Chapter 1988 Trials of the Kings II
Chapter 1988 Trials of the Kings II
The Judge Kings of the Underworld in Hades are none other than Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus. They are not perfect people when they were alive, but they were just rulers when they were alive. They are the sons of the God King Zeus and a mortal woman who was a princess during her time.
All of the kings died as demigods, but they were given the position of judges of the underworld by their father. The God of Death Hades thought that this is a way for his brother to monitor him, but he could care less. The God of Death Hades accepted the help since the number of deaths kept increasing.
The three mortal souls that are sent to the judges are all criminals that committed great malice in the mortal realm. All of them were murderers with varying degrees of horror. One person killed just one, the second killed two people, while the last killed a village. Upon learning of what they had done, one might say that they are all horrible people, but it is not for us to judged but for the three kings to do.
"The one that killed a village shall be the first to the trial." Minos stated as the soul of a teenage boy could be seen presented before the three kings.
"Do you feel guilty?" Rhadamanthus asked the soul of the young boy.
"I do not. They all deserve it." The young boy stated.
"Since you do not feel guilty, we have come to a decision." Aeacus stated immediately as all of them can hear each other's thoughts.
"As decreed by all of us, you are not found guilty of your crime of killing all the villagers. You are absconded for the fact that you have killed a village of cannibals that worship a depraved foreign god. You even offered your own life to do such a heroic act." Minos stated.
"I did not do it to become a hero. I did it for revenge. They killed my family and looked at us as if we are nothing but hanging meat." The young boy stated as his cause was not noble as the three kings were saying.
"Heroes do not always know that they become one. You have become one when you sacrificed your life to destroy great evil. The living always said that you do not carry anything in death but that is false. You always carry your conscience and deeds even in death. The sum of all your good deeds and mistakes will be the amount you are judged upon when you enter the gates to Hades." Rhadamanthus stated.
"For your bravery, we are giving you a choice. You can head to Elysium where all heroes live, or you can be reincarnated into a better life." Aeacus stated.
"If I reincarnate, will I be with my family again?" The young boy asked.
"Reincarnation does not become specific, my boy. Your parents that have come before you have already passed onto the afterlife. The soul of your sister is not under our jurisdiction as well which means that only you will be reincarnated." Minos stated.
"I beg of you, God of Death Hades! Please give me this favor as I do not want riches in the next life. I just want to at least be with my sister." The young boy pleaded as his younger sister was killed before him.
"The one before you is no…" Rhadamanthus stated as he was about to tell the soul that the being in the top most pedestal is not the God of Death Hades but Adrian's hand could be seen being risen.
"Do you love your sister to the point that you will sacrifice everything, boy?" Adrian asked as his voice is not like his speaking voice from before.
The voice that Adrian uses right now is none other than a darker and more powerful version of his current one. This is the voice he uses when he judges the souls in Limbo as well, but it has further been amplified when he became the Mediator of the Dead. Adrian spoke and the young boy trembled because his voice has the dignity of an Asmodian and the aura of the Mediator of the Dead.
"Yes! She was so young and innocent. I have not been a great big brother to her which is why I at least want to be one in the next life." The young boy stated.
"You cannot ask such ridiculous things." Aeacus grumbled but Adrian suddenly disappeared from his podium to get close to the young boy.
"You have strength and courage." Adrian stated as the young boy was shocked as a godlike being suddenly appeared next to him, but he gritted his teeth and endured the aura that Adrian gave off.
"You are lucky, boy. The Fates have heard your prayers and they have answered. Although, I do not know if that is a better option. Very well, your request shall be approved." Adrian stated as he snapped his fingers, and the soul of a little girl suddenly held his hand.
"Big Brother!" The small little girl stated as she led the young boy towards the golden light that called upon them both.
The two souls vanished and the entire colosseum became quiet because they have never seen something like that happen before. Even the three judges are left speechless because the two souls that were present are already sent directly to the reincarnation cycle. The only ones that did not know what transpired are the two souls waiting for their judgement. Adrian felt the thankfulness of the two souls before they vanished from the underworld.
"We can now resume for the next ones." Adrian stated as he reappeared at the podium.
"Resume the trial. Next would be the woman that has killed two people. Let the soul be placed at the center for judgement." Minos stated as he was the first one that managed to not get shocked by the sudden revelation of Adrian's abilities.
The reason why all the members of the Hades death realm is shocked is due to a being having the power to overrule the judgement of the three kings. Add the fact that he can freely summon the portal to reincarnation on a whim. The three kings respected Adrian as he thought that he was at the same level as the God of Death Hades but now they know that the Mediator of the Dead has more power than a high god of death.
The three kings proceeded with the next trial but they could be seen to be wary. They are now afraid of Adrian because he can also overrule the decision of their god king father. If they make Adrian angry then he could just push them directly to the reincarnation cycle. If he was really angry then Adrian could also make them reincarnate into animals.
"I did not know that you can do that. When did you get such power?" The God of Rebirth Zagreus stated.
"When? I have that ability ever since I became the Champion of the Twin Gods and became the Ruler of Limbo. I cannot send any souls to the reincarnation cycle immediately like that though. The Fates managed to intervene because those two have their threads destroyed instead of cut. Many mortals have a situation like them but the boy was a hero which means he has special privilege." Adrian stated.
"I see." The God of Rebirth Zagreus replied as he cannot believe that his great grandmother would give such power to a being that is not older than him.
Adrian does not know how deep the trust the Twin Gods have for him and Levin Cloud. No mortal champion or even demigod have been given the title of Mediators. The fact that the Twin Gods trust them more than the gods that are related to them or other gods of the same element means a lot. The Twin Gods have given vast power to two mortals but that is still within the realm of limits.
"Woman, state your case. Why did you kill the two beings that have been close to you?" Rhadamanthus asked.
"I killed them because they betrayed me! He was my lover yet he met with my cousin in secret! They deserved everything that happened to them as I am a woman that was slighted." The woman stated.
"You live in your delusion, woman. You were never the lover of the man. You filled your head with delusion and think that you were his lover. He was an honest and just man but you killed him because of the delusion that filled your head. Even now, you think that both of you would end up here just because you worship the Olympian Gods." Aeacus stated as the woman started to go crazy.
Adrian grasped at the air and immediately retrieved the memory of the woman. Just like what the judge stated, she was never the object of the man's affection but it was her cousin.