18. Delta and Vroh
"How come..."
Delta's voice echoed faintly due to the distorted space they found themselves in.
"How come nobody has found this disgusting place up until now?"
Her eyes widened in disgust as she clenched her teeth lightly, holding an arm over her nose.
"It stinks of blood... it reeks of corrupted spirit energy."
Vroh looked upwards slowly, then tapped Delta on her shoulder.
"Look up there. That's the reason no one has found this place—it's a mirror dimension with a mystic-grade distortion barrier."
His voice carried a depth that reflected countless years of knowledge and experience. Even in their current appalling situation, he remained calm and composed, as though such environments were nothing new to him.
"As expected of our ancient dragon. Even this miserable sight does not faze you."
She placed her hand on her chest, speaking with a slightly lighthearted tone despite the tension in the air.
"You two over there!"
A husky voice called out from afar as it gradually drew closer.
"Recruits!"
They were currently in the headquarters of the Nuxeons.
A while ago, they had infiltrated a recruitment summit that the Nuxeon cult was carrying out in North Arstrea for summoners who were interested in joining their ranks. Due to their impeccable disguises made by Delta, they had gone completely undetected.
After writing their fake names down, the conductor of the summit had created a portal out of thin air and warped them to their current location without giving them any time to react.
A dark sun shone down from above.
Broken rocks floated silently across the sky.
The heavens were painted with an eerie, unnatural color.
Numerous structures stretched endlessly across the land, each one radiating a sinister aura.
The stench of corrupted spirit energy filled the air completely, suffocating and heavy.
The entire environment gave off a disturbing feeling, as though one had stepped into the very depths of evil and darkness itself.
"How long do you intend to stand outside and stare at the Solem sky?"
A man dressed in cult uniform addressed them calmly, though his tone carried a subtle impatience.
"Do pardon us, we were taken aback by the wonderful setting you have here."
Vroh replied with a composed and pleasing tone, masking his true thoughts perfectly.
"Hmmhmhmm." The man scoffed lightly. "I too find it amusing." He coughed briefly. "The Vice Overseer will soon begin the daily address. You need to head to the chapel immediately."
"Oh, thank you very much, senior. We will get going immediately."
Vroh grabbed Delta gently by the shoulder, directing her forward as they began to move.
"Delta, can you hear me?"
He established a telepathic link.
"Yes, I can."
"You need to work on your attitude. Are all leviathans this stubborn?"
"Aghhhhh..." she sighed deeply, rolling her eyes slightly. "I hear you, I hear you."
Her voice echoed crankily within his mind.
They soon arrived at the chapel.
Distinct chatter from Nuxeon recruits and disciples filled the hall, creating a constant low hum of noise.
They positioned themselves at the far end, the most suitable place for observation without drawing attention.
"I heard Brother Berry brought in another 50 sacrifices."
"At this rate, it won't be long before he gets promoted to a class 4 disciple"
"I wonder how he manages to pull it off."
"Hahahaha, it's not like it concerns me. As long as I'm not on his target list, I'm fine."
"The leaderboard has been updated too, and they added something called Arstrea Points, which will now be used to determine the rankings."
"I heard Blank is still number one."
"Is he even real? Rumors are going around that he's a ghost summoner."
"Creepy! I need to go buy some evil spirit warding gear. Hahahaha."
"Here comes the Vice Overseer herself."
"I heard she never takes off her mask. So creepy."
"It icks me off, for real."
They listened carefully, absorbing every piece of information.
"I can't wait to get out of this creepy place!"
Delta's voice echoed heavily in Vroh's head, causing a slight strain.
"Can you tone it down a notch..." he replied calmly.
"Don't think about going anywhere until we gather as much information as possible."
"I hear you! I hear you! It looks like the Vice Overseer is about to climb the podium."
Her eyes immediately fixated on the stage.
The Vice Overseer entered slowly.
Purple mist trailed behind her, swirling unnaturally as if it had a will of its own.
Her bony mask clung tightly to her face, as though it had fused with her very being.
"We greet the Vice Overseer."
The entire chapel resonated with an occultic tone.
"We greet the Vice Overseer."
Delta and Vroh copied immediately, blending into the crowd without hesitation.
She licked her lips, painted thick with blood-red lipstick.
Her crimson eyes scanned the crowd slowly, as though piercing into their very souls.
"We have just lost a brother to war. His sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Tears rolled down her cheeks, though they felt unnatural and forced.
"May the Great One refine him."
She wiped them away.
"May the Great One refine him!"
The response from the crowd erupted violently, shaking the walls and ground alike.
"As we count our losses, we also count our gains."
She smirked faintly.
"We are ever closer than before to the completion of 'The Key.' It is all thanks to our Brother Berry and his outstanding contributions."
Her smile widened unnaturally as she tilted her head upward.
"Brother Berry has now been granted the rank of class 4 disciple. Let's welcome him to the podium for a few words."
She stepped aside.
A man stepped forward. His eyes were sunken , he was middle aged mostly likely in the range of thirty to thirty-five . He carried himself gracefully to the podium. He looked tried but the unsettling spirit energy he emitted said otherwise.
"My great Overseer, your words are too kind."
His calm voice echoed throughout the hall.
"I am nothing but a tool for carrying out the assignment the Great One has given to me."
His eyes flickered briefly with deceit.
"But refusing this title would be the same as soiling the great name of the Nuxeons."
He drew a dagger and cut his palm without hesitation.
Dark red blood dripped onto a stone necklace resting on the altar.
The necklace began to glow with an eerie crimson light.
"I promise to remain ever faithful and loyal to the Great One and to the Nuxeons."
He placed the necklace around his neck.
His dim eyes shifted—glowing with an unnatural red.
"May the Great One refine us!"He muttered
"May the Great One refine us!"
The entire chapel roared in unison, their voices echoing endlessly.
Elsewhere—
Within the deeper regions of the Nuxeons headquarters—
Ten seats arranged around a long square table began to tremble violently.
"As per accordance with the Prophecy... it is now time."
A mysterious man stood over the table.
A white robe draped over his body.
Red hems trailing beneath.
A massive bony mask concealed his identity completely.
"I call upon the Nuxeon 10."
The table and seats trembled even more violently.
Corrupted spirit energy began to seep out slowly.
Strange symbols appeared one after another on each seat...