Looking at the expectation in Hades's eyes, Zeus fell silent. Her mind was currently focused on the main goal of increasing her strength and gaining freedom. If she were to return to a peaceful life now, she truly couldn't do it. She never wanted to experience that feeling of powerlessness again. Deeply hurt by Gaia's beastly actions, she now never wanted to be pressed onto a bed and rubbed again.
"Sister, I'm sorry."
Finally, Zeus averted her eyes. She didn't dare to look at Hades's expectant gaze again, fearing she might actually agree.
"Why? Zeus, why do you torment yourself like this? I will protect you."
Hades didn't understand why Zeus would refuse, but she wanted to protect her sister well.
"You don't understand!"
Zeus said with a bitter smile. How could she choose to be protected by others? As a man (in her previous life), she at least had some pride. Protecting herself was the true way.
"Tell me! Zeus, little sister, my little sister, please tell your sister, okay? Don't carry it all by yourself anymore."
Looking at Zeus, who seemed to have a hard time speaking, Hades's face was filled with heartache. She didn't want her beloved sister to live such a tiring life. She wanted to be her sister's pillar, to shield her from wind and rain. This was Hades's current feeling.
"Please, don't bother me anymore, okay, Sister? I beg you, let me be alone for a while. My heart is so confused right now."
Zeus said to Hades, clutching her chest. She didn't want to involve others in her personal matters. If she could, she hoped to settle things with Gaia and Alaya by herself.
"Crack!"
"I'm sorry, Zeus, I can't just watch you suffer."
While Zeus was distracted, Hades gently pinched her neck. The standing Zeus instantly fainted into Hades's arms. Hades spoke to the unconscious Zeus with an apologetic expression.
"Temporarily halt the conquest. Return to guard the Underworld."
Like holding a crystal doll, Hades gently picked up Zeus, then sent a message to her subordinates. Now that she had found Zeus, she no longer wanted to play any conquest games.
"Yes!" (multiple voices)
All the Underworld Warriors replied to the sky and began to retreat to the Underworld. This made the tense Magical Girls, who had thought the enemy was launching a large-scale attack, breathe a deep sigh of relief.
"What exactly is going on?"
Ellie El, who was commanding the battle on the front lines, asked herself helplessly as she watched the retreating Underworld Warriors and Underworld people.
"The pressure is a bit much, I can't hold on, so let's hurry and leave!"
Lelia looked at the increasing number of Underworld Warriors. These guys were practically immortal in the Underworld, making the fighting increasingly pointless. Lelia began to retreat, but she seemed to have forgotten Kurumi (Zeus).
At the edge of the River Styx, Hades stood upon the river and gave orders to her subordinates.
"Guard this world well. I will return."
Hades, holding Zeus wrapped in the cloak, said to Aiakos, one of her Three Judges. After hearing his reply, Hades nodded in satisfaction and flew towards the River Styx. She was going to her Underworld, where it was the safest place. She had even specially built a 'Pure Land of Bliss' for Zeus, so Zeus wouldn't be bored in the Underworld.
Thinking of the wonderful life she would have with Zeus in the future, Hades's flying speed couldn't help but increase by several folds, instantly breaking through the dimensional barrier and returning to the ancient Greece world.
Returning to the 'Pure Land of Bliss' where she was alone, Hades looked around at the scenery with satisfaction. These were all flowers she had personally cultivated.
Placing the unconscious Zeus on a bed made of flowers, Hades gently kissed Zeus's forehead, then turned to deal with some matters.
"This is me!?"
Unsure how much time had passed, Zeus, waking from her coma and not yet fully clear-headed, smelled a pleasant floral scent and felt a soft 'mattress' beneath her. After struggling to open her eyes, Zeus saw a vast expanse of white. Once her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she saw a beautiful scene that didn't exist in the human world. Various nameless flowers bloomed brightly under the gentle sunlight. It was then that Zeus realized she was in a sea of flowers!
"You're finally awake."
Zeus was startled by the sudden voice, turning to look in its direction, and saw Hades's face, filled with happiness, smiling at her.
"You, you forcibly brought me back. If there were laws, I could directly sue you for kidnapping, and you might even spend a few years in jail."
Feeling the familiar aura of death in this world, Zeus instantly knew where she was. This was the Underworld, where Zeus had stayed for a year. She looked at Hades with some displeasure, but Zeus quickly found that she couldn't really complain to her, her sister Hades. After all, her sister had probably suffered a lot to protect her. She wondered if Gaia had punished her for saving Zeus last time. Zeus understood that Hades was doing this for her own good, but still feeling a bit unbalanced, Zeus grumbled.
"It will be very safe here. Stay here with peace of mind. I will protect you."
Ignoring Zeus's grumbling, Hades knew Zeus was not in a good mood, so she gently stroked Zeus's delicate, fair cheek. Hades said with immense affection and seriousness.
"Sigh! Since I'm here, I might as well rest for a bit!"
Zeus reluctantly compromised. Anyway, she would only be staying for a while, and it wasn't like she hadn't stayed here before. Thinking this, Zeus gave up her wonderful plan of immediately escaping. It wouldn't be too late to continue her journey after she had adjusted.
"Then, that's wonderful, Zeus. I'll show you the residence I built for you."
Hearing Zeus's compromise, Hades was very happy. She began to hold Zeus's small hand, introducing her to the 'Pure Land of Bliss' she had created, without any airs of a God King.
Only in front of Zeus could Hades drop her cold mask and reveal her true feelings.
Zeus had no idea how much her sister loved her. Always insensitive to love, she had lost twice: first with Gaia, and second with Alaya. These two times brought her two small lives. Although this was not what Zeus expected, if she could truly understand what love was, she would realize that Hades's gaze towards her, besides concern and heartache, contained even more of a fiery 'love' that could burn gods to ashes.
Just as Demeter said, love is a contagious disease, and all Five Sisters had contracted this disease, and it was a mutated strain, a disease named Zeus.
Zeus, at this moment, had no experience of being in love. When she encountered Hades, who was already gravely ill, how Zeus would choose could only be left to fate.
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