Chapter 705 The Truth Beneath Elaris

Liam stared directly at Eldric, his expression hardening as he struggled against the restraints wrapped tightly around his arms and legs. The tentacles of the Dread-level beast continued to coil around his body with terrifying strength, their rough, unnatural texture pressing into his skin while the suppression effect continued to keep every trace of his abilities locked away.

Even his Aetherial strength, the power that had allowed him to tear through enemies far stronger than ordinary humans, was completely inaccessible. Yet despite the situation, Liam’s mind remained active, dissecting every word Eldric had spoken and every movement he had made since stepping into the chamber. There was something deeply unsettling about the man’s confidence, the way he stood there as though Liam’s capture had been inevitable from the beginning. Finally, Liam narrowed his eyes and asked, "What gave me away?"

Eldric smiled, and there was something almost amused about the expression, as if he had been waiting for Liam to ask that exact question. He slowly walked closer, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls of the underground chamber as his eyes remained fixed on Liam.

"That," Eldric said calmly, pointing toward the tunnel behind Liam, "is the place where I activated this dome. It is where I lost my powers, and you will never find it."

His smile widened as he watched Liam’s expression carefully. "It isn’t someplace you can simply stumble upon. Even if you searched this entire region for years, you wouldn’t find it unless you already knew what you were looking for."

Liam gritted his teeth, realizing that Eldric had understood far more than he had expected, but before he could respond, Eldric continued speaking. "And don’t think I don’t know that it is also the same place where the treasure is."

Liam’s eyes widened slightly, and for the first time since entering the chamber, genuine shock crossed his face.

Eldric chuckled quietly before continuing, clearly enjoying the realization spreading across Liam’s expression. "Why else would so many restrictions have been placed around that location? Why create a barrier that prevents people from leaving this village? Why hide the place so thoroughly that even someone with abilities like yours cannot simply see through it? Why create so many layers of protection around one particular area if there wasn’t something worth protecting behind them?"

Eldric tilted his head slightly, his smile becoming almost smug. "You figured out that the dome was connected to the treasure, but you made one mistake. You assumed that because I had failed to reach the treasure, I had no idea where it was."

Liam stared at him in silence, his mind racing. He had spent hours piecing together the history of Elaris, listening to Voss explain what had happened fifteen years ago and connecting those events to everything he had personally witnessed since arriving in the village. He had believed Eldric was intelligent, certainly more intelligent than the average person, but he had underestimated just how much the man understood. Liam slowly exhaled through his nose before finally admitting, "I’ve seriously downplayed your intelligence."

There was no insult in his voice, only reluctant acknowledgment. Eldric had manipulated an entire village, hidden his true identity for fifteen years, maintained control over the people around him, and somehow continued operating beneath Liam’s senses without exposing himself. Liam had walked into the trap thinking he was the one hunting Eldric, only to discover that Eldric had been watching him just as closely.

However, one question still refused to leave Liam’s mind. "But there is something I don’t understand," Liam said, his eyes narrowing. "If you already know the location of the treasure, then how come you haven’t gone to claim it?"

Eldric’s smile disappeared for a moment, replaced by a long, quiet stare. He seemed to consider whether answering was worth his time, and then he slowly sighed. "Well," he said, "since you’re going to die anyway, I suppose I can explain it to you." Eldric stepped closer, his expression becoming strangely relaxed as he looked down at Liam. "Do you know how I lost my powers?"

Liam furrowed his brows. Something about the way Eldric had asked that question immediately made the atmosphere in the chamber feel heavier. Eldric was smiling again, but this time there was something different behind it, something that made Liam’s instincts scream that the answer was far more important than it initially appeared. Then Eldric suddenly threw his head back and cackled, the sound echoing through the underground chamber in a way that made the hairs on Liam’s body rise. "Do you really think I don’t know about your little meeting with Voss in the cave last night?"

Liam’s face hardened instantly. For a brief moment, everything else seemed to disappear from his mind. Apart from himself, Irina, and Voss, there was nobody who was supposed to know about that meeting. Nobody had followed them into the cave. Nobody had witnessed the conversation. Liam knew Voss would not betray them, not after everything the young man had told him and not after seeing the hatred Voss carried toward Eldric. He knew the kind of man Voss was, and the possibility of Voss willingly giving their secrets away made no sense. Yet Eldric knew. Somehow, he knew.

Eldric noticed the change in Liam’s expression and smiled even wider. "I see everything," he said quietly, his voice carrying an unsettling confidence. "You really think I wouldn’t know who that cold ghost was? You think I didn’t know who had been disturbing me all these years?"

Liam’s eyes became colder as pieces of the puzzle suddenly slammed together inside his head. The cold entity that had fought the fire being. The mysterious figure that had watched them. The strange presence that had protected Elaris while another tried to destroy it. Voss had been that creature, and Eldric had known about him all along. "So it is you," Liam said, anger beginning to rise in his voice. "You’re the fire one. You’re the one who has been killing the villagers."

Eldric’s smile remained perfectly intact. He slowly lifted one hand and gave Liam a small, mocking bow, almost as though he were accepting applause after a performance. "My pleasure."

The words struck Liam harder than any physical attack could have. His breathing became heavier, his jaw tightening as rage surged through him.

"But why?" Liam demanded, his voice growing louder.

"Why kill all those innocent people? Why kill children? Why inflict suffering on an entire town for fifteen years? What the fuck do you gain from all of this?" His voice echoed throughout the chamber, bouncing from the bloodstained walls and returning to him from every direction, but Liam barely noticed.

His thoughts were consumed by the people he had met in Elaris, the villagers who had looked at him with desperation because they had spent years believing nobody would ever save them. He remembered Leo, a child who had nearly lost his soul, and the fear in his mother’s eyes when she thought her son was going to die. He remembered Mira, the bruises and scars hidden beneath her clothing, the way she had spoken softly as though even raising her voice might bring punishment. All of it suddenly felt connected to the man standing in front of him.

Liam pulled against the restraints again, every muscle in his body straining as he tried to break free. The tentacles tightened immediately, crushing into him with enough force to make his body ache, but Liam didn’t stop. He wanted nothing more than to tear himself free, cross the distance between them, and rip Eldric’s head from his shoulders. More than that, he wanted Eldric to suffer first. He wanted the man to experience even a fraction of the fear and helplessness he had forced upon the people of Elaris for fifteen years. Liam’s breathing became increasingly heavy as his anger threatened to overwhelm his usual calm, his blue eyes burning with murderous intent while Eldric simply watched him.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Eldric merely smiled, almost fascinated by the hatred in Liam’s eyes. Then he slowly tilted his head and asked, "Why?"

Liam’s eyes narrowed.

Eldric’s smile returned.

"I’ll tell you why."