Call of Abyss

Chapter 21

As Deacon Son's car approached the beach, the sound of gongs and drums began to be heard.

The sound of gongs and drums heard on a dark, foggy night somehow evoked a deep sense of fear from the depths of a person's heart.

Hyunmu saw torches lined up along the nearby beach and dozens of people gathered there.

The sound of gongs and drums echoing across Gangneung Beach was coming from that place.

"The total lunar eclipse has begun."

Nia pointed to the blood-red full moon with her finger and spoke.

The moon, turned red due to the total lunar eclipse, blended with the sound of gongs and drums echoing from the beach, creating an even more terrifying atmosphere.

"Are they really trying to summon Cthulhu?

If Cthulhu is summoned, the world will be destroyed. Does Cult Leader Giovanni truly desire that?"

"I do not know. But whatever their intent, it is almost certain they aim to summon Cthulhu, so we must stop them at all costs.

Not only for the sake of humans, but from my perspective as well, it is absolutely undesirable for Cthulhu to be summoned at this point in time."

When Hyunmu asked in a trembling voice, Nia gently shook her head and answered him.

Though Nia had seemed fairly composed while at the church, as they approached the beach and witnessed the total lunar eclipse and the ongoing ritual, she visibly became more agitated.

"We've arrived."

"You must leave this place immediately.

From now on, things will happen that ordinary humans cannot handle.

It would be safer for you to return to the church and wait."

Nia, stepping out of the car with Hyunmu, looked at Deacon Son and spoke. Deacon Son nodded and promptly drove the car away from the beach.

"Lady Nia, what shall we do from here?"

"The root cause of this situation lies in a book called the Necronomicon.

I intend to quickly snatch the Necronomicon from Cult Leader Giovanni and seal it.

Mr. Hyunmu, while I seal the Necronomicon, please protect me."

"Understood."

"Then let's go. Scythette!"

Nia summoned a long, black scythe into her hand and began running swiftly toward the beach where the Deep Ones had gathered.

Hyunmu also drew the silver dagger from his waist and followed behind Nia.

The Deep Ones, seeing Nia and Hyunmu approaching the beach, let out strange cries and all rushed toward them.

"Apophis!"

As Nia shouted the name Apophis loudly toward the group of Deep Ones charging at her, a giant black snake emerged at her feet and devoured a significant number of the Deep Ones.

I might not even need to protect her.

Hyunmu held back the words that almost escaped his lips and swung the silver dagger at the Deep Ones blocking his path.

Whoever Nia truly was, it was clear she was incredibly strong and reliable.

"O Messenger of the Black Star, who wanders freely, this is not your place."

At that moment, a deep voice echoed from somewhere, and a black bear-like beast appeared, instantly biting Apophis' neck.

Apophis couldn't move under the black beast's attack and turned into black ashes before disappearing.

"Cthulhu Star Spawn! How dare you, knowing who I am, attempt to oppose me?"

"Do not be mistaken. Our loyalty lies solely with Lord Cthulhu."

As soon as the black beast finished speaking, it raised its front paw and lunged at Nia.

Despite its size, its attack was swift and fierce.

Nia swung Scythette to counter the black beast's attack.

Observing briefly, Hyunmu concluded that their skills seemed evenly matched.

It doesn't seem like Lady Nia will have enough time to fend off the black beast and steal the book called the Necronomicon from Cult Leader Giovanni.

Thinking so, Hyunmu turned and ran toward a stone altar placed on one side of the beach.

While Nia was dealing with the black beast, he intended to take the Necronomicon from Cult Leader Giovanni himself.

"Is that the Necronomicon?"

On the altar lay a peculiar book, spread open in solitude.

Surprisingly, there was no one near the altar.

Hyunmu was able to approach the altar more easily than he had expected.

"If I just destroy this...."

Hyunmu reached out toward the Necronomicon lying on the altar.

A sense of indescribable unease and fear surged in his heart, but Hyunmu suppressed it with effort.

If he could just get rid of this book, the root of all this chaos, the village would return to normal, and he could return to Ada Mansion with a clear conscience.

The doubts and suspicions about Ada Mansion that had lingered in his mind ever since killing Byeokwoon could also be shaken off by destroying this book.

After a moment of hesitation, Hyunmu finally picked up the Necronomicon.

"You mustn't touch the book!"

Nia, noticing Hyunmu holding the Necronomicon, shouted in shock.

Before Nia could finish her words, Hyunmu dropped the Necronomicon and the silver dagger to the ground, clutching his head with both hands and screaming.

Terrifying scenes of crime and the screams and curses of people flooded Hyunmu's mind, overwhelming him.

"Foolish Hyunmu, that is the true face of this world that you have ignored until now.

Accept the teachings of the Necronomicon."

Cult Leader Giovanni, who had appeared from somewhere, picked up the Necronomicon from the ground and spoke to Hyunmu.

Hyunmu, seemingly unable to hear Cult Leader Giovanni's words, continued clutching his head and screaming before fleeing the beach.

"Hyunmu, one day you will come to harbor deep doubts about Ada Mansion and your role there.

When that day comes, come find me, Cult Leader Giovanni."

Cult Leader Giovanni shouted toward Hyunmu, who was running away from the beach while letting out loud screams.

Hyunmu, too overwhelmed to respond, disappeared across the road, screaming loudly.

"So.... Was this your plan all along?

To corrupt Ada's knight, Hyunmu?"

"Not at all. He merely had the misfortune of being caught up in the current situation."

In response to Nia's words, Cult Leader Giovanni smiled and placed the book back on the altar.

"This is the real plan.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

As Cult Leader Giovanni raised both arms into the air and chanted, the beach trembled, the waves grew fiercer, and the Deep Ones suddenly let out strange cries and began leaping into the sea.

Nia, as if realizing something, looked toward the horizon with a startled expression and saw dozens of luminous tentacles rising from the sea.

"This can't be...."

"O Messenger of the Black Star, who wanders freely, your thoughts are correct.

The ritual was already complete."

"Are you planning to destroy this world?"

"Who knows.... At this moment, I feel that this filthy and ugly world could disappear, and it wouldn't matter."

Cult Leader Giovanni spoke with a bitter expression as he gazed at the red moon hanging in the sky.

The moon, turned red by the eclipse, combined with the dozens of luminous tentacles rising from the black sea, creating an eerie scene.

"I cannot allow Cthulhu to be summoned like this."

"It is an incomplete summoning without a proper sacrifice....

Nevertheless, even in a weakened state, once Lord Cthulhu appears, humanity will surely face destruction.

From my perspective, that's still acceptable."

"Things will not go as you wish."

Nia finished speaking, swung Scythette fiercely to push away the black beast still rushing at her, and plunged the blade of Scythette into her own shadow.

At that moment, both Nia and Scythette were engulfed in a black-red flame and disappeared completely from the beach moments later.

"As expected.... I believed you wouldn't just stand by and let this world perish as it is.

After all, you still have more games to play with this world, don't you, Nialatotep?"

Cult Leader Giovanni muttered as he stared at the black-red sea after Nia had vanished.

The black-red wave, which had started from the beach, advanced toward the horizon as if swallowing the sea in reverse, and the moment it touched the tentacles, it began to stain them black-red.

The dozens of tentacles that had risen high above the sea writhed violently as if resisting the black-red wave, causing the storm to grow even fiercer than before.

"It will take most of the power possessed by her, the incarnation of Nialatotep, to barely stop the summoning of Lord Cthulhu.

It will take years for her to recover her strength."

Elder Lorenzo, holding the unconscious Seoyeon in his arms, approached Cult Leader Giovanni and spoke.

"A few years will be sufficient.

During that time, if we can grow the Medici Family and change the nation, our goal will be achieved."

Cult Leader Giovanni watched with a satisfied expression as the luminous tentacles that had risen above the horizon gradually disappeared as the eclipse ended.

Along with the tentacles, the black-red wave also disappeared, and the sea slowly returned to its dark blue color.

"You who have been called by the Lord of the Abyss, Nialatotep will not forget today's events.

I hope you prepare well."

"Yes, do not worry."

The black beast heard Cult Leader Giovanni's response and turned its body to return to the sea.

"If you need help, come back here and call for me.

I will appear with an army to be your strength."

With those words, the black beast completely disappeared into the sea, and the raging waves calmed as if nothing had happened.

Cult Leader Giovanni gazed at the now tranquil night sea, lost in thought for a while.

After a storm, the world becomes clearer and cleaner.

The Medici Family will become the fierce storm that shakes the world.

It wasn't very important where the source of that power came from.

If the silent Christian God and weak laws cannot change the world, the being that grants the power to change the world was the true God and the true law to Cult Leader Giovanni.

The great being dreaming in the abyss, the master of the sunken nightmare island R'lyeh, the lord of eternal terror.

The Necronomicon described Cthulhu in such a way.

However, the true identity of Cthulhu was not very important to Cult Leader Giovanni.

The being that gives him the practical power to change the world.

That was the God, the shepherd, and the savior to Cult Leader Giovanni.

"Elder Lorenzo, let's go to Seoul.

First, we must find elders and apostles to spread the teachings of our Medici Family.

Then, we will gradually turn the country's government to our side.

Simply having transcendent power alone cannot change the world."

"Yes, I understand, Cult Leader.

I will follow you wherever you go."

Cult Leader Giovanni nodded as he listened to Elder Lorenzo's response.

The moon, which had turned a deep yellow, shone intensely in the sky like the eyes of a predator searching for prey in the dark night.

This is rebellion.

A rebellion against my own naive self, against foolish and selfish humans, and against a God who remains silent and turns away from evil.

Cult Leader Giovanni quietly smiled as he looked at the moon hanging in the sky with sharp eyes.