Chapter 301
Björn stared at the barrel in his hand, his expression unreadable as Mahu’s words echoed in the desolate realm around them. "Ah, the Upside Down," he murmured, turning the barrel in his hands as if contemplating something.
"And why should I care about that cursed place?" Björn asked, locking eyes with Mahu.
Mahu leaned forward slightly, her smirk never fading. "Because the expansion of the hole threatens more than just your people. It will consume everything, even the remnants of what you once held dear. You may not care now, but if the Upside Down breaches further into this world, your precious kingdom, your war, and all that you’ve built will be swallowed whole. You’ll lose everything—again."
Björn’s grip on the barrel tightened, the wood creaking under the force. "Unfortunately, I don’t have much knowledge of the Upside Down."
"That cursed place is one of the mysteries that has plagued existence since the beginning of time. Even we demons of the abyss have no such knowledge of what happens there. Every bit of information about that world is held personally by those who’ve dealt with it."
"As for the expansion of the hole, I might have some ways to deal with that. Either you step into the Upside Down itself and fight back your counterpart or opposite selves, or you create a big seal to stop the hole from expanding further," Björn said, looking at Mahu, whose frown deepened.
"My brothers are asking," Mahu said, communicating with Crepuscular and Jaws, "what are the chances we come back unharmed from the Upside Down?"
"The chances are pretty high, as your counterparts were only recently born. If not for the absence of Ikeng and Keles opening the hole, they would still be biding their time, growing before making a move like they are now," Björn answered.
A silver portal opened behind Mahu. Before stepping through, she turned to Björn. "You should deal with Murmur quickly—for the sake of everyone, and yourself."