Mausoleum of the Moon's Shadow (1)
Mausoleum of the Moon's Shadow (1)
Sector One of the Abyss was also called the Mausoleum of the Moon's Shadow. The graveyard of forgotten ancient races. Those cursed and corrupted by the moon were buried here.
Every full moon, they began to convulse.
They clawed at their coffins like madmen, cursing the moon above.
The valley echoed with their howls.
Skrrrk, kzzzzzt, skkkrkkrk.
Under the full moon, the valley, dyed crimson, overflowed with ghostly energy.
The wailing of spirits endlessly resounded, and eerie cries clung to every ravine.
The fog blanketing the valley was miasma. Shadowy energy born from resentment and envy rose from all corners.
The origin of hatred and malice. The Valley of Death filled their vision.
Mapheltan folded his wings and landed on a massive cliff.
Beneath his feet, a pitch-black abyss spread wide. From its depths, ceaseless screams echoed.
Raguel stepped back, trembling. The cries and malice overwhelmed the blind boy with fear.
Mapheltan spoke calmly.
"One step back is a cliff. If you don’t want to plunge into the Abyss, stay put."
Raguel froze. Falling into that void was worse than death.
He muttered in a tense voice.
"...This is the Abyss."
Though he couldn’t see it, all his senses save sight were trembling in terror.
If he’d come alone, the fear would have driven him insane.
In contrast, Zal’karin’s face brimmed with ecstasy.
"An immeasurable malice fills this place! Where does this deep hatred and resentment come from? O Great End! The essence of the Abyss is seeping into this vile one!"
To demons, the Abyss was paradise.
Just breathing here could make even an imp evolve.
Mapheltan spoke.
"What are you talking about? We haven’t even crossed the Abyss's threshold yet."
Zal’karin and Raguel now shared the same confused expression.
"Great End, then what is this wicked place?"
"The Valley of Death. A passageway leading to the Abyss."
The so-called Valley of Death. It was where Johan was nearly abandoned by Gaf in the early part of the story.
Raguel flinched.
"...And this isn’t even the Abyss yet?"
Even the gateway to the Abyss was a hellish place for humans.
Mapheltan remained calm.
"If you want to turn back, this is your last chance. Once inside, we can't leave for two weeks. If you're going to quit, say it now."
Raguel bit his lip and clenched his fists.
More terrifying than the Abyss was the thought of living the rest of his life like this.
Blind and crippled, he couldn't endure it any longer.
He wanted a new, healthy body. He didn’t want to betray Mapheltan’s expectations.
With a trembling but determined voice, Raguel said,
"I won’t give up. I already made my decision."
Zal’karin cried out in admiration.
"For a human whelp, that was a bold answer! No wonder the Great End chose you!"
Raguel replied in disbelief.
"Whelp? You’re clearly younger than me."
Zal’karin was still an imp.
Seemingly struck by the truth, he flailed.
"W-what nonsense! I’m over 15 years old! I may still be an imp because I haven’t evolved, but soon I shall be reborn as the Fire of the Abyss!"
Demonic growth didn’t follow time. They evolved through special catalysts.
Raguel shook his head.
"You’re more like a campfire than an inferno."
"Fool! Even a great blaze begins as a tiny spark!"
"Yes, yes. Little spark demon."
"You limping blind brat!"
"Not for long. I’m saying goodbye to that life today, dummy."
Zal’karin's red face turned even redder.
The two bickered endlessly.
Mapheltan left them alone.
'Good, their fear is fading.'
A positive outcome. Too much fear would ruin everything.
A little tension was all that was needed.
He finally spoke.
"Enough."
The moment he spoke, Zal’karin hiccupped.
"F-forgive me! I was disgraceful!"
Raguel scratched his head awkwardly.
"...I forgot where we were for a second. Sorry."
Mapheltan chuckled.
"If you understand, start preparing. Illea gave you something, didn’t she?"
Raguel rummaged through his backpack.
He pulled out a mask made of white leather.
The Spirit-Shielding Mask. An artifact that blocked miasma and spiritual energy.
Without it, an ordinary human couldn’t even breathe in the Abyss.
Long ago, the Watchers of the Abyss wore them to come and go.
Raguel put it on like those from legend. Most of his small face was covered.
He also donned a white cloak. The protective clothing would shield his skin from miasma.
The preparations were complete.
"I’m ready."
His voice was filled with resolve.
"Then let’s go."
Mapheltan lifted Raguel and jumped into the ravine.
A black demon soared through the gorge. Red eyes streaked like heat haze in his wake.
Cries and screams welcomed Mapheltan.
Malice raged against the visitors.
***
Deep in the valley, where even moonlight could not reach, two red lights flickered in the dark.
They were Mapheltan’s eyes.
Crimson glows gleamed in the darkness.
He was searching for the entrance to the Abyss.
The world was pitch-black, but that posed no issue.
A demon’s sight thrived in the dark.
Mapheltan smirked.
"Found it. Zal’karin, come to me."
They had split up to search.
Zal’karin was still wandering far off and didn’t respond.
Raguel spoke nervously.
"I-I think he didn’t hear. It’s too loud around here."
Now that they were deeper, the wailing had grown worse. Even the earth seemed ready to collapse.
Mapheltan clicked his tongue.
"They’re throwing a real fit."
"...Who is?"
"The evil spirits buried beneath your feet."
The trembling came from them scratching and pounding against their tomb ceilings.
Goosebumps rose on Raguel’s arms. He jumped in fright.
Not bad for a cripple.
"W-why are they doing that?!"
"They hate the moon. Every full moon, they rage at the sky like this."
The moon symbolized Great Saint Marziel.
"...Were they punished by the Great Saint or something?"
"Close. They were cursed by him."
Raguel swallowed.
"To be cursed by the moon... they must be the worst of sinners. And we’re going to meet them."
Mapheltan shrugged.
"You'll see. Who knows? They might be pitiful instead."
"Pitiful? What do you mean..."
"Judge for yourself."
Mapheltan turned his gaze to a bizarre tree.
Its trunk was twisted like a tortured body, with bruiselike marks all over the bark.
There were no branches or leaves.
Just a massive stump.
It was the World Tree.
And the entrance to Sector One of the Abyss.
Mapheltan stared at it quietly. Even as a stump, it was massive.
Over 20 meters tall, it filled the gorge.
'Back then, it must’ve touched the clouds.'
That’s what the original novel said, and Mapheltan agreed.
As he paused in thought, Zal’karin approached.
"Great End, you’ve found the entrance!"
"Bring the key."
From his oversized bag, Zal’karin produced something.
"Here it is."
He handed Mapheltan a wooden plaque.
The Heartcore Token. An artifact carved from the World Tree’s heartwood.
The World Tree still remembered that day’s pain.
The moment the token appeared, green sap trickled from its bark.
Like it was weeping blood.
Without hesitation, Mapheltan pressed the token to the tree.
The bark split.
It twisted and writhed into a grotesque shape.
A weeping face emerged from the center of the tree.
Its sagging eyes spilled tears. A scream burst from its gaping mouth.
KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK────!
Raguel clutched his ears.
It was useless.
The horrid scream pierced his mind.
He collapsed, panicking.
"S-stop! Please stop! I’m begging you!"
The sorrow and torment overwhelmed the boy. He had never heard such agony before.
"Don’t cry anymore! Please!"
Zal’karin, however, was ecstatic.
His eyes shone with joy.
"Cry more! Suffer so deeply you bleed! The Great End is watching! Kneel and beg for mercy!"
Mapheltan felt the pleasure too. As a demon, he found joy in others' pain.
'...Shit.'
But he resisted.
He bit his tongue, scratched his chest with his nails.
If he gave in to the thrill, there’d be no going back.
'Enough.'
He urgently lifted Raguel.
He had to get out of here.
He leapt into the World Tree’s mouth.
He entered Sector One of the Abyss—The Mausoleum of the Moon’s Shadow.
***
A sorrowful lullaby echoed.
"Children playing in the woods, when the pale moon rises, hide beneath your mother's shadow."
Raguel turned his head toward the voice.
"Hunters hide in the moon's shadow, waiting to snatch you away."
The eerie voice drew closer.
"With snares woven from your mother’s torn flesh, they’ll catch you."
The blind boy saw nothing.
"With skewers carved from her bones, they’ll drain your tears."
In this absolute darkness, fear crept over him.
"Beware, for even when full, they are hungry beasts."
The song closed in from every direction. There was nowhere to run.
"Blinded by greed, they steal our forest and breath."
He turned his head frantically, but the darkness remained.
"Before they grow stronger, let’s starve their bellies."
Just as Raguel was about to scream, the song stopped.
Something cold grabbed his cheek.
He froze in shock.
A shout, nearly a scream, exploded right in front of him.
"Watcher of the Abyss───! I smell those damned things───!"