From now on, I could continue my journey to Zigurath Palace along the path.
Many lower-level monsters were passing by, even the hellhounds and perched hellish pterosaurs, ignoring me thanks to my crystal ball. I kept to the side of the path to avoid being too conspicuous and attracting the attention of elite monsters.
Yes, even though they are also denizens of hell, elite monsters sometimes like to hunt lower-level monsters for food as well.
To reach the palace, I only had to walk through the forest for about 2 kilometers. Every so often, I stopped and scanned the distance with my binoculars to make sure no elite monsters were approaching along my path.
If I ever saw one, I planned to walk off the path and stealthily hide among trees, rocks, or mounds of dirt until I passed it a considerable distance away.
I began to enter the hellish forest. This forest had completely leafless trees, just trunks and branches. The trees here are quite large and have various mounds of soil, allowing me to sneak around if I happen to spot one of these elite monsters. The tree's trunk resembles a human face, with a frightened or angry expression.
I constantly encounter humanoid monsters and hellhounds along the way. I have a strange feeling that I've already gotten used to their presence. Previously, I'd been terrified and felt just wanted to die just by looking at these lower-level monsters with my own eyes. Could it be that I've also gotten used to the atmosphere in this hell?
My physical and mental state has been fine throughout my time here, contrary to the game's lore, which supposedly would lead me to insanity and become a living corpse.
I've felt this strangeness since the unique interaction with the red portal at the nuclear power plant when I approached it, and coincidentally, the hellish pterosaur that kidnapped me instead led me to this crystal ball, which has become my primary source of survival in hell.
I remembered Imelda's earlier words: were the events that happened to me a special sign? What would happen to me after experiencing all this? What would be the connection between me and the Hellraiders? Once again, I could only wonder without any clear clues.
After a long walk along the forest path, I suddenly saw something moving in the distance, and it was large. I immediately used my binoculars to get a better look.
Oh no... I was just thinking about that elite monster, and here it is. It was approaching me along the forest path.
I immediately left the path and entered the trees. I walked behind a large tree in the same direction as the path.
Peeking out from behind one of the trees, I saw the elite monster's appearance more clearly. If I were to describe it, it resembled a large minotaur, almost 4 meters tall, and three pairs of horns on its head with lowest pair pointed downward along its jawline. However, the face wasn't a bull's snout, but rather the demonic visage commonly described by common people. The monster had no arms, only straight, sharp points like drill bits, blazing with flames. One of these elite monsters was called Judgementor.
In the game, Judgementor is quite a challenging monster to defeat. Besides having a substantial health point, it often likes to charge quickly here and there. Its drill arm is also quite deadly, capable of knocking back a Hellraider and creating a small crater when inserted. It will explode, but not as powerful as Turgash's.
As the Judgementor was about to pass me, I immediately hid behind one of the large trees quite close to the path. I saw the small monsters immediately flee into the forest upon seeing the Judgementor. The stomping of its feet caused the ground around it to vibrate, something I even felt.
While I was still standing, I suddenly saw a hellhound standing in front of me, about 3 meters away, but it remained motionless like me. That dog was staring at me.
Oh no... this hellhound could made it easier that Judgementor to find me.
Reflexively, I raised my right index finger, put it to my lips, and shook my head at the dog. As if realizing my intentions, the hellhound immediately moved away from me and ran backward. I was confused as to why I had suddenly done such a thing, and the hellhound strangely responded to me.
After the Judgementor passed me, I suddenly felt a rapid ground tremor, like a giant running. I glanced back at the elite monster and saw that it was chasing a pack of hellhounds.
Poor thing… they're going to be a Judgementor's meal.
Wait... why am I feeling sorry for that hellish creature? I thought for a moment. I'd read some lore in The Mayhem that wasn't particularly important. Killing the creatures in hell doesn't actually eliminate them, but reincarnates them from the core of hell. So, whatever I've killed so far will still return, but perhaps somewhere else.
Once the Judgementor was out of sight, I quickly resumed my walk along the path. Some time later, I finally emerged from this hellish forest and could clearly see the majestic Zigurath Palace.
I sat for a moment on one of the rocks and considered what to do next. Should I wait for the Hellraider to infiltrate this place, as per my primary objective?
But then I immediately remembered a gameplay in The Mayhem where, during the Hellraider's mission to defeat the Zigurath, he didn't break through the main gate and wreak havoc there, but instead entered through the palace's underground passage.
Maybe this is what I should do too: sneak into the palace through the back door. But how? I immediately stood up and looked around the outside of the palace.
At the main gate, I saw dozens of huge, nearly 3-meter-tall Hell Knights in black and red armor, helmets with horns, and bright red eyes, holding blazing spears of fire. Of course, I couldn't just go there and ask for permission to enter. I'd be killed, even if I had this green crystal ball. The power of one Hell Knight is almost on par with a Judgementor.
Then I looked at the back of the palace and saw a smaller back gate. I remembered the plot of my time playing the game. When Hellraiders were trying to reach the top of the palace, that's where the demon Zigurath was, I went to the upper balcony of the palace and saw a horse-drawn carriage leading into the palace through the back gate.
Yes, it was a banquet offered to the Zigurath, humans who had committed the worst deeds during their lives. In lore, Ziguraths love humans like that because they taste so delicious. My body immediately shuddered at the thought. Does that mean my father will be here too?
Aaaarrgghhhh... why am I even thinking about that despicable human? If he really died from that monster invasion, he should already be here, considering what he's done. For some reason, I felt like I would meet him here.
Suddenly, from the direction of the hellish forest, I saw something glowing walking towards the back gate. It seemed closer and closer, and what I had just thought immediately became reality before me: two pairs of black horses pulling a chariot with a large carriage behind it.
Okay, this was my chance. My plan was to sneak into Zigurath Palace via the chariot. I would hide either under the chariot or the carriage.
I immediately walked quickly towards it. Almost reaching the back gate, I then hid behind a large rock. The gate was still guarded by two hell knights.
As the chariot reached the gate, the hell knights began to inspect it. I peeked around to find the safest place to hide. I quickly decided to hide under the carriage, as it was quite spacious, whereas the chariot had a very small one.
As the hell knight walked to the other side, I quickly walked, trying to minimize noise. I avoided stepping on the stones on the ground. I began to climb into the lower part of the carriage, which the hell knight had previously inspected, and remained silent, trying to control my breathing to keep from becoming out of breath.
After a few moments, I felt the carriage move back into the palace grounds. Thankfully, my initial stealthy infiltration had been successful. While remaining silent, I glanced left and right, seeing many palace servants, not just the hell knight. I could hear the groans of people from inside the large carriage, which truly broke my heart. I assumed my father wasn't in the carriage.
The carriage then entered a building. Afterward, I saw the chariot driver dismount, head straight outside, and close the door. I took this opportunity to climb out from under the carriage.
After exiting, I looked around. There was a door in the front right corner. This was probably the entrance to the palace area. Without thinking, I entered. I immediately recognized the room I was in.
Yes, I was now in the palace's prison.
I then hid under one of the stone tables. I had explored this area in the game when my Hellraider infiltrated the palace. I memorized the route that could lead me to the upper levels of the palace and the gaps I could use to sneak through.
Besides the Hell Knights, there were also Hell's Servants serving their master Zigurath. While in the game, they usually only physically attack Hellraiders with their weapons, I couldn't just walk past them here. I wasn't sure the crystal ball would allow me to safely get past the Hell's Servants. I tried my best to avoid any armed confrontations here.
After deciding on a rough plan, I began my stealthy reconnaissance. I say rough because there was a high possibility of unexpected events.
I walked the prison corridors, memorizing the in-game prison map. Along the way, I saw many cells containing humans, but what terrified me was that they no longer had normal body shapes. Their bodies resembled the living dead, with some missing limbs. They seemed to still be conscious, as some were screaming and crying, and some were still raging. They seemed to be waiting to be eaten by Zigurath.
As I walked past a cell, I suddenly heard something calling out to me.
"Jjj-jj-joohh...hhaannn...nn..."
I paused. The voice reminded me of someone, but this time it sounded like they were in extreme agony. Wait, could this be the voice of...
I then turned back to the cell I had just passed. Inside, there was only one person. His condition was described as horrific. The left side of his head was missing, as if torn apart, and the lower half of his body was missing, with his internal organs still scattering out. When I saw his face, I was shocked and horrified. Not only was his face horrifying, but it was a face of...
"D-D...Daaddd...?!?!" I screamed softly.
"J-J-jjoohaannn… p-p-pleaassee-e-ee… k-k-kkill-lll…m-m-meee-eee… c-c-caann't… t-t-taakee-e-ee… i-i-it… a-a-anyy… m-m-moorreee-e-ee….
What did Dad really say?? Kill Dad again?? I couldn't do it. Besides causing a commotion here, "killing" Dad who was already in hell was pointless because Dad would definitely be resurrected again.
I dropped to my knees in front of my Dad. For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes. I had known Dad as a monster who was my biggest childhood nightmare and I had sworn that Dad would be tormented forever in hell for his cruel actions towards my mother. And now, I felt pity after learning about Dad's real condition in hell.
As if I was lost in my sadness, I didn't realize that suddenly beside me there was one of the servants of hell. I was so shocked, I fell down and moved back a bit. The servant of hell was about 2 meters tall, but his head was covered with a kind of black hood. I saw his eyes glowing yellow, with a distinctive symbol of hell on his forehead. He was bare-chested, probably a man, and wearing what looked like a long red skirt.
Oh no… I've been caught… I couldn't imagine what would happen to me next.
But beyond my expectations, the servant of hell only spoke to me, but with his tone and hand gestures that seemed to be scolding me. He spoke in a language completely foreign to my ears. It was likely the native language of this hell.
After the servant of hell "scolded me," he immediately opened my father's cell and entered. The servant of hell immediately put handcuffs on both of my father's wrists and then pulled the chains, dragging him out. I saw my father groaning in excruciating pain.
Where was he taking my father? Could he be taken to…
I had to follow him no matter what. I followed the servant of hell as he continued to drag my father. I felt very... I felt pain and pity seeing my father in such a state, and I immediately forgot what he had done in previous world.
Another strange thing I felt here was that I passed many servants and even knights of hell. But why didn't they seem to notice my presence? Was my crystal ball working on them?
I saw two other servants of hell carrying a human who was handcuffed in the same manner, being dragged. They passed each other and said something I couldn't understand at all, then they walked together to a circular altar surrounded by several pillars.
Wait…this was an elevator that led directly to the throne room of the Zigurath Demon. My feeling was getting worse.
When the three servants of hell had ascended the altar, I immediately went up as well and I hid behind one of the pillars. The altar then rose. After a moment's wait, the altar finally stopped. I tried to sneak a glance behind the pillar.
Just as I predicted, I saw before my eyes the demonic figure of the Zigurath ruler, exactly like the one from the game. He had a body like a giant pile of bright red flesh supported by a flying saucer.
The servant of hell immediately carried my father and two other humans to the top of stairs. Zigurath, with it's large, pincer-like staff, immediately grabbed one human and devoured him in one go. The same went for the other human.
As Zigurath grabbed my father, I could hear him say something before dropping him into its enormous mouth.
"J-j-joohhaannnn…"
I immediately looked away, unable to bear the sight any longer. My father's voice was instantly lost as he was swallowed by the Zigurath.
"You only brought three people? Where's the other human? Why isn't he in front of me?" Something spoke in a very deep, thunderous tone.
I was immediately shocked. That voice... that voice...
Zigurath could speak my language...???
"Ahh, why is he hiding there?"
I reflexively glanced again, and it turned out that Zigurath was preparing to fire something from his staff directly at me.
I immediately jumped to the center, and the pillar I was hiding in was destroyed by Zigurath's shot.
"You can't go anywhere else, human. I already know you're here," Zigurath said, pointing his staff at me.
I could only watch as the servants of hell, wielding their weapons, walked toward me.