Chapter 36 - Every conflict has more than one side to the story

Adam drifted through the darkness of the hallways like a sack of cargo, unable to grasp the passage of time. Minutes could have passed, or perhaps hours—he couldn't tell. His body barely responded, his head spun endlessly, and his left arm was so numb that he no longer even felt the sharp stabs of pain.

Regardless of how much time had actually passed, it was clear that Thaddeus wasn't having an easy time either. Carrying the boy's limp body through total darkness, occasionally bumping into walls or turning into dead ends, was no simple task, yet, he seemed determined to keep going. Eventually, they reached the third chamber of the 'Seven Lights', associated with Pride, then the fourth, linked to Lust, and finally the fifth, where the fragment of Sloth resided.

In each of these chambers, the same scene played out as in the first two. They were greeted by a strange light emanating from the respective fragment, which would enhance Adam's physical and mental abilities. Then, he was seized by the disciples guarding the area and slowly dragged toward the corresponding stone. Once there, Adam—driven by a force that seemed to possess his body—would willingly reach out to touch it and absorb part of its energy, leaving a trail of miasma drifting in the air and into his arm and the metallic book.

The only silver lining was that after the fourth chamber, Adam had stopped screaming, as he could no longer feel pain—whether due to numbness or because his stats had significantly increased in every aspect.

[Your skill proficiency has been greatly increased] [Your skill power has been greatly increased] [Your skill efficiency has been greatly increased]

[Your euphoria has been greatly increased] [Your pain threshold has been greatly increased] [Your imagination has been greatly enhanced]

[Your speed has been greatly increased] [Your agility has been greatly increased] [Your reflexes have been greatly enhanced]

⌠Notice: Cursed Energy has been increased by 50⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] has absorbed ‘Depraved Power of Pride’⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] has absorbed ‘Depraved Power of Lust’⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] has absorbed ‘Depraved Power of Sloth’⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] seal has weakened!⌡

⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has absorbed a little of the ‘Depraved Power of Pride’.⌡ ⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has absorbed a little of the ‘Depraved Power of Lust’.⌡ ⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has absorbed a little of the ‘Depraved Power of Sloth’.⌡ ⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has regained a small fraction of its power.⌡

"Let's not waste time; just two more to go, and you'll be ready"

Thaddeus said with unsettling enthusiasm as he helped Adam up, propping him against his shoulder to keep him moving. But this time, something unexpected happened—the boy had regained just enough strength to speak, his voice trembling.

“Wh-why?”

The young scientist didn't stop, but he certainly seemed lost in thought for a moment as they ventured back into the darkness of the corridors.

"*Sigh* I think in this case I truly owe you an explanation. Believe it or not, I do appreciate the help you're giving—albeit involuntarily."

He finally said, his tone shifting to something less sharp and more gentle, reminiscent of the formal and courteous way he spoke before all of this had happened.

"I also have a special connection to this place, though that’s not important right now. What matters is the immense potential of the mysterious energies concentrated here and how they can be harnessed if channeled correctly. You've seen what they can do when used in conventional weapons and how effectively they stop enemies. Now, imagine them being used against anyone who tries to harm others as a socially accepted punishment. As you may have noticed, they aren't harmful—just restrictive."

Adam didn’t understand the point Thaddeus was trying to make, but he stayed silent—mostly because he didn’t have the strength to argue at the moment.

"And not just that—this energy can be used in the medical field in ways you could never imagine. Even people on the brink of death can be saved. Imagine a world where everyone has a second chance, where diseases are a thing of the past, where everyone can live without fear."

It was strange. Even if it were possible to use the cursed energy of this place for medical purposes, how could he be sure it would work on living beings when everything around them was just the undead? Meanwhile, Thaddeus simply continued with his monologue.

"But that wasn't enough for some people. The preliminary project, along with all the studies conducted at 'Stratos Technology' and its proven uses, was completely rejected by both the high nobility of the Allied Kingdoms and their lapdogs in the Ironclad Armada upper ranks... Even my father voted to dismiss all the research—my research—and dismiss it as nothing more than the invention of a young dreamer. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my share of failures, and I’m the first to admit when I mess up. But not in this case. The evidence is there, something that can help everyone, yet they are either too scared or simply don't care—all while their own people constantly die in a senseless war that only serves to satiate the thirst for power of some parasites who have never known how it is to suffer."

Though his head was still spinning, the dizziness had eased considerably since the fifth chamber, allowing Adam to follow what the young Volta was saying. Still, he stayed silent, sensing that Thaddeus wasn’t done talking yet.

"Even so... A small team of true scientists, eager to improve the world, helped me secretly continue the research. We developed the 'Ornaments of Justice' with the limited resources we had left and presented them as combat tools for the Armada, concealing the names of the abilities within each one using the unique properties of this energy. In their ignorance, no one noticed the true nature of these skills and accepted them immediately—most likely because, by that time, the conflict against the Seven Pirate Guilds had escalated to an unprecedented level, something that could have been avoided if they had just listened to me from the start."

Thaddeus continued, this time stopping near a reddish glow by their position, indicating the entrance to another special chamber and, therefore, another mysterious fragment.

[Your strength has been greatly increased] [Your stamina has been greatly increased] [Your physical prowess has been greatly increased]

Upon arriving, they discovered that this chamber was identical to the others. The same process was repeated, but to the scientist's surprise, this time Adam shook off the skeletal hands holding him. Amazingly, they released him without resistance, the boy voluntarily approached the fragment in front of him and placed his hand on it.

[Fragment of Wrath- Rank B ] ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠It’s a sizable rock that gleams with an eerie indigo light. Once a powerful artifact of the ‘Wrath Sect’ from the ‘Golden Pavilion’, this relic now lies abandoned amidst the crumbling remnants of the sect's underground ruins. The Fragment passively emanates an aura that dramatically weakens everyone in the vicinity, reducing their strength and stamina. In addition, its presence weakens the physical prowess and movement of those affected, leaving them susceptible to attacks. The rock's corrupting influence reflects its dark past, a remnant of wrathful desires that once fueled the sect's insidious rituals.⌡ ⌠Cursed Vision Knowledge⌡ ⌠Warning: ■■■ … ■■■… ■■■ … ■■■⌡

⌠Notice: Cursed Energy has been increased by 50⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] has absorbed ‘Depraved Power of Wrath’⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Mark of the Damned LV10] seal has weakened!⌡

⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has absorbed a little of the ‘Depraved Power of Wrath’.⌡ ⌠Notice: [Ancient Dark Tome - Rank F] has regained a small fraction of its power.⌡

This time, there was no scream or sharp pain as the energy was absorbed into Adam’s arm. After a moment, he turned and looked at Thaddeus with wide eyes.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“And—w-what does this have to d-do with your g-goal?”

Adam said, forcing his voice, as even though he seemed able to stand and speak a bit now, he still felt his body was not fully recovered or under true control. Meanwhile, Thaddeus, initially surprised, simply responded with a slight smile and a sigh of resignation as he approached Adam again and helped him walk by holding his arm, something he could not oppose.

As they walked toward the exit and searched for the final room, Thaddeus resumed his story.

"Well, you might remember that this mission isn’t about studying, exploring, or extracting anything from the Citadel itself. Instead, it’s focused on investigating the ‘Atomica Arcanum’, the ancient object said to have been used to destroy the 'Eldritch Cog Council', as named by my father, along with its fortress and army—according to the legend. That’s what truly matters to them. The despised nobles of the Allied Kingdoms and the high-ranking officials of the Armada were salivating when my father told them about the project and the possibility that this object might actually exist. They were excited about the potential of harnessing such a massive source of energy. Unlike the mysterious energy of these fragments, the ‘Atomica Arcanum’ secrets seemed to be a different kind of resource, akin to the electricity or steam used in our current technology."

Thaddeus said, laughing with irony and pressing his face with his free hand, smiling bitterly and squeezing it with considerable frustration.

"But you know what’s the worst part? That I discovered their true intentions. They don’t care about the uses my father described; they want the 'Atomica Arcanum' for war. Knowing what it’s capable of, they’d have no enemies to stop them... at the cost of countless innocent lives sacrificed for no purpose. My father, unfortunately, doesn’t believe me, and he said that even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He’s stubbornly hopeful that once he has that power source, he’ll convince them his idea is right. That’s why I was so excited when I learned about your qualities and why I’m putting you through all of this, it’s needed to obtain it and avoid anyone from using it."

That still didn’t make any sense to Adam. Bitterly resentful for all the pain and suffering he had been put through, he couldn't help but ask once more.

"W-what does th-this have to d-do with your g-goal?"

He asked, his voice still shaky and his breathing somewhat labored, but noticeably better than before.

"As I mentioned before we ended up here, the little reliable information gathered about this place suggests that it contains a hidden vault on the lowest level of the citadel, protected by... well, something related to the seven fragments from which you’re somehow absorbing energy. The same applies to the tome I gave you. Originally, I thought you were merely immune to the so-called 'hexes' of the 'Seven Lights' and hoped that by carrying it with you, it would slowly regain the power it lost. You see, that empty tome was found in the hands of the remains of a high-ranking disciple during one of the expeditions. We don't know how it got there or how a monster of his level was destroyed, but it was discovered that it reacts to the residual energy of this place, and that’s why we kept it far away from any 'Ornament of Justice'. Moreover, the book bears symbols that mean 'Key' and 'Open Path,' the same symbols found in every story about the Necrogear Citadel... It’s funny how a simple children's tale can hold so much valuable information."

Thaddeus didn't stop at any moment, not even to catch his breath, so Adam had to intervene when he sensed the slightest pause, driven by something that had strongly caught his attention.

"Y-you can read th-those sy-symbols?"

Finally, the young Volta stopped his monologue and looked at the boy, surprised.

"Not entirely, but over the years, comparisons and research have been made. In fact, I’m surprised you’re saying it like that... Wait, are you saying you don’t know what’s written on the page you were trying to repair?"

Thaddeus couldn’t see Adam’s expression due to the darkness of the place, but his silence was enough to understand that he was right. This was surprising to him, as it meant that his skill for accessing information had more limitations than he had suspected, which was perfect.

"As a small thank you for being someone who listens without criticizing, I'll tell you what I was able to recognize from the symbols on your strange paper. It says: 'Rest ymg' lloig, cloud ymg' judgment, mgah'ehye nglui ot mgehye'lloig ph'nglui mgahnnn ymg' nw'."

Immediately after hearing these words, Adam felt a strong jolt in his head as a system window appeared in front of him—something he could see clearly despite being surrounded by darkness.

⌠You’ve heard part of the cursed language used by practitioners of dark magic! Significant mental damage has been inflicted on the user.⌡ ⌠Skill [Mental Resistance LV5] has nullified the incoming mental damage.⌡ ⌠Notice: You have unlocked the skill [Mgehye'lloig] from treasure [Necronomicon Single Page [1/5] (Replica) - Rank F]⌡

Stunned, Adam couldn’t say anything more for the moment, which Thaddeus took advantage of to continue speaking.

"I’m convinced that you have something to do with all of this, and you might even be the key to getting through the room where the 'Atomica Arcanum' resides. So I ask you, please, to hold on a little longer and help me achieve this... I would do it myself if I had the means, I assure you I would. In fact, I can promise you that I’ll be by your side the entire time when we get to that place, and if all goes well, we’ll be able to destroy that book. As I said, the best thing is to get rid of it directly to prevent it from being used to further harm humanity beyond what is happening now."

Adam could sense a certain break in Thaddeus’s voice as he said this, which left him thoughtful. After all, despite the annoyance and resentment he harbored, Thaddeus’s words were not without merit.

"I can promise anything in return for your help when this is all over. I only ask that you understand what I’m trying to do."

It was at that moment that they finally stopped, not because they had found the light indicating the way to the final room, but because Adam had finally managed to shake off Thaddeus’s grip and stand on his own.

"I’m not a h-hero... The last time I t-tried to be one, I realized how w-wrong I was. However, the c-curiosity about where all this is going is k-killing me for some reason. Can you p-promise that you’ll keep your w-word?"

“I do.”

Thaddeus replied without hesitation, though it wasn’t very convincing until a system window suddenly appeared.

⌠The ‘Depraved Power of Greed’ dwelling in your body resonates with your ambition of knowing all.⌡ ⌠The ‘Depraved Power of Pride’ dwelling in your body resonates with your determination to satisfy your curiosity.⌡ ⌠The ‘Depraved Power of Wrath’ dwelling in your body resonates with your hate towards the man in front of you.⌡ ⌠The ‘Depraved Power of Lust’ dwelling in your body resonates with your desires for the truth.⌡ ⌠The ‘Depraved Power of Gluttony’ dwelling in your body resonates with your insatiable thirst for knowledge.⌡ ⌠…⌡ ⌠…⌡ ⌠Skill "Sinful Covenant Lv1" has been created⌡ ⌠Congratulations!⌡ ⌠■■■ … Good ■■■⌡

“...?”

[Skill: Sinful Covenant Lv1] [Mid-level curse that can be shared between the user and a target that is willing to accept it. The user imposes a condition on the other person, which must be followed without fail and with honesty. If the pact detects a breach of the request or if it's being carried out with harmful intentions toward the user, the victim is immediately affected by the conditions [Skill Sealing] and [Mind Sealing].]

⌠Skill "Sinful Covenant Lv1" has successfully established a pact between user Adam Scholar and character Thaddeus Volta⌡

It was unreal. Adam couldn’t believe what was happening at that moment, but before he could say anything more, a catastrophic roar shook the entire place, causing both of them to fall to the ground as they lost their balance. Clouds of dust and debris filled the area until a very strong beam of light finally appeared from above, coming through the ceiling and illuminating part of the dark corridors they had been traversing.

"Here they are, I found them! Hahaha!"

Then a familiar voice shouted through the cloud of dust, revealing a large figure with arms raised in triumph, while four other heads peeked through the enormous hole that had been created from at least several floors above them.