Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1254  Deluge

Arthur, Diana, and Rain stood in the dimly lit chamber, the oppressive energy of the altar bearing down on them. Arthur's rune of analysis glowed softly, illuminating the intricate carvings and symbols etched into the altar's surface. The low hum of malevolence resonated in their bones, sending shivers down their spines.

"This altar is the source of the madness," Arthur said, his voice steady despite the unsettling atmosphere. "But there's more to it. We need to understand its full purpose."

Rain stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she examined the symbols. "These markings... they're ancient. Older than the city itself," she murmured, tracing a finger along one of the carvings. "They speak of rituals, dark magic, and sacrifices."

Diana's eyes widened in concern. "Sacrifices? What kind of sacrifices?"

Rain's expression darkened. "Human sacrifices. The bloodstains on the altar confirm it. But there's something else... something about these symbols feels familiar."

Arthur's rune pulsed with energy, revealing a hidden compartment within the altar. He carefully opened it, revealing a set of scrolls and a small, intricately carved box. He handed the scrolls to Diana, who began to unroll them with care.

As Diana read through the scrolls, her brow furrowed in concentration. "These scrolls detail the rituals performed here. They were meant to summon and bind powerful entities," she explained. "But it seems the ritual went wrong. Instead of binding the entity, they unleashed it."

Rain's eyes widened with realization. "That must be what happened to the city. The people were caught in the aftermath of the failed ritual."

Arthur nodded, his expression grim. "We need to find out who was behind this and why they performed the ritual."

They carefully examined the rest of the chamber, looking for more clues. As they moved deeper into the maze, they encountered more symbols and bloodstains, each one telling a story of madness and chaos.

At the far end of the chamber, they found a hidden passage leading out of the maze and into the dense forest surrounding the city. The trail of blood and symbols continued, leading them further into the woods.

The forest was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. The air grew colder, and the sense of unease deepened as they followed the trail.

After what felt like hours of walking, they stumbled upon a clearing. The sight that met their eyes was both shocking and revolting. A group of people, all hypnotized, were engaged in a grotesque display of lustful acts, their bodies intertwined in a manner that spoke of utter madness and desperation.

Diana gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "This is... horrible."

Rain's expression flickered with terror. "These acts can only be done by him..."

Arthur stepped forward, his rune of protection glowing brightly. "Rain, can you do something about them?"

Rain nodded, her eyes blazing with resolve. She stepped into the clearing, her powers as the Sin of Lust surging to the forefront. But unlike her brother, Rain's aspect of lust was intertwined with love and compassion. She focused her energy, sending out waves of calming, soothing power that enveloped the hypnotized individuals.

One by one, the people in the clearing began to awaken from their trance, their eyes clearing as they came to their senses. They looked around in confusion and shame, quickly disentangling themselves and covering their bodies.

Diana approached one of the women, her voice gentle and reassuring. "It's okay. You're safe now. We're here to help."

The woman looked at her with tears in her eyes. "I don't understand... what happened to us?"

Arthur gathered the group together, his expression serious but kind. "You've been under the influence of a powerful hypnosis. We need to know if any of you remember what happened before you were brought here."

Most of the people shook their heads, their memories fragmented and hazy. But one young man, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination, stepped forward.

"I remember," he said, his voice trembling. "I remember everything."

Arthur and the others turned to face him, their attention fully focused. "Tell us what happened," Arthur urged gently.

The young man took a deep breath, his eyes darting around the clearing before settling on Rain. "It started after the two worlds merged," he began. "Our city—Port Marlin—was known for its trade and maritime prowess. But everything changed when he arrived."

"Who?" Diana asked, her voice filled with urgency.

The young man pointed a trembling finger at Rain. "He looked like her. A handsome man with silver hair. He appeared out of nowhere and began to lead us into madness. He made us do things... horrible things."

Rain's eyes widened in shock. "Deluge," she whispered. "My twin brother."

Arthur nodded, his expression grim. "Human sacrifices and now this. He's using people to fuel his power."

Rain's face tightened with anger. "I should have known. He feeds on these acts, turning people's desires into something twisted. I need to stop him. This is one of the powers of the Sin of Lust?"

Diana's eyes flashed with anger and hurt. "Arthur, you knew about this? About Rain being the Sin of Lust?"

Arthur winced, guilt washing over him. "I did, but I forgot to mention it. But she's different, I promise."

Diana's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still held a trace of betrayal. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, we need to focus helping these people."

The young man stepped forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear. "I can tell you what happened in the city. It's a nightmare I'll never forget."

He began to recount the events that led to the city's downfall. "Port Marlin was a thriving city, bustling with trade and activity. But after the worlds merged, strange things began to happen. People started disappearing, and those who remained grew increasingly restless and anxious."

"Then, one day, a man with silver hair and a handsome face appeared. He was charming and persuasive, and he quickly gained a following. He promised us power and pleasure, and we were drawn to him like moths to a flame."

The young man's voice trembled as he continued. "But his promises were lies. He led us into dark rituals and perverse acts, feeding on our desires and turning them into madness. The city fell into chaos, and we were trapped in a nightmare we couldn't escape."

Rain's expression grew darker with each word. "That's Deluge's doing. He preys on people's desires, twisting them into something dark and destructive. Then, he extracts their life-essence to fuel his presence."

Arthur clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. "Sounds like the perfect punching bag."

"I can help you. I know where he might be hiding. There's an old temple deep in the forest, a place where the rituals were performed. It's likely he's there."

Arthur, Diana, and Rain exchanged glances. "Then that's where we'll go," Arthur said firmly. "We'll put an end to this madness and free the people of Port Marlin from Deluge's influence."

As they prepared to leave, Rain placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Thank you for your bravery. We'll make sure Deluge is stopped and that this nightmare ends."

The young man nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Please, be careful. He's powerful and dangerous."

Arthur, Diana, and Rain set off into the forest, guided by the young man's directions. The path was treacherous, overgrown with thorny vines and twisted roots. The air grew colder and more oppressive the deeper they went, the sense of malevolence thickening with each step.

Finally, they reached the ancient temple, its stone walls covered in the same dark symbols they had seen throughout the city. The entrance loomed before them, a gaping maw that seemed to swallow the light.

Arthur activated his rune of protection, casting a shield around them. "Stay close and be ready for anything. Deluge won't let us approach without a fight."

They entered the temple, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step. The walls were covered in symbols and carvings, depicting scenes of madness and chaos. The sense of malevolence was almost overwhelming, pressing down on them like a physical weight.

As they ventured deeper into the temple, they heard faint whispers and laughter echoing through the halls. The sound sent chills down their spines, but they pressed on, determined to find Deluge and put an end to his reign of terror.

Finally, they reached the inner sanctum of the temple, a vast chamber lit by flickering torches. At the center of the room stood Deluge, his silver hair gleaming in the dim light. His eyes were filled with a dark, malevolent energy, and a twisted smile played on his lips.

"Welcome, dear sister," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "And you've brought friends. How delightful."

Rain stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "Deluge, this ends now. We're here to stop you and free the people of Port Marlin from your madness."

Deluge's smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, Rain, always the righteous one. But you can't stop me. I am the embodiment of lust, the darker side of desire. These people are mine to control and manipulate."