Ochs and Chris walk a path similar to Quinn's, traversing the route of the Evil God and aspiring to ascend to the ninth sense from the eighth. However, if the will of the gods represents the law, their strength must gradually evolve. The transition to the ninth sense embodies a profound change; in essence, it is entirely different from the eighth sense.
The ninth sense aligns with the path of the Evil God, whose powers are enigmatic and indescribable—forces that cannot be perceived directly. To embark on this journey, one must relinquish everything about oneself: goodness, evil, and even the self. All must be abandoned.
This experience is akin to severing one's three corpses in the prehistoric tradition, yet it is fundamentally more complex. While the analogy is simplistic, it captures the essence of the ninth sense.
Ochs and Chris have already sensed the weight of this truth. This realization has plunged them into hesitation; they are reluctant to advance. The core challenge of the ninth sense revolves around the difficulty of relinquishing one's identity.
As they grapple with this understanding, both siblings contemplate the consequences of their potential decisions. They yearn to move forward but hesitate at the threshold.
Loyalty and family ties serve as their greatest anchors. Taking this step would mean forsaking their bonds and family affection. They are unwilling to make such a sacrifice, even if it means disfavor from Hades.
In truth, they are overthinking the implications.
Even if they step onto the path of the Evil God and become entities capable of rivaling absolute deities, their essence will remain unchanged. They are fighters of the Underworld, loyal to Hades—this truth is foundational and unalterable.
As for their relationship with each other? The Evil God embodies a kind of lawlessness borne from their experiences of freedom within a universe that resisted their existence. This freedom often manifests as madness, leading them to consume the world to nourish their power.
The madness associated with the Evil God does not equate to a lack of emotion. If they were devoid of feelings, they would not experience anger or fear. The Evil Gods that pursued Hades in the past did so out of deep-seated emotions, which are fundamental to their existence.
However, Ochs and Chris remain unaware of these complexities. The path of the Evil God is not merely one of relinquishment but rather a journey of rediscovery. Upon reaching the apex of the ninth sense, they confront the concept of "absolute nothingness," the point where all three senses dissolve. This is the gateway to the tenth sense, which corresponds to the level of the Titans' main god or the King of Gods.
When they achieve this level and reclaim what they have lost, they will possess the power of nothingness—akin to that of a Primordial god. Beyond this, the hierarchy of the gods becomes distant and abstract.
Ochs and Chris find themselves on the cusp of this profound transition, yet they are enveloped in silence, unsure if they should take that leap.
The siblings exchange glances, both immersed in contemplation. Their expressions are calm, but internally, they wrestle with uncertainty about their next steps.
Time drags on.
"Chris!"
"Yes!"
They both exhale with a sense of helplessness, acutely aware of the transformative changes they face, yet reluctant to proceed. In this moment, their thoughts drift to Cerberus—the three-headed dog of the Underworld.
As the entity that first spread the power of the ninth sense, Cerberus stands as a paragon of strength. Having reached the apex of the ninth sense—equivalent to the level of the Titans' main god—Cerberus embodies a connection to the Underworld that surpasses others, thanks to Hades' influence.
With the Underworld's advancement, Cerberus has achieved this level of power. When Ochs and Chris approached the Yellow Spring, they found Cerberus asleep, bored amidst the tranquility of the Underworld. The bull-headed guardians maintained order, rendering her presence largely unnecessary.
Over time, Cerberus formed a friendship with Bi Anhua, another denizen of the Underworld. They both reveled in the peace of their realm. For beings like Bi Anhua, sleeping is a pathway to strength. However, for a creature like Cerberus, the tranquility breeds a sense of listlessness.
Despite her lethargy, Cerberus remains ever-vigilant. If an unfamiliar presence breaches the Underworld, she can awaken in an instant.
After all, Cerberus has achieved the peak of the ninth sense—such power is to be expected. However, generally speaking, the entrance to the Underworld is strictly controlled. A foreign god cannot enter without Hades' permission, and the notion that anyone can simply stroll in is a fallacy. Any god seeking entry must pay a steep price, one that often involves severe sacrifice.