Chapter 364: Mind What You Say
[Third World.]
Lamashtu, Marriott, and the Skeleton King materialized in a desolate, open space filled with nothing but shifting black soil. The ground beneath their boots hissed faintly, radiating a volatile corruption that corroded any common organic matter on contact.
"Where exactly is this?" The Skeleton King asked, its jawbone clicking as it stared at the violently shifting space warping before it, where reality seemed to bend like warped glass.
"My Lord, this specific region here is the ancient dimensional barrier connecting the second world and the Third World." Lamashtu answered respectfully, keeping her posture lowered to avoid offending the undead monarch.
The Skeleton stepped closer towards the shifting space, its hollow eye sockets flaring with red soul-fire. It frowned as a small, jagged spatial hole violently tore open directly before them.
"It seems someone on the other side is trying to forcibly summon something from the Third World." Marriott said in genuine surprise, analyzing the raw, erratic energy pooling around the rift.
"With the dark energy radiating from this... It’s undoubtedly the most ruthless blood ritual. I wonder how many innocent creatures were brutally killed just to open this single, tiny hole." Lamashtu muttered, tracing the faint lines of sacrificial blood-magic binding the rift. She paused, before continuing:
"But any creature who follows this hole and crosses over will be placed under the absolute control of the one who is running the ritual... That’s exactly why most sensible monsters are staying far away from it. Only stupid, ravenous ones will fall into this trap."
The skeleton lightly shook its skull, dismissive of mortal caution: "Where does this hole lead?"
"The Abyssal."