Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 414 - The Path to the Subterranean World

First, the story concluded.

The dwarf elders were busy moving about to handle the tasks Ethan had requested, and Sigma also advised Ethan to rest first, saying he had various things to do.

‘As expected, it’s sensitive.’

For the dwarves of Tartaros, the subterranean world was such a sensitive topic that it was like a taboo that shouldn’t even be mentioned.

‘They don’t allow anyone to even show interest in it. Because it’s that dangerous.’

Land flipping, of course, started from the nearest Tartaros.

‘And this has happened in the past too.’

That’s why it was completely erased from dwarf history.

‘But someone must remember it. If there’s no information, when someone digs up something that’s been completely buried, the same thing will happen again.’

And that information was probably being passed down to the Great Hammer.

Even the older dwarf elders know about the subterranean world.

That night.

Ethan visited Sigma Roadhammer again.

“What is it, Master Ethan Whiskers? Has the goddess given you a revelation?”

Sigma, who noticed that Ethan was going to mention the subterranean world again, asked with a sigh.

“The subterranean world is a place that shouldn’t even be mentioned. It once drove our Tartaros to the brink of destruction. There are countless monsters in the subterranean world. Not only that, but the one that spat out those monsters…”

Sigma paused there to catch his breath.

“Have you ever been there yourself?”

“The Great Hammer must know about the subterranean world. Other dwarves might not know about it, but given the nature of dwarves, someone might discover the entrance to the subterranean world. I’ve seen beyond that entrance. And… I don’t know which Great Hammer it was, but I have fragments that were brought back after recklessly entering inside.”

“What happened to that Great Hammer?”

“They say he died in a horrible state. His whole body was twisted and covered in pitch-black aura.”

‘He brought back fragments and his whole body was twisted? Then he must have seen it.’

He had seen the Primordial Evil lurking inside the subterranean world.

‘If so, the fragments he just mentioned must be fragments of the Primordial Evil.’

That explained why Sigma Roadhammer was so terrified.

‘It’s much more dangerous than an evil god.’

The Primordial Evil-related quest wasn’t meant to be cleared alone in the first place.

‘It’s an unknown monster.’

The mythical monster living in the subterranean world. That was the identity of the Primordial Evil.

The ancient magic spewed out by thousands of tentacles was terrifying enough, but the geographical characteristics of the subterranean world made it even more difficult to deal with.

‘It’s dark. Even if you light a fire, the darkness of the subterranean world swallows that light.’

That’s why Ethan also gathered numerous people to proceed with the Primordial Evil quest.

‘Everyone had to learn magic to illuminate their vision in the darkness. But even that had its limits. We had to rely entirely on our senses to solve it.’

Because of this, they failed countless times, and there were several instances where they barely escaped with their lives.

‘I’ve cleared it, but…’

That couldn’t be called a definite clear.

It was a half-clear. They gave up all the benefits that could be gained from hunting the Primordial Evil and pushed it deeper into the subterranean world.

‘But this time is different.’

Ethan intended to thoroughly use this Primordial Evil as his weapon.

He knew not only the strategy to conquer the Primordial Evil but also its weaknesses.

“That’s why we’ve firmly blocked the path to the subterranean world. Master Ethan Whiskers, even if you want to go, it’s impossible.”

“I’m not trying to enter because I want to, Great Hammer.”

“… Don’t tell me.”

“Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. The Primordial Evil is stirring.”

‘Now that I’ve received the Hero’s Tower quest, it’s safe to assume that the Primordial Evil has awakened.’

Once you receive a quest, the boss at the center of that quest awakens.

Since Ethan cleared the Hero’s Tower and gained abilities, the Primordial Evil would naturally start to stir.

But for now, only the signs of anomaly are showing.

‘It’s too late to control after the signs appear. I’ll strike first before it starts moving in earnest.’

“Unbelievable!”

“I’ll show you.”

Ethan had been able to discover anomalies different from before since coming to Tartaros.

The dwarves of Tartaros probably thought the land was swelling due to more gas than usual, but.

‘I know.’

Ethan guided Sigma to the place where the anomaly was occurring.

Bubble bubble-.

“Tartaros originally has a lot of land like this.”

When Ethan stomped hard on it, the ground burst like a balloon with a ‘pssht’ sound.

And what flowed out was purple miasma.

“!”

Sigma’s expression hardened severely upon seeing that miasma.

An anomaly was really occurring.

“There were many swollen lands like this usually, so you probably didn’t think much of it. But an anomaly is already happening. The Primordial Evil crouching in the subterranean world is trying to come out.”

“It’s true, it was true.”

Having seen with his own eyes the sign that the Primordial Evil had awakened, Sigma could no longer stop Ethan.

“How… did you know?”

“I’ve been to the elves’ city before.”

Ethan explained that he had climbed the Hero’s Tower there, and that the Hero’s Tower was a tower that created heroes to stop the Primordial Evil.

“Huh… Then it really means that monster from the subterranean world is trying to come to the surface… That Primordial Evil…!”

Sigma sighed.

“But how do you plan to handle it by entering alone? Master Ethan Whiskers, it’s too much even for you. From what I’ve heard, it’s a monster with thousands of tentacles.”

Judging that it was difficult to explain in words, Sigma immediately took Ethan inside.

There was a box there.

Click-.

As Sigma carefully opened the box and stepped back, a purple mass, almost black in color, was revealed.

Squirm-. Squirm-.

The purple mass was wriggling like a heart, and its appearance was quite grotesque.

As Ethan approached, the mass suddenly tried to stretch out.

Clang-!

However, it couldn’t attack Ethan as it was blocked by the barrier set up around the box.

“This is that fragment. It’s proof that the Primordial Evil, passed down to those who become Great Hammers, really exists. Even though it’s been detached for a long time, it still possesses powerful strength.”

Sigma shook his head.

“It’s impossible alone. But we can’t send our dwarf warriors either. Sending them there is the same as ordering them to die.”

Sigma pressed his temple with his index finger as if he had a headache.

“It’s alright, I don’t need reinforcements. I’m not going to the subterranean world to kill the Primordial Evil.”

“… You’re not going to kill it?”

“It’s an existence with power too great to kill. So instead of killing it, I plan to make it sleep for a long time.”

“Hmm…”

“So you just need to open the path to the subterranean world.”

After deep contemplation, Sigma nodded.

“I… hope you return safely.”

After saying that, he went deep inside.

“This is something I made when I was in my prime. This will protect you.”

What Sigma handed over was a shield that could be held in one hand.

‘It’s an amazing item.’

Its quality was exceptional at a glance. When Sigma Roadhammer was young, he was one of the top craftsmen in Tartaros, and the items he made at that time were of such good quality that they could be called treasures.

“It’s made from the best ore I obtained when I was young. It has various magic spells cast on it. I didn’t give it to anyone or sell it. I wanted to pass it on to the right person someday.”

Sigma Roadhammer smiled.

“Is it really okay to give me such a precious thing?”

“It’s fine, it will be exactly what you need.”

Sigma said.

“No one knows, right? That you’re risking your life to enter the subterranean world for the sake of the world right now. Yet you’re not telling anyone about this fact.”

It was truly the path of a hero.

“So use this. Even if the Primordial Evil is strong, it will surely block its attacks a few times.”

Sigma said that and took a deep breath.

“If you feel like you’ve incurred a debt.”

Then he smiled cheerfully again.

“Just let me taste it first when your beer business officially starts. That’s enough.”

“I’ll definitely do that. I’ll let you, Great Hammer, taste it first. The freshest and most delicious beer.”

“When do you plan to depart?”

“I’m planning to leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

“In that case…”

Sigma pondered for a moment, then took out a parchment and scribbled something quickly.

“I’ll introduce you to a guide for the subterranean world.”

***

That night.

Ethan began preparations before descending into the subterranean world.

“The most troublesome thing in the subterranean world is darkness.”

In the past, he couldn’t find a way to drive away that darkness.

‘We shifted towards getting used to the darkness, but our vision was limited like moving in fog.’

Because of that, they failed several times.

Even when they tried for the last time, they couldn’t find the answer, so they had to be satisfied with a half-success in the end.

‘I’m not trying to hunt the Primordial Evil now.’

Ethan was thinking of using the Primordial Evil as a weapon.

If so, he needed a means to thoroughly pressure the Primordial Evil and establish an advantageous position.

New World.

Ethan turned on New World and immediately entered keywords.

-[Flame that illuminates darkness]

If the Primordial Evil is something that spews out darkness, then what can drive away that darkness must be flame.

-Starting search according to algorithm.

-Ancient Prophet [Difficulty: Low]

Ancient Prophet. Ethan immediately clicked to check.

-Do you want to subscribe to Prometheus?

“Prometheus.”

He was a very famous god. Known as a god who loved humans, he had one very famous anecdote.

“The god who first brought fire to humans.”