Chapter 719: [Nessus]

The river of fire, in a dry riverbed.

With an ear-piercing rumbling, a pair of floating black figures descended after passing through the clouds.

Rumble, after the sounds of impact, the dust flew up immediately blotting out the sky and the glaring sun.

As the dust lacked moisture content, it caused it to not be able to disperse for a long time, forming a thick cloud of dust.

Soon, two figures emerged from the crater of unknown depth.

Asmodeus took the lead and soared to the sky while covering her mouth to block the scattered sand in the air.

High temperature shining down from the scorching river that seemed that was full of blazing blood-dyed flames, with the temperature comparable or probably even higher than the surface of the sun, causing the skin of the two people who have some immunity to flames, exposed to have a kind of scorching burning feeling.

Asmodeus wanted to take a deep breath but she choked from the burning air, rapidly coughing.

“I really don’t like this place,”

Asmodeus sigh mournfully as she looked at the sparse vegetation in the surroundings.

There is no beauty in here!

Within the river of fire, one can see ghastly figures akin to that of ghosts covered in blazing flames seemingly asking for help while wailing in pain and agony, trying to get ashore but they would be dragged back by the flames. And to those who were lucky enough to reach the shore would then be kicked back to the river by the guardian of the River of Fire; the eternally accursed Nessus.

The Centaur who was killed by the infamous Demi-God Hero; Heracles.

The end of the Tyrants!

The conclusion of the Murderers!

They called this river as such.

Allen, following behind Asmodeus, turned towards the river and recognized some distinguished people mixed within the crowd, such as Attila the Hun, and the great Nazi Overlord; Adolf Hitler who was being burned in punishment for the crimes they had committed back in the Mortal World. Eternal punishment.

They were struggling and trying to get back ashore. But once they passed a certain level from the surface of the blazing inferno, reaching their nose high up, the Centaurs patrolling the area would then draw their bows and then showered them flaming arrows that when the moment it reaches their burning souls or the surface of the river of fire, would ignite and the temperature becoming even higher.!

It was never-ending torment and suffering!

Once hailed as a Hero in the eyes of many people, but in truth, all Heroes are nothing but Murderers!

Murderers who claimed lives in the name of their own justice!

In Hell, there’s no such thing as Justified Heroes or Cruel Demon Kings… as all of them will face the same consequences for their actions the moment their fate ends…

They will dance the same music, as in Death there is no high or low, nor great nor inferior!

“This is a place I don’t want to stay for a long time,”

Asmodeus muttered with an annoyed tone.

The Great Demon Prince of Lust had a feeling of dissatisfaction with the environmental conditions of the River of Fire. Scorching heat, high pressure, and also lack of moisture here were greatly harmful to girl’s skin. For a maiden in love, this place was a terrible hell!

“Then, let’s leave…”

Allen replied as he turned around and started walking away. Asmodeus shrugs and followed behind her master, walking towards the Guardian of the River of Fire, Nessus. However, when they were 500 meters away from him, suddenly—

A large group of monsters was blocking their way.

Bloodthirsty Ghouls!

“Well, I guess it wouldn’t be as easy as one imagined…”

Allen muttered with a wry smile.

Bloodthirsty Ghouls are mindless demons inhabiting the shore of the River of Fire. They are sinners who had suffered the torment of the Rivers of Hell and become mindless beasts that attack those of the living, even including demons.

Though they are just small fries, they are troublesome due to their numbers.

When the Bloodthirsty Ghouls saw the sudden appearance of Allen and Asmodeus, their mouths issued both “gulu gulu” sound as if speaking and low roars of beasts. At this time when the two appeared, they were ‘cooking’ the corpse of a Bloodthirsty Ghoul using a rather primitive technique. One of the thighs had been well-roasted and was being served after cutting.

Judging from the strong indent on the skull of the corpse, it must have suffered a heavy blow before death.

The Bloodthirsty Ghoul instinctively felt a crisis when Allen and Asmodeus appeared.

“Cooking your own race for food. Really savage! Nah, was it… pitiful? At this appearance of yours, you are not even comparable to beasts. As even a dog doesn’t eat its own kind, poor men, once great mean but now inferior even to dogs!”

Allen smiled bitterly.

He suddenly discovered that dogs were really human’s best companions, compared to these savage Bloodthirsty Ghouls don’t know how many times noble.

“Life is truly a strange game~”

The Bloodthirsty Ghouls were not able to understand Allen’s words, but they could feel that he was talking nonsense to them. Hence, they roared “gulu gulu” towards the sky, trying to scare the opposite party into retreat. Unfortunately, it was but a futile attempt.

Allen and Asmodeus who was wearing a disgusted expression walked towards them without care. As for the Bloodthirsty Ghouls, seeing that their roaring couldn’t scare him into retreat, they were clearly enraged.

They threw away the “work” being done in their hands, and quickly several dozens of huge figure leaped to the sky, surrounding Allen and Asmodeus. Each of these Bloodthirsty Ghouls was above three meters tall, and with their huge and strong body standing in front of Allen, it was an oppressive feeling giving people the illusion of a big fellow bullying a small child. The Bloodthirsty Ghouls issued deep and clamorous tyrannical roars from their mouth.

Following their roars, boundless chaotic air currents could be seen billowing out, and the hot and dense air suddenly began to shake and boil.

Like a small boat sailing in the sea, the light waves were clear a moment ago, dead calm, but the next moment they became stormy, the raging waves were monstrous. The drifting boat was as if it could be swallowed by the huge waves at any time, sinking into the sea, the scene was thrilling and frightening.

Unfortunately, despite being frightening, Allen and Asmodeus stood steadfast in the center of the whirlpool.

“Get lost…!”

Allen muttered in an icy cold voice. Then, he lightly lifted his hand and waved. Immediately, a majestic and overwhelming aura surged out from his body, spreading it out to the surroundings with sounds of thunder. Suddenly the earth began to tremble, and the wind began to whirl around.

“Roar–”

“Grooooaa!!”

The several Bloodthirsty Ghouls pupils contracted while facing the frightening aura suddenly erupting out of Allen—involuntarily retreating backward by two steps. But soon, recovering from their shocks, they patted their chest and uttered a long cry, long protruding teeth from to bottom creaked giving unpleasant sounds.

Truly stupid monsters that couldn’t understand what is right or wrong…

“Well, then you’ve made your choice…”

Allen’s gaze narrowed and his figure disappeared.

… …

“Greetings ye highness Demon Prince Dante sir… I believe it’s been a long time since we laid our eyes an’ each other?”

Nessus scooted over with a ‘thud thud thud’ sound of hooves hitting against the ground echoing in the River of Fire. The old man with a long silver beard, horse lower body, and ears grinned in greetings.

“It has been a long time, indeed, Nessus. At that time, if I remember it correctly, I was still with my brother?” Allen responds with a faint smile.

“Ah, that naughty lad…aye scallywag ‘twas…me heard about what happened to ye sir and that mischievous lad…”

“… Spare me with the humilities Nessus, I want to pass through Phlegethon,”

Allen said.

“And I needed a ship that can sail through the rivers till the Imperial City…”

Nessus stared at Allen, then his lips curled into a smile, “Passing through Phlegethon, ain’t a problem my dear sire. However, we are guardians of Hell. Not bleeding-heart-sailors-desire-to-conquer-the-five-seas types. We don't do sailing."

Allen was still unperturbed.

“Then, you are rejecting my request…? Nessus?”

Kaching!

He mournfully sighs as a large brown leather bag appeared on his hand. Moving it, noises of metallic sounds ringing could be heard from within.

The eyes of Nessus gleamed.

“A thousand God’s Blood,”

“You scummy wretched,”

Allen’s eye narrowed.

“A hundred,”

“No, no sire… this is an appropriate amount. Sailing in the devil’s veins is not a vacation as it seems… even us ferryman will pass through devil’s throat, with our flesh on fire…” Nessus laughed.

"A bad joke. Your flesh be on fire? Nessus, are you taking me for a fool?" he frowned in contempt.

"No, no... I am an honest man. But sailing against the rivers is against the rule, my dear sire. And thus, the river will react by flames, burning our, ferrymen’s souls."

Asmodeus gripped her fist and has an urge to smack the greedy toad to oblivion. But she knows that she cannot do that…at least not yet. No one could pass through the Rivers of Hell, except for those of the appropriate aspect of their existence, like Charon.

Allen frowned, “Are you at the Imperial side, Nessus? Are you trying to obstruct my journey?”

“Course not, Sire…” Nessus grinned.

“I might be a Guardian, but first me was a Ferryman. We Ferrymen rarely intervene in secular disputes, especially interfere with the affairs of the Imperial Court, and even if ye sire, a nasty rebel, this ol' me will not do anything. As long as ye pay the appropriate amount, we will be ye mount, east, west, just point and we’ll be there,” a strange gleam could be seen flashing on the centaur’s eyes.

Allen paused for a moment and then, “Five hundred and thirty… last deal, if not I’ll be on my way…” though it would be a long way, I will be able to reach the Imperial City anyway.

Allen gnashed his teeth in frustration as he thought about if Nessus wouldn’t agree.

Fortunately, though—

Nessus smile becomes wider, “Welcome aboard, my dear sire,”

What a greedy old colt…

Allen snorted inwardly.

… …

Standing atop the deck, Allen’s brows were furrowed in displeasure.

He then turned around only to see numerous skeletons and centaurs working on the deck, preparing the ship they will be using. But that is not what causes Allen to feel annoyed. He then turned his gaze towards the ship that he would be using from now on.

It was calmly floating in the sea despite the high waves of flames!

It had ragged torn sails and the mast was split into two.

The hull had a giant hole in it.

"Is it possible to sail in that state?"

Allen can’t help but ask for anxiety. He had seen trading ships in broadcasts before.

They were always in top condition since they needed to maintain a heavy load. He did not understand how in that condition it could carry itself through the rivers of hell that were worse than any other seas during a very terrible storm.

However, what caused Allen to feel slightly amused was that probably not intended, or just an imitation of some sort, or maybe it was probably the real one, but the ship he was on has sailed as dark as a moonless night, and a hull painted to match with it.

A very familiar ship…so to speak~