Earth: The Second

Another Era of Adventurer

Earth had been changed by the catastrophe. The God Particle, had rewriting rule that once nourish life in our planet. It took couple of millenium to stabilize the condition, and starting the cycle all over again.

First, there is water, the most important component of life. From there, single celled lifeform start to grow. Afterward is the crustasean creature, and then is the first animal with backbone. They all similiar to how The First World started. More milleniums come and go, plants, bugs and animal once again thriving on land. This period is also the time when creature that going to be dubbed 'ancestor of mammals' appear.

Just like the previous World, disasters happened at some point, wiping species and passing the 'dominant' status to other. Our mammals lucky enough to have survive them all until once again became the 'dominant'.

Long story shorts, hominin, the ancestor of human appear.  They lived in pack, tending one after another, and started using tools on their daily basis. They care for their family, but also brutal to their outsider.

Thousand years passed, and this species learned to use languange. They found a way to tame fire, and found the concept of 'afterlife' and 'God'. Soon after, they started to create imagery on their cave homes, and entering their prehistoric times.

More millenias, more advanced they have became. Story of Gods, temples, statues, and cities once again reshape earth, and therefore, Earth meet again with era of mankind.

***

In the dark night of the forest, soft light from the fire camp warming the bodies of five adventurers. They have just finished dinner, and now is their relaxing time to rest by chatting to one another.

"I wholeheartly thank to The Sevens for their blessing of protection and bountiful meal. Especially for Lordess Temperantia." said one of them, a man around 30 year old, crossing palm on his chest, while chanting mantra and words of thank.

At his opposite side, a female with bright red hair and freckled face holding his cup high and mocking the religious man.

"And there you go again, look at this old man Chap here, praying to invinsible being when you can solve problem with that body of yours."

It's true that this Chap guy have the most well-built body among five of them. That is why he had the role of a Defender, Chap's main weapon is a huge shield and he usually stand at the very front end of the line, face-to-face with enemies.

The red-haired girl on the other hand, is a bow and arrow user named Milanda. She move according to the battlefield condition, in a wide area, she can provide recon and flanking enemy from behind. While she may be not effective on the narrow corridor, that girl knew few tricks to defend herself.

"Well, it's important for my faith. Not like i'm forcing you to pray with me girl," Champ finished his pray quickly and answer back to Mila's previous statement.

"Watching people praying are sooo lame... it's like they closing eye to focus on something useless. What if they get stabbed in the back?"

"You probably doing lot of bad things to have someone aiming your back. That kind of person does not pray often."

"Bah, you're just dodging my point here, old man."

Champ just shrugged his shoulder and not continuing their bickering. After all, he knew she is not mean any harm. The rest of the party, just giggling to see their teammate being lively, at least that mean nothing dangerous is coming to their way at the moment.

"You're right Chap, i also feel grateful for our work these past month. We managed to clear five star-ranked assignment, and save ourselves some money to buy better equipment."

This time, is a young man who voiced his opinion. He have short black hair and fairly handsome face with well-built body, he may not be as muscular as Chap, but he know his way with swords. That man is called Izanagi, and he is the center of this party.

Izanagi have some kind of charisma, and manage to lead various kind of people. If not because of his talent, this group would not able to climb rank from Novice to Intermediate in span of half a year.

"It all thanks to our dependable leader," replied other girl on the team. Her voice is very adult-like, and have some kind of seductive feeling on it. Clothes that she wear is not helping, it's as if she intentionally showing large portion of her skin and body curve.

"I-is that so...? Thank you Yulia, i feel honored," Izanagi blushed and try to cover his shyness by scrathing the back of his head. It's clear as day that Izanagi is dazzled by the lady's charm.

Yulia is her name, and she called herself a 'dark mage' who excell at offensive magic, and giving disadvantage to the enemy. Yes, magic and witchcraft exist in this world, and human are able to manipulate invisible energy within themself called [Mana]. Many things they can do with this ability, and naturaly, civilization grow around the use of magic.

Next to Yulia, is the last female of the party. The youngest one of the group, she probably just passed 12 years old when she decide to join this party 3 months ago. Not like her teammate that being merry, the girl's face is showing anxiety and worry expression. Izanagi noticed it, try to asking her condition.

"Are you fine Kiki?"

"What? Oh! Yeah, yes. Everything is okay..." Kiki startled by her leader's question, she has just wandering thought for a while, and not realizing the conversation at this moment.

"Are you worried about your home dear?" said Yulia as she patting Kiki's head to console her. Kiki feel comfortable when Yulia's soft hand combing her short brown hair. she giggled a little and instinctively move her body closer to Yulia, like a kitten to her mother.

"I'm sorry, i just feel homesick after leaving orphanage... I hope they all doing okay," said Kiki.

She gripped her small staff that she used in battle. As 'white mage', Kiki have the least battle capability, but her role is mainly tending wounds, and giving support magic for the rest of the team.

Kiki is an orphan. For 10 years of her live, she had been raised in a orphanage of The Seven along with dozens of kids. The time is difficult for them at the moment, Church of The Seven that supposed to aiding their people is too busy expanding their influence, and no hope either from a corrupt regional government.

This is why Kiki left her home, they need money to survive. At orphanage, she has learned how to do a healing magic and create medicine from herbals. She also able to read, write, and doing simple mathematic. At the very least, she may become a maid, shopkeeper, or waitress. But because of the situation, she dare to take dangerous job as adventurer. Fortunately, the three-star-ranked novice job is enough for her daily life and to sent back to the orphanage.

It's like a miracle that Izanagi want to recruit her as a healer. Maybe at the first glance, he feel sorry about little kid who have to work to support her family, but in battle, Izanagi find that Kiki have wide knowledge of wild plants that might help them later. Soon after, everyone have accepted Kiki as part of the team.

"It can't be helped since you did not have a permanent address to sent letter to. But don't worry! If we manage to end this assignment, you'll have enough money to start business in your hometown!"

Izanagi try to cheer her up, which Kiki reply with a little wyrly smile.

"Thank you leader. It's true that i really want to go home," said Kiki.

"Which is why, we have to rest well to prepare! As our assignment command, we will went into ancient temple that have been abandoned for hundred of years. Guild say that there might be valuables inside the temple, where no one have stepped in before," finished his meal, Izanagi showed a paper that listing their mission. On that paper is a simple picture of ruin, mission objective, and stars symbol that represent mission's difficulty.

For a medium-ranked adventurer, 6-star difficulty is considered challenging if not dangerous. If they manage to pass this mission, they're basically get promoted to high-rank adventurer, and would receive generous bonus from the Guild they worked with.

"A hundred years old ruin, and no one have never see what inside of it? Are you sure you're not getting tricked this time, leader?" asked Mila.

"Actually... this is not the first time they sent a team to that ruin... In fact, some attempt to discover what inside it ended in casualty" Izanagi paused a while, "This mission is just between me and the Guild's Director."

They goes silent at the moment. The archer, defender, and mages, starring at Izanagi as if they're confused.

"What do you mean Izanagi?" this time, Chap asking.

"I met Director in his office weeks ago. Privately, he asked me to do this assignment, seeing that our team have very good performance. The pay is handsome, and we will acquire higher status as adventurer, at first, i doubt about it, but this money can help us in many ways!"

"Are you nuts? We have a child here! And you casually said that we are going to hellhole!?" Mila raised her voice. Kiki also started to feel guilty after hearing that.

"I know, i know! That is why i have prepared as well with new equipments and lot of medicine supply. Director also said that we did not need to take anything from there, just make a rough map sketch, and mission success!"

"You... Are you sure you're not being greed?"

Mila didn't buy it, her face going wilder and wilder, as if he started to see Izanagi as enemy.

"Mila, please... I just..."

"Do you want Kiki to die!?"

"PLEASE STOP FIGHTING!" Kiki's scream broke the silent of the forest. The adults that have been fighting for a while finally turn their attention to the child.

"I-I'm scared, but... I believe if we worked together, everything is going to be okay right? After all, Izanagi able to lead us clearing medium-ranked assignment, and we even have to fight for our live time to time!"

Izanagi smile warmly and looking at Kiki with gentle eye, while Mila still showing unpleasant face.

"I believe in Izanagi! If he know we can do it, then we will!" Kiki finally close her statement with steadfast face.

Once again, silent and heavy atmosphere engulfing the team. Finally, Chap is the one to break the mood with simple sentence that it's time to sleep.

***

Two days later, the team have come in term with this job. After some heat discussion between Mila and Izanagi, they decide that huge sums of bonus from this mission, will be used to help Kiki's orphanage. Furthermore, the group are agree to visit Kiki's hometown, and reside for a while. It will be a short break before each of them decide to part ways, or stick together as adventurer.

Reluctantly, Kiki agree with their decision. She feel kinda guilty because being a child, the group are prioritizing her above their goal. If she is an adult, then they won't have to worry about her.

Finally, after days walking in the forest, they can see their destination. On top of a green hill, a ruin covered in roots and vines, tree brusting out from side of the building, give a feel that the building will crumble with a little touch.

"We've arrived at the right time," said Izanagi. "The sun is high and most likely, monsters won't come outside the ruin. Let's make a Warp Point here, and start exploring after short break."

"Alright. Come Kiki, i need your help," asked Yulia.

Yulia and Kiki squatting on one of the big stone scattered in the area. From her shoulder bag, Yulia took a knife, and started carving a symbol at the top of one of the stone. The symbol have a round shape, with mark that looked like 'Y' in the middle that divide the circle into 3 segment. At each segment, she drew a symbol that looked like alphabet with extra modification.

"Lord Industria, bless our line of work so we can go home safely. Lordess Patientia, protect us from resentfull behaviour. Lordess Caritas, we pray for enough blessing for our daily bread."

Yulia's pray worked as incanation for the magic, as she focused her mind, a glowing energy of light start surrounding her body. She then reach the symbol, and the energy flowing to her engraving, filling it with the power of magic.

Yulia then turn her head to Kiki. "The Quanta stone, please."

Kiki had prepare two pieces of marble made out of thick glass. She hand it over to Yulia, and that woman bring it closer to the engraving. The marbles then absorbing magic that have been casted to the engraving, the previously plain see-through glass, now gleaming with greenish light.

"With this, we will have a way out when things got dangerous," Yulia smiled as she take one marble to her bag, and hand over the remaining two for Kiki. "Don't lose them ok?" said Yulia softly.

"I'll keep them safe," Kiki answering with a smile. She actually planned to give one to Izanagi or Chap, but the party leader have started assembly to explore the ruin.

He stand on the stair that leads to the rectangulare shape of the ruin. The sun only managed to shine at floor's entrance, while void of the darkness looming across the room. This place is certainly bigger than it seems.

"it's too dark, we have to lit up torch," comment Mila.

"let's just inspect it for a moment," answer Izanagi. He give signal for other member to stay outside whie he take the first step into the darkness.

No sound, no light, and no sense of presence there. Still, an adventurer have to wary for everything that would happen.

Izanagi closed his eye, and started concentrarting to mana on his body, just like what Yulia do when making Wrap Point.

"Echo!" as Izanagi opened his eyes, mana that he previously converge spreading to every direction inside the room.

An image of the room then started to forming on Izanagi's mind, it showed how the room shaped, along with the rubble that fill most part of the room. The very left side of the wall have been destroyed, stones and soil pouring out from the broken wall. In that condition, it's a miracle that the right wall still manage to hold the structure.

The only way available is one straight corridor where Izanagi's echo aren't able to reach completely. After that, he decide to lit up two torch with help Yulia's magic.

"We will walking in usual battle formation. Chap and i will lead, while Milanda watch for our back. Kiki and Yulia then stick together. Remember to relay condition once in a while, so we don't miss a single person."

Agreeing with their leader. The team of adventurer start to dwell deeper into the darkness.