Far from the city, hidden beneath a desolate stretch of land, an underground cavern remained concealed from the outside world.
The cave stretched deep into the darkness, its vast network of tunnels carved through ancient stone. Rows of lanterns hung along the walls at regular intervals, their flickering flames serving as the only source of light. The orange glow illuminated portions of the rocky passages while leaving the rest concealed beneath shifting shadows. Every movement of the flames caused the darkness to twist and dance across the walls, creating an atmosphere that felt cold, oppressive, and unsettling.
The cavern was far from deserted.
Guards stood watch throughout the underground stronghold. Some were positioned beside intersections where multiple tunnels converged, while others remained stationed near reinforced doors carved directly into the stone. None spoke unnecessarily. Their sharp gazes constantly scanned their surroundings, and the faint fluctuations of energy surrounding several of them revealed that they were Controllers rather than ordinary guards.
At that moment, three figures moved through one of the main tunnels.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the cavern as they advanced deeper into the underground complex. Despite walking together, none of them spoke a single word.
The tension surrounding the trio was almost tangible.
Occasionally, one of them would glance toward the others before quickly looking away again. Sweat had already formed on their foreheads despite the cool temperature within the cavern, and their expressions carried an unmistakable trace of unease.
Eventually, the three men arrived before a massive stone door carved directly into the cavern wall.
Ancient symbols had been etched across its surface, and although the door itself appeared ordinary at first glance, the atmosphere surrounding it felt strangely oppressive. Even the guards stationed nearby kept their distance, their expressions solemn and respectful.
The moment the three men reached the door, they immediately dropped to one knee and lowered their heads.
"We greet the Liege."
Their voices echoed softly through the corridor before silence descended once more.
None of them dared move.
The three men remained kneeling with their heads lowered as seconds slowly passed. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to grow heavier with every moment of silence, causing sweat to gradually form on their foreheads despite the cool temperature within the cavern.
Then, a calm voice finally emerged from behind the stone door.
"Did you bring it?"
The simple question instantly caused the men's expressions to stiffen.
Uneasy glances were exchanged between them before they quickly lowered their heads again. The answer was one none of them wished to give, yet they knew remaining silent would only worsen the situation.
After several tense moments, the man kneeling in the center clenched his fists and forced himself to speak.
"No, Liege."
The words seemed to drain the color from his face the moment they left his mouth.
A suffocating silence immediately followed.
The man's heartbeat thundered inside his chest while cold sweat ran down his back. However, knowing there was no point hiding the truth, he gathered what little courage he had left and continued.
"But we killed him."
The moment those words left his mouth, something changed.
The man suddenly froze in place.
At first, neither he nor the other two men understood what was happening. Then the skin on his face began swelling unnaturally. His cheeks expanded outward, followed by his jaw and neck. The transformation spread downward with terrifying speed, causing his chest, stomach, arms, and legs to rapidly inflate as though his entire body were being filled with air.
Panic instantly appeared in his eyes.
"W-What is happening to me?!"
His voice came out distorted as he stumbled backward. He desperately tried to stand and activate his ability, but before he could do anything, the swelling intensified. Within seconds, his body had expanded far beyond human proportions. Veins bulged across his stretched skin, and every movement caused his grotesquely enlarged form to tremble violently.
The two men beside him watched in horror.
Their faces turned pale, and cold sweat poured down their backs. Although they had witnessed the Liege's methods before, seeing it happen from such close proximity was an entirely different experience. Neither dared move. Neither dared speak. They could only kneel there and watch as their companion's body continued expanding beyond its limits.
Then it happened.
A deafening explosion echoed through the corridor as the man's body burst apart.
Blood, flesh, and shattered bone erupted in every direction, splattering across the stone walls and floor. Chunks of flesh struck the nearby guards, while crimson droplets rained throughout the corridor. The gruesome scene was illuminated by the flickering lantern light, making it appear even more horrifying.
The two surviving men immediately pressed their foreheads against the ground. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Neither dared look up.
Neither dared wipe away the blood staining their clothes.
"Please calm your anger, Liege! We searched his body thoroughly! The serum wasn't on him!"
Their voices trembled uncontrollably as they spoke. Blood from their former companion slowly spread across the stone floor beside them, yet neither dared raise their heads even slightly. The gruesome fate of the man who had been kneeling beside them only moments ago remained fresh in their minds, causing cold sweat to stream down their backs.
Several moments passed without any response from behind the stone door.
The silence only made their fear grow.
Unable to endure the pressure any longer, one of the men hurriedly continued, "It must be with the other bastard! We searched everything on the professor, his belongings, and even the carriage itself, but the serum wasn't there. If he didn't have it, then it has to be with the other bastard."
The man's forehead remained pressed firmly against the ground as he spoke. His voice still carried fear, but there was also desperation within it.
"We will find him, Liege. No matter where he is hiding, we will track him down, recover the serum, and bring back that bastard's head."
After speaking, both men remained kneeling motionlessly before the stone door. The corridor once again descended into silence, while the blood of their dead companion continued spreading across the stone floor beside them.
After what felt like an eternity, the voice finally emerged from behind the stone door once more.
"You have two weeks."
The simple sentence instantly filled the two men with relief. It felt as though the crushing pressure weighing upon them had suddenly lessened. Both immediately slammed their foreheads against the stone floor again and repeatedly kowtowed toward the door.
"Thank you, Liege!"
"Thank you, Liege!"
Their voices trembled with gratitude and lingering fear. Moments earlier, they had been convinced they would share the same fate as their unfortunate companion. The bloodstains still spreading across the floor beside them served as a grim reminder of how close they had come to death. Yet somehow, they had been granted another chance.
After expressing their gratitude several more times, the two carefully rose to their feet. Their clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and their hearts still pounded violently within their chests. However, neither dared remain before the stone door any longer. Keeping their heads lowered, they quickly retreated down the tunnel, eager to place as much distance as possible between themselves and the terrifying existence hidden beyond the door.
Their hurried footsteps gradually faded into the distance, leaving the corridor empty once more. Only the blood, scattered flesh, and dark stains covering the stone floor remained behind as evidence of what had transpired there. The guards stationed nearby never moved from their posts, their expressions remaining indifferent as though such scenes were nothing unusual within this underground stronghold. Behind the massive stone door, no further sound emerged, and before long the cavern returned to silence, illuminated only by the flickering lanterns that cast restless shadows across the bloodstained corridor.