20demayo Chapter 100: The Omen in the Crypt
Chapter 100: The Omen in the Crypt
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The dark, cold walls of the crypt seemed to close in on me as I picked up the black egg, its surface cold against my palms. The moment I held it, a surge of energy pulsed through my body, making my heart race. This wasn’t just any egg—it was something more, something powerful, and something that sent shivers down my spine. The connection with Greed, the eccentric sword I was bound to, suddenly intensified, like a string pulled taut between us.
I felt Greed’s presence in my mind, a constant whisper that I had grown used to over time, but now there was something different. He was silent, uncharacteristically so. Maybe he was embarrassed—after all, he had ranted about some madman drawing the runes on this egg, and it turned out the madman was with me all along. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. The sword that boasted about its superiority over everything else was apparently responsible for this dark, ominous artifact or egg I now held in my hands.
As I examined the egg closer, I realized this wasn’t just a fragment of Greed. It was something far more significant. The egg was pitch black, and its surface seemed to absorb the light around it, giving it an otherworldly aura. The energy emanating from it wasn’t just powerful—it was ancient, malevolent, and sentient. It felt as though the egg itself was alive, watching me with unseen eyes, waiting for something.
I was inside the crypt for what felt like hours, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional crackling of torches that lined the walls. But when I finally emerged from the crypt, clutching the egg to my chest, I was greeted by the shocked faces of the other trainees.
"That fast?" one of them muttered.
"I guess there aren’t that many eggs inside," another chimed in, his voice tinged with concern.
"Maybe we won’t all have a chance to choose an egg," someone else grumbled, clearly worried.
It was strange. I knew I had spent at least an hour inside, exploring the vastness of the crypt and analyzing each egg with my Ten Eyes Mantra, yet to them, it had been only minutes. The crypt was enormous, far too vast to be traversed in just a few minutes. I suspected some kind of time-related artifact was at play, distorting the flow of time within the crypt’s walls.
As I walked past the other trainees, I noticed Nicholas, the third-ranked trainee, eyeing the black egg with a peculiar expression. His gaze lingered on it, his brow furrowing in what looked like a mix of confusion and fear.
’This bastard... Can he see the runes?’ I thought, my suspicion growing. The way Nicholas reacted to the egg was almost identical to Greed’s initial reaction—one of unease and wariness. For a while now, I had sensed that Nicholas was different from the others. He was hiding something, just as I was. His ability to pass the Aqualis Array was proof enough of that. Unlike Alex, who likely succeeded due to his status as an Apostle, and unlike me, who had used a spell to cheat, yeah I cheated so what? Nicholas seemed to possess something else entirely. Something strange and mysterious.
I paused, my smirk fading. ’Are you okay?’ I asked, genuinely concerned. Greed never spoke like this. Something was wrong.
{This egg is called the Egg of Avarice,} Greed began, his voice tinged with a sadness I had never heard before. {I don’t remember exactly what’s inside, but it’s not a griffon. The runes written on it are my work, but they’re dangerous. Whatever I sealed inside those runes is something even I wanted to stay away from.}
My heart skipped a beat. Greed’s words sent a chill down my spine. ’Why can’t I see the runes, then? Even with my Ten Eyes Mantra, they’re invisible to me.’
{The runes are beyond what your current eyes can perceive. They’re ancient, corrupt, and dangerous. Even as an Apostle, you’re not immune to their influence. Trust me, Klaus, whatever is inside that egg could destroy everything you cherish. It’s not worth the risk.}
His words were like a heavy weight on my chest. For the first time, I sensed genuine concern from Greed, something I had never expected from him. ’So, you’re telling me to abandon this egg? Just like that?’
{Yes. You should go to that red-haired kid: Nicholas and ask for his help, if it’s him I’m sure he would be able to help you. I don’t mind you hatching the egg, but those runes... They’re beyond you, Klaus. I may not remember everything, but I know this much: I’m not a kind being, and neither are the others like me. Pride is already corrupting Alex, and I fear whatever is inside that egg will have a similar effect on you.}
Greed’s plea hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. I glanced around the training ground, searching for Nicholas who Greed seemed to value highly, but he was nowhere to be found, despite all the trainees being present.
’Don’t worry, Greed,’ I said, trying to sound confident. ’I can protect my own mind. I don’t need Nicholas’s help.’
Greed fell silent again, his presence retreating into the depths of my mind. I focused on the egg, determined to prove that I was in control. But deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just made a grave mistake.
As I began to channel my mana into the egg, feeding it with the energy it craved, a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. The day would come when I would regret this moment—when I would wish I had listened to Greed’s warnings. But for now, I was too blinded by my own arrogance to see the truth.
If only I had asked for help that day, perhaps the tragedy that awaited could have been avoided.