Chapter 345: A Tour Before Death

Location: Demonic Kingdom — The Abyssal Sanctum

Yuuta remained motionless, his crimson eyes fixed upon the enormous statue towering above the ceremonial grounds. Even after hearing Valthor's explanation, he couldn't bring himself to look away. The pale, star-shaped eyes beneath its hood were far too familiar, and the realization that the woman who had brought him back to life was somehow connected to this place continued to haunt his thoughts.

Why...? Why would she save me if this was going to happen?

Before he could search for an answer, a loud commotion erupted behind him.

"Move! Keep moving!"

Yuuta turned toward the noise.

The much larger group of human prisoners that had arrived ahead of him was finally being taken down toward the sacrificial grounds. Chains rattled as demons forced them forward, dragging those who resisted and striking anyone who became too weak to continue walking.

"Please! I don't want to die!"

"Where are you taking us?!"

"Someone help us!"

Their voices echoed throughout the Abyssal Sanctum, carrying across the bridges and towering black structures surrounding the ritual grounds. Some cried for their families while others simply begged for their lives, yet none of the demons showed even the slightest sympathy. A few watched without interest, while others laughed as though the terror of the prisoners was part of the celebration.

Yuuta's stomach twisted.

This really is hell.

For a moment, he could only watch as another prisoner was struck across the back and forced to continue walking. His fingers tightened instinctively, but he quickly stopped himself from reacting. He wanted to intervene, but with so many demons surrounding them, there was little he could do.

Calm down.

He drew a slow breath, forcing his expression to remain indifferent. Getting angry wouldn't help him, and neither would panicking. If he wanted to survive, he needed to keep his emotions under control and think carefully about his next move.

His own group began moving soon afterward, but the difference in treatment was impossible to miss. The other humans were packed together in chains and driven forward like livestock, while Yuuta remained separated from them, surrounded by priests and heavily armed guards who had been specifically ordered not to harm him.

That distinction didn't comfort him. If anything, it made his situation worse.

The procession descended a broad stone stairway until Yuuta reached the same level as one of the paths leading toward the ritual grounds. From there, they continued forward until an enormous bridge stretched before them, connecting the outer section of the Abyssal Sanctum to the vast circular formation at its center.

Yuuta stepped onto it with the others, only for his eyes to immediately move downward.

There was no ordinary ground beneath the bridge.

A vast chasm disappeared into darkness below, so deep that Yuuta couldn't see its bottom. Thick streams of vapor slowly rose from within, drifting between the pillars and lower platforms before disappearing into the crimson glow surrounding the sanctum. The sight made Yuuta instinctively move a little closer to the center of the bridge.

How deep does that go...?

He couldn't tell.

Yuuta forced himself to keep walking while examining everything around him. Massive black pillars stood along both sides of the path, connected by chains thicker than his body. Crimson braziers burned atop them, while long black-and-red banners hung motionlessly from the structures farther ahead.

Everywhere he looked, there were guards, elevated platforms, and passages disappearing between enormous structures.

Damn it. How am I supposed to find anything in a place this big?

His thoughts returned to the transportation tiles and the ancient text required to activate them. Even if he somehow escaped his guards, searching the entire sanctum would take far longer than he could afford.

He needed information, and unfortunately, the only person who seemed willing to talk to him was the very priest who couldn't stop celebrating his upcoming sacrifice.

Yuuta glanced toward Valthor.

The demonic priest was walking beside him with an enormous smile, occasionally looking toward the central statue and chuckling to himself. His fingers gently stroked the cover of the Black Testament as though he were carrying his most precious possession.

That guy...

Yuuta hesitated.

He had absolutely no desire to start a conversation with someone who considered his death a divine blessing. But Valthor knew this place, and unlike the guards, he seemed almost eager to speak with him.

I'm running out of time anyway.

After considering his options, Yuuta finally made his decision.

"...Valthor."

"Who dares call me by name?"

The response came so suddenly that Yuuta almost stopped walking.

Valthor had turned toward him, but the delighted expression he had worn moments earlier was gone. His eyes narrowed, and his voice carried a cold authority that seemed entirely different from his usual cheerful manner.

Yuuta felt a chill run down his spine.

What the hell?

For a moment, he wondered whether he had made a mistake by addressing the priest so casually. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and met Valthor's gaze.

"I did."

Valthor stared at him.

Then, almost immediately, the severity disappeared from his face.

"Oh! Great Divine Sacrifice!"

His smile returned as though nothing had happened.

"Hehehe! Forgive me. I hadn't realized it was you. How may this humble servant assist you?"

Yuuta blinked.

...Seriously?

The sudden change was so unnatural that he didn't know what to make of it. Just a moment ago, the priest had sounded ready to punish whoever had called him by name, yet now he was smiling at Yuuta as though greeting an honored guest.

This guy is seriously messed up.

Still, Yuuta decided not to dwell on it.

"I've been looking around since we arrived, and I must admit... this place is quite extraordinary."

Valthor raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Yuuta glanced toward the enormous structures surrounding them.

"I'd like to know more about these sacred grounds. Since we're already walking through them, perhaps you could explain a few things."

For a moment, Valthor simply stared at him.

Then his eyes widened.

"You... wish to learn about the Abyssal Sanctum?"

"...Yes."

The priest's expression slowly brightened. He looked from Yuuta toward the ceremonial grounds, then back again, as though making certain he had heard correctly.

"Hehehe... How wonderful!"

Valthor clasped his hands together, visibly pleased.

"To think our Great Divine Sacrifice would personally take an interest in the history of our kingdom! I must say, this is quite unexpected."

I only asked because I want to escape.

Yuuta kept that thought to himself.

"I thought it would be better to understand the place before the ceremony begins."

"An admirable attitude!"

Valthor nodded approvingly.

"Most offerings are far too overwhelmed to appreciate the significance of these grounds. But you... ah, you truly are different."

A few steps behind them, the warden's expression darkened.

He had been listening to their conversation, and the moment Yuuta requested information about the sanctum, an uncomfortable suspicion arose in his mind.

What is he planning?

The human had witnessed hundreds of prisoners being dragged toward their deaths. He had seen the countless guards surrounding the ceremonial grounds, the enormous statue, and the preparations for the coming sacrifice.

Yet instead of begging for mercy, he was calmly asking questions about the sanctum.

The warden narrowed his eyes.

He isn't even trembling.

What troubled him more was Valthor's willingness to entertain those questions. The Abyssal Sanctum was forbidden to ordinary demons, let alone humans, and the priest appeared ready to explain its sacred structures to someone who was supposed to die here tonight.

His fist slowly tightened around the handle of his weapon.

Lord Valthor... you're really going to tell him about this place?

The warden glanced at Yuuta again.

No... can I even call that thing human?

He remembered the unusual treatment this prisoner had received since his arrival. The priests regarded him as something extraordinary, and strict orders had been issued concerning his safety.

Whatever Yuuta truly was, the warden had no intention of underestimating him.

I need to be careful. I don't know what this creature is planning, but I won't let him cause trouble.

Meanwhile, Yuuta remained completely unaware of the warden's growing suspicions.

He was busy trying not to look terrified.

Please tell me something useful. Anything. A passage, an exit, a hidden route...

"Well then, Great Divine Sacrifice."

Valthor adjusted the Black Testament beneath his arm and gestured toward the enormous bridge beneath their feet.

"Since you've expressed such an interest, allow me to begin with this magnificent structure."

Yuuta followed his gesture.

"The bridge?"

"Indeed. This sacred passage was constructed by our ancestors to connect the outer sanctum with the Black Eclipse Circle. For countless generations, it has served as the principal route toward the holiest grounds of our kingdom."

Valthor gazed along the bridge with unmistakable pride.

"Remarkable, isn't it? Even after all these years, it continues to fulfill the purpose for which it was built."

"I see."

Yuuta examined the enormous pillars supporting the structure.

So this is the main route connecting the outer grounds to the central formation...

That information was useful, though not particularly encouraging. If the bridge was the primary entrance, the guards would undoubtedly be watching it closely.

He looked toward the distant platforms, wondering whether any other paths connected the two sections.

Valthor noticed his wandering gaze.

"Ah, you've noticed the pillars as well."

"...They're difficult to miss."

"Hehehe. Quite right."

The priest pointed toward the enormous black structures standing on either side of the bridge.

"Every pillar, chain, and sacred inscription was constructed according to the ancient traditions preserved by our predecessors. Nothing within these grounds was placed without purpose."

Yuuta slowly nodded, his attention shifting toward the massive chains stretching between the pillars.

Nothing without purpose, huh?

He tried to remember their positions as the procession continued.

Then something else caught his attention.

Yuuta's gaze shifted toward one of the hooded statues positioned beside the bridge.

Its eyes moved.

He almost stopped.

The enormous stone figure hadn't changed its posture, yet Yuuta was certain its gaze had followed him. As the procession continued, another statue farther ahead slowly shifted its eyes toward the approaching prisoners.

What the hell...?

A chill ran down his spine.

Those aren't normal statues.

He stared for another second before quickly looking ahead again.

Golems? Guardians?

He didn't know. This world had already shown him enough impossible things that either answer seemed believable. Whatever they were, their placement along the bridge made one thing clear—they weren't merely decorations.

That was another problem for his escape.

Yuuta swallowed before turning toward Valthor.

"Those statues..."

"Hmm?"

"Are they supposed to move?"

Valthor followed his gaze toward the nearest hooded figure.

"Oh, you've noticed our guardians."

"Guardians?"

"Yes. They watch over the sacred passages and ensure that those who enter are properly observed."

Yuuta glanced toward the nearest statue again.

Its eyes were still following him.

"So they're alive?"

"Not quite. They're constructs, though their creation is rather complicated. What matters is that they have faithfully protected these grounds for generations."

"...I see."

Yuuta forced himself to look away.

Wonderful. Even the statues are watching me.

Valthor smiled.

"They can be rather unsettling to those unfamiliar with them, but you needn't worry. As long as you remain with us, they won't trouble you."

"That's reassuring."

Yuuta managed to keep his voice steady.

Behind them, the warden's expression grew more serious.

He had been watching Yuuta's movements throughout the conversation, and something about the prisoner's behavior continued to bother him.

The bridge, the pillars, and now the guardians...

His gaze shifted toward Valthor.

Lord Valthor may think he's merely curious, but those aren't the questions of someone who has accepted his fate.

The warden tightened his grip on his weapon and quietly moved a little closer to the prisoner.

Meanwhile, Yuuta was trying to remember everything Valthor had told him.

The bridge is guarded. The statues can watch people. The pillars and chains have some kind of purpose.

None of that brought him any closer to finding the transportation tiles, but at least he was learning something.

Keep talking, you crazy priest.

The farther Yuuta walked, the more oppressive the Abyssal Sanctum became. The black stone beneath his feet gradually gave way to surfaces covered in ancient crimson markings, while dark stains spread across sections of the path and ritual grounds. Some were old and nearly indistinguishable from the stone.

Others looked disturbingly like blood.

But the red illumination covering the sanctum didn't come entirely from the countless flames.

Yuuta noticed it once they moved closer to the Black Eclipse Circle.

A strange crimson light seemed to seep from the ritual grounds themselves. It glowed faintly through inscriptions carved into the stone, beneath platforms, along the edges of the pathways, and from somewhere within the lower levels surrounding the central formation. Unlike the flickering braziers, this light remained steady and unnatural, bathing everything ahead in a deep red haze.

It made distinguishing blood from light increasingly difficult.

Yuuta swallowed.

What kind of place needs this many ritual formations?

As he turned his head, something beyond the main path caught his attention. At first, he thought he was looking at more of the strange markings carved throughout the sanctum, but after several seconds, he realized they were separate formations.

There wasn't just one ritual circle.

There were hundreds.

Smaller circular formations covered the surrounding levels of the Abyssal Sanctum, arranged around the enormous Black Eclipse Circle at the center. Some were positioned on raised platforms, while others occupied lower sections connected by narrow paths and stairways. Their crimson inscriptions glowed with the same unnatural light, making the entire sanctum appear as though countless red eyes had opened across the black stone.

And standing within each circle was a demon.

Yuuta's steps slowed.

They were enormous.

Most stood somewhere around seven or eight feet tall, their bodies thick and imposing enough to make an ordinary human seem tiny beside them. Each demon held a massive hammer in both hands, the weapons so large that Yuuta doubted a normal person could even lift one from the ground.

Yet none of them moved.

They simply stood at the center of their respective circles, enormous hammers resting beside them as they waited.

Yuuta stared at the nearest one.

What the hell are those guys for?

The demons didn't appear to be ordinary guards. If security were their purpose, there would be little reason to station one inside every individual circle. Their identical positions and weapons suggested that each had a specific role in the ceremony.

That realization made Yuuta even more uncomfortable.

He looked across the surrounding platforms again. Circle after circle disappeared into the distance, each with another towering demon waiting silently at its center.

Hundreds of them...

Whatever those hammers were meant to do, Yuuta had no desire to find out.

Valthor noticed his attention drifting toward the formations.

"Quite a sight, aren't they?"

Yuuta glanced toward him.

"Those circles... are they part of the ceremony too?"

"Of course. Every one of them has been prepared according to the sacred instructions preserved within the Black Testament."

"And the demons standing inside them?"

"They have their own duties to fulfill."

Yuuta looked toward the enormous hammers resting beside the demons.

"...What are those weapons for?"

Valthor followed his gaze.

"Ah, the ceremonial hammers."

He smiled faintly.

"They're rather important to tonight's proceedings."

Yuuta waited for him to continue, but the priest seemed content to leave his explanation there.

"...And what exactly are they supposed to do?"

Valthor chuckled.

"You're quite interested in the ceremony, aren't you?"

"Well, considering I'm supposed to be part of it, I think that's understandable."

For a moment, Valthor regarded him with an amused expression.

"Hehehe. A fair point, Great Divine Sacrifice."

"Then?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer. Certain sacred rites are not meant to be revealed before their appointed time."

Yuuta stared at him.

You've got to be kidding me.

He had finally found someone willing to explain the sanctum, and the one thing he actually wanted to know was apparently too important to discuss.

"...I see."

"Don't be disappointed. You'll witness everything soon enough."

That's exactly what I'm afraid of.

Yuuta looked toward the nearest hammer-wielding demon again, trying to imagine what purpose such an enormous weapon could serve in a religious ceremony.

Nothing he came up with made him feel better.

Behind them, the warden finally relaxed his grip slightly. At least Lord Valthor hadn't revealed the purpose of the ceremonial formations.

Still, his attention remained fixed on Yuuta.

The prisoner had barely shown any fear throughout their journey. Instead, he had spent the entire walk examining the sanctum and questioning the priest about its structures.

He knows what's waiting for him, yet he behaves as though he intends to leave this place alive.

The warden's expression hardened.

Whatever you really are, I won't underestimate you.

The procession continued across the bridge.

Every step carried Yuuta closer to the enormous circular platform ahead. Hooded statues watched from both sides, crimson flames burned above the surrounding pillars, and beneath everything waited that seemingly bottomless darkness.

Beyond them all, the colossal statue of the God of Shadow continued to dominate the horizon.

Yuuta's eyes briefly returned to those pale, familiar eyes.

Questions immediately resurfaced in his mind, but he pushed them aside. He couldn't afford to be distracted by something he had no way of understanding right now.

The tile. The ancient text. An opportunity.

Those were the things that mattered.

He needed to remember the path they had taken, watch the guards, and pay attention to anything Valthor might accidentally reveal. The priest had already told him more than he expected, though none of it had brought him any closer to finding a way out.

Still, he couldn't give up.

For now, Valthor was willing to talk, and Yuuta intended to make use of that for as long as possible.

He kept walking, his expression composed despite the fear tightening around his chest.

Because with every step toward the center of the Abyssal Sanctum, Yuuta could feel the time he had left running out.