Nobody seemed to move because the underground sanctum had fallen completely silent.

Even the chains hanging across the massive cavern seemed to stop rattling for one impossible moment.

Mason stared at the gate.

At the golden eye watching him through the widening fracture.

At the thing smiling from the darkness beyond the seal.

And most importantly...

At the fact that it had just said his name.

Athlian’s fear slammed through him so violently his chest hurt.

’Do not answer it.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Oh trust me," Mason thought rapidly, "that was already the plan."

The gate groaned louder.

Ancient silver chains tightened across the surface while glowing scripture moved wildly along the stone like living creatures trying desperately to hold the seal together.

Draca stepped directly in front of him instantly.

Unfortunately everyone else had heard the name too.

Seraphine’s expression hardened sharply.

Zereth’s eyes narrowed.

Saleem looked spiritually destroyed.

And Assura looked furious.

Actually furious.

The thing behind the gate laughed softly.

"That expression again," it whispered. "You always looked at us like that, Warden."

Athlian froze.

Mason felt it immediately.

Cold realization, an old memory.

’It remembers the old world.’

"Well unfortunately I absolutely do not," Mason replied internally.

The golden eye shifted slightly.

Watching him.

Like it was trying to see through him.

Draca’s grip tightened slightly around his sword.

"Step away from the seal."

The thing behind the gate ignored him completely.

Instead the eye focused entirely on Mason.

"She buried herself deeply this time."

Mason immediately pointed toward the gate.

"Nope. Absolutely not. We are not doing cryptic soul conversations tonight."

To his horror...

The thing laughed harder.

Apparently cosmic prisoners enjoyed sarcasm.

Another tremor shook the sanctum.

Several chains snapped overhead with deafening metallic cracks.

Guards shouted while fragments of stone crashed into the floor nearby.

Seraphine moved quickly between the soldiers.

"Fall back from the gate!"

The guards obeyed immediately.

Mostly because survival instincts remained functional.

Good for them.

Zereth continued staring toward Mason now.

Not openly suspicious but observantly.

’Careful.’ Athlian warned

"Yes," Mason thought weakly. "That emotion has become my full-time occupation."

Assura finally stepped forward.

Crimson symbols ignited beneath his feet again while distorted pressure spread violently across the sanctum.

"Enough."

The single word shook the chains overhead.

The golden eye narrowed slightly.

It seems apparently the creature respected Assura enough to become cautious.

The ancient being raised one hand toward the gate.

"You should still be sleeping."

"And you," the voice answered softly, "should still be dead."

Silence followed.

Mason immediately disliked the emotional implications.

Very complicated ancient history energy.

Athlian stirred uneasily inside him.

’Do not provoke it.’

"Wonderful advice," Mason replied internally. "Would appreciate instructions on literally everything else too."

The fracture in the gate pulsed brighter.

Silver markings spread farther across the stone.

Then suddenly...

The unconscious soldier near Zereth twitched violently.

Everyone turned.

The silver markings across his skin had started moving again.

Like living scripture beneath flesh.

Saleem immediately stepped backward.

"By the Tribunal..."

The soldier’s eyes snapped open.

Pure silver.

No pupils.

No humanity.

Then he smiled again.

"Heaven forgot the lock."

Draca moved instantly.

His sword slammed against the floor beside the soldier’s head hard enough to crack stone.

"Speak clearly."

The possessed guard only laughed.

Then slowly turned his head toward Mason.

"He walks with her soul."

Athlian’s panic surged.

Mason’s stomach dropped.

Zereth’s shadows exploded violently around the soldier before he could continue.

Darkness wrapped around the possessed guard’s throat instantly.

"Enough speaking."

That reaction felt deliberate.

Like Zereth did not want the sentence finished.

The soldier’s body convulsed once before going limp again.

The silver markings faded slowly afterward.

Silence filled the sanctum.

Seraphine looked toward Zereth sharply.

"You stopped him quickly."

Zereth’s expression remained unreadable.

"He was compromised."

Mason noticed Assura watching Zereth now.

Interesting tension there too.

Honestly this entire group needed emotional therapy.

And possibly exorcisms.

Draca lowered his sword slightly before glancing back toward Mason.

"You should leave this chamber."

"Absolutely not."

Several people looked at him.

Mason crossed his arms immediately.

"Every horrifying thing tonight keeps emotionally targeting me. If I leave, I guarantee the underground nightmare follows."

"...Emotionally targeting?" Seraphine repeated.

"Focus on the important parts."

Athlian sounded exhausted.

’You cope poorly under pressure.’

"I cope excellently actually. I’m still alive."

’Barely.’

Another deep roar echoed from somewhere above the sanctum.

The entire cavern shook violently.

Dust poured from the ceiling.

One of the guards looked upward nervously.

"The creature above the capital..."

"It’s descending farther," Seraphine finished grimly.

Assura’s crimson gaze remained fixed on the gate.

"The fractures are resonating together now."

Mason rubbed his forehead.

"Again with the terrible unexplained phrases."

This time Zereth answered.

"The sky fracture and the seal fracture are connected."

"...Unfortunately that sounded understandable."

"The creature above is trying to force the prison open from outside reality."

Mason blinked.

"That sentence became confusing again immediately."

Athlian finally spoke quietly inside him.

’The heavens are layered.’

"Wonderful. Spatial nightmare cosmology."

’The prison exists between divine boundaries.’

"That somehow made it worse."

Before Athlian could continue, the thing behind the gate spoke again.

"She explains poorly."

Mason stared at the fracture. "...You know what? Rude."

To his horror, several guards looked confused because technically he had just argued with the wall.

Seraphine pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You’re talking to it now?"

"I’m coping dynamically."

"No one knows what that means."

"Neither do I."

Draca looked tired suddenly.

Honestly relatable.

The gate groaned louder.

The marked hand forced farther through the fracture now.

Not fully free.

But enough for them to see the silver condemnation markings wrapping around pale skin.

Ancient wounds covered the wrist beneath the scripture.

Some of them are still bleeding gold.

Athlian recoiled inside Mason instantly.

’Those wounds should not still exist.’

"Immortal healing apparently has terrible customer service."

She almost laughed.

Then suddenly the golden eye shifted toward Draca.

The thing behind the gate studied him silently for several long seconds.

Then softly it said. "The loyal knight again."

Mason froze.

Draca’s expression sharpened instantly.

"What did you say?"

Athlian’s emotions twisted painfully.

Mason noticed immediately.

"...Athlian?"

No answer.

The thing laughed quietly.

"She always chooses the same kind of soul."

"Oh absolutely not," Mason muttered.

Seraphine looked toward him sharply.

"You understand what it’s saying?"

"No. And I would deeply prefer to continue not understanding."

Assura finally moved closer toward the gate itself.

Crimson pressure spread harder across the sanctum.

The chains overhead rattled violently in response.

"You speak too much."

"And you still hide the fracture."

The ancient being’s expression darkened further.

Apparently everyone kept using that phrase intentionally.

Mason hated it.

A loud crack suddenly echoed through the cavern.

Everyone looked upward instantly.

One of the enormous support chains attached to the ceiling had snapped completely.

It crashed downward like a falling tower.

Directly toward the group.

Draca reacted first.

He grabbed Mason instantly and pulled him backward across the stone floor while Seraphine slammed her spear upward to redirect part of the falling chain.

The impact shook the entire sanctum violently.

Debris exploded across the chamber.

Several guards shouted.

One was thrown against a pillar hard enough to collapse unconscious.

Mason coughed through the dust.

"Okay! New request! Less collapsing architecture!"

Draca’s arm was still around him.

’You stopped panicking.’ Athlian muttered.

"I’m busy surviving."

’You trust him.’

Mason opened his mouth.

Paused.

Then immediately changed subjects internally.

"The giant prison monster knows him somehow. Focus on that."

Cowardly emotional strategy.

Effective emotional strategy.

The thing behind the gate smiled wider.

"He still protects her first."

Draca slowly released Mason before stepping forward again.

His voice remained calm.

"Who are you?"

The golden eye narrowed slightly.

Then the thing answered.

"A memory Heaven failed to erase."

Mason stared blankly.

"...Every ancient being in this world speaks like cursed poetry."

Saleem whispered nervously toward Seraphine.

"I truly believe we are all going to die."

"Helpful," she replied flatly.

Honestly fair response.

Another tremor rolled beneath the sanctum.

But this time it felt different.

Zereth’s shadows suddenly surged violently across the floor.

His expression changed immediately.

"There’s movement above us."

Seraphine tightened her grip on her spear.

"Soldiers?"

"No."

Bad answer.

Then suddenly...

A distant scream echoed through the upper corridors.

Everyone froze.

Another scream followed.

Then more.

Saleem looked horrified. "Something entered the palace."

Assura’s gaze sharpened instantly.

"The fracture widened."

Mason immediately pointed upward.

"So now we’re being attacked from ABOVE and BELOW?!"

"No," Zereth corrected quietly.

His eyes remained fixed on the tunnel leading back upward.

"Something came through the middle."

Wonderful.

That somehow sounded worse.

One of the guards near the rear entrance suddenly stumbled backward.

His face went pale.

"Commander..."

Everyone turned.

Something was moving inside the corridor beyond the sanctum entrance.

Slow footsteps.

Metal scraping softly against stone.

Then a figure emerged from the darkness.

A palace knight.

Or at least...something wearing palace armor.

The entire left side of the soldier’s body was covered in silver markings now.

One eye glowed faintly.

Chains dragged behind him.

Several more corrupted knights appeared behind him moments later.

Mason stared weakly.

"...You know what? I officially miss normal enemies."

The corrupted soldiers stopped moving.

Then all at once...

Every single one turned toward Mason.

Athlian’s fear spiked instantly.

’They feel the resonance.’

"Fantastic. Love being cosmically trackable."

Draca stepped forward without hesitation.

Sword raised to attack.

Seraphine moved beside him immediately.

Zereth’s shadows spread across the chamber floor like living smoke.

Even Assura turned away from the gate now because the situation had finally become dangerous enough to divide priorities.

The corrupted knights spoke together.

One voice.

Wrong voice.

"Return the fracture."

Mason immediately raised both hands.

"I genuinely do not know what that means!"

The knights charged.

Chaos exploded instantly.

Draca intercepted the first corrupted soldier head-on.

Steel collided violently inside the sanctum.

Seraphine’s spear flashed through the air beside him while Zereth’s shadows pinned another attacker against the wall hard enough to crack stone.

The corrupted knights moved strangely.

Silver markings glowed across their armor while broken chains whipped through the air around them.

Mason stumbled backward as one chain slammed into the floor near him hard enough to shatter rock.

"WHY are chains the main aesthetic tonight?!"

Athlian sounded alarmed.

’Behind you!’

Mason turned just in time to see another corrupted knight rushing toward him.

Absolutely terrible experience.

Before he could react,Draca appeared between them.

The commander’s sword crashed against the corrupted soldier’s blade with enough force to throw the attacker backward.

Then Draca grabbed Mason’s wrist again.

"Stay near me."

Simple sentences with a steady voice.

And somehow...

Mason’s panic eased immediately.

Athlian noticed.

Of course she did.

’Again.’

"Please survive first and emotionally judge me later."

The corrupted knight slowly stood again.

Silver light leaked from beneath the helmet now.

Then the thing spoke.

Not with the knight’s voice.

With the same voice behind the gate.

"You cannot keep him hidden forever."

Silence hit the chamber instantly.

Zereth’s eyes shifted toward Mason.

Seraphine stiffened.

Draca’s grip on his sword tightened.

Oops.

Massive catastrophic oops.

Athlian’s panic surged violently.

’It’s trying to expose you.’

"Wonderful. Great. Love that."

The corrupted knight tilted its head slowly.

Then looked directly at Draca.

"He already suspects."

Mason’s stomach dropped.

Draca’s expression did not change.

Which somehow felt worse.

The corrupted knight smiled beneath the glowing silver cracks spreading across its face.

And softly...

It spoke again.

"Ask him why he dreams of another life."