"Next is the real beginning."
Hades' expression was calm but serious; he understood that any misstep could render the million years of effort meaningless and lead to complete failure.
Vast divine power poured into the newly created world. The World Tree gradually merged with the Kingdom of God. With the help of divine power, the two slowly fused into one, forming a complete existence surrounded by a universe.
Hades murmured, "The Kingdom of God has been opened."
Next was the most critical core point. Creating the entire Kingdom of God and opening it was merely the beginning. For the gods, crafting a world that belongs to them is of utmost importance.
Waves of divine power emerged and began to flow into the entire world.
Earth!
Sky!
Abyss!
Everything!
Countless elements gradually manifested, and Hades began to construct the underworld from his memory. Although he had not yet gained the authority of the underworld, this version was merely a framework.
Yet, this is the Kingdom of God created by himself, based on the underworld.
Hades floated above the World Tree, waved his hand, and in an instant, two long rivers flowed down from the tree, entwining around it and cascading from the top to the bottom.
Finally!
The Black River of the Underworld.
The Blood Red River of Souls.
The roots of the World Tree converged, forming a perfect circle around it.
"Styx River."
"Blood River."
Hades spoke the names softly, having given these two rivers brand-new identities. At this moment, he still couldn't fully conceptualize their true nature, but this was just the beginning.
The underworld created by Hades only had the outer frame of the underworld, lacking its true powers. Regaining authority over the underworld would require defeating Cronus and devouring a significant portion of its source.
The former represents the Titan God King.
The latter are the Primordial gods.
Hades understood he had a long journey ahead, requiring him to take one step at a time.
The creation of the Styx River and the Blood River was merely the start. Then, Hades unleashed his power, initiating further creation at the base of the World Tree.
A vast Netherland emerged, where life had withered, leaving only endless wandering souls.
"Yellow Spring Hirazaka."
Standing before the Styx River, Hades raised his hand, revealing a dilapidated yet ancient door. Though it appeared worn, it emanated an unsettling aura. Here, signs of life were utterly absent, hope was a terrifying concept.
"Door of Hell."
After naming it, Hades crossed the Styx River and continued forward, revealing a massive court. Here, good and evil, crime and punishment were laid bare, and all lies served as mere entertainment.
"The First Prison: Trial Hell."
Hades traversed Judgment Hell, moving deeper across a long bridge into a vast valley. This valley, filled with pitch-black winds and fierce roars, seemed intent on consuming souls.
"Black Gale Valley."
Crossing the valley, Hades entered a drastically different area. Raindrops fell, exuding a pungent, acidic scent that corroded everything in their path.
"Second Prison: Rainstorm Hell."
Continuing further, Hades raised his hand, and a beautiful flower field emerged. Even in hell, there must be a semblance of life, green growth to create a point of hope in this underworld.
The falling stones, representing desire, threatened to devour life.
An endless Black Lake, a swamp whose master consumed souls.
In the raging flames, even death found no peace.
"The Third Hell: Greed Hell."
"The Fourth Prison: Feather Sinking Lake."
"The Fifth Hell: Burning Hell."
After creating five hells, Hades paused.
If examined closely, he had progressed one-third of the way up the trunk of the World Tree.
The underworld was being crafted from its roots, level by level.
This was Hades' vision; in the future, as the World Tree expanded, perhaps each prison could evolve into a self-sustaining world.
After a brief rest, Hades pressed onward, revealing three distinct landscapes: a blood pool, a knife-like forest, and scorching yellow sands.
"The Sixth Hell: Valley of One—Blood Pool Hell."
"The Sixth Hell: Two Valleys—Forest Hell."
"The Sixth Hell: Three Valleys—Hot Sand Hell."
The Sixth Hell was established, and the river of blood flowed down, forming a massive waterfall where the dead would vanish forever.
"The Great Waterfall of Blood."
Next, Hades continued his steps, and a vast expanse of hell emerged, consisting of ten layers from bottom to top. Here, sinners would face their just desserts, devoured for eternity.
"The Seventh Hell: Ten Trench Hell."
With the construction of this extensive hell, Hades moved deeper, and ice began to envelop everything, revealing colossal palaces upon the frozen landscape.
"Eighth Hell: Ice Hell."
"Four laps."
As Hades finally halted, a colossal wall rose before him.
"The Wall of Sighs."