While Odin was sending his black raven to search for information beyond the island, Hades was sitting in his private residence, speaking calmly with his eldest daughter. She stood before him with unwavering composure, her eyes carrying a glimmer of power that was still unfamiliar.
Hades spoke in a voice filled with pride:
— Well done, my little one. You have awakened your power… and it is no ordinary power, but one that rivals my own, lacking only slightly.
The moment he said that, a terrifying aura erupted from his body— a pitch-black aura that engulfed the entire house, draining all color from the surroundings, as if life itself had suddenly been withdrawn.
When his eldest daughter saw this, she felt a strange sense of familiarity… an affinity born from her father's very energy. Unconsciously, she began to sense that power and feel drawn toward it.
But the instant Hades noticed, he canceled his aura at once and said in a firm tone:
— Do not do that again, my daughter. It is true that your power resembles mine to some extent, but do not attempt to touch it now. Even the smallest mistake could be dangerous.
She nodded obediently, fully understanding his warning. When Hades saw that she had grasped his words, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he spoke more gently:
— You will not leave the mountain like the other children, my little one. You have already awakened your power, and for that reason, I will personally train you to control it and guide you… until you become a ruler worthy of that title.
At his words, his daughter's face lit up with joy, and she said excitedly:
— Did Uncle Odin agree to this?
Hades replied confidently:
— Do not worry. I will make your uncle Odin agree.
Then he suddenly stopped speaking and looked at his daughter with surprise, saying:
— Wait… what did you say? "Uncle Odin"? Since when have you become so close to him? You speak of him by name alone, without any title or honorific?
As soon as Hades asked that, his eldest daughter's face flushed with embarrassment. She remembered the conversation she had shared with her uncle Odin… and how, without realizing it, she had told him that she admired his eldest son.
Unable to remain seated under her father's gaze in such embarrassment, she rose quickly and said in a tense voice:
— I have to go now, Father… I will look for my sixth younger brother.
The moment she finished speaking, she vanished from before him in an instant.
Hades remained staring at the spot where she had stood, unable to speak for several seconds. When he finally came back to himself, his first words were:
— What in Asgard is happening here?
A hidden unease crept into Hades's chest. His daughter's sudden escape— and her visible embarrassment— were far from ordinary. Without hesitation, he rushed out of his house toward Odin's residence, certain that his brother alone could explain what had happened.
— He must know something… he muttered as he quickened his pace, his concern growing with every step.
When Hades failed to find Odin in his home, he realized that Odin had already left after speaking with their father. He searched the rest of the mountain, but to no avail. As he continued his search, he spotted Athena instead.
He approached her quickly and asked:
— Have you seen Odin, sister?
Athena turned toward him and immediately noticed the tension etched on his face. She said with concern:
— Did something happen, Hades? Why do you look so tense?
He answered, trying to steady his voice, though the worry was unmistakable:
— My daughter… she ran away from me for no clear reason.
When Athena heard her brother's words, she began to understand part of what was happening and asked hesitantly:
— Did you say anything to her about Odin… or about his eldest son?
The moment the question left her mouth, she lightly slapped her own forehead, annoyed with herself. How did I ask such a direct and dangerous question so easily? she thought.
But when Hades heard her words, the worry vanished from his face, replaced by deadly curiosity, and he said:
— And what does Odin's eldest son have to do with this, sister? Do you know something I do not?
Realizing her mistake, Athena quickly changed the subject, genuine concern now filling her voice:
— Forget that for now, brother. Have you seen my eldest daughter? I have been searching for her since we separated, and I still haven't found her.
Hades's thoughts scattered easily, and he said with concern:
— You still haven't found her? Are you sure you searched thoroughly?
Athena replied, fear for her daughter evident in her tone:
— I searched everywhere.
Seeing his sister in such distress, Hades spoke reassuringly:
— Do not worry, sister… we will find her.
The moment he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly darkened, and his power surged violently, engulfing the entire mountain and all upon it in a terrifying aura.
But as soon as Athena saw what he was doing, she raised her hand swiftly, releasing a powerful, majestic light that tore through the air and completely dispersed Hades's aura.
Hades stared at her in shock and said:
— What are you doing, sister? I was helping you!
Athena replied with clear anger:
— Have you lost your mind? Do you realize how dangerous what you were doing was?!
Only then did Hades understand his mistake. He had used his instinctive power to search for her daughter without considering the consequences. A single miscalculation could have easily killed one of his own children… or one of his siblings' children.
Before he could utter a word of apology, he suddenly felt a presence behind him.
He turned swiftly, his eyes wide with surprise.
And the moment he did, he saw Poseidon, his face tight with anger, his voice deep as he said:
— What is going on here, my siblings?