Chapter 44: Blood, Betrayal, and the Gate Opens.

Arin and Thoren moved away from the gathered crowd, putting a fair distance between themselves and the mass of awakeners assembled before the ancient gate.

“So,” Arin said at last, his voice lowered to a solemn murmur, “you’re saying you saw a blood sacrifice inside the palace?”

Thoren nodded slowly.

His expression was grim, the usual calm in his eyes clouded by a faint, lingering heaviness.

“Not only that. The human stone statues have awakened. They’re no longer inert. They’re killing every human still inside the city.”

For a brief moment, Arin found himself unable to respond.

Since entering the ancient city, he had felt it, a constant sense of wrongness clinging to his skin like damp fog.

The silence, the ruins, the eerie preservation of structures that should have long since collapsed… none of it sat right with him.

Yet among all those unsettling details, the lifelike human stone statues had left the deepest impression.

Too lifelike.

Too real.

Still, when news of rare treasures spread through the ancient city. He had no choice but led the guild elite team to check it out.

Advancement on the first floor to the second floor was no simple task. Killing beasts endlessly could only take an awakener so far.

To ascend to the second floor, one needed more than experience.

Powerful weapons.

Rare potions.

Skill scrolls and ancient inheritances.

These were the cornerstones of true growth, and opportunities to obtain them were few and far between.

The uncharted territories were dangerous, yes, but they were also where miracles were born.

That was why he had summoned his courage and brought his elite team.

Yet now…

At what cost?

Arin clenched his jaw.

He might hold the title of Guildmaster on the first floor, but he was painfully aware of the truth.

In the grand structure of the Crimson Arc Guild, he was little more than a capable field captain.

If he lost his people here…

The thought alone made his chest tighten.

Watching Arin remain silent, Thoren could easily guess the thoughts weighing on his mind.

Unlike him, a lone wanderer who answered to no one, Arin carried responsibility.

Every decision he made affected dozens, perhaps hundreds, of lives.

“There’s more,” Thoren added quietly. “The Silver Crest Guild attacked some of your members earlier. I suggest you remain cautious around them.”

Arin’s brow furrowed instantly. “Are they alright?” Worry flashed across his face before he could suppress it.

“They’re fine,” Thoren replied calmly. “The Silver Crest Guild members who attacked them are dead.”

Arin exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and restrained anger passing through his features.

“Thank you,” he said, nodding with genuine appreciation.

“Our guild and the Silver Crest have had conflicts before. Don’t worry, I’ll handle them.”

A faint trace of killing intent flickered in his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

Thoren nodded in acknowledgment but did not comment further.

He had done what he deemed necessary, offering goodwill and warning.

What came next was for Arin to decide.

After a brief pause, Thoren spoke again. “Do you know anyone capable of doing something this… inhuman?”

His voice was steady, but curiosity, and disgust, lurked beneath it.

Creating a blood sacrifice on that scale was no simple feat.

He couldn’t even imagine how many lives had been used to fill that boiling pool beneath the palace.

The abyss itself was humanity’s greatest enemy.

It threatened their world relentlessly, spreading corruption and death across the surface.

Yet instead of uniting to fight it…

Humans were sacrificing one another.

For selfish gain.

For power.

For survival at the expense of others.

The realization only reinforced Thoren’s long-held belief: trust was a luxury he could not afford.

Strength was the only true safeguard.

With enough power, no one would ever be able to use him as a pawn.

Arin studied Thoren for a moment before answering. “The future of the human race hangs in the balance,” he said slowly.

“Many believe the abyss cannot be defeated…that it will only continue to spread.”

He clenched his fist. “I’ve heard rumors. Some humans are attempting to form alliances with the races that dwell within the abyss.”

His voice darkened. “Selfish bastards.”

Thoren froze.

“What?” His eyes widened in disbelief.

Forming alliances with abyssal races?

The very beings responsible for countless deaths?

That single revelation sent a chill through his spine.

How could they even consider such a thing?

Every awakener who had died fighting the abyss… every innocent sacrificed to hold the line… all of it would be rendered meaningless.

And for what?

To cling to their pathetic lives a little longer?

This wasn’t survival.

It was betrayal.

If such alliances succeeded,it would hasten humanity’s destruction.

Rage ignited in Thoren’s chest, burning hotter with each passing thought.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles turning white.

Seeing the fury written so plainly on Thoren’s face, Arin shook his head.

“It gets worse,” he said quietly.

“On the surface, humanity still appears united. But beneath that façade… alliances are shifting. Some have already pledged themselves to powerful entities beyond the first floor.”

“Our enemies,” he concluded grimly, “are not only the abyss…but fellow humans.”

Thoren drew in a slow, steady breath, forcing himself to regain control.

Letting rage consume him here would accomplish nothing.

“So,” he asked after a moment, “do we have any idea who’s behind this?”

Arin shook his head. “None. Whoever they are, they’re well-hidden. For now, all we can do is grow stronger and watch our backs.”

Silence fell between them.

The sounds of the gathered crowd drifted faintly from afar, whispers, nervous shuffling, the subtle clink of armor and weapons being adjusted.

Each of them was lost in his own thoughts, contemplating the danger ahead.

Finally, Arin broke the silence. “You believe this so-called ancient treasure is a trap.”

Thoren nodded without hesitation. “It couldn’t be more obvious.”

“But you also think there are real rewards behind that gate,” Arin continued.

Thoren nodded again.

Why else would someone go to such lengths?

Why sacrifice thousands of lives if there was nothing to gain?

The ancient gate held answers.

Perhaps power.

Perhaps knowledge.

Perhaps something even more dangerous.

It was a gamble.

But retreating now?

Neither of them believed that was an option.

Their gazes met, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same thing.

Firm determination.

Slowly, they turned and walked back toward the gathered crowd.

Arin rejoined his guild members, issuing quiet instructions and subtle warnings.

Thoren took up a solitary position nearby, standing apart yet unmistakably present.

Around him, several undead Mad Dogs lingered, their hollow eye sockets burning with yellowish soul fire.

The oppressive aura they emitted caused many nearby awakeners to shiver unconsciously.

The burly young man glared at Thoren with naked hostility but said nothing.

His companions stood behind him, faces cold and guarded.

A few meters away, the Silver Crest Guildmaster cast a brief glance toward Thoren and his undead before turning his attention back to the ancient gate.

Others watched Thoren with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and calculation.

Everyone was waiting.

Second by second, the atmosphere grew heavier.

Weapons were gripped more tightly. Breathing became shallow.

The runes carved into the ancient gate began to pulse, radiating waves of power that made the ground tremble faintly beneath their feet.

Time seemed to stretch unnaturally.

Suddenly, nerve-grating ghostly cries echoed from the dead forest behind them.

Many shuddered instinctively.

Some whispered in panic.

’I think we should leave.’

’Something is wrong.’

’What’s coming?’

’I don’t care about treasure…I want out.’

Fear spread like wildfire.

Yet Thoren did not move.

His eyes remained fixed on the ancient gate.

He already knew what lurked behind them.

The tension became unbearable.

Then…

Creak.

The mountain trembled violently.

The ancient gate, sealed for untold ages, began to open.

“The gate is opening!” someone screamed.

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