The day had finally arrived. I was working on some paperwork when I felt the pull—a summoning unlike any I had felt before. It was vast, ancient, and undeniable. The fabric of reality around me warped, and the familiar sights of the Underworld blurred and faded.
When the world came back into focus, I found myself standing in an immense chamber that defied comprehension. It was vast beyond measure, its ceiling a swirling abyss of stars and galaxies. The floor beneath me seemed like polished obsidian, but when I looked closer, I realized it was a translucent expanse, showing the endless void below.
Before me stretched a colossal coliseum, its design reminiscent of mortal arenas, but on a scale only gods could fathom. Thousands of thrones encircled the space, all of them facing toward a single throne that was placed in the center of the colosseum.
In the middle of the arena stood a single, massive throne—larger than any of the others, adorned with a spiraling marble dragon that seemed to rise out of the stone itself. The dragon's eyes glowed with a soft, ethereal fire, and the wings arched behind the throne like they could take flight at any moment.
The air was electric, buzzing with the energy of countless divine presences. Around me, gods began to materialize, each summoned in a flash of light or a burst of their unique essence.
In the distance I spotted Odin appearing as he moved toward his throne. He scanned the other gods appearing as his eye landed at me and he scowled as he teleported to his throne and sat down as he muttered in annoyance about something.
To my right, a young Egyptian girl appeared. She was breathtaking, her raven-black hair framed her face in silken strands, and her golden eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to rival the sun itself. She was adorned in intricate golden jewelry and delicate chains that draped across her form like a second skin, she carried an air of power, regal and commanding. She glanced at me, her gaze sharp and assessing, as she turned and headed to one of the thrones and sat down. Right on the throne that was marked for Ra... was not expecting that.
Across the chamber, a jaguar-headed figure emerged, his imposing form draped in vibrant jade and gold. His throne, carved with intricate Mayan glyphs, radiated an aura of ancient wisdom and power. Eyes like burning embers stared out from beneath the jaguar helm. So that must be Itzamna, the ruler of the Maya
Others followed, some humanoid, others monstrous. A giant feathered serpent-coiled into place as it transformed into the body of a young boy as he sat on his throne, he was definitely Quetzalcoatl. Next to him was Huitzilopochtli, looking like some blue alien.
Each god moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the room, some nodding in recognition of familiar faces, others radiating quiet hostility. The gods around me were beginning to settle into their seats, murmuring amongst themselves. Whispers about my presence, my silence, filled the room. But one voice in particular cut through the noise.
I turned my head to see a man with long blonde hair with these two small wings folded over his eyes— he was draped in flowing white robes, gold jewelry sparkling in the dim light. He looked so different and yet I recognized him.
Zeus.
There, sitting proudly in the throne that belonged to the Biblical God, was my brother. The once-fierce and arrogant man was… different. His robes and veil were pure, angelic even, but the power radiating from him was unmistakably Zeus.
He sat next to this tall muscular man wearing orange robes and beaded necklaces. His long hair was up in this huge man bun and he seemed to be meditating.
I stayed rooted, watching as other gods began to take notice. They whispered among themselves, their gazes flicking toward me in curiosity. A few whispered questions floated through the air.
"Who is he?" one muttered. "Is he a new god?"
"I think? He kinda smells like a Greek," another speculated. "Wait, is that not Hades? That idiot thinks that he is going to be welcomed after missing the last two meetings?"
I really had nowhere to go as after scanning the entire room I couldn't find a single throne for me.
The tension was thick. The air buzzed with uncertainty. And just as the murmurs began to swell, a flash of light tore through the room.
The air seemed to crackle, and from it, she finally appeared.
Chaos.
The air shifted before her arrival, thickening with an energy so vibrant it could almost be felt in the bones. I had seen many gods make an entrance over the centuries—some subtle, some grand, but none quite like hers.
Then, there she was.
Her entrance was as theatrical as ever, a flurry of light and chaos that seemed almost absurd in its extravagance. A streak of golden light descended from the sky above, swirling and twirling like a ribbon caught in a tempest. Her laughter, high and wild, echoed across the arena, a sound that seemed to vibrate with the madness of a thousand gods. And then, as though the air itself couldn't contain her, she appeared.
Dancing into the center of the coliseum, she moved with a grace that defied logic. Her gown billowed around her like the petals of an enormous, radiant flower, gleaming in every color of the rainbow as if the fabric were alive. Each step she took seemed to release waves of golden dust into the air, sparkling like the embers of a fire. Her long, dark hair flowed behind her, shifting with an ethereal glow, the crown upon her head twinkling like the stars themselves.
A whirlwind of energy and motion, she clapped her hands together, the sound louder than thunder, filling every corner of the arena.
"Welcome, welcome!" Her voice rang out, impossibly bright and full of an unnatural cheer. She spun on her heels, her eyes wide with excitement, as though she were addressing an audience of children. "The Kings and Queens of the Pantheons have finally gathered! The Fifth Convergence! How marvelous! I am so excited!"
I stood there, arms crossed, I admit that I was a little impressed. Chaos was chaotic by nature, yes, but this? It was more playful than I cared for.
I didn't wait for her to come to me. I marched forward, making my presence known. She spotted me and grinned. Her energy surged as if she couldn't help but be drawn to my dark, imposing presence.
"Hades!" she chimed, her voice full of excitement. She didn't wait for me to speak before continuing. "What a surprise, you actually made it to the meeting!"
"Well, it turns out that someone misplaced my other two notices and even failed to tell me about the Convergence until a couple days ago. I do apologize that I had missed the last two meetings." I explained as I looked around. "Question, where do I sit? I see that everyones has their one throne?"
"Actually that is the thing." Chaos said, clearing her throat. as she motions to the throne sitting in the middle of the room with the marble dragon coiled around it. "That is your throne."
But before I could continue, a voice broke through our conversation, cutting into the moment. I turned to see a god—broad-shouldered, a crown of jagged stone atop his head—sitting on his throne, his gaze unwavering.
"There is no way in hell that he is to sit on that throne!" he sneered, his voice deep. I did not recognize that god, though he seemed to be some kind of earth god? "That throne belongs to the King of Kings, the ruler of all the Pantheons. There is no way that I will accept that man on that throne when he never proved his worth."
Others voiced their agreements as well and Chaos simply listened as she turned to me. "So Hades, what are you going to do about it?"
"They are right, I am new to the Convergence and I have spent all my time in my lands and if I would ever sit in that throne I would need to actually prove myself. So I request a throne up there with them."
"Alright if that is what you want." Chaos said as she snapped her finger and a marble throne rose up between Ra and another god that I did not know. I thanked her as I vanished in a flurry of shadows and appeared at the throne and sat down. The other kings glanced at me as none even voiced more complaints. Or not aloud they didn't.
"Mortals are multiplying rapidly," Chaos began as she cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, her voice echoing through the colossal space. "There are over half a million of them now, crawling across the earth, figuring out how to survive. And yet…" She leaned forward, her hands splayed wide. "They have started growing and building cities and actually becoming something more than ants."
There was a murmur of agreement from the gathered gods, though many looked unimpressed. I, however, stayed silent, watching the exchange with curiosity. My thoughts drifted to my own mortal followers in the Underworld—humans I had guided and taught, far more advanced than these cavemen Chaos described. I couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
"So!" Chaos clapped her hands again, her golden eyes glittering with excitement. "What do we do with them? They're multiplying like rabbits, and we have all this power. Surely we can shape their future, right? I want to hear your ideas."
Hands began to rise, and Chaos pointed to Odin, who stood up as he cleared his throat.
"The mortals will figure themselves out," Odin said, his voice deep and steady. "Let them struggle. It is through strife and hardship that strength is forged. We should leave them be and observe. If they are worthy, they'll find their own way."
A wave of nods rippled through a few gods, though not everyone agreed.
"Let them struggle?" Ra scoffed, rising from her throne. "What use are they if they're weak? We should enslave them, guide them with a firm hand. They're nothing but tools, after all. Why not make them serve us?"
There were murmurs of approval from some, notably Huitzilopochtli, who leaned forward on his jaguar-adorned throne.
"Enslave them? Why waste the effort?" the Aztec god growled, his voice like a low rumble of thunder. "Mortals are pests. They breed, they consume, they die. We should kill them all now before they become a problem. Wipe them out, start fresh."
A hush fell over the room as his words hung in the air, heavy with violence.
Zeus chuckled, breaking the tension. He was lounging in his throne, one leg draped lazily over the armrest. "Oh, come now," he drawled, his smirk infuriatingly smug. "Why kill them when we can enjoy them? Mortals have their uses. Some of them are even… entertaining. I say, let them grow, pick the interesting ones, and…" He winked, making a lewd gesture with his hand. "You get the idea."
I couldn't hide the disgust that flickered across my face, though I said nothing.
Shiva, the four-armed god of destruction, rose next, his demeanor calm yet commanding. "Mortals are fleeting," he said, his voice a melody of power and wisdom. "Let them be. Their existence is a blink of an eye compared to ours. If they worship us, so be it. If they don't, their end will come regardless."
Brahma nodded in agreement, but Vishnu interjected with a soft smile. "If they are to worship us, we must guide them, protect them. Killing or enslaving them will only breed fear and hatred. We should nurture them, show them the light of our divinity."
The Hawaiian god Kāne stood next, his voice booming with energy. "Mortals are like seeds. If you crush them too early, they won't grow. If you neglect them, they'll either. Let's give them what they need to flourish—water, fire, knowledge. Watch what they can become."
The Dagda, the Irish All-Father, grinned and leaned forward on his throne. "Let's give 'em a bit of everything, eh? A little guidance, a little hardship. See what they're made of. Mortals love their stories and songs. Let's give them something worth singing about."
I listened carefully to every word, waiting for the right moment to speak. Finally, Chaos turned to me, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hades," she said, her tone almost teasing. "What's your take?"
I rose from my place, letting the weight of my presence settle over the room. Every eye turned to me, some curious, others wary.
"Mortals are small," I began, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Primitive, yes. Weak, yes. But they are also filled with potential. To destroy them is shortsighted. To enslave them is wasteful. To ignore them is to lose an opportunity."
Several gods shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"They are more than pests or tools. They are a blank canvas," I continued, my gaze sweeping the room. "What I propose is something new. Something called religion."
Whispers erupted, the word unfamiliar and intriguing.
"Through religion," I explained, "we guide them, not through fear or force, but through faith. We give them something to believe in. Something to aspire to. By worshiping us, they will grow stronger, and so will we. Mortals who revere us will dedicate their lives to building temples, creating art, spreading our names. Their prayers will feed our power, and their devotion will bind them to us."
Chaos tilted her head, her grin widening. "And how do you propose we earn their faith?"
"By helping them," I said simply. "Give them fire. Teach them to hunt, to farm, to build. Show them that we are their protectors and guides. If we want them to worship us, we must first give them reason to trust us."
A wave of murmurs swept through the chamber, some skeptical, others intrigued.
Chaos raised a hand, silencing the room. "Well, then," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "Let's put it to a vote. All in favor of Hades' plan?"
One by one, hands began to rise. Even those who had argued for other paths seemed swayed by the promise of power through faith.
The vote was unanimous.
Chaos clapped her hands together, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Well, there you have it! Religion it is. Now, go forth, dear gods, and get to work! I shall see you all in another 1,000 years"
With a snap of her fingers, the gods vanished one by one. I stared down at the woman who had sent me to this world. How long has it really been since I came here? How much have I been through and how much has changed? I felt myself being sent away as I couldn't help but smile.