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| “ | Time cannot be stopped. | „ |
| ~ Chronos' catchphrase. |
| “ | "However long it takes?" You speak of inevitability, little one. A subject on which I happen to be the expert. As to whomever sent you after me... I shall find them. | „ |
| ~ Chronos to Melinoë. |
Chronos is the main antagonist of the 2025 roguelike action role-playing game Hades II.
He is the Titan of Time, who previously unleashed a devastating war known as "The War Of The Titans" upon Olympus with the intention of reclaiming it. However, his plan failed and he and his fellow titans were subsequently torn to bits and sealed in Tartarus by the Olympians, guarded by his son, Hades.
Now revived once more, he seeks revenge against the Olympians who imprisoned him, overtaking Mount Olympus as well as the Underworld. He is the arch-nemesis of Melinoë, the exiled princess of the underworld, who has trained with the Crossroads Rebellion to overthrow him, rescue the captured House of Hades, and reclaim the domain of the gods.
He is voiced by Logan Cunningham, who also voices Hades in both games.
Appearance[]
Chronos, living thousands of years old, has the appearance of an extremely tall and slender, yet older man within his 70s/80s. His outfit is ancient, reminiscent of early Greek times or possibly Egyptian times. Outside of battle, he carries an golden cane/scepter which is shining in nature. He has glowing white eyes, and his skin is dark grey in color, resembling the color of coal.
His skin has various golden veins across itself, and is full of age, looking extremely frail. When in battle, the back of his robe extends to form wings, and he gains a scythe, which he can use to rip holes within time for devastating damage against his enemies. In his first appearance, he often conceals himself with shadows, making partially, if not most of his body covered during these sequences.
Personality[]
Chronos is extremely cold, cunning, and manipulative, wishing to advance what he considers his "timeless" authority to anyone who opposes him. He speaks with an extremely condescending tone, referring to Melinoe as "my girl", even though he repeatedly dismisses her attempts to stop him and downplays and mocks her for how far she has gone to stop him. Part of his calculative nature means that he is never rushing into confrontations and instead slowly manipulates his victims with a slow pace. He often views himself above consequence, even going so far as to imprison his own son's found family in the form of the House Of Hades servants, as well as his wife, Persephone and his son, Zagreus.
It is mentioned various times by Hades throughout the game that he was a terrible father, often being abusive and full of neglect towards his son(s) Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, which partially explains the disdain that Hades had toward his own children. He perceives himself as an inevitable conqueror, which is reflected in his signature "catchphrase", and oppresses anybody who imposes him with cruel and unusual punishment. The most notable form of this is with Cerberus, who he turned into a mindless infernal beast who can only come back to his senses once Melinoe can calm him down. His language of empathy and care is a false facade that he uses to manipulate others into serving him.
A primary example of this is Chrono's manipulation of other people within his existence such as Polyphemus and Prometheus, who were later appointed commander(s) of the surface. Throughout slaughtering the civilians of Ephyra, to locking the Rebellion in what is essentially a forever war, he displays zero remorse and fully believes that every action he takes is necessary to advancing the "Golden Age".
Once Melinöe has cast the dissolution of time, he has a major change of heart as Zagreus demonstrates to him an alternative timestream in which he becomes a loving grandfather to Melinöe, playing a game of tag with her. He becomes remorseful for his actions, and lets go of his grudges, vowing to be a better person, and a better and more caring grandfather and to help fix the damage he has caused.
Biography[]
Background[]
In the past, Chronos ruled the earth. He refers to his period to as his "golden age". However, his children were extremely displeased by this and so he started the First Titan War. His son Zeus waged a legendary shield known as the "shield of aegis", and Hestia wielded a firearm that she invented. Hestia later tossed the firearm into Tartarus because she feared it would be dangerous in the hands of mortal men. However, his children, along with their allies, closed in on him, and as punishment, he was sliced into numerous pieces using his own scythe, which were then scattered around Tartarus.
After Hades I[]
At some point, he was resurrected thanks to the Satyr cult and his loyal followers, who carry an hourglass insignia. Hades returned after performing his underworld duties, and saw Chrono's loyal army of followers surrounding his abode, the House Of Hades. Seeing how his family was in danger, Hades summoned Hecate and instructed her to take care of his infant daughter Melinoe before confronting him. Hades left his house and found Nyx sealed in a mysterious time cube. Hades called out her name, demanding that she answer him, however his look of anger turned to sadness when he realized that this could have only been the work of his father. As Hades walked around his castle, he saw his servants being imprisoned, including Thanatos, Dusa, Megaera, and various others.
The most notable was the imprisonment of his family, including his wife Persephone and his son, Zagreus (who was the previous protagonist of the first game.) Hades entered the main room, demanding to know why his servants and his family had been imprisoned here, and why Chronos was there despite him and his brothers tearing them to pieces. Chronos explained to his son that he was just happening to be "in the area", and he asks him to remember the time they cut him "into ribbons". Hades gets furious at his father, noting to him that it was a war that he started and it was necessary to banish him. Hades then asks what he intends to do, and what exactly he has done to his servants and family. Chronos replies with the following:
| “ | Your cries fall on deaf ears. Fear not my son, I have not eaten them or anything. I have merely... set them aside. They stand imprisoned in a moment that shall never pass. My qualm is not with them. | „ |
| ~ Chronos gives the House of Hades and their commander(s) a fate worse than death. |
Hades vows revenge on his father, saying that Olympus shall have his "head". He even offers his own head, but he demands that Chronos does not hurt anybody within the House of Hades. Chronos scuffs it off, and mocks his son telling him that he does not know how to answer commands when he is the one dishing them out. He then asks his son where the Three Fates reside. His son refuses to answer the question, saying he does not know where they are when Nyx doesn't even know where her daughters are. Following this, his son Hades was thrown in prison along with Cerberus, who would remain loyal by his exiled master's side - the same place where Sisyphus once stood. The underworld tried to resist the claiming of their domain, but they had failed, for his Golden Legions quickly extinguished any form of rebellion and established a tyrannical rule of the underworld.
From here, he began his Coup for Mount Olympus. The first action he took was to take over the city of Ephyra, a central hub for the Crossroads Rebellion. He proceeded to slaughter the civilians with his Golden Legions, and their souls wandered aimlessly in Erebus, having nowhere else to go after the underworld was sealed off. He took some of these souls, and resurrected them into an undead army that would wage war in the sea of Thessaly, being stuck in a cycle of endless death and resurrection. Although the Crossroads Rebellion was able to hold their ground against the golden legions for a while, the attacks grew in intensity until the Crossroads rebellion lost the sea of Thessaly.
At some point after this Chronos deceived Primordial Chaos in some deal and held the Three Fates Hostage. Chronos also appointed Prometheus as his commander after Heracles freed the titan from his prison. Prometheus accepted the deal and sided with him, because as the Titan of Foresight he saw Chronos "Inevitable Victory." Whether his claim shall be true or not is unknown.
Chronos through unknown means would also resurrect the Father of All Monsters, who was previously thought to be lost within the Titan War. Typhon would climb up the mountain and create an impossible storm through which no aid could pass through, further hindering the Crossroad Rebellions effort to banish him. As a result, Olympus declared war on the Golden Legions and attempted to make their final stand until the Crossroads Rebellion could save them or help them hold against Typhon. This would unknowingly come in the form of Melinoe, the princess of the underworld adopted and raised by Hecate after the imprisonment of her own family by Chronos.
Hades II[]
Over the course of 20 years, Melinoë would be trained in secret by Hecate, learning to use a variety of weapons as well as Tactics to fight and eventually kill Chronos. Although she would be trained on his existence, she never encountered him until she went outside Erebus due to various protection spells that Hectate set in order to ensure the safety of the woods. As a result of this, he appointed Scylla & The Sirens to guard Oceanus, and cursed Cerberus to bond with the shades in the Mourning Fields and become an infernal beast. He also appointed four guardians for the surface, with its second-in-command being Prometheus and the head Typhon who waged a perpetual storm upon the summit of Mount Olympus. Melinoë, through her training (and trial and error, though this is player-dependent) managed to overcome these guardians and eventually made her way down to Tartarus, where he set up his headquarters. Melinoë eventually overcame the Golden Legions who were guarding Tartarus and found herself trapped with the gates being sealed off. Left with no choice, she had to dive into the waters of time and emerge into the former House of Hades. Upon arriving, Melinoë demanded that Chronos get off the "stolen throne", and explained that she needed no introduction, saying that he knew who she was and why she was here. Melinoë then recited a curse, saying the following:
| “ | Hear me, you enemy of Night and Darkness, now: For your transgressions, you shall imminently die; under cthonic doctrine, this I vow! For there is no escape from Fate beneath the sky. | „ |
| ~ The spell that Melinoe recites, rendering Chronos vunerable to harm. |
Following this, the two began to engage in battle. Depending on how well the player fights against him, this first encounter can either end in Melinoë losing and being sent back to the Crossroads or Melinoë defeating him and making him fall to his knees. If the player is successful, His anger grows to the point of rage, where he said this to Melinoë:
| “ | This audience has lasted long enough. You do not get to barge into this house, and waste my time! I am time. And I can make your every moment hell. | „ |
| ~ Chronos vows to eliminate his Granddaughter, Melinoe. |
He then began to warp reality around her, making the battle arena shaped like a clock. He proceeded to enact a variety of attacks on Melinoë , such as summoning his legions, or warping space and time to the point of lethality with the exception of a certain area. Depending on the player's skill level, Melinoë may once again fail and be sent back to the Crossroads or finally triumph over Chronos, with her reigning victorious. Melinoë eventually defeats Chronos and makes him fall down to his knees, begging and gasping for air. He is astounded at how he could be defeated by her, and asks, "How?". However, Melinoë replies that he will never get the answer, and will never get any mercy either. Melinoë demands for Chronos to die, and then she will collect the "ichor" that flows through his veins. He laughs in Melinoë's face, insisting that the House of Hades and by extension, the underworld and that death means nothing to the deathless. Melinoë nods, and understands this. She knows that he will eventually return, and she will come back to kill him again and again if she has to. Chronos makes a threat to Melinoë's family, saying the following:
| “ | Melinoë: I expect so. And you'll be re-made and back on the throne before I can return. But I shall return. And I'll slay you again, and again, and again, if I must. Chronos: Even if, in so doing, it meant that you would never see your dear old family again? Because the mercy I have shown to them thus far is something I may have to re-evaluate. |
„ |
| ~ Chronos vowing to destroy Melinoë's family upon his defeat. |
She then asks if he has any last words, to which he replies he has none. He then fades away into golden sand, some of which Melinoë collects to gather the ingredients for the incantation necessary to defeat him. As Melinoë began to search the Former House of Hades, she eventually had to return to the crossroads due to the effects of the former House of Hades being too much for her. He would then be defeated by his granddaughter several more times, with him swearing every time to his granddaughter that he cannot be stopped, only slowed down for a bit.
Vow Of Rivals[]
When Melinoe managed to defeat all of the guardians of the underworld including a Hecate strengthened by the power of Selene, Scylla and the Sirens Ft Charybdis and the Infernal Beast she unlocked an incantation which allowed her to fight Chronos at his full strength. Not only did he add extra reinforcements, he also attacked significantly faster and did larger, more vicious slashes. Chronos also summoned more legions to fight Melinoe, and depending on how skilled the player is she may prevail against the legions or fail and be sent back. Melinoe, through an player-dependent amount of nights managed to knock down Chronos during the second phase of his attack.
He grew angry and vicious, accelerating time to its very end where he let loose of all restrictions and fought Melinoe with every bit of strength that he had within his weakened body. He summoned additional blades, in addition to implementing teleportation and temporal doubles of him. Once again through a player-dependent number of nights Chronos is knocked down and falls on his knees. Melinoe proceeded to have the following conversation with him:
| “ | Chronos: Argh... some family you are! Go on and try to cast me out as they once did! See what good shall come of it! Melinöe: I intend to. Though if you wished to be part of the war so much, perhaps you oughtn't have waged war with them. |
„ |
| ~ Chronos is defeated and refuses to admit his possible downfall. |
Melinöe proceeded towards the hallway where her brothers room once stood, entering it. She took a look at the room and noted the mess, before noticing a bed. Melinöe decided to take a nap and used magic to project her subconscious into "the abyss". She noticed the Mirror Of Night in Zagreus' bedroom which was old, filled with cobwebs and had not been used for some time. She pierced the mirror, allowing her subconscious to levitate further past the grasp of time. She noticed various energies of memories, before hearing a strange yet familiar voice. The voice was attempting to fix themselves getting ready for a special occasion. Melinoe floated towards the mirror before the voice was revealed to be her brother Zagreus who had been stuck in a dream. Zagreus noticed her and was confused.
Zagreus complained that he hadn't been feeling well to the mirror. Melinöe begged him to listen to her voice, asking him if she could hear her. Zagreus thought to himself that the cause of his sickness was definitely something he had consumed. He then realized it was just a dream and thought it was the tricks of Hypnos. He asked if Hypnos was there, and Melinöe explained that she needed his aid as their family was in danger. Zagreus was confused, wondering what Melinöe meant about their family. Zagreus asked who the other voice inside of the mirror talking to him was. He confused Melinöe for one of Persephone many cousins and noted her appearance as her belt had the house of Hades sigil on her outfit and her eyes which were identical to Zagreus'. Melinöe demanded to speak and Zagreus obliged. She told him that what she was about to tell him was difficult to accept and that she was from a distant future.
Zagreus asked what he needed to do, and Melinöe told him that he needed to destroy Chronos in his entirety as there was not much that she could do. She explained to Zagreus the heinousness of Chronos actions including the complete takeover of the house of hades and the imprisonment of its members , and also the attempted takeover of Olympus. Zagreus asked her to elaborate as he had been told by his father that Chronos was permanently vanquished during the titan war. She asks him to believe her and tells him that she has been preparing all this life for this moment. She asks Zagreus to aid her as she cannot stop Chronos on her own. Zagreus says he guesses that he will not aid her as the conversation has been a dream and he will likely forget about it as soon as he wakes up. Zagreus asks Melinöe to prove anything that she said was real.
Melinöe promises her brother that he will not forget anything he said because his task his to seek Persephone's Handmaiden Hecate and tell her about the doomed future. Zagreus says that Persephone doesn't have one and that he's never heard of Hecate. Suddenly, her astral projection begins to weaken and the mirror slowly reconstitutes itself. Chronos has begun to reconstitute his form once again and he will return just like he does in Zagreus' timeline. She needs to go before he ends up finding her here, and Zagreus asks if he will ever see her again. She tells Zagreus that through a difficult effort across dreams and time she ended up finding him here and she promises she will not let anything stand in her way to do it again. Before she returns to shadow, she asks Zagreus to let their encounter remain a secret. They say goodbye as she projects herself back to the Crossroads.
Melinöe defeats Chronos once-more and once again manages to project herself outside time's grasp. She sees Zagreus in the mirror once again, and the two exchange greetings. They resumed their conversation. Zagreus asks why he is only fit for the task, and Melinöe explains that because he is the "Security Specialist" within the house of Hades and that she is his closest relative and has accomplished slaying gods and titans that he must be the one to accomplish it. She also cannot contact anyone in the mirror outside of Zagreus. Zagreus asks Melinöe where Chronos is and how he can locate him. She says that she doesn't know exactly where he is in Zagreus' time but that she only knows that his remains were scattered within the "Deepest Pits of Tartarus", which must mean that he is reconstituting himself around the house of Hades. She also tells Zagreus that she is unsure of what she would have her brother do if he were to locate Chronos. Zagreus points out that the plan isn't really solid and asks if he has to wait in order for her to work out the details. She asks her brother if he can begin an confidential investigation and start with looking for signs, such as unusual activity for Satyrs. He tells Melinoe that they have had their fair share of Satyr problems, and comes to the realization that she is in his bedchambers from a future time. Chronos reconstitutes himself once again, and the two promise to see each other before Melinoe projects herself back to the Crossroads.
Melinöe comes to visit Zagreus again via the mirror of night. Before she speaks with him, Zagreus can be heard talking back to himself commenting on his sister's appearance. He tells Melinöe that progress is underway although it is hard to progress without telling anyone, and asks Melinöe if this is her only idea to defeat Chronos. She says that because of the strong hold that Chronos has on the present it is easier to take him down in the past. Zagreus asks Melinöe what happened between Hades and Chronos that resulted in the bitterness of their relationship. She tells Zagreus that he is in a better position to ask his father about that and provides a brief explanation of how Chronos lost the first titan war. Zagreus gets confused at Melinoe's request and says that he's vanquished several members of the olympian and cthonic families but it was not a permanent thing. He gets a bit upset and asks Melinöe to explain the plan within full detail. Finally, Melinöe lowers her guard down and explains the plan. She tells Zagreus about the incantation that may stop Chronos known as the Dissolution Of Time which requires several complicated steps in order to complete. If this incantation is successful, it should "unravel" him. Zagreus asks her to explain the meaning.
The dissolution of time would mean the complete destruction of his ambitions along with him, and a complete erasure to all the harm he had caused. To create this spell, she would need to create a spiritual link between Zagreus, Chronos and her. The final step to completing this incantation is to create a special weapon that could erase time itself, but she tells Zagreus that she needs to leave as Chronos reconstitutes himself, using her mists of memory to return to the Crossroads. Thus, the quest for the Dissolution of Time began.
Dissolution Of Time[]
Melinöe defeats Chronos once more and returns to the crossroads, and meets Zagreus again within the mirror. The two begin to conduct the plan for the Dissolution Of Time incantation by planning out a weapon that could kill Chronos. Zagreus updates Melinöe about the investigation, saying that he found some strange gears that contribute to Tartarus ever changing route to ensure that nobody gets in our out. Melinöe tells Zagreus that Tartarus has turned into a machination in its entirety. Zagreus then asks Melinöe about Chronos holding the house hostage, and she answers that besides Hypnos (who has been in an immutable slumber), Cerberus who has become an Infernal Beast and Hades who is being held prisoner within the depths of tartarus the rest are imprisoned within moments of time unable to pass. In order for the weapon to work, it has to be a weapon from both of their times. The both of them deduce that the Nocturnal and Infernal arms would not work since they belong to different owners and that Chronos would be heavily resistant to it. They promise to meet again before Melinöe is forced back again to the crossroads.
Melinoe once again prevails over Chronos and projects herself beyond the grasp of time. Zagreus comes to her with exciting news. He explains that after a night of thinking he has come up with a weapon that fits Melinöe's requirements (These being a weapon that hasn't killed Chronos before, and is available in both time periods), that being Hades spear Gigaros. Zagreus says that there is a slight problem with this weapon because his father doesn't let him use it and its tucked safe within one of the private chambers. He also did some further investigations and found the source of the satyr problem: A cave within the temple of Styx. The big reveal however is that he found where Chronos reconstituted himself, and he reveals to Melinöe that the place was directly underneath the house of hades which explains why he was able to take over most of the known realms extremely quickly. Melinöe Feels suspicious about this but is assured that this plan could work when her brother explains it to her further. She asks him to keep the spear someplace safe and asks her brother to somehow convince her father to give her the spear so they can move it across the timestream. She wishes her brother well before projecting herself back to the Crossroads.
After Melinöe vanquishes Typhon for good, she manages to create the final essence of ingredient created from Typhon's hatred - Entropy which is required for the Dissolution of Time. Her friends and allies at the Crossroads wish her luck as she undergoes her final attempt for the task, which she has been working towards her entire life. As she passes by Erebus ready to confront Hecate she notices that Hecate is trapped within a time bubble created by Chronos and demands that he free her. Chronos adamantly refuses, asking Melinöe if Hecate contributed to her being pitted against him. She goes alert and refuses to answer, screaming at Chronos to let her go. She taps the time bubble and begs Hecate to fight back, but Chronos tells her that she cannot hear a word that she says. He teleports to the (former) house of hades, and Melinöe relentlessly pursues him going through Oceanus, the Mourning Fields and Tartarus.
After reaching the edge of tartarus and into the (former) house of Hades, She dives into the sands of time, and emerges into the house of Hades with an unrelenting rage. She demands to know where Hecate is. Chronos responds with the following:
| “ | Chronos: What did you call that old witch that you seem to care about so much? Your headmistress? Tell me know exactly who she is if you yet value her well being in the least. Melinöe: She was my mothers handmaiden, nothing more. When you attacked my father's house, she took me away. When I came of age, I vowed to stop you; despite her efforts to dissuade me. Let her go. |
„ |
| ~ The final confrontation begins between Chronos and Melinöe. |
Epilogue + Aftermath[]
Depending on the player's skill level, they may triumph over the fight or be defeated and sent back to the Crossroads. If the player is sent back to the crossroads, the residents of the crossroads will become extremely worried and concerned. Nemesis will feel incredibly guilty that she managed to let her guard down long enough for Hecate to be captured, while Odysseus shows a sign of concern on her face and expresses the best wishes that Hecate will be all right.
Regardless, Chronos plan starts to fall apart with the dissolution of Typhon. He senses that Typhon is nowhere to be found and angrily asks Melinöe on why he is nowhere to be found. She refuses to answer him saying that the details are none of his concern and that he's next. Melinöe wishes his final moments to be in pain. The two battle and depending on the player's skill level they may triumph over the fight or lose and have to attempt another run in the Underworld again.
Eventually, Melinöe finally triumphs over Chronos making him fall on his knees. He laughs at Melinöe telling her that he has defeated him once again, and that she has wasted her time. He knows what it is that she seeks. She tells him to shut up and just die already knowing the following moments that await him will be his last. With his final breaths, he asks Melinöe if the power that which she used on Typhon can be used on him, and mockingly encourages her to try. He then fades away, telling her that he will remember this. She observes the orb and realizes that destroying the part that reconstitutes Chronos will do nothing, for the guarantee is in the past. She rushes to Zagreus' abandoned bedroom projecting herself to the mirror.
Zagreus asks her with an update on how the plan is going, and she replies that the plan is ready to be put into action, having vanquished Typhon with the spear. She asks Zagreus to take control of the sphere now and that he must go immediately where he is reconstituting himself , and that their connection throughout time will probably be lost. Before Zagreus undergoes Melinöe's plan, he asks if killing him is necessary and if they have tried words before. Melinöe says to her brother that they are beyond words at this point and that as he had incredible difficulty asking his father to leave the underworld, it will be incredibly difficult for Zagreus to convince Chronos to give up. Melinöe performs the incantation and Zagreus notes that the spear has grown hot to the touch. She asks him to depart on the quests and wishes him luck before telling him that she knows she will see him eventually.
Zagreus rushes over to Chronos "final" resting place, slaying several Satyrs among the way. Chronos gets angry and tells the satyrs to quiet down before he realizes that Zagreus is coming for him:
| “ | Chronos: Who goes there?!? You lack the clopping of the Satyr's hooves, and have a countenance which I know not. Zagreus: You must be Grandfather. I don't believe we've had the pleasure, I'm called Zagreus. I got a tip about your quite-suspicious cavern and had go to to take a look. What are you doing here, if I may ask? Chronos: Recuperating! What else would I possibly be doing in a place such as this? So I suppose Hades is to thank for this new grandchild of mine. I never thought I would see the age in which he became a father for himself. Zagreus: Oh, he's a wonderful father, if you must know! So much I have a little sister, too! Melinoe! Looks more like our dear mother Persephone the Underworld Queen, though has a bit of your son's prickly personality! You'd love her! Chronos: Why are you telling me this? Answer immediately, lest my Satyrs tear you to shreds! Where are those blasted Satyrs anyhow? Zagreus: Grandfather, I'm telling you this because I'd thought I'd make small talk here before doing you in. You would bring pain and suffering upon my House, and as our designated Security Specialist, I cannot allow that. Chronos: Pah! What would you know of my intent? You dare speak to me of pain and suffering? Here I have rotted an aeon prior to when you were but a twinkle in your father's eye! He and his brothers, traitors and usurpers! Zagreus: They're your children. Look, you don't have to like them all the time, I know I don't but.. what of Melinoe and me? Are you prepared to sweep us into your old grudge? Chronos: Why would I not? Your father surely has already poisoned you against me. You and your little sister both! Zagreus: Would I be speaking to you if that were the case? Here's the arrangement: either take pity on your grandchildren, or take this spear repeatedly. And you won't soon recuperate, I swear. Which is it going to be? Chronos: You who threaten me with annihilation, have not experienced a world without Time. You would come to dearly miss my influence! Nor would pity do you any good.. how exactly would you see it manifest? Zagreus: Oh, I don't know.. perhaps by just being our grandfather, rather than sneaking underneath the house in some sort of profane chamber I ought have known about? You're time. Why don't you extrapolate a bit? Chronos: Extrapolate what? A joy-filled life in which Grandfather Time is there to coddle the spoiled children of my rancorous son? Hades shall drive that accursed spear through me on sight if you do not! Zagreus: No, because you'll be under my protection. And also, no, it won't just be a joy-filled life, especially if you keep on. But it'll probably be better than whatever this is! Now make your choice already, I don't have all day or night. Chronos: So then, a future with such grandchildren as you, or the eternal void... how can I possibly decide? Zagreus: That's it, I'm stabbing you. Chronos: NO, WAIT!!! *He drives the spear into Chronos, but an unexpected change of events occurs.. * |
„ |
Chronos reflects on his time, saying that it was for nothing. He wonders if the Fates knew his plans would be undone again. Instead of the spear killing him however, he imagines an alternate past in which Zagreus and his father are sorting out administrative records while he attempts to search for Melinoe. Zagreus greets his grandfather, and asks what he is doing here on this special occasion. Chronos says that he is trying to find Melinoe and he's been searching all over the house for her. He comments that she is always as elusive as his son. Hades tells that she went hiding beside the Head chef, and tells his father to go before she gets tired of waiting. Chronos kneels beside a young Melinoe and tells her how he has been searching all over the house trying to find her. Young Melinoe grows upset with Chronos, saying that it took him long enough and that she thought she was never going to see him again. He tells her that is exactly what her father said when he spoke to him, and asks her if she wants another round of tag to which she declines and asks her grandfather to tell her another one of his tales about the golden age.
He tells her that he will get the chance when she gets older otherwise her father wouldn't be too happy with them. If he manages to defy his father or any member of the house, he'll get chopped up to bits in Tartarus again. Melinoe laughs at the notion and says that she'll be happy to put him back together again. Chronos tells her that she would be the only person to say those kinds of things within the house. Melinoe is confused and asks if the other people around the House do not like him. He denies Melinoe's claim coming up with a lie that they could never get enough of him, though they have had their differences. He tells her not to worry about the past, before they continue with the game of tag.
Hecate manages to break herself free from the spell as Melinoe awakens and rushes to find Chronos has reconstituted himself. Hecate says that he will suffer for all he has done , and mockingly asks Chronos if she should spare him the violence because he let her free from the time bubble he trapped her in. Chronos has tears in his eyes and shows no regret, asking her to do what she must. Melinoe is confused and asks the two what is going on. Hecate feels relieved but is confused as to where she is, for one moment the enemy invaded the crossroads and for the other moment she found herself freed here. She is confused as to how this is possible and what Melinöe has done. She says that she did everything as outlined in the plan, but is confused as to how Chronos was still here.
Chronos explained that Zagreus spared him and took him in as a family member. From that point, he lead a different life as a loving grandfather, which he then woke up from and realized it was nothing but a dream, yet somehow the two had changed his course. Melinoe gets angry with Chronos and doesn't believe him, and asks him how he came to develop second thoughts. Chronos explains to Melinoe the dream he had and told him that although her and Zagreus would come into conflict, it would be out of love and care and not in the way they had fought now. He did not realize that there could be a better past. Melinoe is confused and asks how there could be a better past despite nothing changing. She tells him that he should be gone by now, and she would have never grown up happily with him around. Hecate says that none of them understand what is going on, and orders Melinoe to kill him. Chronos encourages her to take the final shot, and he tells her that he does not wish to exist in a painful world like this any longer. She demands that he be quiet and to realize her family, to to which he refuses. Instead, he says that only she has the power of releasing them.
Hades, Persephone and Zagreus appear before the three. Hades is confused and asks him why he is here, to which Chronos tells her to ask his granddaughter about it. Persephone and Zagreus are freed by Melinoe, and she finally reunites with her family. Chronos interrupts them and asks him to be sent to oblivion already. Chronos feels extremely sorry that he put Melinoe through all of this and asks her one more time to take her vengeance. Zagreus begs his sister to spare her, and the two begin arguing. Zagreus tells his sister that killing Chronos will not solve any of their family's problems. Hades demands that they stop and asks the two of them if they really want to end up like Chronos or himself with their anger. Melinoe makes the point that the anger is what drove her here in the first place and what motivated her to find her family, and tells her father to look what Chronos did to him. Hades tells his daughter that they did this to each other, and that the choice is hers.
Melinoe after much consideration spares Chronos, and the first thing that she asks Chronos to do is to give them back the time he denied them. Chronos says that he cannot turn back time, but what he can do is help them move forward, to which they accept. Melinoe remains in the house for some time, bonding with her family and making memories with them she helps the shades with renovations. She tells her family that she cannot stay there and that she must continue working with the Silver Sisters and the Crossroads alliance to help undo the damage that Chronos has caused and work towards a better future. She hugs her family and tells them goodbye before she is sent with Chronos on Selene's chariot, flying across the realms as they fly towards Olympus. He wishes Melinoe farewell as he goes down to Olympus to rectify with his children and family, before thanking his granddaughter and calling her his "Time Keeper". He vows to undo the damage he has caused and work towards building a stronger relationship with his family.
Powers & Skills[]
- Chronokinesis - As the Personification of Time, Chronos has the ability to manipulate time within all forms in a local radius, including stopping it, or starting it.
- Spatial Slicing - Furthermore , he can infuse this energy into his scythe to create tears throughout time, unleashing devastating damage.
- Superhuman Strength - He has enough strength to effortlessly overpower his enemies, as well as any familiars that his enemies/Melinoe may send across his way.
- Superhuman Speed - He can dash, as well as zoom meters in the blink of an eye thanks to his wings.
- Superhuman Stamina - Chronos can create whirlwinds using his scythe, blowing his enemies in, or expelling them out through a range of slicing winds.
- Leadership - In the previous Golden Age, he managed to recruit followers, who would later be in his debt by resurrecting him. He leads his followers through fear, and not genuine care.
- Reality Warping - In his second phase of battle, he will proceed to warp reality and turn the arena into a clock, with him using his Chronokinesis powers to conjure several spears, as well as an hour/minute hand that can wound Melinoë. He also uses this power to trap Melinoe and send her to Asphodel, where she is forced to survive for a fixed period of time before he releases her.
Quotes[]
| “ | Chronos: Pray, who might be you my girl. And what compelled you to wander in and out of Erebus? Melinoë: I'm not your girl, old man. My name and business are not your concern. Chronos: So it seems. You appear to be quite pressed for time. Forgive this old man his transgressions... |
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| ~ Chronos first meeting with his Granddaughter as she crosses the edge of Erebus. |
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 Villains
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House of Hades Chronos's Forces Others | ||