"The Watcher from Behind the Wall of Existence."
"The First Voice of the Void."
"The One Who Comes from Beyond the End."
"The Devourer of All."
Ellen’s words hung in the air.
In the end, I was right. This place was connected to that entity.
"Wh... what is this?" Elliot asked.
With that question, everyone looked toward the one most likely to have the answer... of course, Ellen.
After all, she was a princess... and princes knew many things.
Hesitation was clear on Ellen’s face... perhaps she was thinking about whether to reveal this or not.
The others waited patiently for her to make her decision, and in the end, she did.
"It is the name of an ancient god... or at least that is what its followers claim."
"An ancient god?" Talia asked as Ellen continued.
"As I said, that is what its worshippers claim. Instead, it is a malicious and corrupt entity."
Ellen sighed. "I don’t know much about this either, but a few places like this have been found across the continent... all of them share this name and contain many texts like these. There are some differences, but they carry the same meaning."
"But most of those places were hidden and fortified, as if those cults were not welcomed at that time either... so it was concluded that this was a secret worship."
Ellen looked at the tunnel we had just come out of, the one directly beneath the symbol.
In fact, just looking at it, I could imagine people wearing black robes, standing beneath that writing and throwing themselves into the sacrificial chamber below... or casting offerings... who knows.
Or even using things like that sphere to move there directly... clearly that sphere is a Relic used in rituals.
It seemed Ellen was sharing my thoughts as well; she redirected her attention to the symbol on the wall.
"And when I say a malicious entity, it’s not because of its name, but because of the way they worship it... those sacrifices, where they give up their lives for it meaninglessly... and as you can see, we almost became one."
Talia swallowed audibly.
I turned my head and looked at the vast hall behind us.
Those enormous black walls and the space enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of extremist worshippers...
It felt as though this had been their main headquarters.
Why do I say that?
Because Elliot went to one of these places in the game... of course, not this one.
Another one that had been discovered by the Void system, which they later made into a base.
Compared to this hall, it seemed pale—let alone the rest of the place that we had yet to see... and looking at that distant entrance, I knew we still had a path to cross before getting out of here.
"So, it seems we discovered ancient ruins by coincidence," Leona’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I let out a short laugh without realizing it. "Perhaps the more accurate expression is that the ruins are the ones that found us."
Leona fell silent while Talia shivered slightly.
I looked around the hall again, which contained nothing but this writing.
Since nothing remained, and honestly it was uncomfortable to stay here, I spoke. "Then let’s get out of here... or at least try."
I stepped forward toward the distant exit while the others followed behind me.
But as soon as we took a few steps, we were stopped. "Guys, I understand that you want to get out of here as fast as possible... but at least let me rest a little and recover my essence."
I turned and looked at the source of the complaints.
I stared at Elliot while clicking my tongue. "Look here, the hero himself is complaining."
His reply was quick. "What do you mean by hero? I’ve been doing everything for the past few hours, while you were walking behind me whistling like you were on a stroll."
He pointed at the tunnel. "Look here, I formed enough ice to build a staircase to the clouds."
I sighed and gestured with my hand for him to quiet down and rest. "Alright, I get it. Let’s rest here until Elliot regains his energy."
With that, I ignored them and moved a little away, pulling out a water flask from my ring and taking a sip, then I looked at the time on my phone.
It’s supposed to have been more than a day and a half since we disappeared, so they must have started searching for us by now.
Maybe Helen’s small case will turn into something much bigger now, after Axis students disappeared all at once... even the princess herself.
I turned my head and looked at the others who had already sat down, and it seemed they were eating some snacks from their rings.
But the question here is whether they will actually find us. I know there are many clues to the way we disappeared.
But will they see them... I know this might just be me and paranoia.
But not for a single moment did I think that old man who sold her the sphere was just an ordinary man... clearly everything is suspicious.
I couldn’t help but think about it and question myself.
What is the purpose of this?
To kill us?
I don’t think so, there are better ways to do that. Is it from the Void system... perhaps they are performing some ritual.
That’s possible... but this place seems empty, and even the Void system doesn’t know it.
Is this some kind of conspiracy in the shadows or something similar?
And if that’s the case, then who is being targeted here... or perhaps all of us.
I sighed.
"Just let us return to the Axis safely."
...
After a few hours, Elliot had gotten enough rest to return to his peak.
And we no longer had any reason to stay in that frightening hall.
So here we were walking toward the exit at its end, while the echo of our footsteps resounded on the black floor.
"It seems this place was built for giants," Leona said.
Elliot nodded in agreement. "Yeah... it’s... very big."
After some time, we reached the exit, and beyond it was a corridor stretching forward.
As soon as we approached it, many lights ignited, driving away the darkness just like what had happened in this hall before.
As if the place was welcoming us.
We stood there looking at the beginning of the corridor just a step away.
Well, this place lights up on its own, which means everything is still functioning... at least partially.
And when I say everything, that includes the bad things as well.
I looked at the others. "So, who wants to take the first step?"
Everyone fell silent, except Elliot who narrowed his eyes. "And why don’t you do it?"
I sighed, then suddenly applied some force and pushed Elliot into the corridor.
I watched him stumble a few steps before regaining his balance and glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.
"Are you trying to scout the path using me?" he shouted at my face.
I waved at him to calm down. "Don’t worry, you’re the hero of the story. You won’t die here like the rest of us."
I watched as a vein bulged on his forehead.
But before he lunged at me, Ellen intervened. "Alright, both of you stop... this is not a place for a fight."
I sighed as I stepped forward and passed Elliot while patting his shoulder. "Don’t be angry please... I was just joking."
I wasn’t the only one who did that, even Ellen said, "But thank you for scouting ahead."
and Even Leona added, "Thank you, hero." The amusement was clear in her voice.
Thus, we passed Elliot and left him frozen in place... of course, that didn’t last forever.
...
We walked through the grand corridor and the echo of our footsteps resonated between these black walls, while the white lights cast our shadows onto the floor.
My ability was activated the entire time to sense any changes that might happen, but there was nothing strange, except these lights that seemed to run on essence.
"What a majestic place," Izel said, while Leona nodded. "Yes... and terrifying."
Well, I didn’t disagree with them; they were fitting words to describe it.
I looked at the princess. "Ellen, is the Artifacts still not working?"
She looked at the crystal in her hand; ever since we left the tunnel, she had been trying to contact her family without success.
"No... I think we need to get out of here for it to work," she replied, clear disappointment in her voice.
As we walked, we reached the first crossroads.
In front of us, the corridor split into two.
One to the right and the other to the left, each leading to a place we did not know.
I stared at the others before asking.
"So, what do we choose?"