people, and it stops here!" Regulus's voice carried across the room, commanding and resolute. "We have not confirmed their presence beneath our city with absolute certainty, but the evidence points strongly to their influence. The bodies discovered in the warehouse district bear the unmistakable signs of their twisted work."
He swept his arm over the detailed maps laid before them. "Our plan is three-pronged and decisive. Three teams will enter through separate access points, converging on the central chamber of the Old Quarter's underground ruins. Team Alpha, under Captain Valerius and myself, will take the main passageway. Teams Beta and Gamma will approach from the eastern and western quadrants respectively, ensuring we leave no escape unguarded."
Regulus's scarred face hardened as he continued. "Be warned—if the Masked Ones truly lurk beneath our city, they will not surrender quietly. They will fight with the desperation of zealots. This is why you've been equipped with protective gear." He gestured to the masks and sealed armor distributed among the knights. "Use them. No heroics, no unnecessary risks."
He paused, looking each knight in the eye before continuing. "But remember this: whether or not we find the Masked Ones tonight, what we do here serves a greater purpose. Every step we take into those dark passages is a declaration that Azure will not cower in fear. Every inch of ground we secure is a promise to our people that we will protect them, no matter the cost." His voice rose, filling the chamber with conviction. "If the Masked Ones are there, we will find them. If they are not, we will continue hunting until every last one of them faces justice for their crimes against humanity."
A murmur of approval rippled through the assembled knights, growing into a chorus of determined voices. Even Valerius, typically stoic and reserved, nodded in grim satisfaction at the speech.
"Check your gear one final time," Regulus commanded. "We move in thirty minutes. May the Light of Azure guide our blades."
As the knights dispersed to make their final preparations, Kazuki adjusted his protective mask, testing the air flow through the filtration system. The device felt foreign against his face, but he understood its necessity all too well.
"Nervous?" Reina asked quietly, appearing at his side. She had already donned her mask, though she'd pushed it up temporarily to speak clearly.
"Terrified might be more accurate," Kazuki admitted with a wry smile. "I'm not exactly a knight in shining armor."
"Few of us are, beneath the surface," she replied, her eyes crinkling slightly in what he assumed was a hidden smile behind her mask. "Just stay close to me. My barriers should offer additional protection if things go awry."
---
The descent into the sewers beneath Azure came an hour later, under the cover of full darkness. Team Alpha—twenty elite knights led by Regulus and Valerius, with Reina and Kazuki positioned safely in the center of their formation—entered through a heavy iron grate in an abandoned courtyard near the edge of the Old Quarter.
The passage beyond the grate was larger than Kazuki had expected, clearly designed for maintenance workers to move through with relative comfort. Ancient luminescent fungi, encouraged by generations of city alchemists, provided dim bluish lighting along the arched stone ceiling. The air was damp but surprisingly free of the stench one might expect from a sewage system—evidence of magical purification systems still functioning after centuries.
"The old city engineers knew their craft," Reina murmured, noting Kazuki's curious glance at their surroundings. "These tunnels have survived earthquakes, floods, and wars. Some say they're older than Azuria itself, merely repurposed by the kingdom's founders."
They moved forward in silence after that, following Regulus's lead through increasingly complex passages. What began as organized sewage tunnels gradually gave way to older structures—sections of buried buildings, ancient cellars, and mysterious chambers whose original purpose was lost to time. The luminescent fungi grew sparser in these deeper areas, forcing the knights to rely on carefully shielded lanterns that cast long, dancing shadows across weathered stone walls.
After nearly an hour of careful progress, Regulus signaled a halt. They had reached a junction where three passages converged into a circular chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Water dripped steadily from above, forming shallow puddles on the uneven stone floor.
"We wait here for the signal from Teams Beta and Gamma," Regulus whispered. "They should be approaching their convergence points by now."
As they waited in tense silence, Reina stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the puddles scattered across the chamber floor. "Captain," she said softly, "with your permission, I'd like to try something."
Regulus nodded. "Proceed, Lady Reina."
Kazuki watched with interest as Reina knelt beside one of the larger puddles. She removed her glove, revealing an intricate silver ring adorned with a single blue stone that seemed to glow from within. Placing her hand just above the water's surface, she whispered words in a language Kazuki didn't recognize—fluid syllables that reminded him of flowing streams.
The water in the puddle trembled, then rose in a thin column to meet her palm. It swirled around her fingers like a living thing, responding to her will. The blue stone in her ring pulsed in rhythm with the water's movement.
"Original Spell: Verdant Tributary," she murmured. "Reveal what has passed."
The water spread from her hand, flowing outward across the chamber floor in thin rivulets that sought out every crack, every depression, every footprint invisible to the naked eye. Where the water touched, faint blue illumination followed, creating a complex pattern across the stone.
"There," Reina said, her voice tight with concentration. "Do you see it?"
Kazuki leaned forward, studying the glowing pattern. What had initially appeared random now revealed itself as a clear trail—multiple sets of footprints leading from one of the side passages toward what seemed to be a solid wall at the far end of the chamber.
"How many?" Valerius asked, his voice barely audible.
Reina's brow furrowed with effort as she directed the water to spread further, revealing more of the subtle depressions in the stone. "At least twenty different individuals... moving regularly along this path. The impressions are deep, suggesting frequent use." She pointed to specific areas where the blue glow was most intense. "These are the most recent—within the past day, judging by the clarity."
Regulus signaled two of his knights forward, directing them to examine the seemingly solid wall. They moved carefully, testing the stone with trained hands until one found something—a nearly invisible seam running vertically from floor to ceiling.
"A hidden door," the knight confirmed in a whisper.
Regulus nodded grimly. "And fresh tracks leading directly to it. It seems Dr. Mizushima's theory may prove correct after all." He glanced at Kazuki with newfound respect. "Well done."
Valerius's expression remained skeptical behind his protective mask, but he offered no objection as Regulus directed his men to secure the chamber. Small, glowing crystals were placed at strategic points, their light dimmed to mere pinpricks—signal markers for Teams Beta and Gamma when they arrived.
Reina gently released her spell, the water returning to its natural state as she rose to her feet. "My Original Spell allows me to sense disruptions in water's natural patterns," she explained quietly to Kazuki. "Water remembers, in its way—it molds itself to whatever touches it, preserving impressions long after the physical contact ends."
"Impressive," Kazuki replied sincerely. "Could it work on other liquids as well? Blood, perhaps, or chemical compounds?"
Something flickered in Reina's eyes—surprise, maybe, or curiosity. "An interesting question. I've experimented with various natural waters—river, sea, rain—but never with other liquids. The magical affinity might differ significantly."
Their conversation was interrupted by a soft, birdlike whistle from one of the tunnels—the signal that Team Beta had arrived at their designated position. Moments later, a different pattern announced Team Gamma's readiness.
Regulus gathered the knights around him, speaking in the barest whisper. "We've found what appears to be a concealed entrance. Given the fresh tracks leading to it, we must assume the space beyond is occupied." He pointed to the knights nearest the hidden door. "Tanner, Eirik—I want you to check for traps or alarm systems. The rest of you, prepare for immediate entry once they give the all-clear."
The designated knights moved forward silently, examining the seam with specialized tools and subtle detection spells. After several tense minutes, they returned with their report.
"No magical alarms that we can detect, Captain," the one called Tanner murmured. "But the door itself is secured from within—some kind of bar or latch mechanism."
Regulus frowned. "Can it be forced?"
"Yes, sir, but not quietly. It would require significant force."
Valerius shook his head. "Too risky. If the Masked Ones are indeed beyond this door, forcing it would alert them immediately. We'd lose the element of surprise."
A heavy silence fell over the group as they considered their options. Breaking down the door would potentially jeopardize the entire operation, but without access...
"I might be able to help," Kazuki said quietly, stepping forward. All eyes turned to him. "My... ability. If I could phase through the door, I might be able to release whatever mechanism holds it from the inside."
Valerius's eyes narrowed with immediate suspicion. "And how convenient that your mysterious ability is exactly what we need at this critical moment."
"Captain," Regulus warned, "this is not the time for—"
"It is precisely the time," Valerius hissed. "How do we know this isn't an elaborate trap? He could be leading us directly into an ambush."
As Valerius's hand moved toward his sword hilt, Reina stepped between them, her expression fierce despite the mask covering half her face. "That's enough, Captain. Dr. Mizushima has cooperated fully with your investigation and provided insights that have brought us to this point. Your paranoia is becoming both tiresome and counterproductive."
"She's right," Regulus added, his voice cold with authority. "Your suspicion is noted, Captain Valerius, but I'll not have it compromise this mission." His scarred face twisted into a deeper frown. "As Knight-Captain of Azure and commander of this operation, I am ordering you to stand down. Now."
The tension between the two men crackled in the damp air. For a moment, Kazuki thought Valerius might actually draw his weapon. Then, with visible effort, the captain relaxed his posture, though his eyes remained hard as flint.
"As you command," he said stiffly. "But I will be recording this incident in my report to the Archduke."
"Duly noted," Regulus replied dryly, before turning to Kazuki. "Dr. Mizushima, if you're willing to attempt this, we would be grateful. However, I must emphasize the risk—we have no idea what awaits on the other side of that door."
Kazuki nodded, trying to project a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "I understand. But if there's a chance it could help..."
"Then let's proceed," Regulus decided. "Lady Reina, you mentioned you've observed this ability before. Any guidance you can offer?"
Reina moved closer to Kazuki, speaking softly enough that only he could hear. "Remember the sensation you felt in the dungeon—that moment when your physical form seemed to... shift. It wasn't just fear that triggered it, but a specific state of mind." She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Focus on the boundary between solid and non-solid. Visualize yourself moving through that boundary, like water flowing through sand."
Kazuki closed his eyes, trying to recall the exact sensation. It had felt like... becoming less dense, somehow. Like the spaces between his atoms had expanded, allowing other matter to pass between them without disruption. A quantum superposition of states, perhaps?
"I'll try," he murmured, approaching the hidden door.
He placed his palm against the cold stone, feeling its solid resistance. Taking a deep breath, he focused on that sensation of shifting, of becoming less substantive. For several moments, nothing happened. The stone remained implacably solid beneath his touch.
"Remember," Reina encouraged softly. "It's not about forcing your way through. It's about changing your relationship to the physical world, even if only momentarily."
Kazuki nodded, refocusing his efforts. This time, he tried a different approach, drawing on fragments of scientific knowledge that surfaced from his fragmented memories. Matter was mostly empty space. Solid objects only seemed impenetrable because of electromagnetic repulsion between atoms. If somehow he could temporarily alter that fundamental interaction...
A strange tingling sensation spread from his core outward, like pins and needles but deeper, more fundamental. The world around him seemed to blur slightly, colors shifting toward the blue end of the spectrum. He felt suddenly lighter, as if gravity had loosened its hold on him.
And then, with a sensation like passing through cold water, his hand sank into the stone door. The tingling intensified as he leaned forward, allowing the rest of his body to follow. For a terrifying moment, he existed in two states simultaneously—partly within the solid stone, partly without. His vision blurred completely, sounds becoming muffled and distant.
Then he was through, stumbling slightly as he emerged on the other side. The phase-shift ended abruptly, leaving him dizzy but intact. He took a moment to steady himself, blinking as his vision gradually cleared.
He found himself in a narrow antechamber, dimly lit by the same luminescent fungi that grew throughout the tunnel system. The hidden door was secured by an ancient but sturdy iron bar mechanism—a simple but effective lock, requiring no key but impossible to manipulate from the other side.
Lifting the heavy bar carefully to minimize noise, Kazuki set it aside and pushed against the door. It swung open with surprising smoothness, revealing the knights waiting anxiously on the other side.
Regulus nodded in approval, signaling his men to move through quickly and silently. "Well done," he whispered to Kazuki as he passed. "That's a remarkable ability you possess."
Valerius followed without comment, though his suspicious glare spoke volumes. Reina squeezed Kazuki's arm supportively as she entered, a silent acknowledgment of his achievement.
With the door secured open, the knights established a defensive perimeter in the antechamber while scouts moved ahead to assess what lay beyond. They reported in hushed tones to Regulus.
"A corridor leading to a much larger chamber, sir," one whispered. "We can hear... movement. Many bodies moving in unison, but no voices."
Regulus nodded grimly. "Signal Teams Beta and Gamma to advance to our position." He turned to address the gathered knights. "Prepare yourselves. If the Masked Ones are indeed conducting some ritual ahead, we cannot afford to delay. Once our reinforcements arrive, we strike immediately."
The wait for the other teams seemed interminable, though in reality it was less than ten minutes before the full complement of knights had assembled in the antechamber. Regulus outlined the final approach in terse whispers, directing Team Alpha to take the central advance while Teams Beta and Gamma would enter from the secondary passages that the scouts had identified.
"Lady Reina, Dr. Mizushima," Regulus said quietly, "I must ask you to remain with the rear guard initially. Once we've secured the chamber, your expertise may be needed, but until then—"
"We understand," Reina assured him. "We'll stay back."
With final orders given, the knights prepared to move. Protective masks were checked one last time, weapons drawn and held at the ready. Regulus gave the signal, and they advanced silently down the corridor toward the unsettling sound of rhythmic movement.
The passage widened gradually, eventually opening into an enormous cavern that must have once been a grand subterranean hall in the original city. Ancient columns, carved with symbols eroded beyond recognition, supported a ceiling lost in shadows high above. The luminescent fungi grew in abundance here, providing enough light to reveal the horrifying scene before them.
The center of the cavern had been converted into a crude amphitheater, with concentric rings descending toward a central platform. And on those rings stood the Masked Ones—at least two hundred figures in long, dark robes, their faces concealed by pointed hoods with narrow red slits where their eyes should be. Unlike normal humans, they moved with an eerie, mechanical precision, swaying in perfect unison as if guided by a single mind. Not a single sound came from them—no chanting, no incantations—just the rhythmic shuffling of feet and the occasional creak of fabric.
On the central platform, a single figure lay strapped to a stone altar—a young woman, her eyes wide with terror, her mouth gagged to prevent screaming. Around her stood five figures who appeared different from the rest—their robes adorned with silver symbols that gleamed in the dim light. At their center stood one whose robe was marked with elaborate red sigils that seemed to pulse with their own inner light. This figure had both hands raised above the victim, fingers splayed to reveal five gleaming rings on each hand—not mere jewelry, but instruments of magical power.
Regulus raised his sword, the signal to attack.