Vampire's Slice Of Life Chapter 1216: Prison (10)

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Previously on Vampire's Slice Of Life...
Lith is struggling with his emotions after learning about his family's past. His grandmother, Lauren, and mother, Lilith, try to comfort him, revealing the deep emotional toll of past losses. Lauren expresses her weariness and fear of losing her remaining family, while Lilith reassures her and Lith of her strength. A cosmic phenomenon occurs as Lilith declares herself the strongest, which then dissipates as Lauren accepts Lilith's words.

Intense tremors shook the prison.

It was too sudden.

"What’s happening?" Lith looked around but could see nothing but darkness.

Lilith and Lauren turned to him without a surprise on their faces.

"You will find out, if you continue on this journey." Lilith answered ambiguously.

Lauren nodded in agreement. "So far what you experienced is only the upper layers where they have prisoners for research or other uses. The layers after this..."

Lauren did not finish her sentence and let Lith put two and two together.

Understanding what they were hinting at, Lith said, "Anything else that I should know? I think it’s time I leave."

"Yes." Lauren said and stared at him with a serious gaze, making Lith straighten his back.

"Remember to not listen to whatever calls you by your true name."

Lith raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Lauren did not explain it further. "And know that this prison isn’t what you’ve been thinking of. This prison was never built to contain prisoners. It was built to contain inheritance, corruption, and a sleeping catastrophe."

Lith repeated those words in his mind.

"When you find the key, you should leave even when you feel you can continue. The inheritances might feel attractive but you will risk losing your life. Nothing is worth more than you coming out without a scratch."

Lith nodded gently.

Before Lauren could continue, Lilith placed her hand atop Lauren’s and turned to Lith.

"I’d say, trust your instincts. If you feel you can traverse further, do it. But the moment you feel that there’s something beyond your control, return. Taking a little risk is fine."

Lauren wanted to refute and state it’s far too dangerous, but Lilith pressed her hand a bit more firmly, trying to reassure her.

Lilith’s gaze turned to her and it was oddly calm, as if everything was alright.

Lauren couldn’t exactly point out.

Though, looking at her daughter appearing so confident, it slightly helped calm Lauren’s taut nerves.

"Understood." Lith said.

"One more thing," Lauren said. "Do not listen if something calls your true name."

"Why?" Lith asked curiously.

Lauren shook her head and said, "I cannot answer that."

At this moment, the prison began rumbling intensely once again.

Lauren and Lilith both stood up.

Following them, Lith stood up too.

"The gates to the deeper layers are about to be closed. You need to leave soon." Lauren answered as she walked closer to Lith.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and intently stared into his purple eyes.

"My dear, I do not know where your mother’s confidence stems from, but I still hope you choose to return the moment you find the key. Remember..."

Lauren’s hold on Lith’s shoulder became firm.

"...the Evure God Clan stopped going deeper thousands of years ago. This means, after a certain layer, what has formed is not the Evure God Clan’s creation."

The hair on Lith’s body stood as the chilling fact made his body go cold.

Lilith walked to Lith’s side at this moment.

She wrapped her hands around him and kissed the top of his head, not saying any unnecessary words.

"Go now." Lauren said and gently pushed him back, making him stagger a step back, out of Lilith’s grasp.

The last thing Lith saw before the curtain of darkness vanished was his mother waving at him and his grandmother looking at him with concern.

...

It was dark everywhere once again.

Lith saw a young lady with greenish-black hair standing with a confused gaze, staring at a slightly ajar red door in front.

The light seeping from it was the only illumination in the chamber Lith and Meng Yuexin were in.

Lith thought and placed his hand on her shoulder, making her jump and shriek.

"Who!?!" Meng Yuexin put her hands up, ready to throw a punch.

Her punch however did not land as she soon relaxed her shoulders, looking at who it was in front of her.

"It’s you!" She complained.

"Not happy to see me?" Lith asked while moving past her and looking at the red door.

"Where did you run off to? I thought you got sacrificed in exchange for opening the door." Meng Yuexin said as he recalled the moments that transpired a while ago.

After Lith opened the door, he vanished.

She was now in this dark chamber with barely any light.

There were invisible walls around her and the way forward was twisted.

She kept moving until she reached the current spot where she could see the slightly ajar red door.

She didn’t jump right into it. For all she knew, she could be sacrificed like Lith.

She was thus taking her time to check for some other hidden doors until finally, Lith arrived.

"What happened after I was gone?" Lith didn’t answer her question and answered, making Meng Yuexin recount the details.

"I see." Lith gave her a slight nod and stared at the door. It was closing ever so slightly.

Currently, it was open enough to let a person pass.

Lith took a step inside the door and said while turning to Meng Yuexin, "What we’ve experienced so far is nothing compared to what lies beyond this door."

Meng Yuexin stared at Lith’s side profile.

Since meeting him, this was the first time she had seen genuine caution and slight hesitation in his eyes.

"You still intend to go?" She asked quietly.

Lith looked at the narrowing gap of the red door and answered.

"If I turn back now, I might not achieve what I’ve set out for. Thousands will die too, including the ones close to me."

The hesitation in Lith’s eyes seemed to be disappearing as he said so.

Meng Yuexin sighed. "If the dangers are beyond what we can fight, what’s the point in charging to our death?"

Lith shook his head and said, "There won’t be an instance where we will die without being able to fight back."

"Are you sure?" Meng Yuexin raised her eyebrows and asked.

"Not really." Lith spread out his hands.

The red door pressed against Lith’s body. If he didn’t move now, he might be stuck here forever.

"We don’t have a lot of time. Make up your mind." Lith urged and pushed himself slightly inwards.

Meng Yuexin noticed the closing door and clicked her tongue.

"...madman."

Yet, she still grabbed his wrist.

They walked into the door.

A bright light flashed in their vision as they disappeared.

The red door snapped shut behind them.

Its crimson surface darkened slowly until it became indistinguishable from the surrounding abyss, as if it had never existed to begin with.