I Reincarnated As a Tree

Low 2: Riding the Boat

I was standing on the river bank staring at the stream so calm. Not long after, a boat passed in front of me. “We meet again young lady.” said the boatman of his world the dead man, Charon. I immediately picked up one Obolos (Ancient Greek Coin) that I always prepared in my mouth to give to the boatman.

“Please Miss.” After confirming the coin I gave him, Charon also let me take a boat that will take my soul down the river Akheron (River of sorrow). In the tranquility of sitting on a boat, my mind kept on being imagined about the final battle.

It was an incredible war, I still felt my heart pounding even though my body was already crushed to ashes. I had planned the destruction of Olympus while simultaneously killing 7 sins for almost 40 years.I thought that opportunity would never come, but it turned out that Doing so was not too difficult.

The palace of Olympus was the source of all the chaos between gods and demons, destroying it was the best choice to end the dispute. While the 7 sins are always misleading, without them beside Hades will make the demons in hell will not come out of their nest for several thousand years, until seven sins are resurrected.

“Then what else now, What will happen to me?.”

[You... You'll be imprisoned in Tartarus. Be prepared to get punishment from the gods!]

Suddenly a familiar voice rang out, then a large amount of green light appeared and united before me, the light was a fragment from the soul of Athena, the Goddess who just died with me .

“Wohooou... Athena, you look so angry, what's wrong with you?.”

[You're still asking like that after what you did to me?]

He's getting mad.

[You destroyed the Olympians and stole my body. What are you planning Azlea to do?]

“Do you think I'll say it?.”

[……]

Aware of having asked something so stupid, Athena simply fell silent. He continued to refute my every word, our debate made a supposedly quiet journey where the river Akheron became a place where spirits reflected themselves after what was done all their lives, turned so noisy by the quarrel we both had. The Spirit of the Goddess Athena kept blaming and cornered me. Not wanting to continue being attacked I also counterattacked his words by expressing my thoughts about the Gods.

“You know how my mother and sister died?.”

[……]

It was a very difficult time when Zeus, who was too busy impregnating his own brother and son, forgot to rain. As a result, the entire land experienced a prolonged drought that led to famine. In a time of food shortages, the cult leader who served the god Zeus kept asking that the villagers where I lived to offer all the food we had on the altar of Zeus. Believing in the gift of a god, we starved ourselves to watch all the food rot on the altar.

“Very stupid isn't it?.”

[…….]

The offerings have decayed but the rain has not yet been sent down. Precisely what we heard was that Zeus had had a son from his own sister. In order to celebrate the good news the cult leader ordered to sacrifice one of the youngest daughters of a family. That's when I lost my sister.

“I still eyed clearly the screams of my sister as the whole village ate her alive.”

Without touching the flesh they gave me, I kept trying to survive by drinking my own tears. After the sacrifice the cult leader said with his mouth full of blood if the village would be blessed. But the next day our village was visited by slave hunters. They looted then burned down entire houses, killed the men and took all the women.

Is being forced to walk for hundreds of kilometers without rest while being beaten and whipped a blessing?.

Then what about my mother who died after being made into a toy of slave hunters, is that also a blessing like he said?.

“Mother said an apology for giving birth to me, thus making me live a life of suffering. He died and his body was dumped just like that on the side of the road.”

[……..]

“Only an ordinary story isn't it?, I'm sure you've heard a better story than I told you just now.” Without a word, Athena turned her face away. Is that what Gods and Goddesses always do when they see human suffering?.

***

For a moment the state of the Akheron river regained its calm, only the sound of splashing water caused by Charon while rowing a boat was heard along the way.

Until entering the river Kokitos (Lamentations) I can hear the voices of sadness from the river. Looking at the bottom of the river I found the souls of those who had been in it for hundreds of years, they were the souls of those who died without preparation or did not get a proper burial, so it has no coins to give to the owner of the boat.

“Maybe my mother is one of them.” I said as I glanced at Athena.

I could see Athena's body shaking as she saw an unlucky soul at the bottom of the river. But noticing my gaze, the Goddess of war asked again to distract.

He spoke more calmly now.

“Not at all,”

[Hem.…].

“I've made a bet with Father. He promised reincarnation on my soul.”

[You believe in the ruler of hell?]

Athena asked with a doubtful look.

“I have more faith in Father who gave me a chance for revenge than all the gods who only watch the plight of mankind.”

The surrounding air slowly felt hot, the calm river flow began to churn with steam until it soon boiled. Passing the river Kokitos, the boat finally sailed on the river Flegethon (River of fire). Fire was everywhere until I felt this boat floating on the burning oil.

Athena seemed to have a hard time passing through this river, whether it was because of the heat of the river fire or because her memory of being killed by purgatory re-emerged. She reminded me of my sister who was terrified when she heard that she was going to make a sacrifice, I pulled Athena's hand to sit next to me. Without a fight means Athens according to.

Charon continued paddling, I could see the smile on his lips as he looked at Athena starting to cry on the lap. He had held it back while he was in the River of Lamentations, but finally his tears could not be weathered in recalling the mistake arising from the effects of the heat of the Fire river. Athena kept apologizing to me and to the humans she was supposed to save.

The hot air began to subside alternating with coolness that made me want to rest. Boiling river water replaced with a river that was so fragrant and bubbles kept popping up until it finally erupted. I feel like my memory forgot something when I saw that bubble burst.

The boat has entered the river Lethel (River of Omissions). If you fall asleep while passing this river then the memory of a person during his life will be erased. Realizing that I kept trying to wake up, while the Spirit of Athena who had just cried was so exhausted that it fell asleep on my lap. While trying to stay conscious, I kept remembering what was so precious.

[Aah.…].

Athena awakens when the boat comes out of the river of neglect, she looks confused as if she has forgotten many things.

[Why did I become a Spirit?]

He asked as if he had forgotten how he died.

“I kill you.” My reply was without any intention to manipulate the Goddess who was currently sitting beside me. Athena was so shocked that she immediately turned to her previous seat. I could see the anger in Athena's eyes, the river Stiks (River of Hatred) affecting Athens. If the soul of man passing through the river Stiks falls into the hatred of the heart, he will become the evil spirit of the inhabitants of hell. I don't know if it also affects Gods.

The hatred for Athena began to grow bigger and bigger, it was evident from the black Aura that was starting to spread out, the same Aura as the Undead. But suddenly…

Thong! Charon the boatman hit Athena on the head with his oar. [Aw... Why would you do that?] Athena snapped in anger while holding the top of her aching head. Slowly Athena's anger subsided as if she had regained her memories of disappearing in the river of negligence.

Then Athena just looked at me as if she wanted to say something, but she seemed to have trouble saying it. Until after passing the last river, the boat anchored in front of the gate so large. The gate is guarded by a three-headed dog.

“Thanks for the ride Mr. Charon.” I thanked the boat owner after setting foot on the ground.

“It has been my duty young lady. And please extend my greetings to King Hades and Queen Persephone.”

“Sure.”

Charon then left the dock back to the starting place to pick up other spirits. The two of us stared at the gates of hell, without waiting for me to walk and Athena followed behind.

The hellhounds immediately welcomed our presence. Fiercely the three-headed dog ran towards here, the hot liquid of lava coming out of his mouth splattered on the path that the dog was passing by. Athena who felt threatened immediately prepared to make an attack with her sword of light. But I stopped Athena.

Woof! The three-meter-tall giant dog overtook my body, “Hahaha... Cery, Bery, Rushlan, I came home.” I'm so glad this hell King's pet dog still remembers me. Meanwhile Athena just silently stared in disbelief at what I was doing.

***

To Be Continue

[Note: The author is confused about whether Survivor Apocalypse or Game Vrmmorpg. Please, readers, please put in the comments section, thank you]