Chapter 258: Descending to the Underworld
Merlin's head was wrapped in bandages, and he was still in a complete daze. The beating he had taken from Muscular Fou had made him question his own existence. Did the Fourth Beast have such an alternative form? Pure physical strength, and of such high purity.
Recalling the previous experience of having his face pressed by a ball of fluff, that had been better. Muscular Fou was too brutal. It had almost beaten him to the point where he couldn't take care of himself.
"That potion is really quite the potion," Atashino said with a smile.
Of course it was magical. It had been concocted by Tom. After Jerry drank a few sips, he was able to pin Tom down and thrash him!
[Star Forger]: "@I Love Frying Pans Wolffy, can you concoct a potion that can cause a person's strength to increase explosively by many times for a short period?"
Kenji thought of the Wolf King. This inventor from Green Green Grassland could create all sorts of strange and wonderful inventions.
[I Love Frying Pans]: "A piece of cake. Do you want it now?"
He often received delicious lamb from Kenji, and his life had gotten much better. From time to time, he would go to the Goat Village for a walk to aid his digestion and test out new inventions. This was his current daily routine.
[Ghost of the Uchiha]: "I still don't get it. You can invent this kind of thing, but you can't catch a sheep?"
[I Love Frying Pans]: "I can catch the sheep. But I can't eat them."
Wolffy had caught the little sheep and brought them back to Wolf Castle many times, but in the end, they never made it into his stomach, always escaping for various reasons.
[God's Tongue]: "Since you can't eat the sheep from the Goat Village, you could eat sheep from other places."
[Star Forger]: "Wolves have a very strong sense of territory."
His Lotta would urinate near their residence to mark its territory. No beast dared to approach that area; otherwise, it would be seen as a provocation. And besides, the scriptwriters wouldn't allow it. The main stage was Green Green Grassland.
[Star Forger]: "It's just like Madara being backstabbed by Black Zetsu. You had more of a final boss's oppressive aura than Kaguya Otsutsuki, but you were just hastily written out of the story."
The presence, the deterrence, the combat experience, the unparalleled prestige... these were all things Kaguya couldn't bring.
[Ghost of the Uchiha]: "Don't mention that pitch-black fellow."
Madara's face darkened. Being stabbed in the back by Hashirama... he hadn't felt so humiliated. What was Black Zetsu even?
[Cautious Hero]: "You still weren't cautious enough. Your back is a weak point, easily sneak-attacked. Madara, you should have used your Truth-Seeking Orbs to create three layers of armor."
[Shadowkhan Queen]: "Three layers... it's not for that purpose, is it?"
Jade instantly thought of the plot of the Cautious Hero anime.
[Cautious Hero]: "That's right. One to wear, a spare, and a spare for the spare."
[Gudako]: "You really are an armor maniac!?"
Such insane caution... are we playing with nesting dolls here?
[The One Who Will Win]: "If I could put on three layers of Infinity, that would be interesting."
Gojo had an idea. Three layers of Infinity... it probably still couldn't block that kind of space-cutting slash.
The Underworld.
Ereshkigal was stomping her feet, her face filled with frustration. She, the mistress of the underworld, was actually unable to take Kenji's soul. It was like trying to pull the stars—it wouldn't budge at all. She, on the other hand, was exhausted.
I don't understand! Is he even human? How can a human's soul be so heavy? His soul and spirit don't even show a hint of fatigue!
On the surface, in the city of Uruk.
"Was that Eresh?"
Kenji scratched his head. He had just felt his soul being tugged at, but it had quickly stopped. There was no intent to harm him. Not only his body, but his soul had also long since transformed. Ordinary soul-based techniques could not affect him in the slightest.
"She sent an invitation, so of course I have to go and see..."
"Atashino, I'm leaving for a bit. You can walk around here," Kenji said. Don't be fooled by the fact that Atashino hadn't fought much. After eating so many high-energy ingredients, her strength could also easily reach the level of star-busting.
"I know. Don't worry about me," Atashino nodded.
Kenji vanished, instantly arriving in the gloomy underworld. There was only a single path here, wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side. Below was a bottomless abyss. The souls trapped in the spear-cages emitted a faint, blue-green light, one of the few light sources on this path.
After passing through seven gates, one would arrive at Ereshkigal's palace.
"There's no suppression."
A small, rotating sun rose from Kenji's fingertip. Here, he could still use his original power.
Following the path, he soon arrived at the first stone gate. The next part should be the questioning session.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Open up! Your grandpa from space is here to deliver some warmth!"
Kenji knocked lightly on the special force field outside the stone gate. If he used a little force, he could shatter it.
"Huh?"
Ereshkigal, in her underworld palace, heard someone knocking and was taken aback. She quickly cast her gaze to the stone gate's location. What's going on? Someone has entered the underworld, and I, the mistress, didn't even notice?
"It's him..."
Seeing Kenji, Ereshkigal's heart leaped with joy. I was just trying to hook your soul to the underworld, and you came to my door yourself!
Calm down. Be reserved. Now is the questioning session.
[Living being who has entered this place, answer~ answer~]
[Question...]
"It's Eresh. The answer to the question is Eresh," Kenji directly buzzed in.
[Ah~?]
Eresh was dumbfounded. I haven't even asked the question yet, and you've already answered so quickly? How am I supposed to react to that?
However, that was the standard answer. So of course, the answer was correct. Open the gate. I must open the gate.
A blush crept onto Ereshkigal's fair cheeks. She directly and without hesitation opened the gate for Kenji. He had spoken directly to her heart.
The stone gate slowly opened. And then the next six stone gates all opened at the same time.
Kenji was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and strode forward. The path was clear. She really was easy to handle.
In front of the palace, Ereshkigal, wearing her crown, stood there, her red face filled with nervousness. What should I say for the first line? Is there a guide I can refer to? Her personality was rather introverted, or perhaps, she had some social anxiety.
Tap...
The clear sound of footsteps echoed in the space. Kenji had arrived. He looked around. It really was a rather monotonous and desolate environment. A normal person would quickly have a mental breakdown in a place like this.
Kenji thought of a way to remodel it. The Stars - Regalia of the Star Forger appeared in his palm. The laws of creation manifested, directly shaking the very concept of the underworld.
"Create—"
He stomped his foot lightly. One by one, Star Flowers broke through the soil of the underworld, instantly forming a sea of flowers. The starlight they bloomed with dispelled the gloom and brought a unique kind of light. To create a flower that could grow in the underworld... it was a little difficult.
"My underworld... is blooming?"
Ereshkigal rubbed her eyes. All her nervousness was thrown to the back of her mind. She squatted down, her fingertips carefully touching the beautiful Star Flowers. They were real. In this underworld, filled with the concept of the underworld, flowers were blooming.
Kenji stomped again. Red Spider Lilies bloomed on that path. This was the flower of the underworld; making them grow was relatively simple.
Ereshkigal covered her mouth with both hands, not knowing how to express the surging excitement in her heart.
Can I roll around in the sea of flowers?