The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 138: Escape

The entrance to the Trier of the Fourth Epoch?

Is the "Ironblood Cross Order" looking for the entrance to the Trier of the Fourth Epoch?

Has this person, who disappeared for months, resurfaced again?

Upon hearing the dealer's words, several thoughts flashed through Lumian's mind.

He remembered the warning not to engage in conversation or speak at all, so he remained silent, slightly leaning forward as he reached out his right hand to take the small, brownish leather case.

The bear-like man didn't resist but chuckled, "If I were Gardner Martin, I'd pray never to know what's inside this case."

What does that mean? As Lumian's thoughts raced, his palm finally touched the case.

At that moment, his eyes narrowed as he realized the dealer's right hand wasn't on the handle. It hung loosely by his sleeve, as though pulled by some unseen force.

Following the case's handle, Lumian noticed there was no arm inside the sleeve.

It was empty, held up by something invisible. His heart tightened as he instinctively raised his gaze toward the dealer, only to see those cold, brown-red eyes beneath thick eyebrows and dense beard, filled with undisguised hatred and fear, like a wild beast.

A flood of thoughts rushed in, but Lumian forced himself to stay calm. He took the case steadily, refraining from asking questions, observing, or reacting defensively, as if he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

The dealer's emotions seemed to waver slightly, and his laughter became tinged with a shrill edge.

"Tell Gardner Martin, it won't be long before he too will descend underground. Every pain and torture I've endured, he'll face them all."

Lumian kept quiet, holding the small case as he prepared to turn and leave the Albert Mines with "Giant" Simon and "Rat" Christo.

Suddenly, from the entrance behind the dealer, the sound of footsteps echoed once again.

This time, they were even clearer, seemingly just steps away!

Lumian was more certain than before—it was the sound of leather shoes echoing through the dead silent tunnel. In the next moment, a figure appeared before him, Simon, and Christo.

It was a naked man with no head. His neck was empty, blood continuously oozing from the severed stump.

The man wore only deep blue shorts and black slip-on shoes. This headless monster lunged toward the dealer, grabbing his head and pulling it forcefully backward.

"Help me, help me!" The dealer could no longer hide his terror, screaming in panic.

Almost simultaneously, his entire head was lifted, revealing a long, bloodied spine dangling from the neck, swaying gently like a tail.

Silently, the dealer's shirt, vest, trousers, and formal attire all collapsed to the ground, as if there was no body inside them, leaving only the head and bloodied spine.

"Help me, help me!" The dealer struggled desperately, but the headless monster held on tightly, seemingly intent on inserting the head into its own empty neck. Although Lumian had encountered many twisted and terrifying monsters in the real world of Cordu Village, this was the first time he'd encountered something so bizarre and horrifying.

Without hesitation, Lumian turned away, ignoring the dealer's pleas and sprinted toward the hidden tunnel entrance.

"Giant" Simon and "Rat" Christo, who had been terrified by the scene, finally let go of their restraint, dashing into the tunnel like cyclists hearing the starting gun.