As Wyn had anticipated, the number of souls entering the Torture Chamber is high. But unlike Dark Force, Wyn has yet to give a direct order to the void warden. It’s not because he’s hesitant to make drastic changes while Dark Force is gone, but because he can’t remember where the void warden is, or that is what he tells the nerds. He’s tried asking Marcus for its location or even an image of the void space where it resides, but no one has it.

  To manage the growing numbers, Wyn eliminates high-profile criminals who have been in the chamber for a long time, sparing only those he believes truly deserve eternal punishment. For new arrivals, he reviews each case individually – leading to politicians making up over seventy-five percent of the chamber’s new occupants, followed by healthcare CEOs, who account for ten percent.

  While waiting for Dark Force to finish his task, Wyn begins revamping the punishments across the afterlife realm.

  In Gluttony's space, every soul serving punishment is fed to Gluttony himself – no more freedom to eat. Those with lesser crimes are given to gorlocks and baby gorlocks instead.

  In Greed’s room, souls are now forced to play endless games against Greed or specialized machines. Each loss costs a body part. When only the head remains, Greed keeps it as a trophy in his tower. Once at least two other body parts regenerate, the soul is sent back to gamble again. The games they play depend on the body parts they have left.

  In Anxiety's space, souls are strapped to chairs and injected with substances that would have been lethal to their former bodies, forcing them to endure excruciating pain without relief.

  In the moderator-less space, cats and dogs take turns torturing souls using various methods, carefully avoiding the heads. Occasionally, the nerds get involved, introducing new and imaginative techniques.

  Maya’s space undergoes the most drastic change. It now also houses Cerberus, who plays hide-and-seek with the souls. Maya helps the massive dog track them down, and when found, Cerberus and disfigured puppies bite, chew, and gnaw on their targets. Souls are only allowed to rest when Cerberus sleeps.

  As for the special room where the gray-banded souls are temporarily held – where Cerberus once resided – Wyn plans to leave it empty once the gray bands return to Earth.

  Wyn has been busy, but he never misses a chance to visit the statues after completing a task. Oftentimes, the remaining elites join him in silence as they admire the statues together. Wyn has explained his situation to them, especially his empty emotions. Moved by his honesty, the elites always make an effort to join Wyn in the dome, asking the nerds to notify them whenever he arrives. Together, they grow closer.

  As promised, Wyn occasionally summons Rex to the dome, where he shares stories of his former team’s adventures in Heaven. Despite hearing the same tales over time, Rex warms up to Wyn, growing closer with him and Cateto. Wyn never reveals to Rex that he is now a life force. Later, the elites join in the storytelling, with Wyn and the cats listening intently.

  Then, finally, the time comes. Dark Force arrives after the very last human has been wiped off the face of Earth.

  “You are now in your afterlife form – your best form. Soon, all of you here will return to Earth, but there will be new rules,” Dark Force announces from the square stage, with Wyn standing beside him and the elites listening from the square. His voice reverberates through the space where the gray bands reside, stirring murmurs among the gathered souls.

  On Earth, nothing remains but nature, leaving the returning souls to rebuild civilization from the ground up. From now on, individuals will be praised for their contributions to the world rather than their assets or net worth. To reward these efforts, a new system has been introduced.

  Every soul will receive tokens, accessible through their bands. These tokens can be used to purchase items or services – most of which will be provided by cats, dogs, and machines – on a monthly basis. Each soul is granted four tokens per month, which can be saved over time for larger purchases. The tokens are strictly non-transferable to prevent theft. Additional tokens will be awarded to those who contribute through activities like assisting the nerds with research, driving innovation, designing new items or structures, or pursuing artistic endeavors, such as acting in movies and series.

  Souls are also provided with tents, which they can pitch at designated areas whenever they choose, much like Wyn’s tent before. These tents can be modified or upgraded with purchased items, and souls can even upgrade to a house if they have enough tokens.

  As for the elites and the nerds, they too will receive tokens based on their roles, along with the added privilege of traveling to any realm at any time. The non-elites, however, are restricted to the secret floor of the afterlife realm, as their presence on Earth could risk exposing elemental abilities and causing chaos. As a precaution, souls who accidentally discover their abilities will be sent to the secret floor and kept there for eternity.

  Elites, on the other hand, are trusted by the life forces and the nerds. Still, when on Earth, they and the nerds must follow the same rules as everyone else, and any offense will result in time spent in punishment.

  The bands will provide Earth souls with other useful features. The first recommended task is for souls to complete their profiles – similar to social media. An unchangeable default profile picture, taken by the new camera feature on the band, which is a clear face photo with no filter, will be set. This image will automatically adjust based on the age the soul chooses and the corresponding appearance that comes with it.

  Pete has perfected the ability to change appearances – now, not only can the body shift with age, but gender can also be selected at will, with the body perfectly reflecting the changes. Souls can even appear younger or older than their true age, and can reverse the changes at any time. That said, souls will continue to age naturally. The age slider will increase by one on their birthday, ensuring that while their appearance remains flexible, their true age progresses. For its purpose, age is capped at one hundred, as the nerds believe most souls prefer a youthful appearance.

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  On the new Earth, souls can search for one another, view their pictures and statuses – whether they're on Earth, in the afterlife realm, or even deceased. They can add friends, contact each other, and even travel to one another’s location by opening a portal, though only with mutual consent.

  To conceive a newborn baby, anyone – whether alone, a couple, or a group – can apply. However, they must first pass a test: raising a realistic baby doll, monitored from a distance by cats and dogs, with the nerds reviewing the rearing reports. If they fail, everyone involved will be prohibited from applying again for at least one year, even with a new partner. If they pass, the baby carrier, regardless of gender, will receive a special pill mixed with the genes of those involved, purchasable from the hospital, which grants the ability to carry a baby for nine months in just a few days after dosage. The baby will be delivered in the most gender neutral way possible – through the anal.

  Population is strictly controlled, with a set quota on the number of newborns allowed each month and year to ensure balance and sustainability. If Earth reaches overpopulation, all applications for childbirth will be put on hold indefinitely until the numbers stabilize.

  Understanding human emotions, those who wish to settle with others can file a request through their band. If granted, based on a judgment from the nerds, they will be placed in seats and settle their cases in virtual reality, much like how Wyn and Yu had their rematch in Hell’s Ride.

  For souls suffering from mental illness like depression, or those contemplating ending it all, Wyn has made provisions allowing them to apply for quick euthanasia. If the soul is unable to make a decision due to their condition, those around them can collectively request a fair assessment, and souls working as mental health experts will have the authority to accept or reject the request.

  Additionally, souls who need time away from society can purchase a black barrier for one token. This barrier lasts for twenty-four hours, blocking others from interacting with them. Those inside the barrier can only see the shapes of souls standing outside. However, this barrier also limits access to certain services and items.

  Finally, those who wish to apply for certain positions will be judged based on their past skills. For those wanting to pursue a career through training, the nerds will allow them to participate in an "attachment program." In this program, they will work closely under the supervision of experts, who will assess their abilities. Meanwhile, the nerds are waiting for schools to open, offering a variety of skills, as they continue to find mentors and teachers.

  The bands play a crucial role. Everyone returning to Earth is equipped with a gray band. Any wrongdoing, or even the risk of it, will cause the band to beep as a warning. However, if a true crime is committed, the band will automatically turn purple, triggering an alert to the nerds, who will then take action to reprimand the soul. Repeated offenders, even for petty crimes, may find their bands permanently turning purple. This system is made possible by the AI that constantly monitors and scores the souls' actions. Unlike the elites and non-elites, the bands cannot be removed unless a soul severs their arm. In that case, Dark Force himself will pay them a visit, threatening severe consequences for the act.

  “This is like living in hell!” a soul cries out, fury and disbelief lacing their words.

  “Yeah! It’s just like that massive country where surveillance cameras are everywhere, watching our every move!” another soul adds, their voice rising in frustration.

  The air crackles with discontent. More than half of the souls are outraged at the new rules, particularly those who were once wealthy and powerful in their former lives. The sudden loss of everything, only to be forced to start anew, feels like an unbearable injustice. But, despite the uproar, Dark Force and Wyn exchange a subtle look – an unspoken command. At their signal, the nerds spring into action, portals opening one after another, hurling souls back to Earth, scattering them to random locations.

  The transition is harsh. For many, it’s a struggle to adjust to their new existence, their new world. They stumble, unsure of what to do with their newfound freedom, the weight of their past lives still pressing down on them. But as days bleed into weeks, something begins to shift. Slowly, the chaos starts to settle. Souls begin to find their footing, and a sense of purpose takes root. The land, once barren, is transformed as civilization rises from the ashes, spreading like wildfire across every corner of Earth.

  New inventions emerge. Technology thrives. Society starts to rebuild itself in ways never seen before, taking on a life of its own. The world seems to be moving toward something better – toward progress, toward unity. But as the world grows, so does the fracture within it.

  As the nerds continue to hold significant power, the feeling of inequality deepens, creating resentment and jealousy among those left behind. Those who work harder and give more naturally do better – but that success comes with a cost. They often become targets of gossip, singled out, and dismissed as sellouts who only care about the system.

  A darker side of human nature begins to surface once more. Segregation creeps back into society, as souls divide themselves by skin color, sexuality, beliefs, and even their contributions to the new Earth.

  And then, even as the cracks widen, some souls begin to deny the truth in front of them. They refuse to accept Dark Force’s reign, clinging to the notion that some higher power – some god – is still out there, waiting to return and cleanse the Earth of what they see as evil. Despite Dark Force’s many appearances, his displays of power, and the undeniable proof of his presence as creator, these souls continue to believe in a divine savior, a return to the old ways.

  The world is changing, but not all changes are for the better. While society is making strides, a moral and ethical tension builds as the new rules force souls to rethink their values and sense of justice. The pressure to conform to the new system is immense, and some feel it’s leading to a loss of individuality and freedom. As the divide widens, the threat of rebellion becomes increasingly real.

  Wyn wants to eradicate the troublemakers, but with the restrictions on having babies, Earth will lose half of its population. He puts his plan on hold, thinking with Dark Force and the nerds on how to deal with them. For now, there isn’t a solid idea, and the delicate balance of Earth’s future teeters on the edge.

  As usual, Wyn takes a break by visiting the statues. He stares at them.

  “Though I don’t feel it, I know I miss you all. Deep down, I know something is missing. I want to cry for you every time I stop by, but I can’t. I want to live a joyous life to honor your playful spirits, but I can’t. I’ve been stripped of my friends and my emotions. I’m just an empty shell,” he says.

  “You’re in pain, but you don’t feel it,” White Snow says.

  “The Earth today is becoming like the original Earth. People who are doing well are happy, but those who aren’t feel left out or jealous. Whatever we do, it’s never enough,” Wyn says.

  “At least, the world is more in order, and justice exists. You’ve done well,” another elite soul says.

  “I want you to be happy,” Cateto adds. “Humans are complex, unlike us cats and dogs. They’ll keep complaining. You’ve done everything you can. Maybe you should take a break. Stay here with us in the dome for a while.”

  “Yeah, stay with us. It’s not my place to say this, but your friends must be very proud of you, just like we all are,” another elite soul adds.

  “...I have more to do – something for me,” Wyn says, and with that, he carries Cateto and heads to visit the nerds.