Chapter 272
‘This is insane...’
The first things Zeke noticed upon entering the place of ritual were the terrible stench and, through it, the smell of blood.
Suppressing his rage, he looked around the space, a wide cavern carved out of the rock salt cave. An altar had been built by piling up stones inside, and it was strewn with dark red gore.
The robed figures rushed over to the mage who had entered with the Demonoids.
“You have arrived, Master.”
At that, the mage abruptly slapped the faces of the men before him.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
The sound of slapping echoed through the salt cave.
The mages had to stand still and endure the master's blows until their cheeks were red and swollen.
The mage who had done the slapping looked down on the men with contempt-filled eyes and said, “Stupid fools.”
“We apologize, Master.”
The mage took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands as he spoke.
“Where did that thing go?”
“We estimate that it has not yet left the mine.”
At those words, the mage kicked the robed man who had just spoken in the stomach, sending him tumbling backward.
“You idiots couldn't even tell a test subject was going berserk! I swear, are your heads filled with nothing but shit?”
Despite the mage's vicious remarks, the men could say nothing and had to just listen in silence.
Looking at them, the mage, his face deeply creased in a frown, said,
“Damn bastards. Go bring out a few monsters to chase the test subject. And get the others to clean this place up. The superiors will be here soon, so get your act together, you idiots!”
“Yes, Master!”
At the mage's command, the robed men rushed away.
A few of them brought buckets and began to clear the remains from the altar.
The mage watched them with a look full of irritation.
Zeke, still in hiding, recalled what the mage had said earlier.
‘The superiors are coming? Does that mean the higher-ups of the Abyss are coming here?’
He needed to get more information from the mage.
‘So, a test subject has gone berserk and escaped. It seems I can make good use of this.’
Zeke's body blurred further, completely melting into the darkness.
Just in time, the sound of monsters howling could be heard from a distance.
Krrrrrrrr—
A short while later, the robed men came back, dragging a few dog-like monsters on leashes.
The monsters were drooling profusely and tried to struggle based on their instincts, but the leashes restraining them forced them to obey.
The mage said with annoyance, “Release the restraints.”
The mage's disciples, their hands trembling slightly, unfastened the monster's leashes.
Once the restraints were off, the monsters reacted savagely.
In that moment, the mage raised his hand and controlled the monsters.
As he muttered an incantation, the monsters instantly became docile and approached him.
They then leaped onto the altar and began sniffing intently.
The mage said to the monsters,
“Remember that scent. And find the escaped test subject.”
KRRRRRRRR!
The dog-like monsters immediately turned and started running off somewhere into the cave.
KAAAAAAK!
The mage shouted at his disciples.
“What are you standing there for like idiots! Go chase those filthy things right now!”
At the mage's roar, his disciples started running, panting heavily.
“Calling these dimwits my disciples... damn it.”
He grumbled and led the Demonoids after his disciples.
As the mage entered the rock salt cave, he felt that something was off.
“Something's strange…”
As befitting a black magician, he was extremely suspicious.
It was then.
YELP!
A strange sound was heard, and then the presence of the monsters sent to catch the berserk subject could no longer be felt.
“Damn it all!”
The mage rushed forward.
The monster's tracks led into a tunnel, and from it, one of his disciples came crawling out, bleeding.
“M-Master, sa-save…”
FWIP!
While the mage was momentarily unable to react, something wrapped around the disciple and yanked him back inside.
KRRR-CRUNCH!
A ghastly sound echoed from within the tunnel.
The mage furrowed his brow.
“This has become a nuisance.”
He issued a command to the Demonoids behind him.
CLOMP! CLOMP! CLOMP!
As the Demonoids entered the tunnel first, the mage had them take the lead and cautiously followed behind.
Just then, something shot out from the ground and wrapped around the Demonoids legs.
THUD!
Half of the Demonoids bodies were pulled into the ground.
The mage immediately raised his staff and slammed it on the ground.
“Die!”
KRRRRRRRUMBLE—
As the mage unleashed his spell, the entire ground shook.
KIEEEEEEK!
Then, the ground heaved in another spot, and a grotesque figure covered in writhing tentacles staggered out and revealed itself.
It was the berserk test subject the mage had been looking for.
The Demonoids, who had been stuck in the ground, pulled themselves out and rushed toward the berserk subject.
WOOONG!
Demonic energy rose from the swords the Demonoids drew.
The Demonoids swung their demonically-charged swords at the test subject.
KRA-KA-BOOM!
In that moment, the tentacles on the subject's body extended like whips and lashed out at the Demonoids bodies.
KEEEEEEEK!
As the test subject shrieked at the Demonoids, its tentacles shot out and coiled around them.
SHLAAAAK!
The Demonoids tried to cut the tentacles with their swords, but just then, the test subject began to absorb the demonic energy imbued in the Demonoids bodies through its tentacles.
A sickening, gurgling pulse echoed.
As their demonic energy was absorbed by the test subject, the Demonoids could no longer move and could only tremble.
The mage, watching this from behind, wore a look of surprise.
“It absorbs demonic energy? A marvelous ability.”
He became curious as to how the test subject would react after absorbing the demonic energy, so he did not intervene and simply observed the situation.
Soon, the tentacles detached from the Demonoids bodies, and the Demonoids, their demonic energy completely drained, fell powerlessly to the ground.
Their helmets rolled away, revealing their faces, which had all turned into mummy-like husks.
The mage observed this phenomenon with great interest as well.
KRR-DUDUDUK!
The body of the test subject, having absorbed the demonic energy, was visibly beginning to change.
KAAAAAAAK!
The grotesquely writhing tentacles were drawn back into its body, and a hard carapace formed on its surface.
Then, the test subject's body began to transform, as if it were donning a suit of armor.
The mage's mouth stretched into a grin that seemed to tear his face apart.
“Kuhaha! My god, the experiment was a success! I've resurrected a demon!”
The face of the transformed test subject looked like a cross between an ant and a praying mantis.
Krrrrrr—
The completely transformed test subject moved the antennae on its head and looked at the mage.
Condensed demonic energy emanated from its body.
The mage smiled and aimed his staff at the test subject.
“I'll have to dissect you thoroughly for my experiments. Know that it is an honor to become the cornerstone of a great work.”
Black smoke flowed from the mage's staff. The smoke slowly coiled around the test subject.
Krrrrrk!
The test subject sensed something strange and tried to back away, but the smoke had already bound its body.
KAAAAAAAK!
The restrained test subject let out a shriek.
Seeing this, the mage grinned and said to the subject,
“You foolish thing. Did you really think a mere test subject could escape this Seal of Binding?”
The smoke crept up the test subject's entire body, and it collapsed to the ground.
The creature couldn't move a muscle as it writhed on the floor.
The mage looked down at the subject and said,
“Resistance is futile. Just obediently follow my commands…”
The mage, who was speaking with a sneer, suddenly began to tremble violently.
“Uuugh.”
As the mage's body froze solid, someone slowly walked out before him.
Zeke approached the mage, who was now restrained by Shadow Dominion.
The mage’s eyes shot wide in disbelief as he glared at Zeke.
Zeke looked at the mage and said,
“I'll return the words you just spoke. Resistance is futile, so obediently give me the information I want.”
The mage trembled violently, trying somehow to escape the Shadow Dominion, but it was useless.
In that time, Zeke took out a chain, wrapped it tightly around the mage's body, and even deployed his Soul Sealing Technique.
He dragged the mage deeper into the tunnel and said,
“Now, let’s you and I have an in-depth conversation.”
***
KUUUNG!
The gate of the salt mine opened, and a black carriage entered.
PFRRRRRR—
The horses snorted, breathing heavily.
A moment later, figures in black robes descended from the carriage one by one.
They were all bald with no eyebrows, and one of them had the brand of a bizarre symbol seared onto his forehead.
They disembarked and lined up in a row, and then, finally, someone else got out.
Hweek! Hweek!
A tall man wearing a leather mask with a beak, like the ones doctors used in the era of the Holy Empire, stepped out of the carriage with a lofty posture.
The others bowed their heads to him with solemn gravity.
Just then, a black magician rushed out from inside.
He approached the man in the mask, trembling.
“A-Apostle! My sincerest apologies. There was an accident at the baptismal site a few days ago…”
At that, the mage with the brand on his forehead cut him off and said in a low voice,
“Where is the manager?”
“Th-That is. He was injured while controlling a test subject and is currently recovering. Most of the others were also injured…”
The branded mage looked down at him with disgust and said,
“The Apostle is here. Tell him to come down and greet him at once.”
Just then, the man called the Apostle whispered something in a voice so soft it was barely audible.
The mage listened to the Apostle's words and nodded.
“The Apostle wishes to see the test subject from the report first. Guide us.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
The men who had been on standby cautiously led the Apostle and the mages to the place where the test subject was restrained.
Everywhere they went, they could see that walls were broken and cells had been destroyed.
The mage who had relayed the Apostle’s words earlier looked at the broken facilities and spoke.
“Did the test subject destroy all of this as well?”
“Y-Yes, that is correct. The test subject broke out of its cell and devoured all the sacrifices that were inside.”
At those words, the mage’s brow twisted and he said in a low voice,
“The manager will be held strictly responsible for this matter.”
It was a time when every single sacrifice was precious for conducting a larger baptism.
In particular, children who were not yet tainted were considered a top-grade product.
To have wasted such valuable sacrifices was grounds for a severe reprimand.
The Apostle and the bald mages said nothing more and went to the place where the test subject was restrained.
Standing before a thick iron door, they gestured with their heads as if to open it.
The black magician who was guiding them opened the iron door, trembling in fear.
RUMBLE!
The iron door opened, and the Apostle and the bald mages stepped inside.
Krrrrrr—
The test subject, bound in chains, made a threatening sound as it saw the mages.
At that, the bald mages took out their staves and aimed them at the subject.
KUUUNG!
Under an invisible pressure, the test subject lost its balance and fell flat on the floor.
Krrrrrrrr—
Just then, the Apostle, who had been standing in the back, slowly approached the test subject. He reached out his hand and read the creature's energy.
After standing still for a long time, the Apostle slowly lowered his hand.
Then, with a gesture, he summoned the branded mage.
He whispered into the mage's ear, and the mage who heard his words was shocked.
“Is that really true, Apostle?! If the restoration experiment was a success, it could hasten the great work! We must report this to Him at once…”
THUD!
In that instant, the thick iron door slammed shut.
The branded mage shouted,
“How dare you, in the presence of the Apostle! Open this door at once!”
It was then.
Something slowly walked out from the darkness.
The Apostle flinched back in shock.
Inside his mask, his eyes darted around, glowing with a red light.
Surprised by the Apostle's unfamiliar reaction, the branded mage asked,
“A-Apostle. What is the matter?”
The Apostle mumbled something again, and the branded mage moved closer to him.
“I-I can't hear you very well, Apostle.”
It was then.
KIIIIIIING—
A sharp sound echoed throughout the entire space.
In that moment, a voice mixed with a terrible, metallic sound, like scratching an iron wall, leaked from the Apostle.
‘[Zeke Draker! That's Zeke Draker!]’
At the Apostle's reaction, Zeke took another step forward, holding Annexie's Dagger.
“Finally caught you. You damn Apostle of the Abyss.”