The false sky greeted Verchiel with a deceptive golden glow. Crystal chandeliers hanging from the cave ceiling cast light like the sun, yet it still felt empty. In this place, the sun never touched the ground.
Lower Terra.
A city that shouldn't exist on any map. A separate world shrouded in stone, darkness, and the grim memories of an ancient war. The moment Verchiel's feet touched the city's ground for the first time, something within him trembled.
> [Secret Location Detected: Underground City 'Lower Terra']
[Location Synchronization... 19%... 37%... 84%... Completed.]
[Connection with Third Fragment detected.]
[Distance: ±1.5 km]
Verchiel clenched his small fists. He was only 13 years old, small for a warrior. But beneath his youthful skin, he was the God of Light once worshipped by the world—now reborn in a human body and considered a lowly disciple.
He walked slowly down the stone steps. The sound of his worn sandals echoed softly. On the other side of the hallway, the sounds of life began to be heard—the clatter of wooden carts, the neighing of strange animals, the sounds of the market, and the screams of children.
> "The stench... the sound of chaos... a disgusting place. Perfect for dumping the dead."
His face was impassive, but his murmur was like a sharp knife.
Lower Terra was unlike the imperial city he knew. There were no rules. No guards. Only strength, cunning, and survival.
Blackroots Market
Verchiel entered the underground market called Blackroots. The smells of dried blood, roasted monster meat, and mushrooms mingled. Vendors sat behind rickety cloths, selling absurd wares—demon fingers, dragon eyes, even souls in bottles.
Several eyes watched him. A small, handsome boy, dressed in clean robes, walking alone. Strange. Suspicious.
And stupid, they thought.
"Hey, kid. Are you lost?" asked a large man in a monster-skin hat.
Verchiel turned around. His eyes were sharp.
"I was looking around town for a place to sell mouths. Do you have any?"
"...Huh?"
"Mouths, for people who act familiar like you. So I can keep them shut forever
The man's face flushed. But before he could take a step, Verchiel raised a finger. A faint light appeared, only the size of a corn kernel, but its holy aura silenced the people around him.
> "Light...?"
> "How could there be... light magic in this city?"
> "That boy... is crazy..."
Verchiel turned off his magic. "I'm not a market entertainer. Lead me to the underground map seller, or consider this the last time you see your fake sun."
The people slowly backed away. A path opened up to a darker part of the market.
Verchiel stepped inside, heading towards an area filled with black tents and ancient symbols.
A stocky dwarf with metal teeth grinned as Verchiel approached.
"Fierce boy, what do you want to buy?"
"A map of the ruins of the old city. And... if possible, the path to a place called the Last Heart."
The man stopped grinning. His face tensed. Several nearby merchants also overheard.
"You said... the Last Heart?"
Verchiel nodded. "My system says that place is the location of the fragment."
"...System?"
"Forget it. Only I can read it."
The man shook his head slowly, then took a scroll from the steel box. He handed it to him silently. But before Verchiel left, the man lowered his head and whispered,
"I wouldn't go there if I were you. That place has been locked for thousands of years. It's guarded by something that even the lower demons don't disturb.
Verchiel glanced at the map. Then he nodded lightly.
> "Good. The more dangerous it is, the closer I'm looking."
Before he left the market, something nudged his pocket. A street kid, about eight years old, with disheveled hair, ran quickly.
"You brat!" Verchiel exclaimed. But before he could give chase, a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"If you chase him, you'll be attacked by a gang of underlings," said a teenage girl, her hair dull silver, her eyes pale purple.
Verchiel glared.
"...It's not funny. He stole my platinum coin."
"You're new here. All those kids belong to the Bone Gang. If you touch one, the rest will finish you off in your sleep."
Verchiel snickered.
> "Seriously, this city is a breeding ground for idiots."
"My name is Lynne. A guide. But I can also be a guard. Interested?"
Verchiel gave him a flat look.
"If you know the way to the Final Heart, I'll pay. If not… don't follow a 13-year-old."
Lynne laughed. "You're cute. Small, fierce, and dangerous. I like you."
Verchiel snickered and walked ahead. "If you fall in love, don't regret it when you die."
Their journey led them to ancient ruins at the edge of Lower Terra. Large stones bearing ancient magical symbols lined up like a giant tomb. In the center of the ruins, an underground passage had been forcibly sealed with chains and seals.
But as Verchiel approached...
> [Fragment Signature Weapon Detected: Distance 982 meters]
[Location Locked by Entity: Ghol'mir – Level 32]
Lynne paused. "Are you sure you want to continue? Many explorers have entered… never come out."
Verchiel just stared at the chains.
> "Level 32… Fuck. I'm only level 19."
But then he smiled slightly.
> "Perfect for training."
Suddenly, a bright light exploded from his hand. The magical seals burned. The chains melted. The path down below opened.
Lynne covered her face. "You really are the most annoying kid I've ever met."
Verchiel stepped inside without looking back. "And you haven't seen anything yet."
The underground passageway was full of reflections. Old mirrors reflected Verchiel's face from every direction. But... one shadow remained unmoved. It smiled at Verchiel.
"You're still weak."
"You haven't accepted who you are."
> "Bastard, even my reflection likes to lecture."
Verchiel blasted the mirror with light magic. The room collapsed, revealing a vast underground chamber.
> [Entity Awakens.]
[Ghol'mir – Guardian of the Buried Light – Level 32]
A tremor shook the ground. A metallic groan came from the darkness.
Lynne whispered, "If we run now, we can still—"
"Shut up. We're already in. If we run, we'll be no different from the dead."
The figure emerged. A steel giant, eyes of light, with a light spell engraved on his chest. But his body was mangled in several places. Like the corpse of an abandoned god.
"Heir of Light... Why have you come...?"
Verchiel stood before him.
> "Because I want to go back to being what I was meant to be. And you… are the first thing I have to get over."