As Luna and David entered the cave pathway leading deep underground, the air grew thick with a damp, metallic scent. The stone walls were lined with jagged roots, and flickering torches barely illuminated the endless corridor. Their footsteps echoed against the cold floor, mixing with the distant sounds of muffled cries and chains rattling in the darkness. A putrid stench lingered in the air, the smell of unwashed bodies, decay, and something far worse—something unnatural.
As they advanced, rows of iron-barred cells lined both sides of the pathway. Inside, the dim torchlight revealed the gaunt faces of prisoners—men, women, children, and even elves, their emaciated bodies covered in bruises and dirt. Some had hollow eyes, others clutched their knees and rocked back and forth, their lips moving in silent prayers. The beastmen, usually proud and powerful creatures, lay in their cells, their fur matted with dried blood, their spirits shattered. Some groaned weakly, while others didn't move at all, their fates long sealed.
Luna's hands balled into fists. She instinctively stepped forward, her heart aching for them, but David grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. His breath was warm against her ear as he whispered, "We need to understand what they are doing here before making a move." His voice was cold, his grip firm. "Control your emotions."
Luna swallowed her rage and nodded, forcing herself to move forward. David activated his stealth ability, making them both invisible, their figures blending seamlessly with the shadows.
They continued down the eerie corridor until they reached a large chamber. The air here was heavier, thick with the scent of alchemical substances and burning incense. The sight before them was horrific—massive glass tubes filled with water stood in neat rows, each containing a naked human body, floating lifelessly. Their skin was unnaturally pale, veins blackened as if corrupted by something sinister. Strange mechanical tubes were inserted into their spines, pumping in a thick, glowing liquid. Some bodies twitched involuntarily, their eyes rolling back, trapped in endless agony. Others had grotesque mutations—elongated fingers that had become claws, patches of scales spreading across their skin, or horns sprouting from their skulls.
Luna bit her lip hard, trying to suppress the bile rising in her throat. David's gaze darkened as he observed the twisted experiments. At the center of the chamber, a tall man in a deep purple robe stood overseeing the process. The moment he entered, all the black-robed figures bowed, confirming his authority.
David leaned toward Luna. "Go deeper. Find out what they're doing. Use this." He handed her a small crystalline sphere. "It's a communication device. Report what you see, but don't lose control."
Luna nodded and silently slipped into the darkness while David followed the purple-robed man. As David stepped into the man's private quarters, he ensured the door sealed behind him, forming a soundproof barrier. The robed man turned sharply at the noise of the lock clicking, only to see David standing in the room, his presence exuding cold menace.
The man's eyes widened in recognition. "You... I saw you in the fields... You're the Archmage—"
David smirked and placed a finger against his lips. "Shhh... No one can hear you. You can't use your magic here." His voice was laced with amusement, but his eyes carried only death. "Let's talk, shall we?"
Meanwhile, Luna ventured deeper into the underground chambers. The air grew colder, the walls smeared with dried blood. She entered a vast ritual chamber, the floor carved with ancient runes, glowing faintly as blood seeped into them. At the center lay a woman—her body barely intact, her arms disfigured with beast-like claws fused with human fingers. Her eyes fluttered open at Luna's approach, her lips parting weakly.
"M...Mom...?"
Luna's chest tightened. She kneeled beside the girl, brushing her bloodied hair back. "I'm not your mother, but I'm here to help you. I'm from the Holy Church."
Tears welled in the girl's eyes as she trembled. "They... They kidnapped us... They wanted to make us into demonic beasts. They experimented on us... We screamed... We begged... But they didn't stop." Her body shuddered violently, blood dribbling from her lips. "So many died... Kids, women, men... They turned into monsters... And those who didn't... They... They were sacrificed."
Luna's breath caught in her throat. "Sacrificed?"
"They're trying... to summon a demonic god... A war is coming... They want... They want to—" She gagged as more blood spilled from her mouth. Her voice cracked. "Holy... Ho—"
Her final breath left her body, her eyes dimming into an empty void. A chilling silence filled the chamber.
Luna clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her body shook with rage, sorrow, and disgust. Her fingers found the crystal ball. She activated it. "David."
A moment later, his voice answered. "Oh yes, Luna? What happened?"
Her voice was cold, trembling with barely contained fury. "I've seen everything. Shall I kill them?"
David chuckled darkly on the other end. "Kill them all."
The connection cut. Luna's eyes gleamed with righteous fury as she unsheathed her sword.
Back in the chamber, David stared at the terrified purple-robed man. "Now... Tell me, what is the purpose of these prisoners?"
The man's breath came in short gasps. "P-Please don't kill me! I'll tell you everything!" His voice was hoarse with terror. "We... We are demonic mages... We sacrifice them to summon a demonic god... Those we don't sacrifice, we turn into beasts! We—"
David's gaze darkened. "And who is backing you?"
"I-I don't know! I swear! We receive orders through a crystal... A voice commands us, and we obey!"
David smirked, his fingers twitching with energy. "Ah... Such bad people, aren't you? Well, to be fair... I'm a bad man too. I've committed sins. I've killed men, women, children... But I never experimented on humans." He crouched, staring into the man's trembling eyes. "That's a special kind of evil."
The man began to sob, shaking his head. "Please, I'll disappear! I won't do this again, I swear! I—"
David's eyes burned with madness. "See... I once hated killing. But now? Now I love it." He chuckled, a twisted, hollow sound. "I loved happiness. Now, I despise it. I'm not the man I used to be. And I never will be again."
The man's body suddenly convulsed. Blood seeped from his ears, his eyes rolling back as he let out a strangled gurgle. His hands ballooned, his limbs swelling grotesquely before his entire body exploded in a spray of blood and gore, painting the walls crimson.
David exhaled deeply, his smile widening. "I suppose I'll be busy when I reach Henwards Kingdom... But at least I won't be bored." He let out a low, sinister laugh.
The chapter ends in blood and silence.