While our protagonist slept comfortably in the hospital, something interesting was happening elsewhere.
On the continent of Kraelion stood a city built like a fortress. Its imposing yet magnificent structure housed millions. Within this stronghold, towering skyscrapers dwarfed the people below; avian races soared above, while members of aquatic races—like Mermen—swam in the canals. Cars moved at incredible speeds while holographic signboards floated in the air. This city, informally known as the Epicenter of Technological Advancement, is called Canih.
At the center of the fortress stood a skyscraper that seemed to dwarf every other building in the city—a lone giant, tall and imposing. But it was what lay beneath this behemoth that was truly shocking. Far below the foundation was a research facility where experiments were numerous; some were normal, while others... were not.
Within one sector, a man moved through the white hallways with predatory elegance. Standing 6'2" with shoulder-length hazel hair and golden phoenix eyes, he wore black trousers and a wine-coloured long-sleeved shirt rolled to his elbows, revealing Eastern dragon tattoos coiling around both arms. His features bore a striking resemblance to those of a Chinese man from Earth.
Behind him followed a woman dressed in a sharp beige suit. She stood 5'8" with hair as dark as night, black almond-shaped eyes, and pale, smooth skin. She kept pace as they walked briskly toward their destination. Guards and researchers alike moved aside, granting them an unobstructed path. From the sidelines, onlookers whispered until a cold glance from the woman silenced them. She snorted and continued to follow.
As they progressed, the crowds thinned. Strange sigils and symbols carved into the walls appeared, seeming to pulse with light. No words were spoken. The woman's eyebrows furrowed as an indescribable fear took hold. It felt as though she were walking toward her death. Sweat dripped down her forehead, but she couldn't turn back. 'If I try to run away, I'll become a test subject in this godforsaken place... Shit, why is earning a salary so difficult?!' She glanced at the broad back of the figure ahead with a complicated gaze.
The man in question maintained an indifferent expression, walking forward with his hands in his pockets. However, he glanced back at the woman from time to time. Soon, they turned into a dark hallway illuminated only by the glow of the wall inscriptions. At the end stood a massive wooden door featuring carvings of two forces—one light, one dark—locked in fierce battle.
As they reached it, sweat beaded on the woman's face. 'Where the hell has this bastard taken me?! Shit, is he trying to kill me?' Her palms grew damp as she racked her brain for a way to avoid entering. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She stood aside and bowed.
"Master Gallows, I will wait for you and guard this place."
Gallows looked at her coolly. In a deep voice, he replied, "...Are you sure you want that, Genevieve?"
He fixed his gaze on her, and she shuddered, feeling like prey being stalked. Genevieve bowed even lower, her tone solemn. "Yes, Master Gallows. I wouldn't want to be a burden to you."
There was a long silence. Gallows stared at her, then shifted his gaze back to the door. "...Alright, Genevieve. Wait for me here obediently."
Genevieve felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She sighed in relief internally, though outwardly she remained bowed. Gallows hummed, acknowledging her briefly before he began to chant.
"Ani hakavod Shelcha."
He bit his finger and pressed it to the wood. Silence followed; nothing happened. Genevieve, still bowing, grew puzzled and lifted her head. Suddenly, she felt herself falling. ...Huh? Before she could comprehend the sensation, her body hit the ground and she lost consciousness.
"...Yue, send Genevieve back to her hometown in Vrynshire for a vacation."
Gallows commanded.
Immediately, her body was dragged away into the shadows. With a low rumble, the door opened. Gallows stepped inside, unfazed, and the heavy door closed behind him, plunging the room into darkness. At the center stood a single pedestal holding a book. A mystical light fell upon it, lending it an ethereal air. Gallows sat and began to read.
As he did, a golden light enveloped the book and his eyes began to glow. He shifted into a lotus position and closed his eyes. Images flashed through his mind: legions rising, blood flowing, nine massive crystals, and a cathedral collapsing as a new religion took the world by storm. At the center, he saw a boy whose facial features were obscured, standing among shadows that bent and coiled around him, utterly subservient. Behind the boy stood a huge black beast of uncanny intelligence and ferocity. Out from the darkness, men and women in black and purple robes surrounded him, while the mirage of a towering giant loomed over the group.
Gallows broke into a sweat; what he saw terrified him. He took a step back and heard a voice.
"'Gallows, do you see this?'"
Gallows' head snapped toward the sound. A figure of pure light appeared. He knelt immediately.
'"Lord, you have come. This servant greets you."'
The figure hovered forward, feet never touching the ground, and smiled.
"I believe my Apostle sees what I see, right?"
"Yes... What do we do, Lord?"
The figure stared at Gallows, grinning wider as they pointed at the boy in the vision.
"'It's simple... Find and kill that boy. If you get him, there is no problem.'"
Gallows looked back at the image of the boy, calculating, then bowed.
"As you wish, Lord."
"'Excellent! I await news of your success, Gallows... Oh, and if you complete this task, I can finally fulfill your wish..."'
A cold glint flashed in Gallows' eyes as he stared at the floor. He bowed once more.
"Yes, Lord."
The figure chuckled.
"'Goodbye, my Vessel..."'
Gallows felt a wave of dizziness, like he was falling. After an unknown amount of time, he awakened. He shot up straight, gasping for breath, the book still in his hands. He took a deep breath, stood up, replaced the book on the pedestal, and walked out.
Once outside, he called out,
"Yue..."
A pair of ice-blue eyes glowed in a dark corner of the hallway.
"Yes?"
"Send word to the Church... I have received a prophecy from our God."
"A prophecy? What kind of prophecy would make you this anxious?"
Gallows' gaze remained cold. Yue fell silent, looking terrified.
"Send word,"
Gallows continued, his eyes flashing with a shrewd, hard light.
"I must meet the Pope and begin an investigation."
He thought to himself. 'If I dispose of that, I can finally gain what I want from that bastard of a god!'