Tepo was back in the empty alchemy room. A sentence echoed in his mind.

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Confusion showed on the young man’s face. He knew he had something important to do. But an invisible might compelled him to move.

Tepo checked the main hall, entered the head priest’s office, and plunged a knife in his heart.

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Alchemy room, main hall, office, knife.

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Alchemy room, main hall, office…

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

STOP!

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Suddenly Tepo snapped out of it. His thoughts were clear for a moment. He recalled his purpose.

Shielding his mind, Tepo dashed towards the wall with his ghostly body. He passed through easily.

But immediately a strong urge assaulted his mind. His arm almost moved by itself, wanting to grab his knife and kill the rebellious body.

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

The mantra echoed in his head. Tepo clung to it as if it was a rope preventing him from falling into the abyss.

He didn’t have time to scan his surroundings. He hurried down a winding set of stairs, almost falling multiple times.

With his legs constantly trying to stand still, Tepo was only carried on by his will.

Confirm the existence of outsiders!!!

Suddenly Tepo reached a large underground room. His eyes were frantic, darting left and right.

But luckily, he found what he was looking for.

At some point Tepo’s hand gripped the knife again. It was aiming at his chest. The young man felt the breath of death blowing on his face.

With his last bit of will Tepo threw his body forward. He phased through some ropes hanging from the ceiling, reaching a sturdy table to the side.

A few large dark bottles were placed on the table. Tepo didn’t care for anything, directly throwing his body at them. He phased through the glass-like material.

But the moment Tepo touched the liquid inside, it immediately reacted. The liquid moved as if it had a will itself, diffusing through his skin and entering his blood stream.

Suddenly Tepo felt the world around him again. His body miraculously returned to normal. The table cracked under his weight. With a loud clang the bottles shattered, spilling the precious elixir.

Tepo groaned as the glass cut into his flesh. But at least the pain let him feel alive again.

Mentally exhausted the young man didn’t feel like getting up. Half his body leaned against the cold stone wall, the other laid uncomfortably on the table, glass still piercing his waist.

Tepo knew he to take care of his injuries but he just didn’t feel like moving at all. Reluctantly he could only connect to his storage bag and take out one of the dark roots.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Although further consumption constantly lowered the root’s effectiveness, it was the best medicine he had to replenish his mental strength.

At this point he was already used to the disgusting taste as the root entered his body.

A minute later Tepo finally felt somewhat better. He carefully pulled the pieces of glass out of his body, which slowly began to heal.

Hmm? I don’t feel any calling from the roots?

Tepo was only surprised for a moment before ignoring the matter. He had to focus on the dungeon.

As soon as he scanned the room, Tepo’s body trembled. His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly got himself back under control.

The cause of his shock was a large circle in the room’s center, made from dried blood, filled with runic symbols.

It was surrounded by strange decorations made from bones. Blood red ropes led from those bones to the ceiling.

In the center of the circle was a small stone altar. It was empty except for a human heart. Even Tepo felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the heart still beating vigorously.

Together with the bloody smell in the air, someone with a weaker will would have vomited all over the place.

Tepo recognized this setup. It was a slave ritual held by the outsiders in his past life.

Next to the bloody circle the young man recognized a few human bones covered in tattered armor and bloodied swords.

Tepo’s brow rose in surprise. This sight reminded him of his old life. Many of his former comrades ended up like this after trying to destroy an already activated ritual circle.

A chaotic mix of emotions hit Tepo at this moment. Now he couldn’t deny it anymore. These priests were fanatic followers of the God of War, sacrificing humans, holding bloody rituals, outing them as outsiders.

Although this term wasn’t quite suitable anymore after Tepo started traveling to various worlds, it was the name used by humans in his old world. He didn’t know if the outsiders had any internal name for themselves.

Tepo stood next to the table without moving. Images of his old life played in his mind. A single tear slowly ran down his cheek, bemoaning the past and the possible future.

Suddenly Tepo balled his fists tightly. His nails cut into his palms, almost drawing blood.

A strong conviction echoed in Tepo’s mind.

I won’t let it happen again!

It took the young man a few minutes to stabilize his mind. Only now did he turn his head, watching the scene constantly repeating next to the bloody circle.

A brawny man, older and with a stubbly beard, confronted a woman. He wore black clothes, with a blood red sun on his chest.

Tepo recognized the insignia belonging to the God of War. The five small swords below told everyone of the man’s rank of a head priest.

The man’s body was terribly injured, blood covering his head, one eye missing, one arm mangled beyond recognition.

In Tepo’s mind this man’s appearance was more in line with that of a priest of the God of War. Obviously, the other priests hadn’t dared to show their alignment openly.

The head priest carried a massive flail in his hand, its spiked end bigger than most dogs. With a crazed face he swung it at his opponent.

Fighting him was a valiant woman. She was tall, wielding her sword with both hands, a broken shield lying not far from her.

The woman’s armor was similar to the general’s. But she was no less injured than the head priest, with bloody holes covering her body.

The two warriors opened their mouths wide as they swung their weapons at each other.

Even Tepo had to gulp as he saw the woman’s head exploding from the massive flail, while the head priest’s upper body was split in two from his enemy’s attack.

But no blood dyed the floor, as the two ghostly bodies were suddenly reset, caught in the fight again.

Suddenly Tepo frowned, looking at the table next to him. He cursed his own recklessness. Why did he have to throw his body on the table, using up all the liquid?

If he wouldn’t have done this, he could have saved the woman and ask her about what had transpired here.

For a moment Tepo felt like punching himself in the face. His earlier confused state didn’t count as an excuse! Not when dealing with this important matter!

Gritting his teeth, the young man had to force himself to calm down. What’s done is done. The ritual circle already told him a lot.

With not much more to see in this room, Tepo approached the altar. He wasn’t concerned about the ritual, as it was obviously not activated.

The young man stopped, his eyes staring at the beating heart. He reached out with his hand, grabbing the vigorous organ.

A strange, surreal feeling emitted from his hand. As the fine hair on Tepo’s arm rose, he tried to put the heart into his storage bag.

But unfortunately, it didn’t work. Storage bags couldn’t carry living beings.

With a frown on his face the warrior could only hold the beating heart in his hand. Even its pulse was powerful, shaking Tepo’s grip. It was paying testament to the general’s strength.

Looking around the room one last time, the warrior made sure not to miss any information. Ready to leave he casually grabbed a bloodred gemstone from the table, which was inlaid in a ceremonial knife.

Shrugging his shoulders he took the knife as well before walking up the stairs.

Tepo once more stood before the solid wall. A small socket was at the side, its form matching the red gemstone.

But a tiny hint of curiosity was left in Tepo’s mind. He took out his knife and slashed the wall.

Under his composed eyes his attack only left a faint white mark. Suddenly the stone flickered in a bluish light, before instantly restoring itself.

Tepo nodded with more of his questions answered before putting the gemstone in its socket. With a scraping sound the wall before him opened like a door.

But as the warrior stepped back into the head priest’s office, he gritted his teeth. Voices came from outside. Obviously, the aristocrats were nearby.