"Limbo? Don't go near there, that's all you need to know."
Eric adjusted his seat, making Dan flinch.
"Fine, it's a terrible place where all dead things go."
"What do you mean?"
Dan sighed, and Iris started talking instead.
"We don't know for sure, but it seems like every human and monster that dies will reappear there. Its range is unknown, but we've seen monsters from the surface, so it's unpredictable what you'll find."
"Wait," Cullen interrupted. "So everything that dies ends up there? If I die right now, will I be there?"
"I don't think it works exactly like that. It's not you, but more like a copy of your soul that slowly erodes. Monsters that die are sent there with full power, then slowly grow weaker until they fade out of existence. The stronger the monster, the longer it lasts. A normal human barely lasts a week. So if you did die, it's possible that you would end up down there until you disintegrate into nothing. But there's no way back for the dead, at least not that we know of."
'That's… insane.'
Cullen had never heard of an ability so terrifying.
"But there's a way back for the living?" Adam said. "Obviously, since you know so much about it."
Iris opened her mouth, but paused before speaking.
"Yes, if you go through the well, you can get back up. But nothing else can come with you, or at least nothing else wants to go with you."
Sensing the mood, Eric and Adam didn't push further.
"What about the core? What leads do you have?"
Defeated, Dan didn't even try to resist.
"There are two places we think it could be: the castle or the chimney. Inside the castle is a maze full of tricks, one that we've tried to map out but failed. The heart may be hidden there, but equally as likely near the chimney. After all, that's where most of the resources go to power this place. It would make sense if the heart were at the center, but we've already explored it and found nothing."
Cullen remembered coming through the chimney, walking on the grate, and through that long hallway. They burned the resources below, which they didn't have a chance to see.
'It seems apparent that it would be there, but that kid led us away as soon as we arrived. Was that another trick?'
"I can check the castle," Ryan offered. "My ability will be useful for figuring it out."
Cullen glanced over at Ryan, surprised he was listening.
'It does seem like a good idea.'
"What about the Dancer?" Eric asked. "How can we kill that?"
Dan looked over at Iris, who shook her head.
"You went into the Mirror Prison, correct?"
Eric nodded.
"Its core is located within the core of the Mirror Prison. They are two separate monsters that help each other. The Dancer separates its prey by teleporting it to the Mirror Prison, and the Mirror Prison protects its core in return."
That was completely different from what Cullen imagined.
'I thought it was one Abomination, but it's really two? Does that mean it's not The Amethyst Burrow's Apex Predator?'
"Do you have any means of getting past the mirrors?"
Again, Dan looked at Iris.
"No!" She shouted.
He sighed.
"We do, but we won't put her in harm's way. It's fine to avoid them for now."
As they spoke, an idea popped into Cullen's head. An insane idea, one that goes against everything he'd learned in the past day. But if he wanted to get stronger…
"I'll go with Ryan," Greye said. "I can teleport us out if we get lost."
"Don't go revealing your power like that," Adam ridiculed.
"I'll go too."
Everyone looked over at Iris.
"My power can also help with the maze. We need to give it our best shot."
Ryan, Greye, and Iris all agreed to explore the castle.
"Then I'll go to the chimney and look around there just in case you fools missed something," said Eric.
Dan scowled at him, then Iris nudged his side.
"Fine, I'll join you."
Eric and Dan would investigate the chimney.
The only two left were Adam and Cullen.
"I guess we can just tag along with them, Cullen. Unless they have something else for us to do?"
Dan thought for a moment.
"Hmmm. There are a couple of strange buildings in The Underground worth checking out. I can bring you to a th-"
"I want to go to Limbo."
Cullen declared, joining in on the conversation. Dan thought he didn't hear him right, and Iris stared at him like he had two heads. The others just looked slightly surprised.
"Did you not listen to anything I told you?" Dan stammered. "There is absolutely no reason why you should EVER want to go there."
Cullen paid him no attention.
"Did you get replaced by an Abomination in the caves?" Adam poked Cullen's cheek.
"You know my ability. Limbo seems like the perfect place for me."
Adam paused as a wave of understanding seemed to pass over him.
'Abominations that die will get sent there and slowly decay. That means that there could be an insanely powerful one on the brink of death, whose ability I could take. It's my best chance to get stronger.'
Cullen considered the danger but decided the risk was worth it. There was no doubt in his mind.
"On second thought, I guess I'll join you," Adam said, slapping Cullen's back.
"No! Absolutely not!!"
Dan's face was red as he screamed at the two of them.
"It's not your decision," Adam sneered.
Everyone turned to Eric, who was staring at Cullen. He couldn't tell what the Triarch was thinking, but he didn't back down from his cold gaze.
"I'll allow it. But if anything goes wrong, you are to return right away."
Dan nearly fainted.
"He's gonna get them killed," he whispered to Iris.
Everything was set now—three different teams to conquer The Underground, and possibly even Limbo.
Adam jumped out of his seat. "Great! Let's get moving!"
"What the hell," Ryan complained. "Don't you want to relax a little first? I'm sure these people have beds for us, or at least for me."
"Unlike you, I don't need twelve hours of sleep a day to function. I don't know how you can even do that as a Gifted!"
"I haven't slept in days!"
"Calm down," Iris intervened. "We can give you a place to sleep for now. There's no night or day here, so sleep however long you want. I'll be waiting."
She opened a different door, revealing another tunnel.
"I'll show you where to go."
Ryan followed without a second thought, and Greye went behind him.
"So weak," Adam mocked. "Let's go now, Cullen."
Adam turned to him and saw the bags under his eyes.
"Dammit…"
"Come on, Adam, you still have cuts all over you. Let those heal before we leave."
After agreeing, Cullen and Adam went with the rest. Only Eric and Dan remained in the room.
"I just slept, but you should probably join them. Looks like you had a long trip to get here."
Eric didn't say a word, giving an intimidating look.
"Fine, fine, do what you want."
Dan hurriedly made his way to a different room.
Iris led them to a room with six stone beds, probably the most uncomfortable Cullen had ever lain on. It was a tiny space, filled with damp air and the smell of piss.
Greye asked for the bathroom and left with Iris, leaving Cullen, Ryan, and Adam alone.
"This has to be a joke," Adam complained.
Ryan lay down, trying his hardest to get comfortable. "How can someone live like this? Where do they get their food, or water, or anything? It doesn't make much sense."
Cullen agreed. There were still so many questions he had about their people, but at least all the important ones got answered.
"Get to sleep, Cullen."
He rolled over and saw Adam staring at him.
"The sooner we leave, the better."
'Maybe if you would shut up.' Cullen smiled to himself.
"Wait… you do know how to get back to the well, right?"
"…"
Cullen sat up.
'Shit. I got lost, so of course I don't know how to get back.'
"Um…"
Adam rolled his eyes.
"How could you forget!? Your memory should be far greater than a regular human; there is absolutely no reason to get lost!"
Greye came back, followed by Iris, who had been listening to them.
"You don't need to know. It will influence your decisions and lead you to it. Just go whichever way feels right, and you'll walk straight to your doom."
Cullen was glad to hear this. Maybe getting lost wasn't totally his fault.
"Great! Hey, Cullen, why don't we leave right now, and I'll float your bed down the caves? This way, you can sleep and be there right when you awake."
"Goddammit, Adam," Ryan yelled. "Why are you so eager to go there? Please just shut up and be patient."
Their bickering persisted for a while, but Cullen somehow managed to fall asleep.