"Congratulations on surviving this game. Watching you all die was quite entertaining. Thank you," Adriel said, a malicious smile curling his lips.
"You have no idea how much I want to shoot you right now," I muttered, my fists clenching.
"I understand, but it would be pointless. I'm immortal. We all are. But if it helps, you can punch me," Adriel replied, his grin widening.
"Mmm, no. I'll shoot you instead," I said, and before he could react, I pulled the trigger, sending a bullet straight through his face. He crumpled to the ground, and I let out a short laugh—until he stood up again, unscathed.
"Alright, I'll give you that," Adriel said, brushing off the dust. "Shall we proceed? You're here for the Great Tree, aren't you? This way," he gestured, leading me deeper into the temple. As we walked, he tossed a few words over his shoulder, "I'm impressed you sacrificed those two to get here. Doesn't it weigh on you?"
I hesitated, then replied, "No. I've seen too many people die to care anymore. Besides, they were brought here to be slaughtered. It's a good thing I didn't bother learning their names." A spiteful smile crept onto my face.
"A man who'll do anything to get what he wants," Adriel mused. "I like people like you. Predictable. No matter the situation, you always know they'll betray you in the end." We shared a cold laugh, reveling in the fate of the fallen.
As we descended deeper into the temple, I noticed symbols etched into the walls—symbols that matched those on Mr. Nobody's mask. The connection between this town and the Order was clear, though I still didn't understand why they attacked us. But with Adriel by my side, it was best not to press the issue. The temple was a dark labyrinth, lit only by flickering torches lining the walls.
We passed through chambers where people sat in meditation, while others chanted in a language I couldn't decipher. Curious, I asked Adriel about it.
"According to legend, our ancient god commands us to sing this song to keep the world turning, to keep time and space moving forward. If the song stops, life stops. The monks you see are striving to enter Atatmahara—Nirvana—so they can commune with our god, Eldorath. He granted us immortality so we could sing the song for eternity and protect the Great Tree," Adriel explained.
The pieces began to fit. Mr. Nobody had mentioned four gods, but Adriel spoke of only one. It was clear they didn't get along. Hearing the name of the Order must have sounded like a declaration of war to them. They likely mistook us for members of the cult. Was it the same with the other gods? Were there other towns like this, hidden across the world? Mr. Nobody also mentioned a war that scattered the golden keys. Perhaps that was the cause of this conflict. "This is getting interesting," I thought, my lips curling into an excited grin.
After a few minutes, Adriel stopped in front of a massive door. "This is the entrance to the Great Tree," he said. "Nothing will stop you from reaching it. But if you harm any plant there, the Tree will treat you as a virus and kill you without hesitation."
His warning puzzled me. "Plants? Isn't it just a tree?"
Adriel only smiled. "You'll understand once you enter."
A sliver of doubt crept in, but I had sacrificed too much to back down now. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I stepped forward, and my heart skipped a beat as I realized there were no stairs—just a plunge into darkness. Adriel remained behind; no one from Dofida was allowed into this sacred land.
"Are you scared?" Adriel asked.
I admitted I was, but without another word, I leaped into the void.
I kept my eyes shut the whole time, so I had no sense of how long I was falling. It felt like the flutter of a hummingbird's wings. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed of grass, sunlight warming my face, the scent of fresh earth in the air. The sounds of birds and insects filled the serene atmosphere. Above me, a clear blue sky stretched out, untouched by human pollution. It was peaceful, like a mother's lullaby cradling a newborn in infinite love. I felt lighter as if all my worries had been blown away. The only thought in my mind was how beautiful this place was—perhaps how the earth looked before humanity's corruption.
For a moment, I considered staying here forever. But I had a mission to complete, and in the distance, I could see my treasure on the horizon...
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