It was a whole different realm. Unlike the beautiful flower fields, this place was desolate. The ground was dried, and ruins were scattered all over his sight. It was like an old civilization eaten by the passage of time. Yet the most eye-catching of this dungeon was the starry night sky and the huge moon looming above his head. Unlike back in Brittania or Lonia’s dungeon, the moon here was so big, and close that was as if it could collide with this dungeon at any second and send the whole place into an apocalypse nightmare. Yet it did not.

[Welcome to the Fallen’s Domain.]

[May the Chosen find her way.]

[Due to the participant not being a Chosen. Specific areas will be restricted.]

He already knew, but being notified like this did make his mood sourer. It was as if this place was a bane to him with no reward or treasure to put into his own pocket. Nonetheless, he had to be the escort after using Savreen as a bargaining chip for those few items he earned.

“Why did you leave the sword and potion outside? Isn’t it better to bring it along?” Savreen asked. She was wary of everything around her as her eyes wouldn’t stop glancing around.

“A safety net I suppose? I just had a feeling that it wouldn’t be safe bringing it here, considering the giver control this whole place,” Zach said. Whispering. Despite his whisper, he doubted it had any effect on whoever governed this domain.

They roamed around aimlessly, going through the ruins of an old world. Nothing could be found. As there was only dust and debris. Not even a sight of an enemy. Soon their feet brought them to the largest intact ruin that was no different from the pantheon of the old. The pillars towered strong, holding the roof against the test of time with no signs of crumbling into the ruins around it.

It was a long flight of stairs, and the duo proceeded cautiously. Zach found the air pretty stale even when outdoors, and he had a few guesses along the way. They entered under the roof of the pantheon, noticing empty platforms lining the sides. He saw a few broken statues with what was left either below the knee or below the ankle. From what he was seeing here, something had happened in the past.

They reached the end of the large hall with an open door down right in the middle. But another platform stood in the path and rather than broken feet, a full sculpture of a woman in a priestly robe with eyes covered by a bandana bathed upon the moonlight through the hole in the roof. There was a sense of beauty in her, clasping her hands together, smiling faintly with the end of her robe fluttered by the unseen wind. A masterpiece in Zach’s eyes as if it was a still picture coming to life. Whoever carved this had his utmost respect as he knew well the difficulty of making such art.

“Should we try the—“ Sarveen’s words were cut short. Both of them instantly notice a change in the sculpture before them. A light blue glow came from behind the bandana as if the eyes behind it were radiating this unknown light.

Before either of them could say a word, the floor beneath them shook. The sounds of gears moving echoed within this hall, and soon in front of the sculpture, the floor revealed a hidden path.

Zach gulped a mouthful. Despite having confidence in his strength, these events had a subtle creepiness in them. He wouldn’t have said as such if he saw it through a movie or a tv show, but being here itself elevated a mood that he could not describe. He now questioned whether he was a coward? Or just disliked the unknown.

“Let’s go," Savreen said and it seemed she was not as affected as Zach. Perhaps her job as a treasure seeker saw this as nothing more than just another Monday morning to her.

The passage was narrow, yet wide enough for a single person. It was dark with no light. Not even a shred of moonlight from the hole. But Zach had his ring. An orb of light emerged, pushing against the darkness. It led the way as the duo noticed the carvings on the wall. Shapes of men and women standing under the crescent moon, fighting against odd-looking humanoids with redeeming features that included horns on their heads, and bat-like wings.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

It made Zach ponder. The drawing could either depict a vampire or perhaps demons, according to his knowledge of now and before. Yet another thought flew by. The statue inhabited by the soul of Astabuen. It might be plausible, but at the same time, it wasn't. Zach was still too ignorant of this new world, and there was much to learn.

Ahead of them, a sign of light against his own. He retrieved the orb back into the ring, and mild darkness descended upon them. Yet the light that seemed coming from the moon was at the far end of the tunnel. They reached a larger hall and there stood a floating replica of a smaller moon with its own brand of light.

“Incredible,” Zach said. His amazement was an understatement of what he truly felt. A coalition of emotions with the majority of it being awe at such creation. Identify was used, and he was shocked even more.

“A part of the Lunatic Moon?” Zach questioned as he felt chills just thinking about it. Someone managed to chisel a part of the moon and carved it into a replica of a new moon itself. Now if that wasn’t incredible he didn’t know what else would fit such criteria.

Then something else surprised them even more. The artificial moon descended a light upon the floor as it formed a three-dimensional image of a woman with a beauty that transcended the many women he had seen in his life.

“I have been waiting for you, my dear child,” the translucent woman spoke with the gentlest voice. Her arms spread wide as if receiving Savreen into a warm embrace and for some reason, the wording she used was quite similar to what Zach heard from Astabuen.

If he wasn’t wrong here, then perhaps the Seven Star wasn’t the only one who had the idea of continuing their past battle through a successor. But he wondered though. What kind of requirement did Savreen fulfill for her to be the chosen one?

The wary Savreen retreated a few steps. Despite the warm greeting, it was hard to believe something like a ghost being this kind.

“Are you sure she’s not a witch?” Savreen asked Zach. Her eyes never left the image of the lady made by the artificial moon. While the knife in her hand readied to strike.

But before Zach could answer. The tone of distaste escaped through the lips of the translucent lady. “I am no witch, young lady, and since you are my chosen one, I will let that vile accusation slide,” the moon-lady said. Despite the gentle voice, the threat she gave left them shivering in their boots.

Whoever this was, Zach was sure of it, that this translucent lady was the strongest he had ever met. Beads of sweat trickled down his back and temples as if his body was screaming for him to run, and yet a second later, those warnings were gone as if the unseen pressure was lifted off his body. It was a scary experience and now Zach starting to regret stepping inside this place as perhaps it was safer out there with the scarecrows.

“Now,” the moon lady smiled as if she did nothing wrong. “In the fight against the chaotic darkness, aid me, and I will aid you in return.”

Savreen stood her ground, and faced the fear she felt from this witch-like image. “I don’t know you, lady,” she said. “I don’t know your name, and I don’t know why you want me. The least you could do is explain to me why I should trust you.”

“Apologies for my straightforwardness. It is not how I usually act, but the circumstances are not so forgiving. I am Bulan Lestari, a Q…” she faltered in her words. Stop in the middle of her introduction as if some force forbade her from speaking a certain word, and Zach noticed. The resemblance was uncanny with Astabuen besides a few major differences. Unlike Astabuen who vanished, Bulan stayed in one place as if she did not need to cower under a blanket.

She poised herself again, trying to gain back the elegance she had shown before. Despite her effort, Zach saw a trace of anguish as she introduced herself.

“I am Bulan Lestari, one of the Fallens,” Bulan said. Now he knew why this dungeon was called the Fallen. Bulan then continued to throw her pitch, and rather than baiting Savreen with the sweetness of great rewards, she told of her story of justice. A fight against the darkness which she could not elaborate more at the moment. But Zach had a hunch that perhaps whoever won the last war might be the so-called darkness she spoke of.

“Now what will it be, Savreen Qhan? Will you become my Moon Priest under my enclave, or will you not?” Bulan said.

Contrary to Zach’s expectation, Savreen was quite level-headed.

“Excuse me, my lady,” she spoke politely. “But I need to consult this important decision with my friend.”

“A wise choice,” Bulan said. “I can see why you brought along the ‘male’.”

For some reason, Zach heard a bit of animosity when she emphasized the male.