Something I haven’t seen anyone else comment upon:
At first, Hades deciding to have Zangreus at as “Security Consultant” to test the Underworld’s defenses upon Persephone’s immediate return seems like just Dad justifying his son playing around. But at that stage, there is a very real threat that requires vigilance in the Underworld: the Olympian gods, specifically Demeter and any who would choose to align with her. As the Olympians cannot enter the Underworld through divine means, any vengeance would occur as personal attacks from the Gate at Styx down.
Having Zangreus continue to ravage the Underworld bottom to top, when all opponents revive in short order, maximizes the House of Hades’ chances of survival if the feared war had ever came to pass. Zangreus himself is strengthened, while Hades gets practice in on an opponent close or surpassing his family (and where he is weakest for maximum training). The Heroes and other bosses are on constant alert without needing to know the possible true threat.
But why have Zangreus continue to rely upon the boons from the gods, if he’s supposed to be getting himself stronger to fight them? Well, there is a chance some of the Olympians might choose to side with the House of Hades (if Demeter doesn’t turn her wrath on them first); having a native aligned with the Underworld expertly wielding an easily-given shred of their power is almost certainly a force multiplier. And wrecking havoc against the other defenses of the Underworld with Chill etc trains them against otherwise foreign powers.
And once the fam truly is all chill? Then dad-son bonding time is in perfect character.
Truly brilliant.
Something I haven’t seen anyone else comment upon: At first, Hades deciding to have Zangreus at as “Security Consultant” to test the Underworld’s defenses upon Persephone’s immediate return seems like just Dad justifying his son playing around. But at that stage, there is a very real threat that requires vigilance in the Underworld: the Olympian gods, specifically Demeter and any who would choose to align with her. As the Olympians cannot enter the Underworld through divine means, any vengeance would occur as personal attacks from the Gate at Styx down. Having Zangreus continue to ravage the Underworld bottom to top, when all opponents revive in short order, maximizes the House of Hades’ chances of survival if the feared war had ever came to pass. Zangreus himself is strengthened, while Hades gets practice in on an opponent close or surpassing his family (and where he is weakest for maximum training). The Heroes and other bosses are on constant alert without needing to know the possible true threat. But why have Zangreus continue to rely upon the boons from the gods, if he’s supposed to be getting himself stronger to fight them? Well, there is a chance some of the Olympians might choose to side with the House of Hades (if Demeter doesn’t turn her wrath on them first); having a native aligned with the Underworld expertly wielding an easily-given shred of their power is almost certainly a force multiplier. And wrecking havoc against the other defenses of the Underworld with Chill etc trains them against otherwise foreign powers. And once the fam truly is all chill? Then dad-son bonding time is in perfect character. Truly brilliant.