Our Family Has Fallen

In the light filtering through the narrow crevices in the rock layers, everyone could witness the hazy scene within the space, as though veiled by a thin gauze, capturing them with its magnificent sight.

It was an enormous stone gate, towering to a height of hundreds of yards, and spanning tens of yards across, almost occupying an entire rock face, exuding an ancient aura.

On this stone gate, it displayed relief patterns crafted with unimaginable techniques, symmetrical with many symbols and lines that seemed familiar, yet difficult to comprehend.

But among them, two very distinct patterns caught Lance’s attention.

One was illustrated on the portals at either side of the massive gate, depicting several exaggerated tentacles of varying lengths extending and clinging onto it.

If that was not clear enough, then the most prominent disc pattern in the center of the giant gate.

An outer ring, with a spherical protrusion in the middle, from which dense tentacles extended towards the central sphere.

This pattern was like a bolt of lightning piercing his brain.

Even upon seeing it, Lance couldn’t help but shiver, covered in goosebumps.

It wasn’t out of fear, but from excitement and thrill.

Indeed, wasn’t this disc pattern the very incomplete relief he discovered in the bay earlier, albeit shrunk to many times smaller?

Coupled with the tentacle pattern, it could almost be certain that this was part of the creations left behind by the ancient civilization.

This also matched what they just found deeper inside the passage; beneath the old mansion was indeed part of the bay.

Back then, the ancestor likely discovered this ancient giant gate, excavating a road leading from the old mansion to here, rather than constructing this place.

Lance slightly calmed down, directing his gaze around; the familiar cavern environment, some distance away from the giant gate with stairs still leading up to a platform.

Looking up, he felt those cracks were man-made for lighting, otherwise, in such a deep underground place, how could cracks appear so conveniently.

But that all seemed unimportant now; Lance’s footsteps couldn’t linger here.

"Let’s go!"

With an excited shout, Lance immediately raised his torch and walked forward, with the others quickly snapping out of their shock and briskly following.

In such an eerie place, falling behind brought intense stress; Lance became their psychological pillar.

"Boss, what is that thing?"

Boudica’s question also echoed the doubts of the other two.

Amanda came from an organized heritage and had traveled far and wide for many years, yet had never found information related to this place.

Originally, she understood Lance’s mention of the underground to resemble something like the Beast Lair, recalling those evil cultists using it for their activities.

But she never anticipated such a scene unfolding...

And Audrey, the tomb robber who came into this halfway, was even more astonished; it was her first time seeing such a grand underground structure.

Comparatively, the tomb she previously ventured into was nothing but small-fry, no matter how lavish the burial treasures were.

Is this the true adventure?

But Lance’s explanation regarding this was rather vague.

"The old mansion is the Ascension Sect’s ostensible headquarters, but in reality, their lair is here. Everyone, be mindful and continue looking for suspicious clues."

Knowing less was better for them, and Lance couldn’t clarify the complex relationship between the ancestor and this place; he only knew that the thing must be destroyed.

Though the stairs appeared just in front, it was the sensory difference caused by the expanded space; actually, after covering some distance, they stepped onto the multi-tiered staircase, ascending to the massive platform.

Amanda even refrained from nearing the rock face, with the solemn expression on her face since entering still not easing.

Retrieving a black crystal ball in her hand, she daringly scrutinized the pattern, murmuring: "Without a doubt, this is a ritual sealing something, seemingly ancient, evoking unease..."

Her limited knowledge in mysticism led her to a general judgment; understanding this complex ancient ritual thoroughly would have required even the genius ancestor unknown amounts of time and effort.

Fortunately, the ancestor left some clues, giving Lance a shortcut.

Everyone noticed the peculiar object placed in the center of the platform before the arched relief, a bizarrely shaped altar.

It appeared sculpted from a deep gray stone, the base resembling a decorated flowerpot, common in the old mansion or other places.

Only, extending from the plate were not sacred sculptures or vases, but two twisted, strange tentacles, forming a hook shape.

"An altar for the wicked elder gods; perhaps great power lies within."

Amanda cautiously approached, examining the altar while speaking of her understanding, performing her consultant duties.

Yet Lance seemed even more knowledgeable, continuing to elaborate further.

"It seems this is the key to unlocking the next path; according to the Ascension Sect’s sacrificial practices, to complete the altar’s ritual, we need a liquid filled with supernatural power."

"Isn’t it just blood?" Boudica muttered, "If I had known earlier, I would have left an evil cultist; where to find a sacrifice now?"

The Barbarian Tribes’ common blood rituals didn’t surprise Boudica, but as she mentioned, where indeed to find a sacrifice now?