As Xavier and Carla arrived at the pool, three women wearing unique veils over their faces walked towards them, exuding an air of mystery.
Xavier observed their movement as they approached, with squinted eyes, wondering why they were here.
Cautiously, Xavier quickly used his character hack skill to evaluate them.
[Character hack succeeded, Level 49 Senior Apprentice has been hacked]
[Would you like to view her stats?]
[Character hack succeeded, Level 49 Apprentice has been hacked]
[Would you like to view her stats?]
[Error! MAX targets have been reached. Failed to activate skill]
'Hmm, two level 49 characters. They are clearly stronger than that level 21 apprentice,' Xavier noted inwardly with a cautious look in his eyes.
After seeing how menacingly the other veiled women tortured the men, he couldn't help but be cautious around them.
"Is this the one?" When the veiled women arrived, one of them asked Carla with a voice cold as ice.
Carla nodded.
"Hmm." They hummed in unison.
Without uttering any further words, the three women separated from each other and headed towards the other side of the pool, their positions forming a perfect triangle around the perimeter of the pool.
Xavier noticed their mouths moving as they appeared to be reciting silent chants.
As they chanted,
Suddenly, the calm glistening pool in front of them began exuding a faint glow that intensified as time went by.
It transformed from a pool with clear, transparent water to a pool of glowing blood-red liquid. The liquid in the pool was troubled, as though it was boiling.
Clear red vapors could be seen floating off the pool! It looked really hot!
"Step in," from beside him, Carla's voice reached his ears, distracting him from the wondrously dangerous scene unfolding in front of him.
He digested her words slowly and his expression crumbled, "Wait... you don't really mean it! I can't step in that..." Xavier protested, stepping back with caution.
Carla shook her head, a little bit disappointed. 'Why did this one have to awaken his sanity and emotions?' she complained inwardly. The past specimens, who were without emotions and sanity, would step into the pool without a single word.
While Xavier was stepping back, a strong force appeared behind him and pushed him into the pool!
SPLASH!
Xavier fell into the pool, his eyes widening with shock. He couldn't even tell who it was that pushed him into the pool.
'Wait a minute, the water is not hot at all?'
He realized he was expecting intense heat that would melt his skin the moment he stepped inside the pool, but to his surprise, it was even the opposite.
'Why didn't you just say that in the first place?' Xavier thought, looking in the direction of Carla. If he knew the pool wasn't as hot as it appeared, he wouldn't have acted like a scared bitch just now. But on the other hand, it would be hard to believe her if she said so in the first place.
"Begin!"
Xavier's celebration became short-lived instantly.
He didn't even get to enjoy the warmth of the pool enough before one of the women said in a cold tone.
Suddenly, the warmth of the pool decreased. It was as though he was taking a bath much colder than ice baths!
His teeth gnashed against each other and his body began to shiver violently.
With this amount of cold, his senses began to weaken, his vision went blurry and his lungs stopped working.
As if that was not enough, a splitting headache jammed his head!
His body was greeted with hellish pain, the feeling akin to getting stomped by an elephant and getting stabbed by hundreds of needles at the same time.
Not only externally, but his internal organs also felt as much pain!
The feeling he felt was unexplainable, it was as though a force was trying to suck his soul away!
It was hellish! The pain he felt at the underground structure was sweet compared to this.
"Ahhhhh!" Bombarded by this hellish anguish, his mouth involuntarily let out a cold, bloodcurdling cry of pain.
His loud cry alerted the other people in the garden of hell. The woman tormenting and the men being tormented tilted their heads in the direction of the pool.
The woman left the men and strolled towards the pool with curiosity and wonder.
Very soon, the pool was crowded by every woman in the room.
They stood beside it, observing the torment of Xavier as his legs kicked against the water and his mouth screamed in pain.
The eyes of the men were in Xavier's direction, but fear halted them from moving forward to satisfy their curiosity. They have been going through pain as well but it is nothing compared to the pain Xavier is going through.
Most of them who have been in this facility for ages have witnessed a few men get sent into the pool but none of them ever stepped out again! To this date, they still wonder what lies beyond the false peaceful waters of the pool.
Meanwhile, standing beside the pool, Carla observed Xavier with worry. However, this worry wasn't triggered by any positive feelings towards Xavier. Instead, it was triggered by her desire to not see her mistress lose such a promising experiment after years of hard work.
She prayed in her heart to the gods she revered, asking for a successful awakening ritual for Xavier.
The effort of her mistress, the blood she has shed, and meditation have been done should not be in vain!
She must find the truth she seeks! The truth of the dark plain!!