Underworld Journey

The group soon arrived at the Underworld Bureaucracy.

As they passed through the Gates of Hell, Ichigo and the others saw rows upon rows of souls standing in long lines, heading toward a long and gloomy road. On either side were dark forests and rivers flowing with blood.

At the end of that main road was a blood-red river, its waters rushing violently and its waves surging.

Across the boundless river, the only place leading to the other side was a single wooden bridge.

At the center of that ancient, elegant wooden bridge sat a gigantic toad with white eyebrows and a white beard. It was using a huge cauldron to boil something.

Almost every soul that passed before it received a bowl of soup glowing with green light. Only the souls that drank it were allowed to cross.

At the end of the bridge stood a towering Stone Pillar that reached into the clouds. It seemed to pierce the entire Netherworld, with no end in sight.

Beyond it was a vast cluster of palaces. As for what lay inside, Ichigo and the others did not know yet.

Just as the group was surveying their surroundings,

Madara gave a light cough.

"Since you'll be working at the Underworld Bureaucracy in the future, I'll explain its procedures to you.

"The place we just entered, which looked like a huge mouth, is called the Gates of Hell. The Gates of Hell are an important passage for guiding souls from the World of the Living into the Underworld Bureaucracy. Don't be fooled by the fact that they stand in the Netherworld. Whenever any soul dies, the first thing it sees is them.

"After passing through the Gates of Hell, the road beneath our feet is called the Yellow Springs Road. It means this