Raiki : God of Frost and Somnia.

The cursed sun cult was wiped off from the map. And even the believers were burned in the fires of the Phoenix.

Rena :

Couldn't we have convinced them somehow.

Phoenix :

The moment you got caught Rena, any chances went up in smoke. You saw what those believers reactions were.

Had not you slayed the preacher. They would have killed you.

Jay :

Once a cultist always a cultist.

Rena :

But those were normal villagers normal people. Living their normal lives isn't it our duty to protect them.

Phoenix :

Do you know why does a person join or forms a cult.

It's always one person who is sorrowful of the society because of its norms, culture, rules and when he forms a cult he disobeys those norms with self implied rules.

Seeks validation and power by recruiting more and more members. And finally becomes corrupt himself.

If not then the cult becomes a religion. End of story.

Jay :

It is a common tactic for the preacher to keep them bound to the faith. So it couldn't be helped.

When the mission ended it was about three in the morning.

Ray was put to sleep whilst the rest helped out.

After returning to the affiliated village. The guards rushed to Phoenix's side.

Guard :

Sir are you alright. We saw the explosion from here.

Does you team need any healing.

Phoenix :

No we are alright. If possible we need a room to sleep for the night.

Guard :

We have those prepared already.

Rena :

Before I killed the preacher. He said that even the capital was created on lies is that true.

Phoenix :looks at Jay

I don't know.

Jay :

Rena, if he was indeed telling the truth then isn't it our job to find and prove the truth. This is how you can do justice to his words.

Rena :

You still haven't told me where we are going.

Jay :

We are going to where the later Duke Thesaurus once lived.

Rena :

Thesaurus, doesn't ring a bell.

Phoenix :

He was once a great man who sacrificed his life for the greater good of the capital. But then he was killed by

.... Grace Swan.

Rena :

Then why isn't she punished.

Phoenix :

It's very complicated.

Ray :

Will there be blood I don't think I can see it for a while.

And this went the group ahead. As they are a few hours away before reaching the destination.

Jay :

I'm actually interested in how the capital was established.

Rena :

It's a very common story. After the end of the War between God and human kind. The three head came together to make a paradise for everyone regardless of their race to live in. Where the promoted everything from science to medicine to arts and liberal activities.

But all sort of interaction with religion was denied.

Jay :

I have a feeling of an incomplete story. There's something more than just that.

Phoenix : cracking voice.

No.. This is it. There is nothing more

Ray :

Your voice is cracking.

Rena :

So there is something more isn't it. What is it.

Phoenix :

Look there's the... Villa?

As they reached the Duke's mansion. It had been burned down to cinders. And it had been days since It was burned.

Jay :

The mansion burned down?

As the vehicle approached the mansion. Jay quickly left the vehicle and went inside the burnt mansion.

A three storey wide mansion had been burned to the ground. Leaving nothing behind. The cause of the fire wasn't clear either. Since there was no one to take care of the mansion it had been degrading. But it would still be a few years before it would break down on its own.

Phoenix sent a drone out which analyzed the area and compared it to its data. And also took some samples and analyzed its composition.

And while Rena and Ray were looking at thru mansion. Phoenix quietly took him aside.

Phoenix :

Please don't make my life harder.

Jay :

What did I do. I just asked a question.

Phoenix :

I'll declassify the files for you. Just don't pry more into things in front of others.

I know that truth can't be remain hidden indefinitely.

But if it comes out now. The faith of the people will fall.

And keeping the morale of the public up. Is my responsibility.

Jay :

Is the truth so incriminating about even your own capital that you cannot tell anyone.

Phoenix :

Yes it is.

Rena :

We have found something. A stairway to the basement.

Jay :

Well be there.

Jay :

Is cloning allowed in your kingdom.

Phoenix :

Don't tell me.

Phoenix ran after those two. But they had already entered the basement. But thankfully there was nothing in the basement

Ray :

I feel electric currents running.

Phoenix :

Must be some stray static current.

Ray :

No this is proper 240 volts alternating current.

Ray started examining the walls. And he found a hidden switch. And as he pushed it. Ahead of him a door opened.

Phoenix wouldn't be able to do anything because it would have made them even more curious and suspicious of his behaviour.

And when they went Inside there was nothing. Las time they were here there were units of clones being stored here and they just vanished.

Ray :

So lame, why is there a hidden door if there is nothing.

Just dust everywhere.

Rena examined the room and there she found a note.

Rena :

I have found a note here.

Jay :

Can you read it.

Rena :

Call it predestined or not. I have known that you be here for one last time. I have taken away some of your burdens.

Sometimes knowing everything takes the fun out of it.

Welcome back it's been a millenia. But for you it might be a few months. Here's a final gift from me.

Something which you will need. To tie up all the loose ends.

Location of the Myriad Mask.

I'll be there when it all ends until then don't get your hopes up.

Rena :

Who is this meant for even. It seems to be written recently.

Jay :

Maybe it was meant for me.

Rena :

Come on this joke is already too overused. Why would someone leave you a love letter in the middle of nowhere.

And that too for someone like you.

And who is this Myriad Mask?

Phoenix :

Myriad Mask!. He is one of the most wanted individual.

But he should be dead.

Jay :

We will also get to him. Shouldn't we complete what we have set out to do.

Phoenix :

Yes you're absolutely correct.

With that Phoenix stormed out of the basement into the outside world and headed straight towards the blizzard area.

Jay :

Where are we supposed to find Raiki in this blizzard.

Phoenix :

Raiki is nowhere in this blizzard he is down a 100-167 meters.

Jay :

Should have bought some earth users.

Phoenix :

Those are traditional methods Jay. Let me show you our ways.

Phoenix placed a two meter long and wide drill unit and placed it in the ground. The drill was made to face the earth beneath it and with the start of a button the drill started rotating.

And the main unit detached itself from a stand and started to dig the earth with incredible speed. It was so fast that within seconds it had dug 10 meters deep already.

And the hole it left was wide enough that one person could easily slip inside it.

Ray :

Can't it dig any faster I'm freezing.

Rena :

I am thinking the same thing. And I don't even want to admit it. It is freezing even in these clothes.

Jay :

It around negative 50 degree celcius. According to your tech. And even normal clothes are not made to handle that coldness.

There was a buzzer sound from the machine which means it has hit something. Phoenix commanded the machine and it pulled itself up. And thus a hole was made.

Phoenix :

Jay go down first and report.

As Jay leapt into the hole. He realized how deep 100 meters is so he used his hands and legs as stoppers to decrease his momentum and to keep him from crashing into the bottom.

And finally after some time he was at the base. There was something that the drill couldn't dig out.

Jay touched the surface to realize that it was all metal.

A huge metal box suspended deep into the earth.

Jay shouted from deep inside the hole.

Jay :

Is there any entrance.

It took second as the reverberating noise finally could be heard.

Phoenix :

No break your way through.

As soon as Jay heard that he punched the metal slab so hard that he fell through the metal. As he perforated the metal slab.

And reached the base of the metal box.

Jay used metal magic to clear all of the metal debris such that a ladder could be created and other followed suit.

While others used the ladders and came down one by one. Jay used light magic to light his surroundings. As the entire area was covered in darkness. This small light hanging over Jay's head lit the room dimly such that the spatial geometry could be recognized.

It was just a huge box of metal inside of the earth. And Jay had infiltrated his way in from one of the corners. Jay wanted to light up the entire area but his light magic Affinity was not that good. Thus he could only light up a small area.

Around himself.

Phoenix :

Beware there could be traps in here.

Jay :

No I don't sense any. It's just a metal box.

Phoenix :

Kids, whatever you see in here needs to be kept under wraps. You shall not breath a word of this to any soul.

Or you will suffer the same wrath of mine as those cultist.

Jay :

I think I see something in the distance.

In the low light there was one thing which was out of shape.

As Jay went ahead. And she'd his light on the object. He realized that it was the thing he was seeking all along.

It was the body of Mrs. Thesaurus he was seeking all along.

Lying in cold sleep in a cryopod. The cryopod was still active and at the other side there was a panel which showed the vitals of Mrs Thesaurus. Her heart rate, blood oxygen, brain waves. Inside the pod her internals were connected to a supply of saline diffused with Vitamins, minerals and dextrose. Needed for the functioning of the body.

And it had been administering these to Mrs Thesaurus for years on end without malfunction even a single time.

Mrs Thesaurus looked pale inside the pod as many of her resources such as fats had been utilized slowly over time.

Phoenix :

Mrs Thesaurus, we finally found her. Now we have to take her home.

And from the distance there was a grim laugh from within the darkness.

That laugh was loud and clesr enough to reverberate in their ears.

Jay shed light upon the darkness and there he was. The Regional God who was imprisoned deep within the esrth.

The God of Frost and Somnia : Raiki.

He was bent on his knees as his hands were bound with heavy and thick chains of Frost resisting metal. There were huge metal rods inserted into Various places in his body

A pair of the rods on his feet one in the intestine. One in between the lungs and heart between the ribcage. These rods were responsible for diffusing any gathered mana to the outside. Such that Raiki would not be able to use any spells.

Raiki :

Its been half a millenia since I saw you mortals.

I am Delighted

As Jay walked forward with everyone.