Book 7, Chapter 70 - The Trap (1/2)
Book 7, Chapter 70 - The Trap
“We’ve been waiting for half an hour, why isn’t he back yet?” Dawn was getting impatient. Something didn’t feel right. “Is that old man just fucking around? So unreliable… should we just go through and take a look?”
She wasn’t wrong. Why was it taking so long?
Autumn offered a reminder. “The Boundary Portal is connected to the other four realms, but since my realm’s collapse the enchantment is only enough to cover the city. Its power wanes. If you wait much longer the portal will close and can’t be opened again.”
“That settles it. Let’s go!” So under pressure of time, the remaining three members of the traveling party stepped through.
Just as they did they felt the power of the portal falter. It blinked shut, leaving them in the heart of Radia’s Temple. But instead of the orderly room they expected, they found the Temple in a mess.
Cloudhawk scowled. “Something happened.”
Selene and Dawn smelled the cloying scent of blood on the air. Clearly this place was awash in carnage. No wonder Master Anan had not returned – he must have run into trouble.
“Hey, hey! Cloudhawk! You’re Cloudhawk!”
A frantic voice called from the darkness of a nearby hallway. The sound of it made the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. By the sound of it, the voice belonged to a young man. One who sounded crazy.
Cloudhawk was on alert. “What are you so happy about?”
“I was wondering how I was going to get to your cesspit and kill you. Lo and behold! You walk right into Radia! Why shouldn’t I be thrilled? You destroyed this great Temple, so now you can be buried with it!”
Oh. A zealot – either of the Temple or the gods. But it was strange because Legion had been here not long ago. From the highest leaders to the smallest families, he was supposed to have had it under control.
He’d taken the Temple’s two Oracles, convinced them to comply then let them loose. Legion had used extraordinary measures to make them obedient so that they could take control of the Temple. Obviously it didn’t work, but why not?
A strange noise filled the chamber. Figures poured in from every direction.
Clerics in white robes and Templars in golden armor charged at them. Only, the look of them was off. Their flesh was swollen and visible tumors bulged from beneath their skin like blood blisters. They looked horribly infected by some sort of fungus.
Leading them were the two Oracles.
What happened that turned the Oracles into these monstrosities? The young leaders were not weak and defeating someone of their position with strength alone was difficult. Perhaps this was the result of some foul trick.
Cloudhawk didn’t make a move, only calling out to them. “You’ve prepared such a grand welcome. But you haven’t even told me who you are.”
“Apostle Zephon Allgood.”
The insane chatter of his voice came again. The tumorous members of the Temple closed in and then, in grotesque fashion, began to swell. Skin began to split and from the rent flesh poured out sickly black masses. At first glance they looked like gore, but grew like cancer. It advanced so quickly that in a blink of an eye, they swallowed up their former hosts.