The old man that came to meet Ryuji was a neighbour. He found out that there are 7 people in total living in this volcanic crater.

Two were the ones who saved his life. The other two were the old man and the young lady that approached him. He found that two left were two women living in this place.

For the past few days, he had learned a bit about all those people.

The people here didn't usually use their real names, as they believed if they shared their real names with someone they met in hell, it'd affect their next life, and they wouldn't want to meet someone they met in hell on earth if they were ever reborn. Maybe. That's what he assumed anyways.

The woman that helped him called herself Ice. The man called himself Zen.

The old man called himself white. And the woman he was with called herself Spider.

As for the two women left, he was sure he got to know them at some point, but simply didn't care enough to remember them.

He realised that this is just a small settlement of Humans who still haven't been found by the demons. Because of course, who would be stupid enough to go and look for people in these caves inside a Volcano's mouth except these humans desperate to survive?

If a soul were to die in hell, it'd be dead. Literally dead. There's nothing after this death. Any soul that dies in hell, or in Elysium returns to nothingness and/or stops existing. The person can never be reincarnated.

The demons here were extremely powerful, and also somewhat intelligent. They captured any humans they found and tortured them for their amusement. There wasn't a proper way for the humans here to survive or get stronger, and that's why no matter what, almost every human would get captured by the demons.

And that's exactly what this hell was for. Any soul that has committed more sins would be sent to this place to be tormented for an eternity. The physical recovery rate of a soul was way above average in the Hell. It could be because of the abundance of Soul Essence in the atmosphere itself or it was just because whoever made the universe saw it's easier for humans to be tortured that way.

The latter seemed more believable to him.

He observed a few things about their routines.

Zen would usually go for hunts in the morning to bring them food. The concept of Day and night was weird in this realm too. The sky looked Red during the day, Almost as if it's the same as the soil below their feet.

During the nights, visibility would be limited to only a few metres in front of them. Some places were a little lit due to lava seeping out of some pores.

That's why putting their feet near those pores was dangerous, since the soul under it was extremely hot. One needed to be careful to traverse through these places. Yet, those demons walked through this place as if it's nothing.

Ryuji had never seen a demon himself since he was still recovering and hadn't gone out of the cave much.

Ice would search for herbs and medicinal plants near the volcanic crater using her strong sense of smell. The area around the crater was usually safe, but Zen would still search for any dangerous signs before going on his hunt so ice could get plants safely. Her remaining senses had become so adept at living in this place that she didn't even need eyes to live here. And being familiar with this place for a long time, she had created a perfect mental map of the place in her mind. 

That's what it seemed like to him.

The old man was a bit of a chatterbox. White. He'd occasionally come to talk to him along with Spider. Spider always stayed with him as if she was his servant or something.

But Ryuji didn't pry much about why that was so, even though it was so intriguing. one thing he noticed was that Spider had never opened her eyes in front of him. It was extremely weird. But Ryuji wasn't the kind who'd ask anything from anyone.

But something he managed to learn was that people here had their soul core intact. It was just that they couldn't grow at an acceptable rate. But he had noticed it. Zen had an ability which gave him heavy stealth advantage. It must be his attribute.

Ice's attribute definitely had something to do with her senses and/or it could be related to medicine.

As for the old man, he wasn't sure. And for Spider.... He knew it was related to combat. He felt it from her. She was a warrior too.

But there was something deeper hidden inside her due to which she never tried to open her eyes. Something dark and sinister.

And right now.... Both White and Spider were sitting with him.

Everyone is quiet. Too quiet actually. Until white decides to break the ice first.

"It feels like you're in an awful mood today."

Ryuji sighs, sitting at the edge of the bed, "I'm bored of sitting in this cave all day. I wanna go out."

The old man is a bit surprised about it, "Young Man, if it was me in place of you, I'd be happy getting everything for free. Try to find comfort in being free till you're here, Because one day you'll eventually have to go out to survive, and you're gonna hate it when that happens." 

"Yeah? I'm just not like that, Old man. Sitting on my ass all day and doing nothing but eat and sleep isn't something I can do that easily." Ryuji says with a bit of annoyance in his eyes.

The old man narrows his eyes at him and says in a dark tone, "There's nothing but demons in here, Young man. You just cannot enjoy anything here."

Ryuji looks at the old man from the side of his eyes. He feels that there's a deeper meaning to what the old man is trying to say, But not understanding it, he keeps quiet.

"Anyways, Zen and ice are out to pray again today huh?" Ryuji's voice is filled with annoyance, because ofcourse he was bored, and they both being doctors, couldn't let him get out.

"Yeah. They do so regularly."

Ryuji did not notice it before, but White's voice was actually a little hoarse. He wondered how a soul aged in this world.

"Who are they praying to even? They're in hell. There's no way praying can save them here. From anything"

The old man thought about his response, "That's true. But i heard that Zen and Ice came here together, and i remember that when they came here, they didn't come here the usual way."

Ryuji was intrigued what the usual way was, and it'd probably be better if he knew how normal souls came here, and if it was different from his own way .... "What is the normal way souls come here?"

The old man looks up at him, as if a question of his has been answered, "Ah? Well. The normal way. Hm. Souls come here through hell gates. They open randomly at random places in the hell. Though usually in close proximity to Demon settlements. And they're not beat up."

The old man winks at Ryuji. A small chuckle escapes his lips too. He seems to be warming up to the old man a little. Even though the presence of Spider is still as cold as ever.

"But still, I just cannot understand their obsession with devotion in this place." Ryuji scoffs.

"I understand you, Young man. I also do not understand it. It's some deity named Taijin, A god of Peace. He-"

"Wait what?"

Ryuji's eyes open wide in a flurry of confusion and anger. Hearing that familiar name, he just couldn't help but let his anger be shown on his face.

His eyebrows curved as if he'd seen someone who killed his family.

"They are worshipping a god named Taijin?" Ryuji says, his eyes and voice filled with confusion and a kind of aggression he wants to hide.

The Old man gulps, a little scared of the Dark aura He feels Emanating from Ryuji, "Y-Yeah.... He's supposed to be a Minor deity on earth, But i think he's a greater deity on some other planet.... The god of peace, Taijin...."

Ryuji's eyes close in a dark expression, one of controlled anger. Why was that deity getting worshipped here? And his own saviors were the ones worshipping him..... Did the god do that on purpose or was this just a coincidence?

Who was Taijin and how was he "lucky" enough to hear his name as soon as he arrived in hell.

Dark thoughts fill his mind as he thinks about Taijin, and how his innocent devotees are praying to a devil in a God's Hide.

The old man tries to make small talk, But soon realises how Uninterested Ryuji was in the conversation and silently takes his leave.

After a while, the burning candle finally runs out and Ryuji is left sitting in the corner of the room, darkness filling every corner.