Chapter 19
As we get inside while staying on our guard, what we saw a merely darkness. The area was completely engulfed in darkness, nothing can be seen inside except for a pitch black shade.
"Light our way, [Illumination]"
Shinnnng
A small light orb with a size of a basketball then appeared in front of Lucrane, lighting the three us and our surrounding area, just a couple of meters from us. The light orb then slowly rose up, until it reached a certain height.
"Thankfully you have such a convenient ma-"
Bzzzzzt...Shkk!
"!?!"
".... Nice"
I said as the light orb the was floating above us suddenly flickered and dissappeared.
"What just happened?"
Not really knowing who am I facing, or where is my left and right as I just looked back and asked
".... I don't know"
Lucrane answered in Gods know where
"Can you get it back?"
"I'll try"
"Light our way, [Illumination]"
Shinnng
(Author's POV) (ngl, I'm so overjoyed that there are less times I'm writing a pov where everything rhymes! Congrats to me! I'm improving!)
In the dimly area of the vicinity, a dimly light then shone. Slowly, the small orb gets bigger and bigger until it fully reached a its growth and roses above the ground. Vince was anxiously staring at it as the light orb float.
Closely observing the light orb as it hover above, with his eyes peeled with distressed. But seconds pass then minute, but the light orb still shone brightly above.
Phew~
Feeling relieved, he sigh in comfort. He then spoke in relief as he placed his left hand on his waist
".... Thankfully your magic orb didn't vanish this time Lucr-!?!"
All the calmness he has a second ago vanished as he suddenly just noticed that everyone beside him, or was beside him, vanished, seemingly just disappeared. Discerning his surrounding area full of restlessness and fear as far as he could see, beyond the light could ever touch were darkness and silence.
Feeling anxious for the situation he was in, Vince then tried calmly relaxing himself as the enemy of a person, his own thy self.
Creak
A silent meek sound then came behind him as a sound of a door opening resound
"!?!"
Reflexively by his instinct, Vince then hurriedly summoned his mythril sword and swiftly took a step back, and went to his battle stance. Griply holding the sharp sword to his right, he bended down with his left foot forward. With his eyes peel upfront
Creak
Putting his guard up, Vince keep his eyes glued upfront as he stared with intense wariness while observing his surrounding area. Checking with his senses around him as ambush is the worst possible scenario he might encounter.
Creak
Slowly, a glimpse of light then gradually prove inside. Leisurely, it envelops the surrounding dimly area with its bright color. And suddenly
Shaannhhhh
"!?!"
As the door completely opened, Vince was then engulfed by the bright light, utterly blinding him.
"Gahhhhhh!"
He groaned as his eyes stings as if it was rub by an alcohol, utterly making him screamed in agony.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Thud
He then unconsciously dropped his weapon down as he grab and clenched his eyes, tightly grasping his face with all his might as the pain gets worsen and worsen every second pass.
"Gaaaauhhhhhhhhh!"
Slam
The pain gradually felt as if his eyes was being forcibly gouging out from its socket. As if a sharp knife covered in salt was pulling his eyes off away from its socket, and all he could do was kneel down and bowed his head in pain, and scream.
"Ahghhhhhhhhhh!!"
His scream echoed inside the abandoned temple, bouncing from one place to another, deliberately sending his agony throughout the whole area, announcing his suffering.
He tried gritting his teeth, enduring such pain but it gets worse and worse every time passes by.
"Gguuuaaaawhwhhhhhhhh...."
Suddenly his vision became blurry, his body lose its edge, and his strength suddenly faded. And all he could see was blinding light, covering his eyes with its color.
Thud
With his body losing grip, he then fell down and lost consciousness as his heavy eyelids closed.
.....
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
A woman's scream filled the evening hour as she yelled up above and faced her demise
"Guuuahhhhhhh!"
The man groan as he fell down to his knees, receiving a deadly blow right to his chest
"Maaammmaaaa!"
And in this darkness street of this once lovely place
"Heellllp Mee-Kuaaahhhhh!"
The area was filled with blood, death, and agony
Slash! Swoosh! Shing!
"Kuahhhh!"
"Gahhhhhh!"
"Ahhhhhh!"
And only their scream of suffering echoed as the bloody massacre continued.
....
10, 000 years ago, a once bountiful and blooming town was founded of by once a great man. The town flourished from their foundations, their productions, their cultivation, and their culture. They develop, they strive, as they keep growing and growing like a young stalk, aiming for the heavens above.
They keep themselves isolated for years, centuries, decades, and millennia, away from strangers, away from the crowd, and away from those barbaric individuals who were devoured by their greed and lust.
They erected their homeland atop of the reigning mountain, away from those scavengers and defilers that may consumed their very home and land. They carved slope paths so no evaders would dare to probe, they build walls that no man could dare to breach, and they build a sanctuary for them to rest, and finally found an everlasting haven.
Their once small village that started from a single housing, was now fortified and build into a magnificent town. Their king, their leader, the man they followed, and the man that they looked for announced, spoke in a great tone and resound throughout the whole town.
"My dear citizen, my beloved people, from todays forth for tomorrows will, we shall establish a place, a haven that none would dare to attack, that no one would dare to defile. A place where we could stand and hold, a place where we could rest and stroll. This here on out, we shall erect a kingdom! A mighty fortress than none has ever forge! A impregnable castle than none could dare to besmirch! A beautiful haven that we shall lived and longed"
Scream of happiness, a yell of joy, and a howl of bliss then echoed throughout the whole town. They laughed, they cried, they danced through the whole night as they celebrated their greatful fortune.
But if a king could be overthrown, so does the kingdom it ruled. The once blissful and mighty town was crushed by an unknown luck, devoured by entity they never once knew, and ruined by a misfortune they thought they once threw.
Their beautiful carven path was now painted in a dark red blood. The stunning sculptured town was wrecked beyond perception. The blooming city withered and lost its touch, and the once peaceful haven was filled with horror and demise.
[The Lost Kingdom of a Fallen Town] was what this place was called, and was now been spoken as the once forgotten civilization.
None knows what befall them, was it misfortune? Cursed? Karma? Or judgment? None knows as after the slaughter only their blood was seen, filling their own very ground, and tainting their very own town. What could make such a flourishing town crumbled in dispear? What tarnation did they deserved to receive such wrath? And what fault could they bore by such fate?
Even how many thousand of years went and passed, their mystifying diminish was never once found, neither many did seek, as none would attempt to risk their safety over a mystery.
...
"..."
".....e..."
".....in....e....."
"....v...ce...."
"....vin...e...."
".....vince....."
"Vince"
"Vince!"
Waking up from that sudden noise, I then opened up my heavy eyelids.
"Nhmmmm..."
And for some unknown reason, my head is quite wrecked as if I just got hit by a straight bat from the 3rd batter after throwing a straight pitch. My head also felt heavy and every time I abruptly move my head to any direction, it felt like I was being squeeze by two giant unknown hands.
"Hnngnnnmmhh"
Still feeling the pain in my head, I tried to discern my surrounding area
"Are you alright? Hey, can you hear me?"
Finding where that voice is coming from, I then slowly moved my head to my left as much as I can, as a little unexpected movement will sting my head like never before. And as I moved my head to the left, there I saw right above me was Lucrane
"Can you hear me? Hey"
She asked in anxious tone
"Vince, are you okay? What happened?"
"....?"
Lucrane was worriedly looking right above me. I could only stare at her as I can't still completely comprehend what is going on.
"Hey, do you know me? D you know who am I?"
".... Luc....ran.....e....."
"Yes, yes, yes that is me"
She joyfully spoke. I then felt a warmthful touch on my head as I was slowly being moved. Looking at my right, I then noticed a pair of light brown something in front of me, or specifically below me. I could also feel a soft, warm, and comfortable thing below me.
"..... Lap pillow"
I said as I slowly closed my eyes
"Pardon?"
She inquired but I didn't respond as I just want to emerge myself with this blissful scene I am in and took a pleasing nap.
.....
After I woke up with a still a little bit of headache, Lucrane, Iratus and me are taking a short break inside this temple, and for some unknown reason, the dimly area of this place suddenly lighted as dozens of torch brighten the whole place. And if you are asking where those torches came from? I don't know. By the time I woke up, the whole place was already brighten up, not fully though but it is much better than the first we came in here.
The three of us are sitting around the camp fire that Lucrane made. Iratus was in front of us while I was leaning my head to Lucrane's shoulder as we sat down.
"What happened?"
I asked in a meek, tired tone
"We should be the one asking that but, right after I casted [Illumination] the 2nd time, you suddenly disappeared"
"Disappeared? Me?"
I asked, puzzled because the thing I remembered was them suddenly vanishing behind me.
"Yes, you suddenly disappeared out of nowhere"
"We tried locating you but you are nowhere to be found. Even my keen sense of smell was in vain when I tried sniffing you out, like as if you were completely gone as their were no traces or faint scent left behind"
Iratus spoke as he laid his head down and glance at me
"It took us an hour or so until we found you, and guess where? Just right behind us"
"....."
Completely baffled to what just happened base on their words, I tried calming myself down as I absorb all those information whole trying to remember what happened, as I closed my eyes
"Are you alright?"
"..... How long did I lose consciousness?"
"You took a great time when we found you collapsed, and quite some time right after, so maybe in between of 4 or 5 hours"
"I see"
I spoke. Taking my time as I took a pleasant nap on Lucrane's shoulder, I then spoke
"It was the opposite on me"
"Opposite?"
I slightly nodded
"Right after you casted [Illumination] the 2nd time, the two of you vanished behind me. Not trying to worsen my situation by panicking, I tried to discern my surrounding area to find any clues but I only saw darkness around me and suddenly, I heard a creaking sound of a door opening, which is surprising as I didn't even noticed that door behind us closed at all. White light then glimpse out from that door, and by the time it fully opened, I was then engulfed by a bright light, completely blocking and covering me"
"A stinging feeling then came right after as I felt like my eyes were suddenly being pulling out by some sharp object. I screamed and screamed but the pain only gets worse and worse until..... I lose consciousness"
"Did, anything happened right after that?"
Lucrane inquired as she gently lean her head next to me
"I saw a dream right after I lost consciousness"
"A dream?"
"Yes, I just don't know if that was a vision, or something but it was a very vivid dream. I saw a town, a gorgeous town. It was built right atop of a high mountain. The people there were living the most comfortable life far away from the other people. They have abundant farms from their crops, fishes, and [Farm Monsters]. They erected a sturdy wall around their beautiful town, protecting them from any invaders. One day, their leader told them that they will develop their land further than before to let the others know that they could lived just by themselves but, right after their celebration they made to celebrate such occasion, darkness suddenly fell towards them. All the lights in their town vanished, torches were extinguish, and the moon and stars just simply disappeared"
I spoke as I frowned, remembering such dreadful thing I saw
"Then in silence, screams and yell of agony came right after, singing in the darkness of dread and suffering. One by one, every people living in that town were killed. Man, woman, young, old, adult, and children were simply killed without remorse, mercy, as they slaughter them for no reason. After the day came back, the once beautiful town was painted by red, dark blood, and every citizens living that place was found laying on the ground, cold and lifeless. And in their eyes"
I then closed my eyes as I tried recalling such scene
"And their eyes was gone, living only a lifeless and bloodied body with a hollow face, but their expression tell about the horror they saw before they were forever blinded, and never could see ever again"
"..."
The two were utterly silent as they listened
"Days pass after that, even years came by but no one knows what exactly happened that time, neither what entity punished those said individuals is, all they knew was whatever it is, it brought judgment and retribution to those people living in that town." Don't seek the unknown, and don't ask the unanswered, as those who tried to pry weren't left unpunished" is what those elders from each tribe, villages, and towns spoke to their citizens that they shouldn't try prying anything to the demise those people received, or they might be the next one"
".... [The Lost Kingdom of a Fallen Town]"
Quite shocked that Lucrane knew about it which I then asked
"That is quite shocking because In that dream, it was what it called. So, how did you know about it Lucrane?"
"It was a folklore in my village. It was often used to teach children about the importance of knowing who should they trust, follow, and those they must put their faith into. That folklore was quite popular in the east, and used to warn those foolish individuals that is attempting to play fire about the consequences of their action, and also sometimes a horror bedtime tale for children to not abuse what was given, nor try to take what wasn't yours to begin with"
"..... Was it Gods that fused their inevitable death?"
Lucrane then shook her head and answered
"As none wasn't able to find any clues to it as everyone was afraid to dare probing on it, they simply point out that it was the doing of the Gods and showing their wrath against that town but, in my village, we didn't believe such half cooked reasoning"
"So who caused it then?"
"A *{Daemon}"
"A {Demon}?"
"No, a {Daemon}"
"???"
Leaning on her shoulder, I was left confused as what is the difference between the two, and also, they are sound the same
Sigh
"It's not {Dee-mon}, it's {Day-mon}"
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
If you know the reference, then you know
Though the two are differentiated that much, daemon and demon are still spirits that corrupts any living being, but in this novel I will writing daemon as a much higher form of demon.
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
"The former are those beings that lives in this world right after it was created, but the latter are those who are visitors from the outside world, the [Void]. {Daemons} are entity that is still unknown to many. They are creature that dwells in the darkness and roams in the shadow. Some of my fellows hypothesized that this beings are the great ancestor of the {Demons}"
"How so?"
"Because they have 4 wings at their back, and 4 horns at their heads, a feature that resembles a {Demon}. They also have a dark red glowing gem at their chest, some speculated that is where their heart is"
Lucrane then added
"Their body that is made from a deformed substances that is producing a black mist or smokes around it. It sometimes has a head or none, a formless body, and a huge structure comparable to an adult {Ogre} or an {Elder Orc}. It doesn't spoke nor does it understand any kind of communication, different to a {Demon} which is a being with high intellect. Even though it can't speak, this being could cast magic from middle tier to high tier"
"Chantless ha"
"Yes, they are beings who could cast any tier of magic without chanting them, they are formidable beings"
"..... How about their levels? What levels does a {Daemon} possess?"
"It is still unclear what level they are but back in my village, a level 457 [Bard] was left half alive when he accidentally confronted it. It was thanks to his luck that he was still alive when he reached the village, but it didn't last long as right after he was able to inform us about such being, it then succumbed to his death. "No magic nor weapon could injury it" is what he said"
"How annoying"
I said as I closed my eyes and took a little nap.
"It really is"
(Author's POV)
Lucrane said in a sweet whisper as she gently caress Vince face with her left hand, and lean her head closely to him. She then smile as shw closed her eyes as she took a nap next to him, and slept in a blissful time.
".... Hmph"
Upfront of them was Iratus, staring with curious glint on his eyes. Seeing them in such scene, he was quite amuse to them. He then turn his gaze upfront and took his nap
"Normies"
He said in a whisper with a flash of smile came to him.The three then took their rest next to the camp fire that warmth them, flickering as it burns.
Crackle Crackle Crackle Crackle Crackle
As the fire flicker as it burns, dancing in a magnifying glow. Down in this dimly area, the three took their way to rest and stay, feeling comfortable to this sudden development, all they could think of was comfort and peace.
Flicker Flicker Flicker
....
After I got recovered and woke up as we took our pleasant rest, we then continued exploring the inside of this place. The area we are transversing was completely devoid with dust, and the walls around it already lost its color. The ground and walls, even the ceiling has some cracked on it or chinks, while some of the pillars that was holding the ceiling has some fracture on it.
There were no mural nor any runes drawn or written in this place, it was completely filled with just stones, dust, torches, and darkness.
As we proceed forward, that took us quite some time as how large this area is, we then came upon a wide staircase that leading up. I then gazed at Lucrane, and as she saw me, she then nodded. With that, we then started climbing up, but of course while we put our guard up, we don't know what kind of surprises this temple have on us.
The staircase took 200 steps before we reached the top where we stumble a huge iron door. It has the same size as the one we use to enter this place. Lucrane and I then pushed the iron door open as it didn't tried attempting the same trick with the first one.
Ccrreeaaakkkk
As we opened the door, we were then greeted by a cold breeze of air and a warm touch of the sun. We then could see the blue sky above us as we looked up. There is a staircase in front but with a countable steps before we could reach the top.
As we got out and reach the top, we then saw the magnifying beauty of the temple.
"Amazing"
I said as I was mesmerized by how much stunning the structure was. As I looked behind me, I then saw a huge circular stone platform with 6 stone pillars surrounding at its edge, and right below it was a bench or fence encircling the platform. Curious to it, I then walked towards it
"A sacrificial rite or an [Altar of Ritual]"
Lucrane said as she walked behind me
"It is where they sacrifice something towards the God they believe in, or to an entity they placed their faith into. And in this place"
And as we got there, Lucrane then climbed up which I then followed. And as we got at the top of this platform
"!?!"
I was then stunned to what I saw before me
"They sacrifice their own people, those young woman and adult male in this altar"
She said as at the center of the altar was pile of dust and some scattered bones. The platform has a huge star symbol at the center with a goat design inside it. It was encircled with single sphere.
"**{Baphomet}, the [Prince of Beast]. Its a {Devil} that was worshipped by the [Gallant of the Holy Templar] as their patriot. It is said that this entity was the closed aid of Lucifer, and some speculated that it was the secret son of Satan, the [Prince of Darkness]"
"And this sacrifice is?"
"The reason why {Daemons} attacked this place and massacred everyone in it for a reason that is unknown to us. Some of our elders speculated that is more in dispute of power, or simply a grudge. The sacrifice to summon {Baphomet} needed a virgin young woman, and a married adult man to copulate in this altar, right in front to their family"
"What the"
"Infidelity and lust were thought to be the way to summon {Baphomet} so it needed to be done right in front to their loves ones and family. By the time {Baphomet} is summoned, it shall grant the one who made the tribute a gift, blessing, or a wish and after that, {Baphomet} will choose among the woman and man to take as its offering before leaving, sometimes it took two, and sometimes none. {Baphomet} will directly absorb the offering from its flesh, blood, and insides until all that is left to that person is its bones"
"... Every side has a dark area on it huh"
"It is, the ***[Gallant of the Holy Templar] was once the very foundation of crusade and holiness but right after they were found guilty of heresy, as their founder, ****Gaufred, the [Saint of the Holy Templar] and *****Hugues, the [Celestial Knight of the Holy Templar] was found worshipping {Baphomet}. Right after they were accused as heretics, the [Gallant of the Holy Templar] was then pursued by many for their blasphemy and daring to use the Gods temple for their vile acts. Only few of the [Knights], [Clerics], and members of the Templar was executed, while many was able to outrun their crimes and lived away from the grasp of their enemy. Both the founder was nowhere to be found right after that. The betrayal of the [Gallant of the Holy Templar] ignited the [Cleansing of the Heretics] act which caused thousands and millions of death just for a single purpose, uprooting those who are sprouted in the holy ground"
"... Even the most gentle person hids a mask vileness"
"In simplicity, that would explain everything, that not even the person you have known is still the person you have knew"
"Humans are really a piece of work, trying to act like they were in the good when they were the pile of shit in this world, disgusting"
Iratus spoke as he stared at the pile of ashes and bones in the altar. He then turn his gaze away and walked away from the platform
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
(I only called them by their first name or other name as it is blasphemy on my end that I am using their names and yet they weren't what I written them to)
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
Right after that, we then climbed down and glanced towards the old temple. It was pretty massive alright, and stunning also.
"Let us go, we still not yet halfway through the 2nd floor"
"Speaking about exploration, what about the 1st floor? Shouldn't we try exploring that place also?"
"I already told my pack about it so no need to worry"
"I see"
As we got closer and closer to the temple
"Stop"
Lucrane then halted us. Confused to why, I then gazed at her and saw her face frowning as she stated upfront. Following her gaze, I then looked before me and just saw the huge structure. Surveying the area of the old temple, I found nothing amiss on it, so I asked her
"What is it? A trap?"
"No, there is someone here before us"
".... What?"
Shocked to her words, I frown in surprised and disbelief.
"I thought that there shouldn't be anyone inside a newly erected floor"
I said as I summoned my sword out from my [Storage Ring]
"I know, and I don't know how they got in"
"They? How many are there anyway?"
I then anxiously took my stance and survey my surrounding area
"... 20, no..... 50, there are 50 of them here"
"That many?! How the hell did they surrounded us that fast?..... Are they, {Daemons}?"
"No, this thing is formless and lifeless. I could feel their presence around us but I can't feel any life coming from them, as if they are {Undead} or {Wraiths}"
Keep my eyes peel as I looked around, but even how much I inspect the area I can't really see anyone around beside us
"I can't see a thing, where are they anyway?"
Grrrrrrr!
As I said that, Iratus then walked in front of me while guarding me as he bare his fangs out.
"Get behind me, you are the weakest in the group so get in the center"
"Tsk"
I can't really complain on that, I'm still at 20s in level compared to Iratus who is already 70s while Lucrane is unknown to me. Following his word, I then moved to the center of the group.
@&#&@&@&&&#&@&&@%@#%&%#%
@#%#%#&%%&%@#@##%
"!?!"
As seconds pass in silence, a sudden voice then resound the area. It was a language I never heard of, so gibberish that I almost mistook it as a drunk cricket. The voice then keeps getting louder and louder and louder as minute pass
@#&#&&@%#%%@#&%&%@&&
&#&@%#&&@&#%@&#&&#
@&&#%@%#%#&&@&@%##
And as I keep discerning the area around us
"!!!"
Petrified to my spot with my mouth and eyes wide agape, as the shadow that is around us suddenly moved.
@#&#&&@%#%%@#&%&%@&&
&#&@%#&&@&#%@&#&&#
@&&#%@%#%#&&@&@%##
"..... What are they?"
I asked. The shadow then slowly moved towards us in a sluggish movement.
"..... How come they could speak yet they don't have any mouth?"
Iratus asked as this creature are merely made from black coat, the dark shade of this area. They don't have any mouth neither eyes but yet they knew where we are as they moved to our direction, and speak in words that I didn't really get.
@#&#&&@%#%%@#&%&%@&&
&#&@%#&&@&#%@&#&&#
@&&#%@%#%#&&@&@%##
@&#&@&@&&&#&@&&@%@#%&%#%
@#%#%#&%%&%@#@##%
@#&#&&@%#%%@#&%&%@&&
&#&@%#&&@&#%@&#&&#
@&&#%@%#%#&&@&@%##
Their are more and more of them sprouting out of nowhere and heading toward us.
Grrrrrrrrr!
'Shit, we are surrounded'
I thought as I griply hold my sword at my right. As me and Iratud was on our guard, at my side as I glance, I then saw Lucrane kneeling down and placed her right hand in the temple's ground while she bowed her head down.
"Deus, qui terram fundasti, fidem et fortitudinem tuam posco" (Latin translation for God, who founded the earth, I ask for your faith and strength; earth here doesn't mean Earth but surface or land)
"[Divina Terra]" (Latin translation for divine land)
[Holy Sanctuary] has been activated
A white runes then appeared below us. It has an anchor design at the center that is placed inside a 8 edges star. The said rune reached quite further as it could overshadow a big creature like Iratus.
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
Iratus has a 7 feet length or 213 centimeters so the sanctuary reaches 8 or 9 meters in diameter
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
"Don't step outside the circle"
Lucrane said as she slowly stood up.
"Do you know what they are?"
@&#&@&@&&&#&@&&@%@#%&%#%
@#%#%#&%%&%@#@##%
@#&#&&@%#%%@#&%&%@&&
&#&@%#&&@&#%@&#&&#
@&&#%@%#%#&&@&@%##
I asked as this creature closely moved towards us. I don't what entity are they but they don't have any malice directed at us neither any form of intent, they just keep moving to our direction. And as they get closer to the magic circle Lucrane placed
@&@%@%##%#%@%%&%&%&%%@%@!!!!!!
@%@%#%@%@&@&#%@%@&#&#&@@&@@%@%#@!!!!!
They then started making this high, screeching sound like a broken glass being scraped by a sharp nail as they touched the magic circle Lucrane made.
@@&#&@&#__#&@&#_#_&@'@&#&:@!!!!!
&@&#&#&#&_@_&#:#&_@__#&#:_@_#::#!!!!!
Iratus then kneeled down as he covered his ears and whimper while I gritted my teeth as I covered my ears. The cries of this creature is keep on going and going as they touched the magic circle, but none of them dissappeared, as they merely stucked.
@%@%#%@%@&@&#%@%@&#&#&@@&@@%@%#@!!!!!
&@&#&#&#&_@_&#:#&_@__#&#:_@_#::#!!!!!
@&@%@%##%#%@%%&%&%&%%@%@!!!!!!
@@&#&@&#__#&@&#_#_&@'@&#&:@!!!!!
"....."
As I hold my ear down while gritting my teeth, I am still observing what is happening around me.
"Isolate, [Silence]"
"...?"
After Lucrane casted something, the high pitching sound of this creature suddenly vanish. Taking my hands away from my ears as I tried listening the vicinity, I was surprised that not even a single whisper can be heard
"[Silence] is a skill which let you cut any sounds in the surrounding area. The effect only goes around 8 meters wide and last for at least 2 hours max"
As she said that, Iratus was then able to strengthen his posture back. He then sat down with his head up high and a dignified look on his face as he stared upfront, seeing him like that almost made me laugh
'I guess even him has a pride to protect'
As I glance back in front, those creatures then able to surround us in every direction and blocked any light that may pass as they hurdled together. Because Lucrane cut off any sound that might reach us like a sound proof, I could only see them wiggling like worms as they tried bypassing the magic circle Lucrane erected.
As time goes by
"They are not going anywhere"
"How persistent bastards"
Iratus said as this creature just keep themselves pushing through the barrier that is surrounding us. This guy didn't care as how much pain they felt, they just mindlessly keep moving forward for some unknown reason.
An hour came by but this creature didn't still give up.
"Vince, climbed Iratus back"
"..... What?"
I confusedly asked Lucrane.
"I suddenly noticed something so I want to know if I am right"
Lucrane then looked towards us and added
"Iratus, by the time we get atp of you, jump towards that direction"
She said as she pointed just a distance from the temple's entrance. Iratus and I then looked at each other as we don't know what is Lucrane planning. Not having any clue to what is going on, we both then followed her words. As Iratus stood up, I then jump towards his back and Lucrane then followed right after.
As the two of us are already atop of Iratus, he then bend a little bit down then
Swoosh
And jumped above this unknown entity that is eagerly pursuing us. Iratus was able to reach the destined place that Lucrane told him to in a single jump. Thanks to the [Silence] Lucrane casted, by the time Iratus landed it didn't even made a single sound.
Me and Lucrane then climbed down, after that
Snap
Lucrane then snapped her fingers, and the barrier where we were suddenly disappeared as all those shadowy figures then moved as they pushed forward. And as they arrived at the center
"..... What the"
"This is simply...interesting"
Iratus spoke with a dumbfounded expression while I was puzzled as all those shadowy figure were gathering at the center, packing themselves up for some unknown reason and they simply doesn't move away from the spot.
"So I was right"
Lucrane said
"What do you mean? That they are mindless, and oblivious creature?"
"No"
She then summoned something from her ring
'Why a potato again? Is she not afraid of retribution from the potato God?'
(A certain potato God: beware upon my wrath!)
As she summoned it, she then thrown it at the left, just a couple of distance from the horde
Tok
And as the sacrificed potato bounced twice on the ground before it stopped. The showdy creatures suddenly stopped
".....?"
They were frozen for a bit before they started moving back again, and this time, they were walking towards where the said potato was thrown.
"....."
Seeing them like that, left me puzzled
"What are they-!!"
Before it hits me as I realize what cusses such phenomenon. I have seen this act in every movie I have watched with grandpa and grandma, and sometimes by myself only
"They are moving towards where the sound is!"
"Correct, they can't see so they sense their surroundings with an alternative way, and for how could they use such even though they don't possess any ears or organs that help them hear"
"This is like a zombie movie then"
Iratus spoke with awe and bewilderment
"I also realize that when they went towards that potato, it seems they only attacked anyone that makes a sound. But"
I then gazed at Lucrane and asked
"But how did you realized it? Does every zombies here have the same simple way of living?"
"Zombies? Do you mean {Undead}? If that what you mean then no, {Undead} are creatures that retain their abilities when they were still alive, but twice the power or strength. Their senses will multiply while their skills and abilities redouble, so confronting one is a hassle especially when they don't much feel any pain or fear when fighting. Even how many times you cut them, they still moved with vigor"
"I see, so how then?
"I realized it right after I keep moving my hands from different direction and also my head, but even how much I tried they didn't even react nor look at me, so it seems they don't really possess the ability to see. So here comes the question, how did they found us then? As I keep thinking about that, I then hit a sudden realization right after I casted [Silence]. After I invoke it, their usual spirit or drive when they are moving towards us decrease than before I casted it, so with that, I then speculated that it might have something to do with sounds. So I tried such hypothesis by moving away from them while [Silence] is still active, and it seems I hit the mark right after I thrown that potato"
"... Wow"
I was left speechless when I heard her explaination.
"Do we need to exterminate them? Or left them here?"
Iratus asked as he looked towards those brainless creatures.
"First of all we don't have anything or any information about them yet to fully understand if we can kill them or not, and secondly I think this will be a good trials for those adventurers that is trying to explore this place"
"Does this thing can kill anyway?"
Lucrane then summoned a piece of meat from her ring. She then toost it just a distance from where she throw the potato. And after it landed, those guys then started moving after they halted and walked towards that piece of meat.
As they got closer to the meat
"!!"
Iratus and I was then surprised as meat was touched by one of those creatures then suddenly started to rot, and its color began to fade and slowly turned gray before it was utterly coated in black. The piece of meat then loses its color and deflated.
"So it corrode anyone or anything it touches?"
"How terrifying"
"Do we really need to leave them here?"
I asked as I felt anxiousness towards this creature if we left them here.
".... For now we will"
After that, we then continued exploring this temple. As we got inside this huge structure, it was completely different to the things we have seen before. It has a large area from its height to its length. There is only an altar at the center and no other. It has no windows, nor any other furniture or object inside except for some torches.
The altar was designed in a shape of a square with 4 pillars erected just a distance from the edge, with a circular ceiling atop that is hollowed at the center. The altar has a staircase with 7 steps that is encircling it. 2 huge pillars was build at each side of the staircase excluding the edges.
As we climbed up the altar, there is a huge sculptured figure at the center, the patriot or the being that this people are worshiping, {Baphomet}. This creature has a head of a goat with 2 curve horns and a body of an adult male human. It was sitting cross-legged atop of a rock. The said sculpture was utterly detailed from its curves to its touches, it completely carved what the creature truly look with such fine brushes and polish.
After we have investigated the inside and there were nothing more to see, we then went inside and climbed up the temple to reach that small build built atop of it.
The temple has a pathway at the center of its side with 300 steps each. As we climb up the temple, and arrived at the small structure built atoo of it, we were completely amused to what we stumbled upon.
By the way, Iratus wasn't using the staircase we Lucrane and I used, but rather those pyramid like steps as he has huge build and much wider steps than us.
The small building has a size similar to a comfort rooms or restrooms in each establishment. The roof was built with dark brown woods or a shade of gray and brown mixed together. There are no walls at each side of this structure, just 4 pillars supporting the said roof. There is a small chair at the center which can only fit a small child maybe from 10 to 15 years old only. Below the chair, the flat platform where it was placed, it has a rune of the same design with the altar where they initiate their ritual of sacrifice.
"Is this where they place their winner?"
I asked as I was pondering what purpose does this thing have
"I think this where {Baphomet} stay right after it got summoned, maybe?"
"Well whatever it is"
I then turn around and gazed at the surrounding area right atop of the temple and spoke
"This place is truly full of mystery, and magnifying with thrills"
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
*The words daemon and daimon are Latinized spellings of the Greek δαίμων (daimôn), a reference to the daemons of Ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hellenistic religion and philosophy. Daemons are good or benevolent "supernatural beings between mortals and gods, such as inferior divinities and ghosts of dead heroes" (see Plato's Symposium), and differ from the Judeo-Christian usage of demon, a malignant spirit that can seduce, afflict, or possess humans.
"Daemon" is actually a much older form of "demon"; daemons have no particular bias towards good or evil, but rather serve to help define a person's character or personality.
Reference:
**Baphomet is a deity allegedly worshipped by the Knights Templar that subsequently became incorporated into various occult and Western esoteric traditions. The name Baphomet appeared in trial transcripts for the Inquisition of the Knights Templar starting in 1307. It first came into popular English usage in the 19th century during debate and speculation on the reasons for the suppression of the Templar order. Baphomet is a symbol of balance in various occult and mystical traditions, the origin of which some occultists have attempted to link with the Gnostics and Templars, although occasionally purported to be a deity or a demon. Since 1856 the name Baphomet has been associated with the "Sabbatic Goat" image drawn by Éliphas Lévi, composed of binary elements representing the "symbolization of the equilibrium of opposites": half-human and half-animal, male and female, good and evil, etc. Lévi's intention was to symbolize his concept of balance, with Baphomet representing the goal of perfect social order.
***The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Salomonici), also known as the Order of Solomon's Temple, the Knights Templar, or simply the Templars, was a military order of the Catholic faith, and one of the wealthiest and most popular military orders in Western Christianity. They were founded circa 1119, headquartered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages.
Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church by such decrees as the papal bull Omne datum optimum of Pope Innocent II, the Templars became a favored charity throughout Christendom and grew rapidly in membership and power. The Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. They were prominent in Christian finance; non-combatant members of the order, who made up as much as 90% of their members, managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom. They developed innovative financial techniques that were an early form of banking, building a network of nearly 1,000 commanderies and fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land, and arguably forming the world's first multinational corporation.
****Godfrey of Saint-Omer (also known as Gaufred, Godefroi, or Geoffrey de St Omer, Saint Omer) was a Flemish knight and one of the founding members of the Knights Templar in 1119.
He is said to have come from the family of the Lords of Saint-Omer (in today's northern France), possibly the son of William I, Lord of Saint Omer and Melisende de Piquigny.
*****According to legend, Hugues de Payens (the first Grand-Master of the Templars) and Godfrey were so poor that between the two of them they had only one horse, and this gave rise to the famous image on the seal of the Templars, of two men riding a single horse.
Hugues de Payens or Payns (9 February 1070 – 24 May 1136) was the co-founder and first Grand Master of the Knights Templar. In association with Bernard of Clairvaux, he created the Latin Rule, the code of behavior for the Order.
(though this is pretty long it only took 600+ words, and also, this is only here in this novel that I made them heresy but it wasn't implied if they were as the history only told those who have won and not the tale of its own. Though some of the knight of Templar was burned at stake for being heretic, some wasn't yet found to be following on it)