God is a Game Designer 42 C42 Lurking In Darkness

In the extended rest, everyone taking time to prepare themselves, Azo still felt like his entire body was numb. He could not shake the feeling of the gaze on the back of his neck, the strange feeling that someone was watching him all night long.

After breakfast which was sadly just the same old stew from the night before with some reheating to it, they started to gear up, arrows restocked from the heavy barrels. Potions restocked after a few used the previous day. They even took a few rations to have as a snack as the day would progress and they all knew how loud Bull became when he went without eating.

Azo turned his head to the rest as he reached towards the door, his hands sweating as he grasped the handle, pulling it inwards as everyone readied weapons. Outside the room was nothing but silence and decay floating in the air like twins in arms.

Bull exited first, his mace resting on his shoulder as he looked around at the empty corridors, slowly moving to the staircase as he still saw the skeleton's staring down at him with intense gazes. Bull's mouth was coming up with an evil smile as he stuck up his middle finger to them. "Not so cocky now you emotionless killing machines!"

Azo looked at Bull as he felt like laughing at that statement, slowly moving up as he would pat his shoulder. "Let's go, big guy."

The group would continue onwards, heading down the left passage as they moved at a slower pace, keeping an eye out for anyone else or anything else that would try to harm them.

"It's dead down here, not even the literal undead, but nothing is here."

Azo made the comment lightly as they came around another corner, this must have been the fifth time they had continued heading around this place. It was making him feel sick as he knew he must have made a circle by now.

He had walked past several intersections, continuing left as he eventually came down another corridor, the lights still shimmering as he finally turned left again at a T junction, his eyes going wide as he noticed it was a dead end on both sides.

"This is the place, well we better get started."

His hand reached into his pack, pulling out the pouch that was given to him by the strange but beautiful woman who had given them this job. His hand was quickly prying the bag open as he saw inside a rare, round and mystical black gem that lightly shone in the darkness as it came from the container.

"Another one."

Bull turned his head as he looked at the Gem that Azo was holding the spiritual nature of it even drew his attention, he could tell that something was unique about this gem and he was not even close to being a magic caster of any description.

"Brother, can I see that Gem, or maybe I can have it as part of my split?"

Azo would roll his eyes as he pressed his magical essence into the gem, the gem in response also began to light up, the deep glow shining onto the stone walls around them, the dead end starting to creak and move as dust fell from the ceiling. The wall that had previously stood in front slowly pulled away, allowing entrance forward now as this gem was the key to unlocking this secret area.

"Whoever this woman is, she has access to the deepest part of this place. Something feels wrong about this, but we have to keep going now."

Azo voiced his concerns as both the twins nodded in agreeance, his eyes focused as he moved forward. The difference in area changing rather fast as the old stonework that had been covered in the dust without much light suddenly became an area filled with lit candles with no dust covering any surface, eventually coming into an open at the end of the corridor.

The room ahead was a somewhat lit room with many bookshelves covering all the walls; the shape was similar to a U with bookshelves lining the south, east and west sides. They had come from the west side through a secret entrance and no one else could be seen currently.

The room lined with many tables with what looked like undead flesh laying on the charts and benches, many different alchemy stations set up as it looked like research was taking place in this area, whoever was doing this was a sick person.

"Let's get the item and go. It should be something easy to spot."

Azo nodded his head as he finished speaking, his head looking to the central room as he could see the northern area was utterly blanketed in darkness, it looked like this room was centred around a massive ravine, he suspected that this area was a place they dumped the undead they were finished.

Just before the massive black pit, he could see a set of stairs leading up to a podium with a large black leather bound book, its value clearly indicated with the heavy long chain attached to it. This must be the item the woman was after.

"Let's hope it's not necromancy secrets, otherwise I'm going to feel horrible. Well, let's get to it. Bull, protect me and watch the south, twins look to the east and west. I'll grab the item and check to make sure it's not cursed."

The team rushed as Bull faced the southern entrance, door still closed but he stood vigilant as his mace was ready. He was the bulwark of the team as he became flanked by the twins on each side, bows aimed at either side as they became active and alert for any threats.

Azo remained cool, his body rushing up the steps as he approached the book, his hand starting the magical ritual as he felt the cold sweat covering his back, running across his skin and scales, the sensation rather odd as he took a deep breath.

The sound of chains rattling around the room would cause them all to stop, looking around as they tried to locate the source of the noise. Azo shook his head as he continued the mantra as he finished his spell, his identification quickly coming up with nothing as the book was perfectly usable without any anti-magic spells.

The rattling of chains again came but much louder as Bull even looked around the area, confused by the movement as he let out a soft hiss, the twins also confused as they could not locate the noise, it was only Azo who realised something was off.

He tilted his head upwards as he looked at the ceiling, noticing many chains nailed into the walls above them, deep into the stonework, he felt the sweat covering his back as he followed them from the southern ceiling wall, all the way over to the northern abyss. He felt fear spring into his heart and the need to flee coming at him hard as he could not believe his eyes.

Two bright yellow eyes staring down at him from the darkness, each one the size of Bull's body

"Oh... Fuck"

Chapter end