chsdbacks Chapter 329 The Purest Soul in the World
Chapter 329 The Purest Soul in the World
Chapter 329 The Purest Soul in the World
The demon tricked Cerberus into abandoning his mission and the Styx River, which cleansed his soul. Roy and his companions easily passed through the three trials without any trouble.
Hades is starting to lose his composure.
In his mind, Roy and his group would enter the perilous underworld, facing uncertainty and fear of the unknown and death, falling into his trap, and encountering constant danger, with each challenge bringing a deadly crisis.
Then, shouting "Don't underestimate our friendship and bond," they overcame the difficulties with immense hardship.
The truth is quite the opposite; it was too easy!
Astraea, Hera, and Hermes, who followed, played a crucial role.
With information provided by the gods, as if they had purchased several complete strategy guides, combined with the formidable strength of Roy and his companions, the two created a powerful effect, turning his underworld into a veritable amusement park.
Hades' face was as black as the bottom of a pot. This was the underworld, the realm of the dead! How could these children from the lower realms be so careless as to bring along a god who had no fighting power?
To put it another way, it's like taking your own god into a dangerous dungeon to explore.
Hades admitted that he underestimated the team.
If this continues, this grand trial in the underworld will become a joke.
The main challenge is the last one!
Hera is a huge obstacle, potentially preventing Zeus and the Hera Familia from using their full strength.
The gods must be banned!
Hades tapped the armrest of the throne with his index finger, and a wisp of divine power leaked out from between his fingers, turning into a thick mist that rushed towards Roy and his group. This was his home turf!
After crossing the River Styx, the group continued to venture deeper into the Underworld. Soon, a new gate appeared before them, made of bronze, ancient and sturdy. Even weapons made of the hardest metal (ostrich ore) could only leave a shallow mark on it.
"The Spiritual Gate to the Underworld!"
Astraea whispered, telling everyone about the wonders of the colossal bronze gate.
Hades prepared the sixth challenge for them.
The Spiritual Gate is essentially a test to see if the souls of the dead who have crossed the River Styx have had their memories erased.
The purer the soul, the easier it is to push open the door, and the wider it can open. Souls filled with filth will be suppressed by the power of the door as they try to pass through.
This level is not life-threatening, but depending on how wide the gate is opened, a negative buff unique to the underworld will be applied upon passing through, suppressing all their abilities and directly weakening their power.
Let them fall step by step into the abyss!
Roy hid behind and secretly used the Earth Demon Sword to try to exploit a bug, open up a new route, avoid the bronze giant gate in front of him, and skip this level.
However, Roy was disappointed.
The Earth Demon Sword's power to manipulate terrain seemed to have lost its effectiveness in this area.
"I'll go first!" Tione rushed forward defiantly, placing her two small hands on the bronze gate, using her slender waist to exert all her strength.
Rumble!
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the incredibly heavy bronze gate slowly moved, opening a gap of about fifty centimeters. Even if Tione squeezed his body, he could still breathe heavily through it. He even punched the broken door twice, but it could not be moved an inch further.
A few seconds later, the bronze gate closed again.
"Lord Tione, who told you to think about all that nonsense all the time?" Lily muttered.
The girls of the clan found it amusing; everyone knew that Tione was always trying to ambush Roy.
"Little Lily, since you say so, then you can definitely push this door open completely!" Tiony snorted.
"drink!"
Lily exerted all her strength to push open the massive door, which was about the same width as Tione's.
Tiony chuckled. "Little Lily, it seems your soul isn't so pure after all."
Lily's face flushed red as she weakly tried to defend herself.
Roy and the others exchanged glances. Tione, at LV.6, and Lily, at LV.4, had almost the same score. This showed that pushing open the bronze gate had nothing to do with level, ability value, or skill.
It is based on the purity and brilliance of the soul.
Then, everyone took turns trying, and Daphne, Cassandra, Lefia, Asifi, Tsubaki Corbrand, Algana and others were all defeated, none of them exceeding fifty or sixty centimeters in width.
Leon could barely push it away by eighty centimeters.
If they were to pass through this gate at this width, their abilities would be reduced by at least fifty percent, and if they encountered any enemies, they would be in danger.
"Can anyone really push this broken door open?" Tiony kicked it hard, but it didn't budge. The force of the impact made her little foot go numb.
"So I was so filthy, waaaah—" Chun Ji said dejectedly, her fox ears and tail drooping.
"Don't be sad, it's not your fault, everyone's the same." Cassandra, Anya, and others comforted her, but their words didn't sound very kind.
Astraea, Hera, Hestia, and Hermes stood quietly to the side, watching Roy and the others. This trial belonged to the children; they could only provide information and offer very limited assistance.
In fact, the achievements of Tione, Lily and others are already quite remarkable. After years of training and accomplishing great things, their will is extremely firm, which in turn affects the soul level. Their pure radiance is the difference between a rock and an egg compared to ordinary people!
Even after the souls of ordinary people are washed away by the River Styx and they lose their memories, they can only push away thirty or forty centimeters.
Rumble!
Just then, with a roar, the bronze gate moved, and Tiona pushed it open to a width of more than a meter, drawing everyone's attention and surprised expressions.
"Lady Tiona?" Lily's mouth dropped open.
The astonished gazes of the crowd fell upon the Amazonian girl; her achievement completely outshone theirs.
"hey-hey!"
Tiona gave a naive smile. "I don't really like thinking about complicated things."
Everyone was left speechless, wondering if the sillier the better.
"She's not bad!" Hera's eyes flashed with a strange light as she praised someone other than Roy for the first time.
"certainly!"
Astraea's expression softened. Tiona wasn't foolish in the conventional sense; rather, she was wise beyond her years. This was evident six or seven years ago when she single-handedly challenged the ritual of the Fighting Kingdom and led Tione away from her clan.
Others think first and then act.
Tiona acts first and thinks later; her instincts allow her to perceive the correct answer.
Even if they pass through this width, their ability value will still be reduced by 30%. Everyone's eyes fell on Roy and Ryu, the last hope, but these two had not yet tried.
Roy said softly, "Ryu, go."
Liu nodded, and when the bronze gate closed, she stepped forward, stretched out her fair and delicate hand, placed it on the heavy gate, and gently pushed it. According to her observation, it had nothing to do with the force used.
If someone can push it open, the door will naturally open.
Rumble!
Sure enough, when Liu placed her small hand on it, the bronze gates on both sides seemed to sense something and slowly moved backward, quickly exceeding Tiona's height by a meter.
The gate can be opened to a width of three meters!
Even an oxcart could easily pass through! The crowd was shocked, then overjoyed. Passing through the giant gate with this width would mean that the power of the underworld would only slightly reduce their abilities.
"Ryu, that's amazing!"
Tiony, Tiona, Lily, and the other girls excitedly rushed forward and hugged the elf girl.
Liu pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
Roy smiled knowingly. It goes without saying how pure Ryu's soul is; her beliefs have even formed the skill "Inheritance of Justice"!
This is Freya's best choice!
Hera, Hestia, and Hermes couldn't help but marvel at the exceptional talent of the Astraea Familia, each member a once-in-a-century genius.
It's amazing that we can all gather together!
Freya and the Loki Familia cannot do this; each member possesses extraordinary talent.
At that moment, Astraea's deep blue eyes moved. "Roy, why don't you give it a try?"
There are still experts!
Everyone's eyes widened; they had almost forgotten.
And then there's this boy, hailed as a "miracle" by the gods. A sense of anticipation rises in their hearts as well; Roy's grades might even surpass Ryu's!
"Me?" Roy was taken aback. He was also Freya's preferred choice, but the kind that was disliked.
Since the goddess said so, Roy couldn't refuse. He placed his large hand on the newly closed door, though he had no hope of getting it.
Time passed by, second by second.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the bronze gate remained unresponsive, unlike before when it would automatically slide backward with the slightest touch.
There was a deathly silence, a silence so profound it was frightening.
Hera and Hermes's expressions turned serious; there was no doubt that this was an unusual situation.
Unbeknownst to Roy, just as he was about to stop, a sudden change occurred!
Click!
A very faint sound rang out. Everyone present was a high-level adventurer with keen hearing, and they quickly pinpointed the source of the sound, which was none other than the bronze giant gate.
Fine cracks appeared on the surface of the bronze gate, accompanied by a loud rumbling sound. The entire bronze gate began to tremble violently, and the cracks, like a spider web, continued to widen.
Debris fell, and the cracks in the giant gate grew deeper and deeper.
The violent tremors seemed to extend to the entire underworld; the earth shook and the mountains trembled, with constant rumbling. Everyone was horrified and hurriedly retreated until they were more than a hundred meters away.
boom!
A deafening roar tore through the air!
The massive bronze gate that blocked the entire dark passage, exuding an ancient and heavy aura, was incredibly sturdy. Even weapons made of the hardest metals could not break it. Suddenly, it collapsed, and twisted fragments flew wildly.
The fragments fell to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust!
Witnessing this devastating and illogical scene, everyone was horrified, their eyes seemingly about to pop out. Utter shock froze on every face, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.
No sound came out for a long time.
"impossible!"
Hermes and Hestia stared wide-eyed, inwardly exclaiming in shock, their worldviews shaken.
Hera gave Roy a meaningful look.
Roy was a little confused. He had only touched it, and it had broken. Was this some kind of staged accident?
"That's great news, everyone's stats won't be affected anymore," Astraea said with a smile.
Everyone smiled wryly. Was that the point? This was the gate used by the underworld to test souls. What kind of soul could shatter that gate?
But if this happened to someone else, it might make people want to investigate the truth.
Roy has created too many miracles.
This is simply another rich and colorful addition to the other party's extensive experience.
The benefits are real and tangible!
Even with the width that Ryu opened, everyone's abilities would be affected to some extent, but Roy shattered the bronze gate, solving the problem once and for all!
The group continued on their way without any obstacles!
Astraea's gentle and beautiful lips curved into a helpless smile. Her child was too amazing, which was also a troublesome thing.
Hades is probably getting restless!
It wasn't just Astraea who realized this problem; Hera and Hermes, in addition to Hestia, also realized it. Having known each other for hundreds of millions of years, they knew exactly what Hades was going to say the moment he turned his backside. They were bored and miserable while working in the heavens when this happened.
He specifically asked Hestia to descend to the mortal realm to help find the person.
Having finally caught the big fish, the Astrea Familia, and meticulously planned this trial, it would be too embarrassing if Roy and the others could easily defeat it.
The gods in the celestial realm and the mortal realm both mocked each other, saying, "Do you even know how to play? Put down the controller and let me do it!"
Astraea slowed her elegant steps to stand shoulder to shoulder with Roy, her small, pale hand grasping the boy's large, warm palm, and warned, "Be careful!"
"Um!"
Roy nodded. The journey had gone relatively smoothly, but he dared not be careless in the slightest. Just like the trial in the Great Tree Sea, Hades held absolute dominance in this small territory of the Underworld!
Playing against a god with divine power is no easy task; all the rules are controlled by the opponent!
call!
Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when a fierce wind howled, whipping up a thick white fog that surged and churned up like a living thing!
Everyone drew their weapons and stood ready for battle.
Roy said in a deep voice, "No one should leave—"
His voice abruptly stopped. The mist was icy cold, carrying a chilling and eerie aura. In an instant, it surged in like a monstrous wave, engulfing everyone with grim expressions, stripping them of their sight, and swallowing all light and sound.
The surroundings were shrouded in a deathly silence and chaos; even if you stretched out your hand, you couldn't see your own fingers!
Roy's voice couldn't penetrate the thick fog.
In a moment of desperation, Roy reached out with lightning speed, grabbed the blurry figure closest to him, and pulled hard, causing the fox-girl's delicate body to fall into his arms.
Roy's eyes sharpened as he used his "Intuition" skill to its fullest extent, remaining alert to any potential enemies.
A moment later, the thick white fog dissipated.
His vision returned, but the scene before him made Roy's pupils shrink sharply.
Disappeared!
Ryu, Astraea, Hera, Leon, and others who were originally by his side had vanished without a trace, leaving only the frail Haruhime lying in his arms.
"How could this be!" Chun Ji, who slowly opened her eyes, also noticed the sudden change. Her cherry lips parted slightly. Goddess, where are my companions?
A sense of fear and unease enveloped her heart.
She curled up, clinging tightly to Roy, afraid that the boy she loved so dearly would also leave her. That loneliness would cause her spirit to collapse instantly, and the boy's embrace was her last and warmest haven.
"fine!"
Roy comforted the flustered fox-girl.
The crimson glow emanating from the two did not dissipate; it burned fiercely like flames, bringing endless warmth and dispelling the icy chill of the underworld.
[Sacred Flame Protection: Gain absolute mental resistance and immunity to abnormal statuses such as charm and frostbite!]
Even when Hestia is not by his side, the other's sacred fire will not be extinguished! This eternal characteristic is the true power of the goddess of the hearth!
Swish!
Roy took out an exquisite wooden disc from his spatial ring and placed it in his hand. The disc was inlaid with eight crystal-clear spheres.
It was the eye crystal borrowed from Fels.
The magical item "Eye Crystal" can transmit sound and images, but it is not without its flaws.
The eye crystals are made from the eyeballs of a certain owl monster. Each pair of eye crystals is paired up; you can't just take any two eye crystals and use them.
Besides concealing his identity, Fels wore a long black robe covering his entire body for another reason: he needed to carry a large number of eye crystals to contact Uranus, the Heretic, and others in a timely manner. His pockets were always full, so he had to be extra careful during fights.
Fels lent them sixteen eye crystals.
Roy, as the commander, has eight Eye Crystals. Ryu, Astraea, Tione, Lily, Asifi, Tsubaki Corbrand, Algana, and Leon each have one Eye Crystal.
"Ryu, Astraea, Tione—are you alright?!" Roy shouted at the eye crystal on the disc.
"Roy, how's it going on your end?"
"It seems we've been relocated!"
"Where exactly is this place?"
Soon, feedback came from each of the eyeglasses.
Roy breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed they hadn't encountered any danger yet. The sudden thick fog was more like a spatial manipulation technique that separated them.
Like Roy, Ryu was quick-witted and grabbed Astraea; the two were in the same place.
Alganna and Baje!
Leon, Lefia!
Lily, Daphne, Cassandra!
Tiony, Tiona, Hestia!
-
Hermes, Asphie!
Tsubaki Kobrand, Anya!
The team was divided into eight groups. The images presented in the eye crystals were all caves formed by dark blue stone walls. Unlike the underground city, the group was completely unfamiliar with the underworld and did not know how to move around for a while.
Hera has vanished!
The unexpected turn of events made Roy's heart sink. Hades only wanted to separate them? There was probably an even more troublesome plan in store!
Fortunately, he had taken precautions and borrowed the eye crystal; otherwise, losing contact could have meant certain death.
"You're my opponent, kid!"
Just then, a clear, bell-like voice rang out from the cave where Roy was.
Hearing the voice, Roy felt it was somewhat familiar. He didn't react for a moment, but when he slowly turned his head, a familiar figure was reflected in his eyes, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died.
She was a young woman in her mid-twenties, with her eyes closed and her face calm as still water, as if nothing could stir any emotion in her.
Her features were exquisite and beautiful, with a delicate and lively nose and petal-like, moist lips that shimmered with a pale pink halo in the dim light. Her skin was fair, and her figure was tall and graceful. She wore an elegant gray-black long dress that cinched her slender waist, making her appear exquisitely shapely.
Her long gray hair shimmered in the air, and she exuded an intellectual and serene aura, like a cool fairy who had stepped out of a painting, unapproachable.
"Silence" Alfia!
With just one glance, Roy could tell that it was not a fake, but the real deal!
When Roy looked down again at the disc in his hand, the eight eye crystals showed that Ryu, Tione, Leon, and the others had all encountered enemies in a separate cave chamber—a whole bunch of familiar faces.
Hades' true trump card.
Former members of the Zeus and Hera clan!
The Palace of the Underworld.
Unlike the others, Hera went straight to Hades' lair. This cruel and tyrannical empress was eager to fight, her beautiful silver hair moving without wind, and the aura she exuded was enough to terrify even ferocious beasts.
Hades, sitting on his throne, had a tense expression.
"Hades, how do you want to die?" Hera said coldly. To toy with the souls of her children was a sin that deserved to be whipped a thousand times over!
"I'll say it again, you in the mortal realm can't hurt me!" Hades' voice was deep and steady, full of confidence and arrogance. Of course, if Hera really runs back to the heavens—we'll see then.
The cold glint in Hera's eyes grew increasingly dangerous.
"Hera, let's make a promise!" Hades sighed softly. After all, he had used her child, and morally, he couldn't stand up to the law.
"Oh!" Hera's phoenix eyes flickered.
Hades continued, "If they pass this trial, I'll let you do whatever you want with them; otherwise, this matter is settled. How about it?"
Roy, Ryu, and the others' situations are presented in the Divine Mirror, where they encounter powerful members of Zeus's and Hera's Families, respectively, with a huge difference in their levels!
It's fair to say that the chances of winning are extremely slim, but Hera doesn't have many options left.
Agreed to proceed with the betting!
Refuse, swallow this insult!
In a desperate act, they returned to the heavens and killed Hades, but were then unable to return to the mortal realm.
"Fine, let's see how you die!" Hera's beautiful and noble face revealed a cold smile.
Hades' eyes flashed with a hint of astonishment. Logically speaking, Hera should know better than anyone the immense strength of the members of those two clans. It would be an exaggeration to say that the Astrea clan had even a ten percent chance of winning!
The other party still agreed!
Hades revealed a hint of excited and fanatical smile. This "unknown" was an irresistible drug for the gods, deeply attracting him.
Hera's gaze fell upon the mirror, specifically on the mysterious young man, Roy, in the cave. Despite having only met him twice, her judgment of character was accurate; he possessed potential surpassing even her own foolish daughters!
Hearing the wager between the two gods, Alyssa's expression was one of profound emotion. She looked into the divine mirror and silently called out, "Lady Astraea, Leon!"
The main force of Zeus and Hera's former kin!
The Empress, who is at level 9, and several adventurers, including Maxim, who are at level 8, as well as two heroes!
The powerful beings who delivered the final blows to "King of the Land - Behemoth" and "King of the Sea - Leviathan" are "Gluttony" Chardo and "Silence" Alphia!
Compared to the combat power of the present world, it presents an overwhelming advantage! It instills a deep sense of despair.