Death… And Me

Chapter 3571: Collapsing the Tunnel

Further into the cave, things began to change.

The cold, uneven rocky surfaces underfoot gradually gave way to something unexpected: smooth floors and walls carved with meticulous precision. The passage now looked like a corridor one might find inside an ancient palace or temple. Ornate patterns etched into the stone shimmered faintly, and while everything had an unmistakable air of age, it was surprisingly well preserved.

The group noticed they had emerged completely from the lake’s waters, their bodies still damp but now free from its corrupting influence. The strange pressure and ever-present feeling of dread from the water had lifted, giving them a small moment of relief. Sure, Rean’s skill could easily counter it, but what if things suddenly changed back to how it was? That’s why they were happy to be out of the lake now. A single thought followed, and all the water on their bodies disappeared after circulating their Divine Energy. Their steps echoed slightly with each step along the corridor’s polished floor, a stark contrast to the silence that had followed them beneath the surface.

”Well,” Rean murmured, glancing at the walls, ”This is... unexpected.”

Roan said nothing. His eyes were focused ahead, calculating, watching.

Eventually, they reached the end of that strange corridor and stopped in front of a large door. Unlike the rest of the place, the door was grand—towering, ornate, and humming with faint energy. It looked ancient, yet something about it seemed... alive.

Roan stepped forward, feeling a tug in his chest. As he approached, glowing patterns began to light up on the surface of the door. Intricate geometric designs spiraled outward from its center, pulsing softly with green light.

At the same time, the light on Roan’s chest ignited in response. A similar green glow radiated from it in his body, resonating with the patterns before him.

*Clack, clack, clack, clack...*

The group heard the sound of ancient mechanisms grinding to life behind the door, gears turning, latches shifting, magic humming faintly.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open, revealing another chamber shrouded in faint mist.

Roan didn’t hesitate. He looked back at everyone and gave a firm nod. ”Let’s go.”

As they stepped through the doorway, something else became clear. Choosing the waterfall that matched the color of their Universe wasn’t just a good decision, it was the correct one. Whatever enchantment was tied to the door had recognized Roan’s affiliation and granted them entry. A wrong choice might have led to a different outcome entirely.

But Roan wasn’t finished. As soon as everyone crossed the threshold, he turned around, summoning his energy and striking the passage without hesitation.

*Boom!*

The explosion shook the ground beneath them. Stone cracked, ancient supports gave way, and the corridor behind them collapsed in a thunderous cascade of rubble. The door was obliterated, the passage buried.

Kentucky flinched. ”Is this really okay?” he asked. ”What if we need to go back?”

Roan didn’t even blink. He looked at Kentucky and replied with a blank expression, ”Going back means meeting with your new friends again. You know, the ones you met after rolling your butt in their faces.”

Kentucky’s feathers ruffled in embarrassment. He turned quickly, facing the path ahead and pretending nothing had happened. ”There is no reward without risk!” he declared, puffing out his chest. ”Let’s go, everyone! I’m thrilled to experience the trials ahead!”

That broke the tension. Laughter echoed through the stone corridor as they moved forward once more.

Meanwhile, outside the waterfalls, chaos still reigned.

Experts from various Universes continued to struggle across the vast, corrupted lake. The purifying power Rean and Roan had used earlier was far beyond what most present could muster. Even high-level Divinity Realm cultivators found themselves constantly resisting the lake’s influence, expending Divine Energy at an alarming rate just to remain clean of the corrupting power, let alone move forward.

To make matters worse, the waterfalls continued pouring fresh water and colored water into the lake, mixing more and more of them. The oppressive gravity, combined with the lake’s insidious corruption, made progress slow and dangerous.

Even those who reached the base of the waterfalls found little respite. Some clung to the rocky outcroppings, panting heavily, while others scouted the area for any sign of an entrance or a clue.

Only aquatic demon beasts or beings adapted to high-pressure environments could move freely, their bodies naturally fit for that environment. Others weren’t so lucky.

Space-Time Realm experts suffered the most. Weaker cultivators had begun to die off again, slipping beneath the water’s surface as their energy gave out.

There was a small mercy, though. Unlike earlier, the lake didn’t immediately absorb their energy in a violent burst. It still drew in some of it, but now at a much slower pace. For the time being, the chain-reaction explosions above the lake had ceased, even with their deaths.

Still, the calm was temporary. Once the waters became dark enough again, it was likely that chaos would return.

At the Green Waterfall, a group of Camazotz Bats stood on the rocks by the lakeside, watching the mist with narrowed eyes.

Elde Zick, one of their most prominent leaders, frowned. His instincts told him something wasn’t right.

”Those idiots earlier didn’t climb, did they?” he asked sharply.

A bat named Clian shook his head. ”No. Everyone with enhanced vision was watching them. Their group jumped into the water and didn’t come out again. Maybe they drowned.”

Zick grunted. ”Unlikely. They had some kind of purification ability strong enough to counter the lake. There’s no way they’d die here, not after coming this far.”

He looked over his shoulder. ”Did anyone check behind the waterfall?”

Clian nodded and motioned to a returning group of scouts. Elder Rafa, one of Rifindio’s ’friends,’ was among them.

”We searched behind the waterfall,” one of the scouts reported. ”Nothing but bare rock. No signs of hidden entrances.”

Zick’s eyes narrowed further. ”Then they didn’t go up... they went down. Send someone to check underwater.”

One of the younger bats immediately complied, diving into the lake’s depths. The others watched in tense silence until he resurfaced minutes later.

”Senior, there’s a tunnel,” he said. ”At the very bottom, directly under the waterfall. It’s deep, but definitely there. I couldn’t follow it to the end.”

Zick smiled. ”That’s it. That’s where they went.” He turned to the group. ”We have two options. Climb the precipice, or follow the tunnel.”

He paused to scan the other Divinity Realm experts present.

”I’m going into the tunnel,” he said. ”I’ll take my subordinates. The rest of you, make your own decisions. Either way, we’re all chasing the same thing.”

With that, he signaled to five of his Space-Time Realm personal followers. Together, they dived into the depths, disappearing into the darkness below.

Clian frowned. ”Whatever. I’ll climb,” he muttered. Three others followed him as they began scaling the cliff face. Despite the increased gravity, they were strong enough to manage it with effort.

The remaining groups from other Universes hesitated. Some feared what lay in the tunnel and opted to climb. Others believed the tunnel was the true path, and took the risk.

Each waterfall led to a similar dilemma. And each group reached the same conclusion: choose the correct path, or be left behind.

Back with the twins’ group, the corridor they had entered began to show signs of age.

Weapons—no, remnants of traps—littered the floor. Rusted blades, shattered mechanisms, long-spent runes. At first glance, they looked like discarded weapons, but on closer inspection, they were clearly remnants of defensive measures, now long inactive.

”Looks like we’re not the first ones through here,” Rean said, kneeling by one of the objects.

He reached out and touched a bent metal rod that may once have been a pressure spear. As soon as his fingers made contact, it disintegrated, turning to dust.

”Well,” he muttered, brushing his hands off, ”Let’s hope all the traps are in the same condition.”

Roan wasn’t so sure. He scanned the walls, his gaze sharp. ”Don’t let your guard down. Some may still be active.”

They pressed onward, their footsteps quiet now, alert to every sound, every flicker of light, every subtle vibration beneath their feet. Better safe than sorry.

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Author’s note: Check the thoughts below.