

Hmm, days without the Black Demon and the silly dog ​​Cerberus are the good days!

Otherwise, with classes and arguments, how can one have such a peaceful time?

Nine snake heads lay comfortably on the hay, wanting to take another nap, when suddenly a faint light burst forth from the inside of the Alima Cave.

It's not even spring yet, why has that Queen of the Underworld come up here?

Hydra looked back at the familiar light patterns in the abyss and muttered to himself.

The Arimar Cave is also one of the paths connecting to the underworld, and Themis, the goddess of justice who once lived in the Water Tree House, was a witness to this agreement.

Therefore, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, who is released from the underworld, usually emerges from the crypt of Arima every spring, ascends to the surface, and meets Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, accompanied by Themis and the Serpent Mother.

However, it's none of her business anyway; as long as she eats well, drinks well, sleeps well, and has fun, that's all that matters.

A listless Hydra lowered her eyelids, preparing to drift off to sleep, and summoned the consciousness of her nine heads in her mind to discuss the serious issue of whether to try something different tomorrow and go hunting.

However, just as Hydra closed his eyes, a series of loud crashes came from the cellar, and then a figure panting heavily approached from around the corner.

"pat..."

A drop of thick saliva fell onto Hydra's head, making a dull echo, and the strong smell of alcohol filled the air.

Hydra instinctively tensed its muscles, raised its head, and stared ahead with its scarlet vertical pupils. It was shocked to see three dog heads the size of millstones, with scarlet wine dripping from their mouths, looking at her with lewd smiles.

That damned dog! It actually came back from hell! And dared to steal her treasured drink!

As Hydra grumbled inwardly, it raised its head and hissed. Cerberus, on the opposite side, slashed its claws across the rock wall, sending up a trail of sparks, and responded with a low growl. It then circled its old adversary, looking for an opening to attack, its face full of ill intent.

"Fizz!"

"Wang Woo!"

Before long, the two rivals were tearing at each other and fighting as usual.

For a moment, the Alima Cave shook violently, and the sounds of barking dogs, hissing snakes, the screeching of scales and claws rubbing together, and roars echoed through the tunnel.

“These are…”

Inside the underground passage, Atalanta and her companions, guided by Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, returned to the mortal realm via this path. Gazing at the chaotic snake pit, they brushed the dust off their clothes with strange expressions.

"Oh, it's just a small thing, a way of expressing sibling affection..."

Samael, emerging from the nearby cellar entrance, tossed several jars of wine to his companions who had come ashore, and explained to Atalanta with a smile.

You call this friendship?

Atalanta stared at Cerberus, who had been swatted away by Hydra's tail and was now half-stuck in the wall, her eyelids twitching.

"Hmm, a beating is a sign of affection, scolding is a sign of love, and if you don't love them enough, you can kick them. Look how devoted they are to their love, so it's best not to bother them."

Samael casually fanned away the dust in front of him, took a sip of aged wine, and then adopted a sanctimonious and nonchalant demeanor.

However, after Cerberus dodged a venomous spray from the Hydra, it headed straight for a certain bystander teacher.

The ancient snake's expression changed instantly. It cracked its joints, its smile becoming ferocious.

"You dare to lay a hand on me? You've got some nerve! Come on! Let me give you a crash course in real combat!"

Without a word, Samael rushed into the cave and gave Cerberus and Hydra a sound beating. The dull echoes of their blows and the howls of the two monsters rose and fell in waves.

Half an hour later, the bruised and battered Cerberus and Hydra trembled and groveled before the Black Demon's tyranny.

The Snake Mother, who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, was overjoyed to see the familiar faces return. She took Samael's hand and inquired about his experiences after fleeing to the sea, expressing concern for the absence of her old friend Tina.

As for the two unlucky kids who constantly bickered and got beaten up, she was already used to it and naturally chose to ignore them.

Only after Samael briefly mentioned his journey and subtly revealed Tina's whereabouts did the Snake Mother feel relieved.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the ancient serpent learned that there were still three days left until the appointed time with Poseidon, the Sea King. So it bid farewell to the Serpent Mother and led a group of human heroes to Mount Ares to begin the next preparations.

He left Cerberus and Hydra in the Arima Cave to recuperate and wait obediently for orders.

Along the way, in order to avoid being detected by Zeus, Samael constantly enveloped his teammates with his divine authority, disrupting the gods' perception of this upstart army.

After a day of frantic, tense walking, as the silhouette of a majestic, white marble city leaped above the horizon in the morning light, the ancient snake rubbed its throbbing brow and let out a long sigh.

Athens, we've arrived!

After paying the sentry at the gate a few gold coins, Samael led the group into the city discreetly. As the crowds thronged, they walked and stopped, and the splendor of Athens gradually came into view.

It boasts a full range of public buildings, including palaces, council chambers, theaters, clubs, galleries, hotels, shopping malls, workshops, docks, and stadiums.

In the square, there stand bronze sculptures of athletes with bulging muscles and beautiful lines.

The sculptures displayed here depict participants from various Olympic Games who, as Athenians, achieved remarkable results.

Others were heroes who made outstanding contributions to Athens, such as Chiron, the wise man who founded the Academy of Athens; Pandion, the builder of Athens who followed the three goddesses to Olympus to resist Typhon's army; and the chimeras, the gods and monsters that repeatedly protected Athens from the plague of beasts...

Their achievements are engraved on the bronze statues, and many passersby stop to touch them, hoping to receive their blessings.

When enthusiastic Athenians recounted these heroes and their deeds to outsiders, they unconsciously held their heads high and puffed out their chests, revealing a sense of pride in their association.