I'm standing in front of a large castle. I must say, compared to Doors of Death, this feels sort of bland? The only thing impressive about it is it's size. It easily overshadows the rest of the landscape and it rose blacker and darker than the vast shades it stood upon. The crude pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Hades' Castle. The castle was a mass of black steel overlooking the vast plains of the Underworld. It looks depressingly dreary with the stereotypical mist gathering at the top of its towers. What can I say? As expected of the number one edgy god. Atop the walls lining the castle are large spheres of bluehellfire. A vast bridge of iron spans a deep abyss and carries Hades' road from the Field of Asphodel to the castle.

While marveling at the new experience, a dark rift opens and out steps Kampe. She's expectedly jubilant, having stepped out of Tartarus for the first time in thousands of years. Seeing the castle, she sneers and a cruel light flashes across her eyes.

"Fufufufufu. So this is where that bastard's brother holes up in? I must say he certainly has no taste?"

I can't help but agree as she continues to berate Hades.

"So, how are we planning on getting in?"

She asks suddenly and I just smirk in response.

"How else? Through the front door."

I fly over to the massive gates leading into the castle and kick at it with a thud.

The gates buckle under my overwhelming strength but doesn't break apart.

"Hey is this how service in hell goes these days? Not even answering your own door!"

With each syllable I keep kicking the gates. They shudder and groan under my continuous barrage.

Eventually, someone curses and cracks open the gate.

I pull back my foot and fold my arms.

"See, that wasn't so hard? To who do I owe this pleasure to?"

A bald man wearing monk clothes coughs and glares at me. Adding killing intent to his voice, he roars in anger.

"Who dares intrude on the God of the Underworld's castle? Are you looking for death?"

I yawn. Compared to the monsters I've had to deal with in Tartarus, I can't believe how weak his killing intent is. I look over at Kampe and motion for her to wait. She nods, anticipating a fight. Turning to the man, I lazily reply.

"I've seen small fry before but you're fucking microscopic. Go fetch your owner. Now shoo, shoo."

"Wha-" the man sputters. I can see the cartoon forehead marks of anger. "I AM EREGOR DOORKEEPER OF HADES. HOW DARE A MERE MORTAL ACT SO ARROGANTLY IN FRONT OF ME?"

I snort and spit at his feet. His face is so red I wouldn't be surprised if he imploded. His clothes begin to stretch and I watch as he begins transforming. Dark fur covers his naked body and he grows into a 3 m tall hunch-backed figure with a wolf's head. Baring his sharp fangs at me, he tilts his head up and howls. Yes, Eregor is a lycanthorpe, otherwise known as a werewolf.

He rushes at me with his claws outstretched and I only smirk in response. He reaches for my neck but right before he cuts into it, I activate my [Divine Shield]. He cries out in pain as he basically runs into an impenetrable wall. Despite the fact he can't attack me, he starts grinning evily.

"I wonder how that pretty body of yours will fare against Styigan steel! I'll be eating your head for dinner! Be thankful that you get to be slayed by the great Eregor!"

Chanting under his breath, a magical circle covers a portion of the ground.

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The ground is shaking and I see a skeletal hand punch out of the dirt. A large skeleton leaps out the ground, dust and dirt falling off its body. More skeletons are following and before long, they've all assembled and surrounded me. They all look like soldiers from various time periods. Some have Roman armor, while holding gladius' and spears. Others wear combat fatigues and M-27 autos.

Eregor takes my raised eyebrows as a sign of fright.

"HAHAHA. Are you shocked at my elite skeleton unit? Fear not, this is just one of the many strengths of my Lord! HAHA. It is not too late to beg for mercy! Break your own arms and kiss the floor a hundred times! Then you'll be free to g-"

I rush at him and break his nose with one punch. I had enough of this façade and decided to shut him up before he spouts more nonsense. I did my best to hold in my strength and only put in enough to cripple him. I smashed his face and its squished unnaturally. Half his fangs broke and fell. He drops to his knees and staggers, screaming in pain and shock.

The skeleton soldiers instantly raise their weapons and I only wave my hands. In the blink of an eye, Kampe turns her hair into a rope that latches onto all the soldiers. She casually morphs her hand into that of a lion's paw and smashes each of their skulls, helmets and all.

Oblivious to the destruction of his army, Eregor keeps shouting.

"AHHHHHHHH. LOOK WUB YOU DWIB TO MWE BWASTERD."

He holds his face and tries to get up. I kick him in the ribs and he spits out blood. Falling over once again, I press my foot on the back of his neck. His eyes bulge in fear and in a chilling voice, I lean over.

"Shut the fuck up. What you're going to do is report to your lord that a guest has come to meet him. Try to run and I guarantee a fate worth death."

I toss the 3 m werewolf over the gates and frown at the bloodstains on my clothes. I'm gonna need a new wardrobe soon. Hopefully Hades has some suits in my size.

I'm rather disappointed. My first fight in the underworld was with Hades's doorkeeper and was entirely one-sided. I shudder as I imagine how weak the rest of his subordinates will be. Complaining in my mind at the fact I won't be able to cheat and gain any levels, I step inside the gates. Several squadrons of knights wearing obsidian-black armor are lined up on either side of me. Their armor clanks as they turn to look at me but they remain silent and don't draw their weapons.

Looks like Hades has allowed our presence. We head into the main castle. Kampe is following close behind, while occasionally snickering at the decorations. There are several statues and mosaics along the hallways, all of people dying in one way or another. These mosaics look thousands of years old but some of them depict events that should not have happened during that time. One mosaic might have a man impaled on a bloody spear but another would have a WW1-era tank crushing the body of an unfortunate soul.

More of Hades's servants run by or follow us. They're low level demons who cackle in glee at the prospect of a new meal.

Before long we reach what I assume to be the throne room. The demons stop following us and hang back, cowering in fear. A deathly aura is leaking out of the closed doors and I smile thinking of what lies beyond those doors.

"Hey Kampe neesan. Wait out here okay? I'm gonna have a short guys talk with Hades."

Cracking my knuckles, I grin wickedly. Then I feel a warm, slender hand stretching my cheeks.

"Oi oi. Don't forget he's an Olympian! You're still a relatively new god so don't do anything too stupid."

I can't help but pout as she treats me like a baby. I break free from her harassment and shove open the doors. Before me is an incredibly large and majestic room. Black pillars rise from the floor and precious jewels stud the walls. Three beautiful women with devil wings glare at me with hatred as I walk in. A man with closed eyes sits on a throne made of what looks suspiciously like human bones.

The man has long, scraggly black hair and an unkempt beard. He wears an expensive Italian suit and fidgets with his tie. After a moment, he glances at me. A crooked smile appears on his face as he opens his eyes.

His dark pupils stare into the very depths of my soul and he begins to laugh heartily. Then with a snap of his fingers, my senses dull and the room disappears. I'm surrounded by darkness and leaves me utterly confused. What just happened?

I feel strange. Is it fear? Dread? Since I reincarnated I've only felt this utterly overshadowed and scared in front of Nyx. It can't be. He's just an Olympian! I've grown so strong but I'm still barely able to stand with my shaking legs? How can we be so far apart in our strengths? Did I seriously grossly overestimate myself? As my mind races in an attempt to explain my situation, the darkness breaks away as if it was never there. However I don't return directly to the room. Instead I see myself lying on the ground of the throne room.

It seems like I'm looking at a projection of myself. My eyes are rolled back and my mouth foams. Hades still hasn't moved from his throne and he just watches as I twitch and convulse on the floor. I reach out my arm and a voiceless screams echos in my head. I shudder when Hades suddenly looks up at me. He lets out the most hideous and evil smile I've seen and I start to feel the connection with my body severing.

The room disappears again and I'm greeted by darkness. Is this the end? I curl myself into a ball and just lie there unmoving. I try accessing my system but it's silent. I am truly alone. I feel myself slowly fading into oblivion. Ah. Nyx, I'm so sorry. If I still had a physical form I could imagine a tear rolling down my cheek. I close my eyes waiting for the inevitable.