Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 71: Apostle Zaina [5]

[You are in the presence of a sealed Artifact.]

Just as he held onto it, a small message flickered in front of him.

[Would you like to use "memories"?]

[Yes/no]

Akamir looked at the message then he glanced at the mask itself.

’It’s an Artifact?’

He examined the thing more carefully.

There was nothing that made it stand out except the two markings on either side of the cheek.

’What should I do?’

"Asher?" Zaina mumbled softly, snapping him out. "What happened?"

Akamir turned to look at her.

"Nothing." he said , passing the mask. "Don’t lose it."

Zaina nodded, holding the mask carefully, tracing the strange markings with her thumb.

"Have you seen this place in your memories?" Akamir asked, glancing at her. "Or anything like this?"

Zaina hesitated before she softly nodded her head. "I do remember this place."

He nodded. "Shall we move?"

"...Yes."

They once again began to walk on the glowing path while being closer this time.

Akamir slowly looked up at Nayomi who floated silently.

"Give me a heads-up." He mumbled softly. "Is there anything dangerous inside or not?"

"Be prepared to fight." She replied, glancing at him. "There is a thing protecting the place."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Zaina noticed his behavior but didn’t shook anything.

As they walked deeper into the ruins, the air grew colder.

The broken walls were covered in strange faded murals.

’What is this place?’

Akamir wondered, rubbing his chin.

There were so many things that didn’t make any sense.

Like how does Zaina even know of this place?

Was she guided here? Destined to be here?

’Whatever it may be , it’s making me uncomfortable.’

He thought, glancing back at Nayomi for explanation.

She caught his gaze as she cleared her throat.

"Remember how I told you about the first elf?" She asked, looking at him. "The one created by the golden Sun?"

"...Yeah?"

"She had a son named Asaemon by herself who was born with the potential of becoming a god." She continued, floating closer to him.

"But her son fell in love with the Head of their eternal rivals....Inola El Lunari."

’The house of the moon, right?’

He wondered, looking at her while he slowed down to keep a little distance from Zaina.

"Both the houses lived peacefully for a while and the couple also had three children."

She explained, looking at Zaina’s back.

"Things were going well until Morana charmed Asaemon and made him leave Inola."

Akamir frowned. "Goddess Morana?"

"Yes." She nodded. "But she was a demigod back then."

Akamir nodded thoughtfully as he waited for her to continue.

Nayomi’s voice lowered slightly.

"She seduced Asaemon, promising him everything. Power enough to rival the Sun and Moon themselves."

"And?"

"And Asaemon... he fell for it."

"What happened to Inola?" he asked.

"She was cast aside," Nayomi replied. "And well, let’s just say she became crazy and tried to reach Godhood herself."

Akamir nodded silently as he looked at her.

Akamir frowned. "And Asaemon?"

"He tried to become a god....but the ritual failed because Morana betrayed him. Instead she killed him and became a goddess herself."

Akamir rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he glanced back at Zaina.

’And she is an Apostle of such a goddess?’

Nayomi’s voice grew colder.

"To make things worse, Morana sealed Inola inside an Artifact. An eternal prison, just to torment her."

Akamir’s eyes narrowed. "That Artifact... it’s in the hands of the Moon House?"

"Yes."

"What about her children?" He asked, looking at her.

"They still live." She replied, grimly. "But they are cursed....half-divine, half-broken."

Akamir nodded silently. "And what does that have to do with me being here?"

"I’m getting there," she said with a scoff. "See, Morana made one mistake when she sealed Inola."

"What kind?"

"She let her have her consciousness attached." She replied.

"And Inola never stopped growing inside the Artifact. Once she is out Inola will become a goddess stronger than Morana."

Akamir glanced at her as a picture began to form in his mind.

"Let me guess." He mumbled. "Morana makes an Apostle to have—."

"Yes, to keep the Artifact in check." She completed his words.

"Every soul her Apostle kills is used to strengthen the Artifact and this place is a mural for her to share her powers."

Akamir nodded. "And she knew Zaina would come here?"

"Divination," Nayomi said simply. "She foresaw this moment. Zaina, in the right place, at the right time."

Akamir’s brows furrowed deeply. "That’s possible?"

"It is," Nayomi replied. "That’s the terrifying part."

Akamir nodded, rubbing his chin. "How old is this story again?"

"It all happened in the second epoch." She replied. "So almost 5000 years old."

"That’s a long time." Akamir mumbled as he came to a halt as he looked forward.

Zaina had also come to a halt just in front of him as she looked at the crack that was created in the middle.

"What happened?" Akamir asked, walking closer. "Is something—."

But his words halted as he looked inside the crack.

It was another chamber.

A lot bigger than the one on the upper side.

Zaina walked inside the crack and Akamir followed behind.

They both looked like ants in the giant structure, small, almost insignificant.

There, in the center of the chamber, stood a raised platform.

Upon it rested a towering statue...its face cracked and worn but unmistakably beautiful.

Around her feet were broken pieces of mirrors.

A cracked and broken voice escaped Nayomi’s lips. "Morana."

Akamir faintly noticed the anger in her voice but he kept his silence.

Zaina , as if caught by an unforeseen force, moved closer to the statue.

"Hey!" Akamir quickly grabbed her wrist. "Are you alright?"

Zaina met his eyes, her body trembling violently.

"I need to do this." She whispered, breaking his grip. "If I don’t then I won’t be able to keep myself sane."

Akamir couldn’t understand what that even meant.

She quickly moved towards the statue leaving the mask behind with him.

Akamir folded his hands as he looked at her.

The shards of mirror at her feet began to shimmer faintly, there was a glow in her eyes that soon burned brightly.

Slowly her body began to rise higher and higher until she was just at the level of the statue’s face.

Akamir rubbed his chin as he looked at Nayomi.

"So." He began. "Where is the guardian?"

Nayomi smiled as she pointed at the ceiling.

Akamir looked at the ceiling and his eyes widened immediately.

There far above them was an enormous black snake staring at him.

’At least forty foot.’

Akamir thought looking at its pale yellow slit eyes.

The snake’s forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, its gaze locked on Akamir.

"It won’t attack you as long as you are close to the statue." Nayomi said, looking at him. "That’s the easiest way to avoid his attack."

He nodded looking at the mask. "Is this thing usable or not?"

"You can’t use it unless you are an apostle of Morana." She explained. "It’s made for Zaina."

Akamir nodded silently.

’It’s strange.’ he thought. ’I don’t feel any fear for it.’

Was it because of the void fox presence? frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

He doesn’t feel much of a threat from the snake.

Akamir glanced at Nayomi once again. "Can I beat that thing?"

She gave him a weird look and then sighed softly. "...Maybe if you use everything."

Akamir nodded, unbothered. "Let’s try it then."

The snake jumped down from the ceiling at Akamir at a threatening speed.

Akamir remained calm as he took out his sword and wore the mask over his face.

[Would you like to use "memories"?]

[Yes/no]

He clicked on "yes."