Drip, drip.
The sound of water droplets falling reached Angel's ears. Her unfocused eyes regained clarity, and she realized that the gloomy cave, bloody altar, and three stern-faced Mandated Punishers that had been before her only a second ago had all vanished.
She was standing in a cramped Stone Chamber, surrounded by brick walls covered in moss. Countless narrow openings had been left in them; most were empty, while a few contained long-dried human remains.
There was a low exit to one side, barely large enough for one person to pass through. Beyond it was the same utter darkness, as though countless evil spirits were wandering within, watching Angel.
The ceiling above was also built of bricks. The mortar between them had been eroded by years of seepage, and dripping water had formed small puddles on the floor.
Have I been pulled into a dream?
That was Angel's first thought. She reached out and gripped the Hidden Holy Emblem. It felt warm from being steeped in her body heat, rather than cold as it would be when keeping her lucid in a dream.
This was reality... No, it could also be a deeper dream, one even the Hidden Holy Emblem could not resist. Or perhaps the light emitted by the symbols around the altar had teleported me somewhere connected to it?
Slap.
She tried to move her feet, only to kick something soft. Looking down, she found Bishop Miller of the Church of Storms, whom she had just killed. This Wind-blessed, whose chest had been pierced and then filled with purifying power, stared at Angel with wide, unclosing eyes.
The Miller who had been lying on the altar had appeared here as well. That made it more likely that something had gone wrong with the Living Sacrifice... Could this so-called