Chapter 006: Path of the Kings - Part 5

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Nimrod woke up feeling refreshed and energized. In fact he felt stronger, which is kind of awkward even for him. "What happened?"

Nimrod was not asking what happened to him or why he suddenly felt invigorated, he was asking what happened to the golden temple. With the entrance to the elevator blocked off, Nimrod believed that finishing a test would open the way for his escape. Now, however, the Golden temple has been visibly destroyed. His only way to get out of this place, has been literally destroyed. Unless he have God's power to restore a broken temple within three days, he could only dig himself a grave for the remainder of his young life.

"I thought I will have another chance to capture the great city of Barranca. To scale its fortified walls, eliminates its defenders, open its towering gates and lead my men to victory." Nimrod dreamt of becoming the hero who will lead his own men to victory. But of course, those things are nigh impossible with his current capabilities. 

"Just what on earth did that?" Nimord looked towards the broken temple. The golden walls are marred by cracks and holes. Even the golden beams have suffered terrible damage. Cracks and holes formed unintentional web lines, all converging to a single point, a huge hole at the approximate center wall of the temple.

"Wow! Seems like something big and dangerous went out through here." Nimrod went closer towards the hole which is about three times bigger than him. He touched the sides of the hole. It was then when he realized that the temple wall is about five meters thick, its beams even thicker. 

"The walls are this thick but something or someone managed to break through. These cracks, I am pretty sure this would not appeared silently, so how come I didn't hear anything?"

Although the temple had already losts its former brilliance, still it exudes radiance. The gold platings emits beauty that any normal human would crave to see and touch even just once. As Nimrod marvel at the magnificent structure, he caught glimpse of the the bluish gleam sparkling inside the temple. Nimrod entered the temple through the hole, he then drew closer towards the bluish light.

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Inside the temple.

Nimrod walked inside the temple. He felt his feet walking on golden floor, such experience made him elated. Never did he think that dying three times would give him such an experience. 

"If only I knew earlier!" Of course, this happened because of a very peculiar circumstance. "Na, I may just have been lucky I landed in this place."

"Seventy steps." That is the number of steps he took moving forward before stopping. In front of him, a red imprint could be seen on the floor. At the middle of the imprent is a wooden altar. The altar looks so ordinary there are no decorations whatsoever. However, on top of it floats a bluish seed. Blue light would often flew out of it, encircling it before going back. Traces of sparkling light would also dance around it, mesmerizing those who see it. This seed looks like it was taken out of an elven territory. 

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"Its so beautiful." Nimrod was filled with desire to own the seed. However, the altar towers like a pole at approximately 16 feet. Unless he climbs straight to the top he would never reach the bluish seed.

"How troublesome!" Nimrod sighed while staring intently on the altar. He then remembered an event where he was asked to climb a twelve foot coconut palm. He had all the avenue one needed to harvest coconuts, however…

"I couldn't get a single coconut." To be clear, Nimrod could not climb till the top that is why he was not able to grab a single fruit. 

"It was full of ants and bees." Huge red ants and bees made a home on the coconut palm. "There were legions of them. I had to go down quickly before they made a run at me." Nimrod smiled bitterly as he remembered his experienced.

"Fortunately, the current situation is way different." His eyes shone in determination. "I can do this!" Nimrod decided that he would get to the top of the no matter what it takes.

Or so he thought however…

*crack

Cracks appeared on the floor were the red imprints are. Then…

*Swiish

Black smoke floated up from outside the temple, dissolving everything it touches. The grass, flowers, and trees all crumbles in ash as they lose their green vigor. Apparently, the smoke is moving towards the center of the golden temple. Seeing the scene, Nimrod knew that unless he finds a place to hide, he'd be deas in a second. It was then that he noticed…

"The Altar!"

Nimrod could only exclaim at the sight of a tall altar made of stone transforming itself . Bricks are turning about on the sides of the altar, constantly stretching its former width so that after a few seconds later a miniature pyramid has been built. Where in before, only a tall altar could be seen, now one could look and say a ziggurat has been masterfully built.

Nimrod didn't have the time to linger anymore as his instict told him that his survival depends on whether he could climb to the top faster than the moving mass of black smoke.

And so, he ran. He ran going up the stairs like a determined olympian even as the smoke travel like a hungry leopard. Finally, Nimrod have reached the top of the altar. It appears that that the black smoke could not go on top of the altar as a transparent shield blocks its entry. 

Nimrod can finally see where the bluish light is coming from. The light is being radiated from a silver orb, about the size of the human fist. At first glance, the orb appeared to be in perfect state. However, Nimrod sensed that something is wrong with the orb.

"It feels empty."

He could feel that the orb is lacking on the inside. In fact, he felt the orbs gravity as it tries to pull him a bit more closer to it. As if the orb wants him to touch it, the tiny pull became strong bit by bit. However, it appears that the orbs pull have affected not only Nimrod but also the black mass behind the invisible barrier. It would be nice if he could observe the orb a bit longer. But as it appears, Nimrod could no longer do that since...

*crack, crack, crack

The black mass all gathered on a single spot above the silver orb. Then, it started spinning while converging, constantly increasing its speed so that cracks, similar to that of a broken glass, started to appear on the barrier. Nimrod took haste as he saw what had transpired. He ran and finally, Nimrod arrived in front of the silver orb. He immediately grab the silver orb. At first, he felt at ease as the bluish light covered his entire body. At that time, he knew he is safe. But then, the obvious did happen.

"Aaaarghh!"

Nimrod skin burst open, in seconds ruptures and lacerations filled his entire body even as his blood flew towards the silver orb.

"Aaaarghh!"

*Thud

Nimrod uttered the last of his strength. Then as if time slowed down, his buttered body fell ever so slowly right at the center of the ziggurat. Another blinding light occured as the silver orb disappeared without a trace. Then, the transparent shield also disappeared so that the cyclone mass of the black smoke drove towards the center of the ziggurat where Nimrod is lying helplessly. 

*Bang

Loud noise sounded as dust and gravel flew covering the upwper portion of the ziggurat. Slowly, the dust cleared up, revealing ruined but peaceful pyramid, devoid of all sign of life. What has been a beautiful and lively golden temple now became a silent and empty ruin.

- end chapter -