Chapter 34: The Ring of Hades

Follow the direction pointed by the hollow tree.

Ethan and Xiaobai didn't go far when they saw a huge mountain crack appearing in front of Ethan.

The crack seemed to be split open, and the bottom was invisible. The crack was just right for a person and a horse to pass through.

Following the crack, a pair of bronze gates blocked Ethan.

The bronze gate is engraved with strange patterns, including monsters, flames, travelers, birds, and small boats.

Each one has a ferocious appearance, gathering in the middle from the distance until they are blocked by a bronze door knocker, making people intimidated.

This is probably the scene of hell, and Ethan feels sad.

Probably feeling the breath from the underworld, Bryant regained consciousness again. He got out of the backpack without any fear and climbed up to the gate of the underworld. He actually felt that he had regained some of his energy.

Ethan was sure this was what Wedge called: the Bronze Door of Hell.

But I don't know why Bryant was so interested.

Ethan didn't want to think about it because this door became a new problem for him.

Taking courage, Ethan touched the bronze door knocker.

"Clang clang clang!"

The bronze door knocker was heavier than he expected.

A cold wind blew by, and Ethan shivered subconsciously.

"Jie Jie Jie, that annoying voice of bronze, who is... knocking on the door."

A legendary harpy landed on the door knocker at some point.

She has a charming and beautiful face, but her body is like a hawk's body.

Glancing at Bryant who was climbing on top of Ethan, his face was slightly moved.

"Travellers who want to open the door to the underworld must answer the riddle left by the Muse."

"If the answer is correct, the door will open naturally."

"But if the answer is wrong, I will eat your body and sacrifice your soul to Hades."

Ethan swallowed nervously. Sure enough, the ruins of the journey were not that simple.

It is said that the harpy is the messenger of Hades in mythology, responsible for carrying souls to the underworld.

Seeing her ready to move, Ethan was hesitant.

But now the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. The harpy stared at his body with a weird smile that was salivating.

Ethan can guarantee that once he chooses to refuse, he will be pecked immediately.

Then he took a long breath and said, "I am willing to listen attentively."

The harpy fooled and flew to Ethan: "Jie Jie Jie, I like it."

"If you can answer the question correctly, I will not only open the bronze door to the underworld, but I will also give you an extra gift."

"Jiejiejie~"

She smiled unbridled, obviously winning.

The more the other party acted like this, the more Ethan felt unsure of himself.

"The question begins: What animal walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? The more legs it has, the more incompetent it is..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the harpy began to show her fangs. In her eyes, Ethan was already her meal.

On the other hand, after Ethan heard the puzzle, the panic in his heart calmed down instantly, and he stared at the harpy with a strange look: "The answer...can't be a human, right?"

The harpy who was originally smiling suddenly froze after hearing Ethan's answer.

"How is it possible...how could it be so fast!"

"Impossible~"

"What should I do~ That prophecy..."

The harpy muttered to herself with a look of disbelief on her face.

This puzzle was passed down from the goddess of the Temple of Muses. How could it be so simple?

Ethan smiled slightly. A newborn baby crawls, so it walks on four legs. Then it gradually grows up and walks on two legs. Finally, it ages and degenerates and needs a cane, so it walks on three legs.

This riddle was already in the public domain in its previous life, and I can’t say that it’s known to everyone, but it’s not far off.

"Human... your wisdom is beyond my imagination. You can easily solve the puzzles left by the Muses. In return, I will open the door to the underworld for you..."

The harpy waved her hand, grabbed the bronze door knocker on the bronze door, and threw it into the air.

The door knocker gradually shrank in the air, and finally transformed into the shape of a ring, appearing in front of Ethan.

Ethan looked at the ring quietly. It was engraved with feather-like patterns and looked extremely exquisite.

"Put it on. Only this bronze ring can knock on the door to the underworld here."

Ethan put the ring on his left index finger, and it was just the right size.

"From now on, this place can only be opened by you. I hope you can treat it well."

"Boom boom~"

The door to the underworld slowly opened, and the gloomy aura that hit him almost made him suffocate.

Just taking a look inside, Ethan felt the blood surge all over his body.

Suddenly I no longer dared to look around.

Bryant didn't seem to be affected, and after a few words of advice to Ethan, he really jumped in.

Just when Ethan was about to stop him, the harpy on the side suddenly said: "Don't worry, it will be back soon."

As expected, Bryant emerged from the underworld in almost a quarter of an hour.

Ethan was so happy that he hung Bryant on his body, fearing that it would run around.

"Young man, don't you go in and try?"

The harpy flew toward Ethan's ear pitifully, seeming to be impatient, but also a bit like a reminder.

Ethan shook his head.

Because of the last two sentences of the Wedge Oracle:

"When heaven is angry."

"Become a messenger of the abyss."

He still doesn't understand what the sky's wrath means.

Did I come at the wrong time? Ethan frowned.

"Boom~"

At this moment, the sky was filled with thunder.

"Boom~"

When the sky is angry!

It's now!

Become the messenger of hell.

In the thunder, Ethan and Xiaobai jumped without hesitation.

"Cry~"

Ethan felt his body passing through layers of haze and falling straight into the abyss.

And behind him, the door to the underworld slammed shut.

Ethan suddenly felt his eyes light up, and he was in a phantom light.

The speed of his body falling began to slow down, until he felt a thick touch under his feet.

A man and a horse were already standing on a square.

This square was exactly the same as the previous Muse Temple.

It was equally magnificent, and Ethan couldn't help but be fascinated.

In the center of the square, there was a giant sculpture.

On the sculpture, a young man talked to a monster with a human head and a lion body, and successfully solved the puzzle and saved the people.

Ethan quietly read the hero's deeds, with great admiration in his heart.

Cursed by the gods, abandoned by his parents, and teased by fate, such a tragic life still could not stop him from becoming a king admired by thousands of people. In the last day, he suddenly realized and carried the burden alone, taking all the faults.

A hero full of wisdom, understanding and tenacity.

Although he finally jumped into the gate of the underworld, he was led away by the gods.

That is to say, when this gate of the underworld is opened, there is an endless underworld hell below.

But when the thunder sounded, it was another holy land.

At this time, the sky suddenly began to gather phantom light, and a goddess with endless wisdom in her eyes appeared. Accompanied by tragic music, she sang in the air:

"Warrior from afar~"

"Please listen to me sing a hymn about wisdom."

"He is smart and wise~"

"He is thoughtful~"

"He solved the puzzle of the monster~"

"He saved the country and the people."

"He became the supreme king."

...

"He killed his father and married his mother."

"He was enlightened."

"Traveler who listens to my song of wisdom~"

"My blessing will go with you."

At the same time, a line of words suddenly appeared in the blank space on the sculpture:

Those who can open the door to the underworld are qualified to receive the blessing of wisdom.

The Fountain of Enlightenment: After drinking it, you will receive the blessing of the Muse Meleta.

The singing ended, and a clear spring flowed out where her finger pointed.

The four big words "The Fountain of Enlightenment" were written on one side of the sculpture.

Like last time, Ethan drank a lot, and Xiaobai and Bryant were not to be outdone.

Soon the spring water ran out, and Ethan put Senbei Ma Yun into the water again until there was no drop left.

One person, one snake, one horse, and one Senbei lay comfortably in the square.

PS: This relic is based on the most tragic hero in Greek mythology - Oedipus.

Interested friends can go and have a look.

In addition, daily recommendation tickets~