Chapter 48: The Higher Being [Double-Ringed Serpent]

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The Realm of Darkness, Reality, and the Borderland!

Though these entirely new terms were somewhat unfamiliar to Bevis, the series of encounters he had in the sewers today had already made him realize that the underground passages were becoming terrifying and dreadful.

At this moment, the terms explained by Zorn made him even more certain he had found the right person.

Gathering his thoughts, Zorn began to speak slowly.

“Do you know about the ‘Higher Beings’?”

Zorn’s words cast a grave expression over Bevis and Isaac’s faces—they clearly knew of them.

In many legendary tales, there are countless rumors about the Higher Beings.

For example, the ancient civilization established on the fog-covered Saint Gaen Plateau by the Krug Empire was famously tied to three such Higher Beings.

And furthermore, the rapidly rising Saint Sman Empire also seems to bear the faint traces of the Higher Beings.

These Higher Beings possess many unimaginable powers.

Most of them are intangible entities—untouchable, imperceptible, and no one knows their true form.

Except for a very rare few, ordinary humans and even extraordinary beings cannot fathom their existence or will.

After the two had a moment to absorb this, Zorn continued in a lowered voice:

“The reason the depths of the sewers have become a terrifying borderland between darkness and reality is because the forbidden blood of the dreadful Higher Being known as the ‘Twin-Ringed Serpent’ is seeping into the sewers.”

The Higher Being—the Twin-Ringed Serpent.

Its forbidden blood, terrifying and accursed.

As the mystery buried in the fearful depths of darkness was unveiled, Bevis’s spirit trembled violently.

He naturally knew the dreadful tales of the Twin-Ringed Serpent.

He was even more aware of the horrifying legends surrounding it.

Centuries ago, the Twin-Ringed Serpent emerged from the sea, and overnight, entire coastal towns were swallowed whole.

In the following six months, several smaller city-states were polluted.

Under the taint of the Twin-Ringed Serpent, the mutated Serpentfolk were born in the thousands.

They followed the invisible Higher Being northward in migration.

To this day, in the fog-shrouded northern lands, there remain serpentine lairs built by the Serpentfolk.

Deep within the sewers beneath Ogran City, there is a trail of a mysterious cult that worships the Twin-Ringed Serpent, hunting rats underground—Bevis was well aware of this.

But he never imagined that the terrifying Higher Being Twin-Ringed Serpent lay dormant beneath their feet.

After the two digested this information, Zorn proceeded slowly with his explanation.

“If I’m correct, that mad and forbidden cult known as the ‘Forbidden Blood Source’ stirred the forbidden blood of the Twin-Ringed Serpent on June 6th—the very day the rat plague broke out.”

“The forbidden blood is far more dreadful than anyone imagines.”

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“The sewers themselves are steeped in darkness. When the forbidden blood contaminates that darkness, the Realm of Darkness begins to slowly seep and invade.”

“Now, the sewers have become a borderland between the Realm of Darkness and reality.”

“That place possesses strange powers of the Realm of Darkness.”

“This is why torches cannot illuminate deeper areas, and darkness swallows even our voices.”

“The spread of the forbidden blood has allowed curses and pollution to spread.”

“A terrifying and eerie environment has thus taken shape.”

“Now, the sewers seem almost alive, ready to devour any human or extraordinary being who enters.”

The information Zorn shared came from ongoing explorations and breakthroughs by extraordinary beings investigating the underground—it was all publicly known knowledge.

This was merely the tip of the iceberg of the hidden and terrifying truths of the extraordinary world that they were beginning to understand.

Hearing this, Bevis was deeply shaken.

After a long silence, he looked at Zorn, his pupils reflecting not only awe but also fear. His voice was hoarse as he asked,

“So… how do we resolve this problem?”

Zorn smiled faintly.

“This is not something a few people can solve.”

“It will require the intervention of Ogran City and the Church to have any hope of extinguishing this disaster.”

“But we can still contribute our strength.”

With that, Zorn began to explain ways to cope with the strange ecological environment of the dark borderland in the sewers—this was key to entering them safely.

“First, firelight is repelled by the darkness.”

“The stronger the flames burn, the more they are suppressed by the viscous darkness.”

“In the Realm of Darkness, light is forbidden to pass.”

“Perhaps you could visit the Spirit Witch to see if she has any potions for dark vision.”

“Or wear items like necklaces with dark vision eyes.”

“That way, you can navigate through the darkness.”

Bevis quickly took note of these suggestions—they were crucial information for re-entering the sewers.

“Second, the green miasma inside can easily contaminate even extraordinary beings.”

“You must carry appropriate antidotes.”

“The Spirit Witch should have them as well.”

“Also, if extraordinary residents are poisoned, similar antidotes can be used to cure them effectively.”

Today, Zorn had visited the Witch Monastery and the Steam Potion Factory.

He had already established the manufacturing and sales process for the antidotes.

These antidotes were not difficult to produce. It was estimated that tonight, the Alchemist Vladimir would master the process of industrial steam production.

By tomorrow, or at most the day after, the Spirit Witch would have batches of antidotes available, and they would be reasonably priced and affordable.

To this end—

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Zorn even gave Vladimir 2,000 gold pounds to purchase materials for making these potions.

This would allow the newly established steam factory to earn its first pot of gold.

Zorn’s explanation undoubtedly pointed Bevis in the right direction.

Facing such dreadful darkness, his courage to resist it was rekindled.

The terrifying rat plague was raging, and as a rat catcher, it was his duty to eradicate it. This was not only his obligation but the destiny he inherited as part of the rat catcher lineage.

“Sir Zorn, would you be willing to join us in action?”

“We have a considerable number of rat catchers who can help stem the tide and locate the Rat King.”

Having gathered enough intelligence from Zorn, Bevis invited him earnestly.

Undoubtedly, working with the rat catchers would be safer.

It could even be called a ‘shortcut’ to success.

The rat catchers were the core group involved throughout the rat plague incident.

And Isaac, the young rat catcher who had grown through this ordeal, was a figure favored by fate.

“Thank you very much for your invitation, Mr. Bevis.”

Zorn smiled gently.

“But as you’ve probably sensed, I have just been promoted to Level Two. I need some time to consolidate my sequence and rank.”

This excuse was naturally just a pretext—now was not yet the time to cooperate directly with the rat catchers.

He had just acquired the Giant’s Gluttonous Stomach, the Golden Skeleton of the Sun King, and was awaiting the completion of extraordinary artifacts.

He needed time to digest these resources.

Bevis showed a hint of regret.

He was well aware of Zorn’s strength.

Zorn was a man capable of confronting the Rat King head-on.

Having such a powerful ally in their ranks would make their team far stronger and more effective in this rat plague, enabling them to achieve much more.

Currently, there were more rat catcher groups in Ogran City than just theirs.

Moreover, with the rat plague outbreak making headline news across the Saint Miracle Continent, more and more rat catchers were arriving in Ogran City by steam train.

“Although we cannot act together now, I believe our chance to cooperate will come soon.”

Zorn stood up and spoke seriously.

Cooperation with the rat catchers was inevitable—after all, only they could locate the Rat King’s ultimate lair.

More specifically, it was the path of the rat catcher Isaac that would lead there.

By fostering good relations now, Zorn could later join the rat catchers to reap the rewards of defeating the Rat King.

Bevis nodded slightly at these words.

“I hope that moment comes soon.”