~Hades~

The flickering light of the ambrosial torches cast a golden glow across the grand dining hall of Olympus, a room filled with laughter, conversation, and warmth that had long eluded these halls. Tonight, was the night of our traditional family dinners where we simply hang out withough problems and just be a family. It was Hestias wish and I had agreed to it quickly making her quite happy, this should mark our fifth dinner.

Hecate leaned close to me, her eyes sparkling with mischief as her voice dipped low. "Do you think Poseidon's story about Atlantes gets more exaggerated with each retelling?"

I chuckled, unable to resist her charm, Hecate has been opening up alot lately and luckily my family seemed to accept her, she always had her girls night with Hera, Hestia, and Demeter. The four acted like sisters and seemed to love each other alot. "He probably added three more temples and two magical sea beasts to it since last time."

She laughed softly, the sound rich and enchanting, and lightly tapped my arm. "You're awful, my king."

I smirked, turning to her fully. "Awful? Perhaps. But you still sit beside me, don't you?"

"Only because you'd be lost without me." She arched a playful brow, her lips curving in a teasing smile.

Across the table, Hera and Aeolus were deep in conversation with their children. Ares, gestured animatedly as he spoke to Hephaestus about some new weapon idea that he had, while Hebe and Eileithyia quietly exchanged smiles. Hera's regal demeanor softened as she shared a laugh with Aeolus, her sharp eyes gleaming with affection.

Poseidon's booming laughter drew my attention. He leaned forward, animatedly recounting some tale of his underwater kingdom to Demeter and Hestia. "And then the fool had the audacity to challenge me! Can you believe it? A mere mortal thinking he could outswim the sea itself!"

Hestia smiled gently. "You should take Demeter and me down there sometime, brother. It sounds... lively."

"Consider it done, dear sister," Poseidon said with a grand wave of his hand. "You've been far too long on dry land."

This was how it should have been. Family. Harmony. This was a vast difference to the Olympians that I had grown up reading in my past life... Zeus was no more than a cancer. And yet, a gnawing sense of unease coiled in my chest. Things rarely stayed perfect for long in Olympus.

I was proven right when Aeolus suddenly screamed.

It was a bloodcurdling sound that silenced the room instantly. His hands clutched his head, fingers digging into his scalp as if he could tear something out by sheer force.

"Father!" Ares surged to his feet, his chair crashing to the floor behind him.

Hera's face blanched. "Aeolus! What's happening?"

"Cut it off!" Aeolus shouted, his voice hoarse and wild with pain. His eyes met Ares's, wide with desperation. "Cut off my head!"

The room erupted into chaos.

Hephaestus, ever the pragmatist, rose slowly, his one good eye fixed on me. "What are your orders, my king?"

The weight of his words hit me like a blow. This wasn't just a moment of madness; I had this feeling that this was really important.

"Do it," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Ares, hold him down. Hephaestus, you know what to do."

Ares hesitated for only a heartbeat before nodding grimly. He moved to his father's side, his powerful arms pinning Aeolus to the table. Hera looke paniked, but I stepped forward, my tone brooking no argument. "Hera! Control yourself. There is nothing to worry about."

Hephaestus picked up his axe, its blade gleaming in the torchlight. His movements were deliberate, almost reverent, as he positioned himself. Aeolus thrashed beneath Ares's hold, but his screams were turning guttural, inhuman.

"Do it," I said, locking eyes with Hephaestus. 

The axe came down in a single, clean strike. Golden blood spattered across the table, and for a moment, the world held its breath. Then, from the gaping wound in Aeolus's skull, light poured forth, radiant and blinding. A figure emerged, fully formed, clad in shimmering battle armor.

The young woman landed on the table with a heavy thud, her spear at the ready and her gray eyes fierce with purpose. Her presence was commanding, even as she blinked, disoriented, taking in her surroundings.

"I am Athena," she declared, her voice clear and unwavering. "Daughter of Atlas and Metis."

The room was deathly silent, all eyes on the strange, sudden intruder.

I stepped forward, my tone measured but firm. "Welcome to Olympus, Athena. I am Hades, King of Olympus. You are among family."

She turned her sharp gaze to me, studying me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Family?"

"Of sorts," I said, allowing a faint smile to touch my lips. "You've had a... dramatic entrance, but we will see you settled. Hestia, Hera, please assist her."

Hera, still pale but regaining her composure, nodded and moved to Athena's side. Hestia followed, her warmth radiating comfort.

"Ares, Hephaestus," I said, glancing at the brothers. "Take Aeolus to be healed. Ensure he is tended to immediately."

They obeyed without question, Hephaestus lifting the limp form of Aeolus with surprising gentleness.

Turning back to Athena, I softened my tone. "Rest for now. In a weeks time, you will report to the throne room. We will discuss your place here then."

Athena gave a curt nod, her expression unreadable.

As the room began to clear, Hecate appeared at my side once more, her presence grounding me. She looped her arm through mine, her voice soft but teasing. "Well, that was quite the show."

"Never a dull moment," I muttered, pulling her closer by her waists. In a flurry of shadows, I swept us both away, sending a mental order to the sprites and nymphes to clean up. Nobody was going to eat the food now that it was covered in a gods blood.

<------------->

Here's a detailed and immersive scene, written in first-person from Hades' perspective:

The moment I set foot back in the Underworld, I knew something was wrong. The air felt heavy, the kind of oppressive weight that prickles at the back of your neck and screams of impending disaster. I barely had time to adjust to the dim, familiar shadows of my domain when Abel came barreling toward me, his face pale and his movements frantic.

"Lord Hades!" he cried, stumbling to a halt in front of me. His chest heaved as he struggled for breath. "It's Cerberus! He's—he's—"

"What?" I demanded, dread pooling in my gut. Abel was rarely this shaken. "Speak, boy!"

"He's dying!" The words tumbled out, raw and desperate.

I didn't wait for an explanation. Shadows rose around me like a storm as I disappeared, reappearing in the cavernous chamber where Cerberus usually lounged. The sight that met me froze the blood in my veins.

Cerberus lay slumped against the rocky floor, his three heads moving weakly as he struggled to lift them. His once-mighty form was reduced to a trembling shadow of itself. The massive beast that guarded the gates of the Underworld, the terror of souls and bane of intruders, now whimpered pitifully.

I knelt beside him, my hands instinctively resting against the coarse fur of his middle head. "Cerberus," I said softly. "What happened to you?"

His left head managed a weak lick to my hand, but the effort seemed to sap the last of his strength. His other two heads simply groaned, their breaths shallow and uneven.

"Abel!" I barked, and the boy appeared at my side in an instant.

"I—I don't know what's wrong, my lord," he stammered, his eyes filled with tears. "I've tried everything. I think he ate something from... from Tartarus. Something poisonous."

Tartarus. Of course. That cursed pit was more trouble than it was worth. "Enough," I said, rising to my feet. "We don't have time to waste."

Scooping up Cerberus as carefully as I could, I carried him over my shoulder to my laboratory. Abel followed, his nervous chatter barely registering in my ears. I was already running through possibilities, my mind racing as I laid Cerberus on the massive stone table at the center of the room.

"You'll be fine, old friend," I murmured, stroking the fur of his middle head. "I won't lose you."

I sedated him first, ensuring he wouldn't suffer while I worked. Once he was unconscious, I examined him thoroughly, my hands moving over his massive form as I searched for answers. It didn't take long to confirm Abel's theory: Cerberus had been poisoned. But whatever had done this wasn't ordinary. It was something ancient, something that had slipped through the cracks of Tartarus.

I couldn't simply heal him. Whatever was poisoning him was destroying his body no matter how many times I healed him, I would have to rebuild him from the ground up.

And I would.

Grabbing a massive slab of primordial clay from my stores, I set to work. The substance was cold and heavy in my hands, but it held potential—raw, unformed life waiting to be shaped. I sculpted with precision, using Cerberus's essence as my guide but allowing myself the freedom to improve.

The new body I envisioned was immense, far larger than his previous form. I molded powerful limbs, sharper claws, and three heads with lupine features that exuded strength and intelligence. Black scales covered his body, interspersed with patches of whitish fur and jagged bone spikes. Two horns sprouted from each head, curving gracefully almost like a crown.

For several days, I worked tirelessly, perfecting every detail. The room reeked of sweat, clay, and the faint hum of divine energy. My hands ached, but I didn't stop. I wouldn't stop.

When the body was complete, I turned to his soul.

Holding Cerberus's essence in my hands, I focused. I rewrote his very being, making him faster and stronger, granted him the ability to duplicate himself by seperating his heads. I thought that it would suit Cerberus if he needed more bodies to either fight or hunt with... or do other things.

Finally, I destroyed his old body, reducing it to ash. With a solemn breath, I scattered the ashes over the clay mold and whispered the words of life. The room shuddered as the new body stirred, energy crackling through the air.

Cerberus's three heads lifted as one, their eyes blinking open to reveal a familiar but renewed intelligence. For a moment, he looked disoriented. Then, recognition sparked in his gaze, and all three heads turned toward me.

I couldn't help but smile as he bounded toward me, licking my face with three massive tongues.

"Easy, boy," I laughed, scratching behind one of his ears. "You're bigger now. Try not to crush me."

A gasp behind me made me turn. Abel stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes wide as he took in the new Cerberus.

"Cerberus!" Abel cried, rushing forward and throwing his arms around one of the massive necks.

Cerberus wagged his enormous tail, nearly knocking over several shelves in the process.

I chuckled, placing a hand on Abel's shoulder. "He's not just Cerberus anymore. He's the first of the Zinogre breed—a new kind of hellhound. But listen to me carefully, Abel. If Cerberus mates with any other hellhound or monster, he could create entirely new species of monsters with the chance to be even stronger than any other. Creatures that you will have to deal with. Understood?"

Abel gulped, nodding fervently. "Understood, my lord."

I smirked, patting Cerberus's side. "Good. Now, let's see how this big fellow adjusts to his new life."

Cerberus barked—three deep, rumbling sounds that echoed through the Underworld.