Ch. 1081Netherworld (Part 2)
Chapter Summary: Netherworld (Part 2)
Key Plot Points and Events
- The Netherworld continues taking shape as the River Styx nears completion. Its influence spreads across the universe, drawing dead souls from every plane—especially the Main World—toward the future Underworld.
- Romon and Molansi discuss the implications of the River Styx. Its formation is beginning to call forth a Lord of Death, while various death-related forces gather and attempt to condense a Death Godhood.
- Molansi reveals that only twenty-five million demons are available for the immediate construction effort, while the remaining Abyssal Dukes may already suspect her plans. She intends to use a demon blood sacrifice once the new cities are built.
- A vast gray-marble city is constructed by eighty million demons. Blood seeps through its walls, suggesting its role in the coming sacrificial ritual.
- Romon leaves Molansi to absorb and process the power he has accumulated. He upgrades Shennong Horn Space to the Twenty-Eighth Level, doubling its land area to five billion mu and absorbing the power of millions of demons, angels, and three Dukes.
- Romon gains the Water Domain, strengthening his authority over his divine space. The World Tree also grows substantially and produces two golden fruits.
- Romon determines that further advancement will require immense power. He plans to gather more angels and demons and eventually raid the Mist World, which contains at least one hundred Divine Beings.
- In the Radiant Realm, the Lord of Radiance learns that Molansi is abandoning the Devil Race to pursue Death Authority. He decides to intervene personally and launches a campaign of sixty million angels.
- The elemental planes are also overtaken by divine forces:
- The Flame Monarch is killed in the Fire Elemental Plane.
- The Sea King submits to a goddess in the Water Elemental Plane.
- A goddess takes control of the Earth Elemental Plane.
- A Wind Giant pledges allegiance to another goddess in the Wind Elemental Plane.
- The chapter ends as the entire universe trembles, signaling major changes in the cosmic balance of power.
Character Developments
- Romon grows stronger after upgrading his divine space and gaining the Water Domain. His status as a Primordial Deity and First Authority Holder of Space deepens, and his territory becomes substantially larger and more powerful.
- Romon becomes increasingly strategic and ambitious. He begins planning future power acquisitions, including harvesting Divine Beings from the Mist World and pursuing further upgrades.
- Molansi moves closer to becoming a true Death deity. Her transformation of the Abyss into the Netherworld and reliance on demon sacrifices show her willingness to abandon her former race and pursue a new cosmic role.
- The Lord of Radiance shifts from observation to direct intervention. He recognizes Molansi’s threat and personally leads a massive angelic expedition.
- The former rulers of the elemental planes lose their independence: the Flame Monarch dies, while the Sea King and other elemental powers submit to new divine rulers.
Significant Themes
- Death and cosmic order: Death is portrayed not simply as destruction but as repose and a necessary force sustaining the universe. The River Styx represents the institutionalization of death on a universal scale.
- Transformation and rebirth: The Abyss is becoming the Netherworld, Molansi is changing from Devil ruler to potential Death God, and Romon’s divine space continually evolves into a more complete world.
- Power accumulation: Characters measure progress through territory, sacrifices, souls, divine energy, and Godhood. Advancement depends on absorbing the remains or power of other beings.
- Political and divine realignment: The rise of the Netherworld threatens the existing balance among gods, angels, demons, and elemental rulers, prompting alliances, conquests, and campaigns.
- The limits of divine control: The gods influence universal order but remain dependent on the worlds and laws that sustain them. Even powerful deities must adapt to changes generated by the River Styx and other cosmic forces.
Important Character Interactions
- Romon and Molansi cooperate in building the Netherworld, though their goals are distinct: Molansi seeks Death Authority, while Romon seeks power and resources for his own advancement.
- Romon and Molansi acknowledge the danger posed by the River Styx’s call for a Lord of Death and discuss the logistical challenges of sacrificing enough demons.
- The Lord of Radiance and his angels respond to reports about Molansi, ultimately deciding to launch a direct military expedition.
- The Lord of Radiance and the rewarded Demigod: The Demigod receives Domain knowledge and a Divine Power Crystal for his service, illustrating the Lord of Radiance’s control over divine advancement.
- New goddesses and elemental rulers: The Sea King, Earth Giants, and Wind Giants submit to or follow invading divine powers, while the Flame Monarch is forcibly removed, demonstrating the rapid conquest of the elemental planes.