Tower of Heaven

It happened too fast for either of them to react. Atlas' eyes widened in shock as he felt his connection with the artifact disappearing, and the ferryman…

He disappeared in a cloud of blackness. The treasure pushed into his body and started the process of merging with him. It believed that he was the best possible host for it, so it didn't want to miss this chance.

In the first place, Atlas told it that he was only holding onto it. He promised it to find it a master worthy of its power and ambition.

This wasn't necessarily how he planned to do it, but that didn't change the fact that this was a great situation for him.

A wave of power emanated from the ferrymen as the merger came to an end. The Death Relic vanished entirely, but beneath that cloak were two blue flaming eyes that didn't exist before.

One didn't need an expert to say that he had experienced positive changes.

The ferryman looked at his own arms and clenched his fists. He felt the aura that surrounded him before looking at the man who caused it.

"..."

He didn't say a word at first, but that was a temporary state. Perhaps he needed time to gather himself and decide how he wanted to act.

"This tribute is worthy. I shall ferry you across the river."

He stepped back, making room for Atlas. There was much Atlas wanted to say, but he decided to save it and carefully stepped onto the boat.

"How deadly is the water?"

He couldn't hold back his curiosity. He hasn't seen rivers in the Underworld before. He didn't know that water could exist here, since he mostly associated this realm with fire.

He didn't expect an answer from the stoic ferryman, but the attitude he expected didn't come out.

"The River Styx is a river by which the egos attached to pure souls are cleansed away. It is the body on which the Gods swear their most binding oaths. It has created heroes in the past, but for those unable to stand the weight of its existence, it is a pure personification of death."

Atlas looked into the water as the ferryman raised his oar and began rowing.

"You must not touch the water. You are not from this place, so you cannot become one of its heroes."

It was a bit of a shame, but he understood. Naturally, the positive effects of this plane couldn't be granted to just anyone.

Those who achieved great feats and earned privileges would be granted them elsewhere. These kinds of heroic challenges were meant for the heroes who were a part of this Society Legend.

"My name is Charon, and I have been ferrying souls across this river for as long as time has existed. I have played this role for eons, yet, I have never received such a tribute."

It was indeed because of the Death Relic. The ferryman, Charon, had become much more willing to converse and share information.
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The scenery around them began to change. The low walls and cramped space of the previous cavern opened up into a plane with no sky.

It expanded for as far as the eye could see along both sides of the river.

One would believe that the Underworld had to be a bland place, what, with all the uniform colors and ghastly undertones. However, it was nothing of the sort.

At the end of the day, this was also a plane of the great cosmos. It was also a plane inhabited by sentient beings.

There were rolling hills on one side that led into a great mountain range. From between those mountains, one could barely make out the orange hue of souls being burned at the stake.

On the other side, there were plains and dark forests that looked like they were filled with mystical things. Atlas suddenly felt a great urge to explore. He knew that it wasn't possible, but his mind's spirit was activated.

The fatigue that had been weighing him down seemed to fade a bit.

There wasn't anything immediately in Atlas' view except for the hauntingly beautiful scenery. It was enough to where he could still appreciate it while listening to Charon's words.

"Our Lord is a benevolent ruler. He cares for the dead more than anyone else. Yet, he is dauntless and domineering. He can be both a warlord that inspires and an emperor that rules."

Charon still believed that Atlas' purpose was an audience with the ruler of this plane.

Atlas had no plans of doing so at first, but after thinking about it, he figured that it was likely better that way.

Without Anubis or Hel, he wouldn't have known how to find Artemia or Horus.

The way his subjects perceived him said a lot about the person who ruled this place. If Charon was taking him directly there as well, there was no reason for him to force a different path.

Most of his words were in praise of his Lord. He barely spoke about himself, as if he viewed himself as a nonexistent entity.

Still, there was a little Atlas was able to learn.

Charon wasn't a reaper of souls, but he had a similar role in the world. He didn't have much personality because he never had the chance to develop it, however, he did have some dreams.

"I see the thoughts that swirl in the river before they disappear for eternity. I grasp the unfulfilled wishes of those who were damned for eternity, and though I cannot relate to them, I do understand their feelings."

He had wondered before what it would be like if he had a role outside of his own, but he threw away the thought just as fast.

"This role is my life and my life is this role. I may never leave this place even once, but it is a bit different now."

He placed a hand on his own chest.

"I do not know how it will change, but I sense that things will be very different for me now."

Charon was an eternal entity, but there was one thing he lacked. Unintentionally, Atlas brought to him the solution that could fix that one flaw.

With the Death Relic in hand, Charon gained access to "growth."

It didn't need to be explained why that was important, did it?

Charon was an interesting person. Atlas wanted to see what he would become when he'd properly trained for a bit.

As the two spoke, the scenery of the Underworld continued to change. Various sights that were too gruesome to describe passed by, but Atlas ignored them in favor of the conversation.

He spoke to Charon about many things and got to know more about the Lord of this realm, a God he'd come to know was named Hades.

And around the time when their conversation was coming to an end, the skiff docked against a nearby shore.

"This is as far as I can take you."

Charon made his declaration matter-of-factly.

"There is only one more being standing between you and the palace, however, you do not have to face him. I will send word his way."

It was a reassuring declaration.

Atlas thanked Charon as he stepped out of the boat. He faced forward and took in the changed world in front of him.

One step at a time. That was how he got here, wasn't it?

Even at this step, all there was to do was follow the same formula he'd used thus far.