Chapter 607: Torches

Chapter 605

The Werewolves completely disintegrated, leaving Ray and a confused King alone in the massive hall.

"What is going on here? Why are there Werewolves here?! Where am I?" Ray blurted out questions at no one in particular as he looked around the place.

Only for Bruce to begin mumbling as he stared at the last of the Werewolves disintegrating.

"Th-that’s not right. Werewolves do-don’t disintegrate like that."

’Huh?’ Ray’s eyelids fluttered once as he looked inward at the Werewolf, who was still clutching his head as if desperately trying to recall something.

"Do you perhaps—?"

"This place looks-looks-looks familiar. I-I can’t seem to place my finger around it." Bruce yelped in pain as he began pressing against the headache pounding in his skull.

He was trying, but all he could see were somewhat stable flashes.

Unlike before, when his memories had been like shattered glass, this was more like a hazy picture that had been somewhat blackened.

Like an ancient picture from the olden days, when everything was in black and white, but heavily distorted.

Yet, even through the distortion, he could see this same hall they were standing in.

But it wasn’t as dark and gloomy as it was at the moment.

The halls were filled with—with—

"Argh!" Bruce staggered before grabbing the chair and pushing harder.

"Bru-Bruce! You’re pushing too much!" Elyon shouted in worry as blood began to dribble down the Werewolf’s nose.

Yet, he didn’t back down. Instead, he pushed even harder.

For a brief moment, the image cleared just enough for him to see Werewolves. Some were in their Werewolf forms, while others who could do so had assumed normal human-like forms.

They were all conversing and patrolling through the halls.

Meanwhile, an aura—a certain aura—always remained above them.

The picture shifted upwards.

A door.

A room, and then a—

Just like that, as if a wire had been disconnected, all the images stopped at once. Bruce collapsed onto one knee, coughing out a mouthful of blood.

Ray and Elyon rushed towards him almost immediately.

"You okay?"

"I’m fine. Move, you fiends." He growled as he pushed the two away before looking at the Tribrid, who was frowning at him.

"... I-I think I know where we are."

"Ba....thump...."

"Wh-where?"

Bruce heaved a tired sigh as he pushed himself upright and then looked into Ray’s eyes.

"We’re in the Werewolf World."

.....

"We’re in the Werewolf World."

"...."

"....!!!"

Ray looked back at the screen displaying the hall. The ground was stained with— even the damned blood had evaporated.

And Bruce was saying they were in the Werewolf World?

"This place—this hall and this castle belonged to—ugh... I have no idea. But it’s familiar, like I’ve been here before." Bruce continued as he pointed towards the staircase that remained on the side.

"... We need to go upstairs. Maybe we’ll be able to find more information."

Ray didn’t attempt to move a single muscle. He was still stunned by the casual revelation that had just dropped on him.

His mind spun with so many questions that needed answering.

’Werewolf World? Well, I should have realised that when a horde of Werewolves suddenly lunged at me. But more importantly, how come your rune brought us to the Werewolf World, Elyon? Have you been here before?’

Elyon thought for a few seconds before shaking his head.

«I don’t know. Or, more accurately, I don’t recall. It’s all a blur.»

Ray rubbed his face exhaustedly as he looked around the place.

The hall was almost empty, with only a few tables and chairs overturned and facing the walls.

Dust and cobwebs covered the furniture, stretching across the walls and creeping into the corners.

The entire setting gave him medieval vibes. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, with spiders having turned them into their nests, as evidenced by the thick layers of webs covering them.

Incredibly thick pillars supported the structure, and Ray continued looking around for any signs of something that could help explain his situation. Unfortunately, there was nothing.

Even though the hall was dark, he could see perfectly well. His eyes eventually drifted towards the staircase, where they lingered.

’A castle belonging to Werewolves? Does that mean the lab belonged to them too? Just what sort of research was going on down there?

And if Bruce was right, then how come the Werewolves disintegrated like that?

But most importantly, why hasn’t my System announced my kills?’

He waited for a few seconds, hoping to hear that sweet ding announcing his rewards for killing the Werewolves. Yet, there was nothing.

The situation was beginning to remind him of the Red Gate World. He couldn’t help but grind his teeth in worry as his eyes flickered from place to place, eventually landing on the patterned floor that had activated the Werewolves.

However, he heaved an exhausted breath and shook his head before looking back at the stairs.

"You better be right. I expect to get my answers upstairs."

With that, he beckoned King to follow him, and together, they ascended the stairs, leaving the massive hall behind.

With their speed, it didn’t take long for them to climb the stairs and arrive at an enormously expansive corridor with hundreds of doors lining its walls.

«Not here,» Bruce called.

Ray looked up and noticed that there was still another staircase. Without hesitation, he headed towards it and climbed upwards.

This staircase was much shorter, and he soon arrived on a floor that had considerably fewer doors than the one below.

Directly opposite him was a door adorned with beautiful engravings that seemed almost mythical.

Cautiously approaching it, he pushed it open.

The room was dark, just like every other place in the structure.

Heaving a sigh, he took two steps and crossed the threshold.

An oppressive aura washed over him, causing Bruce to shudder inwardly as they walked further inside.

King stood behind Ray like a bodyguard, waiting for his master to give him room to enter.

Alas!

That never happened.

Because the moment Ray stepped into the room, a heartbeat later, it was as if several switches had been turned on.

The blue torches hanging on the walls lit up one after another, brilliantly illuminating the room.

Unknown to the Tribrid, a massive torch atop the structure outside blazed with the same blue light as the smaller ones inside the room.