Chapter 271 – Floor 60: Part 1

  Floor 60: Almost There

  With the death of Eryn, the way to the primogenitors has now been opened. There is no longer a need to summon a demigod to the physical realm. By consuming her power, you have become an Aether-Blood Primogenitor and can freely ascend to their realm.

  Enter the Portal and eliminate Serana, the Sanguine Sculptor and Kael, the Hallow Fang.

  Energy crackled around the edges of the portal, dancing around the opening like threads of lightning. Its surface shimmered as it shifted between hues of red, blue and gold. The atmosphere in the ruined temple grew heavy as the portal began to drink the light around it.

  Adelaide found the sudden revival of the portal’s power was both mesmerizing and unnerving. It cast flickering shadows across the temple’s walls, and Adelaide took an involuntary step backwards as she shielded her eyes from the growing brightness.

  “It’s alright, Adelaide. You should head back to the surface.” Mathew said as his eyes were focused on the portal as if he could see through the opaque surface to the other side.

  “I’ll…no, I’m staying with you.” Adelaide said, her voice faltering before she controlled her fear. Mathew turned his head to look at her and smiled.

  “Still acting as my Elder?” Mathew joked, shaking his head wryly.

  Before she could respond, he disappeared from her eyes, his movements so quick that it seemed as if he had teleported. One moment, he was next to her, and the next, he was in front of the Portal, his foot already inside.

  Adelaide tried to follow behind him, but Mathew was gone. The portal gave a final burst of light before vanishing. The Temple wall returned to normal, and Adelaide was left alone.

  Page Break

  To Mathew, the demigod realm of Eryn felt like stepping into a living dream that was so perfect it almost seemed unreal. The palace at the center of this small realm towered over everything; its white marble walls gleamed in the sunlight with an otherworldly radiance. Golden veins ran through the stone and caught the light, giving the impression that the entire building was a priceless treasure.

  Every detail of the palace, from its columns that were covered with patterns carved with divine precision, arches that defied gravity or the sheer size of the building, spoke of craftsmanship far beyond the mortal ability to build.

  The air itself seemed different here as if it were imbued with a subtle, thrumming energy that seemed to seep into Mathew’s soul.

  The lush lawns and sprawling gardens that surrounded the palace were no less remarkable. Vibrant coloured flowers, fragrant and stunning, bloomed in perfect patterns. There were thousands of different varieties that stretched as far as the eye could see.

  Streams of crystal-clear water wove their way through the gardens, adding a gentle, soothing melody that added to the serene aura of the landscape. Even the grass beneath Mathew’s feet felt as soft as silk.

  He could feel a connection between himself and this place, no doubt formed from his absorption of the Primogenitor’s Aether. Mathew knew that if he desired it, he could change anything in this small realm.

  As he looked around, Mathew noticed the barrier that separated this realm from another. He approached it slowly, and as he did so, some of the environment beyond was revealed.

  Mathew stood at the edge of the shimmering barrier as its light flickered with an intensity that made his skin prick slightly as if it were creating static electricity. The translucent surface rippled like liquid metal with veins of white that seemed to create a hum in the air around it.

  He couldn’t see clearly through the barrier and could only get hints of what lay beyond it. He saw towering shadows that loomed, gnarled and twisted against a sky heavy with ash-coloured clouds. It was a forest with monstrous trees far larger than any he had ever seen before.

  Their leaves were a dark green that was nearly black, and their bark was scarred and thick as though they had endured hardship for countless years. Vinces snaked along the ground and hung from the branches, moving only slightly in the wind.

  Mathew slowly reached up and paused with his hand hovering inches from the surface of the barrier. The light seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat as if daring him to make contact.

  Taking a deep breath, he pressed his fingers against the barrier and to his surprise, the surface gave way. The energy rippled outward in concentric waves. The warm, almost viscous texture of the barrier clung to his skin as though it were reluctant to let him pass.

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  It appeared as if it were trying to prevent his entry, but it was unable to stop him.

  Gritting his teeth, Mathew stepped forward, and the barrier swallowed him in an instant. There was a flash of intense heat that seared his skin, followed immediately by a piercing, bitter cold that stole the air from his lungs.

  His body tensed, and his every nerve was set alight by the intense clash of sensation. It felt as though he was being torn apart and reassembled, only for the process to repeat once again. The light around him flared with blinding brightness before vanishing just as suddenly, and he stumbled into the darkness of the forest beyond the barrier.

  The air was damp and heavy, with a hint of rot. The faint glow of the barrier was the only thing keeping the shadows of the forest at bay. The entire place had a weight to it that pressed against his chest.

  Faint screeches cut through the air, high-pitched like the cries of wounded creatures. Somewhere, deep in the shadows, a heavy, dragging noise sent shivers down Mathew’s spine. It sounded like something massive was slithering over the tangled roots and moss of the forest.

  “Eryn descended to the mortal plane, and another comes to take her place. There can be only one conclusion. My eldest sister is dead.”

  The forest seemed to hold its breath; the onslaught of unsettling sounds fell into an unnatural silence so profound that Mathew’s ears rang with the absence of noise. The voice that emerged from the silence was raspy, like the scraping of stone on bone and was layered with a depth that made it impossible to place its source.

  The voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once as it weaved its way through the twisted branches and coiled around Mathew like a living thing.

  The tone was neither hostile nor welcoming, but it carried a weight of depression and sadness that were unable to be hidden. The words were followed by a sigh that rustled the leaves, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

  Kael, the Hollow Fang, was a terrifying fusion of man and monster. He was a grotesque amalgamation of mismatched forms that defied nature. His towering frame was hunched over, and his body was defined by sinewy muscles and patches of coarse fur that seemed to grow at random.

  His arms were unnaturally long and ended in clawed hands that looked more suited for slicing through flesh than for grasping items. One leg was bent like that of a predator, the joints backward and clawed at the foot. His other leg was thick and heavy, like an elephant's, and it stamped the ground with a low thud as he walked.

  But it was his face that was the most haunting thing of all. It was a hideous blend of features that were both animalistic and human. His jaw jutted forward and was lined with jagged teeth that shone white in the dim light. Remnants of a human nose sat flattened between flared nostrils that were little more than slits.

  Horns curled unevenly from his head; one was broken and splintered while the other spiralled back on itself like a ram.

  Yet, for all his monstrousness, it was Kael’s eyes that froze Mathew in place. They were large, deeply set, shone in the darkness like a cat and were impossibly sad. They were the eyes of a predator that had long since lost the will to live. They were filled with suffering and pain.

  “Has He sent you here to kill us?” Kael asked, his raspy voice hopeful. Mathew responded with a nod of his head, and Kael sagged slightly in relief.

  “At last, this cursed life can come to an end. Come, I wish to show you something before I die.” Kael said.

  The demigod Progenitor of the Abyssal Outsider Lineage walked slowly through the forest, and Mathew followed cautiously. When it was clear that Kael had no intention of attacking him, Mathew relaxed.

  In a few moments time, the pair left the forest behind and came to a large clearing at the edge of a cliff. It was a contrast to the oppressive forest as the towering trees fell away abruptly and gave way to an open space bathed in pale moonlight.

  The moon dominated the night sky, impossibly large and bright. Its craters and scars were etched on its surface in sharp detail. Kael came to a stop at the edge of the cliff and looked up at the moon silently.

  The night air was colder here, and it stung Mathew’s skin slightly. It carried the faint, spicy scent of Aether along with a freshness that was absent from the civilized world.

  Kael loomed beside him, his form bathed in the moonlight that accentuated every one of his twisted features. Despite his monstrous appearance, he seemed serene here. His sad eyes were fixed on the moon, and it was a long time before he spoke again.

  “Do you know my story?” Kael asked softly, his voice barely audible.

  Yes.” Mathew replied, his tone careful.

  “You and your sisters were forced to fight your father after Mischievous Depravity corrupted him with its blood.”

  Kael’s monstrous form seemed to slump further, and his clawed hands curled slightly at his sides.

  “My father was a great man.” He said, his voice filled with quiet reverence. He raised his long, scarred arm and pointed at the massive moon that hung overhead.

  “He was strong and wise. He once told me that the souls of the dead reside on the moon. That they guide us. Protect us.”

  Kael’s gaze remained fixed on the glowing orb, and his eyes were filled with sorrow.

  “I stare at this moon, night after night, hoping to see him there. Hoping for some sign. But I never have. Perhaps he was wrong, and the souls of the dead go somewhere else. Or perhaps…” His voice faltered and was heavy with pain.

  “Perhaps the cursed blood consumed his soul, as it did his mind. As it will do with mine.”

  Mathew shifted uneasily. He was unable to find words to comfort the demigod before him.

  I…I don’t know.” Mathew admitted. Kael’s head tilted slightly, and his gaze finally left the moon to fix on Mathew.

  “You serve Mischievous Depravity?” He asked suddenly.

  “No.” Mathew replied firmly, and his tone carried a hint of frustration.

  “I just don’t have a choice right now.”

  Kael’s expression darkened with understanding, and he nodded slowly.

  “At the moment.” Kael repeated.

  “But perhaps, in the future, you will. When that time comes, I hope you remember me. I hope you remember what has been done to us, what has been taken from all of us.”

  Mathew met Kael’s gaze, and the weight of his promise pressed on his chest.

  “I will.” Mathew replied in a steady voice.

  Kael’s scarred features softened, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed less like a monster and more like a man burdened by endless grief. Letting out a long, resigned sigh, he turned back toward the edge of the cliff.

  Without hesitation, Kael stepped forward, and his grotesque form disappeared into the abyss below.