In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 248 - The Price Of Excessive Pride

He gestured toward the elder warriors feverishly combing through the library. Their reddened eyes betrayed their desperation to uncover secrets of immortality. After all, they had seen the emperor's youthful visage—a man in his twenties, wearing the face of a god.

"They're chasing mirages," Michael replied coolly. "There's no way to reverse time without dark, forbidden magic. At best, there might be techniques for limited rejuvenation. But those are things they'll need more than I will."

Oswald sighed quietly, acknowledging the truth of Michael's words. His mind drifted to the horrors of his father's pact with the god—the lives it had cost and the faces of those who had been sacrificed, including his eldest brother.

Amid his grief, Oswald thought he glimpsed his brother's face in the swirling black smoke that surrounded the god. Clenching his eyes shut, he whispered, "I only pray their souls find peace."

Michael watched him silently before rising to his feet. "Well, I think I'll take a look around. The underground waterway here is fascinatingly deep. No need to worry about the others; they'll be busy for quite some time."

Oswald stood abruptly, his expression tense. "That area is forbidden. It's too vast and dangerous to explore fully. Even I can't guide you there."

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

Michael smiled, his tone light. "No need to worry. I'm only planning a brief look. Besides, I won't be alone—Nefertari and Marcus will be with me."

Reassured, Oswald sat back down. Outside, the sounds of chaos had faded into silence. He knew what that meant. Watching Michael descend the steps leading underground, Oswald sighed inwardly.

"He's following the god's trail… no doubt about it."

Turning his thoughts inward, Oswald whispered to himself, "Father… why did you make such a choice?"

With that, he folded his hands and prayed silently for his father's soul, blocking out the noise of the looters still tearing through the palace. He only wished this nightmare would end soon.

Wounded and weakened from his battle with Adam, the otherworldly god staggered through the underground waterways of the Famillian Palace, seeking an escape. The emperor's body he had possessed was already reaching its limits, and so too was his true form.

Adam's sacrificial explosion, combined with the sacred sword embedded in the god's chest, had dealt a grievous blow. The blade remained lodged to its hilt, crimson-black blood seeping from the wound and dripping onto the cold stone floor of the sewer with every painful step.

His left arm was long gone, and each movement sent waves of agony through his body. This was the problem with taking on a human form—while it allowed him to experience all the pleasures and exhilaration of the mortal realm, it also made him vulnerable to pain.

Clutching the sewer walls for support, the god cursed aloud.

"Damn it all! Why is this place such a maze?"

The underground waterways were an endless labyrinth. Massive domed ceilings glistened with moisture, and the soft trickle of water grated on his nerves. Occasionally, faint gusts of air swept through, carrying the tantalizing scent of the outside world.

Each time, hope flickered in his eyes, and he sniffed the air eagerly—only for the fleeting breeze to vanish, leaving him seething in frustration.

Dim magical lanterns hung from the walls, though most had long since gone out. The few still burning emitted a faint glow, a testament to the touch of civilization that had once graced this forsaken place.

"Damn those Radiant dogs…" he muttered, his voice filled with venom. Outwardly, he cursed the Radiant Church, but inwardly, his ire was directed at himself.

"Why the hell did I linger there? Why let myself get caught off guard?"

He ground his teeth in self-recrimination, unable to fathom his repeated folly. He had fallen into the same traps, time and again, his own arrogance proving his undoing.

"Am I just cursed with bad luck?" he mused bitterly.

This wasn't the first time, nor would it likely be the last. Every misstep felt like he was digging his own grave and lying in it willingly.

While fleeing with all his might, he reflected on how often he had been outmaneuvered and beaten. It was always his hubris that cost him.

"If I weren't so prideful… I'd have been a god long ago, worshipped and revered, instead of a mere outsider."

His thoughts turned to his long imprisonment, a memory that felt like an endless nightmare.

Bound and silenced, he had been trapped in a state of absolute stasis, unable to move, speak, or even perceive the passage of time. When the seal had finally weakened enough for him to manipulate the foolish emperor, he had thought himself free.

And yet, here I am again… he thought grimly. If it comes to it, I'll self-destruct like Adam before I let them bind me again.

Cursing under his breath, he dragged his battered body forward. Exhaustion and pain weighed heavily on his shoulders.

At last, he spotted an opening that seemed to lead outside. Relief surged through him—only to freeze mid-step.

A chilling aura emanated from behind him, sharp enough to cut through the air. His instincts screamed of danger.

Slowly, the god turned his head. The oppressive force was unmistakable, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.

"This isn't the domain of that elephant fossil… So why…?"

The answer revealed itself quickly. From behind a column, a dark-haired youth stepped into view, his sharp, composed gaze piercing the god's being.

Perched on each of the youth's shoulders were a miniature sphinx and a dragon.

The god recognized him immediately—this was the one who had unsettled him earlier.

Swallowing his unease, the god spoke.

"Do you have business with this old one?"

The youth, Michael, responded with a radiant smile.

The flying ship designed by Leonardo had been powered by magical energy. To conserve the expensive mana stones required to fuel it, Michael had relied on his own reserves to operate the vessel.

As a result, he was more drained than ever.

The sight of the god was a welcome opportunity.

After absorbing the god's power, Michael exhaled deeply. The sensation of his depleted magic reserves being replenished was indescribable, filling him with renewed vigor.

Glancing down, he observed the lifeless body of the emperor, now returned to its true, aged state. The youthful facade was gone, replaced by brittle hair and skin marred with wrinkles and age spots.

Among the folds of the emperor's ornate garments, the imperial seal of the Famir Empire rolled to the floor.

Michael picked it up and tucked it into his pocket. Then, he turned to Marcus.

"Marcus, would you mind carrying this body?"

Marcus nodded without hesitation. To him, hauling a human corpse was no different from transporting a slaughtered animal it was no diffrent at all.

Miaomiao, however, clicked her tongue in disapproval.

[Ugh, you need to have more dignity as a sacred beast! Stop picking up trash without a second thought!]

Feeling unfairly chastised, Marcus hunched his shoulders and muttered, [But Michael asked me to do it… Wouldn't you do the same if he asked, sister?]

Left without a retort, Miaomiao's ears twitched as she snapped, [At least I'd demand a fee first!]

Michael stepped in to diffuse the tension, offering Marcus a gold coin.

"My apologies, Marcus. I I should've compensated you sooner."

Despite the vast wealth they had just secured, Marcus's face lit up at the single gold coin, an expression so pure that it tugged at Michael's heart.

The group began exploring the underground waterways, guided by Miaomiao's intuition.

[Michael, this place feels… unusual. There's an ancient energy here. I wouldn't be surprised if we found treasure nearby,] she murmured.

Michael agreed. Famillian Palace had been constructed to manage these very waterways. It was a place steeped in legend and mystery.

After wandering for some time, they arrived at the center of the waterways. Before them lay a vast underground lake, its sheer size taking their breath away. It rivaled the subterranean lakes they had discovered in the Argo Mountains.

Miaomiao, regaining her composure, pointed toward the water. A massive shadow glided across the lake's surface, and she called out urgently to Michael.

"Michael! Look! Over there!" Miaomiao's urgent voice startled Michael. She pointed at the shadow gliding across the water with a paw, her fur standing on end.

As a member of the Sphinx lineage, Miaomiao rarely reacted so dramatically, even in extreme situations. Michael immediately tensed, raising his bow, while Marcus reverted to his true form, spreading his wings and preparing for a confrontation.

Before they could act, a calm, curious voice echoed across the cavern.

[Oh, it's been a while since I've had such interesting visitors. There have been quite a few of you lately. What brings you here?]

The massive shadow emerged from the lake, revealing itself to be an enormous white elephant. Its sheer size dwarfed Marcus, even in his full form. Feeling dwarfed, Marcus puffed out his chest and stood on his toes, trying to appear larger.