After a brief respite from their bout with the griffin statue, the group headed deeper into the crypt to capture the Mittegod Gula sealed there. The fight had taken its toll on the group, and their appearances showed it. Their tattered clothes were covered with dust and grime. Pin was missing a boot after it was partially dissolved. Izik's tight sleeve was falling in the air, and their droopy countenances were painfully showing. Yet, they push forwards into whatever challenge they may face.

  "What are you guys going to do once we're finished with this damn crypt?" Azeri asked, leading the group next to Izik.

  "I want to rack up some coins to go to Olumpia," Radich smirked. "I heard they kept all sorts of coins and treasures are buried in crypts…" he snickered devilishly.

  "I want to go to the Citadel of Order and study about the history of the world," Ari beamed with excitement. "There are so much hidden knowledge there!"

  "I want to go with Radich to Olumpia and become a fighter in the Megalos Coliseum," Pin said with pride.

  "I will join the Iron Heart Guild in Bonetalia," Azeri said. "I want to be known across the four continents."

  "I just want some good ale after this!" Borgis roared with laughter.

  "What about you, Izik?" Ari asked.

  "Me?" Izik truly pondered. "I don't know, to be honest," he said flatly. "I never did."

  "Nothing waiting for you back in your kingdom?" Azeri raised a brow.

  Izik stayed silent for a while as they walked. "I'll just stay as a knight in my father's army, I guess."

  Borgis wrapped his arm around Izik and grinned. "Young Izik has a long way to go, but he will be a great leader one day. Morin and I can see it, clear as day!"

  "Huh?" Izik raised a brow in confusion. He then remembered that Borgis did not know of the years he spent in the dungeon after his mother's death. His father, the king, could not bear to look at him, so covered his face with an iron mask. He looked ahead and had no expression. "Only time will tell." He said flatly.

  After a minute of awkward silence, the group saw the spiraling patterns and the engravings on the walls return as the chambers ahead were well lit.

  "Stairs" Ari beckoned with a lisp as she ran to the stairs ahead. It seemed like it has been forever since they saw anything leading upwards in the crypt.

  "Finally," Azeri sighed with relief with the group as they walked faster to them and climbed them. At the end of the staircase, a text awaited them and an open door.

  "It has all three languages written here!" Ari said. "'You have endured the most for others to take the few. You have proven worthy of in the eyes of Man, Elves, and The Great Fackel, most kind to our kind. May you tread ahead wisely.' So, it says."

  "Seems like we finished!" Radich rejoiced.

  "It's not like we had a choice with enduring that…" Izik grumbled.

  "When I get my hands on those bastards," Azeri shook her fist in anger. "I'll freeze their groins solid!"

  "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Pin said. "We need to be more careful if we're dealing with other esper users."

  "But, truly," Borgis grinned at the fellow party members around him. "You have all done well far. I have confidence we will make it through this tomb with our skins on our backs!"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Everyone smiled proudly, knowing how each of them had a hand in the journey they have been through. Even for a moment, they have shared a sense of comradery in these corridors and chambers."

  "Maybe a celebratory ale is warranted!" Radich smiled.

  Borgis patted Radich on the back, but it felt more like a slam with his giant hand. "That is the Rushing Radich for you!!" He laughed loudly.

  "Maybe some wine will do." Azeri joined.

  "Me too." Ari added.

  "I guess I'll try some ale." Pin smiled.

  Izik chuckled. "Maybe I'll join you fo-"

  A booming sound cut the conversation short. A deep diabolical shriek bellowed from the entrance in front of them.

  "W-what was that?" Radich yelped with his hands covering his ears.

  "I don't know," Izik replied, eyes locked on the entrance. "But I think the others got close to the center of the crypt."

  "Let's move carefully," Borgis said in a low tone and a somber expression.

  The party slowly treaded the corridors ahead. Behind them were the three paths they were offered, and in front of them was a bloody trail of blood and flesh. Holes filled the spiraling walls and corpses of the different creatures they have faced appeared in large numbers.

  "Do you think the others did all of this?" Azeri considered.

  "Most likely," Izik said as he surveyed every inch of the place they walked through.

  The booming voice stopped the group in their tracks, and a human scream ensued.

  "They're just ahead," Izik remarked.

  "Radich, Ari, get behind us," Borgis gestured with his hand as kept his eye at the source of the sound. He walked slowly as the rune in his left arm glowed and a steel shield emerged on his arm.

  Izik kept his arm close to the hilt of his dagger and Pin clenched his Moonfists. Another human cry echoed from ahead as sweat dropped from their brows. The corridor led to an entrance to shrouded in darkness.

  "Someone's coming," Borgis whispered as sounds of footsteps grew louder and louder.

  The rugged man with a pale face that have seen death in front of him emerged from the entrance. He fumbled with a bleeding leg and a strange bronze urn in his hand. He looked as he had aged a decade in the time they have spent in the Road of Hell.

  "H-help me!" The man cried to the group. He limped fast as if he was trying to run but tripped and fell. "Please help me! It ate my friends!" He cried madly.

  Another booming roar pervaded the corridor. A blood-soaked eye the size of the entrance itself was peeking into the corridor. The man screamed in horror as he attempted to crawl away. A giant arm extended into the corridor and grabbed him along with the urn. The groans of the giant creature were deep as it dragged the man into the dark room he tried to escape of.

  "Could that urn be…?" Izik wondered, his dagger in his hand.

  "It is!" Azeri said as she ran towards the hand.

  "Wait, Azeri!" Borgis yelled as he followed her.

  "What are you doing?!" Radich squealed.

  "We have no choice," Pin said as he went along with Izik. "Stay covered in a safe spot!"

  Azeri entered the room, her eyes needed adjustment for the darkness. The screams echoed the rounded chamber, and as soon as her eyes adjusted, she saw it, even if barely. A fifteen-foot giant with a head replacing its torso was shoving the screaming man into its mouth along with the urn he was holding with his dear life. A giant eye was where its chest should have been, it had no nose, only nostrils, and its mouth had sharp unequal teeth curved outwards. One of the giant's arms was lying on the floor, most likely done by the rugged man and his party.

  'Please help me!" The man cried as he extended his arms away from the giant's mouth. "Mother! Fath-" his screams were interrupted when the giant bit into his lower half. The urn dropped into the ground but did not break. Blood dripped from the giant's mouth, onto his large, bloated legs, and into the ground.

  "Let there be light!" Ari yelled as a giant orb of light flew into the room, and Borgis, Izik, and Pin ran into the room. They suddenly stopped when they witnessed the giant crying as it munched on the now-silent man.

  "We must do something!" Borgis yelled to the other, but they were frozen in their place. "This is bad…" he muttered to himself.

  The giant moaned as a hand dropped from its mouth. He looked down at the bronze urn and reached for it. "M-master…" He moaned.

  "I won't let you!" Azeri said as she ran to it, but she was too far away.

  Before the giant reached it, Radich ran as fast as he could with his speed boots and snatched the urn. He zipped to the other side of the chamber as the giant's eye followed him.

  "Nice one, Radich!" Azeri cheered.

  Radich squealed as the giant ran towards him. "Don't you stand there! Help me!"

  A ball of fire hit the giant on his side, causing him to stop and groan. It cried from its eye as it look towards Izik. "Got your attention now, you giant freak?" Izik smirked with beads of sweat covering his brow.

  "Good one, Izik," Borgis said as he stood in front of him. The giant ran at them as the shield disappeared and created a two-handed giant hammer. "Get ready!"