Rosacer remained silent, carefully listening to Gordon's words.
"There is an exit in the sea. The Bay of Scrutiny, as I call it. Within its whirlpool lies a way out. I do not know how often it appears, but it is the only escape."
Skeptical of Gordon's claim, Rosacer asked, "Then why did you not leave through it?"
"I would have if I could. I planned to leave, but I got stuck here. I can't get out of this place, but you can," Gordon roared in correction.
He continued, "The exit leads to one of the ancient tombs of the Seven Heroes."
Rosacer frowned. "A tomb?"
Gordon went on, explaining that whatever he knew about the Karmic Dungeon, he had learned from a merchant. From time to time, Rosacer couldn't help but wonder what the former ruler had offered the merchant in exchange for such valuable information.
"The ancient tomb is not engulfed by the Karmic Catacombs. You would be cast outside."
"You would be freed from climbing the dungeon floors."
"What do you mean?" Rosacer asked in between.
"I have heard that our city has been swallowed by this strange dungeon. It cannot be escaped without reaching the top of the tower. That is why it serves as the perfect prison for criminals cast here by the outer kingdoms."
"There are floors. Ignorance, the base floor. Then Bondage, Awareness, Reflection, Meditation, Discrimination, Detachment, Revelation, and finally, Transcendence."
"Each floor represents the stages of humanity's ascent toward enlightenment, with the summit awaiting at the very top."
After explaining the basics of the Karmic Dungeon, he began the exchange.
"I need you to bring me the magic of the Dead Dream God, Fiocasdo Azoloop, in return for the location of that whirlpool."
"How can I know you are telling me the truth?" Rosacer asked.
"You cannot," Gordon replied simply.
The implication was clear. If Rosacer refused, he would be enslaved that very second. If he agreed, he could decide for himself whether to believe the man or not. Either way, the offer was dangerously tempting.
After a brief moment of silence, Rosacer gave a small nod.
Gordon acknowledged it and continued.
"Azoloop's magic is stored within the heart of Lady Opelia. She is a ruler now, as you know. She attained both the beauty and the power to challenge the other rulers, having devoured the very heart of the magic that surrounds the Mist City. For now, she is the true owner of this city."
"You must kill her and take her heart from her body. Do not extract Azoloop's magic. Bring me the infused heart itself, and I will give you the exit from the Mist City."
He stood up.
"The Mira River is now controlled by Carcosa and Mika. They will help you cross."
"Carcosa the ferryman demands payment in blood, hair strands, or flesh. Anything that allows him to bind a curse to you."
"Mika, on the other hand, takes names for the curse. You must pay them both if you wish to enter the Southern Sector."
"I hope you succeed, Human."
With that, he vanished from the small hut. The broken concrete and cramped room took its place as his figure slowly dissipated into the darkness.
Soon, both he and his shadowed village disappeared, leaving Rosacer alone in the ruined apartment.
Finally, when the shadow completely faded, Rosacer felt safe again and quietly called on the system to check if it was back online. To his relief, it responded.
"Looks like I have another reason to go to the Southern Sector," He joked inwardly.
After making sure he wasn't enslaved or cursed, he moved out.
He checked his surroundings and, using a grafted sigil to conjure extra eyes, quickly navigated along the very edge of the maze. After Gordon's departure, the creatures of the labyrinth came out to hunt, but Rosacer managed to hide from them. Their senses were not particularly sharp.
Other than a canine monster with three heads and chains around its neck, no creature seemed aware of his presence. He summoned Arcis to deal with the beast and used corpse memory to extract what information he could. As always, he learned only of the monster's nature, its desires, and the trauma it carried.
Also, within those fragments, he discovered something new. The canine monster had come from another realm, a place of endless lava and burning stone.
Another realm for him to discover.
He then moved toward the exit, reaching the very edge where the Southern sector begins.
Before the heavy mist, he paused. Then, closing his eyes in preparation, he stepped forward.
The stench of yellow fungus and the thickness of the mist invaded his senses.
"Just as I remember it," he murmured.
He let out a sigh and sprinted ahead.
As he moved deeper into the city, he once again encountered people bearing grotesque mutations, and as always, there was no trace of joy in their eyes. He had returned to the abomination that was the Southern Sector.
"Gloomy like always." He muttered.
Without wasting any more time, he dashed toward the banks of the Mira River.
The mist grew heavier as he reached the shore. He could not even tell whether a ferry waited ahead, the fog obscuring everything beyond a few meters.
He stood on the deck, waiting for the ferry to come. Moments passed in silence, as he saw a boat coming towards him,
Slowly, it came closer and stopped before him. The ferryman, draped in a cloak, raised his hand.
Rosacer pulled out a pouch and handed it to him.
The ferryman accepted it and nodded in return. Rosacer boarded the boat as it began moving toward the opposite shore.
Soon, they reached the other side.
Rosacer quickly stepped onto the bank and moved into the city, while the ferryman turned back, guiding his boat toward the far shore once more.
The southern land was filled with rituals of death. As he passed through, he saw men nailed to crosses, each bearing a straw effigy around their necks, eerily similar to the Macabre Doll he himself possessed.
Before long, he found a man holding a ledger. The man looked up and asked for a name.
"Aaron Smith," Rosacer replied.
The keeper of the ledger smiled and nodded.
Rosacer turned toward the strange building and passed through it. Moments later, he emerged on the other side.