The massive spider body, over ten meters long, plummeted from the black clouds in the sky, crashing heavily onto the torii gate standing in the river. The giant impact snapped the crossbeam at the top of the torii. Just as the spider's body was about to fall into the waters of the Sanzu River, silk shot out from its bloated abdomen. The white threads streaked through the air and adhered to the two remaining pillars of the giant torii, pulling its falling form to a halt.
Thus, the massive Three-Eyed Spider, shot down from the sky, hung suspended between the broken pillars of the giant torii. Its bloated body hung upside down. Of the three large eyes on the spider's abdomen, only the two on the sides remained open. The middle one had been reduced to a gaping, bloody hole, with blood continuously flowing from it. Deep within this bloody cavity, a faint light shimmered—it was clearly the result of Miketsu's previous use of a disposable chopstick.
Before the hanging Three-Eyed Spider, the small wooden boat still floated on the surface of the Sanzu River. Miketsu twirled another disposable chopstick in her hand as she looked at the large spider. Beside her, Enma Ai could not help but take a few cautious steps back, her expression no longer as indifferent as usual, now tinged with a trace of unease.
"Ai..."
Hanging between the torii pillars, the massive spider emitted a muffled male voice. Its remaining two large eyeballs glared at Enma Ai on the wooden boat. Under that gaze, Enma Ai's body trembled slightly, and she instinctively retreated another step, leaning closer to Miketsu's back.
"Who is this person? How did you bring her here?" the Three-Eyed Spider questioned Enma Ai directly. Hearing his words, Enma Ai wanted to respond, but she was interrupted.
"I am just a passerby, exiled here via Hell Correspondence due to the grudges of the mortal world. Haven't you seen many people like me over the past few hundred years?" Miketsu answered easily. Hearing Miketsu's words, the Three-Eyed Spider continued to speak sternly.
"A mere passerby? ... Don't joke with me. How could an ordinary mortal possess such power? How could a mortal know secrets like the Hell Girl Project that even the Ten Kings are reluctant to mention? You are an investigator sent by the Underworld!"
Filled with wariness, the Three-Eyed Spider spoke loudly. Hearing the spider's words, Miketsu smiled and replied, "Is that what you think? ... It seems you are quite afraid of the Underworld. I am a bit curious now. As a former Yama of the Underworld, why would you go to such lengths to sustain this abandoned project?"
Miketsu had learned the truth about the Hell Girl Project—from its inception to its cancellation—directly from the Ten Kings. She also had a general idea of what kind of existence was manipulating this urban legend from behind the scenes.
"Special meaning? Of course! I was the one who proposed the Hell Girl Project back then, and I was the plenipotentiary executor appointed by the Ten Kings. Under my hand, this Hell Girl Project achieved incredible results in less than a hundred years!"
Hearing Miketsu's words, the Three-Eyed Spider's expression became agitated as he continued to speak.
"Countless Hell Girls cleared away the resentment of the mortal world, and countless evil spirits were eliminated in their embryonic stages! As long as this project could continue to grow, there would one day be no more resentment in this world! No more evil spirits! When all mortals truly realize that hell is right beside them, and that harming others means they could be sent to hell at any moment, then there will no longer be a need for judgment or the Underworld!"
"But those fellows of the Ten Kings were short-sighted! They were obsessed with legalities and sentiments, and they were terrified of the so-called heavenly Dao. In the end, they actually wanted to scrap me and my life's work! I refused to accept it!"
"So... after the Hell Girl Project was abolished and all the other Hell Girls were released, you unwillingly broke away from the Underworld. You secretly kept the one Hell Girl you considered the most outstanding and continued to execute your project in the shadows, out of the Underworld's sight? You certainly have ambition... though your ideas are far too idealistic..."
Hearing Miketsu's words, Enma Ai's mouth hung open in slight shock. She had not realized that there had once been other Hell Girls in the world besides herself, and that she was the only one left behind.
"You guess correctly. Ai is indeed the most outstanding of the Hell Girls I created. She is my masterpiece. Ai is the only remaining fruit of the Hell Girl Project; she is the eternal Hell Girl."
Hearing the Three-Eyed Spider's words, Enma Ai, who had inadvertently hidden completely behind Miketsu, felt her expression tremble. Her mouth opened slightly, and a desolate murmur escaped her.
"Masterpiece... eternal..."
Hearing Enma Ai's words, Miketsu smiled. "Rest assured, there is no 'forever' anymore... This lingering, so-called project ends today."
Looking at the smiling girl who had turned back to her, Enma Ai stood frozen in place, her usually calm expression now showing traces of bewilderment. Meanwhile, the Three-Eyed Spider's remaining two eyes widened even further. A black aura began to diffuse from the spider's body, and he spoke loudly once more.
"You want to completely terminate the Hell Girl Project? Hmph! Don't think that just because you are a messenger of the Underworld, I can do nothing to you. I admit you are very strong and I am no match for you, but I have long been prepared for a situation like today's. I have inhabited this place for hundreds of years. This is my territory, my home ground!"
Following the Three-Eyed Spider's words, the Sanzu River beneath him began to churn. Huge waves surged up, and countless shrill screams echoed across the water. The small wooden boat tossed unsteadily on the waves. From within the spray, countless skeletal remains struggled to the surface. Thousands of skeletons rising from the riverbed quickly gathered and piled up, rapidly forming massive arms, claws, and heads.
Soon, several skeletal giants appeared before Miketsu. Their chests rose over ten meters above the surface of the Sanzu River. The small wooden boat she and Enma Ai occupied was now surrounded by these tall skeletal beings standing on the riverbed. This hidden branch of the Sanzu River was the Three-Eyed Spider's lair, and he had made many preparations here to withstand threats from the Underworld.
"Go and see my hell, you lapdog of the Underworld!"
Roaring, the skeletal giants summoned by the Three-Eyed Spider raised their massive hands, reaching out to grab the small boat. Facing the pressure brought by the terrifying giants, Enma Ai instinctively moved a step closer to Miketsu. At that moment, as the giant hands approached, Miketsu pursed her lips.
"...Pui!"
Miketsu gathered a bit of saliva and spat it out casually into the Sanzu River beside her. Just as before, the Sanzu River in front of her suddenly erupted with a massive amount of bubbles and began to churn violently. Under the effect of Miketsu's saliva, the Sanzu River began to boil once more. And because the amount was greater this time, the intensity of the boiling was even higher. Instantly, steam rose and the water surged into massive, scalding waves.
Seeing this scene, the Three-Eyed Spider was stunned. Within the vast expanse of churning boiling water, the skeletal giants let out agonizing wails. Amidst their screams, they quickly disintegrated into bones and fell back into the boiling river. The violent churning of the water also caused the small boat to rock even more precariously, threatening to capsize or break apart at any moment.
"No... this boat won't hold..."
Enma Ai struggled to maintain the boat's balance amidst the rolling waves, but she found the hull itself was on the verge of splintering.
"...It seems we can't stay on this anymore. Let's go, Ai. We're flying up."
Faced with this situation, Miketsu intended to fly up. Just as she was about to take off, she felt a gentle tug on the back of her clothing. Miketsu turned her head and saw Enma Ai pulling at her clothes, speaking with a tone that was indifferent yet carried a hint of anxiety.
"I... I can't fly."
Hearing Enma Ai's words, Miketsu was momentarily stunned, then she smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll carry you."
Saying this, Miketsu reached out and grasped Enma Ai's waist. Before Enma Ai could react, Miketsu swept her up in a princess carry. Enma Ai's eyes widened and her small mouth opened in shock as she was carried into the sky by Miketsu. Seeing Miketsu take flight with Enma Ai, the Three-Eyed Spider thought he saw an opportunity. He immediately spat a thick white silk thread from his mouth, shooting it toward Miketsu in the sky. In his view, Miketsu was currently unable to use her hands.
Facing the incoming thick spider silk, Miketsu, holding Enma Ai, did not strike. She quietly waited for the silk to reach her. Then, a dark figure suddenly flashed into her vision. Accompanied by several flashes of cold light, the spider silk was sliced into several segments and fell away.
Then, before Miketsu's eyes, two figures appeared—one in black and one in white. A man with black hair and black clothing held a giant scythe still stained with spider silk, while a man with white hair and white clothing held a long soul-summoning banner.
"Greetings, Uka-no-Kami. We have come by order of the Fifth Hall to lead the arrest of this lawless criminal official!"
Following the words of the Shinigami brothers, numerous purple points of light lit up in succession. Thick chains shot out from all directions toward the Three-Eyed Spider hanging on the torii. Amidst his wails, the Three-Eyed Spider was pierced through by countless chains.
Rate on N.U.
