Chapter - 19

He placed his palm flat against the altar.

The moment skin met stone, the seal shattered like glass.

The cathedral shook. Runes spiraled down into the earth like liquid fire, revealing a spiral staircase made of obsidian and bone. A thick mist rose from below—cold, metallic, filled with mana older than memory.

The moment they stepped onto the stairs, the entrance sealed itself behind them, trapping them in a tunnel of silence.

Mr. Sanzi (nervously):

"No turning back now."

Kaito (calm):

"I never planned to."

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Scene: The Forgotten Depths – Morrivha's Vault

The walls down here pulsed—yes, actually pulsed—as if they were carved from the inside of a living god. Vines of frozen blood curled up the walls, and statues of fallen angels lined the path—each one faceless, kneeling, shattered.

As they reached the final step, they entered a colossal chamber.