"Be aware there is a guardian." Makane spoke as the group went further into the temple's interior.
"Guardian?" Darius asked.
"Correct. He is from the time of Titans and immortals. His name is Sedori, and he is extremely strong. In his time he was given the title of Titan Slayer. He earned this name when he and his army came under attack by three Titans. The giants killed every last one of his men, but he managed to slay all three of the Titans without receiving a single wound." Makane explained.
"What? Three?" Inari exclaimed in shock. "Doesn't it usually take three gods to kill on Titan? He was really that strong?"
"Yes. And after bathing in the blood of the many Titans, he gained immortality. After the war he was assigned to guard the grave of the first five Deities, namely this temple."
"Do you think he'd let us through? We are Deities after all." Darius asked.
"No. He won't care. Only those who can defeat him will be deemed worthy of the power of the Origin Deities."
"Then we'll kill him." Akuro stated.
"Easier said than done. If you ask me he sounds way stronger than Gallatine, and we barely won that fight." Darius pointed out.
"I don't care how strong he is. I'm going to win." Akuro responded simply.
Inari gave him a concerned look. "Don't be reckless."
"It's his nature." Darius said, receiving a glare from Akuro.
As the group continued to traverse the halls of the temple, they began to feel an choking pressure in the air. The inside of the temple was simplistic with thin halls that split off in many directions. It was almost like a labyrinth of black stone. Lamps of blue light dimly lit their way, casting ominous shadows across the halls. It was like a walking through a vivid dream.
And then the hallway came to an end.
Akuro and the others shivered. An overwhelming pressure came down on them from every direction, and before them was an expansive room. The room had no light and was so large that Akuro could not see the end of it, nor the roof.
Makane returned herself into Inari's body as they moved forward cautiously. Akuro's foot then bumped into something metallic sticking up from the ground. He looked down, squinting his eyes trying to see. To his surprise he could faintly make out the shape of a sword, it's blade burrowed into the stone below.
"Ow." Darius said then to Akuro's left. "Why the hell is there a sword here?"
"There's some more over here." Inari said from Akuro's right. And then a hiss ran through the the room.
Lamps of baleful blue light sparked along the walls, illuminating the chasm. Akuro's body tensed when he could see the room. The chasm extended a couple dozen yards and everywhere that the eye could see there were swords jutting out of the ground as well as a plethora of other weapons sprawled across the room. At the far side of the spacious chamber was an exit... but it was blocked.
Sitting upon the stone stairs leading up to the exit was an armor clad figure, hunched over as if asleep. He had long, messy black hair that fell to his shoulders and pale skin. His armor was smooth and seemed as though it were freshly crafted, devoid of scratches or dents. The armor itself was a dark shade of turquoise with gold trim and emerald gems and markings embedded into its surface. Beneath the armor he wore a black robe. Around his body lay six shields and a large golden sword spread out seemingly at random as if they'd been dropped.
And then the air turned cold. The man's head slowly raised and his eyelids slowly lifted, revealing the eyes of an ancient warrior, threatening and devoid of life. Just by looking into his eyes one could see the pain he's endured and the blood he's spilt. His turquoise irises seemed to glow as he looked up at Akuro with dead eyes.
For a moment, Akuro wondered if that was what he looked like.
"It's been a long time since I've had visitors." The man said, his voice ragged and brusque. "What is your purpose in coming here?"
"We are Deities reincarnated by the gods. We've come to receive the blessing of the Origin Deities!" Inari spoke.
The man's eyes narrowed. "The gods are at their game again, are they?" He spoke. "I don't care who you are. I don't care if you're Deities."
"Please, we don't want to fight you, Sedori, we just need to get stronger! The demons have emerged from the depths of hell, threatening to destroy the world." Inari pleaded.
Sedori turned his eyes to Akuro. "I can see why. You, boy, you have the aura of the demon king." Sedori slowly rose to his feet. "If you want the power of my Lords, then you are going to have to prove your worth." A wave of aura pulsed through the room, whipping at Akuro's clothes. Light bluish-green aura began to swirl around Sedori as he stood.
"Come. Face me, and prove your worth!"
Akuro turned to Darius. "He's immortal, Darius you know what that means!" He called. Darius turned to him and nodded, then went invisible. Akuro then turned to Inari. "I hope you're strong." He said.
She smirked. "Don't doubt me." White aura then materialized around Inari's body, taking the form of brilliant cloth, a scarf wrapped around Inari's neck and her body was covered in a white cloak. The mask of a fox materialized covering her face and a short sword appeared in her hand. The ground cracked at her feet. "Let's go!"
Akuro grinned as his Aura Cloak took form as well, his eyes going white and black horns forming from his head. He materialized his scythe, then dashed at full speed towards Sedori, the ground shattering where he had been as he exploded forward. Sedori only stood, arms closed, but his eyes never left Akuro, and as he came into range swinging his scythe, a shield appeared, blocking the blade's path.
"Weak." Sedori spoke.
Akuro threw a burst of dark aura into the shield, spinning himself him the air, the scythe swinging a full three-sixty, the blade striking towards Sedori's throat. But, to Akuro's disappointment, another shield appeared blocking his attack. A burst of pressure shot out from the two shields, sending Akuro skidding back. Then Sedori's eyes shifted to something behind him that nobody else could see.
"There is no point in being invisible you don't conceal your aura." Sedori spoke, then spun on his heel, swinging his foot through the air. A shockwave emitted from something that the kick made contact with, and then Darius's invisibility faded as he was sent soaring into a wall.
Akuro leapt at Sedori then, his aura talons extending out to grab the two shields, holding them in place. Then Akuro realized he was absorbing aura from them. 'So that's the trick.'
Inari joined in at that moment, taking advantage of Sedori being open. She flew forward, her short blade thrusting towards the enemy, but her attack was also blocked. Another shield had appeared! Then Akuro realized they were the shields that had been laying in the ground before.
A pulse of energy emitted from where the shield and the dagger collided, sending out a shockwave of clashing aura.
"A fox spirit, aye? Too bad you're too weak to use it to its full extent." Sedori spoke.
"Don't underestimate me!" Inari responded as her short sword began to glow a pale white. "Nine point strike!"