Chapter 516

The sky was a gloomy gray, the earth an abyssal black, the River of Yellow Springs roared with waves, and the Road of No Return was paved with white bones. The endless line of the dead stretched as far as the eye could see, while red-eyed crows swirled above the departed…

So this is what the afterlife looks like? Through the suddenly opened Gate of the Dead, after taking a glance at the landscape of the Deathscape, the souls of three cleaners—two men and a woman—fell into an unspoken silence.

Though they had long known that as cleaners, they were unlikely to live until natural death, most likely meeting their end during some perilous mission and thus arriving here prematurely, they had mentally prepared themselves for this inevitability.

But when it truly happened, the trio still found it hard to accept, unable to believe their lives had so abruptly come to an end.

“I… I’m so filled with regret!”

Reuben, having returned from his “Flower Fairy” state to normal human size, couldn’t help but let out a low sob. At over forty years old, tears streamed down the middle-aged man’s face as he lamented in frustration: “Everything was going so smoothly, how did we suddenly die? We were right by the Bureau Director’s side; how could we be killed by something like cannon fire?”

“Don’t dwell on it. It’s already passed.”

Feeling the ever-growing force pulling him towards the Deathscape, Frankie, who was floating beside Reuben, couldn’t help but sigh bitterly.

“Though we don’t know the details, it seems we fell victim to some kind of betrayal. Even the Bureau Director didn’t escape; half his body was blown apart. He might not last much longer either.”

“Ah, let’s move on. Stop thinking about it. Those are matters for the living. We’re now among the dead. No matter how much we think, there’s no way back. It’s time to proceed.”

“I… I…”

“I want to try one more time!”

As Reuben and Frankie moved toward the Gate of the Dead, ready to accept their fate, the lone female cleaner among them suddenly looked up, grabbing their clothes with a stubborn expression. “My ‘Clear Path Ahead’ is an anomalous item on the soul level that I’ve brought along. I can still use it!

Reuben! Frankie! Help me! If we can use the effects of ‘Clear Path Ahead’ to carve out a path back, there might still be hope!”

Hearing Mona’s plea, Reuben and Frankie exchanged glances, hesitating before responding, “But this is the Deathscape. Even if the Bureau Director dies, he can only briefly resist its rules. Ultimately, everyone must follow the Road of No Return. With just us three Level 2 Cleaners…”

“Help me!”

Interrupting Reuben, Mona took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she continued, “The Bureau Director hasn’t arrived in the Deathscape yet, which means he’s still alive!

Even if we can’t go back, if we manage to open even a small gap and send my ‘Clear Path Ahead’ back, it might help the Bureau Director escape! Please, help me! Regardless of the outcome, I want to try again. Without him, I would have ended up here twenty years ago. I won’t give up without trying!”

“Alright then…”

After exchanging another look, Reuben and Frankie nodded. Harnessing the strength of their Level 2 Cleaner souls, they resisted the pull from deeper within the Deathscape as they positioned themselves behind Mona.

“Thank you!”

“Thud!”

The sound of shoe soles hitting the bony ground echoed as, with Mona’s first successful step, the infinite haze outside the Gate of the Dead parted, revealing a small path.

Although insignificant compared to the vast gray world, the haze, representing the irrevocable nature of death, had indeed made a minuscule concession.

Seeing this, the other two cleaners, who had been hesitant, immediately perked up. Clenching their teeth, their dim souls brightened, glowing like white flames, flickering in defiance against the overwhelming gray mist.

Compared to the boundless haze, the three burning souls were like fireflies struggling against the ocean, weak but determined. Step by step, they carved out a narrow path leading back.

We can do it! Maybe we really can! Feeling the faint breeze carrying the scent of the World of the Living through the narrow path ahead, the three cleaners felt a surge of renewed spirit.

60 Leon Values mark the threshold between gods and humans, and also determine whether one can break free from the constraints of the Deathscape’s rules. As seasoned Level 2 Cleaners, their average Leon Value was close to 30 points, making their raw power sufficient. Though falling short of achieving true transcendence or crossing the threshold of True Gods, with Mona’s ‘Clear Path Ahead,’ they might still carve out a small road leading from death to life. And as Mona said, even if they ultimately return, sending ‘Clear Path Ahead’ back to help the Bureau Director survive—or even just catching one last glimpse of that world—would make the effort worthwhile.

“Hurry! Give it your all!”

Feeling the unique aura of the World of the Living rushing toward them, Mona clenched her teeth, straining every ounce of strength as she shouted hoarsely: “Just one more step! Just one more step!”

“Alas… I can’t just stand by anymore!”

“?!!”

Startled, the three cleaners watched as numerous octopus tentacles emerged from behind them, writhing like serpents. These quickly wrapped around their arms, legs, and waists.

The countless flesh-colored suckers, each the size of a baby’s mouth, began voraciously sucking away their strength upon contact. In mere moments, the energy they had expended by burning their souls was entirely drained.

As the cleaners were dragged back off the ground, the painstakingly carved-out narrow path rapidly closed under the encroaching haze, vanishing completely.

“One more step… So close!”

“Don’t blame me. It’s just my duty.”

Facing the cleaners’ hateful stares, the long-tailed giant horse, whose neck should have sported a mane but instead sprouted octopus tentacles, blinked helplessly before opening its lips and babbling incessantly:

“This wasn’t originally my concern, but your Clearing Bureau did something reckless. Someone ate the Hound God who used to guard this place.

To maintain order in the Deathscape and prevent unauthorized entry and exit, we Death Ambassadors now take turns monitoring the Gate of the Dead. And today, it’s my shift.

Oh, by the way, none of you are from the Virgo Subdivision, are you?”

(End of Chapter)