The strange alloy was embedded in the stone and rotting wood of the room, as though the podium itself were an infection, spreading its influence throughout the chamber.
Speaking of which, Elion noticed—strangely—that he could no longer feel the will of the Class V.
Just as there was no flesh tainting the walls, the malevolent presence was also nowhere to be found.
"I didn't think I'd see that thing again…" Lumos murmured, eyes fixed on the alloy podium.
Eshrod staggered toward it, blood bubbling at her lips. She had fared better than the others, but she had reached her limits.
On the podium rested a device—similar to the one Elion had discovered in the Forgotten King's base, the very artifact that had granted him his affinity.
Lumos laid Elion and Kellta near it, then turned to Eshrod.
"Take care of them. I'll… hold it back."
The Gremlin gave him a curt nod and placed Farha's hand onto the device.
It opened instantly, latching onto her just as it had with Elion. Tendrils of steel burrowed into her skin, sending jolts through her arm until it crackled like it was electrified.
She gasped, eyes snapping open as she tried to jerk away—but the machine held her fast.
To an outside observer, it looked agonizing, but what Elion saw made his eyes widen.
The chromatic threads of her soul flared brilliantly, their radiance compressing inward. The script of the Voice of God on her index finger ignited, and a new layer of threads coiled around her right arm.
Her ability was evolving.
Seconds later, the device released her. Farha staggered back, clutching her wrist, staring at her palm with wide eyes.
It had hurt—Elion could see that—but his hunch was correct. The parasites devouring her from within had been eradicated by the reinforcement of her soul.
Eshrod wiped the blood from her nose, then repeated the process with Leonard and Kellta. The fire-wielding imp reacted differently; she did not carry the Voice of God. Much to Elion's relief, her soul had been reinforced, but she did not undergo the process of her ability evolving.
So the evolution is tied to the Voice of God, but the strengthening of the soul is universal?
Elion wanted to ponder more about it, but his body was giving out. His life was fading fast as he crawled toward the podium.
Eshrod, after having cleansed herself, glared at him. He didn't know what she was thinking—his concentration was too shattered to even attempt to read her expression—but she crouched and pressed his hand to the First Finger.
The pain returned—sharp, searing—though not as unbearable as when he first gained his affinity. That was expected.
His affinity had forged a connection to the divine itself, something no mortal was meant to bear—at least, not one at his level. But the First Finger was different. It was simply the reinforcement of the soul.
When his ability evolved, the Voice of God declared:
[You have attained the First Finger. Your soul grows stronger. Your ability: Bearer of Truth has gained a new chapter.]
The device released him. His soul still ached, stretched thin, but the devouring rot within him was gone. The internal damage remained, but that would heal with time.
Time he wouldn't have the luxury to indulge in, unfortunately.
He looked toward the door, expecting to see Lumos's bloodied corpse sprawled on the floor. Instead, the sorcerer sat calmly, watching him.
"Congratulations on becoming a First Finger," he said, clapping slowly.
"What about the Class V's minion? Did you kill it?" Elion asked, his mask hiding his confusion.
"Oh, no. Our ugly friend is still waiting outside. It just… seems reluctant to enter," Lumos replied.
It must have something to do with the First Finger. It was the only explanation. The lack of fleshy growth on the walls, the absence of the Class V's will—the relic was keeping the Creatures of the Depths at bay.
Good news—they weren't about to die. At least, not yet.
Bad news—it meant explaining himself to the others.
Eshrod crossed her arms, glaring at him. Farha, who had regained her senses, waited for him to explain.
"What the hell was that, Elion?!" the Gremlin snapped. "You nearly got us all killed and—"
"I'm sorry. I messed up," he said.
Eshrod froze, raising an eyebrow. She clearly hadn't expected an apology without excuses, not from someone like him.
What—did she think I'd whine and deflect like some petty brat?
The thought curdled in his chest the moment it formed—because wasn't that exactly what he did, every other time?
He clenched his jaw and forced the words back down.
Silence settled in, broken only by the heavy movements of the Class V's minion outside.
"This isn't just about the plan, Eli…" Farha said softly. "A leader makes mistakes. We can accept that. But you don't trust us. At all."
And you're the one talking about trust…
He stared at her. She wasn't wrong. He had kept too much from them.
"You never told us how you found this place or what you knew about it…" she pressed. "Whatever you used to lead us here, you should've shared. You're not the only one making decisions."
There was some truth in her words. The fact he kept the golden thread, and his affinity hidden wasn't the greatest display of trust.
Still, his paranoia had reasons. Flimsy, selfish reasons, but reasons nonetheless.
"You're right," Elion admitted, removing his mask.
His eyes looked like pools of molten gold, shimmering in the dim light.
"I received an affinity. That's what led me here."
Farha frowned.
"Why hide it?"
"You can't blame me for keeping it secret—you're doing the same." Elion scoffed.
Without the mask, his face betrayed too much. He tried to stay polite, but the words came out sharp. He had grown accustomed to letting his facial expression run loose.
The Mute Demon glared at him—her expression demanding how he knew.
"You didn't think I'd notice?" he asked. "Really, I messed up big time, but you can't blame me for keeping secrets when you act the way you do. If anything, you're just like me. You don't trust anyone at all."
Farha hesitated.
"That's… not true. I trust you with my life. But there are things I can't say. This isn't just about me."
Trusting someone with your life and trusting them with your truth are two very different things…
Elion sighed.
"You're right—I should have trusted you more. All of you. But you're not the one to lecture me about it."
She bit her tongue, holding back what she wanted to say. As petty as it was, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"Let's just focus on getting out," Eshrod cut in. "Talom, Hela, and Alphons might be in danger."
"If they stayed in the sewers, they should be safe…" Elion muttered.
"Right. Just like the water was safe. Look where that got us." The Gremlin's tone was flat and bitter.
It stung, but he couldn't argue.
"Check the new chapter of your abilities. We'll plan from there," Lumos said.
Elion glanced at his forearm.
The script shimmered to life, crawling up his shoulder, flickering from meaning to meaning.
[Ability: Bearer of Truth]
[Description: You are able to witness the threads that constitute all things. Your gaze can unravel lies and expose their true nature.]
That did not change.
But the next lines…
[Status: Stable — First Finger]
[First Finger: The soul is folded upon itself, reinforcing every fiber of your being.]
[Chapter 1: {Bearer of Truth's Needle} Your understanding grows. The meaning of every truth becomes clearer. You can now modify your own tapestry.]
Modify my own tapestry?
Elion activated his ability, being sure to avoid gazing upon the First Finger. His hand looked… different. The mental strain was lighter. The chromatic threads of his being weren't just a tangled whole anymore—they were individual, distinct.
It was easier to pull meaning from the mess. As though he had acquired a needle enabling him to examine a single strand in detail.
That metaphorical needle also allowed him to modify the threads.
The threads were him. Altering them could change everything—strengthen him or destroy him. One wrong move, and he might lose himself entirely.
And here I was hoping for something combat-oriented. But no—the world hands me this and calls it a blessing.
Still, it could prove useful at least.
But he would need to experiment. And right now, wasn't exactly the time for that. Not with the risk the procedure entailed.
The line about Soul Integrity was gone, replaced by:
[Ascension: 0%]
This was how fulfilled a soul might be. Once it reached 100%, he would become a Second Finger.
And the only way to grow it was to absorb other souls.
No escaping the cycle of murder…