Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds

As firefighter Kim Ja-hong's spirit arrives in the afterlife, he is accompanied by three enigmatic guardians: Hae Won-maek, Lee Deok-choon, and their leader Gang-rim. Their mission is to safeguard Ja-hong through seven trials within a 49-day period, with the ultimate goal of reincarnation pending his successful completion of these ordeals. If he succeeds, his guardians will be credited towards their own rebirth.

In the initial test, the Hell of Murder, Ja-hong's actions are scrutinized for the death of a colleague trapped beneath rubble during a devastating blaze. Just as sentencing is imminent, it becomes clear that Ja-hong was instructed to prioritize civilian evacuations by his fallen comrade. Despite his valiant efforts to rescue eight others, he was unable to reach his colleague in time as the building collapsed. The judge ultimately acquits Ja-hong, acknowledging the weight of his decisions.

As they proceed to the Hell of Indolence, Ja-hong's guardians present a compelling case highlighting his selflessness and dedication. However, Ja-hong's own words threaten to undermine this defense, revealing that he initially worked solely for financial gain. Gang-rim intervenes, providing context for Ja-hong's motivations – a desire to support his brother and ailing mother. This revelation secures his second acquittal.

The group's journey is disrupted by ghoulish attacks as the very fabric of Hell begins to distort, signaling the arrival of a vengeful spirit from Ja-hong's own family. Gang-rim departs to investigate this anomaly, leaving the remaining party to continue onward. In the Hell of Deceit, Ja-hong is accused of crafting deceitful letters to the families of those who have passed away, including Ji-yeon, the daughter of his fallen colleague. Gang-rim employs supernatural means to link with Lee Deok-choon from the living world, defending Ja-hong by revealing that he too had written heartfelt letters to his own mother during a trying time. These letters allowed her to focus on her health and find solace in the face of adversity. This evidence is deemed inadmissible, and the charges against Ja-hong are dismissed.

As Gang-rim delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Ja-hong's brother, Soo-hong, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit and tragedy. It transpires that Soo-hong's untimely demise was actually an innocent casualty of duty, struck down by his partner Dong-yeon in a fatal mistake. The subsequent cover-up orchestrated by their superior, Lieutenant Park, only served to further entrench the darkness surrounding Soo-hong's death. Gang-rim's intervention foils an attempted vengeance against Dong-yeon and, through a series of revelations, learns that Soo-hong's malevolent spirit was not targeting Ja-hong, but rather those responsible for his own demise.

In the aftermath of this discovery, the trio navigates the treacherous realms of the Hells of Injustice and Betrayal, unencumbered by the constraints of mortal justice. Their passage through the Hell of Violence yields a harrowing trial by fire as Ja-hong is held accountable for a brutal beating inflicted upon Soo-hong during their impoverished youth. However, Gang-rim's astute guidance leads to a request for a combined trial at the next court, the Hell of Filial Impiety, where the truth behind Soo-hong's demise and Ja-hong's subsequent actions can be laid bare.

As they arrive at the army base, the group is met with a jarring spectacle: Lieutenant Park's callous treatment of Soo-hong's mother. The depth of this injustice sparks a fiery transformation within Soo-hong, who conjures a devastating tornado as he exacts his wrath upon the base. Only when he realizes the anguish his actions inflict upon Ja-hong in the afterlife does he reluctantly subside.

The Hell of Filial Impiety proves to be a crucible for Ja-hong's character, as Yeomra delivers a verdict condemning him for his past transgressions. However, through a series of revelations and confrontations with Soo-hong, Gang-rim learns that the mother had already forgiven Ja-hong for his momentary lapse in judgment on the night of his attempted murder-suicide. This forgiveness, it seems, has absolved Ja-hong of any guilt, allowing him to be reincarnated.

As the group prepares to bid farewell to this mortal realm, Gang-rim's ire is piqued by the realization that Yeomra had been secretly manipulating their investigation. With Soo-hong as the final soul before their own reincarnation, Gang-rim chooses to confront Yeomra directly, setting the stage for a climactic showdown.