The Netherworld

> *"This Is the Netherworld, It's When All Spirits Are Resided After Their Death."*
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- Yumi Konpaku

> *"When I Came to That World Amigo, I Found These Ectoplasm Symptoms and Then I Take It Back to Our Planet and then I experimenting with it Yo, that World I Was In, I Saw Spirits, Phantoms, You Name It Yo, That World Is Strange to me...and an Interesting Place When They Are resided after their Death and That Huge Cherry Blossom tree, I saw Yo."*
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- Vesper 'Nyx' Guerrero

## About

The **Netherworld** (冥界 *Meikai*, lit. Dark World) is the land where ghosts and phantoms are resided after death. After a phantom has been judged by the Ruler of the Netherworld, they'll either go to Hell, Heaven or to the Netherworld. The world frequently appears in various *Unknown Wonders Series*, making it an important location. Apparently, it's a distinct part of Japan, but is separated from the Land of the Living by a strong barrier.

The barrier is situated at a great gate high above the clouds. Unfortunately, like most barriers, this barrier is rather vague, and, while its powerful enough to keep people from passing directly through, there's nothing preventing people from crossing over it. Thus, the Border between Life and Death is quite thin.

The sinless deceased spend their time as ghosts here until they ascend or reincarnated. The seasons are beautiful here, and the spring cherry blossoms are particularly stunning. The insects, birds, and beasts here are all dead as well, silent as they flitter through the sky. The trees are so beautiful with their seasonal colors that the dead forget all about ascension and reincarnation.

It is a world for the dead, but because of a hole in the barrier between it and the world of the living, it is fairly easy to come and go. It has become quite the famous cherry blossom viewing spot for those in the know. Sometimes you can hear laughter, music, and talking in the quiet Netherworld. This usually comes from the deceased Spirits and Yumi with her friends happily chatting away as they feast while listening to the Prismriver Ensemble's performance.

## General Information

The threat level in the Netherworld is 'high' and encounterable youkai's including phantoms, ghosts and other types of spirits. After death, humans pass through the Road of Liminality, cross over the Sanzu River, and receive the Ruler's judgement. Depending on the severity of their crimes, they are sent to either Hell, Heaven, or the Netherworld. Amongst these, the Netherworld is where the dead who aren't deemed sinful enough to be sent to Hell spend their time as phantoms, until they achieve Nirvana, and thus become able to enter Heaven, or reincarnated.

Different from the desolate Hell, the Netherworld is calm, though it has various seasons. It is filled with beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and dyed with beautiful red leaves in autumn. The Netherworld is a notable place for people in the know for their cherry blossom viewing parties. The animals here are also dead, so they fly in the sky silently and splendidly. Like the Lunar Capital, it is a Pure Land where things do not change or decay with time; things from the Netherworld which seem old were simply made that way for aesthetic reasons.

Located in the Netherworld is where notable characters live: **Yumi Konpaku**. The former is a ghost samurai, the elemental master of ghost and phantom, and the latter is the "Princess" of the land alongside with her younger brother, and her mother and father as the ruler of the Netherworld. The manor is a beautiful structure, surrounded by walls and stairs using designs from the continent, and has a Japanese-style residence and Zen Garden at its highest level. The entrance to the manor is a very long stairway called "Hakugyokurou's Stairway" (白玉楼階段 *Hakugyokurou Kaidan*).

Even though the dead comprise most of the Netherworld's inhabitants, the Netherworld is a distinct part of Japan. However, travelling between the two is restricted by a gate above the clouds, sealed by the Barrier of Life & Death. During the main events, a hole opened in the barrier between the Netherworld and the Human World, and it has become easier to travel between them.

This is because the barrier was weakened, making it possible to simply cross over the gate, and Yakira (in her scenario while she was evil) was able to destroy it. Afterwards, Yakira was asked to repair the damage, but apparently never got around to it, as the boundary continues to thin through the summer of *Imperishable Night*.