Bet It All Like Brothers! 3/3

The dark and eerie waters of the River Styx churned violently, the shifting Death Qi outlining distorted, wailing faces that frantically swarmed the ferry, drawn by the scent of life.

Charon, as was his habit, stirred the long pole in his hand, and the ripples from the Styx quickly shattered and crushed these resentful ghosts.

Even if some fish manage to escape, God of Death, standing at the stern, easily dispatches them without requiring Samael or Artemis to worry about them.

On the boat, Samael stroked his chin, his gaze secretly shifting between the ferryman and God of Death, his expression strange.

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems. Charon won't throw us into the River Styx in front of his own brothers."

Seemingly noticing that his employer harbored doubts, Sisyphus, who had become familiar with Samael in the underworld, spoke up to reassure him.

Since Thanatos took over the role of guide, Sisyphus has felt somewhat threatened, so he is naturally willing to show his worth in any situation where he can play a role.

Brother?

The ancient serpent paused slightly, looking at Sisyphus with confusion. This convict then proceeded to explain the relationship between God of Death and the Styx Ferryman in a very insightful manner.

In fact, Thanatos and Charon were both sons of Nyx, Goddess of Night, and they also had a brother, Hypnos, God of Sleep.

The existence of Nyx, Goddess of Night, is quite ancient.

Legend has it that she, along with Erebus, the Dark God, Tartarus, the god of the abyss, were the three earliest primordial deities of the underworld.

However, since the three ancient gods were the embodiment of the Rules, they did not possess physical forms. Therefore, after the world stabilized and the age of gods declined, they successively merged into the operation of the underworld.

For example, Tartarus prison was created by Tartarus, the god of the abyss, and the three dark curtains behind the three copper walls of the underworld were formed by the remaining power of Erebus, the Dark God.

So that's what those three dark curtains were all about. No wonder their senses were so severely restricted by this Artemis.

In addition, it is worth noting that the three ancient deities of the underworld have not completely disappeared.

They each left behind a physical inheritance free from nothingness.

Among them, the descendant of Tartarus, the god of the abyss, is Typhon, King of Divine Monsters, and this troublemaker is still chained by the dogs of Olympus.

The Dark God, Erebus, and the Nyx, Goddess of Night, were united and had multiple successors, resulting in a relatively dispersed power.

Currently, the only ones still alive and kicking under Zeus's nose seem to be the three brothers: Hypnos, God of Death, and Styx Ferryman.

Hypnos and God of Death are alright, as they possess some degree of powerful divine authority.

Charon, Ferryman of the Styx, had a much worse time. He could only rely on rowing his boat to pluck scraps of faith from the mouths of passing spirits to keep himself in a half-dead state.

Samael, however, didn't seem to care.

The world is constantly changing; the succession of divine authority and the weakening and fall of gods are the norm.

Today, after the process of natural selection, Greece has gradually formed three major lineages: the Olympus gods headed by Zeus, the Ocean Gods headed by Poseidon, and the underworld gods headed by Hades.

Now in the underworld, after King of the Underworld and Queen of the Underworld wife Hades, the gods of the underworld, came down to Hypnos, God of Death, and the three brothers Styx Ferryman, followed by Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, the three Great Underworld Judge.

Compared to Olympus, who filled Zeus almost entirely with his own people, Hades was a more accommodating and empowering superior.

Just as Samael and Sisyphus were gossiping about the gods of the underworld, they happened to turn their heads and see Medea, who had been following them like a little tail, now squatting on the deck of the ship, leaning on her staff and silently reciting a prayer in divine language.

"What's wrong?"

The ancient snake seemed concerned and asked in a low voice.

"I feel that Lady Hecate has been secretly guiding us along the way, so I would like to express my gratitude to her."

Little Medea raised her head, smiled shyly, and responded earnestly.

"Hecate? Where is she? Where is she? I can't find her."

Upon hearing this, Circe, who was nearby, couldn't help but chirp and move closer, shaking his head from side to side and looking around.

However, the thick fog of death that permeated the River Styx made it impossible for the Great Witch to see her surroundings, which made her look at her little niece with suspicion.

"Really! I'm not lying!"

Little Medea frowned and spoke with great conviction.

"She's right, the Goddess of the Dark Moon is indeed here..."

Following the direction Medea pointed, Samael sensed something, his eyes flashing with Cross Star Pupils, and he smiled slightly.

The ancient serpent's senses penetrated the surging deathly mist, extending to the riverbank. In a fleeting glance, it saw a figure holding the Dark Moon Scepter, draped in a light veil, with purple hair and eyes, and slightly pointed ears, quietly standing opposite, gazing at the ferry from afar.

Wait! Her face!

Samael's expression was one of surprise at first, then he lowered his eyes and looked strangely at the innocent and naive Medea on the ship.

After a short while, the fog above the River Styx gradually thinned, and the ferry slowly docked at the riverbank.

At the Ferry Terminal leading to the boundless plains, stood the graceful Hecate, Goddess of the Dark Moon.

"My Goddess! I knew it was you!"

Seeing this, Medea's eyes lit up. Overjoyed, she jumped ashore and ran to Hecate, excitedly taking her hand.

However, the Goddess of the Dark Moon subtly brushed aside Medea's arm and subconsciously took small steps to move away.

The instant their skin separated from contact, Samael glanced sharply at the fingers of the Goddess of the Dark Moon hidden within her long sleeves. They were frighteningly pale and translucent, with wisps of sticky purplish-red mist resembling pulled maltose.

"You can go back now. I'll lead them the rest of the way."

As Samael and the others landed, Hecate gracefully approached, her cool whisper emanating from beneath her purple veil.

Both the indifferent Thanatos, God of Death, and the eccentric Charon, Ferryman of the Styx, listened respectfully with their bodies pressed together, displaying a deep-seated obedience.

Charon then raised his long pole, carrying Thanatos, and steered the ferry into the deathly gray fog.

Samael raised his hand halfway, then quietly lowered it again, watching the two insiders leave.

The ancient serpent gazed meaningfully at Hecate beside him and Medea, who habitually followed behind him.

I was right.

If that's the case, it's worth taking the risk!

"Your Highness, let's go..."

Samael pulled Medea up, placing her between the little girl and the goddess Hecate, and smiled as he offered a reminder.

Hecate gave the ancient serpent a deep look, nodded slightly, and rose to lead the way.

Above the boundless plains shrouded in gray, deathly fog, tens of thousands of resentful and unwilling spirits wandered and scratched before a golden barrier constructed of densely packed divine runes, refusing to retreat.

This wall, called the Wall of Sighs, is the final barrier separating the Elysium from the Underworld.

Once you overcome this obstacle, even the smallest spirit can attain the life it dreams of.

More often than not, they can only sigh in despair, and when this obsession completely dissipates, the ghosts will decompose into floating will-o'-the-wisps, eventually becoming pure Death Qi.

Led by Hecate, the group walked from the Ferry Terminal, and thousands of unconscious phosphorescent lights floated on the endless plains.

The Goddess of the Dark Moon raised her hand and gently waved her staff. Whether it was the vengeful and persistent ghosts or the will-o'-the-wisps drifting aimlessly, they all fled in panic like mice seeing a cat, leaving a path leading straight to the Wall of Sighs.

Immediately afterwards, the procession moved forward to the light-like barrier. Hecate tapped her scepter lightly, and the brick-shaped divine structure automatically receded on both sides, revealing Elysium core of Elysium layer by layer, like peeling an onion.

Following behind the Goddess of the Dark Moon, the group moved forward with trepidation. After breaking through a layer of water-like obstruction, their weakened senses instantly became several times clearer. The fragrance of the soil, the warmth of the sun, and the chirping of insects and birds were all clearly captured. A strong sense of vitality filled their hearts, cleansing their bodies and souls.

At the same time, Orion, who had been half-dead in Artemis's arms, burst out of the goddess's cleavage like a stimulant rat, and charged forward madly.

On the opposite side, figures emerged from the fragrant sea of flowers, their eyes gleaming as they watched the visiting guests approach, and they quickly walked over one after another.

Medea the Reindeer. jpg