Bab 1527: Bagian Bawah (Bagian 2)
Alen bisa merasakan ketegangan semakin menebal di udara. Ia melirik Raze dan Mordain, memperhatikan nada marah yang samar-samar menajamkan suara Raze. Ia tidak tahu mengapa. Dari sudut pandang Alen, Mordain tidak mengatakan sesuatu yang aneh. Malahan, sebagian besar prajurit yang hadir setuju dengannya. Itulah konsensus umum di kalangan militer. “Kau bilang pendapatku salah,” kata Raze, nadanya rendah namun tajam, “lalu kenapa? Karena kau sudah mempelajari semua informasi yang diberikan kepadamu oleh dunia atas? Karena mereka memberimu statistik pilihan mereka yang cermat, laporan mereka yang mudah diakses, narasi mereka yang dipoles, semuanya dirancang untuk membuat mereka tampak benar, sementara mencap yang lain sebagai penjahat yang tak terampuni?” Matanya menyipit, dan kilatan energi gelap dalam auranya membuat beberapa prajurit muda secara naluriah mundur. “Sebenarnya,” lanjut Raze, “kau belum pernah menginjakkan kaki di sini. Kau belum pernah berjalan di jalanan ini, belum pernah menghirup udara ini, belum pernah menjalani hidup ini. Tapi kau bicara seolah-olah kau mengerti. Sombong sekali.” Rasa frustrasi di wajah Mordain semakin terlihat. Ia bangga karena berpendidikan tinggi, karena memiliki akses ke arsip dan studi terbaik yang ditawarkan Alterian. Baginya, pengetahuan adalah kebenaran. Mengapa pendapatnya harus diabaikan hanya karena ia tidak pernah tinggal di tempat ini? Apakah pengalaman lebih penting daripada fakta? “Bukannya kau tidak boleh berpendapat,” kata Raze tegas. “Tapi semua pengetahuanmu berasal dari perspektif yang keliru. Kau telah diberi kebenaran sepihak, yang dibentuk dari sudut pandang orang-orang yang diuntungkan oleh ketidaktahuanmu. Itu tidak sama dengan mengetahui kenyataan.” “Kalau begitu, jelaskan padaku.” Mordain menyilangkan tangannya, memaksa suaranya tetap tenang meskipun sorot matanya menunjukkan kekesalan. “Jelaskan padaku kenapa aku salah.” Raut wajah Raze menggelap. Ia berhenti melangkah, kelompok itu pun berhenti di belakangnya sementara jubahnya berkibar tertiup angin sepoi-sepoi dari bawah tanah. Kata-katanya meluncur bagai palu yang menghantam batu.
“Apa yang kau katakan mungkin pernah benar,” Raze memulai. “Tapi kenyataannya sekarang jauh lebih rumit. Generasi pertama yang berakhir di Underside ini bukanlah pecandu atau penjahat. Mereka adalah para penyintas, mereka yang kalah perang melawan negara lain. Tanpa tempat tujuan, banyak yang terpaksa turun ke sini. Zat-zat ilegal bukanlah kelemahan mereka; mereka adalah alat yang sengaja digunakan untuk mengendalikan mereka, senjata yang digunakan oleh mereka yang berkuasa untuk menundukkan musuh dan kelas bawah.
“Whether you believe that or not is your choice. But even then, you’ve missed the heart of the issue, the present. Even if we accept your argument, even if every adult down here truly fell because of their own choices… what about the children? What of those who are born here, who never chose this life? Are they born with sin branded on their skin? Do they deserve to inherit punishment for crimes they never committed?”
Raze’s voice rose as he stepped closer to Mordain. “There is no magical education here. None. If you’re from the Underside and you dare mention it when trying to rise above, you’ll be cast back down. I’ve seen it happen. Only a handful ever manage to climb out, and even then, they had to excel so far beyond their peers that no one could deny their worth. If a mage from the Underside matches a mage from the surface in strength, the surface mage is chosen every single time. The other is discarded, branded inferior by birth alone.
“No policies exist to change that. No system has been created to lift them. Society above prefers it this way. It is easier than building prisons. Easier than facing responsibility. The Underside is their convenient shadow, a dumping ground they can ignore while continuing their so-called perfect lives.”
He pointed deeper into the Underside where the smell of sewage mingled with the faint laughter of children. “And here’s the cruelest truth: some of the kindest, hardest-working people live down here. Men and women with no crimes on their records, no stains on their hands. Yet society bars them from climbing out. It refuses to give them even the chance to change their lives.
“You call them criminals. I call them victims of a system designed to keep them buried.”
Raze’s gaze bore into Mordain, unwavering. His words grew sharper, heavier. “You’re ignorant of how this world truly works. And your ignorance has bred arrogance. You believe that because you were educated in the shining cities above, you hold the authority to pass judgment. But I know this world far better than you do. Do you want to know why?”
The air around him seemed to vibrate with his magic as he declared, “Because I was born here. The Underside is where I grew up. This darkness raised me, and from here I rose to become a Nine Star Mage. So before you try to dismiss my words with your textbooks and your pristine reports, keep your mouth shut. Or I’ll show you how highly educated I truly am.”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Some of the soldiers audibly swallowed, the sound echoing faintly in the cavern. No one dared speak. The weight of Raze’s fury was too much. If anyone attempted to counter him, to insist that their studies held more truth than his lived experience, their words would shatter instantly. He was not just another mage, he was a scholar of combat, of magic, of hardship itself, and his authority came from survival.Tak heran, mereka menyadari, kebencian Raze terhadap Grand Magus begitu dalam. Kebencian itu bukan sekadar balas dendam. Kebencian itu berakar pada hal ini, puluhan tahun kekejaman sistemik, siklus penindasan yang dibiarkan berlarut-larut oleh para penguasa. Kelompok itu terus maju dalam keheningan yang mencekam, setiap langkah bergema lebih keras daripada sebelumnya. Saat mereka terus menyusuri terowongan yang berkelok-kelok, suasana berubah. Di depan, samar-samar diterangi kristal yang tertancap di batu, berdiri sebuah bangunan yang menarik perhatian mereka. Ia menjulang tinggi bagai menara dari balik bayang-bayang, rangkanya terbuat dari batu dan kayu bekas, tetapi dibentuk dengan sengaja dan penuh makna. Jendela-jendela lengkung berjajar di sisi-sisinya, cahaya redup berkelap-kelip di belakangnya. Sebuah pintu kayu besar menghalangi jalan masuk, diapit ukiran-ukiran seadanya yang menyerupai para santo atau wali. Bangunan itu tampak seperti gereja. Raze berhenti, matanya menyipit. Yang lain mengikutinya, menatap tak percaya. “Apa-apaan…” bisik Raze. “Ada beberapa perubahan,” kata Kelly sambil tersenyum kecil dan penuh arti. **** ** Untuk informasi terkini mengenai MWS dan karya-karya saya di masa mendatang, silakan ikuti saya di media sosial saya di bawah ini. Instagram: Jksmanga Patreon*: jksmanga
Chapter 1528: A New Dark Guild (Part 1)
They had yet to reach the abandoned church that once served as the Dark Guild’s meeting place, a ruined shell of worship that Harvey had frequently used to gather his members. The structure had always been large enough to handle hundreds at a time, its echoing halls filled with whispers of dark plans and promises.
It had seemed practical for Raze to continue using the same site. After all, the Dark Guild had always operated less like a traditional organization and more like a vast, shadowy network. Only key members needed to receive the message, once the order was passed down, the lower-ranked members followed without ever needing to attend meetings themselves.
But what stood before Raze now was nothing like what he remembered.
The place no longer resembled the quiet, half-ruined landmark hidden in the Underside. Instead, it looked like a fortress, an entire settlement that had sprouted around the church, spreading outward until it felt less like a hideout and more like the foundation of a city.
The group stopped on one side of a flowing underground river. To reach the church, they would need to cross a wide bridge, and even that bridge bore signs of deliberate construction. Specially enhanced crystals lined the edges, casting pale blue light across the stone, their glow mirrored in the black water below.
On the lower levels beneath the bridge, metallic containers had been stacked into makeshift platforms. Some were built atop one another, others connected with iron pathways that allowed people to move freely between areas. From this distance, the group could see robed figures ferrying goods across planks, their hushed voices carrying faintly over the water.
Beast crystals, dozens of them, were being transported in carts and bags, glowing faintly in the shadows. The workers moved with precision, as if this operation had been running smoothly for months.
And beyond all of it, further into the leveled-out expanse, rose the church itself.
Only, it no longer resembled a church at all.
The façade had been rebuilt and expanded until it looked more like a palace. Its enormous double doors gleamed with reinforced steel, each side inscribed with glowing enchantments that pulsed faintly, a warning to any who dared approach without permission. The spire-like roof had been repaired and reinforced, while dark banners bearing the guild’s symbol fluttered faintly in the still underground air.
Even from here, Raze could sense it. Dark Magic. It pulsed in waves, bleeding out from the building’s heart. Somewhere within, or just beyond, an outdoor arena had been established, where rituals and training were taking place.
“It’s like an entire society has been built for those who practice Dark Magic,” Varkos murmured, his eyes narrowing. “This is nearly as big as some of the top guild compounds in Alterian.”
Mordain gave a small, reluctant nod. “I suppose when people share the same belief and pool their resources without hesitation, this is the result. With no restrictions, no moral boundaries, they’ll use whatever they can find. And this is what they’ve managed to accomplish.”
Kelly stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “That’s exactly how it is. The Dark Guild pulls from every corner of society. Some contribute money, others materials, others knowledge. Each person adds what they can. This place was built not by wealth but by will. With every hesitant supporter swayed, with every fence-sitter convinced, the guild grew. And when numbers grew, so did confidence. They decided to make this stronghold a reality.”
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances as they listened. For some, it was the first time seeing how deep the roots of the Dark Guild had spread. They whispered quietly among themselves, but none moved forward until Raze did. Every eye turned toward him, waiting.
Because they all knew, the Guild might treat them as intruders. The only reason they hadn’t already been attacked was because the Dark Magus himself stood with them.
“This isn’t an ideal situation,” Raze said finally. His eyes remained fixed on the sprawling fortress. “Something this large can’t stay hidden for long. The Underside isn’t entirely cut off. There are always people traveling between here and above. Word spreads. And once the Grand Magus get wind of this, once they know the truth… this place will be the first target.”
His words sank into the group like cold steel.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Alen said. He crossed his arms, his tone grim. “If I were in the Grand Magus’ position, I’d strike here first. The destruction caused by such a battle… it wouldn’t just wipe out the Dark Guild. It would devastate the entire Underside. And let’s be honest, if the Grand Magus wanted an excuse to erase this place, this fortress hands it to them on a silver plate.”
Raze nodded. “Exactly. No one above cares about the Underside. Not really. If they decide to eliminate it completely, the world won’t protest. To them, this place is already forgotten. The only question is whether they have the excuse they need, and now, they might.”
He paused, his gaze sharp as he scanned the settlement. “And I have another question. Around the old church, there used to be homes. Families lived here. Where are those people now?”
Kelly’s expression faltered. This was a subject she herself disliked, one she had argued against when Harvey first suggested it.
“Harvey gave the locals a choice,” she said at last. “They could join the Dark Guild, try to learn Dark Magic, and if that failed, support in other ways, manual labor, transport, construction. But if they refused… then they had to leave.”
Raze’s jaw tightened. He said nothing for a long moment, though his silence carried more weight than anger. He didn’t need to speak to make his thoughts clear.
Not everyone could fight. Not everyone could build. And those who couldn’t contribute were cast aside. No one above cared about the Underside, but it was becoming clear that even the Dark Guild treated it only as a convenient base.
Finally, he exhaled slowly. “Let’s go speak to Harvey.”
His words drew the conversation to an end. The soldiers and mages adjusted their stances, falling in behind him. Ahead, the glowing fortress loomed larger with each step, its shadow stretching across the bridge like a reminder of the path they were choosing.
For better or worse, they were about to walk into the heart of the Dark Guild.
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