The Underworld is the realm of the dead, the final resting place of the deceased. The Underworld is divided into various sections, and the Judgment Pavilion decides where a soul should go based upon their life's accomplishments. Zeke and Valery had a palace guarded by a fearsome watchdog. All sinners paid a huge price with their souls taken by the reaper.
The Underworld was composed of three parts which are:the Asphodel Fields [or Meadows], the Elysian Fields, and Tartarus.
The Asphodel Fields [Meadows] was the place most dead people would go to. Here, the dead would become Shades, shadowy versions of the personalities they were when still alive.
The Elysian Fields was the part of the Underworld reserved for those who led heroically or exceptionally good lives while on earth. The place was described as a restful, peaceful, and blissful abode for souls.
Tartarus was the place in Hades reserved for evil people, a place filled with punishments and suffering. It was here that Greek god Zeus imprisoned Cronus and the other titans after defeating them with the help of his brothers Hades and Poseidon.
There are times, though, that the dead were sent back to the world to live another life. These instances were, however, rare.
Five rivers bordered the Underworld. These rivers were visible in the realm and the world of the living as well. These were the Styx, Lethe, Acheron, Phlegethon, and Cocytus.
Many mythological accounts stated that Charon, the Underworld's ferryman, rowed the dead to the Underworld through Acheron, the river of pain. Still, some accounts said that the dead were ferried to the realm through the river Styx, the river of hatred named after the goddess Styx and the most prominent of the five rivers, or both.
The river Lethe was the river of forgetfulness and named after the goddess of oblivion and forgetfulness, Lethe. Cocytus was the river of wailing. Finally, the river Phlegethon was the river of fire that led the way to the depths of Tartarus. A sixth river, the Oceanus, encircled the world and marked the eastern edge of the underworld as Erebus was to its west.
They say no living being who went through the gates of hell made it back alive. The party dared to enter Hades seeking freedom of their beloved leader. Before they stood a three-headed watchdog guarding the gates of hell.
" Do you think we'll have a chance against the watchdog?" asked Emelia.
" Yes we do," said Melissa.
"We need to work as a team and take it down," said Damien.
" We came here to help Olivia outta this place. Not even fear can stop us from going," said Emelia.
The gates of Hades opened before their very eyes they've witnessed the three-headed dog with a snake tail standing on their way. Victor launched his axes at the chest of the dog, which only angered it. Taking the best single-handed wasn't going to be any better. each of them surrounded the beast firing their best shots. Only one option left. Beheading the hound's head. But how much damage will it take for the head to rip off?
" Listen up folks. We need combined moves in order to take down the enemy," said Emelia.
" Rosé and Damian Will take the first head, Victor and I will handle the middle head while Malissa rumbles with the last head," commanded Emelia.
The party displayed their combined attack at the Cerberus Malissa wasn't surprised with the decision to manhandle the last head alone. It was the right time for her to display why she's the most reliable member of the group. Malissa shot arrows at the eye of the cerebral it was angered making inhuman sounds filling up the dark sky of Hades. A gem was attached at the nape of the cerebral. That vulnerable part was detected by Malissa.
She shot an arrow at the nape but, the Cerberus protected it from getting hit. Damien electrocutes the Cerberus weakening the snake around its heads. Rosé chops the snake tail off with her katana leaving the hound tailless. Emelia's magic was not strong enough to hold the hound's limbs for long. Malissa grabbed her bow and desperately shoots a series of arrows at the gem. She got assisted by victor and Rosé each cutting the nape of the hound. Blood burst before their faces as they helped Emelia get to her feet and ran.
With the Cerberus defeated, Olivia has awakened from her unconscious knock. She could feel her sister getting closer, she felt her presence drawing nearer.
With footsteps clapping on the floor, Queen Valery made her way to see her sister locked up helpless and weak in the cell. She reaches the cell staring at her sister, she connects her fingers with her eyes focused on Olivia's. Their gold necklaces connected into one fitting perfectly to form a full heart.
" I thought I'll never be able to see you again, little sister," said Valery.
" I never imagined fate could bring us back together, father told me that you were separated from us during my birth," said Olivia.
" It's all true," replied Valery.
"Please tell why were you taken to the underworld? why?" asked Olivia.
Valery slowly let's go of her hand leaking tears out of her eyes.
" Mother was a vampire, she has stolen the power of reincarnation from Hades. When you were born to mother passed down that power onto you. I have the other half within me, that's why Zeke locked me here at the underworld. I was lucky enough to survive. Growing up I watched souls that tried to escape get punished by the cerebral some suffered at the river of fire," said Valery.
" You must have been kept at the Elysian Fields," said Olivia.
" soon later I was crowned as Queen of Hades which I hatefully despise, ruling the monarchy over the dead," said Valery.
" Zeke manipulated you, there's no way you could reject his offer. Now look at you, wearing the crown of Zelda, living in fear," said Olivia.
Zeke made his way dragging Valery away from her sister pulling her towards the courtyard.
"Do you know why I've brought you here?" asked Zeke.
"No," Valery replied coldly.
"I'll tell you why," replied Zeke.
" Go ahead," said Valery.
Orion released his greatest weapon called the nine circles of hell. The first circle, Limbo, is a blade covered in white flames able to ignite anything it touches. An undying flame although holy water can put it out. The second circle, lust, is a red sword in color marked with a curse.
Once wielded the user will be covered in a red aura making them immune to all attacks in two turns. The third circle, gluttony, a rather normal-looking blade that can absorb energy and reuse it although the energy cannot be restored for later usage. The fourth circle, greed, a sword that can copy other weapons, not just powers also form - limited to one power move at a time.
The fifth circle, anger, was the blade of destruction covered in hell flames.
The sixth circle, heresy, unbreakable chains once cast or thrown onto the target, will be instantly trapped unable to escape.
The seventh circle, violence, a Lance engulfed in the hottest flame black in color able to leave unhealing wounds once it strikes the target although holy water can heal it in three days.
In the eighth circle, fraud, a teleporting spear the user can teleport where ever the spear is. The ninth circle, treachery, the bow of misery once all three arrows are shot in the sky would then make it rain hundreds of arrows cover in flames this is known as a trait of pride.
" After witnessing the nine circles of hell do you think any mortal can defeat me nor let alone escape this place. They will be trapped in here with you," said Zeke.
" Please, don't hurt them, Zeke, spare their lives," tears leaked out of Valery's eyes and evaporated on the warm ground.
"They've entered into the lion's den who knows if they'll make it to this point alive," said Zeke.
"They'll make it! trust me, Zeke," Valery replied with a crooked voice.
After defeating the Cerberus the party climbed on the Grimm reaper's canoe rowing towards
Tartarus where the kingdom of Zelda stood firm. Flowing above the everlasting flames of hell no mortal would ever endure the unbearable pain and suffering they would go through to pay for their sins.
Horrified by the screams of souls burning when crossing river Phlegethon. Emelia could feel her connection with Olivia strengthening the closer they got to Zelda. Emelia and the party reached Zelda, the kingdom with the longest vampire monarchy.
Emelia plots a hole at the closed doors of the kingdom. Used her magic to knock the gate guards off balance. She looked up to the castle sighting the cell bars where Olivia was kept. Victor looked at her face with concern he taps her shoulders softly with his hand. She focuses her eyes on him with more concern than she had before.
" Thank you for dancing with me," he said.
" Sure, but why are you saying this?" Emelia said with a look of concern.
" Once we find the way in there it might be the last time I see you..." Victor utters the words with worry.
Emelia knew what he was talking about. Could it be that Victor wanted to sacrifice himself just to protect her from the nine circles? Maybe he wanted to stay here in Hades allowing himself to inflict the pain and torture, though he knew he wouldn't last long.
" Then what if you...die," she said coldly.
Victor turned away from her and went inside Zelda, she followed his lead as they were surrounded by a group of razor teethed minions cringing their teeth desperate to tear down the limbs of the party. It was indeed the house of Hades enforced with minions who ate living mortals alive.
The minions were too many for them to handle outnumbered and predated Emelia casts a shield dome covering everyone in it. The minions kept charging their heads at full force till the shield splintered to pieces. A blue dragon landed behind freezing the minions into cold monuments conducted by a pale-skinned man, it was Zeke's brother Cosmo, Victor found it odd that a vampire saved humans from trouble.
Cosmo was always against his brother's plans to unify two worlds into one. He didn't like the idea, he felt the circle of life with becoming imbalanced. He was chased out of Zelda for his rebellion against the king.
"I am Cosmo, I'm glad I could save you from his evil deeds," said Cosmo.
" We're looking for our leader Olivia Patterman is her name she currently under seiged by Zeke," replied Emelia.
" Zeke," he whined.
"Do you know him?" asked Emelia.
" Yes, he's my brother," answered Cosmo.
" Then why did you save us?" asked Malissa.
" Because Zeke is doing things for himself, he doesn't care about anyone but himself!" said Cosmo.
" He said he wants to unite your world with mine," said Emelia.
" I didn't like that idea of the unification, Zeke wants to quench the souls of the Patterman sisters just to fulfill his selfish dream, when discovered that I was against his decision, he chased me out of Zelda and shut the doors behind me. All I want to do is defeat him and his evil protege," said Cosmo.
" The Grimm reaper told us that Zeke possesses the nine circles of hell, what does that mean?" asked Emelia.
" The nine circles of hell is a great power possessed with rage and hatred I never knew Zeke became this powerful, I must stop him before it's too late," said Cosmo.
" Climb on the dragon I'll explain how to power of the circle can be stopped," said Cosmo.
The party mounted on the Dragon flapped its large wings and took off the red sky. Large asteroids fell from the sky in the direction of the dragon. Cosmo controls the dragon steadily as it swiftly dodged and twirled the air reaching Cosmo's coven hidden behind the magma cave.