After crossing the river on the ferryman’s boat, one descends the staircase leading to the lower layers and enters the second tier.
Upon descending a rather lengthy staircase, the deceased arrives at a sunlit meadow bursting with countless flowers.
Though undoubtedly inside a cave, this breathtaking flower-filled plain greets the dead soul with tranquility.
As the departed wander amidst the vibrant blooms, they feel their very essence healed by the beauty of the flowers.
The second layer of the Underworld is exceptionally kind.
Be it wounds from life, fatal diseases, or death-inflicting injuries—through the flowers of the Flowery Meadow, all are healed, restoring the soul to wholeness.
Even souls who had their flesh torn away by Ghost Mother in the previous layer can achieve completeness here.
In this overly peaceful and beautiful flower field, souls may wish to linger as long as possible.
However, remaining in this flower field against the natural flow of the Underworld would be an unwise choice.
For the permitted time for a soul to stay here is merely seven days.
As those seven days draw near, the Grim Reaper insists on guiding the soul to the next layer, pulling them along if necessary.
While most souls cannot resist the Reaper’s touch, there are rare instances where a soul escapes the Reaper’s grasp to remain in this layer.
Such souls who evade even the Reaper will begin to notice their own transformation after lingering beyond the seventh day.
Their feet turn into roots, legs and torso into stems, arms into leaves, and heads into blossoms.
They become a single flower blooming in the Flowery Meadow, destined to remain until all memory of self fades away.
Of course, once all memories are lost, the soul will eventually reincarnate, but what does it matter when they’ve forgotten everything?
The third layer of the Underworld is just as kind as the second, perhaps even more so.
This layer grants the soul its deepest desires through the Desire-Fulfilling Road.
On the verdant plains paved with black stones, every wish of the traveler is realized.
Souls who starved in life will feast; those who thirsted will drink sweet water. The greedy will be buried in gold, and seekers of honor will hear endless praise.
Yet, like the Flowery Meadow, staying too long here is forbidden.
The manifestations here are illusions fueled by the soul’s karmic energy. Lingering past seven days depletes not only karma but also fragments of the soul responsible for memory and identity, leaving behind a pure but empty essence.
Such hollow essences are simply transported onward without further ado.
These three upper layers of the Underworld provide solace and closure, harming none unless misused.
Below, however, lie four layers of judgment and punishment.
These infernal tiers burn sins from tainted souls. They are aptly named Hell.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The fourth layer, Inferno or Heat Hell, features a narrow bridge over roaring flames. Below the bridge, sinners clad in burning shackles writhe in agony.
These are the perpetrators of violence, both physical and mental, condemned by the divine court.
Until their sins are burned away, they endure the fiery torment, their spirits consumed in the blaze.
“Do only those who wielded physical violence suffer here?”
“Violence extends far beyond physical acts. Verbal assaults that shatter minds are equally punished here.”
“That… seems excessively harsh.”
“But necessary,” replied the guide.
Stricken with fear at the possibility of such a fate, the judged soul moves onward with the Reaper.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The fifth layer, Cocytus or Ice Hell, is a cavern dripping with icicles. Pierced through by these icy spears are thieves, their nerves frozen solid.
These sinners were convicted of theft, violating the sacred laws of Light, Justice, and Righteousness.
Frozen within the glacial needles, their souls wait for their sins to melt away.
“The punishment for theft rivals that of violence?”
“Naturally. Theft defies the divine code against coveting another’s possessions, including adultery.”
Indeed, the sight fills the passing soul with dread, urging them forward.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The sixth layer, Malebolge or Thorn Hell, appears as a plain filled with thorn trees. Each tree entwines a sinner, their bodies transformed into branches.
Condemned for fraud, these deceivers now suffer the thorns born from their deceitful tongues.
“Here, they are mutilated by thorns grown from their own lies. Brutal indeed.”
“Mouths are gates of ruin. Lies harm others; thus, this punishment fits.”
Fraud, capable of infinite harm, must be thoroughly punished.
Again, the fearful soul presses on.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The seventh layer, Abyss or Dark Hell, is pitch-black. No sinners are visible, only faint screams hinting at unspeakable torments.
Here dwell murderers, stripped of light and hope, paying for their crimes in darkness eternal.
