The Greece Antagonist

The figure half-lying on the mountain path looked wearily at the huge stone that had fallen to the base of the mountain, wanting to lie on one side and take a brief lazy respite.

But the chain and shackles, engraved with inscriptions, resonated and vibrated, like a red-hot branding iron, bringing pain that reached deep into the soul.

Suddenly, the prisoner let out a low, muffled grunt, his facial contours twitching slightly, and he could only curse a few words in anger before turning around and dragging the heavy chains back.

"It never ends!"

"So, are you willing to talk now? Sinner Sisyphus..."

The calm, soothing voice came from the hazy fog, a young man with golden eyes and hair, wearing a loose white robe, stood at the starting point at the bottom of the hill, arms crossed.

"Talk about what?" Sisyphus, dragging the shackles and chains, blinked innocently.

"My brother Thanatos, where exactly did you lure him to?" the youth in the white robe asked indifferently, not at all fooled by the other's superficial pretense.

"What good will it do me to tell you?"

"None." The youth in the white robe shook his head in response, his expression turning colder, "But if you don't tell, you will suffer the most cruel punishment in the Netherworld!"

"What do you think I am doing now?"

"Serving your sentence..."

"See, if I don't talk, I serve my sentence, and if I do talk, I still serve my sentence. So wouldn't that be speaking for nothing?" Sisyphus counted on his fingers as he disdainfully looked at Sleep God Hypnos, who had come to interrogate him, "You're expecting me to open my mouth for nothing? Even old river god Aesop was more reasonable than you."

That year, Zeus, transformed into a Divine Eagle, abducted Aegina. As a witness, Sisyphus sold Zeus out to the grieving father Aesop in return for a sacred spring that flowed year-round for his realm, the Kingdom of Corinth.

Seemingly swayed by Sisyphus' words, Hypnos furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before naming his price.

"If you're willing to confess, I can plead for you with the Underworld King, to waive your eternal punishment."

"Does that mean I can go home?" Sisyphus' eyes shone with interest, seemingly quite tempted.

"Impossible!" However, Hypnos cut off the prisoner's fantasy abruptly, "With your crimes so grave, even if the punishment before you is waived, you will have to continue serving your sentence in a different area until your sins are cleansed."

"Then forget it, I just got used to the job, and I don't plan on changing careers yet."

Sisyphus, grinning, waved his hand dismissively and bent down to push the thousand-pound boulder at the foot of the mountain, preparing to complete his usual goal of 100 round trips for the day.

"Stubborn as a mule!" Not getting the desired answer, Hypnos was inwardly annoyed but helpless.

This man was the founder and King of Corinth. Not long ago, his betrayal of Aesop became known, incurring Zeus' wrath.

The Divine King sentenced Sisyphus to death for sacrilege and ordered Death God Thanatos to go to Corinth to take this sinner's soul, to suffer in the Netherworld. Your next chapter is on empire

No one expected that, through trickery, this guy managed to kidnap and hide Thanatos, upsetting the balance of life and death in the Mortal World.

Although Goddess of the Underworld Moon Hecate, who investigated, caught the culprit and threw him into the Netherworld, he remained unrepentant, smoothly talking his way into getting the Underworld King and Queen to give him three days to settle his affairs on the promise of sacrifices to Hades. Once back in the Mortal World, he immediately reneged on the deal, refusing to leave and stubbornly withholding Thanatos' whereabouts...

This infuriated Hades, who had been made a fool of. He entrusted Hecate, still searching for Thanatos on the surface, to recapture this recalcitrant repeat offender and personally devised a cruel punishment for Sisyphus.

He was to push a massive boulder up to the mountaintop, but the rock would always roll back down before reaching the top, nullifying all his efforts. Thus, he had to endlessly repeat this task, grinding down his spirit and will in this monotonous, painful, eternal punishment.

Unless he confessed his crimes and quickly revealed the location of Death God Thanatos, there was a slight chance for clemency.

However, he found joy in his task, showing no intention of relenting.

Sometimes he even had the energy and inclination to exchange barbs and jibes, much to the frustration of the Sleep God Hypnos who had come to question him.

Leaving without achieving his goal and in a foul mood, Hypnos transformed into a flock of black Underworld Butterflies, dissolving into the pervasive Death Mist of the Netherworld.

~~

"Sisyphus?"

A deep voice echoed from the darkness as two slender figures appeared, accompanied by a surge of deadness, emerging from the Netherworld's gray mist.

The prisoner, busy serving his sentence, paused in surprise and then looked astonishment at the two unfamiliar visitors at the base of the hill, vainly stroked his chin.

"You know me? Could it be that my exploits and fame have spread even to such a place?"

"..."

"Come on, give me a hand, let me take a break. When I get back to Corinth, I'll treat you to a drink—the finest Ambrosial Honey Wine, a personal gift from God of Wine Dionysus!"

"..."

Luo En, the rightful owner, looking at the professional fraudster running his mouth before him, his face darkening, was at a loss for words for a moment.

And seeing no intention from the other side to lend a hand, Sisyphus' interest in the two visitors noticeably diminished, and he hummed lazily.

"I say, friend, if we're not acquainted, why are you here? To gawk?"

On the slope, the prisoner with golden messy hair and a face with a soft, gloomy beauty, vainly touched the single golden gemstone earring hanging on his left droop, and leaned against the boulder with a sly smile, squinting his long fox-like eyes, and playfully reminded.