NOTE:
What's up
I updated many things in the story
Some of you have pointed out an issue in chapter 3: Gaia is scared of Kronos and doesn't know what Rhea is going through. This shouldn't be the case. I fixed that.
I reworked chapter 7 almost entirely, added a brief fight against Campe since she's supposed to be guarding the cyclops' prison, and removed many parts related to the AI that felt off.
I also reworked the parts of chapter 8, especially the ending, since it had some AI red flags. Somebody also pointed out Poseidon having a trident when he shouldn't, as it hadn't been forged yet. I took that out as well.
With that said, enjoy the chapter.
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It's safe to say Damon was happy with his blessing; it helped him a lot, and it made sure he was ready before the Titans even attacked, as he could feel them when they were gathering to perform an attack.
As for the nature energy, it didn't take long for him to figure it out. The energy felt like a second form of power, blending with his, boosting his strength and resistance, and his attacks grew larger and caused more damage. It was indeed a very welcoming upgrade, although he still doesn't have this power mastered to the fullest, as he doesn't have the time to commit to training right now.
A battle began not long after. The fight became one-sided; Damon, simply knowing how to use his katana and with the blessing, pushed forward toward victory with ease. But even with that battle won, the war was still far from over. In that fight, there were still Titans missing, Titans he would have to defeat to truly claim victory: Kronos and Atlas.
The war seemed to fall into the same loop as before, the balance leaning toward Kronos' children, but not enough to end the war. Something was missing. They needed something, something important enough to force both Atlas and Kronos to show themselves on the battlefield. And that frustrated Damon deeply. Three years of training day and night, until near unconsciousness, just to end the war. He knew it would be hard to win, but not this hard.
The Titans still outnumbered Kronos' children, and it showed. Damon was strong, yes—but not strong enough to face all the Titans at once. He still had too much to learn, and he didn't have time to learn it. The Cyclopes helped, but they weren't strong enough to hold a Titan at bay on their own. Three Cyclopes against one Titan, and they almost lost. Almost two years had passed since the day he returned from training with Amaterasu, and even now, he was searching for the way to finally tip the balance in his favor once and for all.
He wanted to end this absurd war and live a normal life, without the fear of being devoured… again.
His concern sharpened when he overheard something from a group of nymphs: both Kronos and Atlas were mobilizing alongside the Titans. He had been thinking about ending this war, but if those two showed up, they were finished. He knew he could face Kronos alone—but Atlas?
If Atlas, Kronos' general, joined another Titan to bring down one of his brothers, he would do it. Damon was aware that each of his brothers could face Atlas one-on-one… but two Titans against one, and one of them being Atlas? You didn't live off dreams. His brothers were strong, but not that strong.
He would have to fight Kronos while protecting his brothers, and that wouldn't end well. You didn't need to be a genius to know that.
There has to be something I'm missing, Damon thought, sinking into his memories, trying to find something he could use to his advantage in the war.
Gaia and Uranus had several children—giants, Cyclopes, Hecatoncheires, and others—and most of them were locked in Tartarus by Uranus for being considered "monsters." Rhea's words from one of the stories she had told him came back to him—one that gave him an idea… a very dangerous one.
The Hecatoncheires, Damon thought, as his mother's words echoed in his mind. Giants with fifty heads and one hundred arms. The stories say they were great warriors, one of the reasons they were imprisoned in Tartarus. Every word his mother had ever said on the subject returned to him as if it were easy to take someone out of Tartarus. Now he intended to free the Hecatoncheires from Tartarus… alone.
He didn't waste time. The battle was imminent, so he headed to Tartarus for the second time in his life—but this time, alone. He decided to leave his mother a note explaining his plan because he knew it was the best way. If he told her face-to-face, she would refuse. The Hecatoncheires were not to be trusted—or at least, that's what they always said. But in desperate situations… desperate measures.
It had been a long time since the last time he stood before the entrance to Tartarus, and he felt that same sensation again as on the first day, like he was being watched. It was something, or someone, who didn't even bother hiding. It unsettled him. Standing at the entrance, he still felt it, but it was different now. This time, that presence felt inside Tartarus, as if something waited for him within, calling him, guiding him toward the depths.
It made him uneasy… but he wasn't afraid. It didn't feel aggressive or threatening, quite the opposite. It was as if whatever was calling him wanted to help him. But why did he have that feeling? Who was that presence? What did it want? He wouldn't take long to find out.
Once inside, he remembered everything: a gloomy place with very little light, where the few torches and fires scattered around provided the only illumination. He could hear different creatures fighting each other, as if the place was total disorder—nothing new for him, since he had been here before. He still felt that strange presence calling him, but he hadn't come here for that. The moment he entered, he began searching for the famous Hecatoncheires—and they weren't very difficult to find.
"A child of Kronos in the depths of Tartarus… lost around here… again," the fifty heads said in unison—fifty mouths, but one thought.
"Join me," Damon said calmly. "Help me… just help me against Kronos."
"What do we get in return?" they asked, expectant, waiting for Damon answer.
"I don't have much to offer," Damon said, "but… freedom. Simply that—so the Hecatoncheires don't have to stay here anymore."
"A very interesting offer, but without dece—" they tried to say, before they were cut off by a voice unfamiliar to Kairos… but one the Hecatoncheires knew, and very well.
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