Lightning made him feel goosebumps all over his body.
She was suddenly reminded of the tales that circulated among explorers—the demons that climbed out of the abyss, the ghosts that died with vengeance, or the undead that lingered. These were all nightmares for adventurers, capable of claiming lives even in mere eye contact. Illusions and deception were their signature tactics. Could such a monster also lurk within this ruin?
Though Thunder dismissed these tales as baseless nonsense concocted by third-rate adventurers, a jolt still ran through her veins. Who else could have endured months of relentless shouting inside Devil's siege, their pitch and rhythm barely altered?
She now faces a dilemma: If it's truly the legendary evil entity that killed all the Devils, then even her unauthorized intrusion might invite disaster. But if the other party has survived until now, the Devils must still be in the ruins. What should she do?
After a moment's hesitation, she decided to fly back and consult with Maxie.
After a brief explanation, Maxie raised her head and said, "We can put out the fire and sneak in quietly. That way, Devil won't see us." "But we won't see them either," she replied. "I can turn into an owl," the dove patted her cheek, "no matter how dark the night, I can't be stopped." Lightning's eyes lit up. "That's a brilliant idea, but... those legendary creatures live in darkness all their lives. They must have a way to spot their prey, right? Otherwise, they'd have starved to death." "Didn't you say they're just stories to scare people?" "Not me, it's my dad," the little girl corrected.
"It's all the same. I've never heard of the undead creatures at Graycastle. If they were truly terrifying, they wouldn't stay confined to that tiny fjord, would they?" A beam of light shot from Maxie's body, and the dove instantly swelled into a gray-brown owl, its eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I thought you'd be intrigued by these legends." Indeed, a true explorer wouldn't miss a chance to verify a legend. Besides, she still had psychological barriers to overcome. If she fled now, all her efforts would be in vain. Lightning hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow Maxie's advice.
But wait... I came here to overcome my fears. Why is the other person so keen on exploring the ruins? Could it be...
"You're so eager—must it be for that basket of eggs?" The owl blinked its round, large eyes and tilted its head away.
...
Once again at the basement entrance, Lightning took several deep breaths, gripped the revolver tightly, and tiptoed into the deep darkness.
Perhaps because Maxi was perched on her shoulder, she felt far calmer than before.
The ground feels damp to the touch, with occasional puddles of standing water. Located in a low-lying area, rainwater that seeps into the tower gradually pools downward. Although most basements are equipped with concealed drainage channels, these channels are likely to be partially clogged after centuries of exposure to wind and rain.
Maxi patted her head with her wings, which meant there was a downward staircase ahead.
The lightning slowed its pace, cautiously testing the edge of the steps before she carefully descended. After rounding a bend, she suddenly caught sight of a glimmer of light.
Gentle yellow light filtered through the stairway's end, casting a shimmering glow on the floor.
After a careful inspection, she realized the slightly wobbly ground was actually a pool of sewage. The partially submerged door frame indicated that the basement floor was likely flooded up to knee level.
She carefully walked to the junction of the stairs and the water, her feet off the ground, and slowly floated to the door, peering inside.
The doorway revealed an empty space—this stone pagoda's underground chamber was astonishingly vast, far exceeding its above-ground portion. No torches burned within; instead, yellow light emanated from the stone inlays on the walls. These inlays roughly outlined the basement's contours while also allowing lightning to see everything inside.
At the center of the room stood a raised stone platform, where several figures stood. Their armored backs and imposing builds unmistakably identified them as Devils. Fortunately, the enemies hadn't noticed the commotion by the door yet. Instead, they raised their long spears and massive shields, surrounding a square blue stone pillar.
At this moment, the cries for help grew increasingly clear, as if they were ringing in her ears.
"Save me, save me..." Lightning swallowed hard. What should he do next?
"We..." "Go save her, Goo," Maxi whispered in her ear.
"Hey?" The girl froze. "But there are several Devils there... We can't have fought them!" Sweat glistened on her gun grip. "If Sister Nightingale is certain it's safe, I can't do it alone." "So you mean those Devils?" Maxie tilted her head. "They seem to be dead already." "What? Dead?" Before she could finish, Maxie leaped into the air toward the platform, startling Lightning into a freeze—she'd forgotten to grab her. By the time she recovered, she'd already pounced on a Devil. Lightning gritted her teeth, raised her gun, and silently recited Professor Nightingale's shooting protocol.
The outcome was astonishing: Devil, struck twice by the owl, collapsed with a thunderous crash like a weathered stone, vanishing into a cloud of flying ash in an instant.
What the hell is going on? Lightning flashed beside Maxie as she stared in shock at the other three Devils.
Under the yellow light, their bodies were riddled with microscopic cracks, and spider webs still clung between their legs. Through the grotesque headgear, their eyes and skin glowed a ghastly grayish-white, devoid of any trace of life. "So that's how it is," she mused. "Owls have eyesight far superior to ours in dim light—no wonder Maxie said such things."
But before he could relax, Lightning's gaze was already completely drawn to something else.
Perched atop the high platform encircled by the Devil stands a colossal cube. From afar, it resembles a stone pillar, but upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be transparent. Within the crystalline structure lies a woman clad in resplendent robes, her eyes tightly shut and hands outstretched. Her long blue hair cascades backward, as if still dancing in the breeze.
"Is this Witch?" Maxi swooped over the crystal and struck it fiercely. Instead of shattering, it emitted a crisp metallic clang. "So hard!" "I don't know," Lightning murmured, her hand resting on the crystal. A chilling sensation ran through her skin—the surface was covered in thick dust, a testament to the woman's prolonged stay in this "stone coffin." Her God expression was vivid, her furrowed brows arched upward, revealing not just panic but deep anxiety and concern.
"Save me..." The voice came again from behind the crystal.