From the moment the traveler steps in front of the entrance he was assigned, Akatosh can feel an enigmatic atmosphere simulating his senses. There were no gates to be seen only a large entrance; a giant corridor to be said. What’s more at a distance of ten meters, a fog was obscuring the area making it harder to observe the field.
Glancing his eyes from every direction observing the place and as he breath; condensation starts to form. Equipping his newly molded armor, his claw gauntlet, his ax and kriegsmesser at his back; he can feel his items resounding to what lurks on the corridor.
“Hmm…” Akatosh smiles slowly he enters until he was consumed by the fog.
In a blink of an eye, he finds himself in a new brand of environment. The fog hue in bluish, strange blood gleaming roots germinates at every corner, luminating crystals and mushrooms burnishing the surroundings.
“Now what.” He murmurs trekking casually from the place, mapping the area while journaling.
Time pass for about 2 days still there were no creatures lurking for a battle, no sense of individual stalking him in the shadows. But through his time, he learned little things; gathering unknown samples such as the glowing red roots, the shimmering crystals. Yet by far the one thing he was puzzled is that the enchantment on his weapons and armors where unable to work its magic. The enchanted blazing kriegsmesser won’t even produce a spark of flames. His axe won’t even produce lightning and the deeper he dives the place his axe slowly loosed its enchantment that it begins to weigh heavy. Fortunately, his magical bag works stuffing his ax for a meantime.
Marching a day’s pass and somehow, he found the remains of the scouts as crystals germinates from their body. Upon inspecting their body, he saw their flesh begins to wither turning their skins into charcoal flakes.
“Umm… Rag, any clue what we’re facing?”
“I don’t know… I have the feeling we’re in big trouble.”
“How so?”
“My magic isn’t functioning, it’s as if we’re in a place where no magic works.”
“Any information why magic isn’t working?”
Amaragnum sneers in anger as if remembering something from his past.
“Don’t be dramatic and just tell me already!”
Consuming a minute for Amaragnum to regain his composure which then the stillmage respond to Akatosh’s demand.
“Known any knowledge about the ‘Scroll of Balance’?”
“Ahh… no, care to tell me what it is?”
“Back in time when gods, demons, devils and mortals are bitching each other, magic was the most powerful tool to use mortals or not. And as you know being a magic user, it became apparent that magic was turning the world into chaos. Kingdoms that have little or no known knowledge about magic would perish from sorceress, mages, witches that wreak havoc. Not only mortals that went lunatic but so too the gods themselves. And the goddess of magic was the most arrogant of them all, Balance gave her a warning to solve the issue but to her insolence she ignores the warning.”
“I like where this is going.”
“And by her cockiness for holding the portfolio of being the goddess of magic Balance gave her a lesson. A gruesome lesson.”
“What did he do.”
“Detaching some of his flesh, Balance then gave it to the people who have no magic or aren’t related to mages, sorcerers you name it, there he let the game run its flow. What’s interesting about the scroll of balance is that only none magic users are allowed to used its power.”
“What kind of power?”
“When used, the scroll grants immunity to any form of magic physical or not even to those gods, devils and demons won’t lay a scratch on you. And as you know; as the way of life goes it led to a massacre. None magic users who have scars from the past action of those magic users, innocent or not were butchered, staked, pitchforked all manners of mortal things you can think of. It was the darkest time for being a magic user, because of the consequences the goddess’s pride turns into begging, prostrating as she watches her followers being depredated. Yet even her surrender, Balance didn’t give a shit about her cry for she knew she will be neutralized, not only her but so to the other gods who followed her stupidity.”
“And the ending.”
“Balance gave them a sample, nearly erasing their existence before bringing them back.”
“What about the scrolls of Balance?”
“He reclaimed it but left some giving it as a warning to magic users. During my era only three were left and one of it was used against me, and I bare the scar from that old man… him and his associates.”
“You mean Archsage Azageis?”
“Yes, I was beating the shit out of them that I didn’t know that old man was hiding a scroll of Balance.”
“Shame, sucks to be defeated like that, but how come Azageis was able to utilized the scroll since you told me the scroll of balance is only usable by none magic user.”
“Beats me, from the knowledge that bastard had; he may have decoded it’s structure and somehow rewrite its system. Or went asking help from those gods, I think nowadays scroll of Balance must have been a legend.”
“Best to ask the new generations of yours, might know little or to no knowledge at all.”
“Might be if we find this scroll…. Hehehe, I’m going to return the favor for what he did to me.”
Further as the travelers’ traverse through the deep road, the atmosphere became intense. Air gradually became cold and heavy; his tingling enchanted armors aren’t even sparking a light of magic. Along the way they stumble upon a corps of a kobold. This creature however isn’t the wolf species but rather the draconic species. What’s interesting was, the kobold is completely frozen in a purple crystal.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Cute.” Akatosh implores upon seeing the kobold’s outfit.
Standing about two and a half feet, Akatosh was impressed towards its outfit. Wearing a thick fitted long sleeve shirt, firm trousers and small hooded cloak. Further seeing the crystalized kobold, he notices the little creature had a book belted on its left side. Enthroned by its adorable appearance he didn’t saw there was an illuminating message etched on the kobold’s hand.
“Use ordinary weapon not magic.” Says the message etched on the creature’s hand
“Hmm… Umm… use normal weapon? But to what beings do I tend to use it on, Rag do you know what creatures this kobold’s indicating?”
“Don’t know, best to ask that kobold.” Amaragnum says trying to dispel the crystal but even then, he wasn’t able to generate magic. “Gahhh… I hate this!” Amaragnum angrily sneers.
Out of nowhere, the travelers heard a heavy sound of whiffing fire, immediately Akatosh went on hiding just as he observers the creature. Elevating about eight feet, embodying a human’s body, it had no face only a pure obsidian color. What’s more, the creature was blazing in lavender, covering the entire body into a purple flame. And while in hiding, the travelers were given a choice; either go for a brawl nor sneak past the enemy.
“So, what you gonna do big guy?” The stillmage ask since his magic are now powerless.
“I don’t know, best we should go past that thing. We don’t even know what abilities that flaming golem had and our equipment are useless so does your magic.”
“And how you going to do that?”
“Let’s us observe first then we act.”
Going in silence, there Akatosh intently monitors the flaming golem. At the same time, he was praying if his magic bag is still working,
“Lucky.” Akatosh implores relief since his magic bag is still doing its magic. “C’mon there’s got to be some ordinary weapon I didn’t disposed.” He continuous, sweating as he searches for a normal weapon.
Ten minutes passed and finally the flaming golem move out allowing Akatosh to slowly enters where it originates. When arrive the structure of the place change, the area was now in dwarven structures. The place is large enough for Akatosh to run away. What he was searching for was the center to why magic isn’t working. And worst dozens of flaming golem litters at every corner swaying their body as they search for an intruder to kill.
“Now what…” Murmurs Akatosh still searching for an ordinary weapon. “Fine shiiit!” he continues right after finally finding am ordinary weapon and that weapon was a short bow, fortunately there too was arrows about hundred of them and last was simple long sword.
Resorting to potions for a buff, yet when he tries one potion, he didn’t feel it’s effect. Amaragnum however was far more intrigued towards the magic bag. Everything that isn’t ordinary were regulated even Amaragnum’s enchanted book was now a simple book unable to generate magic, yet Akatosh’s magic bag wasn’t affected.
“Now what how shall we start the thrill.” Akatosh murmurs as he licks his lips for a sensation knowing this time he now resorts to his ordinary strength.
His armor felt slightly heavy but with the unknow enemy he decides to wear it. Fighting in a safer distance Akatosh looks for a high place to climb; when in position he then draws his bow aiming at the flaming golem. It took ten shots till he finally struck the creature’s neck; upon hitting he quickly hides from them but to his surprise they didn’t flinch nor tried to find where the arrow originates. He didn’t fire another round but rather observes the arrow plunged at the back of the flaming golem.
“It ain’t burning?” Akatosh implores seeing how the purple flames didn’t burn the wooden shaft. “I’ll be damn, this world bewilders me every passing time.”
“But it ain’t dead.” The stillmage said.
“Best we observe it more time.”
Consuming about half an hour and with no chances, Akatosh grew impatient that he fires dozens of rounds towards the creature. And by the looks of it the creature was turned into a firing dummy as dozens of arrows needled his body. This time Akatosh saw that the creature was beginning to get feeble as his flames dwindle, until an hour passed the creature falls down as his flames extinguished.
“Shiiitttt…” Akatosh chuckles firing another round until his arrows was depleted.
Thanks to the kobold’s dying message, the travelers have the means to end the mysteries of the place. Ending five creatures, now with fifty more to go Akatosh didn’t directly go for a brawl instead he one by one engaged those that are isolated. Utilizing his reflexes and dodging skills, Akatosh went on decapitating its body parts. Cutting first the legs he then goes at their arms until he finally decapitated its head. And once in a while he went and recovers his arrows but as time goes fatigue quickly overwhelms his body. And no matter how he dispatches his enemy more would suddenly appear.
“Now what?!” Akatosh scoff, frustrated since the only thing he had done was an endless fighting. “This is absurd.” He continues returning to a higher ground for a safe rest.
When awoken, the travelers’ strategies their plan; rather than being a brainless adventurers heading on to an endless fighting until death, the two investigates who or what summons these creatures. Exploring every inch of the area, seeking answers until one time when he was engaging the creature one of its attacks hit Akatosh’s claw gauntlet.
“URGGGG… THE HELL?!” Akatosh cry by the sheer pain it delivers, melting some of the gauntlet’s cuff in once single attack it too burns Akatosh’s skin. The bruise was small but its effect was potent that he felt his nerves being electrocuted and scorch. The pain from his arms became unbearable that he retreated after slicing the creature’s right leg.
Once again in hiding, licking his wounds if ever it would ease the pain. Muffing his groan and cry, as he tries every attempt to ease nor cure his injuries. Pouring water, dirt, alcohol, potions even licking and biting it to the point he grabs his long sword and removes the injured area. Through his attempt, after discarding the burned parts although it eases the pain, he made his injuries worst.
Runny nose and sweating like corn, Akatosh in outmost pain explores the area. Yet no matter what room he finds nor discovers there were no abnormal atmosphere to be seen, felt and smell. Worse his injury from his past fight slowly starts to spread. Like a toothache, his one thought was to cut off his arms just like a man eager to remove his tooth from the pain. Moreover, it slowly weakens him, until such time when they saw how the creatures where summoned.
In their naked eyes, the strange crystals and roots would suddenly glimmer and before they knew it a rift appears birthing a flaming golem. From what transpire in front of them the two was now in thoughtful thoughts. Thinking every theory every knowledge until Amaragnum begins to laugh hysterically. And knowing his laughter, Akatosh knows his partner may found a solution.
“Quit laughing and tell me already! I’m dying in pain!” Akatosh scoff still in pain.
“What fool I am… Do you know the spell imprisonment?”
Right from his words, Akatosh begins to laugh like a fool. “Fuck me! All this time we’re in a parallel dimension.”
“I don’t know… I’m not sure.”
“Well, what if we try diving into the rift while it still open?”
From Akatosh words, Amaragnum was silent and from his silence Akatosh new his partner was afraid.
“C’mon say something will ya?”
With no words coming from his partner Akatosh stood up and waits for any rift to be open. It took days for him to wait and before that he gathers as many unusual things he finds even the corps of the flaming golem, chopping and stuffing into his magic bag.
“HERE WE GO!” Akatosh shouts jumping into the rift.
Upon entering he was slam by scorching burn; however, it’s not his skin that was being inflicted but rather his nervous system. It was only a second when out of sudden he appears in a newly form environment. There were still roots and crystals forming but this time the structure of the place was changed. And lies the center was a strange scroll being held by a gleaming red roots top and bottom.
While still in pain Akatosh upon seeing the scroll; in a disable state he aggressively went and upon detaching the scroll from the roots he at the same time screams and laughs like a mad man he is.
