Zeke obstinately walked straight ahead.
He could feel that Lucifer had no intention of killing him, which was why he dared to go on.
He had barely gone two steps when he saw the light flash again, and so he went faster.
Lucifer scolded more fiercely. “D*mn it! I told you to stop. Didn't you hear me? You'll really die if you continue!”
Zeke finally stopped in his tracks.
It was not because of Lucifer's scolding, but rather because he had reached the light.
He was shocked at the sight before him.
On his right, in the stone wall, was a stone door.
On the oval-shaped door were beautiful intricate carvings.
A faint light shone through the crack of the door.
Above and on both sides of the door were many beautiful and delicate statues of figures in relief.
There was still a lot of color residue on them, but the color had oxidized due to age.
The work was so immense that it could not have been done by one or two persons.
Could it be possible that this underground river was once visited by a lot of humans?
Zeke's curiosity was aroused.
He stretched out his hand to push the stone door.
Lucifer cursed angrily, “Punk, I can guarantee that as soon as you open that door, you will surely die. I'm not joking with you! Please reconsider whatever you are trying to do.”
Turning a deaf ear to Lucifer's scolding and yelling, Zeke continued to push at the stone door.
The stone door was really heavy. Zeke, who was now a normal human, spent a lot of effort to finally make the gap larger.
Immediately, more light shone out from within, followed by a sense of warmth.
The light looked like it came from a fire.
He tried to peep inside.
Behind the door was a long tunnel, of which a fire was lit at the end of it.
A figure was huddled beside the fire.
Their back was toward Zeke, so he could not see their face.
This must be the person speaking to me all along.
After looking around and seeing no danger, Zeke squeezed into the tunnel.
“Who are you? Where is this place? Why are you underground?”
Lucifer laughed creepily. “Punk, come over here. I haven't eaten human flesh for a long time. Come over here and let me have a bite.”
Zeke's heart skipped a beat.
This strange old man had survived so long here without seeing daylight.
There was no way he was just an ordinary person.
I've lost my life force now, so I'm just a mere mortal. I'm no match for this strange old man. He might really be able to make a meal out of me.
He stood where he was, undecided.
Yet, he quickly made the decision to go further inside.
If this old man had wanted to kill me, he could have done so earlier. There's no reason to wait until now to kill me. Either he doesn't see me as an enemy, or there are certain constraints so he cannot hurt me.
As they say, risks and opportunities coexist.
Perhaps, there was an opportunity here.
If it's a blessing, it's not a calamity. If it's a calamity, it's unavoidable.
With that thought in mind, Zeke went in, deeper and deeper, his steps firm.
The old man, whom Zeke decided to call Old Skeleton, laughed even more eerily. “Punk, I give you two choices. Do you want to be steamed or roasted? I'll respect your wishes.”
Zeke did not reply to Old Skeleton but looked around warily instead.
He realized that the tunnel led to a tomb.
Is this an ancient tomb?
Only the rich and the powerful could afford to build an underground ancient tomb in Atheville.
Could this old man be the caretaker of this ancient tomb?
The old man would not stop talking, trying to scare Zeke.
“You're so skinny that your body won't contain much fat. You'd be too dry if roasted.”
“I think it might be better to steam you. I love to eat food with a simple, tasty flavor.”
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