[center][b][u]November 2nd, 2020
[url=https://imgur.com/GVbGr6W]Tartarus, Realm of the Dead[/url][/u][/b]

“It would seem the revolt has been quashed, husband,” [url=https://imgur.com/rf24IcB]Eris[/url] smirked, lounging back in the obsidian throne of Hades. Idly running her equally dark nails across the surface of the golden apple that once sparked a bloody war amongst mortals, she smiled. “Maybe now you can at last find the [i]Spark[/i]. I would certainly hate to think what father would do to you if you couldn’t!”

A low rumble of distaste issued forth from [url=https://imgur.com/A4N3Cq8]Ares’[/url] throat, the God of War diligently observing the scores of mortal souls that were now at work digging their way deeper into the bowels of the underworld. “Once I have obtained the Spark, even father will not be able to oppose my power…”

“I certainly hope not!” Eris exclaimed, releasing a cackle that rebounded off the walls of the great palace that surrounded them. “The sight of your repeated emasculation at Zeus’s hands has [i]almost[/i] lost its charm!”

Tightening his scarred hands, Ares' eyes flared in indignation at the mention of his previous failures. “Be silent woman! You only sit on that throne now because [i]I[/i] toppled Hades from it!”

“T-throuh...treachery…” A strained protest called out to him, the War God turning to look upon the sight of the [i]former[/i] [url=https://imgur.com/9bjUdPy]Lord of the Dead[/url]. Metallic lances had been impaled through each of his limbs at the wrists and ankles respectively, with a final one emerging from his torso. One could not truly kill a child of Cronus so easily, but there were ways of disabling them.

Ares scoffed at the defeated God’s protest, folding his arms as he returned to gaze upon the countless million souls who were carrying out his excavation. “Your attachment to that pathetic woman was your undoing. Blame Persephone, not I.”

Releasing another laugh that echoed through the palace halls, Eris slid from the throne and floated towards Hades, placing a finger beneath his chin. “You were just [i]so[/i] worried when she fell ill with that [i]mysterious[/i] illness. Would you have trusted me to cure her so readily in a better state of mind, I wonder?”

Ares grunted again at this. Hades had been so focused on the state of his wife that he had failed to take notice of him drawing his blade. Without even the subtlest notion of betrayal, he was laid low by his attack and impaled against the wall before he could recover. His wife had come up with that part of the plan, as she delighted in [i]incessantly[/i] reminding him. Nevertheless, had it not been for [i]him[/i] sowing the seeds of conflict throughout the world, he would never have possessed enough power to strike such a grievous blow, even by surprise.

“You...think Zeus will...forgive you for this…?” Hades rasped out, futilely struggling against the lances running through him, only agitating his wounds more. “You [i]will[/i] fail, like all the other times…”

“When I’m through with this wretched place, it will not be [i]I[/i] who begs for forgiveness!” Ares snapped at the broken God, towering form turning to meet him once against. Clenching a gauntleted fist in his direction, a smirk played across his face. “You never even knew it was here, did you? The source of [i]all[/i] of our powers...a spark of the God Wave.”

Hades raised his head slightly, confusion evident even when commingled with pain. “God...wave…?”

“It predates even our birth by [i]eons[/i],” Ares explained, spreading his hands to emphasize the immense span of time. “Every God from every world, every sorcerer and creature possessed of extraordinary power...they all can trace the origins of their powers to this primordial force. It is as old as our universe itself!”

The God of the Underworld narrowed his weary eyes at Ares, his lips settled into a frown. “How...would one such as [i]you[/i]...learn of this power?”

“The Oracle,” The God of War’s smirk parted to revealing his gleaming teeth.

Hades’ eyes widened at the name, his body shuddering. “She...has…”

“Returned, yes,” Ares chuckled. “With the restoration of magic, the one who carries the soul of Delphi has awakened once again. She isn’t even aware of what she is, and the Gods...they no longer give Earth the attention it is due. But I-”

“-Have a wife that is far more observant than any of them,” Eris interjected with a laugh, running a finger across the cheek of Ares in an almost taunting manner, a low growl his only response. Turning to Hades once more, she leaned against his former throne. “I visited her in her dreams, a place of raw depravity the likes of which few mortals could appreciate. From there I was rewarded with a [i]prophecy:[/i] whoever shall retrieve the spark of the God Wave from the bowels of Tartarus shall topple Olympus and unleash unparalleled destruction upon the Earth!”

Upon hearing this, Hades made yet another attempt to tear himself free from his restraints, the ancient deity seemingly using every last ounce of his remaining strength in the ultimately futile attempt, his defeated form finally slumping forward. “M-madness…”

“No, the first step in building [i]paradise[/i],” Ares corrected him. “By seizing total power from the apathetic Gods of Olympus and cleansing the Earth of the human vermin that infest it, I shall usher in a new Golden Age full of perfect beings who want for nothing!”

Slowly turning back to his endless horde of slaves as they continued to carve out the bowels of the underworld, his lips settled into a smile. “The age of [i]Ares[/i].” [/center]