The System Awakens: Rise of the Champion-Chapter 289: Frightened Hades

After a few minutes of flying, Damian, Gaia, and Demeter reached the Underworld.

The palace of the Greek Underworld was a massive castle built from the very rocks that formed the land itself. Cold mist rose from the ground, shrouding the structure, while the Underworld's river flowed ethereally around it. Countless souls drifted upon its waters, constantly emitting cries of sin and suffering, filling the entire surroundings with an eerie, ghostly atmosphere.

As they landed in front of the Underworld Palace, Damian's appearance began to change. Two pairs of blood-red horns sprouted from his forehead, one larger pair bending backward, with a smaller pair nestled between them. His skin paled, his eyes glowed a vivid blood-red, and a long, sharp, demonic tail shot out from his back and coiled around his waist like a belt. His height surged to seven feet, his body becoming muscular and demonic, reflecting the growth in stature. The aura of evil and sin around him intensified, radiating with a terrifying presence.

"I have to say this, husband, all of your progenitor forms give off different kinds of charms, but all of them are unbelievably attractive… it's crazy to think about," Demeter added.

"Yeah? If you say so," Damian, now in his demon progenitor base form, chuckled in a deepened tone as he rubbed her head.

"I have a question, darling," Gaia continued. "I see you alternate between the progenitor base forms of all the races. Can't you create a single progenitor base form that encompasses all the forms? Logically, such a form would grant you the ability to use all the unique progenitor abilities from each of them in a single form, without having to transform every time to maximize the effectiveness of those abilities."

"Yeah, I know what you're talking about," Damian nodded.

Although Damian was the progenitor of the human, vampire, werewolf, demon, and angelic races, he could not be the full progenitor of all races at the same time.

For example, while in his demon progenitor base form, he wouldn't be able to use the full potential of the abilities of other progenitors. He could still use their powers, but they would not operate at full strength or effectiveness, and the influence and status that came with each progenitor essence would also be significantly reduced.

"As you know, I've been evolving into the Eighth Primordial, the Primordial Progenitor to be exact. Right now, I exist in a state called the Pseudo‑Primordial Progenitor, which makes me, I suppose, an incomplete primordial. To become a complete Primordial Progenitor, I need to acquire the essence of the progenitors of all races." Damian explained. "At this point, only the dragon race remain. Once I obtain their essence, I will become the Progenitor of Dragons, which will also trigger the final phase of my evolution, my transformation into the true Primordial Progenitor,"

"Once I become the True Primordial, I will achieve a state, my base form, in which I can use all the abilities of every progenitor with even greater effectiveness, all at once and without restriction. In that case, I should be able to create new variations of races with even more powerful traits, which I am very intensely planning to use to their fullest potential," Damian said with a sly grin.

While keeping their conversation going, they walked toward the entrance of the Underworld Palace.

The Underworld Palace was surrounded by a massive wall that stretched several dozen feet into the air. As soon as the Demon Progenitor entered its vicinity, it was as if the palace itself sensed the presence of the true king. The gates opened on their own, revealing a long platform that led straight to the main castle.

Faint, almost threatening whispers echoed through the cold mist, revealing only pairs of eerily glowing eyes hidden within.

"Daemons," Gaia muttered, shaking her head.

Daemons, or Daimones, were demons of the Greek pantheon, bearing a strong resemblance to biblical demons.

"They're still demons, and I am their progenitor," Damian snorted.

In the next second, a demonic aura poured out of him like a tidal wave, instantly painting the entire area in a thick crimson hue. The daemons lurking in the mist were struck silent by fear and vanished back into their hiding places.

Damian spread his senses through every nook and cranny of the Underworld and found a sizable population of daemons thriving within it.

"Not bad for a daemon population, but none of them possess any noteworthy strength," Damian clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"Well, Hades makes sure to kill any daemon that grows strong enough to challenge his authority," Gaia said with a sigh, shaking her head. "Since the Greek Underworld recognizes daemons as valid contenders for the throne, if one were to grow powerful enough, Hades could lose his authority."

"I figured," Damian nodded.

As soon as they stepped closer to the main castle, the doors opened on their own. Inside, the King and Queen of the Underworld were waiting to greet them, accompanied by several other Underworld gods.

"It's been a while, Hades," Demeter grinned, clearly trying to provoke him.

"It's good to see you as well, Mother Goddess Demeter," Hades replied in a steady tone, though it was obvious he was doing his best to keep his composure.

"Mother? What are you doing here?" Persephone came running toward Demeter, her expression a mix of surprise and shock, before throwing her arms around her in a tight hug.

Damian noticed how Hades twitched, clearly wanting to stop them, yet restraining himself with considerable effort. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

While mother and daughter embraced, two other gods approached the Demon Progenitor and bowed deeply in respect.

"We greet the great Heavenly Son. It is an honor to serve Your Highness."

Thanatos, the God of Death, natural endings, and final rest, and Hypnos, the God of Sleep, both lowered their heads reverently.

"Hm," Damian nodded in acknowledgment.

Hades watched the scene in silent horror.

His brothers were gone. The daemons of the Underworld were under Damian's control. Persephone, once firmly within his grasp, was now embracing her mother. Even the gods who served him, gods who had never bowed to anyone, were now kneeling before the Heavenly Son.

And there was nothing he could do about any of it, unless he wished to be painfully tortured, killed, or devoured.

Demeter, standing in front of her daughter, looked at Hades as though she were staring at the most repulsive, foul-smelling garbage imaginable.

"My daughter is coming with me, Hades, and there is nothing you can do about it except eat shit."

"M-Mother?"

"Yes, my daughter. From today onward, you are free. You can do anything you want from now on, and you also have a husband," Demeter said, completely ignoring Hades as if he were nothing more than air, tightening her grip on Persephone's hand.

"H-Husband?" Persephone echoed.

As if sensing who her mother was referring to, Persephone turned her gaze toward the man she had arrived with, the man who was probably the most beautiful she had ever laid eyes upon and likely ever would.

She recognized him instantly.

He was the one who had been conquering godly pantheons after godly pantheons, world after world, as if collecting Pokémon. Just a few days earlier, he had defeated Zeus, Erebus, Poseidon, and countless other gods single-handedly, as though fighting mere toddlers.

There was no way she could ever forget him.

"I-I greet the Heavenly Son. Please accept my subordination."

The Goddess of Death, Dread, Souls, Seasons, and Renewal, the Queen of the Underworld, and one of the most powerful goddesses in the entire Greek pantheon bowed respectfully, a faint blush spreading across her face.

Damian smiled and gently rubbed her head, as if acknowledging her.

"I don't need your subordination," he said calmly. "You are my daughter now, so it goes without saying that I will treat you as well as I can."

"D-Daughter?" Persephone didn't understand.

Then Damian lifted her head and glanced toward Demeter.

Her mother was blushing like a lovestruck teenage girl.

And that was when it hit Persephone what he truly meant when he called her his daughter.

"And she shall become your wife, husband," Demeter declared, her voice echoing with a shame that seemed to ripple through the universe itself.

Persephone's mouth fell open.

Damian said nothing in response. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Hades, the King of the Underworld.

"So, Hades," Damian said casually, "I will be taking over as the King of the Underworld."

"W-What…?"

In that instant, Hades felt the authority he had held for countless ages slip away, as if the Underworld itself were rejecting him, no, as if it had found someone infinitely more worthy.

"I mean, you don't want it, do you?" Damian asked, narrowing his eyes.

His face began to distort into something dangerous, something horrifying, an image torn straight from a nightmare.

Hades gulped.

"N-No! I don't want power! I don't care about power!" Hades cried desperately, dropping to his knees and bowing his head before Damian. "Please, Great Heavenly Son, I want nothing. I only wish to live."

Thanatos and Hypnos watched in silent horror, unable to stop themselves from imagining what it would be like to be on the receiving end of Damian's wrath and his nightmare-born power.