"Well, well done Battosai, but I guess I should expect nothing less than from the legendary manslayer." He claps his hands.

"You're too kind." I say.

"Come along boy we have much to discuss, and we have a long way to travel." He says.

I nod and catch up to him. I look down. The water is thick and cold. The air is toxic and clamming down my throat. I feel the burn of my wounds. As we walk, I stare at the trees of people. They look sad. They look horrifying. My heart freezes when I hear their cries. Can they feel? Can they see? Can they breathe? They must be. They are alive.

"The first gate lies far deep in this swamp." He says.

I turn to the long line of souls.

"How long is it?" I ask.

"What? Why have you stopped? May I ask the honor of repeating yourself?" He asks.

"The line. How many souls are waiting for their judgement?" I ask.

"Oh... more people down here than on earth. Too many too count. Everyone has darkness in them and divine judgement usually pulls them to the fire." He says.

"Why?" I ask him.

He looks at me and cocks his head.

"Why?" He repeats.