"Seal it!"

Seraphine’s voice exploded across the underground sanctum the moment the gate cracked wider.

Guards rushed forward instantly despite the obvious terror on their faces.

Honestly brave.

Also probably suicidal.

Massive silver chains rattled violently throughout the chamber while the ancient gate groaned beneath the pressure pushing from the other side.

That golden eye remained fixed directly on Mason, smiling.

Mason pointed weakly toward the horrifying prison gate. "I would just like to officially state that I deeply reject whatever this situation is."

Nobody responded.

Mostly because the sanctum was actively collapsing.

Several guards slammed fresh sealing anchors into the stone floor while priests from the upper temple hurried down the circular stairways carrying glowing scripture tablets.

The moment they entered the chamber, however, every single priest stopped moving.

One of them immediately paled.

"...That cannot be awake."

Assura’s crimson gaze shifted toward them. "Leave."

The priests obeyed immediately.

Honestly understandable.

The golden eye beyond the gate blinked slowly.

Then the voice returned.

"Mortal flesh carrying fractured divinity..."

Athlian recoiled violently inside Mason.

’Do not answer it.’

"I was not planning to start a conversation with the nightmare prison god."

’It is listening.’

"That somehow keeps getting worse every Chapter."

Draca stepped directly in front of Mason again while keeping one hand on the hilt of his sword.

The commander’s expression remained calm, but Mason noticed the tension in his shoulders immediately.

Draca was worried.

That felt alarmingly rare.

Seraphine moved beside the gate cautiously while Zereth’s shadows spread across the walls around the fracture itself.

"The opening is expanding," she said sharply.

"It feeds on resonance," Assura answered.

Mason rubbed his forehead tiredly. "You people really need a less terrifying vocabulary."

Another violent tremor rolled through the underground sanctum.

This time the ceiling cracked overhead.

Stone debris crashed down nearby while silver light poured through widening fractures above them.

Somewhere far above the capital, the chained creature roared again.

The sound shook the entire underground prison.

And suddenly...

The thing behind the gate laughed.

"He still calls for us."

Athlian froze.

Mason felt it immediately.

Not fear this time but dangerous recognition.

He lowered his voice internally. "You know who it means."

’Yes.’

"...That is an extremely concerning yes."

Before she could continue, Zereth suddenly stepped closer toward the fracture.

Silver eyes narrowed carefully.

"You are not part of the Tribunal."

The golden eye shifted slowly toward him.

"No."

Zereth’s shadows twisted harder along the stone floor.

"Then what are you?"

The thing beyond the gate smiled wider.

"Forgotten."

Several guards visibly shivered.

Saleem looked moments away from emotional death again.

Mason honestly respected his consistency.

Draca glanced slightly toward Assura.

"You know its identity."

The ancient being remained silent briefly, before he responded.

"Yes."

Seraphine looked furious immediately. "And you still refuse to explain anything."

"Because explanation changes nothing."

"That is not your decision to make."

Tiny tension spread through the chamber instantly.

Mason noticed several guards subtly watching Assura now with increasing unease.

The ancient nightmare man kept revealing world-ending information in emotionally damaging fragments.

Not ideal leadership communication.

The gate suddenly shook violently again.

CRACK.

Another fracture spread across the center seal.

The golden eye widened slightly.

And silver markings exploded outward across the chamber floor.

Guards shouted.

One of the scripture anchors shattered instantly.

Seraphine reacted immediately.

"Reinforce the western binding circle!"

Several soldiers rushed toward the damaged seal formation.

Mason immediately moved backward.

"Excellent. Everyone else engages in the cosmic prison problem while I contribute emotional support from a safe distance."

"You are not leaving," Assura said calmly.

"...I hate when you say things calmly."

Athlian stirred uneasily inside him.

’The fracture is reacting to us together.’

"Us together keep causing disasters."

’You are not helping morale either.’

"Morale died three Chapters ago."

Fair statement honestly.

Draca glanced toward Mason again.

"You should remain near me."

Athlian immediately noticed the warmth in Mason’s chest.

’Again.’

"I am currently prioritizing survival."

’Mmhm.’

Another roar echoed from above.

This one is louder.

Dust rained from the ceiling again while several chains hanging across the sanctum snapped violently.

One crashed directly toward Mason.

Draca moved instantly.

His sword flashed upward.

Steel collided against a silver chain hard enough to send sparks exploding across the chamber.

The impact forced him back half a step.

Which was deeply concerning because Draca was terrifyingly strong.

Mason stared at the broken chain lying beside them.

"...That felt aggressively personal."

The thing beyond the gate laughed again.

"He protects what does not belong."

Silence slammed through the sanctum.

Zereth’s gaze shifted slowly toward Mason.

Athlian immediately panicked.

’Do not let him connect it.’

"I am trying."

Unfortunately Mason’s brain chose that exact moment to remember another deeply important problem.

The thing behind the gate had used his name.

A name nobody here should know but obviously Draca knew the name and he’s yet to get the answer from him on how he gets to know the name.

Draca noticed his expression immediately.

"Mason."

Every instinct inside Mason screamed.

Oops.

Tiny silence followed.

Then Seraphine slowly looked toward him.

"...You called Athlian by a different name."

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Draca froze briefly.

Mason’s brain immediately entered survival mode.

"Right."

He pointed weakly toward the gate.

"So technically this is not the best time for identity discussions."

Nobody looked convinced.

Zereth’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Assura remained completely silent.

Which somehow felt worse.

Draca recovered first.

"It was a battlefield mistake."

Seraphine frowned. "That does not explain the name."

Mason immediately raised one finger.

"Counterpoint. I say weird things constantly and people emotionally absorb them against their will."

Saleem blinked rapidly. "...That is strangely believable."

"Thank you."

Zereth continued staring at Mason.

Far too observant.

Athlian sounded deeply tense now.

’He suspects contradiction again.’

"Yes because our lives apparently revolve around contradiction lately."

Before the conversation could become more dangerous, the gate exploded outward slightly.

Silver chains burst across the chamber again.

Guards shouted.

Several sealing anchors shattered instantly.

And this time...

A second hand emerged from the fracture.

Pale skin.

Covered in silver condemnation markings.

The thing behind the gate slowly gripped the opening with both hands.

Then pulled.

The entire sanctum shook violently.

Athlian’s fear slammed through Mason hard enough to make breathing painful.

’If it escapes...’

"You know, every sentence you start lately feels emotionally catastrophic."

Assura stepped forward immediately.

Crimson symbols ignited across the floor beneath him in massive circles.

Reality bent violently.

The expanding fracture slowed.

But only slightly.

This thing could actually resist Assura.

That felt deeply illegal.

The ancient being’s voice lowered dangerously.

"You remain imprisoned."

The thing behind the gate tilted its unseen head slightly.

"Do we?"

And suddenly every silver chain throughout the sanctum rattled at once.

Several guards collapsed immediately clutching their heads.

Mason felt pressure slam against his thoughts mentally.

Something ancient pressing against the soul bridge between him and Athlian.

Fragments flashed violently through his mind.

Burning heavens.

A battlefield above clouds.

Gods screaming.

Silver chains dragging broken wings across endless light.

Then golden eyes staring downward.

The vision vanished instantly.

He staggered but Draca caught him immediately.

"Stay with me."

’You feel safer with him.’ Athlian muttered.

"I feel safer with stable people generally."

’That is not the same thing.’

Before Mason could argue, Zereth suddenly moved.

His shadows surged directly toward the gate itself.

Black tendrils wrapped around the widening fracture while silver symbols ignited beneath his feet.

Mason had never seen him use this much power openly before.

The chamber darkened instantly.

Even Seraphine looked surprised.

Zereth’s voice remained calm.

"You are destabilizing the lower seals."

The thing behind the gate laughed softly.

"And you still serve them."

For the first time since meeting him...Zereth’s expression actually changed. Pain crossed his face briefly before vanishing again.

Mason noticed immediately.

So did Athlian. ’Interesting.’

"Yes," Mason thought carefully. "Very interesting."

Assura’s gaze shifted toward Zereth.

The ancient being noticed too.

Dangerous information silently exchanged between immortals apparently.

Mason deeply hated being surrounded by people with mysterious history.

Then suddenly the thing behind the gate spoke again.

This time directly toward Mason.

"You hear her fear."

Athlian froze.

The chamber quieted instantly.

"She remembers the chains."

Mason forced himself not to react.

Internally however? Several emotional alarms.

Seraphine’s gaze sharpened immediately.

"What does that mean?"

Nobody answered.

Draca subtly stepped closer toward Mason again.

The thing behind the gate noticed apparently.

"How loyal mortals become around divinity."

Mason immediately pointed weakly. "You know, I liked you significantly more before you started speaking."

The golden eye narrowed slightly.

Then unexpectedly, It laughed.

The sound echoed through the sanctum like grinding chains.

"He carries humor even now."

Athlian sounded shaken. ’It remembers too much.’

"What exactly is it?!"

Before she could answer, another violent roar exploded from above.

This time followed by human screaming.

Seraphine turned sharply toward the upper stairways.

"That came from the capital."

A wounded guard suddenly stumbled down the staircase leading into the sanctum.

Bleeding heavily.

"Commander!"

Draca immediately turned.

"The chained creature breached the second barrier!"

Silence hit the chamber.

Saleem nearly collapsed emotionally.

"The second barrier?!"

"The outer districts are freezing completely! Entire streets are trapped inside silver light!"

Mason blinked rapidly. "...Right. I forgot the sky apocalypse was still happening too."

Wonderful multitasking disasters.

Seraphine cursed sharply. "How long until it reaches the palace?"

The guard swallowed hard.

"At this pace? Less than an hour."

Athlian’s fear surged again.

’It cannot reach the sanctum.’

"Why?" Mason asked but she remained muted.

Assura suddenly turned toward the staircase.

"Seal every entrance above this chamber."

Seraphine frowned immediately. "You intend to trap us down here?"

"If the creature above reaches the gate, the fracture will fully open."

Nobody liked that sentence.

Especially Mason.

"I would once again like to request manageable political corruption instead of cosmic horror."

Zereth ignored him completely.

His attention remained fixed on the gate.

"...Something changed."

Everyone turned instantly.

The golden eye beyond the fracture had shifted away from Mason.

Now it stared upward.

Toward the ceiling.

And slowly...the thing behind the gate smiled wider.

"He found the capital."

The entire sanctum trembled violently.

Then somewhere directly above them, a deafening crash exploded through the palace foundations.

And all at once...

Every silver chain in the underground prison snapped.