Chapter 981: Chapter 981: The Dream of Filling the Underworld with Flowers
The entire world was shrouded in darkness. Only the spear cages on the ground, each loaded with blue flames, illuminated the surrounding path.
Relying on that faint blue fire, the road ahead could barely be seen. More spear cages carrying blue flames hung overhead. Looking closely, the surroundings were all rock formations, resembling the inside of a vast stalactite cave.
From this alone, it was clear this was not a world, but an enormous cavernous space. The cavern twisted and branched into countless passages, yet this path was steeped in danger. Though many routes seemed to exist, in truth, there was only a single road forward.
This place was the "Coffin."
It was the path where souls came to rest, and also the temporary holding ground for the departed.
Bell walked along the long, narrow road, observing everything around him.
"The scale here is far larger than it looks."
The space felt as if it had been artificially extended. Bell could clearly tell that the interior of the Underworld had been repeatedly expanded and folded, all to maximize its internal capacity.
This "Coffin" was much like the Snake Way from Dragon Ball—winding and endless, appearing as though its end and the road ahead were visible, yet that was nothing more than an illusion. Under normal circumstances, reaching the end of this path would likely take one or two full years.
Bell gazed toward the distant terminus. Everything seemed right before his eyes, yet it felt impossibly far away.
"No wonder it’s called the path where souls find rest."
Anyone who walked this road would fall silent. By the time a soul reached its end, it truly would be ready to rest.
"The Coffin is very well made, Ereshkigal."
"Thank you for the praise."
The Underworld goddess beside Bell accepted the compliment with a bright smile.
She had poured immense effort into constructing the Underworld of the new world, almost completely recreating the Underworld she once ruled, while also making many adjustments along the way.
’Beyond the Coffin and the Soul-Soothing Path lies the junction of reincarnation. However, the Underworld hasn’t yet been endowed with the Authority of reincarnation, so souls can’t be sent through the cycle just yet.’
Sufficient space had already been reserved for reincarnation, and many distinct regions had been built within the Underworld. The Coffin served as the preliminary path where souls were placed, as well as the road that allowed them to find peace.
’After the Coffin and the Soul-Soothing Path comes the Hall of Judgment. It records the good and evil of a soul’s lifetime, determines its nature, rewards good souls, and assigns punishment to evil ones.’
"The hells for punishing evil souls have already been completed, though construction on the punishment systems is still ongoing. After the Hall of Judgment comes the Hall of Reincarnation."
"Although a large portion is still unfinished, the initial construction of the Underworld is complete. Next, once the ’World’ installs the Authority of reincarnation into the Underworld, the Hall of Reincarnation can begin full construction."
Though it wasn’t finished yet, everything was progressing steadily. Once the Authority of reincarnation descended upon the Underworld, its construction would quickly enter the final stage.
Listening to Ereshkigal’s report, Bell nodded slightly.
"Then I’ll define good and evil next."
"The Hall of Judgment doesn’t need anyone to operate it directly. It only needs to determine good and evil according to a strict dualistic standard."
"Human judgment can make mistakes. But if good and evil themselves define the verdict, the chance of misjudgment drops dramatically."
Bell raised his hand slightly. At the empty expanse at the end of the Coffin, violent tremors erupted as a massive structure slowly rose from the ground.
The palace was colored in stark black and white. Above the entrance hall hung a plaque bearing the words "Hall of Judgment."
"Souls that are classified will then face the endless judgment of Hell, or enter reincarnation."
"Now, about the previous request."
"The Underworld forbidding the entry of living beings is an unchangeable rule. Once that rule is broken, the Underworld would become a sieve that anyone could pass through."
"However, that restriction can be confined to a thin outer layer."
As he spoke, Bell began defining the outer boundary of the Underworld, further solidifying the rule that only souls could enter. This delineation completely separated the interior of the Underworld from the outside, enforcing the absolute limitation that only souls were permitted entry.
The Underworld was now fully isolated from the outside world. Only souls could pass through. The gods of the Underworld held absolute control over incoming souls, and the Underworld itself exerted overwhelming restraint upon them, ensuring no soul could cause trouble within.
Under this set of rules, the lifeless appearance of the Underworld remained only on its outer surface. Internally, the conditions for life had quietly taken shape.
Under Ereshkigal’s gaze, Bell retrieved a seed from his coat and casually tossed it onto the ground of the Coffin.
The seed took root the moment it touched the ground. Its stem pushed upward, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye, blooming rapidly—
The first flower of the Underworld blossomed. A rose.
"It really bloomed..."
Ereshkigal stared blankly at the flower growing from the ground. She could clearly feel its vigorous life force, the vitality yearning to burst forth. She crouched down, trembling slightly as she reached out to touch the rose.
Her movements were incredibly careful, as though she feared her own strength might damage it.
Bell watched quietly from the side. He understood how much this moment meant to Ereshkigal.
Unlike Ishtar, who had enjoyed endless skies since birth and witnessed all the beauty of the world, Ereshkigal had been born into the Underworld itself. She had been entrusted with heavy responsibility from the very beginning, serving as the goddess who ruled it.
She had never seen flowers blooming on the surface. Even though she cherished and protected every soul, she still longed for an Underworld filled with vitality, rather than one steeped in death, like a cage that confined her.
"How is it?"
Bell understood her emotions at this moment. Giving everyone hope and beauty, offering a path upward for all—that was the meaning of the new world, and exactly what Bell wished to see.
"Thank you..."
Her emotions overflowed beyond words. A faint shimmer of tears filled Ereshkigal’s eyes. The small flower blooming at her feet made her realize that the Underworld would never be the same again.
And she loved it. She truly loved the Underworld as it was now.
For fulfilling her deepest wish, she had nothing but gratitude for Bell. Yet she couldn’t find the words to express it.
Bell smiled softly.
"From now on, what colors bloom in the Underworld will be up to you."
"But remember, you can’t neglect the duties of an Underworld god."
"Otherwise, your punishment will be their punishment."
"I know!"
Ereshkigal gathered her emotions, her resolve now firmer than ever. She would never allow anyone to damage the Underworld as it was now—not even herself.
She wanted her Underworld to bloom with beautiful flowers.
No one was allowed to stop her.
