Chapter 152

Chapter 152. The Strongest Hero (2)

****

*Clang.*

Hundreds of shell casings were scattered across the floor of the temple corridor. On the other side, dozens of humanoid corpses lay sprawled.

All of them were killed by me. Were they mimics or something? Whatever they were, one thing was certain—they were human-shaped things with two legs and two arms.

Nearby, a Popo was groaning as it dragged over an ammo crate.

[This is terrifying.]

“Well, it’s not like this is anything new.”

It was the same in Yulje-myeon and other battlefields that didn’t need listing. These human imitations aren’t even a nuisance.

Unless they’re trained human soldiers armed with modern weapons, they can’t even buy time.

[Ahead.]

*Screech—* *Boom.* A mechanical monster, turned into swiss cheese by special ammunition, collapsed in front of me.

The floor was soaked in dark red blood, and fragments of lead were scattered like salt. It’s slippery. I carefully moved my feet.

You can’t stop me with this. To face me, you’d need an ancient god, a fleet, or a Special Forces team with air support.

“We’re almost at the center of the temple.”

If we keep going like this, it’s over.

****

Soon, we reached the center of the temple. A hollow space the size of an auditorium. At the center of the space stood a structure.

This is the heart of the Abyss. Or at least something closest to the heart of the Abyss.

“Ah. We’ve arrived.”

It exuded a sinister aura.

Black smoke rising from the heart of the Abyss.

This entity, like Cernunnos, radiated a power that overwhelmed the space.

The air trembled with the breath of the ancient god, and the dreams of the ancient god seemed to create murals on the surrounding walls. That’s the source of the cognitive disaster murals we’ve seen in this temple so far.

I just knew it instinctively.

[Is that the heart of the Abyss?]

“Seems like it.”

After adjusting my night vision goggles, I picked up binoculars and looked at the center of the facility. It’s a huge pit. It’s so similar to the facility that contained Cernunnos in the Garden.

It’s almost as if they copied it.

“It’s too similar to the Garden facility.”

[Occult symbolism. A radial, closed structure designed to contain something massive, with a reverse Panopticon structure to monitor and control the entity at the center, both practically and magically.]

Reverse Panopticon.

I think it was mentioned before.

If the original Panopticon was designed for one guard to observe as many prisoners as possible without being observed, what the Foundation or these entities created is the opposite. It’s a structure centered around one entity, designed to observe it.

“It’s only natural they’d be similar.”

[A kind of convergent evolution.]

Anyway, let’s keep going.

The interior of the underground space was bizarre.

It was filled with incomprehensible structures. Some might be tools used by humanoids, others might be magical tools for sealing or maintaining the facility.

At least there’s plenty of cover for fighting.

The facility wasn’t completely devoid of hostile entities, but it felt eerily empty. Many pieces of equipment were covered in dust and cobwebs.

Has their civilization declined? Was the facility abandoned? Or is there something else going on?

[Have you read Lovecraft?]

“Yes.”

[There are those starfish-like aliens. They ruled Earth and created humanity, but their civilization was destroyed by the tentacles of the shoggoths they enslaved. Only a few survived.]

I thought they were similar to those aliens.

They weren’t real aliens, but something shaped by humanity’s belief in aliens. Without physical form.

What I wanted to say was this.

The facilities they built, the tools they used, were just grotesque imitations of reality. Nothing recognizable. It’s the same this time.

Anyway.

[Well, one thing is clear. They are losers. Defeated beings driven underground, their facilities and ancient civilization’s remnants. All just hiding like moles.]

The Abyss calls me. Its murmurs are palpable on my skin. Its voice is audible. I didn’t plan to jump into the Abyss like the Special Forces Science Officer, but…

It’s true that it’s calling me.

****

Even though we were still indoors, bizarre black birds were flying overhead.

No, not entirely black. The tips of their wings and tail feathers were fluorescent.

“They won’t attack, right?”

[Who knows, they’re just birds.]

The Abyss is right in front of us.

Shouldn’t look directly into the Abyss, right?

I’m curious, though. Let’s check our surroundings one last time. I reloaded my weapon and scanned the area. No hostile entities around.

“Dr. Lee. Could you check what the Abyss is? If you can see it, that is.”

[I don’t know either.]

Above us, the black birds I saw earlier began to gather. Like crows flocking to a battlefield, drawn by the scent of iron.

Well. Let’s not worry about it for now.

We reached the Abyss.

Now, there’s only one thing to do. Try talking to the Abyss. It would’ve been better if Dr. Chae or another sorcery expert were here, but…

Since they’re not, let’s just go with what we have.

“Abyss! I’ve come.”

I shouted as loud as I could. The audio device on my helmet amplified my voice.

Why call the Abyss? Well. Why has the Abyss been calling me and others all this time? I can’t say.

It’s happened many times, but this time, I couldn’t resist my curiosity. I just wanted to face the Abyss before it could persuade me.

[Not sure if this is a good idea.]

“Do you only have good ideas in life?”

This is an adventure to satisfy curiosity.

*Thud, thud, thud.*

The song coming from the Abyss.

The drumbeat of the song, whose existence was doubtful, grew louder. The black birds flew more frantically. The flapping of their wings could be heard from here.

Strange bird cries began to echo.

Like mocking laughter.

*Thud, thud, thud.*

Deep within the Abyss.

Something began to emerge from the pit at the center of the facility. Black energy spread, and a shape slowly formed behind the mist. Very slowly, a massive monster appeared.

What on earth.

****

It’s incomprehensible and indescribable. Let’s try to express it in human language, as countless artists and scientists have done before.

It was a massive, serpent-like being. An elongated form. The monster’s mouth had three rows of teeth, and behind its head were organs resembling gills, like those of an Uparupa.

Eyes as tall as a person stared down at me.

“Human. A human has come to find me.”

I resisted the urge to empty my magazine into the monster’s eyes. I have no idea what this entity is or what it wants.

“No, you are no mere insect. You are a high priest, a god, the master of the Pantheon.”

As expected.

Supernatural phenomena are, by definition, unpredictable. But the reactions of a god who is an object of worship are, frankly, limited.

Not much different from Cernunnos.

Manual, manual, manual. Let’s recall how to talk to gods. Of course, the Foundation highly recommends not having to talk to them, but…

“Is that so?”

The manual says this.

If you’ve read Tolkien’s *The Hobbit*, you’ll remember the scene where Bilbo exchanges riddles and banter with Smaug. That scene is quite well-researched in occult terms.

First. Some transcendent beings enjoy riddles, banter, or talking. There are times when negotiation or conversation with gods is possible.

Second. If you make even one mistake, the transcendent being might obliterate a nearby city. So, it’s recommended not to try.

The manual’s content was mostly true. At least it worked with Cernunnos.

The monster opened a few more pairs of eyes.

“What shall I call you, spearhead of the Foundation, high priest of science, master of the imprisoned Pantheon? What do you desire? What do you propose?”

Good.

My reputation has grown so much that even nameless gods recognize me. It seems they can see my true identity.

I lowered my gun and carefully placed my hand on the hilt of Niguras-5.

“Free me from this cursed building. Mere insects. For eons, they have imprisoned me. Their civilization has crumbled. All I can do is wait for these chains to rust.”

I couldn’t see any chains. Is it a sealing spell? Or is it referring to the building itself?

Anyway. It seems it’s truly imprisoned. As I nodded, the massive serpent raised its head and slowly began to rise.

It was incomparable to the cute divine-class entity I saw in Yulje-myeon. It was big enough to swallow a small warship whole. I frowned.

“What can I offer you?”

The serpent looked down at me as if yawning.

“I’ve thought of something. Pick up your weapon, hero. I shall duel you. The winning deity shall grant the other’s wish.”

This serpent god, its personality is…

Should I say cute? Or just simple?

“Alright.”

The sea I longed for. I still have the Foundation’s high-powered assets, which I haven’t had a chance to use yet.