King of Underworld

Gigantomachia – Aftermath

The day before the Olympian gods marched to the Phlegra Plain, they resolved to warn the mortal world. Thus, oracles were sent to every temple:

"Tomorrow, do not approach the vicinity of the Phlegra Plain.

Monstrous beings known as Gigantes roam there.

Being caught in the gods’ war will bring only death."

The sudden oracles caused widespread debate among mortals. Why had the gods, unusually, chosen to warn about the Phlegra Plain? And why did they explicitly call it a "war"?

• "Gigantes overrunning the Phlegra Plain? Is that true?"
• "It’s likely the gods plan to exterminate those monsters, just as Apollo once slew the great serpent Python."
• "Hmm. History tells us that beings with serpentine lower halves and human upper halves were once nearly as powerful as the gods."
• "Back then, the gods subdued the Gigantes who smashed temples to the ground."
• "Records say Ares and Athena descended near Athens themselves... and the creature King Cadmus fought in his later years was serpent-like..."
• "Wait! There’s a record of King Cadmus slaying one of the Gigantes!"

Even Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes, barely managed to defeat a single Gigante. From another perspective, this implied:

To slay a Gigante was to prove oneself a great hero.

No, even joining an expedition to hunt these creatures was a golden opportunity to gain fame as a hero!

• "If the gods themselves are fighting them, wouldn’t offering up just one slain Gigante as a sacrifice be a great achievement?"
• "Hah, but isn’t it too dangerous?"
• "Why not recruit heroes from Thebes? Put up notices and spread the word across Greece!"
• "But the oracle said it would happen tomorrow..."
• "Then move quickly! Now!"

Messengers spread the news across Greece, even drawing figures claiming royal titles.

• "Outside, someone claiming to be the king of Athens has arrived!"

• "How did they get here from Athens? No matter, the king of Athens is known as the hero who slew the Minotaur..."

• "And thanks to summoning heroes near Thrace..."

• "Where’s the glory? Where’s the glory!"

• "Prince Meleager? I thought you were newlywed. Why are you here?"

• "I happened to be traveling near Thrace with Atalanta. I thought a Gigante’s hide would make a fine wedding gift."

With monsters scarce these days, countless heroes gathered near Thrace, seizing the opportunity to make their names known. Though those farthest away couldn’t make it, enough arrived to form an expeditionary force.

Near renowned cities like Athens and Thebes, monsters and villains had been eradicated. Heroes trained in the Underworld found little left to fight and wandered Greece searching for creatures to slay. This led many to the Phlegra Plain, rumored to swallow humans alive.

It was all a manifestation of the insatiable desire to achieve greatness and become legends.

Of course...

• "Hmm. I recognize quite a few faces."
• "Jason’s not here this time? And where’s Castor?"
• "Who cares! With this many, unless the monster’s as strong as Lady Megaera herself, we can kill it!"

For the unfortunate Gigantes who managed to escape the battlefield, it was their misfortune to meet these crazed mortals.

Heroes, for all their boldness, were surprisingly rational. Having trained and fought stronger beings countless times, they understood the risks.

• "The gods called it a war. This might be another case like Typhon or Python."
• "Let’s stay far away. A battle beyond our imagination might break out."
• "No point in getting caught up in it. Let’s hide here for now..."

Thus, armed with their weapons, they quietly concealed themselves across the mountains. Then, as the oracles foretold, divine power beyond comprehension erupted across the plain.

BOOM! RUMBLE... WHOOSH!

The sky split apart, the earth trembled, and mountains flew through the air. Watching from a safe distance, they barely avoided being caught in the aftermath by sheer luck.

• "Should we even be here?"
• "...This seems like something Heracles should handle."

The heroes’ morale began to waver. Even with their strength, they couldn’t fathom what was happening on the Phlegra Plain. They wondered if it was better to leave—until a wounded Gigante appeared before them.

• "Guh! Cough... Ahhh!"

With a serpent’s lower half and a human’s upper half, the bloodied Gigante seemed to be fleeing from something. To the heroes, it looked like perfect prey.

• "We can take that one, can’t we?"
• "It looks tough, but that’s the kind of fight that brings glory!"
• "Finally, a real battle!"
• "Surely it’s not stronger than the likes of the dragon or Lady Megaera."
• "Let’s kill it!"

The fleeing Gigante, desperate and wounded, encountered mortals who dared to block his path.

How dare these creations of the gods... Did they wish to die?

He uprooted a tree and swung it in fury, intent on crushing the insolent humans.

• "Careful! This one’s fast!"
• "It’s blind in its right eye. Exploit the blind spot!"
• "Let’s take its left eye, too!"

Yet not a single blow landed on them.

CRASH! WHOOSH! THUD.

The battle between the heroes and the Gigante dragged on. Even weakened and injured, the Gigante was a formidable opponent. From the heroes’ perspective, the fight was arduous. For the Gigante, however, it was humiliating.

• "Argh! To think I, a creation of the gods, would fall to mere mortals...!"
• "Shut up! You’re weaker than a sleepless dragon!"
• "Hah... If Heracles were here, he’d have snapped you in half!"
• "Gah... Huff... You’re tough, but I’ve fought countless foes like you before..."

The Gigante, riddled with arrows and spears, raged in his final moments before succumbing. Dying not at the hands of gods but mortals, he lamented his fate.

• "Huff... Meleager, you okay?"
• "Y-Yeah, I’m fine."
• "Be careful; you’ve got Atalanta waiting for you."
• "Help Theseus. Didn’t he take a hit earlier?"

Though battered and exhausted, the heroes beamed with triumph, exhilarated by their victory over such a mighty creature.

• "Haha! We killed it!"
• "No one died, right? Good—no one needs a scolding from Chiron!"
• "Stronger than Python? Chimera? Maybe..."

As they divided the spoils, the heroes spotted another wounded Gigante.

• "There’s another one!"

• "Stop right there! I, Idas, will take your head!"

• "Skin the serpent half! Attack the human part!"

• "Glory! Glory!"

• "What... What madness is this...!"

By the time the heroes finished their hunt, three Gigantes lay slain at their feet.

• "Shall we offer these to Ares?"
• "I’ll bring mine to Athena’s temple in Athens."
• "I’ll dedicate mine to Pluto. Hey, let’s gather and offer it together!"
• "Should we also..."

Prayers offered with the slain Gigantes were of the highest quality, surpassing gold and jewels. Naturally, these reached the gods, including Hades.

From afar, Hades observed the heroes skinning and burning Gigantes as offerings. Even Zeus wore an odd expression, seemingly aware of their actions.

• "Mortals are this strong now?"
• "Perhaps they’ve grown too strong?"
• "Heracles was one thing, but..."

Hades felt conflicted. It was admirable that mortals had grown capable of self-defense. But if they grew arrogant, trampling on weaker humans...

Perhaps he should issue an oracle praising humility. He resolved to instruct the goddess of justice to monitor their actions.

• "Hmm... Mortals have grown strong indeed."

Zeus muttered to himself, lost in thought.