Chapter 332: Gate of the Land of Death, Netherworld Witch, Becoming the Demon King

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Gate of the Land of Death, Netherworld Witch, Becoming the Demon King

"Where am I?"

Lance’s consciousness gradually returned, but he found he hadn’t immediately woken up in the Underground City.

All around him was a completely dark space, devoid of any light or sense of direction.

He looked down and discovered that he was standing on a lake as placid as a black mirror.

He tried to take a step forward.

The moment his foot touched the lake’s surface, rings of gray waves rippled outward from under his sole.

’Oh, right. I think I’m dead.’

Lance recalled the last scene in his memory.

After pulling out the Bronze Long Spear that had pierced his heart, he had told Nieve to use the "Flower of Frosty Snow," then completely lost consciousness and collapsed into her arms.

’So this is what death feels like?’

Lance didn’t feel any panic, just a bit of novelty.

In this silent space, he suddenly felt something directly ahead calling to him.

It made him involuntarily start walking forward.

With every step, a ripple spread across the black lake’s surface beneath his feet.

Just then.

A stream of information suddenly flooded his mind, instantly telling him the name of the lake beneath his feet.

[Lake of Reflection]

This was a waystation that every soul was forced to come to after their physical body died.

And the ripples spreading out from under his feet represented a person’s attachment to "life" in the Material Realm.

If a soul who had lived a full life and completely accepted death were to step on this water, it wouldn’t create any ripples at all. Instead, they would glide quickly and without resistance toward the end of the lake, as if ice skating.

Lance followed the calling voice, walking across the lake’s surface for a while.

Finally.

He stopped.

Because he discovered that what was calling to him wasn’t a creature, but a door.

A colossal door, larger than he could have ever imagined.

From Lance’s perspective, the door was a good dozen or so meters wide and reached an exaggerated height of several dozen meters.

The entire door seemed to be carved from some unknown grayish-white rock, its surface covered in intricate patterns.

[Gate of the Land of Death]

Just like before, this name inexplicably appeared in Lance’s mind.

’Gate of the Land of Death?’

A thought struck Lance.

’Isn’t this the place mentioned by the Hero named Atlas back at the Profession ceremony?’

’That man once said he had inscribed all the information about the [Pale Guard] Profession behind this gate.’

’But, from what Atlas said, he clearly went in as a living person.’

’Why do I have to be dead to see this gate?’

’Could it be that the Pale Guard Profession hides some special ability to freely enter and exit the Land of Death, one that I haven’t unlocked yet?’

Just as Lance’s mind was filled with doubt, as he was even subconsciously about to raise his hand to touch the stone gate...

"Handsome, I’d advise you not to get any closer."

"If you really push that door open and take one step inside, you’ll be dead for good."

A teasing female voice suddenly rang out from behind Lance.

’There’s someone else here?!’

Greatly alarmed, Lance spun his head around.

He saw a woman standing less than ten meters away from him, who had appeared there at some unknown point.

She was wearing a loose, black Mage Robe with a large hood that hid most of her face in shadow, revealing only the faint outline of a pointed chin.

"Who are you?"

Lance asked, taking a wary half-step back.

However, judging by the tone of her warning just now, she didn’t seem to have any ill intent.

"Who I am isn’t important."

The woman’s voice sounded mature and carried an air of mystery.

"But you’ve gotten yourself into big trouble this time."

"That little girl, Nightmare, has been going crazy these past few days."

The hooded woman let out a soft chuckle.

"She’s forcibly dragged out all of us Witches who are still active in the Material Realm and has us searching for you all over the world."

"I’ve lived for so long, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen that little girl get so angry. Tsk tsk tsk, how terrifying."

Hearing this.

The corners of Lance’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

’Yvette? She caused such a huge commotion?’

He immediately understood the other party’s identity.

Since she had mentioned Nightmare and called her "little girl," the hooded woman before him was surely a senior member of the Witch Race.

He thought back.

Because the Underground City had been completely sealed since the day it opened, even the connection to the Star Realm had been forcibly severed.

As a result, he hadn’t seen Yvette in his dreams for nearly two weeks.

He just hadn’t expected.

Yvette would become so frantic.

Frantic enough to mobilize so many Witches just to find him.

"However..."

the hooded woman continued, a hint of realization in her voice.

"I was just wondering where someone that even Nightmare’s authority couldn’t find could have possibly hidden."

"To think you were actually summoned here by death itself."

"That explains it. When you get back, explain it to her properly. Given how obsessed that little girl is with you, she should forgive you quickly."

At this point, the woman seemed to think of something amusing.

"You have no idea. Because she couldn’t find you, she thought you’d been secretly seduced away by some shameless Witch."

"In the Star Realm meetings these past few days, she’s interrogated every well-endowed Witch one by one. It’s really pissed her off."

Lance broke out in a cold sweat listening to this.

’When a Witch gets jealous, her imagination is way too vivid.’

But another matter made Lance’s scalp tingle even more.

Even after he had died completely and fallen into the Netherworld’s Lake of Reflection, these Witches could still accurately track him down and corner him.

Their ability to find people was a little too terrifying!

’If I ever truly anger Yvette in the future, does this mean I won’t even be able to rest in peace after I die?’

"Thank you for the warning."

Lance composed himself and politely thanked the unknown Witch.

He wasn’t some brainless side character in a horror movie, looking for an early grave.

Since this senior had gone out of her way to warn him that opening the door meant certain death, he would obediently withdraw his hand and not touch the stone gate in the slightest.

But the question from before still lingered in his mind, and Lance couldn’t help but ask.

"Senior, as far as I know..."

"in the past, there seems to have been someone who was able to walk up to this gate while still alive, even inscribe information on it, and leave alive in the end."

"Oh? You actually know about this... No wonder."

A trace of surprise entered the hooded woman’s voice; she seemed a bit taken aback that Lance knew of this secret.

"I was wondering while I was observing you from the side."

"How could a soul that just left its physical body stand so steadily on this Lake of Reflection?"

"So, you hold that special Profession, Pale Guard."

"You recognize my Profession?"

Lance was even more surprised. This was the first time he had heard someone else mention this Profession.

"How could I not?"

The woman lifted her chin slightly, a hint of pride in her tone.

"I am the Netherworld Witch."

She turned her head toward the immense stone gate.

"The previous Pale Guard."

Facing the stone gate, the Netherworld Witch’s tone actually held a trace of respect.

"Back then, to stop the Death God from taking away his fallen comrades behind him..."

"he stood right where you are standing now, using his own back to hold the Gate of the Land of Death shut."

"He refused to take a single step into the Land of Death, and he used his body to forcibly prevent his comrades from sliding into the abyss."

"However..."

The Witch paused, as if recalling some ancient legend.

"According to the information I have, that man eventually became a Demon King of a certain generation, I believe."