Chapter 718

“I didn’t know. I’ve never been down to the underground before.”

Vanusa muttered, her face half-submerged in the water. Bubbles rose and popped around her, but her voice remained clear even beneath the surface.

The mages approached Akorella and gripped the edges of her robes tightly. Whether it was to protect her from any unforeseen danger or to stop her from rushing in recklessly, no one could say.

Akorella straightened her upper body slightly and asked again.

“What exactly didn’t you know?”

“That there’s a sea underground.”

Vanusa would never forget the abyss that shimmered behind Deputy Laju when she descended below. It was a scene so shocking it seared itself into her memory. And on top of that, the monstrous creature lurking within, its jaws wide open as if ready to swallow the entire world.

“That’s when I also understood what the temple’s faith truly means.”

“I thought you held a significant position in Tolrun. And yet, you really didn’t know?”

“Yes. I swear to the gods.”

“I don’t care who your gods are, so swear all you want. Enough of that—what about the situation underground? Are my superior and comrades safe?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Do you want to die?”

Snap! As Akorella reached to grab Vanusa by the collar, the mages instinctively pulled her back. Would that change anything? It would only make things worse. Just hold back, please!

Vanusa glanced up at the flustered mages, then muttered again.

“I really don’t know. After being swallowed by the darkness soaked in the deputy’s blood, they haven’t shown themselves.”

“The deputy’s blood? So Ian killed him?”

“Not at all. He wounded himself. He said he was someone who doesn’t die.”

“What does that even mean—”

Akorella frowned and hesitated. The records of Deputy Laju stretched back far into the past. Unlike Rutherford, who extended his life through countless possessions, Laju had existed for a long time by his own power. Doesn’t die? That’s nonsense. There must be some trick…

“There was a massive monster in the abyss. It seems to be the true form of Deputy Laju.”

Of course.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Before facing Ian, Vanusa had only suspected it, but now there was no doubt. Judging by how he resonated with the monster, Deputy Laju was definitely connected to it.

“Akorella, if it’s a monster of the abyss, it must be one that follows the underground god.”

“Seriously. Damn it, this is the end times. A monster pretending to be a priest. Where’s Beric? He’s obsessed with food. Did he get swept away too?”

“Yes. He disappeared with them.”

“Damn.”

Akorella bit her lower lip. The space connected to the abyssal sea—what if they’d been completely dragged there? Would the distortion of time and space be okay? No, more importantly, how strong must it be to have broken Ian’s protective barrier?

“Deputy Laju had the Idgal dagger.”

As if reading her thoughts, Vanusa answered.

“That’s ridiculous. A monster using the Idgal.”

“Though the mages’ barrier was broken, their breathing and movements seemed unaffected.”

“Because it’s the abyssal sea. It’s not pure water like it looks. Since Laju bled, he might have abandoned his human body.”

That means even if they put up a barrier, it wouldn’t be a problem.

But they had to infiltrate to save Ian and the others without getting trapped themselves. Someone had to stay in the ‘present’ and hold the thread connecting them.

“Let’s go.”

Akorella looked around at the mages and nodded sharply.

“You, you, and you. The three of you stay. The rest, follow me.”

“Going down?”

“Or do you want to go back up?”

Akorella’s dry joke made the mages chuckle softly. Without another word, they shed their robes.

“If we die, wouldn’t it be a terrible last joke? Horrible.”

“It’s fine. We’re all going to die together anyway.”

“Exactly. That’s why it’s horrible.”

“Vanusa, add your power to our barrier. Make another layer of water to block it.”

Vanusa looked up at Akorella silently, her gaze like that of a mermaid sizing up a stranger.

“And if I do that?”

“What do you mean, ‘if’?”

What nonsense is this?

“We’re saving your country from a baseless cult that worships monsters. You should just shut up and submit.”

“There’s too much at stake for me to just submit. It’s not that simple.”

For example, the Tolrun king’s puppetry.

Akorella looked down at Vanusa with a cold gaze, then slowly stepped into the water.

“Take that up with Ian. I have no authority here.”

“Show some goodwill, at least?”

“Do you really need my goodwill?”

Akorella knew. Vanusa had no choice but to help them. Bound by puppetry, facing a family crisis, and having confirmed with her own eyes that their faith was in monsters—not gods. Only Bariel’s mages could solve this.

“The Tolrun king might use my senses at any time.”

“If that’s the case, get out on your own.”

Akorella gestured for them to follow and dove in.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Splash!

The mages followed closely behind Akorella.

Vanusa, resigned, began to fade from sight. Eirin clutched her sword and started praying, while Cedric pressed his ear to the ground again. Lying flat, he asked a mage quietly.

“By the way…”

“Hm?”

“Does Senior Beric eat monsters too?”

Akorella’s earlier words had seemed strange… The mage gave an awkward smile and shrugged.

“Well, he’s not picky about food.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Oh, you do?” The mage glanced at Cedric’s back. The more he looked, the more he understood why Captain Jarrett had assigned Beric as a marksman.

---

Meanwhile, Akorella and the mages pushed through the shimmering blue water, descending deeper.

A powerful tremor caused part of the temple to collapse, but thanks to Vanusa, finding the way wasn’t difficult. Dodging debris here and there, she led the mages to the lowest level.

“Be careful from here on.”

“Huh, I can hear you clearly.”

“I told you. Ian and the others had no trouble breathing or moving. But stay alert. It seems the temple wants not only Ian’s body but the mages’ as well.”

“What? Why?”

“To offer sacred sacrifices. Aren’t you supposed to be close to the gods?”

Everything was starkly different from the upper levels. The closer they got to the abyssal sea, the darker and colder the air became, filled with an unfamiliar chill.

“Captain, over there!”

A massive shape moved in the darkness—the monster Vanusa had mentioned.

Its size could easily swallow dozens of people. The edges of its scales opened and closed with each breath. Something was definitely off.

“Where’s Ian?”

“Not in sight.”

“Keep the message magic active. We’re approaching.”

“Captain, be careful.”

“You too.”

Akorella signaled, and the mages spread out, advancing slowly.

The monster crouched as if waiting for something. Its eyes rolled sharply, aware of the approaching mages, but it didn’t move.

‘Strange.’

According to Vanusa, it wouldn’t leave the mages alone. It wanted to offer sacred sacrifices, right?

Yet, it remained still, coiled in its long body. Peering inside, all they saw was darkness.

‘Sacred bodies.’

Suddenly, Akorella realized Ian’s true value. He was a being made of the emperor’s soul and the god’s flesh. If they had priorities, Ian would come before the mages.

Then—

“Send some light over there.”

“Huh?”

“It’s holding darkness. Illuminate that area.”

They had to assume something important was inside.

Following Akorella’s command, a mage carefully flicked a small orb of magic.

Ziiing! Ping!

The area around the monster briefly glowed pale enough to make out shapes. It wasn’t just a dark floor—it was darkness made of some smoky substance.

The monster’s eyes rolled back, wary of the mages.

“Well, well.”

Look at that.

“Captain, it’s holding something.”

“Oh, you’re right. Try again. This time, everyone light up at once!”

A dozen mages traced magic circles with their fingertips, and light blossomed like stars in the night sky.

The monster darted its eyes around, alert, curling its long body tighter.

“Ah!”

Then it happened. The mages all gasped simultaneously. A faint human silhouette emerged from the darkness. Hard to see clearly, but it was definitely—

“A person.”

“Is that Ian?”

“There are others with him.”

“Captain Hale! Nakina! Tommy!”

“Beric, you bastard!”

Ian and his group lay unconscious, surrendered to the darkness.

The monster had been waiting for them. It uncoiled and opened its massive jaws wide, ready to swallow them whole.

“No!”

“How dare you—!”

Shaaak!

The wizards instinctively lunged at the creature, unleashing their spells. Akorella rubbed one ear with her hand as she sent a message to Ian and his group.

“Can you hear me, Ian?”

Damn it. What the hell is he doing?

“Hail, Tommy, Nakina, Beric! I’m coming to get you right now. Stay focused!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Kraang! Kraaang!

The wizards exploded their magic at the monster, but its tough scales wouldn’t break easily. The magic felt weaker here than from outside.

Kreeeek!

The monster’s gills flared open, sending a fierce spray of water swirling around. Ian’s group, unconscious, was tossed helplessly in the torrent. The wizards each shot beams of light, trying to grab hold of them.

“Hold on! Don’t let go!”

“Kill it already! Damn it!”

“Ian! Snap out of it! Beric, you bastard!”

Bang! Boom!

The deafening noise and shaking continued as the wizards fought desperately to hold the monster back. And then—

“…”

Ian’s eyes fluttered open. No one noticed the tears streaming down his face underwater—not even him.

He frowned in disgust at the rough ceiling of the monster’s mouth. Then, raising a single finger—

Ziiing!

Shaaak!

He punched a hole right through the roof of its mouth.

With a powerful explosion, the creature recoiled, thrashing wildly.

Ian sprang back, twisting lightly to land on his feet. The others, still dazed, tumbled on the ground a few times before blinking awake.

“Ugh, damn it.”

“Senior, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Captain, are you with us?”

“What about Beric?”

“Over there—he’s flipped upside down.”

Beric, half folded over, blinked his eyes. He’d seen Ian’s darkness break apart, but now that he was conscious, this is what he was doing? Using his body’s momentum, Beric sprang up and quickly scanned the area.

“Iaaan!”

“Here.”

“Oh, there you are.”

Ian motioned for them not to worry, and Beric exhaled in relief. Then, glaring at the stunned wizards standing around, he shouted,

“You idiots! What are you doing?”

“Well, Ian looks…”

“Y-You’ve become quite elegant.”

“Is that really Ian?”

It was the first time the wizards had seen Ian Beroshion up close, not Ian Hielo. They were so shocked they just stared blankly at his face.

Sssshhh.

At that moment, the creature that had been knocked down by Ian’s attack got back up. It showed no sign of retreating. With those tempting shards of godhood right in front of it, backing down wasn’t an option.

“Gah! Behind it!”

From beyond the collapsed wall, shadows emerged from the endless abyss. Dozens, hundreds of massive monsters—drawn here to devour Ian Beroshion and the wizards.

This was on a whole different level from the great monster flood in the north. Each one was as large as a magic tower. The wizards clenched their fists tensely, and Ian let his long hair flow as he watched the creatures.

“Everyone—”

Ian relayed his command to the wizards. His voice carried clearly even to those waiting outside the temple.

“Follow me. I won’t let a single one of them escape alive.”