The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER THREE

“Stay back!”

“Out of the way!”

The knights shouted.

And then a creaking sound and a loud thud echoed the place coming from a fallen tree they have cut. It was tall enough to reach the small land in the middle of the lake and large enough for them to step on it and cross.

Because of the loud crash, the fireflies scattered around the area making the dim environment light up making the place look enchanting but it's not.

“Your majesty, I have already instructed the knights,” Allen said.

“Then let’s start,” He answered as they’ve walked towards the fallen tree.

“As much as possible, avoid contact with the water. We do not know what type of curse contaminated it,” Casis reminded.

In their world, holy weapons do not work upon cursed objects for two reasons.

First, the black magic in it surpasses the divinity bestowed by the gods to the artifacts or holy weapons.

Second, the curse was originally bestowed by the gods. However, the curse coming from gods is usually a type of powerful seal.

But usually, when the gods bestowed a curse to a thing or a being. The reason commonly was because it can be the source of evil entity or, the source of their fear.

Which is which?

They slowly walk towards the strange and huge door standing in the middle of the lake.

As they walk, they were watching and calculating their every step to avoid falling from the contaminated water.

After a few minutes of gently walking like sneaking out from their parents, they have finally reached their desired destination, towards the strange door.

They stroll near the big wooden door, around ten feet high. The wood from it was strangely old but thick, due to its oldness, the original color of the door was hard to determine resulting to fade and turning to grey. It also has a strange carving and design.

Mathew scanned it seeking something like a hidden message or writings, but he found none.

‘Maybe something like that only happens in stories?’ He thought.

Mathew pushes the unusual door and surprisingly it opened.

“It is not locked?” He said to himself.

As the door opened, another loud and creaking sound can be heard coming from the door.

Mathew stared at the open door but the other side can’t be seen because of the light, blocking their view.

“Your majesty, the entrance has been blocked by a strong barrier and it looks like we can’t enter,” Nathan said as he tried to push the invisible wall blocking him from coming in.

“Yes, there was something from the oracle that only the ruler of mankind can be able to grasp it. So maybe, the only one who can come in is his majesty,” Allen stated as he gazes at Mathew.

“Then wait for me here,” He responded shortly as he tried to push the barrier. As expected, his hand went through it.

“Your majesty, please be careful,” Casis uttered.

Mathew did not give a response, instead, he continued to walk inside.

A sudden flash of light approaches resulting him to close his eyes. When he opened it, he was already standing under a flower tunnel made of red anemones.

The tunnel was long making it hard for him to see the end, the place was not too dark yet not too bright and the red flowers were blocking the outside view.

He walks near the plants and tried to push away the flowers but the branches were too thick. He was about to pull his sword when suddenly the lamps lining and hanging on the ceiling of the tunnel, lighted up as if it is telling him the way.

He began to walk through the long tunnel, the smell of the flowers was strong and every lamp he passes through started to turn off their lights. And then he started to see something as he continued to walk, his marches started to get faster as he sees a wooden door.

As he opened it, a light suddenly enveloped him and when he opened his eyes again, he was already inside a big and spacious cathedral with enormous stained windows made of glass. He examine the place, the floor was made of an unknown material with a strange design.

The place was old and dusty but not too dark. There were big and tall pillars with ivy plants sticking and twirling around them. The pillars are facing each other making an aisle, and at the center of the aisle, there was a strange fountain that obviously got destroyed.

At the end of the aisle are the standing gigantic statues of their gods’ Alpha and Omega. Between them is a door around eleven feet that is covered by red anemone flowers.

He started to walk, and every step he makes was making a gentle sound which made him feel anxious and alert. The light coming from the outside made the inside walls imprinted with nauseating colors.

He lifts his head and saw the grand and old ceiling. It was painted with a peculiar image, however, because the cathedral was old, the painting was somehow fading which made it hard to identify.

Nothing can be heard aside from his steps, and as he pass through the destroyed fountain with no water, he felt an unusual feeling.

‘Someone was staring,’ His mind said yet he continued to walk. Suddenly, he saw in his peripheral view a shadow moved and went through the darkness.

He stops walking.

Is it just his imagination? Or his not alone in this place?

“Who’s there?” He said as his deep and calm voice echoed the cathedral.

No one answered.

With a composed expression he continued to walk. He is not afraid of ghosts nor afraid of being alone in this darkness. For a man like him who has seen deaths and went through bloody wars has encountered a lot of selfish devils. Is there anything yet to fear in this world that was about to get destroyed?

And again, there was a sudden movement in the darkness. He stops again, but this time he was holding his sword as he tried to feel his surroundings.

“Who are you?” He asks aloud but no one answered again.

And then he remembered the oracle as he pulled out his holy sword.

“Don’t hide like a coward, Asmon!”

A sudden flying sword was about to pierce him fortunately he was able to jump and flip to dodge it. However, there was a small cut on his left shoulder.

A hysterical laugh then echoed the cathedral.

Suddenly, a black-skinned monster with a thin and a nine feet tall human body came outside from the dark, its lower body was covered with black cloth that reaches the ground. There were tall horns that grew on his head and his crescent grinning mouth who almost reach his temple exposed his sharp teeth.

Holding a sword on his left, he raised his right arm and the flying sword that almost stab Mathew levitate back to him.

“It is been a long time since I saw a human. I almost forgot how they taste like,” It said.

“That is if I get eaten,” He answered as he stood up and held his sword tightly.

Once again it laughs.

“Never once I have seen a foolish human like you.”

“Then I am the fool who will end you,” He answered as his sword started to flame.

Asmon started to attack, he swings his swords as Mathew tried to stop his every movement.

The slashing and the metallic sound from the clashing of their weapons echoed.

They were dodging and attacking at the same time while some of their attacks have slashed and destroyed the walls.

Mathew found a chance to stab Asmon’s right leg but he immediately flips over and distances himself from him.

“Oh, don’t end the fight yet,” It grinned.

“Shut up!”

Asmon dodges and avoids his strive playfully as he swings his sword. Mathew was able to avoid it but he received a cut on his left arm. However, he found an opening as he pushes his sword and stab Asmon on his lower abdomen.

“You are no fun at all,” He said as he laughs.

Mathew remained silent.

“Now I’m really angry,” It muttered and stared at him with bloodlust reflected in its red eyes.

It started to move at a faster pace. Mathew was able to dodge and avoid the attacks but his having a hard time striking.

Minutes of just defending himself from the monster was making him weak and tired making him having a hard time to breathe when he felt the cold wall behind him. He was cornered.

“Hah! There’s nowhere to run,” Asmon said followed by his evil laugh.

Mathew vomits blood upon receiving a punch on his stomach. Asmon’s big hand scoop his head and throw him hard as he landed his back to the fountain. Mathew growled in pain as he coughs blood. He holds his sword tighter and started to use it as support to stand up.

“Why are you here human?”

“I would be happy if you ask that first before attacking me,” He managed to answer.

“If that would make you happy, of course, I won't do it,” Asmon chuckle.

“Oh, you’re starting to be funny now?”

“Why? Did I make you laugh?” It said as it glared his eyes at him.

“Of course… not,” He answered shortly as he wipes the blood on his mouth.

“You should because, after this, you will cry begging for your life!” Asmon shouted as he started to run towards him.

Mathew did not waver at all as his sword started to flame again, he deliberately swings his sword. It released flames, shape like a blade, and was able to injure Asmon. It roared in pain and angered.

“You son of a b***h!” He shouted.

“I am not,” He replied as he smirks and did the same move again.

This time Asmon’s left arm was amputated with his attack. Mathew started to move offensively but Asmon caught him and throw him again, this time his back banged on the hard pillar.

Mathew started to increase his alertness when he heard the monster’s psychotic laugh.

“You are amusing me,” It said while grinning at him.

Mathew remained silent to reserve his energy. Remembering his goal, he started to feel an itch to end the match as fast as he could.

‘I need to win,’ the thought echoed his mind.

Then they started to brawl again and used too much of their energy to injure one another. Not until Mathew was cornered again.

“You’re not lucky today, human,” Asmon commented.

He did not respond which made the monster irritated.

“Why the sudden cold treatment? Are you afraid now?” The monster teased.

The injured man did not answer however, he met his gaze. Asmon was bewildered upon seeing the human’s fearless stare as if he would devour him any moment from now. The monster just laugh because of the absurd idea. He may have a lot of bruises and was injured but the human was more bruised and damaged than him.

‘Such a pitiful soul,’ The monster thought as his monstrous mouth grinned wider.

He decreases the distance between them and chokes him with his bare hands.

“Any words before your death?” It asks playfully.

“I have,” He said in between his heavy breath.

The monster laugh.

“Then hurry!” Asmon said as he waited for him to continue.

‘Ah, nothing is more fun than to see a helpless soul!’ His mind shouted in victory.

“I have waited for this moment,” Mathew continued as he started to move and amputated Asmon’s right arm.

Mathew was free from his grip when he starts to move again and stab the monster’s chest then cut Asmon’s body in half.

“Want to know a secret?” Mathew asks. The monster did not answer but he knows it was still conscious.

“A fool like me is hard to kill,” He said coldly and put his sword back into his scabbard.

The monster was able to smirk when he heard his words before he closed his eyes and died.

Mathew let out a heavy breath and started to walk towards the door when suddenly there was a glowing light, like the size of his fist that approaches him. The ball of light stayed floating in front of him as if it is waiting for him to take it.

Starting to get impatience he took it and the light started to fade away. He started to get confused as he stared at the white anemone in his hand. Why would he need a flower? What will the flower do for him?

He looks at his bruises thinking it will heal him, unfortunately, it did not.

‘How disappointing,’ He said to himself.

He continued to walk to the door and automatically, the flowers covering it started to crawl away from the entrance as he immediately opened it. Once again he was wrapped in a light and when he opened his eyes he was standing in a vast land.

The sky was grey like a storm was about to come, the grass was swaying along with the breeze and as he lifted his head he then saw a color red pupa floating on the air.

The flower he holds suddenly glowed and collides with the floating thing. The wind in the open land started to blow harder as his hair was swept outwards. His hazel eyes were focused on the pupa’s opening and then it broke.

He started to held his sword and expect a sudden attack but to his surprise, the particles from it started to scatter and went to him. He suddenly felt his body was in heat and his upper garments started to turn into ashes yet he was not burned.

The particles coming from the pupa stick on him and became tattoos tracing from the left side of his neck down to his left wrist. It was a strange design but it was not ugly at all.

Then as he lifts his head again he saw a woman with a petite body, her bare chest was covered with her black hair. His eyes traveled on her fair skin as he looks at her small face. He was stunned when he saw her mysterious emerald eyes were already staring at him intently as if she was reading his soul.

His eyes did not travel any further for the woman in front of him was not wearing any clothes.

He cleared his throat.

“Are you my prize?” He asks with a sweet smile.

She did not respond instead she shortened the distance between them then she stops and met his gaze. Her height was only leveled on his chest and he finds it funny.

“I hate flirtatious men,” She said coldly as she gives him a sharp stare.