The Record of Unusual Creatures

Hasse was referring to an area between the realms of Zeus and Poseidon, which was enveloped by a hazy black fog. In the billowing fog, a barren peak covered with black rocks could be seen, and on it stood an obsidian temple.

The old demon hunter worked his magic and lifted the fog to reveal a detailed map of the place below.

Hao Ren had vaguely guessed what place it was: not many of the Olympian gods were identified by such characteristics.

“This is the district of the temple of Hades.” Hasse’s answer was not a surprise. “In the myths and legends of mankind, Hades was in charge of the Underworld; he was the god of death. He did not usually live on Mount Olympus, instead, he lived in Tartarus, the kingdom of death, all year round with Persephone. In truth, that’s pretty much how it was.”

Hao Ren and Lily listened carefully to the mysteries surrounding the era of the gods. Those mysteries were now more than just funny stories to them. They were facts, which directly affected the success of their plan to find Vivian.

Meanwhile, Hasse went on to talk about the relationship between the Underworld and Mount Olympus.

“…The Underworld is actually an extra space created by the Olympian gods using space magic. As we all know, a ‘divine realm’ like Mount Olympus is actually a fragment of another world that was brought over when the otherworldlings entered the world. You must know this history better than I do, Hao Ren. These fragments of another world are the most valuable assets to all the otherworldling races. They can live in these realms more easily and powerfully than in Earth’s environment. However, the amount of fragments is limited, so the Olympian forces attempted to artificially expand their kingdom, and the Underworld was a failed product of this attempt.”

Lily could not help but repeat, “Failed product?”

“Yes, it was more difficult than Zeus could have imagined to artificially expand outer space. They did create a new and different world, putting all the energy of Olympus into it. Tartarus, however, did not form the kind of Olympian environment they had hoped for. It became a place of death, where the power of the shadows and smell of death caused the undead to run amok in the Underworld, making it difficult for the living to survive. Even those who tended the Underworld were transformed into monsters and went completely out of control. So Zeus had to end the project and seal off the Underworld completely. Hades was the first person to take charge of the project and its follow-up care as well as repression.

“Deep in Tartarus, there’s a ‘pipeline’ to Mount Olympus. This pipeline was originally designed to act as a ‘main communications artery for the new kingdom’, but it was locked up after the Underworld project failed. Only Hades and Zeus held the key to the passage. On the Tartarus side of the pipeline, Hades built a ‘safe house’. He and some of his men remained there all year round, monitoring the changes in the Underworld and destroying the undead whenever they ran out of control. This was to prevent any monster from destroying the barrier and harassing Olympus.

“And on the other end of the pipeline is the temple of Hades on Olympus. Although the temple’s owner spent most of his time on the other end guarding the temple, the temple itself acted as a control center and operated autonomously throughout the year.

“There were light paths directly connecting the temple of Hades to the temple of Poseidon and the temple of Zeus. These paths were wrapped in an energy barrier, and they passed directly through the radiation field above Mount Olympus. Due to the high cost of fighting in the fallout field, the demon hunters had no intention of destroying these light paths by storm until the complete destruction of Olympus. Hence, the survivors of Olympus were able to gather in the temple of Poseidon upon the final battle. It’s through these unbreakable light paths that they completed their migration while the whole territory was being occupied by the demon hunters.”

By now, Hao Ren had understood most of the plan.

“So, we can go to the Underworld first, open the locked passage in Tartarus, then follow the passage into the temple of Hades, and lastly, travel through the light path into the temple of Poseidon. If all goes according to plan, Vivian will be at the temple of Poseidon with the survivors.”

Hasse nodded. “That’s right. We’ll be going through a lot of dangerous territories. These places are full of the undead and monsters created by Hades, but in contrast, we can bypass almost all of the defenses set up by the demon hunters. We hardly have to worry about being discovered by any of the other demon hunters, except for the fact that we may end up in a bit of trouble at the temple of Hades.”

“Phew. I’d rather deal with an army of the undead. Demon hunters are more dangerous than those monsters,” said Hessiana.

Hasse was at a lost for words.

“Sorry, I meant no harm. I was just telling the truth,” Hessiana apologized, but there was no sign of sincerity on her face.

Nothing changed on Hasse’s expressionless face. “Well, you can ask me any questions now.”

“First, how do we get to the Underworld?” Lily raised her hand and asked.

“The Underworld is just like any other alternate world; it’s an artificial and unstable one. Since it’s a poor artifact, it has to have some ‘anchor points’ in the real world. These anchor points ensure that it doesn’t break away from the real world. I know of one near Rome…”

“Luckily, they brought you here,” said Hessiana, looking at Hasse up and down. “How do you know all of this?”

Hasse sighed and answered, “Only the enemy can know you better than yourself, and we were the enemy of all otherworldlings. The demon hunters made countless preparations to break through the defenses of Mount Olympus. In fact, we even organized a massive attack in Tartarus and destroyed the defenses that Hades had set up there. But the passage between Tartarus and Olympus was too narrow to be a route for the great army, so we didn’t devote all our energy there. After we completed our mission in the Underworld, we removed most of the main forces, which is why I suggest that we go there. Now that the other ‘me’ has led the way to the throne of Zeus, the main demon hunters in Tartarus should have withdrawn themselves. There will be no risk except for the few remaining undead and soulless giants.”

“Well, that’s the plan,” said Hao Ren, clapping his hands and standing up. “Let’s go to the Underworld, make a hole in Tartarus, and go directly to Olympus!”

“Can you take me with you?” Little Hessiana requested out of the blue.

Hao Ren had not included the little girl in the plan. Therefore, he was shocked when he heard her request. “Take you with us?”

“You’re going to look for my mother, aren’t you?” Little Hessiana blinked.

“Umm, didn’t your mother tell you to wait for her at home?” Lily advised. “We’re going to a dangerous place. If you follow us, we won’t be able to face your mother if something happens to you.”

“I can take care of myself!” Little Hessiana waved her arms. “I can do some magic too, and I can turn into a little bat and hide, you see…”

*Poof!*

With a puff of crimson smoke, the little girl turned into a tiny bat in the air. Then she crawled under Lily’s hair before she arched and ducked. “You see, it’s no trouble at all,” a small and thin voice said.

Everyone looked adult Hessiana, who was not far away, up and down.

“You still have this skill?” Hao Ren wrily asked. “Why haven’t you ever used it?”

Hessiana looked embarrassed. “I’ve grown up, and I’m the head of a big family. I don’t need this useless skill!”

“I suggest taking the little girl.” Finally, Hasse spoke, surprising Hao Ren a little.

“Why?” Hao Ren and Lily asked at the same time, the latter also trying to pull the little bat out of her hair.

“Well, because Vivian doesn’t know you guys.” Hasse looked around, and his eyes finally fell on Hessiana. “And you, Vivian won’t recognize the adult Hessiana.”

Then he pointed to himself. “As for me, she knows me, but I’m sure we’ll fight the moment we meet.”

At last, little Hessiana flew out of Lily’s hair and turned into a little girl again, watching them with longing.

“We’ll take her then.” Hao Ren finally nodded. “It’s like bringing a negotiator.”

The little girl’s face lit up with happiness.