Chapter 382: Di
Eber stared at the half-open door, dumbstruck for quite a while.
Suddenly, a gleam of red light ignited in his eyes, and he burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s open! Hahahahaha! Can you believe it? Finally, it’s open!”
His laughter was thick with rage and shadows, a raspy sound that seemed as dead and decayed as an old tree, starkly contrasting with the cheerful chuckle he’d shared just moments before.
Though Yuliya had been a bit put off by Eber’s previous laughter, this one was pushing her to the brink of nausea.
“Eber… ahem, are you okay? Is everything alright?” Rowlin weakly called out.
No response; Eber continued to cackle maniacally.
Rowlin and Dora leaned on each other to get a closer look.
Martina and Gillian hesitated, but Yuliya yanked their arms.
“Something’s off with him, and… we’re not in the best shape either. Let’s just observe for now.”
Yuliya’s weakness was an act, but the other four girls were genuinely feeling the effects.
Rowlin and Dora stepped forward, calling out again.
It was only at that moment that Eber halted his laughter and turned to them, saying, “Oh, I almost forgot there were still people around! I should really thank you for opening the door for me.”
Rowlin forced a smile. “No need for thanks. Are you back to normal?”
“Well, of course I’m normal. But you all don’t look too hot.”
“It’s fine, a little rest should do us good.”
“Rest? Oh, that sounds like a hassle,” Eber grinned widely, his eyes glowing with that unsettling red light. “How about I just set you free instead?”
He raised his hand and swung it toward Rowlin’s head.
Yuliya’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she prepared to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
But in the next instant, Eber’s hand froze mid-air.
He gritted his teeth, his entire body tensing and trembling as his right hand clutched his left so tightly that nails dug into flesh.
His eyes darted about chaotically—sometimes glowing red, other times devoid of color.
His teeth and lips appeared to be in a brawl of their own, his face a mix of greenish and pale hues.
Finally, he managed to squeeze out a few words: “S-Stop… or else…”
Suddenly, he relaxed, stumbling a few steps back.
Eber was back to his usual self, but he still exuded a chilling, callous aura with the unsettling light pulsing in his gaze.
“Ha! Never mind, I won’t strike. What’s the point in you resisting now anyway?”
“Eber… what’s going on with you?” Rowlin and Dora prepared to step closer.
But Eber barked, “Don’t come any closer! Stay back! Just keep to yourselves, and don’t make that stupid guy go crazy.”
His command worked like a charm; the two stood frozen in place, no longer moving.
Finally, Yuliya frowned and said, “You’re not Eber.”
Martina and Gillian exchanged confused glances, clearly sensing something was off.
“Oh? Almost forgot about the one who just recently joined—his consciousness is barely under control.”
“Eber” turned to face Yuliya.
“How to put it? I am him, but not completely. However, by the time you all met him, we were already in this state, so calling me him is totally acceptable.”
Yuliya’s face darkened.
One word flashed in her mind—usurpation.
And it wasn’t a complete usurpation; it was more like parasitism, yet with the parasite clearly holding the reins.
Suddenly, many of the oddities she had sensed before started to make sense.
Eber had always worn his usual façade, only with subtle subconscious shifts.
So, he seemed perfectly normal, and to Yuliya, he had just been annoying—mildly infuriating, really.
But some of his behaviors in certain situations didn’t quite align with what a regular adventurer would do.
For instance, his familiarity with the lower dungeons.
“Who are you? Why are you doing this? What’s your goal in luring us here? What happens next?”
“You have quite a few questions,” Eber’s mouth tugged into a smug grin. “Let me offer you a nugget of information. You’re the only one here who can still engage in a normal conversation.”
Rowlin and Dora were practically in a trance, so no need to mention them. Martina and Gillian were equally foggy, their minds a bit scrambled.
Eber, himself being suppressed by this mysterious usurper, left only the old monster and Yuliya standing.
“My real name is Di, and I’ve been hanging around this ruin for quite a few years. Today, I’ve finally taken a step forward and opened this door.”
Di was in high spirits—after years of effort, it was finally paying off!
“I brought you all here precisely to open this door; I really must thank you for that. Hahahaha, from now on, my power will ascend to new heights.”
“As for what happens next, you won’t have anything to do with it. Just stay here and enjoy your last moments of life; it’s my gift to you.”
Even as he said that, Yuliya knew he couldn’t strike directly; doing so would provoke the Eber lurking inside, just like before.
“We came to open the door? Why was it us?” Yuliya pressed.
“Who knows? After trying for so long and so many times, eventually, you’ll stumble upon the right people. Maybe one of you got lucky.”
Yuliya glanced at the other four. “So, you specifically chose adventurers like us?”
“Of course! Not everyone has the potential to be a key. You should feel honored.”
Ah, so they were all female, gold-level adventurers, with golden hair…
Yuliya sighed, “After all those attempts, this hasn’t raised any suspicion with the Adventurers’ Guild?”
To keep all this under wraps, the best plan is to eliminate everyone who’s been here.
With each batch of adventurers that went missing, the Guild would definitely take notice.
“Just change identities after a couple of tries and come back. This guy has lost count of how many identities he’s had. Dozens, maybe.”
Yuliya slumped down, feeling utterly drained, muttering, “You should just rot in hell.”
“Heh, but I’m living quite well. Better than you lot.”
Di was absolutely reveling in their impotent fury.
Good people don’t live long, but misery lasts a millennium.
And he knew all too well that he was the ultimate source of wretchedness.
