He instantly understood the source of the Twin Gods' momentary restraint—it stemmed not only from his power but also from the weighty and obscure mission from the Mother Goddess that they bore.
As messengers, they might not fully comprehend the profound meaning of Nyx's words, but that did not prevent them from carrying them out with absolute obedience and solemnity.
Nyx, a primordial god of Gaia's generation, governing night, fate, and many other powerful forces, had indeed sent him an invitation before he had even truly set foot in the Underworld?
What did she know? What did she foresee? What did this 'right time' have to do with the fall of Cronus, the rise of Zeus, and even the fate of Hades himself?
Countless thoughts flashed through Hades's mind, but he understood that any questions would be futile in the face of Nyx's clear instructions.
The Twin Gods were merely messengers; they would not, and could not, reveal more.
He restrained all his outward emotions and bowed solemnly and deeply to the Twin Gods, as if gazing upon the Mother Goddess who watched this place through the infinite night:
"Thank you for the invitation. Orphos... shall await the guidance."
Seeing Hades's reaction, the invisible solemnity around Thanatos and Hypnos eased slightly. Having delivered their mission, they reverted to their former demeanor.
Hypnos yawned lazily, as if the solemnity had just drained his energy, and murmured, "So tiring, delivering messages..." His figure began to fade, as if about to merge with the background.
Thanatos cast one last glance at Hades, and in his gaze there seemed to be an indescribable meaning, as if to say, "We... await you on the other side."
Instantly, he, along with his great scythe, transformed into a dissipating shadow and vanished into the deathly stillness of the Pale Forest with Hypnos.
The deathly stillness of the Pale Forest enveloped him once more, but it could no longer bring Hades the peace it once had.
Nyx's invitation, like a golden thread suddenly taut on the spinning wheel of fate, clearly pointed towards the realm he would sooner or later step into—the Underworld.
The words 'the right time, the right place' echoed in his mind again and again, filled with the weight of destiny and unknown trials.
He did not linger long in that place. His powerful mind quickly suppressed the surging thoughts and transformed them into more concrete reflections.
Whatever Nyx's intentions, regardless of when the 'right time' arrived, strengthening his own power would always be the only way to deal with all changes.
He returned to the shores of the lava lake deep in the secluded mountains, not only the place where he forged but also one of the anchors of his power.
The hot lava rolled, emitting the breath of sulfur and majestic heat, reflecting his calm and resolute face.
First, deepening control over existing authorities.
After advancing to mighty divine power, especially after obtaining [Forging], [Knowledge], and other gods related to 'creation' and 'wisdom', he felt his understanding of power had reached a new level.
In the past, his use of [Subterranean Wealth] might have been more focused on perceiving and guiding underground mineral deposits; now, he could 'read' the energy flow in the earth's veins more clearly, and could even deduce the best model for the natural generation of small veins through the [Knowledge] and [Summary] divinities.
He was no longer content with only using [Lava] and [High Temperature] to forge artifacts and began trying to combine these forces with [Purification].
He imagined that if the direction and temperature of lava could be precisely controlled, supplemented by the power of the law of [Purification], he could open a relatively stable 'pure land' capable of resisting abyssal erosion in a chaotic place of the Underworld, and then that could be...
Second, further accumulation of resources.
Nyx's invitation made him realize that the future stage might be much larger than the earth. The Underworld was vast and dangerous, with its own laws and resources.
He needed more 'capital'. Through the connection between [Subterranean Wealth] and [Lava] and [Decay], he accelerated the process of ore vein formation in several hidden places.
These veins were not only reserves of divine power but could also become hard currency for forging divine weapons, building temples, and even for future trade.
At the same time, he paid more attention to rare substances that might be connected to the Underworld, such as 'Underworld' materials capable of carrying soul power, or special crystals born on the boundary between life and death.
And finally, information and allies.
It was difficult to predict whether Nyx's invitation was a blessing or a curse. He needed more information about the Underworld, about Nyx, and even about his own future fate.
Currently, the one most likely to help with this matter was the inscrutable goddess of night herself, and perhaps only...
He thought of Metis.
When Hades met Metis again at one of her favorite secluded waters, he did not directly reveal the details of Nyx's invitation—it concerned the will of primordial ancient gods, which was too sensitive.
However, he skillfully steered the topic towards the Underworld and the destination of the dead, discussing the 'structure of the underworld' and 'realms they might encounter in the future'.
"...I have heard that when a revenant passes through the gates of the Underworld, they enter an eternal realm sustained by ancient laws, but it seems there is no real 'ruler' there," Hades said, using his divine power to draw a vague deductive picture of the flow of souls and the structure of the earth's depths in the air.
Metis was so wise that she immediately grasped the hidden meaning of his words. A flash of clarity appeared in her blue eyes, and she did not ask for details, but followed his topic and shared what she knew:
"The Underworld... It is a place where the primordial shadow of Chaos settled, neighboring Tartarus, and an extremely important part of the turning of fate."
Her voice was contemplative: "As far as I know, it is indeed chaotic and filled with the dead, and powerful ancient beings like Nyx and Erebus seem to be on the other side... not directly intervening in the management of the Order of the Dead. It is full of opportunities and dangers that even the 'Titans' are unwilling to step into."
She paused, looked at Hades, and her gaze was deep: "Do you want to get involved there?"
Hades did not deny it, but calmly replied: "My path may eventually lead to the depths of the earth. I just don't know if this road is smooth or deep."
Metis was silent for a moment, her fingertips unconsciously stirring the clear spring around her, the water swirling into complex patterns.
"Whether it is a smooth road or an abyss, wisdom is always the best provision." Finally she spoke, her voice a firm promise:
"I will help you monitor all ancient records related to the Underworld. In the depths of the ocean, fragments from the bottom of the world have also been washed away."
Hades's heart warmed slightly. Metis did not pry into the core of the matter, but provided the most practical support. This alliance, based on the resonance of wisdom and deepening friendship, was especially precious at this moment.
"Thank you," he said solemnly.
Metis smiled slightly, changed the subject, and began to discuss with him a new idea of using water pressure to simulate an underground environment to test the durability of materials.
Their communication returned to the familiar path of creativity and conjecture, but it was clear to each other that some deeper preparation had begun silently.
The days passed in waiting and preparation. Hades felt that the invisible web of fate in the world of Chaos was tightening more and more. The fluctuations of divine power emanating from Mount Olympus sometimes caused imperceptible unease, and the patrols of Koios or other messengers of the God-King seemed more frequent.
And he himself, in the process of using the power of [Purification] countless times, his connection with the Earth Mother Goddess Gaia grew closer and closer. He could clearly feel that Gaia's power was slowly but surely recovering, and the majestic life force of the world's origin, in turn, nourished his divinity.
Sometimes he remembered his sisters imprisoned in Cronus's belly, and his brother Zeus, who was destined to overthrow the tyranny. He knew that the storm that would sweep across the entire divine domain was brewing, and Nyx's invitation might be a door that would open for him in the eye of the storm.
He stood on the shore of the lava lake, his eyes seeming to pierce through layers of rock, gazing into the invisible, intertwined depths of fate.
"When the time comes... I await it with anticipation." Hades whispered to himself, the mighty divine power within him like a sleeping volcano—silent, yet containing the power to change the world. He was no longer a newborn god hastily escaping from the God-King's belly, but a powerful being with multiple powers, wise allies, and the attention of primordial ancient gods.
He waited, and he took the initiative to shape himself. Waiting for Nyx's guidance, he also used his own way to pave the path to the 'underworld' realm that would ultimately be his.