Meanwhile, the perspective shifts to Castorice. She was currently riding on Pollux's back, soaring swiftly through a purplish-black void.
This was the 'Shadow Plane'—or, more simply, the 'Underworld'. Shortly after Okhema's appearance, she had assigned jobs to nearly all her Identities, giving them tasks to occupy their time. For example, Mydei opened a restaurant, and Aglaea started a clothing store.
However, Castorice, one of the earliest summoned Identities, hadn't been assigned a job in Okhema. This was because she had another mission.
Her original objective was to 'investigate the missing Death God'. Back then, she knew nothing of the Outer Gods or the World Barrier. Now, however, it was obvious that the Outer Gods were responsible for the Death God's disappearance.
With various crises erupting across the world, Castorice suspected the Underworld might also be in danger. Thus, her current mission had evolved: while still investigating the missing Death God, she now had to guard against potential threats emerging within the Underworld itself.
It's worth mentioning that since first arriving in Chaos City, Castorice had begun investigating the missing Death God. It seemed like a long time had passed—and indeed, it had. The reason she hadn't found anything for so long was... she'd been slacking off a bit.
After all, the Underworld was vast, and she had no clues to go on. Her search relied entirely on blind luck. This led her to adopt a "three days fishing, two days drying the nets" approach, often staying home to write novels or tend to the emotional needs of the Death Priests.
Without exaggeration, if all the Death Priests in the world gathered around Castorice, their faith would now flow almost entirely to her. She wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
In any case, once the threat of the Outer Gods became clearer, Castorice finally switched off her slacking mode and prioritized the investigation again. And now, at last, she sensed something.
Aboard the dragon, Castorice suddenly glanced to her left. Despite their high speed, Pollux shielded her from most of the airflow. Only a gentle breeze brushed past, causing her long, pale purple hair to dance lightly behind her.
Castorice suddenly said, "Pollux, let's go see what's on the left."
Pollux immediately beat her wings and changed direction. As they drew closer, the strange sensation grew stronger until a river, at least one or two hundred meters wide, came into view.
Castorice had seen this river elsewhere; it seemed to flow through the entire Underworld. But the river itself wasn't the focus. On the far bank, amidst the lifeless, purple-black earth, stood a black stone stele about a meter tall.
At Castorice's direction, Pollux slowly decelerated and landed beside the stele. Castorice leaped lightly from the dragon's back, the heels of her high heels clicking crisply as they touched the ground.
It had to be said: with her hair color, her white dress, and the white stockings on her legs, Castorice became the most eye-catching presence the moment she stood in the Underworld.
So, as soon as she appeared near the stele, a translucent soul seemed to rise from the ground, floating between her and the stone monument.
Castorice could faintly make out that the soul resembled an elderly man—hunched over, his face etched with wrinkles, and his eyes clouded. As she studied him, the soul suddenly spoke. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Castorice's eyes widened in astonishment. In the Underworld, all souls gradually lost their consciousness until they reverted to their purest, most primal state, ready for reincarnation—the cycle of this world.
Olivia's reincarnation into Aria had followed this very process.
This meant that unless a soul had just died and recently arrived in the Underworld, most should be incapable of communication. Yet this soul before her looked nothing like a newcomer. Instead, he seemed... like he had been stationed here for a very long time.
Castorice ignored his question and countered with her own, "And who are you? What are you doing here?"
The soul replied, "I am a simple tomb guardian, watching over this graveyard to prevent those with malicious intent from disturbing the dead."
Castorice asked doubtfully, "A graveyard? A graveyard with only one tombstone?"
The soul followed her gaze and looked back. He seemed to freeze, his expression turning vacant. "Why is there only one tombstone in this graveyard? How strange... I vaguely remember there should be many more."
Clearly, the soul wasn't entirely immune to the Underworld's influence; his mind had begun to fray. After a moment, he said, "But none of that matters. I am a tomb guardian. I remember clearly that I resolved to watch over this place until I died."
The soul turned to Castorice and asked, "So, who are you? What is your purpose here?"
As he spoke, Castorice felt a thick wave of hostility radiating from him, tinged with the faint aura of divine power.
In that instant, she realized this seemingly ordinary soul possessed the combat strength of at least a god.
Castorice asked, "Before me, have others come here?"
The soul replied, "People?
"Perhaps. I have indeed driven off many malicious intruders. But in my eyes, those creatures were no different from monsters. To call them 'people' would be giving them far too much credit."
Castorice asked again, "How long... have you been guarding this place?"
This question seemed to stump the soul once more. He hesitated before saying, "I don't remember. But it doesn't matter. As long as I'm still alive, I will fulfill my oath. So, you still haven't answered my question. Who are you?"
Castorice didn't know what to make of it. This was a soul who hadn't realized he was dead, who had forgotten so much, yet still clung to his promise.
In life, he must have been a god-level powerhouse. As for the identity of the person whose tombstone he guarded, Castorice now had a growing suspicion: it was very likely the Death God himself.
Castorice paused, then said, "I am not an enemy. I am a friend of the one buried beneath that tombstone behind you. I've simply come to visit her."