Chapter 20 Sacrifice

The scale of this sewer system was so immense that, in Obsidian's eyes, it had completely surpassed the necessity of a single function of a "city's sewage disposal." The gas lights inscribed with runes and the reinforced structures that could serve as bomb shelters scattered throughout the sewers led him to speculate widely about the real purpose of this subterranean facility.

Regardless of what the initial design intentions of the builders might have been, one fact was clear: deep within this vast facility, in a place concealed from the eyes of the aboveground world, this dark, cold place had become a breeding ground for some sort of evil force.

A cult group that nominally worshipped the Sun God but only incited a sense of chill.

At the intersection of several corridors in the sewer was a vast underground space, where solid concrete pillars supported a dome constructed of bricks and stones. Metal piping structures intertwined near the dome like a spider's web, and bright gas lights illuminated the entire space, as well as the crowd that had gathered at this "junction" –

At first glance, there were at least a few hundred people in black robes congregated in this filthy, damp place. In their midst was an elevated platform jutting out from the ground. Standing on this platform was a tall figure in a black robe, clearly the most high-ranking individual among these robed figures.

The person standing on the platform did not wear the same hood as the others but instead wore a golden mask. The mask was of an odd design, resembling a disc radiating endless rays of light in all directions, its surface also etched with a multitude of fragmented cracks.

Behind this masked individual on the platform, there stood a peculiar totem—a tall wooden stake, at the top of which was affixed a blazing Fireball. The core of that fireball seemed to be some metal, pocked with many small holes, from which flames spurted forth.

When Obsidian was "escorted" here, this was the scene he was met with.

The gathered cult members also took notice of him.

"We caught a fleeing sacrifice on our way to the assembly!" one of the robed individuals who had been responsible for escorting him stepped forward and respectfully said to the "leader" on the platform, with a hint of seeking credit in his voice, "This sacrifice has lingered in darkness for too long and his thinking has become muddled. May you exercise your mighty power so that the glory of our lord may descend upon this pitiable body!"

The Cult Priest wearing the golden mask turned around and stared intently at Obsidian, whose face was expressionless, with a tone of surprise and coldness, "A fleeing sacrifice?"

Obsidian, however, showed no reaction. He was merely curiously observing the place, including the golden mask on the face of the Cult Priest and the fireball totem behind him.

Perhaps, to the ordinary people of this world, these symbols were bizarre and strange, but he had almost instantly recognized that these objects... were imitating the sun.

Not imitating the "Fireball" confined by massive streams of flame and two layers of Rune Circles in the sky today, but imitating the sun which Obsidian was familiar with – the one that emitted blazing radiance and burned fiercely.

These people were truly worshipping the sun, venerating what seemed to be an incarnation of the sun that had "fallen" in a very ancient era, and treating it as a deity.

Obsidian lifted his head, looking calmly at the black-robed Cult Priest who was looking down from the platform. Perhaps due to the paralysis of his facial muscles, this calm appearance seemed more like a numbing lack of Spiritual Intelligence in the eyes of the other.

The Cult Priest with the golden mask locked eyes with Obsidian for less than two seconds before turning his head and commanding someone standing by the platform, "Go and check the place where the sacrifices are held, and report back quickly."

After issuing his orders, he nodded at the robed individuals who had "escorted" the sacrifice back, with a hint of praise in his voice, "You have done well. Even if it is a minor contribution in the eyes of the lord, it will turn into eternal glory for you when the True Sun once again shines upon all creation."

It was a lukewarm, routine compliment, but the several robed individuals seemed to receive great encouragement from it, becoming excited as they praised the "True Sun God" and pushed Obsidian to the front of the platform. The masked priest only then addressed Obsidian, "Poor wanderer who has strayed off the path... have you felt the deep chill amidst the lightless rocks and soil?"

Obsidian didn't understand a word of what this charlatan was saying and could only remain silent, while the priest clearly didn't care for any reaction from the "sacrifice" before him. His words were not meant for Obsidian to hear, but rather for the believers around him, and for the "Sun God" he so firmly believed in:

"The cold and darkness are the suffering left to this world by the false sun. Under the rule of the false sun, the deep and dark ocean ravages the lands, and only fragmented landmasses allow creatures to barely cling to life, yet even on these broken lands, the people cannot escape suffering. The shadows of ancient days lurk underground, their lightless dens writhing with fangs and claws that choose their prey, the surface world is rife with hatred and strife, and the pure souls of mankind are tainted by the breath exhaled by the Evil God..."

"How can we endure this prolonged suffering? How can we bear the world distorted and absurd that comes from the false sun?

"We cannot endure it, we only wish for our lord to return, we only wish for the True Sun God to descend upon the earth once more, to blaze powerfully from blood and fire, bringing back order and prosperity to mankind!"

Under the incendiary tones of the masked priest, Duncan could clearly sense a change in the atmosphere of the assembly. The black-robed followers, one after another, became agitated. First, they echoed the sentiment and then the echo turned into eager shouts, "We only wish for the True Sun God to descend upon the earth! To blaze powerfully from blood and fire!" "We only wish for the True Sun God to descend upon the earth! To blaze powerfully from blood and fire!"

"We only wish for the True Sun God to descend upon the earth," the priest on the high platform declared loudly, then pointing at Duncan, he continued, "And today, our lord will awaken further from his slumber—The lost one's blood will soothe the scars from the Sun's rupture!

"Bring forth the sacrifice!"

Several black-robed people swarmed from the side, but Duncan was quicker than them—he didn't need to be pushed, he clambered onto the altar himself.

This body might not be very serviceable, but it was capable of climbing onto a platform.

Having climbed up, he now stood before the masked priest, who still maintained the same commanding and mysterious stance as when giving orders—a change occurring so suddenly, completely beyond the usual course of events, left the cult leader momentarily unresponsive. Through the golden mask, he locked gaze with Duncan, and the surroundings of the altar fell eerily silent.

Yet Duncan seemed completely unaware of the change in the atmosphere around him; he only felt he had gathered more information about this world and was eager to witness more unusual scenes before this temporary body broke down.

"So, what comes next?" Duncan rubbed his hands with a sense of inquisitive expectation and inquired seriously, "What's the next step?"

Masked Priest: "…"

"Didn't catch that?" Duncan frowned—though due to the difficulty in moving his facial muscles, it didn't quite show—"I said, what are we supposed to do next?"

It was then that the priest finally reacted. Though his eyes were obscured by a mask, a moment of confusion clearly flickered through them, but he quickly spoke in a deep voice, "The shadow in the darkness indeed affected your mind, but worry not, for the most holy Sun shall end your suffering… Take the sacrifice before the totem!"

Two black-robed people instantly approached from the side, gripping Duncan's arms and leading him towards the totem pole crowned with a fireball. Duncan was unfamiliar with this step and obviously couldn't "cooperate in advance," but he remained unresisting, standing obediently beneath the raging fireball while being "clamped" by the two black-robed people.

Although there was no sign of physical resistance from Duncan, the two black-robed men holding his arms used enormous force as if fearing that the sacrifice would violently break free at the last moment. Their strength was surprisingly great; Duncan could even feel the temporary body's bones cracking under the pressure, which made him look at the two men in black robes with considerable surprise.

And then, the masked priest walked over.

Duncan's attention was immediately drawn. He saw the priest pull out a strangely shaped dagger from his robes, the blade bizarrely curved like dried and twisted knuckles, its edge black as Obsidian, reflecting the firelight from the totem, making it look exceptionally eerie.

Duncan silently prepared to sever the "soul projection," knowing that the temporary body had likely gathered all the information it could.

The Cult Priest's prayer echoed across the high platform:

"O most holy Sun God! Please accept this offering from atop this altar! I offer you the heart of this sacrifice, may you return from blood and fire!"

Duncan immediately stopped the act of severing soul projection, looking at the Cult Priest before him as if he were beholding a fool.

(Damn!)