[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-advent-of-the-three-calamities":3,"chapter-advent-of-the-three-calamities-advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-294":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Advent of the Three Calamities",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},758629,1005,"Chapter 294: Temple [5]","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-294",294,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The grave of Oracleus?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped dead in my tracks and carefully looked at the inscriptions on the wall. Tracing my\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>finger over the inscriptions it felt smooth to the touch. Rather than inscriptions, this felt more\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>like a projection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spell perhaps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't quite sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ended up reading the text repeatedly, burning the image right into my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here lies the grave of Oracleus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"--The seer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mouth grew dry unknowingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Isn't this the same god that crazy Archbishop was worshipping?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had faintly remembered hearing this name in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something that the Archbishop had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole concept of gods and all was still foreign to me but from what I knew there were seven of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mortum, Sithrus, and Oracleus... They were the gods I had heard most about. I didn't quite know about the other gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I knew about them was that they had their own churches and they were quite well respected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tok!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knocked the wall with my knuckle. It didn't feel hollow at all, telling me that there was no secret room behind the text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever the case, I don't feel good about this god.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I feel good about a god that created a fanatic like that Archbishop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pursing my lips, I looked through the writing again to see if there was anything else before finally looking away and turning my attention toward the end of the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faintly, I could make out the outline of a large room, and as I stepped out of the entrance my breath caught at my throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air was thick with the acrid smell of rust, overwhelming my nostrils and making me momentarily scrunch up my face. Faint candles flickered throughout the area, casting a dim blue glow over the surroundings and the cracked black marble floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the exterior, towering black pillars stood erect on each side of the room, supporting the ceiling which ascended into a massive dome. The surface of the dome was a canvas filled with intricate murals depicting various scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It depicted some sort of historical scene that seemed to be closely related to the gods with six figures at its center and a massive eye looming throughout. Almost as if it was spectating everything that was happening from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't tear away my gaze from that lone eye that seemed to oversee everything, and it was then that my mouth opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The Seer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held my breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer I gazed at the mural, the more a certain, invisible pressure seemed to emanate from the Seer's eye. It felt as though its stare was reaching into my soul, making my heart beat unevenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel my own heartbeat drum loudly within my mind, slowly overtaking my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ba... Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a certain point, I found myself looking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa.. Haa...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Covering my mouth, I tried to even my breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What in the world was that...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't quite explain it, but it almost felt as though I was being crushed on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could it be? It was merely a mural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What sort of-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching my teeth, my entire body started to spasm. My eyes widened in shock as I stumbled back several steps, reaching for the nearest pillar to support myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, the convulsions didn't stop quickly. They lasted a staggering several minutes before calming down, and when it was all said and done, I was left leaning against the pillars with hardly any breath left in me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa... Haa...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest burned with each breath, a searing pain that grew more intense by the second. When I looked at my hands, my breath left me-they were riddled with long, black veins that\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>seemed to writhe and pulse just beneath the surface of my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Fuck.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...I had no choice but to curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effects of the poison were even worse than before. I couldn't quite make an estimate on how much time I had, but I knew that I didn't have very long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best ten minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... haa... need to... haa... find the queen...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my teeth clenched, I firmly helped myself up with the support of the pillar and looked\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint blue glow enveloped the entire space, casting an eerie light on the distant circular structure I noticed. Its stones, made of the same dark marble as the pillars, were shaped like jagged teeth, spiking up and down as my eyes settled on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It should be there.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a long-lost connection with the thread that I used before in order to get to the queen, but I knew that my last connection was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was more to the area that I wanted to explore, but right now, my priorities were\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to get to the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My entire body tensed as I heard the faint sound of a step in the distance. Without hesitation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I masked my entire body with the surroundings and held my breath tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it had already seen me, the step drew nearer to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My entire body tensed, and my hands clamped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged, stepping into the dim, flickering blue light that\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>cast faint shadows across the temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the figure drew closer, its outline became clearer, and just as I braced myself for a fight, the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>features of the figure came into focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two cold, gray eyes emerged from the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were eerily familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the face associated with those eyes came into view, one I couldn't shake from my\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>memory, a muffled, unsettling sound escaped my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon stood in silence while his head flicked in my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed wary, almost tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his tension turned into surprise when I got rid of the illusion that surrounded me and\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>showed my true self to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar sound came out of his lips as he stared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The both of us paused for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I licked my lips and nudged him with my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Let me do the talking first.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Oh, sure.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed he was Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the only one I was capable of talking like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".... Why are you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only changed up the question a little bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was most curious about how he had managed to find himself in here. Most importantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looking at him, he didn't appear to be injured at all as opposed to me who had no choice but to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>come here to get to the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|| ||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon didn't answer immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his eyes paused on my body, his expression faintly changed. Raising his head back up, he\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looked at me in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's complicated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned slightly before eventually showing him my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I came here by accident. I was chasing after the Wraith Queen to get rid of the poison that's\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>currently consuming me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brows tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was the one that was asking the question. Why am I the one answering?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon blinked before suddenly smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you smiling at?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not smiling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fucker...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My skill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I got here because of my skill. It told me to come here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned for a brief moment before letting it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced around, my focus returning to the well from earlier. I nudged Leon, guiding him\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>toward it with a subtle, urgent gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you're here, how about you help me out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....To fight the Wraith Queen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's face scrunched up as he made a face that didn't seem like he wanted to go. But I didn't\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no time to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're my knight, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's face scrunched up further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be bad if I died knowing that you could've helped me. What kind of terrible knight is\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that? Tut.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head and climbed to the top of the well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to look at Leon, whose face was as black as it could be, I continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'd be branded as a salary thief. A leech who can't even do his own job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lowered my head and sighed in disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....How many children could've been saved with the money that is being used to hire you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, I turned away and prepared to enter the well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before I did, a hand pressed against my shoulder. My lips twitched slightly as I turned\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>my head back to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon didn't say a word, but his expression spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His forehead was etched with dark, furrowed lines, and he stared at me with bloodshot eyes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that seemed to burn with a mix of resentment and resignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I covered my mouth at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't have to-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop, let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He squeezed my shoulder with quite a bit of force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't flinch and merely moved back where I pointed at the well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inside here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's eyes shook as his face twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have a rope?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn't have had so much trouble had I had one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biting his lips, Leon closed his eyes before returning to normal. Then, climbing the well, he\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>tossed a small rock in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|| ||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>11\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In silence, we both waited for the rock to hit the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We waited and waited and waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And we eventually did hear something, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only after a good five seconds had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's expression remained the same but I could feel the deep seethed resentment within\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>him as he looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also felt bad, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have much time. You go first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's expression tightened, but he eventually did as I told him and entered the well, his legs\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>widening as he used both sides to hold himself upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed right after him. \"Oh, right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right as I entered, I remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at Leon who looked back up at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....There's a chance I might fall because of the poison. In case that happens, I need you to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>help me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon blinked his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head flicked up to my face and down to my lower half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flick, flick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more his head flicked, the more bloodshot his eyes grew. A sudden realization seemed to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hit him as his expression hardened completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"........\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon didn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he couldn't answer as I slipped down slightly and hit his face with my bottom half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurriedly moved up and looked down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just about to say something when I stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time since knowing him, I saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's look of despair.\u003C\u002Fp>",1847,"2026-06-02T12:40:56.143Z",1,"novelbin.me","2cbe6900b371ee8a05cd0e49a6408c5517fa8bc36f3ddb1fe2d70f8e6aad91c7","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-295","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-293",876,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fadvent-of-the-three-calamities-cover.jpg"]