Chapter 20 “Offering”
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The vast underground sewer system had been astonishingly large, far surpassing Duncan’s expectations for a typical waste management network. He couldn’t help but speculate on the reasons behind its intricate design, captivated by the many arcane gas lamps and sturdy structures that seemed capable of serving as shelters within the maze of sewers.
Regardless of the original intentions of its designers, one thing had become clear: this enormous subterranean complex, buried deep away from the surface world, had unwittingly become a nurturing ground for a malevolent force.
A peculiar cult had taken residence here, professing loyalty to the sun, yet its presence cast an eerie chill.
At the meeting point of several sewer tunnels, a wide, cavernous area had opened up. Solid cement columns supported a domed brick ceiling, and a network of metallic conduits crisscrossed overhead, reminiscent of a spider’s web. Bright gas lamps illuminated the area, highlighting the masses gathered at this underground crossroads.
Dozens of cultists, each cloaked in dark robes, were assembled in this damp and murky place. In the center, a raised podium held a figure in a similarly dark robe, clearly held in higher regard than the others, as indicated by their elevated position.
Unlike the others, the individual on the podium wore a golden mask instead of a hood. The mask, designed to resemble a sun disk, shone with radiant beams in every direction, its surface intricately cracked.
Behind this masked figure stood a conspicuous totem—a tall wooden stake topped with a flaming orb. The core of this orb appeared to be made of a perforated metal, allowing the flames to breathe.
Duncan had been brought to this spectacle under duress, drawing the attention of the assembled cultists.
“We have captured an escaped offering on his way to the gathering!” announced one of the robed figures escorting Duncan. As he approached the podium, his tone was respectful but eager for approval, “This offering has spent too long in the shadows, causing some disorientation. I implore you to use your power to bestow our Lord’s glory on this poor vessel!”
The cult leader, the figure in the golden mask on the platform, turned to Duncan with a hint of surprise and a chill in his voice, “An escaped offering, you say?”
Yet Duncan remained unfazed. His focus was entirely on the details of the setting—particularly intrigued by the golden mask of the cult’s high priest and the fiery totem behind him.
To the ordinary people of this world, these symbols might seem bizarre and mysterious. However, to Duncan, a single glance was enough to recognize them as representations of the sun.
They were not depictions of the sun as symbolized by the “glowing orb” adorned with fiery streamers and twin runic circles in the sky, but rather, they resembled the sun as he remembered it—the radiant, fiery sun.
These individuals deeply revered the sun, a sun that, to them, had “fallen” in a forgotten era and was now a divine symbol.
Duncan lifted his head and calmly met the eyes of the shrouded high priest standing above him on the platform. However, due to the deterioration of his facial muscles, his composed expression appeared to the high priest as a vacant numbness, devoid of intellect.
Still wearing the golden mask, the high priest held Duncan’s gaze briefly before turning away to give instructions to someone nearby. “Inspect the area where the sacrifices are confined. Be swift and report back immediately.”
After issuing the command, the high priest looked at the hooded figures who had brought Duncan—the sacrifice. His voice carried a note of approval, “You have done well. While our Lord might see it as a minor achievement, it will be your enduring glory when the sun’s light bathes all things anew.”
Though his praise was somewhat perfunctory, it significantly boosted the morale of the hooded figures. They became lively, praising the “true Black Sun,” and pushed Duncan towards the platform. At this point, the high priest, still masked, directly addressed Duncan, “Oh, you wretched creature who has lost your way… Have you felt the intense cold amidst the light-starved rocks and earth?”
Confused by the high priest’s strange words, Duncan remained silent. The high priest, undeterred by the lack of response from the “sacrifice” before him, continued speaking, his words aimed more at the gathered followers and the “Black Sun” he devoutly worshipped:
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“Coldness and darkness are the legacies of the sufferings inflicted by the false sun. Under its rule, the world is tormented by dark, mysterious oceans, with only scattered patches of land allowing life to barely cling on. Even within these fragmented lands, suffering is relentless. Echoes of the past linger in the subterranean depths while their starved minions wriggle in lightless dungeons. Hatred and discord spread across the surface, and the pure souls of humanity are tainted by the corrupting breaths of malevolent deities…”
“How can we endure such prolonged torment? How can we accept the distorted and absurd reality created by the false sun?”
“We cannot endure it. We implore the return of our Lord. We long for the resurrection of the true Black Sun, to descend upon our world once more, ablaze with blood and flames, restoring harmony and prosperity among mankind!”
In response to the impassioned plea of the masked high priest, Duncan sharply noticed a change in the atmosphere of the gathering. The robed followers became increasingly zealous, initially echoing and then passionately repeating the chant, “We beseech the genuine Black Sun to once again descend upon our world! Ablaze with blood and fire!” “We beseech the genuine Black Sun to once again descend upon our world! Ablaze with blood and fire!”
“We beseech the genuine Black Sun to once again descend upon our world,” the high priest reiterated from the platform, raising his voice. He then pointed his finger at Duncan. “And today, our Lord shall stir further from slumber—the blood of the errant shall salve the wounds inflicted by the sun’s fracture!
“Bring forth the sacrifice!”
Several robed figures quickly moved in from the edges, but Duncan was ahead of them. He didn’t require assistance; he climbed the altar on his own.
Although he was not particularly agile, climbing onto the platform was within his ability.
Upon reaching the top, he stood before the masked high priest, who continued to radiate a majestic and enigmatic presence. The sudden turn of events unfolded so quickly, in stark contrast to earlier, that it momentarily confused the cult leader. He and Duncan locked eyes through their masks, and an unsettling silence enveloped the area around the sacrificial altar.
However, Duncan remained unaffected by the shift in atmosphere. He believed he had gained significant insights into this world and was keen to witness more paranormal events before his temporary form would be “disposed of.”
“Well then,” Duncan said, his voice tinged with curiosity as he rubbed his hands together, “What’s the next course of action? What’s the plan?”
The masked high priest remained silent.
“Didn’t catch that?” Duncan inquired, his brow furrowing—though his facial muscles wouldn’t comply—”I asked, what’s the next step?”
At last, the high priest responded, a brief look of confusion crossing behind his mask. However, he quickly regained his composure and spoke in a deep, resonant voice, “The shadows in the darkness have indeed taken a toll on your sanity, but fear not, for the all-powerful and sacred sun shall herald the end of your suffering… Bring the sacrifice before the totem!”
Two robed figures promptly approached from the edges and took hold of Duncan’s arms, guiding him towards the totem topped with the blazing fireball. Duncan couldn’t understand the purpose of this stage and, as such, couldn’t “cooperate” actively. Nevertheless, he assumed a compliant posture and positioned himself beneath the intense fireball, firmly held by the two robed figures.
Despite Duncan’s lack of resistance, the pair exerted considerable pressure to secure the “sacrifice’s” arms, seemingly wary that he might suddenly resist and try to escape at a crucial moment. Their grip was impressively strong, and Duncan could even feel the bones of his temporary body beginning to creak under the pressure—a supernatural display that prompted him to glance at the two robed figures.
Shortly thereafter, the masked high priest approached.
Duncan was immediately captivated as he watched the high priest pull an unusually shaped dagger from his robes. The dagger had a peculiar design, its twisted and curved form resembling gnarled and warped finger joints. The blade was as black as night, seemingly made from obsidian, and it reflected the flickering flames from the totem, giving it a sinister appearance.
Silently, Duncan prepared himself to sever the “soul projection.” He realized that he had likely gathered all the information he could through this temporary vessel.
The high priest’s voice resonated across the platform:
“O mighty and holy Black Sun! Accept this sacrifice upon your altar! I present you the heart of this offering, may it be reborn from blood and flame!”
At that moment, Duncan paused his attempt to sever the soul projection, looking at the cult’s high priest as if he were struck speechless.
Thanks for the chapter!
He’s gonna do something to do the totem, isnt he?
maybe the world was normal like ours, but something happened and the sun being replaced was one of the consequences of that.
Maybe a gigantic world war broke out and some of the results of that war is the fake sun.
That body has no heart, though…
It was kratos wasn’t it smh