Chapter 199. Entombed Legacy

He found himself on the other side of the door, staring in the distance at the Firebreak Manor. 

"I'm on the walls, huh? Stormed Battlements, as the Sanctuary calls them now... Let's hurry up and find a way to the Great Hall."

The walls and the watchtowers were filled with blood, corpses, and plenty of impaled people, reminding Michael of how much the goatmen needed to be erased. 

'After this shit, I'll convene with the girls and Celeste. They should have intel on these fucker's nests by now. It's time to nuke them from the orbit.'

Ten minutes later, after plenty of running and killing, he found himself at the entrance to the great hall, seeing the spot where he had previously talked with Donan both times.

[*Panting* Light, cleanse these faithful servants of their sin. Bring them peace in death.](Donan)

Hearing the Horadrim's prayer, Michael rushed forward and found him bent over the corpses of four Knights, placing their weapons in their hands.

There was a fifth impaled on the wall, about a meter above the ground, with her own weapon.

The Necromancer looked confused at the scene, unable to picture how she could be killed and placed in such a strange position.

"Donan! Are you okay?"

[*Heavy breathing* Bloody miracle you made it here in one piece. Lilith and that beast tore right through us. Could've killed me too, but she left me untouched. She's toying with me!](Donan)

"Is this... her work?"

[Yes.](Donan)

Standing up, he approached the woman pinned to the wall like an insect and pulled with all his remaining strength at the weapon running her through.

The task was arduous, and Donan could barely speak and pull simultaneously.

[*Grunt* Wants me to -- *Grunt* -- watch her destroy everything I've built. *Gasp* Damn it!](Donan)

The staff finally came undone from the stone, and the woman's body fell into the man's arms, sending him to the ground.

Dropping the weapon, he pushed his body up and dragged her next to the other members. Michael placed the staff on her chest, bringing her hands around it.

[Did you see Yorin the way you came?](Donan)

"No. But I hurried here, so I might've missed him. I didn't see him at the Firebreak Manor either, but I didn't linger long enough."

[She hasn't won yet. There's still a chance to stop her, but I can't do it alone. *Heavy breathing*](Donan)

"I'm here to help. Where is she now?"

[An old chamber beneath the keep. That's... where Astaroth is.](Donan)

That last sentence alone was enough to eat up the little energy he had left, as if the effort put into saying the words took a more significant toll on him than the physical work he had done throughout the years.

Exhausted and devastated from the losses of his men, he stared at the walls with an empty gaze.

[I didn't vanquish him like the stories say. I imprisoned him in a soulstone. It was a last resort.](Donan)

"I see. That's why Lilith said you couldn't kill him."

[Yes. I then built Eldhaime over the stone to contain its evil.](Donan)

The Horadrim stood up and looked toward a flight of stairs. There were blood marks on it.

[I've spent my life watching over it, keeping it a secret so Astaroth would never hurt anyone again. Not even my son knows.](Donan)

"I understand."

[I'm sorry for hiding this from you before, but I couldn't risk a stranger finding out the truth. *panting* We should get moving. Follow me!](Donan)

Gathering up the little energy he had left in his body, he climbed the stairs leading somewhere unknown.

By now, the Sanctuary had already turned that place into a temporary Dungeon as well since it was marked with a golden symbol on the MAP.

[ Main Quest issued - Entombed Legacy

Objective: Enter Eldhaime Barracks

Description: You learned that Donan and the other heroes did not kill Astaroth as the stories say but imprisoned him in a soulstone buried beneath Eldhaime Keep. Lilith also learned about the location of the tomb. All you can do is follow and hope you are not too late in stopping her from resurrecting Astaroth. ]

'How reassuring of you, Sanctuary...'

[If you didn't see Yorin outside... we'll search on the way.](Donan)

Nodding and entering first, the duo found themselves in an underground room with a fire burning around them and the oxygen thin.

Donan waved his hands, and a breeze moved throughout the enclosed space, extinguishing the flames.

It was obvious that his missing son put him into a very anxious state.

"When was the last time you saw Yorin?"

[Just before the attack. When Lilith stormed the keep, I ordered some guards to lead him out of Eldhaime.](Donan)

"You did well to send him away. Else, he might've been caught in the struggle."

[I should have... stayed with him...](Donan)

"You did the right thing. Don't worry! We'll find him."

There were no monsters to block them, but there were plenty of corpses, most of them human.

Among them, Donan noticed something and gasped.

[One of... Yorin's protectors.](Donan)

Gritting his teeth, Michael pulled the trembling man up and hurried forward. 

Unfortunately, they found another slain guardian of the kid some distance away.

Then, a third one toward the end of the hallway.

[The last of my son's guardians. Come. Quickly! Yorin's mace is here as well... Damn it! I told them to get out!](Donan)

"Maybe he and the Knights tried to stop Lilith. Could she have taken him somewhere?"

[What possible reason would she have? He means nothing to her?](Donan)

Michael kept quiet, but some ideas formed in his mind. Airidah and Nafain didn't have any children, and only Donan was left alive of the trio that defeated and sealed Astaroth.

What better greeting gift to give the demon than the child of the only surviving enemy he had?

[We need to move. The way to Astaroth is through here.](Donan)

They continued moving at a rapid pace and even descended to a lower level with the help of a ladder.

Seeing the anxious expression on the Horadrim's face, Michael tried to distract him.

"Why is Lilith so eager to find Astaroth?"

[I've been asking myself the same question, but I'm as much in the dark about it as you are, I'm afraid.](Donan)

"Any theories?"

[Hmm... They share a connection, though. And a strong one at that. Astaroth is a guardian of Lilith's father, Mephisto. The Lord of Hatred.](Donan)

"So, she might try to contact her father? Or maybe return to Hell? Therefore the Key she took from Rathma's staff... There's too much we are missing."

The conversation ended when they reached a stone 'chamber.' It was more of a platform surrounded by stone pillars of different sizes, serving as walls.

In the middle of it stood a hole in the floor, as well as an opened box.

[Here it is. The soulstone chamber. Lilith has what she wanted all this time... She took the stone.](Donan)

Looking at the corner of the 'room,' Michael sighed in relief. There was a lead, at least.

[No sign of Yorin, though. We need to find him.](Donan)

"Give me a second. I might've found a clue."

Walking to Lilith's mark formed by the blood petals, he kneeled before it and infused some of his Essence.

Darkness engulfed his view, but it was soon restored. The first object in his field of view, was a crystal shining in a orange-red color, as well as a pair of slender fingers clasped around it.

[Mighty Astaroth. The Charred Duke himself... confined to a cage. What a pity.](Lilith)

[Daughter of Hatred...](Astaroth)

With the soulstone as the only light source, it shone demonically as Lilith provoked the existence sealed within.

It was only now that Michael noticed, but the demoness's gaze had become crueler, and what appeared to be traces of mascara marred the area under her eyes.

Since the Sanctuary didn't have make-up that advanced, he thought back to the tears she shed after finding Rathma.

'In the end, Inarius fucked up, and now we all had to deal with the fallout. There were better methods to revive Astaroth instead of killing two Druids and mentally torturing the third. Plus, the Knights... even if she accepted the deal with Nafain, the way through which she achieved his wish was... too destructive even by a demon's standards. She cut him in half and used his lower body and blood to create a three-headed dog, then brought it to Eldhaime so the Druid could take revenge himself. It's both poetic and majorly fucked up at the same time...'

Looking from the side at the patient demoness proposing a deal to Astaroth, Michael could only pray that fewer people would suffer in the future.

[I have an offer. You will grant me passage to a place I am no longer welcomed.](Lilith)

*GROWL*

[In exchange, I will give you freedom. And more...](Lilith)

The vision changed to someone hidden behind her, lying on the ground, unable to move. The kid's eyes were filled with terror.

[Donan's progeny. His pride and joy. Your retribution...](Lilith)

As she turned to Yorin, the soulstone's light imposed a strange shadow on the kid, much larger than the one he would cast. Its head had two horns upward and two growing laterally.

Poor Yorin was trying to speak, but there was no sound, even if his lips moved. His attempts at escaping were impossible to begin with.

[... if you give me what I want.](Lilith)

Her left hand reached in a similar manner to when she met Donan, but this time, she grabbed Yorin's neck and lifted him off the ground.

The boy's legs were kicking in the air, gasping for breath.

Just as the boy's face turned purple, and he was about to pass out, Astaroth's voice echoed throughout the room.

[*GROWLS* You will have safe passage.](Astaroth)

Smiling victoriously, Lilith smashed the soulstone into Yorin's head, impaling it halfway through his brain.

Then, it began melting and covering the boy's face with strange, lava-like liquid.

The vision ended, and Michael got up to his feet, meeting Donan's hopeful gaze.

[Was it another vision? Did you see Yorin?](Donan)

"Yes... he... Lilith stabbed him with the soulstone."

[I... *shaky breath* My son...](Donan)

Unknowing how to approach the topic more gently, the Necromancer spoke of it brutally. It was easier to rip off a band-aid instead of slowly pulling it from the wound.

Donan was shaking like a leaf in the wind and looked ten years older.

"I'm sorry, Donan."

[This... this isn't over. There's still a chance.](Donan)

"Donan, I know what I --"

[There's still time... you have to trust me. Let's return to the Great Hall!](Donan)

Frowning and praying that he wouldn't have to deal with another kin-resurrection ritual, Michael followed behind the Horadrim.

Trying to redirect his anger a bit, he found some topic he could discuss on his way back.

"Why did you build Eldhaime over such a dangerous thing?"

[I... I had to. Even after I warded the stone with Nafain and Airidah, the demon's power gradually seeped out. So, I turned to the Cathedral. Eldhaime itself is a giant capstone blessed with Inarius' Light. It subdued the evil below. It... it... *Sigh* None of that matters now.](Donan)

"I see."

[How did Lilith find out about the location of Astaroth's soulstone?"

"Nafain... he told her."

[Just like Airidah. Traitors... They did this to me... to my boy!](Donan)

Sighing and realizing that he might've fucked up again with the topic he chose, Michael returned to a more relevant question once they reached the Great Hall.

"What do we do now?"

[We must find Yorin as quickly as possible. I realize how hopeless this all seems, but I've spent half my life studying the soulstone. I know its nature. It will take time for Astaroth to overpower my boy. I taught him well. Even now, he is resisting the demon's influence.](Donan)

The Necromancer kept quiet. He heard Lilith calling Astaroth the Charred Duke. 

Based on the hierarchy of Hell, a Duke is one rank below the King, meaning one rank under the Lord of Hatred. How could such a demon be weak enough for a child under 17 to resist it?

[They'll be close by. Cerrigar, perhaps. All those innocents to burn will excite Astaroth... make him fight harder to... take control...](Donan)

"Astaroth, I understand. Lilith, on the other hand, has what she wants from him. Why would she linger there?"

[I... I don't know...](Donan)

"...it doesn't matter, let's go. The more we wait, the more people will die."