The musical duel between Pharaoh and Orpheus was nearing its end. Orpheus, with his broken G-string, was in a predicament. The sound of Pharaoh's demonic zither instantly overwhelmed Orpheus's harp, and everyone was once again plunged into the painful music. They covered their ears tightly, their heads aching as they began to shake violently.
"The final blow, Balance of Curse." Pharaoh played his demonic zither, looking at Issei Hyoudou and the others with a smile.
"Come, sinners who trespassed into the underworld. Place your hearts upon the scales." The ancient Egyptian mural of Anubis's judgment reappeared. On one end of the scales in the mural, the pattern of a heart gradually manifested. Seeing this, everyone instinctively covered their chests over their hearts... After a moment, they did not feel the agonizing sensation of their hearts being torn out; instead, they felt completely normal.
"What is this?! Why haven't your hearts appeared on the scales?!" Seeing that his demonic zither had no effect on them, cold sweat uncontrollably dripped down Pharaoh's forehead as he cried out in shock.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
At that moment, a powerful heartbeat echoed through the garden. Everyone was drawn to the intense sound, while Pharaoh broke into a cold sweat. He slowly looked down at his own chest—the heartbeat was coming from his own heart.
"Aaaaaah—!!!" Pharaoh let out a piercing scream. His heart had actually burst through his chest and was still beating. The heart pattern on one end of the scales in the mural fully manifested—it was Pharaoh's heart. The scale began to tilt downward on the side with the heart.
"He actually reflected Pharaoh's attack back at him!!" Seeing this, Azazel couldn't help but shout in amazement.
"Incredible." Michael couldn't think of anything else to say and could only utter a single word of praise.
"What a beautiful and melodious tune." Unlike the shock of the previous two, Sirzechs was simply entranced by Orpheus's melody, listening with his eyes closed.
"Ughhhh..." Pharaoh was drenched in sweat, his face contorted in agony. As the scales in the mural continued to tilt downward toward the heart, Pharaoh clutched his chest and collapsed into the beautiful sea of flowers in the garden.
As Pharaoh fell, Orpheus stopped playing, and an instant calm descended. When a flower petal landed on Pharaoh's nose, he sneezed and woke up, looking around in confusion as he said:
"What happened? Didn't I die from my own attack? Why am I fine now?"
Not only Pharaoh, but everyone except Orpheus and Eurydice also wore expressions of bewilderment. Pharaoh seemed to realize something, looking at Orpheus with utter shock as he said:
"Could it be... was it all an illusion, Orpheus?! An illusion you created single-handedly?!"
"Yes." Orpheus nodded faintly in confirmation.
"What, an illusion?! Not only the enemy, but we were also caught in it?!" Hearing Pharaoh's words, everyone was inwardly startled and exclaimed in unison. Then, they looked at Orpheus with eyes as if gazing upon a monster, thinking:
'Orpheus, just what level has your power reached...'
Afterwards, Pharaoh picked up his demonic zither from the ground. Seeing him take up his instrument, everyone's vigilance instantly peaked to its maximum, prepared for a fight to the death with Pharaoh.
The scene before them left everyone astonished. Pharaoh did not play his demonic zither but instead placed it on his back, behind his underworld armor.
Crossing his arms, he looked at Issei Hyoudou and the others and said, "Alright, you may proceed to the next hell."
"Huh? Really?" Issei Hyoudou and the others were first startled, then tentatively looked at Pharaoh and asked.
Pharaoh closed his eyes, nodded, and said, "Of course. With Orpheus backing you here, it's a fact that my strength is no match for his. So, go on."
"Oh, oh. Well, thank you then, Pharaoh." Everyone nodded dazedly at Pharaoh, then left the garden to head to the next hell—the Third Prison.
Pharaoh, Orpheus, and Eurydice watched as the group departed. After they had all left, Orpheus walked up to Pharaoh and said to him:
"I'm sorry, Pharaoh."
"It's fine. Being able to have a musical contest with you was quite good for me. Moreover, I got to witness your true strength this time." Pharaoh smiled and waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.
"Pharaoh, Orpheus." Hades's voice rang out in the air above the two.
"Lord Hades!!" Upon hearing their names called, the two did not dare delay and immediately knelt on one knee where they stood, their expressions filled with reverence and fear.
Hades's voice continued from above: "Orpheus, why did you help them? Are you not aware that I forbade you from participating in this trial against them?"
"I know, Lord Hades, but I simply could not stand by and do nothing." Orpheus looked up toward the sky as he spoke.
Sitting in his palace in Elysium, Hades snorted coldly and quickly transmitted his voice:
"Hmph! Orpheus, considering that after donning the lyra cloth, you have purified countless souls in the Acheron River, I will let you off this time. If you meddle again next time, I will completely petrify Eurydice, ensuring you two never meet again for all eternity."
"Y-yes, Lord Hades!" Hearing Hades's words, Orpheus's back was instantly soaked with sweat as he hurriedly replied.
"I hope so." Hades said, and the transmission ended there.
Sitting in his palace in Elysium, Hades sat on his throne, closed his eyes, and activated his omniscient and omnipotent ability, looking toward the direction of the First Prison.
He saw that Lune had already dealt with Dulio and the others. Lune sat leisurely in his judge's chair, sipping black tea, while Dulio and the other Heavenly Realm reinforcements were entangled by Lune's whip of the balrog and hung above the courtroom.
Meanwhile, at the Gate of Hell, Tannin and Bakuha lay on the ground, covered in wounds inflicted by Mephisto and Gildras. The dragon father and son had been knocked unconscious by magic, and Mephisto and the other were treating their injuries.
Hades tapped the armrest of his chair, as if deep in thought, then transmitted his voice to the guardians of the Third Prison:
"Guardian Specters of the Third Prison: Rock of the Gigas Star and Ivan of the Troll Star, heed my command. Summon the Guardian Dragon immediately. When they arrive, block their path at once."
"We obey Lord Hades's command!!" The Specters who received the order knelt on one knee, cupped their hands respectfully, and replied.
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