Los Illuminados

Journal Entry Sixteen

'Where are we now...?'

Walking out of the elevator, the Merchant waved to me. "Hello, Stranger!" He greeted. "Why don't ya bring this for the ride, ay?" He suggests as he pulls out a rocket launcher from his shop.

"Uh..." I let out as he drops it into my arms. "Free of charge! I'd call it a deal, yeah?" He snickers. "If you insist..." I trailed as I wore it on my back. "Anything ya wanna sell? Buy?" He says as he rubs his hands greedily.

"I do, actually." I said before buying and selling at his shop.

. . .

"Pleasure doing business with ya!"

Before leaving the area, I noticed a piece of paper next to a typewriter. Picking it up, I read it:

The first castellan buried the Las Plagas deep underground below the castle to hide their very existence. But when Salazar released the Las Plagas, no one thought he could bring them back to life. Because when Salazar found them they were all just fossilized remains.

Everyone knew that the parasitic organisms could not survive without their hosts. That they couldn't sustain life on their own. But when Salazar and his men excavated the remains, it almost appeared as if the Las Plagas were just waiting to be discovered so that they could resurrect.

Several years later, unexplainable convulsions started occurring among the villagers who helped with the excavation of the Las Plagas.

Then one day, all of a sudden, these villagers turned into violent savages.

They later found out it was caused by the Las Plagas. Although they appeared fossilized, they were able to survive the long years by lying in a dormant state at the cellular level remaining in a spore-like form.

Apparently, during the excavation, the villagers inhaled the spores and within their bodies the parasites became active again. This is how the Las Plagas were resurrected.

Even as I'm writing, the excavation of the Las Plagas continues.

God only knows how many of these Plagas have been resurrected. Not to mention the countless number of Ganados that have been created.

Their inhumane activity must be put to an end. If they are not stopped, people around the world could turn into victims of this crazy cult organization.

'This is only going to get worse every minute I waste...' I tell myself, looking down at the scattered photographs of the Ganandos and other monsters alike.

'But the main objective is to retrieve Ashley and get her out of here. Removing the plagas can be saved for the second step.' I planned as I kicked open a pair of rusty doors.

Equipping my pistol and resting my finger above the trigger, I quickly navigated through the cave.

. . .

"That should be all of it...!" I muttered, sliding down a cliff and running towards the melted gate. Seeing no visible handle, I felt around it before feeling a bump.

Pressing it, the gate opens and reveals a system of traps ahead. With heavy thumps that resonated through my whole body, I waited and read the pattern before running through it with ease.

"Ack!" I let out as I got caught in something. Just before the trap could fall on me, I hugged the wall as it grazed past my stuck arm. I let out a breath of relief before freeing my arm, and rolling past the trap.

"Too close..." I muttered. Seeing a platform before me, I got on it and pressed the only big button I saw. Before I knew it, I ascended to the ground level and finally saw the night lights.

"Finally..." I gasp out. Removing my eyes from the sky, I look down and noticed a paper stuck to a wooden pole. I scoffed knowing who it was from.

"Oh, Ada... what have you left me this time...?" I muttered before reading her letter.

Once a Plaga egg hatches, it's nearly impossible to remove it from the body. But if it's before it hatches, then it can be neutralized by medication.

If it does hatch you might be able to get it out by surgery before it turns to an adult. But it won't be easy. There's a high chance you won't survive the operation.

As far as I know the girl was injected with the egg before you. Her time is ticking.

You should prepare yourself for the worst case scenario.

From,
Ada

Balling the paper, I threw it aside and headed towards the daunting tower.

. . .

Closing the heavy doors behind me, I was greeted with slow clapping. "So nice you could join us, Mr. Y/N L/N." A shrill voice sounded. "Oh... nice to see you again..." I sarcastically greeted, turning to the man-baby who was accompanied by his one servant.

"The sacred rite that is about to begin at this tower shall endow the girl with magnificent power." He sneers as he paces around. "She will join us," He pauses before looking up at me. "Become one of us."

"This is terrorism, Salazar." I glared. "Isn't that a popular word these days?" He queried. "Not to worry, we've prepared a special ritual for you." As he brings his hand up, I, nonchalantly, threw my knife and hit the target.

"Heh... bullseye...!" I smirked as I watched him cry at his pinned hand. Swiftly, Salazar's servant retrieves the knife and throws it back at me. "Thanks!" I exclaimed with a smile as I retrieved my knife with ease.

My face quickly drops as the man-baby runs away. "Stop!" I called to him as he leaves through an elevator. "You're telling me I have to take the stairs around...?" I muttered as I stared at the stairs that lead higher into the tower.

Heading up the stairs, castle Ganados appeared in front of me. 'I don't have time... or the ammo for this...' I told myself. 'Let's just hope the Merchant is here...'

Running into the Ganados, they stumble back. Not wanting to see them anymore, I grabbed them by the wrists and threw them off the side of the stairs.

'Oh... that's convenient.' I think to myself as I spotted a lift. Stabbing the last one in sight, I jumped onto the lift and pressed the button. Grumblings were heard above as I slowly made my way up once more.

'Okay, okay...' I glared as I pumped my shotgun. As I continued to go up, I shot down every Ganado that tried getting on the lift. Reaching the top, I jumped off the lift and entered another elevator.

Going up, once more, I arrived at more stairs leading up to somewhere beyond. I let out a groan and continued making my way up the stairs. 'This better be worth it...'