The young Persephone began to follow Hades. During this time, Demeter noticed the situation developing and paid a visit.
『Shall we conduct a public debate regarding what you’ve done? I’m fine with being thrown back into Tartarus…but…you won’t be able to show your face in public again, right?』 At Hades’ cold words, Demeter could no longer protest, so she had stepped aside.
The young Persephone had received a great shock from this exchange. It was the first time she had seen her mother so powerless, and she felt as though her world were collapsing around her since Demeter had been everything to her up to that point.
During her first visit to Tartarus, young Persephone learned for the first time in her life what freedom truly was. She no longer had to be confined in her narrow room. Instead of sleeping in a glass chamber, she had a soft bed. It was also the first time she could freely talk to others and enjoy their company. Previously, she had always taken care of everything, but here, many people took care of her. The meals were delicious. The sky was beautiful, and the sunsets were picturesque. The air was cool, and the feeling of the ground was pleasant.
Everything in the world was mysterious and interesting. However, at some point, she realized that there was a larger world outside the confines of Tartarus. Was it because of that? At some point, Persephone became bored with everything in Tartarus. Once upon a time, these things had been so beautiful and mysterious…now they were dull and gloomy. She felt that she had returned to the prison that she had been locked away in as a young child. Nothing seemed to have changed. In fact, Tartarus was an actual prison, one that held many prisoners.The people whom she had thought so kind were just subordinates loyal to Hades. Persephone started yearning to escape from the stuffy Tartarus. The sky, the sea, the grasslands, the desert, the forest, the stars, the moon—the things that existed in the outside world that the Lam had told her about—Persephone wanted to see these places with her own eyes. However, Tartarus’ restrictions did not allow her to step outside.
At some point, Persephone started wondering, ‘Maybe… Is Hades imprisoning me with lies, just like Mother did?’ She fell in a downward spiral of suspicion that she didn’t even know was growing inside her until it was firmly entrenched in her chest.
『Oh… this poor child stuck in a place like this. You’re like a young bluebird trapped in a birdcage being fed lies and deceptions by Olympus.』 Just as Persephone’s suspicions were laying down roots, Mother Earth entered the picture. It was Gaia’s Curse.
***
[Your trait, Cold-blooded, has helped you maintain composure.]
[The spring of death is furiously accelerating and enhancing its attributes.]
[The spring of death has been wound past its limit and is starting to overheat. At this rate, the spring may become worn out.]『Son, how are you? Have you regained consciousness?』
Yeon-woo clung to awareness as Kronos’ questions rang in his ears. However, the most Yeon-woo could do was force himself to stay awake and assess his current situation. He couldn’t even speak or move. He couldn’t even have a conversation with Kronos, which was little more than thinking. Kronos himself was having a difficult time suppressing Gaia’s Curse and keeping it at bay.
Yeon-woo squinted, his vision blurry and shaking. Mother Earth was smiling.
『You’re going to die now.』
Yeon-woo didn’t know how much time had passed, but he could see that Mother Earth was still wrapped up in chains. Although Mother Earth seemed to be in a precarious situation, and her Soulstone could be ripped out of her body at any moment, she was smiling coldly. Her mouth, which was torn at the corners all the way up to her ears, seemed as though it would swallow Yeon-woo at any moment.
『Oho! Yes. I may be imprisoned within the emptiness at any moment. I’ve escaped many hairy situations before, but I probably won’t be able to escape the emptiness. However…』 Her twisted lips became even more crooked. 『You will surely die. Why? Because I’ll make sure of it. Like Uranus! Like Kronos!』 Madness oozed from Mother Earth’s eyes. She was determined that she wouldn’t suffer alone, and even if Yeon-woo ripped the Soulstone out of her and imprisoned her forever, she was determined to take him down with her.
Gulp! Yeon-woo felt something rushing up from inside him. He swallowed it down, but he could taste a fishy flavor that flowed past his tongue and lips.
[Typhon’s legend has risen. He exhibits strong hostility towards player
