Chapter 320

“The procedure is complete. He will regain consciousness within two or three days. There’s no need to worry,” the medic assured.

“You’ve worked hard,” Theo replied, nodding in gratitude.

As the medics left, Theo quietly scanned the room. Terepun lay on the bed, his breathing even and his complexion somewhat improved. Relief washed over Theo, but it was tempered by a lingering thought.

“It’ll take some time.”

His curiosity about the Naga’s secret continued to gnaw at him, but guilt quickly buried that feeling.

“I should have kept a closer watch on the Mage Tower.”

Regret churned in Theo’s chest. While it was true that Najariou had disappeared, making it difficult to track his movements, if Theo had stationed eyes on the Mage Tower, he might have caught wind of their schemes earlier.

“No use crying over it now. I’ll focus on what needs to be done.”

With that resolution, Theo turned to the captured members of the Mage Tower. Their tongues had been cut out, and any means of suicide thoroughly removed. Some glared at him with venomous eyes, while others remained dazed and lifeless. The sight made Theo wrinkle his nose in disgust as he approached Lodbrok.

“Have you managed to get anything out of them?” Theo asked.

Lodbrok, sitting cross-legged in apparent relaxation, shook his head.

“Nothing worthwhile.”

“As expected.”

It was clear that the captives held no useful information. They were little more than tools, good only for execution or to serve as a grim outlet for anger.

“...I’ve grown cold,” Theo thought with a shiver of self-revulsion.

“I’ll delay any decisions until my temper has cooled.”

If Theo, an outsider, could feel such disgust, the Naga—who had suffered firsthand—would undoubtedly be overwhelmed. Yet the irony of the situation struck him: the crimes were so heinous that even execution felt insufficient.

“I’ll be busy for a while,” Lodbrok announced, rising to his feet.

Theo didn’t inquire further, though curiosity pricked at him. He already had an idea of what Lodbrok intended.

“He’s going to purify the area.”

Theo watched Lodbrok’s retreating figure, his thoughts briefly drifting. Several days passed in this manner before word arrived that Terepun had regained enough strength to speak. Theo immediately made his way to Terepun’s quarters.

Opening the door, Theo found Terepun sitting up, his gaze meeting Theo’s.

“Thank you for your boundless kindness,” Terepun said, his tone laced with gratitude and humility.

Though his balance was precarious and his aura irregular, Terepun managed to stand. It was clear he had only recovered the bare minimum of strength.

“Shall we go?” Terepun offered.

Seeing the elder’s determination, Theo couldn’t bring himself to decline. He simply smiled and followed. Their destination was the Life Pond, the same one Theo had seen before. Standing at its edge, both men paused. Even on this second visit, the vastness of the pond was overwhelming.

“Beneath this lies the guardian of the old Naga,” Terepun began. “Do you have the scale of the first chieftain?”

“Yes.”

Theo retrieved the scale from his inventory. It resonated faintly with the energy emanating from the Life Pond, emitting a low hum.

“Then let us proceed.”

With deliberate steps, they waded into the pond. As the water rose to cover them, an inexplicable energy seeped into their skin.

“This feels better than last time,” Theo noted, recalling his first exposure to this strange energy. Back then, it had invaded his body with an overwhelming force. Now, it seemed to flow into him gradually, as though he had become attuned to it.

“A chieftain is a chieftain,” Theo mused, observing Terepun’s effortless movement through the depths of the Life Pond. Despite its reputation as an insurmountable challenge for even the Naga, Terepun swam confidently toward the pond’s core.

The deeper they went, the darker it became. Faint rays of sunlight barely reached them when Terepun finally stopped. Before them stood the entrance to an underwater city.

Even from a distance, the sight was breathtaking. Up close, the city’s grandeur was staggering, its splendor untouched by time despite being submerged.

“This is it,” Terepun communicated telepathically, guiding Theo into the city.

As they swam through the streets, Theo felt a strange sense of calm, as though he were a tourist in a forgotten world. The central plaza was a masterpiece of intricate design, its pathways lined with stalls long abandoned. Water plants had grown between the cracks, adding to the haunting beauty.

The path eventually led to a massive chasm. Without hesitation, Terepun swam deeper, into the seemingly endless abyss. The pressure grew intense, and Theo felt his ears pop, the weight of the water pressing against him. Yet Terepun’s glowing magic lit the way forward.

At last, they arrived at their destination. Theo’s eyes widened at the sight.

“...Incredible.”

Before them stood a colossal gate that dwarfed even the most imposing royal palace. On either side of the gate were towering statues of Naga warriors, their expressions stern and unyielding, as if eternally guarding the entrance.

Terepun pricked his finger with the blade of his trident and began chanting. As his blood formed a glowing circle, a portal materialized at its center.

“Let us go,” Terepun said, stepping through the portal. Theo followed without hesitation.

On the other side, they emerged into a vast hall. The water was gone, replaced by a grand corridor illuminated by blue flames flickering on ornate sconces. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with an unidentifiable energy that clung to Theo’s lungs like solid matter.

“Follow my lead,” Terepun instructed.

Terepun spoke solemnly, bowing deeply as he did so.

This was no ordinary place. It was a sacred, secret site for the Naga—a burial ground. Reverence was mandatory for anyone stepping foot here, and guests were no exception.

Theo mirrored Terepun’s gesture, bowing with a weighty sense of responsibility, then followed the elder deeper into the hall. Every step they took down the majestic corridor felt like traversing the halls of a royal palace, the air thickening with an intangible energy. The purity of this mysterious force intensified with each passing moment, filling Theo’s lungs with a palpable sensation.

At last, they reached the end of the corridor, where a door ornately engraved with intricate carvings loomed ahead. It resembled an audience chamber, though its grandeur and solemnity far exceeded anything Theo had ever seen. Terepun bowed once more before gently placing his hand on the door.

Creeeeak.

The door slowly swung open, releasing a gust of energy that felt almost like a gale. Inside lay the centerpiece of this sacred space: a massive sarcophagus containing the guardian of this place.

“Heavy.”

Theo immediately felt the weight of the atmosphere. It bore down on him, pressing against his body. There was also a faint sense of familiarity, an inexplicable déjà vu that gnawed at his mind.

Here, at last, he could uncover the truth. He turned to Terepun, who stood before the sarcophagus with a reverent expression.

“This place exists beyond our understanding,” Terepun began. “Its location, whether in another dimension or region, is unknown. The Naga have guarded it for countless generations.”

As he spoke, Terepun approached the sarcophagus and bowed once more before placing his hands on its surface.

“With the utmost reverence, I will now open the sarcophagus.”

These words were directed at the occupant within, as if seeking their forgiveness for the intrusion. Terepun’s movements were slow and careful, his demeanor filled with solemnity. The lid of the sarcophagus began to shift with a deep, resonant grinding noise, yet its movement was unnaturally smooth, as though it defied time itself.

Theo, standing a respectful step behind, bowed as well before stepping forward to gaze into the sarcophagus. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw.

“Is this…?” he began, unable to finish his sentence.

“This is our ancient guardian,” Terepun explained. “Beyond that, we know little.”

Terepun’s tone made it clear there was no need for further questions. Still, Theo couldn’t suppress his amazement.

“How can this be?”

The figure within the sarcophagus was utterly pristine. Silky, well-kept hair framed a face with an almost ethereal glow. The features were flawless: a sharp, sculpted nose, thick eyelashes, and lips that retained a healthy, vibrant hue. The figure was so perfect, it transcended concepts of gender, existing as a marvel of unparalleled beauty.

It was impossible to believe this was the body of someone long deceased. If Theo hadn’t known better, he would have thought the person was merely asleep, ready to awaken at any moment.

“Is there truly no clue as to this person’s identity?” Theo asked.

“None,” Terepun replied. “There is only a myth that the Naga trace our origins to this individual.”

The revelation sent chills down Theo’s spine. A fragment of a memory surfaced in his mind.

“...Chimera.”

The word escaped his lips, accompanied by thoughts of Najariou’s final, desperate outcry.

“If they had acquired this…”

Theo’s realization hit like a thunderclap. The Mage Tower’s obsession with this place made perfect sense now. Najariou, and by extension the entire Mage Tower, had been willing to forsake everything—their power, alliances, and honor—for a chance to claim this being. Even Hilda’s involvement now seemed perfectly rational.

Terepun stiffened at Theo’s utterance. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice uneasy.

“The Mage Tower intended to turn this being into a Chimera,” Theo said grimly. “Or perhaps something even worse.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed as he considered the implications. The Chimera concept might have been just a stepping stone. This figure’s latent potential—whether through necromancy, mana manipulation, or some other form of exploitation—offered infinite possibilities.

“Even after all these years, the mana emanating from this body is overwhelming.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Theo shivered, barely able to meet the serene face of the deceased. The sheer density of the mana radiating from the body was incomparable, surpassing even Harald’s formidable reserves. It was enough to make Theo’s skin crawl.

“How strong must they have been in their prime? Were they truly a god?”

That thought offered some clarity. After all, even Kyle had ascended to the pantheon.

“...Hah.”

Terepun exhaled deeply, running a hand over his chest as though to calm himself.

“If that had happened… I wouldn’t be able to face our ancestors.”

The Mage Tower’s success would have spelled certain doom for the Naga. This guardian was not only a symbol of their origins but the foundation of their survival.

“It is no longer safe to keep this figure here,” Terepun admitted. “They are our progenitor and symbol, but this location is too exposed. Please, relocate them to a safer place.”

The elder’s request was reasonable. While the Life Pond was vast, now that its secret was out, attackers could infiltrate it with ease. If someone powerful enough to open a portal reached this site, the Naga would be defenseless.

“But where would we move them?”

The issue wasn’t the weight of the stone sarcophagus but the unique nature of the space itself. Keeping this guardian safe seemed an impossible task, even with the Ragnar army stationed permanently. Yet even that idea felt impractical.

“Please,” Terepun implored, bowing deeply. His sincerity was unmistakable.

Theo fell silent, lost in thought. The weight of the decision pressed heavily upon him.