Vampire Overlord System in the Apocalypse

Chapter 156 - Exploring The Mysterious Underground Area

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After breakfast, Noah decided to go to the underground area within Arthur's family territory, where Arthur had said that his grandfather had sealed many of the things he owned within a magic door.

This magic door was impossible to access by his parents and even Arthur, and it had been kept in here since his grandfather died.

Arthur had implied that his grandfather had special abilities even before the Apocalypse, according to his father, the son of his grandfather.

His grandfather, although gentle and a good person, was always mysterious in what he did.

However, it was not after the Apocalypse that he revealed part of his powers, which he used to protect his son and his wife, alongside the recently born Arthur a few years after the Apocalypse started.

Using his strength, he forged a path for them to walk through this insanity and survive, making Sector D their new home after humanity stabilized and managed to fight back against the many threats within the world.

As Arthur led Noah and the rest towards the underground, he began to recall such things and his mysterious grandfather.

He always wished to have known him better, to have learned more of what he really was, of who he was…

But his grandfather seemed secretive even before his death.

Whatever truths he held, he wanted to carry them to the grave.

His eyes began to shine brightly as he felt a slight sorrow.

Remembering the grandfather he loved so much and his last days was quite hurtful for him.

Arthur could not help but feel melancholic.

Now, with each step, Arthur was slowly going back to where he once left everything.

The place where many mysteries could finally be unfolded, where many things could perhaps be answered.

Arthur felt a slight fear.

With each step…

He knew that Noah had the power to open the door somehow… but he felt like… this was not right.

Even if it sounded bold, even if it… was an offense against Noah.

Arthur wanted to open the door.

After walking downstairs for a while, they finally reached the area.

A large, red-colored door greeted their sight, covered in runes of many types and magical inscriptions which made Noah's eyes fascinated.

"Amazing! Arthur, your grandfather was really… a wizard!" said Noah, extending his hand towards the door.

"W-Wait, Noah…" said Arthur, clenching his fists.

Noah stopped moving as he glanced back at Arthur in silence.

"Hm?"

"I want… I want to open it…" said Arthur.

"You feel like you can?" asked Noah, without questioning nor getting angry at Arthur, which surprised him a little.

"I-I… I never will know until I try…" said Arthur.

Noah smiled and patted Arthur's shoulders.

"…Very well. You may try once," said Noah, stepping back, and letting Arthur try.

"Thanks…" said Arthur, walking towards the door.

The mystical door seemed to release a strange, otherworld presence.

This door that Arthur had tried many times to open through his life…

When he could not even walk when he had to be carried by Timassa on her arms to go down through such large stairs.

Now he could walk by himself, and had even reached the power of a B-Rank thanks to Noah and his own perseverance.

And now… he even learned magic and the truth about what the System was.

In these last days, he had changed a lot.

In these last weeks… he had indeed become someone different.

He had grown.

Perhaps, this was what his grandfather needed of him.

To grow out of his own comfort zone, and become someone new, someone strong, and someone… that others could rely on like his grandfather once was.

"Grandfather…" said Arthur, as he extended his hand towards the door, touching it.

…

…

…

Arthur smiled, nothing happened.

Everything was in silence, not even the door changed or something.

Everything… was the same as the other times he came here… looking for a way to open the door.

"Arthur-sama…" said Timassa.

"I see… So I am too ready yet, am I, grandpa?" sighed Arthur, as he was about to step back and let Noah find a way to force the door to open.

However.

Suddenly, a voice resonated within Arthur's ears.

"You are more than ready, Arthur…"

Arthur recognized this voice.

The voice of his grandfather.

The door started to faintly glow with red colors, as the runes inscribed into it started to move and rotate around as if a lock was being opened.

Crack, crack, CRACK!

Arthur glanced with his eyes wide open… as the door opened, revealing deep darkness within.

"Grandfather…"

Arthur's eyes began to cry tears, as he kneeled.

"Thank you… For having taken care of us…"

Arthur began to cry even louder, his tears falling over the floor, recalling his grandfather's death and all the things he always did for everyone…

Perhaps if he had lost his legs before his grandfather died, he might have found a way to bring them back…

  Arthur felt the gentle hand of the one who had stayed at his side since he could remember.

The gentle smile of Timassa greeted his sight.

"Arthur-sama… You did it…" she said, embracing him in a tight and warm hug.

"Timassa…"

Arthur kept crying over her shoulders, tightly hugging her back, feeling her warmth.

After a few seconds, Arthur quickly wiped his tears off his eyes, as he apologized to Noah.

"S-Sorry… I shouldn't… had cried…"

Noah glanced at Arthur expressionlessly, as he sighed a bit.

He patted his shoulders once more.

"Well done. Lead the way," he said, ignoring his apology.

Arthur's eyebrows raised a bit, as he was once more surprised by Noah's understanding of the situation and his compassion over those close to him.

"Sure!" said Arthur nodding happily, as he led the party within the depths of the room across the door…

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Suddenly, dozens of lights lighted up, as a large hall was revealed to everyone present, surprising them.

Countless bookshelves filled with books of all colors and sizes greeted them first.

Afterward, artifacts lying over altars, stuck to the walls, or even hanging from the ceilings emerged before their sight.

A long and red carpet extended from the entrance of the hall of the end, where a large throne rested, which was embedded with jewels that exuded great magic.

Sitting over the altar… there was a skeleton wearing long robes and holding a golden cane.

"Amazing… What is this place?!" asked Clementina.

"Books…" said Adamantine.

"So many weapons… and strange accessories…" said Jon.

"Oh, that dress…" said Iris, glancing at a beautiful red and black dress.

"This is… the treasury of my lord…" said Timassa.

"Indeed, this is… my grandparent's treasury… we have finally reached it… All these items, even the books, are all magical…" said Arthur.

Noah pointed at the skeleton with intrigue.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"I… I do not know, my grandpa was buried in the graveyard… I am sure of it… this skeleton… I don't think it is from him…" said Arthur.

"Hm…"

Noah walked towards the skeleton directly, glancing at it.

Suddenly, the jaw of the skeleton fell over the floor, startling Noah.

And the…

"Hahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Noah quickly stepped back, as he fell a sudden surge of power coming from the skeleton itself!

Flash!

Phantasmal blue flames filled the skeleton, as it began to move on its own!

"W-What?!"

Arthur and everyone else were in shock at what they were seeing!

"Welcome, my apprentices!"

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