Erika, wearing a trench coat, walked alone along the winding path through hell.
A crow perched on her shoulder, its eyes kept wide open as it examined the strange scenery of this underworld together with Erika.
The underworld was not as chaotic and terrifying as Erika had imagined. There was no strong aura of death here.
Instead, amid this quiet and peaceful atmosphere, the lifeless feeling seemed to have softened quite a bit.
The soil of hell was covered with a layer of green grass, and the hideous dead souls were no longer here.
The surroundings were instead enclosed by towering, exquisite sculptures and magnificent buildings.
The pale-blue sky was clear and transparent, without a single cloud.
Only those cyan birds soared through the air, like ethereal souls.
Erika slowly walked across this mysterious land, her gaze occasionally falling on the grasslands on either side, where flowers could occasionally be seen among the grass.
These flowers were brightly colored, and every petal seemed to release a faint wisp of blue smoke.
As the wind gently brushed past, the petals swayed lightly, displaying an incredibly weightless beauty.
But Erika felt no surprise at the beautiful scenery before her.
Because Vega's words were still echoing in her mind, 'Viktor is already dead, so he cannot leave the underworld.'
'If you want to take him back, you can only obtain the permission of the Lord of the Underworld.'
Just a few words were enough for Erika to deeply feel how difficult the task was.
From Professor Viktor and Vega's words, she had learned that the terrifying giant she had just challenged was precisely the ruler of this underworld, the Lord of the Underworld...
Hades.
That battle had been over for quite some time, but the chilling pressure Hades had brought still lingered in Erika's heart.
His terrifying body of flames and the power to easily split space echoed deep within Erika's heart like a nightmare.
And now, she had to face this Lord of the Underworld again to save Professor Viktor.
This made Erika feel an unprecedented despair.
How could she possibly persuade such an existence?
The furious look on the Lord of the Underworld's face when he left was still vivid in her mind. She was worried that she would suffer his furious punishment before she could even open her mouth.
At the same time, she passed through a magnificent group of buildings and statues.
After crossing the lush grassland, she finally arrived beside a quiet river.
A faint blue mist drifted over the surface of the river, as though cold, lingering ghosts were dancing lightly above the water.
A cold sensation seeped in along with Erika's breathing, making her feel an icy chill and deep despair.
It was as if her entire body were tightly wrapped in frost, leaving her utterly exhausted.
Fortunately, Vega on her shoulder called out softly, pulling her back from the illusion.
Erika patted her chest with lingering fear and took several deep breaths.
She turned her gaze back toward the river.
The river was broad and deep. Erika looked toward the opposite bank, but could only vaguely see its edge.
The surface of the river was calm and still, appearing pitch-black and deep.
There were countless rivers like this one in the underworld. They crisscrossed one another in a complicated network, like a huge web.
And this river happened to be the closest river to the Gates of Hell, as well as the one closest to the human world.
Through this river, one could leave the underworld, and likewise, one could also enter deeper into hell.
Just as Erika stared at the water, Viktor's voice sounded in her mind, "Don't move from here. Someone will come to take you across the river soon."
"Remember, don't speak while crossing the river. Don't make any sound, and don't look back. The same goes when getting on and off the boat."
"Also, prepare some gold coins and give them to the ferryman."
Hearing the familiar voice in her mind, Erika nodded slightly.
Professor Viktor had guided her to this river.
He said that he wanted her to cross this river and find a friend she had never met before.
Although Erika didn't understand why Professor Viktor was so familiar with the underworld, as if he had been here countless times.
But she knew that in an unfamiliar place like this, she had to follow Viktor's guidance.
Erika clearly remembered her purpose.
To bring Professor Viktor out of hell.
Before long, a thick white mist silently rose over the river.
The mist was as dense as milk, obscuring the surface of the river and even making it impossible for Erika to see the deep black water.
The hazy mist covered the entire river like a thin veil, even slowly drifting toward both banks.
Erika stared at the white mist before her, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Through the dense mist, she vaguely saw what seemed to be a transparent boat floating on the water.
A ferryman wearing a large and bulky cloak stood on the boat.
His figure was mysterious and indistinct. Holding a long pole in his hand, he slowly rowed across the River of the Underworld.
Erika watched the scene before her and felt a chill run through her.
Someone was actually able to row a boat on this gloomy River of the Underworld. It was simply too strange.
Moreover, she always felt that the ferryman beneath that cloak looked extremely frightening.
Erika nervously swallowed, not even daring to breathe heavily, much less say a word.
However, when the transparent boat gradually approached the bank, she finally saw the ferryman's true appearance.
It turned out that the bulk beneath the cloak was made up of countless gold coins, which covered his entire body.
Even the pole in his hand was made of something that gleamed with a golden luster.
But what frightened Erika even more was the ferryman's true appearance hidden beneath the cloak.
A black, withered skeleton, its skull and hands gaunt and bony, giving off a gloomy aura.
Pale smoke drifted within the skeleton's eye sockets, while its teeth were also made of pure gold.
Erika couldn't imagine how such a frail body could support such heavy gold decorations.
At this moment, she didn't want to think any further about these strange things, because the scene before her was already enough to make her feel suffocated.
The skeleton ferryman then approached the bank and extended his dry, dark hand with three fingers toward her.
Erika froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered Professor Viktor's instructions.
She hurriedly took two gold coins from the pocket of Viktor's trench coat.
Erika looked at the two gold coins, feeling somewhat guilty, and awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth.
'It should be fine to spend the professor's money, right?'
When the gold coins landed in the ferryman's hand, he withdrew his arm.
He inspected them, tapped the coins, held them beside his ear to listen to the sound, and even bit them with his golden teeth.
After confirming that the gold coins were genuine, he put them into a cloth bag on his shoulder, producing a crisp clinking sound.
Clink!
The crisp sound reached Erika's ears. It was the sound of gold coins colliding with one another.
The ferryman moved slightly toward the stern, making room for Erika to stand.
She stared at the transparent little boat, her heart in turmoil.
'Will this work....'
But she had already come this far. There was no way to turn back now.
So Erika summoned her courage and stepped onto the boat.
The moment her feet landed on the boat, she could clearly feel how solid the transparent hull was.
And she herself was gradually obscured by the ethereal mist.
Erika stood on the boat. Through the transparent hull, she could even see the deep River of the Underworld beneath her feet.
At this moment, the scene beneath the river seemed to have changed.
Countless pale, wailing dead souls waved black hands of nothingness beneath the water, seemingly wanting to drag the living people passing by into the water.
However, this mysterious boat seemed to have some kind of magic cast upon it. The moment those distorted arms touched the hull, they quickly withdrew.
The longer Erika looked, the more she felt a chill enveloping her entire body, so she hurriedly raised her head and dared not look any further.
The little boat slowly set off, and the ferryman gently moved his pole through the water.
At this moment, Erika remembered Viktor's instructions and did not dare make a single sound.
The little boat crossed the river. Erika felt that the boat beneath her was as light as if it were floating, swaying only slightly.
Erika even had the illusion that she could float above the River of the Underworld.
However, she knew how deep and light the River of the Underworld was.
Even a feather could sink into it.
Only these boats belonging specifically to the underworld could cross the River of the Underworld.
These were all things Professor Viktor had told her.
She didn't know how much time had passed. The mist around her became so thick that Erika could barely see anything.
She began to feel sleepy and wanted to yawn.
But yawning would make a sound, so Erika held it back.
As the boat moved, the mist gradually thinned.
Erika felt that she seemed to see the opposite bank, which was covered in pure white snow.
Suddenly, Viktor's voice sounded in her mind, 'Now, you can speak.'
Erika immediately felt a burst of delight, and the pressure in her heart vanished.
She was just about to speak when suddenly, her entire body was drenched in cold sweat, as if a premonition of death were spreading over her head.
This made Erika instantly alert.
The professor had clearly said before that she absolutely could not speak while crossing the river.
How could the professor suddenly violate the instructions he had just given her?
As she thought about it, the fear in her heart gradually grew stronger.
So she stubbornly endured it and ignored the voice in her mind.
She didn't speak until the boat reached the bank and Erika got off.
Even after hearing the sound of the boat leaving the water, she didn't look back.
She firmly walked forward along the snow-covered road, remembering Viktor's words.
After getting off the boat, don't look back either.
After a while, the cold voice in her mind finally sounded again, "You can speak now."
This time, Erika finally relaxed and let out a long breath, "Did I do the right thing just now, Professor?"
In her mind came Viktor's voice, carrying a hint of satisfaction.
"As a ferryman, Charon will give hints during the crossing."
"If you make a sound while crossing the river, Charon will know that you are alive, and will ultimately throw you into the River of the Underworld."
The dead cannot speak. If she wanted this somewhat strange ferryman to take her across the river, she had to make him believe that the person he was carrying was dead.
"You did very well."
Erika lifted her nose slightly and smiled proudly.
Professor Viktor's praise could keep her in a good mood for a long time.
Carrying this relaxed feeling, she continued along the snow-covered path.
The snow beneath her feet made a faint crunching sound as it was compressed beneath her steps.
As she walked, a ray of sunlight seemed to shine down from between the clouds in the distance.
The golden light shimmered across the snow-covered land, particularly dazzling.
Erika widened her eyes, full of surprise.
For a moment just now, she felt as if she had left hell and returned to the human world.
But when she followed the sunlight with her gaze, a vibrant garden full of flowers appeared before her.
Although the surroundings were covered in thick white snow, this lush, life-filled land existed like a miracle.
Seeing the scene before her, Erika couldn't help but stride forward and enter it.
However, the moment her foot touched the grass, Erika felt as if all four of her limbs had solidified.
An invisible force seemed to have bound her entire body.
Strong astonishment rose in her heart, and at the same time, a chaotic and ethereal voice came from the sky, "A living person? How could a living person enter this place?"
"Why have you come?"
Although this voice was light, it was not gentle at all when it reached Erika's ears.
It was just like that Lord of the Underworld. It seemed extremely frightening.
At this moment, Erika's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and even breathing had become difficult.
But soon, Viktor's cool voice echoed in her mind, 'Give me your body.'
Hearing this, Erika seemed to give up struggling to break free from the restraints and closed her eyes.
Just one second later, she opened her eyes again.
Her gaze was sharp and calm.
She calmly put both hands into her pockets and said in an extremely calm voice, "You were the one who invited me here, Queen of the Underworld."
The corners of Erika's mouth lifted slightly, and a teasing provocation flashed in her eyes, "Madam, I came here because I accepted your invitation, to spend some time with you."
"You wouldn't refuse me, would you?"
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