The vast world of Japanese mythology, though devoid of absolute divine protection, is still an immense realm. Attempting to integrate one of its four domains into a self-created Kingdom of God is no small feat. Even with the World Tree's corrupting power after years of devouring, the task remains daunting. This is why Hades has never rushed into action; the challenge is simply too great.
Initially, Hades estimated that it would take millions of years for the World Tree to completely absorb Hell. He intended to prepare for everything before the 100,000-year mark arrived. If he could achieve this, he would be ready to make a decisive choice.
Hades, though aware of the difficulty, was resolute. As challenges arose, he confronted them head-on. Radiating immense divine power, Hades unleashed a torrent of energy that gradually consumed everything in Hell. The aura of the World Tree grew increasingly formidable, and Hell itself began to dissolve into nothingness.
At this moment, Hell and the Kingdom of Yellow Springs were being drawn into the gate of the underworld. The entire realm of Hell was vanishing, replaced by an endless void.
Heaven, Earth, Underworld, and Sea—these are the four realms that form the foundation of any world. They complement each other, and when one realm disappears, the entire world is profoundly affected. Right now, the world of Japanese mythology was shaking violently, chaos unfolding outside, but Hades remained unfazed.
As time progressed, Hell continued to be absorbed into the gate of the underworld, yet Hades' handsome features were marred by paleness, his complexion a portrait of distress. He had reached his limit; the struggle was intense, and the cost was almost unbearable.
Hades took a deep breath as the entirety of Hell was finally integrated into the underworld. This transformation resulted in drastic changes. Though the underworld was already powerful, conceived by the World Tree, it was merely in its infancy. Now, with a major world integrated into it, the enhancement was undeniable.
"This is...!"
In the underworld, Aether suddenly lifted his head, gazing deeply around. "With the integration of Hell, the underworld is undergoing seismic changes. If all goes well, it will soon experience rapid evolution."
"Aether!" Hemera approached quickly, her expression grave. Aether shook his head, signaling that no further words were necessary. They only needed to observe; the results would soon reveal themselves.
Hemera nodded, both watching intently as the underworld expanded rapidly. From Yellow Spring entrance, an unprecedented amount of divine power surged into the underworld, increasing its size exponentially—by ten times, a hundred times, even thousands of times.
The magnitude of this transformation was unimaginable.
In a brief span, not only was the underworld expanding rapidly, but its core essence was also being enhanced. Every ghost god and ghost fighter felt their essence and abilities grow exponentially.
To illustrate this concept, think of the distinction between Gold Saints, Silver Saints, and Bronze Saints from "Saint Seiya." The differentiation arises from a significant gap—a gap in potential and qualifications that is irrefutable, even among gods. Hades had been able to catch up to Cronus and Gaia through rigorous training and eventually became a Primordial god, due to his innate qualifications.
However, what about Ares? What about Apollo? No matter how hard they worked, even if they were granted all the opportunities in the world, they could not bridge the inherent gap in talent.
Now, with the underworld's essence growing, the potential of its denizens was equally increasing. For the ghost fighters of the underworld, their greatest advantage lay in being at the pinnacle of the eighth sense. They had struggled to advance, whether it be grasping the will of the gods or understanding the power of the ninth sense, but the limits were finally dissolving.
This moment marked a turning point: both the underworld and its fighters would advance simultaneously, paving the way for a smoother path ahead.
Of course, not only the fighters were feeling the shift; every underworld entity sensed a strengthening of their foundation. Meanwhile, the integration of the Ninth Hell and Yan Mo Hell led to an overwhelming workload for the seventy-two pillars and the Ten Kings, who were now the most active deities in the underworld.
The seventy-two pillar demon gods, usually unoccupied, found themselves inundated with responsibilities as the realm expanded, and they had to manage the burgeoning territories.
They bore the weight of being the support structures of the underworld—an overwhelming task that could not afford any mishaps. Likewise, the Ten Kings were exceptionally busy. Originally responsible for the management of the underworld, they now faced an even broader scope of duties as the realms of both Greek and Japanese mythology converged.
With their roles rapidly expanding, the calls from the Ten Kings resonated through every corner of the underworld, as they summoned every deity to assist in the monumental growth occurring around them.