White steam rose slowly from between the gears, mingling with the crisp sound.
At the very center of the room is an extremely thick shaft that drives countless gears to rotate within the space.
Just as Erica was wondering where she was, Persephone let go of her hand.
He gently stretched out his finger and pointed in a direction far away in the room.
She whispered to Erica:
"Do you see that?"
Erica looked up, following the direction of Persephone's finger.
The gaze travels through the emptiness of the room and settles on a huge stone tablet floating high above.
The stone tablet didn't have a specific shape; it looked more like a randomly carved boulder.
However, its surface is covered with densely packed text.
Erica felt that the words looked familiar, but she couldn't make them out.
It seems to be written in various languages from different countries.
"They are all 'heroes' who have passed the [Trial of Hell]."
Persephone's voice rang in Erica's ears, carrying a hint of solemnity.
Erica's eyes widened upon hearing this.
Looking at the name carved on the rock, he exclaimed in surprise:
"so much!"
There are already more than a thousand names in the part that she can see.
Erica looked at the names left on the rock and subconsciously felt that this hellish trial was nothing special.
But at that moment, Persephone's voice carried a slight chuckle:
"Is it a lot?"
"The names you see now are those of successful challengers from among 100,000 participants in the trial."
Upon hearing this, Erica felt as if ice water had been poured over her, and a chill spread through her.
Out of 100,000 people, only 1,000 will be able to leave their names here?
Thinking of this, Erica couldn't help but ask:
"Then...what about the rest of the people?"
Erica seemed to have a premonition, but she still couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering her.
Persephone simply smiled faintly, turned back, and looked at her with a deep gaze, squinting his eyes, and softly asked:
What do you think?
Those who fail the trial are destined to fall back into the abyss of hell.
Their bodies will be burned to ashes in the scorching flames, their flesh and blood roasted into a misty vapor.
In the end, only a cold, white skeleton remained.
Their souls will be permanently sealed within their bones, tormented by the fires of hell for eternity.
Even more cruelly, these souls may even become enemies of those who challenge the trials of hell in the future.
Upon hearing this, Erica involuntarily shuddered, and the hairs on her body stood on end.
At this moment, she no longer felt that the trial was easy.
For her, it was more like a gamble with her soul at stake.
And the entire underworld is the casino's home ground.
But amidst fear and shock, Erica suddenly remembered what Persephone had said earlier.
Why did she call those who passed the trials "heroes"?
What does this mean?
"Is the trial not just about leaving the underworld?"
Erica asked curiously.
Persephone seemed somewhat surprised by Erica's question. She looked at Erica curiously and asked in return:
"Who told you that completing the trial was just to leave the underworld?"
"If the only goal was to escape the underworld, then we shouldn't have set foot here in the first place."
Well, that's really true.
Erica only went into the Underworld specifically to rescue Professor Victor.
Then, Persephone continued:
"Heroes who successfully complete the trial and leave the underworld will receive a 'curse' from hell. This curse can grant them immense power..."
"Wait a minute, if that's the case, why is it a curse?"
Erica suddenly interrupted Persephone, her face full of confusion.
Persephone paused for a moment, then explained:
"The heavens like to call the rewards they bestow upon mankind blessings, so it's not wrong for us in the underworld to call the rewards we bestow upon mankind curses."
So you're just going to do the opposite of what they want...
From this, Erica realized the antagonistic relationship between the underworld and the heavens.
"Of course, it's not entirely because we're going against the heavens that it's called a curse."
Persephone looked at Erica, then at the black trench coat draped behind her.
Erica felt a chill run down her spine from that unwavering gaze, and she couldn't help but cough softly.
Persephone seemed to be brought back to her senses by the cough, and then she continued:
"You and Victor are both mages, right?"
Erica nodded, a small sense of pride welling up inside her.
Because she is the youngest third-tier mage in history!
However, Persephone's next words extinguished her pride like cold water:
"But unfortunately, if you do pass the trial and receive the reward from hell, a curse will also befall you."
Persephone's voice suddenly became even colder:
"You will no longer be able to become a mage."
These words echoed in Erica's ears and deeply moved her.
She shut her mouth and silently lowered her head.
"However, there is one thing you can rest assured about."
Persephone's tone suddenly changed, taking on a playful tone as he said with a smile:
"This curse will not befall you."
Upon hearing this, Erica slowly raised her head, and her clenched fists relaxed.
Those clear eyes were filled with doubt:
"why is that?"
Persephone smiled calmly and continued to explain to Erica:
"Because the trial will no longer be open."
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