Fire Mage-Chapter 646: Karr Beings

Chapter 646: Karr Beings

’Hmm, only hero stones placed everywhere, and each one is inscribed in an unknown language. Oddly... I feel familiar with it.’

Muttering to himself, Charles activated his Rune Eye, trying to decipher the script. But something didn’t sit right.

’I need more data on this language. It’s part of a language family I’ve studied, but I can’t pin it down. The time gap between them seems vast. If I can get into the underground city, I might find more clues. But... where did those two Corpse Devourers come from?’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

A deep frown formed on his face as he turned to leave—only to freeze.

Towering in the center of the cemetery stood a ten-meter-tall rectangular stone, unlike the others. It wasn’t a hero stone. Surrounding it were nine statues—each of a man holding a book.

’Is this the stone Victor mentioned during our journey? But didn’t he say he never went past the Second Chamber? He lied...’

Charles’s gaze sharpened.

’He claimed he saw people living in the underground city. He definitely withheld information. If I’m right, there’s a secret path to the city through this cemetery.’

He approached the tall stone. Two scripts were etched into its surface.

’A Rosetta stone,’ Charles mused, nodding. Activating [Mythos Decoding], he began deciphering the ancient language using the known Rune Language.

Within minutes, he had unraveled most of the text. Along the way, a realization struck him.

"This language... it belongs to the Astial family. I studied it in the Faith Realm. Could it have originated from the Origin Nexus plane?"

His brows furrowed. A suspicion crept into his mind—Could the fallen Dream God have once lived in that world?

"Dream God’s Divine City..."

He resumed reading, and the story unfolded:

The stone chronicled a long-forgotten war between Dream God Phoebe and an alliance of foreign gods named Cocor. It went on to reveal details of this realm’s inhabitants—their civilization, knowledge, culture...

They were called Karr. Their language: Vamii.

For millennia, they thrived in the city of Katbi, the sacred palace of the Dream God. Despite the divine setting, life here resembled paradise. Beauty and serenity wove through every corner of existence.

But what truly set this realm apart was its reincarnation cycle.

Once every few centuries, the Karr experienced rebirth—an extraordinary transformation. This process wasn’t like the reincarnation known in other realms. It was a deeper, more mystical event. No one fully understood it, but it had shaped their way of life for generations.

And it empowered the Dream God.

Each cycle, each transformation, added to Phoebe’s divine might. The collective energy of her followers’ experiences nourished her essence, making her stronger.

Charles felt a jolt of realization.

’How did reincarnation fuel divine strength?’ he wondered, captivated. ’There’s something deeper at work here...’

Then, like a flash, he remembered the Eternal River of Life.

’Could Phoebe have used the bracelet’s power to mimic such an effect?’

His thoughts drifted to the enormous purple sun that his Purple Consciousness had seen earlier.

’This dimension... it’s likely inside one of the bracelet’s beads.’

Shaking off the thought, he returned to the stone.

Its latter half told tales of both glory and grief.

For over ten thousand years, the people of Katbi had lived in harmony. But fate was cruel.

Two great calamities befell them.

The first came with the invasion of foreign gods. These divine conquerors didn’t just seek to kill Phoebe—they craved the realm itself. What followed was a series of brutal wars. Saint Heroes fell defending their homeland. Their sacrifices echoed in eternity.

But that wasn’t the end.

The second tragedy was far stranger.

Phoebe changed.

Once a benevolent deity, she became volatile—her kindness curdled into wrath. No one knew why. Her Divinity itself altered, and with it came the birth of Nightmare Creatures.

Fear spread.

Confusion followed.

And the paradise that was Katbi became a shadow of its former self.

’This monument... it was erected before the final battle. It holds a vital piece of this realm’s history.’

Having read it all, Charles turned his attention to the surrounding hero stones and statues. He examined the glyphs and intricate patterns inscribed upon them.

’These resemble an older version of the language on the Rosetta stone.’

Thanks to his prior decoding, he had no trouble reading them. Most told of heroic deeds—glorious battles etched in stone. But a few... they pulsed with something more.

A will.

Hidden among the glyphs were skill inscriptions—knowledge sealed within stone.

’Rare to Extraordinary level... Still, these are priceless artifacts.’

But time was short.

’I need to find out how those Corpse Devourers appeared.’

He continued his search and, after two hours, discovered a strange design hidden behind the Rosetta stone.

A magic circle.

"A teleportation pattern?" he muttered, recognizing the structure.

Activating his [Mystic Algorithm], he peered into the circle’s layers. Spatial runes and the Vamii language danced together, revealing a deeper logic, a hidden order.

’So it’s a teleportation circle... I can activate this.’

Stepping closer, he channeled his Wisdom Power into the pattern’s core and began chanting the ancient words carved around its edge.

The circle trembled.

Glyphs and lines ignited with golden light. Spatial energy surged around him.

Then, in an instant, the ground flared beneath his feet—and the world shifted.

He blinked.

Gone was the gloomy passage.

He now stood at the center of four ancient pillars radiating arcane energy. The air was bright, golden, and warm—like dawn sunlight bathing a long-lost sanctuary.

Stone houses dotted the landscape, their unique designs speaking of an ancient, refined culture. Their beauty wasn’t just architectural—it was spiritual.

And then he saw it.

A temple. Majestic. Monumental.

Its walls bore intricate carvings—scenes of life, war, wisdom. Animals and people intertwined in sacred poses. Statues flanked the temple steps: winged beasts, armored warriors, serene scholars.

Each radiated meaning.

Each held a presence.

Charles stood still, overwhelmed.

But before he could absorb it all, movement caught his eye.

A group stood at the temple’s entrance.

They wore silver armor, flowing robes, and simple linen garments.

Karr.

If not for his Rune Eye, Charles would’ve believed they were truly alive.

Unlike the guards, all of them are only Rank-3 beings. Charles brushed his fingers across the robe and activated the [Veil of Shadows] skill. Slowly, he merged into the shadow cast by a nearby stone pillar.

With calculated precision, he invoked the ’Shadow Stealth’ skill, instantly vanishing into the darkness. The shadows clung to him like a second skin, hiding him completely as he crept toward the towering temple entrance. His senses sharpened with each silent step.

A remarkable sight unfolded before him.

Inside the temple, a vast gathering of Corpse Devourers stood clustered together—at least a thousand strong. What caught Charles’s attention was that many of them appeared to be mere Rank-2 or Rank-3 beings. The discrepancy raised countless questions in his mind.

Curiosity flickered in his eyes, but he hesitated. A heartbeat later, he stepped through the grand entrance tower. He moved with care, each footfall measured, cautious but unwavering.

The interior opened up into a massive pavilion, supported by rows of stone pillars. Within the hall, devotees sat in clusters, chatting softly. Children darted between the columns, laughter echoing against the walls.

Charles’s gaze lingered on them.

The Corpse Devourers acted like ordinary Karr beings—talking, playing, living without a hint of their monstrous nature. They behaved as if plucked straight from the past, echoing ancient customs long thought lost.

They live like the old Karr... Is this how they once were? he wondered, drawn deeper by the mystery.

If he wanted answers, he’d have to immerse himself in their world.

A possibility struck him: Could I take the form of a Karr using Corpse Devourer blood?

Frowning in thought, he cast the [Purple Consciousness] spell on a nearby Corpse Devourer. As expected, his ethereal consciousness surfaced before the creature’s purple star—its Inner World—then vanished in an instant.

But something wasn’t right.

His shapeshifting skill couldn’t access or burn their memories. Their souls were bound to a strange, dimensional connection with the Purple Sun. That realization lingered in the back of his mind.

Still, a more pressing problem loomed—how would he find the bracelet in this strange city?

Pushing aside the puzzle, Charles left the temple and stepped into the unknown. The clay-paved road stretched ahead, lined by flickering lanterns and age-worn buildings. Curiosity tugged at him, drawing him onward.

Soon, he noticed something peculiar.

The inhabitants of the underground city behaved as if the outside world didn’t exist. No one mentioned it. No one even hinted at it.

As he walked through the bustling streets, Charles observed people going about their lives—merchants hawking strange accessories, exotic fruits, unfamiliar meats, and odd-colored vegetables. The air buzzed with life.

There must be more than a hundred thousand of them here...

The number stunned him. Could this entire city be part of the Dungeon? Or was it something else entirely?

Is this a pocket dimension? The idea took root, but he couldn’t ignore his earlier fight with the silver-armored guards. Their existence hinted that someone here knew of the outside.

Maybe only the higher ranks are aware...