Roger stood in amazement as the Cerberus women returned to their regular size next to the smoldering body of Cthulhu. Hades appeared and opened a dark portal, which sucked the monster into a void.

"Where did you send him?" Roger asked.

"To Tartarus. I created a special place for him to spend eternity," Hades replied.

Roger watched as the Greek Gods descended upon the power plant, landing in front of Hades. Zeus addressed the Cerberus women, thanking them for defeating Cthulhu.

"Very skillful, for beast women," Apollo added, causing Labda and Cilla to giggle.

Hera approached Zeus, dragging Eris's body along with her.

"I found our little shit," Hera announced, dropping the unconscious Eris at Zeus's feet.

"Did you-" Zeus began, but Hera quickly cut him off.

"Of course not. I found her unconscious nearby. I suppose she fell when the monster met its fate," Hera explained, crossing her arms.

Zeus sighed, knowing that Eris would face consequences for her actions once she regained consciousness.

Suddenly, a group of Japanese soldiers arrived on the scene, surrounding the Gods and heroes and pointing their weapons at them.

"Drop your weapons and surrender!" the Japanese Lieutenant commanded in Japanese.

Zeus stepped forward, but raised his left hand to halt the other Gods.

"We didn't come back to fight mortals," he said.

Athena rolled her eyes and pointed her hand toward the army. Her palm glowed white, causing each soldier to puff into smoke. When the smoke cleared, they had transformed into kittens lying on the ground with their weapons and gear scattered around them.

Zeus glared at Athena, and she shrugged. "What? You said we didn't come here to fight mortals, and I didn't kill them."

Zeus ran his hand down his face in exasperation. "This is why the mortals stopped worshiping us," he muttered.

*****

Roger and the Cerberus women stood before Hades's throne, basking in the god's approval. Hades smiled at them, his chin resting on his fist.

"You all did well," he said. "Although I had to summon my family to clean up the mess, you managed to stop one monster from destroying a mortal city."

"But Katina, Cilla, and Labda defeated the monster," Roger protested. "And Hera caught her daughter."

"Don't doubt yourself," Hades replied. "Eating the golden apple has given you more strength to survive. If it weren't for you, my ladies wouldn't have fought Cthulhu. You persuaded Agent Rolf to help you reach your destination. He might be a werewolf, but he is reasonable to stop a disaster. You did well, for a cop."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Despite the god's words, Roger still felt useless. But at least he had supported the women. Fighting by their side was more fun than sitting behind a desk inside a claustrophobia office.

"What now?" Labda asked.

Hades stretched his arms out. "My brother, Zeus, decided our family and other Gods should come back to help the mortals. They will contain the monsters and rebuild what the mortals have lost. As for me, I will continue to watch the Underworld to make sure nobody else fucks up the natural order."

Roger widened his eyes. "Seriously!? They are revealing themselves across the world?"

"Yes," Hades replied. "Is that a problem?"

"With respect, my lord," Labda said. "The humans aren't ready for the gods to return."

"And they weren't ready when the monsters escaped to their world," Hades countered.

"But people seeing Gods and realizing all the myths are real might create a mass panic!" Roger exclaimed. "They might affect religion, cultures, and atheism!"

Hades leaned forward. "Good. That will help them change."

Cilla spoke up. "But you always cared about keeping secrets from the humans. Now you're letting your family do whatever they want?"

Hades sat back. "Listen, you want to know why my family left in the first place?"

Roger and the Cerberus women paused, waiting for Hades's answer.

"Because they believed the mortals can only survive without Gods, magic, and monsters," Hades said. "Humanity faced many perils when they interfered with their lives. When the mortals stopped worshiping them, they knew it was time to allow the mortals to live in peace. Apparently, leaving them was a mistake."

"How is that a mistake?" Roger asked.

"I have seen what the mortals did after my family left them," Hades replied. "The mortals started wars, plagues, environmental destruction, slavery, and animal cruelty. They even fought silly nonsense across the internet." He sighed. "The point is, my family isn't responsible for your perils. The mortals brought their own fates upon themselves. They can never live in peace and harmony. That is why my family is going to guide them to a better path for their own survival. Without the gods, the mortals will suffer."

"You're wrong!" Roger glared at Hades, pointing a finger at the god. "We humans might not be perfect, but we still survived on our own after you gods left us! We built technology, cured diseases, and protected animals from extinction! I bet you lived here for so long, you never saw humanity's progress!"

Hades raised an eyebrow. "You dare say I am wrong?"

Roger stepped forward, feeling the weight of the conversation heavy on his shoulders. He knew the stakes were high, but he refused to back down.

"Yes… I fought for the human race, and I won’t stand by to allow your family to take over," Roger declared, his voice steady but filled with conviction.

Hades merely laughed at him, the sound echoing throughout the throne room. Roger could feel his anger rising, but he tried to keep it in check. He knew that angering a god could get him killed, but he refused to hold back.

"You're so naive. We are not conquering the Earth, fool. My family will allow the mortals to do whatever they want as long as they will accept the new age," Hades said, grinning from ear to ear.

Labda spoke up, her voice laced with skepticism. "And what is the new age?"

Hades placed his fingers together, an expression of mischief on his face. "The age where magic and legends will return."

Cilla piped up, her voice full of disbelief. "So the monsters are not going back to the Underworld?"

Hades leaned back in his throne, resting his hands on the arms. "Medusa freed too many monsters. Millions are still out there, and it is too late to keep the secret from the mortals. Whatever the mortals do, it will be their own fault. But if they accept my family, their world will become a better place."

Roger doubted that. He knew that people would always fear what they didn't understand. But he kept his doubts to himself, not wanting to anger Hades any further.

"Even if I disagree with my family, I cannot fight my brother. We can only see how the new age will change humanity," Hades said, his tone final.

Katina snickered, a wicked glint in her eye. "I think allowing the monsters to stay will give us plenty of opportunities to fight them. Hehehehehe."

Labda shot her a glare, her eyes full of contempt. "What can we do now?"

Hades thought for a moment before answering. "You and your demigod may leave or stay here for a while."

Labda's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean….. We are free?"

Hades nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "While you were gone, I already got two monsters who can guard the gate. I will no longer need your assistance."

The Cerberus women were stunned, their jaws dropping in disbelief. Roger was just as shocked as they were. Had Hades grown tired of them?

"But why? You kept us as slaves for a long time!" Cilla exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

Katina's expression was equally angry. "And who are the bastards who replaced us?"

Hades brushed off their questions. "That is none of your business. Think of this as a reward for your accomplishments."

The Cerberus women broke down, tears of joy streaming down their faces. "Thank you, Hades!" Cilla exclaimed.

Hades merely shrugged. "I'm sorry I cannot change you back. But I'm sure you can fit in well on the surface with the other monsters. Enjoy your freedom."

As the Cerberus women left the throne room, Roger couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that Hades was up to something, and he didn't trust him one bit. But for now, he would have to bide his time and see what Hades and his family had in store for humanity.