The walls cracked along with the floor as the surrounding shadows rippled and fused into the structure like creeping roots. Then inky, sluglike creatures burst from the shifting darkness. They had no visible eyes, yet the moment they lunged at the group, their bodies twitched and split open into gaping maws filled with countless razor-sharp teeth.
Yuni scoffed and sliced through the slugs with swift strikes. Theo pivoted while still carrying Jae, blasting several apart with his blunderbuss. Still somewhat dazed, Idol clumsily stomped and crushed the creatures while Aralia kept running, dragging them along.
Volhcard swung his staff in a wide arc. Barriers of mana appeared before him, blocking the abyssal creature from seizing him with its writhing limbs.
It released a piercing howl. Its chest split open like an inky rift as a mass of tendrils shot forward, smashing through the barrier. Volhcard barely reacted in time. With a sharp whistle, his mana condensed and launched outward.
The tendrils froze instantly as they struck the ground, shattering into fragments while Volhcard charged toward the abyssal creature with a roar.
With a single powerful swing of his staff, fire and wind collided with the monster. Its abyssal body burned and tore apart as several limbs fell to the floor, dissolving while it shrieked and thrashed.
Yet the flames seeped into the creature instead of consuming it. The wind sharpened its inky form. Its body twisted into something even more grotesque. New arms sprouted along its torso, tendrils writhed outward, and soulless eyes emerged across its surface.
Volhcard responded with a breathless laugh before striking the staff against the floor again. Mana surged around him, ancient symbols forming in intricate patterns across the air.
The abyssal creature shrieked and lunged toward him, attempting to tear through his defenses. A golden and blue glow shimmered into existence, drifting through the room like a gentle breeze.
Two voices, one masculine and one feminine, echoed through the air, speaking words beyond comprehension. The twin lights surged forward and struck Volhcard's heart.
When he closed his eyes, he found himself floating within the cosmos. Planets drifted in the distance. Countless stars surrounded him in endless silence.
Two spheres of light appeared before him, one blue and one golden. They shifted and twisted before slowly forming humanoid shapes. The golden light took the form of a woman, while the blue became a man.
Meanwhile, the others continued fighting their way through the building's halls.
Idol was no longer being dragged by Aralia or restrained by the scroll's magic. They ran on their own, yet the mana within their core surged violently. Thoughts flooded their mind, along with emotions they had never known before.
"Idol, I need you to focus. Keep moving," Theo said while firing into the swarm, breathing heavily.
Idol continued forward, crushing and throwing aside any slugs that approached.
Back in the silent cosmos, Volhcard floated calmly as he looked at the two deities.
"I have one request of you both. A plea from your devoted follower and vessel," he said. His words drifted through the stars.
They remained still, offering no reply. They simply watched him.
Volhcard only wished to rid himself of the pain he carried. He wanted to destroy the abyssal monstrosity and protect his friends and his kingdom.
"I wish to save these people and the very nation that now sees me as a monster. Atlas, use me fully as your vessel, even if it costs my life. That is the price I will pay. My equivalent exchange."
The two figures glanced at one another before turning back toward him. Volhcard could not tell whether the Almighty Glorious Life was smiling or whether Atlas wore a resting scowl. Their forms constantly shifted, their brightness obscuring any clear detail.
When they spoke, their voices merged into one, echoing through the endless expanse. Though Volhcard could not understand their words, he felt the sincerity of the Almighty Glorious Life and Atlas's quiet understanding.
It was a revelation he had never expected. The thought that the gods he worshiped truly favored him in return filled his heart with hope. His lips formed a quiet, solemn smile.
"It is admirable that you still love your people despite the pain you have endured. You are willing to sacrifice yourself for them and for your friends, companions you have known for only a short time. Yet you stand before this abomination for their sake. We shall grant your wish, young Volhcard."
In an instant the cosmos vanished.
Volhcard stood once again before the abyssal monstrosity. Despite the overwhelming force before him, he let out a laugh.
"Forgive me everyone, but I have nothing to give but my life for this spell. In Yuni's words, I shall send a grand middle finger to Aldir."
Mana surged from his staff into his arm and spread throughout his body. The creature writhed and hurled itself against him, but a barrier of energy forced it back.
As the others fought their way toward the exit, they all felt the surge of mana. Idol especially felt it as their internal mechanisms whirred rapidly, the energy within them spiraling out of control.
"What in the hell is happening?" Yuni cursed as she cut down another slug and hurled Sticky toward an incoming swarm. Sticky unleashed several tentacles that sharpened into blades, slicing through the creatures.
"Master…" Idol murmured as they slapped aside several slugs with mechanical indifference.
"We must return for him, Sir Theo," Idol said, turning toward him.
Their eyes met. Though Idol was a machine, Theo could feel the concern in their gaze.
Sidestepping a lash of black tendrils, Theo fired again into the swarm, breathing hard. He glanced back toward the end of the hallway, sensing Volhcard's immense mana.
Aralia grabbed his arm and pulled him forward again. Idol followed, though their steps slowed as if weighed down by thought.
"Idol… you and I both know we cannot go back. Your master, your friend, understands exactly what he is about to do," Theo said, his voice trembling.
"Then why do I feel this way? Why can I, a machine, experience these emotions?"
Theo had no answer. He remained silent.
Yuni cursed, gritting her teeth as she pivoted and swung her katana around. Like a tornado, every slug in her path were grinded into pieces.
A single tear forming in her left eye as she scoffed.
"That damn dwarf. I can't believe I'm about to cry for a damned dwarf of all things."
Back in the chamber, Volhcard smiled as he lifted his staff and faced the writhing abyssal creature. Tendrils lashed across the room while darkness churned violently under the surge of mana.
His own mana spiraled around him like a storm, drifting outward like curtains caught in a rising wind. Slowly, reality itself tore open before him.
From the rift emerged a colossal blue hand. Atlas's hand seized the abyssal monstrosity.
Blue light flooded the chamber. Cracks spread across Volhcard's body as mana leaked from the fractures. He gazed up at the rift with a peaceful smile.
"Go. Sweep everything away, Atlas," he said softly, his voice trembling as he dropped to his knees.
Slowly he turned toward the hallway, his body nearly shattered. The abyssal monstrosity writhed in the hand as it shrieked, trying to peel itself from Atlas' hand.
The inky tendrils writhing trying to fight back against Volhcard's magic, but it was a useless attempt. Weakly raising his staff, a beam of mana shot forward before splitting into two rays to scorch the tendrils.
"Be safe, everyone. May the Almighty Glorious Life and I watch over you. Thank you…"
Briefly, he saw in the corner of his eyes, a beautiful sight. Fraye smiling gently at him, waving her hand.
"I see. Even after everything, I still love her."
His voice faded as his body broke apart. Mana erupted outward as the building shook violently from the force. With the force of the attack, the abyssal monstrosity slowly disintegrated from the blast.
It shrieked one last time as the darkness with it slowly subsided.
"You bastard. Leaving me here with a single shed of hope that you'd actually catch up." Theo cursed, a bitter laugh escaping his throat.
As for Jae, she could do nothing but cry, doing nothing to fight back against the tears as she herself in the the shoulder of Theo.
Aralia choked on her tears as she ran, barely keeping herself together as she looked back at the hallway.
Tears streamed down their faces as they reached the doors. Everyone leapt outside just as Idol turned back. Mana trickled from their single crystal eye.
"I think I finally understand this sensation, these emotions. Don't leave me, master."
As the words left them, Aralia dragged Idol forward while the explosion surged toward the doorway behind them.