Then—
they all shot into the air.
**Whoosh!**
One after another—
they flew directly into the cat's mouth.
It swallowed every fragment in a single gulp.
Without chewing.
Without effort.
The cat licked its lips.
"...Meow."
Then casually walked back to Draven.
Leaping onto his shoulder.
From there—
it climbed onto his head.
Curled its tail once.
And sat down comfortably.
Aldric watched the entire scene.
"...Huh."
He scratched his cheek.
"...Looks like that little thing can do more than it lets on."
One of the cultists could no longer contain himself.
He stepped forward slightly.
"...What..."
His eyes remained fixed on the cat.
"...What exactly is that creature?"
He looked between Aldric and Draven.
"...You still haven't answered."
Draven finally turned away from the cat.
His gaze settled upon the masked elder.
His expression remained calm.
"...Hey."
"...Old man."
A brief silence.
"...Now..."
"...Let's open the breach."
The masked elder remained silent for several moments.
His hidden gaze rested upon Draven.
Then—
he slowly inclined his head.
"...Very well."
His aged voice echoed quietly through the chamber.
"...After witnessing everything with my own eyes..."
He paused.
"...I can no longer deny it."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Pythia.
"...Young Pythia's claims..."
"...were true."
A murmur spread among the surrounding cultists.
The elder continued.
"...At the very least..."
"...there is no longer any doubt..."
"...that you possess the ability to absorb Abyssal mana."
He looked back at Draven.
"...However..."
"...As for opening the Breach—"
"...Don't push your luck."
Draven's calm voice cut through the chamber.
Cold.
Absolute.
The elder fell silent.
The two simply stared at one another.
Neither looked away.
Then—
Pythia stepped forward.
Her eyes settled upon the masked elder.
"...It seems..."
"...you've misunderstood something, Teacher."
Her tone remained perfectly composed.
"...This was never a request."
Silence.
"...It was an order."
She spoke every word without the slightest hesitation.
"...One that should not be disobeyed."
The chamber grew still.
Pythia's gaze never wavered.
"...Because the consequence of disobedience..."
She slowly looked around the chamber.
"...will be the destruction of these ruins."
Her eyes swept across every cultist present.
"...And the annihilation..."
"...of everyone within them."
A brief pause.
"...So, Teacher..."
"...I suggest you think very carefully..."
"...before speaking your next words."
Silence.
Then—
Aldric grinned.
"...She's right."
He folded his arms.
"...For once..."
"...the little rat said something I completely agree with."
His smile widened.
"...So don't make us do unnecessary work."
The chamber fell silent once more.
None of the cultists spoke.
None objected.
They had all witnessed it.
The impossible.
Ryke quietly stood among them.
His eyes moved from Draven...
...to the masked elder...
...then across the gathered cultists.
*...They're different now.*
*Before...*
*Every one of them looked ready to die protecting this place.*
*Now...*
*Not a single one dares speak.*
He slowly exhaled.
*...Watching him absorb that Abyssal Core...*
*...shattered whatever certainty they had.*
*They don't believe he's just another vampire anymore.*
*Maybe...*
*...they don't even know what to believe.*
Silence lingered.
All that remained...
...was the elder's answer.
The masked elder stood quietly for a long moment.
Then—
he released a slow sigh.
"...It appears..."
"...there has been a misunderstanding."
His gaze shifted from Draven to Pythia.
"...What I was attempting to say..."
"...was not a refusal."
A brief pause.
"...With only those gathered here..."
"...it is impossible to open the Breach."
The chamber remained quiet.
The elder continued calmly.
"...I assumed..."
"...you came here already knowing that."
Pythia gave a small nod.
"...We did."
She stepped forward.
"...As I informed you earlier, My Lord."
She inclined her head toward Draven.
"...A minimum of three Fourth Circle mages is required."
"...However..."
She turned back toward the elder.
"...I also mentioned..."
"...that the summoning circle is incomplete."
One of the cultists frowned.
"...Incomplete?"
Pythia nodded.
"...Intentionally."
"...It was left unfinished."
"...To prevent accidents."
She glanced toward the masked elder.
"...Teacher knows this."
"...Even if someone reached the chamber..."
"...they would be unable to activate the ritual."
"...The missing sections can only be completed by qualified mages."
Her voice remained calm.
"...Two additional Fourth Circle mages..."
"...are required."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Draven looked at the elder.
"...Okay."
His voice remained flat.
"...First..."
"...You'll take us to the summoning circle."
He took a single step forward.
"...Then..."
"...you'll summon the two Fourth Circle mages needed to complete the ritual."
Another step.
"...If they decide not to come..."
His crimson eyes met the elder's hidden gaze.
"...We'll go find them ourselves."
He stopped directly before the masked elder.
"...Do you understand?"
Silence.
No one dared interrupt.
Draven spoke once more.
"...If you do..."
"...Then get moving."
The masked elder held his gaze for several long seconds.
Finally—
he inclined his head.
"...Understood."
He slowly turned.
"...Follow me."
Without another word—
he began walking toward the passage leading deeper into the ruins.
The surrounding cultists silently stepped aside.
Making way.
No one questioned the order.
No one protested.
The atmosphere within the chamber had changed completely.
After witnessing Draven consume the Abyssal Core...
No one present...
Was willing to discover what would happen...
If they refused him.