Unleashing the Unknown: The Lamp of a Thousand Dreams. (87)

Supporting Gena, I gestured toward one of the dozens of establishments, pointing in the direction of the Seven-colored Alkhon.

"We'll stop there," I said.

Madeleine obediently followed, her gaze still fixed on the ground.

Thank the Void, we had arrived in the southern part of the Third Level. The Alkhons building stood before us, resembling an ancient Chinese pavilion. Its iron edges, like the horns of a mythical beast, were pierced by the soft glow of paper lanterns. This place was known for hosting negotiations, serving delicious meals, and offering the services of a wellness complex, which was precisely what we needed now.

Not far from the entrance, Gena coughed up black blood, a visible sign of the filth devouring him from within.

"Tell the manager to prepare hot water with a healing elixir," I instructed.

I pressed gently on the acupuncture points of the fiery fur, then turned my attention to the silent creature.

"Good."

With Gena's hand in mine shoulder, I led us through the open gate, aware of the hundreds of eyes upon us. Climbing the stone stairs, I reached the sixth floor, where I felt a familiar surge of energy. The hall, designed for gourmets, tantalized the senses with dishes crafted from a wide array of exotic ingredients. Adjacent to the dining area were rooms for patrons to rest and sleep off their inebriation.

The clinking of steel cups filled with alcohol ceased as we entered, and hushed whispers rippled through the corridor.

"Aren't they from The Infernal Legion?"

"The Infernal Legion? Do you really think that Alliance will last much longer? Heh."

"Indeed, I've heard that two tigers cannot share the same mountain. It's time for the Bloodthirsty to take control of the entire Arena."

"And what about the Winged Ones?"

While the spacious hall buzzed with a diverse array of guests, it was at one table that caustic comments were incessantly exchanged.

Gena struggled to growl in response but was interrupted by another bout of coughing, a fresh clot of blood erupting.

Summoning the Poison Arrows, I swiftly pinned the steel bowl in the speaker's hands to the wall.

"Have you forgotten that you are still within the territory of The Infernal Legion?" I inquired, the venom in my tone unmistakable.

Nervously, the creatures glanced downward, tails tucked in submission.

The inn's staff then arrived, using their slender tentacles to lift Gena and carry him to the bathhouse for treatment. Turning to the remaining guests, I seated myself on the edge of their table and wrapped my fingers around a jug of wine, a rich aroma filling the air. With a hiss, I added, "Isn't it time for us to discuss the virtues of the Infernal Legion?"

I wouldn't have been bothered with these imbeciles if it weren't for the ominous aura emanating from Margot Dmitrievna concealed beneath the floor.

"Hmm, don't be too hasty with your boasts. Before long, you might find yourselves reduced to nothing!" The four-armed giant slammed his hand onto the table with such force that the sturdy metal surface bent several centimeters under the impact.

"Ha," I smirked, unfazed, "Do you think it's only our Alliance that's suffering losses? Open your eyes and take a good look at how many of your enemies are left and how many allies."

The light dwarf chuckled nastily. "General of the Hell Battalion, I don't see your subordinates anywhere. Seems like you don't have the authority to hint at numbers."

I smiled and snapped my fingers, giving an order to my subordinates. Dozens of fully armored creatures materialized behind me.

The group around the table tensed, a small drop of wine sliding down the jug's handle as I leaned forward and asked, "Do you know why our Alliance is called The Infernal Legion?"

Fights in residential areas were strictly prohibited, but only with a fatal outcome. For a minor prank, you could face fines or a day at the Redemption Plaza.

As I stepped onto the giant's shoulder, the steel floor split open into a square. I pressed him into the upholstered chair, and dark threads sliced through the steel, forming a neat shape around the four-armed giant.

"We are free to wish and do what others dare not," I declared.

With a crash, the chair and the steel beneath it collapsed to the lower floor, plunging into an eerie silence and darkness. Only the dim light pouring from the broken part of the ceiling gave me an approximate sense of the silent creatures below.

I smoothed my hair back, and to my surprise, I found myself in the midst of a meeting of the Winged Alliance.

Their white robes swayed, and several of them were forming intricate magical circles of Destructive Resonance.

Raising my hands, I signaled to my subordinates to stand down and put away their weapons. "Hold your ground, don't make any hasty moves. And someone, take care of this unconscious fellow," I added, giving the unconscious giant a nudge with my foot. I intended to ascend through the gaping hole when I spotted a familiar face seated right in front of me.

"Is that you? I never got the chance to properly thank you," I began.

Raising her right hand, Margot interrupted me, her voice steady. "As I said, such actions are not worth mentioning."

"Still, at least let me treat you," I insisted, pulling out an energy-rich drink from my ring and placing it on the Leader's table.

Accidentally brushing against the sleeves of her robe, I summoned a black lizard that had been nestled on her shoulder and released another one. Under Margot's keen gaze, I swallowed hard and took a step back.

"Well, take care of yourself," I said before turning away, observing the hall filled with powerful beings. I could have dealt with them all, but it wouldn't have been easy.

As I began to open my bone wings in preparation for takeoff, a woman's voice broke the silence.

"Wait."

I turned back to Margot and offered a sincere smile. "Is there something else?"

"I don't like to be in debt." She tossed me a limited-edition protective talisman, adding, "The drink is worth more than that lesson."

"You shouldn't have," I responded gratefully.

Once I was back on the top floor, I patted my chest mentally. I had tethered the Spectral Familiars to the time when they battled the Moss. The raid hadn't yielded any good news, and contact with the first creature had been lost later that day. Margot remained, with her keen observation skills acting as a solid line that I couldn't overtly cross. However, by a fortunate coincidence, we were on the same level.

After absorbing the information I'd gathered, I entered the bathhouse to find Gena submerged in a large pool. The healing water seemed to react with hostility to the filth infesting his body.

I made an incision above the artery on his neck, allowing the black blood to mix with the clear liquid.

"What happened?" I inquired.

Madeleine, sitting nearby with her arms wrapped around her knees, explained, "They wanted to get rid of us. The Bloodthirsty were also targeted. Other smaller Alliances, like the Black Moth, the Abyssal Dominion, the Free Beasts, and many more, were destroyed. During the battle at the Survival Crossroads..." She hesitated, her voice trembling. "Some fighters just went mad, attacking their own allies. There was no sanity left in their eyes."

"Hypnosis?" I mused, shaking the water off my sword. "Gena needs to rest. Stay close. I hope you understand that disposing of us now isn't the wisest choice."

She nodded in understanding, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of the turbulent times ahead.

With a determined grunt, I exited the bathhouse and made my way to the rooftop of the Alkhons, where the lone training chamber was situated. Every one of my movements was meticulously recorded by the token and relayed to the Waiting Area.

So, I didn't react with undue surprise when I spotted skeletons stationed on either side of the magical rune circle that had been drawn there.

After surrendering the institution's token mascot, I bore witness to the monotonous procedure carried out by the guards. With precision, they placed a leaf inside an ancient tome and wordlessly chanted an incantation, allowing me to enter the gaping maw of the portal, which led to the training chamber.

This chamber was unique for its gravitational field, capable of augmenting the potency of auxiliary skills. It was more popular among the beasts than the critters.

Positioned at the initial border, where an invisible load of half a ton pressed down on my shoulders, I reinforced and protected all the walls of the 100-meter chamber with talismans. If anyone attempted to probe the chamber from outside, they'd immediately be exposed in the active window.

I reached into my inventory and retrieved an ancient scroll I had acquired in my latest battle at the Redemption Plaza.

"Aperta."

A rusty rectangular lamp emanating a dark green glow materialized before me. Oddly, the flame it emitted possessed a soul-chilling coldness and remained unaffected by the room's natural air currents.

[Are you sure you want to utilize the knowledge of the Mother Source? The cost includes the primary attributes of artifacts, plants, and skills, as well as their approximate power levels. This is a one-time service for only 5000 points.]

[Yes.]

My wallet's balance had long surpassed the six-digit mark.

Having given due attention to the field, I advanced quite comfortably until I reached the third boundary. With gritted teeth, I continued to carry the load of a ton and a half on my shoulders for a few more steps before finally bending over, overwhelmed.

The blue progress bar filled in a complete circle:

[Artifact: The Lamp of a Thousand Dreams.

Classification: Rare.

Strength: Purple.

Protection: Purple.

Damage: Purple.

Features: Soul consumption, followed by the enrichment of the host with dark energy.

Special skill: Transcending the void and resurrecting fresh corpses within the initial 6 hours.

Special Skill 2: Unlocks new abilities as the artifact's owner progresses.

Special Skill 3: Will activate after accumulating the requisite amount of energy...]

[Revoke the Lamp; it consumes your soul's power.]

After sealing the artifact with an ancient scroll, I collapsed to my knees. The gravitational force had nearly broken my shoulders.

Leaning on my palms, I closely inspected the inscriptions adjacent to the blue progress bar.

Insufficient energy.

Soul consumption.

Corpse resurrection.

What in the Abyss had I unearthed from the depths of hell?