Deep Sea Embers

The scale of the sewer system was so large that, in Duncan’s eye, had utterly exceeded the need for the single function of “urban sewage.” Take the ubiquitous gas lamps with runes for example, and the reinforced structure that served as a shelter for these cultists, all of these things made him wonder a lot about the purpose of the underground facility.

But whatever the builders had in mind behind the design, one fact was obvious: in the depths of this vast facility, beyond the gaze of the earthly world, this dark and cold place has become a nursery where evil breeds.

A cult that nominally worships the sun, but their actions only warrant cold chills down the spine.

At a glance, there are at least hundreds of people in black robes gathered around the underground nexus hall, and in the middle high stage was a tall, stoic figure giving a speech to his fellow believers. He didn’t have the same hooded setup as the rest though, but a golden mask that radiated endless flames in a hellish manner. Then behind the masked man was another object of note – a high metallic totem burning with a fireball at the top.

“We caught an escaped sacrifice!” One of the black-robed who had been charged with escorting Duncan stepped forward and reported to the “leader” with a tone of praise. “This sacrifice stayed inside the darkness for too long, so his mind is slightly confused right now. May the greatness of the Lord bestow salvation to this sad fleshly body of his!”

The cult leader wearing the golden mask on stage eyed Duncan with an unreadable face before speaking with a hint of surprise: “The sacrifice escaped?”

Duncan didn’t react at all to being the attention of all, only observing his captors with curiosity and the strange stake totem in the rear.

Perhaps, these symbols are strange and bizarre for the ordinary folk in this world, but he only needed a glance to tell they’re imitating the sun in the sky. To be clear, it’s not the strange “ball of light” currently hanging in the sky but the real sun according to Duncan’s memory from his world.

Towards the necrosis face of Duncan’s shell, the cult priest in question didn’t find it odd that the sacrifice didn’t panic and scream. Those who get lost in the darkness tended to appear to lose their minds like a lost soul that has been sucked out of intelligence.

“Go and check the place where the sacrifices are being held.” The priest eventually turned to a believer closest to him and ordered.

After the command, he went ahead and gave the “escort” a nod and started praising him: “Well done, you have earned great merit for our Lord. May eternal glory shine upon you when the world is illuminated with its light!”

It was just a painless and unobtrusive compliment, but it was enough to encourage the rest of the black robes in the hall to begin chanting glory to their sun god. While they did so, some also pushed Duncan onto the center stage where the masked priest stood.

“Poor soul who has gone astray… can you feel the deep, cold darkness between the crevices of this world?”

Duncan couldn’t understand what the superstitious stick was saying, so he merely kept his silence and watched. Apparently, this worked because the priest didn’t lash out at him and spoke more feverishly:

“Cold and darkness are the sufferings left by the false sun to this world. Under the rule of the false sun, the dark oceans ravaged everything, leaving only fragmented small pieces of land for the living to spawn and struggle. But the world is cruel, hiding the shadows of the old era in the underground darkness, awaiting to strike when the chance arises. At this rate, all of humanity will be contaminated by evil….”

“How do we endure this long-suffering? How do we endure the distorted and absurd world brought about by the false sun?”

“We can’t, that’s how! We only wish for our Lord to return. May the true sun god descend upon our earth again. May he burn away the darkness with blood and fire! May he bring order and prosperity back to our world!”

Instigated by the masked priest’s very encouraging tone, Duncan could clearly feel the atmosphere in the assembly hall change. First in agreement, then the echoing fervent cries: “May the real sun god come to the earth again! He shall rise from blood and fire! He shall cleanse our world’s darkness with his light!”

“May the true sun god descend to the earth again,” said the priest on the stage. Then extending a hand to Duncan, “And today, our Lord will further awaken from his slumber. The blood of the lost soul will soothe his wounds and bring us one step closer to the false sun’s collapse!”

“Bring forward the offerings!”

Several black-robed men rushed over to push Duncan up there; however, the latter had taken the liberty of climbing up to the stage on his own. Although this body was not very good, it’s still possible to bend those legs and arms for a quick climb.

Once up there, he came eye to eye with the masked priest, who was still maintaining the air of mystique. Nevertheless, the odd behavior from the sacrifice still caught the priest by surprise, leaving the whole hall eerily quiet.

Duncan didn’t seem to notice the change in the atmosphere around him at all though. He had just gathered some useful information about this world and was looking forward to seeing more rare scenes before this body was “scrapped”.

“So?” Duncan rubbed his hands with a certain sense of curiosity, “What now?”

Masked Priest: “…”

“You not hear me?” Duncan frowned awkwardly due to the tense muscles on his face, “I said, what’s next?”

At this time, the priest finally came back to his senses. Although separated by a mask, there was obviously a moment of confusion in those eyes. In a low voice: “The shadow in the darkness has indeed affected your mind, but rest assured, the supreme and holy sun will end your suffering… Bring the sacrifice to the totem!”

Two black-robes immediately stepped up from the side and apprehended the sacrifice by the arms, pulling him over to the totem with the burning fireball at the top.

Although Duncan did not show any resistant gestures with his body, but the captors still used a lot of strength to clamp down to the point Duncan could feel the bones on his shoulders were starting to dislocate from the pressure. However, his attention was immediately drawn to the priest again when the guy came over.

The masked priest had drawn a strangely shaped dagger out that looked like a twisted dead branch. It glistened with a black light, similar to the obsidian material used for the goat head’s eyes back on the Vanished.

Duncan knew it should be about time as the chants begun to ring out, which he readied himself to cut off the “soul projected” state he was in.

“Oh sun god of the highest and most holy! Please accept the sacrifice on this altar! I offer you the heart of this sacrifice, and may you return to our world through blood and fire!”

Duncan immediately stopped himself and stared at the priest with eyes of watching a fool.