Ch. 501I, Fu Yuan, Smash the Holy Grail War
Key Plot Points and Events
- The group approaches the Gate of the Underworld, which judges human souls based on their answers to unpredictable questions.
- Ishtar reveals she previously bribed the gate with her seven Noble Phantasms to open it.
- Mash volunteers to approach the gate first, as her pure soul, inherited from Galahad, might be best suited to answer the gate's questions.
- The gate asks a question set by the Underworld Goddess, Ereshkigal: "Who is the most beautiful goddess, Ereshkigal or Ishtar?"
Character Developments
- Mash displays her purity and willingness to help, gaining confidence from her companions.
- Ishtar shows a mix of arrogance and insecurity regarding her beauty, reacting defensively to the gate's question.
Significant Themes
- The judgment of souls based on their actions and beliefs.
- The concept of absolute beauty and its subjectivity.
- The power dynamics between gods and their domains.
Character Interactions
- Mash and Romani from Chaldea express confidence in Mash's purity and ability to answer the gate's questions.
- Ishtar reacts defensively to the gate's question, leading to a brief moment of tension with Fu Yuan and his companions.
- Fu Yuan and his companions struggle to provide helpful suggestions due to the unexpected nature of the gate's question.