CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 51

Underworld.

City of Nox.

At this moment, the prosperous city of the dead trembled faintly as a massive obsidian gate split open in the temple where Hades and his wives had once exchanged vows.

The dark air shimmered with cold mist and divine energy, pillars carved with runes of death and rebirth glowed faintly as the gate’s light spilled across the marble floor.

Before the gage, several of the highest-ranking gods of the Underworld stood in silence.

Hera, Aphrodite, and several low ranking gods and Heroic Spirits stood in silence, acting as guards to welcome their guests.

Just then, a low hum of energy spread from the gates, carrying whispers from the depths of other realms. The guards immediately straightened themselves, preparing to welcome the visitors.

When the gates finally opened wide, a squad of armored female warriors emerged, their silver and black armor gleaming like moonlight on water.

Each carried a spear, and their steps were synchronized, disciplined, precise, establishing them as a unified and trained troops of warriors.

They are the Valkyries, female demigod warriors trained personally by Freya and acted as her personal unit.

The Greek guards stared in silence, their eyes scanning the beautiful female warriors with desires.

The Valkyries formed two lines facing each other, creating a path toward the gate’s center, their heads bowed slightly in respect.

Then, from the gates, came two figures who radiated power and authority.

The first was a woman in a black robe that trailed like a shadow behind her, her long black hair flowed down her back, her skin pale as marble, her gray eyes calm yet cold.

The chill that followed her presence made even the guards who are accustomed to the chill of the underworld shift uneasily.

She was Hel, the Goddess of Death, and the ruler of Helheim.

Beside her walked another woman, her beauty was blinding even in the dim underworld light.

She had bluish silver hair cascading like frost, and her red eyes glowed faintly as she moved with regal grace, her white robe shimmered faintly, threads of gold and sapphire embroidery catching the torchlight.

She was Freya, Goddess of Beauty and Love in the Norse Pantheon, and leader of the Valkyries.

Their entrance drew quiet murmurs among the Underworld gods, and even some gods raised a curious brow, whispering something to each other, while nodding slightly.

As the two goddesses stepped forward, Aphrodite and Hera emerged from the group of divine soldiers and stepped forward to greet them.

Aphrodite smiled warmly, her golden eyes bright as sunlight piercing the gloom, her long golden hair was tied in a bun, and she wore a pristine white toga adorned with golden embroidery.

A laurel wreath rested on her head, symbolizing her divine beauty and grace.

She approached Freya first, extending her hand with the ease of a queen.

"Greetings, I am Aphrodite. Goddess of Love and Beauty."

"Hello, I am Freya. Just like you, I am the Goddess of Love and Beauty."

Freya accepted the gesture, their eyes met, and for a brief second, silence fell between them, one filled with unspoken recognition.

Freya had gotten closed to Hecate during her stay in Norse, and she remembered Hecate’s words about Aphrodite, the radiant goddess who shared her husband’s love and yet carried no jealousy nor greed.

Freya can understand Aphrodite a little. As a goddess of love, how could they bear letting someone develop an unrequited love? How could they bear see someone not be with the one they love?

For Aphrodite to share Hades with others is only natural, because she wanted others to feel the love that she had felt.

Aphrodite, too, knew of Freya as Hecate had spoken fondly of the Norse goddess’ kindness and strength.

She also knew of Freya’s great affection for Hades, but it didn’t bother her at all, if anything, Aphrodite admired her sincerity.

And if she can win Hades’ heart, Aphrodite would gladly welcome her with open arms, and would even be the one to facilitate their wedding.

As their hands met, Aphrodite smiled wider. "Welcome to the Underworld, Freya. It’s good to finally meet you."

Freya inclined her head, her lips curving slightly. "The pleasure is mine, Aphrodite. Hecate spoke highly of you."

Behind them, Hera and Hel exchanged greetings as well.

Hera, regal as always, acknowledged Hel with respect. "We have met again, Hel. Welcome to Greek’s Underworld."

Hel’s cold smile barely moved. "Indeed, thank you for having us, Hera."

The hall fell silent again, ghe air felt heavier, as if the Underworld itself listened.

Hera turned to the two goddesses, her calm and composed tone carrying a trace of authority that left no room for hesitation. "Hades, Nyx, and the rest are ready. We can begin whenever the Norse side has already finished all preparations."

Hel inclined her head slightly, her pale gray eyes unblinking. "The Norse Pantheon have already done all preparations. The Yggdrasil has already stabilized its flow, and our world’s cycle is aligned for fusion."

Hera gave a small approving nod. "Good. Then before we begin, you should meet with Hades and Nyx. They will oversee the process directly"

She turned gracefully, her toga gliding with her movements. "Follow me."

Hel and Freya followed without a word. Aphrodite walked beside them, smiling faintly, her golden eyes watching their reactions closely.

The moment they stepped outside the temple, both Norse goddesses stopped in their tracks, their eyes widened in shock.

This was not what they expected of the Greek’s realm of the dead.

Before them stretched a vast and luminous city, built from black marble and obsidian, yet alive with color and movement.

The streets glowed with ethereal blue fire that flowed like rivers, illuminating structures that rose high like towers of glass.

Souls walked among them peacefully, their forms semi-transparent but smiling, living as if death was not an end but another beginning.

Hel blinked, her lips parting slightly. "This is... the Underworld?"

Aphrodite smiled softly. "Yes. The city of Nox. Hades built it himself after the Titanomachy. At that time, he wanted to build a prosperous city for spirits and gods to live in."

Freya looked around in awe. Spirits of artisans, soldiers, and scholars worked side by side, children of the dead played with shadow hounds, and the scent of flowers, grown from the soil of Elysium, floated faintly in the air.

"It’s more alive than most mortal cities," Freya murmured.

"Because it was meant to be," Aphrodite said quietly. "For Hades, the Underworld is not the end, but a new beginning."

As they moved further, the sight of a massive fortress dominated the horizon.

A colossal structure floating above the city, connected to the ground by vast chains of energy and light.

Its towers shimmered with obsidian glow, and golden barriers pulsed like a heartbeat.

Aphrodite raised a hand toward it. "That is the Hanging Fortress of Pluto. It’s where Hades resides."

Hel and Freya exchanged a glance, both feeling the immense pressure of divine energy radiating from the fortress.

It was both serene and overwhelming, carrying the weight of countless souls and unending time.

They flew toward it, escorted by divine attendants cloaked in black and gold, and when they landed at the grand entrance, the obsidian doors opened on their own.

Inside, a grand hallway awaited.

Hera and Aphrodite led them towards the end of the hallway, where a massive double doors stood.

Two guards who stood before the doors immediately opened them upon seeing them.

Inside, a massive throne came into view.

The floor was like a polished mirror-stone, reflecting the ceiling above where constellations of the dead shimmered faintly.

At the end of the hall sat Hades himself on his throne of black crystal, flanked by Nyx on his right and Hecate on his left.

Nyx’s eyes glowed like twin galaxies, dark and infinite as she spotted them, a smile immediately appeared on her face.

Hecate’s presence radiated a deep magical power that can make one suffocate, but her expression remained calm and unreadable.

Hel immediately bow, her voice steady yet respectful. "Lord Hades. I bring greetings from Helheim."

Freya followed suit, bowing deeply, though her gaze lingered on Hades longer than it should have, her red eyes filled with quiet admiration and longing.

Hades raised a hand, his voice deep and calm. "Rise, Hel of Helheim. Freya of Vanaheim. You honor my domain with your presence."

They stood, straightening their postures.

"Are we ready to begin?" he asked.

Hel nodded. "The Norse realm is stable. The process can begin whenever you wish, Lord of the Underworld."

Hades turned his gaze to Freya. "And Odin?"

Freya stepped forward, her voice clear and composed. "Odin will help you merge with the Yggdrasil, guiding it’s roots towards you. Once you’ve successfully fused, the conceptual weight of our universe will be absorbed and condensed into a single point, mirroring your fusion with the Heart of the Greek Universe. Once both universe are synchronized within you, you will link the two realms—fate, time, and existence itself—into one cohesive world."

Hades listened quietly, his expression unreadable.

Then he stood, his dark aura rising like a storm, his presence filling the hall with divine gravity. "Then we shall begin."

His words echoed through the chamber, shaking the very foundations of the fortress.

Outside, the skies above the Underworld began to shift, turning from night into a void filled with glimmering threads of fate that extended toward the heavens, ready to connect worlds.