Chapter 62

## Chapter Chronology

**Elder Brother of the Gods** is the 62nd chapter of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" manga series.

## Summary

At an unspecified point in time, someone would ask Ares a question: "Who is Hades to the other Gods?"

Picking up his teacup, Ares says it would be easy to single out Hades' overwhelming prowess and his complete control over the bident. But that isn't where his true nature lies. Hades is the King of the Netherworld and his name is something many Gods don't dare take in vain. At the same time, he is also known as "The God Whom Other Gods Rely on the Most."

As he takes a sip, Ares can see the interviewer wants to ask why and recalls how the Gods first became aware of that during Heaven's greatest time of peril – the Gigantomachy. In the past, at Olympus Palace, a heavily wounded Ares was being brought in by many nurses.

He asked them to heal his wounds quickly so that he may return to the front lines as soon as possible, worried that his troops may not hold out. Long, long ago, in the tournament to decide the strongest in the cosmos, Titanomachy, Zeus had defeated his father, Kronos. He had won complete sovereignty over the realm of the Greek Gods. However, the *Primordial Goddess*, Gaia, was unable to accept that outcome. As a result, Gaia led her own spawn and the mightiest race in Heaven, the Giants, in an all-out war. Thus, the Gigantomachy between the Greek Gods and the Giants began.

Though the Greek Realm was determined to resist until the very end, in the face of the Giants' overwhelming power, the odds were stacked against them. While the fighting raged on, Zeus and his brothers were in a meeting room, where they sat down at the different sides of a hexagonal table, with Ares and Hermes on the remaining two sides. Zeus asks Hermes what the status is and while wearing a military uniform, Hermes reports that all the units of the Olympian troops are putting up a bold fight but it doesn't seem to be favorable for them. As Zeus stays silent, Ares tells his father that the strength of the Giants is incomprehensible, believing it's only a matter of time until they reach this place.

Laughing, Adamas leans his chair back and questions what Zeus will do, mockingly addressing him as their Chief God.

While Hades and Poseidon sit in silence, Zeus suddenly smiles and says to Adamas that much is obvious. With his muscles bulging and ripping through his military uniform, Zeus declares their only choice is to pummel the enemy with all their being. As this causes Adamas to go silent, Zeus orders Hermes to relay what he said to all Greek Gods. Slamming his hands on the table and cracking it, Zeus decides to go off. Swinging his arms, Zeus is excited over how he gets to go into a real hardcore fight after such a long time. After Zeus leaves, the other brothers begin going their separate ways, with Adamas muttering under his breath that Zeus shouldn't push his luck.

As soon as Hades goes through his exit, one of his soldiers appears in front of him, bowing.

Hades wonders what the meaning of this is and the soldier reveals he has urgent news from Helheim: the Titans have begun to advance from Tartarus, surprising Hades. Tartarus is the Prison of the Gods, where death and darkness tend to linger. It is situated within the deepest depths of Helheim. Amidst the chaos of the Giants' attack, the Titans, who were subordinates of Kronos and imprisoned in Tartarus, saw an opportunity to break out. And so, the Heavens were faced with a pincer attack from its two most powerful enemies.

That would spell complete and utter annihilation for the Gods. The soldier says it is only a matter of time until the Titans invade but is cut off by Hades starting to walk off. Seeing him, Poseidon asks Hades if something is wrong and his older brother assures Poseidon he doesn't need to pay him any heed. After that, Zeus led the Greek Gods, including Adamas and Poseidon, into battle against the Giants.

Long after, in the midst of the corpses of many Giants, Ares staggers and is held up by Hermes. Huffing, Ares asks if it's over. Hermes confirms it is and reveals they won as he looks at a triumphant Zeus, who stands over the corpse of a Giant.

After a long battle, the Greek Gods had prevailed in the Gigantomachy. As Ares joins the other Greek Gods in cheering while Adamas looks away, Poseidon notices Hades isn't with them. He approaches the soldier from earlier and asks where Hades is. Bowing, the soldier nervously reveals to Poseidon that Hades went down into Helheim all alone to stop the invasion of the Titans, much to Poseidon's surprise.

Down in Helheim, the corpses of many Titans are piled up all around the rubble while Hades whistles, covered in blood and wielding **Ichor: Desmos**. Opening the gate, Poseidon finds Hades sitting atop a broken pillar. Hades stops whistling and turns back to look at Poseidon, guessing they won if he's here. Poseidon criticizes Hades for being far too reckless, leaving his men with them and going off alone without informing anyone.

Hades insists he only did what was right as the elder brother, by watching over his brothers' backs. Poseidon points out he could've been defeated but Hades says he won't be. Hades swears to Poseidon that he will not lose to anyone and will never be defeated as he is the elder brother. As Poseidon doesn't respond, Hades falls on his back and supposes he was a bit too reckless this time around. Poseidon asserts Hades will hear no thanks from him. Reaching his hand out, Poseidon uncharacteristically smiles and addresses Hades as "Brother." Shocked at first, Hades then smiles and takes Poseidon's hand, mentioning how this is the first time Poseidon has ever called him his brother.

In the present, Hades and Qin Shi Huang stand off while all the Gods chant Hades' name. Ares recounts how, during the Gigantomachy, Hades stopped the Titans' invasion all alone and saved the Heavens from danger.

Ares insists that Hades, as the King of the Netherworld, will never betray their trust. Zeus looks away and says Hades is a showoff for claiming he'll watch over his brothers' backs, causing Hermes to chuckle. Hermes then wonders aloud why Hades frets so much over his brothers and admits he doesn't get it, shocking Ares. Walking into their viewing room, a voice offers to explain why. Scared, Ares falls to the ground and questions how and why Adamas is here. Adamas orders him to move and Ares obeys, standing up so that Adamas can go near the seat Zeus is on. Zeus casually greets Adamas and Hermes says it's good to see him, referring to Adamas as "Adamantine".

As Adamas calls Hermes a kiss-ass, Ares gets behind Hermes and questions who Adamantine is since that is clearly Adamas before bringing up how Adamas' entire existence should've been obliterated by Poseidon. Hermes admits that Poseidon thoroughly dealt with Adamas but afterwards, on orders from Hades, Hermes went to help Adamas. Though the one who healed Adamas was not him but Beelzebub, per Hades' request. Ares asks if Poseidon knew about this and Hermes confirms he did.

If Poseidon truly meant it, he wouldn't have left a shred of Adamas' body left. The thirteenth God of Olympus, Adamas, has been annihilated but now in Helheim, he is doing well as the new God, Adamantine. Adamas smiles about how Hades is a busybody before bringing up how Hermes couldn't understand why Hades frets over his brothers so much. Adamas reveals Hades doesn't have a reason. The only thing that Hades needs is his own love for his younger brothers and that's all.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ares
* Zeus
* Gaia (Flashback, No lines)
* Adamas
* Hermes
* Poseidon (Flashback)
* Hades
* Qin Shi Huang (No lines)
* Beelzebub (Flashback, No lines)