THE SECRETS OF ASPHALDITE

by Udyan Sharma

  He had to be bribed for the passage. It was usually Obolus or Danake (primeval currency), which was sometimes placed in or on the mouth of a dead person and those who could not pay the fee, or those whose bodies were left unveiled, had to wander the shores for one hundred years.

  An honourable Roman poet Virgil, in a short piece of poetry, best described his description:

  “There comes Chairon stands, who rules the dreary coast-

  A sordid god : down from his hairy chin

  A length of beard descends, uncombed, unclean;

  His eyes like hollow furnaces on fire;

  A girdle, foul with grease, binds his obscene attire.”

  It was like a horrible scheme on that day as millions of people had died and eventually their spirits had to abide the vindictiveness of Charon.

  He didn’t take any fee for the passage on that day as he was bound by the orders of Hades. Hades had told him to nurture the souls with full strength and take out their prevailing essence, which could be absorbed by him and assist in lending immense powers to him.

  Charon, in his boat, was preparing a strong and powerful essence for Hades so that he could be able to find the Scythe.

  He prepared that essence by churning the souls and eventually, while leaving his boat, he presented it in front of Hades. It also contained the powers of the wind spirits of Zeus as, Hades was the ruler of the dead.

  “Here it is my master. The essence you asked for. Now, you shall absorb it and invite that nasty Zeus to hell as soon as possible and give me the bliss to take him across Styx,” said the obscene Charon while he presented that glass bottle of essence in front of Hades.

  Zeus was gazing that prospect from his sixth sense and finally deigned to maneuver his Thunderbolt and break that glass bottle, while giving freedom to those captured souls.

  Zeus used his Thunderbolt, but it returned empty targeted, while the reason being so logical, so rational, and so easy to fathom. Hades had gone invisible by using his Helm and after absorbing the powers of those spirits, he had become more prevailing than ever.

  He took out that Helmet and finally challenged Zeus once again. There was going to be a spectacular prospect over there but no one actually knew the victory, was deserved by whom.

  They both were fighting a futile war but it didn’t remain futile, as after, Zeus being the target of Hades’ Pitchfork, had decided to use his Thunderbolt in revenge to it, or else, he would simply be a guest to Charon.

  Charon was full of trepidation and how excitedly, he was waiting for Zeus; could not be proclaimed. Although, he was sure that Zeus would be coming soon but he was afraid of Poseidon too, as he had the powers to bring back only a single person from the Underworld.

  There was a colossal explosion caused by the force of that holy shit firm incident. Both of them were scattered away from each other but Hades, combined all his powers and made a path for Zeus, which lead to the hell.

  He opened the gateway to the Underworld and while Charon, hastily moving his boat, permitted the passage to him without even a single Danake.

  Zeus was tied with huge chains of lava and he, being not able to anything, had to put his hands beneath the chains of lava and what could he do either ways? He had no other option than hope.

  He was kept under the supervision of Kraken; a sea monster.

  Kraken was very powerful, similar to Typhon, and was imprisoned in a cave at the bottom of the sea.

  A basic knowledge of Greek mythology, understandably enough, is entailed to understand the given names and epics. The epic of Kraken was rather baffling and the story, which leads you below, on an invigorating voyage, has to do a lot with his sufferings and he would not have missed the chance of exasperating Zeus as he had been deceived and now it was the stint for Zeus to suffer and Kraken to chastise.

  The tale begins with some interesting facts related to Cassiopeia, the Queen of Ethiopia.

  When Cassiopeia, boasted that her daughter was more charming than Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty herself, Zeus ordered Hades to release the Kraken to ruin the city. He told the city that if Cassiopeia gave her daughter, Andromeda, as a forfeit to the Kraken, he would go back to his prison and migrate from the city.

  Cassiopeia repudiated to give her daughter as a sacrifice but alas, the city people kidnapped her and tied her body to a rock, near the ocean. When the Kraken emerged from the sea, he was just about to consume Andromeda but Perseus returned with the head of Medusa and turned the Kraken into a piece of stone.

  Although Kraken was turned into a stone but by some special powerful incantation performed by Hades, he was released once again and seized in that prison.

  Kraken was the keeper of the keys for Zeus’ prison but actually, he too was encircled from all the four sides; the keys of which were kept by Hades.

  Zeus was tensed of the fact that whether David had been able to veil the Scythe or not.

  Hades took a leap and while taking out his Helmet, he started taking huge steps to reach until the Scythe. He knew the cave in which the Scythe was hidden earlier but he being completely oblivious of David and the shield provided to him by Zeus, had to become innocent while finding the Scythe.

  He reached that cave but slightly above the ground; saw a revolutionized man standing in front of him, with Scythe in his hands. He asked that man to hand over the Scythe to him but he didn’t do so. Rather, he preferred to be in the shield itself and prevent himself from the terror of Hades.

  Hades, while being completely oblivious of the shield, finally used his Pitchfork to slay David but alas he was thrown far away with a brunt. Hades got to know that it was a plan of Zeus and according to him, there was no other option for him than to call Kraken and break that shield. David was worried a lot, as he feared of his life and as he had also faced the terror of death once, he decided to be on the safer side. He didn’t want to die as he still had to locate his father and earn a lot of wealth and reputation.

  Hades chanted the hymns to perform a rite so that Kraken could be directly teleported to perish that shield, and he being the god of Underworld didn’t have to face any difficulty.

  Kraken was, in a moment of stint, teleported to that place and he, being a monster, while not able to prevent himself from drinking human blood, had to become crazy and in the whole craze, started to demolish that shield.

  Zeus was free, understandably enough; free from the terror of Kraken. Only a single prison, hand full of huge lava chains had been remarking his seizure but in all other aspects, he was completely free but that doesn’t meant, he could defeat Hades; he being still weak until someone released him from that prison and what a five star fate, he had got; undoubtedly, someone was about to release him and in that process, their fatigued conversation best remarked their misery.

  “Finally, you are here. Poseidon. I knew that you would have been abnormal by that explosion but what could I do? I do not know why Hades needs Scythes and in order to stop him from his intentions, I had to maneuver the Thunderbolt but alas the results went in his favour and I had to abide Charon, a most unusual ferry man,” said Zeus while he looked up over the sea and saw the lightly coloured open sky, as Poseidon, with a thrust force had shifted the water to either sides of the sea with the help of his Trident. Trident was a signature weapon and symbol of Poseidon. It was created by Cyclops too and had the abilities to control the sea and cause earthquakes. The Cyclops had forged the Trident out of pure Gold and later imbued it with the power of the sea.

  Poseidon’s Trident had the powers to command the sea. It made colossal tsunamis and waves, along with sea foam. He could also calm the water or make it growl. If he strike the Earth with it, an earthquake could happen, without causing him any harm but surely to the surroundings.

  He striked his Trident on the seabed, which eventually caused an earthquake while breaking the cage and the lava leashes, which captured Zeus. He released him and asked in an agitated manner, “What? You say, he’s behind the Scythe!”

 
; “Yes, he is, and Kraken along with him shall demolish the shield in which a modernized child might be residing with the Scythe,” replied Zeus in a worried tone.

  “Have you gone crazy or are you out of your wits, god of skies?” he asked Zeus while moving tensely from one place to another; “Do you know the location of Scythe?”

  “Yes, I know but by now, Hades would have attained the Scythe,” replied Zeus.

  “Take me to that place and do you ever realize, the trouble we are in, god dammed. Don’t even waste a single second and take me to that place and don’t you misguide me as you, very well know the consequences of Scythe in Hades’ hand. You know, sometimes I feel stern chills when I think of that,” Poseidon said him and while the Trident being in his right hand; he, along with Zeus began their voyage to the place where Hades was in or had left a long time ago.

  Not exactly; he had not left that place but was about to leave it with full of preparation, while directly making his way to the Tartarus. He had already sent back Kraken to the prison and was walking his way to Styx; where he confronted Poseidon, for the first time but Zeus, surely for the second time in that pursuit of Scythe.

  He didn’t want to confront them but undoubtedly had no other option than to plead in front of Poseidon as he was standing on land, which was a slave of Poseidon.

  “Poseidon, you come for my assistance? I know you would surely. You trusted Chronos and his blood made you reach here but why have you released Zeus; a person who had deceived us at the time of partition,” Hades said with an emotional look while his eyebrows pointing upwards and his mouth stretched backwards.

  “Hades, you cannot, at all, bear the Scythe nor rejuvenate its bearer. I am warning you. Don’t you dare take that thing near Chronos! It will win ruin the entire world and with it, you shall be a victim too,” replied Poseidon while warning him.

  “Yes, he is absolutely right,” said Zeus after Poseidon had finished his explanation.

  “But why? Why shall not I? You both have all the bliss and clouts but don’t you should think of my harm; Harm of your brother,” interrupted Hades.

  “But please try to understand. Chronos is just giving you greed of comfort, wealth and Heaven but feel the truth and prove your intelligence,” said Poseidon while endeavouring to change Hades’ mind.

  “No, not at all; I’ve borne a lot of your trouble but this time, I shall not leave you. Let me go or I shall conflict with you and you shall both, be facing the terror of my Pitchfork,” said Hades while pushing their shoulders and making his way ahead.

  “Wait! If you need revenge then we too accept it,” said Zeus while occupying his hand with the Thunderbolt and forcing Poseidon to make use of the Trident.

  “If you wish so, I’m fully loaded!” replied Hades while keeping the Scythe on aside on the ground and occupying his hand with the Pitchfork.

  In the beginning, there were many collisions between the Thunderbolt and the Pitchfork of Hades, which, eventually brightened the atmosphere and looked like dazzling blue fireworks.

  Finally, after being sick of Hades’ transgressions, Poseidon decided to maneuver his Trident so that he could be sent back to the Underworld; the place where he ruled and had his lavish residence among souls and spirits.

  Hades too accepted his challenge but was a little bit scared as he was standing on the land, which was the place of Poseidon and he might defeat him because of supreme powers on land.

  Poseidon was, somewhat, insecure with his powers on land due to which he had to sally from there and eventually went above Styx, while covertly filching Scythe with his left hand.

  Hades perceived his exodus but when he saw the Scythe in his hands; he had to part too due to the greed that had encircled him from all the sides, which was none other, but the rejuvenation of his father, the one and only, the honestly powerful, Chronos.

  As Hades left, his eye were crammed with wrath and on being an evil, was wholly piqued as well. Nothing could be termed, starting from his appearance to his dander. Only one thing had been confirmed, either he would go back his way to heaven, which was looking hardly possible or he would callously pry Poseidon to Underworld, while ruling the Heaven with the aid of his father, who could exactly, demolish the entire world. In this whole milieu, Zeus was enmeshed and demanded to hinder Hades but as he, being completely reliant on his benign brother, for once, pondered to inquire David for his idiocy.

  Hades and Poseidon were on their way to Styx, whereas, Zeus had reached the cave where David was supposed to be, but was not found. Zeus searched for him and while having found him after some time, asked, “David, you are not well. Any help, I could be of use to you, I would be grateful. Look, you tried your best and I know that it is not your fault. Hades is formidable and if I could not defeat him then how could you? Are you okay? I can only treat your wounds but not your feelings. Drink this syrup and your wounds will disappear automatically and you might feel well, not mentally but surely physically.”

  He took out a diminutive flagon containing blue syrup and handed it over to David. David took it despairing while thanking Zeus for being charitable and humane towards his imprudence; he drank it and gradually felt the change. His wounds started to wane and as he felt better, he stood up on his toes and gave a provoking assertion to Zeus.

  “You don not, at all, need to fuss. That is not the real Scythe. It’s just an ordinary sickle,” said David while feeling proud of his effort.

  “What?” asked Zeus and there being a deplorable guise on his face, had remarked that there was a futile war going between the two dimensions; “You have shown your vigor and determination towards me; your god and I, if you want can provide you enlightenment from this hectic skirmish of life and I shall provide you a place on Olympus. I do not want to force but still, your choice. Any ways, forget that but may I know where the Scythe is currently veiled.”

  “Zeus. You know, you’re brutal and I curse you today,” said David while making a vehement mien.

  “Know what I have done?” asked Zeus, he being scared of getting a human being’s curse.

  “Just kidding chap. I like to act but surely, I sometimes, wonder, could you be so fool,” replied David while releasing Zeus from the burden and breaking out in laughter.

  “Oh! You scared me,” said Zeus while sighing slowly, which followed another sigh but not being able to sigh properly, a horrendous explosion in the sky, heisted their attention.

  “Bull shit! How is it possible?” said Zeus while his eyes dazed with repulsion as he wholly continued to gawk the sky; “Where have you veiled Scythe? Tell me David! It is not the time for a hoax.”

  “Is there anything wrong? However, what was that boom. Yes I have veiled it but if you doubt me then I am not answerable to you,” replied David.

  “Could you just shut up and tell me the truth,” asked Zeus furiously as he continued to scrutinize the explosion.

  “Okay! I’ll tell,” replied David and while picking up his rucksack, he said, “Have patience.”

  “Are you crazy? Could you please tell me where is the Scythe, you silly stupid gentleman,” asked Zeus while he found himself to be perturbed.

  Why was Zeus so zealous to apprehend the location of Scythe? He had been told that the Scythe with Hades, was a spoof but what was the fact that compelled him to gaze the sky continuously. Was it an explosion initiated by the catastrophe of the Trident and the Pitchfork? Then why was Zeus so concerned for the Scythe? It had been veiled and at such a place which, he, rather exactly, did not know. It was not at all conceivable for Hades to trace the location of Scythe but then, not enough impeccably to proclaim, what was that discharge of noxious gases and fluids which had, for that particular stint ensconce the entire atmosphere of the oblate spheroid, which had not, either ways remained, that acutely, after the partition of Earth as it started to descend from the southern hemisphere, while leaving the contour of the blue planet; not actually a planet utmost, but indeed, two pieces of semi-circles; after the maneuver
of the Thunderbolt. Zeus was continuously gawking at that explosion, but what the reason for it, was merely divulged after a fanatical edict from David’s two pieces of identical matter, and slightly shaded with a hue of reddish brown colour but velvety enough, lips. Zeus was in a frenetic situation and for him, the veracity being far much than the partition of Earth, was not tranquil to borne that aggravating situation, which had, for once, led him to a diminutive small dimensional world; not exactly, consisting the actual Heaven, Underworld or the Land but might be consisting of a most unusual place called Tartarus, which eventually had its origin, none other, but persistently beneath the surface, rather the gaseous surface of Underworld.

  What exactly it was, no one knew but for Zeus, it being an irksome situation,had remarked the primeval days of the prominent Titanomachy, a renowned war that continued for ten years according to the factual affair of myths but exactly the stint period was around nine years six months. Poseidon was too dazed by the brunt of that blast and what was it as he looked towards the Styx, found it rather flummoxing but was revealed only after David’s proclamation that had remarked the prevalent blunder in the history of Gods.

  “We don’t have it enough, David!” said Zeus in a frantic condition.

  “What, what we don’t have; time,” replied David.

  “Don’t make things perplexing,” he said.

  “I’m not perplexing things but rather you are hallucinating,” yelled David.

  “What? Is that a hallucination? Have your sense?” Screamed Zeus as he forced David to gawk at that explosion.

  “Oh my god, that’s generating a layer of lava! Can Scythe burn eventually?” asked David as he looked at the layers of lava that spurted out from the river Styx and from the space, that made the semi-Earth look as a colossal cap of lava geysers. It was sizzling, but could not be hindered and as per the creation of Earth, could become a reason supporting the Big Crunch Theory, while diminishing the population’s belief on the Big Bang.