EnCoffin Me Chapter 112
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 112
In the mortal world, it was widely believed that one could only see the Underworld River after death. Of course, there were fanatics who sought the truth by attempting to record the experience of dying. One such person used a special magic to preserve his consciousness until the moment it had to dissipate. This precious record was kept in the Holy Temple, and Lucius had once personally browsed through it.
In the record, the deceased arrived at the banks of the Underworld River and had his final earthly meal, usually a serving of barley porridge and a piece of bread. Afterward, he wandered the boundless dark wilderness, where the river flowed eternally at its center. The soul would gradually lose its awareness and memories, a painless process, until eventually becoming one of the countless shadows roaming the wasteland.
Lucius had seen the Underworld River with his living eyes, thanks to the Goddess' protection. Now, as he watched the rushing night mares, his eyes flickered slightly before quickly shifting his attention back to Alexio.
“I thought you would wait a bit longer,” he said.
“No.” The silver cross at Alexio's collar gleamed. “After destroying the breeding farm and the southeast branch, it's better to attack him immediately. Such a high frequency of offense might catch Theo off guard.”
Alexio lowered his gaze. In truth, this was just an excuse for the lunatic. The real reason for his haste was personal. In his memory, the Underworld River had already begun to surge, an omen or perhaps a prompt.
His subconscious was urging him. Theo, who had been unusually quiet lately, was clearly brewing something. He hadn't even cared about the fall of the southeast branch and breeding farm, and had even released the hunter Aamon. This was clearly a critical moment. Knowing Theo as he did, Alexio understood they couldn't afford to wait until Theo was fully ready, or they might lose.
“Besides, this time, I wasn't foolish enough to fight alone.”
In the infinitely extending dreamscape, a large number of military aircraft swept by, with a squadron of griffins escorting them. But that was not all. On the pale rose-colored sky where day and night met, a black rift suddenly appeared. Countless soul butterflies swarmed down. They were only the vanguard. The true master was still galloping to arrive.
Cravenson flew up, flapping his wings to keep pace with the night mare that Alexio rode.
“Prince Alexio, Helgodon is about to catch up with the main force, and he has brought a few werewolves eager to make a name for themselves.”
“He isn't with the main force,” Alexio said bluntly. “Pupil, is there a ruin nearby?”
It wasn't Pupil who answered, but Zhen, also riding on a night mare's back, responded immediately, “Yes, the ruins of Beizhu City. It's currently used as a tourist site.”
“Tell Helgodon to detour there! The Thorn River and Golden Gate areas are likely just a decoy. Werewolves are highly mobile. Have them scout a few important locations nearby.”
Cravenson acknowledged and flew off. The werewolves and some military forces that had been close to catching the main group immediately changed course. Helgodon ran at the front, his silver-white fur gleaming along the dreamscape's path. As he ran, he kept an eye on his fellow werewolves nearby.
“There will be no rest on the way,” he warned. “Once we reach the destination, fighting will likely break out immediately.”
The werewolves responded with howls, showing no fear. Behind the dream curtain pulled open by the night mares, Helgodon's excellent vision had already caught sight of the distant shadow of the ancient city.
Beizhu City!
“Kossinia, split the troops!” he shouted. The slightly smaller werewolf running beside him responded with a howl as well. The pack began to divide into two groups, circling the ancient city, while military reconnaissance aircraft immediately flew out to search over the ruins.
This was a precious heritage site not open to visitors, with only maintenance personnel permitted access. After the notification from the military, the place should have been deserted, but the reconnaissance planes detected figures moving about.
Helgodon was cautious and alert, but that did not affect the werewolves' exceptional mobility. Almost immediately, he captured someone for questioning. However, that person gave him a mysterious smile.
They were controlled by worms!
Helgodon immediately stepped back, a move that allowed him to avoid the sudden eruption of eggs. In this situation, the military personnel couldn't leave their aircraft, let alone assist in the attack. Helgodon's expression grew serious. He unleashed frost to protect his tribe and sent a message to Alexio.
“Alexi, I need to switch with Zhen!”
“Zhen is on his way! Can you hold out?”
Helgodon nodded firmly. If it was just defense, they could retreat inside the military's protective shield and wait for Zhen…
Suddenly, something in the ruins caught Helgodon's attention.
He stared blankly at the orb that had emerged abruptly from the ruins. No, it hadn't appeared suddenly. It had slowly risen from underground. Its massive size was almost the same as Pupil's. The scene looked like a black sun rising over the ruins!
“Helgodon?!” Alexio called out urgently through the comms, already sensing something unusual.
Helgodon opened his mouth, his ice-blue eyes widening sharply. He quickly threw himself over Kossinia as a black beam swept overhead, destroying several military aircraft. The buzzing vibration lingered in the air, and Helgodon felt his mind hum along with it, followed by a splitting headache. This black sun was unleashing a mental attack.
“Hurry…” he said slowly, stepping in front of his tribe and staring fixedly at the black orb.
“This thing looks very much like Pupil.”
Alexio listened to the static on the comms, his expression tightening. After confirming Zhen was close to arriving, he studied the relayed images. The black orb was emitting beams in all directions, releasing massive amounts of dark energy. Coupled with the mental assault, it was hard to understand exactly what the Holy Temple was doing.
What was this? Why expend so much effort building it? Judging by the concentration of dark energy, the Holy Temple must have invested most of the dark energy they accumulated over the years into this!
“Pupil?” Alexio asked, directing the question to Pupil's clone hovering on his screen.
【There's interference in the vicinity. Internal analysis is currently impossible.】
“When can you analyze it? What conditions do you need?” Alexio asked. Without analysis, it was unknown territory. If even Pupil, with the strongest scanning abilities, couldn't analyze it, then things would be very difficult for Helgodon and Zhen.
【Once I ascend, there's nothing I can't see clearly.】
“Then how do you…”
“Alexi!” the saint interrupted Alexio's question and glanced at Pupil, who fell silent. Alexio seemed to understand and clenched his teeth.
“Fly, Pupil!”
There was no reaction. Pupil looked at him affectionately, gently turning left and right, as if to comfort him.
Alexio took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm the turmoil in his mind. He was filled with guilt. He knew he was the spark, crucial to the plan to revive the three pillars of darkness, but clearly, he was failing. If Qizhi couldn't return to its place, the three pillars of darkness couldn't be re-established, the world couldn't regain its balance, and the God of Slander would still be able to meddle.
Yet he didn't know what he could do. Only the Underworld River in his memories grew clearer.
“I don't know what I can do… Am I really the spark you say I am? Can I truly restore the three pillars? I…”
“Alexi.”
The saint interrupted him again.
“I never saw you as the spark. Even when I dragged you into the coffin, it was only because I wanted you to survive. Whether or not you reignite the world doesn't matter.”
Alexio looked at him, and the saint smiled in his gaze.
“If you feel too much pressure, then we can just destroy Pupil and get it over with. Whatever happens, happens.”
“No!”
What kind of crazy idea was that? Alexio immediately stopped it.
Pupil: Trembling.jpg
“Don't worry, Helgodon won't die anytime soon. Zhen is going to help him now. If this generation of guardians died so easily, then the world might as well be destroyed. We can't keep watching over it forever.”
Alexio calmed himself. Another speck of light flickered beside him, moving quickly, unnoticed by others. After secretly placing it into a bottle, he regained composure and began to speak.
“We can analyze this now. As Behemoth's guardian, Helgodon's perception is highly valuable. Based on his description, let's tentatively identify the black sun over the ruins of Beizhu City as Pupil's imitation.”
The saint nodded slightly, a smile in his eyes.
“Right, and the location where the black sun rises should be important as well.”
“Beizhu City… the place where Qizhi lands and takes off…” Alexio mused, vaguely sensing Theo's intention, though he couldn't be sure yet.
“Could it be that he…”
“Maybe he plans to disrupt Qizhi's normal ascent,” the saint said. “Such a massive dark energy body, on par with the current Pupil, supplemented with some magical arrays… Qizhi, you might have the most insight into this.”
Pupil's clone had already begun spinning in place, clearly understanding more than Alexio and Lucius, who could only speculate.
【Please confirm immediately whether there are any magical arrays set up in the Beizhu City ruins.】
Amid the static came Helgodon's heavy, labored breathing.
【Yes, there are many patterns, but I don't recognize them.】
Pupil: ……
I often despair because Behemoth's guardian is such a poor student.
“I don't fully recognize them either! But they are for sacrificial purposes! I saw related characters!”
At this critical moment, it was Zhen's arrival that eased Helgodon's pressure and provided vital information.
“Theo is… trying to have the artificial Pupil undergo a ritual offering to gain some divinity?”
【It must be the God of Slander's idea!】Pupil rarely showed such emotional fluctuation.【This replica definitely can't deceive the laws, but once it takes flight, I won't be able to ascend for a short period!】
This was fatal at the moment. The entire situation would fall completely under Theo's control!
Meanwhile, at the Holy Temple, Theo finally smiled. His appearance was older than before, this aging clearly irreversible. The God of Slander whispered in his ear, assuring him the plan was unfolding as expected.
He had also prepared a grand gift for his child.