“I didn’t notice this before,” Reina stated, with a tinge of worry in her voice. “It could be another trap.”

  “Could be. We don’t have anyone at the party who can detect these things, so just be careful. I’ll go in first. “The door squeaked on its hinges as he pulled it forward.”

  There was a gentle tug at first; normally, Rook wasn’t opposed to gentle tugging, but this was a tug on his soul. A beckoning that took over his intrusive thoughts, and every single coherent thought was to take another step forward. At the very center of the chamber, a statue of the bear god Teru stood easily double that of the ogre. It was made from a smooth green jade-like material. Rook would never touch it, but he felt as if instinctually he knew it was fleshy. Staring directly at the face caused his blood to boil and his eyes to strain. If looking at the red symbols on Knox’s necromancer robes was like looking at the sun, then this was like looking at the sun after acid was poured on his retinas. The snarling bear god’s tongue swirled out and made his guts twist with a churning sickness. The smell of decay made it worse, and it was almost impossible to enter. However, he fell into a sense of tonic immobility that immediately dissociated his mind from the actions of his body.

  He was in nothingness, smoke filled the room, and chanting grew to a tempo, all around him. Teru looked down at him, and the tongue dragged across the statue’s lips.

  “Lad, don’t give in!” A familiar voice rang out of the darkness.

  Rook jerked his head to the noise, and it broke the smoky illusion. Glancing behind, he found Jody attacking the stone door to the chamber. He used his anti-magic in an attempt to open it. The deity had shut it, sealed it with its dirty magic.

  Rook’s vision swayed and bobbed with the pull of the statue’s invisible force. Lost in the trance, it wasn’t until minutes of looking at the visage, he realized they were not alone. All around the statue were figures of all sizes and races, as far as Rook could tell. Each figure was without a doubt decayed underneath the wool red robes. However, they softly chanted the same melody he heard when he entered, the same melody in the smoky illusion. His baser instincts pleaded with him to flee, fly from this place with his friends, and go. Run across space and time back to Washington. But the large evil eyes of Teru just brought him closer.

  “Resist the trance, Rook,” Jody’s voice came over the chanting once again.

  Reina stood next to him, her face twisted in a confused frown. He moved further still, pushing past the shuddering Alderion. Past the concerned face of his Torokin friend. It’s always something with that elf. Afraid of Lord Teru, afraid of the old gods. Reina sidled up next to him, her mouth moving up and down as if she were questioning his worship.

  Rook wasn’t confused; he knew who to worship. Had he always worshiped Lord Teru? He wondered. His knee buckled, and he faltered when something caught his shirt. The branch of a tree? A snagging rock hanging from the ceiling? He broke free of the hindrance and pressed on towards the God Teru. His body shuddered at the reflection of light within the black orbs that stared back at him. He felt the need to submit, to prostrate himself before the deity. Rook wondered how he could fear Lord Teru when he was there for him his whole life. The head of the statue seemed to tilt its head, gently canted to meet his fearful gaze. Teru frowned down at him, as much as a bear’s face could.

  Rook tried to turn and flee as a moment of clarity assaulted his mind. He briefly saw his companions in front of him, waving. Reina desperately tugged at his arm. Why is she trying to stop me from attaining happiness? Mara pulled at his scale mail. Why is she always acting like my mother? My mother’s gone, left me behind, unlike Teru.

  A conjured, how quaint. You need not fear, I’m not here to harm you. Strange for a Conjured, you do not wish to return home? The deity gave a rumbling laugh. The sound was rolling thunder in his ears. I can give you what you truly wish, break the binds that chain me to this place, and I will grant you the power to chain others. Become my warrior, my champion. Serve my purpose and I will empower yours. Allow me to grant you a small taste.

  Rook’s body was filled with strength, revitalizing him. His muscles felt fuller, his mind clearer. He surged his Attramancy and held it; the mana ticked away slowly as if a dripping faucet instead of the rushing, draining leak it normally was without focus.

  One of Teru’s eyes floated down from the statue’s face, settling in front of him. It swirled and twinkled like the stars in the sky. Then it all became inky black, comforting as warm soup on a cold day. He stared into the orb, and memories of his grandfather passed into his mind. The old man smiled, bouncing Rook on his knee. He stared at his great toothy grin.

  Do you wish to accept the Gift of Teru?

  Yes/ No

  No. Rook grabbed hold of the orb anyway. “My grandfather never smiled like that, you wannabe god. I know my truth, and it doesn’t involve you.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  You dare try to cheat me? Teru’s voice came like thunder all around the cavern. I gave you power.

  Rook’s nose ran, blood leaking out in a steady stream onto the floor below. Searing fire struck his touch like the skin of his palms was being ripped away. The harder he fought to keep his hand there, the stronger the feeling of his flesh tearing away got.

  Do you wish to take Arcane Orb of Subjugation?

  Yes/ No

  “Yes. Fucking take it,” Rook growled.

  You have obtained the Arcane Orb of Subjugation. (Bound) (Diamond)

  +10 All stats

  I will find you, Samuel Rook Merrell, and make everyone you love suffer.

  The voice trailed off, leaving Rook dumbfounded and his heart thumping like a drum. How can one item have so much increase? His thought chain was broken by a muffled speech coming from somewhere in the space. He squinted, straining to hear it, as if someone was speaking to him underwater. Then the pain. His vision rocked to the left, then violently to the right. He blinked and saw Reina’s blue eyes wide with fear. He frowned down at his collar, which was grasped in her bloody, shaking fist. Her other hand was cocked back in a fist, and beyond her, Alderion was in a fighting stance, pointing the sword of dawn towards him. Mara seemed torn on whether to fight or sit down and sob. Jody smiled at him, placing his axes back on his belt.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Rook asked, holding a hand up in defense. “Much as I like being a close friend to you, I’m not sure that I like this.” He stared at the enhancer.

  Reina pulled him into a hug. “Dammit, Rook, I thought you lost your mind.” She let go of his shirt, and an embarrassed look crossed her face. “So. I’ve heard of this before. In places of dark worship, there are those who go mad.”

  “I thought I lost you.” Mara brought him into a hug as well. “Again,” she whispered under her breath.

  Again?

  Alderion dismissed his blade. “If you lost your mind, I would have taken your life. These damned worshippers summoned a cursed beast, sacrificing to this false god. They give their lives and very souls for the chance of the deity’s power.”

  Rook blinked, and a strong pang of anger twisted in his guts at Al’s words. Shake. It. Off. He knew whatever ooky spooky bullshit that just affected him was lingering on his mind. He checked his inventory and noticed the new slot was filled with what looked like Bear God’s shiny eye. He would have to get his mind checked after this.

  “Does this mean our Sentinel trial is over?” Rook asked the dwarf, disappointed.

  Jody shook his head. “No, this was an event that nobody could’ve seen coming. The goblins overpowering you? Sure. But a minor god trying to entice you with power and corrupt you? No chance, lad.”

  The chanting grew in tempo, as loud as it was in the illusion. Rook looked around the party. “Please tell me you guys can hear this.

  Reina nodded, her eyes wide with fear.

  His smile fled his face, and he swept the party behind his back. “Whatever you do, don’t look back.”

  “What do you mean?” Rook asked.

  The robed figures rose up from their prostrated positions, continuing the ascent until they were three feet off the ground. The hood fell from the nearest figure. The eyes had long since rotted away, leaving behind empty brown sockets in skin that was too thin, too tight over the facial structure.

  “Nightwalkers,” Jody said, his voice trailing. A thick purple aura leaked from his axes, leaking from the blades and turning to smoke. “You can’t fight these, not yet.”

  The rest of the party drew weapons and readied themselves for a fight when a clank in the middle of the floor behind them slid open. Jody slowly backed up, leading them towards the opening. The chanting figures jerked in a single motion, facing them in an instant. Their robes slipped from their bodies, revealing jerky flesh. They stared at the group with those empty sockets.

  Rook bristled as the naked figures turned their gaze to him. They all pointed at him, their mouths opening in silent screams. Jody slowly inched towards the opening. The tempo and volume of the chanting grew deafening. The backed up slowly until he heard Al’s yelp of surprise.

  “Wait, I’m going to fall,” Mara said, trying to push against the Dwarf. ‘No!” She called as she slipped into the darkness.

  “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your promotion to the Soldier rank,” Jody said, glancing over his shoulder, before shoving Rook and Reina into the opening.

  Rook fell backward, down several feet of a slope. He tried to grab for purchase, but he couldn’t get a hold of anything. After they finally stopped rolling, he lay in the gloom, staring up at the darkness. Jody…

  An explosion echoed from above; the responding shockwaves jarred Rook. He had to grit his teeth until the white noise stopped. He looked at the others.

  “Are you all alright?” Reina asked.

  Rook wanted to scream. “Why the fuck did he do that?!” Rook asked, trying to work his way back up the steep incline. He knew the answer, but needed to see it for himself.

  He’d lost friends in the military. He needed to pay his respects, to see him. He dug his feet into the slick rock and tried to climb.

  Reina grabbed his arm and pulled him from the hill. He whirled around to see his friend’s eyes full of tears, and it nearly broke him.

  “We never brought him that celebratory drink,” Reina said, with a sniff.

  Rook pulled her in for an embrace. “Next time,” he said.

  “He’s gone. As are all the others in that chamber,” Al said, dusting himself off. “The Dwarf sacrificed himself.”

  “Please, I know it’s hard, but we need to move on,” Mara said, placing a hand on their shoulders.

  With a sour scowl, Rook nodded, and the four continued into the abyss. Reina handed him the vision scroll. Hesitantly, Rook grabbed the scroll and quickly placed it in his inventory. Terus dead.

  You have obtained: Vision Scroll of Sacred Cipher 1/8

  He blinked. “Sacred Cipher Scroll,” he muttered, but his voice carried louder than expected in the chamber.