The path twisted like a serpent's spine, narrow and lined with ancient carvings. Kieran's vision blurred with every step, the system flickering warnings in the corner of his mind. Still, he pressed on, following Elias deeper into the underworld.
At last, they reached it—a vast, circular chamber encased in obsidian. Symbols crawled across the walls like living things, glowing faintly with a color Kieran couldn't name.
"This place…" he whispered. "It's not natural."
"It's not meant to be," Elias replied. "The Architects built it before the Abyss fractured. It's the last place they touched."
Elias walked to the center and dropped his bag. Inside—vials of crimson light, strange crystalline devices, and a jagged shard that pulsed in rhythm with Kieran's heartbeat.
"What are you doing?" Kieran asked, wary.
"I'm stabilizing you," Elias said without looking up. "You can't walk the Dream again without safeguards. Not while they're watching."
Kieran frowned. "You keep talking about 'them.' Who are they?"
Elias paused. "The first ones. The original systems. They weren't made for power—they were made to control. And now, you've got their attention."
Kieran's stomach turned.
Suddenly, the chamber trembled. The symbols on the walls twisted, reshaping into a new pattern. A sigil formed at the far end—then burst into pale blue fire.
From the flame stepped a figure.
Not Abyssal.
Not human.
It had no face, only a mirrored helm that reflected Kieran's own terrified expression. It raised one arm, pointing directly at him.
[Unknown Entity Detected. Signature: Architect-Class.]
Kieran stepped back. "What the fuck is that?"
Elias drew a blade from his coat—a weapon Kieran had never seen before.
"One of the Ones Beneath," Elias said, eyes narrowing. "And it's not here to talk."