World Online

The church doors opened, and the light from outside, well, it wasn\'t enough to even shine inside. It was early morning, and all people could see was that there was some light in the horizon.

Only a little, like the sky was to miserly to allow any in.

Ganshin led the line that they had created, with Father Joseph in the front this time. He didn\'t need any help getting on a carriage or anything.

The carriage and the horse that they had kept in front of church stayed there with the horse looking a little weak, but nothing too worrisome.

Jake was surprised that the horse was still alive, considering how many monsters were outside, waiting to come in.

The party moved around the church, toward the area that was behind it. It was a vast space, and Jake didn\'t know what on earth he could expect from the holy grounds that they were going to enter.

Was it going to be just a plain with the rock in the center? Was it going to be a forest of some sort? Jake didn\'t know. But he was going to enter the place in just a few moments, so he didn\'t ask.

As they entered the ground behind them, they could see the vast area behind the church.

Sure, when there were still people who lived here, this place would have been a wonderful garden. But now, it was just a waste land of weeds and dead plants. There was absolutely nothing of beauty left in this huge land.

Ganshin knew exactly where he had to go. He knew where the holy grounds were. He kept walking until he was in front of what appeared like a ruined circle of stone.

There was a circle of stone on the ground. There were six pillars that came out of the ground, but all of them were ruined, so their true height was unknown to Jake.

Ganshin glanced at Father Joseph.

"It is your turn now, Father." He said.

"Yes. I shall finally open this dreadful place. I can only pray that what we find inside is not what I fear." Father Joseph said.

He took out his bible and started chanting in what Jake thought was latin. As he spoke, the circle on the ground started reacting.

The runes engraved on the stone circle started glowing in an eery black. Jake knew that it was not right. Anything related to the God of Light would either glow with a golden or light color. Black was a definite no.

Something was wrong with this portal for it to glow with this color.

"Amen."

Father Joseph completed his cross, and the runes grew even brighter until everyone was drawn to what was happening a few feet off the ground.

There was a small portal that was being created. This portal was slowly increasing in size, and eventually, it was big enough for three files to enter.

It touched the ground, and was just tall enough for humans to enter. But as it was three files long, any monster would be able to enter.

The portal was a pitch black, and the fact that it was swirling was only visible because of the streaks of white that still existed within the portal.

This was the first portal that Jake had ever seen with a black color. But that wasn\'t what worried him.

The aura that it gave, it made Jake\'s very skin crawl. A chill came from this portal, similar to the one he felt when that wind came from the broken black crystal of the evil mage.

Just staying here, he felt like he was going to die of the cold. And his knees grew weak.

p Ping!

[You were hit by debuff: Intimidate, Fear, Cold]

"So many." Jake muttered as he looked at what Ganshin was planning to do.

Everyone else could also feel this presence, and all of them were hit with the same debuffs that Jake was hit by. The only difference was that they were stronger and they weren\'t hit to the same extent.

"We must not dally. Let us all enter." Father Joseph nodded and said.

Ganshin was the one who took the first step into this black portal. As he entered the portal, it was like the black completely gobbled him up.

Just a few seconds later, a head came out of the portal.

It was Ganshin.

This was not a head, as in he died immediately. It was just him poking out of the portal.

"This is indeed the Holy Grounds. I can confirm it. Let us all enter. We must work quickly. The portal has been opened, and it shall remain open for a while. We must claim the devilish stone before the ninth arrives." Ganshin nodded and said.

"Then what are we waiting for? Three files. Let us go in." Father Joseph said as he walked before everyone else, straight into the portal without any hesitation.

"Alright. Prepare yourself Jake. This time around, you are not going to be the weakest here. Everyone is going to be suppressed." Jake told himself, trying to garner courage.

For some reason, he still felt a tinge of fear even though he had no fear of death.

"Damn this goddamn debuff. It messes with my head too much." Jake cursed as he shook his head, trying to clear it.

And before he knew it, it was time for him to walk forward and enter the portal. Without holding off the line, Jake waked quickly in long strides and stopped in front of the black portal.

Hesitating only for a mere second, he took the final step, and walked into the portal.

The church,

The statue of god, which was completely silent till now, started glowing with a blinding brilliance. The entire church was lit by this sudden change, and it seemed to have an effect on what was behind the church.

"I have done what I could for you children. Now, the rest if left to you." A calm voice from within the statue muttered, it\'s sound not enough to reach even the middle of the church, let alone the adventurers who this was intended to.

But what it was saying was apparent. This was the God of Light interfering as much as he could.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

076205