Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 341: Beyond Mortal Judgement

"Hahaha!"

Amidst the Acheron’s roiling waves and standing behind Cerberus, Achilles, his right fist raised toward the underworld’s gray sky, roared his delight... a little too light-heartedly to Adam’s tastes.

"Bring us Ares! We’ll carve our names on Mount Olympus as the first mortals to kill the god of war!"

BAM

Adam, who had retrieved the broken fangs, frowned so much that his face seemed to drip ink. He rushed and slapped the back of Achilles’ head, his voice cracking in anger. "Don’t raise death flags for me, you fool! Ares? I’ll run without looking back if he really descends because you provoke him!"

Achilles rubbed his head, a wronged expression flashing through his features before his grin returned. "Who cares about that frenzied fool? After beating Cerberus, I feel I’m one step closer to his powers."

He tapped on his temple, a burning ambition sparkling in his blue eyes. "With my skills and mind, I’ll make his head roll before he catches the shadow of my spear. Of course, divinity first—nothing too challenging for the great Achilles and the terrifying Adam."

"Shut up for a bit," Adam sighed, understanding the excitement. But the time and methods were wrong, horribly wrong. "Do I have to remind you that we’re in a divine realm? What will happen if a god of the same pantheon catches your challenge? Protect Garduck and move in silently before lightning rains on our heads because of your big mouth."

Achilles paled, the weight of his words crushing his joy. They were right before Hades’ gates, about to infiltrate a realm filled with gods. Cursing one of them indeed didn’t sound too good anymore...

His body tensed, veins throbbing with his racing heart as he rushed to Garduck. " Sorry... I’ll shut up..." He gritted his teeth. "Until I can crush him."

"Good." Adam nodded, leaving Cerberus’ unconscious body behind.

The souls gathered by the gates parted like the Red Sea to let him through, expressions of awe, fear, and hate contorting their faces.

Ignoring them, he passed through the crystalline walls, taking a second to appreciate the dark and burgundy lights waving in its frame. ’Tsk. Would I have gotten the blueprint if I killed Cerberus? Those walls are quite stylish...’

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, focusing on the ancient temple in front of him.

Solemn and imposing, the building shone a dim, ethereal light on three intricate statues towering by the broad entrance. Passing them by, he frowned at their crowns and lifelike togas kept in place by a broad medal attached to their right shoulders.

Noticing his steps slow, Achilles explained, "Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aeacus. The first two ruled Crete as brothers, while the latter commanded the formidable maritime kingdom of Aegina. All three were so just and pious that Hades appointed them as the three judges of the underworld after they passed away."

"Will they fight to stop us?" Adam’s eyes narrowed into slits, his fingers tightening around his hammer.

However, Achilles shook his head. "Fight? Why would they? Like Charon, they’re on their turf. A single word is all they need to force us to obey. So, what’s the plan?"

He waited for a second, then two, his mouth opening a little more as the answer didn’t come. Brows twitching, he grabbed Adam’s shoulder. "Don’t tell me you still have no plan!"

Adam remained silent, his jaw clenched. What plan when they could make him kneel with a word? Just rulers? What a joke with this tyrannical advantage. Still, he had to come up with something since fighting was pointless.

’Rush through the temple at top speed?’

He glanced through the door, noting the several kilometers separating him from the exit. Impossible. A single yell to halt and everything would shatter.

Assassination was even worse. Hades would greet him the moment he sensed that a cog from his well-oiled system disappeared.

Meanwhile, Achilles’ grip tightened around Adam’s shoulder, his voice cracking. "Adam!"

Forced out of his thoughts, he gazed at the man’s pale face and ragged huffs.

He sighed and sat on the smooth steps. "Do you know why I didn’t make any plans?"

Confused and horrified by the question, Achilles stuttered. "Why?"

"Because we’re dealing with powers far greater than us. The more I would have thought about it, the more reasons I would have found not to go. But you know what I learned in the abyss?" He rose to his feet, plasma wafting from his narrowed eyes. "To move forward, again and again, against endless hordes, against horrors, against death itself. A single hesitation, a single thought about retreating meant death there."

However, Achilles’ frown deepened. Brushes with death, hesitations? He had gone through them, too. "How does moving forward help us? Adam, I admire you, but by my mother, this is just too much."

As they faced an unsurmountable wall, Garduck scratched his head, not the least bit worried. Were they really struggling with such an easy problem?

"Adam..." He started, his voice hesitant and fingers pointing at his ears. "If sound is the problem... You know?"

"Yeah, sure. As if stuffing our ears will work." Adam rolled his eyes. If it was this easy to fool their authorities over souls, what were they useful for?

However, Garduck pushed his idea with a surprising revelation. "Adam... Have you ever heard about a demon’s soul being judged? Their powers aren’t as effective against us. They can only curse us slowly."

His voice firmed. "Think about it. If they had that power over demons, the gods wouldn’t have needed to wage war or recognise the demon realm. Those three judges alone could have decimated the abyss with mere words eons ago." His eyes narrowed. "And you’re not a normal demon anymore. Your draconic blood is thick, and you’ve evolved into something far closer to our origin than even Baal himself."

Adam’s pupils constricted as he observed Garduck’s decisive nod. It made too much sense! After all, who had the authority to judge a devilish dragon’s soul?

He struck his knuckles against each other, a smirk splitting his face. "Let’s go. I’ll bolt through their hall faster than lightning!"

"Hell no! I’m still human, and the further I am to anything touching upon souls, the better I am!" Achilles roared, his body shuddering like a leaf. "Let’s move stealthily. With our speed, we have a chance to pass unnoticed."

However, Adam’s broadening smirk and expanding muscles spoke louder than words. Still, he pronounced them as he shifted to his draconic form. "We charge in!"