Chapter 669: [Bonus - ] The Strange Hymn

Chapter 669: [Bonus Chapter] The Strange Hymn

Thoren went deeper into the chamber, his footsteps splashing softly through the shallow black water as his mind continued to linger on the earlier battle and the strange ability displayed by the Illusory Soul Lantern.

The scene remained vivid in his memory, especially the terrifying moment when the Soul Lantern bares its fangs.

The same Soul Lantern that had accompanied him throughout his journey in the abyss. And now, it was as if it was quite different from the previous soul lantern.

Thoren narrowed his eyes as he recalled the soul lantern’s movements. He had activated his talent countless times before and has never displayed such terrifying power, much less acted independently.

’I guess there are many things I still don’t know about my talents,’ he thought and shook his head, taking a deep breath.

He now understood that his talents were far more mysterious than he had initially assumed.

Perhaps there were hidden abilities he had yet to discover, or perhaps the Soul Lantern possessed properties that only manifested under specific conditions.

For now, he decided to put those thoughts aside and continue exploring.

Floating above his head, the eerie Soul Lantern illuminated the area with much greater brightness than before. Its ghostly flame burned steadily, casting pale light across the enormous chamber and revealing details that had previously remained hidden beneath the oppressive darkness.

Thoren continued forward cautiously, keeping his attention on his surroundings as he moved past the places where the mourners had disappeared.

The chamber remained unnervingly quiet, and the only sounds accompanying his footsteps were the faint splashes of water and the occasional drip falling from the ceiling.

Then, something changed.

Thoren’s steps gradually came to a halt when he heard a strange hymn.

At first, the sound was so faint that he wondered whether his ears were playing tricks on him.

It seemed to come from somewhere deep within the chamber, carried through the darkness by an invisible current.

The melody was slow and solemn, with an unfamiliar rhythm that made it difficult to distinguish individual notes.

Yet, there was something strangely captivating about it, something that seemed to reach beyond his hearing and touch the deepest part of his consciousness.

Thoren’s expression tightened and then...

A chill crept down his spine as the strange hymn grew clearer. For an instant, his instincts screamed at him that something was wrong.

His muscles stiffened, and his fingers curled slightly as he prepared for another unexpected attack.

However, the feeling vanished almost immediately.

Gone.

The cold sensation disappeared, replaced by a soothing warmth that slowly spread through his body.

The tension in his shoulders eased, and his breathing gradually returned to normal. The hymn no longer sounded threatening.

Instead, its gentle melody seemed to calm his restless mind, washing away the unease that had lingered since the battle.

Thoren stood still, momentarily caught between suspicion and bewilderment.

’What just happened?!’

He had not expected such a sudden change, especially after feeling that unmistakable chill.

Then, without being told, he raised his head and looked at the Soul Lantern once again.

His eyes widened in shock.

The eerie lantern continued floating above him, its ghostly flame shining steadily as the strange hymn echoed through the chamber.

For a moment, Thoren remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the floating light.

’Don’t tell me the lantern is somewhat connected to this place...’ The strange thought popped into his mind but he quickly shook his head.

’That’s impossible...’

’Impossible. Something else must be going on.’

Averting his gaze from the Soul Lantern, Thoren took a deep breath as he continued his journey forward.

The rhythm of the strange hymn continued to echo in his ears, its solemn melody spreading through the enormous chamber.

The sound seemed to come from every direction, making it difficult to determine its true source.

Yet, under the effect of the Soul Lantern, the hymn had lost its strange power over him.

Although he could still hear every note, it no longer stirred the same uneasiness within his heart, nor could it easily interfere with his thoughts.

Thoren continued walking, his boots disturbing the shallow black water with every step. The soul lantern floated steadily above his head, its eerie light illuminating the path ahead.

Just then, something strange happened.

Thoren began to hear voices.

Strange voices.

At first, the sounds were indistinct, overlapping one another until they became a confusing mixture of whispers and faint calls.

Some seemed to come from far away, while others sounded as though their owners were standing just behind him.

The voices rose and fell with the rhythm of the hymn, making it difficult for him to separate one from another.

He immediately slowed his steps, his eyes narrowing as he listened carefully.

The unfamiliar voices continued for several seconds and then, gradually, they began to fade into the background, becoming quieter until only a few distinct voices remained.

Immediately, Thoren’s expression changed as he recognized those voices.

One belonged to his mother, Serene.

Another was the familiar voice of his father, Ardyn.

The last one belonged to his younger sister, Elara, whose mischievous tone he could recognize anywhere.

For a brief moment, Thoren felt as though the entire world had stopped around him.

The voices were so clear that he could almost imagine his family standing nearby, speaking to him as they had before.

His mother’s gentle voice carried the same warmth he remembered, while his father’s voice sounded steady and familiar.

Elara’s mischievous tone was especially convincing, bringing back memories of the little troublemaker.

The illusion was so convincing that Thoren almost believed they were truly there with him.

His heart tightened, and he instinctively turned his head toward the direction of the voices, hoping to catch even the slightest glimpse of their figures.

However, there was nothing but darkness beyond the reach of the Soul Lantern’s light.

He knew better than to trust what he was hearing.

The Hall of Tallies had already demonstrated its ability to deceive the senses, and the strange hymn was clearly connected to whatever power lingered within this place.

Under the effect of the Soul Lantern, the deception was nothing before him.

Thoren shook his head and took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the emotions rising within his chest.

’This is terrifying...’ he lamented in his heart.

He had expected dangerous beasts, strange creatures, and perhaps ancient traps hidden within the depths of this ruin.

However, what he was experiencing was something beyond his imagination.

He continued forward, keeping his attention fixed on the path ahead while the familiar voices lingered in his ears.

Just when he thought everything was over, something appeared.

He saw them once again.