Published at 10th of November 2026 10:48 am

Chapter 220. Hollow god

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I was not sure how I felt about this trip. I knew we were riding through the metal corridors along what Josh described as a path of pain. What it meant, I had no idea. But my mind kept returning to Myhur. We got a short description of what was going on, and it left me just as confused by the strange spectacle. Such cruelty was unlike the mushroom I knew. Not to mention the complete lack of respect the myconid had for death.

Another issue with our trip was the creatures wandering the corridors. Each time we ran into one, Sally would first tell me creature and strange, which would quickly change to enemy. Immediately afterward, Ophelia would tell me her snake had warned her about the creatures gaze, which always preceded a fight.

By themselves, the things walking around werent dangerous, but after a few battles, we were all exhausted. I began to wonder whether we should retreat and whether Myhur had managed to retreat on his own. I believed in his strength, yet the way the empath had described it I was torn.

Another patrol, Josh said, stopping Sally in her tracks.

We took a few steps back, hoping to avoid danger, only for that hope to shatter with our guide's next words.

The corridors I think they changed again.

So where now? Ophelia asked.

Sally informed me that the guy in front was frowning hard, then told us to turn around. I once again wondered if retreating wasnt the better option, but Sallys voice echoing in my head stopped me.

Change, new room, cave, many shapes. Big door. The ideas flowed into my mind.

I dont like this space, Ophelia whispered. Theres a door here. My snake says there is a sea of blood behind it.

Describe it.

A stone chamber. Josh began. In the middle of the wall before us, there is a massive stone door with a carving. A dying man on the ground with another guy over him, helping him, I think? And there are people in the sky turning their backs on them. More or less.

Those in the sky, do they look like gods? Halos, shining auras? I asked.

I guess.

Fuck, I hissed.

Gods turning their backs on a man healing a dying mortal. Miracle-Bringers? Ophelia asked.

Probably. Those decorations look like something central to the cult.

Miracle-Bringers? Josh asked, confused.

Ill tell you once were out. A group you dont want around. Dangerous people.

What now? Do we run?

We shouldnt go in, Ophelia said. I dont like the feeling. Theres something there I think it scares me.

Yeah, Josh said, but then hesitated. But the path were following points to the side, to another doorway. Wed just be passing through the room.

Danger. Looking, Sally commented.

Where? I asked. Whos looking?

Dont know. See them. My familiar tried to explain. They see us.

Lets move. I made a quick decision.

We scurried past the carved door as fast as possible. A man healing another while gods turned their backsthis wasnt warlock philosophy. We werent just in a Miracle cult trap. We were in their old research center. Thankfully, the room itself turned out not to be so dangerous, and we made it through to a smaller door leading into more corridors. We walked on until the scenery changed again.

Another door, Josh explained. Also carved. A lot of runes, I think? I feel like whatever is at the end of our path should be behind there. It radiates pain like a flame. I have trouble standing here.

Yeah, Ophelia said. I dont know the direction, but its like there is lead in my stomach. I dont remember the last time I felt this tense.

Yeah, I get that, I said.

I couldnt feel fear, but whatever was behind those doors radiated so much emotion I could feel it in my body, like my mind was trying to push it away.

Maybe we should

Josh, I cut him off, you try to see something inside. If you feel pain, turn and run away, but if you can glimpse anything that jumps at you like those numbers, then remember it at any cost. I said, asking Sally to turn toward Josh, before switching to Ophelia. But you

Im not sitting this one out, Ophelia answered. Myhur is my teacher as much as he is your friend, she said, her voice firm.

Right. Which doesnt mean youll be any help if I have to drag youor whats left of your mindout of there.

Or youll jump in there headfirst, as you do with every other trap, and I will have to drag you out. Im not an amateur.

Well, she wasnt entirely wrong

Yeah. Trained you myself. I sighed after a few seconds of consideration. Fine, new plan. Well both try to get Myhur back. But make sure I dont need to save two minds.

Got it.

We waited in tense silence before Josh finally agreed, giving us a hesitant okay. Nothing like peer pressure, after all.

Okay, I said, bracing for whatever would happen there. Lead the way.

We all approached the door and stepped through. The first thing I heard was screaming, strange and distorted. It was like hearing the very concept of a scream, something I could barely comprehend. Next came pain, also unusual, dull yet overwhelming. My mind bent under its pressure. And then came a scream I could fully hear. It was Joshs, a guttural shout full of terror and suffering. I commanded Sally to fling him away, assuming the door would work on the way back.

Sally's voice cut through the confusion. People chained, many, people, working, cant see, a thing in the air, ball, enemies, enemies in the ball. She began bombarding me with short descriptions and a confusing mix of sensations.

I could feel the strain she was under, combined with the pressure the place was already putting on my mind. It all mixed into a horrid cacophony of feelings, sounds, and voices, with one sentence repeating through the noise. Its looking at us.

Find Myhur! I screamed aloud, sending the same command through our shared link.

Hes near the ball! Ophelia said, her snake apparently having spotted the mushroom first. II have to run, she added, her voice pained.

Get him, I commanded Sally and felt her move.

Got, Myhur, mushroom, strange. The descriptions came to me, but I had no time to ponder them as the next shout was accompanied by an impact from the side.

The ball, open, enemies, Sally reported.

I could sense her lashing out in all directions as I ordered us to retreat, hoping my familiar held on firmly to Myhur. We bolted out of there after the rest.

Ophelia, came a welcome report from Sally.

I got Josh, my apprentice shouted.

But another warning about enemies cut the celebration short. We made a run for it, letting our familiars navigate back to our bodies, using the natural pull to speed up the retreat. I could hear the enemies approach. I could hear bodies hurtling through the air, each low whistle preceded by a hiss. I could hear shouts of pain. And finally, the gurgling of those Sally swatted from the air with her appendages.

After a few moments of frantic flight, we managed to put some distance between ourselves and the pursuit as we entered the chamber with the carved door, which Sally announced with a simple Big door.

But her next word stopped my thoughts: Open.

Then Josh let out a pained shout. Watch out! was all I could make out.

Hes unconscious, Ophelia said.

Danger! I heard in my mind.

We need to run! Ophelia shouted, and this time, her voice sounded truly panicked.

I couldnt really tell why, which was infuriating. I just knew something was approaching, most likely from behind that carved door, something we did not want to be close to.

But it was too late.

The sensation was like a sudden eruption of flame atop a rotting corpse. The warmth carried something oul. I could tell it kept its gaze on me. I knew that. It manifested as a burning sensation, akin to a stream of fire landing on the ice of my consciousness, melting it, turning it to vapor that dissipated into the surroundings. I felt myself grow thin as the energy dissipated under the weight of whatever had just appeared. Sally's comments stopped as she almost collapsed beneath me, and I felt us come to a halt.

My thoughts slowed. What kind of being had left behind a memory capable of manifesting this much pressure? Sally was also thinning as a low whine reached me through our shared bond.

I understood I wouldnt be getting out of here. Not on my own strength. Not blinded.

This wasnt my fight.

It was Sallys.

I focused on our connection and tried to urge Sally onward, to lift up whatever of her was part of me. It was almost a funny sensation. Normally, leaving my life in anyone elses hands would have filled me with deep revulsion, but Sally didnt cause that reaction. Some subconscious part of me saw us as one being.

I was left suspended in a directionless space, focusing on Sally while keeping up my own shape with the strength I had left. Until a change. The pressure on my mental energy lessenedwe were moving away from it. Whatever stood behind those doors was either immobilized or uninterested in pursuing us, as my senses slowly returned. I confirmed Ophelia and her serpent managed to crawl away first. Judging by the difference in mental power, it meant whatever it was was focused on me.

I couldnt tell how long it took, but after what felt like hours, we were moving on our own strength again. Josh was still unconscious, or rather, his mind had shut down and was no longer controlling the energy making him up. It was interesting that he still kept his shape, not dissipating. The only blessing was that the enemies who had chased us from the last chamber seemingly didnt pass that stone door. Whatever stood behind it prevented even the creatures of the memory from moving past.

What was that? I asked both Sally and Ophelia.

I cant tell. My familiar didnt even look at it. It just crawled away with me and Josh on top, Ophelia said.

What I got from Sally was much more complicated. She was clearly confused. She tried to describe it as massive, yet somehow both humanoid and not humanoid at the same time.

Can you save that question for later? Ophelia asked, and I could hear her snake shift upright.

I got Josh. You didnt lose Myhur, I hope? she asked.

No, I said, checking with Sally. She kept dragging the poor mushroom behind us. I was happy he at least didnt put up a fight and just spasmed, at least according to my familiar.

We moved forward, listening for any attacks. The pull on our bodies felt like gravity as we neared an exit. All we needed to do was fall into it.

Two shouts reached my mind as we neared the black hole of an exit.

One from Ophelia. Danger.

And another from Sally. Friend.

Both my apprentice and I dived forward towards the exit and back into the empaths mind.

Even once out, we kept pulling ourselves back, not slowing down. Once outside, I felt myself pop into place. The sensation of my mind settling back into my flesh and soul was more soothing than I had ever imagined. I opened my eyes, happy to finally see what was around me, and looked to Myhur, who had returned to his body. Once I confirmed he had opened his eyes, I turned to Josh.

He also returned to his body but without fully waking up. Instead of lying comatose as before, he began to thrash and groan as if having a nightmare. Then, to my surprise, he suddenly opened his eyes and began shouting, his voice panicked, most likely not realizing he was out, as he tried to warn us about what he was seeing beyond the carved door.

Hollow god! Hollow god! Hollow god! Josh's voice echoed around the tunnels.

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