Surgit jumped to his feet and faced the approaching Pthumerian. He danced around his slashes, looking for an opening. The ancient being didn't slow, however. Its slashes seemed to gain speed with every swing. It reminded Surgit of the crow lady and her fighting style.
A shot reverberated around the hollow dome. The Pthumerian fell to his knees, a bullet fully lodged in his head. He shot a venomous look at Karla, who had her pistol aimed at him.
The bullet began sliding off the old man's creased brows. Surgit quickly readied his beast arm and eviscerated him before he regained his composure. He ravaged through the old man's insides, then pulled with all his might.
He was instantly showered with blood as the old man got propelled backward. Surgit wiped it off his face and was stunned to see it was no ordinary blood. Its crimson color was faint, dominated mainly by a milky hue.
"Watch out!" Karla screamed.
Surgit looked up in time to see two sickles flying toward him at breakneck speed. He danced around them and avoided their boomerang effect as well. The sickles traveled back to their master's hands, who was observing the hunters with creased eyebrows.
He roared then hurled the sickles at them again, one aimed at Surgit, the other at Karla. They easily dodged and immediately rushed the old man. Surgit landed two quick swings with his sword before he was forced to retreat, as the sickles flew back to the Pthumerian.
Karla managed to land two swings, then elongated her sword and landed a third. The elongation always propelled her backward, which allowed her to avoid the Pthumerian's weapon.
The old man raged and wheezed as he observed the hunters before him. He turned to Karla and swung with both hands.
Surgit whipped his pistol and shot the old man before he could land a hit. He fell to his knees, and Karla eviscerated him.
This time, the Pthumerian remained on the ground, his breath slowly fading. He dissipated into dust as he breathed his last, leaving the hunters in the silence of the dome.
Karla turned to Surgit, frowning. "You lost focus. That almost cost you."
He scratched his head. "I got distracted for a second."
Karla's frown got deeper. "One distraction will cost us our lives against Gavril!"
He gave her an apologetic smile. I promise I'll stay focused next time. How does that sound?"
She looked away. "Don't get us killed out there."
He nodded. The image of the hunter, lying face first in a pool of his own blood, haunted his memories. He couldn't understand how immortal hunters died, yet that one did. His body never vanished. Instead, it grew cold, and the light in his eyes had vanished.
'Real death! Wouldn't that be a release from this hell?' he thought, his eyes glued on where the Pthumerian used to be.
"You're drifting again," Karla said.
He clenched his fists. "Not really, I'm just thinking about this mess we're in."
She snorted. "We can think more after we're done with this place."
She pointed at a door on the other side of the dome. They pushed it open and found themselves in a small chamber. A tall obelisk stood in the middle. Strange writing was engraved on its surface.
Surgit activated his insight and let his mind's eye translate the words for him. They hummed to him, their faint voices slowly turning to whispers. The whispers turned to clear voices, and Surgit finally heard what the text said.
"The curse of Yharnam runs deep. Praise the Cosmos, lest the moon consume us all," Surgit said out loud.
Karla gave him a questioning look. "What the hell does that even mean?"
"This is the second time I see the Cosmos mentioned," Surgit said. He scratched his beard and contemplated the obelisk. "We're just getting pieces of a puzzle," he said, frustrated.
"Where was the other place?" Karla asked.
"The tower leading to the door Francis locked," Surgit said. "I found a crude engraving that said something about the Cosmos and sky. I still have some notes back in the dream, that can help us puzzle things out."
Karla crossed her arms. "So much for finding answers," she said in a defeated tone.
Surgit scoffed. "It took me years of research, and the funds of a madman to find this place. Do you think a city of legends like this one would give out its secrets so easily?"
Karla didn't respond. She stared at the obelisk, her eyebrows knitted. "Come over here, will you?"
Surgit joined her and followed her gaze. A line was engraved in the Obelisk, different than the one Surgit had read.
"Seek putrid rituals to uncover Yharnam's curse," Karla read out loud.
She turned to Surgit. "Do you know what that means?"
He nodded. "There are special rituals that make dungeons harder to explore, the beasts within it fiercer."
"Sounds like the kind of fun you're into," she said in a sarcastic tone.
Surgit cursed under his breath. "I never found any of the items required for the rituals."
"What do we do then?" Karla asked.
Surgit sighed. "Let's check our spoils first."
Right by the obelisk stood a marble pedestal. A clay bowl lay on top, devoid of blood this time. Using their insight, Surgit and Karla saw the shining objects dropped within the bowl.
They took their spoils then turned to each other.
"I got a blue cluster this time," Karla said.
"Same here, I also got the chalice for the next dungeon, Lower Pthumeru, it says," Surgit said.
Karla raised an eyebrow. "I didn't get that."
"It could be because I initiated the dungeon," he said.
She shrugged. "No matter. Can we leave now?"
He nodded and they headed for the lantern beyond the obelisk. They activated it. Surgit let Karla go first.
Before she teleported out of the dungeon, however, Surgit held her arm. He stared at the wall next to the lantern. "Do you see that?" he asked.
She followed his gaze to a thin line, hastily inscribed by the wall. They got closer and activated their insight again.
"Oh Flora, do you hear our prayers?" Surgit read.
"Flora!" Karla whispered. "I've heard that name before."
"Me too," Surgit said. "The doll prays sometimes, and repeats that name often."
"What do you think it is?" Karla asked.
He shrugged. "Let's try asking her."
*** Meanwhile, in the Upper Cathedral Ward. ***
Francis sat on top of the staircase, panting, drenched in blood from head to toe. Exploring the mansion wasn't as easy as he initially thought. The Church doctors at the entrance almost killed him on many occasions.
They used the same weapons, only augmented with supernatural powers he didn't expect. Their staffs hit harder, and broke his ribs three times. The hardest one to deal with, however, was the one with the flaming scythe.
Venturing deep into the mansion didn't make things any easier. For starters, it was too dark. The place also teemed with pale creatures that wanted to suck his brain, and blood thirsty werewolves that lay in ambush at every turn.
He was greatly relieved after he cleared the mansion of its beasts and opened its main door, which led directly to the dream lantern.
He stared at the key in his hand. He knew it would open the door behind him, but he was nervous about what he would find out. He could hear the hum from the other side of the door, some kind of energy pulsating from it as well.
He took a deep breath then stood. He turned the key and the locks clicked, allowing him to the other side, a wide, well lit balcony. His eyes widened as he saw a person standing in the middle of it. Torches hung on its pillars, illuminating the place, a great contrast to the mansion's darkness.
The person stood still. One arm pointed at the sky, while the other pointed to the side.
Francis approached, his heart beating against his eardrums. He gasped as he got close enough to see the person, or rather, the skeleton.
"How are you still standing?" he whispered.
The hums in the balcony got louder, suddenly turning into a cacophony of sounds. Francis winced as the sound's volume became insufferable. He clutched his head and fell on one knee, trying his best to keep his ears closed.
Then a vision invaded his thoughts. He saw a grotesque creature, made out solely of gooey flesh. Its plump body made disgusting squelching noises as it moved. Thin, tentacles like arms sprouted from its gooey body, flailing about helplessly.
It opened its eyes and looked at him.
His heart raced, threatening to burst out of his chest.
Light flared around the beast. Francis saw it and his mind got completely shattered. He screamed as blood rushed out of his vessels and exploded out his body in straight jets.
He collapsed, face first on the cold stone floor. Tears still streamed down his cheeks as his body evaporated, taking him back to the last lantern.