In the cold underworld, only the chaotic gun turrets stood scattered in all directions like lighthouses, with ghostly flames burning inside, illuminating the surroundings.
Rozen and his group stopped their banter and looked at the scene in heavy silence.
Because...
"Those things in the spear bodies are human souls."
Ishtar spoke in a tone as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
"The spear bodies created by Ereshkigal are all prisons meant to confine souls. Human souls trapped inside can neither leave nor be freed; they can only remain there forever, tormented by the cold."
The underworld had no sunlight to begin with, and combined with the intense scent of death, the temperature was so low that ordinary humans could hardly withstand it—let alone souls who had lost their physical bodies. There was no concept of warmth for them, only the constant invasion of this unbearable cold.
Therefore, the Goddess of the Underworld needed to create prisons not to imprison the souls, but to preserve them—giving them a more comfortable place to dwell.
But judging by Ishtar's tone, she clearly didn't believe Ereshkigal would do something so kind.
After all, the latter was the one who had ruthlessly killed her. In Ishtar's mind, Ereshkigal must be a cold and heartless goddess, right?
She even said it herself:
"Now that you've come to the underworld, it's too late to regret it—even if you wanted to. So I'll tell you now: if you really die here, this is what awaits you."
Ishtar pointed to the spear bodies as she spoke.
"If you don't want to end up like that, then struggle with everything you've got."
After saying that, Ishtar walked forward on her own.
Seeing this, Mash hurried to catch up.
Rozen followed as well, while still confirming the situation at hand.
For example…
"How are you holding up, Altera?"
Rozen asked his other Servant, who was silently guarding him in Spirit Form.
"No problem."
Altera's voice rang out calmly.
"Although I've manifested as a Heroic Spirit and possess divinity, due to my unique nature, the laws of the underworld have only limited effect on me."
Hearing Altera's words, Rozen finally felt relieved.
After all, if even Altera couldn't exert her power in the underworld, then when it came time to face Ereshkigal, Rozen would have to go all out and risk everything.
Now that he had confirmed that Altera still retained her combat ability, Rozen could rest a little easier.
However…
"Speaking of which, if those spear bodies really are prisons for souls, then… isn't there a bit too many of them?"
"Indeed. Just from what we've seen on the way here, there are already so many that I've lost count."
"Have this many people already died on the surface?"
Voices filled with doubt and unease came through the communicator from Olga Marie, Da Vinci, and Roman.
Originally, after entering the underworld, everyone had been worried whether communication with Chaldea would be cut off. Fortunately, the underworld of this era was simply beneath the city of Kutha, and still existed within the same plane of existence as the surface—so communication was still possible.
Though… that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Just like now, seeing the underworld for what it truly was caused a heavy sense of dread to fall over everyone in Chaldea.
Ishtar, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all.
"Do you people even understand the current situation? Who knows how many people have already been slaughtered by the Beast of the Beast Goddess. So is it really so strange that the underworld is overflowing with dead souls?"
Ishtar explained casually as she led the way.
"You should feel lucky. It seems like all the undead monsters in the underworld have been sent out by Ereshkigal. So things here are relatively unguarded right now. As long as you obediently follow me and pass through the Seven Gates, you'll reach Ereshkigal's palace."
At that, Mash couldn't help but speak up.
"Seven Gates?"
Apparently, Mash didn't know about this.
In the end, it was Chaldea's group who provided the explanation.
"You mean the Seven Gates of Trial, right?"
Da Vinci's voice sounded, as cheerful as ever.
"In Sumerian mythology, the underworld has seven gates that judge the good and evil of souls, doesn't it?"
"That's right."
Roman's voice followed.
"They're seven just and rational gates. Anyone who comes before them will be subjected to their questions."
"I see. So depending on the answers, one's goodness or evil will be judged differently?"
Olga Marie said thoughtfully.
"After all, good and evil are of equal value. What changes is the person who chooses between them. So depending on the answers, the value of the soul itself will differ. That's what you mean, right?"
"Well, that's the gist of it."
Ishtar replied lazily.
"Those seven gates, used to judge the morality of souls, are the so-called Seven Gates. Only by passing through all seven can you reach Ereshkigal. Otherwise, your soul will be frozen in the underworld until it turns to dust."
Hearing that, Rozen glanced at Ishtar and chuckled.
"According to the myth, the first thing the goddess Ishtar encountered when descending into the underworld was exactly those Seven Gates… and things didn't go well for her, did they?"
"Ugh…"
Ishtar's pretty face suddenly stiffened slightly.
"What happened?"
Mash asked in confusion.
"It's simple. The Seven Gates aren't just about asking questions—they're also a trial."
Rozen explained with no reservation.
"Depending on the answer, the gate will make its own judgment. If the answer is hypocritical, wicked, hateful, or envy-inducing, the gate will inflict punishment. On the other hand, if it's sincere, kind, and acceptable even to the Goddess of the Underworld, the gate will open on its own and allow you to pass."
Given that, Ishtar's experience when she entered the underworld is easy to understand.
"Facing the seven trial gates, the reckless goddess Ishtar gave all the wrong answers. As a result, with each gate she passed, one of her divine authorities was taken away. After all seven… all her authorities were stripped."
Rozen shrugged.
"At the time, Ishtar carried exactly seven divine authorities. So after passing through the Seven Gates, she was left with nothing—completely powerless. Even if she did meet Ereshkigal then, she would've been nothing more than a bug easily squashed."
Under such circumstances, the foolhardy goddess who dared enter the underworld could only face one outcome.
Which, as it turns out, is exactly what the myth says.
Ishtar was cruelly killed—until the shepherd god Dumuzi intervened, and she was finally revived.
That is the legend of Ishtar's descent into the underworld.