Chapter 293: Holy war 31

Walking around the grand halls of the white castle, Lilliana trailed behind Adrian. Although she was still reluctant to use her powers for the purpose he requested, she couldn't help but follow him. It was the better option than being left alone in her cell.

"Hey... are you really Adrian?" she asked, trying to confirm the things he had said to her just moments ago.

Glancing at her slightly, Adrian smiled and nodded, realizing that she was still reluctant even after everything he had shown her. As someone who had shared all his memories with her, she should have understood by now just how true all his words were. But that level of skepticism was only normal, especially when dealing with things of his nature.

"Like I told you, both yes and no. I assimilated with him. It's ultimately up to you to decide, but for me, we are one and the same. Have you ever heard of the Ship of Theseus?"

Adrian asked as he knew foreign stories and concepts such as that shouldn't be new to her especially after his perfect memory transfer.

Lilliana frowned, trying to recall. "The Ship of Theseus? Isn't that some old philosophical paradox?"

"Exactly," Adrian replied, stopping to face her. "The paradox asks whether a ship that has had all its components replaced remains the same ship. It's a question of identity. If you replace each part of a person, piece by piece, until none of the original parts remain, is it still the same person?"

"But... you're not just replacing parts," Lilliana argued. "You assimilated him. You consumed his soul."

Adrian nodded. "True, but the essence of who he was—his memories, his desires, his thoughts—they all live on within me. In that sense, I am both Adrian and something more. A continuation, if you will."

Lilliana's eyes narrowed. "It's hard to accept. You show me these memories, but memories can be manipulated."

"Indeed, they can," Adrian agreed. "But feelings are harder to fake. Search your own heart. You know it's him in there. His love for you, his goals, his regrets—they're all intertwined with who I am now."

They walked in silence for a moment, Lilliana mulling over his words.

"Lilliana how much knowledge do you have of the implications of the name Vulter"

"I see...."

Lilliana mused silently. In the end, what choice does she have but to believe the monster in front of her? She had the feeling that no matter what she did, it was always his will that would come out on top all the time.

So, there was really no point in arguing. Although she didn't like it, him being Adrian was the only thing she could hope for right now.

A monster born out of the depths of the abyss, a human nurtured by the very aspect of evil and darkness itself—that was who this being in front of her was. And now she had to believe he was her beloved brother. 'Is this punishment, perhaps?' she wondered, recalling everything she had done in her life.

Ignoring her lingering thoughts about the real Adrian in her mind, she continued to follow him until they reached a completely open space inside the grand halls of the castle. There was a statue in the center and a grand cross on top of the ceiling. Demons were roaming around in circles before leaving the room as soon as they stepped foot in it.

The open space was vast, with intricate designs adorning the walls and floor. The statue in the center was of a figure cloaked in shadows, exuding an aura of both power and despair. The grand cross above was gilded, its presence a stark contrast to the darkness that seemed to seep from the walls.

Adrian walked confidently into the room, his presence commanding and authoritative. The demons, sensing his dominance, bowed their heads slightly before exiting, leaving the siblings alone in the eerie silence.

Lilliana's eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail. "What is this place?" she asked, her voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber.

Placing his hands on the altar, Adrian began to chant in a language Lilliana didn't understand, his voice resonating with the dark energy of the chamber.

As he chanted, the runes and symbols on the pillars and the altar began to glow brighter, filling the chamber with an eerie, otherworldly light.

The oppressive energy grew stronger, and Lilliana could feel it pressing down on her, threatening to crush her under its weight.

"Hmm~? As expected, they're not here. I guess this must just be the gate," Adrian mused, his eyes scanning the dark chamber.

Lilliana struggled to understand what he was talking about. The oppressive energy felt like it was crushing her soul, and she could barely stand under its weight. She looked at Adrian, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What do you mean? There's something here. It's threatening to crush me!"

Seeing Lilliana suffering unexpectedly, Adrian sighed and coated her in a purplish aura. "Oh, I forgot you were a human," he said nonchalantly.

Lilliana coughed for a few seconds before glaring at Adrian angrily. "Let's get out of here, you bastard!"

Adrian chuckled. "Hmm~ I would love to, but sis asked me to be very meticulous on this mission, so no. And besides, we're already here anyway; might as well finish it, right? Kukuku... And don't worry, you probably can't see it, but the thing in front of us isn't an old god. It's just a guard dog they placed."

"How is that even reassuring?" Lilliana snapped.

Adrian simply smirked and approached the black creature that was emitting the crushing pressure. He mumbled something in a language Lilliana couldn't understand, "######."

Suddenly, the pressure disappeared. The black creature seemed to dissolve into the shadows, leaving the path clear before them. Lilliana felt a wave of relief wash over her, but her fear and anger were still simmering just beneath the surface.

"See? No problem at all," Adrian said with a satisfied grin.

Lilliana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "What now?" she asked, her voice steadier but still tinged with frustration.

"Now, we proceed to the real chamber where the old gods are sealed," Adrian replied, his tone serious for once. "This was just the entrance, the test to see if we were worthy of moving forward."

Lilliana glanced around the now calmer chamber. The oppressive energy had faded, but she could still feel the lingering power of the place. "And what if we're not worthy?"

Adrian's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Then we make ourselves worthy. We have the bloodline, the power, and the will. They will have no choice but to acknowledge us."

Despite her reservations, Lilliana followed Adrian as he led the way deeper into the sanctum.

The path ahead was illuminated by the faint glow of runes on the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced around them.

The silence was broken only by their footsteps and the occasional whisper of ancient, unknowable forces.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached another massive door, this one covered in even more intricate symbols and runes. Adrian placed his hand on the door, and it began to glow, responding to his touch.

The door slowly opened, revealing a chamber that was even grander and more imposing than the last.

In the center of the chamber stood three massive statues, each depicting a different old god. Their eyes seemed to follow Lilliana and Adrian as they entered, and the air was thick with an aura of ancient power.