Lucifer: Godless Reawakening-Chapter 266: I will go in

"What?" Natalie asked, her brows knitting together.

She had run into Loid in the common hall while searching for Emma. That was when the pink-haired boy told her William had left the academy in a rush that morning.

"And if I am not mistaken, he likely took Miss Emma with him," he added thoughtfully.

Natalie crossed her arms. "Whose letter was it?"

Loid shrugged. "I do not know. But it came from his home. It was sent through Express Mail, so I assume it was urgent."

"Of course it was," Natalie replied. "They would not abandon the mid-terms for nothing."

Concern filled her violet eyes as she murmured, "I just hope they are safe."

....

William sat quietly inside the cabin, Emma resting her head against his shoulder, her eyes gently closed.

Sunset was approaching, and they were still two hours away from their destination.

They were traveling in the general cabin of the aether rail this time, yet not a single seat was occupied. The entire compartment was empty.

Why?

Because, at present, Gahtua Island was not a place anyone wished to visit.

William had overheard other passengers earlier. From what he gathered, the residents of Gahtua Island had already been rescued by the Great Hall. After that, the Central Ministry took control of the situation, assuring the public that one day the island would return to its former glory.

Centre of tourism.

Rumors, however, painted a darker picture.

People whispered that something unseen had manifested on the island. Something that was slowly eroding the soil and corrupting the air itself, creating an environment where ordinary humans could not survive.

There were harsher rumors too. Some claimed the Central Ministry was only delaying the inevitable. That whatever threat lingered there could not be contained for long. And when it broke free, the neighboring towns and cities would be the next to suffer.

"I would not be surprised if half the county has already begun packing their belongings," William muttered under his breath.

News of the Count’s disappearance had likely spread by now. With no guardian to protect the land and danger creeping ever closer, it would hardly be shocking if many decided that migration was the only path to survival.

William shook his head. He did not care what others thought or what kind of danger awaited him. He only knew one thing. He had to uncover the truth and bring his old man back safe and sound.

The cabin soon slowed to a halt at the station.

William gently nudged her shoulder. "Hey... we are here."

Emma stirred, frowning slightly before her eyes slowly opened.

The moment her vision cleared, her pupils shrank.

"What in the hell..."

The sky beyond the window was almost black. Thick clouds churned overhead, rumbling with distant thunder. A flash of lightning tore through the darkness, briefly illuminating the land outside.

It looked wrong.

Even from this distance, the stretch of earth seemed drenched in malice.

Though the railway tracks stopped at the mainland and the island lay farther beyond, she could still feel it clearly. The air itself felt heavy, tainted.

William’s expression hardened. "This place is a lost cause, if I am being honest."

Emma nodded slowly. "I have never felt this much negativity from a single place. The land is contaminated. I could tell with just one glance."

Soon, they stepped off the train.

The moment their boots touched the platform, two soldiers began walking toward them.

The station had been converted into a military post. Watchtowers loomed over the area, each manned by armed guards keeping constant surveillance on the distant island.

The town itself looked abandoned. Not a single civilian could be seen. Only soldiers moved about, the sharp ring of steel being polished and the grinding sound of heavy carts rolling across stone breaking the silence.

Emma quickly noticed something unsettling.

If the military were actively operating on the island, most of their forces would have been stationed there. Instead, the mainland was flooded with personnel.

The capital was not known for wasting resources on a single outpost.

"This place is guarded like the outskirts of the capital itself," William muttered, echoing her thoughts.

The soldiers stopped in front of them.

"Identify yourself. State your purpose."

"William Delimore. I am here to inquire about my father."

The two soldiers exchanged a brief glance. One returned to his post while the other gestured forward. "Come with me."

The black-haired soldier began leading them toward a stone building near the edge of the deserted town.

As they walked, he said, "We were not expecting you to arrive this early, William Delimore."

William’s brows tightened. "That means you were expecting me. Then tell me, where is my father?"

The soldier remained silent for a few steps before replying, "You will be informed soon."

William felt his chest grow heavy.

The hesitation. The refusal to answer directly.

He already understood.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

Emma tightened her grip on his hand, offering silent comfort. But she knew that until he heard the truth about the Count, nothing would truly steady him.

They climbed the stairs in silence and soon reached the top floor.

The fifth floor was alive with activity. Officers moved briskly from one end to another, voices overlapping as reports were exchanged. The entire level buzzed with tension.

The soldier guided them down a narrow gallery before stopping at a broad wooden door. He pushed it open.

Inside was what appeared to be a strategy room.

Maps were spread across tables and pinned along the walls. A large round table occupied the center, surrounded by soldiers and several men dressed in formal attire. Conversations halted the moment William and Emma stepped inside.

William’s gaze swept across the room and halted on a few familiar faces.

To the left stood the same man he had seen days ago at the Tower, Jeromy, the world-renowned researcher and Sherry’s father.

Beside him was a blond young man who bore a striking resemblance to the very person William had come searching for.

Erwin Delimore.

And then there was someone else who caught his attention.

Domella, the brunette affiliated with the Great Hall.

"What are you doing here?" Erwin was the first to break the silence, stepping forward with a deep frown.

William ignored him completely and fixed his gaze on Domella. "Where is my father?"

Erwin snarled but held his tongue.

Domella let out a quiet breath. "Please, sit down first."

William did not move. His stare hardened.

He wanted the answer. Now.

At that moment, an imposing man wearing the insignia of the Empire across his chest stepped forward. "He disappeared. Just like the others who entered the island."

William’s head snapped toward him. "And no one went to search for him?"

Jeromy answered instead, his voice calm but traces of tension lingered. "It is not that no one tried. But whatever enters that land... it is as if it steps into another world entirely. We sent men with sound-amplifying abilities, long-range communication artifacts, and signal flares in case of emergencies."

He paused, his expression grim.

"And yet, once they crossed a certain threshold, every connection was severed."

Domella continued, her voice low. "Whatever is inside that place... it is playing a game. Soldiers have spent nights guarding the outer perimeter, yet nothing abnormal ever happens there. But the moment someone steps inside..."

Emma interjected, her tone sharp. "What exactly is inside? A Death? Of what rank? And how many?"

The soldier who appeared to be the commanding officer of the base answered instead. "Only a single crack appeared at first. From it poured hundreds of Devils, costing countless lives. We managed to evacuate the rest in time. But after that, something began to change. Slowly. Now, nothing can step into that place unless they are prepared to die."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

William turned toward the window, his gaze distant and cold.

He could feel it even from here.

The Nyx was dense, raw, and overwhelming. His body was instinctively producing more aether just to maintain balance.

He was certain of one thing.

Anyone newly awakened would collapse the moment they came anywhere near that land, crushed by the sheer density of malice alone.

Erwin clenched his fists. "You have to do something. It has already been a day since my father disappeared."

The soldier let out a sharp breath. "Do you think we are obligated to risk more lives? Count Delimore knew exactly what kind of threat that place holds, yet he chose to enter on his own."

Erwin’s eyes burned. "So you are refusing to send a rescue team for the Count?"

The soldier’s expression turned glacial. "Yes. I am."

The two men locked eyes, but the difference between them was obvious. It felt like a small hound baring its teeth at an unmoving ox.

Then William spoke, cutting through the tension.

"I am going to search for him."

Emma exhaled softly.

She had expected this.

Even after hearing everything about the unnatural conditions on that island, he still chose to walk straight into it.

His declaration stunned several people in the room.

But Domella was the first to respond. "We... have been considering sending someone inside with a man capable of teleportation. And who would be better than you, William, to take that role?"

The soldier’s eyes widened at once, clearly taken aback by her suggestion. Jeromy, on the other hand, looked deeply troubled.

A place that even the Count could not handle...

Yes, William was strong. But he had yet to witness the worst this world could unleash.

Still, William ignored their hesitation.

He gave a single nod. "I will begin preparing. Inform me when we are ready to depart."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.