The hidden door to the so-called Sacrificial Grounds stood at the side of the control hall.
Once the composed woman finally appeared to "give in" and opened the passage in the floor, Batman fell silent for a moment as he looked down the path that clearly led deeper underground.
"Thor, you don't have to come, but I'm afraid you won't be able to avoid this either. Bring those two along."
Pointing at the young man and woman nearby, the figure with black pointed ears turned to Ripley. "Is there a limit on how many people can enter?"
"Probably not, but they'll most likely need to qualify."
The woman remained calm. "Not everyone is qualified to reach this altar."
"Understood."
Batman still seemed unmoved. Even the raincoat he wore appeared to be growing darker.
"Then please lead the way."
As they descended, all traces of modern technology rapidly fell away.
In the dark passage, metal and concrete gave way to earth and stone.
The ancient construction had a primitive feel. Rough patterns had been carved into walls built of massive stones, though most were hard to make out. They could only glimpse stick figures dancing, worshipping, and raising all manner of strange objects.
It resembled the pictographic records of prehistoric people.
But the farther down they went, the cruder those records became, and the harder their meaning was to discern. The sight made them frown.
Li Jiye was especially sensitive to it.
Perhaps it was the influence of nearing true "death." His senses had grown duller, yet he could faintly "smell" the wildness and despair in those images.
The markings were too crude to be called drawings. What looked like song and dance was steeped in blood and antiquity: savages praying to heaven and earth, pleading with mysteries they could not