Chapter 126: A Cry for Help - III (1/2)

"That teers would never approach it under any circu with it?" Merlin looked at her with a confused expression "Is it a uess you could say that, in a sense" She retorted, "That te a time before the wall Back then, it used to be a collective house of worshi+p for the western towns, filled with statues of thesettlements worshi+pped"

"Of course, without the wall here, one of those nearby settlements was Lycosura Home of my father's castle and also the location of that dreaded sanctuary of the accursed cult" She continued, stretching out the word 'sanctuary' as if to insinuate it was no such thing "The temple stands today as a reminder that not even the Gods are immune to the influences of evil So yes, I would say it is a den of monsters, but not in the traditional sense"

"Boss, we've checked everywhere There isn't a single person anywhere in town Godric's team aren't anywhere to be seen either, even their alcohol barrels sees as he approached "It's most likely another--"

"Don't say it" Callisto cut hier "That dauys also pointed out that he saw er continued, "They would like to ask for perate it as a group, order everyone to group up" She ordered, her eyes were now locked on the te else "If it weren't o Even at risk of upsetting the Gods"

The group all formed up in an open area within the town, and once everyone was ready they set out for the tean securing the peri the forest as Merlin, Callisto and a handful of rangers made their way inside the temple

As Merlin entered the temple, he noticed rows of shattered statues, with only two statues reroup wandered further into the te many of the shattered statues Merlin noticed that Callisto had stopped in front of one of the statues, and upon approaching her, he noticed that some of the stone shards on the floor seemed to have been carved out in the shape of a bow

"How dare they" Callisto mumbled to herself with her fists clenched But she turned away froers shout

"What's this on the statue's face? It looks like blood" One of the rangers that Merlin assuers to approach

Merlin approached the ranger and observed the statue It was a statue of a woe veil, but the face was clearly visible because part of the veil that was covering her face had been shattered

The strangest thing about the statue was that there were al from the statue's face, like tears But as the new recruit had said, it appeared to be blood

"That's the statue of Despoina, but who is that beside her?" Merlin asked, staring at the only other statue standing in the rooehoplite are plue round shi+eld that could cover most of his torso

"That ends say that he raised and protected Despoina, and was one of the few titans not cast into the pit of Tartaros" Callisto explained, "Although perhaps Zeus is regretting his choice now"

The new recruit wandered closer to the statue to inspect what the red liquid actually was, he noticed that a puddle of the liquid had formed on the floor underneath the statue

As the recruit bent down to inspect it, Merlin could have sworn he saw the statue of Despoina sh his body, as he stared at the statue

"Soroup heard a loud crash outside the te with several pained screaers inside the building asked before running towards the teather information

The moment everyone in the room turned towards the entrance, they all heard a pained screa from behind theers shouted as he turned to face the new recruit, but all he saas the statue of Anytos piercing the new recruit with his spear, and the new recruit's lifeless body dangling off of it

"Those damn cultists, it was a trap" Callisto shouted as she quickly drew an arrow and sent one towards the statue