Chapter 37: Well... That Happened.

The path was nothing special as far as Adryan could see. It was just a simple black ceramic floor - although he didn't rule out that it had something hidden in it - the path was neither too thick nor too narrow, just wide enough for the group of four to move comfortably.

On the sides of the path, there was only a thick, dense fog that covered everything and made it impossible to see anything, the sight of which hinted that if you went in there, you would get lost and end up in a place you didn't want to be.

'This is not the spirit world...' Adryan frowned slightly, swallowing a little saliva at his suddenly dry throat.

The fog that stretched into what seemed like infinity didn't feel like the Spirit World, and the way everything felt was... wrong.

It was an uncomfortable and strange sensation that even now Adryan found difficult to explain in words, but if he put one to it, it would be a misguided reverse.

But the sensation only exalted what loomed at the bottom of this strange world, the Endless Tower, which grew exponentially larger with each step the group took.

The curious group moved along the strange path, following Uron's instructions. They did not try to leave it and kept close to each other.

Common sense and logic didn't work or serve here. In just a few minutes of walking, the Tower that once looked like a common skyscraper in the distance now looked like an impassable guard, a tower that one would expect to have thousands of bloody warriors ready to defend it until their last breath.

But no one was there; it was empty, leaving a sense of failure and absence.

The entrance itself was a huge fort door made of old and badly damaged wood. Beyond it was a dark black corridor that didn't seem to lead anywhere.

'This is the point where a monster usually comes out of there and tries to kill us. Who could it be, a Xenomorph or Jason?' Adryan joked inwardly as he looked at the curious darkness that invited to be visited.

''This is as far as I go with you.'' Uron's sudden voice caught the group's attention.

"Won't you accompany us inside? I thought you were our guide?" Flora questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I was until we got here. On their first times here, it's normal for people to wander off the path and end up in a different place than the one they came in," Uron then looked at Adryan, "I don't need to mention why the Church can't afford that, do I, Mr. Kenway?"

Adryan waved his hand in disinterest. "Yeah, yeah."

The Church doesn't want to lose its investment without seeing the returns.

Seeing that his message had been understood, Uron's lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"Once you cross the hallway, you will enter the main hall and get the compass to find the next entrance and its opening day. Also, each time you enter a door, the people you bring with you will be a 'Group' entering the same floor, so don't worry if you get separated.

"You will undoubtedly meet again on the floor.

"When I leave, the leader of the "Group" will be you, Mr. Kenway. I will be seeing you."

With that said, Uron gave a slight bow with his hand on his chest, straightened up, and turned around. With a step and a subtle purple glow, the Wise Owl disappeared from the doorway.

The red-haired man looked at the place where the man had been, an idea formed in his mind and he slowly extended his arm.

Thud

'Of course.' Laughing a little, he extended his palm to the object he had touched and put a little force into it, but nothing changed.

His arm failed to fully extend before it collided with what appeared to be an invisible wall.

"If there had been no insurance to keep us here, I doubt he would have left us," Flora said, looking sideways at him.

"Yeah, I know." Sighing, Adryan pulled his hand away from the 'wall' and turned to look at the group behind him.

Sharron and Maric stood off to the side, looking at him, while Flora stood a little more to the side, her gaze exasperated and somewhat weary.

Ignoring the eagerness to advance Flora, the red-haired man looked cautiously at the gothic duo.

"How are you guys holding up? Any wishes you have?"

Maric scoffed in offence at his question, his eyes shining a little like spotlights in the unnatural light of the place; "I've been through Werewolf's curse once before, compared to Zombie's, this is nothing."

Sharron nodded in agreement to his words. Her ethereal and somewhat cold aura had greatly reduced, and her eyes had gained some sparkle and did not look as cold as before.

"It's not a problem."

Looking at them, Adryan gave a slight nod. Then, in a serene voice he said, "Once we are inside I will take the compass, there is no need for you to be marked as well."

Dressed in her black dress that looked like a classic Gothic, Sharron pursed her slightly redder lips and gave a slight nod.

"We appreciate it." Maric, again acting as his companion's voice, gave a nod in respect. His tone slightly raspier but calmer.

"If you're done, can we come in?" Flora cut in, her annoyance clear in her tone. "We can't stay here all day!"

Sighing again at his companion, Adryan smiled at the duo as he raised the hood of his jacket, hiding his hair; "Shall we?"

"Lead the way, Mr. Adryan." Maric nodded with a somewhat canine smile while Sharron merely nodded softly.

Laughing a little, Adryan began to walk...

Unable to help himself, he lifted his head slightly and began to march gracefully. Pointing a finger to the front, he exclaimed as Sergeant, "Follow me, my pups! Towards the snack shop!"

Just as they started to follow him, the now Werewolf Maric and Sharron froze for a second in their tracks.

"Damn it, Princess..." Holding back the smile that threatened to break her face, Flora quickly followed the redhead. Her shoulders shaking slightly from the restrained laughter.

...

The walk down the dark corridor was silent, not much of an event. It was just a dense darkness, and despite the blackness, everyone could see each other clearly.

'It's as if this is the background of an art. The centerpiece has all the colors while the background is devoid. Unable to avoid making the comparison, Adryan raised his hand and looked at the separation of the void with his black glove.

For a few moments, they continued to walk in this void until, in the distance, a tiny dot of light appeared.

"I recommend you close your eyes."

Flora's late warning was all they had received before, and in an instant, the light became all they could see.

Blinking to get the lights out of his sight, Adryan could only grunt slightly as he looked at a deadpan Flora. Thanks to his keen senses, he noticed the slightly raised corners of her lips and the contentment in her eyes.

Rolling his eyes, Adryan decided he would punish her later. Out of curiosity, he turned behind them and the corridor they had entered had disappeared, there was only a cold grey rock wall.

'No turning back, eh?' Sighing internally, the red-haired man returned to the front, unable to help but be surprised at what he saw.

A colossal hall where a football stadium could easily fit and still leave room for two other stadiums.

Huge grey pillars surrounded the super hall. They had numerous cracks covering their bodies, but they still stood strong and unbreakable. There was no ceiling, just a void of impenetrable darkness that seemed to be acting as a ceiling. Every now and then, something seemed to move in it.

The red-haired man immediately looked away as soon as he felt his head ache.

"Don't look at the ceiling; focus your gaze below," Flora mentioned next to him.

Parping a little to regain concentration, Adryan looked down at what seemed to be the center of the place, reverberating with activity.

Hundreds of people were moving in groups of at least two; he could barely see a single one. The activity was such that Adryan couldn't help but think he had walked into a quinceañera. Still, compared to these Latino parties, the redhead noticed the lack of cubicles selling alcohol.

So, with a raised eyebrow, he turned to the purple-clad white-haired woman; "With so many beyonders here, one would expect the odd strolling merchant."

"It's a waste of time." Flora said duly, "Once the gates open, you can never come back here again. This point only exists for newcomers."

"The doors open?" Maric frowned slightly, looking around.

In all this huge space that could easily fit several small villages, there was nothing besides pillars and people. There was no grand staircase to the next floor or a huge door.

"You will understand in a few moments. It's been almost 10 minutes since the door opened. There are only 20 seconds to go," Flora replied uninterestedly, looking at her nails.

At her words, Adryan could only whistle in surprise as he continued to look around.

"Time to rest before we're transported to the floor? Not bad."

Passing his gaze over the various groups of people who were also here for the first time, whether they came accompanied or alone, the red-haired man wondered what kind of challenge they would face this time.

Uron had told them that the challenges on each floor were different, and so varied that it would be impossible to describe them all.

Perhaps he would face a Golem? Or maybe it would be to solve some mystery?

If they faced a monster, they would quickly subdue it with his firepower and the help of two Werewolves, not to mention the artifacts he brought with him. And if it were the second where they had to solve a puzzle or mystery, it would be even better!

After all, they do have a Cryptologist with them~

'Though, of course, if it were that simple. The Emperor of the Perverts would never have complained about the difficulty, and Flora wouldn't have been so vehement about me not coming here.'

There had to be something else to these floors that he wasn't catching.

His scarlet eyes flicked past what he was seeing and focused on a spot not far from them. A previously empty place was now occupied by two people, surely just arriving.

One of them was holding the other by the back of the neck like a naughty cat. The naughty cat had dark blond hair, and his almost black-blue eyes glared hatefully at the man holding him, but he ignored him, his red gaze clashing with his scarlet one.

The man with the red eyes was quite handsome but looked quite pale, which was counterbalanced by his long red hair, giving him the appearance of a ghoul. He wore black armor stained with blood.

The black-armored man looked confused, and Adryan was sure that he was not unlike a deer caught in a car's headlights.

Badum Badum Badum Badum!

His heart began to race, pumping blood to every part of his body, adrenaline accompanying it. Pupils shrinking.

Time seemed to stand still for the two of them.

Suddenly, a gigantic flash of light formed above everyone's head, bringing dead silence and snapping the redheads out of their trance, who looked up at it for a moment.

A giant sphere of light had condensed, quickly transforming into a giant number 3.

Seeing what was about to happen, Adryan refused to leave it at that. Turning to look at the armored man from before, a huge grin formed on his face as he pulled down his hood, his fire-red hair descending.

"EY! THREE FLAVOURED SOUP!!!" A mighty shout echoed through the silent place, drawing everyone's attention to the source who was a young red-haired man.

"Hey! Is that not- ?!"

"Adryan Kenway?!!! What's that madman doing here?!?"

"Get him!!!"

Some people heeded the order and charged towards them, the number of lights changed to a 2.

"Damn it, Princess!" Flora cursed as she reflexively backed away.

"Was that necessary?" Sharron asked, glaring at him. There was a hint of annoyance in her eyes.

"You're insane!" Maric growled wolfishly and hunched over.

Grinning from ear to ear with his white teeth showing, Adryan ignored his team and raised his middle finger to the black armor-clad figure, who looked speechless.

"Fuck you!"

The number of light changed 1 as the expression on the figure's face broke into a grimace and two bloody mouths formed on his cheeks, from a distance Adryan could almost tell they were laughing.

The next instant, a vast flash blinded everyone, and the gigantic hall returned to silence.

...

Groaning slightly, Adryan brought a gloved hand to his head as he rose from the damp floor where he was lying.

"You bear the mark; you are cursed! You must place your hand upon the stone!" a mysterious, ethereal voice came from everywhere.

Adryan froze as he heard the mysterious but oh-so-familiar voice. Incredulously, the red-haired man opened his eyes as a soft melody began to play in his ears. Behind him, several grunts were heard, along with the sound of people waking up.

"I never get used to that," Flora growled grumpily as she got up from the ground and approached the redhead.

"Where are we?" Maric asked as Sharron stood up behind him and looked around calmly, rocking her head slightly to the entrancing music.

"I've never heard a tune like that before..." The Wraith-now-Werewolf murmured slightly.

She looked around and noticed they were now in an alleyway in some city. Several broken windows were barely covered by wooden planks, and a strange blue machine was in a short corridor. At the far end of the alley, she could see a metal gate leading to a large open space.

Reaching the man, Flora was about to say something when she saw her companion's face, which froze her.

Adryan's eyes were wide open, his mouth hung open slightly, and his gaze was full of disbelief.

Stunned, Flora looked around in alarm, searching for something that could put someone like her partner in that state, but found nothing. A crazy idea formed in her mind, and she quickly turned her attention back to the man.

"Princess, do you know where we are?"

Adryan nodded, regaining control as he looked at her, his expression quivering slightly. "Unfortunately, yes."

Just as Sharron and Maric approached to see what was going on, loud, animalistic growls sounded. Yellow eyes appeared from the darkness of the broken windows.

The trio stood on guard as Adryan watched what was happening with a complicated expression.

He recognized this alley. Or, as he used to call it, the initial room.

'Is this fucking Shadows of Evils?!'

-----

Sorry for the delay. Phew, I have to stop doing that.

As promised, here's Adryan's new art and cover! [Check comment]

As the last time, the artist is @bleeding_sun . Check her account!

If you like, I also posted the image in better quality; use this link below or visit my Twitter account.

https://x.com/TheWitnessFoD/status/1837104645774209338?t=fRwEksi7gHng4ZDgmBEM_g&s=19

@TheWitnessFoD