章節 20: A Shocking Welcome

Soldiers were crowding around the cathedral, chatting with one another while carrying sheathed blades.

Venator felt fear at the sight of it, starting slightly shake while he passed through the guards.

Wrapping his book with the sword.

"Citizen, what are you carrying?" One of the soldiers shouted while he was preparing to move.

The soldier approached him, grabbing the cloak he began unfolding it slowly as Venator watched in fear.

"Please don't see me as a user." He begged in his mind.

He watched as the cloaked became fully undone, the soldier grabbed the book and sword sheathes from inside, handing it to the others with him. Venator's fear continued going up.

"A book and some sword sheathes." One of the soldiers simply stared at the unmarked book.

The soldiers simply looked at the sword, unsheathing it to take a look at the blade beneath while one carried the empty sheathe.

"A bit odd, to be carrying this." the soldier said, feeling suspicion.

"Hey, Dorthus what's in the book?" He turned to the soldier carrying the book.

A yell interrupted the interrogation, all soldiers faced to the source of the noise.

"Enemies are within our borders!" The voice yelled, coming from down below.

The swords clattered to the ground with the book and cloak as the soldiers began running down.

Soon, it was empty, with only a handful of people left. Venator grabbed his weapons again. Wrapping it under the cloak, breathing a deep sigh or relief as his fear washed away.

He walked into the cathedral, benches sat facing the front similar to the cathedrals he entered before. Smaller statues stood, hanging on platforms built into the walls. Soldiers in different positions with different weapons. The ceiling was a glass dome with the sun shining down to the altar in the front, giving light to the entire place. It was eerily silent with only a single group of figures sitting at the very front.

Venator walked to the side, taking one more look at the figures and around him. He formed the portal, hastily stepping into it.

The portal closed behind him, and he was introduced to a new place.

He felt the strong heat immediately hit him, all around, a field of fire burned blue. As he walked, he saw armor and weapons on the ground. But they were empty, holding no bodies. The sky was was dark grey. In the distance, he could see smoke rise up. The faint noise of fighting was all he could hear while he walked. The sound of metal clashing and shouts of soldiers, from pained yelps to grunts of anger. Venator unfolded his cloak, placing his things on his waist while he donned the cloak.

There was no clear pathway, merely openings and cracks in the fires that burned on in the field.

He sensed something running behind him, taking out his blade, he turned around, sparks flew with his sword in front of him. A dark figure slammed directly into Venator, nearly making him fall. His feet dug into the ground under him as the figure pushed him further, stopping as they lock swords. The face was obscured by a hood.

The figure raised it's sword up, in one slam, Venator's block was broken, sending his arms and sword to the ground.

Attacks soon erupted, Venator continued trying to block, failing as his arms were being slammed around, desperately regaining control to try parrying over and over.

Venator was thrown to the ground as the figure kicked him hard in the stomach.

The figure's blade aimed straight at his face, feeling as the tip hit his forehead.

"A magic user huh? Fortunately you weren't killed by my people." The figure said in a raspy voice. Sheathing his sword, he offered a hand to Venator.

Venator got up, hitting his cloak to get rid of any dirt. grabbing his sword after.

"Apologies for the sudden attack, but excellent job on protecting yourself. Something every warrior needs to know. My name is Bellunamien, god of war and battle. Something my world normally performs. And you are the magic hunter correct?"

"Indeed I am." Venator replied.

The man turned around, beginning to walk away, Venator followed behind him without another word spoken.

"You're lucky that you managed to get through the soldiers." The god began talking, "I heard from the other gods of your adventures and killing of magic users."

"Indeed i have. Your people though seem to have it under control with what i've witnessed." Venator commented. The god laughed.

"Indeed they have, but that's small pickings of what you witnessed. They're like that because the enemy has a large amount of magic bearers, armies were decimated. Many souls were sent here." The god explained.

"I need to ask, but are you willing to do a task that involves a large amount of magic users and staying for a long period of time?" The god asked, curious for an answer with his head slightly turned while they walked down the burning field. The intense smell of ash and flame hit his nose while they walked.

"I haven't done long tasks before, but it depends on what i shall get in return." Venator responded.

"How does armor sound to you? Armor bestowed by a god, unmatched in quality and bearing unique abilities." Venator became silent, thinking on the proposition.

"It could work, but how many will i fight?" He broke the short silence.

"Ah," The god stopped, with his hand he formed an image to the side above the fires. It was a large army of robed figures marching forward. "My world was harder hit than the rest, far more of the magic leakage seeped into my world, most users hailed from the enemy empire, nearly everyone from my kingdom developed a hatred for any magic user." The god explained.

Venator stared at the image, seeing the seemingly endless marching users.

"There's a war far larger than anyone can expect approaching." It said, "It will march to bring cataclysm upon my kingdom." It continued, a slight tone of fear in it's voice.

"What can i do then?" Venator asked after a moment of contemplation.