Chapter 91

"..."

In the past, Admetos noticed something in the eyes of most people from the other side of the oceans: hesitation, and perhaps, deep down, a faint glimmer of gratitude whenever they saw Lior. Now, as they walked through the streets, the path quickly cleared—even though the streets had been crowded just moments before.

Liwmorr had reduced his size, seemingly becoming invisible to others as he settled atop Admetos' head. So those wary stares couldn’t be directed at him. To the eyes of ordinary humans, he should appear no different from the others.

Hesitation, yes. But now accompanied by a growing fear that made their bodies tremble. Looking directly at Lior was impossible—they averted their gazes before even fully meeting his.

"What’s with these people…?" the boy murmured.

"Hmm... A few years ago," Daniel began after hearing Admetos’ rhetorical question, "someone had the brilliant idea to announce that, if people wanted to survive, they should submit to a rate of... 60%?"

"50%," Lior corrected him.

"Right, 50%. Naturally, public backlash was massive. One hundred percent disapproval, to be exact. And it only got worse when he said he wouldn’t protect them for long."

"50%?" Hye asked, puzzled. "What exactly does that percentage represent?"

"Do you live under a rock? I’d say this is common knowledge by now," Daniel replied, his eyes scanning the frightened faces nearby. He clicked his tongue in irritation. "It’s the survival rate after attempting to absorb a mana stone."

"A mana stone? That…" Admetos hesitated. Raising his head, his eyes met Hye’s, as if they were both questioning the same thing. Finally, he swallowed hard and asked, "Would it make it easier for someone to use or access mana…? Or would it make them stronger?"

"Both," Lior replied. "In areas where the concentration of mana is extreme or sufficiently high, condensation causes the ethereal to materialize into something physical. By absorbing it, it’s obvious that the mana in your body would increase, making you stronger. A bonus," he continued, "is the easier connection to mana upon success."

"And this stone… where can it be found?"

"Why the question, boy? You can already access mana. All you need now is to train how to use it."

"He can...?" Daniel asked, surprised. His eyes swept over Admetos, analyzing him from head to toe. "Doesn’t seem like it to me."

"That’s because you’re meeting his other self now," Lior said with a sarcastic smile, glancing toward Hye.

They stopped in front of a large set of white double doors. The doors opened, each part moving to the side. Lior and Daniel proceeded ahead, and Admetos was about to follow when something caught his attention.

Hye extended his hand, revealing the object of Admetos’ curiosity—a bluish stone that glimmered in his palm.

Is this look... another test? Admetos thought, hesitating to take the stone, which was smaller than a fist.

Finally, he reached for it, a shiver running through his body as he did. The stone glowed beautifully and warmly in his hand. But he soon tucked it into one of his pants pockets.

People who had previously seemed indifferent and hesitant to approach now stared intently—especially at the pocket where the stone was hidden.

Instinctively, the boy turned his body, shielding the stone from those who seemed eager to possess it. Without further delay, he entered through the gates, following Hye and the other two.

"How many of them are here?" Lior asked as they walked down a corridor lined with small isolated rooms.

"Of those we’ve found so far, all of them," Daniel replied, stopping in front of one of the rooms. "But I’m not sure if there are more. We’re still searching."

It doesn't take much to figure out which rooms are occupied. Just a glance down the corridor from near the entrance reveals the answer: blood drips down the glass, smeared into macabre drawings or ominous writings.

"127, huh... So," Lior said, looking at the two standing beside him, "what are they saying?"

"Apparently, nothing," Admetos replied.

"As before, it seems you can't hear them unless you're physically present, right? Damn it..." Lior muttered as he stepped back, adjusting the noise-canceling gear on his ears and ensuring it was functioning properly. "Which one of you is going in there?"

Admetos glanced at Hye. He already knew the answer.

Daniel, puzzled by the boy's approach to the door, questioned, "What’s the point of this? We’ve already tried. It’s impossible to translate that supposed language... Honestly, we’re not even sure if it is a language."

"It is. But you need permission to access it."

"Permission...?" Daniel glanced between the hesitant boy at the door and Hye. "Are you saying those two have it?"

"Apparently, yes."

"But how?"

"Don’t ask me!" Lior snapped, clicking his tongue. "I have no idea."

"...And why are you wearing those things on your ears?" Daniel smirked. "They don’t seem to be working very well."

The door opened. After a brief moment of hesitation, Admetos stepped inside. A repeated chant filled the room:

"He’s not dead. He’s not. He only sleeps, sleeps, sleeps," the man recited. "Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps. Beneath the sea..."

As with the previous occurrences, the man prostrated himself before Admetos, continuing the chant without pause.

Admetos turned back, searching for guidance on what to do next. Before Lior could say anything, Hye answered with a simple nod.

The boy turned back to the man, and his claws began to manifest. First, the image of a staircase; then, the handle of an imposing door flashed in his mind. A strange yet comforting feeling enveloped him, making the motion of his hand feel far lighter than he had anticipated.

Even stranger, however, was the invigorating sensation that coursed through him as blood dripped over his claws.

The image of his father filled his mind, and a bitter taste flooded his mouth. Admetos trembled. Contrary to what he expected, his heart pounded with excitement. Fear? Hesitation? Perhaps once, but not anymore. The flashes in his mind stretched, revealing the steps he needed to climb in vivid detail. And on his face—something he never imagined—a smile surfaced, screaming alongside the warmth trickling down his fingers.

"Boy." A cold voice snapped him out of the vision, pulling him back into the blood-soaked room. Admetos looked around, the smile still on his face and his heart still racing. He turned and, regaining control of his expression, walked out of the room.

"What did you do? You weren’t supposed to kill him yet," Lior said, his tone sharper than usual. "Did he at least say anything different?"

"Only that the creature is sleeping."

"Damn it, we already know that."

"In the sea," Admetos added. "He said it’s sleeping in the sea."

"In the sea..." Daniel murmured, lost in thought.

"Don’t even think about it," Lior said. "It’s not literal," he stated firmly.

"And how do you know that?"

Lior sighed. "Because R’lyeh, which is where I believe the beast resides, doesn’t exist. At least not here," he said. "One more time, boy. Go back in there, and if you can, ask—in their language—about the city of R’lyeh. It doesn’t have to be a location; anything will do. Either way, I doubt we’d be able to find it."

Admetos nodded. With blood still dripping from his fingers, he approached the next door. The flashes returned—the steps appeared before him. Suddenly, two doors: one grand and inviting, the other simple and cold. He opened the less appealing one.

So far, nothing changed. The man bowed, as though in reverence. Until:

"About the city of R’lyeh," Admetos asked, and the man, still kneeling, began to describe it as though walking through its streets, enraptured.

"The city of stone," he said, "magnificent. Built by us, those born of chaos, to await the call, the alignment of the stars. Its monoliths and sepulchers, my lord, I assure you, remain splendid despite being now covered in slime and algae. But... better than merely telling you, if you’ll allow me, could I show you?"

"What? This..."

Admetos hesitated. His body trembled under the strange, lucid gaze of the man before him. He wanted to refuse. But something more concrete, more valuable than irrelevant phrases, was tempting.

He clenched his fists tightly, bit his lower lip, and when blood trickled down, he drank it. Closing his eyes, he knew he had to act quickly. His mouth opened, but his mind—fighting his own idea—clouded over. The stairs ended, and at last, his hands touched the black handles. Without fear, pain, dread, or even apprehension, his mind became clear and calm.

"Do it," he commanded.

The man leapt to his feet, pressing his finger to the center of Admetos’ forehead. The boy’s eyes opened, but they were void of life. His limbs twisted unnaturally, audible cracks echoing through the room. Though he seemed to be screaming, no sound emerged.

"What are you doing?" Daniel demanded. "Aren’t you going to help him?"

Lior approached the glass, watching the scene unfold, but he didn’t say a word.

Hye remained silent, observing as the man carefully laid Admetos on the floor and then sat beside him, as though waiting for his consciousness to return.

None of them could even begin to imagine what Admetos was experiencing or feeling. How could they? A chilling terror engulfed him, and a nearly tangible darkness, one he could have touched if he reached out, danced around him.

No matter how hard he tries, Admetos cannot find the words to describe what unfolds before his eyes. His knowledge merges with Hye’s, but even then, as a being not only weak but limited and insignificant, how could he ever comprehend the vastness of a geometry so repulsively beautiful and astonishing? Massive angles and stone surfaces stretch in every direction—planes too immense to belong to any dimension of his world.

His feet land on one of the grand, slimy titanic blocks, and he treads cautiously over the strange, slippery surface. The first steps are awkward in this watery environment, but soon they become natural. Unable to restrain himself, his gaze sweeps across the surroundings. As if teleporting between the ominous monoliths, it takes no more than a glance for him to find himself in another corner of the magnificent R’lyeh.

As he ascends toward the monstrous acropolis, it takes Admetos a while to realize that his movements are not entirely his own. His curiosity is being guided and exploited, drawing him inexorably to his final destination: the immense black stone, towering like a gate shielding the grandest of all monoliths.

There is no need to push or touch it. Simply questioning the purpose of such a monument is enough to, much to his dismay, stir the waters violently, almost throwing him off balance. The black gate begins to open.

A repulsive stench fills the air as the door’s prolonged creak echoes. Along with it comes an incomprehensible sound that sends waves of sharp, inexplicable pain coursing through him—the true voice of the creature.

The creaking stops, and the voice falls silent. Admetos peers ahead, but all that remains is an oppressive stillness. Until, suddenly, an immense and indescribable shadow materializes around him.

The boy turns, trembling. The city of stone has vanished, replaced by a crouching creature with the head of an octopus, the humanoid body of a dragon, scaled demonic wings, and above it, glowing in perfect alignment, the stars cast their light.

With a jolt, Admetos’s eyes snap open. He finds himself beneath the pale glow of the lamp. The waters are gone, as is the darkness. Looking around, the creature no longer seems to be present.

"I hope it was to your liking, my lor—"

With a swift motion, Admetos's claws tear through the old man’s throat. Rising to his feet, he walks toward the exit. The sensation at his fingertips leaves no doubt—it can only be the mana stone.