Only God-Chapter 515 - 443: The Trials of the Netherworld Judges (Double Update)

Chapter 515: Chapter 443: The Trials of the Netherworld Judges (Double Update)

After granting Aston’s request, the hero immediately found the Judge of Netherworld, who was taking a rest on the Great Plain, and informed him that he had decided to forgive his son, offering a father’s forgiveness.

Netherworld judgment and sentencing were like the courts in the Mortal World: when the victim made a decision of forgiveness, the criminal’s punishment would accordingly be reduced.

Thus, under Aston’s forgiveness, a few Judges of Netherworld briefly deliberated and decided to mitigate his son’s punishment, while the heroes observing secretly, returned to the bank of the Water Galaxy with this outcome.

They informed the Ferryman, Somi, about this matter and showed the stingy boatman Aston’s letter of forgiveness.

The old boatman immediately broke down in tears. Without saying much more, he let the heroes board the boat quickly, willing to risk his life to take this group to the realm of the Palace.

"Is your loyalty not Gold?"

A hero mocked as they boarded.

"Indeed, because it is Gold, it can be traded,"

Somi replied, without blushing or skipping a beat, even with utmost seriousness.

Shortly after, the boat reached the shore.

Baird and his companions, following Somi’s directions, headed toward the Palace.

They had brought livestock from the Great Plain onto the boat, intended for sacrifice. The heroes led the cattle and sheep, continually moving forward.

As they approached the Palace, the heroes led the sacrificial livestock and performed the sacrifice rituals in accordance with the Sleep Goddess’s faith: first offering wine, then praying to Esroa, and finally offering the meat of the livestock, leaving the most valuable livestock blood to be presented directly to the Queen of the Netherworld.

The heroes loudly chanted prayers, seeming more devout than anyone could be in the Mortal World.

As they approached the Palace with the blood of the livestock, there were no souls around, and along the road, only the pale-white death flowers appeared, eerie and chilling.

Fortunately, these heroes had courage beyond ordinary beings. Shortly after, they saw a soul, resembling a maid, slowly approaching.

"I am Esroa’s personal Maid,"

the maid introduced herself,

"The lady has already heard your prayers.

But although the offerings are rich and the livestock blood precious, since they are from Netherworld, the lady is not interested."

The Maid relayed Esroa’s request; the lady who had long resided in the Netherworld wanted something from outside the Netherworld, whatever it might be.

Esroa’s request left the heroes at a loss; they were all within the Netherworld, how could they find something not of the Netherworld?

However, Baird, who had recently regained consciousness, was the first to realize a solution.

He asked Esroa’s Maid for paper and a pen and quickly wrote a poem from the Mortal World, asking the Maid to deliver it to Esroa.

The Maid nodded in satisfaction and quickly vanished from their presence.

The heroes were unexpectedly pleased yet felt it only natural; Baird also reflected on how people strenuously find solutions to problems, only to realize later how simple the solutions can be.

Soon after, the Maid returned. This time, she brought a message from the Queen.

Esroa and her husband, the Death God Nakbet, would meet Baird, and only Baird, while the remaining heroes must wait in the side hall.

...............

Sofia sat on Schiller’s shoulder, watching the heroes’ journey with interest.

"Every difficulty is easily resolved before them,"

Sofia remarked.

"Isn’t that what myth is all about?"

Schiller retorted,

"A path full of difficulties, growth, and realization, until they meet the story’s end where all the foreshadowing left behind erupts and is ultimately verified."

Sofia nodded, as Schiller had described, those mythological stories were typically structured this way.

And these heroes of the Netherworld, with little deliberate arrangement, little deliberate alteration, merely needed a bit of intentional guidance to act like a myth.

This also confirmed Schiller’s earlier speculation.

"So... what is the end for that great hero?"

Sofia recalled Baird’s life story,

"At the end, when the truth emerges, do you intend to bring him even more irrevocable pain?"

Schiller scoffed:

"I’m not that sort of person.

Did you mistake me for Slaier?"

"Lord Schiller, my King, in my opinion, your actions are no different from His,"

Sofia spoke as an Observer, feeling her perspective was clear.

Schiller’s expression darkened as he reprimanded:

"Sofia, maintain your status as a created being!

Remember, in Heaven, we Angels serve God with such humility."

"So what?"

Sofia countered, her eyes wide with innocent curiosity as she said,

"Do you want me to worship you the way I worship God?"

This struck Schiller, the Great Angel, as both a stab at his pride and a grip on his vulnerability.

Sofia’s words were undoubtedly asking, do you intend to replace God and have me worship you instead?

Schiller never wanted to replace God; he neither wished nor dared to.

The Great Angel could only respond with some indignation,

"As a creature, you are too arrogant, Sofia, far too arrogant!"

Fairy Queen Sofia gave a small laugh, tilted her head, and showed an innocent and harmless expression.

...............

...............

Above the Netherworld Palace, to Baird’s surprise, the King of the Netherworld seemed to agree to let Baird return to the Mortal World.

"But... Baird, I am not the only ruler of the Netherworld."

Death God Nakbet explained his predicament, noting that although he was the Death God, the entire Netherworld was governed by him and his nine Judges.

Even if Death God Nakbet agreed to let Baird return to the Mortal World, the nine Judges might not consent, as their stance was the opposite of his. Since there had never been a precedent in the Netherworld and according to legal tradition, they would not allow Baird to leave the Netherworld.

The answer from the King of the Netherworld was so despairing. Baird had thought that with Esroa’s support and Nakbet’s approval, he could leave the Netherworld as he desired, but it was far from as simple as he had imagined.

Thus, before the King and Queen, Baird reiterated his resolve to leave the Netherworld and seek his love, and he swore in the presence of the Divine that he would leave the Netherworld at any cost, or else he would face an irredeemable punishment.

Moved by the hero’s spirit, Nakbet and Esroa truly saw Baird’s unwavering determination and his steadfast love. freewёbnoνel.com

"Although the nine Judges are impartial, they are not without compassion.

They have heard of your deeds, and they have each proposed a trial for you; if you complete these nine trials, they will allow you to leave the Netherworld."

Just as Baird was sinking into despair, Nakbet’s words revitalized the hero’s hope. He did not fear the trials, no matter how arduous, for he feared the absence of a challenge even more.

"Great Death God, I am willing to undertake these trials.

People fear and curse you because of death, but only by facing you personally can one see how wise and kind you truly are."

Baird thanked him sincerely, bowing deeply to Nakbet with great humility.

His humble gesture did not mean he saw himself as lesser, rather, it signified his resolve.

Seeing this, Nakbet advised,

"Remember, Baird, no matter how successful you feel on your journey, always be extremely careful.

After all,

some will not just stand by and let you leave."

As soon as these words fell, Baird nodded solemnly,

"I know they are not corrupt,

and may not truly wish to let me leave the Netherworld,

I will not take anything for granted until I have completed the nine Judges’ trials."

These words reached Queen Esroa of the Netherworld, who opened her mouth as if to speak, hesitated, but ultimately said nothing, joining her husband in offering sincere blessings for Baird’s forthcoming journey.

...............

The heroes waiting outside the Netherworld Palace welcomed Baird’s figure, accompanied also by news of the nine trials.

One after another, the heroes looked eager; some had been dead for a long time, others had only recently arrived in the Netherworld, but everyone present was excited about the upcoming challenges.

The first trial that Baird encountered was precisely what the heroes were best at.

The first Judge commanded them to travel to the magma-filled Punishment Wilderness to slay a seven-headed serpent that was born from the malicious spirits of the tormented souls and was continuously eroding the foundation of the Netherworld in its hatred, aiming to bore through the entire realm.

The heroes set out for the Punishment Wilderness to hunt this seven-headed serpent. Thanks to the Judge’s assistance, their journey was unobstructed until they reached the mountain range where the serpent lurked.

The serpent, appearing and disappearing like a phantom causing havoc, outmatched the heroes during their first confrontation, dealing them a severe setback.

Bravely, they fought the serpent, with Baird leading the charge and cutting off its head. However, a new head quickly grew back in place of the severed one as if it were unkillable.

Its seven heads, all unkillable, continually regenerated due to the endless resentment in the Punishment Wilderness. Despite the heroes’ valiant efforts, and their struggle against it for two days and nights, they could do nothing and were forced to retreat temporarily.

Discussing in the night, a slim but exceedingly wise hero conceived a plan: they should capture it alive, then simultaneously sever all seven heads and hold the creature next to the magma, fulfilling the Judge’s demand.

With a strategy in place, the heroes acted again, setting a trap and capturing the serpent together.

Despite the serpent’s continual struggles and its attempts to escape, the seven heroes simultaneously decapitated it. The headless serpent bled profusely, and the heroes bound it with iron chains.

They then brought the serpent to the edge of the magma in the Punishment Wilderness and submerged its bleeding stumps into the scorching magma.

Thus, the blistering magma burned the severed stumps continuously, preventing new heads from growing, and the headless seven-headed serpent, powerless to resist or even cry out, could only struggle in vain, enduring eternal torment.

Although the heroes could not kill the serpent born from resentment, they still fulfilled the Judge’s requirement, thus completing the first trial.

Without delay, led by Baird, the heroes vigorously commenced the second trial.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr(e)𝒆novelkiss