Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1180: Hidden Statue

Vildred proclaimed about his plans once he was freed from the Contract of Familiarity with Kahn. His decision, in a way, also affected the possible involvement of the Dragon Empire if the situation turned dire.

But that was left for another story arc.

”Alright then. Let’s keep traveling this same way.

My speed may be 3 times slower than lord Argos’ ship artifact, but it is at least efficient and won’t expose us like the last time, unless there’s a Godbeast that is.” said Kahn.

”Priestess, tell me which direction we should go from here.” he said.

Morrigan then took out the map of the old Abyss Empire and referenced their current location with the map.

”This place used to be called the Lorgamir mountain range. It was mainly a farming hub, and it was a very prosperous area since many villages in this region had farming as the main occupation.

It also supplied the northern region of the empire with many food variety used in staple diets.

So it is easy to know the location on the map.” said Morrigan and then pointed over the Kahn’s left.

”This is the path we must follow for the next 50 thousand kilometers. After that, we will reach the Vice-Capital of the Abyss Empire, well, whatever remains of it.” she iterated.

Morrigan, in particular, had only superficial knowledge since she wasn’t born in this one but the Abyss Empire that was hidden in the crystal realm that Argos protected.

He built the Belmont Kingdom over there 50 years ago and soon became the Great Guardian to the people of the secret Abyss Empire.

All Morrigan had were records passed down by the older generation that she studied extensively, knowing that one day, she would be guiding the new Hero of Darkness once Argos found him.

Yet, her directions so far were turning out to be useful.

”Alright, leave it to me. If anything dangerous happens, I’ll put you out guys for support unless I can get rid of the problem myself.” said Kahn.

Everyone else nodded, and Rathnaar pulled them back into the Chamber of Exaltation within the Tablet of Arcana.

His journey from here would be slow but safer.

******************

3 days later...

Kahn finally reached the vice capital of the old Abyss Empire.

All he saw were ruins for over a hundred kilometers, while the province that surrounded the vice capital was now a den of a few legendary rank monsters.

If Kahn wanted to, he could kill them to get some bloodlines and abilities on the way. But since their priority was to get the job done and return without causing any issues that would garner the attention of the Godbeasts... he controlled the itch in his hands.

Besides, the majority of his powerful abilities came from descendants of Godbeasts themselves, so he currently did not need subpar ones he could get from others.

”I wonder why we’re stopping here first instead of the capital?” said Kahn as he cast an isolation barrier, masking it under a concealment barrier.

Swoosh!

The group came out of the Tablet of Arcana and noticed the surroundings within 10 10-kilometer radius.

”It really is here.” said Morrigan and quickly descended in the middle of the downtrodden city.

”Vuirgotmaayraa! Neegrimaa! Tokilensva! Pytaarkis!” chanted Morrigan.

Soon, her aura of darkness pervaded the whole city, showcasing her power as a 7th-stage saint.

And right before everyone’s eyes...

Shing!

Shing!

The entire city suddenly started glimmering with purple runes ingrained in the pathways.

Whatever construct that remained till this day had multiple glyphs that glowed in response to Morrigan’s chant as if she had beckoned an ancient slumbering power.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The ground shook as the centre of the city began to cascade down the landscape; the dilapidated buildings and houses crumbled from the tremors, and a massive underground pathway opened, as deep as the Bermuda Triangle.

”What is this?” asked Kahn.

”The place where it all began. 10,000 years ago...” spoke Morrigan, the High Priestess, with utmost vehemency in her voice.

”This city was the birthplace of the Cult of Darkborne.”

******************

Kahn, Vildred, and Argos also descended from the sky and hovered over the ground, a few meters above the massive hole.

”What are we looking at?” asked Kahn.

”This path leads to a hidden statue that acts as a necessary beacon to start the initiation ritual.

As the High Priestess, I have to perform the ritual first so the main altar in the capital will receive the signal that the Hero of Darkness is coming for the Awakening.

The statue itself is an artifact that will directly lead us to the capital itself, like a compass.” explained Morrigan.

”I see. Is there anything else we should be careful about?” asked Argos.

”Yes, the path allows only beings with the Darkness element to pass. So lord Vildred and Rathnaar won’t be able to enter.” explained the succubus priestess.

Kahn then quickly used the Earth Sense skill to figure out how deep the path went.

”50 kilometers underground. There is a whole city in there.” he said.

”Our bond has a coverage range of 100 kilometers. I’ll just wait here.” said Vildred.

Kahn nodded and left Rathnaar in the tablet while Vildred guarded the city.

Soon, Kahn, Argos, and Morrigan flew inside the massive pithole, crossing the distance of 50 kilometers in a couple of minutes.

Although the pathway was more like a city created using caves, similar to how the Dwarves of ancient times usually made their cities... the aura of death was almost nauseating.

”This place... was also a burial ground?” asked Kahn.

”Yes. Only the honored devotees of the Cult of Darkborne were granted a burial site in this headquarters.

When the Abyss Empire was founded by Kravel, the War Deity, this place was actually the main capital.

It was only 3000 years ago that the capital shifted to a new location and this place was eventually abandoned.

Yet the thousands of corpses here have become one with the land over almost 10 thousand years.

You can’t see them... but I sense a lot of lingering souls. They act as the guardians of this place. That’s why those without the darkness element can’t enter here.

Anyone who tries, will have their soul tainted, which would trigger a curse that eventually kills them.

And the curse doesn’t discriminate between devotees or non-believers. If you don’t have the innate darkness element or evoke it through other measures, you will die.” explained Morrigan in detail.

Soon, they reached a dimly lit settlement, filled with towers and castles. The dark blue ores embedded in the city construction were still active even after thousands of years, showcasing their ancient but effective architectural foresight.

Even Argos was impressed by how advanced the integration of facilities and layout of the headquarters was.

”Some would say this is too extreme. But as the starting place of the Cult’s origin... it fits the theme.” said Argos, impressed by the planning.

”There! That’s it!” said Morrigan as she jolted in ecstatic happiness.

At the end of the biggest temple in this vicinity was a grand 100-meter-tall statue.

A solemn, pale-faced figure in a black hanbok and a horsehair gat (hat), often depicted as a bureaucratic official. The statue had actual clothes wrapped around it while depicting the face of a man with white skin and black lips.

”This is the statue of Jeoseung Saja. The Envoy of Death.” said Morrigan in a worshipping tone.

[Wait a minute... where have I heard that name before?] wondered Kahn as he tried to recall very old memories from his first life.

”Envoy of Death... wearing hanbok and a black hat.

Shit! That’s the Korean mythology’s Grim Reaper!” blurted out Kahn in disbelief.

”You know of the Great Envoy of Death, cult leader?” asked Morrigan with surprise.

”Yes, on my planet. There is a country where Jeoseung Saja is the envoy of death.

He leads the souls to the underworld, where they will be judged.” explained Kahn.

[Looks like another figure from here made into Earth’s mythology.] thought Kahn to himself and moved forward.

”An envoy of death... leading to the God of Death. Classic!” said Kahn as he noticed the purpose of the statue.

They now stood in front of the massive 100-meter-tall statue, and soon, Morrigan started chanting scripture that only the High Priestess of the Cult of Darkborne was taught.

Soon, she summoned thousands of her ghosts, and they all started entering the statue, their souls being absorbed.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The statue shuddered, and the shockwaves sent tremors in the surroundings, shaking the headquarters as if an earthquake were coming.

”Cult leader, please offer your blood.” said Morrigan.

Kahn nodded and used turned his left forefinger into a dragon nail, slashing his right palm.

Soon, a lot of blood was pulled out of his body, which later turned into a big orb.

Morrigan used her world energy and flew the orb towards the statue of Jeoseung Saja, its feet in particular.

Next, the orb was divided into two equal parts, and the moment they touched both feet of the statue!

BOOM!!

A burst of pure darkness erupted, and the following moment...

Crack!

Crack!

The massive statue opened its eyes, directly locking them on Kahn.

The stone statue suddenly spoke in an eerie tone.

”You’re finally here... Hero of Darkness.”