Call of Abyss

Chapter 4

In the center of a dark and gloomy hall, a man with his limbs bound by ropes lay on an altar.

At the head of the man stood a tall man wearing a black hooded cloak, holding something like a scripture in his hand, while six or seven people in similar hooded cloaks surrounded the altar in a circle.

"It's still gloomy and dreary here.

In this day and age, how long do you plan to maintain the atmosphere of a medieval secret gathering?"

Suddenly, breaking the tense and heavy silence, a woman in a black dress and black veil entered the hall and spoke.

"Oh, messenger of the freely wandering black star,

your attire doesn't quite match the times either."

"Hmph, your master has such a fondness for the antique that I matched my outfit just for today."

"You must be busy, so what brings you here?"

"I heard I could witness the Central Dogma ritual today, so I made some time.

I've always had a bit of interest."

"Let me warn you in advance, it might not be a pleasant sight."

"Elder Cosimo, don't worry about that.

I've lived many times longer than you and have seen all sorts of sights."

"Understood. Then let's begin."

Elder Cosimo gestured to one of the people surrounding the altar to come closer.

"Now, we'll begin your Central Dogma Stage 2 ritual, Gas Mask.

This sacrifice is without any issues, right?

We can't allow the same mistake as a year ago."

"Yes, Elder Cosimo. He has a bad connection with me and has no twin brother."

"Then remove the gas mask and reveal his sins."

"Yes, understood."

Gas Mask removed the hood and gas mask and looked at the man on the altar.

"His name is Kang Daewoong. Ten years ago, he was the president of the company my wife worked for.

He used his social status to threaten and coax my wife into committing adultery and abandoning our family.

Knowing my wife's heart had completely left me, I had no choice but to agree to her divorce request, but my son, who was a middle schooler at the time, was so mentally shocked that he became a recluse for a long time.

Of course, after becoming an adult, he applied to the Special Forces to overcome his weakness....

Elder Cosimo, you know what happened to my son after that.

In hindsight, the misfortunes of me and my son began with this shameless man."

"Gas Mask, I feel your pain and anger.

I confirm that he is a worthy sacrifice to offer to our master dreaming in the abyss.

Now place the Luca in the sinner's mouth and recite the commandments."

At Elder Cosimo's words, Gas Mask took out a test tube from his pocket.

"So this is what you call the Grace of the Abyss, the Luca.

May I take a look?"

"Oh, messenger of the freely wandering black star, this is...."

"Skip the grand title and just call me Nia, Elder Cosimo.

I'm not asking for the Luca, just to take a look. Is that not allowed?"

After a moment of hesitation, Elder Cosimo nodded to Gas Mask.

Gas Mask sighed softly and handed the test tube to Nia.

"Indeed.... This creature called Luca resembles your master quite a bit.

Although, if I were to compare, it's just a flake that fell off him, but from your perspective, it possesses enough powerful force to be called grace."

Nia said while examining the test tube.

Inside the test tube, a small tentacled creature resembling a squid was swimming in transparent liquid.

"I've seen enough, so proceed with the ritual.

I'm very curious to see what you'll do with this small, wondrous creature."

Nia smiled and returned the test tube to Gas Mask.

Gas Mask took back the test tube from Nia and approached Daewoong, who was tied to the altar, and removed the gag from his mouth.

"You're Ji-young's husband. I've heard everything.

It's all a misunderstanding. I didn't seduce Ji-young; she seduced me first."

Hearing Daewoong's words, Gas Mask immediately punched him in the face.

Daewoong's nose bled and his face was covered in blood from Gas Mask's fierce punch.

"Calm down, Gas Mask. The sacrifice must not lose consciousness or die before the ritual is complete."

Elder Cosimo was surprised by Gas Mask's sudden action and restrained him.

"Please save me. I was wrong. I'll give you whatever you want."

"What I want, you can no longer give."

Gas Mask forcibly opened Daewoong's mouth and poured the liquid from the test tube inside.

Finally, the Luca, escaping from the narrow test tube, quickly traveled down Daewoong's throat and into his stomach.

"First Commandment: I deny all incompetent and lawless false gods and believe that my master dreaming in the abyss is the true god of humanity.

Second Commandment: I believe that only my master's will dreaming in the abyss is the sole path for humanity to reach truth, goodness, and beauty, and I will follow my master's will in all things.

Third Commandment: I will eliminate all that hinders my master dreaming in the abyss, and I will use the divine power bestowed by my master solely to eliminate my master's enemies and fulfill my master's will."

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

As Gas Mask recited the commandments, the devotees surrounding Gas Mask and the altar chanted the same incantation repeatedly.

As the Luca entered Daewoong's body, he began to writhe in extreme pain.

"This is certainly interesting. But does the Luca have to be placed inside the sacrifice's body?

It seems like there could be a way for the apostles to directly receive power from the Luca."

"Nia, of course, we've researched various ways to directly obtain power from the Grace of the Abyss, but we've concluded that there's no way to gain power from the Grace of the Abyss without going through a sacrifice.

As you can see, if the Grace of the Abyss is directly accepted into the body, the human flesh cannot withstand the poison and power of the Grace of the Abyss and quickly collapses."

"So, in the end, the sacrifice is a kind of filter."

"Yes, think of it as a filter that removes the poison and passes only the pure power to the apostle."

Elder Cosimo's answer seemed to pique Nia's interest in the Central Dogma ritual, as she moved closer to the altar and began to observe Daewoong.

Daewoong continued to writhe for a while before finally losing consciousness and going limp.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

As Gas Mask chanted the incantation, numerous small holes appeared on Daewoong's body, and blood began to flow out, forming a small ball in the air.

As the blood-made ball grew to a certain size, Gas Mask turned his back to the altar, took off his shirt, and knelt.

A pair of red wing-shaped tattoos was engraved on Gas Mask's back.

"Oh, master dreaming in the abyss, grant your servant great power."

With Elder Cosimo's cry, the floating ball of blood slowly flew towards Gas Mask and was absorbed into his back.

Gas Mask trembled as if in agony but did not scream.

Once the blood ball was fully absorbed, another pair of red wing tattoos was engraved on Gas Mask's back.

"Congratulations, Gas Mask. With this, you've become a Level 2 Apostle.

Ordinary humans, as well as that teacher who stole your power, can no longer be your match."

"Thank you, Elder Cosimo. I will use this power for my master dreaming in the abyss."

Gas Mask, still kneeling, bowed to Elder Cosimo.

"So this is the Central Dogma ritual.

It was much more interesting than I thought."

"I'm glad Nia is satisfied."

"Now that I've seen the Central Dogma ritual, is it okay if I meet your leader?"

"Our leader?"

Elder Cosimo was very surprised by Nia's sudden request.

"Didn't you come just to see the Central Dogma ritual today?"

"Of course, that's one of the purposes, but do you think I came all the way here just for that?"

"The leader is not here right now."

"To not participate in the Central Dogma ritual, which is held in such high regard, and to be absent....

This is somehow becoming interesting."

Elder Cosimo looked at the expressions of the devotees surrounding himself and Nia.

They were all noticeably agitated.

"You already knew the leader wasn't here, didn't you?"

"Hehe.... Then shall I change my question?

Can you tell me where your leader is right now?"

"I'm sorry, but even if you are the messenger of the Black Star, I cannot casually reveal the whereabouts of the leader."

"If that's Elder Cosimo's thought, then I have my own methods."

Nia finished speaking, looked around, and pointed at one person with her finger.

"Devour."

At that moment, a black, gigantic figure burst out from the shadow beneath Nia's feet and swallowed the person she pointed at in the blink of an eye, then returned to Nia's shadow.

"Tracer!"

"The taste is quite decent. As expected, this person had the ability to find people, just as I anticipated."

"Lady Nia, what have you done with Tracer?"

"Don't worry. Now he has become a part of me and will live an eternal and immortal life with me."

"Lady Nia!"

Nia, ignoring Elder Cosimo's shout, smacked her lips as if savoring the taste of food, with her eyes closed.

"Having absorbed this person's ability, I now know where your leader is, so I'll be on my way.

Congratulations on the success of the Central Dogma ritual."

"Lady Nia, you cannot leave like this.

Tracer was a very valuable asset to us."

"So what?"

Behind Nia, the black figure seen earlier surged up once more.

Upon closer inspection by Elder Cosimo, it appeared to be a shape resembling a black snake, coiled behind Nia, glaring at Elder Cosimo and the devotees with burning red eyes.

Elder Cosimo, struck with fear, stood speechless.

"Invite me again if there's something more interesting to watch next time, Elder Cosimo."

Nia smiled and turned to leave.

The black snake disappeared swiftly beneath Nia's feet once more.

Elder Cosimo and the devotees could only stare blankly at Nia's departing figure, and silence filled the wide, dark hall once again.